The fair was initiated in 1850 and named "Tom Greene's Fair" after its founder. Its early exhibits were set on store porches and in the schoolhouse. Farmers raced their horses on the straight stretch of public road and ox pulling competitions were held on the village's main street. Around 1900 the fair established the name "World's Fair" , most likely inspired by the enormous popularity of fairs
in the United States at the time. The Waterford fair celebrated rural culture focusing on farm-work, agriculture, domestic skills and textile fancywork. They also had various strength competitions and a "freak" sideshow. This tiny fair was (and still is) built on and by a devoted local effort. In 1928 the fair changed it's name to "The North Waterford World's Fair" and got it incorporated. At this time the fair moved it's location the the hill above the town and has remained there ever since. Over the years the fairgrounds has gained barns (one large called ol McDonald's barn), a dance hall. a cook shack, two expos, a craft building, two pulling rings one with a grandstand, and more recently new bathrooms, a entertainment stage, a new ice cream shack, a large cattle barn and new cleared parking area behind the big barn. The Saturday night dances have always been a popular local event. we have them at the Harrison VFW in colder weather and at the fairgrounds when it gets warmer. The Waterford fair has always been a magnet for 4H steer clubs, antique tractor collectors and steer/horse breeders.
