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 »

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 »

Labor Day Weekend Events in the Lakes Region

Music in the Mill Falls Marketplace

Relaxing in the Lakes Region of NH this holiday weekend? Besides the abundance of summertime activities that are still going strong, there are some fun special events happening to celebrate and cap off the season as we shift into fall…

Music in the Mill Falls Marketplace – Stroll through the shops of the Mill Falls Marketplace or just relax outdoors while enjoying a summer’s night serenade. The Craig Jaster Jazz Trio plays from 5:30 to 8:30 pm in the courtyard of this beautiful and historic market that was once an old linen mill. The Marketplace played a major part in revitalizing the village of Meredith, which is now a destination on the shores of Lake Winnipesaukee.

Labor Day Weekend Craft Fair at the Bay – The 23^rd Annual Labor Day Weekend “Craft Fair at the Bay” will be held at the Alton Bay Community House and along the waterfront of Lake Winnipesaukee in Alton this weekend. Over 100 Juried craftspeople from all over New England will display and sell their works, which include pottery, fine jewelry, primitive and folk art, photography, wood carvings, metal sculpture, blown glass, and so much more. Admission and parking are free, and Alton Bay is also accessible by boat! Read the rest of this entry »

Six NH Wineries to Participate in 2nd Annual Barrel Tasting Weekend

Get ready for two days of celebrating great NH wine! Six wineries in the Lakes Region have pulled together and are planning to open house for one weekend of touring and tasting in the tradition of many California vineyards. The Barrel Tasting Weekend will take place on September 29^th and 30^th and is the first-ever coordinated event of its type in New Hampshire and maybe all of New England. Participating wineries include Coffin Cellars, Stone Gate Vineyard, Gilmanton Winery, Sap House Meadery, Haunting Whisper Vineyards, and Hermit Woods Winery.

At each winery, guests will have the opportunity to taste young wines directly from the oak and stainless steel barrels that are used to ferment and age the varietals. Not only will it be a unique opportunity to taste wine in the early stages of its development, visitors will be able to meet the wine makers, tour the wine making facilities, and learn all about the wine making process. In addition, many of the wineries will be hosting other local vendors during the event, and offering special foods and wine-related items to guests. Read the rest of this entry »

Lakes Region Summer Theatre Still Going Strong

Dan Roach and Amy Prothro in “It Had to be You” at The Barnstormers Theatre.

Although it’s almost time for “back to school,” there’s still a lot of summer still left to enjoy. Summer theatre is a long-standing tradition in the area, and our local Lakes Region playhouses are ending the season in style with top-quality performances that are sure to keep you warm well into fall!

Founded in 1931 by Francis Cleveland, The Barnstormers in Tamworth is one of the longest-running professional summer theatres in the country. The Barnstormers is now one of three Equity theatres in New Hampshire and is the only theatre in the world that maintains the summer theatre tradition of eight plays in eight weeks. During July and August, the theatre features plays that are considered the “gems of American and British theatre.” This weekend, guests can catch the final performances of the madcap comedy, It Had To Be You, which runs until August 18. Next week is the last show of the season—Larry Shue’s The Foreigner, running August 21-25. “The Foreigner is an amazing play that incorporates comedy, drama, farce and a hint of darkness,” says Artistic Director Bob Shea. Read the rest of this entry »

Construction of Winni Playhouse’s New Campus Well Underway

Artist's rendering of the Winni Playhouse's new main stage theatre at the Meredith Campus.

After nearly two years of planning and fundraising, the new theatre at the Meredith Campus of the Winnipesaukee Playhouse is on its way to becoming a reality. Construction on the new building, which will house the main stage theatre, began in the spring and is moving along without any delays this summer, bringing the entire campus project well past its halfway point.

The “Winni” Playhouse was founded in 2004, becoming so successful that it soon outgrew its current location, an intimate Weirs Beach storefront that seats 84. With sights set on a bigger venue, the Playhouse assumed ownership of the former Annalee Doll Complex on Reservoir Road in Meredith in 2008, and put into action a three-phase plan to renovate the complex into a “Tanglewood type of setting” for their theatre and workshops. Read the rest of this entry »

Castle in the Clouds Being Restored to its Original Grandeur

Visitors to the Lakes Region of NH have long enjoyed an amazing treasure: perched high atop the Ossipee Mountain Range overlooking Lake Winnipesaukee, Castle in the Clouds beckons to those who love breathtaking views, stunning architecture, enchanting artwork, beautiful gardens, and unspoiled natural terrain. This important landmark has captivated visitors and locals alike for decades, and has been fully enjoyed as a place to attend concerts, gallery openings, and weddings, as well as a spot to relax over a leisurely patio luncheon or hike through a pristine wilderness setting. The “Lucknow” estate, as it was called by its original owners, seems to have it all, and a dedicated team, along with a caring local community, is working hard to keep Castle in the Clouds beautiful and in top condition so that it can be enjoyed for many years to come. Read the rest of this entry »

Don’t Miss the Mid-Summer Art Walk in Center Sandwich

Day Sailers Resting by Woolsey Conover at Surroundings Gallery

Another Lakes Region town can be counted among NH communities who offer popular art walks, where visitors can tour local galleries, enjoy refreshments and hors d’oeuvres, and meet the artists whose work is on exhibit. Stroll the streets of Center Sandwich, see what’s new in the art world, and enjoy music and great food at the Corner House Inn afterward.

On Friday, July 13^th, Center Sandwich will be holding its second Gallery Walk of the season from 5 – 7 p.m. The Patricia Ladd Carega Gallery, The Sandwich Home Industries, and Surroundings Art Gallery will open their doors that evening to celebrate art, music, and conversation as they feature the work of New England artists and those who have a connection to the area. Guests who visit all three galleries will receive a discount on dinner at the Corner House Inn on Main Street. Read the rest of this entry »

What’s New on the M/S Mount Washington for 2012

Now that spring is here and summer is just around the corner, thoughts are turning to the age-old NH tradition of sailing, paddling, and cruising on Lake Winnipesaukee. In keeping with that tradition, the biggest party boat on the lake has its customary schedule of cruises and events—as well as some new options—lined up for a fun-filled season on the water!

The M/S Mount Washington is a first-class, 230-foot excursion ship that sets out on scenic cruises every day and sunset dinner cruises each evening. “The Mount” has many ports on Lake Winnipesaukee, including Weirs Beach, Wolfeboro, Alton Bay, Meredith, and Center Harbor. During the summer months, the ship visits all its ports frequently during the day, and passengers can take a cruise from one lakeside town, get off and spend some time visiting another little town, then board again and return to the home port.* At night, the Mount becomes a hot spot, with a themed dinner dance cruise every evening.  Check out the Tribute to Elvis, the Summer Lobsterfest, or the Parrot Head Party Cruise, to name a few. Read the rest of this entry »