Goshen Fair is an annual Labor Day weekend agricultural event taking place in Goshen, Connecticut, during Labor Day weekend. Visitors of all ages can enjoy watching truck pulls, monster trucks, and horse competitions. Other entertainment includes carnival rides, fireworks, as well as the Sugar-Free Baking Contest, The Giant Pumpkin Contest, Zeppolini’s Comedy Adventures, live performances at the Children's Stage and live music at the Main Stage. Previous lineups included bands like Soul Sound Revue, Apricot Brandy, Dan’s Roadhouse Country Band, James Montgomery Blues Band, and more. Traditional entertainment attracts thousands of families from all over New England.
2024 Fair Schedule
Ths Opening Ceremony of the Fair takes place at 10 am on August 31. The ceremony is followed by a Poultry Judging, High School Timber Teams Contest, All In Farm Gymkhana, Beef Junior Obstacle Course, and Rabbit and Cavie Judging. The afternoon program starts with Dairy Cattle Showmanship at 2 pm, Jackpot Steer Show, Jackpot Heifer Show, Professional and Street Outlaw Pull, and Hay Bale Toss Contest.
On September 1, the program features a Horse Show at 10 am, followed by Swine Judging, Sheep Judging, Antique Tractor Pull, Angus, and All Other Breeds, and Herefords. The New England Lumberjack Show will take place at 11 am. In the afternoon, the public can see the Horse Draw Exhibit and Skillet Throw Contest. On September 2, fair highlights include Garden Tractor Pull at 10:30 am, Pork Cook-off at 11 am, Woodcutting Contests and NBHA Barrel Race at noon, as well as Apple Fritter Eating Contest at 2 pm.
Tickets and Hours
The general admission fee to Goshen Fair is $10 for adults. Senior citizens can get in for $5 on Saturday only. Children under 12 are free. Goshen Fairgrounds are open from 8 am to 9 pm on Saturday & Sunday and from 8 am to 6 pm on Monday.
History of the Fair
Goshen first held its agricultural fair in 1910 to showcase the agricultural heritage of Connecticut. Residents organized races, crop and livestock competitions, contests for wood chopping, and crochet. In the 1980s, the Connecticut State Grange awarded Goshen the Connecticut Agricultural Fair, making it the most important event in the state. It kept this status till 2006. Goshen Fair is still one of the oldest and most significant in the state, transforming into a more modern kind of fair and introducing new features like a monster truck show, fireworks, an adult spelling bee, and a skillet throwing contest.
