Connecticut GuideCurated event
Guilford Fair 2027: the shoreline's agricultural fair, September 17 to 19
The next Guilford Fair runs from September 17 to 19, 2027 on the fairgrounds in Guilford, on the Connecticut shoreline; the 2026 fair ran September 18 to 20. 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 17–19, 2027
- Venue: Guilford Fairgrounds, Guilford
- Organised by: Guilford Agricultural Society, Inc.
- Admission: Ticketed
- Checked: October 2, 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 17, 2027 | Opening day, gates open 4 p.m.from 16:00 |
| Saturday, September 18, 2027 | Saturday |
| Sunday, September 19, 2027 | 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 2027 fair opens on Friday, September 17 at 4 p.m. and runs through Sunday, September 19, 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 coastThe shoreline towns compared.
- Shoreline: Guilford and MadisonExplore places in both shoreline towns.
Make a day of it
Past editions
- 2026 · September 18–20, 2026Friday 4 p.m. to Sunday on the Guilford fairgrounds.
Sources and transparency:Guilford Fair: official site (2027 dates, Friday 4 p.m. opening, organiser) (checked 2026-10-02)Not a paid listing.Editorial policyFull agenda