Fun Lakes Region Activities for the Holiday Break

The feasting is finished and the snow is finally piling up—time to get outside and soak up the remainder of the holiday break! Here in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire, we’ve got quite a few options for winter activities to enjoy with family and friends (while getting a little exercise, too!) …

Gunstock Mountain Resort has some great events lined up for the week. In addition to their fabulous skiing, snowboarding, and tubing, families might want to check out the schedule of special activities for vacation week. There will be crafting and music in the main lodge on Friday and Saturday, and on Sunday from 1:30 – 2:30pm, an instructor from the W.I.L.D. Center will be on hand, featuring a presentation with live animals and a chance for questions and answers. Thanks to yesterday’s storm, Nordic skiing begins this weekend with 5 kilometers of rolled trails and soft snow, and all of the resort’s snowshoe trails are ready, too! Gunstock is planning a spectacular New Year’s Eve, with special tours, sleigh rides, s’mores by the fire, a torch light parade at 11:45pm, and fireworks at midnight! Read the rest of this entry »

Come to the Lakes Region for New Year’s Eve!

New Year’s Eve on Lake Winnipesaukee is promising to be spectacular this year!  There will be so much to do and see, you might want to arrive early and plan to pace yourself so that you’ll be awake to greet 2013 as it rolls in at midnight!

First, head over to Wolfeboro to enjoy some of their First Night activities. First Night Wolfeboro is a community-wide, alcohol-free celebration of the performing arts. There will be a variety of entertainment options at many locations around town, including some really fun activities for children and families starting at 2:00pm. Kids will enjoy face painting, mask making, and hat making, as well as storytellers and interactive live music, and folks of all ages will want to check out the Discovery Dome and Telescopes from the McAuliffe-Shepard Planetarium, and of course, the parade at 5:00 and fireworks at 5:30. The list of events and activities is too long to mention here, so be sure to visit the First Night Wolfeboro website for details. Read the rest of this entry »

3rd Annual Meredith Village Art Walk to Benefit NH Humane Society

As winter sets in all around New England, we begin to turn our thoughts toward pursuing creative indoor endeavors, gathering with loved ones, and helping those less fortunate than ourselves. December is a time of great giving, within our families as well as our communities. In this spirit of grace, the art galleries of Meredith are once again opening their doors and their hearts for a special night of beautiful art, music, delicious food, and generous fundraising for their annual “Food for the Soul” Art Walk.

Next Thursday evening, December 13^th, six galleries in Meredith will participate in the third annual Meredith Village Art Walk, themed “Food for the Soul,” to benefit the New Hampshire Humane Society, the largest area animal welfare agency. Last year’s Art Walk brought in many donations to the Meredith Emergency Food Pantry, and the event’s organizers are hoping their visitors are just as generous this year to help our animal friends. The event promises to be bigger and better than last year with the addition of several fine artisans and craftsmen, horse-drawn wagon rides, and live music. Read the rest of this entry »

The League of NH Craftsmen Meredith Retail Gallery December Events

Looking for unique, handmade gifts this holiday season? Interested in catching a glimpse of how a skilled artisan works her craft? The League of NH Craftsmen has a great lineup of workshops and demonstrations, where you can meet the artists and be a part of some of the creative processes as the fine pieces come to life. Check out what’s happening at the Meredith Retail Gallery this December…

Felted Animal Demonstration with Carolyn Wright
Saturday, December 1st, 2012, 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM

Stop in and see how Carolyn brings wool to life in creative ways – from chickens, sheep, and lions, to stars, moons, and eggs! Carolyn creates her wonderful characters by the process of needle felting. Are you interested in exploring this art form? Come with your curiosity and questions, as Carolyn shows her work in its various stages. Read the rest of this entry »

It’s Time for Altrusa Club’s Annual Festival of Trees!

To open the Lakes Region’s holiday season, the Altrusa Club of Meredith will be hosting their 17^th Annual Festival of Trees this weekend. This spectacular festival will be held at the Waukewan Golf Club in Center Harbor, NH, and will highlight beautifully decorated Christmas trees, fine products made by local artisans, traditional cookies and cider, and a special children’s event, all while benefitting local charities and community projects!

The Festival kicks off on Thursday evening, November 29^th, with the Silent & Live Auction and Gala from 5:30 – 8:00pm. The night will be filled with music, hors d’oeuvres, delicious desserts, and a cash wine and beer bar. Guests will enjoy the picturesque New England barn setting, featuring a huge rustic fireplace, while bidding on many great items contributed by area businesses. New this year, a live auction will feature three specialty items: a 40” Samsung HDTV Flat Screen TV, two MS/Mount Washington dinner cruise tickets paired with an overnight stay at The Inns & Spa at Mill Falls, and two Ski NH one-day unrestricted ski passes to both Gunstock and Ragged Mountain, along with gift certificates to Patrick’s Pub and Fratello’s Ristoranté Italiano or The Homestead Restaurant. As in years past, the Lakes Region’s favorite well-known radio personality, Pat Kelly, will take on the role of Master of Ceremonies for the event. Tonight’s gala is now officially sold out, so the night is expected to be a terrific success! Read the rest of this entry »

Celebrate Small Business Saturday by Shopping Locally

The day after Thanksgiving in the United States has long been referred to as “Black Friday,” a day when retail stores across the country hold big sales and welcome throngs of holiday shoppers looking for that special deal. However, in recent years, the day has become more of a mass exodus to the big box stores and national chains as folks line up early to be among the first to get their hands on limited offers for big ticket items. Some of these big retailers have begun to open earlier and earlier each year for the event, with several now opening on Thanksgiving evening to get a jump on the Black Friday craze, disrupting employees’ holiday time with family and causing smaller retailers and “Mom & Pop” stores to suffer as their customers flock to the well-hyped super sales. In response, several small merchants, together with American Express®, organized Small Business Saturday, a day when everyone is encouraged to shop locally while taking advantage of some special offers as well. Read the rest of this entry »

Meredith “Trick or Eat” Happening This Sunday!

Now here’s a twist on trick-or treating that has plenty of treats for grown-ups (and kids too)—live music, a historical walking tour, and samples of specialties from local restaurants, all in one event! It’s the very first Meredith Trick or Eat, the signature “fun”raiser to benefit some great community organizations in the Lakes Region.

Meredith Trick or Eat will take place this Sunday, October 28^th from 2 – 5 pm in beautiful Meredith Village. The event is a collaboration between Better Together, the Meredith Pathway Committee, the Greater Meredith Program, and several local businesses. Members of the Meredith Village Pathways Committee will be dressed in period attire as they lead groups on a walking tour of Meredith and relate historical tidbits about the village at various stops along the way. Read the rest of this entry »

Explore the Lakes Region During NH Open Doors Weekend

Inside “The Arts Collaborative” Gallery: Collaborative TV Lift Cabinet and Lamp featuring woodwork and copper metal panels by Steven Hayden Arts, wrought iron frame by Winnipesaukee Forge; Copper-glazed raku-fired ceramic Wishing Vessels by Steven Hayden Arts; Wrought iron branch and candlesticks by Winnipesaukee Forge

As we begin to embrace the beauty of autumn, thoughts turn to road trips and wandering through quaint towns with all the unique galleries, shops, and restaurants that each village has to offer. This is also a great time to visit farms, orchards, and wineries, as the harvest is now brimming with the fruits of the summer’s work and new ciders and wines are now ready to enjoy. In an effort to promote the best New Hampshire products and crafts and make it easy for visitors to find our hidden treasures, several organizations have come together to create NH Open Doors, an annual weekend-long touring and shopping event that spotlights the extraordinary talents that make New Hampshire such a special place.

This year, NH Open Doors takes place the weekend of November 3^rd and 4^th. The statewide event began in 2005 as the League of NH Craftsmen Open Studio Tour, focused on promoting the artwork of the League’s juried members. In 2008, the League partnered with New Hampshire Made to attract more participants and a wider audience. The two groups expanded the tour to encompass a broad range of New Hampshire products, services, and attractions, renaming the event NH Open Doors. During the Open Doors weekend, visitors to the Granite State can find distinctive products that are made in New Hampshire, get a jump on holiday shopping, and enjoy special events, such as craft demonstrations and workshops, hayrides, food samplings, special menus with local foods, and musical performances. Read the rest of this entry »

Columbus Day Weekend in the Lakes Region

Fall Foliage Special Train, Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad

This is the pinnacle of the season—the sun is warm, the air is crisp, and the colors throughout the Lakes Region are glorious—welcome to autumn in New England! For residents and visitors to New Hampshire, the high point of fall has long been Columbus Day Weekend, when peak colors often coincide with the three-day holiday. This year is no exception, with the foliage expected to be very colorful in the central part of the state over the next few days. Here are some fun ways to enjoy the scenery this weekend: Read the rest of this entry »

Stretch Your Wings at the Festival of Flight!

Looking for a great family activity in the Lakes Region this weekend? Squam Lakes Natural Science Center has just the ticket—the Festival of Flight, featuring a hawk watch, crafts for children, live animal presentations, and a tethered balloon ride!

On Saturday, September 8^th from 9:30 – 6:30, Squam Lakes Natural Science Center in Holderness, NH will be hosting a day of celebrating the wonders of flight and migration sponsored by Community Guaranty Savings Bank. Take a tour of the visitors’ center and extensive grounds, which include meadows, mature forests, and marshlands, where lucky visitors may spot a resident hawk. There will also be presentations by the Squam Lakes staff at the Amphitheater, with opportunities to see live birds of prey up close!

On the Picnic Lawn, IBEX Puppetry will present ‘Celebration of Flight’ at 11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m., and 3:00 p.m. IBEX Puppetry is run by Heather Henson, the daughter of puppeteer Jim Henson of Muppet fame, and the show promises to be top-notch! With elegant kites and choreographed puppetry, guests of all ages are sure to be spellbound. Check out this preview of the show: Read the rest of this entry »