Where can you find the best blend of community and culture in New Hampshire? At its festivals and fairs, of course! Bring the family and discover the best of New Hampshire together.
Lancaster Fair
One of New Hampshire’s oldest events, the Lancaster Fair, has been a Great North Woods tradition for over 140 years. Families with kids in 4-H can come see their hard work on display, while all youngsters are welcome to participate in the fair’s many events: the Guitar Hero contest, Little Miss Lancaster, the coloring contest and the pedal tractor competition. Kids will also love participating in the daily scavenger hunt, the free train rides, the children’s performers and the carnival rides.
Location: 516 Main St., Lancaster, NH 03584
Rates: $10-12 for adults and children 12 or older; $5 children ages 5-11; childen ages four and under are free
Website: lancasterfair.com
New Hampshire Music Festival
A salute to classical music in the heart of “The Granite State,” the New Hampshire Music Festival is a summer-long concert series. Chamber music takes center stage every Tuesday in July and August, while Thursdays and Fridays celebrate the best of classical music. And, on alternating Saturdays, the festival offers pop concerts! Families with older children who play instruments may want to come early to attend the event’s free, pre-concert lecture series.
Location: 17 High St., Plymouth, NH 03264
Rates: Varies by performance
Website: nhmf.org
Warner Fall Foliage Festival
Since 1947, Warner has been celebrating Autumn and the vibrant colors of the surrounding trees changing leaves at the Warner Fall Foliage Festival. Enjoy the pomp and circumstance of the Grand Parade, then peruse the goods on sale at the Country Bazaar, the Crafts Market and the Farmer’s Market. There’s also a Woodsman competition, an Oxen competition and numerous performances staged for your entertainment.
Location: Warner, NH
Rates: $5 parking fee; admission to the festival is free
Website: wfff.org
New Hampshire Highland Scottish Games and Festival
One of the largest festivals of its kind in the country, the New Hampshire Scottish Games and Festival gathers members from over 60 clans for three-days of food, music, dance and competition. Enjoy the rivalry as competitors from across the country challenge each other to find the best of the best in Highland dance, piping and drumming, fiddle, harp and Scottish heavy athletics. Children ages five and older will enjoy the festival’s youth program, featuring games, art projects and performances designed to introduce them to Scottish culture.
Location: Loon Mountain Road, Lincoln, NH 03251
Rates: Varies based on participation
Website: nhscot.org
Hampton Beach Seafood Festival
Pack up the family and come hungry to the Hampton Beach Seafood Festival! Over 50 restaurants are on hand to cook up some of their best seafood cuisine (and some non-seafood dishes, too) to give guests a true taste of the best flavors in New England. Once your stuffed, kick back and relax as you watch live entertainment on two stages, or walk off a few calories while shopping for crafts. Other events at the festival include a lobster roll eating contest, culinary demonstrations, a skydiving demonstration, fireworks and a kids entertainment area.
Location: Hampton, New Hampshire
Rates: $5 for adults and children over 12; children under age 12 are free
Website: hamptonbeachseafoodfestival.com
White Mountain Boogie n’ Blues Festival
Some call it a “Woodstock for families” and for good reason — part of the fun at the White Mountain Boogie n’ Blues Festival is pitching your tent and camping out for the entire three-day event. Aside from the constant stream of concerts performed by the best blues artists in the country, the festival also features some of the best crafts and food in New Hampshire. There’s also plenty of activities to keep the kids busy, including a rock climbing wall and a fireworks show.
Location: NH Route 175, North Thornton, NH 03285
Rates: Varies by event and seating selection from $25-85; children under age 12 are free when accompanied by a parent. Camping sites require additional fees.
Website: whitemountainboogie.com
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