New Hampshire's 5 Best Events
Laconia Motorcycle Week, Hampton Seafood Festival, Deerfield Fair
Here are five annual events that take place throughout the small state. Among them, you'll find the oldest craft fair in America and the New England's oldest family fair.
June: Laconia Motorcycle Week
For more than 80 years enthusiastic bikers have gathered in the tiny Lakes Region town of Laconia for a week-long tribute the sport of motorcycling. To say the area is taken over by bikers is an understatement; some local residents simply leave town for the week to avoid the incessant roaring of Harleys. But for those who love their bikes--and who love to people watch--this is quite an event. One of the country's oldest motorcycle rallies includes special bike tours throughout the state, plenty of vendors hawking all sorts of motorcycle gear, parties, live music, lots of food, tattoo contest, fireworks and more. June 14-22, 2008
August: League of NH Craftsmen's Fair
Dubbed the oldest craft fair in American, taking place for the past 131 years, the League of NH Craftmen's Fair features more than 200 artisan booths, artists' demonstrations, live music and performers, children's and adult's art workshops and much more at the Mount Sunapee Resort in Newbury, New Hampshire. The nine-day event recognizes the history of craft in New England--and for avid shoppers, it provides a wonderful opportunity to pick up unique home decor and gifts. August 4-12, 2007
September: Hampton Beach Seafood Festival
Sample fresh lobster, scallops, shrimp, clam chowder and other New England seafood specialties during the Hampton Beach Seafood Festival. Stuff yourself silly in the dozens of booths in the Food Court, plus listen to continuous live music, enjoy a number of top-notch children's performers, and watch chefs wield their knives in culinary demonstrations. A 5k road race and oceanside fireworks round out the three-day event. September 7-9, 2007
September: Deerfield Fair
New England's oldest family fair, dating back to 1876, brings horse shows, cattle pulls, animal demonstrations, scavenger hunts, "pig scramble" for kids, a demolition derby, and "Miss Deerfield Fair" pageant. Plus many 4-H and FFA participants show the livestock they've raised all year and compete for prizes. And of course there's plenty of country fair food: corn dogs, cotton candy and ice cream! September 27-30, 2007
October: Keene Pumpkin Festival
Every October, tens of thousands of residents and visitors descend upon Keene's town square with jack o'lanterns in hand, trying to set a world record for the largest number of carved, lit pumpkins in one place. The Keene festival made it into the Guinness Book of World Records in 2003, with 28,952 pumpkins; but in 2006 the small town was beaten out by Boston, Massachusetts, whose festival participants gathered more than 30,000! But there's much more for festival-goers to enjoy at the Keene Pumpkin Festival, including a pumpkin-seed spitting contest, pumpkin pie eating contest, children's costume parade, giant craft fair and fireworks. October 20, 2007
Click here for a complete listing of annual events throughout New Hampshire.
For fun, family-friendly activities in the state, visit NH Attractions for Kids.
Also read about more fabulous festivals around the world: Denver & Telluride, Colorado; Sydney, Australia; Paris, France; Athens, Greece.
