The 2026 fall fairs in Massachusetts cluster on a few shared weekends. Spencer Fair, Blandford Fair and Three County Fair shared Labor Day weekend, September 4 to 7; Three County Fair was listed for the same dates, not confirmed for 2026. The Big E (September 18 to October 4) and Topsfield Fair (October 2 to 12) shared three days, October 2 to 4. Every fair that opened before October 2 had closed by October 4.
August
The weekend of August 14 belonged to two Worcester County fairs. Hardwick Fair (August 14 to 15) was listed as free and was held on the town common; its free admission and its 1762 founding year are unverified. Bolton Fair (August 14 to 16) cost $12 for adults and had a giant pumpkin weigh-off.
Marshfield Fair (August 21 to 30, on the South Shore) and Cummington Fair (August 27 to 30, in the Hampshire County hill towns) both charged $12 for adults, and Cummington’s four days were Marshfield’s last four. Marshfield dates to 1867 and had a demolition derby. Cummington had horse and ox pulls and a skillet toss.
Labor Day weekend
Spencer Fair was the priciest of the three at $18 for adults, and it was the one with a demolition derby and carnival rides across its four days, September 4 to 7. Blandford Fair in the Hampden County hill towns charged $12 and centered on ox and horse draws and a woodsmen's field day. Three County Fair in Northampton was listed at $12, with a professional rodeo; its 2026 dates were not confirmed.
September
Sterling Fair (September 11 to 13) was held the weekend after Labor Day at Sterling Airport. It was free, volunteers ran it, and it was billed as New England's largest free fair. The program had a horse show, a chainsaw carver and a fireworks finale.
The Big E (September 18 to October 4) in West Springfield ran seventeen days. Advance adult tickets were $17.50 on thebige.com.
October and November
Topsfield Fair (October 2 to 12) dates to 1818 and is organized by the Essex Agricultural Society. Advance adult tickets: $15, sold only before opening day. Ride tickets: an extra cost at both Topsfield Fair and The Big E.
Three free festivals on consecutive weekends. Sandwichfest (October 3) was a one-day street festival in Historic Sandwich Village, organized by the Sandwich Chamber of Commerce, with more than 80 vendors, food trucks and a dog parade. A week later: Ashfield Fall Festival (October 10 to 11, unverified), on Main Street in the Franklin County hill town, with juried artisans, a fiddle stage and a pie contest. Then Wellfleet OysterFest (October 17 to 18), built around shellfish, with shucking competitions and a road race.
The last on the list: America's Hometown Thanksgiving Celebration (November 21 to 22, unverified) in Plymouth, free, with a parade and a craft and food marketplace.
