Curated event
Guilford Fair 2026: the shoreline's agricultural fair, September 18 to 20
The Guilford Fair runs from September 18 to 20, 2026 on the fairgrounds in Guilford, on the Connecticut shoreline. Established in 1859 and run by the Guilford Agricultural Society, it is the state's second-oldest agricultural fair, with the gates opening at 4 p.m. on the Friday.
- Dates: September 18–20, 2026
- Venue: Guilford Fairgrounds, Guilford
- Organised by: Guilford Agricultural Society, Inc.
- Admission: Ticketed
- Checked: September 11, 2026
Make it a shoreline weekend: the fair on Friday evening or Saturday, the Guilford green and the marshes around it, and a base along the Guilford to Madison shore. Check the fair's site for Saturday and Sunday hours and the parking plan before you drive in.
Schedule
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| Friday, September 18, 2026 | Opening day, gates open 4 p.m. from 16:00 |
| Saturday, September 19, 2026 | Saturday |
| Sunday, September 20, 2026 | Final day |
Dates and hours come from the organisers' announcements and can change. Check them once more before setting out.
Official tickets and registration · Tickets are sold through the fair's site; the Friday gates open at 4 p.m.
The event
The Guilford Fair has run on the town's fairgrounds since 1859, making it Connecticut's second-oldest agricultural fair. The 2026 fair opens on Friday, September 18 at 4 p.m. and runs through Sunday, September 20, with livestock, exhibits, a midway and the town's own traditions.
The Guilford Agricultural Society runs it; directions, a fairgrounds map and ticket sales are on the fair's site.
Planning the weekend
Guilford is a Shore Line East and Amtrak town, so the fair can be reached by train with a walk or a short ride from the station; by car, the fairgrounds sit off the town's main roads and fill on Saturday. Friday evening after the 4 p.m. opening is the calmer visit.
The rest of the weekend belongs to the shoreline: the town green, the marsh walks, Hammonasset in Madison, and the oyster and farm stops between them.
Good to know
- Saturday and Sunday hours are published by the fair; only the Friday 4 p.m. opening is fixed here.
- Mid-September on the shore can still be warm by day and cool by night.
- Check parking directions on the fair's site; the surrounding roads narrow quickly.
Where to stay for fair weekend
The Guilford to Madison shore is a base in its own right. This guide explains where to go along the coast and how the towns differ.
- Where to go on the Connecticut coast The shoreline towns compared.
- Shoreline: Guilford and Madison The area page with the checked places.
Make a day of it
Sources and transparency: Guilford Fair: official site (2026 dates, Friday opening, organiser) (checked 2026-09-11) Not a paid listing. Editorial policy Full agenda