Durham Fair
Fall festival · Durham · Connecticut
Connecticut's largest agricultural fair, four days of livestock judging, tractor pulls, and midway rides at the Durham fairgrounds. Food booths run by local nonprofits are as much a draw as the entertainment, and the exhibit halls fill with the county's produce, baking, and craft competitions.
Don’t miss
Plan your visit
106th Annual Durham Fair, September 24-27, 2026
Dates from the official announcement — always confirm before you go.
Color nearby peaks: October 21–October 25
Color builds from October 8 · mostly bare by November 14
Method: daily ERA5 temperatures drive a photoperiod + chilling phenology model, sampled at Durham Fair’s own coordinates and elevation (49 m) rather than a regional average. Estimates, not promises — check locally before you plan a trip around it.
Durham Fair on the map
More things to do in Connecticut
Kent Falls State Park
State parkPeak October 19
Connecticut's tallest waterfall drops 250 feet in a series of cascades over exposed bedrock, visible in full from a switchbacking trail that climbs alongside it, framed each October by the Litchfield Hills' turning oak and maple.
Don’t miss: 250-foot cascading waterfall · Trail climbs alongside the falls · Picnic grounds at the base
Gillette Castle State Park
State parkPeak October 24
Actor William Gillette, famous for playing Sherlock Holmes on stage, built this 24-room fieldstone castle above the Connecticut River in 1919, complete with hand-carved oak doors and a former narrow-gauge railroad grade, now trails through river-valley foliage.
Don’t miss: 1919 fieldstone castle with hand-built oak doors · Overlook of the Connecticut River valley · Grounds include former private railroad grade
Essex Steam Train & Riverboat
Scenic railwayColor nearby peaks October 26
A vintage steam locomotive pulls 1920s coaches from Essex through the lower Connecticut River valley, connecting at Deep River Landing to a riverboat cruise past Gillette Castle and the Goodspeed Opera House, a fall-foliage combination running since 1971.
Don’t miss: Vintage steam locomotive and 1920s coaches · Connecting riverboat cruise on the Connecticut River · Passes below Gillette Castle
B.F. Clyde's Cider Mill
Cider millColor nearby peaks October 25
The last steam-powered cider mill in the United States has pressed apples in Old Mystic since 1881, its 19th-century belt-driven press still running each fall. The mill sells sweet and hard cider, cider doughnuts, and pumpkins from a National Historic Landmark barn.
Don’t miss: Only surviving steam-powered cider mill in the US · National Historic Landmark, operating since 1881 · Cider-pressing demonstrations
Plan from a city
Frequently asked
- When is Durham Fair open in 2026?
- The 2026 season runs Sep 24 – Sep 27. 106th Annual Durham Fair, September 24-27, 2026. Dates can shift, so check the official site before you go.
- When does Durham Fair peak in 2026?
- Peak color is predicted for October 21–October 25 (best estimate October 23). Color starts around October 8 and is mostly bare by November 14.
- What is Durham Fair best for?
- A classic county fair near Middletown.
- How do I get to Durham Fair?
- Durham Fair is in Durham. The closest city is Hartford, about 20 mi away. It's part of Connecticut's fall lineup.
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