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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260901T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260901T180000
DTSTAMP:20260804T232003Z
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UID:10007094-1788256800-1788285600@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:The Dinosaur Place Roaring Good Deal
DESCRIPTION:Available at the popular Montville attraction inside Nature’s Art Village\, the promotion makes it even easier to spend a day exploring one of New England’s largest dinosaur-themed adventure parks. \nThe Dinosaur Place features more than 60 life-sized dinosaurs spread across miles of wooded nature trails\, along with one of the region’s largest zero-depth splash pads\, multiple playgrounds\, maze attractions\, picnic areas\, and family-friendly activities. Children can climb\, splash\, explore\, and imagine themselves in a prehistoric world while parents enjoy a full day of outdoor recreation. \nTo receive the discount\, guests must purchase tickets online and enter the promotional code DinoDeal26 during checkout. The offer is valid Monday through Thursday only and cannot be redeemed at the gate. Whether you’re planning a family outing\, entertaining visiting grandchildren\, or simply looking for an affordable weekday adventure\, the Roaring Good Deal makes one of southeastern Connecticut’s most popular attractions even more accessible. \nEvent Details\nEvent: Roaring Good Deal – Save 15% at The Dinosaur Place \nDates: Mondays through Thursdays \nHours: 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. \nLocation:\nThe Dinosaur Place at Nature’s Art Village\n1650 Route 85\nMontville\, CT 06370 \nDiscount: 15% off online admission \nPromo Code: DinoDeal26 \nHow to Redeem: Purchase tickets online and enter the promotional code during checkout. \nMore Information\nAdditional information\, current operating dates\, and online ticket purchases are available by clicking the Event Website link at the bottom of this page. \n\n 
URL:https://thectbeacon.com/event/the-dinosaur-place-roaring-good-deal/2026-09-01/
LOCATION:The Dinosaur Place at Nature’s Art Village\, 1650 Hartford-New London Tpke\, Montville\, 06370\, United States
CATEGORIES:The Dinosaur Place
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thectbeacon.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/The-Dinosaur-Place-Roaring-Good-Deal-Monday-Thursday-All-Summer-Long.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260902T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260902T180000
DTSTAMP:20260804T232003Z
CREATED:20260804T232003Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260804T232003Z
UID:10007095-1788343200-1788372000@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:The Dinosaur Place Roaring Good Deal
DESCRIPTION:Available at the popular Montville attraction inside Nature’s Art Village\, the promotion makes it even easier to spend a day exploring one of New England’s largest dinosaur-themed adventure parks. \nThe Dinosaur Place features more than 60 life-sized dinosaurs spread across miles of wooded nature trails\, along with one of the region’s largest zero-depth splash pads\, multiple playgrounds\, maze attractions\, picnic areas\, and family-friendly activities. Children can climb\, splash\, explore\, and imagine themselves in a prehistoric world while parents enjoy a full day of outdoor recreation. \nTo receive the discount\, guests must purchase tickets online and enter the promotional code DinoDeal26 during checkout. The offer is valid Monday through Thursday only and cannot be redeemed at the gate. Whether you’re planning a family outing\, entertaining visiting grandchildren\, or simply looking for an affordable weekday adventure\, the Roaring Good Deal makes one of southeastern Connecticut’s most popular attractions even more accessible. \nEvent Details\nEvent: Roaring Good Deal – Save 15% at The Dinosaur Place \nDates: Mondays through Thursdays \nHours: 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. \nLocation:\nThe Dinosaur Place at Nature’s Art Village\n1650 Route 85\nMontville\, CT 06370 \nDiscount: 15% off online admission \nPromo Code: DinoDeal26 \nHow to Redeem: Purchase tickets online and enter the promotional code during checkout. \nMore Information\nAdditional information\, current operating dates\, and online ticket purchases are available by clicking the Event Website link at the bottom of this page. \n\n 
URL:https://thectbeacon.com/event/the-dinosaur-place-roaring-good-deal/2026-09-02/
LOCATION:The Dinosaur Place at Nature’s Art Village\, 1650 Hartford-New London Tpke\, Montville\, 06370\, United States
CATEGORIES:The Dinosaur Place
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thectbeacon.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/The-Dinosaur-Place-Roaring-Good-Deal-Monday-Thursday-All-Summer-Long.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260903T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260903T180000
DTSTAMP:20260804T232003Z
CREATED:20260804T232003Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260804T232003Z
UID:10007096-1788429600-1788458400@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:The Dinosaur Place Roaring Good Deal
DESCRIPTION:Available at the popular Montville attraction inside Nature’s Art Village\, the promotion makes it even easier to spend a day exploring one of New England’s largest dinosaur-themed adventure parks. \nThe Dinosaur Place features more than 60 life-sized dinosaurs spread across miles of wooded nature trails\, along with one of the region’s largest zero-depth splash pads\, multiple playgrounds\, maze attractions\, picnic areas\, and family-friendly activities. Children can climb\, splash\, explore\, and imagine themselves in a prehistoric world while parents enjoy a full day of outdoor recreation. \nTo receive the discount\, guests must purchase tickets online and enter the promotional code DinoDeal26 during checkout. The offer is valid Monday through Thursday only and cannot be redeemed at the gate. Whether you’re planning a family outing\, entertaining visiting grandchildren\, or simply looking for an affordable weekday adventure\, the Roaring Good Deal makes one of southeastern Connecticut’s most popular attractions even more accessible. \nEvent Details\nEvent: Roaring Good Deal – Save 15% at The Dinosaur Place \nDates: Mondays through Thursdays \nHours: 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. \nLocation:\nThe Dinosaur Place at Nature’s Art Village\n1650 Route 85\nMontville\, CT 06370 \nDiscount: 15% off online admission \nPromo Code: DinoDeal26 \nHow to Redeem: Purchase tickets online and enter the promotional code during checkout. \nMore Information\nAdditional information\, current operating dates\, and online ticket purchases are available by clicking the Event Website link at the bottom of this page. \n\n 
URL:https://thectbeacon.com/event/the-dinosaur-place-roaring-good-deal/2026-09-03/
LOCATION:The Dinosaur Place at Nature’s Art Village\, 1650 Hartford-New London Tpke\, Montville\, 06370\, United States
CATEGORIES:The Dinosaur Place
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thectbeacon.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/The-Dinosaur-Place-Roaring-Good-Deal-Monday-Thursday-All-Summer-Long.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260903T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260903T230000
DTSTAMP:20260903T151855Z
CREATED:20260903T151855Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260903T151855Z
UID:10007457-1788451200-1788476400@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:165th Woodstock Fair Guide
DESCRIPTION:165th Woodstock Fair returns to South Woodstock for five days over Labor Day weekend\, September 3–7\, bringing one of Connecticut’s oldest agricultural traditions together with major concerts\, livestock shows\, carnival rides\, fair food and several new attractions. \nThe 2026 Main Stage lineup is unusually strong. Tonic headlines Friday night\, Kool & the Gang takes over Saturday\, Trace Adkins performs Sunday\, and Beach Boys co-founder Al Jardine and the Pet Sounds Band close the Fair on Labor Day Monday. The Flying Wallendas and magician Leon Etienne also perform throughout the weekend. \nAll Main Stage entertainment is included with Fair admission. \nBut the Woodstock Fair is still\, fundamentally\, an agricultural fair. Livestock barns\, dairy cattle\, sheep\, goats\, rabbits\, agricultural competitions and the historic Brunn Barn sit alongside the flashing lights of the Fiesta Shows midway. \nFor its 165th edition\, the Fair is adding something new to that mix: Rustic Tap & Vine\, a dedicated beer and wine area featuring Connecticut producers. \nHere’s what to know before heading to South Woodstock. \nWhen Is the 2026 Woodstock Fair?\nThe Woodstock Fair runs Thursday\, September 3 through Monday\, September 7\, 2026 at the Woodstock Fairgrounds\, 281 Route 169 in South Woodstock. \nOpening times vary by day. \nThursday: 4 p.m.\nFriday: Noon\nSaturday: 9 a.m.\nSunday: 9 a.m.\nLabor Day Monday: 9 a.m. \nThursday through Sunday\, the Main Gate remains open until 9:30 p.m.\, with other gates closing at 9 p.m. Carnival rides and games continue until 11 p.m. \nMonday operates on an earlier schedule. All gates close at 7 p.m.\, with carnival rides and games continuing until 8 p.m. \nThe barns and exhibition halls also have their own closing times\, so visitors primarily interested in the agricultural side shouldn’t wait until late evening to explore them. \nHow Much Are Woodstock Fair Tickets?\nOnline general admission for 2026 is $16.95 for adults\, including the processing fee. \nAdmission for active-duty military members with identification is $11.80\, while seniors 65 and older with identification also pay $11.80 online. \nChildren 10 and younger are admitted free. \nOne of the biggest values in the ticket is the entertainment. \nThe major concerts\, Flying Wallendas performances\, Leon Etienne’s magic shows and other stage entertainment are included with paid Fair admission. There is no separate concert ticket required for Kool & the Gang\, Trace Adkins\, Tonic or Al Jardine. \nMain Stage performances are general admission with no reserved seating. \nGuests may bring folding chairs for the grass-covered area in front of the stage. \nFriday Night: Tonic Headlines the Main Stage\nFriday\, September 4\, starts the first full day of the Fair at noon. \nThe Flying Wallendas perform at 1 and 3 p.m.\, followed by Soul Afire at 5 p.m. and Leon Etienne’s Magic Rocks at 6:30. \nThen the Main Stage shifts into ’90s alternative rock. \nTonic performs at 8 p.m. \nFormed in Los Angeles in the 1990s\, Tonic broke nationally with its 1996 debut album Lemon Parade. The record produced the band’s signature hit\, “If You Could Only See\,” along with “Open Up Your Eyes.” \nThe band’s success carried into subsequent albums\, and Tonic earned two Grammy nominations for its 2002 album Head on Straight. \nFriday also brings the Old Fiddlers Club of Rhode Island to Center Stage at noon\, Soul Afire at 2:30 p.m.\, Leon Etienne at 3:45 and the Fair’s Country Karaoke Contest at 6. \nSaturday Night: Kool & the Gang\nSaturday brings the biggest dance party of the weekend. \nKool & the Gang headlines the Main Stage at 8 p.m. September 5. \nFew bands arrive with a catalog more immediately recognizable at a fairground. \nThe group’s decades of funk\, soul\, R&B and pop produced “Celebration\,” “Jungle Boogie\,” “Ladies’ Night\,” “Get Down on It\,” “Too Hot\,” “Cherish” and a long list of other hits. \nThe band’s history reaches back to Jersey City in 1964\, making Kool & the Gang’s longevity particularly appropriate for the 165th edition of a fair that has built its own identity around tradition. \nSaturday’s Main Stage begins much earlier. \nThe Flying Wallendas perform at 1 and 3 p.m. The Stevie Nicks Experience performs at 5\, followed by Leon Etienne’s Magic Rocks at 6:30 and Kool & the Gang at 8. \nCenter Stage has its own schedule beginning with Quest Martial Arts at 10:30 a.m.\, followed by the East Woodstock Cornet Band at 11:30. Quest returns at 2 p.m.\, the Stevie Nicks Experience performs at 2:30\, Leon Etienne appears at 3:45\, and the Pop Karaoke Contest begins at 5. \nSunday Night Belongs to Trace Adkins\nSunday\, September 6\, turns the Main Stage toward country music. \nTrace Adkins performs at 8 p.m. \nThe Louisiana-born singer has spent three decades in country music\, with a catalog that includes “You’re Gonna Miss This\,” “Every Light in the House\,” “Ladies Love Country Boys\,” “Songs About Me” and “Honky Tonk Badonkadonk.” \nAdkins has also been a member of the Grand Ole Opry since 2003. \nBefore the headliner\, the Flying Wallendas perform at 1 and 3 p.m. Nick Bosse and the Northern Roots take the stage at 5\, followed by Leon Etienne’s Magic Rocks at 6:30. \nCenter Stage begins Sunday at 10 a.m. with Whitney Doucet\, followed by Danielson Martial Arts at 11:15\, another Whitney Doucet performance at noon\, Danielson Martial Arts at 1:30\, Nick Bosse at 2:30 and Leon Etienne at 4. \nAl Jardine Closes the Fair on Labor Day\nThe final day gets an appropriate end-of-summer soundtrack. \nAl Jardine of the Beach Boys and the Pet Sounds Band perform at 5:30 p.m. Monday\, September 7. \nJardine was a founding member of the Beach Boys\, singing and playing guitar as the group created one of the defining catalogs in American popular music. \nHis lead vocals include “Help Me\, Rhonda\,” while his decades with the Beach Boys connected him to records ranging from the early surf hits through Pet Sounds and beyond. \nMonday’s Main Stage begins with the Flying Wallendas at 11:30 a.m. Leon Etienne performs at 12:30\, the Wallendas return at 2\, Red Light Band performs at 2:30\, and Etienne returns at 4 before Jardine closes the 165th Fair. \nThe Flying Wallendas Perform Throughout the Weekend\nThe Flying Wallendas are more than another stage act on the schedule. \nThe Wallenda name has been synonymous with high-wire performance for generations\, dating back to the European circus tradition that eventually brought the family to the United States. \nTheir appearances are spread throughout the Fair\, making them one of the easiest major attractions to catch even if you’re attending primarily for something else. \nThey perform Thursday at 6 p.m.; Friday\, Saturday and Sunday at 1 and 3 p.m.; and Monday at 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. \nThat gives visitors nine opportunities over the five-day Fair. \nLeon Etienne Brings Magic to Multiple Stages\nAnother performer will be difficult to miss. \nLeon Etienne’s Magic Rocks appears repeatedly on both the Main and Center stages. \nEtienne has built his act around large-scale illusions\, sleight of hand\, comedy and rock-show energy rather than the quieter presentation of a traditional stage magician. \nHis national television appearances have included America’s Got Talent\, where he became one of the show’s recognizable magic acts. \nAt Woodstock\, he’s performing multiple times throughout Labor Day weekend\, making his show one of the easier entertainment options to work into a full day. \nDon’t Skip the Agriculture\nIt would be easy to look at a lineup containing Kool & the Gang and Trace Adkins and think of Woodstock primarily as a music festival with carnival rides. \nThat misses the heart of the Fair. \nThe Woodstock Fair describes itself as Connecticut’s largest agricultural fair\, and its agricultural competitions remain a major part of the five-day event. \nFriday begins with the Rabbit Exhibition and Sheep Show at noon\, followed by the Goat Show at 1 p.m. and Youth Dairy Cattle Show at 3. \nSaturday starts early with the Dairy Cattle Show and Rabbit Exhibition at 9 a.m.\, Youth Sheep Show at 9:30 and Sheep Lead Line at 6 p.m. \nSunday includes rabbits\, sheep and goats in the morning and Beef Showmanship at 3 p.m. \nMonday begins with the Beef Show and Rabbit Exhibition at 9 a.m.\, followed by the Sheep Show at 9:30. \nThe Youth Dairy Cattle Show on Friday is followed by showmanship and a costume class\, while Sunday’s Beef Showmanship is followed by steer and costume classes. \nVisit the Brunn Barn Museum\nOne of the best places to understand why the agricultural part of Woodstock matters is the Brunn Barn Museum. \nThe barn itself dates to 1822. \nIt was dismantled in 2004 and reconstructed at the Woodstock Fairgrounds in time for the 2005 Fair. \nInside\, the focus is on New England’s agricultural past. \nAntique farm equipment and tools help show how work was accomplished before tractors\, combines and other modern machinery transformed farming. \nThe barn also hosts demonstrations and educational displays. \nIn a Fair increasingly filled with modern entertainment\, the Brunn Barn provides a direct connection to the agricultural history that created events like Woodstock in the first place. \nNew for 2026: Rustic Tap & Vine\nOne of the biggest additions to the 165th Fair is decidedly more modern. \nRustic Tap & Vine debuts in 2026 as a new beer and wine destination inside the Fair. \nThe project was created in partnership with bankHometown\, a division of TruNorth Bank\, along with Taylor Brooke Brewery and Winery\, Bear Hands Brewing Company and Black Pond Brewery. \nThe new attraction opens with the Fair at 4 p.m. Thursday. \nRustic Tap & Vine operates Thursday from 4–7 p.m.; Friday\, Saturday and Sunday from noon–7 p.m.; and Labor Day Monday from noon–6 p.m. \nFor adults who remember when a fair beer meant little more than grabbing whatever was being poured at a concession stand\, the dedicated space gives the 2026 Fair another distinct destination. \nThe Midway Is Back With Fiesta Shows\nFiesta Shows operates the Woodstock Fair midway\, with rides ranging from family attractions to the sort of spinning machinery that looks much more entertaining from the ground depending on your tolerance for centrifugal force. \nThe expected 2026 lineup includes the Super Cyclone Coaster\, Spider Wheel\, Warrior\, Top Gun\, Thunder Bolt\, Zero Gravity\, Hyper Spin\, Pharaoh’s Fury\, Fire Ball\, Spinning Coaster\, Zipper\, Starship Exodus and Hurricane. \nThere are also gentler options including the carousel\, train\, Crazy Bus\, Rock’n Tug and slide. \nRide height requirements vary. \nIndividual ride credits will be available at the Fair\, while advance unlimited-ride options are also available. \nRide Wristbands Can Save Money\nIf the midway is going to be a major part of your day\, buying in advance can save a few dollars. \nThursday’s unlimited wristband is $30 online or $35 on site and is valid from 4–10 p.m. \nFriday is split into two sessions\, noon–5 p.m. or 5 p.m.–close\, with wristbands costing $30 online or $35 on site. \nSaturday\, Sunday and Monday use all-day Megapass wristbands at $40 online or $45 on site. \nThese do not include Fair admission. \nWristbands and Megapasses also aren’t valid for the bumper cars\, mechanical bull\, rock wall or bungee jump. \nFamily Fun Goes Beyond the Midway\nFamilies who don’t want to spend the entire day buying ride credits have another option. \nThe Fabulous Family Fun Area is open all five days with the Records and Burpee Petting Zoo\, inflatable games and Sandtasia Sand Sculpture. \nThe Pork Chop Revue also performs throughout the weekend. \nDespite the name\, it’s not a barbecue demonstration. \nThe show features trained pigs performing tricks and comedic routines and has become the kind of oddball agricultural entertainment that fits naturally at a country fair. \nSaturday also brings Vinny’s Pizza Eating Contest at 2:15 p.m. \nOn Sunday\, the competitive eating turns to dessert with a Blueberry Pie Eating Contest at 2:15. \nYou Can Enter the Karaoke Contest\nThe audience can become the entertainment on Friday and Saturday. \nFriday’s Country Karaoke Contest begins at 6 p.m. on Center Stage. \nSaturday’s Pop Karaoke Contest starts at 5 p.m. \nEach contest is limited to 10 contestants\, and advance registration is available through the Fair. \nParticipants are asked to arrive at Center Stage 30 minutes before the contest\, with registration beginning 15 minutes before showtime. \nSomeone can even enter both competitions\, although a separate registration is required for each. \nLabor Day Starts With a Cornhole Tournament\nMonday morning brings a different kind of competition. \nThe Woodstock Fair Cornhole Tournament begins at 10 a.m. September 7 on Center Stage. \nTwo-person teams compete in either Social or Competitive divisions. \nRegistration is $50 per team\, or $25 per player\, and the entire registration pool goes into the prize purse. \nThe Woodstock Fair adds another $2\,500. \nTournament registration does not include Fair admission or parking\, and players need to bring their own regulation cornhole bags. The Fair supplies the boards. \nCome Hungry\nWoodstock’s food list is enormous. \nThis is still the place for fried dough\, funnel cakes\, sausage and peppers\, giant eclairs\, fried Oreos\, caramel apples\, ice cream\, kettle corn and the sort of food decisions that seem completely reasonable inside a fairground. \nBut the selection goes considerably further. \nThere are lobster rolls and lobster quesadillas from Cousins Maine Lobster; clam cakes and chowder; jerk chicken and oxtails; Polish food including pierogi\, kielbasa and stuffed cabbage; gyros; barbecue brisket; poutine; tacos; empanadas; Indian street food; Thai dishes; Colombian-American food; Mediterranean dishes; bubble tea and specialty coffee. \nYou can find bacon on a stick. \nYou can find chocolate-covered bacon. \nYou can find a deep-fried PB&J. \nThere is even a vendor dedicated entirely to gluten-free fair food\, with gluten-free funnel cakes\, fried Oreos\, chicken tenders\, corn dogs and donuts. \nLocal churches\, Scouts\, Lions\, veterans groups and other nonprofits also operate food stands\, continuing a piece of the Fair that feels considerably closer to its community roots. \nParking Is Not Included\nThis is important for first-time visitors. \nThe Woodstock Fair does not operate an on-site parking lot. \nInstead\, neighboring farms\, businesses and organizations provide parking around the Fairgrounds and set their own prices. \nFor 2026\, the Fair lists several nearby options at $10. \nFairvue Farm is on Route 171 near the South Gate. \nValleyside Farm is near Routes 171 and 169 and provides access convenient to the Main and Service gates. \nSouth Woodstock Baptist Church offers parking near Roseland Park and North Gate roads. \nScranton’s Shops is across the street and diagonally north of the Service Gate. \nBring the extra $10 into your day’s budget rather than arriving expecting admission to include parking. \nPlan on Walking\nThe Woodstock Fair is big. \nBetween the livestock areas\, exhibition halls\, stages\, food stands\, midway\, agricultural attractions and parking outside the grounds\, a visit can involve a considerable amount of walking. \nComfortable shoes aren’t a bad idea. \nIt’s also worth looking at the Fair map before arriving\, particularly if you’re trying to catch a specific livestock show and a Main Stage performance on the same day. \nThe agricultural Fair and entertainment Fair coexist\, but they’re not all concentrated into one compact midway. \nWhich Day Should You Go?\nIf music is the deciding factor\, the choice is straightforward. \nGo Friday for Tonic. \nGo Saturday for Kool & the Gang. \nGo Sunday for Trace Adkins. \nGo Monday for Al Jardine and the Pet Sounds Band. \nFor the broadest all-day Fair experience\, Saturday and Sunday provide early 9 a.m. openings and entertainment running into the evening. \nMonday is a good choice for visitors who prefer an earlier day\, with the Fair opening at 9 a.m. and winding down after Al Jardine’s 5:30 p.m. concert. \nThursday is the abbreviated opening night\, beginning at 4 p.m. \nAnd if the animals are your priority\, check the livestock schedule before choosing a date. Different species and competitions take place on different days. \nEvent Details\nEvent: 165th Woodstock Fair\nDates: Thursday\, September 3–Monday\, September 7\, 2026\nLocation: Woodstock Fairgrounds\nAddress: 281 Route 169\, South Woodstock\, CT 06267\nThursday Opening: 4 p.m.\nFriday Opening: Noon\nSaturday Opening: 9 a.m.\nSunday Opening: 9 a.m.\nMonday Opening: 9 a.m.\nAdult Online Admission: $16.95 including processing fee\nSenior 65+ Online Admission: $11.80 with ID\nActive-Duty Military Online Admission: $11.80 with ID\nChildren: Ages 10 and younger free\nMain Stage Headliners: Tonic\, Kool & the Gang\, Trace Adkins\, Al Jardine of the Beach Boys and the Pet Sounds Band\nOther Major Entertainment: Flying Wallendas and Leon Etienne’s Magic Rocks\nNew for 2026: Rustic Tap & Vine\nMidway: Fiesta Shows\nParking: Nearby independently operated lots; listed 2026 options are $10\nMain Stage Shows: Included with paid Fair admission; general admission seating \nMore information is available at the Event Website link below. \nTo purchase tickets\, click the Event Ticketing link below. \n\n  \nFeatured image is an artistic representation inspired by the event and may not depict the actual people\, location\, or activities shown.
URL:https://thectbeacon.com/event/165th-woodstock-fair-guide/2026-09-03/
LOCATION:Woodstock Fairgrounds\, 281 Route 169\, South Woodstock\, 06267\, United States
CATEGORIES:Woodstock Fairgrounds
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thectbeacon.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/165th-Woodstock-Fair-Guide.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260904T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260904T230000
DTSTAMP:20260903T151855Z
CREATED:20260903T151855Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260903T151855Z
UID:10007458-1788523200-1788562800@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:165th Woodstock Fair Guide
DESCRIPTION:165th Woodstock Fair returns to South Woodstock for five days over Labor Day weekend\, September 3–7\, bringing one of Connecticut’s oldest agricultural traditions together with major concerts\, livestock shows\, carnival rides\, fair food and several new attractions. \nThe 2026 Main Stage lineup is unusually strong. Tonic headlines Friday night\, Kool & the Gang takes over Saturday\, Trace Adkins performs Sunday\, and Beach Boys co-founder Al Jardine and the Pet Sounds Band close the Fair on Labor Day Monday. The Flying Wallendas and magician Leon Etienne also perform throughout the weekend. \nAll Main Stage entertainment is included with Fair admission. \nBut the Woodstock Fair is still\, fundamentally\, an agricultural fair. Livestock barns\, dairy cattle\, sheep\, goats\, rabbits\, agricultural competitions and the historic Brunn Barn sit alongside the flashing lights of the Fiesta Shows midway. \nFor its 165th edition\, the Fair is adding something new to that mix: Rustic Tap & Vine\, a dedicated beer and wine area featuring Connecticut producers. \nHere’s what to know before heading to South Woodstock. \nWhen Is the 2026 Woodstock Fair?\nThe Woodstock Fair runs Thursday\, September 3 through Monday\, September 7\, 2026 at the Woodstock Fairgrounds\, 281 Route 169 in South Woodstock. \nOpening times vary by day. \nThursday: 4 p.m.\nFriday: Noon\nSaturday: 9 a.m.\nSunday: 9 a.m.\nLabor Day Monday: 9 a.m. \nThursday through Sunday\, the Main Gate remains open until 9:30 p.m.\, with other gates closing at 9 p.m. Carnival rides and games continue until 11 p.m. \nMonday operates on an earlier schedule. All gates close at 7 p.m.\, with carnival rides and games continuing until 8 p.m. \nThe barns and exhibition halls also have their own closing times\, so visitors primarily interested in the agricultural side shouldn’t wait until late evening to explore them. \nHow Much Are Woodstock Fair Tickets?\nOnline general admission for 2026 is $16.95 for adults\, including the processing fee. \nAdmission for active-duty military members with identification is $11.80\, while seniors 65 and older with identification also pay $11.80 online. \nChildren 10 and younger are admitted free. \nOne of the biggest values in the ticket is the entertainment. \nThe major concerts\, Flying Wallendas performances\, Leon Etienne’s magic shows and other stage entertainment are included with paid Fair admission. There is no separate concert ticket required for Kool & the Gang\, Trace Adkins\, Tonic or Al Jardine. \nMain Stage performances are general admission with no reserved seating. \nGuests may bring folding chairs for the grass-covered area in front of the stage. \nFriday Night: Tonic Headlines the Main Stage\nFriday\, September 4\, starts the first full day of the Fair at noon. \nThe Flying Wallendas perform at 1 and 3 p.m.\, followed by Soul Afire at 5 p.m. and Leon Etienne’s Magic Rocks at 6:30. \nThen the Main Stage shifts into ’90s alternative rock. \nTonic performs at 8 p.m. \nFormed in Los Angeles in the 1990s\, Tonic broke nationally with its 1996 debut album Lemon Parade. The record produced the band’s signature hit\, “If You Could Only See\,” along with “Open Up Your Eyes.” \nThe band’s success carried into subsequent albums\, and Tonic earned two Grammy nominations for its 2002 album Head on Straight. \nFriday also brings the Old Fiddlers Club of Rhode Island to Center Stage at noon\, Soul Afire at 2:30 p.m.\, Leon Etienne at 3:45 and the Fair’s Country Karaoke Contest at 6. \nSaturday Night: Kool & the Gang\nSaturday brings the biggest dance party of the weekend. \nKool & the Gang headlines the Main Stage at 8 p.m. September 5. \nFew bands arrive with a catalog more immediately recognizable at a fairground. \nThe group’s decades of funk\, soul\, R&B and pop produced “Celebration\,” “Jungle Boogie\,” “Ladies’ Night\,” “Get Down on It\,” “Too Hot\,” “Cherish” and a long list of other hits. \nThe band’s history reaches back to Jersey City in 1964\, making Kool & the Gang’s longevity particularly appropriate for the 165th edition of a fair that has built its own identity around tradition. \nSaturday’s Main Stage begins much earlier. \nThe Flying Wallendas perform at 1 and 3 p.m. The Stevie Nicks Experience performs at 5\, followed by Leon Etienne’s Magic Rocks at 6:30 and Kool & the Gang at 8. \nCenter Stage has its own schedule beginning with Quest Martial Arts at 10:30 a.m.\, followed by the East Woodstock Cornet Band at 11:30. Quest returns at 2 p.m.\, the Stevie Nicks Experience performs at 2:30\, Leon Etienne appears at 3:45\, and the Pop Karaoke Contest begins at 5. \nSunday Night Belongs to Trace Adkins\nSunday\, September 6\, turns the Main Stage toward country music. \nTrace Adkins performs at 8 p.m. \nThe Louisiana-born singer has spent three decades in country music\, with a catalog that includes “You’re Gonna Miss This\,” “Every Light in the House\,” “Ladies Love Country Boys\,” “Songs About Me” and “Honky Tonk Badonkadonk.” \nAdkins has also been a member of the Grand Ole Opry since 2003. \nBefore the headliner\, the Flying Wallendas perform at 1 and 3 p.m. Nick Bosse and the Northern Roots take the stage at 5\, followed by Leon Etienne’s Magic Rocks at 6:30. \nCenter Stage begins Sunday at 10 a.m. with Whitney Doucet\, followed by Danielson Martial Arts at 11:15\, another Whitney Doucet performance at noon\, Danielson Martial Arts at 1:30\, Nick Bosse at 2:30 and Leon Etienne at 4. \nAl Jardine Closes the Fair on Labor Day\nThe final day gets an appropriate end-of-summer soundtrack. \nAl Jardine of the Beach Boys and the Pet Sounds Band perform at 5:30 p.m. Monday\, September 7. \nJardine was a founding member of the Beach Boys\, singing and playing guitar as the group created one of the defining catalogs in American popular music. \nHis lead vocals include “Help Me\, Rhonda\,” while his decades with the Beach Boys connected him to records ranging from the early surf hits through Pet Sounds and beyond. \nMonday’s Main Stage begins with the Flying Wallendas at 11:30 a.m. Leon Etienne performs at 12:30\, the Wallendas return at 2\, Red Light Band performs at 2:30\, and Etienne returns at 4 before Jardine closes the 165th Fair. \nThe Flying Wallendas Perform Throughout the Weekend\nThe Flying Wallendas are more than another stage act on the schedule. \nThe Wallenda name has been synonymous with high-wire performance for generations\, dating back to the European circus tradition that eventually brought the family to the United States. \nTheir appearances are spread throughout the Fair\, making them one of the easiest major attractions to catch even if you’re attending primarily for something else. \nThey perform Thursday at 6 p.m.; Friday\, Saturday and Sunday at 1 and 3 p.m.; and Monday at 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. \nThat gives visitors nine opportunities over the five-day Fair. \nLeon Etienne Brings Magic to Multiple Stages\nAnother performer will be difficult to miss. \nLeon Etienne’s Magic Rocks appears repeatedly on both the Main and Center stages. \nEtienne has built his act around large-scale illusions\, sleight of hand\, comedy and rock-show energy rather than the quieter presentation of a traditional stage magician. \nHis national television appearances have included America’s Got Talent\, where he became one of the show’s recognizable magic acts. \nAt Woodstock\, he’s performing multiple times throughout Labor Day weekend\, making his show one of the easier entertainment options to work into a full day. \nDon’t Skip the Agriculture\nIt would be easy to look at a lineup containing Kool & the Gang and Trace Adkins and think of Woodstock primarily as a music festival with carnival rides. \nThat misses the heart of the Fair. \nThe Woodstock Fair describes itself as Connecticut’s largest agricultural fair\, and its agricultural competitions remain a major part of the five-day event. \nFriday begins with the Rabbit Exhibition and Sheep Show at noon\, followed by the Goat Show at 1 p.m. and Youth Dairy Cattle Show at 3. \nSaturday starts early with the Dairy Cattle Show and Rabbit Exhibition at 9 a.m.\, Youth Sheep Show at 9:30 and Sheep Lead Line at 6 p.m. \nSunday includes rabbits\, sheep and goats in the morning and Beef Showmanship at 3 p.m. \nMonday begins with the Beef Show and Rabbit Exhibition at 9 a.m.\, followed by the Sheep Show at 9:30. \nThe Youth Dairy Cattle Show on Friday is followed by showmanship and a costume class\, while Sunday’s Beef Showmanship is followed by steer and costume classes. \nVisit the Brunn Barn Museum\nOne of the best places to understand why the agricultural part of Woodstock matters is the Brunn Barn Museum. \nThe barn itself dates to 1822. \nIt was dismantled in 2004 and reconstructed at the Woodstock Fairgrounds in time for the 2005 Fair. \nInside\, the focus is on New England’s agricultural past. \nAntique farm equipment and tools help show how work was accomplished before tractors\, combines and other modern machinery transformed farming. \nThe barn also hosts demonstrations and educational displays. \nIn a Fair increasingly filled with modern entertainment\, the Brunn Barn provides a direct connection to the agricultural history that created events like Woodstock in the first place. \nNew for 2026: Rustic Tap & Vine\nOne of the biggest additions to the 165th Fair is decidedly more modern. \nRustic Tap & Vine debuts in 2026 as a new beer and wine destination inside the Fair. \nThe project was created in partnership with bankHometown\, a division of TruNorth Bank\, along with Taylor Brooke Brewery and Winery\, Bear Hands Brewing Company and Black Pond Brewery. \nThe new attraction opens with the Fair at 4 p.m. Thursday. \nRustic Tap & Vine operates Thursday from 4–7 p.m.; Friday\, Saturday and Sunday from noon–7 p.m.; and Labor Day Monday from noon–6 p.m. \nFor adults who remember when a fair beer meant little more than grabbing whatever was being poured at a concession stand\, the dedicated space gives the 2026 Fair another distinct destination. \nThe Midway Is Back With Fiesta Shows\nFiesta Shows operates the Woodstock Fair midway\, with rides ranging from family attractions to the sort of spinning machinery that looks much more entertaining from the ground depending on your tolerance for centrifugal force. \nThe expected 2026 lineup includes the Super Cyclone Coaster\, Spider Wheel\, Warrior\, Top Gun\, Thunder Bolt\, Zero Gravity\, Hyper Spin\, Pharaoh’s Fury\, Fire Ball\, Spinning Coaster\, Zipper\, Starship Exodus and Hurricane. \nThere are also gentler options including the carousel\, train\, Crazy Bus\, Rock’n Tug and slide. \nRide height requirements vary. \nIndividual ride credits will be available at the Fair\, while advance unlimited-ride options are also available. \nRide Wristbands Can Save Money\nIf the midway is going to be a major part of your day\, buying in advance can save a few dollars. \nThursday’s unlimited wristband is $30 online or $35 on site and is valid from 4–10 p.m. \nFriday is split into two sessions\, noon–5 p.m. or 5 p.m.–close\, with wristbands costing $30 online or $35 on site. \nSaturday\, Sunday and Monday use all-day Megapass wristbands at $40 online or $45 on site. \nThese do not include Fair admission. \nWristbands and Megapasses also aren’t valid for the bumper cars\, mechanical bull\, rock wall or bungee jump. \nFamily Fun Goes Beyond the Midway\nFamilies who don’t want to spend the entire day buying ride credits have another option. \nThe Fabulous Family Fun Area is open all five days with the Records and Burpee Petting Zoo\, inflatable games and Sandtasia Sand Sculpture. \nThe Pork Chop Revue also performs throughout the weekend. \nDespite the name\, it’s not a barbecue demonstration. \nThe show features trained pigs performing tricks and comedic routines and has become the kind of oddball agricultural entertainment that fits naturally at a country fair. \nSaturday also brings Vinny’s Pizza Eating Contest at 2:15 p.m. \nOn Sunday\, the competitive eating turns to dessert with a Blueberry Pie Eating Contest at 2:15. \nYou Can Enter the Karaoke Contest\nThe audience can become the entertainment on Friday and Saturday. \nFriday’s Country Karaoke Contest begins at 6 p.m. on Center Stage. \nSaturday’s Pop Karaoke Contest starts at 5 p.m. \nEach contest is limited to 10 contestants\, and advance registration is available through the Fair. \nParticipants are asked to arrive at Center Stage 30 minutes before the contest\, with registration beginning 15 minutes before showtime. \nSomeone can even enter both competitions\, although a separate registration is required for each. \nLabor Day Starts With a Cornhole Tournament\nMonday morning brings a different kind of competition. \nThe Woodstock Fair Cornhole Tournament begins at 10 a.m. September 7 on Center Stage. \nTwo-person teams compete in either Social or Competitive divisions. \nRegistration is $50 per team\, or $25 per player\, and the entire registration pool goes into the prize purse. \nThe Woodstock Fair adds another $2\,500. \nTournament registration does not include Fair admission or parking\, and players need to bring their own regulation cornhole bags. The Fair supplies the boards. \nCome Hungry\nWoodstock’s food list is enormous. \nThis is still the place for fried dough\, funnel cakes\, sausage and peppers\, giant eclairs\, fried Oreos\, caramel apples\, ice cream\, kettle corn and the sort of food decisions that seem completely reasonable inside a fairground. \nBut the selection goes considerably further. \nThere are lobster rolls and lobster quesadillas from Cousins Maine Lobster; clam cakes and chowder; jerk chicken and oxtails; Polish food including pierogi\, kielbasa and stuffed cabbage; gyros; barbecue brisket; poutine; tacos; empanadas; Indian street food; Thai dishes; Colombian-American food; Mediterranean dishes; bubble tea and specialty coffee. \nYou can find bacon on a stick. \nYou can find chocolate-covered bacon. \nYou can find a deep-fried PB&J. \nThere is even a vendor dedicated entirely to gluten-free fair food\, with gluten-free funnel cakes\, fried Oreos\, chicken tenders\, corn dogs and donuts. \nLocal churches\, Scouts\, Lions\, veterans groups and other nonprofits also operate food stands\, continuing a piece of the Fair that feels considerably closer to its community roots. \nParking Is Not Included\nThis is important for first-time visitors. \nThe Woodstock Fair does not operate an on-site parking lot. \nInstead\, neighboring farms\, businesses and organizations provide parking around the Fairgrounds and set their own prices. \nFor 2026\, the Fair lists several nearby options at $10. \nFairvue Farm is on Route 171 near the South Gate. \nValleyside Farm is near Routes 171 and 169 and provides access convenient to the Main and Service gates. \nSouth Woodstock Baptist Church offers parking near Roseland Park and North Gate roads. \nScranton’s Shops is across the street and diagonally north of the Service Gate. \nBring the extra $10 into your day’s budget rather than arriving expecting admission to include parking. \nPlan on Walking\nThe Woodstock Fair is big. \nBetween the livestock areas\, exhibition halls\, stages\, food stands\, midway\, agricultural attractions and parking outside the grounds\, a visit can involve a considerable amount of walking. \nComfortable shoes aren’t a bad idea. \nIt’s also worth looking at the Fair map before arriving\, particularly if you’re trying to catch a specific livestock show and a Main Stage performance on the same day. \nThe agricultural Fair and entertainment Fair coexist\, but they’re not all concentrated into one compact midway. \nWhich Day Should You Go?\nIf music is the deciding factor\, the choice is straightforward. \nGo Friday for Tonic. \nGo Saturday for Kool & the Gang. \nGo Sunday for Trace Adkins. \nGo Monday for Al Jardine and the Pet Sounds Band. \nFor the broadest all-day Fair experience\, Saturday and Sunday provide early 9 a.m. openings and entertainment running into the evening. \nMonday is a good choice for visitors who prefer an earlier day\, with the Fair opening at 9 a.m. and winding down after Al Jardine’s 5:30 p.m. concert. \nThursday is the abbreviated opening night\, beginning at 4 p.m. \nAnd if the animals are your priority\, check the livestock schedule before choosing a date. Different species and competitions take place on different days. \nEvent Details\nEvent: 165th Woodstock Fair\nDates: Thursday\, September 3–Monday\, September 7\, 2026\nLocation: Woodstock Fairgrounds\nAddress: 281 Route 169\, South Woodstock\, CT 06267\nThursday Opening: 4 p.m.\nFriday Opening: Noon\nSaturday Opening: 9 a.m.\nSunday Opening: 9 a.m.\nMonday Opening: 9 a.m.\nAdult Online Admission: $16.95 including processing fee\nSenior 65+ Online Admission: $11.80 with ID\nActive-Duty Military Online Admission: $11.80 with ID\nChildren: Ages 10 and younger free\nMain Stage Headliners: Tonic\, Kool & the Gang\, Trace Adkins\, Al Jardine of the Beach Boys and the Pet Sounds Band\nOther Major Entertainment: Flying Wallendas and Leon Etienne’s Magic Rocks\nNew for 2026: Rustic Tap & Vine\nMidway: Fiesta Shows\nParking: Nearby independently operated lots; listed 2026 options are $10\nMain Stage Shows: Included with paid Fair admission; general admission seating \nMore information is available at the Event Website link below. \nTo purchase tickets\, click the Event Ticketing link below. \n\n  \nFeatured image is an artistic representation inspired by the event and may not depict the actual people\, location\, or activities shown.
URL:https://thectbeacon.com/event/165th-woodstock-fair-guide/2026-09-04/
LOCATION:Woodstock Fairgrounds\, 281 Route 169\, South Woodstock\, 06267\, United States
CATEGORIES:Woodstock Fairgrounds
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thectbeacon.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/165th-Woodstock-Fair-Guide.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260905T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260905T230000
DTSTAMP:20260911T012545Z
CREATED:20260905T213707Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260911T012545Z
UID:10007459-1788598800-1788649200@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:The 165th Woodstock Fair Guide
DESCRIPTION:165th Woodstock Fair returns to South Woodstock for five days over Labor Day weekend\, September 3–7\, bringing one of Connecticut’s oldest agricultural traditions together with major concerts\, livestock shows\, carnival rides\, fair food and several new attractions. \nThe 2026 Main Stage lineup is unusually strong. Tonic headlines Friday night\, Kool & the Gang takes over Saturday\, Trace Adkins performs Sunday\, and Beach Boys co-founder Al Jardine and the Pet Sounds Band close the Fair on Labor Day Monday. The Flying Wallendas and magician Leon Etienne also perform throughout the weekend. \nAll Main Stage entertainment is included with Fair admission. \nBut the Woodstock Fair is still\, fundamentally\, an agricultural fair. Livestock barns\, dairy cattle\, sheep\, goats\, rabbits\, agricultural competitions and the historic Brunn Barn sit alongside the flashing lights of the Fiesta Shows midway. \nFor its 165th edition\, the Fair is adding something new to that mix: Rustic Tap & Vine\, a dedicated beer and wine area featuring Connecticut producers. \nHere’s what to know before heading to South Woodstock. \nWhen Is the 2026 Woodstock Fair?\nThe Woodstock Fair runs Thursday\, September 3 through Monday\, September 7\, 2026 at the Woodstock Fairgrounds\, 281 Route 169 in South Woodstock. \nOpening times vary by day. \nThursday: 4 p.m.\nFriday: Noon\nSaturday: 9 a.m.\nSunday: 9 a.m.\nLabor Day Monday: 9 a.m. \nThursday through Sunday\, the Main Gate remains open until 9:30 p.m.\, with other gates closing at 9 p.m. Carnival rides and games continue until 11 p.m. \nMonday operates on an earlier schedule. All gates close at 7 p.m.\, with carnival rides and games continuing until 8 p.m. \nThe barns and exhibition halls also have their own closing times\, so visitors primarily interested in the agricultural side shouldn’t wait until late evening to explore them. \nHow Much Are Woodstock Fair Tickets?\nOnline general admission for 2026 is $16.95 for adults\, including the processing fee. \nAdmission for active-duty military members with identification is $11.80\, while seniors 65 and older with identification also pay $11.80 online. \nChildren 10 and younger are admitted free. \nOne of the biggest values in the ticket is the entertainment. \nThe major concerts\, Flying Wallendas performances\, Leon Etienne’s magic shows and other stage entertainment are included with paid Fair admission. There is no separate concert ticket required for Kool & the Gang\, Trace Adkins\, Tonic or Al Jardine. \nMain Stage performances are general admission with no reserved seating. \nGuests may bring folding chairs for the grass-covered area in front of the stage. \nFriday Night: Tonic Headlines the Main Stage\nFriday\, September 4\, starts the first full day of the Fair at noon. \nThe Flying Wallendas perform at 1 and 3 p.m.\, followed by Soul Afire at 5 p.m. and Leon Etienne’s Magic Rocks at 6:30. \nThen the Main Stage shifts into ’90s alternative rock. \nTonic performs at 8 p.m. \nFormed in Los Angeles in the 1990s\, Tonic broke nationally with its 1996 debut album Lemon Parade. The record produced the band’s signature hit\, “If You Could Only See\,” along with “Open Up Your Eyes.” \nThe band’s success carried into subsequent albums\, and Tonic earned two Grammy nominations for its 2002 album Head on Straight. \nFriday also brings the Old Fiddlers Club of Rhode Island to Center Stage at noon\, Soul Afire at 2:30 p.m.\, Leon Etienne at 3:45 and the Fair’s Country Karaoke Contest at 6. \nSaturday Night: Kool & the Gang\nSaturday brings the biggest dance party of the weekend. \nKool & the Gang headlines the Main Stage at 8 p.m. September 5. \nFew bands arrive with a catalog more immediately recognizable at a fairground. \nThe group’s decades of funk\, soul\, R&B and pop produced “Celebration\,” “Jungle Boogie\,” “Ladies’ Night\,” “Get Down on It\,” “Too Hot\,” “Cherish” and a long list of other hits. \nThe band’s history reaches back to Jersey City in 1964\, making Kool & the Gang’s longevity particularly appropriate for the 165th edition of a fair that has built its own identity around tradition. \nSaturday’s Main Stage begins much earlier. \nThe Flying Wallendas perform at 1 and 3 p.m. The Stevie Nicks Experience performs at 5\, followed by Leon Etienne’s Magic Rocks at 6:30 and Kool & the Gang at 8. \nCenter Stage has its own schedule beginning with Quest Martial Arts at 10:30 a.m.\, followed by the East Woodstock Cornet Band at 11:30. Quest returns at 2 p.m.\, the Stevie Nicks Experience performs at 2:30\, Leon Etienne appears at 3:45\, and the Pop Karaoke Contest begins at 5. \nSunday Night Belongs to Trace Adkins\nSunday\, September 6\, turns the Main Stage toward country music. \nTrace Adkins performs at 8 p.m. \nThe Louisiana-born singer has spent three decades in country music\, with a catalog that includes “You’re Gonna Miss This\,” “Every Light in the House\,” “Ladies Love Country Boys\,” “Songs About Me” and “Honky Tonk Badonkadonk.” \nAdkins has also been a member of the Grand Ole Opry since 2003. \nBefore the headliner\, the Flying Wallendas perform at 1 and 3 p.m. Nick Bosse and the Northern Roots take the stage at 5\, followed by Leon Etienne’s Magic Rocks at 6:30. \nCenter Stage begins Sunday at 10 a.m. with Whitney Doucet\, followed by Danielson Martial Arts at 11:15\, another Whitney Doucet performance at noon\, Danielson Martial Arts at 1:30\, Nick Bosse at 2:30 and Leon Etienne at 4. \nAl Jardine Closes the Fair on Labor Day\nThe final day gets an appropriate end-of-summer soundtrack. \nAl Jardine of the Beach Boys and the Pet Sounds Band perform at 5:30 p.m. Monday\, September 7. \nJardine was a founding member of the Beach Boys\, singing and playing guitar as the group created one of the defining catalogs in American popular music. \nHis lead vocals include “Help Me\, Rhonda\,” while his decades with the Beach Boys connected him to records ranging from the early surf hits through Pet Sounds and beyond. \nMonday’s Main Stage begins with the Flying Wallendas at 11:30 a.m. Leon Etienne performs at 12:30\, the Wallendas return at 2\, Red Light Band performs at 2:30\, and Etienne returns at 4 before Jardine closes the 165th Fair. \nThe Flying Wallendas Perform Throughout the Weekend\nThe Flying Wallendas are more than another stage act on the schedule. \nThe Wallenda name has been synonymous with high-wire performance for generations\, dating back to the European circus tradition that eventually brought the family to the United States. \nTheir appearances are spread throughout the Fair\, making them one of the easiest major attractions to catch even if you’re attending primarily for something else. \nThey perform Thursday at 6 p.m.; Friday\, Saturday and Sunday at 1 and 3 p.m.; and Monday at 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. \nThat gives visitors nine opportunities over the five-day Fair. \nLeon Etienne Brings Magic to Multiple Stages\nAnother performer will be difficult to miss. \nLeon Etienne’s Magic Rocks appears repeatedly on both the Main and Center stages. \nEtienne has built his act around large-scale illusions\, sleight of hand\, comedy and rock-show energy rather than the quieter presentation of a traditional stage magician. \nHis national television appearances have included America’s Got Talent\, where he became one of the show’s recognizable magic acts. \nAt Woodstock\, he’s performing multiple times throughout Labor Day weekend\, making his show one of the easier entertainment options to work into a full day. \nDon’t Skip the Agriculture\nIt would be easy to look at a lineup containing Kool & the Gang and Trace Adkins and think of Woodstock primarily as a music festival with carnival rides. \nThat misses the heart of the Fair. \nThe Woodstock Fair describes itself as Connecticut’s largest agricultural fair\, and its agricultural competitions remain a major part of the five-day event. \nFriday begins with the Rabbit Exhibition and Sheep Show at noon\, followed by the Goat Show at 1 p.m. and Youth Dairy Cattle Show at 3. \nSaturday starts early with the Dairy Cattle Show and Rabbit Exhibition at 9 a.m.\, Youth Sheep Show at 9:30 and Sheep Lead Line at 6 p.m. \nSunday includes rabbits\, sheep and goats in the morning and Beef Showmanship at 3 p.m. \nMonday begins with the Beef Show and Rabbit Exhibition at 9 a.m.\, followed by the Sheep Show at 9:30. \nThe Youth Dairy Cattle Show on Friday is followed by showmanship and a costume class\, while Sunday’s Beef Showmanship is followed by steer and costume classes. \nVisit the Brunn Barn Museum\nOne of the best places to understand why the agricultural part of Woodstock matters is the Brunn Barn Museum. \nThe barn itself dates to 1822. \nIt was dismantled in 2004 and reconstructed at the Woodstock Fairgrounds in time for the 2005 Fair. \nInside\, the focus is on New England’s agricultural past. \nAntique farm equipment and tools help show how work was accomplished before tractors\, combines and other modern machinery transformed farming. \nThe barn also hosts demonstrations and educational displays. \nIn a Fair increasingly filled with modern entertainment\, the Brunn Barn provides a direct connection to the agricultural history that created events like Woodstock in the first place. \nNew for 2026: Rustic Tap & Vine\nOne of the biggest additions to the 165th Fair is decidedly more modern. \nRustic Tap & Vine debuts in 2026 as a new beer and wine destination inside the Fair. \nThe project was created in partnership with bankHometown\, a division of TruNorth Bank\, along with Taylor Brooke Brewery and Winery\, Bear Hands Brewing Company and Black Pond Brewery. \nThe new attraction opens with the Fair at 4 p.m. Thursday. \nRustic Tap & Vine operates Thursday from 4–7 p.m.; Friday\, Saturday and Sunday from noon–7 p.m.; and Labor Day Monday from noon–6 p.m. \nFor adults who remember when a fair beer meant little more than grabbing whatever was being poured at a concession stand\, the dedicated space gives the 2026 Fair another distinct destination. \nThe Midway Is Back With Fiesta Shows\nFiesta Shows operates the Woodstock Fair midway\, with rides ranging from family attractions to the sort of spinning machinery that looks much more entertaining from the ground depending on your tolerance for centrifugal force. \nThe expected 2026 lineup includes the Super Cyclone Coaster\, Spider Wheel\, Warrior\, Top Gun\, Thunder Bolt\, Zero Gravity\, Hyper Spin\, Pharaoh’s Fury\, Fire Ball\, Spinning Coaster\, Zipper\, Starship Exodus and Hurricane. \nThere are also gentler options including the carousel\, train\, Crazy Bus\, Rock’n Tug and slide. \nRide height requirements vary. \nIndividual ride credits will be available at the Fair\, while advance unlimited-ride options are also available. \nRide Wristbands Can Save Money\nIf the midway is going to be a major part of your day\, buying in advance can save a few dollars. \nThursday’s unlimited wristband is $30 online or $35 on site and is valid from 4–10 p.m. \nFriday is split into two sessions\, noon–5 p.m. or 5 p.m.–close\, with wristbands costing $30 online or $35 on site. \nSaturday\, Sunday and Monday use all-day Megapass wristbands at $40 online or $45 on site. \nThese do not include Fair admission. \nWristbands and Megapasses also aren’t valid for the bumper cars\, mechanical bull\, rock wall or bungee jump. \nFamily Fun Goes Beyond the Midway\nFamilies who don’t want to spend the entire day buying ride credits have another option. \nThe Fabulous Family Fun Area is open all five days with the Records and Burpee Petting Zoo\, inflatable games and Sandtasia Sand Sculpture. \nThe Pork Chop Revue also performs throughout the weekend. \nDespite the name\, it’s not a barbecue demonstration. \nThe show features trained pigs performing tricks and comedic routines and has become the kind of oddball agricultural entertainment that fits naturally at a country fair. \nSaturday also brings Vinny’s Pizza Eating Contest at 2:15 p.m. \nOn Sunday\, the competitive eating turns to dessert with a Blueberry Pie Eating Contest at 2:15. \nYou Can Enter the Karaoke Contest\nThe audience can become the entertainment on Friday and Saturday. \nFriday’s Country Karaoke Contest begins at 6 p.m. on Center Stage. \nSaturday’s Pop Karaoke Contest starts at 5 p.m. \nEach contest is limited to 10 contestants\, and advance registration is available through the Fair. \nParticipants are asked to arrive at Center Stage 30 minutes before the contest\, with registration beginning 15 minutes before showtime. \nSomeone can even enter both competitions\, although a separate registration is required for each. \nLabor Day Starts With a Cornhole Tournament\nMonday morning brings a different kind of competition. \nThe Woodstock Fair Cornhole Tournament begins at 10 a.m. September 7 on Center Stage. \nTwo-person teams compete in either Social or Competitive divisions. \nRegistration is $50 per team\, or $25 per player\, and the entire registration pool goes into the prize purse. \nThe Woodstock Fair adds another $2\,500. \nTournament registration does not include Fair admission or parking\, and players need to bring their own regulation cornhole bags. The Fair supplies the boards. \nCome Hungry\nWoodstock’s food list is enormous. \nThis is still the place for fried dough\, funnel cakes\, sausage and peppers\, giant eclairs\, fried Oreos\, caramel apples\, ice cream\, kettle corn and the sort of food decisions that seem completely reasonable inside a fairground. \nBut the selection goes considerably further. \nThere are lobster rolls and lobster quesadillas from Cousins Maine Lobster; clam cakes and chowder; jerk chicken and oxtails; Polish food including pierogi\, kielbasa and stuffed cabbage; gyros; barbecue brisket; poutine; tacos; empanadas; Indian street food; Thai dishes; Colombian-American food; Mediterranean dishes; bubble tea and specialty coffee. \nYou can find bacon on a stick. \nYou can find chocolate-covered bacon. \nYou can find a deep-fried PB&J. \nThere is even a vendor dedicated entirely to gluten-free fair food\, with gluten-free funnel cakes\, fried Oreos\, chicken tenders\, corn dogs and donuts. \nLocal churches\, Scouts\, Lions\, veterans groups and other nonprofits also operate food stands\, continuing a piece of the Fair that feels considerably closer to its community roots. \nParking Is Not Included\nThis is important for first-time visitors. \nThe Woodstock Fair does not operate an on-site parking lot. \nInstead\, neighboring farms\, businesses and organizations provide parking around the Fairgrounds and set their own prices. \nFor 2026\, the Fair lists several nearby options at $10. \nFairvue Farm is on Route 171 near the South Gate. \nValleyside Farm is near Routes 171 and 169 and provides access convenient to the Main and Service gates. \nSouth Woodstock Baptist Church offers parking near Roseland Park and North Gate roads. \nScranton’s Shops is across the street and diagonally north of the Service Gate. \nBring the extra $10 into your day’s budget rather than arriving expecting admission to include parking. \nPlan on Walking\nThe Woodstock Fair is big. \nBetween the livestock areas\, exhibition halls\, stages\, food stands\, midway\, agricultural attractions and parking outside the grounds\, a visit can involve a considerable amount of walking. \nComfortable shoes aren’t a bad idea. \nIt’s also worth looking at the Fair map before arriving\, particularly if you’re trying to catch a specific livestock show and a Main Stage performance on the same day. \nThe agricultural Fair and entertainment Fair coexist\, but they’re not all concentrated into one compact midway. \nWhich Day Should You Go?\nIf music is the deciding factor\, the choice is straightforward. \nGo Friday for Tonic. \nGo Saturday for Kool & the Gang. \nGo Sunday for Trace Adkins. \nGo Monday for Al Jardine and the Pet Sounds Band. \nFor the broadest all-day Fair experience\, Saturday and Sunday provide early 9 a.m. openings and entertainment running into the evening. \nMonday is a good choice for visitors who prefer an earlier day\, with the Fair opening at 9 a.m. and winding down after Al Jardine’s 5:30 p.m. concert. \nThursday is the abbreviated opening night\, beginning at 4 p.m. \nAnd if the animals are your priority\, check the livestock schedule before choosing a date. Different species and competitions take place on different days. \nEvent Details\nEvent: 165th Woodstock Fair\nDates: Thursday\, September 3–Monday\, September 7\, 2026\nLocation: Woodstock Fairgrounds\nAddress: 281 Route 169\, South Woodstock\, CT 06267\nThursday Opening: 4 p.m.\nFriday Opening: Noon\nSaturday Opening: 9 a.m.\nSunday Opening: 9 a.m.\nMonday Opening: 9 a.m.\nAdult Online Admission: $16.95 including processing fee\nSenior 65+ Online Admission: $11.80 with ID\nActive-Duty Military Online Admission: $11.80 with ID\nChildren: Ages 10 and younger free\nMain Stage Headliners: Tonic\, Kool & the Gang\, Trace Adkins\, Al Jardine of the Beach Boys and the Pet Sounds Band\nOther Major Entertainment: Flying Wallendas and Leon Etienne’s Magic Rocks\nNew for 2026: Rustic Tap & Vine\nMidway: Fiesta Shows\nParking: Nearby independently operated lots; listed 2026 options are $10\nMain Stage Shows: Included with paid Fair admission; general admission seating \nMore information is available at the Event Website link below. \nTo purchase tickets\, click the Event Ticketing link below. \n\n  \nFeatured image is an artistic representation inspired by the event and may not depict the actual people\, location\, or activities shown.
URL:https://thectbeacon.com/event/165th-woodstock-fair-guide-2/
LOCATION:Woodstock Fairgrounds\, 281 Route 169\, South Woodstock\, 06267\, United States
CATEGORIES:Woodstock Fairgrounds
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thectbeacon.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/165th-Woodstock-Fair-Guide.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260905T103000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260905T180000
DTSTAMP:20260911T012517Z
CREATED:20260905T213852Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260911T012517Z
UID:10007439-1788604200-1788631200@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:Connecticut Renaissance Faire 2026 Guide
DESCRIPTION:Connecticut Renaissance Faire 2026 transforms the Lebanon Country Fairgrounds into a sprawling 16th-century fantasy village for nine weekends of jousting\, comedy\, live music\, costumed characters\, artisan shopping\, food\, games and themed adventures. \nThe Faire runs from August 29 through October 25 at 122 Mack Road in Lebanon\, with regular hours from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. It also opens on holiday Mondays\, including Labor Day and Columbus Day. \nFor 2026\, the Faire is advertising more than 40 shows each day across 13 stages\, along with dozens of games and activities and more than 200 artisans\, food vendors and other merchants. \nAnd this isn’t an event where you simply watch from the sidelines. \nWalk through the gates and you enter a village populated by kings\, queens\, knights\, fairies\, musicians\, rogues and other characters who interact with visitors throughout the day. You can watch armored combat\, cheer at the joust\, throw an axe\, shop for a handmade sword or drinking horn\, take the kids on human-powered rides\, eat a turkey leg and end up in a conversation with a member of the royal court on the way to your next show. \nHere’s how to plan a day at the 2026 Connecticut Renaissance Faire. \nWhen Is the Connecticut Renaissance Faire?\nThe 2026 season runs from August 29 through October 25. \nThe Faire is generally open Saturdays and Sundays from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.\, with special openings on Labor Day and Columbus Day. \nThe season is divided into themed weekends\, so the experience changes as fall progresses. Themes for 2026 include Dragons & Dungeons\, Roses & Romance\, Shirefolk\, Faerie Ring Revels\, Pirates & Vikings\, Time Travelers\, All Hallows and the new Merry Macabre weekend. \nLabor Day weekend\, September 5–7\, is Dragons & Dungeons\, a fantasy-focused weekend built around quests\, heroes and legendary characters. \nCostumes aren’t required to attend. Some visitors arrive in everyday clothes\, while others treat the themed weekends as an opportunity to build elaborate Renaissance\, fantasy\, pirate\, Viking or other character costumes. \nHow Much Are Connecticut Renaissance Faire Tickets?\nGeneral admission for the 2026 season is $18 for adults and $10 for youth\, while children in the Faire’s child admission category enter free. \nAdmission covers the Faire itself and its regular stage performances. Certain games\, rides\, food\, drinks and premium experiences cost extra. \nOne useful change from the way some fairs and festivals operate is that there are no food tickets. Food and beverages are purchased directly from individual merchants. \nSame-day re-entry is also permitted with a handstamp\, so leaving the grounds doesn’t necessarily mean the end of your Faire day. \nStart With the Shows\nTrying to see everything at the Connecticut Renaissance Faire in one day is probably the wrong approach. \nThere are simply too many performances. \nThe 2026 Faire uses 13 stages and advertises more than 40 shows daily. Entertainment ranges from music and comedy to acrobatics\, combat demonstrations\, theatrical performances and interactive shows. \nOne of the biggest spectacles is the armored combat demonstration from the Knights of Gore. These aren’t performers simply swinging lightweight theatrical weapons around one another. The demonstrations feature fighters in plate armor engaging in full-contact medieval-style combat. \nThe Knights of Gore also present educational demonstrations throughout the day covering subjects such as medieval helmets\, the roles of knights and squires and siege weapons including the trebuchet. \nThe Joust Remains a Centerpiece\nIt’s difficult to imagine a Renaissance faire without knights charging toward one another on horseback. \nJousting remains one of the major attractions in Lebanon. \nThe 2026 season includes jousting from Roundtable Productions and Equus Nobilis\, both listed among the Faire’s new entertainment additions this year. \nThe joust combines horsemanship\, theatrical storytelling and medieval-style competition on a scale that’s difficult to replicate on one of the smaller stages. \nIf seeing a joust is high on your list\, check the schedule when you arrive and build the rest of the day around it rather than assuming you’ll simply stumble across the right performance. \nThere Is Plenty of Comedy\nNot everything involves swords and armor. \nComedy is scattered throughout the Faire\, sometimes on a stage and sometimes walking directly toward you in the lanes. \nThe Norfolk Theatricals specialize in interactive theatrical comedy\, presenting deliberately chaotic original plays with audience members sometimes pulled into the performance. \nBone Dallaire roams the grounds as a self-important thespian and playwright whose opinion of his own talent may exceed everyone else’s. \nThe Faire’s cast of Crown Players adds another layer of continuous theater. Instead of performing only at scheduled times\, characters inhabit the village and interact with guests throughout the day. \nThat distinction is important for first-time visitors. \nThe Connecticut Renaissance Faire isn’t simply a collection of scheduled shows surrounded by food booths. The space between the stages is part of the performance. \nMusic Runs From Celtic Traditions to Sea Chanteys\nLive music is another major part of the day. \nThe 2026 roster includes performers working with Celtic music\, traditional folk\, sea chanteys and other styles that fit naturally into the Faire setting. \nJesse Ofgang and the Diaspora\, new for 2026\, combine Scottish and Irish musical traditions with contemporary rhythms using instruments including bagpipes\, whistles and guitars. \nNemeton: Folk Fantasy Music and Dance brings an especially unusual collection of instruments to the Faire\, including bagpipes\, drums\, double flutes\, penny whistles\, English concertina\, medieval small pipes\, rauschpfeife and hurdy-gurdy. \nNew England’s Misfits of Avalon draw from Celtic music with hammered dulcimer\, mandolin\, guitar and violin. \nOther weekends bring different musicians\, including the maritime and Celtic sounds of the Crimson Pirates and southeastern Connecticut’s Bards of Gungywamp. \nBecause performers vary by themed weekend\, it’s worth checking the schedule for the specific date you’re attending. \nSome of the Best Entertainment Is Strange\nRenaissance faires have always left room for acts that don’t fit neatly into a category. \nThat’s part of the fun. \nFor 2026\, Fly by Night joins the Connecticut Faire with a combination of comedy\, juggling\, whip cracking and sideshow skills. The duo of Steve King and Ryan Roberts has been performing since 1990 and appeared as semifinalists on the fourth season of America’s Got Talent. \nCircus Stella puts rescued dogs into a circus environment alongside Dextre Tripp\, mixing canine tricks with juggling\, ladder balancing\, rope walking and unicycling. \nElsewhere\, visitors can encounter puppetry\, dance\, storytelling\, magic and roaming performers without necessarily planning to see them. \nLeave some empty space in the schedule. \nAt a Renaissance faire\, getting distracted is part of the itinerary. \nGames and Rides Go Beyond the Stages\nThere’s plenty to do when you want to participate rather than watch. \nThe Faire’s games and activities include old-fashioned and Renaissance-inspired challenges\, physical games and human-powered attractions. \nSome activities carry an additional fee. \nYou’ll find opportunities to test skill and strength\, explore the Royal Maze and take part in attractions spread throughout the village. \nFor families with younger children\, this can provide a useful break between longer stage performances. \nFor adults\, it can become surprisingly competitive. \nEat the Turkey Leg\, But Don’t Stop There\nYes\, there are giant turkey legs. \nThe Faire’s Turkey Legs and More stand serves the oversized roasted festival staple along with turkey sundaes\, mac and cheese\, smoked chicken\, lemonade and fried dough. \nBut the food selection has grown far beyond the Renaissance-faire stereotype. \nThe 2026 Faire lists 37 food merchants and seven pubs and taverns\, with meals\, desserts\, snacks and beverages distributed throughout the grounds. \nThere are burgers and hot dogs\, chicken sandwiches\, baked goods\, fried seafood\, sweets and a broad assortment of festival food. \nThe Faire also identifies vendors offering vegetarian\, vegan\, gluten-free and dairy-free choices. \nEvery food merchant is required to offer at least one item priced at $7\, an attempt to keep at least one lower-priced choice available at each location. \nOutside snacks and nonalcoholic drinks are also permitted. \nYou Can Walk the Faire With a Drink\nThere are no isolated beer tents requiring guests to remain inside a designated drinking area. \nAdults can purchase alcoholic beverages from the Faire’s pubs and taverns and carry their drinks while exploring the grounds. \nValid identification is required for alcohol purchases. \nThat also makes the taverns part of the atmosphere rather than simply concession stands. \nFor visitors looking for something more structured\, the Faire offers two separate 21-and-over experiences. \nThe Pub Crawl Is a 90-Minute Quest\nThe Connecticut Renaissance Faire Pub Crawl isn’t simply four drink tickets stapled together. \nThe approximately 90-minute experience is hosted by Fae Frostwhiperer and takes a group of no more than 15 participants through four Faire taverns. \nThere are four alcoholic drinks along the way\, but participants also complete challenges\, play games\, sing\, chant and interact with their guide. \nOne stop at Shattered Shield includes Liar’s Dice\, a vegetable platter and an exclusive small-batch mead that isn’t sold from the tavern’s regular menu. \nAnother stop includes a Test of Strength at King’s Inn Crossing. \nPub Crawls depart twice each Faire day\, at 11 a.m. and 2:45 p.m. \nThe price is $75\, plus a processing fee when purchased online. Tickets can also be purchased at Shattered Shield without the online processing fee\, although each crawl is limited to 15 participants and can sell out. \nParticipants must be 21 or older with valid identification. \nRegular Faire admission is not included with the Pub Crawl. \nWhiskey Tastings Offer a Quieter Break\nFor adults who prefer sipping to crawling\, guided whiskey tastings offer a considerably calmer experience. \nThe approximately one-hour sessions explore a curated selection of whiskies\, with hosts discussing origins\, production methods\, flavor profiles and techniques for nosing and tasting. \nCharcuterie is served alongside the pours. \nThe experience is designed for both beginners and experienced whiskey drinkers\, and advance reservations are strongly recommended because seating is intentionally limited. \nParticipants must be 21 or older and bring valid government-issued photo identification. \nLike the Pub Crawl\, a whiskey tasting is an additional experience. Regular Connecticut Renaissance Faire admission must be purchased separately. \nShopping Is a Major Part of the Faire\nDon’t treat the merchant area as an afterthought. \nThe Faire says the 2026 season includes 213 artisans\, games and food vendors\, with 32 new shops joining the grounds this year. \nThe marketplace is where the fantasy world starts becoming something you can take home. \nDepending on the merchant\, visitors can find clothing\, leatherwork\, jewelry\, drinking vessels\, artwork\, fantasy accessories\, home décor and handcrafted goods. \nSome merchants make items that are specifically useful for people building Renaissance or fantasy costumes\, while others sell pieces that work perfectly well outside the Faire. \nFor someone arriving without a costume\, the marketplace also provides an easy way to gradually become more appropriately dressed as the day progresses. \nYou may enter in jeans. \nThere is no guarantee you will leave without a cloak. \n2026 Is a Significant Expansion Year\nThe Faire has added a substantial amount of new material for 2026. \nIts official count includes 11 new shows\, 32 new shops and seven new food offerings. \nAmong the new entertainment are the two jousting productions\, Fly by Night and Jesse Ofgang and the Diaspora. \nThe Faire is also introducing Merry Macabre\, a new themed weekend for October 24–25 that takes the season into darker territory just before Halloween. \nThat expansion matters even to people who have attended in previous years. \nThe basic formula remains recognizable\, but the Faire is deliberately designed so returning on another weekend doesn’t simply reproduce the same day. \nBringing Kids to the Connecticut Renaissance Faire\nChildren don’t have to understand Renaissance history to find things to do here. \nThere are family-oriented performances\, interactive games\, rides and characters throughout the village. \nOne particularly memorable experience is the Knighting Ceremony with the King and Queen\, where children can present themselves before King Basil and Queen Gwendolyn Genevieve and receive royal recognition before the parade. \nThere are also quests and interactive encounters with the Knights of Gore. \nThe Faire’s combination of structured shows and wandering characters means children can become involved in the fantasy rather than spending the entire day watching adults perform. \nYes\, You Can Bring Your Pet\nThe Connecticut Renaissance Faire has an unusually broad pet policy. \nWell-behaved dogs\, cats\, rabbits\, ferrets\, rats and lizards are permitted. \nPet admission is $5 per animal\, while service animals enter free. \nDogs and cats must have proof of current rabies vaccination. A veterinarian’s letter\, email or current rabies tag can serve as proof. \nPets must remain on a non-retractable leash no longer than six feet and owners are responsible for cleaning up after them. \nLivestock\, horses\, donkeys\, mules and other large animals aren’t permitted. \nThe Faire advises owners to bring food and water for their animals. Water bowls may be available from merchants\, but pet food isn’t sold on the grounds. \nPets are also permitted on the parking shuttles. \nParking Has Changed for 2026\nThis is one section worth reading before leaving home. \nThe Faire has a new parking system for 2026. \nVisitors who want to park directly at the Faire grounds at 122 Mack Road can purchase Premium Parking for $10 per vehicle. \nThere are only 525 Premium Parking spaces available each Faire day\, and they must be purchased online in advance for the specific date you’re attending. \nYou cannot purchase Premium Parking when you arrive at the lot. \nVIP admission includes Premium Parking. \nThere are also 125 free ADA parking spaces at the main Faire site for vehicles displaying a valid handicapped placard or plate. These spaces can’t be reserved and are available on a first-available basis. \nMotorcycles can park at the main site for free. \nFree Parking and Shuttles Are Available\nYou don’t have to pay to park. \nThe Faire operates free satellite parking with continuous shuttle service beginning at 9:30 a.m. \nOne free lot is located at 744 Trumbull Highway in Lebanon. \nAdditional parking is available at Lebanon Middle School\, 891 Exeter Road\, and Lyman Memorial High School\, 917 Exeter Road. \nThere is one important wrinkle with the school lots: the shuttles do not pick up directly at the schools. \nGuests parking at either school walk to the Mobil station located between the two schools\, which serves as the shuttle pickup and drop-off point. \nThe last shuttle leaves the Faire 30 minutes after closing. \nAnd don’t blindly follow your GPS. \nThe Faire specifically warns visitors not to use Barker Road\, which police close to through traffic on Faire weekends. \nWhere to Stay\nFor visitors coming from farther away\, the Faire maintains a list of nearby lodging options rather than operating an on-site campground. \nBecause the event runs for nine weekends\, staying overnight can also make sense for visitors who want to attend both Saturday and Sunday without making the drive twice. \nCheck lodging availability early for popular themed weekends\, particularly as the season moves toward October and foliage season in eastern Connecticut. \nWhat First-Time Visitors Should Know\nThe easiest mistake is approaching the Connecticut Renaissance Faire like an attraction where everything follows one obvious route. \nIt doesn’t. \nThere are performances happening simultaneously\, characters wandering the lanes\, merchants to explore\, food to try and activities that can consume far more time than expected. \nCheck the day’s performance schedule first and choose the handful of shows you really don’t want to miss. \nThen allow the rest of the day to happen around them. \nYou might stop for lunch and encounter a roaming performer. \nYou might head toward a stage and spend 30 minutes shopping instead. \nYou might intend to watch one song and stay for an entire set. \nThat’s not poor planning. \nThat’s pretty much how a Renaissance faire is supposed to work. \nConnecticut Renaissance Faire 2026 Details\nEvent: Connecticut Renaissance Faire\nSeason: August 29–October 25\, 2026\nRegular Days: Saturdays and Sundays\, plus Labor Day and Columbus Day\nHours: 10:30 a.m.–6 p.m.\nLocation: Lebanon Country Fairgrounds\nAddress: 122 Mack Road\, Lebanon\, CT 06249\nAdult General Admission: $18\nYouth Admission: $10\nChild Admission: Free\nEntertainment: More than 40 shows daily across 13 stages\nMarketplace: More than 200 artisans\, food vendors\, games and other merchants\nFood: 37 food merchants and seven pubs and taverns\nPremium On-Site Parking: $10\, advance date-specific purchase required\nFree Parking: Satellite lots with shuttle service\nPet Admission: $5; service animals free\nSame-Day Re-Entry: Permitted with handstamp\nOutside Food: Snacks and nonalcoholic drinks permitted \nMore information is available at the Event Website link below. \nTo purchase tickets\, click the Event Ticketing link below. \n  \n  \n  \nFeatured image is an artistic representation inspired by the event and may not depict the actual people\, location\, or activities shown. \n 
URL:https://thectbeacon.com/event/connecticut-renaissance-faire-2026-guide-2/
LOCATION:Lebanon Fair Grounds\, 122 Mack Road\, Lebanon\, 06249\, United States
CATEGORIES:Lebanon Fairgrounds
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thectbeacon.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Connecticut-Renaissance-Faire-2026-Guide.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260906T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260906T230000
DTSTAMP:20260903T151855Z
CREATED:20260903T151855Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260903T151855Z
UID:10007460-1788685200-1788735600@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:165th Woodstock Fair Guide
DESCRIPTION:165th Woodstock Fair returns to South Woodstock for five days over Labor Day weekend\, September 3–7\, bringing one of Connecticut’s oldest agricultural traditions together with major concerts\, livestock shows\, carnival rides\, fair food and several new attractions. \nThe 2026 Main Stage lineup is unusually strong. Tonic headlines Friday night\, Kool & the Gang takes over Saturday\, Trace Adkins performs Sunday\, and Beach Boys co-founder Al Jardine and the Pet Sounds Band close the Fair on Labor Day Monday. The Flying Wallendas and magician Leon Etienne also perform throughout the weekend. \nAll Main Stage entertainment is included with Fair admission. \nBut the Woodstock Fair is still\, fundamentally\, an agricultural fair. Livestock barns\, dairy cattle\, sheep\, goats\, rabbits\, agricultural competitions and the historic Brunn Barn sit alongside the flashing lights of the Fiesta Shows midway. \nFor its 165th edition\, the Fair is adding something new to that mix: Rustic Tap & Vine\, a dedicated beer and wine area featuring Connecticut producers. \nHere’s what to know before heading to South Woodstock. \nWhen Is the 2026 Woodstock Fair?\nThe Woodstock Fair runs Thursday\, September 3 through Monday\, September 7\, 2026 at the Woodstock Fairgrounds\, 281 Route 169 in South Woodstock. \nOpening times vary by day. \nThursday: 4 p.m.\nFriday: Noon\nSaturday: 9 a.m.\nSunday: 9 a.m.\nLabor Day Monday: 9 a.m. \nThursday through Sunday\, the Main Gate remains open until 9:30 p.m.\, with other gates closing at 9 p.m. Carnival rides and games continue until 11 p.m. \nMonday operates on an earlier schedule. All gates close at 7 p.m.\, with carnival rides and games continuing until 8 p.m. \nThe barns and exhibition halls also have their own closing times\, so visitors primarily interested in the agricultural side shouldn’t wait until late evening to explore them. \nHow Much Are Woodstock Fair Tickets?\nOnline general admission for 2026 is $16.95 for adults\, including the processing fee. \nAdmission for active-duty military members with identification is $11.80\, while seniors 65 and older with identification also pay $11.80 online. \nChildren 10 and younger are admitted free. \nOne of the biggest values in the ticket is the entertainment. \nThe major concerts\, Flying Wallendas performances\, Leon Etienne’s magic shows and other stage entertainment are included with paid Fair admission. There is no separate concert ticket required for Kool & the Gang\, Trace Adkins\, Tonic or Al Jardine. \nMain Stage performances are general admission with no reserved seating. \nGuests may bring folding chairs for the grass-covered area in front of the stage. \nFriday Night: Tonic Headlines the Main Stage\nFriday\, September 4\, starts the first full day of the Fair at noon. \nThe Flying Wallendas perform at 1 and 3 p.m.\, followed by Soul Afire at 5 p.m. and Leon Etienne’s Magic Rocks at 6:30. \nThen the Main Stage shifts into ’90s alternative rock. \nTonic performs at 8 p.m. \nFormed in Los Angeles in the 1990s\, Tonic broke nationally with its 1996 debut album Lemon Parade. The record produced the band’s signature hit\, “If You Could Only See\,” along with “Open Up Your Eyes.” \nThe band’s success carried into subsequent albums\, and Tonic earned two Grammy nominations for its 2002 album Head on Straight. \nFriday also brings the Old Fiddlers Club of Rhode Island to Center Stage at noon\, Soul Afire at 2:30 p.m.\, Leon Etienne at 3:45 and the Fair’s Country Karaoke Contest at 6. \nSaturday Night: Kool & the Gang\nSaturday brings the biggest dance party of the weekend. \nKool & the Gang headlines the Main Stage at 8 p.m. September 5. \nFew bands arrive with a catalog more immediately recognizable at a fairground. \nThe group’s decades of funk\, soul\, R&B and pop produced “Celebration\,” “Jungle Boogie\,” “Ladies’ Night\,” “Get Down on It\,” “Too Hot\,” “Cherish” and a long list of other hits. \nThe band’s history reaches back to Jersey City in 1964\, making Kool & the Gang’s longevity particularly appropriate for the 165th edition of a fair that has built its own identity around tradition. \nSaturday’s Main Stage begins much earlier. \nThe Flying Wallendas perform at 1 and 3 p.m. The Stevie Nicks Experience performs at 5\, followed by Leon Etienne’s Magic Rocks at 6:30 and Kool & the Gang at 8. \nCenter Stage has its own schedule beginning with Quest Martial Arts at 10:30 a.m.\, followed by the East Woodstock Cornet Band at 11:30. Quest returns at 2 p.m.\, the Stevie Nicks Experience performs at 2:30\, Leon Etienne appears at 3:45\, and the Pop Karaoke Contest begins at 5. \nSunday Night Belongs to Trace Adkins\nSunday\, September 6\, turns the Main Stage toward country music. \nTrace Adkins performs at 8 p.m. \nThe Louisiana-born singer has spent three decades in country music\, with a catalog that includes “You’re Gonna Miss This\,” “Every Light in the House\,” “Ladies Love Country Boys\,” “Songs About Me” and “Honky Tonk Badonkadonk.” \nAdkins has also been a member of the Grand Ole Opry since 2003. \nBefore the headliner\, the Flying Wallendas perform at 1 and 3 p.m. Nick Bosse and the Northern Roots take the stage at 5\, followed by Leon Etienne’s Magic Rocks at 6:30. \nCenter Stage begins Sunday at 10 a.m. with Whitney Doucet\, followed by Danielson Martial Arts at 11:15\, another Whitney Doucet performance at noon\, Danielson Martial Arts at 1:30\, Nick Bosse at 2:30 and Leon Etienne at 4. \nAl Jardine Closes the Fair on Labor Day\nThe final day gets an appropriate end-of-summer soundtrack. \nAl Jardine of the Beach Boys and the Pet Sounds Band perform at 5:30 p.m. Monday\, September 7. \nJardine was a founding member of the Beach Boys\, singing and playing guitar as the group created one of the defining catalogs in American popular music. \nHis lead vocals include “Help Me\, Rhonda\,” while his decades with the Beach Boys connected him to records ranging from the early surf hits through Pet Sounds and beyond. \nMonday’s Main Stage begins with the Flying Wallendas at 11:30 a.m. Leon Etienne performs at 12:30\, the Wallendas return at 2\, Red Light Band performs at 2:30\, and Etienne returns at 4 before Jardine closes the 165th Fair. \nThe Flying Wallendas Perform Throughout the Weekend\nThe Flying Wallendas are more than another stage act on the schedule. \nThe Wallenda name has been synonymous with high-wire performance for generations\, dating back to the European circus tradition that eventually brought the family to the United States. \nTheir appearances are spread throughout the Fair\, making them one of the easiest major attractions to catch even if you’re attending primarily for something else. \nThey perform Thursday at 6 p.m.; Friday\, Saturday and Sunday at 1 and 3 p.m.; and Monday at 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. \nThat gives visitors nine opportunities over the five-day Fair. \nLeon Etienne Brings Magic to Multiple Stages\nAnother performer will be difficult to miss. \nLeon Etienne’s Magic Rocks appears repeatedly on both the Main and Center stages. \nEtienne has built his act around large-scale illusions\, sleight of hand\, comedy and rock-show energy rather than the quieter presentation of a traditional stage magician. \nHis national television appearances have included America’s Got Talent\, where he became one of the show’s recognizable magic acts. \nAt Woodstock\, he’s performing multiple times throughout Labor Day weekend\, making his show one of the easier entertainment options to work into a full day. \nDon’t Skip the Agriculture\nIt would be easy to look at a lineup containing Kool & the Gang and Trace Adkins and think of Woodstock primarily as a music festival with carnival rides. \nThat misses the heart of the Fair. \nThe Woodstock Fair describes itself as Connecticut’s largest agricultural fair\, and its agricultural competitions remain a major part of the five-day event. \nFriday begins with the Rabbit Exhibition and Sheep Show at noon\, followed by the Goat Show at 1 p.m. and Youth Dairy Cattle Show at 3. \nSaturday starts early with the Dairy Cattle Show and Rabbit Exhibition at 9 a.m.\, Youth Sheep Show at 9:30 and Sheep Lead Line at 6 p.m. \nSunday includes rabbits\, sheep and goats in the morning and Beef Showmanship at 3 p.m. \nMonday begins with the Beef Show and Rabbit Exhibition at 9 a.m.\, followed by the Sheep Show at 9:30. \nThe Youth Dairy Cattle Show on Friday is followed by showmanship and a costume class\, while Sunday’s Beef Showmanship is followed by steer and costume classes. \nVisit the Brunn Barn Museum\nOne of the best places to understand why the agricultural part of Woodstock matters is the Brunn Barn Museum. \nThe barn itself dates to 1822. \nIt was dismantled in 2004 and reconstructed at the Woodstock Fairgrounds in time for the 2005 Fair. \nInside\, the focus is on New England’s agricultural past. \nAntique farm equipment and tools help show how work was accomplished before tractors\, combines and other modern machinery transformed farming. \nThe barn also hosts demonstrations and educational displays. \nIn a Fair increasingly filled with modern entertainment\, the Brunn Barn provides a direct connection to the agricultural history that created events like Woodstock in the first place. \nNew for 2026: Rustic Tap & Vine\nOne of the biggest additions to the 165th Fair is decidedly more modern. \nRustic Tap & Vine debuts in 2026 as a new beer and wine destination inside the Fair. \nThe project was created in partnership with bankHometown\, a division of TruNorth Bank\, along with Taylor Brooke Brewery and Winery\, Bear Hands Brewing Company and Black Pond Brewery. \nThe new attraction opens with the Fair at 4 p.m. Thursday. \nRustic Tap & Vine operates Thursday from 4–7 p.m.; Friday\, Saturday and Sunday from noon–7 p.m.; and Labor Day Monday from noon–6 p.m. \nFor adults who remember when a fair beer meant little more than grabbing whatever was being poured at a concession stand\, the dedicated space gives the 2026 Fair another distinct destination. \nThe Midway Is Back With Fiesta Shows\nFiesta Shows operates the Woodstock Fair midway\, with rides ranging from family attractions to the sort of spinning machinery that looks much more entertaining from the ground depending on your tolerance for centrifugal force. \nThe expected 2026 lineup includes the Super Cyclone Coaster\, Spider Wheel\, Warrior\, Top Gun\, Thunder Bolt\, Zero Gravity\, Hyper Spin\, Pharaoh’s Fury\, Fire Ball\, Spinning Coaster\, Zipper\, Starship Exodus and Hurricane. \nThere are also gentler options including the carousel\, train\, Crazy Bus\, Rock’n Tug and slide. \nRide height requirements vary. \nIndividual ride credits will be available at the Fair\, while advance unlimited-ride options are also available. \nRide Wristbands Can Save Money\nIf the midway is going to be a major part of your day\, buying in advance can save a few dollars. \nThursday’s unlimited wristband is $30 online or $35 on site and is valid from 4–10 p.m. \nFriday is split into two sessions\, noon–5 p.m. or 5 p.m.–close\, with wristbands costing $30 online or $35 on site. \nSaturday\, Sunday and Monday use all-day Megapass wristbands at $40 online or $45 on site. \nThese do not include Fair admission. \nWristbands and Megapasses also aren’t valid for the bumper cars\, mechanical bull\, rock wall or bungee jump. \nFamily Fun Goes Beyond the Midway\nFamilies who don’t want to spend the entire day buying ride credits have another option. \nThe Fabulous Family Fun Area is open all five days with the Records and Burpee Petting Zoo\, inflatable games and Sandtasia Sand Sculpture. \nThe Pork Chop Revue also performs throughout the weekend. \nDespite the name\, it’s not a barbecue demonstration. \nThe show features trained pigs performing tricks and comedic routines and has become the kind of oddball agricultural entertainment that fits naturally at a country fair. \nSaturday also brings Vinny’s Pizza Eating Contest at 2:15 p.m. \nOn Sunday\, the competitive eating turns to dessert with a Blueberry Pie Eating Contest at 2:15. \nYou Can Enter the Karaoke Contest\nThe audience can become the entertainment on Friday and Saturday. \nFriday’s Country Karaoke Contest begins at 6 p.m. on Center Stage. \nSaturday’s Pop Karaoke Contest starts at 5 p.m. \nEach contest is limited to 10 contestants\, and advance registration is available through the Fair. \nParticipants are asked to arrive at Center Stage 30 minutes before the contest\, with registration beginning 15 minutes before showtime. \nSomeone can even enter both competitions\, although a separate registration is required for each. \nLabor Day Starts With a Cornhole Tournament\nMonday morning brings a different kind of competition. \nThe Woodstock Fair Cornhole Tournament begins at 10 a.m. September 7 on Center Stage. \nTwo-person teams compete in either Social or Competitive divisions. \nRegistration is $50 per team\, or $25 per player\, and the entire registration pool goes into the prize purse. \nThe Woodstock Fair adds another $2\,500. \nTournament registration does not include Fair admission or parking\, and players need to bring their own regulation cornhole bags. The Fair supplies the boards. \nCome Hungry\nWoodstock’s food list is enormous. \nThis is still the place for fried dough\, funnel cakes\, sausage and peppers\, giant eclairs\, fried Oreos\, caramel apples\, ice cream\, kettle corn and the sort of food decisions that seem completely reasonable inside a fairground. \nBut the selection goes considerably further. \nThere are lobster rolls and lobster quesadillas from Cousins Maine Lobster; clam cakes and chowder; jerk chicken and oxtails; Polish food including pierogi\, kielbasa and stuffed cabbage; gyros; barbecue brisket; poutine; tacos; empanadas; Indian street food; Thai dishes; Colombian-American food; Mediterranean dishes; bubble tea and specialty coffee. \nYou can find bacon on a stick. \nYou can find chocolate-covered bacon. \nYou can find a deep-fried PB&J. \nThere is even a vendor dedicated entirely to gluten-free fair food\, with gluten-free funnel cakes\, fried Oreos\, chicken tenders\, corn dogs and donuts. \nLocal churches\, Scouts\, Lions\, veterans groups and other nonprofits also operate food stands\, continuing a piece of the Fair that feels considerably closer to its community roots. \nParking Is Not Included\nThis is important for first-time visitors. \nThe Woodstock Fair does not operate an on-site parking lot. \nInstead\, neighboring farms\, businesses and organizations provide parking around the Fairgrounds and set their own prices. \nFor 2026\, the Fair lists several nearby options at $10. \nFairvue Farm is on Route 171 near the South Gate. \nValleyside Farm is near Routes 171 and 169 and provides access convenient to the Main and Service gates. \nSouth Woodstock Baptist Church offers parking near Roseland Park and North Gate roads. \nScranton’s Shops is across the street and diagonally north of the Service Gate. \nBring the extra $10 into your day’s budget rather than arriving expecting admission to include parking. \nPlan on Walking\nThe Woodstock Fair is big. \nBetween the livestock areas\, exhibition halls\, stages\, food stands\, midway\, agricultural attractions and parking outside the grounds\, a visit can involve a considerable amount of walking. \nComfortable shoes aren’t a bad idea. \nIt’s also worth looking at the Fair map before arriving\, particularly if you’re trying to catch a specific livestock show and a Main Stage performance on the same day. \nThe agricultural Fair and entertainment Fair coexist\, but they’re not all concentrated into one compact midway. \nWhich Day Should You Go?\nIf music is the deciding factor\, the choice is straightforward. \nGo Friday for Tonic. \nGo Saturday for Kool & the Gang. \nGo Sunday for Trace Adkins. \nGo Monday for Al Jardine and the Pet Sounds Band. \nFor the broadest all-day Fair experience\, Saturday and Sunday provide early 9 a.m. openings and entertainment running into the evening. \nMonday is a good choice for visitors who prefer an earlier day\, with the Fair opening at 9 a.m. and winding down after Al Jardine’s 5:30 p.m. concert. \nThursday is the abbreviated opening night\, beginning at 4 p.m. \nAnd if the animals are your priority\, check the livestock schedule before choosing a date. Different species and competitions take place on different days. \nEvent Details\nEvent: 165th Woodstock Fair\nDates: Thursday\, September 3–Monday\, September 7\, 2026\nLocation: Woodstock Fairgrounds\nAddress: 281 Route 169\, South Woodstock\, CT 06267\nThursday Opening: 4 p.m.\nFriday Opening: Noon\nSaturday Opening: 9 a.m.\nSunday Opening: 9 a.m.\nMonday Opening: 9 a.m.\nAdult Online Admission: $16.95 including processing fee\nSenior 65+ Online Admission: $11.80 with ID\nActive-Duty Military Online Admission: $11.80 with ID\nChildren: Ages 10 and younger free\nMain Stage Headliners: Tonic\, Kool & the Gang\, Trace Adkins\, Al Jardine of the Beach Boys and the Pet Sounds Band\nOther Major Entertainment: Flying Wallendas and Leon Etienne’s Magic Rocks\nNew for 2026: Rustic Tap & Vine\nMidway: Fiesta Shows\nParking: Nearby independently operated lots; listed 2026 options are $10\nMain Stage Shows: Included with paid Fair admission; general admission seating \nMore information is available at the Event Website link below. \nTo purchase tickets\, click the Event Ticketing link below. \n\n  \nFeatured image is an artistic representation inspired by the event and may not depict the actual people\, location\, or activities shown.
URL:https://thectbeacon.com/event/165th-woodstock-fair-guide/2026-09-06/
LOCATION:Woodstock Fairgrounds\, 281 Route 169\, South Woodstock\, 06267\, United States
CATEGORIES:Woodstock Fairgrounds
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thectbeacon.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/165th-Woodstock-Fair-Guide.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260907T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260907T230000
DTSTAMP:20260903T151855Z
CREATED:20260903T151855Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260903T151855Z
UID:10007461-1788771600-1788822000@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:165th Woodstock Fair Guide
DESCRIPTION:165th Woodstock Fair returns to South Woodstock for five days over Labor Day weekend\, September 3–7\, bringing one of Connecticut’s oldest agricultural traditions together with major concerts\, livestock shows\, carnival rides\, fair food and several new attractions. \nThe 2026 Main Stage lineup is unusually strong. Tonic headlines Friday night\, Kool & the Gang takes over Saturday\, Trace Adkins performs Sunday\, and Beach Boys co-founder Al Jardine and the Pet Sounds Band close the Fair on Labor Day Monday. The Flying Wallendas and magician Leon Etienne also perform throughout the weekend. \nAll Main Stage entertainment is included with Fair admission. \nBut the Woodstock Fair is still\, fundamentally\, an agricultural fair. Livestock barns\, dairy cattle\, sheep\, goats\, rabbits\, agricultural competitions and the historic Brunn Barn sit alongside the flashing lights of the Fiesta Shows midway. \nFor its 165th edition\, the Fair is adding something new to that mix: Rustic Tap & Vine\, a dedicated beer and wine area featuring Connecticut producers. \nHere’s what to know before heading to South Woodstock. \nWhen Is the 2026 Woodstock Fair?\nThe Woodstock Fair runs Thursday\, September 3 through Monday\, September 7\, 2026 at the Woodstock Fairgrounds\, 281 Route 169 in South Woodstock. \nOpening times vary by day. \nThursday: 4 p.m.\nFriday: Noon\nSaturday: 9 a.m.\nSunday: 9 a.m.\nLabor Day Monday: 9 a.m. \nThursday through Sunday\, the Main Gate remains open until 9:30 p.m.\, with other gates closing at 9 p.m. Carnival rides and games continue until 11 p.m. \nMonday operates on an earlier schedule. All gates close at 7 p.m.\, with carnival rides and games continuing until 8 p.m. \nThe barns and exhibition halls also have their own closing times\, so visitors primarily interested in the agricultural side shouldn’t wait until late evening to explore them. \nHow Much Are Woodstock Fair Tickets?\nOnline general admission for 2026 is $16.95 for adults\, including the processing fee. \nAdmission for active-duty military members with identification is $11.80\, while seniors 65 and older with identification also pay $11.80 online. \nChildren 10 and younger are admitted free. \nOne of the biggest values in the ticket is the entertainment. \nThe major concerts\, Flying Wallendas performances\, Leon Etienne’s magic shows and other stage entertainment are included with paid Fair admission. There is no separate concert ticket required for Kool & the Gang\, Trace Adkins\, Tonic or Al Jardine. \nMain Stage performances are general admission with no reserved seating. \nGuests may bring folding chairs for the grass-covered area in front of the stage. \nFriday Night: Tonic Headlines the Main Stage\nFriday\, September 4\, starts the first full day of the Fair at noon. \nThe Flying Wallendas perform at 1 and 3 p.m.\, followed by Soul Afire at 5 p.m. and Leon Etienne’s Magic Rocks at 6:30. \nThen the Main Stage shifts into ’90s alternative rock. \nTonic performs at 8 p.m. \nFormed in Los Angeles in the 1990s\, Tonic broke nationally with its 1996 debut album Lemon Parade. The record produced the band’s signature hit\, “If You Could Only See\,” along with “Open Up Your Eyes.” \nThe band’s success carried into subsequent albums\, and Tonic earned two Grammy nominations for its 2002 album Head on Straight. \nFriday also brings the Old Fiddlers Club of Rhode Island to Center Stage at noon\, Soul Afire at 2:30 p.m.\, Leon Etienne at 3:45 and the Fair’s Country Karaoke Contest at 6. \nSaturday Night: Kool & the Gang\nSaturday brings the biggest dance party of the weekend. \nKool & the Gang headlines the Main Stage at 8 p.m. September 5. \nFew bands arrive with a catalog more immediately recognizable at a fairground. \nThe group’s decades of funk\, soul\, R&B and pop produced “Celebration\,” “Jungle Boogie\,” “Ladies’ Night\,” “Get Down on It\,” “Too Hot\,” “Cherish” and a long list of other hits. \nThe band’s history reaches back to Jersey City in 1964\, making Kool & the Gang’s longevity particularly appropriate for the 165th edition of a fair that has built its own identity around tradition. \nSaturday’s Main Stage begins much earlier. \nThe Flying Wallendas perform at 1 and 3 p.m. The Stevie Nicks Experience performs at 5\, followed by Leon Etienne’s Magic Rocks at 6:30 and Kool & the Gang at 8. \nCenter Stage has its own schedule beginning with Quest Martial Arts at 10:30 a.m.\, followed by the East Woodstock Cornet Band at 11:30. Quest returns at 2 p.m.\, the Stevie Nicks Experience performs at 2:30\, Leon Etienne appears at 3:45\, and the Pop Karaoke Contest begins at 5. \nSunday Night Belongs to Trace Adkins\nSunday\, September 6\, turns the Main Stage toward country music. \nTrace Adkins performs at 8 p.m. \nThe Louisiana-born singer has spent three decades in country music\, with a catalog that includes “You’re Gonna Miss This\,” “Every Light in the House\,” “Ladies Love Country Boys\,” “Songs About Me” and “Honky Tonk Badonkadonk.” \nAdkins has also been a member of the Grand Ole Opry since 2003. \nBefore the headliner\, the Flying Wallendas perform at 1 and 3 p.m. Nick Bosse and the Northern Roots take the stage at 5\, followed by Leon Etienne’s Magic Rocks at 6:30. \nCenter Stage begins Sunday at 10 a.m. with Whitney Doucet\, followed by Danielson Martial Arts at 11:15\, another Whitney Doucet performance at noon\, Danielson Martial Arts at 1:30\, Nick Bosse at 2:30 and Leon Etienne at 4. \nAl Jardine Closes the Fair on Labor Day\nThe final day gets an appropriate end-of-summer soundtrack. \nAl Jardine of the Beach Boys and the Pet Sounds Band perform at 5:30 p.m. Monday\, September 7. \nJardine was a founding member of the Beach Boys\, singing and playing guitar as the group created one of the defining catalogs in American popular music. \nHis lead vocals include “Help Me\, Rhonda\,” while his decades with the Beach Boys connected him to records ranging from the early surf hits through Pet Sounds and beyond. \nMonday’s Main Stage begins with the Flying Wallendas at 11:30 a.m. Leon Etienne performs at 12:30\, the Wallendas return at 2\, Red Light Band performs at 2:30\, and Etienne returns at 4 before Jardine closes the 165th Fair. \nThe Flying Wallendas Perform Throughout the Weekend\nThe Flying Wallendas are more than another stage act on the schedule. \nThe Wallenda name has been synonymous with high-wire performance for generations\, dating back to the European circus tradition that eventually brought the family to the United States. \nTheir appearances are spread throughout the Fair\, making them one of the easiest major attractions to catch even if you’re attending primarily for something else. \nThey perform Thursday at 6 p.m.; Friday\, Saturday and Sunday at 1 and 3 p.m.; and Monday at 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. \nThat gives visitors nine opportunities over the five-day Fair. \nLeon Etienne Brings Magic to Multiple Stages\nAnother performer will be difficult to miss. \nLeon Etienne’s Magic Rocks appears repeatedly on both the Main and Center stages. \nEtienne has built his act around large-scale illusions\, sleight of hand\, comedy and rock-show energy rather than the quieter presentation of a traditional stage magician. \nHis national television appearances have included America’s Got Talent\, where he became one of the show’s recognizable magic acts. \nAt Woodstock\, he’s performing multiple times throughout Labor Day weekend\, making his show one of the easier entertainment options to work into a full day. \nDon’t Skip the Agriculture\nIt would be easy to look at a lineup containing Kool & the Gang and Trace Adkins and think of Woodstock primarily as a music festival with carnival rides. \nThat misses the heart of the Fair. \nThe Woodstock Fair describes itself as Connecticut’s largest agricultural fair\, and its agricultural competitions remain a major part of the five-day event. \nFriday begins with the Rabbit Exhibition and Sheep Show at noon\, followed by the Goat Show at 1 p.m. and Youth Dairy Cattle Show at 3. \nSaturday starts early with the Dairy Cattle Show and Rabbit Exhibition at 9 a.m.\, Youth Sheep Show at 9:30 and Sheep Lead Line at 6 p.m. \nSunday includes rabbits\, sheep and goats in the morning and Beef Showmanship at 3 p.m. \nMonday begins with the Beef Show and Rabbit Exhibition at 9 a.m.\, followed by the Sheep Show at 9:30. \nThe Youth Dairy Cattle Show on Friday is followed by showmanship and a costume class\, while Sunday’s Beef Showmanship is followed by steer and costume classes. \nVisit the Brunn Barn Museum\nOne of the best places to understand why the agricultural part of Woodstock matters is the Brunn Barn Museum. \nThe barn itself dates to 1822. \nIt was dismantled in 2004 and reconstructed at the Woodstock Fairgrounds in time for the 2005 Fair. \nInside\, the focus is on New England’s agricultural past. \nAntique farm equipment and tools help show how work was accomplished before tractors\, combines and other modern machinery transformed farming. \nThe barn also hosts demonstrations and educational displays. \nIn a Fair increasingly filled with modern entertainment\, the Brunn Barn provides a direct connection to the agricultural history that created events like Woodstock in the first place. \nNew for 2026: Rustic Tap & Vine\nOne of the biggest additions to the 165th Fair is decidedly more modern. \nRustic Tap & Vine debuts in 2026 as a new beer and wine destination inside the Fair. \nThe project was created in partnership with bankHometown\, a division of TruNorth Bank\, along with Taylor Brooke Brewery and Winery\, Bear Hands Brewing Company and Black Pond Brewery. \nThe new attraction opens with the Fair at 4 p.m. Thursday. \nRustic Tap & Vine operates Thursday from 4–7 p.m.; Friday\, Saturday and Sunday from noon–7 p.m.; and Labor Day Monday from noon–6 p.m. \nFor adults who remember when a fair beer meant little more than grabbing whatever was being poured at a concession stand\, the dedicated space gives the 2026 Fair another distinct destination. \nThe Midway Is Back With Fiesta Shows\nFiesta Shows operates the Woodstock Fair midway\, with rides ranging from family attractions to the sort of spinning machinery that looks much more entertaining from the ground depending on your tolerance for centrifugal force. \nThe expected 2026 lineup includes the Super Cyclone Coaster\, Spider Wheel\, Warrior\, Top Gun\, Thunder Bolt\, Zero Gravity\, Hyper Spin\, Pharaoh’s Fury\, Fire Ball\, Spinning Coaster\, Zipper\, Starship Exodus and Hurricane. \nThere are also gentler options including the carousel\, train\, Crazy Bus\, Rock’n Tug and slide. \nRide height requirements vary. \nIndividual ride credits will be available at the Fair\, while advance unlimited-ride options are also available. \nRide Wristbands Can Save Money\nIf the midway is going to be a major part of your day\, buying in advance can save a few dollars. \nThursday’s unlimited wristband is $30 online or $35 on site and is valid from 4–10 p.m. \nFriday is split into two sessions\, noon–5 p.m. or 5 p.m.–close\, with wristbands costing $30 online or $35 on site. \nSaturday\, Sunday and Monday use all-day Megapass wristbands at $40 online or $45 on site. \nThese do not include Fair admission. \nWristbands and Megapasses also aren’t valid for the bumper cars\, mechanical bull\, rock wall or bungee jump. \nFamily Fun Goes Beyond the Midway\nFamilies who don’t want to spend the entire day buying ride credits have another option. \nThe Fabulous Family Fun Area is open all five days with the Records and Burpee Petting Zoo\, inflatable games and Sandtasia Sand Sculpture. \nThe Pork Chop Revue also performs throughout the weekend. \nDespite the name\, it’s not a barbecue demonstration. \nThe show features trained pigs performing tricks and comedic routines and has become the kind of oddball agricultural entertainment that fits naturally at a country fair. \nSaturday also brings Vinny’s Pizza Eating Contest at 2:15 p.m. \nOn Sunday\, the competitive eating turns to dessert with a Blueberry Pie Eating Contest at 2:15. \nYou Can Enter the Karaoke Contest\nThe audience can become the entertainment on Friday and Saturday. \nFriday’s Country Karaoke Contest begins at 6 p.m. on Center Stage. \nSaturday’s Pop Karaoke Contest starts at 5 p.m. \nEach contest is limited to 10 contestants\, and advance registration is available through the Fair. \nParticipants are asked to arrive at Center Stage 30 minutes before the contest\, with registration beginning 15 minutes before showtime. \nSomeone can even enter both competitions\, although a separate registration is required for each. \nLabor Day Starts With a Cornhole Tournament\nMonday morning brings a different kind of competition. \nThe Woodstock Fair Cornhole Tournament begins at 10 a.m. September 7 on Center Stage. \nTwo-person teams compete in either Social or Competitive divisions. \nRegistration is $50 per team\, or $25 per player\, and the entire registration pool goes into the prize purse. \nThe Woodstock Fair adds another $2\,500. \nTournament registration does not include Fair admission or parking\, and players need to bring their own regulation cornhole bags. The Fair supplies the boards. \nCome Hungry\nWoodstock’s food list is enormous. \nThis is still the place for fried dough\, funnel cakes\, sausage and peppers\, giant eclairs\, fried Oreos\, caramel apples\, ice cream\, kettle corn and the sort of food decisions that seem completely reasonable inside a fairground. \nBut the selection goes considerably further. \nThere are lobster rolls and lobster quesadillas from Cousins Maine Lobster; clam cakes and chowder; jerk chicken and oxtails; Polish food including pierogi\, kielbasa and stuffed cabbage; gyros; barbecue brisket; poutine; tacos; empanadas; Indian street food; Thai dishes; Colombian-American food; Mediterranean dishes; bubble tea and specialty coffee. \nYou can find bacon on a stick. \nYou can find chocolate-covered bacon. \nYou can find a deep-fried PB&J. \nThere is even a vendor dedicated entirely to gluten-free fair food\, with gluten-free funnel cakes\, fried Oreos\, chicken tenders\, corn dogs and donuts. \nLocal churches\, Scouts\, Lions\, veterans groups and other nonprofits also operate food stands\, continuing a piece of the Fair that feels considerably closer to its community roots. \nParking Is Not Included\nThis is important for first-time visitors. \nThe Woodstock Fair does not operate an on-site parking lot. \nInstead\, neighboring farms\, businesses and organizations provide parking around the Fairgrounds and set their own prices. \nFor 2026\, the Fair lists several nearby options at $10. \nFairvue Farm is on Route 171 near the South Gate. \nValleyside Farm is near Routes 171 and 169 and provides access convenient to the Main and Service gates. \nSouth Woodstock Baptist Church offers parking near Roseland Park and North Gate roads. \nScranton’s Shops is across the street and diagonally north of the Service Gate. \nBring the extra $10 into your day’s budget rather than arriving expecting admission to include parking. \nPlan on Walking\nThe Woodstock Fair is big. \nBetween the livestock areas\, exhibition halls\, stages\, food stands\, midway\, agricultural attractions and parking outside the grounds\, a visit can involve a considerable amount of walking. \nComfortable shoes aren’t a bad idea. \nIt’s also worth looking at the Fair map before arriving\, particularly if you’re trying to catch a specific livestock show and a Main Stage performance on the same day. \nThe agricultural Fair and entertainment Fair coexist\, but they’re not all concentrated into one compact midway. \nWhich Day Should You Go?\nIf music is the deciding factor\, the choice is straightforward. \nGo Friday for Tonic. \nGo Saturday for Kool & the Gang. \nGo Sunday for Trace Adkins. \nGo Monday for Al Jardine and the Pet Sounds Band. \nFor the broadest all-day Fair experience\, Saturday and Sunday provide early 9 a.m. openings and entertainment running into the evening. \nMonday is a good choice for visitors who prefer an earlier day\, with the Fair opening at 9 a.m. and winding down after Al Jardine’s 5:30 p.m. concert. \nThursday is the abbreviated opening night\, beginning at 4 p.m. \nAnd if the animals are your priority\, check the livestock schedule before choosing a date. Different species and competitions take place on different days. \nEvent Details\nEvent: 165th Woodstock Fair\nDates: Thursday\, September 3–Monday\, September 7\, 2026\nLocation: Woodstock Fairgrounds\nAddress: 281 Route 169\, South Woodstock\, CT 06267\nThursday Opening: 4 p.m.\nFriday Opening: Noon\nSaturday Opening: 9 a.m.\nSunday Opening: 9 a.m.\nMonday Opening: 9 a.m.\nAdult Online Admission: $16.95 including processing fee\nSenior 65+ Online Admission: $11.80 with ID\nActive-Duty Military Online Admission: $11.80 with ID\nChildren: Ages 10 and younger free\nMain Stage Headliners: Tonic\, Kool & the Gang\, Trace Adkins\, Al Jardine of the Beach Boys and the Pet Sounds Band\nOther Major Entertainment: Flying Wallendas and Leon Etienne’s Magic Rocks\nNew for 2026: Rustic Tap & Vine\nMidway: Fiesta Shows\nParking: Nearby independently operated lots; listed 2026 options are $10\nMain Stage Shows: Included with paid Fair admission; general admission seating \nMore information is available at the Event Website link below. \nTo purchase tickets\, click the Event Ticketing link below. \n\n  \nFeatured image is an artistic representation inspired by the event and may not depict the actual people\, location\, or activities shown.
URL:https://thectbeacon.com/event/165th-woodstock-fair-guide/2026-09-07/
LOCATION:Woodstock Fairgrounds\, 281 Route 169\, South Woodstock\, 06267\, United States
CATEGORIES:Woodstock Fairgrounds
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thectbeacon.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/165th-Woodstock-Fair-Guide.jpg
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR