'Tis the season for holiday fun and more things to do in Connecticut this weekend. Kid's Gingerbread House Decorating Workshop photo courtesy of Lyman Orchards
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Connecticut is full of happiness, joy, and free Christmas and holiday activities, like Santa at Cabela's Wonderland. Photo courtesy of Bass pro Shops
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Raise a hand if you're excited for the best holiday lights drive-thrus and Christmas light shows in Connecticut! Magic of Lights photo courtesy of the XL Center
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Get into the spirit of the season with holiday activities like Magic of Lights at Pratt & Whitney Stadium. Photo courtesy of XL Center
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Polar Express trains are coming to towns all over New England for Christmas 2024! Essex Steam Train Railroad photo courtesy of Mommy Poppins.
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Grab some friends for some birthday laps around the track. Photo courtesy of RPM Raceway
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By land, by sea, by river—however!— families are coming to the best Museums in Connecticut! Connecticut River Museum photo by Ally Noel for Mommy Poppins
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Flat walking trails make Wharton Brook State Park a sure bet for kid hikers. Photo by Mommy Poppins
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Bubbles are a classic free fun activity for Connecticut kids
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Tractor Pulls and Rodeos at These Connecticut Country Fairs

Photo Courtesy of the Guilford Fair
Photo Courtesy of the Guilford Fair
8/17/18 - By Clementina Verge

From exciting carnival rides, to petting zoos and fabulous (or wacky!) food, country fairs are often a family tradition and a childhood right of passage. Since Connecticut offers no shortage of them, choose a day (or days!) and gather family and friends for a rodeo or tractor pull, witness an irresistibly adorable pig race, or wear your stretchy pants for a one-of-a-kind pie eating contest. Whether you plan on spending the day in Goshen, the Haddam area, or venture to Brooklyn in the Quiet Corner of the state, you're sure to have a day filled with giggles, endearing animal encounters, and fireworks that light up the evening sky.

For even more ideas, check out our Event Calendar, the August GoList, and the Summer Fun Guide (there's still a little time left for that). For the latest and best family-friends events, follow Mommy Poppins on Facebook, Twitter, Instragram, and Pinterest. 

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Pie contests are extra delicious; photo courtesy of the North Haven Fair.
Pie contests are extra delicious; photo courtesy of the North Haven Fair.

August

Bridgewater Annual Country Fair

The Bridgewater Country Fair brings charm and heart to a traditional fair. Filled with activities and entertainment, amazing food, rides, games, music, livestock, shopping, arts and crafts, and contests. READ MORE

Hamburg Fair

Enjoy many agricultural traditions at this old-fashioned country fair that includes baking contests, pony rides, farm exhibits, animals, demonstrations, contests and games, a midway, and musical entertainment. READ MORE

Wolcott Country Fair

The annual extravaganza includes live entertainment, carnival rides, contests, pig racing, a petting zoo, concerts, and fireworks. READ MORE

The Brooklyn Fair

Make memories at one of the oldest continuously run fairs in the United States. Fireworks, baking contests, truck pull, racing pigs, animal competitions, and an entire kids' stage all await.  READ MORE

Annual Chester Fair

A member of the Association of CT Agricultural Fairs, the Chester Fair is a major annual regional fair, including livestock and agricultural competitions, animal shows and demonstrations, tractor pulls, a carnival midway, music, food, and more. READ MORE

Terryville Lions Country Fair

The annual Terryville Lions Country Fair includes hundreds of traditional agricultural activities, including animal judging, livestock competitions, cooking and baking contests, tractor pulls, demolition derby, racing, live entertainment, food, a carnival midway, and more. READ MORE
Horse-pulling entertains the crowds; photo courtesy of the Guilford Fair.
Horse-pulling entertains the crowds; photo courtesy of the Guilford Fair.

September

Woodstock Fair

It's a Labor Day tradition: the Woodstock Fairgrounds! Enjoy agricultural exhibits (including a birthing center where you can view a cow birth a calf right before your eyes!), animal and farm equipment competitions, entertainment, music, food, and carnival rides. READ MORE

Haddam Neck Fair

All weekend long, there will be rides, concessions, petting zoo, children's activities, agricultural contests, entertainment, and more. READ MORE

Goshen Fair

A great country fair with loads of animals, food, entertainment, and rides. Enjoy this Litchfield County Labor Day tradition that features fireworks, pie eating contests, a draft horse show, and a lumber jack contest.  READ MORE

Hebron Harvest Fair

One of the largest fairs in Connecticut, the Hebron Harvest Fair is an agricultural event that features animal displays, various food, animal pulls, truck pulls, country music, carnival midway, and something to do for the entire family.  READ MORE

Bethlehem Fair

Wear your cowboy boots to this agricultural fair in Bethlehem. Enjoy an oxen pull, wood chopping contest, draft horse pull, and lots of live music over three days. There's even an ag-Olympics! READ MORE

The Ledyard Fair

After some financial problems, the Ledyard Fair has bounced back with the usual pie eating contests, oxen pulls, horseshoe pitching, and celebrating the town of Ledyard...it's all at the Ledyard fair.   READ MORE

Wapping Fair in South Windsor

Head out and join the fun at the Wapping Fair where family fun abounds. Enjoy racing ducks and pigs, jugglers, acrobats, two stages filled with live music, carnival rides, food, and so much more. READ MORE

Four Town Fair in Somers

Music, entertainment and fun for the whole family at the annual Four Town Fair in Somers where you will find various agricultural contests, livestock competitions, music, jugglers, a midway and more. READ MORE

Orange County Fair

The annual Orange County Fair returns, featuring new carnival rides, a performance by the Anastasini Circus, monster truck shows, a petting zoo, fireworks, and more. READ MORE

Annual Berlin Fair

This annual event operated by the Berlin Lions Club features concerts, a rodeo, contests, juggling shows, animal shows, livestock competitions, tractor, and truck pulls, and more. READ MORE

Guilford Fair

Come to The Guilford Fair, Connecticut’s 2nd oldest agricultural fair.   READ MORE

Annual Durham Fair

In 1916, the Durham Fair began a tradition. That tradition continues today during the last full weekend in September when the fairgrounds come alive and magically transform into Connecticut’s largest agricultural fair. READ MORE
Photo courtesy of the Goshen Fair.
Photo courtesy of the Goshen Fair.

October

Portland Agricultural Fair

Three-day fair features rides, games, animal exhibits, a truck pull, talent show, live music, crafts, and much more!  READ MORE

Harwinton Fair

This annual event features rides, amusements, great food and merchandise, live music, draft horse displays, wood chopping competitions,  performing dogs, magic shows, and much more!  READ MORE

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