Summer and fall fairs – –The Fernald fair and the Big E immediately come to mind. Having spent the first 20+ years of my life in Baldwinville/Templeton, the Fernald Fair was an event we didn’t miss. My grandmother ‘Ma”, Violet Rose (Turgiss) Andrews was a cook at the Fernald School for 30+ years. One of these days I’ll write a story about her cooking. 🙂 Ma brought us cousins to the Fernald Fair every year–I remember tug of war contests, a greased pig event that I was glad I didn’t participate in, and costume contests.
One year I went prepared to win dressed as a clown, but it turns out it’s a bad idea to put a ton of Vaseline in your hair to achieve the look I was going for. My mother had to wash my hair with Dawn (takes the grease out of the way) MANY times to get me back to normal. The Fernald Fair went strong for 50 years, with the final one held in 2012.
We also went to the BIG E several times. The Eastern States Exposition is the largest agricultural event on the east coast and the only multi-state fair (all 6 New England states!) in the United States. I remember eating so much food, buying so many things I didn’t need, and so many animals, crafts, oxen pulls and so much good old country fun. I suggest that we go every year, but Jay grew up on a farm, and he’s not having it. If you’re so inclined, here’s a list of State and Local Fairs in Central Mass and beyond. I’d love to hear your feedback if you go to one!
Friday, July 25, 2025
12pm-7pm
Worcester County 4-H Fair
Spencer Fairgrounds
48 Smithville Road, Spencer
Saturday, July 26, 2025
9am-7pm
Worcester County 4-H Fair
Spencer Fairgrounds
48 Smithville Road, Spencer
Sunday, July 27, 2025
8am-5pm
Worcester County 4-H Fair
Spencer Fairgrounds
48 Smithville Road, Spencer
Thursday, July 31, 2025
8am-10pm
Cheshire Fair
Cheshire Fairgrounds
247 Monadnock Highway, Swanzey, NH
Friday, August 1, 2025
8am-10pm
Cheshire Fair
Cheshire Fairgrounds
247 Monadnock Highway, Swanzey, NH
Saturday, August 2, 2025
8am-10pm
Cheshire Fair
Cheshire Fairgrounds
247 Monadnock Highway, Swanzey, NH
Sunday, August 3, 2025
8am-8pm
Cheshire Fair
Cheshire Fairgrounds
247 Monadnock Highway, Swanzey, NH
Friday, August 8, 2025
12pm-9pm
The Bolton Fair
The Fairgrounds at Lancaster
318 Seven Bridge Road, Lancaster
Friday, August 8, 2025
12pm-9pm
The Bolton Fair
The Fairgrounds at Lancaster
318 Seven Bridge Road, Lancaster
Friday, August 8, 2025
4pm-7pm
The Middlefield Fair
Middlefield Fairgrounds
7 Bell Road, Middlefield
Saturday, August 9, 2025
9am-9pm
The Bolton Fair
The Fairgrounds at Lancaster
318 Seven Bridge Road, Lancaster
Saturday, August 9, 2025
8am-7:30pm
The Middlefield Fair
Middlefield Fairgrounds
7 Bell Road, Middlefield
Sunday, August 10, 2025
9am-6pm
The Bolton Fair
The Fairgrounds at Lancaster
318 Seven Bridge Road, Lancaster
Sunday, August 10, 2025
8am-6pm
The Middlefield Fair
Middlefield Fairgrounds
7 Bell Road, Middlefield
Friday, August 15, 2025
4pm-10pm
Hardwick Community Fair
Hardwick Town Common
242 Old Petersham Road, Hardwick
Friday, August 15 through Sunday, August 24, 2025
12pm-10pm
The Marshfield Fair
Marshfield Fairgrounds
140 Main Street, Marshfield
Friday, August 15, 2025
5pm-10pm
The Westfield Fair
Westfield Fairgrounds
137 Russellville Road, Westfield
Saturday, August 16, 2025
7:30am-7pm
Hardwick Community Fair
Hardwick Town Common
242 Old Petersham Road, Hardwick
Saturday, August 16, 2025
8am-10pm
The Westfield Fair
Westfield Fairgrounds
137 Russellville Road, Westfield
Sunday, August 17, 2025
8am-5pm
The Westfield Fair
Westfield Fairgrounds
137 Russellville Road, Westfield
Thursday, August 21, 2025
4pm-9:30pm
Annual Cummington Fair
Cummington Fairgrounds
94 Fairgrounds Road, Cummington
Friday, August 22, 2025
4pm-9:30pm
Annual Cummington Fair
Cummington Fairgrounds
94 Fairgrounds Road, Cummington
Friday, August 22, 2025
8am-6pm
Middlesex County 4-H Fair
Westford Fairgrounds
55 South Chelmsford Road, Westford
Friday, August 22, 2025
5pm-7pm
Ware Grange Fair
Ware Grange Hall
297 Belchertown Road, Route 9, Ware
Saturday, August 23, 2025
7am-9:30pm
Annual Cummington Fair
Cummington Fairgrounds
94 Fairgrounds Road, Cummington
Saturday, August 23, 2025
8am-6pm
Middlesex County 4-H Fair
Westford Fairgrounds
55 South Chelmsford Road, Westford
Saturday, August 23, 2025
9am-5pm
Ware Grange Fair
Ware Grange Hall
297 Belchertown Road, Route 9, Ware
Sunday, August 24, 2025
7am-7:30pm
Annual Cummington Fair
Cummington Fairgrounds
94 Fairgrounds Road, Cummington
Sunday, August 24, 2025
8am-4pm
Middlesex County 4-H Fair
Westford Fairgrounds
55 South Chelmsford Road, Westford
Friday, August 29, 2025
TBA
Three County Fair
54 Fair Street, Northampton
Friday, August 29, 2025
8am-10pm
The Spencer Fair
48 Smithville Road, Spencer
Saturday, August 30, 2025
8am-10pm
The Spencer Fair
48 Smithville Road, Spencer
Saturday, August 30, 2025
TBA
Three County Fair
54 Fair Street, Northampton
Sunday, August 31, 2025
8am-10pm
The Spencer Fair
48 Smithville Road, Spencer
Sunday, August 31, 2025
TBA
Three County Fair
54 Fair Street, Northampton
Monday, September 1, 2025
8am-5pm
The Spencer Fair
48 Smithville Road, Spencer
Monday, September 1, 2025
TBA
Three County Fair
54 Fair Street, Northampton
Thursday, September 4, 2025
3pm
The Franklin County Fair
The Franklin County Fairgrounds
85 Wisdom Way, Greenfield
Friday, September 5, 2025
3pm
The Franklin County Fair
The Franklin County Fairgrounds
85 Wisdom Way, Greenfield
Friday, September 5, 2025
12pm – 9pm
Hampton Beach Seafood Festival
Hampton Beach
Hampton Beach, Hampton, NH
Friday, September 5, 2025
5pm – 11pm
The Sterling Fair
Sterling Airport
121 Greenland Road, Sterling
Saturday, September 6, 2025
8am
The Franklin County Fair
The Franklin County Fairgrounds
85 Wisdom Way, Greenfield
Saturday, September 6, 2025
10am – 9pm
Hampton Beach Seafood Festival
Hampton Beach
Hampton Beach, Hampton, NH
Saturday, September 6, 2025
11am – 4pm
Sheffield Fair
Sheffield Town Park
53 Frederic Lane, Sheffield
Saturday, September 6, 2025
9am – 11pm
The Sterling Fair
Sterling Airport
121 Greenland Road, Sterling
Sunday, September 7, 2025
8am
The Franklin County Fair
The Franklin County Fairgrounds
85 Wisdom Way, Greenfield
Sunday, September 7, 2025
9am – 6pm
Hampton Beach Seafood Festival
Hampton Beach
Hampton Beach, Hampton, NH
Sunday, September 7, 2025
9am – 5pm
The Sterling Fair
Sterling Airport
121 Greenland Road, Sterling
Monday, September 12-28, 2025
8am
The Big E
1305 Memorial Ave. West Springfield
Saturday, September 13, 2025
10:30am – 6:45pm
Williamsburg Grange Community Fair
Williamsburg Grange Hall
10 Main Street, Williamsburg
Friday, September 19, 2025
4pm – 10pm
The Belchertown Fair
Belchertown Town Common
2 Park Street, Belchertown
Saturday, September 20, 2025
8am – 10pm
The Belchertown Fair
Belchertown Town Common
2 Park Street, Belchertown
Sunday, September 21, 2025
8am – 5pm
The Belchertown Fair
Belchertown Town Common
2 Park Street, Belchertown
Friday, October 3rd – Monday, October 13th
9am – 4pm
Topsfield Fair
Topsfield Fair Grounds
207 Boston Street, Topsfield
