‘From the Capitol’ Connecticut Fairs and Farms

As the summer months come to an end, we all begin thinking about the cooler weather, the fall foliage and, of course, fall family traditions like weekend trips around the state.

And as my family gets back into the busy school year and all the kid’s lacrosse and hockey games, we enjoy supporting our local farms. Throughout the fall we take time to visit local farms to pick apples, drink cider, wander through corn mazes, or experience a hayride.  These trips are a fun way to enjoy the fall season and an even better way to support our local family farms, businesses and economy.

Like me, I am sure many of you also make one of our state’s fairs an annual family tradition where you can enjoy food, rides, games, animals, music, art, local crafts and Connecticut culture.  To help guide you and your family, below is a list of upcoming fairs and dates around Connecticut.

Connecticut Fairs:
•    Goshen Fair September 3, 4 & 5, 2011 – www.goshenfair.org
•    Haddam Neck Fair September 2, 3, 4 & 5, 2011 – www.haddamneckfair.com
•    Taste of Litchfield Hills Food & Wine Festival September 3, 4 & 5 2011
•    Woodstock Fair September 2, 3, 4 & 5, 2011 – www.woodstockfair.com
•    Bethlehem Fair September 9, 10 & 11, 2011 – www.bethlehemfair.com
•    Granby Grange Agricultural Fair September 10, 2011 – www.ctstategrange.com/subgrangepage.asp?GrangeID=185
•    Hebron Harvest Fair September 8, 9, 10 & 11, 2011 – www.hebronharvestfair.org
•    Ledyard Fair September 9, 10 & 11, 2011 – www.ledyardfair.org
•    Killingly Grange Fair September 11, 2010 – www.ctstategrange.com/subgrangepage.asp?grangeid=47
•    Meriden Grange Fair September 10, 2011 – www.ctstategrange.com/subgrangepage.asp?GrangeID=192
•    Monroe Apple Festival September 10 & 11 2011 – www.stpetersonthegreen.com
•    North Haven Fair September 8, 9, 10 & 11, 2011 – www.northhaven-fair.com
•    Wapping Fair September 8, 9, 10 & 11, 2011 – www.wappingfair.org
•    Four Town Fair September 15, 16, 17 & 18, 2011 – www.fourtownfair.com
•    Guilford Agricultural Fair September 16, 17 & 18, 2011 – www.guilfordfair.org
•    Orange Country Fair September 17 & 18, 2011 – www.orangectfair.com
•    Wallingford Grange Fair September 17, 2011 – www.ctstategrange.com/subgrangepage.asp?grangeid=84
•    Cheshire Grange Community Grange Fair September 24 & 25, 2011 – www.ctstategrange.com/subgrangepage.asp?grangeid=26
•    Durham Fair September 22, 23, 23 & 25, 2011 – www.durhamfair.com
•    Hebron Renaissance Fair September 24 &25 2011 – www.ctfaire.com
•    Beacon Grange Fair September 26, 2010 – www.ctstategrange.com/subgrangepage.asp?grangeid=17
•    Berlin Fair September 30, October 1 & 2, 2011 – www.ctberlinfair.com
•    155th Harwinton Fair October 1 & 2, 2011 – www.harwintonfair.com
•    Portland Fair October 7, 8 & 9, 2011 – www.portlandfair.com
•    Riverton Fair October 7, 8 & 9, 2011 – www.rivertonfair.org

For additional information about these upcoming fairs and local farms, please visit the state Department of Agriculture website at www.ct.gov/doag.  Or for information about other family activities and adventures in Connecticut, I encourage you to go online and visit www.CTvisit.com or call 1.888.CTvisit. CT Visit is a site created by the Connecticut Commission on Culture & Tourism to help residents find fun in-state activities and travel deals.

I hope that you and your family find this information useful. Enjoy the local farms and fairs.