In 1916 the Durham Fair began a tradition. That tradition continues today during the last full weekend in September when the fairgrounds come alive and magically transform into Connecticut's largest agricultural fair. Come visit the Durham Fair and you'll see what a real fair is all about. Live entertainment, rides and games on the Midway, first-class animal competitions and discovery events on the Corn Stalk Stage.
Along with a trove of crafts, exhibits, shopping and fun food. Yum! The Durham Fair is easy to reach yet hard to leave. We know you will have a great time! The Durham Fair is owned and operated by the Durham Agricultural Fair Association, Inc., and is a private, not-for-profit corporation. The Durham Fair is one of the largest fairs in North America managed entirely by unpaid volunteers.
Along with a trove of crafts, exhibits, shopping and fun food. Yum! The Durham Fair is easy to reach yet hard to leave. We know you will have a great time! The Durham Fair is owned and operated by the Durham Agricultural Fair Association, Inc., and is a private, not-for-profit corporation. The Durham Fair is one of the largest fairs in North America managed entirely by unpaid volunteers.
Services
We celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the town "Grange" meeting that started the Durham Fair tradition we know and love today! Video produced by Ryan Donecker, Matt, Woznyk and Flynn Molkenthin of CRHS. At subsequent meetings, it was voted to make the general admission fee 25 cents for adults and 10 cents for children ages 5 to 14 and to allow schoolchildren to exhibit in Town Hall free of charge.
There are several ATMs located on the fairgrounds. Due to the large volume of use during the fair, funds in the ATM's can occasionally be diminished. The 2021 Durham Fair Map and the Daily Schedule are great tools to help you plan your visit to the Durham Fair. The first aid station is located on the fairgrounds at the area usually used for the Main Stage (above the roller coaster) and is staffed during the hours of the fair by medical personnel.
PLEASE NOTE: For the safety of our volunteers and fairgoers, masks will be required on bus transportation for everyone whether vaccinated or unvaccinated. Parking in the Durham Fair operated lots is $5 per day/single entry (OR $10 for unlimited entry during the fair weekend with advance purchase). There is no visitor parking available directly on the fairgrounds.
Ongoing exhibits and demonstrations of early farm life, continuous blacksmith demonstrations. In addition, 3 times daily, pulley-driven antique farm equipment demonstrations, including corn grinders, hay press, lime crusher, corn chopper, wood saw, shingle mill and lunger engine. Ongoing activities include corn crib, bubbles, photo opportunities and more with prizes all day!
Whether it's the thrill of competition, the prize money, winning that coveted blue ribbon, or perhaps a Best in Show rosette, every exhibitor has their own reason for entering. We thank all of our exhibitors, past and present, for sharing the results of their efforts and talents. We encourage everyone, especially those who have never exhibited, to give it a try this year!
Reviews (25)
Joe B.
Dec 27, 2021
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This is a DRY fair! No alcohol sold/served or allowed inside. I think someone must've ruined it for the rest of us. Nonetheless it's a ton of fun, lots of games, animals, agriculture and most of all food! Everything from Jamaican beef patties, loaded baked potatoes, and even bbq and cheesesteaks to go with you demolition derby bumper cars and races! So much fun. If they ever to allow alcohol back I guarantee they'll make a TON of extra money to go back into the fair and town. Good luck with parking or get a friend who lives close by!
Joe G.
Sep 28, 2019
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Peter Brandolini
Jun 28, 2019
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Very well manager, reasonably priced, and enough variety for all. The permanent structures on site have well cared for bathrooms for the large crowds and there were plenty of porta potties to fill in the gaps including along popular walking routes to parking and at the bus lots as well. Overall activities tend to start on time and the volunteers were quite friendly and helpful.
Sandi Manna
Jun 07, 2019
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Katherine A.
Dec 26, 2018
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Always a great time. Good food. Fun games and a few rides. I did feel the livestock wasn't as much or good as in past but still good for kids. Cool that a calf was born there. Only negative the people not the workers the people that came. sad place we live in everyone's miserable mean and entitled no respect or common courtesy so we saw what we could and left. People ruin the moment the experience
Becky B.
Oct 31, 2018
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John C.
Sep 29, 2018
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Jay O.
Dec 28, 2017
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Keep meaning to review my first visit to the Durham fair this past fall. It's in a great rural CT location, yet not far off the beaten path. It's deceiving when you walk in as it is much larger than I first expected. Their are a wide variety of farm animals, games, rides and an excellent, diverse food selection. The thing that stood out most to me was that it was very clean, as far as fairs go. I have been to the Big E multiple times and nearly always feel like it's not worth the hassle. The Durham fair gives you a smaller version of everything you can get at the Big without the
Antonio D.
Oct 01, 2017
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It is a fair. We went on Saturday during a warm summery day. So crowded. Normal fair food distribution. The fair grounds are hilly. I like the hill, it gives you perspective. Workers were trying really hard, but with record crowds they could not keep up with the trash and many stalls were selling out of popular items.
We parked off site in a farmers field. Short walk and we were there.
All the fair smells are there. Fried dough, animal. Grilled meat. Hay.
We toured all the animal and craft pavilions. We stayed for the entertainment.
PAT BENATAR AND NEIL GERALDO!!!!!!They were great. The
We parked off site in a farmers field. Short walk and we were there.
All the fair smells are there. Fried dough, animal. Grilled meat. Hay.
We toured all the animal and craft pavilions. We stayed for the entertainment.
PAT BENATAR AND NEIL GERALDO!!!!!!They were great. The
Bill H.
Sep 24, 2017
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Carly A.
Sep 10, 2017
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This may be the most attended fair in CT, but that isn't necessarily a good thing. 2 years ago, I posted a review on Facebook stating some of these same things, and I got bombarded with insults. Regardless, my opinion hasn't changed. Here we go...
1. Parking is crazy. For this fair, you will most likely need to park in a dusty cornfield a ways away from the fair and take a shuttle bus. When you get back to your car, it will be covered in dirt.
2. It is CROWDED. Yes, it is the most attended agricultural fair in CT, which means you can barely move from place to place here. You spend a
1. Parking is crazy. For this fair, you will most likely need to park in a dusty cornfield a ways away from the fair and take a shuttle bus. When you get back to your car, it will be covered in dirt.
2. It is CROWDED. Yes, it is the most attended agricultural fair in CT, which means you can barely move from place to place here. You spend a
William Hawthorn
Jan 04, 2017
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This is the first time I have written a review for a fair. But after my experience I felt it was something I had to do. I had to work all weekend and decided to go walk around at 5PM on Sunday to only be charged $13 for the last two hours of the day (after paying $10 for parking). All my life I felt this was a good family fair. I have not been there of about 5 years to only feel it is a commercial enterprise. Seems like it is too expensive only because the whole place was food vendors. What happened to the multiple craft tents, and the tents for home products. And no car dealers? Way disappoint
Jonathan Birdsey
Dec 12, 2016
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Durham fair is still really good - it is a large fair with good food and a large midway. The fair always falls on the last full weekend in September. While it is still populated with local crafts and booths run by local organizations, the small town feel has eroded over the last 20 years or so. The old wooden barns were replaced with nice clean new metal structures. Other older fair buildings were lost to collapsed roofs from heavy winter snow, and replaced with newer buildings that have less character. Even more metal buildings were erected to house the commercial vendor spaces. The fair has been
Brenda Addison
Nov 24, 2016
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This use to be my favorite fair to go to! But after my experience yesterday I will not be back. It was over crowded, dangerous for little kids, no one cared if you had kids, the wait time to leave was disgusting. They need to know how many people they have in the place. And had to pay for parking never had to in years. One of my worst experiences!
Chris M.
Oct 03, 2016
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One of the best agricultural fairs in Connecticut. So many animals, music, food, and fun things for the whole family! The traffic this year was not as bad as the years past. Plenty of detours to take to get around that Main Street. The crafts, collections, all those things are so much fun to look at. We love goin but every year! We always go in the early morning hours to avoid the crowds in the afternoon.
Jack S.
Sep 27, 2016
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Tickets were $13 a piece online and I paid $5 for the privilege to park my vehicle a mile away in a dusty farm lot and to be crammed into a school bus with cute yuppy J Crew wearing families and carted to the fair grounds. Everything was surprisingly well orchestrated and everyone actually behaved in a civilized, respectful manner.
Lots of awesome stinky animals to admire but the area is very crowded, and I'm sure the poor creatures are mildly stressed by tiny toddlers screaming for a better look. I always love the beautiful award-winning veggie section but the baked goods section just makes
Lots of awesome stinky animals to admire but the area is very crowded, and I'm sure the poor creatures are mildly stressed by tiny toddlers screaming for a better look. I always love the beautiful award-winning veggie section but the baked goods section just makes
Meghana A.
Sep 24, 2016
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Durham fair not as extravagant at the big E but definitely more homey and community centered.
Tip: Tickets on the day of fair are a few bucks more ($13) and in addition 10$ for parking.... But if you were to buy it a couple of days before the fair online it 10$ per person and includes free parking.
What comes to mind when you think of the fair- food, rides, games, music, farm animals, craft stalls, competitions ... At Durham it's no different it's all that and more... There is something fun for everyone ... Despite how old you are, your sure to become a child for the day..... My favorite
Tip: Tickets on the day of fair are a few bucks more ($13) and in addition 10$ for parking.... But if you were to buy it a couple of days before the fair online it 10$ per person and includes free parking.
What comes to mind when you think of the fair- food, rides, games, music, farm animals, craft stalls, competitions ... At Durham it's no different it's all that and more... There is something fun for everyone ... Despite how old you are, your sure to become a child for the day..... My favorite
Amanda L.
Oct 04, 2015
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What I think about my first time at the Durham Fair? Yay! it's got a lot more food, animals, rides, etc than the Berlin Fair but not as much variety as The Big E. This is the perfect medium when you are from CT and don't want to venture all the way to the Big E but still want the calorie dense goodness, animals, contests, and amenities of a good ol' fair!
The price of food here is just as expensive as other fairs ($6 for fried candy bar or sour cream and chive loaded baked potato) and the food is a hit or miss so make careful vendor selections cause they have a LOT. They even have
The price of food here is just as expensive as other fairs ($6 for fried candy bar or sour cream and chive loaded baked potato) and the food is a hit or miss so make careful vendor selections cause they have a LOT. They even have
Jason M.
Sep 30, 2015
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I believe it's Connecticut's most attended fair. And it' very nice. Tractor pull, tons of animals, ridiculous food combinations (fried [insert thing that should never ever be fried here], or chocolate-covered [insert... you get the idea]). It's what you expect.
Aaaaand it's not as good as the Berlin Fair. While I think the Durham Fair covers more acreage, the Berlin Fair is more exciting. For instance, where the heck was the BOOZE? The Berlin Fair surely has at least a few places to get it. We toured the whole property, and none to be found! Not that I'm a alcohol
Aaaaand it's not as good as the Berlin Fair. While I think the Durham Fair covers more acreage, the Berlin Fair is more exciting. For instance, where the heck was the BOOZE? The Berlin Fair surely has at least a few places to get it. We toured the whole property, and none to be found! Not that I'm a alcohol
Lesley M.
Sep 27, 2015
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Last night was my first time at the Durham Fair in about 10 years. Growing up in Guilford, I would go to Durham Fair because it was much more superior than the Guilford Fair. Not much had changed except the local vendor section used to sell higher quality jewelry, but that was okay because I did not spend any money.
My husband and I normally go the Berlin Fair, as we are residents of Berlin, but I'm working next weekend and won't be able to make the Berlin Fair. Since we love fairs and are anti-Big Eers, we decided to go since I had yesterday off.
However, the food was AMAZING and
My husband and I normally go the Berlin Fair, as we are residents of Berlin, but I'm working next weekend and won't be able to make the Berlin Fair. Since we love fairs and are anti-Big Eers, we decided to go since I had yesterday off.
However, the food was AMAZING and
David P.
Oct 03, 2014
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Jason K.
Sep 27, 2014
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Visit was okay.
Cost $10 to park if you find the right place and $13 a person to get in.
Overcrowded and you could not really touch any of the animals. There were shows going on for the animals but I had no idea what they were about. People were clapping during the llama show. Apparently it is very difficult for a llama to walk through water? O.o.
Of course the food and souvenirs were overpriced so I just went for the classic fair food (already felt i spent enough on the entrance fee and parking....). Unlike other fairs, this one did not have decorating contests (cake, pie, etc.) or other unique
Cost $10 to park if you find the right place and $13 a person to get in.
Overcrowded and you could not really touch any of the animals. There were shows going on for the animals but I had no idea what they were about. People were clapping during the llama show. Apparently it is very difficult for a llama to walk through water? O.o.
Of course the food and souvenirs were overpriced so I just went for the classic fair food (already felt i spent enough on the entrance fee and parking....). Unlike other fairs, this one did not have decorating contests (cake, pie, etc.) or other unique
Evan M.
Oct 03, 2013
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The fair was a lot of fun. It was my first time there, and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. The fair is basically broken up into four sections: food, animals, midway, and concert. There are a ton of food vendors selling anything and everything you could ever dream up. Most of it is traditional fair food, and is not healthy so be prepared.
If seeing animals is your thing, there are plenty to see.
Next is the midway. There are a ton of rides and games, just like a carnival. You buy tickets at a booth and then use them for the rides. It's quite expensive at $3-$6 per ride. I think the
If seeing animals is your thing, there are plenty to see.
Next is the midway. There are a ton of rides and games, just like a carnival. You buy tickets at a booth and then use them for the rides. It's quite expensive at $3-$6 per ride. I think the
Sarah C.
Sep 30, 2012
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My boyfriend is from Durham, and this is the first year he finally took me to his hometown's annual fair. My group was on a mission; to eat as many fried-fatty foods as possible.. It was very easy there!! I started off with a steamed cheeseburger, a CT thing I've always wanted to try.. It was amazinggggg!!!! Other delights included a Lime Rickey, corn dog, root beer float, funnel cake, pig mac( pulled pork samwich w. Mac and cheese) and a chocolate covered rice crispie treat. We walked around, checked out all the animals (llamas, sheep, bunnies and ducks were my favs) and looked in the
Dave D.
Sep 23, 2011
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The Best damn fair in Connecticut, maintains the old style country fair of days gone by.
Plenty of local organizations with great food raising funds. There re also the professional variety vendors offering turkey legs or fried twinkies, and rides for the kids. Plenty of games to play and animals to see.
Even with heavy rain today it's great and less crowded.
Plenty of local organizations with great food raising funds. There re also the professional variety vendors offering turkey legs or fried twinkies, and rides for the kids. Plenty of games to play and animals to see.
Even with heavy rain today it's great and less crowded.
