Fairs & festivals in NH entertain with music, food, art, outdoor fun

Informational Listings Courtesy of VisitNewEngland.com

Cultural Heritage Festival 2012

Northern Forest Heritage Park, 961 Main Street Berlin, NH Phone: 603-752-7202

June 3, 2012

This festival celebrate foods from Canadian, German, Irish, Italian, Native American, Norwegian and Russian heritages. Chefs will prepare bean-hole-beans, Canadian ragout, pets de soeur, potato candy, homemade donuts, Russian cabbage rolls, German bratwurst & sauerkraut, Norwegian meat cakes, Italian lasagna, Canadian meat pies, Irish cuisine, Cherokee Brunswick stew, French pea soup, Italian wedding soup, desserts and more. Entertainment by Patrick Ross and Tim Dion. Discounted River Boat tours all day. The Roy Family Farm in Milan will bring their animals for viewing. Special appearance by North Country Classics Car Club and their automobiles. Information: www.northernforestheritage.org/cf_main.htm

River Day and Wingzilla Family Block Party 2012

Northern Forest Heritage Park, 942 Main Street Berlin, NH 03570 Phone: 603-752-7202

June 16, 2012

River Day, a day of celebrating the Androscoggin River, is a day full of things to do and see. There will be a family fun float, a canoe/kayak race, exhibits and displays. Children will enjoy meeting two special guests, Woodsy Owl and Smoky Bear. Wingzilla, also celebrated on June 16, is a block party, barbeque chicken wing cook-off competition and horse shoe tournament. This an all-day fun occasion. There will be discounted river boat tours all day. The Roy Family Farm in Milan NH will bring their beautiful animals for viewing. Two great festivals, same day, same location. Information: http://www.northernforestheritage.org/rd_main.htm

Hillsborough Balloon Festival and Fair 2012

Grimes Field, Preston Street Hillsborough, NH 03244 Phone: 603-464-0377

July 19-22, 2012

Balloon launches, balloon rides, Hometown Parade on Sunday, art fair. Admission is free; parking if $5. Information and schedule: www.balloonfestival.org.

Our Old House Festival at the Moffatt-Ladd House – Portsmouth, NH

Moffatt-Ladd House and Garden, 154 Market Street Portsmouth, NH Phone: 603-436-8221

June 2, 2012

The festival will feature workshops and demonstrations throughout the house and garden about timber framing; colors and textiles; historic furnishings and decorative arts; herbs and flowers for the 18th century garden; bees and beekeeping in the 18th and 19th centuries; lighting the harbor in the 18th century; flower arranging; historic archaeology, and caring for the museum's trees. Family and children's activities like pirate crafts, treasure hunts, and making marbled paper and writing with a quill pen will be ongoing throughout the festival. On sale will be heirloom plants from the garden. The celebration culminates with a concert in the 18th-century warehouse at 4:45 p.m. Time: 1 to 4:30 p.m.; concert at 4:45 p.m.

Wentworth-Coolidge Lilac Festival 2012

Wentworth-Coolidge Mansion, 375 Little Harbor Road Portsmouth, NH Phone: 603-436-9889

May 26, 2012

This beloved Seacoast event features a wide array of activities for children & families, lilac enthusiasts, and history buffs. Activities include lilac lectures & sales, art projects treasure hunts, and an alpaca petting zoo. Artists participating in a plein air event will be onsite during the Festival and their work will be feature in an onsite gallery. Time: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission: Free. Information: www.wentworthcoolidge.org

Fields of Lupine Festival 2012

Franconia, Easton, Sugar Hill, Bethlehem, Littleton and Lisbon, NH Phone: 603-823-5661

June 1-17, 2012

Fields of Lupine Festival pays homage to this captivating wildflower. Retailers and restaurants will be offering, promotions, discounts, entertainment, and refreshments, as will museum and historic inn tours, an open-air market on Main Street Sugar Hill, and other locations throughout the communities all month long. Fields of Lupine Festival Program Tour Book is a calendar of daily and weekend events, a location map of Lupine fields and directions, interesting historical facts, as well as full details of special events, concerts and the open-air markets. Information and schedules: www.franconianotch.org/things-to-do/special-events/lupine-festival.aspx

Waterville Valley Chowderfest 2012

Village Center Waterville Valley, NH Phone: 800-GO-VALLEY

May 27, 2012

Area restaurants bring their chowders to booths at Town Square in hopes of winning the coveted prize of the Golden Clam Award, noon to 2 p.m. Vote for your favorite chowder to win the Golden Clam Award. Accompanied by a free concert from a great area band. Admission fee gets guests ample-sized tastes of each chowder and a ballot to vote for their favorite concoction. Time: Noon-4 p.m.

Wildquack Duck River Festival 2012

Jackson Village Park Jackson, NH Phone: 603-383-9356

May 27, 2012

This outdoor action-packed day centers upon the launch of 3,500 yellow rubber ducks into the river. Entertainment from the Duck Stage. Kids Decorated Ducks on Parade at 1 p.m.; silent auction from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Jackson Fire Department Obstacle Course & More; food vendors; pony rides; Jackson's Cake Boss Competition. Events begin at 7 a.m. Duck races at 1:45 and 2 p.m. Duck Tickets cost $6 each or $20 for 4 tickets. Information: www.jacksonnh.com