Summer is coming to an end for the season and fall is quickly approaching! Before you know it, the leaves will be turned, pumpkins will be on display and the air will be crisp. This year is different for us all, but there are still some fun events to enjoy. One great fall activity is apple picking and there are plenty of local places to go. Another fun NH pastime is driving around checking out the stunning foliage. You can take a look at the foliage tracker in the link below to see when the foliage is at its peak.
Events
September 12
Pinnacle Get Out 5K Trail Race
Newport High School, Newport
9:00 am – 11:00 am
Fun trail run or walk through the trails behind the Newport High School. Racers can show up anytime between 9-11AM to start. Co-inhabitants can start together. All others will start in physically distanced groups at least 1 minute apart.
Face masks are required for race day registration and number pickup.
www.facebook.com/events/3429590290393420/
September 12
Newport DRIVE-IN Fireworks
Parlin Field, Newport
6:00 pm – 9:30 pm
Parlin Field and the Newport Area Chamber of Commerce are pleased to announce that they are hosting the summer fireworks again this year! The New Hampshire Pyrotechnics Association will be shooting Saturday night from 6-9:30 pm. The gates will open at 6:00PM. All are welcome with a minimal charge of only $5 per car. Please keep in mind this is a drive-in fireworks display, so please stay in or near your vehicle as much as possible. Food vendors and a 20-minute “Class B” professional GRAND FINALE show at 9:00 to finish the evening out!
www.facebook.com/events/1003926520079283/
September 19
Capital Well Sunapee Triathlon
Mount Sunapee State Park, Newbury
7:00 am
Millennium and Sunapee State Park play host to the new Capital Well Sunapee Triathlon! Swim, bike and run with a team or as an individual. The pristine Lake Sunapee is the swim venue, Transition is adjacent to the beach within the State Park lot with the finish alongside Lake Sunapee. Parking is located in the Mount Sunapee Ski Parking area, accessible by shuttle bus. Masks will be required while not participating in the event.
www.millenniumrunning.com/sunapeetri
www.facebook.com/events/2415421745392685/
October 1 – 15
New London Pumpkin People Contest
Town of New London
9:00 am – 3:00 pm
The New London Pumpkin People contest is back again this year! Sponsored by the New London Recreation department. The fun free contest is open to all businesses, organizations or individuals to create pumpkin people for everyone to see and vote on. Please register by Oct 1st www.nlrec.com or by calling 526-6401.
www.facebook.com/events/294744868395453/
October 10
4th Annual Duck Drop Presented by Northcape Design
Online Event
12:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Although things may look a bit different this year, they are still moving forward with their 4th Annual Mt. Sunapee Duck Drop. Please join them by sponsoring, purchasing ducks or donating. Proceeds from this event will go to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central New Hampshire, the Shine Local program and the Newbury Library expansion project.
www.facebook.com/events/1287526281422351/
October 18
2020-21 Harvest Party
Ragged Mountain Resort, Danbury
12:00 pm – 34:00 pm
Join Ragged Mountain Resort to kick off their 2020-21 winter season at their annual Harvest Party! There will be live music, a ski & snowboard equipment tent sale, industry vendors, food trucks, games for the entire family and a beer garden for the adults! All attendees must practice social distancing and wear a face covering when indoors or outside when a 6-foot distance cannot be maintained between other parties.
www.facebook.com/events/334193027949279/
November 26
14th Annual Lake Sunapee Turkey Trot 5K
Sunapee Harbor
9:00 am
It’s still early but mark your calendars and get ready for the 14th annual Lake Sunapee Turkey Trot 5K!
www.facebook.com/events/3415723788486933/
Apple Orchards
Alyson's Orchard
57 Alyson's Lane, Walpole
Phone: (603) 756-9800
www.facebook.com/Alysons-Orchard-366504900391/
Apple Hill Farm
580 Mountain Rd., Concord
Phone: (603) 224-8862
www.facebook.com/Apple-Hill-Farm-218326108200315/
Blackwater Farm
120 Tyler Rd, Contoocook
Phone: (603) 746-2349
Gould Hill Farm
656 Gould Hill Rd, Contoocook
Phone: (603) 746-3811
www.facebook.com/gouldhillfarm/
Poverty Lane Orchards
98 Poverty Lane, Lebanon
Phone: (603) 448-1511
www.facebook.com/Poverty-Lane-Orchards-167902646556238
Work Song Farm
124 Beech Hill Rd, Hopkinton
Phone: (603) 219-0297
www.facebook.com/Work-Song-Farm-156640534401862/
Local Farm Stands
Not up for picking your own apples? Take a drive and stop at one (or two, or three) of these local farm stands and fill up on seasonal produce and regionally sourced meats, cheeses, breads and more! Some also offer flowers and a good selection of artisan gifts.
Cruise the Lake
Both the MV MT Sunapee and the MV Kearsarge are still sailing Lake Sunapee through October 18! Sign up for a day cruise and enjoy the colors of fall from the water or treat yourself to a special night out on their dinner cruise! Check out Sunapee Cruises for sailing days and times, and to make a reservation.
Enjoy a Fall Picnic
Picnics don't have to be a summertime only activity. Daytime temperatures in early-to-mid fall are generally still mild and can be perfect for packing up a picnic and enjoying the outdoors. Not sure where to picnic? Here are some ideas!
- Check out one of the state park or local town beaches. Just make sure to take a quick look at their operating hours and polices before you go.
- Picnic with a view! Take a hike or trail walk to work up your appetite. Here's a list of some popular hikes and a few of our favorite local trails.
- The John Hay Estate at the Fells. This one is included in our trails list, but definitely deserves special mention as a perfect picnic destination. Although the summer flowers in the estate gardens have passed by, the grounds are still amazing to explore and offers a relaxing setting for your autumn picnic.
- Bandstands and Town Commons. Not up for packing a picnic basket? Grab to-go lunch at a local restaurant and head to the closest town common! Some of our favorites include:
- The New London Bandstand/Town Common, Main Street, New London
- The Ben Mere Bandstand, Lake Ave, Sunapee
- Newbury Harbor Bandstand, US Rte 1-3, Newbury
- Scytheville Park, Elkins Rd., Elkins (New London)
Foliage Tracker
Figuring out the perfect time to catch peak foliage in New Hampshire can be a bit of a leap of faith, but the foliage tracker below will help you select the perfect time to see nature's fireworks. Use the sliding bar to view approximate color change weekly throughout the fall season.
https://www.visitnh.gov/foliage-tracker
Source: Visit NH
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