August in New England: Best Events and Things to Do
Don’t leave August fun to chance. Yankee’s your bestie, enticing you to experience New England’s stellar August events and scoop up the region’s late-summer deals.
By Kim Knox Beckius|Jul 30 2026|
The food vendors at Rhode Island's annual Charlestown Seafood Festival serve more than your everyday chowder and lobster rolls.
Credit: Charlestown Seafood FestivalSummer days are numbered once the eighth month of the year rolls around. So before daylight hours contract, there’s a chill in the morning air, and the kids head back to school, make plans to live like August is the best month in New England. Because many New Englanders will tell you … this is true.
Even if it’s been decades since you went back to school, the pressure’s on to have interesting experiences to share when you’re asked: What did you do on your summer vacation? From staycations that feel more like playcations to eclectic learning escapes for grownups, Yankee always knows the answers to this assignment. And we love it when you copy our homework like this Mainer did!
So here are my top New England event picks for August weekends, along with some brand new attractions making their debut this month. I’ll also give you the lowdown on August travel deals that have caught my eye and tell you how to attend a tasty Yankee-sponsored weekend event at Spruce Peak.
New This Month in New England
Credit: courtesy of The Great Elephant Migration/Photo by Ami Vitale
The Great Elephant Migration | Boston, MA
It’s been two years since The Great Elephant Migration first appeared in New England, and if, like me, you’ve been kicking yourself because you missed seeing100 life-size elephants made from natural materials by Indigenous artisans from India’s Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve while they were in Newport in 2024, you are in luck! These globe-trotting elephants are taking up residence on Boston’s Commonwealth Avenue Mall, from Arlington Street to Fairfield Street, August 8 through September 13. It’s free to visit with them and to be moved by the story they tell about human-wildlife coexistence.
Poland Spring Water – The Source, The Song, The Story | Poland, ME
You’ll be henceforth humming a tune every time you twist the cap off a bottle of Poland Spring water when you attend the world premiere of a new show, Poland Spring Water – The Source, The Song, The Story, hosted by the nonprofit Poland Spring Preservation Society on Friday, August 21, and Saturday, August 22, at the Poland Spring Bottling Museum. The cast features a mix of local talent and visiting actors from NYC, and audience members are invited to dress in vintage 20th-century attire. Tickets are $50 online in advance or $60 at the door (if available). Book a stay at the adjacent Poland Spring Resort during the weekend of August 21–23, and you’ll save 10% off your room with promo code THEATER.
Weekend of August 1-2, 2026
Credit: Kim Knox Beckius
Maine Lobster Festival | Rockland, ME
Opening July 29 and serving up fun straight through August’s first weekend, the Maine Lobster Festival is as much about entertainment as it is about delicious crustaceans. Bands and indie artists take the stage, and The Big Parade on Saturday is always something to see. A dog show on Friday, July 31, is one of the newest additions to the festivities, and you can dress up your pup and compete for prizes (register by July 30). Festival admission is free. Here’s a hint from me: If you find a food vendor dishing up smoked shrimp, you have to try it.
Salem 400+ Heritage Days Parade | Salem, MA
Salem hasn’t had a Heritage Days Parade for more than 30 years, but the tradition returns on Saturday, August 1, in commemoration of the city’s quadricentennial (and you thought America’s semiquincentennial was a big deal!). “Salem Through the Centuries” is the theme of this spectacle, which will depict Salem’s many intriguing chapters, from its Indigenous roots to the present day.
Western Maine Private Garden Tour | Paris, ME
On Saturday, August 1, set out on a self-guided tour of nine distinctive private gardens that are rarely on view to the public. Then return to McLaughlin Garden and Homestead in Paris to mingle with other garden lovers at a complimentary reception for participants from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Tickets for the Western Maine Private Garden Tour are $40 in advance, and Yankee readers can save 10% off their tour with the exclusive coupon code Yankee10.
Yankee Homecoming | Newburyport, MA
The nation’s longest continuously held homecoming festival invites visitors to feel a part of a New England seaside community. Newburyport’s been hosting this week-long celebration since 1958, and this year’s Yankee Homecoming festivities run from July 25 straight through Sunday, August 2. Try to arrive on Friday evening, July 31, for the Lions Club Bed Race, which is not something you see every day. Fireworks on Saturday, August 1, and a parade on Sunday, August 2, cap off a memorable slate that also includes a marketplace, sidewalk sales, concerts, heritage tours, and workouts on the waterfront.
Sunflower Festival | Lee, NH
Catch the final weekend of the 2026 Sunflower Festival at Coppal House Farm. More than just a stunning golden field of blooming sunflowers, this annual event features live music, local crafts, and family-friendly activities.
Weekend of August 8-9, 2026
Charlestown Seafood Festival | Charlestown, RI
Southern New England has its own celebration of seafood this month. Head to the 41st Annual Charlestown Seafood Festival, which runs Friday through Sunday, August 7–9, for everything from chowder and raw oysters to lobster rolls and fish and chips. There’s non-stop entertainment and a fireworks display on Saturday night. You can even park your RV and spend the entire weekend indulging. Actually, there’s so much to love about Charlestown, you may want to extend your stay.
Credit: Windwood Productions
Craftsmen’s Fair | Newbury, NH
It’s the 93rd year for the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen’s annual Craftsmen’s Fair, held at Mount Sunapee Resort. This is actually the second and final weekend of the event’s nine-day, August 1–9, run. Featuring handcrafted goods across all media, it’s an opportunity to shop or to simply be inspired by the creativity of hundreds of the League’s juried members.
Massachusetts Sales Tax Holiday | Statewide (MA)
Want to get a jump on your back-to-school (and holiday) shopping? Massachusetts Tax-Free Weekend is August 8 and 9, and most items priced at up to $2,500 are exempt from sales tax. Keep your eye out for retail promotions statewide that add to the 6.25% savings shoppers will realize by timing their purchases just right.
Weekend of August 15-16, 2026
Credit: Sarah Salvasco/Spruce Peak
A Taste of New England | Stowe, VT
Yankee is once again teaming up as media partner for A Taste of New England at Spruce Peak Resort. This immersive culinary weekend featuring top New England chefs kicks off Thursday, August 13, with “A Taste of Vermont,” a special five-course meal prepared by some of the state’s most notable chefs. You can buy tickets for one event, like Friday evening’s sampling extravaganza with a cast of star chefs, or for all of them. Saturday night’s Chef Collaboration Dinner is an extraordinary feast, featuring five courses prepared by five chefs, expertly paired with selections from the Rare Wine Co. (plus dessert!).
Credit: Fred Collins
John Williams Film Night | Lenox, MA
You’ve never seen beloved movies like this! On Saturday, August 15, spread out a stellar picnic on the lawn at Tanglewood, and view movie clips on large screens as the Boston Pops Orchestra, under the direction of Ken-David Masur, plays excerpts from iconic scores by John Williams. The Maestro of the Movies program will delight fans of Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Harry Potter, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, and other films Williams musically brought to life.
Black Ships Festival | Newport and Bristol, RI
A culturally immersive weekend awaits as the Japan-America Society hosts the 43rd annual Black Ships Festival, with many free and some ticketed events, August 14–15. On Saturday, August 15, Bristol’s Independence Park is the setting for a full slate of free activities, from an abbreviated Japanese tea ceremony to taiko drumming performances. Round out your experience by booking a spot on a Sushi-Sake Sail on Friday or Sunday.
Green Mountain Bluegrass & Roots Festival | Manchester, VT
Four days of live bluegrass, roots, and Americana music kick off on August 13 and continue clear through the third weekend in August, as Hunter Park at Northshire Civic Center hosts the Green Mountain Bluegrass & Roots Festival. Camping is an option (reserve in advance), but even if you only opt for a day pass, you’ll feel part of this community of music lovers.
Weekend of August 22-23, 2026
The Dream Ride Experience | Farmington, CT
The nonprofit Hometown Foundation’s signature fundraising event attracts auto enthusiasts to the Farmington Polo Grounds for a weekend of cars and camaraderie. The Dream Ride Experience is many events in one, and the focal point is the Dream Cruise, which pairs exotic car owners with Dream Riders—individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities—for a drive to remember. Spectators get to see these super cars on display during Sunday’s Dream Show on August 23. Dream Ride Weekend also features entertainment, a Family Fun Zone, adaptive sports activities, pet adoption opportunities, and the Dream Ride Gold Cup polo match. Purchase individual event tickets online.
Live Freely Fest at Applecrest Farm | Hampton Falls, NH
Shop and support the 125 women-owned businesses that will gather at Applecrest Farm on August 22 and 23 for the third annual Live Freely Fest. There’ll be live music and family activities to round out the experience, and with free admission, you can spend your dollars uplifting entrepreneurs and scoring nifty gifts.
Weekend of August 29-30, 2026
North Country Moose Festival | Colebrook, NH, and Canaan, VT
For the 36th year, the North Country Moose Festival is your excuse to plan a moose safari. Even if you don’t spy one of these majestic mammals in nearby Dixville Notch State Park, there’ll be plenty of moose sightings starting with Friday-night festivities in Colebrook, New Hampshire, on August 28. The festival moves across state lines to Canaan, Vermont, on Saturday, August 29, for an old-fashioned country fair and moose’t-see events like Cow Plop Bingo and the Moose Calling Contest.
Porchfest | Wethersfield, CT
The oldest town in Connecticut is anything but sleepy, especially on Saturday, August 29, when Porchfest turns architecturally beautiful Wethersfield into an outdoor concert venue. With more than 35 bands and musicians performing and more than 100 vendors adding to the allure of Main Street, you’re in for an unforgettable day of free entertainment.
August’s Best Travel Deals
Credit: Great Wolf Lodge
Great Wolf Lodge 8/4 Flash Sale | Mashantucket, CT, and Fitchburg, MA
Great Wolf Lodge’s two New England resorts are famous for keeping their indoor waterparks a comfortable 84 degrees year-round, and for one day only, 8/4, room nights through December 17 are on sale from just $84 double occupancy, inclusive of resort fees and waterpark admission. Use the code 84DEGREES when booking either location, starting at 12:01 a.m. on August 4 and before the clock strikes midnight. The discount is available for Sunday through Thursday nights, and holiday periods are excluded.
Credit: Bistro du Midi
Dine Out Boston
Boston’s annual summer dining promotion makes August 1–15 the best time of the year to eat out in the city. Dine Out Boston participating restaurants (there are more than 150!) offer prix fixe lunch and dinner menus at set prices that typically reflect a savings over à la carte pricing, and chefs step up their creativity for these meal deals. How tempting is the beet gnocchi (pictured above) on the Dine Out Boston menu at Bistro du Midi?
Yankee Out & About in August
Join senior food editor and Weekends with Yankee co-host Amy Traverso in Stowe for A Taste of New England at Spruce Peak August 13-15 (details above).
Season 10 of our public television show Weekends with Yankee has been airing on stations nationwide since April, but this month, Create TV makes the series available everywhere, kicking off with a “Seaside Summer” marathon August 7–9 featuring fan-favorite coastal episodes. Tune into Create every Monday starting August 24 to see this season’s new episodes, airing at 10:30 a.m., 5:30 p.m., and 10:30 p.m. through the end of November.
Editor at Large Mel Allen’s New England book tour continues this month, with stops in Massachusetts, Maine, and New Hampshire. You can also order Here in New England, a compilation of Mel’s best Yankee stories, from the New England Store.
