fairs Archives

A single tree covered in bright red autumn leaves stands in a grassy yard, surrounded by green foliage and a wooden fence. The vivid red color contrasts sharply with the surrounding greenery, capturing the early beauty of fall in New England.

Summer’s Last Hurrah

Here we are in the second half of August. Summer is winding down, and everyone is scrambling to squeeze in that last vacation, beach day, or backyard barbecue before school starts. Summer always feels too short — but the good news is that fall in New England has a special magic all its own.

The First Signs of Fall

Apple picking season arrives with pies, cobblers, crisps, and even apple pancakes. Cranberry bogs turn brilliant red as farmers flood the fields for harvest. Everywhere you look, there’s a sense of change in the air — and that brings us to one of the best parts of autumn: the fairs.

Cranberry Bog

The Big One: The Big E

Let’s start with the biggest fair of them all. The Big E, located in Springfield, offers a full 17 days of fair fun. Some years you’ll find camel and elephant rides for the kids. One year when I visited, the Budweiser Clydesdales led the parade — a sight you never forget. There’s so much to see and do, it’s practically its own season.

2026 Dates: September 18 – October 4

The Topsfield Fair

If that’s not enough for you, head to the Topsfield Fair — one of the oldest agricultural fairs in the country. They’re famous for their Giant Pumpkin Contest. In 2022, a record was set with a 2,480‑pound pumpkin grown in Tyngsboro, MA. That’s a lot of pumpkin pies.

2026 Dates: October 2 – October 12

More Great New England Fairs

Miss those two and you still have plenty to choose from. New England is packed with fall fairs, each with its own charm:

Fryeburg Fair (ME) – Early October
Deerfield Fair (NH) – Late September
Durham Fair (CT) – Late September
Franklin County Fair (MA) – Early September
Spencer Fair (MA) – Labor Day Weekend
Three County Fair (MA) – Labor Day Weekend

There’s truly something happening every weekend.

Specialty Fun: King Richard’s Faire

Now for the specialty faire — spelled with an e, of course. King Richard’s Faire is New England’s ultimate Renaissance experience. So my Lords and Ladies, dust off your swords and join the fun. Watch jousting and jugglers, enjoy turkey legs and mead, and step back in time for a day.

2026 Dates: August 29 – October 25

Food Festivals & Coastal Celebrations

Fall isn’t just about fairs — it’s also prime time for food and coastal festivals.

Bourne Scallop Festival

One of my favorites. It features one of my favorite foods — scallops. Succulent, deep‑fried, golden scallops. They also have craft booths, but let’s be honest… I go for the scallops.

Gloucester Schooner Festival

If you want boats and fireworks, this is the place to be. Historic schooners, races, and nighttime fireworks light up the harbor.

2026 Dates: September 4–7

Peak Foliage: Nature’s Grand Finale

And just wait for that burst of color from the trees. Fall foliage usually peaks around mid‑October in southern New England, but it depends on where you are. Farther north — say in Maine — peak color can arrive as early as late September. Plan accordingly if you’re chasing the brightest leaves.

Welcome to Fall in New England

It’s a busy, beautiful season filled with fairs, festivals, food, and foliage. Whether you’re apple picking, wandering a fairground, or watching the trees turn gold, fall in New England never disappoints.

Yes it was on my calendar. It was in the books. It was a plan…but I blew it.

The day dawned overcast and the remnant of a rainstorm was puddled on the deck.

The first problem was that I over slept. The wee early hours of the last 2 days had done me in. Still I figured if I got underway by 9 am I could still be out to Springfield by 11:00 am which is opening time and the Big E didn’t close until 10 pm. Plenty of time to explore.

maxine on waking up in the mornings

I could buy my ticket online but if I stood in line I could get a senior discount, $12.00 instead of $15.00 but I have to remember that parking isn’t free. If I can get into their lot it will be $10.00/ day but if their lot is full I will be at the mercy of the “IO”. (independent operators) .

I was still feeling tired after my “wake up” shower so I ran out for breakfast and a stop at the store. Then I filled the gas tank. Even at $3.17/ gal. it took $32.00 to fill ‘er up. I was a bit surprised about that because I still had almost 1/2 tank according to my gas gauge.

Then I started thinking about the best way to get there. I was going to detour to Bass Pro Shops in Foxboro to see how their Cranberry Bog was doing but now that I had a late start that didn’t seem to be a good use of time.

Anyway, by the time I got through “discussing” this with myself I realized that I just didn’t want to go. I wanted to go to The Big E. I just didn’t want to go today. It was muggy and oppressive and overcast. Just a dreary kind of day.

The BIG E is a huge fair. It’s real name is Eastern States Exposition. It covers 175 acres and represents the New England States. The fair was founded in 1916 when it was primarily agricultural based. That is still the main function but there are also entertainers, horse shows and I imagine a midway. I was hoping to get some great photos to add to my portfolio.

But as I stood there pumping gas I realized that I was still very tired. If I drive all that way out there I want to enjoy myself and right then I really only wanted to go back to bed. 🙂 So you know what? That’s what I did, call me a lazy bum but life is too short. Sometimes you just need to slow down and kick back a little. The Big E will be there next year. I’ve never been so I guess you could say I’ve missed the last 60 years so what’s one more ?