15 Best County Fairs Nearish to Boston: Fall 2026

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.&nbsp; Fairs are listed chronologically. by Celina Colby &amp; Yelena Nicolle Salvador <a href="https://joyraft.com/event/washington-county-fair-richmond-427838">Washington County Fair (Richmond, RI)</a> Date: August 12-16 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 (Hardwick, MA)</a> Date: August 14–15 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-140th-bolton-fair-lancaster-427292">The 143rd Bolton Fair (Lancaster, MA)</a> Date: August 14–16 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/the-158th-annual-marshfield-fair-2026-marshfield-1043068">The 158th Marshfield Fair (Marshfield, MA)</a> Date: August 21–30 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.&nbsp; <a href="https://joyraft.com/event/the-2023-spencer-fair-spencer-427189">Spencer Fair (Spencer, MA)</a> Date: September 3-7 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">The 209th 3 County Fair (Northampton, MA)</a> Date: September 4-7 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.&nbsp; <a href="https://joyraft.com/event/king-richard-s-faire-2023-carver-391157">King Richard's Faire (Carver, MA)</a> Date: September 9 – October 25 | Weekends only &amp; Select Mondays 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 177th Franklin County Fair (Greenfield, MA)</a> Date: September 10–13 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.&nbsp; <a href="o">The 68th Hillsborough County Fair (New Boston, NH)</a> Date: September 11–13 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, experience breathtaking fireworks, ride a pony, and see a giant pumpkin! <a href="https://joyraft.com/event/the-sterling-fair-sterling-391354">The Sterling Fair (Sterling, MA)</a> Date: September 11–13 Distance: 55.1 miles from Boston Details: Visit The Sterling Fair, which will feature sheep-herding demos, tractor pulls, fireworks, live music, and more in the action-packed fairgrounds. <a href="https://joyraft.com/event/granite-state-fair-2023-rochester-391347">Granite State Fair (Rochester, NH)</a> Date: September 17-20 &amp; September 24-27 Distance: 75.1 miles from Boston Details: The Granite State Fair has upped the ante of state fairs by offering a circus show and 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 18 - October 4 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 All Time Low and Ice Cube. 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/belchertown-fair-2023-belchertown-391350">The 167th Belchertown Fair (Belchertown, MA)</a> Date: September 25–27 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/the-deerfield-fair-2023-deerfield-391351">The Deerfield Fair (Deerfield, NH)</a> Date: October 1-4 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/2023-topsfield-fair-topsfield-391352">Topsfield Fair (Topsfield, MA)</a> Date: October 2–12 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>

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