Contents
- 1 Connecticut Fall Festivals 2023
- 2 September Fall Festivals in Connecticut
- 2.1 1. Lyman Orchards Corn Maze Festival
- 2.2 2. Norwalk Seaport Oyster Festival
- 2.3 3. Connecticut Maritime Heritage Festival
- 2.4 4. The Artisan Market at Parmelee Farm
- 2.5 5. Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo Glow Wild Lantern Festival
- 2.6 6. Guilford Fair
- 2.7 7. Durham Fair
- 2.8 8. Bristol Mum Festival
- 2.9 9. By Land & By Sea at Mystic Seaport
- 2.10 10. Oktoberfest at Quassy
- 2.11 11. Phantom Fall Fest at Lake Compounce
- 2.12 12. Litchfield Art Festival Holiday Show
- 2.13 13. Southington Apple Harvest Festival
- 3 October Fall Festivals in Connecticut
- 4 November Fall Festivals in Connecticut
- 5 Best Fall Festivals in Connecticut 2023: Wrap-Up
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Fall is here, and with it comes haunted houses, carnival rides, food trucks, and all the tasty treats made with apples and pumpkins!
New England is one of the most iconic regions to experience stunning fall foliage, and Connecticut is home to tons of events that provide a great opportunity to get out and enjoy the season.
From corn mazes to artisan markets, there are many fantastic fall festivals in Connecticut. Here are some of the best events to enjoy the season with family and friends!
Connecticut Fall Festivals 2023
| Name | Location | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Lyman Orchards Corn Maze Festival | Middlefield | September 2 - November 5, 2023 |
| Norwalk Seaport Oyster Festival | Norwalk | September 8 - 10, 2023 |
| Connecticut Maritime Heritage Festival | New London | September 9 - 10, 2023 |
| The Artisan Market at Parmelee Farm | Killingworth | September 9, 2023 |
| Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo Glow Wild Lantern Festival | Bridgeport | September 14 - December 2, 2023 (Thursday - Sunday evenings) |
| Guilford Fair | Guilford Fair | September 15 - 17, 2023 |
| Durham Fair | Durham | September 21 - 24, 2023 |
| Bristol Mum Festival | Bristol | September 22 - 24, 2023 |
| By Land & By Sea at Mystic Seaport | Mystic | September 23, 2023 |
| Oktoberfest at Quassy | Middlebury | September 23 - 24, 2023 |
| Phantom Fall Fest at Lake Compounce | Bristol | September 23 - October 29, 2023 (Fridays - Sundays) |
| Litchfield Art Festival Holiday Show | Litchfield | September 23 - 24, 2022 |
| Southington Apple Harvest Festival | Southington | September 29 - October 1, October 6 - 8, 2023 |
| Terror at Quassy | Middlebury | October 6 - 8, 13 - 15, 20 - 22, 27 - 29, 2023 |
| Connecticut Garlic and Harvest Festival | Bethlehem | October 7 - 8, 2023 |
| Scotland Highland Games Festival | Scotland | October 8, 2023 |
| Smoke in the Valley | Derby | October 21, 2023 |
| Community Trick-or-Treat | Mystic | October 31, 2023 |
| New England Christmas Festival | Uncasville | November 3 - 5, 2023 |
| Shoreline ArtsTrail Open Studios Weekend | Branford, Guilford, and Madison | November 11 - 12, 2023 |
| Ann's Place Festival of Trees | Danbury | November 17 - 19, 2023 |
| Fantasy of Lights | New Haven | TBA |
| Festival of Silver Lights at Hubbard Park | Meriden | TBA |
September Fall Festivals in Connecticut
1. Lyman Orchards Corn Maze Festival
- Dates: September 2 – November 5, 2023
- Location: Middlefield, Connecticut
- Website
One of my favorite fall activities in Connecticut is the Corn Maze at Lyman Orchards.
Lyman Orchards, the state’s biggest corn maze, designs its maze each year in honor of a different hero or historical occasion. The labyrinth will commemorate “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” in 2023.
After you’ve finished the corn maze, go apple picking in their pick-your-own fields, or head inside the Apple Barrel store.
Autumn dishes such as apple pie, caramel apples, apple cider doughnuts, and their pumpkin equivalents are available, all of which are produced on-site.
In addition, Lyman Orchards donates $1 from each entry price to the American Cancer Society.
2. Norwalk Seaport Oyster Festival
- Dates: September 8 – 10, 2023
- Location: Norwalk, Connecticut
- Website
Hosted by the Norwalk Seaport Association, this 3-day festival is fantastic for families and foodies. Carnival games and rides can entertain your young ones.
At the same time, you can wander around the New England Village and peruse handmade crafts from local artists and small businesses.
On the food side, you’ll find traditional New England seafood dishes like all your favorite clam chowder, hot lobster rolls, and those delicious fresh oysters, along with an International Foods area.
You can head to their website to find their schedule of events and purchase admission tickets for the event.
3. Connecticut Maritime Heritage Festival
- Dates: September 9 – 10, 2023
- Location: New London, Connecticut
- Website
Over in New London, where the U.S. Coast Guard is based and shipbuilding is a primary industry, you need to attend the Connecticut Maritime Heritage Festival.
This 2-day event dives into the area’s history on the water.
You can see several rare U.S. Coast Guard and Navy ships, walk in their first annual Mermaids and Sea Monsters Parade, and rock to live musical performances—featuring some sea shanties—all weekend long.
And since it’s right at the end of summer, you can visit one of these beautiful beaches around New London for a walk along the water after you’ve had your fun at the festival.
4. The Artisan Market at Parmelee Farm
- Date: September 9, 2023
- Location: Killingworth, Connecticut
- Website
While the town-owned park is open for hiking daily, the Artisan Market at Parmelee Farm brings the community together every fall.
This volunteer-run event showcases an array of crafters and local artists and their works.
Spend a day wandering through the booths admiring art, ceramics, and other handmade crafts exhibits at this family and canine-friendly event.
5. Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo Glow Wild Lantern Festival
- Dates: September 14 – December 2, 2023 (Thursday – Sunday evenings)
- Location: Bridgeport, Connecticut
- Website
Every Thursday through Sunday from September 14 until December 2, visit Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo for the Glow Wild Lantern Festival.
You’ll find more than 35 lighted sculptures incorporating hundreds of illuminated lanterns at this extraordinary exhibit. You’ll need to walk around the Zoo to experience the entire festival!
You’ll need to buy your timed tickets online as it’s not guaranteed they’ll have availability if you plan to purchase at the door.
6. Guilford Fair
- Dates: September 15 – 17, 2023
- Location: Guilford, Connecticut
- Website
As one of the state’s oldest agricultural fairs, the Guilford Fair has been running on the third weekend of September since 1859.
The 3-day event kicks off with a full schedule of events in the afternoon on Friday afternoon, with a children’s petting zoo, the Guilford Fair circus, a zoo show, the pony drawing, and the harvest fair’s first musical guest.
Saturday morning starts with the Guilford Fair Parade, and the family fun continues into the rest of the weekend. You can check out this year’s musical guests and find the full schedule on their website.
7. Durham Fair
- Dates: September 21 – 24, 2023
- Location: Durham, Connecticut
- Website
Ever since the first Durham Agricultural Fair in 1916, Durham Middlefield and Rockfall residents have come together to celebrate the harvest season.
The entertainment at the Durham Fair is varied. You’ll find everything from animal pulls, monster trucks, and a demolition derby to a petting zoo and craft fair.
They also have a discovery center, a farm museum, agricultural exhibits, and other activities specifically for kids.
They also have excellent farm-fresh food stands, typical fair food, and a music act every night. This fall festival in Connecticut is not one to miss!
You can check out this year’s headlining musical guest on Saturday night and see the rest of the event schedule on their website.
8. Bristol Mum Festival
- Dates: September 22 – 24, 2023
- Location: Bristol, Connecticut
- Website
After more than 60 years, The town of Bristol knows its mums.
This long-running seasonal festival was originally created in 1962 to celebrate chrysanthemums, a flower that was one of the town’s primary exports.
Now, while the event festival hosts many of the same events as in its early days, it’s an opportunity for the town to come together and create this major fair.
You’ll find the Mum Parade, pageant, Jazz Gala, a car show, hayrides, and a wide variety of vendors selling tasty treats, among many more events over the course of the festival each year.
9. By Land & By Sea at Mystic Seaport
- Date: September 23, 2023
- Location: Mystic, Connecticut
- Website
Now in its 25th year, the Mystic Seaport Museum, one of the best things to do in Mystic, hosts the By Land and By Sea Festival.
This classic car show brings together owners and enthusiasts of some of the coolest vintage cars.
Every year, they expect more than 100 pre-1932 automobiles to be showcased on the grounds of their living history museum.
On their website, you can register your car and purchase tickets to this year’s festival.
10. Oktoberfest at Quassy
- Dates: September 23 – 24, 2023
- Location: Middlebury, Connecticut
- Website
Quassy Amusement Park has two fun fall festivals in Connecticut this year! To start us off, for two days in September, the park goes all out on its Oktoberfest celebration.
You can attend this year’s party in their main pavilion, including live music, German food, German beers, and access to their amusement rides all day long.
Make sure to purchase tickets to the event with this year’s special promo OKTOBERFEST22 on their website.
11. Phantom Fall Fest at Lake Compounce
- Dates: September 23 – October 29, 2023 (Fridays – Sundays)
- Location: Bristol, Connecticut
- Website
Lake Compounce in Bristol, Connecticut, is home to the notorious Phantom Fall Fest event. The event takes place every October and features terrifying haunted houses.
Although the park will operate without its scare factor during the day for families and scaredy-cats, it transforms into your worst nightmare after 6 p.m.
Each evening, new scares and special effects are added to the experience. Although actors walking around aren’t allowed to touch you, they can get very close for optimal scare tactics.
You can learn more about this year’s event on their website and purchase tickets.
12. Litchfield Art Festival Holiday Show
- Dates: September 23 – 24, 2023
- Location: Litchfield, Connecticut
- Website
In beautiful Litchfield, The Voice of Art hosts three annual art shows—a Spring, a Fall, and a Holiday show.
Hosted inside the Litchfield High School gymnasium, this 2-day event brings together some of the best artists and collectors in the region.
You can find functional and non-functional art pieces to purchase, and maybe even some great gifts for loved ones!
13. Southington Apple Harvest Festival
- Dates: September 29 – October 1, October 6 – 8, 2023
- Location: Southington, Connecticut
- Website
This Southington festival has been honoring the apple harvest yearly during New England’s fall foliage season.
There are road races, musical guests, an arts and crafts show, and many vendor stalls throughout the festival.
The events last all weekend, with Sunday showing up as the biggest day.
The parade starts Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. and runs through downtown Southington, while fireworks end the celebration Sunday night.
October Fall Festivals in Connecticut
14. Terror at Quassy
- Dates: October 6 – 8, 13 – 15, 20 – 22, 27 – 29, 2023
- Location: Middlebury, Connecticut
- Website
Quassy’s second Connecticut fall festival is its Halloween annual event.
Terror at Quassy runs every weekend throughout the month of October.
Although most of the park’s rides are open, you can also be spooked by the different haunted houses they have set up throughout the park.
To add to the eerieness, the park only opens up at 7 p.m., the perfect time for haunting. You can purchase tickets on their website.
15. Connecticut Garlic and Harvest Festival
- Dates: October 7 – 8, 2023
- Location: Bethlehem, Connecticut
- Website
Since 2005, the Garlic and Harvest Festival has been one of Connecticut’s most interesting fall festivals. It celebrates garlic, an excellent allium, and the autumn harvest.
For the 2 days, you’ll find workshops, musical guests, and seminars all about delicious, pungent, flavorful garlic at this Bethlehem fair. There are also garlic cooking demonstrations, activities for kids, crafts vendors, and a food court featuring—you guessed it—garlic!
Delicious food vendors feature garlic ice cream, garlic dips, roasted garlic, and more.
You can find more information on their specialty vendors, classes, and lectures on their website.
16. Scotland Highland Games Festival
- Date: October 8, 2023
- Location: Scotland, Connecticut
- Website
The day begins with a solo pimping/drumming competition, followed by dance and athletic competitions.
For the first time this year, the festival is hosting events featuring the Scottish fiddle.
The festival also grants scholarships to local students studying Scottish history, dance, and music, among other disciplines, at university.
17. Smoke in the Valley
- Date: October 21, 2023
- Location: Derby, Connecticut
- Website
Found down in the valley, Connecticut’s most extensive craft beer festival features acres of local craft brews from all over the state.
More than 60 Connecticut breweries will showcase some of their best beers. There’s also a homebrew competition, food booths, and music throughout the day.
18. Community Trick-or-Treat
- Date: October 31, 2023
- Location: Mystic, Connecticut
- Website
The Mystic Seaport also hosts an October festival that families will surely enjoy!
The museum opens its doors for Community Trick-or-Treating on Halloween from 3 PM to 6 PM.
It’s a great fall activity in Mystic for families looking for a festive night out–without the scare factor!
The event is free to attend and doesn’t require any pre-registration.
November Fall Festivals in Connecticut
19. New England Christmas Festival
- Dates: November 3 – 5, 2022
- Location: Uncasville, Connecticut
- Website
New England’s biggest arts and crafts festival starts the holiday season at Mohegan Sun every year.
You can find specialty food companies represented like Chocolate Moonshine, Beckah’s Bangin’ Butter, and Pure Goodness Bakery.
And the works by talented crafters and artisans like artworks and handicrafts, photographers, leatherworks, and memorabilia.
These unique, handmade gifts are a great way to kick off your holiday shopping season!
Once you’ve finished exploring the festival, spend some time enjoying Mohegan Sun, one of the nicest places for a winter getaway in New England.
20. Shoreline ArtsTrail Open Studios Weekend
- Dates: November 11 – 12, 2023
- Location: Branford, Guilford, and Madison, Connecticut
- Website
Have you ever been curious about seeing the process behind how artists create?
With the Shoreline ArtsTrail Open Studios Weekend, artists around Branford, Guilford, and Madison, Connecticut, open their studios for you to get an inside look into their creative process.
Ask the artists questions, be inspired by their art spaces, and learn how a piece of art goes from idea through its creation process.
You can find a list of participating artists on their website.
21. Ann’s Place Festival of Trees
- Dates: November 17 – 19, 2022
- Location: Danbury, Connecticut
- Website
Visiting the Ann’s Place Festival of Trees is a fantastic start to the holiday season. This Danbury event aims to create holiday cheer by beautifully decorating donated Christmas trees.
They also have craft vendors, a quilter’s corner, and a boutique gift shop for you to peruse while admiring the stunning trees. You might also win one of their wide range of excellent prizes if you enter the raffle.
The event is Ann’s Place’s largest fundraiser, raising money to help families confronting cancer.
22. Fantasy of Lights
- Last Year’s Dates: November 18 – December 31, 2022
- Location: New Haven, Connecticut
- Website
The Fantasy of Lights transforms the hidden gem in New Haven, Lighthouse Point Park, into an illuminated wonderland.
Hosted by Goodwill of Southern New England, you’ll drive through the park after dark to see some genuinely outstanding light collections as fall in New Haven starts to transform into the holiday season.
Once nighttime comes and the lights are turned on, it takes about 15 minutes to drive past all of the different displays inside the park, and tickets can be purchased online or at the gate before you enter.
Enjoy this beautiful New Haven beach sparkling with holiday spirit!
23. Festival of Silver Lights at Hubbard Park
- Last Year’s Dates: November 25, 2022 – January 31, 2023
- Location: Meriden, Connecticut
- Website
One of my favorite fall festivals in Connecticut rings in the holiday season! The Festival of Silver Lights at Hubbard Park in Meriden becomes beautifully brightened by hundreds of different light exhibits.
Day or night, you can drive or walk around the free Festival of Silver Lights to interact with the display areas, featuring animal pairs, traditional holiday spots, and a huge lit-up globe in the center of Mirror Lake.
Best Fall Festivals in Connecticut 2023: Wrap-Up
Whether you want to spend your weekend enjoying live music, sampling delicious autumn harvest foods, or taking part in community activities, there’s no shortage of fantastic Connecticut fall festivals to choose from!
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