If you’ve been following me on Instagram or Facebook you’ve probably seen a plethora of posts from our Mt Washington Valley getaway this week – more to come here on the blog about that, but I thought I’d share with you a ton of fun ideas for free family fun in the Mt Washington Valley to hold you over!
Info below is from the Mount Washington Valley Chamber of Commerce which helped us plan our trip and can help you plan yours, too!
North Conway, NH – As we close in on the end of the summer, family vacationers will be looking for the perfect place for affordable fun for their summer getaways. Look no farther than Mt Washington Valley, as the August calendar is filled with free or almost-free and affordable options for family fun. From festivals to movies under the stars and plenty of active adventure in the White Mountain National Forest too, there are multiple options for free fun for families in Mt Washington Valley. And last minute planners, take note: On August 6th you’ll find a full day of everything from Blueberry Festivals to a Covered Bridge dance – all free and filled with entertainment for young and old! And on August 20-21, choose from two additional fun family festivals.
All of August: Enjoy cooling off at Mt Washington Valley’s watering holes: Mt Washington Valley is filled with natural watering holes along with a few manmade pools and fountains. Click here for a complete list of perfect and fun ways to cool off during the dog days of summer.
August 9, 16, 23: Movies on the Green: Watch a free outdoor movie at dusk on the 16-foot movie screen at Settlers Green. Comfy outdoor lounge chairs are provided for the first 30 guests or bring your own chair or blanket. Movies start at dusk. Pre-movie activities start at 6:00pm including free face painting from 6-8 p.m., special raffles and yard games. Yard games include Bowling with The Bears, Giant Jenga and more!
August 6, 13, 20, 27: North Conway Farmer’s Market: Join farmers, artisans and specialty food purveyors to purchase everything from jams to produce, chocolates, fresh baked goods and more. It all takes place 9:00am – noon every Saturday at the North Conway Community Center.
August 6, 13, 20, 27, Sept 3, 4: 4th Mountain Side Summer Music Festival at Attitash: Bring your own chair, sit back and enjoy live free entertainment from 3:00 – 6:00pm near the Attitash Base Lodge. In the event of rain, entertainment will move inside to Ptarmigan’s Pub.
August 6: Art in the Park: “White Mtn. Artists, Yesterday & Today” is the theme of the day as this wonderful art show under the tent returns to Schouler Park, North Conway from 10:00am to 4:00pm. Shop for beautiful artworks created by talented local artists.
August 6: 5th Annual Attitash Blueberry Festival: This fun family event includes a Craft Fair, Cornhole Tournament, Face Painting by Mt Washington Valley Children’s Museum, Blueberry Pie Baking Contest, Blueberry Pie Eating Contest, and an assortment of Blueberry BBQ, Treats, and Elixirs from 10:00am to 6:00pm. And the day is topped off with a live performance from local favorite, The Jonathan Sarty Band. This event is FREE to attend, although Attitash Resort amenities require an admission ticket.
August 6: Jackson Covered Bridge Dance: Jon Sarty and the White Mountain Boys bring it home again this year under the Jackson Historic Covered Bridge for an evening of dancing, mingling, kids activities and dining all outside under the beautiful stars. This event is free thanks to the help of Whitney’s Inn, the Shovel Handle Pub, Flossie’s General Store, Homer’s Appliance Repair and the Inn at Ellis River.
August 20: Steampunk Festival “Railway to the Moon” at The MW Cog Railway: Peppersass, the locomotive that built the Mount Washington Cog Railway, is celebrating its 150th birthday this year. To honor this hard-working little engine, The Cog is planning The Cog’s first ever Steampunk Festival “Railway to the Moon” on Saturday, August 20. This Steampunk event is based on the story of The Cog’s inventor, Sylvester Marsh, and his desire to build a railroad to Mount Washington’s summit. All visitors are welcome to join the Steampunk-themed fashion show at 12:45; watch Todd Cahill demonstrate his amazing Steamachine Sculptures; shop for a variety of Steampunk themed products from Steampunk vendors; learn about cycling in the White Mountains from The Wheelman; meet Benjamin West Kilburn, famous stereoscopic photographer from Littleton, NH; and learn more about steam trains and engines at The Cog. There will be a special Steampunk Steam train ride at 3:00 to the top of Mount Washington. (Please call 603.278.5404 for advance reservations). To round out the event, participants and visitors may also view the newly renovated Cog Museum. Sample Climbing to the Clouds, an Emmy-award winning documentary that chronicles the building of The Cog and explore the history of the Mount Washington Cog Railway in the newly renovated museum in the Base Station. This free event takes place at the Base Station of the Mount Washington Cog Railway (located only 6 miles from Bretton Woods, NH) on Saturday, August 20 from 10am – 5pm.
August 20-21: White Mountain Art & Artisan Festival: More than 40 art and artisans showcase their work in Jackson Village Park, for display and purchase. There will be local and visiting food vendors, kids activities, live local talent Al Schafner will be performing and a popular Silent Auction will take place on Sat from 10:00am to 300pm. Dogs are always welcome to this event but they must be at all times on leash with an adult.
For more information on visiting Mt Washington Valley, including lodging, dining, shopping and entertainment, please visit www.mtwashingtonvalley.org. To talk to a vacation planner, call 1-800-DO-SEE-NH (800-367-3364). And to plan your visit to New Hampshire, go to www.VisitNH.gov.
