PLEASE NOTE: All information listed is current as of the date of the publication of this post. We recommend that you double check the website for each event before you visit to see if there have been any changes.
Fall is such an exciting season in Connecticut! Practically every weekend from September through October there is a new local fair or festival to check out. And since these events are the epitome of family-friendly entertainment, that means we don’t have to try hard or go far to find something fun to do with our kiddos all season long.
If you’re a fan of our blog, then you probably know that in general, we mostly write about destinations and activities that we have actually been to and experienced firsthand. We like to be on the ground, getting all the nitty-gritty details and making sure that each outing is worth your time and expense. And yet, with so many events happening each fall in our state, we can’t possibly make it to all of them.
So sometimes we just have to do things a little differently around here. Like letting our readers make the recommendations for a change! Because if we can’t be there ourselves, having our readers voice their opinions is the next best thing 🙂
So today, I’m sharing a list of reader-recommended fall fairs and festivals. We’ve been to some of these places ourselves, but certainly not all of them. If these events are good enough to earn your praise though, then they are definitely worth putting on our “to go” list!
Here are 20 fall fairs to try this 2024 season (in chronological order). Courtesy of our amazing Out and About Mom readers
If you try out one of these fairs this fall, please let us know what you thought (and be sure to include any helpful tips!) by leaving us a comment on this post. And if you have a favorite fair to add (for this year or next), please tell us that as well.
The Big List of CT Fairs & Festivals (Fall Edition)
Connecticut Renaissance Faire August 31st – October 20th, 2024; (weekends, Labor Day & Indigenous Peoples Day); Step back in time to a 16th-century harvest festival at Connecticut Renaissance Faire’s 26th anniversary celebration! Since 1999, they’ve been the gateway to a magical world where you can shop in New England’s largest Medieval Marketplace, feast on juicy turkey legs and craft beers, and enjoy hilarious comedy and thrilling acrobatics on 12 stages. All ages can enjoy the magic of the Renaissance – costumes are encouraged, but not required. Don’t miss out on an enchanted journey to the days of yore and celebrate with some good, old-fashioned fun. 122 Mack Road, Lebanon
Hebron Harvest Fair September 5th-8th, 2024; Live music, rides, a variety of food vendors, beer & wine garden, animal competitions, shopping at local vendor booths, chick hatchery, hay maze, Demolition Derby. Hebron Lion’s Fairgrounds, 347 Gilead Street, Hebron
Wapping Fair September 5th-8th, 2024; Food festival with a large variety of vendors, rides, live music & entertainment, kids’ activities, livestock shows and more. John J. Mitchell Fairgrounds, 75 Brookfield Street, South Windsor
Cheshire Fall Festival September 13th-14th, 2024; The celebration begins on “Food Truck Friday,” September 13th and continues Saturday. Craft and vendor booths on display, food and drink, a Car Show for all car enthusiasts, demonstrations, musical performances, carnival and more. Bartlem Park, 520 South Main Street, Cheshire
Four Town Fair September 12th-15th, 2024; The Four Town Fair (Somers, East Windsor, Enfield and Ellington) is considered the oldest continuous Agricultural Fair in Connecticut! Enjoy live music, contests, car show, food, games & rides and more. Four Town Fair Fairgrounds, 56 Egypt Road, Somers
Berlin Fair September 12th-15th, 2024; Rides and games for all ages, live music, a huge variety of food choices, craft exhibits, contests, livestock competitions and more. 430 Beckley Road, East Berlin
The Big E September 13th-September 29th, 2024; This is THE big one. Rides, carnival games, animal expositions, competitions, live entertainment, the Avenue of the States and food, food, food, food, food! 1305 Memorial Avenue West Springfield, MA
Orange Country Fair September 21st-22nd, 2024; Pancake breakfast, tractor & truck pulls, classic car show, entertainment, music, food and midway! 525 Orange Center Road, Orange
Pumpkintown USA September 21st-October 31st, 2024; The Pumpkinheads are back in the Village and looking forward to your visit. And, you’ll be able to drive through the Pumpkintown Forest again this year! Reservations required for the drive-through Pumpkintown Forest activity (what was formerly known as “The Ride”). Admission to the Village can also be purchased in advance online. 93 East High Street, East Hampton
Seymour Pumpkin Festival September 22nd, 2024; Carnival rides and games, kids’ activities, home-made crafts vendors, food, music, entertainment and more. French Memorial Park, 73 Spruce Street, Seymour
Durham Fair September 26th-29th, 2024; Live entertainment, rides and games on the midway, animal competitions and discovery events on the Corn Stalk Stage. Along with a trove of crafts, exhibits, shopping and fun food. Durham Fairgrounds, 24 Town House Road, Durham
Bristol Mum Festival September 27th-29th, 2024; Live music, food, kids’ zone, game booths, petting zoo, pony rides, hay rides, crafts, community vendors and more. North Main Street and the surrounding area, Bristol
Wee Faerie Village September 28th-October 3rd, 2024; Get ready to explore Yesterville: A Wee Old-Timey Town! Everyone has a history, including the wee faerie folk. Inspired by the living history museums in the human world such as Mystic Seaport, Greenfield Village, Sturbridge Village, and Colonial Williamsburg, Yesterville is just the place for the faeries to experience the joys of yesteryear. Florence Griswold Museum, 96 Lyme Street, Old Lyme
Southington Apple Harvest Festival October 4th-October 6th & October 11th-13th 2024; Over the course of two weekends each autumn, the festival offers a wide variety of live music & entertainment, food, contests, crafts, children’s activities, parade, arts & crafts show and more. 75 Main Street, Southington (Shuttle bus available from Southington High School at 720 Pleasant Street)
South Windsor Apple Harvest Festival October 5th, 2024; Craft vendors, tons of food trucks, kids’ activities, pony rides, live music, apple pie and more. Please consider bringing a non-perishable donation for the South Windsor Food Bank. Leashed and well-behaved dogs (& their owners) are welcome. 75 Brookfield Street, South Windsor
New Canaan Nature Center Fall Fair October 11th-13th, 2024; Join the New Canaan Nature Center for three days of traditional family fun at their Annual Fall Fair! Come and enjoy Carnival Rides, Crazy Maze, Zip Line, Apple Slingshots, Pumpkin Decorating, Spooky Stroll and so much more! Food, drinks, & snacks will be available for cash purchase as well. Rain or shine. 144 Oenoke Ridge, New Canaan
Scarecrows Along Main October 1st – October 31st, 2024; Come to the historic district of Wethersfield this October and see something spectacular! Scarecrows will be popping up alongside shops, restaurants, museums, colonial homes and more this fall season. Enjoy food and treats from local eateries as you stroll among these spooky, silly and whimsical creations! Main Street, Old Wethersfield (BONUS! OAAM post from the 2020 event)
Buell’s Orchard Harvest Festival October 12th & 14th, 2024; Festival activities include hayrides to apple and pumpkin picking, live music, a chicken barbecue, apple cider, donuts, face painting, and much more! A fun family time for all! 108 Crystal Pond Road, Eastford
Glastonbury Apple Harvest Festival October 18th-20th, 2024; A Best of Hartford 2023 winner! Three stages of live music, amusement rides, petting zoo, food purveyors, craft vendors, the Harvest Pub, and the Angry Orchard 5K Road Race on the festival’s closing day. Riverfront Community Center, Welles Street, Glastonbury (Shuttle bus available from Glastonbury High School, 330 Hubbard Street)
Putnam Pumpkin Festival October 19th, 2024; Celebrate The Great Pumpkin with over dozens of arts and crafts vendors, music, pumpkin features in specialty boutiques and food & drink specials in unique Putnam restaurants! Ride the train and spend the day Discovering Putnam. Downtown Putnam
Plainville PumpkinFest October 19th, 2024; Outdoor festival featuring a kids’ costume parade, kids’ games, a variety of food trucks, carve your own pumpkin, a haunted house and many local vendors. Plainville Municipal Center, 1 Central Square, Plainville
If you try out one of these fairs this fall, please let us know what you thought by leaving us a comment on this post! And if you have a favorite fair to add (for this year or next), please tell us that as well.
We look forward to continuing to expand this list to include all our reader favorites!
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The BEST place to go is fair weather grower’s fall festival in rocky hill! We go every year and it is amazing!
Thanks, Kaitlin! It’s been a while since our last visit there– we definitely need to check it out again! I’ll be sure to add that to our list 🙂