Local

11 festivals, fairs and fun things to do in New Hampshire this weekend and beyond

From calling moose and eating poutine to hunting for UFOs, late summer in New Hampshire is packed with festivals, fairs, food and plenty of wonderfully weird things to do.

UFO Festival Pet Costume. Courtesy of the Exeter UFO Festival

From calling moose and eating poutine to hunting for UFOs, late summer in New Hampshire is packed with festivals, fairs, food and plenty of wonderfully weird things to do.

🫎 36th Annual North Country Moose Festival
Colebrook, Aug. 28-29
A free festival with a moose-calling contest, parade, live music, craft vendors, a dog show, and more.
More info

🪕 Moore Dam Bluegrass Festival
Concord, Vermont, Aug. 28-30
A weekend of bluegrass, dancing, jam sessions, food, craft vendors, and camping.
More info

🚚 5th Annual Seacoast Food Truck Festival
Kittery, Maine, Aug. 29-30 
Food trucks, live music, drinks, and a free kids zone. $5 admission; ages 14 and under free.
More info

🇺🇸 America’s 250th Gala: Food and Drink that Shaped the Nation
Portsmouth, Aug. 29
A special food-and-drink event celebrating America’s 250th.
More info

🍟 New Hampshire PoutineFest
Merrimack, Aug. 29
A festival dedicated to poutine, with plenty of fries, cheese curds, and gravy.
More info

🎨 73rd Annual Greeley Park Art Show
Nashua, Aug. 29 
More than 50 artists, plus live music, demonstrations, raffles, and kids activities.
More info

🎶 Family Music Festival
Concord, Aug. 29 
Instrument demos, jams, music activities, live entertainment, food trucks, and family activities.
More info

🐕 The K9 Carnival
Hillsborough, Aug. 30 
Dog demonstrations, food, raffles, and a chance to meet the Living on the Ledge Mondioring Club. Free.
More info

🎡 Lancaster Fair
Lancaster, Sept. 3-7
A Labor Day weekend fair with rides, food, entertainment, and agricultural events.
More info

🎠 Hopkinton State Fair
Contoocook, Sept. 3-7
A Labor Day weekend tradition with rides, food, entertainment, and agricultural events.
More info

👽 Exeter UFO Festival
Exeter, Sept. 3-7
A Labor Day weekend celebration of UFO history and the unexplained.
More info

✂️ Manchester Scrapbook Convention
Manchester, Sept. 11-12 
Scrapbook supplies, classes, and exhibitor demonstrations.
More info

Keep Granite Post free for everyone

If you found this story useful, would you consider supporting Granite Post?

Every day, our team works to provide New Hampshirites with free, fact-based reporting about the issues, policies, and decisions shaping life across the state. We believe everyone deserves access to trustworthy local news—not just those who can afford a subscription.

That's why you'll never hit a paywall here (though we may ask you to sign up for our newsletter). But keeping our journalism free depends on readers who believe informed communities are worth investing in.

If our reporting has helped you better understand what's happening in New Hampshire, please consider making a donation today. Every contribution helps us continue reporting, informing, and serving communities across the state.

Colin Booth
Colin Booth Chief Political Correspondent
Support our team

Categories: ,

Authors

  • Katy Savage is the Granite Post’s newsletter editor. Katy is an award-winning reporter with more than 10 years of experience working in daily, weekly, and digital news organizations as both an editor and reporter. Katy is a New England native and has a passion for telling stories about where she grew up.

    Have a story tip? Reach Katy at katysavage@couriernewsroom.com. For local reporting in New Hampshire that connects the dots, from policy to people, sign up for Katy’s newsletter.