During the 2020 fair and festival season, fields and farms everywhere stood abandoned and silent for the first time since World War II. It appears that won’t be the case in 2021. Organizers of the Chester, North Haven, Guilford, Durham, and Haddam Neck fairs and the East Haven Fall Festival spoke to Living about their excitement to open the gates again this year, whether taking last year off affected anything, and if they have anything new planned along with old favorites.

The Chester Fair, Aug. 27-29

The Chester Fair has been held annually since 1877 and, aside from last year, it was only canceled in 1905 and for three years during World War II.

Kim Price, first vice president of the fair’s board of directors, says, “We’re just thrilled to be able to fire it back up and thrilled that there are people out there that want to attend and there are vendors that want to join us and just get this thing going again.”

He estimates that attendance in normal years averages around 12,000.

Price has been involved in helping to plan the fair for almost 20 years and says the process has been a roller coaster ride as state guidelines continue to evolve. Like other fair planners gearing up to get back to business after a skipped season, he’s optimistic about the numbers but knows they could go either way—attendance could be lower than past years due to lingering caution about COVID-19, or it could be higher thanks to a public champing at the bit to get back out there.

Those who do come will be rewarded with many of the favorites for which the Chester Fair is known, including pig races, tractor and horse pulls, food vendors, crafts, and children’s activities.

Price has enjoyed the steady stream of enthusiasm he’s encountered as he spreads the word that the fair is back on.

“I dropped the fair books off at different places, and just the number of people that are thrilled to see that the fair is back and how much they’ve enjoyed it over their lives as young adults and kids, and now adults taking their kids—it has a great reputation I think,” he says.

The Chester Fair will be held Friday, Aug. 27, from 6 to 11 p.m.; Saturday, Aug. 28, from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.; and Sunday, Aug. 29, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tickets are $10 for adults and children 13 and older and $8 for senior citizens and military members. Children 12 and younger enter free. A three-day pass is $25 and parking is free. The fairgrounds are located on Kirtland Terrace off Route 154 in Chester. Visit chesterfair.org for more information and an event program.

Haddam Neck Fair, Sept. 3-6

The Haddam Neck Fair is mixing things up with a new demolition derby on Sunday night, Sept. 5. It will also feature a tractor parade and opening ceremony on Friday, Sept. 3, with a Color Guard from the Connecticut National Guard. Helicopter rides are back for the second time.

David Tozier, vice president of the fair’s board of directors, says, “Our entire board is extremely happy and excited that we are able to host our annual fair this year. It is our 110th year and we expect to see record crowds. Last year, we had a very difficult time canceling our event, and it was not a decision that we made lightly.”

Tozier says the fairgrounds will feature new hand sanitizing stations, more hand washing stations, increased cleaning schedules, and trash disposal, “all of which will help everyone maintain the highest level of sanitation that we can at a fair,” he says.

Other beloved events include the fair’s local stock truck pull competition, modified tractor and truck pulls, the working horse pull competition, bovine events, and a dog agility show. Of note, there’s also a baby show, a women’s skillet throwing contest, and a beard contest for the men.

“Taking last year off, although a disappointment, was also a reprieve for most of the volunteers and board members. We are mostly all an optimistic, hard-working bunch,” Tozier says. “Having the time off from fair activities to focus on our families and homes gave us a chance to refresh our outlooks and enthusiasm for this year’s fair. We can hardly wait!”

The Haddam Neck Fair will be held Labor Day Weekend, Friday, Sept. 3, Saturday, Sept. 4, Sunday, Sept. 5, and Monday, Sept. 6. Gates open at 4 p.m. Friday and 7:30 a.m. Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. Tickets are $10 for adults and children 12 and older and $9 for senior citizens and military members. Children younger than 12 enter free. A weekend pass is $25 and parking is free. The fairgrounds are located at 26 Quarry Hill Road in Haddam Neck. Visit haddamneckfair.com for more information and a schedule of events.

North Haven Fair, Sept. 9-12

The 78th annual North Haven Fair will bring back some favorites like local band Bad Mannerz, Northeast Wrestling, the magician Robert Clarke, and the Marvelous Mutts dog show, according to Jeanne Lewis, vice president of the North Haven Fair Association.

“We’re excited that we will be able to open the North Haven Fair in 2021, still COVID dependent. We missed 2020 and the opportunity to continue many family traditions of exhibiting at and visiting the fair,” she says. “The North Haven Fair has been a family and community tradition since 1942, an opportunity for families and friends to get together, see the exhibits, and animals, go to the petting zoo and play kids’ games. And let’s not forget great fair food!”

New this year will be a Rewind to the ‘80s production performed by the Spotlight Stage Company and a motorsports arena that will feature NELMRA Lawn Mower Racing, Connecticut State Tractor Pullers, Middlesex County Tractor Pullers, and Southern Connecticut Antique Tractor Pullers with more new things to follow.

“The pandemic was difficult for all of us, each in a different way. For the North Haven Fair, we missed being able to see our family and friends and continuing long-standing traditions. We missed seeing the youth show their animals, and children and adults proudly display their creations and exhibits,” Lewis says. “I think everyone adapted differently and learned new skills, whether that was painting or knitting, sewing or making bread, or a newfound fondness for gardening. We hope to see all of these new skills exhibited in our Home Arts and Agriculture buildings.”

The North Haven Fair will be held Thursday, Sept. 9, from 5 to 10 p.m.; Friday, Sept. 10, from 3 to 11 p.m.; Saturday, Sept. 11, from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.; and Sunday, Sept. 12, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Admission is $5 Thursday for Celebrate North Haven and $10 Friday, Saturday, and Sunday for ages 12 and older accompanied by an adult. Seniors aged 65 and older enter for $5 on Sunday. The fairgrounds are located at 290 Washington Avenue in North Haven. Parking is free. For more information, visit facebook.com/NorthHavenFair.

East Haven Fall Festival, Sept. 10-12

Although the East Haven Fall Festival, which was first held in 1992, hasn’t been around as long as many of the other fairs and festivals in Connecticut, it still has a strong following and plenty to offer, including free admission.

Festival President Noreen Clough started as a ticket booth volunteer almost 20 years ago.

“The whole committee is so excited to bring the festival back to the town and the enthusiasm is amazing,” she says.

This year the green will offer vendors and attendees upgraded Wi-Fi, permanent electricity, and expanded water services, allowing the festival to be better than ever.

Returning attractions include the chamber’s business showcase on Saturday, craft and food vendors, carnival rides for kids, and a Teen Corner with new activities. Several local bands will showcase their talents all weekend. Headliners include a Doobie Brothers tribute band on Friday night and The Stylistics on Saturday night.

Clough says, depending on the headliner, “We could have on a Saturday night 10,000 people on that green—and believe me, when I tell you you can’t move, you can’t move.”

Reflecting on 2020’s canceled festival, Clough says, “I don’t think you realize it year after year, but then when you don’t have it there’s a big void...So this year I told my group, ‘Listen, guys, what is the thought?’ They were like, ‘If we can do it, we want to do it.’ I said, ‘That’s all I need to know.’”

The East Haven Fall Festival is held on the Town Green Friday, Sept. 10 from 6 to 11 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 11, from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. (after the 9:30 a.m. road race and 9 a.m. fun run), and Sunday, Sept. 12, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. (after the 9 a.m. classic car show). The East Haven Town Green is located off River Street and Hemingway Avenue. For more information, visit facebook.com/EHFallFest.

Guilford Fair, Sept. 17-19

Pandemic-weary revelers who want to see the Flying Wallendas—a family that’s been crossing tightropes for several generations—and a famous donkey who’s featured on a postage stamp, Guilford’s own Sharpy, can do so at the Guilford Fair.

Bands will include Bon Jovi tribute band Living on a Bad Name, Paul McCartney music featuring Tony Kishner, and Connecticut group Coyote River Band. Regular favorites like a zoo, a circus, and a magic show are planned as well.

The Guilford Fair was established in 1859, making it the state’s second-oldest agricultural fair. Barbara Puffer, public communications coordinator for the Guilford Fair, has been helping plan the annual event since 1990. It is produced by the Guilford Agricultural Society.

Puffer says up to 25,000 people usually walk through the gates in normal years, and that Guilford Agricultural Society President John Hammarlund received calls from many people expressing how sad they were that the fair was canceled last year.

“He talks about it all the time,” Puffer says. “I think I saw that reflected in our COVID campaign that we had to try to recover the deficit we were experiencing in our operating budget in 2020. People would send notes with their donations. We had a $50,000 campaign—that’s what we saw as our operating shortfall—and we made that goal.”

She recalls a note from a 94-year-old man in Guilford that said, “My family and I have been going there for generations and I just hope that my small gift will help keep this fair alive for others.”

“It was not a small gift,” Puffer says. “It was a very generous gift.”

She adds, “That kind of story about how it’s a generational experience and hoping it can continue was an important one and a repeated one.”

The Guilford Fair will be held Friday, Sept. 17, from 1 to 11 p.m.; Saturday, Sept. 18, from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.; and Sunday, Sept. 19, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 for adults and children 12 and older and $8 for senior citizens 62 and older. Children 11 and younger enter free. A three-day pass is $25 and on-site parking is $10. Free parking with shuttle bus service is available at the satellite parking lot at 1575 Boston Post Road, Guilford, just off of I-95, Exit 57. The fairgrounds are located on Stonehouse Lane near Lovers Lane in Guilford. Visit guilfordfair.org for more information and a full schedule of events.

Durham Fair, Sept. 23-26

Last, but certainly not least, the formidable Durham Fair will open its gates for the 101st time the last weekend in September. The fair was first held in 1916 and it is the largest agricultural fair in Connecticut. It is one of the largest in North America managed entirely by unpaid volunteers.

On the fair’s return this year, Durham Fair Marketing Coordinator Debbie Huscher says, “We’ve been cautiously optimistic starting back in January, but we had a meeting with all of our directors, and everybody voted to have one, and so we’re very thrilled about it.”

A major change this year is the elimination of the main stage, partly for financial reasons in case turnout is lower than hoped for, and partly for safety as the pandemic lingers.

“That was at night; it’s a big crowd,” Huscher explains. “We get 25,000 people for concerts, so we’re now just kind of focusing on local talents. We’re going to have about 40 different bands.”

Also new this year is an international food court and entertainment. Food vendors will represent different countries while musicians like an Irish band and an African drummer will entertain.

But lest you think the Durham Fair is getting above itself, there will also be cow plop bingo.

“Basically, you get a ticket, and wherever Linguini the cow plops her stuff, the people will win prizes,” Huscher says wryly.

Losing last year was tough, Huscher says, and not just for lack of a good time.

“We have about 35 nonprofits that use the Durham Fair as their biggest fundraiser,” she says.

Despite the loss of revenue, the Durham Fair is not raising its prices, and old favorites will be back.

“We’re still having our motorized events with the demolition derby and the Figure 8 and the monster trucks,” Huscher says. “We’re still having all of our exhibits, so we have three barns of animals and all the other events are taking place except for the main stage.”

Losing a year wasn’t all bad.

“Having that year off gave people opportunities to think of new ideas,” Huscher says. “For example, the giant pumpkins—they’re now doing something called Garden of the Giants, and the Christmas trees are doing something new, so there’s some fresh ideas that you’ll be seeing at the fair.”

The Durham Fair will be held Thursday, Sept. 23, from 4 to 10 p.m.; Friday, Sept. 24 and Saturday, Sept. 25, from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.; and Sunday, Sept. 26, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. One-day tickets for adults are $9 on Thursday and $15 a day Friday through Sunday. Children 11 and younger, active military with ID ,and attendees in wheelchairs enter free. Daily admission for seniors 62 and older is $11. A four-day pass is $35. There is no visitor parking available directly on the fairgrounds. Visit durhamfair.com for more information including a list of parking lots and a full schedule of events.