Saturday, August 15, 2026 — 10:00 – 4:00
Windham County History Fair
Historic Newfane Common, Route 30, Newfane
Step back in time at the Windham County History Fair and 250th Anniversary Celebration on Saturday, August 15th from 10:00 to 4:00 on Newfane’s Historic Common. Free admission, free events, free parking; the Fair celebrates Windham County’s rich history and commemorates America’s 250th anniversary.
Local museums, historical societies, heritage organizations, and artisans are gathering to showcase the stories, people, and local traditions of the region. Throughout the day, Re-enactors and skilled craftspeople will present live demonstrations of traditional trades and technologies, including musket firing, spy-crafting, blacksmithing, weaving, spinning, woodworking, bookbinding, beekeeping, and telegraph operating. Hands-on experiences will offer a glimpse into the life and livelihoods of the past, as visitors of all ages try out old trades and handle old tools.
The Fair kicks off at 10:00 AM with a parade led by the 1947 Vermont State Police cruiser. Following the parade, there will be a reading of the Declaration of Independence on the steps of the Windham County Courthouse and a tour of the Courthouse by Judge Michael Kainen.
Tours of the West River Railroad Museum (with a live telegraph operating demonstration), the County History Museum in the former Windham County Jail (with old jail cells still intact), and the old Newfane Cemetery will take place during the day.
A Vermont Trivia contest by the Vermont Historical Society happens at 1:00PM and 1:30PM with gift certificate prizes to the winners from the Four Columns Inn. The Chester Bookworm will evaluate old books and the Windham County Genealogy Interest Group will help people get started to learn more about their family roots. An Antique Car Show will be on display all day.
It will be a day of living history, interactive displays, local traditions, family activities, food by Vernon Creamie Food Truck, music by Bills Band of Wardsboro, Crafters, Raffles, Bargain Tables and much more. Admission is Free.
Schedule of Events:
10:00 Parade
Followed by reading of the Declaration of Independence (on the Courthouse steps)
Followed by Tour of the County Courthouse by Judge Kanein
10:00 – ? Alan Bills Band
12:00 Windham County Genealogy Interest Group
1:00 Vermont Trivia Contest
1:30 Vermont Trivia Contest
2:00 Book Binding (Chester Bookworm)
2:30 Telegraph Operating (West River Railroad Museum)
3:00 Tour of old Newfane Cemetery
All Day: County History Museum and West River Railroad Museum exhibits
Exibitors:
Vermont Historical Society
Vermont State Archives & Records Administration
Vermont Old Cemeteries Association
Vermont State Police
Brattleboro Historical Society
Brattleboro Words Project
Brookline Historical Society
Dummerston Historical Society
Estey Organ Museum
Guilford Historical Society
Historical Society of Windham County
Londonderry Arts and Historical Society
Putney Historical Society
Townshend Historical Society
Town of Windham Historical Society
Four Museums of Rockingham:
Bellows Falls Historical Society,
Grist Mill and the riverfront Park,
Saxtons River Historical Society,
Rockingham Meeting House,
Rockingham Library
Moore Free Library
Collections Care & Conservation Alliance
Gilfeather Turnip Group, Wardsboro
Historical Ambassadors of New England
Chester Book Worm (Bookbinding)
Windham County Genealogy Interest Group
Vermont Baseball History (Dana Sprague)
Windham County Beekeepers Association
Gary Lavorgna Woodcrafts
Brent Newell Maple Syrup
Pressed Art (Brittany Bills-Coleman)
Feral by Nature (Dara Carleton
Cynefin Farm
Jams and Jellies (Jennifer Matheson)
Craig Hunt Photography
Bills Band (Alan Bills)
Vernon Creamie Food Truck