New England - Fairs and Festivals

Fairs and Festivals in New England

The fairs and festivals of New England offer a vast menu of live music, food, shopping, and entertainment for children and families in everey season of the year. Late summer into fall is the season for the agricultural fairs like The Big E and the Topsfield Fair in Massachusetts, the Fryeburg Fair in Maine, and the Brooklyn Fair in Connecticut. Tucked away in every corner of New England are the diverse one-day fests offering fine art, music of every style, hot air ballooning, Scottish Highland games, food of all descriptions, and more. For a complete list of Fairs and Festivals by state, go to Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, and Vermont.

Deerfield Valley Blueberry Festival
Boyd Family Farm, 125 E Dover Road
Wilmington, VT  05363
Phone: 802-464-5618

July 30- August 7, 2010

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Berries, vintage cars, music, food and tarp displays; if it’s blue, it’s probably happening in the Mount Snow area towns of Wilmington, Whitingham, and Dover. Visitors to the Valley will find children’s activities, jam making, blueberry themed specials in the local eateries, blue music events, a blue car auto show, blueberry bake sales, blue beer, and special Blues discounts at Mount Snow’s Golf Course as well as pick your own blueberry opportunities. Location: Various locations in Wilmington, Whitingham, and Dover. Information: 802-464-5618 or visit www.vermontblueberry.com.

Festival of the Islands
Routes 2 and 129 in Grand Isle County
Lake Champlain Islands, VT
Phone: 802-999-5862

July 30 - August 1, 2010

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The five towns of the Champlain Islands will be hosting this family-friendly event featuring numerous events in each town. Adults will enjoy concerts, flea markets, special retail events, wine tours and tastings, farm stands, yard sales, community meals in this gorgeous setting, while the children will love visiting our petting paddocks and seeing llamas and alpacas, having a picnic on a free admission day at Knight Point State Park, tasting our delicious Island Ice Cream, or seeing a puppet show. Maps listing times and locations of special events will be available throughout the Islands. Time: 8 a.m. - midnight. Cost: free. Information: 802-999-5862.

Gathering of the Vibes
Seaside Park, 1 Barnum Dyke
Bridgeport, CT
Phone: 203-908-3030

July 29 - August 1, 2010

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Gathering of the Vibes is an annual music, arts and camping festival now in its 15th year. Vibes has become the Northeast's preeminent music festival, springing from traditions born in the Grateful Dead community. This year’s festival features dozens of world-class performers including Further (featuring members of the Grateful Dead), Martin Sexton, Damian Marley, Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings, Primus, Little Feat, the Harlem Gospel Choir, and many more. Time: Gates open at 8 a.m. Thursday morning. Cost: $50 - $200. Information: 203-908-3030 or visit www.gatheringofthevibes.com.


Grecian Festival
Assumption of the Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church, 97 Walcott Street
Pawtucket, RI
Phone: 401-725-3127

August 20 - 22, 2010

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401-725-3127 Come enjoy the best of Greece in Rhode Island. Sample traditional Greek foods and pastries while you shop for Greek imports in our indoor Agora. Dance to the music of a live Greek band and enjoy the performances of a traditional Greek dance troupe wearing authentic ethnic costumes from Greece.
Time:Friday, 5 - 10 p.m.; Saturday, noon - 6 p.m.; Sunday, noon - 9 p.m.
Cost: free.
Information: 401-725-3127 or visit www.greekfestivalri.com.

American Folk Festival
Bangor Riverfront Parks
Bangor, ME  04401
Phone: 207-992-2630

August 27 - 29, 2010

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The festival offers music on four outdoor stages beside the Penobscot River featuring traditional sounds from performers throughout the U.S. Past festivals have brought gospel, Piedmont blues, Irish, Cajun, Jamaican reggae, Ethopian, salsa, and bluegrass music to the 100,000 people who attend each year. Festival goers can also enjoy traditional dance performances, folk and traditional arts exhibits, a craft marketplace, and regional foods like alligator nuggets, salmon on a stick, and southern-style BBQ. Cost: free. For information and schedule, visit www.americanfolkfestival.com. 

Bowdoin International Music Festival
Bowdoin College, 6300 College Station
Brunswick, ME
Phone: 207-725-3000

June 26 - August 7, 2010

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The Bowdoin International Music Festival brings renowned artist instructors, performers, soloists, and gifted pre-professional classical musicians from around the world to beautiful Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine each summer for six weeks of intensive chamber music study, collaboration, and performance. Musicians from groups such as the New York Philharmonic and Cleveland Orchestra, the Ying and Shanghai quartets, and major conservatories including Juilliard, Eastman, Indiana, Shanghai, and London’s Royal College collaborate with summer study participants and present more than 80 concerts each season in seven concert series. For full schedule and and tickets costs, visit www.bowdoinfestival.com.

Litchfield Jazz Festival
Kent School, 1 Macedonia Road
Kent, CT
Phone: 860-361-6285

August 6-8, 2010

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This weekend includes a Gala, the best in jazz, fine art, handmade crafts, food, student performances, after parties and more. The line-up features Dave Brubeck, Arturo O'Farrill, Béla Fleck, Zakir Hussain and Edgar Meyer, an All-Star Cannonball Adderley Tribute and much more. Time: see website for full schedule. Cost: $29 - $350. Information: 860-361-6285 or visit www.litchfieldjazzfest.com.

Mahrajan -- Manchester, NH
Our Lady of the Cedars Church, 140 Mitchell Street
Manchester, NH

August 21, 2010

Mahrajan (mah-ra-jan), the Arabic word for festival, is a celebration of Middle Eastern culture with food and the music of Lebanon. Enjoy lamb kabobs, falafel, tabbouleh and pastries, Arabic music and dancing, a gift bazaar, a wine tasting and activities for kids.
 Time: Saturday, noon to 9 p.m; Sunday, 1 to 7 p.m.
Cost: Admission is free.
 Information: www.mahrajan-nh.com.

Newport Folk Festival
Fort Adams State Park, 80 Fort Adams Drive
Newport, RI
Phone: 800-514-3849

July 30 - August 1, 2010

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The legendary Newport Folk Festival is an American tradition, delighting audiences with classic performances by both time-honored artists and new talent each year at beautiful Fort Adams State Park. This year’s line-up includes Andrew Bird, Blitzen Trapper, Brandi Carlile, Calexico, Horse Feathers, John Prine, Richie Havens, Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, The Low Anthem, Sarah Jarosz, and many more. Friday night’s concert will be held at the International Tennis Hall of Fame,194 Bellevue Avenue.
Time: Friday, 6:30 p.m. - 11 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 11:30 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Cost: adults, $69 in advance, $75 on festival weekend; youth ages 3 - 15, $15; children under 3, free; adult two-day pass, $125.
Information: 800-514-3849 or visit www.newportfolkfest.net.

Newport Jazz Festival
Fort Adams State Park, 80 Fort Adams Drive
Newport, RI
Phone: 800-514-3849

August 6 - 8, 2010

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Hailed by the New York Times as "the festival that put jazz festivals on the map," the Newport Jazz Festival was founded by Jazz pianist George Wein in 1954 as the first outdoor music festival of its kind devoted entirely to Jazz, and is now universally acknowledged as the grandfather of all Jazz festivals. This year’s lineup includes Herbie Hancock, Chris Botti, the Amina Figerova Sextet, Grace Kelly, JD Allen, Marshall Allen, Wynton Marsalis and many more. Friday night’s concert will be held at the International Tennis Hall of Fame at 194 Bellevue Avenue in Newport.
Time: Friday, 6 p.m. - 10 p.m.; Saturday, 11:30 a.m. - 7 p.m.; Sunday, 11:30 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Cost: Adults, $69 per day in advance, $75 per day on festival weekend; youth ages 3 - 15, $15 per day; children under 3, free; adult two-day passes, $125.
Information: 800-514-3849 or visit www.newportjazzfest.net.

Newport Winefest
Newport Yachting Center, 20 Commercial Wharf
Newport, RI
Phone: 401-846-1600

August 20 - 22, 2010

This one-of-a-kind event will offer an ultimate wine and food experience with tastings from hundreds of world - class wines, spirits, specialty beers and gourmet dishes prepared by the finest local and regional chefs.
Time: Friday, 6 - 11 p.m.; Saturday, 5 - 10 p.m.; Sunday, noon - 5 p.m.
Cost: $55 - $175.
Information: 401-846-1600 or visit www.newportyachtingcenter.com.

Pawtucket Arts Festival
Various locations
Pawtucket, RI
Phone: 401-724-5200

August 27 - September 12, 2010

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Enjoy one of Southern New England's premiere arts and entertainment extravaganzas, featuring cultural performances, live concerts, stage shows, craft bazaars and more.
Times and Costs: see event website for details.
Information: 401-724-5200 or visit www.pawtucketartsfestival.org.

Southern Vermont Garlic and Herb Festival
Route 9
Bennington, VT
Phone: 802-447-3311

September 4-5, 2010

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Garlic everything. Live music, education, demonstrations, herbal products, food, activities, fun. Time: 10-5 p.m. Cost: Adults, $5; children under age 12, $1. Information: www.bennington.com

Topsfield Fair
207 Boston Street, Route 1
Topsfield, MA  01983
Phone: 978-887-5000
Fax: 978-887-3016

America’s Oldest Fair!
October 1 - October 11, 2010

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The 191st annual Topsfield Fair will run from Friday, October 1, 2010 through Columbus Day, October 11, 2010. The country's oldest continuously operating county fair features family entertainment, agricultural exhibits including the New England Giant Pumpkin weigh-off on opening day, a premier fall flower show, poultry, fruit and vegetables, rabbits, 4-H, a draft horse show, horse and oxen pulling, pigs, goats, sheep, llamas and alpacas, the Essex County Farm Yard, a Farm/Fair Museum, Home Arts, art show and much, much more including the Fiesta Shows Midway.

Vermont Blues Festival
Mount Snow Resort, 39 Mount Snow Road
West Dover, VT
Phone: 800-245-7669

August 27 - 29, 2010

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The Vermont Blues Festival was started in 2009 and continues to grow this year, bringing a little bit of the south to the northern hills of Vermont. This year’s artists include James Armstrong, Johnny Winter, James Montgomery, and more. Time: Friday, 7:30 - 11:45 p.m.; Saturday, 1 - 9:30 p.m.; Sunday, noon - 8 p.m. Cost: NA. Information: 800-245-SNOW or visit www.mountsnow.com.

Yankee Homecoming 2010
Various locations throughout Newburyport
Newburyport, MA

July 25-August 1, 2010

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Weeklong festival with family fun, music, art, entertainment, food, fireworks, a parade and so much more; the very best Newburyport has to offer. Cost: Free Information: www.yankeehomecoming.com