From Kim Knox Beckius,
Your Guide to Hartford.
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Sep 27 2007

Fall is the perfect time of year for a festival--the heat of summer has subsided, nature provides a colorful event backdrop at no charge and leaf peeping along the drive to the festival can be as much fun as the event itself.

Connecticut is the nation's third smallest state, so if you live in or near Connecticut, the added bonus is that any Connecticut festival is a short, scenic drive away.

Here are five fall festivals in Connecticut that make for perfect autumn day trips:

46th Annual Bristol Chrysanthemum Festival
September 21 - October 6, 2007
Event Schedule
Bristol, Connecticut
860-584-4718

This old-fashioned community festival sponsored by the Greater Bristol Chamber of Commerce features a variety of events including the crowning of Miss Mum on September 21, a mum parade on September 23, Farms Weekend September 29-30, an Antique Auto Show on September 30 and Mum Bingo on October 6.

Connecticut Antique Machinery Association's Annual Fall Festival
Saturday and Sunday, September 29-30, 2007
Route 7 (adjacent to the Sloane Stanley Museum)
Kent, Connecticut

Cool, picturesque fall days leave many folks longing for simpler times. The Connecticut Antique Machinery Association's Annual Fall Festival provides a glimpse of technology long before the harried days of computers, cell phones and other relentless gadgets. You'll see hundreds of restored antique machines in operation. The festival also features train rides, exhibits and food.

The Connecticut Renaissance Faire
Weekends and Columbus Day, September 29-October 21, 2007
10 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Hebron Lions Fairgrounds
Route 85
Hebron, Connecticut
860-478-5954

In Connecticut, fall is the season when days are warm and knights are playful! At The Connecticut Renaissance Faire (pictured in photo above) in the eastern part of the state (the Faire moved from Woodstock to Hebron last year), you can explore a Medieval marketplace and watch shows ranging from song to dance to live combat and full-contact jousting. Admission is $15 for adults, $6 for children ages 5 to 12 and free for children under 5. A season pass is $50.

39th Annual Apple Harvest Festival
September 28- September 30 and October 5-7, 2007
Event Schedule
Town Green, Main Street
Southington, CT
860-276-8461

Celebrate the annual apple harvest at this street fair in Southington featuring an array of apple products, food booths, arts and crafts, eating contests, musical performances, a parade and more. Admission is free.

26th Annual Chowderfest at Mystic Seaport
October 6-8, 2007
11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Route 27
Mystic, Connecticut
860-572-5315 or 888-973-2767

Piping hot chowder soothes the soul on a crisp fall day. Try many different varieties of chowder including clear, creamy, clam and corn at Mystic Seaport's annual fall Chowderfest. The festival is included with admission to Mystic Seaport, but there is an additional charge for the food.