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 14, 2026
TBA
The Bolton Fair
The Fairgrounds at Lancaster
318 Seven Bridge Road, Lancaster
Friday, August 14, 2026
4pm-7pm
The Middlefield Fair
Middlefield Fairgrounds
7 Bell Road, Middlefield
Friday, August 14, 2026
TBA
Hardwick Community Fair
Hardwick Town Common
242 Old Petersham Road, Hardwick
Saturday, August 15, 2026
TBA
The Bolton Fair
The Fairgrounds at Lancaster
318 Seven Bridge Road, Lancaster
Saturday, August 15, 2026
TBA
Hardwick Community Fair
Hardwick Town Common
242 Old Petersham Road, Hardwick
Saturday, August 15, 2026
8am-7:30pm
The Middlefield Fair
Middlefield Fairgrounds
7 Bell Road, Middlefield
Sunday, August 16, 2026
TBA
The Bolton Fair
The Fairgrounds at Lancaster
318 Seven Bridge Road, Lancaster
Sunday, August 16, 2026
8am-6pm
The Middlefield Fair
Middlefield Fairgrounds
7 Bell Road, Middlefield
Friday, August 21 through Sunday, August 30, 2026
12pm-10pm
The Marshfield Fair
Marshfield Fairgrounds
140 Main Street, Marshfield
Friday, August 21, 2026
5pm-10pm
The Westfield Fair
Westfield Fairgrounds
137 Russellville Road, Westfield
Saturday, August 22, 2026
8am-10pm
The Westfield Fair
Westfield Fairgrounds
137 Russellville Road, Westfield
Sunday, August 23, 2026
8am-5pm
The Westfield Fair
Westfield Fairgrounds
137 Russellville Road, Westfield
Thursday, August 27, 2026
TBA
Annual Cummington Fair
Cummington Fairgrounds
94 Fairgrounds Road, Cummington
Friday, August 28, 2026
TBA
Annual Cummington Fair
Cummington Fairgrounds
94 Fairgrounds Road, Cummington
Friday, August 28, 2026
TBA
Middlesex County 4-H Fair
Westford Fairgrounds
55 South Chelmsford Road, Westford
Friday, August 28, 2026
TBA
Ware Grange Fair
Ware Grange Hall
297 Belchertown Road, Route 9, Ware
Saturday, August 29, 2026
TBA
Annual Cummington Fair
Cummington Fairgrounds
94 Fairgrounds Road, Cummington
Saturday, August 29, 2026
TBA
Middlesex County 4-H Fair
Westford Fairgrounds
55 South Chelmsford Road, Westford
Saturday, August 29, 2026
TBA
Ware Grange Fair
Ware Grange Hall
297 Belchertown Road, Route 9, Ware
Sunday, August 30, 2026
TBA
Annual Cummington Fair
Cummington Fairgrounds
94 Fairgrounds Road, Cummington
Sunday, August 30, 2026
TBA
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, September 4, 2026
TBA
The Spencer Fair
48 Smithville Road, Spencer
Saturday, September 5, 2026
TBA
The Spencer Fair
48 Smithville Road, Spencer
Saturday, August 30, 2025
TBA
Three County Fair
54 Fair Street, Northampton
Sunday, September 6, 2026
TBA
The Spencer Fair
48 Smithville Road, Spencer
Sunday, August 31, 2025
TBA
Three County Fair
54 Fair Street, Northampton
Monday, September 7, 2026
TBA
The Spencer Fair
48 Smithville Road, Spencer
Monday, September 1, 2025
TBA
Three County Fair
54 Fair Street, Northampton
Thursday, September 10, 2026
3pm
The Franklin County Fair
The Franklin County Fairgrounds
85 Wisdom Way, Greenfield
Friday, September 11, 2026
3pm
The Franklin County Fair
The Franklin County Fairgrounds
85 Wisdom Way, Greenfield
Friday, September 11, 2026
TBA
Hampton Beach Seafood Festival
Hampton Beach, Hampton, NH
Friday, September 11, 2026
5pm – 11pm
The Sterling Fair
Sterling Airport
121 Greenland Road, Sterling
Saturday, September 12, 2026
8am
The Franklin County Fair
The Franklin County Fairgrounds
85 Wisdom Way, Greenfield
Saturday, September 12, 2026
TBA
Hampton Beach Seafood Festival
Hampton Beach, Hampton, NH
Saturday, September 12, 2026
TBA
Sheffield Fair
Sheffield Town Park
53 Frederic Lane, Sheffield
Saturday, September 12, 2026
9am – 11pm
The Sterling Fair
Sterling Airport
121 Greenland Road, Sterling
Saturday, September 12, 2026
TBA
Williamsburg Grange Community Fair
Williamsburg Grange Hall
10 Main Street, Williamsburg
Sunday, September 13, 2026
8am
The Franklin County Fair
The Franklin County Fairgrounds
85 Wisdom Way, Greenfield
Sunday, September 13, 2026
TBA
Hampton Beach Seafood Festival
Hampton Beach, Hampton, NH
Sunday, September 13, 2026
9am – 5pm
The Sterling Fair
Sterling Airport
121 Greenland Road, Sterling
Friday, September 18 – Sunday, October 4, 2026
8am
The Big E
1305 Memorial Ave. West Springfield
Friday, September 25, 2026
TBA
The Belchertown Fair
Belchertown Town Common
2 Park Street, Belchertown
Saturday, September 26, 2026
TBA
The Belchertown Fair
Belchertown Town Common
2 Park Street, Belchertown
Sunday, September 27, 2026
TBA
The Belchertown Fair
Belchertown Town Common
2 Park Street, Belchertown
Friday, October 2 – Monday, October 12, 2026
TBA
Topsfield Fair
Topsfield Fair Grounds
207 Boston Street, Topsfield
