ROCKWELL AND REALISM IN AN ABSTRACT WORLD

A first-ever Rockwell exhibition exploring the divide between realism and abstract art. Over 40 artists including: what spirits may still inhabit the place. Advance registration required. 413551-5100; edithwharton.org

SEPT. 8–11: GREENFIELD, 168th Franklin County Fair. From parades and clowns to talent shows and Frisbee dogs, from agricultural exhibits and competitions to truck pulls, pie-eating contests, police-dog demonstrations, pig races, and a demolition derby, there’s something for everyone at this legendary county fair. 413-774-4282; fcas.com

SEPT. 17–18: OLD DEERFIELD, Old Deerfield Fall Craft Fair. The historic village of Old Deerfield boasts unique arts-andcrafts items from a variety of vendors, plus demonstrations and fine food offerings. 413-774-7476; deerfield-craft.org

SEPT. 23–25: EAST FALMOUTH, ScallopFest 2016. Award-winning seafood and chicken dinners, plus midway rides and games, a terrific entertainment lineup, and a juried arts and crafts fair, all at Cape Cod Fairgrounds. 603332-2616; scallopfest.org

SEPT. 24–25: PITTSFIELD, Country Fair. At Hancock Shaker Village, celebrate the bounty of the harvest with agricultural demonstrations, wagon rides, a fabulous farmers’ market, and huge tents full of the best local and regional crafters and artisans. 800-817-1137, 413443-0188; hancockshakervillage.org

SEPT. 30–OCT. 10: TOPSFIELD, Topsfield Fair. The country’s oldest continuously operating fair just gets bigger and better. Enjoy headline entertainment and shows, 4-H competitions, midway rides, games, tempting treats, and more. 978-887-5000; topsfieldfair.org

OCT. 8–10: NORTHAMPTON, Paradise City Arts Festival. The fall installment of this twice-yearly celebration brings together 275 fine artists and crafters from across the nation at Three County Fairgrounds. Plus good food, great live music, flowering sculpture gardens, special exhibits, demonstrations, activities, and more. 413-587-0772; paradise cityarts.com

OCT. 13–16: EDGARTOWN, Martha’s Vineyard Food & Wine Festival. Join Yankee in celebrating the island’s rich tradition of farming and fishing with local culinary talent, and the farmers, fishermen, oyster producers, and artisans they work with—along with guest chefs and vintners from around the world—at venues across the island. mvfoodandwine.com

OCT. 15: BOSTON, Boston Book Festival. Copley Square is the place to meet featured authors representing an array of genres: award winner s and best-selling writers, scholars, children’s writers, novelists, historians, essayists, and poets. Enjoy the presentations, panels, and participatory sessions. bostonbookfest.org

OCT. 15–16: WELLFLEET, 16th OysterFest. Give a nod to the town’s famous bivalves and fishing traditions with hometown fun and flavor. Enjoy local cuisine, arts and crafts, cooking demonstrations, kids’ activities, walking tours, live music, a road race, and the annual “Oyster ShuckOff” competition, all in the downtown area. wellfleetoysterfest.org

OCT. 22: ESSEX, 34th Essex Clamfest. Stop by Memorial Park to sample offerings from at least 10 area restaurants, all competing for your top vote in the clam-chowder competition. Plus kids’ games, arts-andcrafts vendors, a raffle, and more. 978283-1601; capeannvacations.com

New Hampshire

AUG. 29–OCT. 24: WOLFEBORO, “Infamy: December 7, 1941.” Commemorating the 75th anni v ersary of the surprise attack at Pearl Harbor, the Wright Museum of World War II hosts an exhibit of 66 powerful photos, witnesses to both the horror and the courageous response to that devastating event. wrightmuseum.org

September 20

‘Defying the Nazis’

Don’t miss Ken Burns’s latest film, Defying the Nazis: The Sharps’ War, débuting on PBS stations on Sept. 20. Through letters, journals, and interviews with survivors, historians, and Holocaust scholars, this riveting 90-minute documentary tells the story of a Wellesley, Massachusetts, couple—Unitarian Universalist minister Waitstill Sharp and his wife, Martha—who spent nearly two years in Nazi-occupied Europe, secretly rescuing dozens of Jews, refugees, and dissidents. Watch a preview on the accompanying website. defyingthenazis.org

SEPT. 2–5: CONTOOCOOK, Hopkinton State Fair. An annual tradition for more than a century, this classic event brings livestock competitions, axe throwing, a petting zoo, midway rides, a Bobcat skid steer rodeo, live performances, a demolition derby, and more to the local fairgrounds. 603-746-4191; hsfair.org

SEPT. 4–7: FRANCESTOWN, 99th Labor Day Festival. Nearly 100 years on, this down- town celebration has retained its classic charm, with a parade (this year’s theme: “Great Moments in History”) and contra dance, a band concert, a juried arts-andcrafts fair, a road race, a book sale, great food, and more. Among this year’s juried artisans is marquetry (wood inlay) specialist Craig Altobello of Peterborough. 603-547-3600; francestownhistory.info

SEPT. 9–11: HAMPTON BEACH, 27th Seafood Festival. Live music accompanies the sampling of seafood delicacies prepared by some 60 area restaurants, plus chef demonstrations, contests, arts-andcrafts vendors, a lobster-roll eating competition, sidewalk sales, fireworks, and more. hamptonbeachseafoodfestival.com

SEPT. 16–18: LINCOLN, New Hampshire Highland Games. Loon Mountain hosts more than 30 pipe bands and competitions in dance, fiddle and harp, plus athletic events, whiskey tastings, a living-history area, seminars, sheepdog trials, and more. 800-358-7268; nhscot.org

SEPT. 16–25: ROCHESTER, Rochester Fair. From the demolition derby to the livestock shows and everything in between, this classic event serves up old-fashioned family fun. Plus midway rides, tractor pulls, food vendors, and lots more. 603332-6585; rochesterfair.com