Top 5 Festivals and Fairs in Guilford, Branford and New Haven

Connecticut’s size is convenient for traveling to quaint New England towns. The close proximity gives friends and families the ability to attend unique fairs, festivals and events that are held along the shoreline from New Haven to North Branford and Guilford. With a unique range of events happening along the coast, here are five of the biggest festivals and fairs that are happening throughout 2020. Check them out below!

47th Annual Cherry Blossom Festival

April 19, 2020 – 12:00pm to 4:30pm
Historic Wooster Square

This celebration of spring commemorates the planting of 72 Yoshino Japanese Cherry Blossom trees in 1973 by the New Haven Historic Commission in collaboration with the New Haven Parks Department and residents in the neighborhood. The festival has grown from a modest event with a local band entertaining a handful of neighbors under lighted trees to a major New Haven all-afternoon event that draws well over 10,000 visitors. This year the event is pet-friendly and there will be free on-stage entertainment, a dedicated family & children’s area, local food vendors, artists, authors and more. To learn more about this event, click here.

Cherry Blossom Festival

International Festival of Arts & Ideas, New Haven

June 13 – 27, 2020

When Anne Calabresi, Jean Handley and Roslyn Meyer founded the Festival in 1996, their aim was to gather world-class artists and thinkers from around the globe, showcasing the city and state as a major arts destination. For 24 years, the Festival has delighted audiences with an outstanding mix of entertaining and inspiring programs. Programs include internationally acclaimed dancers, an eclectic array of world-class musicians, ground-breaking theatre and engaging speakers. Plan to visit some of the events during the festival, click here to learn more.

International Festival of Arts & Ideas, New Haven

Shakespeare on the Shoreline

July 29 – August 2, 2020
7:30 pm performance nightly with a 6:30 pm pre-show talk every night on the Historic Guilford Green

Sponsored by the Shoreline Arts Alliance, Shakespeare on the Shoreline returns in 2020 after a hiatus in 2019! The Wall Street Journal wrote, “Shakespeare on the Shoreline is the most popular and well-recognized cultural mainstay of the community, drawing crowds from all over the area and beyond with its engaging entertaining and educational performances”. To learn more about this event, click here.

Shakespeare on the Shoreline

North Branford Potato & Corn Festival

August 7, 8, & 9, 2020
Augur Field, Rt. 22

The 2020 “PoCo Fest” will celebrate its 19th year as a free, wonderful, fun-filled family event. The festival started as a one-day affair back in 2002 and has since grown into a three-day spectacular with thousands of attendees. The event is hosted over a weekend and includes a variety of activities for the whole family! Activities include a petting zoo, mashed potato toss, beer and wine tasting, pie eating contest and more! To plan your trip to the PoCo Fest, click here.

North Branford Potato & Corn Festival

Fantasy of Lights Festival

Mid-November 2020 – December 31, 2020
Lighthouse Point Park in New Haven

The Fantasy of Lights Festival brightens up the holiday season with a nightly display of twinkling lights and music. This event is presented by Goodwill of Southern New England and has become a holiday tradition for thousands of families. Now in its twenty-fifth year, the dazzling nighttime event supports their mission to enhance employment, educational, social and recreational opportunities for people with disabilities and other challenges. This event is fun for the entire family! Click here to learn more.

Fantasy of Lights Festival