About
About Tlell Fall Fair
The Tlell Fall Fair is a small country-style fair in Tlell, BC and the earliest fall fair in British Columbia.
The Fair is a member in good standing with the British Columbia Association of Agricultural Fairs and Exhibitions (BCAAFE) and maintains strict provincial standards. The current format of the Tlell Fall Fair was established in 1982 by the Graham Islands East Coast Farmers Institute, which formed a sub-committee to organize and run the fair. The Tlell Fall Fair Board is also responsible for running and maintaining the fairgrounds.
The original fair began in the early 1900s in the Lawnhill area of Haida Gwaii. Through the ups and downs of world history and the growth and decline of the population of Haida Gwaii, the fair eventually found its permanent home in Tlell.
The primary goals of the Tlell Fall Fair are to educate everyone about the agriculture and aquaculture of beautiful Haida Gwaii, home of the Haida People who have lived here for thousands of years, and to encourage people to grow and enjoy their produce and livestock and to think locally when buying these products.
We also provide a venue for everyone to show off and display what they grow and make within a provincially guided judging standard. All judging of exhibits follows guidelines set down by the BCAAFE, and anyone is welcome to exhibit livestock, poultry, garden produce, flowers, house plants, handicrafts, baking, and much more.
Along with educational displays throughout the fair and some hands-on activities, the Tlell Fall Fair is a non-alcohol event that brings people from all over the islands and tourists from around the world together for a fun-filled day of exhibits, food, live music, fun, and an array of vendors. The fair is held on the Sunday before BC Day every year, making us “The Earliest Fall Fair in British Columbia.” Sometimes the fair is on the last Sunday in July, but most of the time it is the first Sunday in August.
Why is a fall fair held in late July or early August? It is quite simple. The fair used to be held in the fall, but it was often windy or rainy. After checking the Farmer’s Almanac and consulting the local farming and ranching community, the Sunday before BC Day was chosen as the best time for the weather.
We are and will always be a small agricultural fair on Haida Gwaii in the community of Tlell. Tlell has been the farming centre of the islands for over a century. The Tlell Fall Fair is all about agriculture. It is not just about winning prizes, ribbons, or showing off what your garden can produce or how ornate your quilt is. It is about sharing knowledge, becoming more sustainable, producing our own natural healthy food, and passing along the know-how of making it yourself.
Agriculture on Haida Gwaii is the art and science and the livelihood of working the soil, producing crops, and raising livestock. It is the root of civilization. It is the food we eat, the clothing we wear, the material of our homes, the gardens around us, and many of our traditions and values. Agriculture can be big business or your herb garden on the windowsill. Agriculture is not just a way of life, it is life. We need it to survive.
The Tlell Fall Fair has been recognized by every community on Haida Gwaii as one of the premier events on the islands. This has been made possible through the support of each community contributing time and letters to help us continue and succeed. For this we thank everyone, and we look forward to continued collaboration now and into the future.
For more information about the Tlell Fall Fair or to get involved, contact Linda Louis at lls3ws@gmail.com, Doug Louis at douglasmarklouis@gmail.com, or email tlellfalfair.info@gmail.com. You can also visit www.tlellfallfair.ca. We look forward to hearing from you and seeing you at the next Tlell Fall Fair.
