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Fall Fairs, Festivals, and Oktoberfests, Oh My!

Here in the White Mountains, we love to celebrate all things fall, and one of our favorite ways to do that is to attend a fall fair or festival. Luckily, we have quite a few to choose from! Come enjoy all things pumpkin, all things beer, fair food, farm animals, lawn games, and simply enjoying the beautiful fall foliage in the White Mountains.

All Things Pumpkin Festival and the Return of the Pumpkin People-Jackson and Surrounding Towns-The Month of October

This festival takes all things fall very seriously. Tour the Mount Washington Valley's "Return of the Pumpkin People", where nearly 100 businesses will create and display pumpkin creatures and people on their lawns. On October 20, there will be hourly "All Things Pumpkin Tours" where visitors will take a horse-drawn sleigh ride through Jackson Village and taste and take home pumpkin edibles and keepsakes. The New England Pumpkin Carving Competition is the weekend of October 19-20, and snow sculpting artists come and show what they can do with pumpkins. There are many other fun events happening including pumpkin carving, pumpkin seed roasting, business open houses, and much more.

Brew Ha Ha Festival-King Pine and Purity Spring Resort-October 6

Hosted by Purity Spring Resort and held at the base of King Pine Ski Area, come to celebrate with craft beer, delicious food, live music, and fun and games for the whole family. Sample beer from local breweries, enjoy festival-style food and be a kid again while playing giant versions of Connect Four and Battleship. All of this set against the mountains and Purity Lake.

Fall Foliage Celebration-Waterville Valley-October 6-8

A great family event that includes free outdoor concerts, road races, kid's games, pumpkin painting, beer samples, a BBQ, live animal presentations and so much more!

The White Mountain Oktoberfest-Loon Mountain Resort-October 6-7

Get a taste of the Bavarian Alps at Loon Mountain during White Mountain Oktoberfest, the region's largest celebration of German food, drink, and music. All weekend long, an Oompah band will provide the soundtrack to a stein-hoisting contest, keg toss, and kids' activities - including a root beer keg toss water balloon launching and pumpkin painting. It's the perfect weekend to reconnect with old friends and make new ones during the weekend's full lineup of activities and entertainment.

The Sandwich Fair-Sandwich Fairgrounds-October 6-8

This annual agricultural fair is held Columbus Day weekend, and events include a Midway, agricultural competitions, food vendors, live music, an antique auto show, and much more. Take the back roads to the historic village of Sandwich and marvel at the beautiful fall foliage that surrounds you.

RiverFire Festival-The Androscoggin River in Berlin-October 13

At dusk, the historic logging boom piers that dot the Androscoggin River will be lit with fires. For RiverFire, these old piers will be stacked with skids, which when set aflame, create a dynamic contrast of light over the dark waters. Take a walk along the bridge and admire the wonderful glowing carved pumpkins on the bridge. Other activities that evening include: Pumpkins on the bridge, hay rides, duck races, Riverfire 5K race, Zombie ATV Poker Run, hot air balloon rides, the "Not So Scary" Halloween Party, costume parade, live music, food vendors, and more.

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This piece was originally published by the White Mountain Attractions Association, a detailed travel resource for the White Mountains Region of New Hampshire. Colleen Eliason works for the White Mountains Attractions Association, doing PR, social media marketing and content writing, and membership services and sales. When she's not promoting the White Mountains to tourists around the world, you can catch her taking photographs of landscapes and people, and exploring the White Mountains with her husband and 3-year-old daughter.