The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair has long been known as a showcase of Canadian agriculture, livestock, and equestrian sport. But when the 103rd edition of the Fair opens in Toronto this November, agricultural exhibitors will encounter a new policy that breaks with precedent: for the first time, they’ll be required to pay for trailer parking.
For decades, the Royal covered the cost of exhibitor parking as part of its commitment to attracting the country’s top breeders, producers, and horsemen. Now rising operational and facility expenses, combined with the loss of parking space due to construction at Ontario Place and under the Gardiner Expressway, have made the practice unsustainable, organizers say.
“At The Royal, we have long subsidized the costs of trailer parking to support our exhibitors. As the Fair continues to face rising operational costs, we must now pass along a portion of those expenses,” said The Royal’s CEO Cyrus Cooper. “Our exhibitors and their horses are at the heart of The Royal. This adjustment allows us to maintain the high standards our competitors expect while also introducing improved access control measures. With additional personnel, these changes are designed to create a safer and more efficient environment for everyone arriving on site, ensuring that exhibitors can continue to enjoy the best possible experience at The Royal.”
Beginning in 2025, all trailers must be registered in advance through a new online booking system. Each exhibitor will be permitted one trailer, and the option to request an additional space, which will require approval. In addition to cost recovery, organizers say the change is designed to bring greater order and predictability to what has often been a hectic and congested unloading process when hundreds of trailers arrive on site within a short period of time.
The fee schedule, which includes HST, is tiered:
- 6 days or more: $169.50
- 3 to 5 days: $141.25
- Less than 3 days: $73.45
- Extra day: $56.50
The Royal’s decision is part of a broader effort to keep The Fair financially healthy without compromising its world-class status. But reactions from the agricultural community suggest a mixed response.
Smaller operations, in particular, worry about yet another cost added to the long list of expenses required to show at the Royal, from transportation and accommodations to entry fees and animal care. “This may not seem like a huge number in isolation,” one exhibitor remarked in an online discussion, “but for small farms, every added cost chips away at our ability to participate.”
Some exhibitors point to the symbolic nature of the change, noting that free parking was long regarded as a valued perk and a tangible recognition of the farmers and breeders who travel great distances to showcase their animals in Toronto. Others have expressed frustration that the new fee was not outlined in the Prize List or disclosed before entry fees were due.
The parking policy shift comes at a time when major fairs and shows across North America are wrestling with rising venue costs, insurance requirements, and city logistics, not to mention the struggle of securing sponsorship. Toronto’s downtown location, with its premium real estate and high demand for space, makes parking management especially challenging.
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