The Royal returns to Toronto – 2023 Animal Ambassador announced

The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair is the world’s largest combined indoor agricultural and equestrian show showcasing the very best in Canadian agriculture, food and equestrian competition

TORONTO, July 12, 2023 – The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair will return to Toronto’s Exhibition Place from November 3-12, 2023. In its 101st year, The Royal is offering up a new and refreshed slate of programming designed to showcase the very best in Canadian agriculture, food and equestrian competitions. 

Helping build excitement for this year’s Fair will be the event’s newly crowned Royal Ambassador, a Polled Dorset yearling ewe named Kay. Only a year and a half old, Kay is no stranger to The Royal. She made her first appearance at the event in 2022, representing a century of sheep at The Royal at the 100th Anniversary Gala and winning Reserve Champion in the 2022 Royal Sheep Show. Alongside her Ambassador duties, Kay will be returning to compete in this year’s Fair. Kay is owned by Ridgetown Ontario’s Brien family – descendants of J.D Brien, one of the founding members of the Fair. 

In her role, Kay will make special appearances in the lead-up to the 2023 Fair, and welcome guests on-site throughout the 10-day event. 

Programming highlights for the 2023 Royal Agricultural Winter Fair include: 

• The Royal Horse Show. Ranked as the #1 indoor horse show in North America and #3 in the world, The CSI5*-W Royal Horse Show will continue to host international show jumping highlighted by the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Toronto on closing night. Offering more than $1 million in prize money, this year’s Royal will also mark the debut of Great Britain’s Kelvin Bywater as show jumping course designer for national and international competition. 
• The Return of Guy McLean. In addition to the exciting Royal Horse Show competition, Royal fans will be thrilled with the return of Guy McLean, last seen in Toronto in 2018. The popular Australian horseman, entertainer and bush poet will be performing with his team of liberty horses during select Royal Horse Show performances.
• More SuperDogs Than Ever Before. The Royal’s Animal Theatre will host this crowd-favourite show multiple times a day, every day, providing fans with more opportunities than ever to see the Global Pet Foods SuperDogs in action. 
• National Agricultural Shows, Including a New Alpaca Competition. There will be a new breed in The Royal barns this year. Alpaca Ontario is bringing an alpaca show back to The Royal ring on the Fair’s final Sunday. National shows for beef and dairy breeds will be also held throughout the 10-day event, along with 4-H cattle competitions, while small livestock shows will feature various championships and 4-H youth competing for top honours.
• Exclusive Merchandise Through The Royal Paddock. There are some incredible new items coming to The Royal’s online store, The Royal Paddock, including the opportunity to own a piece of agricultural history with the sale of official Royal Fair Cattle Stalls. These sturdy, rustic stalls have housed champion cattle at The Royal Winter Agricultural Fair, making them a unique piece of Canada’s rich farming heritage.
• Outstanding Culinary Offerings. Celebrity chef and Royal Agricultural Winter Fair Board Member Michael Bonacini has helped curate a food program at the Fair that is sure to delight. Plus, attendees will have the opportunity to get hands-on at the Burnbrae Farms Culinary Academy, featuring notable chefs teaching their favourite recipes and highlighting amazing local ingredients. 

Early Bird General Admission Tickets to the 2023 Royal Agricultural Winter Fair are now on sale at royalfair.org. The presale will run until June 29th. 

About The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair: The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair is the world’s largest combined indoor agricultural and equestrian show. Now in its 101st year, The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair takes place every November at Exhibition Place, in the City of Toronto and celebrates the best in agriculture, local food, and equestrian competitions from across the country. For more information, please visit http://www.royalfair.org/

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