Topsfield Fair 2026: Dates, Giant Pumpkins, and What to Expect
The Topsfield Fair runs Friday, October 2 through Monday, October 12, 2026 — eleven days at the Topsfield Fairgrounds, 207 Boston Street, Topsfield, Massachusetts.
It is one of the anchors of the New England fall calendar, and it has a longer institutional memory than almost anything else on it.
A fair with a 200-year paper trail
The Topsfield Fair is owned and operated by the Essex Agricultural Society, which held its first cattle show on October 5, 1820. For roughly a century the fair moved around Essex County before settling permanently in Topsfield in 1910. The Society marked its 200th anniversary in 2018.
That continuity shows up in the programming. Alongside the midway and the music, the competitive exhibit halls are still the structural centre of the thing — this remains an agricultural society's fair, not a carnival that happens to have livestock.
The Society also runs the Northeast Harvest buy-local program for Essex and Middlesex counties, and rents the fairgrounds year-round outside fair week.
The Giant Pumpkin Weigh-Off
Topsfield's best-known single event is the All New England Giant Pumpkin Weigh-Off, first hosted at the fair in 1984.
In 2012 the Weigh-Off became the site of the world's first one-ton pumpkin. That record has moved on since, as records do, but Topsfield is where the barrier fell — and the Weigh-Off remains the reason a certain kind of visitor makes the trip.
What's on the grounds
From the fair's own description, expect:
- Midway rides
- Farm animals and livestock exhibits
- Live music
- Fair food
- Competitive exhibits across the halls
Planning your visit
Dates are confirmed: October 2–12, 2026. Two things are worth flagging honestly:
- Admission pricing is not published in our listing. Gate prices, advance tickets and any discount days are on topsfieldfair.org.
- Daily hours are not published in our listing either. We don't print hours we can't source — check the official site rather than assuming last year's schedule carried over.
Eleven days is a long run, and the two weekends behave very differently from the weekdays in between. If you want the exhibit halls without the crush, a weekday visit is the move.
Pairing it with the rest of October
Topsfield sits in the densest fortnight of the New England season:
- Salem Haunted Happenings — all of October, roughly 20 minutes south. The single easiest pairing with Topsfield.
- The Big E — runs through October 4 in West Springfield.
- Deerfield Fair — October 1–4, just over the New Hampshire line.
- Fryeburg Fair — October 4–11 in Maine.
- Southington Apple Harvest Festival — October 2–11 in Connecticut.
Q: When is the Topsfield Fair in 2026?
The Topsfield Fair runs Friday, October 2 through Monday, October 12, 2026 — eleven days at the Topsfield Fairgrounds on Boston Street in Topsfield, Massachusetts.
Q: How much does the Topsfield Fair cost?
Admission pricing is not listed in our database. Current gate prices and any advance-ticket options are published on topsfieldfair.org.
Q: What is the Topsfield Fair known for?
The All New England Giant Pumpkin Weigh-Off, first hosted at the fair in 1984. In 2012 it was the site of the world's first one-ton pumpkin. The fair is also known for its competitive agricultural exhibits.
Q: How old is the Topsfield Fair?
The Essex Agricultural Society held its first cattle show on October 5, 1820. The fair moved around Essex County for about a century before settling permanently in Topsfield in 1910.
Related Reading
- Massachusetts Fairs & Festivals in 2026
- New England Fair Season 2026
- New England Fair Food Bucket List
- Best New England Fairs for Families with Kids
- Craft Fairs vs Agricultural Fairs: What's the Difference?
Last updated: September 2026
