July!

FAIRS & FESTIVALS

JULY 1-2

Hampton Falls Liberty Weekend Craft Festival

> Over 75 juried artisans from all over New England come to Hampton Falls to display and sell their American-made works. Crafts include pottery, fine art, aprons, ladies apparel, cutting boards, soaps, dolls, scarves, fine jewelry, country wood crafts, floral arrangements, vintage chic décor, mixed media, metal sculpture, glass garden art and more. Free. Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Town Common, 4 Lincoln Ave., Hampton Falls. castleberryfairs.com

JULY 1-29

New Hampshire Music Festival > Classical music lovers rejoice: Venues throughout Plymouth and Wolfeboro come alive to celebrate 71 festival years with the sounds of orchestras, choruses and professional soloists on instruments and voice. The fest plans to run three weeks this year, and feature performances at the Silver Center for Performing Arts at Plymouth State University and in various locations in the Lakes Region and further north. Prices, times and locations vary. Wolfeboro and Plymouth. (603) 238-9007; nhmf.org

JULY 8

Keep NH Brewing Festival > For a beer fest that’s all New Hampshire, all the time, look no further than this annual fête. The event features over 50 Granite State breweries and over 130 craft beers on tap. $20-$65. 12 to 4 p.m., Kiwanis Waterfront Park, 15 Loudon Rd., Concord. (334) 603-2337; nhbrewers.org

JULY 13-16

Hillsboro Summer Festival > From live music and a parade to a fairway full of carnival rides, this legendary festival is packed with activities. This year, there will also be a beer tent, 5K road race, car and truck show and more. For a free spectacle, stick around till dusk on Saturday night. Free. Times vary. Grimes Field, 29 Preston St., Hillsboro. (603) 4640377; hillsborosummerfest.com

JULY 15

American Independence Festival > If you didn’t get all the patriotism out of your system on the Fourth, then try this later homage to America. Activities at this 33-year-old fest include battle reenactments, lawn games, live music and enough kids activities to keep the little ones entertained all day. Prices vary. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., American Independence Museum, 1 Governors Ln., Exeter. (603) 772-2622; independencemuseum.org

JULY 21-23

Great American Ribfest & Food Truck Festival

> This amazing festival features delicious ribs and barbecue, three days of music, an expanded kids activites area, food trucks, drinks and desserts. Proceeds from the event will support the Merrimack Rotary Club. Make sure to check out the people’s choice rib sampler. $10-$59. Times vary, Budweiser Brewery, 221 Daniel Webster Highway, Merrimack. greatamericanribfest.com

JULY 26-30

North Haverhill Fair > Crowd pleasers of this event include concerts on Friday and Saturday nights, horse, pony and oxen stone boat pulling, a demolition derby, tractor and pulling events with transfer sleds, dairy, sheep, goat and dog shows for 4-H, an open horse show, as well as arts, crafts and flower shows. $3-$60. 5 to 10 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday, 12 to 5 p.m. on Friday and Sunday, 1299 Dartmouth College Highway, North Haverhill. (603) 989-3305; nohaverhillfair.com

JULY 28-AUGUST 6

Freedom Old Home Week > Every summer the community of Freedom is one of only five NH towns that celebrate an “Old Home Week.” Freedom’s 124th Old Home Week will feature ducky day, a lawn party, a parade, an ice cream social, a 5K and more. Free. Times vary, Freedom. freedomoldhomeweek.com

JULY 29

New England Hot Sauce Fest > Coming back for their second year, Spicy Shark presents a New England destination and celebration for hot sauce lovers. Featuring hot sauce samples from over 20 craft companies, music, food trucks, food challenges (including a hot pepper eating contest and a hot wing contest), craft vendors, Smuttynose Brewing Co. beer, bouncy houses and more, don’t miss out on the spicy-sweaty fun. Proceeds support the Blue Ocean Society and Seacoast Science Center. $11-$20. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Smuttynose Brewing Co., 105 Towle Farm Rd., Hampton. newenglandhotsaucefest.com. New Hampshire Magazine is a proud sponsor of this event

JULY 29

Featured Event

JULY 29-AUGUST 6

Sunflower Festival > Coppal House Farm’s annual Sunflower Festival is a special event put on every summer to celebrate their beautiful sunflower fields. The farm harvests the sunflowers every fall to press the seeds into culinary oil — but they’re a sight to behold while blooming. Oilseed sunflowers bloom and begin to turn their heads after only 12 days, so this week-long festival is a special, ephemeral time for flower lovers. Enjoy a sunrise in the sunflowers on July 30, an artisan craft fair, live local musicians, local food vendors and a series of mini-events while gazing on the sunflowers’ natural beauty. $6-$12. 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. each day, Coppal House Farm, 118 North River Rd., Lee. nhsunflower.com. New Hampshire Magazine is a proud sponsor of this event

24th Annual Chocolate Fest > Enjoy an evening of chocolate temptations in Town Square accompanied by a free outdoor concert as the sun sets. Pack a picnic, or just bring a bottle of your favorite red or white libation and enjoy an indulgent evening in the square, on a blanket or with your toes in the sand. 6 to 9 p.m. Town Square, 33 Village Rd., Waterville Valley. waterville.com

JULY 29

Hebron Fair > This fair boasts that it’s the place to be on the last Saturday in July. Festivities include more than 100 craftspeople, pony rides, children’s games, delicious foods, baked goods, plants and a silent auction. It’s held on the picturesque Hebron Common at the north end of Newfound Lake and will happen rain or shine. Free. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Hebron Common, 16 Church Ln., Hebron. (603) 409-7143; hebronchurchfair.org

JULY 29

12th Annual Summer Psychic and Craft Fair > Come enjoy a fun-filled day with the whole family. Get a reading from one of the many psychics, experience the wonder of aura photography and shop from lots of gorgeous hand-crafted items. Then make your way to the parking lot where more vendors and artisans will be peddling their amazing offerings. Free. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Weirs Community Center, 25 Lucerne Ave., Laconia. eventbrite.com