10 Vermont fall events
worth the drive.
A 150-year-old agricultural fair, a self-guided driving tour through the Northeast Kingdom at peak color, and a village green pie festival. Confirm the date and hours on each event's own site before you go; small-town festivals shift these from year to year.
All 10, at a glance.
| Event | Where | 2026 dates | Admission |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tunbridge World's Fair | Tunbridge | Sep 17–20 | $16–21 adult, kids 12 & under free |
| Fall Foliage Festival | East Burke | Sep 26 | Free |
| Northeast Kingdom Fall Foliage Festival | Multiple NEK towns | Sep 27–Oct 4 | Free/low-cost, varies by town |
| Vermont Sheep & Wool Festival | Tunbridge Fairgrounds | Oct 3–4 | Modest gate fee |
| Harvest Celebration | Billings Farm & Museum, Woodstock | Oct 3–4 | Regular museum admission |
| Stowe Foliage Arts Festival | Mayo Farm Fields, Stowe | Oct 9–11 | Free to browse |
| Vermont Apple Festival & Craft Show | Springfield | ~Oct 10 (Columbus Day weekend) | Free |
| Killington Harvest Faire | Killington Resort | Oct 10 | Free |
| Newfane Heritage Festival | Newfane | Oct 10–11 | Free |
| Dummerston Apple Pie Festival | Dummerston | ~Oct 11 (Columbus Day weekend) | Modest/donation |
Dates as published on each event's own site as of September 2026. Confirm before you go, especially the two Columbus Day weekend events, which had not posted exact 2026 dates at the time of writing.
Our top three for young kids.
The Tunbridge World's Fair is the classic: livestock barns, a midway, and a real sense of a fair that has been running since the 1860s. The Stowe Foliage Arts Festival is free, easy to drop into for an hour, and sits against peak foliage. The Harvest Celebration at Billings Farm & Museum is the gentlest option: a working dairy farm museum with hot cider, farm animals, and easy stroller paths, built for a slower pace than a big fairground.
What families ask us.
What are the best fall festivals in Vermont in 2026?
Ten real, dated events across the state, from the Tunbridge World's Fair in mid-September through the Dummerston Apple Pie Festival in mid-October. The Tunbridge World's Fair and the Stowe Foliage Arts Festival have the broadest family appeal.
Which Vermont fall festivals are free?
The Stowe Foliage Arts Festival, the East Burke Fall Foliage Festival, the Newfane Heritage Festival, and the Killington Harvest Faire don't charge admission. The Tunbridge World's Fair has a gate fee.
What is the Northeast Kingdom Fall Foliage Festival?
A week-long, self-guided driving tour through Northeast Kingdom villages (Cabot, Marshfield, Walden, Plainfield, Peacham, Barnet, Groton) at peak color, with town suppers and craft fairs on different days. It suits families who want to string together short stops rather than one big crowded venue.
Do dates for these events change year to year?
Yes, small-town festivals in particular shift by a week or two some years. Confirm the date and hours on each event's own site before you go.