Durham Fair 2014: A Complete Guide

The 95th annual Durham Fair will begin Thursday, Sept. 25, and close Sunday, Sept. 28, at the junctions of Routes 68, 17 and 77 in Durham.

Hours of operation are as follows:

• Thursday: 4 to 10 p.m.
• Friday: 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• Saturday: 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.
• Sunday: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Admission Costs

One-Day Tickets (Thursday)

• All tickets: $8
• Children 11 and Under: Free
• Active Military, with ID: Free
• Attendees in Wheelchairs: Free

One-Day Tickets (Friday, Saturday, Sunday)

• Adults: $13
• Junior (12 – 21): $10
• Children 11 and Under: Free
• Active Military, with ID: Free
• Attendees in Wheelchairs: Free
• Seniors (62 and over): $10
• Online Sale: $10
• Groups of 25 or More: $10 each

Multi-Day Tickets

• Four-Day (Four Admissions): $32
• Online Four-Day (Four Admissions): $32
• Exhibitor (Four-Day): $20

Click here for more information on purchasing tickets online.

Entertainment

• Tower of Power: Friday, Sept. 26
• Montgomery Gentry: Saturday, Sept. 27
• Jo Dee Messina: Sunday, Sept. 28

• Demolition Derby
• Truck/SUV Pull
• Tractor Pull
• Animal Pulls

Center Stage

• Coginchaug Regional High School: Thursday, Sept. 25, 6 p.m.; Friday, Sept. 26, 11 a.m.; Saturday, Sept. 27, 11 a.m.
• L.H.I (rock, blues, funk): Thursday, Sept. 25, 8 p.m.
• Heartbeat Dixieland Band (American Classics): Friday, Sept. 26, 1:15 p.m.
• Off The Wall Zumba: Friday, Sept. 26, 3 p.m.
• The Engine Room (classic rock): Friday, Sept. 26, 4 p.m.
• Cypress All Stars (rock and country): Friday, Sept. 26, 6 p.m.
• Skyline Drive (country): Friday, Sept. 26, 7 p.m.
• Middlesex Dance demo: Saturday, Sept. 27, 10 a.m.
• Talent Show: Saturday, Sept. 27, 1:30 p.m.
• Rockslide (rock): Saturday, Sept. 27, 4 p.m.
• Charlie Allen (country): Saturday, Sept. 27, 6 p.m.
• Sister Funk (rock, funk): Saturday, Sept. 27, 8 p.m
• Core Club demonstration: Sunday, Sept. 28, 10:30 a.m.
• Crossover (rock): Sunday, Sept. 28, 11:30 a.m.
• Caribbean Beach Bums (caribbean, rock): Sunday, Sept. 28, 1 p.m.
• Jackson Hill (country and rock favorites): Sunday, Sept. 28, 3 p.m.

Click here for a full schedule of events. Visit the Durham Fair website for a map of the fairgrounds.

Rides

• 25 tickets for $20 or 40 tickets for $30 (available entire fair)
• Bracelets (available Friday 9/26 only 9am – 6pm)
• $25 in advance and at fair (roller coaster not included)
• $30 in advance or at fair (roller coaster included)
• Roller Coaster – $6 (6 ticket ride)

* Must be 42” to ride the roller coaster with or without an adult

Wine Festival

The Durham Fair will be hosting the Connecticut Wine Festival on the town green during three days of the Durham Fair, Sept. 26 to 28.

There will be a seminar on Sunday at 2 p.m. titled “Tasting Tips and Busting Myths,” by WINE’s Director, Renée Allen, a Certified Specialist of Wine, a wine judge, and a wine writer.

Note: There is an additional charge for this sampling festival. To allow time for sampling, admission tickets for this festival will be sold only until 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, 5 p.m. on Sunday.

Exhibitors

A list of 2014 Durham Fair exhibits is available here.

Parking

Parking in the Durham Fair operated lots is $5 per day/single entry or $10 for unlimited entry during the fair weekend. These unlimited passes are only sold prior to the fair.

Shuttle buses are provided to transport visitors from the parking lots to the fairgrounds. There is no visitor parking available directly on the fairgrounds.

Handicapped parking is available on the Regional School District #13 school grounds as directed. Parking will be at the Frank Ward Strong School on Thursday and CRHS Friday through Sunday. Special buses for use by handicapped persons are available to provide transportation from the parking area to the fairgrounds. A valid state permit is required to park in the handicapped parking lot.

GPS Address to Parking Lots

• Strickland’s Pkg. Lot: 385 Cherry Hill Rd., Middlefield
• Greenbacker’s Pkg. Lot: 150 Wallingford Rd., Durham
• Wimler’s Pkg. Lot: 601 Guilford Rd., Durham
• Strong School (handicapped pkg.): 185 Main St. (Rte. 17), Durham
• CRHS (handicapped pkg.): 135 Pickett Lane (off of Rte. 17), Durham
• DFA Office: 24 Townhouse Rd., Durham
• White’s Pkg. Lot: 41 Maple Ave., Durham (volunteers & vendors)
• Tilcon’s Pkg. Lot: 1605 Durham Rd., Wallingford
• Anthem BC/BS Pkg. Lot: 90 Miles Dr., Wallingford

Kids’ Place

This area of the fairgrounds is designed specifically with younger fairgoers in mind, according to the Durham Fair website.

Friday

• 10 — 11:30 a.m.: Pedal Pull
• Noon — 1 p.m.: Games and Contests: sack race, three legged race, balloon toss
• 1 – 1:30 p.m.: T-Bone in Concert
• 2 – 5 p.m.: Sonar from the Wolfpack
• 3 – 4 p.m.: Magic Show and Balloon Twisting
• 4 – 5 p.m.: Candy Bar Bingo
• 5 – 6 p.m.: Games and Contests: sack race, three legged race, balloon toss

Saturday

• 10 – 11:30 a.m.: Pedal Pull
• Noon – 1 p.m.: Susan Peak in Concert
• 1 – 1:30 p.m.: Toni-Lynn Dance Studio
• 2 – 3 p.m.: Magic Show and Ballon Twisting
• 3 – 4 p.m.: Candy Bar Bingo
• 4 – 5 p.m.: Family Trivia CHallenge
• 5 – 6 p.m.: Games and Contests: sack race, three legged race, balloon toss

Sunday

• 10 – 11:30 a.m.: Pedal Pull
• Noon – 1 p.m.: Susan Peak in Concert
• 1 – 2 p.m.: Demo TBD
• 2 – 3 p.m.: Games and Contests: Watermelon Eating/Seed Spitting, Water Games (weather permitting), more
• 3 – 4 p.m.: Magic Show and Ballon Twisting
• 4 – 5 p.m.: Candy Bar Bingo

Ongoing

• Sand Pile
• Corn Crib
• Bubbles
• Photo Ops

Farm Museum

The Durham Fair Farm Museum features a collection of antique farm equipment and collectibles from a time where hand-cranked tractors, blacksmiths and pot-bellied stoves were part of daily life.

“Our collection is priceless — we hope you will enjoy it as much as we have enjoyed presenting it to you,” the Durham Fair website organizers said.

Pets

No pets are allowed on the fairgrounds, with the exception of service animals.

Strollers & Wheelchairs

Not available for rental.

(Photo Credit: Durham Fair Association)