Fall has officially entered the chat. This weekend, New Hampshire is leaning hard into the season with chili, pie, pumpkins, Oktoberfest celebrations and plenty of fall festivals. You can wander through a midnight market in Bethlehem, catch peak foliage in the North Country, color the sidewalks of downtown Nashua or bottle your own wine in Brookline. Here are 14 things to do around the state Sept. 25-27.
🌙 Life Forest Midnight Market at The Bower
Bethlehem, Sept. 25-26
Take a guided moonlit walk on a newly certified forest therapy trail, shop a pop-up market of local artists and makers, and gather for live music and stories around the campfire. Free; advance shuttle reservations required.
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🍺 Oktoberfest: Eastern Sound Polka Band
Portsmouth, Sept. 25
Celebrate Oktoberfest with German-inspired food, seasonal brews, cocktails, and live music from the Eastern Sound Polka Band at Jimmy’s Jazz & Blues Club.
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🚗 14th Annual Ralley in the Valley Car Show
Waterville Valley, Sept. 26
An all-vehicle show with trophies, raffles, food, music, shopping, fall foliage, and live entertainment.
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🍂 Settlers Green Fall Festival
North Conway, Sept. 26
Celebrate fall in the White Mountains with family-friendly activities on The Green.
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🍁 FallFest at the Great North Woods Center for the Arts
Columbia, Sept. 26
Shop handmade crafts and homegrown goods, enjoy seasonal food, explore the sculpture walk, and soak up peak fall foliage.
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🌕 Harvest Moon Festival
Warner, Sept. 26
Celebrate the harvest with corn husk doll making, sweetgrass braiding, beading, traditional games, storytelling, Native foods, and more at the Mt. Kearsarge Indian Museum.
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🥧 Pie Fest
Littleton, Sept. 26
Dig into homemade pies during Littleton’s fall festivities, with an art show, food trucks, and a library book sale nearby.
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🌶️ 27th Annual Chili Challenge
Waterville Valley, Sept. 26
Sample chili from Waterville Valley restaurants and vote for your favorite, plus enjoy live music, lawn games, and the Ralley in the Valley Car Show.
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🎨 Coloring Main Street
Nashua, Sept. 26
Downtown Nashua’s sidewalks become giant coloring book canvases designed by local artists for people of all ages to fill with color.
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🎶 Fourth Annual Live Free Fest
New Boston, Sept. 26
A day of New Hampshire music, art, food, skating, games, and local vendors, with eight live performances and a mini half-pipe.
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🎨 Henniker Handmade & Homegrown
Henniker, Sept. 27
Shop from 90 local artists, farms, and food makers, plus enjoy live music, food trucks, farm animals, face painting, and a kids’ zone.
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🌎 New England BIPOC Festival
Portsmouth, Sept. 27
A multicultural food and community festival at Strawbery Banke Museum featuring restaurants, chefs, artists, musicians, cultural performances, small businesses, and community organizations.
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🍷 Tour, Taste and Bottle Wine With the Winemaker
Brookline, Sept. 27
Tour Averill House Vineyard, taste four wines, enjoy a charcuterie board, and bottle a wine to take home.
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🎃 Cozy Knit Pumpkin Trio Workshop
Bedford, Sept. 27
Make three chunky knit pumpkins by hand—no knitting tools required. BYO wine or beer. Recommended for ages 12+.
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