The Granite State must really love their fairs and festivals! New Hampshire Magazine lists dozens of events for you to enjoy from now through the autumn months – far more than we could feature here! With so many events taking place, a few are sure to be a bit quirkier than the rest.
Let’s take a peak at the 5 most unique festivals coming up this summer and fall.
1. NH PoutineFest
Manchester Saturday, June 24, 2017
“Live free and eat poutine” at this festival that celebrates the traditional French-Canadian classic dish of french fries topped with cheese curds and gravy. Several restaurants will participate in the event and put forth their best concoction for judgment in the hopes of earning the coveted title of “Best Poutine Of The Fest,” and the privilege of raising the Ceinture de Championnat/Championship Belt.
VIP tickets are $40 and include early entry to the event and an official 2017 NH PoutineFest T-shirt. General Admission tickets are $30. Following the festival, all ticket holders are invited to head to The Fisher Cats Stadium for Franco-American Heritage Night. The Fisher Cats will be taking on the Binghamton Rumble Ponies followed by an Atlas Fireworks show!
2. 24th Annual Celebration of Lupines
Sugar Hill June 2017
When I saw the name I figured this event was a celebration of wolves and/or dogs, but it turns out lupines are lovely wildflowers. The Franconia Notch Chamber of Commerce website reads:
“The brilliant spikes of the lupine flower carpet local fields and pastures in a rolling sea of vibrant purples, pinks, blues and whites. The long-lasting blossoms attract equally dazzling butterflies and create a breathtaking floral display against the majestic backdrop of the Franconia, Presidential, and Kinsman Mountain ranges.”
The festival will include a photo contest, a poetry-infused inspirational walk through Sugar Hill Sampler’s Lupine Fields, horse drawn wagon rides through the lupines, and several other events focused on music, art, and NH history throughout the month of June.
3. North Country Moose Festival
Downtown Colebrook Friday, August 25 – Sunday, August 27, 2017
For just $5 per person you may not expect much from the North Conway Moose Festival, but this event is packed with fun-filled activities, food and entertainment! There’s moose chili and maple tasting for the foodies, horse-drawn wagon rides, an old fashioned barn dance, dog show, classic car show, a moose calling contest and more than 75 local artisans selling their wares – plus much, much more! Check out the North Country Chamber of Commerce’s event page for all the details!
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4. Exeter UFO Festival
Exeter Saturday, September 2 – Sunday, September 3, 2017
The annual Exeter UFO Festival has been held in downtown Exeter for the last five years because of a famous 1965 incident involving a notorious UFO sighting. New Hampshire is also where Betty and Barney Hill famously claimed to have been they were abducted by aliens in 1961. The event draws believers and skeptics from across the country and is PG enough for the kids. There will be family friendly activities, lectures featuring an esteemed panel of experts for the adults, plenty of food, UFO-themed displays and alien souvenirs!
5. 13th Annual Fairy House Festival
Portsmouth Saturday, September 23 – Sunday, September 24, 2017
2017 marks the 13th year for this whimsical event. More than 200 handcrafted fairy houses made by local artists, florists, garden club members, businesses, families and local school children will be on display. 10 select fairy houses will be judged by a panel of judges, including Tracy Kane, the Fairy Houses Series® author and illustrator, who will also be on hand both days of the Tour to greet ticket holders and sign autographs. In addition, visitors can expect to see performances by the Southern New Hampshire Dance Theater and the NH Theatre Project. Tickets are $25 for families, $5 for children, $12 for adults.