Future of Peterborough Exhibition uncertain as land dispute with city continues

Due to an ongoing Morrow Park land dispute with the city, the Peterborough Exhibition will host a small homecraft show at Lang Pioneer Village in Keene from Aug. 25 to 27.

After 135 years, the future of the Peterborough Exhibition remains uncertain and organizers point the blame directly at the city.

The annual four-day agricultural fair was held at Morrow Park from 1845 until 2019. The COVID-19 pandemic forced the exhibition’s cancellation in 2020 and 2021 as events were shifted online.

The 2022 version was cancelled due to an ongoing dispute between the host Peterborough Agricultural Society and the City of Peterborough over land use at Morrow Park.

Construction continues on a new twin-pad arena at the park. Agricultural society president Mark Balkwill says the loss of land impacts the chances of hosting larger events such as livestock shows and midway rides.

“A lot of those traditions can’t take place anymore because of development,” he told Global News.

Instead this year, the exhibition will host just a homecraft event at Lang Pioneer Village in nearby Keene from Aug. 25 to 27.

Balkwill claims the society hasn’t had much co-operation with the city on the impact of the exhibition.

“We look at Lindsay and Belleville and they’re doing a great job and they’ve got strong support from their cities to help relocate their fairgrounds,” he said. “That’s probably something that we maybe would’ve wished happened here.”