Maine Fairs

Maine’s fairs are a summer-into-fall tradition, from small town fairs to the big state fairs, with livestock and produce exhibits, contests, food and entertainment. Fairs announce their exact dates each spring, so dates shown for next season are projected from the current schedule until each fair confirms them. Check the fair website before you go.

Maine fairs

Quick Answer: When Are Maine’s Fairs?

Maine’s agricultural fairs run from early summer into October. The biggest are usually the Bangor State Fair in late July and early August, the Skowhegan State Fair in August, the Common Ground Country Fair in September, and the Fryeburg Fair in early October.

Upcoming Maine Fairs

For the complete official schedule, see the Maine Association of Agricultural Fairs. Always check a fair’s own website for hours and admission before you go.

The Biggest Fairs and Festivals in Maine

Which one is biggest depends on how you count, but these are the usual answers.

  • Fryeburg Fair, Fryeburg: generally called Maine’s largest agricultural fair. It runs eight days in early October and has been held since 1851. Attendance estimates run from 175,000 paid attendees a year to 225,000. In 2026 it ran October 4 to 11.
  • Maine Lobster Festival, Rockland: the state’s best-known food festival. The 2026 festival was the 79th, with free admission at Harbor Park. Organizers expected about 75,000 visitors over five days and about 20,000 pounds of lobster.
  • Common Ground Country Fair, Unity: run by the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association, with more than 1,000 exhibitors and speakers. The 50th fair was September 25 to 27, 2026.
  • Skowhegan State Fair and Bangor State Fair: the two big summer state fairs. Skowhegan ran August 13 to 22 in 2026, and Bangor’s ran through August 8.

What to Expect at a Maine Fair

  • Livestock, produce and craft exhibits
  • Contests, demonstrations and outdoor activities
  • Fair food and local vendors
  • Family entertainment, from rides to live music

Planning Your Visit

Maine Fairs FAQ

What is the most popular fair in Maine?

Fryeburg Fair is generally called Maine’s largest agricultural fair, with attendance estimates of 175,000 or more a year. If you mean a festival, the Maine Lobster Festival in Rockland drew an expected 75,000 visitors over five days in 2026.

What fairs are going on in Maine?

Maine holds roughly two dozen agricultural fairs from June through early October, so there is something on nearly every summer weekend. The big 2026 fairs are over. The next date on our list is the Rangeley Holly Fair on November 21, 2026, and the 2027 fair season starts in June. The Maine Department of Agriculture fair list has the official schedule.

What is the biggest festival in Maine?

For food, the Maine Lobster Festival is the best known, with about 75,000 visitors expected in 2026. For sheer attendance at a single event, Fryeburg Fair is generally considered the largest.

What are the dates for the Maine fairs in 2026?

The main 2026 dates were:

  • Maine Lobster Festival, Rockland: July 29 to August 2
  • Bangor State Fair: ended August 8
  • Skowhegan State Fair: August 13 to 22
  • Common Ground Country Fair, Unity: September 25 to 27
  • Fryeburg Fair: October 4 to 11

The 2027 dates in our list above are projected until each fair confirms them, so check each fair’s website before you plan a trip.

More Maine Festivals

Beyond the agricultural fairs, Maine has a festival for almost every food and season: the Maine Lobster Festival, the Wild Blueberry Festival, the Yarmouth Clam Festival, the Pemaquid Oyster Festival, the Maine Potato Blossom Festival, the Maine Whoopie Pie Festival and the Moxie Festival. Browse them all in our Maine events calendar.