The Annual Craftsmen’s Fair, now in its 93rd year, is one of the oldest and most prestigious craft fairs in the country. Held over nine days each August at Mount Sunapee Resort in Newbury, NH, the Fair showcases the juried work of hundreds of master artisans from the League of NH Craftsmen. Visitors can browse and shop high-quality, handmade pieces ranging from pottery, glass, and fiber art to woodworking, metalwork, and fine jewelry.

Beyond the booths, the Fair offers a rich lineup of interactive demonstrations, live craft-making, workshops, and curated exhibitions that bring the creative process to life. It’s a hands-on celebration of traditional and contemporary craft that draws over 20,000 attendees each year—from collectors and designers to families and curious newcomers. Whether you're looking to take home a one-of-a-kind piece or simply experience the artistry in action, the Annual Craftsmen’s Fair offers something for everyone.

Down the road in North Thornton, the White Mountain Boogie N' Blues Festival has been drawing music lovers to the mountains for nearly three decades. This is no small-town affair: the festival earned the Blues Foundation's "Keeping the Blues Alive" award for Best U.S. Blues Festival, and its lineups read like a who's who of the genre. The 2026 edition features Grammy winner Ruthie Foster, BMA-nominated Southern Avenue, JUNO Award winner Dawn Tyler Watson, and Billboard chart-topper Albert Cummings, among many others. Add local food vendors, craft beer, fireworks, and even children's activities, and you have a festival that pairs world-class music with an easygoing, open-air mountain setting.

Our recommendation: This is a full-day, bring-a-chair kind of event, so settle in and stay awhile. Tickets and the full lineup are at whitemountainboogie.com, and on-site camping is available if you want to make a weekend of it. It is an easy drive south from the inn, which makes it a perfect pairing for a summer getaway built around live music.

Each September, Loon Mountain Resort transforms into a corner of the Scottish Highlands for one of the largest and most diverse Highland Games in North America. The 2026 festival runs September 18 to 20, landing right at the start of New England's fall foliage season. Over three days you can take in heavy athletics competitions, Highland dancing, sheep dog trials, massed pipe bands, and pageantry, then wander Vendor Village or sit in on a seminar covering everything from Scottish cooking to genealogy. There are hands-on Try-It classes in stone lifting and street curling, special kids programming, and plenty of food and drink, making it a genuine all-ages experience whether or not you have Scottish roots.

Our recommendation: This is a marquee regional event, so buy tickets in advance at nhscot.org and plan for a full day. Parking is in Lincoln and Woodstock with free shuttles to the resort, so leave the car and ride in. Going for the athletics? The heavy events and massed bands are the showstoppers. Pair it with a foliage drive and you have a perfect early-fall weekend.

Each September, Loon Mountain Resort transforms into a corner of the Scottish Highlands for one of the largest and most diverse Highland Games in North America. The 2026 festival runs September 18 to 20, landing right at the start of New England's fall foliage season. Over three days you can take in heavy athletics competitions, Highland dancing, sheep dog trials, massed pipe bands, and pageantry, then wander Vendor Village or sit in on a seminar covering everything from Scottish cooking to genealogy. There are hands-on Try-It classes in stone lifting and street curling, special kids programming, and plenty of food and drink, making it a genuine all-ages experience whether or not you have Scottish roots.

Our recommendation: This is a marquee regional event, so buy tickets in advance at nhscot.org and plan for a full day. Parking is in Lincoln and Woodstock with free shuttles to the resort, so leave the car and ride in. Going for the athletics? The heavy events and massed bands are the showstoppers. Pair it with a foliage drive and you have a perfect early-fall weekend.