The Best Events Happening in March
This month brings a variety of events, from sugar shack visits to fundraisers, craft fairs, flower shows and more!
March means it’s time for Maple Weekend in New Hampshire, and sugar shacks and farms like Charmingfare Farm in Candia are each finding their own unique way to celebrate.
Tap Into Maple, Laconia, Weekends in March
Join the team at Prescott Farm every Saturday in March to experience an old-fashioned New England tradition — making maple syrup! From tapping a tree to tasting delicious maple syrup, participate hands-on in every step of the syrup making process. Environmental educators help attendees build tree ID skills, learn the parts of a tree and their functions, use measuring tools to find an appropriate tree to tap, use historical and modern tree tapping tools, learn the history of maple sugaring including Native American legends and discover the math/chemical/physical science in the boiling process. The program involves a 20-minute walk to the sugarhouse with an uphill hike back after the program. prescottfarm.org
Maple Express, Weekends in March, Candia
Step into the sweet splendor of March in New Hampshire by embarking on the Maple Express at Charmingfare Farm, a highlight of the state’s Maple Weekend celebrations! The horse-drawn or tractor train ride transports you into the heart of maple sugaring, all set within the scenic beauty of a thriving farm. Designed for enthusiasts of all ages, this maple event promises not only a taste of the freshest maple syrup but also a hands-on journey through its creation, just in time for the much-loved Maple Weekend. $29, times vary, Charmingfare Farm, 774 High St., Candia; visitthefarm.com
Beginner Tai Chi with Russell Jones from Sachem Health, March 6-27, Laconia
This four-week Tai Chi basics course will focus on balance, strength, flexibility and leg strength in one-hour sessions. No sign-up is required, and participants should wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing suitable for movement and plan to attend all four classes. 1 p.m.- 2 p.m., Laconia Rotary Hall, 695 N. Main St., Laconia; laconianh.gov
New England Colonial Trade Fair, March 7-8, Dover
See New England’s finest artisans and traders who are keeping early American history alive! $5, Saturday, 9 a.m.- 5 p.m., Sunday, 9 a.m.- 2 p.m., Dover Lodge of Elks #184, 282 Durham Rd., Dover; ellisriverknifeworks.com
See New England’s finest artisans and traders who are keeping early American history alive! $5, Saturday, 9 a.m.- 5 p.m., Sunday, 9 a.m.- 2 p.m., Dover Lodge of Elks #184, 282 Durham Rd., Dover; ellisriverknifeworks.com
The 5th Annual New England Specialty Foods & Craft Festival, March 7-8, Hampton
Visit the Seacoast for food, fun & shopping thousands of handmade products! Find 125 Exhibitors of handmade wares and Specialty Foods, live music, food samples, cocktails & cold craft brews, face painting and workshops all weekend long! There’s event a $100 cash door prize for everyone who attends! $7 two day admission (with free entry after 3 p.m. on Saturday), 10 a.m.- 4 p.m., The Rim Sports Complex, 311 Winnacunnet Rd Bldg B, Hampton; gnecraftartisanshows.com
On Tap for CASA, Hooksett, March 7
At this fundraiser for CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) of New Hampshire, participants aim to keep their teams’ barstools occupied for 10 hours without abandoning the post while competing in a variety of fun competitions to gain points, including trivia, stein hoisting and more. Come for the cause, stay for the friendly competition. All participant spots will likely be filled by early-March, but interested persons can donate and drop by the event for music, raffles and libations offered throughout the 10-hour event. All proceeds go toward recruitment and training of CASA volunteer advocates, ordinary women and men advocating for abused or neglected children in New Hampshire’s court system. donate.casanh.org
Bloom- A Floral Palette, March 12-15, Manchester
This beautiful exhibition is rooted in partnership. In the inaugural season of Bloom, the New Hampshire Federation of Garden Clubs has partnered with the Currier to create 18 Currier-inspired custom arrangements that have been crafted by Garden Club members. Visitors will discover floral arrangements in a fresh experience for all ages. Ticket prices and times vary, Currier Museum of Art, 150 Ash St., Manchester; currier.org
Citizens Shamrock Half Marathon, Relay and Shuffle, Virtual or In-Person, Manchester, March 14
Throw on your green sneakers and get moving on your own or on a relay team. The half marathon and relay course is a one-of-a-kind, multi-loop, spectator-friendly, 13.1-mile course in downtown Manchester with cheer zones and relay exchange zones at the Wild Rover Irish Pub and Shaskeen Irish Pub. milleniumrunning.com
NH State Home Show, March 14-15, Manchester
Mark your calendars for the home event of the year! Produced by the professionals at the New Hampshire Home Builders Association this is the one show of the year to attend and interact with builders, remodelers, decorators, landscapers and all types of home solutions providers. The latest in home-related products and services will be showcased – everything from air quality to mortgages, hot tubs to custom home builders, and custom closets to fabulous kitchens and baths. With over 200 vendors and exhibitors covering all aspects of the home building/remodeling industry plus items in the “Made in New England” and “Beer & Wine Garden” areas, this is a home event that you won’t want to miss. $10, Saturday, 10 a.m.- 6 p.m. and Sunday, 10 a.m.- 4 p.m., Doubletree by Hilton, 700 Elm St., Manchester; nhstatehomeshow.com
2026 Battle of the Badges Hockey Championship, March 15, Manchester
The Battle of the Badges Hockey Championship presented by the Elliot Perry Foundation, will bring together police officers, firefighter and first responders on the ice at the SNHU Arena to celebrate 18 years of hockey and philanthropy in support of Dartmouth Health Children’s and the Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center (CHaD). The annual Battle of Good vs. Good is a fun, competitive event that fundraises for critical programs and services that children and families rely on every day at Dartmouth Health Children’s and CHaD. Funds from the Battle of the Badges Hockey Championship support the Child Life Program, Pediatric Mental Health Access Initiative, Child Advocacy and Prevention Program, family resource centers, and the CHaD Social Work Team, among others. Plus, the Kids Zone is back this year with painting, games, and more! New this year is the Ultimate Badges Fan Ticket offered via Ticketmaster, which includes front-row reserved seating, a $10 food voucher, and a 10% discount on any one game day merch item, all for $45 (+fees) per person! Seats are limited. Annually, Dartmouth Health Children’s and CHaD sees over 90,000 unique patients, many of whom benefit from funds raised through community fundraising activities such as the Battle of the Badges Hockey Championship. $16, 1 p.m., SNHU Arena, 555 Elm St., Manchester; snhuarena.com
Maple Weekend, March 21-22, Locations Vary
Celebrate all things maple this Maple Weekend! Plan a weekend that celebrates and supports NH’s maple producers! Visit a sugarhouse, and learn about the process that brings delicious NH maple syrup to your table. With special events, and samples of mouth-watering maple products, this build-your-own maple weekend is one you won’t want to miss. Locations vary; nhmaplemap.com
Waypoint SleepOut , Manchester, Rochester, March 27
Spend a night out in the cold in solidarity with youth enduring homelessness in New Hampshire. SleepOut raises community awareness and funds to support essential services for young people who are experiencing homelessness in New Hampshire. Each year an estimated 15,000 young people experience homelessness in the state. Through SleepOut, participants spend a night outside each March to stand in solidarity with these young people. SleepOut supports New Hampshire’s only low-barrier emergency youth shelter and safe space located in Manchester, youth drop-in centers in Manchester and Rochester, and a range of support services that lead to long-term stability. Participates in SleepOut will sleep remotely outside in a location of their choosing. This change is a direct response to the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in July 2024 regarding Grants Pass vs. Johnson which allows municipalities to criminalize sleeping in public places. The public is invited to join at Bronstein Park in Manchester to hear youth share their experiences and to help spotlight this issue. The event also features artwork by local youth, displayed at Waypoint’s Youth Drop-in Center at 298 Hanover Street. Art will be open for public viewing beginning at 5:00 p.m., followed by the full SleepOut program. waypointnh.org
Looking for a few other things to do around the state as winter comes to a close? Check out our New Hampshire Winter Survival Guide.
