15 Best County Fairs Nearish to Boston: Fall 2025

Fall is almost upon us and it’s the season of lots of wonderful things: pumpkins, apple picking, foliage, Patriots Season, and county fairs. There’s nothing quite like roaming the fairgrounds with friends (or your sweetie), snacking on fried dough, playing games, and riding the ferris wheel. Fairs are listed chronologically. by Celina Colby <a href="https://joyraft.com/event/the-140th-bolton-fair-lancaster-427292">The 142nd Bolton Fair (Lancaster, MA)</a> Date: August 8–10 Distance: 47.6 miles from Boston Details: This family-friendly fair prioritizes education, community, agriculture, and creativity. Visit a historic blacksmith’s shop, try your hand at a Human Rooster Crowing Contest, watch a hypnotist show, and more. <a href="https://joyraft.com/event/washington-county-fair-richmond-427838">Washington County Fair (Richmond, RI)</a> Date: August 13-17 Distance: 82.4 miles from Boston Details: Love roller coasters? The Washington County fair has you covered with the largest traveling roller coaster in New England. <a href="https://joyraft.com/event/hardwick-community-fair-hardwick-427839">Hardwick Community Fair</a> (Hardwick, MA) Date: August 15–16 Distance: 70 miles from Boston Details: The "Oldest Fair in the United States", established in 1762, features agricultural and creative exhibits, demonstrations, food, live music, children’s games, wagon rides, an antique tractor parade, and more. <a href="https://joyraft.com/event/the-155th-marshfield-fair-marshfield-427468">The 157th Marshfield Fair (Marshfield, MA)</a> Date: August 15–24 Distance: 29.7 miles from Boston Details: Explore beekeeping, woodcarving, and glassblowing at the Marshfield Fair, plus visit zoo animals, attend a quilting bee, and watch a puppet show. Keep an eye on the special events calendar for live concerts and a demolition derby.  <a href="https://joyraft.com/event/the-2023-spencer-fair-spencer-427189">Spencer Fair (Spencer, MA)</a> Date: August 29 – September 1 Distance: 57.3 miles from Boston Details: The Spencer Fair is a great example of the traditional, old-time county fair experience. You can watch ox and horse pulls, cattle, rabbit and poultry shows, visit hall exhibits, and experience midway and outdoor entertainment. <a href="https://joyraft.com/event/206th-three-county-fair-northampton-391156">3 County Fair (Northampton, MA)</a> Date: August 29 – September 1 Distance: 101 miles from Boston Details: The 3 County Fair is jam-packed with cool experiences, from tethered hot air balloon rides, demolition derbies, and live music to a King Arthur baking competition, horse wagon rides, and a cornhole tournament.  <a href="https://joyraft.com/event/king-richard-s-faire-2023-carver-391157">King Richard's Faire (Carver, MA)</a> Date: August 30 – October 19 | Weekends only Distance: 44.1 miles from Boston Details: Travel back in time to the age of ale and jousting at King Richard’s Faire. A crew of performers puts on a show to create a Renaissance themed world where you can eat period appropriate food, shop handcrafted goods, and watch spellbinding performances. <a href="https://joyraft.com/event/the-174th-franklin-county-fair-greenfield-391343">The 175th Franklin County Fair (Greenfield, MA)</a> Date: September 4–7 Distance: 93.8 miles from Boston Details: Family fun reigns at the Franklin County Fair, where you can watch pig races, an illusionist, high-jumping puppies, a cowboy circus, and demolition derbies all in one place.  <a href="https://joyraft.com/event/the-sterling-fair-sterling-391354">The Sterling Fair (Sterling, MA)</a> Date: September 5–7 Distance: 55.1 miles from Boston Details: Kick off your visit to The Sterling Fair with a pancake breakfast, build legos at the lego tent, watch tractor pulls, experience fireworks, and see a law sawing contest all in the action-packed fairgrounds. <a href="https://joyraft.com/event/hillsborough-country-agricultural-fair-2023-new-boston-391345">Hillsborough Country Fair (New Boston, NH)</a> Date: September 5–7 Distance: 50.9 miles from Boston Details: Livestock is at the heart of this classic county fair. Visit rabbit and sheep shows, watch oxen pulling, learn about wildlife encounters, and spectate an animal olympics. In addition you can see a battle of the bands and experience breathtaking fireworks. <a href="https://joyraft.com/event/granite-state-fair-2023-rochester-391347">Granite State Fair (Rochester, NH)</a> Date: September 11-14 &amp; September 18-21 Distance: 75.1 miles from Boston Details: The Granite State Fair has upped the ante of state fairs by offering more than 40 carnival and fair rides to the public. The bold can ride roller coasters all day long while more grounded visitors can snack on foods from local vendors. We just don’t recommend mixing the two. <a href="https://joyraft.com/event/the-big-e-2023-west-springfield-391349">The Big E (Springfield, MA)</a> Date: September 12–28 Distance: 93.3 miles from Boston Details: The Big E is one of the biggest and most exciting fairs in New England featuring musical acts like Ludacris and Big Time Rush. Shop the farmer’s market, go on rides, sip a brew at the Sam Adams Beer Garden, and watch the big parade that kicks off the fair. <a href="https://joyraft.com/event/the-deerfield-fair-2023-deerfield-391351">The Deerfield Fair (Deerfield, NH)</a> Date: September 25–September 28 Distance: 63.2 miles from Boston Details: This is the oldest fair in New England and it hasn’t lost a bit of charm over the years. Experience livestock shows, tractor and cattle pulls, magic shows, music, midway rides, the Miss Deerfield Fair Pageant, a pumpkin weighing contest, and more. <a href="https://joyraft.com/event/belchertown-fair-2023-belchertown-391350">Belchertown Fair (Belchertown, MA)</a> Date: September 19–21 Distance: 92.5 miles from Boston Details: Belchertown Fair is a community celebration of the region’s agricultural roots. In addition to showcasing their livestock and produce, the fair creates fun for all ages with adult and kid-friendly entertainment, a parade, and an exhibit hall of crafters and local organizations. <a href="https://joyraft.com/event/2023-topsfield-fair-topsfield-391352">Topsfield Fair (Topsfield, MA)</a> Date: October 3–13 Distance: 22 miles from Boston Details: You’ll never run out of fun at the Topsfield Fair where you can experience a series of dog-in-the-water events called “Dock Dogs,” a hot dog eating contest, a parade, live music, and more. They even have a sensory-friendly day for visitors with sensory sensitivities. Photo: Topsfield Fair by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BoaRzIqF3ID/">@derrickphotos_</a>

Greater Boston

Jasmine

Lindsey

Taylor

Ashley 

Dan Marcotte

S22: conversations

Wondering what to do in Boston? Places to eat? Free activities? Good for a group? Date night spot? Girls night out? The best things to do? Ask Joyraft!

Best places to go in Boston? Things to do? Places to eat?

Questions & answers about things to do in Boston

Recs 💬

Community recs 💬

S4: top picks

The most fun, cool and unique things to do in Boston. Can’t miss events, shows and experiences. Concerts, restaurants, bars, free things in Boston and beyond.

The most fun and cool events happening around Boston

Hot and new things to do in Boston

Hot & new

Hot & new 🔥

S11: happening this weekend

What to do in Boston this weekend? From festivals, concerts, performances, free events, screenings and more, Joyraft has the best things to do in Boston.

25+ things to do in Boston/Cambridge/Somerville this weekend

Things to do in Boston this weekend

This wknd

This weekend for you

S21: roundups

Our top picks: outdoor dining, free events, spring festivals, best bars, upcoming concerts, museum parties - the latest in and around Boston.  Slug: joyraft-top-picks-best-things-to-do-boston-ma

Top picks of the best things to do in and around Boston

Joyraft picks: Boston’s best things to do

Roundups ⭐️

Curated by Joyraft ⭐️

S28: calendar experiences

This week in Boston

This week in Boston 📆

This week 📆

S20: c+d experiences

Discover new, unique events and experiences happening in and around Boston. Perfect for date night, good for a group or with a friend. Be the first to know.

The newest events happening in and around Boston

The newest events on Joyraft

Just added

Just added to Joyraft

S16: editor picks

The most unique and can’t miss things coming up in Boston / Cambridge / Somerville and beyond. Festivals, food, drinks, fairs, concerts, art and free activities.

Unique and Can’t Miss Things to Do in Boston

Can’t-miss things to do in Boston 🚨

Can't-miss things to do 🚨

S2 (A): top experiences

The most popular things to do on Joyraft. Concerts, restaurants, bars, events, parties, openings, kid friendly, date ideas, free things in Boston and beyond.

Top 20 things to do in Boston

Top 20: Joyraft’s most popular

Top 20

Top 20 on Joyraft

S3 (A): trending experiences

Discover can’t miss events and things to do in Boston. The most fun, unique and cool events coming to the Boston area this spring and summer.

The hottest events happening in Boston

Trending events on Joyraft

Trending 📈

S17: interest based

Your guide to everything free in and around Boston. From events, to fairs, to festivals, to outdoors. Joyraft has all the free events happening near you.

100+ free things to do in Boston and beyond

Free things to do in Boston

Free things to do

S19: interest based

Kid-friendly events in Boston

S18: interest based

Where to eat and drink in Boston? Joyraft has Boston’s newest bars, restaurants and specials. Drinks and pre fixe dinner menus. Cambridge & Somerville too.

Boston Bars and Restaurants: Events and Openings

Food & drink experiences in Boston

Food & drink experiences 

Where

15 Best County Fairs Nearish to Boston: Fall 2025

Website

Where?