All of these events are done (obviously) for 2024 and as soon as they start posting their 2025 dates I will be updating this page… Bookmark this page and come back often to help plan your fall travels!
Fall Festivals are the highlight of a New England autumn!
Once September arrives, I love thinking about the many festivals and fall fairs that happen far and wide across New England. You may think that I as a photographer, wouldn’t have time for fall festivals but these are some of the best parts of autumn in New England and my wife and I will stop in when time permits to try a different festival each year.
I love everything about fall festivals or harvest fairs from getting a caramel apple to a huge roasted turkey leg and the 4-H events to the rides. What’s a better way to spend a warm sunny afternoon and finish with wonderful evening concerts?
No matter how you like to spend your vacation in New England (or a day trip with the family) how could you not enjoy an afternoon tasting the harvest flavors of New England? Apple and fruit pies of all descriptions and so many desserts that you will walk for hours to work off the delicious fall calories. But don’t worry! All these desserts only have fall foliage calories and they don’t count. 🙂
Here are a few of the big fall festivals that happen each year: UPDATED AS OF 9 APRIL 2025
Massachusetts
- The Big E – 12-28 Sept 2025 (FINAL)
- The Topsfield Fair – 3-13 Oct 2025 (FiNAL)
- King Richards Faire 30 Aug – 19 October 2025 (FINAL) Weekends only
New Hampshire
- Sandwich Fair 11- 13 October 2025 (FINAL)
- The Deerfield Fair – 25-28 Sept 2025 (FINAL)
- New Hampshire Pumpkin Festival 26 October 2024 (TBD)
- Hampton Beach NH Seafood Festival September 5th,6th, 7th, 2025 (TBD)
Vermont
- Chester on the Common,21 and 22 September 2024, (TBD)
- St. Johnsbury Fall Festival, 28 September 2024 (TBD)
- Tap to Table – an Autumn Market, Shrewsbury VT, 6 October 2024 (TBD)
- Fall for St. Johnsbury, Foliage train rides, 12 October 2024 (TBD)
The NEK fall festival page Includes
- Annual Burke Fall Foliage Festival! 28 Sept 2024 click for link (TBD)
- Northeast Kingdom Fall Foliage Festival (25 Sept – 1 October 2024 Check their listing for town dates)(TBD)
- here are the dates for the NEK festival
- festivals in the NEK Marshfield(), Walden(), Cabot(), Plainfield(), Peacham(), Barnet() & Groton()
Yes, they skipped the 1st of Oct… Don’t ask me… - Autumn on The Green Sunday, October 6th, 2024 (TBD)
- Great Vermont Corn Maze opens on 26 July 2025, (click to check dates and ticket price)
Maine
The Fryeburg Fair 29 Sept – 6 Oct 2024 (Final)
Rhode Island
Roger Williams Pumpkin Spectacular Sept – 31 Oct – 2 November (Final)
And these are just a few. but if you want a listing to see others here are a few I’ve come across.
- NH Association of fairs and expos. (Check for fairs all summer through the fall here)
- Maine Association of Agricultural
fair s (they show 24 fairs for 2022 on their page) - Fairs in Massachusetts (Blog articles on different events all summer into the fall)
Whenever you visit New England there will usually be at least one event somewhere. I’m building up my list now so you can plan accordingly. If you have a favorite and don’t see it in my list then, by all means, please send me a link to it and I’ll try to get it listed.
