Southington Apple Harvest Festival 2026: Free, Huge, and Two Weekends Long
The Southington Apple Harvest Festival runs October 2–11, 2026 on the Southington Town Green in Southington, Connecticut — and it is free to attend.
2026 marks the 57th annual festival. It is one of New England's largest and longest-running fall events, drawing more than 100,000 people across two October weekends. Six festival days, no admission charge, on a town green.
What's there
- Craft show
- Carnival rides
- A parade
- Live entertainment
- Apple-themed foods — fritters, pie, candy apples
Check the official festival site for current hours and the day-by-day entertainment and parade schedule.
Two weekends, six days
The October 2–11 window is not a continuous ten-day run. The festival operates across two weekends for six festival days total. If you are planning a specific day, confirm it against the official schedule rather than assuming the grounds are open every day in that range.
Free admission changes the calculus
Most events at this scale charge at the gate. Southington does not, which has two practical consequences.
It is unusually easy to go twice. A short first visit on a quieter day costs nothing, so scouting the craft show before committing a Saturday is a genuinely viable plan.
Parking is the real constraint. With no gate to meter arrivals and 100,000+ visitors across six days, the bottleneck moves to the roads around the green. Arrive early on weekend days.
Q: When is the Southington Apple Harvest Festival in 2026?
October 2 through October 11, 2026, running across two weekends on the Southington Town Green in Southington, Connecticut.
Q: Is the Southington Apple Harvest Festival free?
Yes — it is a free-admission event. Carnival rides, food and craft purchases cost separately.
Q: How many people go to the Southington Apple Harvest Festival?
More than 100,000 across the festival's run, which makes it one of the largest fall festivals in New England.
Q: What is at the Southington Apple Harvest Festival?
A craft show, carnival rides, a parade, live entertainment, and apple-themed foods including fritters, pie and candy apples.
For vendors
A free-admission festival pulling 100,000+ visitors is an unusual footfall proposition for Connecticut makers — high volume, high browse-to-buy ratio, and a crowd that did not pre-commit money at a gate. Our booth display guide is worth a read for exactly that crowd profile, and how many items to bring matters at six days. Application details come from the festival directly.
Related Reading
- Connecticut Fairs and Festivals 2026: Your Complete Guide
- Berlin Fair 2026
- Hebron Harvest Fair 2026: Visitor's Guide
- How to Plan a New England Fair Season Road Trip
Last updated: August 2026
