Topsfield Fair Opens Friday With Revised Hours For 2021

TOPSFIELD, MA — A two-year wait for the return of the Topsfield Field will come to an end Friday afternoon when the fairgrounds open for the first time since 2019.

Last year's Topsfield Fair was canceled because of the coronavirus health crisis and there are changes in store for this year as the pandemic lingers.

One change for 2021 will be the hours of operation. Fair organizers said this year's hours will be this Friday from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sunday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Oct. 7 through Oct. 10 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and the final date on Oct. 11 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Officials said on Thursday that the intention is to return to traditional fair hours in 2022.

The Topsfield Board of Health also issued a mandate last week ordering all visitors to the Topsfield Fair to wear a face mask while indoors on the fairgrounds. Organizers had already recommended face coverings at all times while on the fairgrounds.

"Our goal is to always provide a safe and enjoyable atmosphere at the Topsfield Fair," General Manager James O'Brien said. "We will inform people about this mandate on our website as well as signs posted outside and inside the fairgrounds.

"In addition to requiring masks inside the buildings, we encourage fairgoers to use the hundreds of handwashing and hand sanitizing stations throughout the fairgrounds and ask anyone that is not feeling well to stay home."

Fair organizers said in July that the Topsfield Fair would return this year after last year's fair was canceled for only the third time in its 203-year history. It was previously canceled because of the Spanish Flu pandemic of 1918 and World War II.

The Topsfield Fair drew 38,000 people during its last opening weekend in 2019.

This Monday, the Topsfield Fair will also hold a sensory sensitive day that will be much quieter for those who require that because of an autistic family member or one with a sensory processing disorder.

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(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)