Fall Festivals in New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a popular destination for getaways all year round, but in fall when the leaves change and a myriad of reds, oranges and yellows surround the brilliant blue lakes, the landscape truly transforms into a vision worthy of celebration. During your visit, you can immerse yourself in different world cultures, enjoy the unique tastes of the fall harvest, explore the fabulous arts and crafts of New England, and partake in traditional activities from hayrides to pumpkin chucking.
If New Hampshire is your destination of choice to view the fall foliage displays this year, then you can look forward to celebrating in style. Across the New England region, there’s a magnificent selection of exciting fall festivals and events to attend. With breathtaking color changes, quintessential New England fall activities and fantastic live entertainment, there’s a lot to look forward to when you celebrate the fall foliage season in New Hampshire.
New Hampshire Fall Event Details
New Hampshire – with its awe-inspiring mountain scenery and beautiful lakes – is one of the best places to visit in New England for extraordinary festivals and stunning fall foliage. There’s something for every member of the family, with fall events that’ll fill your calendar through October.
Here’s a selection of some of the biggest and most exciting fall festivals and events in New Hampshire that you have to attend at least once:
- Milford Pumpkin Festival (October 11th – 13th) – Celebrating its 30th year, the Milford Pumpkin Festival is visited by tens of thousands of people every year. The festival has activities and events for all ages, including live music, giant pumpkin weighing, scarecrow making, a haunted trail, and pumpkin lighting to start the festivities.
- Fall Foliage Pig Roast & BBQ (October 12th – 13th) – The 11th annual Fall Foliage Pig Roast at Mount Sunapee Resort is a great event for visitors to New Hampshire who want the best views of the fall foliage. Aerial Sky Rides, a 5K race, pumpkin carving, and delicious food are just a handful of the activities and attractions on offer.
- New Hampshire Pumpkin Festival (October 18th – October 19th) – The 2-day street festival, featuring thousands of jack-o’-lanterns, is a highlight of fall festivities in New Hampshire. An assortment of pumpkin-themed activities, hayrides, and dozens of food and craft stalls make the New Hampshire Pumpkin Festival a must-visit event.
Warner Fall Foliage Festival
You can’t experience fall in New Hampshire to its fullest without planning a trip to the Warner Fall Foliage Festival. The festival is one of New Hampshire’s oldest, with 2019 marking the 72nd year of celebrations!
First held in 1947, the Warner Fall Festival is amongst the most anticipated events of the year, and a true celebration of the beauty of local foliage and rural life. Throughout the 3-day event, visitors and residents of Warner enjoy an extensive range of exciting activities, multiple competitions, live music, incredible food, and local arts and crafts.
Here’s the important Warner Fall Foliage Festival details you need to know and an overview of the events and activities:
From under 13s to over 60s, everyone can get involved in the 5K road race at the Warner Fall Festival. Starting and finishing at Sugar River Bank, the route takes racers on a scenic tour around some of Warner’s most beautiful locations.
The road race begins at 9am on October 12th, with registration between 8am and 8:45am of the same morning for racers who haven’t registered in advance. Prizes are awarded to the first 100 people to cross the finish line, and to the first-place family and racers in different age groups.
Held on October 13th at 9am, the Children’s Fun Run is a great event for children of all ages – and parents who want to run alongside their children and cheer them on. Starting at the Warner Post Office and finishing at the parking lot of Main Street Book Ends, the race is a mile long and followed by an exciting children’s dance party.
You’ll discover a fantastic mix of live entertainment during the Warner Fall Festival, ranging from folk music to funk and afrobeat. Some of the events on the Main Street Warner Stage to look forward to, include:
- The DoBros (Friday)
- Kearsarge Center for Performing Arts Cabaret (Saturday)
- Akwaaba Ensemble (Saturday)
- Sam Robins (Saturday)
- Shokazoba (Saturday)
- Studio 2 – The Beatles Tribute (Sunday)
- East Bay Jazz Ensemble (Sunday)
Starting at 1pm on Sunday 13th, the Grand Parade is one of the most exciting events to watch at the festival. Each year, the procession features an amazing mix of music, entertainment, vehicles, and floats. This year’s Grand Parade theme is great discoveries.
The Warner Fall Foliage Festival is located in Warner, Henniker, NH, USA. Admission to the festival is completely free, with a $5 charge for shuttle bus parking.
The Warner Fall Foliage Festival Hours
Friday October 11th: 6pm – 10pm
Saturday October 12th: 9am – 10pm
Sunday October 13th: 9am – 7pm
Crafts & Farmers Market: 9am – 5pm (Saturday and Sunday)
Warner Fall Foliage Festival Program
There are even more events to look forward to when you attend the Warner Foliage Festival! Some of the biggest events/attractions on the festival program include:
- Midway (Friday – Sunday)
- Lobster Dinner & Chicken BBQ (Saturday and Sunday)
- Library Book and Bake Sale (Saturday and Sunday)
- Aim High Canines Display (Saturday)
- Oxen Competition (Friday and Saturday)
- Ice Cream Eating Contest (Sunday)
- Woodsmen’s Competition (Sunday)
There’s also a raffle with more than 70 handmade prizes and three cash prizes up for grabs.
Warner Fall Foliage Festival Map
Visiting the Warner Foliage Festival is a fantastic opportunity to explore the beautiful town of Warner. Many of the events and food/drink stalls are located on E. Main St. with festivities extending to W. Main St., Depot St., Church St., and Kearsarge Mountain Road.
Book The Rosewood Country Inn – Falling for New Hampshire Tour
After a memorable day enjoying the fall festivities in New Hampshire, there’s no better place to relax and unwind than the magnificent Rosewood Country Inn. Perfectly situated close to the Warner Foliage Festival, the Rosewood is your fall home away from home in New Hampshire.
The historic Inn combines luxury accommodation with tranquil surroundings to give visitors the ultimate getaway experience while attending fall festivals in New Hampshire. By booking a room at the Rosewood, you can enjoy close proximity to the best local festivals and stunning views of the changing leaves from dawn to dusk.
Want to get the most out of your visit to New Hampshire? Click here to discover our Falling for New Hampshire Tour – the incredible experience package that will transform your trip to New Hampshire this fall!
