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Fall Fairs and Festivals in the Hartford Area

9/22/15 - By Erin McNamee

There's nothing like fall in New England. The crisp air ushers in many time-honored traditions -- foliage hikes, apple picking, hay rides to pumpkin patches, and the start of the fall fair and festival season. Connecticut offers some of the best fairs in New England, filled with family fun and activities. Nothing is better than fried dough, midway games, rides, kettle corn, and the sweet stickiness of caramel apples and apple cider. Check out the options below along with our Halloween and Fall Fun Guide; with the variety of fairs offered in greater Hartford, there is something for everyone! 

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Sept.14-17: The Four Town Fair in Somers is a annual family favorite full of both agriculture and and midway attractions. The fair includes a classic car show, a doodblebug pull, pumpkin contest and several contests. 

Sept. 22-25: The Durham Agricultural Fair is Connecticut's largest fair. It features live entertainment, rides, games, animal competitions, and discovery events on the Corn Stalk Stage, along with crafts, exhibits, shopping and fun food.

Sept. 22-25: Bristol's annual Chrysanthemum Festival, in its 55th year, will feature a mum parade,car show, children's activities, an arts walk, craft vendors, a carnival, delicious food, and stage entertainment. Activities beginning at 5 p.m. Thursday and Friday, noon on Saturday and Sunday. The parade steps off Sunday at 1:30.

Sept. 30-Oct 2: The Berlin Fair, also one of Connecticut’s largest agricultural fairs, is a fun festival with your usual options of fair food, entertainment, and exhibits. Now in its 68th year.

Sept. 30, Oct. 1&2, Oct. 7-9: Named the "Best Fair" and "Best Local Event" in the 2016 Hartford Magazine poll, the Southington Apple Harvest is a much-anticipated festival that takes place over two weekends and features mouth-watering apple fritters. (The apple fritter booth is open during the week as well.) You will also find carnival rides, fireworks on the first Saturday, entertainment, a variety of food vendors, contests, a parade, and arts and crafts booths. There is a shuttle service available from Southington High School.

Oct. 14-16: Marking the end of the fall festival season is the  Glastonbury Applefest at Riverfront Park. Rated one of the top events in the state, each year, 15,000 attend the festival for the live music, 150 craft booths, a pie-eating contest and bake-off, amusement rides, pony rides, fireworks, 30 music bands, local beer and wine and bicycle scavenger hunt. Parking at Glastonbury High School.

Enjoy all that the fall fair and festival season has to offer!

Photo courtesy Four Town Fair, Somers

Originally published 9/4/14.

 

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