Fall fairs and festivals to look out for

Colton Emerson, 6, of Tilton looks for the pumpkin he helped carve at school during the New Hampshire Pumpkin Festival in Laconia on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017. (ELIZABETH FRANTZ / Monitor staff)

Colton Emerson, 6, of Tilton looks for the pumpkin he helped carve at school during the New Hampshire Pumpkin Festival in Laconia on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017. (ELIZABETH FRANTZ / Monitor staff) ELIZABETH FRANTZ

Some of the carved pumpkins that students created at the Pleasant Street School in Laconia in preparation of this weekend's Pumpkin Festival.

Some of the carved pumpkins that students created at the Pleasant Street School in Laconia in preparation of this weekend's Pumpkin Festival. Concord Monitor

Isla Garcia, 9, searches for the Italian flag at the 2023 Multicultural Festival on Sunday, Sept. 23, 2023. Her mother was born and raised in Italy.

Isla Garcia, 9, searches for the Italian flag at the 2023 Multicultural Festival on Sunday, Sept. 23, 2023. Her mother was born and raised in Italy.

Mary-Ann Juma of ZambaViva from Boston dances at the 2023 Multicultural Festival at Keach Park on Sunday, September 23, 2023.

Mary-Ann Juma of ZambaViva from Boston dances at the 2023 Multicultural Festival at Keach Park on Sunday, September 23, 2023.

Published: 09-10-2024 11:57 AM

Don’t miss these festive fall events. Here’s a list of fairs, festivals and activities to check out from now until spooky season.

NH Highland Games & Festival

Get your Scot on at Loon Mountain Resort Friday, Sept. 20 to Sunday, Sept. 22 for a celebration of Scottish Heritage right at the beginning of the fall foliage season. The weekend festival is packed with things to do, from music, dance, pageantry, and Scottish culture to heavy athletics, hands-on activities, and spirited competition.

Weekend passes (adult, child and toddler rates) and single-day admission tickets are available for the annual New Hampshire Highland Games & Festival. Access to the grounds is 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily with additional ticketed evening events in various locations in the Lincoln-Woodstock area. For more information, visit nhscot.org.

Harvest Moon Festival

Enjoy a family day of Native foods, craft demonstrations, and educational exhibits at Mt. Kearsarge Indian Museum’s Harvest Moon Festival on Sunday, Sept. 29 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Food for sale, prepared using Native American recipes, includes bison stew, chicken wild rice stew, several varieties of cornbread, and Native sweets. For more information visit indianmuseum.org.

Multicultural Fest

Every September, local community members gather to celebrate the beauty of diversity in the Capital Region through food, performances, art, activities and a parade of flags. Organized by a dedicated group of individuals, businesses and organizations, the goal of Concord Multicultural Fest is to foster an appreciation for diversity by providing engaging opportunities to share and learn about the many different cultures of the Capital Region.

This year’s festival will be held at Keach Park (Concord Heights) on Sunday, Sept. 22, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. See concordnhmulticulturalfestival.org for more information.

Deerfield Fair

Take in a weekend of live music, 4-H demonstrations, festive fair foods, roving performers and New Hampshire fall fun at the Deerfield Fair (34 Stage Road, Deerfield) from Thursday, Sept. 26 to Sunday, Sept. 29. Tickets are $12 for adults, free for kids 12 and younger. Senior days (Thursday and Friday, purchased at the gate, 65 and older) are $9. All military (active, reserves, veterans) are free with identification. Hours are 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday. For more information, visit deerfieldfair.com.

MONIFF Film Festival

Bringing films and community together, the 12th annual Monadnock International Film Festival (MONIFF) showcases high-quality, independent cinema every year in the beautiful Monadnock Region. This year’s event will take place on Friday, Oct. 4 through Sunday, Oct. 6. MONIFF features award-winning films on the festival circuit, domestic and foreign, along with premieres of regionally produced films by New Hampshire and New England filmmakers.

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Get updates on the film schedule and purchase passes at moniff.org.

Warner Fall Foliage Festival

Kick off your leaf-peeping season with a trip to the 77th Warner Fall Foliage Festival on Friday, Oct. 11 through Sunday, Oct. 13. Visitors and residents alike are invited to this annual event to join in the fun with a 5K road race, midway and rides, live entertainment, parades, food and craft vendors and more. For updates, follow along at wfff.org.

Keene Pumpkin Festival

Surround yourself with plenty of pumpkins, delicious food, and captivating entertainment at the annual Keene Pumpkin Festival on Saturday, Oct. 12 at 2 p.m. This family-friendly event is great for all, whether you’re a pumpkin enthusiast or a fan of fall in New England. Visit pumpkinfestival.org or Keene Pumpkin Fest on Facebook for more details.

New Hampshire Pumpkin Festival

Get into the spooky spirit with two days of fun and festivities in downtown Laconia for New Hampshire Pumpkin Festival, with activities beginning on Oct. 22 through Halloween. Enjoy pumpkin displays, a 10k and 5k run/walk, craft and artisan show, a pie eating contest and more. Visit nhpumpkinfestival.com for more information.

Halloween Howl

Get your costumes ready for downtown Concord’s spookiest night out. Intown Concord’s Halloween Howl returns to Main St. on Friday, Oct. 25 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Join in for community trick-or-treating, festive costumes and decor, and plenty of ghoulish games and activities for the whole family to enjoy. The event begins at 5:30 p.m.

First Friday Art Walk

Intown Concord’s First Friday Art Walk, a vibrant celebration of creativity and community, takes place on Friday, Nov. 1, from 4 to 8 p.m. Greater Concord will come alive with art galleries, local businesses, theatres, and restaurants partnering with talented artists, art organizations, and nonprofits

. A comprehensive Art Walk map of all participating locations will be emailed in advance to each participating location to print and display, ensuring visitors can easily navigate and enjoy the event.