5 Fun Summer Festivals for New Haven Families

By Amelia Kennedy

This post originally appeared on Care.com. It has been republished with permission.

The weather is finally warming up in New Haven, and that means festival season is here! It’s time for funnel cake and turkey legs, carnival rides and live music, comedy shows and costume parades. The New Haven area has so much going on that it’s impossible to list every festival here, though I suppose if you’re motivated, it might be possible to attend them all. Arts and crafts fans should definitely look into New Haven’s Westville Village Art Walk and Guilford’s Craft EXPO, while foodies should consider North Branford’s Potato and Corn Festival and Milford’s Oyster Festival. The five festivals I’ve detailed below are a few personal favorites that represent the huge range of offerings in the New Haven area. They’re family-friendly, and they’re all within a 20-minute drive from New Haven.

Robin Hood’s Faire

Location: 290 Washington Ave., North Haven, CT 06473
Dates: Saturdays, Sundays and Memorial Day, May 13-29
Hours: 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Admission: General admission (16+) $15 | Youth admission (7-15) $10 | Age 6 and under free | Season pass general admission $35 | Season pass youth admission $25
Contact: Call 860-478-5954, or email havefun@ctfaire.com.

I didn’t visit my first Renaissance Faire until I was in college, but I quickly realized that I’d been seriously missing out. Ren Faires are full of the best things in life: costumes, face-painting, jousting, archery, specialty shops and, of course, the food. There’s as much barbecue and kettle corn as you can handle! Robin Hood’s Faire takes place this May in North Haven, though you’ll feel like you’re in medieval Nottingham, England.

This year, May 13-14 is Pet Weekend, so bring your pets along to compete for Best Costume (Saturday) or Best Dog Trick (Sunday). Pirate fans should show up on May 20 or 21 for Pirate Invasion Weekend, when young pirates are encouraged to dress the part and take over the Faire. Youngsters (ages 0-9) can also enjoy the Dragon Egg Hunt on May 21. Regular shows and performances include jousting, singalongs, comedy shows, archery tag, axe throw contests, dances, and parades. The schedule is massive and includes something for everyone.

New Haven Food Truck Festival

Location: Long Wharf Drive, New Haven, CT 06511
Date: Saturday, June 3
Hours: 12 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Admission: $5 | Ages 12 and under free
Contact: Email info@newhavenfoodtruckfestival.com.

New Haven has a reputation for being a “food city,” and was even named the top foodie city in America by Livability in 2014. Its food trucks are an essential part of its culinary charm.
The annual Food Truck Festival on the Long Wharf Waterfront is lively and fun, featuring various activities and live music to enjoy while you decide what to eat. It won’t be any easy choice, with so many options in one area. The Dragon Boat Regatta takes place on the same day at Long Wharf Pier, so you can drop by and cheer on the rowers.

Branford Festival

Location: Branford Town Green, 1019 Main St., Branford, CT 06405
Dates: June 16-18
Hours: Friday, 5 p.m. - 10:30 p.m. | Saturday, 8 a.m. - 11 p.m. | Sunday, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Admission: Free
Contact: Email branfordfestival@aol.com.

Take part in classic small-town fun at the Branford Festival, not unlike the quirky festivals thrown in Gilmore Girls’ fictional Stars Hollow. Come by the Town Green to enjoy live music and entertainment, arts and crafts, food, competitions, and plenty of activities for children, from rides to face-painting.

This festival happens just in time for Father’s Day! Dads and their families can enjoy the Father’s Day Road Race and Car Show held on June 18. One lucky dad will even win the Father of the Year award. Nomination essays from kids in grades K-8 are due May 19. Click here for more details.

Connecticut Irish Festival

Location: North Haven Fairgrounds, 300 Washington Ave. (Route 5), North Haven, CT 06473
Dates: June 24-25
Hours: Saturday, 11 a.m. - 11 p.m. | Sunday, 8 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Admission: Saturday before 5 p.m.: $15; after 5 p.m.: $20 | Sunday: $15 | Ages 12 and under: Free | Advance tickets can be purchased online for $15 until June 23
Contact: Click here for a list of festival committee member email addresses.

Since 1963, the Connecticut Irish Festival has been celebrating Irish heritage through traditional food, dance, and music.

Love to run? Sign up for Saturday’s 5K road race. Love to bake? Enter your bread in Sunday’s Irish Bread Contest. The festival also hosts a Céilí band and the New Haven Feis, with Irish dancers from all over the region competing in light jig, reel, and slip jig dances. If your family has Irish roots, visit the Genealogy tent with any information on your ancestors and people from the Connecticut Irish American Historical Society will help you find out more.

Orange Volunteer Firemen’s Carnival

Location: Orange Fairgrounds, 525 Orange Center Road, Orange, CT 06477
Dates: Aug. 3-6
Hours: Thursday, 5 p.m. - 11 p.m. | Friday, 5 p.m. - midnight | Saturday, 12 p.m. - midnight | Sunday, 12 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Admission: Parking and admission are free. Click here to purchase a ride wristband.
Contact: Call 203-891-1052, or email ovfd@orange-ct.gov.

The Orange Volunteer Firemen’s Carnival offers fun rides, games, raffles, fireworks, and more. The carnival has been a beloved Orange tradition for decades, and the proceeds help fund the volunteer fire department.

Kids over 3 feet tall love the classic carnival rides, and there’s also a kiddieland for the little ones. Buy a raffle ticket ($5) for a chance to win the $7,000 Visa gift card grand prize, or one of 10 other prizes. Children under 12 can also register for the free raffle on Saturday. Stay up to watch the fireworks show on Friday and Saturday nights.
There are a ton of food options, including carnival staples like funnel cake, and, of course, lobster rolls. This is New England, after all!