Before you get on with your day, here’s the news:

Here’s what’s inside today’s newsletter:

📸 Reader photo: Great blue heron, cleared for takeoff. Send us your photo! 

📰 What we’re reading, including: How NH teachers are pushing back against AI

🍂 Fall fun: 14 New Hampshire festivals worth the drive

📢 Question of the week: If you could make one change to New Hampshire’s property tax system, what would it be? Share your take! 

🗓 Top events: See what’s happening around New Hampshire.

(Courtesy of Nancy Halloran)

📸 Shoutout to Nancy Halloran for capturing this incredible shot of a great blue heron taking flight at Webster Lake in Franklin.

🪶 Fun fact: Great blue herons can have wingspans of more than 6 feet, making them one of the largest birds you’ll spot in New Hampshire.

📷 Share your photo: Got a New Hampshire photo you love? Send it our way for a chance to be featured in an upcoming newsletter.

🔗 Related: Your guide to great blue herons

Support local journalism today.

Granite Post is here to bring you the local stories that matter most to New Hampshire, from decisions made at the State House to the issues shaping communities across the state.

Through Sept. 30, we’re raising funds to keep that work going. If you value this newsletter and want to support independent local journalism, chip in today.

Every contribution helps us keep reporting the stories that too often go uncovered. Thanks for reading and for being part of the Granite Post community.

🦟 New Hampshire is having a less-active mosquito season …

No EEE has been detected in mosquitoes this year, while detections of West Nile and Jamestown Canyon viruses are below recent levels. State officials are still urging precautions because mid-September is often peak season for mosquito-borne illnesses. New Hampshire Bulletin

🤖 Teachers are pushing back on AI in the classroom …

Educators are changing how students complete assignments as schools grapple with the growing use of artificial intelligence. WMUR

🏛️ Democrats see potential path to flipping the New Hampshire House … 

Democrats need to gain 23 seats to take control of the 400-member House. A New Hampshire Bulletin analysis found some of the closest Republican-held seats from 2024 are in Manchester Ward 12, Goffstown, Londonderry, Sunapee, and Bedford. Democrats are also fielding candidates in more races this year, while 10 Republican incumbents were ousted in the September primaries. New Hampshire Bulletin

(Courtesy Brian Kelly/Unsplash)

By Stacy Milbouer

🌽 Harvest Weekend at Coppal House Farm
Lee, Sept. 26–27
Celebrate autumn on a working farm with horse-drawn wagon rides, a chipmunk-themed corn maze, food trucks, music, pumpkins, and plenty of farm animals.
More info

🦅 Beaver Brook Association’s Fall Festival
Hollis, Sept. 26, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Spend a fall day among Beaver Brook’s 35 miles of trails and gardens, with live falconry and wildlife demonstrations, puppet shows, scavenger hunts, field trips, food trucks, a cider press, a book talk, and an artisan market.
More info

🎨 Autumn Craft Festival on the Lake
Meredith, Oct. 3, 10 a.m.–6 p.m., Oct. 4, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
More than 70 juried artists, artisans, and specialty food producers will gather along Lake Winnipesaukee for a weekend of crafts, fall foliage, and lake views.
More info

🎃 Milford Pumpkin Festival
Milford, Oct. 9–11
This three-day celebration of all things pumpkin includes a pumpkin weigh-off, carving demonstrations, a pumpkin catapult, live music, a Haunted Trail, a 5K, food vendors, and the Friday-night lighting of the Town Hall Pumpkin.
More info

🎃 Laconia Pumpkin Festival
Laconia, Oct. 23–24
Downtown Laconia lights up with its giant tower of jack-o’-lanterns, costume parades, live music, and plenty of fall sweets and treats.
More info

New Hampshire has no sales or income tax but it has one of the highest property tax rates in the country.

So this week’s question is:

If you could make one change to New Hampshire’s property tax system, what would it be?

Here’s what you’re saying:

“No one really wants to pay taxes but reality is there will always be taxes. This state must address property tax rates The solution is to implement a state tax and spread the cost out equally. An income tax could be the solution. Legislation should be written that taxes raised CANNOT be put into the general fund. The funds must be for education. And, property taxes must be addressed equally to compensate the property owner. There are a lot of very smart people in this country who have the expertise to figure this out and New Hampshire needs to tap into them. The public also must embrace change or stop complaining about our property taxes.” — Judi Lover

(Google My Maps)

🌙 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.
More info

🍺 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. 
More info

🚗 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. 
More info

🍂 Settlers Green Fall Festival
North Conway, Sept. 26 
Celebrate fall in the White Mountains with family-friendly activities on The Green. 
More info

🍁 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. 
More info

🌕 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. 
More info

🥧 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. 
More info

🌶️ 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.
More info

🎨 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.
More info

🎶 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. 
More info

🎨 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. 
More info

🌎 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. 
More info

🍷 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.
More info

🎃 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+.
More info

Thanks for reading. This newsletter was written by Katy Savage with a story from Stacy Milbouer. It was edited by Crystal Niforos.

Granite Post is free for everyone. Your support makes our work possible.