Summertime marks the start of festival season in New Hampshire, with events like the New Hampshire Bacon & Beer Festival and Laconia Motorcycle Week kicking things off in early June. In the months that follow, there are events for chocolate lovers, antique collectors, hot sauce connoisseurs, and history buffs, to name just a few.
Keep reading to learn more about some of the best summer festivals in New Hampshire.
1. New Hampshire Bacon & Beer Festival
At the New Hampshire Bacon & Beer Festival, you can enjoy your fill of bacon and beer and support a great cause at the same time. The festival, now in its 10th year, acts as a fundraiser for High Hopes Foundation of New Hampshire, an organization that provides life-enhancing assistance to chronically ill children.
More than 60 local brewers will offer unlimited drink samples, and more than 20 Manchester-area restaurants will serve bacon dishes. If that’s not enough bacon for you, other local restaurants and food trucks will also share samples that contain bacon and try to earn your vote in the People’s Choice contest.
General admission ticket prices start at $70.
Date: Jun. 6
Location: Arms Park, 10 Arms St., Manchester
2. Laconia Motorcycle Week
Fire up your engines and get ready for Laconia Motorcycle Week. The festival—the world’s oldest motorcycle rally—is entering its 103rd year in 2026. More than 300,000 bikers are expected to attend the festival, which features scenic rides, races, live music, and other activities.
Date: Jun. 13-21
Location: Weirs Beach Boardwalk, Laconia
3. Newport Nano Brewfest
Nothing screams summer like sipping craft beers and listening to live music under the sun. At the 12th annual Newport Nano Brewfest, you can do exactly that. Sample beers from New Hampshire’s best nano breweries and brewpubs while listening to live music and playing lawn games.
Date: Jun. 20
Location: Newport Town Common, Newport
4. Best of NH Party 2026
Every year, New Hampshire Magazine asks its readers and editors to name the state’s best food and drinks—and then throws a party to celebrate the winners. Best of NH Party 2026 will feature samples of this year’s winning food and drinks at a garden-party style event.
General admission tickets start at $65.
Date: Jun. 25
Location: Flag Hill Distillery and Winery, 297 N. River Rd., Lee
5. Market Days Festival
For three days every summer, hundreds of vendors take over Concord’s Main Street to sell their goods during Market Days Festival. This year’s street festival—the 52nd annual—will bring together more than 150 vendors selling clothes, food, jewelry, and other items.
The event will also feature live music by local and national entertainers on three stages.
Date: Jun. 25-27
Location: 29 S. Main St., Concord
6. Hillsboro Summer Festival
Hillsboro Summer Festival packs tons of fun into one weekend-long event. This year’s festival will include a parade, carnival rides, a 5K, live music, a beer tent, fireworks, and a skillet toss competition.
Date: Jul. 9-12
Location: 29 Preston St., Hillsborough
7. American Independence Festival
The American Independence Festival celebrates the anniversary of the arrival of the Declaration of Independence in New Hampshire.
At the 36th annual event, you can view the original Declaration brought to the Granite State in 1776 and listen to a live reading from it, explore historic trades and crafts, learn about life as a colonial soldier, play colonial games, and enjoy local brews in the beer garden.
Date: Jul. 11
Location: Downtown Exeter
8. Chocolate Fest & Live Music
If you have a sweet tooth, you won’t want to miss the 26th annual Chocolate Fest & Live Music. Vendors will take over Town Square to sell all sorts of chocolate treats. Attendees are encouraged to pack a picnic to complement their desserts and stick around for the free concert.
Date: Jul. 26
Location: Town Square, Waterville Valley
9. Suncook Valley Rotary Hot Air Balloon Rally
Hot air balloons are the star of the show at the Suncook Valley Rotary Hot Air Balloon Rally, but they aren’t the only reason to attend. In addition to balloon flights, the 44th annual event will include a slew of other activities, such as a sunrise yoga session, a meet and greet with the pilots, a 5K, multiple pancake breakfasts, a river raft race, and cow chip bingo.
Date: Jul. 31-Aug. 2
Location: Drake Field, Barnstead Rd., Pittsfield
10. New England Hot Sauce Fest
Can you handle the heat? Find out at the 5th annual New England Hot Sauce Fest. Sample spicy products from 30 Northeast hot sauce companies or enter the amateur hot wing and hot pepper eating contests. Food trucks will also be on site, and there will be plenty of beer to wash down all that fiery food.
There will also be bounce houses, face painting, and a magic show for kids.
General admission tickets cost $15.
Date: Aug. 1
Location: Strawbery Banke Museum, 14 Hancock St., Portsmouth
11. Annual Craftsmen’s Fair
The Annual Craftsmen’s Fair has been going strong for more than 90 years, drawing about 20,000 visitors to Newbury annually. The fair features juried work from hundreds of artisans, from woodworkers and jewelers to painters and photographers, with sales booths, demonstrations, and curated exhibitions.
Date: Aug. 1-9
Location: Mount Sunapee Resort, 1398 New Hampshire Rte. 103, Newbury
12. New Hampshire Antiques Show
If you’re looking for unique decor for your home or a memorable gift for a loved one, be sure to stop by the 69th annual New Hampshire Antiques Show. More than 60 professional antique dealers will be in attendance exhibiting everything from furniture and folk art to pottery and textiles.
Admission ranges from $10 to $15; however, those 30 years and younger get in free (bring your ID).
Date: Aug. 6-8
Location: DoubleTree by Hilton, 700 Elm St., Manchester
13. White Mountain Boogie N’ Blues Festival
White Mountain Boogie N’ Blues Festival—New Hampshire’s largest outdoor blues festival—returns for its 29th year in 2026. Held on a 72-acre pasture in the heart of the White Mountains region, the festival features performances by award-winning blues artists on a stage surrounded with beautiful New England scenery.
In addition to music, there will also be food and craft vendors, a climbing wall, fireworks, and several activities for children.
General admission tickets start at $160.
Date: Aug. 14-16
Location: 2010 New Hampshire Rte. 175, North Thornton
14. Gate City Brewfest
Gate City Brewfest brings together craft beer aficionados for a day of fun at the ballpark. Enjoy a wide selection of brews (last year’s event featured beers from more than 80 beverage companies) and ballpark bites while raising money for the Nashua Police Athletic League.
Despite being a beer festival, the event promises fun for the whole family, with live music, a home run derby, face painting and bounce houses for kids, an ironman competition, and food trucks.
General admission ticket prices start at $40.
Date: Aug. 22
Location: Holman Stadium, 67 Amherst St., Nashua
15. Moose Fest
End your summer on a high note at the 36th annual Moose Fest. The event is split between two states over two days, with the New Hampshire portion taking place in Colebrook on Aug. 28. Last year’s event featured a moose calling contest, food and craft vendors, live music, a parade, face painting, and helicopter rides.
The 2026 program hasn’t been released yet, but you can check the event page for updates.
Date: Aug. 28
Location: Main Street, downtown Colebrook
This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.
