Celebrate Fall With Laconia’s 2018 ‘New Hampshire Pumpkin Festival’

This Friday and Saturday will be the fourth time the NH Pumpkin Festival is scheduled to light up downtown Laconia.

The community of Laconia took over the NH Pumpkin Festival after riot-like conditions at the 2014 Pumpkin Festival in Keene forced their local government to vote NOT to have the festival return. Keene now produces a smaller gathering, while Laconia’s light continues to shine bright!

Under the leadership of the Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce, the fun gets underway Friday evening from 4pm to 8pm, with live music, a beer garden, a zombie walk, amusement rides, and the 34-foot Tower of Pumpkins, standing above all the other pumpkin displays!

Saturday is a full day, starting with the Runaway Pumpkin 10k/5k at 9:00am at Opechee Park, and a pumpkin/buttermilk pancake breakfast at the Holy Trinity School from 9am to 12pm.

That’s followed by a day of activities, including a car show at Beacon Street West, Craft and Food vendors, the Patch Way of Family Fun with kids’ games, plus amusement rides, live music and the beer garden.

107.3 WEMJ, 98.3 LNH, 105.5 JYY, and 93.3 The Wolf will all be broadcasting live from the Belknap Mill, sight of the Top Chef Great Pumpkin Cook-off from 2pm to 4pm. Back by popular demand will be the Riverside Duck Derby at 4:15pm!

At 5:00pm on Saturday, the final lighting of the Jack O’Lanterns will begin!

It’s a true fall tradition!