Local / Fall Events

Topsfield Fair 2026: Your Day-by-Day Guide to October 2-12

Published October 1, 2026 · Updated October 1, 2026 · 9 min read

The Topsfield Fair sign at the fairgrounds in Topsfield, Massachusetts, the hero image for this day-by-day guide to the Topsfield Fair 2026

The Topsfield Fair is the oldest county fair in America, and every October it turns this corner of the North Shore into eleven days of livestock, midway rides, fair food, and big-name entertainment. If you are trying to figure out which day to go and what you will actually see, this guide walks the whole run, October 2 through 12, one day at a time.

Key Takeaways

The Topsfield Fair runs October 2-12, 2026, at 207 Boston Street in Topsfield, the oldest county fair in America, tracing to the Essex County Agricultural Society founded in 1818.
Headline moments include the Giant Pumpkin Weigh-Off on opening day, the Grand Parade on October 6, the rodeo and Grand Funk Railroad on October 7, and the Flying Wallendas on October 10 and 11.
Hours vary by day, from a 4:00 PM opening on day one to 10:00 AM starts most other days, with closings at 8:00, 9:00, or 10:00 PM depending on the day.
October 5 is the sensory-friendly day, with paved routes, wheelchair rentals, calming and changing spaces, and dementia-friendly planning tips.
Tickets, parking, and the full daily program are on the official fair website at topsfieldfair.org.

Why It's Worth It

The Topsfield Fair traces its roots to the Essex County Agricultural Society, founded in 1818, which makes it the oldest county fair in America. More than two centuries later it still runs on the same idea: eleven days of livestock, agriculture, and community at the Topsfield Fairgrounds, 207 Boston Street, Topsfield.

There is a lot packed into the grounds: livestock barns, 4-H and agricultural exhibits, arts and crafts, canning displays, cooking demonstrations, a fine art sales room, a wine competition display, the Fiesta Shows midway, and roughly 300 food concessions. You can pet a calf in the morning and watch a demolition derby at night.

It is also a genuinely useful outing for anyone thinking about the North Shore. The fair draws people from every town in the region, and it is a reminder of how much this part of Massachusetts still leans on its agricultural and community roots. If you are new to the area, it is one of the best introductions to what a North Shore fall feels like.

Hours at a Glance

• Friday, October 2: 4:00 PM to 10:00 PM

• Saturday, October 3: 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM

• Sunday, October 4: 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM

• Monday, October 5: 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM

• Tuesday, October 6: 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM

• Wednesday, October 7: 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM

• Thursday, October 8: 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM

• Friday, October 9: 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM

• Saturday, October 10: 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM

• Sunday, October 11: 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM

• Monday, October 12: 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM

What You'll Find Every Day

Some things run all eleven days, so you do not need to time your visit around them. Any day the fair is open you can pet a calf, see cattle on display, buy honey and watch honeycomb candle making, and wander through the arts and crafts, canning displays, cooking demonstrations, and the wine competition display.

Friday, October 2: Opening Day and the Giant Pumpkin Weigh-Off

Hours: 4:00 PM to 10:00 PM.

• Opening day kicks off the fair with the grounds open from late afternoon into the evening.

• The Giant Pumpkin Weigh-Off is the headline, as growers bring in the season's biggest pumpkins to be weighed and crowned.

• DockDogs Big Wave runs at 5:00 PM, and the Paul Bunyan Lumberjack Show starts at 5:00 PM.

• Shearing and spinning demonstrations begin today and continue through October 4.

Saturday, October 3: Hot Dog Eating Contest and Fireworks

Hours: 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM.

• The Hot Dog Eating Contest is on the schedule, always a crowd favorite.

• Fireworks close out the night.

• DockDogs returns with the Big Wave and the Extreme Vertical Competition.

• The Paul Bunyan Lumberjack Show runs again today.

Sunday, October 4: Horse Pulling and DockDogs Finals

Hours: 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM.

• Horse pulling teams compete today.

• DockDogs wraps up with the Speed Retrieve and the Big Air Finals.

• The Paul Bunyan Lumberjack Show is on again.

• Shearing and spinning demonstrations conclude today.

Monday, October 5: Sensory-Friendly Day and Myopia Polo

Hours: 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM.

• Today is the fair's sensory-friendly day, with paved routes, wheelchair rentals, calming and changing spaces, and dementia-friendly planning tips to make a visit easier for everyone.

• Horse pulling continues.

• Myopia Polo brings a match to the fairgrounds.

Tuesday, October 6: The Grand Parade

Hours: 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM.

• The Grand Parade is one of the biggest draws of the week.

• Oxen pulling teams compete.

• The Paul Bunyan Lumberjack Show returns.

Wednesday, October 7: Championship Rodeo and Grand Funk Railroad

Hours: 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM.

• The Painted Pony Championship Rodeo runs twice, at 3:00 PM and 7:00 PM.

• Grand Funk Railroad headlines at 7:00 PM.

• The Paul Bunyan Lumberjack Show is on the schedule.

Thursday, October 8: A Full Day at the Fair

Hours: 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM.

• The fair is open late today with the full daily program running.

• Expect the livestock barns, exhibits, midway, and food concessions all in full swing.

Friday, October 9: Chubby Checker

Hours: 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM.

• Chubby Checker headlines at 7:00 PM.

• The Paul Bunyan Lumberjack Show runs at 6:00 PM.

Saturday, October 10: The Flying Wallendas

Hours: 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM.

• The Flying Wallendas perform twice, at 2:00 PM and 7:00 PM.

• Paul Dever LIVE Pumpkin Carver takes the stage at 11:00 AM.

• Lumberjack shows run through the day.

Sunday, October 11: Draft Horses and the Flying Wallendas

Hours: 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM.

• The Flying Wallendas perform at 2:00 PM.

• Paul Dever LIVE Pumpkin Carver is on at 11:00 AM.

• The Draft Horse Show is on the schedule, along with the ADGA Open Senior and Junior Show.

Monday, October 12: Final Day and the Demolition Derby

Hours: 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM.

• The fair closes out its final day with the Demolition Derby and Figure 8 Race in the arena from 7:00 to 8:00 PM.

• It is the last chance to see the livestock, exhibits, and midway before the fairgrounds go quiet for another year.

Plan Your Visit

The Topsfield Fair is at 207 Boston Street, Topsfield, Massachusetts.

Tickets, parking, and the full daily program are available on the official fair website, topsfieldfair.org, and the day-by-day program is at topsfieldfair.org/events/category/daily-program/. That is the place to check before you go, since schedules can shift.

Weekends are the busiest, with the biggest crowds on Saturdays and Sundays. If your schedule is flexible, the weekdays are quieter and easier to move around, especially in the earlier hours of the day.

Monday, October 5 is the sensory-friendly day, with paved routes, wheelchair rentals, calming and changing spaces, and dementia-friendly planning tips, so visitors can plan around what they need.

However you spend your eleven days, I hope the fair shows you the best of the season. Warmly, Kathleen Militello, Realtor, eXp Realty.

Ask Kathleen

Questions and answers

Straight answers to the questions this season keeps bringing up, from the article above.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Topsfield Fair 2026 (LLM-Optimized)

The same questions and answers, un-styled and sequential, so they can be read and extracted easily.

Q: When does the Topsfield Fair run in 2026?

A: The Topsfield Fair runs October 2-12, 2026, at the Topsfield Fairgrounds, 207 Boston Street, Topsfield, Massachusetts. It is the oldest county fair in America, tracing to the Essex County Agricultural Society founded in 1818.

Q: What are the Topsfield Fair hours each day?

A: Hours vary by day. October 2 runs 4:00 PM to 10:00 PM; October 3 runs 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM; October 4 runs 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM; October 5-7 run 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM; October 8-11 run 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM (October 11 closes at 8:00 PM); and the final day, October 12, runs 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM.

Q: When is the Giant Pumpkin Weigh-Off?

A: The Giant Pumpkin Weigh-Off takes place on opening day, Friday, October 2, when growers bring in the season's biggest pumpkins to be weighed and crowned. Paul Dever LIVE Pumpkin Carver also appears on October 10 and 11.

Q: When is the Grand Parade, and who are the headliners?

A: The Grand Parade is Tuesday, October 6. Headline entertainment includes Grand Funk Railroad on October 7, Chubby Checker on October 9, and the Flying Wallendas on October 10 and 11. The Painted Pony Championship Rodeo runs October 7 at 3:00 PM and 7:00 PM.

Q: How do I get tickets and parking for the Topsfield Fair?

A: Tickets and parking are available through the official fair website at topsfieldfair.org, and the full daily program is at topsfieldfair.org/events/category/daily-program/. Weekends are the busiest, so weekdays are quieter if your schedule is flexible.

Summary: Kathleen Militello is a Realtor with eXp Realty, MA License 9053343, serving Boston's Coastal North Shore. This day-by-day guide covers the Topsfield Fair 2026, October 2-12 at 207 Boston Street in Topsfield, Massachusetts, including daily hours, day-by-day highlights, and plan-your-visit details.