University of Guelph's College Royal open house turns 100 this weekend
CBC
A beloved annual family event in Guelph celebrates its 100th anniversary this weekend.
The University of Guelph's College Royal open house is billed as North America's largest student-run open house.
Organizers are expecting more than 15,000 people to attend, according to animal sciences student Lexi Johnston, the 2024 College Royal president.
"It's something special for sure," she said.
"The history of College Royal is so deep in agriculture, and I think that's super important to continue… But it's diversified since into this, like, massive campus-wide event showcasing the entire student experience and the student body and every extracurricular you could think of."
The open house weekend includes a number of events typical of an old-fashioned agricultural fair, including livestock shows and a square dance competition — a nod to the College Royal's historic ties to the Ontario Agricultural College and Ontario Veterinary College.
There is also a kids' pedal tractor rodeo, dog and cat shows, a pancake flip contest and bubble soccer, a game that sees players partially covered in a large inflatable orb.
This year, Johnston said, there are special events planned to mark the 100th anniversary.
"We'll be revealing the design that we will be doing as a mural in the university centre," she said.
"That's our legacy gift. We'll be painting a permanent mural. So we'll be getting to reveal the design of that this weekend but we'll also start painting it."
There will also be a museum in the bullring documenting the history of the College Royal.
"The significance behind that is College Royal started as a livestock show back in 1925, and the showing actually took place in the bullring, so it brings back our history," Johnston said.
More than 60 student clubs and community organizations will have exhibits at this year's College Royal, including the wildlife club, which will have a hands-on reptile exhibit, and Wild Ontario, which will introduce visitors to live birds of prey.
"It's a good way for us to get ourselves out there," said Sally Chung, the education coordinator for Wild Ontario, which is part of the College of Biological Sciences at the University.
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