Due to our proximity to so many large cities and other states, our attendees and tourists come from all over New Hampshire, the Boston metro area and the surrounding New England States. The money raised has been split between her friend and charity organizations such as Paul Newman’s Hole in the Wall Gang Camp. More information: www.nhpumpkinfestival.com. Admission: Admission is free. Pumpkintown USA is the rare destination that amuses all ages, even the littlest zomboys and ghouls. 3. 61 Annual Hillsborough County Agricultural Fair. The Pumpkin People and events are the best. So they can carve up a face on it, post a picture on a social media site, get lots of likes. Franklin County Pumpkinfest 2014 will be held on Saturday, October 18 in Turners Falls Massachusetts. Another great (yet not highly publicized…yet) pumpkin event happens in Newtown, CT each year. There is an admission fee. The Pumpkin Festival is a community-hosted, family-friendly celebration of fall and of what is unique about New Hampshire. This year, as a junior in high school, Mackenzie plans to host the 4th annual Great Pumpkin Challenge. I delight in our region's growing obsession (emphasis: "growing") with pumpkins. Your Best Guide to New England Pumpkin Patches, Hayrides, Corn Mazes, Apple Picking, Orchards, Food Festival, Harvest Fun, and Fall Events, and fun! Saturday and Sunday, October 2nd & 3rd, Saturday, Sunday, Monday, October 10th, 11th & 12th, 2020. Pumpkin Festival - Charmingfare Farm 774 High St. Candia, NH 03034 603 483-5623. Best of luck to you. … Read More Best 5 New England Halloween Towns Bring the whole family and join us for Pumpkin Festival. Although you did mention how the let it shine organization ran away from the Keene area that supported it for 25 years because few drunken college kids got rowdy on side streets away from pumpkin fest (I was there with my son and they weren’t on the main streets of pumpkinfest), you didn’t mention how the people in this area have banded together to create a real pumpkinfest in neighboring swanzey NH. Spectators watch pumpkins soar … and smash. See more ideas about new england, new england travel, pumpkin festival. Jack-o-Lantern Jamboree at Witchs’ Woods | Westford, MA. Affordable admission fees benefit the Sandy Peszynski Breast Cancer Foundation. This year’s dates are October 9th through 11th. Absolutely Stu…the Monadnock Pumpkin Festival at the Cheshire Fairgrounds is going to be amazing! 6 New England corn mazes to get lost in this fall, including one inspired by Gronk. and take that into Jericho Center. New England Fall Events makes it easy to create new fall traditions and priceless family memories. Artisan carvers from Passion for Pumpkins whittle rinds throughout the show’s run to keep the display fresh. Held at Stoweflake Mountain Resort & Spa, the Pumpkin Chuckin’ Festival challenges kids and adults to build a better trebuchet: a modern version of the medieval catapult. Low-cost entry and admission fees support the Lamoille Family Center. I think no one has embraced the tradition of Pumpkinfest more than Ruth Sterling and Let it Shine. Get ready for plenty of haunted attractions, festivals, food events, and more at this small town's famous "NH Pumpkin Festival." All Rights Reserved. Excellent write-up; as always. The NH Pumpkin Festival in Laconia, New Hampshire | 5 Best Pumpkin Festivals in New England. It’s official: Coronavirus concerns have forced the cancellation of the 2020 NH Pumpkin Festival in Downtown Laconia. A day of artistry, creativity and all things pumpkin! Really great with kids. The web-site for the Milford Pumpkin Festival (celebrating it’s 26th year in 2015) is: http://www.milfordpumpkinfestival.org/. New Hampshire Pumpkin Festival From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia The New Hampshire Pumpkin Festival (also known as the Keene Pumpkin Festival from 1991 to 2014, and the Laconia Pumpkin Festival in 2015; often referred to as Pumpkin Fest) is a pumpkin festival that is held in Laconia, New Hampshire, United States before Halloween. United States. Their smaller kin are hurled, catapulted from cannons, or prepped to race in an unpredictable Pumpkin Derby. Sugar pumpkins for eating are different than pumpkins used for jack-o’lanterns. Show let it shine that tradition is important as well as supporting local businesses. Mackenzie lives on Main Street in Newtown which is THE place to trick-or-treat on Halloween night. Pumpkin is a very nutritious food. The public may view the reports by going to, How to register your school/organization for closings and delays, MAP: 229 Mass. Besides, it promotes creativity in pumpkin carving and other traditional activities. Lines can be long at Providence, Rhode Island’s Roger Williams Park Zoo, but the artistry on display will mesmerize you. The hilarity peaks when costumed racers paddle and motor some of the largest specimens in a madcap Pumpkinboat Regatta. Except, perhaps, 40-foot glowing towers holding thousands of them. Perfect for young children and their families. And a chili cookoff gives Stowe-area restaurants a chance to compete for glory, too. https://www.facebook.com/Ridgefieldpumpkinweighoff. New England States New England Fall New England Travel Vacation Places Dream Vacations Fall Vacations Vacation Spots Italy Vacation Honeymoon Destinations. Looking for a list of the best pumpkin festivals in New England? Pumpkin Festival. communities now considered high-risk for coronavirus, Biden targets Trump’s legacy with first-day executive actions, Biden extends student loan payment deferrals until October, Text of Biden’s inaugural address as the 46th president, DA: No bail for man who fatally struck, dragged victim in Belmont road rage incident, DA: 2 kids receiving care after parents arrested for starving them for nearly 2 years. visit http://www.pumpkinsonthepier.org for more info. Love town of Jackson. Pumpkin Festivals and Jack-O'-Lantern Displays in New England in 2020. (1 to 7 p.m.) Thousands of children will design, carve and display their jack-o’-lanterns for the public to enjoy in Central Square, Downtown Keene. nhpumpkinfestival.com If you’re looking for a fall pumpkin event that will have you walking away feeling great consider donating to the Great Pumpkin Challenge in Newtown, CT. You can donate and have your pumpkin displayed or you can make a monetary donation online. Located in and around historic downtown Milford NH, the Milford Pumpkin Festival offers free admission, free parking, and free shuttle buses. Contact festival organizers for the most up-to-date information. New England Fall Events. Jack-o’lanterns are carted off to local pig farms after the Keene Pumpkinfest. But for competitors, this is a serious intellectual exercise. And more characters await on a 20-minute hayride. Frerichs’ Farms in Rhode Island celebrated its 20th annual Pumpkin Weigh-Off over the weekend, but limited entries to farmers in New England because of the coronavirus pandemic. The New Hampshire Pumpkin Festival takes place every fall in Downtown Laconia, New Hampshire. You missed the Milford NH Pumpkin Festival!! You are missing out on one of the best Pumpkin Festivals in New England… the “All Things Pumpkin” Festival which includes a Pumpkin Carving Competition and Expo, “All Things Pumpkin” Chef of the year Competition an “All Things Pumpkin” Tour which is a sleigh ride over the Jackson Historic Covered Bridge down into the Village of Jackson where the sleigh stops at businesses who bring out Pumpkin Tasting goodies to all the sleigh riders. New England Fall Events is your best guide for seasonal fun and fall activities. The Monadnock Pumpkin Festival brings the magic and excitement of jack-o-lanterns to life! © 2019 Let it Shine Inc. It begins serenely on a May morn, when hundreds of giant-pumpkin seedlings are distributed free to volunteer growers. Let it Shine, did NOT run away from Keene. Activities: 11 am to 3pm Pumpkin Festival is BIGGER and BETTER! In 2011, after finding out that her friend was battling brain cancer, then 12-year-old Mackenzie Page decided that she needed to do something positive to help her friend. The line-up of events includes a zombie walk, a car show, and a duck derby, plus there are rides, concerts, and games like pumpkin bowling to amuse all ages. Keene Pumpkin Festival, Oct. 22, Keene, N.H. There’s nothing that evokes autumn more than a big orange jack-o’-lantern. 2020 Special Events. I too think think the pumpkins should be donated to families who will appreciate this fruit. With beautiful coastal views, historic lighthouses, and colorful foliage, New England is a place of great beauty and charm. NH Pumpkin Festival 2018 is a one day, family friendly celebration of fall that's uniquely New Hampshire. Fall Festival Weekend at the Sunday River Ski Resort in Newry, … By Columbus Day weekend, the Midcoast Maine town of Damariscotta has succumbed to pumpkinsanity. Only in its fifth year, it is becoming a extremely popular festival with all ages, drawing visitors from outside the county as well as locals. This is our 26th year, and each year as we get better and better! No one is more disappointed than I that Pumpkinfest will not be held in Keene this year. Keene Pumpkin Festival. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. I also understand that Nancy Sporborg, founder of the Keene Pumpkinfest, has collaborated with the Laconia organizers to bring many of the Keene traditions to the new venue. Pumpkins Aglow is really great too and they have rides + a train ride included in admission. Location: Keene, NH. Don’t miss a day of fun and excitement. How much better would it be for the residents of Pumpkintown to donate their unused pumpkins to people who would appreciate the nutritious fruit? My Route to get there is heading up 93 to Vermont 89 and you can get off at exit 11 heading North and catch Route 117 North to Skunk Hollow Road (I know right???) So come to the one at the Cheshire fairgrounds and avoid Laconia. The festival relocated to downtown Laconia for its 25th anniversary in 2015. WHDH and WLVI broadcast educational and informational programming for children, and file quarterly reports with the FCC detailing the station's outreach to children. Backroads of New England (Voyageur Press, 2012) author and New England travel expert Kim Knox Beckius names these annual events the 5 best pumpkin festivals in New England. “There’s no secrets, and everybody’s friends with one another,” Jutras said. NEW HAMPSHIRE. When you see adorable orange-headed beings at the side of the road, you’ve found New England’s most whimsical Halloween attraction. Joe Jutras came from Scituate with an enormous pumpkin, and has broken records in the past with his crops. A great event with many hand carved candle-lit pumpkins set in an enchanting woodland setting. ), All content © Copyright 2000 - 2021 WHDH-TV. He said the competition is friendly and celebrates a season of effort. Location: Downtown Laconia, NH. Another great festival is pumpkin on the pier in Milford, CT. 9/28/20 - By Kelley Heyworth. Go from season to season in New England with this delightful wall calendar. It is also a celebration of artistry and creativity and a demonstration of our commitment to non-profit efforts to serve those in need. $5 adults, $3 kids 1-14, infants 0-1 year old free. 10th Annual Harvest Festival. I can’t wait…a carving contest, a costume contest, fright fest, so many new and fun activities! Whipple’s Winter Wonderland Holiday Light Display in Killingly, CT |, Best Places to See Christmas Lights in New England, Scenes from the New Hampshire Pumpkin Festival, https://www.facebook.com/Ridgefieldpumpkinweighoff, Yankee Magazine’s Ultimate New England Winter Guide, Yankee Magazine’s Ultimate New England Summer Guide, 63 Reasons Why We Love the Cape & Islands, Yankee Magazine’s Ultimate Guide to Autumn in New England, Get Rid of Skunk Odor | Methods to Deskunk Your Dog, 10 Prettiest Coastal Towns in New England. The Cilley Hill Pumpkin Festival happens in Jericho Vermont each Oct. 30-31. 2020 Special Events. With more than 20,000 pumpkins, live music, and fair-food favorites, the New Hampshire Pumpkin Festival in Laconia is a top New England fall event. Their Pumpkin Festival features not only pumpkin picking and decorating, but horse-drawn hay rides, tractor train rides, farm animals to see, games, contests and more. Article by Lea Rea. See More: Scenes from the New Hampshire Pumpkin Festival. Whether you stick close to home or make a day or weekend trip out of it, going to a pumpkin festival or visiting a glowing jack-o' … Laconia, NH. Join more than 40,000 attendees and view more than 20,000 jack-o-lanterns for two days of fall fun in beautiful Laconia. It’s awesome! The Monadnock Pumpkin Festival in Swanzey, New Hampshire is a must-attend for anyone who loves looking at lovingly carved jack-o-lanterns thanks to the huge display. Roast a marshmallow then take a stroll through the candle-lit woods and view all the jack o lanterns. Back to Calendar . City government refused to issue an event permit to the organizers, after the fracas on campus last year. This festival takes place along side the MOST popular NH event in October which is the “Return of the Pumpkin People”. Pumpkin Festival | Oct. 18–19 In addition to the obvious draw (20,000 carved pumpkins clustered around downtown Laconia, including those lined up on a 34-foot tower), offerings include fair foods and rides, live music, a pumpkin pancake breakfast, a pumpkin cook-off, and a zombie walk. Rightly said Anne. and one of the best. Why oh why would you write about a pumpkinchunkin contest? This list has been updated for 2019. So far, this child, working almost single-handedly, has managed to raise a whopping $11,786.00. We have state-by-state guides to the best PYO apple picking, pumpkin patches, hayrides, food festivals, harvest celebrations, and events for the fall season. Your GPS won’t recognize Pumpkintown, Connecticut, but keep your eyes peeled as you drive through East Hampton on Route 66. Over Columbus Day weekend, this New Hampshire farm offers families a complete pumpkin experience. 5 Best Pumpkin Festivals in New England - New England Today Milford, NH has been one of the 1st Pumpkin Festivals in New Hampshire. Great Pumpkin Festival Railroad Express - 90 min train ride departing from Union Station, Putnam Check details for tickets and departure times here. Every year, pumpkin records are smashed as ever higher weights are achieved. Considered by many to be one of the most successful pumpkin festivals, the New Hampshire Pumpkin Festival has broken the world record almost ten times since 1992 for having the most (lit) jack-o'-lanterns in one place at one time—upwards of 30,000, to be exact. Regrettably, I will not be able to join the folks at the Fairgrounds, as we come from out of state and have planned to attend the Laconia event. May 23, 2020 - Explore amy nickle's board "Fall New England" on Pinterest. Admission: FREE for pumpkin display, … Thank you. I’m glad that there is an alternative event at the Fairgrounds; however, it seems wrong to malign the folks who worked so hard to keep the event going after Center Stage abandoned it. Your Best Guide to New England Pumpkin Patches, Hayrides, Corn Mazes, Apple Picking, Orchards, Food Festival, Harvest Fun, and Fall Events, and fun! It’s the ultimate game of fall one-upmanship. We hope that one day our annual event (co-hosted by the Ridgefield Chamber of Commerce) “Giant Pumpkin Weigh Off” will be on this list! “We’ve been doing this so long, really there’s no secrets, but it’s a lot of hard work.”, (Copyright (c) 2020 Sunbeam Television. October 29 and 30th, 2015 — 6-8:30 pm each night. Well worth the ride and price of admission. This New England town has attracted more than 40,000 visitors in past years, and for good reason. 6 New England towns to visit in September. Rocky Point Farm, 130 Rocky Point Ave, Warwick, RI http://www.rockypointblueberries.com. There are more activities planned for this year than ever before, with a spectacular fireworks display on Friday night; carnival rides; live entertainment and music on 2 stages featuring live bands throughout the weekend; a Haunted Trail; bouncy houses and a climbing wall; some of the best food in New England; craft vendors, face painting, pumpkin painting, and scarecrow making; a beer and wine tasting tent; a pumpkin catapult; the giant pumpkin weigh-in contest; and much MUCH more! Date: Saturday, September 14, 2019 from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Event Date: Sunday, October 25, 2020. Attendees come from New Hampshire, the Greater Boston area and from all over the New England region and beyond. Either way, it’s an incredible cause! These annual events are the 5 best pumpkin festivals in New England! In 2014, attendance level over the 3 day festival was in excess of 35,000. The two-day community-hosted street festival celebrates everything about autumn and New Hampshire. This setting should only be used on your home or work computer. New for 2020, a fire truck—making a special rescue—and witches stirring up a spell. After a weigh-off with big cash at stake, humongous gourds become artworks, go on parade, and plummet 180 feet onto derelict vehicles. It is a great way to bring together all of New England’s beauty, the beach and the fall! When: Friday, September 6 – Sunday, September 8, … The Milford Pumpkin Festival traditionally runs over Columbus Day weekend in October. it is okay to throw away edible food and call it “fun.”. “I cut it from the vine yesterday around 2 o’clock in the afternoon, so it’s been off the vine now for about 15 hours and you want to get it weighed, get it weighed quick, they slowly lose a little weight, but not much,” Connolly said. NH Pumpkin Festival: Bring your jack-o-lantern to Laconia, New Hampshire, for this two-day spectacle, which culminates with the lighting of the 34-foot tower of grinning pumpkins. BOOK YOUR TRIP And finally let the pumpkin rot outside. Sharon farmer Steve Connolly knew he had a winner but was happy to see his 470-pound bushel gourd crowned largest in show. Join us at PumpCANALy, the only street at Pumpkin Festival in Laconia that has been painted ORANGE to celebrate kids and their families. Celebrating time-honored traditions of community, family fun, and pumpkin abundance, the Festival features Atlas fireworks, non-profit food vendors, amusement rides, a haunted maze, a pumpkin catapult competition, displays from regional artisans, baking contests, hayrides, live