Heading into fall means a whole new crop of seasonal food festivals to enjoy before the cold weather sends us inside for the winter. With foliage color on the way, why not plan a road trip and take in one our picks for the best fall food festivals in New England?
Boston’s newest and greenest food festival — celebrating the joys of eating local and promoting local farmers, restaurants, and specialty foods. Events include a seafood throwdown competition, chef and instructional demonstrations, music, tastings, and community crop shares.
The annual celebration of all things Fluff honors Archibald Query, who invented what eventually became marshmallow Fluff in Somerville, Massachusetts in 1917. Activities include cooking contests, games of “Blind Man’s Fluff,” a marshmallow toss, Fluff-inspired cocktails, and more.
See More:Fluffernutters | History of a Favorite New England SandwichBest Fall Food Festivals in New England | What the Fluff? Photo Credit : Aimee Seavey
Chowdafest | October 6, 2019
Sherwood Island State Park in Westport, CT
With participants from every New England state and beyond, Chowadfest is one of the largest culinary competitions in the Northeast. Vote for your favorite chowder as 40 award-winning chefs and restaurants compete in four categories—Classic New England Clam Chowder; Traditional Chowders (Manhattan/Rhode Island), Creative Chowder, and Soup/Bisque—with proceeds benefiting local charities.
See More: Chowdafest | An Annual Celebration of Chowder in Westport, Connecticut
This fun family event features cranberry bog tours, helicopter rides, pony rides, cooking demonstrations, juried crafters and artisans, musical performances, games for children and much more.
Best Fall Food Festivals in New England | Cranberry Harvest Celebration Photo Credit : Aimee Tucker
A top festival in the nutmeg state, featuring live music, 150+ craft booths, pie eating contest, pie bake-off, amusement rides, pony rides, family entertainment, road races, beer garden, and petting zoo.
Featuring local cuisine, educational lectures, cooking demonstrations, arts and crafts, children’s activities, live music, a sunset dance party, road races, walking tours and the popular annual Oyster Shuck-Off competition, where hopefuls compete for the $1,000 cash prize and super shucker bragging rights.
Best Fall Food Festivals in New England | Chowdafest Photo Credit : Jessica Gordon Ryan
Savor the early autumn harvests of the sea—fresh local lobster, chowder, quahogs, clambakes, shrimp, scallops, oysters and clams—presented by area restaurants and fisherman’s associations, with continuous live music, all beneath the wharf’s colorful tents.
Calling all apple lovers! Featuring orchard tours, cider-making, fresh and hard cider tastings, workshops, Harvest Supper, amateur cider competition, craft marketplace, and much more of everything apple.
See More: CiderDays Harvest Festival | Cider Celebration & Recipes
Which fall food festivals in New England are your favorites?
This post was first published in 2013 and has been updated.
Aimee Tucker
Aimee Tucker is Yankee Magazine’s Home Editor and the Senior Digital Editor of NewEngland.com. A lifelong New Englander and Yankee contributor since 2010, Aimee has written columns devoted to history, foliage, retro food, and architecture, and regularly shares her experiences in New England travel, home, and gardening. Her most memorable Yankee experiences to date include meeting Stephen King, singing along to a James Taylor Fourth of July concert at Tanglewood, and taking to the skies in the Hood blimp for an open-air tour of the Massachusetts coastline.
I love the Seafood Festival at Hampton Beach, NH. It’s a 2 day event the weekend after Labor Day Weekend! Get there EARLY for parking! All along the Beachfront Boardwalk, food and craft kiosks! Can’t wait!
lindas107
Thu Aug 30 2018
How about the Garlic Festival in Orange, Ma. October 29th and 30th, 2018.
Joan Lownds
Thu Oct 02 2014
Come celebrate the feast at the 5th Annual CT Cheese & Wine Festival at Hopkins Vineyard in New Preston, CT on Saturday, Oct. 18. Sample the local handcrafted foods & wines at the artisan food event of the year! Many local farms, vineyards, food and craft vendors will be on hand!
Live music will be provided by keyboardist, composer and Broadway veteran Jerold Goldstein.
Come enjoy the festival and bounty of the harvest at the peak of the fall foliage colors, on the shores of beautiful Lake Waramaug!!
Event takes place under tent so – come rain or shine! Admission to the festival is $20 purchased on-line until October 17, at 12 p.m.
at http://www.artisanmade-ne.com or http://www.hopkinsvineyard.com and $23 at the gate the day of the festival. Call 203 273-5821 for more information.
Tinky Weisblat
Mon Mar 17 2014
If you redo this for 2014, please consider including our Pudding Hollow Pudding Festival. A unique event in a lovely New England setting, the festival highlights the talents found around Hawley, Massachusetts—and gives cooks a chance to compete in a delicious fundraiser. Includes a pudding contest, lunch, a pudding parade, and homespun entertainment. Our web page is http://puddingcontest.wordpress.com
James Labbe
Fri Sep 27 2013
We are delighted to announce the first annual Fall Fest in Malden. We will have live family friendly entertainment, a Chili Cook-Off and Carnival games!
Live Music (Featuring The Joshua Tree)
Chili Cook-Off
Kids Fun Zone
Door Prizes
Fishing (bring your own gear)
Hot Dogs, Water & Ice Cream
ALL TICKETS $1.00
CHILI TENT WRIST BAND—$5.00
All proceeds go to The Salvation Army Youth Programs
Historic Fellsmere Pond
Rt 60/Fellsway East/Savin street
Saturday October 5th, 2013
12:00-5:00pm
(rain date 10/12/13)
alison kafer
Wed Sep 04 2013
Wachusett Mountain
Our most popular fall festival celebration including over 70 craft exhibitors, farmers’ market, special family fun side shows both weekends! Kids entertainment and peak fall foliage viewing from the SkyRide. Oktoberfest themed food specialties and music
Margit Price
Wed Aug 31 2016
Alison- you did not mention what date, and time?
Jess @ Celebrate Samhain
Wed Sep 04 2013
Don’t forget Celebrate Samhain 2013 – on October 19 at the new Peterborough Community Center on Elm Street in Peterborough. John will have delicious homemade hot foods, Cucina Aurora will have her magical herbed olive oils, we’ll be collecting food donations for the Peterborough food pantry, plus music, vendors, and harvest celebration… and lots of other reasons to come, too! For info: https://www.facebook.com/events/234974059988798/ or http://www.CelebrateSamhain.com
Ed Harvey
Tue Sep 03 2013
Berkshire SPAAMFAA (old fire truck club) will be hosting an antique fire truck show October 13, 2013 10-4 at the Stockbridge Train Station! Will will have classic New England Eats at our food booth stop on by – Heck I might even let you “hit” the siren on my fire truck, Mad Maxine (check her out on Facebook).
SUSAN PARKER PAPILLON
Tue Aug 27 2013
I AM LOOKING FOR LOW CHOLESTEROL DINNERS WHICH STILL HAVE THAT OLD YANKEE TASTE!
I love the Seafood Festival at Hampton Beach, NH. It’s a 2 day event the weekend after Labor Day Weekend! Get there EARLY for parking! All along the Beachfront Boardwalk, food and craft kiosks! Can’t wait!
How about the Garlic Festival in Orange, Ma. October 29th and 30th, 2018.
Come celebrate the feast at the 5th Annual CT Cheese & Wine Festival at Hopkins Vineyard in New Preston, CT on Saturday, Oct. 18. Sample the local handcrafted foods & wines at the artisan food event of the year! Many local farms, vineyards, food and craft vendors will be on hand!
Live music will be provided by keyboardist, composer and Broadway veteran Jerold Goldstein.
Come enjoy the festival and bounty of the harvest at the peak of the fall foliage colors, on the shores of beautiful Lake Waramaug!!
Event takes place under tent so – come rain or shine! Admission to the festival is $20 purchased on-line until October 17, at 12 p.m.
at http://www.artisanmade-ne.com or http://www.hopkinsvineyard.com and $23 at the gate the day of the festival. Call 203 273-5821 for more information.
If you redo this for 2014, please consider including our Pudding Hollow Pudding Festival. A unique event in a lovely New England setting, the festival highlights the talents found around Hawley, Massachusetts—and gives cooks a chance to compete in a delicious fundraiser. Includes a pudding contest, lunch, a pudding parade, and homespun entertainment. Our web page is http://puddingcontest.wordpress.com
We are delighted to announce the first annual Fall Fest in Malden. We will have live family friendly entertainment, a Chili Cook-Off and Carnival games!
Live Music (Featuring The Joshua Tree)
Chili Cook-Off
Kids Fun Zone
Door Prizes
Fishing (bring your own gear)
Hot Dogs, Water & Ice Cream
ALL TICKETS $1.00
CHILI TENT WRIST BAND—$5.00
All proceeds go to The Salvation Army Youth Programs
Historic Fellsmere Pond
Rt 60/Fellsway East/Savin street
Saturday October 5th, 2013
12:00-5:00pm
(rain date 10/12/13)
Wachusett Mountain
Our most popular fall festival celebration including over 70 craft exhibitors, farmers’ market, special family fun side shows both weekends! Kids entertainment and peak fall foliage viewing from the SkyRide. Oktoberfest themed food specialties and music
Alison- you did not mention what date, and time?
Don’t forget Celebrate Samhain 2013 – on October 19 at the new Peterborough Community Center on Elm Street in Peterborough. John will have delicious homemade hot foods, Cucina Aurora will have her magical herbed olive oils, we’ll be collecting food donations for the Peterborough food pantry, plus music, vendors, and harvest celebration… and lots of other reasons to come, too! For info: https://www.facebook.com/events/234974059988798/ or http://www.CelebrateSamhain.com
Berkshire SPAAMFAA (old fire truck club) will be hosting an antique fire truck show October 13, 2013 10-4 at the Stockbridge Train Station! Will will have classic New England Eats at our food booth stop on by – Heck I might even let you “hit” the siren on my fire truck, Mad Maxine (check her out on Facebook).
I AM LOOKING FOR LOW CHOLESTEROL DINNERS WHICH STILL HAVE THAT OLD YANKEE TASTE!