The summer is winding down and fall is around the corner, but don’t barricade yourself indoors just yet; there are still plenty of great things to do outside. The turning of the summer season is the time of year when outdoor festivals start cropping up all over New England.
Agricultural fairs are showing off the finest harvests, artists are taking the opportunity to shed some natural light on their wares and everyone wants to take advantage of the last warm days. So, get your family together and plan to make it to at least one of these fabulous events before you settle in for fall.
Vermont Festival of the Arts starts on the first day of August and goes through September 5, 2010. Taking into account that over a third of the 125 exhibits are free and that 50 of them are kid-friendly, it’s plain to see that this is no ordinary art show. What makes this festival so amazing is that it includes events held at over 50 different locations in Vermont. Gallery tours, culinary demonstrations and art lessons are just some of the great offerings. Check out www.vermontartfest.com to make sure you don’t miss any of your favorite events.
The 4th of July may be past us, but you don’t have to wait until next Independence Day for some fireworks fun. New Hampshire offers the Jaffrey Festival of Fireworks on Saturday, August 21, 2010, which includes the most impressive displays of fireworks in New England, food, live music and a sky diving demonstration. Visit www.monadnockregion.net/jaffreyfireworks.htm for more information.
While it may be true that the Big E comes at the very end of the fair season, it is certainly not a fair to skip. You can easily spend a full day visiting just one or two of the areas of this expo, so you may want to buy an extended pass. If you want to try to cram all the excitement into one day, you should check out a map of the fairground first thing in the morning and prioritize the things that you most want to see. Storrowton Village Museum, an authentic recreation of a 19th century New England town, is certainly not to be missed. Next, you can take a short walk to the Avenue of States where each replica state house offers the local crafts and food that make that part of New England famous. When the sun goes down, most people head over to the midway to enjoy the lights and carnival rides. The Big E is held from September 17 to October 3, 2010. For more information, visit www.thebige.com.
Summer conjures images of surf and sand and brings on cravings for fresh New England seafood. Head to Hampton Beach for the Hampton Beach Seafood Festival, held September 10 through 12, 2010 where you can take advantage of one of the last opportunities to eat delicious seafood while sitting on the beach in the warm sun. If lobster is your thing, you can take part in the lobster roll eating contest. For more information, visit www.hamptonbeachseafoodfestival.com.
The Champlain Valley Fair is held at a permanent expo center in Vermont that offers family entertainment throughout the year. The fair, running from August 28 to September 6, 2010, is definitely the biggest and most beloved of any event held in this location. People from all over New England flock to see the traditional agricultural displays, indulge in fairground foods and browse through the booths. This event offers so much more than just big pumpkins and fried dough, though, with top-of-the-line entertainers such as Justin Bieber rocking out on the main stage. Check out the fair’s website at www.cvexpo.org/2007Fair.aspx to get a full list of performances to watch out for.
There is so much to do in New England at the end of summer that boredom is simply not an option. Not only will driving to these fairs give you a great opportunity to see new parts of New England, they give you a great way to spend time with your friends and family and build memories that will last a lifetime.
