New England - Fairs and Festivals

Fairs and Festivals in New England

The fairs and festivals of New England offer a paradise of strolling, gawking, shopping, and dining. Except for parts of the winter festivals, these events happen outdoors and attract people of all tastes and ages – children, teens, families, and grandparents. The subject matter of festivals can range from fine art to dairy goats to hot air balloons to ice sculpture. The common elements are generally lots of neon lights, wind-whipped flags, live music, strolling rubberneckers, and plenty of that good food that you never see on Mom’s breakfast table: cotton candy, fried dough, candied apples, and deep-fried Snickers bars (yes, really). Mid-summer to mid-fall is the high season for the agricultural fairs. New England has a handful of godzillas of the genre, like The Big E (Eastern States Exposition) in central Massachusetts; the Fryeburg Fair of western Maine; the Topsfield Fair in Massachusetts (established 1818); and the Brooklyn Fair in Connecticut. Tucked away in every corner of New England are the diverse one-day fests hosted by local farmers and service clubs. Plumed chickens, dairy goats, horses, pies, preserves, quilts: it all adds up to the pride of the farm family’s industry. Entertainment ranges from roller coaster rides to skillet-throwing competitions. What’s not to like? Other festivals celebrate other forms of work and play: fine art in Rhode Island; chamber music in Maine; Oktoberfests and Scottish Highland games in New Hampshire; a garlic festival in Vermont, and hot air balloons on almost every horizon. For a complete list of Fairs and Festivals go to Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, and Vermont.

Topsfield Fair
207 Boston Street, Route 1
Topsfield, MA  01983
Phone: 978-887-5000
Fax: 978-887-3016

America’s Oldest Fair!
October 2 - October 12, 2009

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The 191st annual Topsfield Fair will run from Friday, October 2, 2009 through Columbus Day, October 12, 2009. The country's oldest continuously operating county fair features family entertainment, agricultural exhibits including the New England Giant Pumpkin weigh-off on opening day, a premier fall flower show, poultry, fruit and vegetables, rabbits, 4-H, a draft horse show, horse and oxen pulling, pigs, goats, sheep, llamas and alpacas, the Essex County Farm Yard, a Farm/Fair Museum, Home Arts, art show and much, much more including the Fiesta Shows Midway.

Worcester Center for Crafts
25 Sagamore Road
Worcester, MA  01605
Phone: 508-753-8183
Fax: 508-797-5626

26th Annual Festival of Crafts - November 28, 29 & 30 2008

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Our Festival of Crafts on Thanksgiving weekend is an exciting and much-anticipated Worcester event. This year will have extra special happenings to celebrate the Festivals 25th birthday. The Festival is a juried show and includes 55 of the finest artists who will be selling their hand-crafted work including: jewelry, pottery, glass, hand-woven textiles, wood turned bowls, furniture & lamps. Visitors to this warm and intimate crafts fair, held in our gallery and studios, will find unique items for everyone on their gift lists while being able to meet with artists at the forefront of contemporary craft. Bake sale, food & refreshments available to purchase and as in past years there is the Artisans’ Shoebox Raffle. Image: Anne Havel

The event also serves as a fundraiser, providing support for ongoing programs, services and general operations of the Craft Center.