Taking place from Friday, November 1st to Sunday, November 10th this year, The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair is billed as the largest combined indoor equestrian and agricultural competition in the world. There are also hundreds of vendors, food events and competitions, and many more types of animal entertainment. It is held in Toronto’s Exhibition Place, which offers more than one million square feet of space for the festival’s various exhibits and events.

The Royal is a long-running Canadian tradition that has occurred every autumn in Toronto since 1922, making this its 97th year. For almost a century, farmers and producers from all over the country have come to the fair to exhibit the very best in agriculture, local food, and animal entertainment. Today, The Royal welcomes over 300,000 exhibitors and visitors and offers a full schedule of events and activities which ensures there is always something to see and do.

One of the most hotly anticipated events at the fair is no doubt The Royal Horse Show, where over 1,000 participants compete at the highest levels in Dressage, Show Jumping, and Indoor Eventing. Almost one million dollars in prize money will be awarded during the show this year. There is even more exciting competition to be found at The Royal’s agricultural events. Over 2,500 exhibitors will be showcasing more than 1,200 agricultural products and 5,800 animals at over 50 different competitions during the fair.

In addition to the horse and agricultural competitions, food has always been a staple at The Royal. Enjoy a culinary cornucopia consisting of local food from all over Canada at eight different sit-down restaurants that will be set up at Exhibition Place, or grab a quick and tasty bite from the food court. Burnbrae Farms will also be providing cooking lessons every day at the Culinary Academy hosted by notable feature chefs.

There is plenty more to check out when at The Royal this year, including the Artisan Pavilion where you can pick up an array of handcrafted products, the OLG Entertainment Stage where local artists will be displaying their work, and the Presentation Theatre which will be hosting seminars and screenings. There is also AG-tivity Central for kids, an activity zone which doubles as an educational centre, keeping young visitors entertained and teaching them a few things about agriculture at the same time.

As The Royal runs for over a week, you will have plenty of opportunities to come and experience the action. General admission costs $27.50 for adults, $20 for seniors (ages 65+), and $16 for youth (ages four to 17). Family passes, multi-day passes, and discount passes after 4 pm are also available. Doors will be open from 9 am to 9 pm during most days of the fair except for Sundays and Mondays (November 3, 4, and 10), when the hours are 9 am to 6 pm.

Whether you love animals, are interested in agriculture, or are interested in taking a culinary adventure, The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair is the place to be at the beginning of November in Toronto. Come experience some country in the city and enjoy a great time with loved ones while you’re at it.