Spooooooky Autumn family fun!
Grab the family and take an amazing autumn drive to the Lakes Region of New Hampshire! There’s plenty to do for all ages, and the Lakes Region Chamber can help you get there. Explore comecatchtheglow.com and find the best places to spend the afternoon, evening or even the whole weekend! Looking to take it all in? Check out our itineraries and get the most out of your time in the Lakes Region!
With our warm hospitality, and remarkable scenery… Autumn is a GREAT time to explore the bounty and beauty only found in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire!
- Go explore one of our local farms, orchards or corn mazes!
- Grab a bite at one of the outstanding bakeries, cafes and restaurants using farm-fresh harvest ingredients!
- Knock out your holiday shopping at our many botiques, outlets, galleries and craft fairs!
Need a reason (other than the amazing foliage) to make it a weekend getaway? Check out our events calendar and plan your trip around something truly spectacular!
Come Catch the GLOW of The Annual Pumpkin Festival in Laconia!
New Hampshire Pumpkin Festival is a community-hosted, family friendly celebration of fall and what is unique about New Hampshire. It is a street festival, celebrating artistry and creativity and all things pumpkin! For festival information including Events & Activities, Participating Vendors & More, go to:
NHPumpkinFestival.com
Mark your calendars. Book your lodging. Gather your friends, family, zombie ghouls, cornhole players, runners, walkers, your costume, foodies lovers, artists & pumpkin enthusiasts.
COME CATCH THE GLOW & DISCOVER AUTUMN in NH’s Lakes Region! Please note, this is a street festival. There is no admission cost.
🎃Saturday, October 28th 11am-8pm🎃
9:00am Runaway Pumpkin 5k/10k Run/Walk steps off at Opechee Park LEARN MORE
11am-5pm Hobo Pumpkin Express Train Rides Every Hour 11am-5pm, tickets available at the station LEARN MORE
Noon Bags Fly at the Wicked Pumpkin Cornhole Tournament on Beacon St W – 11am Check In
presented by Laconia Refrigeration powered by SCOREHOLIO PRE-REGISTER CORNHOLE TEAMS HERE
11am-4pm Franklin Savings Bank Outdoor Adventures at Hectors on Beacon St W
11am-4pm NonProfit Fun Patch between the Belknap Mill & Main St hosted by Granite State Credit Union & Rowell’s Services
11am-4pm Pie Eating Contest every hour in Veterans Sq hosted by Lakes Region Community College
11am-4pm Laconia Parks & Recreation Scavenger Hunt find your first clue at their booth in Veterans Sq!
11am-8pm Hectors Beer Garden on Beacon St W with outdoor dining at Hectors Fine Food & Spirits
11am-8pm 405 Beer Garden on Beacon St W in City Hall Parking Lot with live music till 9:30pm featuring Jodie Cunningham
11am-8pm Great New England Craft & Artisan Show explore 100+ artisan booths all in costumes at City Hall
11am-8pm KidsZones climbing wall, bungy jump & inflatable fun with Vertical Entertainment
11am-8pm Thousands of Pumpkins on Display in Veterans Square including an all-new Reimagined Zig Zag Exhibit & More
Noon A special appearance by The Wicked Witches of the Lakes Region
1pm Children’s Costume Parade led by Meredith Village Savings Bank – Starts at Belknap Mill, ends in Veterans Square
2pm Recycled Percussion Junk Rock Superheroes plus a costume contest at The CAKE BUY TIX
2:30pm Doug the Devil Stick Man street performance near Kids Zone A
3pm A special appearance by The Wicked Witches of the Lakes Region
3-7pm Live Music at Hectors Spirit Stage featuring River Sang Wild, Boston area alt/indie rock band
5:30pm Doug the Devil Stick Man street performance near Kids Zone A
5:45pm Jack-o-Lantern Lighting….new this year laser lights provided by New Spectrum Lighting
7pm Recycled Percussion Junk Rock Superheroes plus a costume contest at The CAKE BUY TIX
8pm Amy Grant at the Colonial Theatre GET TICKETS
8-9:30pm GRAND FINALE in Veterans Square presented by New Spectrum Lighting & Pinnacle Lasers
featuring the one & only DJ Spiezio
🎃Friday, October 27th 4pm-8pm🎃
4pm-8pm KidsZones climbing wall, bungy jump & inflatable fun with Vertical Entertainment,
sponsored by Service Credit Union
4pm-8pm Great New England Craft & Artisan Show explore 100+ artisan booths all in costume at City Hall
4pm-8pm Food Trucks, Vendors & Street Performers, festive balloons & kid novelties
4pm-8pm Hectors Beer Garden on Beacon St W with outdoor dining at Hectors Fine Food & Spirits
4pm-8pm 405 Beer Garden on Beacon St W in City Hall Parking Lot featuring DJ music
4:30pm Dinner Train 2-hour Train Ride & “Ride Only” train departing from the historic downtown station,
boarding begins at 4:15 in Veterans Sq, Dinner Train is SOLD Out, “Ride Only” tickets still available BUY TIX
5pm Pumpkin Display Competition Judging led by Bank of New Hampshire for Most Creative, Funniest & Spookiest
5:30pm Doug the Devil Stick Man street performance near Kids Zone A
5:45pm Jack-o-Lantern Lighting….new animated lighting display provided by New Spectrum Lighting
6:00 pm Zombie Walk – Starts in Veterans Square, Ends at City Hall Lot
Get your Zombie on! Show off your Zombie Garb. Join 104.9fm The Hawk for a little Thriller. Meet some of the lurkers, creepers, geeks, monsters or roamers and join the walk!
7pm-10pm Spook’N Groove Halloween Dance Party at The CAKE Theatre BUY TIX
Explore historic Downtown Laconia. Discover the charm of local retailers, the taste of delicious foods and the revitalized vibe of this community. Experience all things pumpkin like carved jack-o-lanterns, painted gourds, pumpkin floats & displays, pumpkin people, listen to live music & more.
This year’s food trucks, street vendors & exhibitors include: Meet & Eat, Chic-fil-a, Eva Marie’s Italian Bites, Let’s Get Loaded, Trucking Tacos, Smoke Shack Southern Barbecue, Hibbert Enterprises, Kona Ice, Gina’s Eatery, Chubba Wabba’s, Nutmeg Concessions, Mariano Restaurant Group, KWC Marketing, HPHC/Tufts Medicare , Sweet Poofs freeze dried candy, Trading Faces, Kids Stuff Amusements & Kettle Corn, Hackleboro Orchards, Richie’s Concessions, Laconia Democratic Committee, Clyde’s Cupcakes, All Energy Solar, 603 candy, Visiting Angels of the Lakes Region, Better Day donuts, Stitches NH, Tin Can Co, Sweeties Cupcakes, Gina Foods, Comcast/Xfinity, Loaded TOTZ nuff said, Vacation White Mountains, Tommy’s Pizzeria, Bubble Bee Milk Tea, GKK Concessions, T&D Concessions, Seacoast Pretzel Company, Pat’s Apple Crisp, KES RV Supply, NH Green Health, 405 Pub & Grill, T-Mobile, Beans & Greens Farm, Foliage Retrievers Service Dogs, 603 United, Circle Program, NH JAG, Taylor Community, Greater Lakes Region Children’s Auction, Granite VNA, Lakes Region Cancer Support Team, Camp Resilience, Prescott Farm Environmental Education, Inty Collection, ClearChoice MD Urgent Care, Chewy, Got Lunch Belmont, Easterseals NH, South Baptist Church, 6603 Axes, LNA Health Careers, Indigo Trading Post, New England Ford, Boy Scout Troop 68, Mike Trask – author of Dead Drive books & more…..
Local restaurants in and around the festival footprint include: Burrito Me, Laconia Local Eatery, Remix Nutrition, Defiant Records & Craft Beer, Laconia Village Bakery, Water Street Cafe, Hector’s Fine Food & Spirits, Trillium Farm to Table, Koung Sushi Mart, Wayfarer Coffee Roasters, Fresh Takes Deli, GoodNatured Juice and Smoothie Bar & Brick Front Restaurant-Lounge.
Amazing Fall Foliage Viewing Spots
Looking for a great opportunity to catch the AMAZING foliage in the Lakes Region? Here are some great places to Catch the Autumn GLOW!
There’s nothing like taking in the fall foliage from up on high. So, lace up your boots and get some exercise as you enjoy the vibrant colors on a Lakes Region trail. Mount Major in Alton is a popular trek that offers stunning views from the summit just two and a half miles from the parking lot off Route 11. Because it’s so spectacular, it is often spectacularly crowded, with a full to overflowing parking lot.
Piper Mountain is a quieter alternative, fun for its summit’s Flintstone-like furniture made from granite stones. The view of the foliage and nearby peaks will be great in the fall, but don’t expect a grand view of the lakes here—just little peeks on this peak.
Belknap Mountain’s woodsy trails are peaceful, and you’ll enjoy a panoramic view from the fire tower at the top. Learn more about the Belknap Range trails at belknaprangetrails.org.
The Castle in the Clouds property, maintained by the Lakes Region Conservation Trust, covers over 5,500 acres and offers views of waterfalls and the Ossipee Mountains. There are 28 miles of trails and old carriage roads that the Conservation Trust makes available to the public. The Brook Trail offers views of seven waterfalls. For more difficulty, consider the two-and-a-half-mile Mount Roberts climb, or hike five miles to the Mount Shaw summit — at 2,990 feet, the highest point in the Lakes Region.
Learn more about the Castle in the Clouds trail system at https://www.castleintheclouds.org/things-to-do/
hiking-walking-trails/.
Keep an eye on NH.gov’s foliage tracker to catch peak viewing conditions!
Fall foliage drives in New Hampshire
Via: VisitNewEngland.com
Find vistas across majestic mountains and sprawling lakes!
New Hampshire is northern and partly mountainous, so it will begin showing off its fall colors in late September. NH state map. An obvious choice for scenic fall drives is the White Mountains, including the magnificent Kancamagus Highway from North Conway to Lincoln. Wonderful forests and brilliant color also will be showing farther north, near Franconia Notch and Crawford Notch state parks, and the Great North Woods between Colebrook and Dixville Notch. The western mountains toward Lebanon and Hanover, and central lakes region also offer great beauty. New Hampshire foliage drives page.
Pinkham Notch Loop – This loop encircles the peak of Mount Washington and touches on town names that evoke rugged outdoor sports: Jackson, Gorham, Bartlett and others. Travelers will see spectacular views of the Presidential Mountains. Jackson is a lovely village for dining and shopping, and the center of town is like a stage for the beautiful and Jackson Covered Bridge. A good side trip is a drive up the Mount Washington Auto Road, presenting one of New England’s most spectacular mountain vistas. Route map.
Lake Winnipesaukee Loop – This very large lake, surrounded by hills, offers beautiful views across the water from vantage points in the towns of Laconia, Wolfeboro, and Moultonborough. This area is a major summer vacation resort, so there is lots of shopping and dining. Depending upon how late in the fall you arrive here, you could be lucky enough to tour Castle in the Clouds in Moultonborough, a 1920’s-era Craftsman-style mansion high in the mountains, or to take a sunset cruise with Mount Washington Cruises from Weirs Beach. Route map.
Connecticut River near Lebanon Loop – The western side of this loop skirts the Connecticut River, the state border with Vermont, giving travelers a chance to skip across to the Green Mountain State for a stop at White River Junction or Norwich. On the New Hampshire side, enjoy a stop at Hanover, home of Dartmouth College (good burgers and bookstores). Consider stopping and stretching your legs on a walk along the Northern Recreational Rail Trail, which touches upon Lebanon and Enfield and Canaan, all part of the drive route. Enjoy views of the authentic Packard Hill (covered) Bridge in Lebanon.
Route map.
Mount Monadnock Loop — The 3,165-foot-tall Mount Monadnock is the centerpiece of this trip. Monadnock State Park has excellent public services and many hiking trails that are accessible and enjoyable even to averagely fit climbers. A nice stop is at Stonewall Farm in Keene, offering farm tours, animals visits, and a farm store. Mountain biking and cross country skiing trails are open in season. Route map.
Spoooooky Halloween FUN!
New Hampshire Flashlight and Haunted Corn Mazes
Beans and Greens Farm Corn Maze – Gilford, NH
https://www.beansandgreensfarm.com/corn-maze
Elwood Orchards – Londonderry, NH
https://elwoodorchards.com/corn-maze
Harvest of Haunts – Candia, NH
https://www.visitthefarm.com/item-category/events/fall/
Scamman Farm – Stratham, NH
https://www.scammanfarm.com/
Santa’s Village Trick or Treating
If you’ve been wondering about Halloween festivities at Santa’s Village, this post is for you! This year, Merry Trick-or-Treat is back! Every weekend in October (Saturdays and Sundays ) we’ll offer trick-or-treating throughout the park, the option to wear your costume, and some festive Halloween decor to complete your visit. Tickets must be purchased online in advance and will become available exactly one week prior to your planned visit date. Season pass holders, you’re welcome to join us without a reservation any date!
https://www.santasvillage.com/
Tickets are limited each day and are available online only, beginning one week prior to the planned visit date.
Looking for Local New Hampshire Pumpkin Patches?
Beech Hill Farm – Hopkinton NH
Carter Hill Orchard – Concord NH
Emery Farm – Durham NH
Moulton Farm – Meredith NH
Pustizzi Fruit Farm – Boscawen NH
Sherman Farm – Conway NH
Windy Ridge Orchard – North Haverhill NH
Get Lost in a Corn Maze!
Where will you begin?
Autumn is the perfect time to take in a fun farm adventure at many of our beautiful Lakes Region farms! Pick up a pumpkin and a bag of apples, and while you’re there,get lost in one of our region’s amazing corn mazes! When the corn is as high as an elephant’s eye, the farmers carve intricate pathways through their fields and let visitors make their way through finding adventure along the way… and keep an eye out as Halloween approaches as many of our local corn mazes get a bit spoooooooky!
Beans and Greens Farm in Gilford, NH
Beech Hill Farm in Hopkinton, NH
Brookdale Fruit Farm in Hollis, NH
Collins Farm in Bath, NH
Coppal House Farm in Lee, NH
Lavoies Farm in Hollis, NH
Lull Farm in Hollis, NH
Elwood Orchards in Londonderry, NH
Moulton Farm in Meredith, NH
Sherman Farm in Center Conway, NH
Trombly Gardens in Milford, NH
Washburn’s Windy Hill Orchard in Greenville, NH
Amazing Fall Events
Where will you begin your Adventure?
Total Eclipse of the Art
Meredith Fine Craft Gallery – League of NH Craftsmen 279 DW Highway, MeredithWeek of Events
Winter Lunch at Castle in The Clouds, Moultonborough, NH
Winter Lunch at Castle in The Clouds, Moultonborough, NH
Join us for Winter Lunch at Castle in the Clouds! Winter Lunch at the Castle is back and offers the perfect blend of delicious food, rustic ambiance, and winter fun […]
Snowshoe Nature Walk – Gunstock Mountain Resort – Gilford NH
Snowshoe Nature Walk – Gunstock Mountain Resort – Gilford NH
Strap on your snowshoes and join us for a fun and relaxing guided walk through our Nordic trails, along the brook and through our Wetlands Walk. Breathe in the fresh […]
Total Eclipse of the Art
Total Eclipse of the Art
The League of NH Craftsmen Meredith Fine Craft Gallery is excited for the Great North American Solar Eclipse and celebrating with an exhibit Total Eclipse of the ART. On April […]
Mexican Night At 405 Pub & Grill
Mexican Night At 405 Pub & Grill
Monday - Mexican Night at 405 Pub & Grill 405 Pub and Grill was designed with mingling in mind. The food is our own take on classic tavern fare, with […]
Total Eclipse of the Art
Total Eclipse of the Art
The League of NH Craftsmen Meredith Fine Craft Gallery is excited for the Great North American Solar Eclipse and celebrating with an exhibit Total Eclipse of the ART. On April […]
Tuesdays are for Pizza and Pasta!
Tuesdays are for Pizza and Pasta!
It's not quite Wednesday but you made it through Monday. Sounds like you need Buy One Get One Half Price pizza and pasta from the 405 Starting at 4pm! 405 […]
Total Eclipse of the Art
Total Eclipse of the Art
The League of NH Craftsmen Meredith Fine Craft Gallery is excited for the Great North American Solar Eclipse and celebrating with an exhibit Total Eclipse of the ART. On April […]
Wing Night at 405 Pub & Grill
Wing Night at 405 Pub & Grill
Chicken wings are perhaps the greatest pub food of them all, the perfect companion to drinking and watching sports. Since we were voted The Best of the Lakes Region Sports […]
Team Play Trivia at Tower Hill Tavern
Team Play Trivia at Tower Hill Tavern
Team Play Trivia every Wednesday Night! Game Time Trivia hosts a great version of general Knowledge trivia including Music and entertainment questions. Prizes for top 3 teams.
Total Eclipse of the Art
Total Eclipse of the Art
The League of NH Craftsmen Meredith Fine Craft Gallery is excited for the Great North American Solar Eclipse and celebrating with an exhibit Total Eclipse of the ART. On April […]
Total Eclipse of the Art
Total Eclipse of the Art
The League of NH Craftsmen Meredith Fine Craft Gallery is excited for the Great North American Solar Eclipse and celebrating with an exhibit Total Eclipse of the ART. On April […]
Live Piano Music – Fratello’s Italian Grille, Laconia NH
Live Piano Music – Fratello’s Italian Grille, Laconia NH
Live Piano Music on Friday’s and Sunday’s 799 Union Avenue, Laconia NH
Total Eclipse of the Art
Total Eclipse of the Art
The League of NH Craftsmen Meredith Fine Craft Gallery is excited for the Great North American Solar Eclipse and celebrating with an exhibit Total Eclipse of the ART. On April […]
Basket Making Classes – Inn on Golden Pond, Holderness NH
Basket Making Classes – Inn on Golden Pond, Holderness NH
Basket-making classes are coming to the Inn on Golden Pond! Basketmaker Suzanne Graul will be offering classes once a month to the public. Classes run from 10 AM to 3 […]
Winter Lunch at Castle in The Clouds, Moultonborough, NH
Winter Lunch at Castle in The Clouds, Moultonborough, NH
Join us for Winter Lunch at Castle in the Clouds! Winter Lunch at the Castle is back and offers the perfect blend of delicious food, rustic ambiance, and winter fun […]
Live Piano Music – Fratello’s Italian Grille, Laconia NH
Live Piano Music – Fratello’s Italian Grille, Laconia NH
Live Piano Music on Friday’s and Sunday’s 799 Union Avenue, Laconia NH
Lakes Region Trick or Treat Listings!
Bookmark this page as we will update listings as Halloween nears!
Seasonal FUN!
Great shopping, events, entertainment and more awaits during the any season in the NH Lakes Region! Come find out what's going on NOW in The Lakes Region!
Outdoor Adventures
Looking to get out and catch the natural beauty of the Lakes Region? Grab the family and get going!
Local Shopping
With specific item in mind or just looking for something you've never seen before... the Lakes Region is the place!
Explore More Lakes Region FUN!
Surf on over to lakesregionchamber.org and keep up-to-date on all of the fun happening in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire! Looking to be a member? Contact us!
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