FAIRly Common Questions

We, at Topsfield Fair, pride ourselves in making the Fairgrounds and its venues accessible to all of our guests. Most of the Fairgrounds is paved to accommodate our guests in wheelchairs and on scooters. We have manual wheelchairs available to rent for $20 on a first come first served basis at the gate next to Parking Lot A/River Gate. Guests in wheelchairs receive complimentary admission; an escort pays for general admission.

Every Fairgrounds parking lot has accessible parking. The largest number of spaces is in Lot A/River Gate, the entrance to which is on Route 1. All accessible parking is located near an entrance gate. On busy days, spaces in our lots are occupied early.

We, at Topsfield Fair, pride ourselves in making the Fairgrounds a comfortable place for all of our guests. Most of the Fairgrounds is paved to accommodate our guests in wheelchairs and on scooters. Conveniently located near the Picnic Area, a private Nursing Mother’s Lounge and an Adult Changing Room are nestled among the pines, in the same area as our haven for the Kids' Safe Zone, which is staffed whenever the Fair is open. Hand wash/hand sanitizing stations are located throughout the Fairgrounds.

ATM’s are located outside the Main Gate and throughout the Fairgrounds. See map for locations.

We now have the Topsfield Fair Beer Garden! We are selling a limited selection of beer and wine along with offering games and more!

The State Police K-9 Unit and the Essex County Sheriff’s Department K-9 Unit hold canine demonstrations throughout the weekends. Check the Daily Program to see when these popular shows are held.

Children under 8 are free with an adult admission ticket.

We encourage questions, comments, and suggestions so that we can provide the best experience possible for our guests. We will try to respond to every correspondence. We can only get better when we hear about what we are doing well and how we can improve. Call us at (978) 887-5000 or email us at essex@topsfieldfair.org.

Once finalized, our daily program is available on our website www.topsfieldfair.org.

On the final day, Columbus Day, two of the Fair’s most popular events are held in the Arena and are free with admission. The Figure 8 Race is held at 3:30 PM and the Demolition Derby is held at 7:00 PM. Applications with JM Motorsport Events: https://jmderby.com/

The physical address of the Topsfield Fairgrounds is 207 Boston Street in Topsfield, MA. A GPS device might consider the Topsfield Fairgrounds a “Point of Interest.”

Our $15 pre-Fair admission tickets may only be purchased BEFORE the opening of the fair. The tickets may be used any day that you chose to attend. All Grandstand shows with free with general admission! Pre-Fair tickets can be purchased online, at our Main Gate Ticket Booth beginning in late August, and at many local retailers. The ticket booth will be open until the day before the Fair opens.

Discounted ride tickets of 10 rides (one ride per ticket) can be purchased online, at our Main Gate Ticket Booth beginning in late August, and at a limited number of local retailers. The ticket booth will be open until the day before the Fair opens. In the Midway, each ride will have a sign with the number of tickets required but those figures apply only to tickets that are purchased at the ticket booths in the Midway that day. It is important to keep the ride tickets attached to the strip; unattached tickets will not be accepted by the ride operators.

We love dogs but the only ones we can allow on the Fairgrounds during fair time are guide dogs and those participating in events, e.g., Police K-9 demonstrations, Dock Dogs events, etc.

The Topsfield Fair is photographed and filmed. Please be advised that Topsfield Fair may use photographs taken during events for publication in print and online, including social media. To purchase photos that were taken during this year's Fair and other years, please visit: https://topsfieldfair.smugmug.com

The First Aid Station is located inside the Main Gate staffed by emergency medical personnel. This station is sponsored by the Topsfield/ Middleton/ Boxford Health Departments in collaboration with Greater Cape Ann Community Coalition. The nursing staff is backed up by an ambulance service. Ambulances are on site.. If there is an emergency, please notify the nearest Fair personnel (those wearing fair ID) for immediate care. DO NOT CALL 911 – the fair has emergency care on grounds.

All entertainment held at the Grandstand and small stages are free with Fair admission!

Admission Gates will close 2 hours prior to the scheduled fair closing time.

The New England Giant Pumpkin Weigh-Off takes place on Opening Day in the Arena from 4-10 PM (competitors begin arriving at 1 PM). All of the top entries will be on display throughout the entire run of the Fair. The prize winner will be in the Fruit & Vegetable Building while the runners-up will remain along the periphery of the Arena and also in the Essex County Farmyard. Giant Pumpkin seeds are for sale in the Fruit & Vegetable Building.

Many of our vendors provide some alternative food options that help to support people with allergies. Be sure to ask the vendor for more information.

The Fair offers three Information Booths – inside the Main Gate, inside River Gate (Lot A), and near the Fair Trade Building. Information personnel are on duty during Fair hours at these booths to assist guests with their needs, questions, comments, concerns or problems. You will find information about daily events, a fair map, and more.

All lost and found items should be brought to the Administration Building, which is located near the Main Gate. There is also another Lost and Found in the Midway at the Fiesta Show office.

The Topsfield Fair's midway operator is Fiesta Shows. Their tickets and wristbands are sold directly through them and not at the Topsfield Fair ticket booths. You can visit a Midway Ticket Booth when you arrive, or visit their website at https://www.fiestashows.com for more information. Questions should be directed to: customersupport@fiestashows.com

Tuesday is Military Day at the Fair. All active military personnel will be admitted to the Fair free of charge, along with their immediate family members accompanying them when they present their military identification at the gate.

Unfortunately, we will not have a Monster Truck Show in 2024, but hope to have it again! The Monster Truck Shows are separate ticketed events and GUESTS OF ALL AGES REQUIRE TICKETS. Since the shows are held inside the Arena within the Fairgrounds, A GENERAL ADMISSION TICKET IS ALSO REQUIRED OF ALL GUESTS AGES 8 AND UP. Pit Parties, requiring a separate ticket, are offered to those wanting an up-close and personal experience with the Monster Trucks and their drivers for a small additional fee. There is a limited number of Pit Party tickets for sale for each show. Guests are advised to bring ear protection as the noise level is high for the Monster Truck Shows.

T-shirts, sweatshirts, hats, lapel pins and other collectibles of Topsfield Fair may be purchased at our two Souvenir Booths – Main Gate and outside Fair Trade Building.

Our On-Grounds Parades will be held on the Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 5pm.

Parking is $15 at all fair parking lots. Several large parking lots surround the Topsfield Fair on Route 1 and Route 97. On the weekends and holiday, there is additional parking at Fair-View Farm on Route 1 North and at North Shore Community College with a shuttle bus service to the Fairgrounds. Guests are shuttled directly to a Topsfield Fair Admission Gate. That location will also be used to take a shuttle back to Fair-View Farm and North Shore Community College.

Parking is free in all Fair Parking Lots on Opening Day, which is the first Friday.

If you would like to perform at the Fair, application are available beginning in January on our website: https://www.topsfieldfair.org/about/perform-at-the-fair/. Generally, the Entertainment Committee starts making decisions in late-winter and notifies the contacts from the groups that are selected to perform.

If elected or candidates for political office wish to be present for political causes, please read the following documentation. https://www.topsfieldfair.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Policy-for-Political-Candidates.pdf

Guests may re-enter the Fair on a single day. They should have their hand stamped prior to leaving the gate and be prepared to go through the security checkpoint again.

The Topsfield Fair provides rest rooms throughout the Fairgrounds that are continuously attended. Nestled throughout the Fairgrounds are portable rest rooms. We make providing clean facilities a priority to ensure that our guests’ needs are met.

The Topsfield Fair is committed to a safe, secure, and enjoyable fair. We continue to work cooperatively with the Topsfield Public Safety Departments and the Massachusetts State Police to take appropriate actions relating to the safety and security of all fair attendees and staff. All staff and patrons need to go through security which includes bag checks before entering the Fairgrounds.

Sensory Day is an opportunity for a more sensory sensitive experience to the Topsfield Fair for families who have family members with autism or sensory processing disorders. Vendors will have no flashing lights, music or announcements. Sound for entertainment and stages will be lowered and announcements on the grounds will be limited and turned down as well. This will be held on the first Monday of the Topsfield Fair.

For representatives who wish to solicit signatures on petitions for the purpose of a ballot proposition/referendum to voters, or nomination of a candidate for public office, in a city, county or statewide election, please read the following documentation.

Special Admission can be requested and presented on the organization’s letterhead specifying the date the group would like to visit (Monday-Friday) as well as the number of people in the group. Requests need to be submitted to Kate O'Brien either by email: kate@topsfieldfair.org or mailed to Topsfield Fair, P. O. Box 134, Topsfield, MA 01983. The Topsfield Fairgrounds is accessible with designated accessible parking areas in each of the Fairgrounds parking lots.

We have a limited number of strollers and wagons for rent at Gate A/River Gate, which are rented on a first-come, first-served basis - so we recommend arriving early. Guests are welcome to bring their own to use on the mostly paved Fairgrounds.

To apply to be a vendor at the Topsfield Fair, apply early (late fall/early winter) on our website: www.topsfieldfair.org and clicking on Concessions and Vendors. Most years, we fill to capacity so applying early is critical. For more information on becoming a vendor, email Kate O'Brien at kate@topsfieldfair.org

We have a limited number of manual wheelchairs for rent at Gate A/River Gate, located near the parking lot with the largest number of accessible parking spaces. The cost is $20. The wheelchairs are rented on a first-come, first-served basis so we recommend arriving early.

The next Topsfield Fair will be held: Friday, October 3rd - Monday, October 13th 2025!

Topsfield Fair, P. O. Box 134, Topsfield, MA 01983