Fall is the best time of year in my book.

It officially begins on Sept. 22 (hard to believe, right?), though it always feels like it flies by too quickly.

Some of my favorite childhood memories are of racing through corn mazes, getting lost on purpose, just for the fun of it, and horseback riding among the fall leaves (see pic at the bottom of this email).

When do you think the leaves will hit peak color? The state has a tracker based on the past five years—check it out here and hit reply to this email with your best guess!

Today's newsletter is your ultimate fall guide—everything you need for outdoor fun among the foliage, including:

🍺 Oktoberfests and events

🎃 Pumpkin festivals

🍎 Top apple picking places

🐴 Hayrides

🌽 Corn mazes

🍁 Fall Equinox Fest
Exeter, Sept. 20
Cultural exhibits, live music, kids’ activities, and the best of local food at Swasey Parkway in downtown Exeter.
More info

🎡 148th Annual Deerfield Fair
Deerfield, Sept. 25-28
One of New Hampshire’s most anticipated fairs, featuring entertainers, car shows, sheep, wool shows, and more, is held at the Deerfield Fairgrounds on Route 43. Tickets are $12 for adults; children under 12 are free.
More info

🍺 Schilling’s Ammonoosuc Oktoberfest
Littleton, Sept. 27
Celebration of Bavarian and Czech-style lagers with locally sourced grilled meats and folk music.
More info

🍺 Dover Oktoberfest
Dover, Sept. 27
Samuel Adams and Dover restaurants present German favorites like pretzels, schnitzel, and sausage served by local restaurants.
More info

🌶️ 28th Annual Fall Festival and Chili Cook-Off
Claremont, Oct. 4
Vendors, food trucks, games, and a chili cook-off open to individuals, nonprofits, and businesses at Visitor Center Green. Registration details here. Tickets are $5 per person.
More info

🍎 Apple Harvest Day
Dover, Oct. 4
Celebrate apples with dozens of vendors, food, live entertainment, an apple pie contest, and a 5K in downtown Dover. Free to attend.
More info

🍺 Oktoberfest at the Mile Away Restaurant
Milford, Oct. 5
Festival with Tubafrau Hofbrau Band, German food, and drink, including sauerbraten, schnitzel, hunter's stew, Jaeger chicken plates for $20, and bratwurst sandwiches. Dessert and pretzel station available.
More info

🍺 Oktoberfest at the Inn at East Hill Farm
Troy, Oct. 5
Traditional German feast with live oompah music. Appetizers at 5 p.m., dinner at 5:30 p.m. Fare includes chicken schnitzel, German short ribs, sauerkraut, warm potato salad, cinnamon swirl kuchen, and apple strudel. Reservations required. BYOB.
More info

🍂 78th Annual Warner Fall Foliage Festival
Warner, Oct. 10-12
Annual Columbus Day weekend celebration on Main Street.
More info

🍺 White Mountain Oktoberfest
Lincoln, Oct. 11-13
A three-day celebration featuring German food, a beer garden, live music, and a variety of games, including stein hoisting, keg rolling, axe throwing, face painting, make-your-own pretzel necklaces, and gondola sky rides to Loon Peak.
More info

🍺 Attitash Oktoberfest
Bartlett, Oct. 11
Celebrate in the heart of the White Mountains with live polka music by the Eastern Sound Polka Band, enjoy German food, visit the beer garden, participate in stein hoisting, and join in keg tossing.
More info

🍺 Sandown Oktoberfest
Sandown, Oct. 18
Family event featuring live music, a beer tent, food, vendors, games, raffles, a bonfire, and contests such as a bake-off, axe-throwing, and a pumpkin-carving contest.
More info

🎃 Somersworth Pumpkin Festival
Somersworth, Oct. 11
Check out pumpkin carving, seasonal crafts, food vendors, a pumpkin catapult, and activities for kids.

🎃 Milford Pumpkin Festival
Milford, Oct. 10-12
This festival features a giant pumpkin weigh-off, a craft fair, live music, a pumpkin lighting ceremony, a haunted trail, and a car show.

🎃 Keene Pumpkin Festival
Keene, Oct. 18
There will be massive pumpkin displays, live entertainment, food, and a community-focused atmosphere celebrating creativity and town spirit.

🎃 NH Pumpkin Festival
Laconia, Oct. 25
There will be thousands of carved pumpkins, including a 34-foot pumpkin tower, family-friendly activities, live entertainment, and local artisans.

Kancamagus Highway — The 34-mile scenic drive offers breathtaking views of the White Mountains.

Franconia Notch State Park — The park is home to scenic locations like Echo Lake, Artist’s Bluff, and the Basin.

Mount Monadnock — One of the most-climbed mountains in the US, it offers panoramic views of the surrounding forests.

Castle in the Clouds — Perched in Moultonborough, this historic estate offers Instagram-worthy views of Lake Winnipesaukee and the Ossipee Mountains.

Diana’s Baths — Located near North Conway, these cascading waterfalls are surrounded by autumn foliage.

Squam Lake — Famous from the movie "On Golden Pond," Squam Lake’s peaceful waters and the surrounding hills make for serene autumn shots.

Flume Gorge — Located in Franconia Notch, this 800-foot gorge has mossy boulders, waterfalls, and overhanging trees.

We are in the midst of our fall fundraising campaign. Our goal? Raise $1,800 by Sept. 30.

You may have noticed that we don’t put stories behind a paywall. We don’t charge subscriptions. We believe that essential local news should be available to all, not just to those who can afford it. That’s only possible because readers like you step up during campaigns like this.

🚜 Windy Ridge Orchard
North Haverhill
Offers children’s tractor-drawn rides, nature trails, pick-your-own apples, an on-site café, cider donuts, and more.

🚜 Appleview Orchard
Pittsfield
There are hayrides, apple picking, homemade donuts, and apple fritters.

🚜 Smith Orchard
Belmont
Enjoy tractor-trailer rides through our 800-tree orchard, along with apple cider, cider donuts, and more.

🚜 Trombly Gardens
Milford
There are hayrides and a memorable cow-train ride for kids, along with apple/pumpkin picking, and cider donuts. You can even pet sheep and goats.

🚜 Elwood Orchards
Londonderry
Offers hayrides, a corn maze with nighttime hours, and more.

🚜 Gould Hill Farm
Contoocook
Horse-carriage rides are available on fall weekends, alongside activities such as apple picking, apple cider, and a farm store.

🚜 Hackleboro Orchards
Canterbury
Hayrides are offered through Thanksgiving. There's also apple picking, apple cider, and donuts, as well as other seasonal events.

🚜 DeMeritt Hill Farm
Lee
Hayrides are available on weekends through October. There's also an on-site bakery, apple and pumpkin picking, woodland trails, and more.

🚜 Applecrest Farm
Hampton Falls
You'll also find live entertainment, apple and pumpkin picking, ice cream, a petting zoo, and more.

Ever wondered how a corn maze gets made? We’ve got the inside scoop on what it takes to design one here.

Check out these fun corn mazes to explore in New Hampshire:

🌽 Coppal House Farm, Lee

🌽 Sherman Farm, East Conway

🌽 Beech Hill Farm, Hopkinton

🌽 Collins Farm, Bath

🌽 Beans & Greens Farm, Gilford

🌽 Washburn’s Windy Hill Orchard, Greenville

Me, soaking up autumn on horseback in the woods. (Katy Savage/Granite Post)

I’ll leave you here to plan your fall adventures. What’s on your list this year—pumpkin fests, leaf peeping, apple picking? Hit reply and tell me how you’ll be enjoying it. 🍂

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Thanks for reading. This newsletter was written by Katy Savage. It was edited by Paula Solis.

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