Schedule
The Durham Fair schedule is subject to change without notice. Please check back for the most up-to-date schedule.
| Event |
|---|
| Art Department Solve the mystery! Look for the clues and earn an Art Detective ribbon. |
| Cow Palace Milking Time each day, 4–6 PM |
| Discovery Center Ongoing exhibits in the south end of the T Barn: Operation Lifesaver, Coginchaug/Mercy/Xavier Robotics, CT DEEP Wildlife Division, The American Chestnut Foundation CT Chapter, Trout Unlimited, CT Rock Hounds, Kat Owens: Entangled and Ingested, Wesleyan Potters, UConn Extension Master Gardeners, Friends of the Office of State Archaeology, Middlesex Health EMS, Harmony Farms, MAD STEAM Lab. |
| Farm Museum Ongoing exhibits and demonstrations of early farm life, continuous blacksmith demonstrations. In addition, 3 times daily, pulley-driven antique farm equipment demonstrations, including corn grinders, hay press, lime crusher, corn chopper, wood saw, shingle mill and lunger engine. |
| Fiber Department Spinning and weaving demonstrations, along with touch fibers and an educational area for kids Llama Barn |
| Needlework Building I Spy a Knitting Needle:Find the hidden knitting needles in the Needlework Building to win a prize. |
| Kids Place Ongoing activities include Corn Crib, Bubbles, Face Photos, Push Cars, Bouncy Critters and more with prizes all day! |
| Roaming Acts Musicians and entertainment acts, any day at any time! |
| Youth Exhibits Ongoing activities include a Scavenger Hunt and Learn About Cub Scouts / Scouting America / Girl Scouts. |
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| All Day | Hartford Wolf pack will have a mini hockey net, balls, and sticks to demonstrate (and let you practice!) hockey safety and techniques. Discovery Center |
| 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM | Nature Fun with Everyone Outside and COEC. Look at cool nature items, solve nature mysteries, and vote for your favorite scent among native plants and trees. Discovery Center |
| 5:00 PM | Officer Elise Bouthillier, Connecticut’s EnCon Police. From poaching patrols to search and rescue, hear how Connecticut’s original conservation force has evolved and what it does every day to protect the state’s natural resources. Discovery Center |
| 5:00 PM | Romer: Grunge, Alt Rock Green Stage |
| 5:00 PM | Antique Farm Equipment Demo South End Farm Museum |
| 6:00 PM | Kevin Burns, Basic Rail Safety. The national rail safety education program teaching everyone about the dangers of railroad tracks and crossings. Discovery Center |
| 6:00 PM | Pat Russo Kids: Rock Music School Center Stage |
| 6:00 PM | The Second Chance: Traditional Irish Pub Songs Sunflower Stage |
| 6:00 PM | Cow Plop BINGO South of the Cow Palace Building |
| 6:00 PM | Live Judging: American Flag Pie Presidents’ Hall Demonstration Area |
| 7:00 PM | Celebrate America Parade: To honor and celebrate all that makes America and our Fair great. Beginning at White’s Farm Gate and Ending at the Lasting Tribute Flag Pole Area |
| 7:00 PM | The Engine Room: Classic Rock Green Stage |
| 7:00 PM | Rock Bottom: Rock, Pop Favorites Center Stage |
| 7:30 – 10:00 PM | Demolition Derby Motorized Events Area |
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| All Day | Sketch Book Challenge Art Department |
| All Day | Middlesex Health Cancer Center. Cancer prevention and early detection, plus 12-foot inflatable lungs. Sited outside the Discovery Center. Discovery Center |
| 9:00 AM | Alex Kraus, Storytime at the Durham Fair. A fun storytime with Miss Alex from the Durham Public Library, plus a Discovery Center scavenger hunt. Discovery Center |
| 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM | Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo: Wildlife, Conservation and America’s Natural Heritage. Meet Zoo Educators, handle animal artifacts, and discover the wildlife that shaped America’s natural heritage. Discovery Center |
| 9:00 AM | Beef Cattle Showmanship Cow Palace |
| 10:00 AM | Peter and Barbara Rzasa, Build a Mini-Bog in Your Front Yard. Build a bog under four square feet and plant pitcher plants, sundews, cranberries and orchids. Discovery Center |
| 10:00 AM | Dance Central of Middlefield: Dance Demo Center Stage |
| 10:00 AM | Magic Show Kids Place |
| 11:00 AM | Bob Reynolds, CT Rock Hounds: Fossil History of the Earth. The story of life on Earth told by the fossils themselves, with specimens from Bob’s own collection to see up close. Discovery Center |
| 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM | Sewing Demonstrations: From American Sewing Guild Needlework Building |
| 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM | Jenny Sims Can Make Things Needlework Building |
| 11:00 AM | Ox Pulls (all classes) Pull Ring |
| 11:00 AM | Music with Susan Peak Kids Place |
| 11:00 AM | Antique Farm Equipment Demo South End Farm Museum |
| 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM | Big Coloring with Dave TenEyck Kids Place |
| 11:15 AM | Ava Grom: Acoustic Indie, Pop, Rock and Blues Green Stage |
| 11:15 AM | Paperhouse: Youth Theater Center Stage |
| 12:00 PM | The Darnells — Egyptology Discover Center |
| 12:00 PM | The Aquatudes: Surf Rock Sunflower Stage |
| 12:00 PM | Balloon Twisting Kids Place |
| 12:45 PM | Nathaniel Hintz: Country, Rockabilly Green Stage |
| 12:45 PM | CRHS: High School Music Department Center Stage |
| 1:00 PM | Peter and Barbara Rzasa, Charcoal: The Fuel That Forged Connecticut. How colliers burned Connecticut’s forests to power our iron and brass industries, and how to find the hearths today. Discovery Center |
| 1:00 PM | Games & Contests Kids Place |
| 1:30 PM | Mike Coonan: Variety Rest Tent – President’s Hall |
| 2:00 PM | Carol Ansel, Godfrey Memorial Library: Finding Your Family at the Godfrey. A 40,000-volume genealogy library a few miles up the road, including photographs of 99 percent of the gravestones in Middlesex County. Discovery Center |
| 2:00 PM | Magic Show Kids Place |
| 2:00 PM | Antique Farm Equipment Demo South End Farm Museum |
| 2:15 PM | Decreasing Mosquitoes In Your Backyard Without Fogging Presidents’ Hall Demonstration Area |
| 2:45 PM | Sweet Polly Duo: High Energy Acoustic Duo Green Stage |
| 2:45 PM | Zydelicious: Zydeco, Blues Center Stage |
| 3:00 PM | Sarah Atwell, Durham Historical Society: The Town Behind the Fair. Durham’s contributions to our American story, from the president of the Historical Society and chair of Durham’s America250 committee. Discovery Center |
| 3:00 PM | Kings of Karma: Rock Sunflower Stage |
| 3:00 PM | Magic Show Kids Place |
| 4:00 PM | Buster Scranton, Maple Syrup. A demonstration of how sap becomes syrup, with the tools and techniques of Connecticut’s sugarhouses. Discovery Center |
| 4:00 PM | Dairy Cattle Showmanship Cow Palace |
| 4:00 PM | Candy Bar Bingo Kids Place |
| 4:45 PM | Soul Afire: Rock, Soul with Violin Green Stage |
| 4:45 PM | Silver Fox String Band: Rock, Country, Bluegrass Center Stage |
| 5:00 PM | Kevin Burns, Basic Rail Safety. The national rail safety education program teaching everyone about the dangers of railroad tracks and crossings. Discovery Center |
| 5:00 PM | Llama Shows Llama Ring outside of T Barn |
| 5:00 PM | Bunny Hop Contest The Barnyard |
| 5:00 PM | Antique Farm Equipment Demo South End Farm Museum |
| 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM | The Children’s Museum of CT. A hands-on Family STEAM event with experiments, engineering challenges, and live animals from Roaring Brook Nature Center. Discovery Center |
| 5:30 PM | Pumpkin Drop Motorized Events Area |
| 5:30 PM | Carrie Ashton Band: Modern Country Sunflower Stage |
| 6:00 PM | Cow Plop BINGO South of the Cow Palace Building |
| 6:00 PM | Jeff Przech: American, Country, Rock Rest Tent – President’s Hall |
| 7:00 PM | Rob Glassman Band: Jam Band Green Stage |
| 7:00 PM | Downtown Six: Pop Music Through the Decades Center Stage |
| 7:30 PM | QUEEN NATION: Tribute to the Music of Queen Main Stage |
| 7:30 – 10:00 PM | Figure 8 & Demolition Derby Motorized Events Area |
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| All Day | American Distilling will have a mock distillation set up. There will also be product samples for you to take home. Come listen to their talk at 10:00 AM about how witch hazel is rooted in not only Connecticut history, but indigenous history as well. Discover Center |
| 8:30 AM | Dairy Cattle Open & Junior Show Cow Palace |
| 9:00 AM | John Benton, CT Rock Hounds: Metal Detecting. How a detector actually works, what the sounds mean, and what has come out of Connecticut ground over the years. Discovery Center |
| 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM | Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo: Wildlife, Conservation and America’s Natural Heritage. Discovery Center |
| 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM | Antique Tractor Pull Motorized Events Area |
| 9:00 AM | Goat Show Goat Show Ring |
| 9:00 AM | Sheep Show Sheep Show Ring |
| 9:30 AM | Llama Shows Llama Ring outside of T Barn |
| 10:00 AM | Chris Hanson and Kate Mulligan, American Distilling: Witch Hazel in Connecticut. A historical review of witch hazel production, from indigenous medicinal use to modern sustainable harvesting. Discovery Center |
| 10:00 AM | Pony Pull (all classes) Pull Ring |
| 10:00 AM | Rabbits Junior & Senior Showmanship The Barnyard |
| 10:00 AM | Big Coloring with Dave TenEyck Kids Place |
| 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM | Sewing Demonstrations: From American Sewing Guild Needlework Building |
| 11:00 AM | Pam Roman, Pollinator Pathway. How pesticide-free corridors of native plants connect one garden to the next, and why even a flower box counts. Discovery Center |
| 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM | Jenny Sims Can Make Things Needlework Building |
| 11:00 AM | Mini Pedal Tractor Pull Contest Kids Place |
| 11:00 AM | Brown Paper Sax: Saxophone Craze Era Rags and Foxtrots Rest Tent – President’s Hall |
| 11:00 AM | Meet Your Weeds: Good Weeds/Bad Weeds – Learn the Difference! Presidents’ Hall Demonstration Area |
| 11:00 AM | Antique Farm Equipment Demo South End Farm Museum |
| 11:15 AM | Tim Kosky: Acoustic Favorites Green Stage |
| 11:15 AM | Monthei Brothers: Country Center Stage |
| 12:00 PM | Andy Kasznay, Electric Vehicles. An engineer on EVs and Connecticut’s purchase programs. Discovery Center |
| 12:00 PM | East Rock Jazz Band: New Orleans 2nd Line Music Sunflower Stage |
| 12:00 PM | Music with Susan Peak Kids Place |
| 12:45 PM | Higby Mountain Bluegrass Band: Bluegrass Green Stage |
| 12:45 PM | Juke Box 45: Doo Wop and Rock and Roll Center Stage |
| 1:00 PM | Des Flemmings and Beardsley Zoo Teen Volunteers, America 250: Guardians of Our Wild Heritage. Teen conservationists share fieldwork from Yellowstone to Alaska through the stories of the bison, the wolf, and the bald eagle. Discovery Center |
| 1:00 PM | Games & Contests Kids Place |
| 2:00 PM | Paul Benjunas, CT DEEP Wildlife Division: Black Bears. Connecticut’s growing black bear population and how to reduce human-bear conflicts in your neighborhood. Discovery Center |
| 2:00 PM | K9 Quilt of Honor presented to retired K9s and their handlers from the CT State Police Needlework Building |
| 2:00 PM | Magic Show Kids Place |
| 2:00 PM | Antique Farm Equipment Demo South End Farm Museum |
| 2:15 PM | Identify & Remove Invasive Plants to Enhance Nature in Your Yard Presidents’ Hall Demonstration Area |
| 2:45 PM | John Spignesi Band: Rock, Funk and Jam Green Stage |
| 2:45 PM | Lunar A Capella: Contemporary A Cappella Center Stage |
| 3:00 PM | Marty Podskoch, Civilian Conservation Corps. The 21 camps that built Connecticut’s parks and forests, told through the words of the men who were there. Books for sale and signing in the commercial building. Discovery Center |
| 3:00 PM | Someone You Can Xray: Funky, Blues, Rock Sunflower Stage |
| 3:00 PM | Balloon Twisting Kids Place |
| 4:00 PM | Cow Plop BINGO South of the Cow Palace Building |
| 4:00 PM | Candy Bar Bingo Kids Place |
| 4:45 PM | Nine North Band: Americana, Alternative Country Green Stage |
| 4:45 PM | Switchfire: Acoustic Country Duo Center Stage |
| 5:00 PM | Antique Farm Equipment Demo South End Farm Museum |
| 5:00 PM | Bunny Hop Contest The Barnyard |
| 5:00 PM | 3-Horse Pull (all classes) Pull Ring |
| 5:30 PM | The Teals Band: ’60s to ’90s Rock Sunflower Stage |
| 6:00 – 10:00 PM | Truck & SUV Pull Motorized Events Area |
| 6:00 PM | Eric Mock: Classic Country Rest Tent – President’s Hall |
| 7:00 PM | Battle of the Barns Cow Palace |
| 7:00 PM | Blue Mountain Haze: Southern and Classic Rock Green Stage |
| 7:00 PM | Sister Funk: Funk, Rock and Pop Center Stage |
| 7:30 PM | Tyler Hubbard Main Stage |
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM | Connecticut Invention Convention (NextMinds) Innovation Station. Short, hands-on invention activities where kids help solve real problems facing the Durham Fair community. Discovery Center |
| 9:00 AM | Halter Class: Horse Handler Showmanship Pull Ring |
| 9:00 AM | Swine Show The Barnyard |
| 9:30 AM | Garlic Salt: Tips and Techniques to Create your own Blend of Herbs and Salt Presidents’ Hall Demonstration Area |
| 10:00 AM | Pair Draft Horse Pull (3,225 lbs. or under 12 ft.) Pull Ring |
| 10:00 AM | Magic Show Kids Place |
| 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM | Sewing Demonstrations: From American Sewing Guild Needlework Building |
| 11:00 AM | Bunny Hop Contest The Barnyard |
| 11:00 AM | Antique Farm Equipment Demo South End Farm Museum |
| 11:00 AM | Mini Pedal Tractor Pull Contest Kids Place |
| 11:00 AM | “Once Upon a Time” Sacred Heart Theatre Kids Place |
| 11:00 AM | Liz Reed and the Time of Day: Acoustic Folk and Pop Green Stage |
| 11:00 AM | Patrick Gazda: Acoustic Folk Rest Tent – President’s Hall |
| 11:00 AM | Durham After Dark: Rock, Pop Favorites Center Stage |
| 11:00 AM | Mark Smith Jazz Quartet: Jazz Favorites Sunflower Stage |
| 11:00 AM | What was Martha Washington Famous for Canning? Presidents’ Hall Demonstration Area |
| 12:00 PM | Alan Poole, Beekeeping. A longtime local beekeeper brings frames from his own hives, no bees attached. Bring your questions. Discovery Center |
| 12:00 PM | Monster Truck Show Meet and Greet: Meet drivers and get autographs and pictures. Motorized Events Area |
| 12:00 PM | Cow Plop BINGO South of the Cow Palace Building |
| 12:00 – 2:00 PM | Big Coloring with Dave TenEyck Kids Place |
| 12:00 – 1:00 PM | Songs and Music with Dave Alpert Kids Place |
| 1:00 PM | Paul Benjunas, CT DEEP Wildlife Division: Fishers. The natural history of this often-misunderstood weasel and Connecticut’s declining population. Discovery Center |
| 1:00 PM | The Parkway Ramblers: Bluegrass Green Stage |
| 1:00 PM | Flip the Tables: Classic Rock Center Stage |
| 1:00 PM | Just Like Fire Acoustic Duo: Country, Pop, Rock Rest Tent – President’s Hall |
| 1:00 PM | The Desperado’s: Eagles Tribute Band Sunflower Stage |
| 1:00 PM | Pair Draft Horse Pull (3,425 lbs. or under 12 ft.) Pull Ring |
| 1:30 PM | East Rock Brass Band: New Orleans 2nd Line Music Roaming |
| 1:30 PM | “Once Upon a Time” Sacred Heart Theatre Kids Place |
| 2:00 PM | Dr. Annise Dobson, Yale School of the Environment: Invasive Jumping Worms. They turn forest soil into something like coffee grounds and they are spreading through Connecticut. What to look for and what to do. Discovery Center |
| 2:00 PM | Middletown Skein Scene Knitting Club Discovery Center |
| 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM | 250 Years of Fashion: A parade of fashion Needlework Building |
| 2:00 PM | Power Wheels Demolition Derby Ages 4 to 9 Demolition Derby Event Monster Truck Show Freestyle Event Motorized Events Area |
| 2:00 PM | Animal Costume Parade Cow Palace |
| 2:00 PM | Antique Farm Equipment Demo South End Farm Museum |
| 2:00 PM | Games & Contests Kids Place |
| 2:15 PM | How to Make the Fluffiest Ricotta in Under 1 Hour Presidents’ Hall Demonstration Area |
| 3:00 PM | Jo-Marie Kasinak, Project Limulus. Blue-blooded living fossils, 445 million years old, and every flu shot you have had was tested with their blood. Discovery Center |
| 3:00 PM | Pair Draft Horse Pull (over 3,425 lbs. 12 ft.) Pull Ring |
| 3:00 PM | Beth and the Boys: Country Sunflower Stage |
| 3:00 PM | Wheelhouse: R&B, Classic Rock Center Stage |
| 3:00 PM | No Hangups: Classic Rock Green Stage |
| 3:00 PM | Magic Show Kids Place |
| 3:30 PM | “Once Upon a Time” Sacred Heart Theatre Kids Place |
| 4:00 PM | Candy Bar Bingo Kids Place |
| 5:00 PM | Antique Farm Equipment Demo South End Farm Museum |