Meet the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair animal ambassadors

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Sugar and Spice are among the highlights of the 104th annual Royal Agricultural Winter Fair starting Friday at Exhibition Place and running until Nov. 15.

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In case you didn’t see them during their debut last year, we are speaking about twin two-year-old Angora goats who are the fair’s animal ambassadors this year.

“They not only have a responsibility during the fair on educating individuals on what they provide, but also give a chance to get up close and personal with these friendly animals,” said Cyrus Cooper, the fair’s CEO. “And an opportunity to learn about their heritage, their importance to the overall ecosystem and they’re also very cuddly and soft and great to look at.”

While they may be identical twins, Spice is described as “calm and easygoing, while Sugar brings plenty of spirited energy to the ring.”

Owned by longtime exhibitor and agricultural advocate Becky Vissers, the twin goats are “definitely the stars and they’ll be on site every day,” said Cooper.

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Otherwise, the fair, which credits itself for bringing “the country to the city,” offers up the best in Canadian agriculture, world-class equestrian sport, culinary talent and family entertainment and usually draws about 275,000 people over its 10 days.

High-profile attendees over the years

The fair’s 360 vendors, 900-plus horses and 2,500 cattle are part of what takes over about 1 million square feet of space at Exhibition Place and Cooper said the fair is “the largest combined indoor, agricultural and horse show in the world.”

Among those attending will be Ontario’s lieutenant governor, while the last British royal who attended was Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, in 2015.

“Whether you want a Michelin star fine-dining experience in a tuxedo (via The Chef’s Table Dining Series or on the Royal Terrace at the Royal Horse Show), we have that for you,” said Cooper.

“If you want to come with your family and have a great, delicious peameal bacon sandwich, go in a bouncy castle, spend a good day eating great food, trying great opportunities on the mechanical bull, for example, (there’s that, too).”

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Cooper called the Royal Horse Show the “crown jewel for the last 104 years where individuals have an opportunity to experience Olympic athletes and their Olympic horses, the show jumping, the dressage side as well. And one of the biggest things we have is the Royal Rodeo. That takes place on Western Day, on the final Sunday, where the entire fair gets transformed into a great western feeling. There’s two rodeos that are taking place at 12 o’clock and 3 o’clock and it’s the only rodeo in Toronto.”

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What keeps the fair going?

Cooper said the key to the fair’s longevity since it started in 1922 is a desire to return to a simpler time in the country’s biggest and most bustling city.

“I think it works because people crave that,” he said. “People want to take a break from their phones, take a break from their devices, they want to celebrate all things food related, all things equine sport related and get close to animals. Every year, the No. 1 thing (that draws visitors) is the animals.”

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For that reason, Cooper said the petting farm keeps getting bigger.

“Every year we’ve increased our petting farm as our guests say that’s really one of the main reasons that they come there,” he said.

“We’ve also improved and increased our programming in our animal feeder where families have a chance to get up close and personal, see some family entertainment; the Super Dogs are back again as well.”

For the second year in a row, there is also the holiday market with Santa Claus stopping in for photos from Nov. 11 to Nov. 15.

For more information or to purchase tickets for the 2026 Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, go to royalfair.org.

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