2026 Schedule
The Durham Fair schedule is subject to change without notice. Please check back for the most up-to-date schedule.
| ALL-DAY Every Day, September 24–27, 2026 | ||
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| Art Department Solve the mystery! Look for the clues and earn an Art Detective ribbon. |
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| Cow Palace Milking Time each day, 4–6 PM |
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| Discovery Center Ongoing educational exhibits and demonstrations, located in the south end of the T Barn including: Operation Lifesaver, Xavier & Mercy Robotics, CT DEEP Wildlife Division, Natureworks Garden Center, The American Chestnut Foundation—CT Chapter, Trout Unlimited, Master Gardeners—Haddam Chapter, Wesleyan Potters, Kat Owens Art: Entangled & Ingested, CT Rock Hounds, CT Botanical Society, and more. |
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| 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. |
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| Fiber Department Spinning and weaving demonstrations, along with touch fibers and an educational area for kids Llama Barn |
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| Kids Place Ongoing activities include Corn Crib, Bubbles, Face Photos, Push Cars, Bouncy Critters and more with prizes all day! |
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| Roaming Acts Musicians and entertainment acts, any day at any time! |
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Youth Exhibits |
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| THURSDAY, September 24, 2026 Fair Hours: 4PM–10PM |
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| 5:00 | PM | Romer: Grunge, Alt Rock Green Stage |
| 5:00 | Antique Farm Equipment Demo South End Farm Museum |
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| 6:00 | Pat Russo Kids: Rock Music School Center Stage |
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| 6:00 | The Second Chance: Traditional Irish Pub Songs Sunflower Stage |
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| 6:00 | Cow Plop BINGO South of the Cow Palace Building |
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| 7:00 | The Engine Room: Classic Rock Green Stage |
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| 7:00 | Rock Bottom: Rock, Pop Favorites Center Stage |
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| 7:30–10 | Demolition Derby Motorized Events Area |
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| FRIDAY, September 25, 2026 Fair Hours: 9AM–10PM |
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| All Day | Sketch Book Challenge Art Department |
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| 9:00 | AM | Beef Cattle Showmanship Cow Palace |
| 10:00 | Magic Show Kids Place |
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| 10–3 | Sewing Demonstrations from American Sewing Guild Needlework Building |
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| 11:00 | Ox Pulls (all classes) Pull Ring |
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| 11:00 | Music with Susan Peak Kids Place |
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| 11:00 | Antique Farm Equipment Demo South End Farm Museum |
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| 11–2 | Big Coloring with Dave TenEyck Kids Place |
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| 11:15 | Ava Grom: Acoustic Indie, Pop, Rock and Blues Green Stage |
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| 11:15 | Paperhouse: Youth Theater Center Stage |
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| 12:00 | PM | The Aquatudes: Surf Rock Sunflower Stage |
| 12:00 | Balloon Twisting Kids Place |
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| 12:45 | Nathaniel Hintz: Country, Rockabilly Green Stage |
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| 12:45 | CRHS: High School Music Department Center Stage |
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| 1:00 | Games & Contests Kids Place |
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| 1:30 | Mike Coonan: Variety Rest Tent - President’s Hall |
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| 2:00 | Magic Show Kids Place |
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| 2:00 | Antique Farm Equipment Demo South End Farm Museum |
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| 2:45 | Sweet Polly Duo: High Energy Acoustic Duo Green Stage |
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| 2:45 | Zydelicious: Zydeco, Blues Center Stage |
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| 3:00 | Kings of Karma: Rock Sunflower Stage |
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| 3:00 | Magic Show Kids Place |
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| 4:00 | Dairy Cattle Showmanship Cow Palace |
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| 4:00 | Candy Bar Bingo Kids Place |
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| 4:45 | Soul Afire: Rock, Soul with Violin Green Stage |
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| 4:45 | Silver Fox String Band: Rock, Country, Bluegrass Center Stage |
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| 5:00 | Llama Shows Llama Ring outside of T Barn |
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| 5:00 | Bunny Hop Contest The Barnyard |
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| 5:00 | Antique Farm Equipment Demo South End Farm Museum |
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| 5:30 | Pumpkin Drop Motorized Events Area |
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| 5:30 | Carrie Ashton Band: Modern Country Sunflower Stage |
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| 6:00 | Cow Plop BINGO South of the Cow Palace Building |
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| 6:00 | Jeff Przech: American, Country, Rock Rest Tent - President’s Hall |
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| 7:00 | Rob Glassman Band: Jam Band Green Stage |
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| 7:00 | Downtown Six: Pop Music Through the Decades Center Stage |
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| 7:30 | Check Back Soon! Main Stage |
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| 7:30–10 | Figure 8 & Demolition Derby Motorized Events Area |
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| SATURDAY, September 26, 2026 Fair Hours: 9AM–10PM |
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| 8:30 | AM | Dairy Cattle Open & Junior Show Cow Palace |
| 9–3 | Antique Tractor Pull Motorized Events Area |
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| 9:00 | Goat Show Goat Show Ring |
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| 9:00 | Sheep Show Sheep Show Ring |
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| 9:30 | Llama Shows Llama Ring outside of T Barn |
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| 10:00 | Pony Pull (all classes) Pull Ring |
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| 10:00 | Rabbits Junior & Senior Showmanship The Barnyard |
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| 10:00 | Big Coloring with Dave TenEyck Kids Place |
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| 10–3 | Sewing Demonstrations from American Sewing Guild Needlework Building |
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| 11:00 | Mini Pedal Tractor Pull Contest Kids Place |
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| 11:00 | Brown Paper Sax: Saxophone Craze Era Rags and Foxtrots Rest Tent - President’s Hall |
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| 11:00 | Antique Farm Equipment Demo South End Farm Museum |
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| 11:15 | Tim Kosky: Acoustic Favorites Green Stage |
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| 11:15 | Switchfire: Acoustic Country Duo Center Stage |
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| 12:00 | PM | East Rock Jazz Band: New Orleans 2nd Line Music Sunflower Stage |
| 12:00 | Music with Susan Peak Kids Place |
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| 12:45 | Higby Mountain Bluegrass Band: Bluegrass Green Stage |
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| 12:45 | Juke Box 45: Doo Wop and Rock and Roll Center Stage |
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| 1:00 | Games & Contests Kids Place |
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| 1:30 | I of The Storm: Acoustic Rock, Country Rest Tent - President’s Hall |
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| 2:00 | Magic Show Kids Place |
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| 2:00 | Antique Farm Equipment Demo South End Farm Museum |
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| 2:45 | John Spignesi Band: Rock, Funk and Jam Green Stage |
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| 2:45 | Lunar A Capella: Contemporary A Cappella Center Stage |
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| 3:00 | Someone You Can Xray: Funky, Blues, Rock Sunflower Stage |
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| 3:00 | Balloon Twisting Kids Place |
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| 4:00 | Cow Plop BINGO South of the Cow Palace Building |
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| 4:00 | Candy Bar Bingo Kids Place |
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| 4:45 | Nine North Band: Americana, Alternative Country Green Stage |
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| 4:45 | Monthei Brothers: Country Center Stage |
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| 5:00 | Antique Farm Equipment Demo South End Farm Museum |
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| 5:00 | Bunny Hop Contest The Barnyard |
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| 5:00 | 3-Horse Pull (all classes) Pull Ring |
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| 5:30 | The Teals Band: 60’s to 90’s Rock Sunflower Stage |
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| 6–10 | Truck & SUV Pull Motorized Events Area |
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| 6:00 | Eric Mock: Classic Country Rest Tent - President’s Hall |
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| 7:00 | Battle of the Barns Cow Palace |
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| 7:00 | Blue Mountain Haze: Southern and Classic Rock Green Stage |
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| 7:00 | Sister Funk: Funk, Rock and Pop Center Stage |
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| 7:30 | Tyler Hubbard Main Stage |
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| SUNDAY, September 27, 2026 Fair Hours: 9AM–6PM |
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| 8:00 | AM | Ecumenical Church Service: Organized by the United Churches from Durham. Open to All Green Stage |
| 9:00 | Halter Class Horse Pull Pull Ring |
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| 9:00 | Swine Show The Barnyard |
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| 10:00 | Pair Draft Horse Pull (3125 lbs. or under 15 ft.) Pull Ring |
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| 10:00 | Magic Show Kids Place |
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| 10–3 | Sewing Demonstrations from American Sewing Guild Needlework Building |
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| 11:00 | Bunny Hop Contest The Barnyard |
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| 11:00 | Antique Farm Equipment Demo South End Farm Museum |
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| 11:00 | Mini Pedal Tractor Pull Contest Kids Place |
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| 11:00 | “Once Upon a Time” Sacred Heart Theatre Kids Place |
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| 11:00 | Liz Reed and the Time of Day: Acoustic Folk and Pop Green Stage |
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| 11:00 | Patrick Gazda: Acoustic Folk Rest Tent - President’s Hall |
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| 11:00 | Durham After Dark: Rock, Pop Favorites Center Stage |
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| 11:00 | Mark Smith Jazz Quartet: Jazz Favorites Sunflower Stage |
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| 12:00 | PM | Monster Truck Show Meet and Greet: Meet drivers and get autographs and pictures. Motorized Events Area |
| 12–2 | Big Coloring with Dave TenEyck Kids Place |
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| 12–1 | Songs and Music with Dave Alpert Kids Place |
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| 1:00 | The Parkway Ramblers: Bluegrass Green Stage |
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| 1:00 | Flip the Tables: Classic Rock Center Stage |
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| 1:00 | Just Like Fire Acoustic Duo: Country, Pop, Rock Rest Tent - President’s Hall |
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| 1:00 | The Desperado’s: Eagles Tribute Band Sunflower Stage |
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| 1:00 | Pair Draft Horse Pull (3,325 lbs. or under 15 ft.) Pull Ring |
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| 1:30 | East Rock Brass Band: New Orleans 2nd Line Music Roaming |
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| 1:30 | “Once Upon a Time” Sacred Heart Theatre Kids Place |
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| 2:00 | Cow Plop BINGO South of the Cow Palace Building |
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| 2:00 | Middletown Skein Scene Knitting Club Discovery Center |
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| 2:00 | Power Wheels Demolition Derby Ages 4 to 9 Demolition Derby Event Monster Truck Show Freestyle Event Motorized Events Area |
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| 2:00 | Animal Costume Parade Cow Palace |
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| 2:00 | Antique Farm Equipment Demo South End Farm Museum |
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| 2:00 | Games & Contests Kids Place |
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| 3:00 | Pair Draft Horse Pull (over 3,325 lbs. 12 ft.) Pull Ring |
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| 3:00 | Beth and the Boys: Country Sunflower Stage |
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| 3:00 | Wheelhouse: R&B, Classic Rock Center Stage |
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| 3:00 | No Hangups: Classic Rock Green Stage |
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| 3:00 | Magic Show Kids Place |
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| 3:30 | “Once Upon a Time” Sacred Heart Theatre Kids Place |
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| 4:00 | Candy Bar Bingo Kids Place |
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| 5:00 | Antique Farm Equipment Demo South End Farm Museum |
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