Held in historic downtown Laconia, the annual New Hampshire Pumpkin Festival attracts upward of 40,000 visitors during its two-day run. In addition to the obvious draw (20,000 carved pumpkins clustered around downtown and lined up on a 34-foot tower), offerings include a lively assortment of traditional fair foods, rides, and live music, plus events such as a pumpkin pancake breakfast, pumpkin cook-off, and zombie walk.
The festival began in Keene, New Hampshire, in 1991, where it quickly became one of the most popular seasonal events in New England (making it a shoo-in for our list of “Best Pumpkin Festivals in New England”). It set and broke the Guinness record for the greatest number of lighted jack-o’-lanterns multiple times until the event’s most recent “break,” in 2013; that year’s number of 30,581 still holds. After the 2014 festival, which was marred by disruptive “riots” at nearby Keene State College, the Keene City Council opted to reject the festival’s permit, leading to the move to Laconia. In the years since, the festival has settled into its new home and continues to grow in popularity. Here’s a look at our visit to the 2017 New Hampshire Pumpkin Festival in photos.
New Hampshire Pumpkin Festival 2019
Friday, October 18, 2019, from 4 to 8 p.m.
Saturday, October 19, 2019, from noon to 8 p.m.
Scenes from the New Hampshire Pumpkin Festival
The New Hampshire Pumpkin Festival has been held in downtown Laconia, at the southern tip of the Lakes Region, since 2015. Photo Credit : Aimee TuckerFestival swag for sale. Photo Credit : Aimee TuckerHorse-drawn carriage rides are just one of the many activities on offer. Photo Credit : Aimee TuckerFair food and children’s rides, including a gigantic slide and a bungee jump, make the New Hampshire Pumpkin Festival a family-friendly event. Photo Credit : Aimee TuckerIn addition to the pumpkin tower, thousands of community-carved pumpkins line the sidewalks downtown. Photo Credit : Aimee TuckerLive music keeps the festival crowds entertained. Photo Credit : Aimee TuckerAs dusk descends, the New Hampshire Pumpkin Festival tower begins to glow. Photo Credit : Aimee TuckerIts central location and historic brick charm make Laconia an ideal spot for the New Hampshire Pumpkin Festival. Photo Credit : Aimee TuckerAfter the festival ends, the pumpkins are donated to local farms, where they’re a favorite snack (especially for pigs). Photo Credit : Aimee TuckerJust steps from the festival hub, Laconia’s 1823 Belknap Mill offers the perfect parting shot. Photo Credit : Aimee Tucker
Have you ever attended the New Hampshire Pumpkin Festival?
This post was first published in 2017 and has been updated.
Aimee Tucker is Yankee Magazine’s Home Editor and the Senior Digital Editor of NewEngland.com. A lifelong New Englander and Yankee contributor since 2010, Aimee has written columns devoted to history, foliage, retro food, and architecture, and regularly shares her experiences in New England travel, home, and gardening. Her most memorable Yankee experiences to date include meeting Stephen King, singing along to a James Taylor Fourth of July concert at Tanglewood, and taking to the skies in the Hood blimp for an open-air tour of the Massachusetts coastline.
