Here’s some news to know this morning:

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

🫐 Reader photo: A berry good day in Lee! Reader Nancy Halloran hit the wild blueberry jackpot in Lee Town Forest. Send us your photo! 

📰 What we’re reading, including: A new program is getting NH students into therapy sooner. Here’s how

🍺 Oktoberfest season: Top 2026 Oktoberfest celebrations in New Hampshire

📢 Question of the week: Where were you when the towers were struck on Sept. 11, 2001? Tell us! 

🗓 Top events: Fill your calendar with these upcoming New Hampshire events

(Courtesy of Nancy Halloran)

📸 Reader photo: Shoutout to Nancy Halloran, who submitted this photo of her picking wild highbush blueberries in Lee Town Forest.

Have a New Hampshire photo you’d like to share? Send us your snapshots from hikes, backyard adventures, local events, wildlife encounters, or everyday life in the Granite State. Your photo could be featured in an upcoming newsletter.

🫐 Fun fact: Wild highbush blueberries are native to New Hampshire and can be found growing in forests, wetlands, and along woodland edges.

➡️ Related: These are America’s favorite pies

👶 Use of New Hampshire’s childcare scholarship program is surging …

An average of 4,979 children used the state’s childcare scholarship program during the last fiscal year, up from 3,984 the year before. Usage has jumped 75% since 2024 as eligibility expanded, while state spending on the program has more than doubled. New Hampshire Bulletin

🧠 Free online counseling is connecting students with therapists faster …

Students in Claremont, Newport, Lebanon, Kearsarge, and Hopkinton are entering the second year of a three-year pilot offering online behavioral health counseling. Nearly 110 students attended 870 sessions during the first year, and counselors say one of the biggest benefits is cutting waits for therapy from months to as little as a week. New Hampshire Public Radio

🗳️ Trump administration tells NH to hold onto its 2024 ballots …

The US Department of Justice has instructed New Hampshire to preserve all 2024 ballots and related records just as the state’s usual 22-month retention period was ending, citing ongoing litigation but not identifying a specific case. Secretary of State David Scanlan said the federal government provided no “factual or legal basis” for the demand and stressed that the ballots remain confidential. New Hampshire Public Radio

Support local journalism today.

We’re so glad you’re here. Through Sept. 30, we’re raising funds to help the Granite Post keep bringing you the local stories that matter most to New Hampshire.

If you enjoy this newsletter and value the work we do, consider chipping in today. Any amount helps—and we’re grateful for every bit of support.

Thanks, as always, for reading and being part of the Granite Post community.

(Francesca Daly)

By Britteny Dee

🍺 Sept. 26 — Littleton: Schilling Beer Co. — Sample beer from about 50 breweries, plus Oktoberfest-inspired food, wood-fired pizza, and live music.

🥨 Sept. 26 — Greenfield: Oak Park — Dig into a German-style meal with local beer and wine, plus live music.

🍻 Sept. 26 — Intervale: Ledge Brewing Company — Beer, live music, a beer mile, keg toss, and stein hoist.

🎶 Oct. 3 — Londonderry: 603 Brewery & Beer Hall — A family- and dog-friendly fall festival with live music, DJs, local food, and plenty of Oktoberfest vibes.

🍺 Oct. 4 — Milford: Mile Away — German beer and food, live polka music, cider pressing, and activities for kids and adults.

🏔️ Oct. 10-12 — Lincoln: Loon Mountain Resort — Three days of Oktoberfest fun with Oompah music, stein hoisting, games, axe throwing, and chainsaw carving.

🥨 Oct. 10 — Bartlett: Attitash Mountain Resort — German food, live music, traditional competitions, a beer garden, and activities for kids.

For those who lived through Sept. 11, 2001, certain details of that day can feel impossible to forget, like where you were, who you were with, how you heard the news, and what happened in the hours that followed.

As we mark 25 years since the attacks, we want to hear your memories. So this week’s question is …

Where were you when the towers were struck on Sept. 11, 2001?

Here’s what you’re saying:

“On 9/11 I was on a plane heading to Las Vegas. The pilot said we would have to land in Denver and as I got off the plane and I asked one of the pilots why we were stopping he said, ‘There was an explosion in New York.’ I kept walking and thought, ‘Well that doesn’t make sense.’ I ended up spending a week in Denver, which wasn’t too bad because I have a son who lives there and was able to see him. I never made it to the trade show in Las Vegas that I was headed to.” — Jim Forrest

(Google My Maps)

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 51st Annual NH Highland Games & Festival
Lincoln, Sept. 18-20
Three days of Scottish traditions at Loon Mountain, including the caber toss, sheepdog trials, Celtic music, Clan Village, and Scottish food.
More info

🧗 Mount Washington Valley Rock Fest
Intervale, Sept. 18-20
A three-day climbing festival with beginner-to-expert clinics, guided climbs, a bouldering competition, live music, and presentations.
More info

🎨 18th Annual Hampton Falls Craft Festival
Hampton Falls, Sept. 19-20
Browse more than 75 booths of juried arts, crafts, specialty foods, and handmade goods on the Hampton Falls Town Common. Free admission.
More info

🍂 Harvest Festival
Waterville Valley, Sept. 19
Celebrate the start of foliage season with local food, crafts, and freshly farmed goods in Town Square. Free admission.
More info

🌳 Fall Tree ID
Laconia, Sept. 19
Take a walk through the woods at Prescott Farm to identify trees and shrubs, and learn the science behind fall foliage.
More info

🔮 5th Annual New Hampshire Pagans Faire
Belmont, Sept. 19
A weekend gathering of Pagan artists, makers, herbalists, readers, and performers, with workshops, live music, and plenty of witchy treasures.
More info

🦸 Granite State Comicon
Manchester, Sept. 19
New Hampshire’s comic book and pop culture convention returns with celebrity guests, artists, vendors, cosplay, tabletop gaming, and a kids con.
More info

🍻 Manchester Brewfest
Manchester, Sept. 19
Head to Arms Park for Manchester’s annual beer festival.
More info

🧀 LEBfest 2026
Lebanon, Sept. 19 
A free community celebration at Colburn Park with live music, animals, games, family activities, vendors, and the annual mac and cheese competition.
More info

🍺 Lagerfest
Franklin, Sept. 19 
New England breweries pour nothing but lagers alongside live music, Oktoberfest-inspired food and a giant game of rock, paper, scissors.
More info

🍺 11th Annual Claremont Brewfest
Claremont, Sept. 19
The annual beer festival returns to the Visitor’s Center Green in downtown Claremont.
More info

👑 Icons of Pop: Queens Reign Forever
Keene, Sept. 19
Keene Pride’s final drag tribute spectacular celebrates pop icons from Madonna and Taylor Swift to Chappell Roan and Sabrina Carpenter.
More info

🔬 24th Annual BioBlitz
Rye, Sept. 20
Explore Odiorne Point State Park with scientists and naturalists in an all-ages search for as many species as possible, from tide pools and mushrooms to mammals and salt marshes.
More info

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

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