Brimfield, MA —
Why Brimfield?

Located in Central Massachusetts, just off the Massachusetts Turnpike Sturbridge exit, Brimfield is best known for the internationally famous Brimfield Antique Show, (which runs three times a year). It’s a phenomenon encompassing over a mile of fields and over 5000 vendors. From all over the world, collectors, designers, architects, and curiosity seekers descend upon this sleepy town, knowing that if they are looking for something they will surely find it. The reputation is much deserved, but Brimfield is so much more than this.

Why Brimfield? Convenience and of course, location, location, location
35 years ago, when we were looking to move from Boston to the country, we drew an hour’s radius circle around Boston (our core business was in Boston, so we needed to maintain an easy commute) and began our search. Two other locators came into play: we had a summer cottage in the Berkshires and family at Yale in New Haven. The Sturbridge/Brimfield location was a no-brainer: an hour from Boston, an hour and a half from the cottage and Yale. It turned out to be a wiser decision than we ever could have imagined. While Boston remained the focus of our work, as our business evolved other locations demanded our time. We built a mall at the entrance to Cape Cod; the highway access made even this an easy trip. Then there were our kids. They grew up and went to college, and because of our location it was an easy visit, for us and for them. One went to Harvard (an hour), one to Yale (an hour and a half) and one went to Pomona in California. Not so easy, you say, for the Pomona daughter? We are within an hour of four international airports (Boston, Hartford, Providence, Worcester). While we didn’t check Worcester for California (though it’s a great option for the Bahamas- which makes it international in our view, though perhaps better characterized as regional), we rotated among the other three, depending on timing and price.

"Salem Cross Inn, famous for its Drover’s roast, a prime rib roasted over a huge fire pit."

The Brimfield Antique Show
You can get almost anything at the Brimfield Antique Show (and it’s not all antiques), but our particular passion is landscape and garden architecture. We have over 60 acres of land, so we can absorb a lot, and we have: ornamental iron, statuary, columns, fountains, planters, birdbaths, urns, garden ornaments. Max is our very favorite vendor: on your right going west on Route 20. You can’t miss him. We have accumulated other things from the show – marble side tables, antique furniture, outdoor iron and cast iron patio tables, rugs, dishes and lamps. Every year we go at least once, not necessarily to buy, but to indulge our senses. We also go for the fried dough, ice cream, pilgrim sandwiches, and lobster rolls. One tip: Avoid going first thing in the morning at opening time and you will cut down dramatically your wait time in traffic.

For the Foodie: Brimfield is a gourmet restaurant hub.
Our property is right on the Sturbridge line, so our haunts tend to be in Sturbridge, and
it seems that every year a new restaurant is opening (and filled!). This year there were three. You can find just about anything: seafood, tapas, small plates, Chinese hot pot, Thai, traditional American, steak, Italian, barbeque, sushi. We have two favorites: BT’s Smokehouse (voted one of the top 10 barbecue joints in New England by the Boston Globe) and Sturbridge Seafood (an award winning restaurant with it’s own spin on recipes and the best shrimp paella we have ever had). Which is not to say we don’t also enjoy dining at the historic Publick House, a gathering, lodging and dining place for travelers since 1771, or at the nearby and equally historic, Salem Cross Inn, famous for its Drover’s roast, a prime rib roasted over a huge fire pit.

For the Beer and Wine enthusiast: Tree House Brewery, Yankee Spirits, and more.
Yankee Spirits, in Sturbridge, has long been a draw for people seeking great selection and discount prices on liquors, wines and beers. With over 7,000 wines, 3,500 spirits and 2,600 beers to choose from, it is a destination in itself. But with the rise in popularity of craft beer, the area has increasingly become a draw for the beer enthusiast. Tree House Brewery, originally in Monson (with its initial founding in Brimfield!) just opened a state-of-the-art, expanded facility and taproom in neighboring Charlton. Four of their beers rate in the Beer Advocate’s top 10, eight in the top 20. Even closer to home, there are three (and counting) breweries just in Sturbridge. Our favorite is Rapscallion Brewery. The beer is great, but so is the disc golf, live music, seasonal events and food trucks.

For the History buff: Old Sturbridge Village
Nearly every school child in New England has likely taken a field trip to Old Sturbridge Village, a living history museum (recently expanded to include a Charter School for K-8) that recreates a rural New England village of the 1830s. Visit the water-powered sawmill and gristmill and stop by Asa Knight’s general store. See costumed interpreters make pottery bowls, spin wool into yarn, and perform early 19th century farm chores. Participate in the spring sheep shearing. Take a class in historical crafts. And be sure to check out their seasonal weekly specials. Coming up: Redcoats and Rebels weekend transforms the Village into a military camp reenactment during the War for Independence. It’s fun. It’s engaging. It’s educational.

And for Everyone else: Something for Everyone.
Let’s not forget the farmers markets, concerts on the common, water skiing exhibitions, apple and pumpkin picking, harvest festivals, annual scarecrow contest, hayrides, and much more. Truly there is something for everyone.

Special Features

Favorite Places and Things to Do
For the Outdoor Enthusiast: We have hiking, biking, horse trails, water trails, parks, and lakes.
There are myriad trails and outdoor recreational spaces all over Brimfield and the surrounding towns. Sturbridge even went so far as to publish a full color guide to trails, with detailed descriptions of over 26 trails in the Sturbridge area alone. While our kids, with their quest for adventure, have sampled a variety of locations, we tend to stick closer to home. Just down the road is a trailhead to the Grand Trunk trail, a bike and stroller friendly rail trail. Across the street, through some other property of ours, we carry our kayaks and hook into the 6 mile Quinebaug River water trail between East Brimfield Lake and Lake Siog in Holland.

"See costumed interpreters make pottery bowls, spin wool into yarn, and perform early 19th century farm chores"

Featured Listings

5 Juniper Lane, Medfield, MA

$1,395,000

Exceptional indoor-outdoor living awaits at 5 Juniper Lane in Medfield. The beautifully renovated chef's kitchen features custom Crown Point cabinetry, granite countertops, a paneled Sub-Zero refrigerator, Thermador induction cooktop and double wall steam ovens. The primary bath features a spa-like shower. A dedicated office, bonus loft and finished lower level provide flexible space for work, recreation and everyday living, while a wine cellar offers storage for hundreds of bottles. The spacious family room is open to the kitchen, with a cathedral ceiling, sunny southern exposure, a wall of windows and skylights with solar-powered shades. Outside, enjoy a heated saltwater pool, hot tub, outdoor kitchen, large Ipe deck, pergola, fire-pit, pool gazebo, outdoor shower and bathroom. Irrigated lawns and perennial gardens complete the setting. Updates include roof (2020), driveway (2019), exterior paint (2022). A home designed for entertaining, relaxing and making the most of every season.

Author

The Walsh Team The Walsh Team