One of the oldest in New England, The Durham Fair is a significant agricultural event taking place during the last weekend of September in Durham, Connecticut. The four-day fair features livestock exhibits, agricultural and pulling contests, merchandise tents, a carnival midway, and lots of live entertainment. The musical lineup of the festival is focused on country and rock. Blake Shelton, Justin Moore, Pat Benatar, George Jones, Bill Monroe, Loretta Lynn, Charlie Daniels, Phil Vassar, REO Speedwagon, The Guess Who, Foreigner, and Blues Traveler performed on its Main Stage. Held since 1916, The Durham Fair is the second-largest fair in the U.S. organized by volunteers and local NGOs without paid management.
One of the highlights of the fair is pulling contests with oxen, draft horses, and tractors pulling concrete blocks. Money prizes for the owners of oxen and horses make the competition more exciting. The carnival midway includes traditional carousels, Ferris Wheel, the Zipper, and a few rollercoasters. Discovery Center, located in the south end of the T Barn, offers an educational area with seminars on food and farming, equipped with interactive displays and demonstrations. The Durham Fair Farm Museum features a collection of antique farm equipment and interesting collectibles like hand-cranked tractors, blacksmiths tools, and pot-bellied stoves.
