About the Sterling Fair
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The Sterling Fair is a three day family oriented, community, agricultural fair with an emphasis on agriculture and education.
Admission and parking at the Sterling Fair is FREE. However, the fair relies on the sale of buttons, T-shirts, and ads to keep it free. Support your fair with a purchase or donation! We like to keep admission and parking free so you can enjoy spending the day with your family having fun at the fair.
The fair is run completely by volunteers, and with an annual attendance of around 40,000 people, it takes a lot of work to keep the fair going. These volunteers include 20 members of the Sterling Fair committee and over 50 additional people who help setup, run, and clean up after the fair.
We are always looking for volunteers to help us with the many aspects of the fair. If you or your organization are interested in helping, please contact us.
The Story Behind the 2025 Sterling Fair Train Theme
This year’s fair theme honors an important part of Sterling’s history—Locomotive 202. Before the age of automobiles, trains were a lifeline for the town, fueling growth and sustaining daily life.
Locomotive 202 ran from Pratts Junction in Sterling (now Pratts Junction Road) to Sterling Junction, and from there on to destinations such as Fitchburg, Boston, and Providence. The train carried a wide range of goods that shaped our community, including cider, lumber, furniture, apples, grain, and farm products. It also transported livestock—pigs, cows, and even ducks.
Train enthusiasts like Bill Dalmaine remind us how vital the railroad was during those years, keeping Sterling connected to the wider region. To celebrate that legacy, Locomotive 202 is featured on this year’s buttons and T-shirts, while our posters highlight original artwork created by Exhibit Hall Chair Heather Rockwell.
The history of Locomotive 202—and of Sterling itself—remains a proud part of our fair tradition.
Thank you for joining us and for helping keep the Sterling Fair possible!
Become a Sponsor
Your donations make the Fair possible.
We have several opportunities for sponsoring our Fair, including a paper publication, online advertising, or booth and event sponsors.
Contact Us
Want to be a Vendor? Would you like to Volunteer? Do you have questions about being an Exhibitor? Feedback? We would love to hear from you!
Committee Information
The Sterling Fair is run by the Fair Committee in the Town of Sterling. We are all volunteer run and are always looking to add new members.
History of the Fair
In 2016, the Sterling Fair continued to be the largest free fair of its size in new England attracting between 30,000 and 40,000 fair-goers.