The 10 Best Free Events Happening in October
Where you can have fun on (less than) a dime this month
A wide variety of fall festivals, like the New Hampshire Pumpkin Festival in Laconia (pictured here), are among this month’s best free events. Photo by Robert Clifford Photography
1. Apple Harvest Day, Dover, October 5
This year marks the 35th anniversary for this signature Dover event. Attendees can expect to find more than 350 craft and food booths, multiple stages with live entertainment and a special kids’ area with bounce houses, wildlife encounters and more. dovernh.org
2. 23rd Annual Lincoln Craft Festival, Lincoln, October 12-14
The shops and town green along Main Street in Lincoln will burst into color and flavor for this annual fair. Enjoy the crisp autumn air and mountain foliage while looking through the works of over 125 artisans. There will be traditional American made arts and crafts and samplings of specialty artisan foods. castleberryfairs.com
3. Monadnock Art Tour, various, October 12-14
Sure, you can use the open studios of this tour as a miles-wide art shopping mall, but this annual event doesn’t have to cost any more than the price of gas. Use the tour map to chart a course through the 50 artist studio open houses, then enjoy a leisurely drive through the region’s best art and best foliage. And if you are looking to buy, you’re in luck — many stops on the tour include works on sale at discounted, this-weekend-only rates. monadnockart.org
4. New Hampshire Pumpkin Festival, Laconia, October 18-19
Create, carve and experience your way through this street festival and enjoy booths from vendors like Sweetest Memories, Wild Bill’s Soda, Pat’s Apple Crisp and more. Don’t forget to bring a jack-o-lantern for the impressive pumpkin tower. nhpumpkinfestival.com
5. New England & Jackson Invitational Pumpkin Carving Competition, Jackson, October 18-19
The town of Jackson has always gone all out with their fall festivities — a monthlong Pumpkin People challenge, a two-week All Things Pumpkin fest — but this second annual event is the one you can’t miss. More than a dozen teams will bring their gourd-carving prowess to this contest, so come ready to watch the artists’ two days of carving and to peep the finished products at the end of the weekend. jacksonnh.com
6. RiverFire, Berlin, October 19
By day, this free festival includes standard fall fun such as hay rides, a Halloween party and food, but the true spectacle comes after dark. Lit pumpkins on the bridges and small fires on the boom piers of the Androscoggin River create the illusion that the river itself is aflame. Bring your camera and prepare for some stunning, zero-cost sights. androscogginvalleychamber.com
7. Nashua ArtWalk Weekend, Nashua, October 19-20
Now in its 15th year, this showcase calls itself the largest arts festival in southern New Hampshire. It’s a great opportunity to shop local — from both the participating artists and performers and the restaurants you’ll find along the ArtWalk route — but, if you’re low on cash, there’s plenty to see for free. In addition to browsing the art, catch live music, enjoy craft demonstrations, and stay tuned for a number of other festivities to be announced as the weekend approaches. cityartsnashua.org
8. “It’s Pastel,” Portsmouth, October 25-November 30
More than 80 pastel paintings from award-winning, critically acclaimed artists across the country will be on view in the landmark Academy Gallery. pastelsocietynh.com
9. Halloween Town, Madison, October 26
Madison is turning itself into a Halloween town that has the vibes of the 1998 classic “Halloweentown.” Two hundred volunteers are coming together for the 11th annual event with the desire to offer kids the opportunity to enjoy walking around a “neighborhood” and visit houses trick-or-treat style. There will also be a kid carnival, petting farm, food court, hot air balloon rides, entertainment and the incredible “trick-or-treat trail.” halloweentownnh.thelaurafoundation.org
10. Portsmouth Halloween Parade, Portsmouth, October 31
There’s all kinds of free fun (and free candy) to be had around the state on October 31, but for the granddaddy of all New Hampshire Halloween events, mark your calendars for this storied community parade. Suit up in your best costumes and march through downtown Portsmouth on this annual dose of grassroots spookiness. We guarantee that you’ve never seen something quite like it before. portsmouthhalloweenparade.org
11. Bonus event! The Corbin Covered Bridge Festival, Newport, October 12-14
This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Corbin Bridge being rebuilt, and the town of Newport is celebrating with music, fun, food, demonstrations, crafts, antique cars, a parade and much more. corbincoveredbridgefestival.com
