Brooklyn Fair, Mike’s Stand and East Coast Greenway showcase northeastern Connecticut
Agriculture, family-run food and outdoor recreation tell the story of a corner of Connecticut where summer traditions continue to evolve
The Brooklyn Fair, founded in 1809 and held annually the weekend before Labor Day, bills itself as the nation’s oldest agricultural fair. More than 100,000 people attend its four-day run for livestock competitions, tractor and draft horse pulls, carnival rides and live music.
For fair leader Sandy Eggers, the history is personal. She began showing chickens there around age 9 and has overseen the fair for nearly two decades.
“We’re very proud of our history, we’re very proud of our roots,” Eggers said. But she says the fair also has to reflect modern agriculture, from turf farms to Connecticut-grown hops.
About 15 miles north in Putnam, Mike’s Stand has marked summer since 1937, serving burgers, hot dogs, seafood and ice cream. Cousins Geno and Evan Deary now represent the fourth generation of their family to run the seasonal business.
Nearby trails show another side of the region’s evolution. In Moosup, a new connection along the Moosup Valley State Park Trail helps advance the East Coast Greenway – a planned 3,000-mile biking and walking route from Maine to Florida.
The greenway links existing trails and protected paths with the goal of creating a continuous route through cities, small towns and rural landscapes along the Eastern Seaboard.