Topsfield Fair 2026: Eleven Days in October, Running Since 1820
The Topsfield Fair runs October 2–12, 2026 — eleven days at the Topsfield Fairgrounds on Boston Street in Topsfield, Massachusetts.
It is owned and operated by the Essex Agricultural Society, which held its first cattle show on October 5, 1820. The fair travelled around Essex County for roughly a century before settling permanently in Topsfield in 1910, and the Society marked its 200th anniversary in 2018. That lineage is why the agricultural programme still feels like the centre of the thing rather than a sideshow to the midway.
The Giant Pumpkin Weigh-Off
Topsfield's best-known event is the All New England Giant Pumpkin Weigh-Off, first hosted here in 1984. In 2012 the fairgrounds became the site of the world's first one-ton pumpkin.
If you have only one reason to time your visit, this is it. Check the official schedule for the weigh-off day.
What else is on the grounds
- Midway rides
- Farm animals
- Live music
- Food
- Competitive exhibits
Check the official site for current hours and the day-by-day schedule.
Eleven days, and why that matters
Topsfield is one of the longest fairs in New England. Two full weekends fall inside the October 2–12 window, plus the weekdays between them.
That length has a practical consequence: the fair you see on a Tuesday and the fair you see on a Saturday are meaningfully different experiences. Weekday visits give you room to actually look at the livestock barns and the exhibition halls. Weekends give you the full noise-and-crowd version.
Admission
Ticket pricing is set by the fair and posted on the official Topsfield Fair site. Advance pricing, weekday specials and multi-day options vary year to year — buy from the fair directly.
What the October timing gives you
Topsfield sits in the best two weeks of the New England calendar. Early October in Essex County means foliage, good weather odds, and the harvest end of the agricultural year — which is when an agricultural fair is at its most legible.
It also collides productively with the rest of the region's October season. The Big E is winding down in West Springfield as Topsfield opens, Fryeburg runs October 4–11 up in Maine, and Southington's Apple Harvest Festival covers the same two weekends down in Connecticut. If you are building a fair-season road trip, this is the densest fortnight of the year.
Q: When is the Topsfield Fair in 2026?
The Topsfield Fair runs October 2 through October 12, 2026 — eleven days at the Topsfield Fairgrounds in Topsfield, Massachusetts.
Q: How old is the Topsfield Fair?
It is run by the Essex Agricultural Society, which held its first cattle show on October 5, 1820. The fair moved around Essex County until settling permanently in Topsfield in 1910.
Q: What is the Giant Pumpkin Weigh-Off at Topsfield?
The All New England Giant Pumpkin Weigh-Off, first hosted at Topsfield in 1984. The fairgrounds were the site of the world's first one-ton pumpkin in 2012.
Q: What is the best day to visit the Topsfield Fair?
A weekday, if you want to see the agricultural exhibits properly. Both weekends inside the eleven-day run are considerably busier.
For vendors
An eleven-day fair is a different proposition from a weekend show — inventory planning, staffing and booth logistics all change at that length. Our guide to how many items to bring is the calculation worth redoing, and do craft fair vendors need insurance covers the question most first-time fair vendors get wrong. Application details come from the fair directly.
Related Reading
- Massachusetts Fairs and Festivals in 2026: Your Complete Guide
- How to Plan a New England Fair Season Road Trip
- Craft Fairs vs Agricultural Fairs in New England: What's the Difference
- Best New England Fairs for Families with Kids
Last updated: August 2026
