Connecticut is the nation's third smallest state, so if you live in or near Connecticut, the added bonus is that any Connecticut festival is a short, scenic drive away.
Here are five fall festivals in Connecticut that make for perfect autumn day trips:
51st Annual Bristol Chrysanthemum Festival
September 21-23 and October 6, 2012
Event Schedule
Bristol, Connecticut
860-584-4718
This old-fashioned community festival sponsored by the City of Bristol and the Greater Bristol Chamber of Commerce features a variety of events including the crowning of Miss Mum on September 21, a Mum Parade on September 23 and Mum Bingo on October 6.
Connecticut Antique Machinery Association's 28th Annual Fall Festival
Friday, Saturday and Sunday, September 28-30, 2012
Route 7 (adjacent to the Sloane Stanley Museum)
Kent, Connecticut
Cool, picturesque fall days leave many folks longing for simpler times. The Connecticut Antique Machinery Association's Annual Fall Festival provides a glimpse of technology long before the harried days of computers, cell phones and other relentless gadgets. You'll see hundreds of restored antique machines in operation. The festival also typically features demonstrations, exhibits and food.
The Connecticut Renaissance Faire
Weekends and Columbus Day, September 29 - October 28, 2012
11 a.m. - 6 p.m. with extended hours until 9 p.m. on select Halloween Knights
Hebron Lions Fairgrounds
347 Gilead Street/Route 85
Hebron, Connecticut
860-478-5954
In Connecticut, fall is the season when days are warm and knights are playful! At the Connecticut Renaissance Faire (pictured in photo above), you can explore a Medieval marketplace and watch shows ranging from song to dance to live combat and jousting. Admission is $16 for adults, $10 for children ages 7 to 15 and free for children under 7. Season passes are available online for $55. Again in 2012: Enjoy special nights of frights on October 6, 7, 13, 20 and 27 during Halloween Knights events from 6 to 9 p.m.
44th Annual Apple Harvest Festival
September 28-30 and October 5-7, 2012
Town Green, Main Street
Southington, CT
860-276-8461
Celebrate the annual apple harvest at this street fair in Southington featuring an array of apple products, food booths, arts and crafts, eating contests, musical performances, a parade and more. Admission and parking are free.
31st Annual Chowder Days Festival at Mystic Seaport
October 6-8, 2012
9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Mystic Seaport
Route 27
Mystic, Connecticut
860-572-5302 or 888-973-2767
Piping hot chowder soothes the soul on a crisp fall day. Try several different varieties of chowder at Mystic Seaport's annual fall Chowder Days. The festival is included with admission to Mystic Seaport, but there is an additional charge for the food.
