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Fairs and festivals around Connecticut

HARTFORD — Fall fair season is coming to an end in Connecticut. Which fairs and festivals did you check out this year? If your community’s event isn...
apple harvest festival

HARTFORD — Fall fair season is coming to an end in Connecticut. Which fairs and festivals did you check out this year?

If your community’s event isn’t listed below, let us know at webstaff@fox61.com.

October

Southington Apple Harvest Festival 

September 30-October 2, 2016 and October 7-9, 2016
Situated around the Southington Town Green, the Apple Harvest Festival is a family-oriented event which attracts an estimated 100,000 visitors annually. Over the course of two weekends each autumn, the festival offers a wide variety of live music & entertainment, food, contests, crafts, children’s activities, carnival rides, and more.

Portland Fair

October 7-9, 2016
Signifying the close of fair season, the Portland Fair gives enthusiasts one last chance to experience all the classic fair entertainment, food, exhibits, animals and activities for the year.

Highland Festival (Scotland, Connecticut)

October 9, 2016
There will be hundreds of pipers, drummers, Celtic dancing, Highland games, entertainment tent, and Scottish foods & vendors.

This list was compiled with the help of the Connecticut Office of Tourism.

Already happened this season: 

August

Bridgewater Country Fair

August 19-21, 2016
Bridgewater Country Fair is a long standing tradition that preserves the character of the quintessential country fair.  Be sure to bring your appetite. Great food tents abound throughout the fairgrounds and feature their famous roast beef sandwiches, chicken breasts and hotdogs. The fun kicks off with the annual Bridgewater Fair Parade.

Wolcott Country Fair

August 19-21, 2016
Begun in 1979, the Wolcott Country Fair is the area’s largest agricultural and family fun event of the summer. During the course of the annual three-day event, more than 30,000 people come to enjoy the fair’s sights and sounds. Attendees are treated to a traditional country fair complete with antique farm equipment displays, tractor pulls, pig racing, thrill rides and plenty of food and entertainment.

Milford Oyster Festival

August 20, 2016
The Milford Oyster Festival touts that they have the largest variety of oysters at any festival in the country. There will be 35,000 oysters with 19 varieties from 8 states on the East Coast. Blue Oyster Cult and The Marshall Tucker Band will perform.

Hartford Dragon Boat & Asian Festival

August 20, 2016
For the 16th year, Hartford will host the free family-friendly event at Mortensen Riverfront Plaza from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. You can see dragon boat racing, hear authentic Asian music, visit a beer garden, see the marital arts expo and more.

Brooklyn Fair

August 25-28, 2016 
Come experience the oldest, continuously active agricultural fair in the United States, featuring draft horses, livestock shows, home and garden exhibits, live entertainment, historical displays, special daily events and of course, great food.

Chester Fair

August 26-28, 2016
The Chester Fair is a time honored tradition in a quintessential small New England town that never disappoints.  Come see Robinson’s Racing Pigs and all the favorites you’d expect, like tractor pulls, frog jumping contests and arts and crafts exhibits.

Terryville Lions Club Fair

August 26-28, 2016
This year, the Terryville Fair will feature all of the old favorites you’d expect from a traditional country fair, as well as a few new surprises, like ATV and dirt bike drag racing, Jeep and pickup truck tug-of-war competitions and side-by-side truck racing. All of this and great food and entertainment, too!

September

Haddam Neck Fair

September 2-5, 2016
The Haddam Neck Fair is celebrating its 103rd year and is known for its family-friendly atmosphere and beautiful setting. The many events offer something for everyone including tractor and truck pulls, horse and oxen pulling contests and a horse show. Animal exhibits and contests, like women’s skillet throwing, are popular. Vendors are on hand to offer vegetables, flowers, canned goods and handmade arts and crafts. There’s live music and delicious food, too!

Woodstock Fair

September 2-5, 2016
Celebrating its 155th year, the state’s second oldest agricultural fair has tasty food, livestock shows, a petting zoo, free stage shows, a midway, go-kart races, strolling entertainers, plenty of vegetables and flowers, and much more.

Goshen Fair

September 3-5, 2016
Major agricultural fair with livestock judging, draft horse show, woodcutting competition, entertainment, food vendors, midway, arts and crafts, home exhibits, and more. This celebration includes an adult spelling bee, fireworks, hay bale toss contest, parade, pie eating contest, and a skillet throw contest.

Hebron Harvest Fair

September 8-11, 2016
This major agricultural fair is packed with fun and entertainment including livestock shows, a midway, exhibits, a small-animal barn, arts and crafts, food booths and continuous stage entertainment.

North Haven Fair

September 8-11, 2016
Bring the kids to Old MacDonald’s Farm for a kids pie eating contest then visit the animals in the petting zoo. Enjoy live musical performances, agricultural exhibits, arts and crafts and great fair food.

Wapping Fair

September 8-11, 2016
Agricultural fair featuring livestock, rides, bands, magic, food truck festival, exhibits, children’s attractions, aerialist performance, exotic animal meet and greet, vendors and more.

Four Town Fair – Somers

September 15-18, 2016
You’ll have one-of-a-kind fun at the four-day, Four Town Fair, one of Connecticut’s oldest fairs. See the 19th Annual Antique & Classic Car Show, a rockabilly performance from The Whiskey Rebels and the Fair Parade. Like contests? There’s the Doodlebug Drawing Contest, Largest Frog & Frog Jumping Contest, Heaviest Pumpkin Contest and even a Corn Eating Contest. And you won’t want to miss the Open Swine Show or the Women’s Skillet Throw. It’s fun for all!

Guilford Agricultural Fair

September 16-18, 2016
The Guilford Fair is part traditional fair, part circus, part Broadway theater. In addition to the midway rides, games and food, visitors can enjoy performances by the fair’s family circus – the live tiger and lion acts will wow spectators of all ages.

Orange Country Fair

September 17 & 18, 2016
From the classic car show and tractor pulls to arts and crafts and animal displays, there is truly something for everyone at the Orange Country Fair. Enjoy live entertainment and all types of mouthwatering fair food.

Durham Fair

September 22-25, 2016
Begun in 1916, the Durham Fair continues its tradition today as Connecticut’s largest agricultural fair. With rides and games, tractor pulls, three livestock barns, crafts, exhibits featuring baking, canning, photography and horticulture, and a wide selection of fair food, there’s a huge harvest to take in.

All Sounds Fair

Sunday, September 25, 2016
The All Sounds Fair will be held at Bridge Street Live Sunday, September 25 from 3 – 6 p.m. in Collinsville, Connecticut. The afternoon of music will benefit the One Orlando Fund.  The One Orlando Fund was established in response to the shooting at Pulse Nightclub in Orlando, Florida on June 12, 2016.

The Big E

September 16-October 2, 2016
The Big E, also known as The Eastern States Exposition, is billed as “New England’s Great State fair”. It is the largest agricultural event on the eastern seaboard and the fifth-largest fair in the nation.

Berlin Fair

September 30-October 2, 2016
The Berlin Fair began in 1882 as a Harvest Festival, became a state agricultural fair in the early 1900s, and remains a much-anticipated event in central Connecticut. The packed schedule includes pie-eating contests, frog jumping, large animal and crafts exhibits and live entertainment throughout the weekend.

Harwinton Fair

September 30-October 2, 2016
The Harwinton Fair offers good old-fashioned fun for all! See the Pig Races, Antique Tractor Show, Rabbit Costume Contest, Oxen Draw and Civil War Displays. Enjoy a magic show and bluegrass music after visiting the barnyard animals. Stop by the Country Store for a memento of your special day!

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