About the Fair

One of Ontario’s Oldest Agricultural Traditions, Rooted in Community & Rural Heritage

The Delta Fair, proudly organized by the Delta Agricultural Society, stands as one of Ontario’s oldest and most historically significant rural fairs. Founded in the mid-1800s, the fair reflects well over a century of agricultural heritage, community cooperation, and the enduring spirit of rural life in the Rideau Lakes region.

A Fair with 19th-Century Origins

The Delta Fair dates back to a time when Eastern Ontario was a patchwork of small villages, farms, and mills connected largely by rough roads, waterways, and horseback travel. Early agricultural societies were vital to supporting local farmers, helping them improve techniques, showcase livestock, and share knowledge across the region.

The village of Delta, anchored by its historic mill and surrounded by fertile farmland, quickly became a natural home for an annual fair. For generations, families travelled from surrounding rural communities to take part in the exhibitions, competitions, and gatherings that strengthened their shared agricultural identity.

Honouring Generations of Agricultural Knowledge

Agriculture has always been at the centre of the Delta Fair. From its earliest days, the fair has showcased livestock raised by local farm families, reflecting the hard work, pride, and skill that define rural Eastern Ontario.

Homecrafts have long played a major role as well. Quilts, preserves, baking, sewing, woodworking, floriculture, photography, and youth projects fill the fair’s heritage categories. Many of these displays come from families who have participated for generations, preserving traditions that have shaped the region’s rural culture.

The fair remains a celebration of the practical, creative, and agricultural talents that define the community.

A Strong Legacy of Youth Involvement

Youth have always been central to the fair’s purpose. Through 4-H clubs, junior classes, school involvement, and family exhibits, young people learn leadership, hands-on skill, and pride in their community’s rural roots.

For many local youth, their first experiences with agriculture, animal care, and traditional craftsmanship begin at the Delta Fair. These early lessons often inspire lifelong involvement in rural life and community service.

Sustained by Volunteer Commitment

The Delta Agricultural Society, supported by generations of dedicated volunteers, ensures that the fair remains both strong and meaningful. Volunteers plan exhibits, prepare grounds, preserve historical categories, and maintain the fair’s longstanding traditions.

Many of these volunteers come from families with deep roots in the Delta area. Their passion and stewardship reflect the values of cooperation, service, and pride that have sustained the fair for more than a century.

A Living Reflection of Delta’s Heritage

The Delta Fair mirrors the community itself, historic, welcoming, resilient, and deeply connected to its agricultural past. It reflects:

• A respect for rural skills and craftsmanship
• Pride in multigenerational farming traditions
• A strong volunteer culture
• Creativity and domestic arts
• Youth involvement and agricultural education
• A community strengthened by its heritage

Through these traditions, the fair continues to honour the people, land, and legacy that shaped Delta and its surrounding rural landscape.

A Tradition That Endures

While farming practices, lifestyles, and the nearby communities have evolved, the Delta Fair remains a cherished gathering place, a link between past and present, and a tribute to the rural heritage that continues to define the region.

The fair’s enduring success reflects the community’s belief in preserving tradition, celebrating agriculture, and bringing people together year after year.

About the Community

Delta, Ontario: A Historic Mill Village Rich in Rural Beauty & Rideau Lakes Heritage

Nestled between Upper and Lower Beverley Lakes, Delta, Ontario is one of Eastern Ontario’s most charming historic villages, a place where stone mills, heritage homes, and beautiful lakeside scenery create a timeless sense of place. Though small in population, Delta’s history, natural beauty, and community spirit give it a warm and memorable character.

A Village Built Around a Mill & a Waterway

Delta’s story begins in the early 1800s, when Loyalist settlers established farms and mills along the waterway that would eventually become part of the Rideau Lakes system. The village grew around its most iconic landmark: Delta Mill, also known as the Old Stone Mill.

Built in 1810, this National Historic Site is one of the oldest surviving grist mills in Ontario. For generations, it was the heart of the community, grinding grain, supporting local farms, and attracting settlers to the area.

Even today, the mill stands as a proud symbol of Delta’s origins and heritage.

A Community Surrounded by Water & Nature

Delta’s location between two lakes gives the village a peaceful, picturesque setting. The surrounding landscape features:

• Quiet country roads
• Tree-lined shorelines
• Canoe-friendly waterways
• Farmland, forests, and wetlands
• Abundant wildlife and seasonal colours

It’s a place that feels naturally calm, perfect for scenic drives, photography, hiking, paddling, fishing, or simply enjoying the rural beauty of the Rideau Lakes region.

Heritage at the Heart of the Village

Delta is rich in historical features that reflect its early settlement:

• The Old Stone Mill and heritage centre
• 19th-century churches
• Early homesteads and farmhouses
• A historic downtown core
• Longstanding community halls and gathering spaces

These landmarks tell the story of a village built through cooperation, hard work, and the ingenuity of early settlers.

A Close-Knit Community with Strong Roots

Residents of Delta take pride in their village’s history and sense of togetherness. Community groups, churches, volunteers, and local organizations play a central role in village life. Seasonal events, heritage programs, and festivals help bring neighbours together and preserve Delta’s rural traditions.

Newcomers and visitors often comment on the friendliness of the community, a hallmark of small-village life in this region.

A Village Deeply Connected to Agriculture

Surrounding Delta are family farms that have shaped the local landscape for generations. Dairy and beef farms, mixed agriculture, and rural homesteads continue to contribute to the region’s identity.

Roadside stands, rural craftsmanship, and agricultural traditions remain a part of village life—connecting Delta to its rural past and to the broader Rideau Lakes agricultural community.

A Natural Partner to the Delta Fair

Delta’s long agricultural history finds its strongest expression in the Delta Fair, one of Ontario’s oldest rural fairs. The fair reflects the village’s values:

• Agricultural pride
• Community cooperation
• Homecraft skill and domestic arts
• Youth involvement
• Preservation of rural traditions

Fair weekend brings together long-time residents, new families, and visitors, creating a celebration that highlights everything that makes Delta special.

A Village That Offers Peace, Heritage & Heart

Whether exploring the mill, enjoying the lakes, visiting the fair, or experiencing the quiet charm of its streets, Delta welcomes visitors with warmth and authenticity. It is a place where history lives proudly, where natural beauty surrounds you, and where rural Ontario’s traditions continue to thrive.