Most Connecticut agricultural fairs are run by agricultural societies, Lions clubs or Granges. Agricultural societies stand behind the Goshen, Woodstock, Guilford, Harwinton and Brooklyn fairs, the Berlin, Hebron and Terryville fairs are Lions Club events, and the Lyme Grange runs the Hamburg Fair. A few have other organizers, such as the Chester Hose Company and the Wapping Fair Association. They range from one-day Grange fairs to four-day fairs with a grandstand and a midway.
Founding years
The Four Town Fair in Somers dates to 1838, the Harwinton Fair to 1853 and the Guilford Fair to 1859. The Durham Fair began in 1916.
What to Expect at a Connecticut Fair
The barns hold livestock, poultry and small animals, with 4-H shows at several fairs. Pulling competitions (oxen, horses and tractors), exhibit halls with vegetables, flowers, baked goods and crafts, a midway and food booths fill the rest of the grounds.
Some add a demolition derby or antique-engine displays. The Woodstock Fair had a midway and a demolition derby, and the Hebron Harvest Fair had a midway; both ran in September.
Fairs by Region
Litchfield Hills: Goshen, Bethlehem, Bridgewater and Terryville. Greater Hartford: the Berlin Fair, the Four Town Fair in Somers and the Wapping Fair in South Windsor.
New Haven County: North Haven, Orange and Wolcott. New London County: North Stonington, Lebanon and the Hamburg Fair in Lyme.
Grange & 4-H Fairs
Grange and 4-H fairs are smaller and center on judged competitions. The Cannon Grange Fair in Wilton, the Greenfield Hill Grange Fair in Fairfield and the Tolland County 4-H Fair in Vernon were listed as free. The 2026 dates for all three were not confirmed.
