The Renfrew Fair is a weekend packed with the kind of energy you only find at a classic country exhibition. As one of the oldest fairs in Ontario, it still keeps its agricultural heart front and center—think massive heavy horse hitches, high-stakes 4-H livestock shows, and exhibit halls filled with the best local quilts and preserves. If you want to see the real “Greatest Fair in the Valley,” head to the grandstands for the demolition derby or the truck and tractor pulls, where the noise and the crowd are half the fun.

When you’re done with the barns, the midway takes over with all the neon lights and fried dough you can handle. The music lineup at the Armouries is always a major draw, turning the fairgrounds into a massive party every night with live bands and a packed beer garden. Whether you’re there for the nostalgia of the Ferris wheel or just to grab a famous “bacon on a bun” and catch up with neighbors, it’s the best way to wrap up the summer. Clear your schedule for the second weekend in September—you won’t want to miss it.