The annual Select Shows’ fair is coming back to northwestern Ontario this summer – but kids in Kenora will miss out.
Highlights of the tour include a stop in Thunder Bay between August 9 and 13, a visit in Emo between August 17 to 19 and a trip to Dryden between August 24 and 26.
You can find the full list of dates below.
But officials with Select Shows – also known as Midway – explain the decision has been made to not come to Kenora this summer due to work taking place at the Rec Centre.
In a statement, officials say they’re hoping to be back in Kenora for the summer of 2024.
“We’re really hoping next year will be different and we can be back at the Rec Centre. We really enjoy coming to Kenora and are definitely going to miss it this year.”
The Kenora Agricultural Society had been working to find an alternate location for the Select Shows fair this summer, after the City of Kenora gave them one more year at the Recreation Centre’s location.
In 2022, the city announced the space – which has been used for fairs over the past 50 years – would no longer be available due to construction work and an expansion of the Rec Centre’s parking lot area.
But after an unsuccessful search for another location in 2022, the City and the Agricultural Society reached an agreement to use the space one more time while staff searched for a new home for the 2023 fair.
Unfortunately, no suitable space was found for 2023 and Select Shows was forced to cancel.
Otherwise, the 112th annual Kenora Agricultural Fair is still expected to return this summer, without Select Shows’ amusement rides. Attractions will include the annual scarecrow competition, agriculture and craft shows, children’s entertainment and more.
Kenora’s Agricultural Fair is scheduled for August 4, 5 and 6 at the Kenora Curling Club.
