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Hopkinton State Fair, Contoocook, Aug. 29 to September 2

New Hampshire has no shortage of storied fairs, and kicking off the season of fall agricultural fun is the 109-year-old Hopkinton State Fair. From demolition derbies and educational exhibits to livestock shows and decadent fried dough, this Labor Day weekend tradition is fun for the whole family. This year, the world famous frisbee dogs, the Disc-Connected K9s, will be preforming all three days of the fair! hsfair.org

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UFO Festival, Exeter, August 31 – September 2

Celebrating the reported Exeter UFO sighting (“The Incident at Exeter”) by Betty and Barney Hill in 1965, the town’s beloved extraterrestrial fest returns for its 12^th year this Labor Day Weekend. Welcoming hardcore ufologists and mischief makers alike, the Exeter UFO Festival features accomplished speakers giving talks on the state of extraterrestrial research at town hall, activities for kids of all ages. The festival also offers collectables like tee shirts, hats, sweatshirts and more! exeterufofestival.org.

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Guided Hut-to-Hut Hiking: Presidential Traverse, Begins AMC Joe Dodge Lodge, September 4- 8

Embark on a Hut-to-Hut hiking adventure along the iconic Presidential Peaks in the heart of the White Mountains, a journey that not only promises the grandeur of the Northeast’s highest peaks but also offers an unforgettable community and connection to nature. This trip is designed for nature enthusiasts eager to immerse themselves in the rugged beauty of the White Mountains while enjoying the camaraderie of fellow hikers and the expertise of our knowledgeable AMC Guides. activities.outdoors.org

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Hampton Beach Seafood Festival, Hampton Beach, September 6-8

Sendoff summer with a bang at the 35^th annual Hampton Beach Seafood Festival! With over 50 local food vendors located up and down the boulevard, make sure to bring your appetite. Get ready to “Rock ‘n’ (Lobster) Roll” with a weekend-long lineup of music and live entertainment at two music stages. With a 5k, a Lobster Roll Eating Concert and so much more, this is a beach weekend you won’t want to miss. (603) 926-8718; seafoodfestivalnh.com

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Stroll among Strawbery Banke Museum’s historic houses and gardens, while sampling wonderful wines offered by local wine brokers and wineries and enjoying delicious appetizers prepared by greater Seacoast-area top chefs and caterers. The mini wine auction adds to the excitement of the evening – and the funds raised for Strawbery Banke educational programs and preservation efforts. strawberybanke.org

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Each September, hundreds of people gather in beautiful Auburn to enjoy a family-friendly and fun-filled day to benefit the Auburn Historical Association. The cornerstone for this annual event is the famous duck race, which awards cash prizes for the 10 fastest ducks, including $1,000 for first place. Other event highlights a petting farm, a climbing wall, Wanda the Clown, plenty of New Hampshire artisans and vendors, food and more. auburnhistorical.org

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For a 16^th year, the Hampton Falls Town Common will come alive with music and fun as over 75 Juried artisans from all over New England will display and sell their American made works. castleberryfairs.com

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All are invited to this open sailing race from Portsmouth Harbor to Gosport Harbor at the Isles of Shoals. Spectators are welcome to enjoy the sailing competition from the deck of M/V Thomas Laighton, Isles of Shoals Steamship Company. There will also be festivities after the race for the whole family, such as an award ceremony, delicious barbecue, music, kite festival and games and activities for children. starisland.org/regatta

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Gangstagrass is a multi-racial collective of musicians who demolish every preconception you have about country music and hip-hop music. These string pickers and MCs create a shared cultural space for dialogue and connection between folks that usually never intersect. The boundaries are gone and Gangstagrass is out there doing things nobody thought would work but when you hear it you know, down in your soul, that it does work. Gangstagrass is here to help us party together with an irresistible blend of America’s rural and urban music traditions. bethlehemcolonial.com

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NH Highland Games & Festival, Loon Mountain Resort, Lincoln, September 20-22

Heading north for this beloved fest, you could almost convince yourself that the mountains on the horizon are the rolling hills of the Scottish Highlands — and once you hear the bagpipes and spot the sea of tartan on the festival grounds, you’ll really start believing it. Heavy athletics, dancing, music and arts are all on the docket this year, as are other fun festival activities. nhscot.org

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LebFest, Lebanon, September 21

LebFest is a family-centered, free community event for all ages with over 70 booths of activities, games, crafts, raffles, local vendors, music, food vendors and a Mac & Cheese competition featuring local restaurants. LebFest celebrates the Upper Valley community as a great place to live and raise a family! lebanonnh.gov

 

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Celebrate 10 years of beers at the combo brewfest and 5K race held by the Kiwanis Club of Claremont, where attendees can sample beers from more than 30 New England breweries and vote for your favorite. $10-$50. The VIP hour is from 12 to 1 p.m. (and will have special brews only available during the hour) with general admission from 1 to 4 p.m. claremontbrewfest.com

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Don’t miss this fabulous arts and crafts fair with over 90 amazing artisans. Elise will demonstrate her chainsaw artistry during the fair both days! Some of the exhibits will include handsome soy candles, goat milk soaps, gourmet honey, amazing chainsaw wood carvings, soft sculpture, amazing leather jewelry, NH maple syrup products, pottery, 3D toys, CBD products, hand-poured soaps/personal care products, charcuterie boards, cribbage boards, amazing wildlife and landscape photography, pet products, clothing, books, American wooden flags, essential oils and lots more. Friendly, leashed dogs are welcome. This craft fair is held rain or shine. lakesregion.org

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Portsmouth Fairy House Tours, Portsmouth, September 21-22

The world’s largest fairy house tour is back for a weekend of magic. Peruse the enchanted fairy and gnome homes, watch a ballet, visit Pickwick’s Fairy Bazaar, take a photo in the fairy photobooth, add a bit of whimsy to your outfit at the fairy face painting studio and more. Tour more than 250 fairy houses made by professionals, community members, and students. portsmouthfairyhousetour.com

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Granite State Comic Con, Manchester, September 21- 22

New Hampshire’s premier comic and pop culture festival returns for its 21^st year. Drop on by the DoubleTree by Hilton Downtown in Manchester to unite over your most ecstatic fandom, whether that’s listening to guest speakers like actor Kevin Eastman and gaming creator Steve Jackson, or digging the vendors and exhibitors set up in the hotel’s Expo and Armory areas. You can even shelebrate 40 years of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles with a special screening of the 1990 live action film, with a Q&A with the actors before the movie! granitecon.com

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Enjoy more than 25 breweries serving up samples of delicious beer, mead and seltzer all along the Merrimack River in downtown Manchester, while supporting a good cause. This year’s event will benefit the Friends of Manchester Animal Shelter. mancheterbrewfest.com

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