CT ushers in fall with fairs, festivals, food and fun

CONNECTICUT — Labor Day is behind us, which means we are “unofficially” in fall, the season that belongs to all of Connecticut. The first full weekend of September does not disappoint either, with numerous fairs and festivals.

It’s harvest time in Hebron, and the Hebron Harvest Fair celebrates the corn harvest. Gates open Thursday and close Sunday evening. In between there are four days of pig racing, jumping and singing pigs, tractor pulling, trapeze artists, a demolition derby, live music, pie and watermelon eating contests, an entire building for arts and crafts, and rides along the fairgrounds. Fair hours at the Hebron Lions Fairgrounds are Thursday 4:00 p.m.-10:30 p.m., Friday 12:00 p.m.-midnight, Saturday 10:00 a.m.-midnight, and Sunday 9:00 a.m.-7:30 p.m.

The Bethlehem Fair runs from Friday to Sunday. The focus is on the fair’s agricultural roots and there are numerous exhibitions. The Wapping Fair in South Windsor has the usual agricultural shows and live music as well as fairground rides. It runs from Thursday to Sunday.

The focus at Norwalk’s 46th annual Oyster Festival is definitely on entertainment, and that’s exactly what the locals like. From September 6-8, you can party on several stages showcasing a wide range of talent, including Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes. New this year, Norwalk’s 35-acre Veteran’s Memorial Park is home to the Ready Go Dog Show, which can be seen on ESPN, and Xpogo, a display of “extreme” stunts on pogo sticks, as if pogo sticks weren’t extreme enough. For those who prefer something more old-fashioned, there are several shows featuring medieval knights beating each other up. There’s also plenty of food and rides. Tickets are available online here.

The Connecticut Maritime Heritage Festival will be held Sept. 7 and 8 at Fort Trumbull State Park and Waterfront Park in New London (shuttles are available between both venues). Events are scheduled from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days and include The Little Mermaid and the Sea Monsters Parade, The Burning of Benedict Arnold presented by the Flock Theater, a maritime skills contest, a fishing class, the kids’ Nautical Zone, rum tasting, live music and plenty of food trucks. The Coast Guard will be on hand to conduct a helicopter search and rescue demonstration on the Thames River, and a Basque festival will be held at noon Saturday.

It’s a relatively new trend: otherwise quiet and intellectual local historical societies are hosting fundraisers with a pub atmosphere but rich history, and we’re in. The forefather of this movement is arguably the Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society’s Real Ale Harvest Fest, which is in its ninth year this year. Over 20 top breweries from the region will compete in a keg competition where guests taste and vote for the Taster’s Choice winner.

Of course, all competing beers must “have a historically appropriate flavor” and “include an ingredient from Noah Webster’s 18th-century garden or pantry” and so on, but that just gives you a chance to impress your date with herbalism knowledge, dictionary head Noah Webster for the win-win. Tickets for the 2pm and 6pm session on September 7 are available online here.

There’s more beer and more festivities at Brass City Brew & ‘Que 2024, noon to 5 p.m. Saturday at Library Park in Waterbury. Now in its 19th year, the event offers beer lovers the chance to sample hundreds of varieties of craft and specialty beers, as well as international and domestic brews. You can also win cash prizes for your backyard pitmaster skills. Lots of food trucks will be in attendance, and (oh, Waterbury…) there’s even a Beer Olympicsnew this year. Tickets are available online here.

Then detox at the 13th Annual Health Wellness & Lifestyle Expo at beautiful Harbor Point in Stamford, Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. It’s Connecticut’s largest health and wellness conference with 120 exhibitors, free classes, free parking and free admission.