Grange and 4-H Fairs are, some will say, the quintessential American summer activity, and if you city folk haven’t experienced going to one, we suggest you put one of the following fairs (listed alphabetically by town – those with websites are highlighted in red, just click to link) on your calendar right now.  Generally, admission is free, often there is an auction of prize winning vegetables, flowers, pies and preserves at the end of the show, or check out the bake sale, and enjoy yourself in the “country.”  This is by no means an exhaustive list – for that, visit http://www.mass.gov/agr/massgrown/docs/fairs-directory.pdf.

Cummington Fair – August 21 – 24, 97 Fairgrounds Road, Cummington

Dartmouth Grange Fair – September 5 – 6, Grange Hall, Dartmouth

Dunstable Grange Fair – August 16, 511 Main Street, Dunstable

Eastern States Exposition, September 21 – 28, 1305 Memorial Avenue, West Springfield

Franklin County Fair – September 4 – 7, Wisdom Way, Greenfield

Hardwick Community Fair – August 15 – 16, Rte. 32A, On the Common, Hardwick

Marshfield Fair, August 15 – 24, Rte. 3A, 140 Main Street, Marshfield

Martha’s Vineyard Fair -  August 21 – 24, 35 Panhandle Road, West Tisbury

Middlesex County 4-H Fair – August 22 – 24, So. Chelmsford Road, Westford

Rochester Grange Fair – August 16, 205 Hartley Road, Rochester

Shelburne Grange Fair – August 23, Little Mohawk Road, Shelburne

South Middleborough Grange Fair – August 23, 570 Wareham Street, Middleborough

Spencer Fair – August 29 – September 1, 48 Smithville Road, Spencer

Sterling Fair – September 5 – 7, Sterling Airport, 121 Greenland Road, Sterling

Three County Fair – August 29 – September 1, 54 Fair Street, Northampton

Topsfield Fair – October 3 – 13, Route 1, Topsfield

Truro Agricultural Fair – August 31, Rt. 6A & South Pamet Road, Truro

Ware Grange Fair – August 22 – 23, Ware Grange Hall, 297 Belchertown Road, Ware

Westfield Fair – August 15 – 17, Russellville Road, Westfield

Williamsburg Grange Fair – September 13, 10 Main Street, Williamsburg

Worcester County 4-H Fair – August 23 – 24, 92 McCormick Road, Spencer