New London County Connecticut Fairgrounds Events

If you type “New London County fairgrounds” into a search bar, expect a slightly different answer than in most counties. Southeastern Connecticut doesn’t run one county-owned fair on one set of grounds. The county’s fair life centers on a Grange property in North Stonington, with a second big set of grounds in Lebanon and smaller town fairs scattered around. This guide sorts out which is which, when each one happens, and how to take part.

Overview of New London County Fairgrounds

Where the main fairground is

The grounds most people mean sit at 21 Wyassup Road in North Stonington, in the eastern corner of New London County close to the Rhode Island line. Locals call it the Grange grounds or simply the fairgrounds. Some older listings give the address as 23 Wyassup Road, so if your GPS acts up, try the other number.

North Stonington is a rural hill town, and the grounds sit in the village area, where the Grange hall is part of the North Stonington Village Historic District.

Who runs it

Three groups share the load. The North Stonington Community Grange and the North Stonington Volunteer Fire Company sponsor the fair, and a nonprofit called North Stonington Agricultural Fair, Inc. organizes it. The Association of Connecticut Fairs lists it among the state’s major fairs. Acreage and a building count aren’t published anywhere I’d trust, so ask the fair office if you need exact figures.

Why it matters locally

This is the only large agricultural fair in Connecticut held in early July. The other big fairs come later, starting in August, so North Stonington effectively opens the state’s fair season. For a county that once ran on small farms and mills, it’s still where neighbors from Stonington, Ledyard, Preston, and Griswold run into each other once a year.

The second major grounds: Lebanon

Up in Lebanon, the Lions Fair Grounds at 122 Mack Road hosts the Lebanon Country Fair each summer. The same property hosts the Connecticut Renaissance Faire on weekends from late summer into October.

Upcoming Events at New London County Fairgrounds

What the calendar looks like

Summer carries almost everything:

• Early to mid July: North Stonington Agricultural Fair
• Late July: Lebanon Country Fair
• Early August: New London County 4-H Fair, back at the North Stonington grounds
• Mid August: Hamburg Fair in Lyme
• Late summer into fall: Connecticut Renaissance Faire at the Lebanon grounds

Winter is quiet. Don’t expect indoor shows at Wyassup Road the way you might at a year-round complex.

Fairgrounds throughout Connecticut offer gathering places for local residents and visitors to enjoy agricultural competitions, community festivals, food vendors, and family activities. People exploring New London County Connecticut Fairgrounds Events can find information about seasonal fairs, livestock exhibitions, and local entertainment while also exploring New Haven County Connecticut Fairgrounds Events for more community event ideas.

Where to find the current schedule

The North Stonington fair keeps its own website and social media pages, and the Association of Connecticut Fairs publishes a statewide calendar. For 4-H dates, the New London County 4-H program posts the fair book and entry forms. The UConn Extension office in Norwich, at 562 New London Turnpike, answers questions at 860-887-1608.

Renting the grounds

The Grange and the fair organization run the property, so rental questions go to them, not to a county office. I couldn’t confirm a public rental policy or rates, so contact them directly.

The North Stonington Agricultural Fair

Dates

The 2026 fair ran July 9–12. It normally runs Thursday through Sunday, and in recent years it has landed on the second weekend of July. The 2027 dates haven’t been published as of this writing. The fair board typically announces them in the months before the fair.

Typical hours in recent years were 5 to 11 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, about 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday, and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. Confirm each year, since schedules shift.

Competitions and livestock

The contests are what keep this a real agricultural fair. Past schedules have included working steer shows and cattle displays, rabbit shows, horse and oxen pulls, carriage driving, home arts and crafts, baking and photography contests, pie-eating, nail-driving, horseshoe pitching, a hay bale toss, and a doll carriage parade.

Midway, food, and entertainment

A traveling amusement company supplies the rides, and the vendor changes from year to year. Ask about wristband pricing close to fair week.

Saturday brings the ham and bean supper, the fixture locals mention first. Mobile food and beverage vendors fill out the rest. Past entertainment has included live country and rock acts, tractor and truck pulls, magic shows, pig racing, blacksmith and sawmill demonstrations, dog demonstrations, classic car shows, and the Fair Queen contest. For kids there’s a pedal tractor pull and a parade.

Admission

In recent years adults paid around $12 per day (2022 and 2023), young children were free, and four-day passes ran $40. Saturday has been Senior Citizens Day and Sunday Active Military Day, both at reduced rates. These are past figures, not guaranteed 2027 prices, so check the fair’s website before you go.

Facilities and Grounds

Buildings and barns

The Grange hall anchors the property, with exhibition space for crafts, baking, produce, and photography. Livestock areas host the cattle, goat, sheep, rabbit, and poultry shows. A specific count of permanent buildings isn’t published, so I won’t guess.

Pulling and show areas

The tractor, truck, horse, and oxen pulls use open ground on the property. I couldn’t find a published grandstand capacity, and visitors commonly bring folding chairs for the evening shows.

Camping and RVs

I couldn’t verify a public campground at the grounds. Most visitors look at campgrounds and lodging around Stonington, Mystic, and Ledyard. Exhibitors who need overnight livestock arrangements should ask the fair office.

Accessibility

The fair added a sensory room in 2022, set up next to the baby care station, so visitors of all abilities have a place to take a break. For ADA parking and pathway details, call ahead, since conditions on a grass fairground change with the weather.

Parking

Parking is on or next to the grounds and fills up early on busy evenings and on Saturday. Arrive early and expect some walking.

Vendor and Exhibitor Information

Commercial vendors and food booths

Craft, commercial, and food vendors apply through the North Stonington Agricultural Fair organization. Apply well before July. Mobile food vendors treat this as one of Connecticut’s busier fair weekends, so spots can go quickly. Ask about electricity, insurance, and permit requirements when you inquire.

Competitive exhibits

Home arts, baking, photography, and similar open contests are listed in the fair’s premium book. Ask the fair office for the current book and entry deadline.

Who to contact

The fair’s website lists current contact details. For 4-H entries, contact the UConn Extension office in Norwich.

Getting to the Fairgrounds

By car

The grounds are in North Stonington village, a short drive from I-95, and Route 2 runs through the village. Mystic is close, and Norwich and New London are roughly half an hour away. Enter 21 Wyassup Road, North Stonington, CT 06359 into your navigation app.

Public transit and rideshare

I’m not aware of regular public shuttle service to the fair. This is a rural town, so rideshare can be thin, especially late at night. Arrange your pickup in advance.

Lebanon

The Lebanon Fairgrounds are at 122 Mack Road. Lebanon has charged for parking in past years (about $7 per car in 2024).

4-H and FFA in New London County

The 4-H fair

The New London County 4-H Fair & Expo takes place at the North Stonington Grange grounds, usually a few weeks after the agricultural fair. The 2026 4-H Fair was August 7–9. In 2025 it ran August 8–10.

Summarizing how the 4-H fair board operates and open questions

The Lebanon fair’s own site lists July 23–25, 2027 for next year’s edition, which makes it the first county fair with a confirmed 2027 date.

Connecticut Renaissance Faire

This costumed fall event at the Lebanon grounds runs on weekends and some holidays, and it puts a very different crowd on the same fields as the summer fair.

Other fairs and festivals

The Hamburg Fair in Lyme, usually in mid-August, is another New London County option. In New London itself, the Connecticut Maritime Heritage Festival at Fort Trumbull State Park is a heritage event, not an agricultural one. I found no reliable information on gun shows, swap meets, or motocross events at the Wyassup Road grounds, so I’ve left those out.

History of the Fairgrounds

Agricultural fairs were part of North Stonington life long before the current fair. In the early twentieth century, the North Stonington Grange hosted fairs that gave out $200 in prizes for the largest produce and the healthiest livestock. In 1927, the Connecticut Agricultural College, now UConn, honored a North Stonington Grange fair promoter for spreading farming techniques through the fair.

By the late twentieth century, the North Stonington Agricultural Fair was one of dozens of nonprofit-run fairs in the Association of Connecticut Fairs. Over time it added carnival rides, concerts, and a pageant alongside the pulls and pie contests.

The pandemic did interrupt things. The fair was postponed in the early pandemic, and when it returned in July 2021, the board planned within state limits that allowed only 25 percent of 2019 capacity. It has been back at full strength since. News stories disagree on the fair’s “year number,” so I’ve left it out.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the New London County Fair in 2026-2027?

There isn’t a single “New London County Fair.” In 2026, the North Stonington Agricultural Fair ran July 9–12, the Lebanon Country Fair ran July 25–27, and the New London County 4-H Fair ran August 7–9. Lebanon has listed July 23–25, 2027. North Stonington’s 2027 dates haven’t been announced, but expect early to mid July, with the 4-H fair in early August.

What time does the North Stonington fairground open?

In recent years the fair opened at 5 p.m. Thursday and Friday, around 8 a.m. Saturday, and about 8 a.m. Sunday, closing at 11 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 6 p.m. Sunday. Check the fair’s website before you go.

Is there camping at the fairgrounds?

I couldn’t verify public camping at the Wyassup Road grounds. Nearby campgrounds and lodging in the Stonington and Mystic area are the practical choice. Exhibitors with animals should ask the fair office about overnight arrangements.

How do I enter livestock or exhibits?

For 4-H, use the New London County 4-H fair book and entry forms posted by UConn 4-H, and contact the Extension Center in Norwich at 860-887-1608. For open contests at the agricultural fair, request the current premium book from the fair organization.

Are dogs allowed at the fairgrounds?

I couldn’t confirm a current pet policy. The fair has hosted dog demonstrations, and the 4-H expo has had an open pet fair, but that doesn’t mean visitors can bring dogs through the gate. Ask the fair office.

Where do I park?

Parking is on or next to the grounds in North Stonington and fills up quickly on busy evenings and Saturday, so arrive early. At Lebanon, expect a per-car fee.

Who do I contact to rent the fairgrounds?

Contact the North Stonington Agricultural Fair organization or the North Stonington Community Grange. No county office handles rentals.

How much does it cost to get into the fair?

In recent years North Stonington adults paid about $12 a day, young children were free, four-day passes were $40, and seniors and active military got reduced rates on designated days. 4-H expo admission has been much lower, typically a few dollars for adults. Prices change, so check the current listing.