2010 Lakes Region Fine Arts and Crafts Festival Starts Tomorrow!

Wow!  Another year has gone by already and it’s time for the Annual Lakes Region Fine Arts and Crafts Festival.  This weekend, August 28^th and 29^th, come to Meredith, NH to enjoy beautiful original works of art and crafts, live music, and delicious food… this is an event you won’t want to miss!

Now in its 31^st year, The Lakes Region Fine Arts and Crafts Festival is sponsored by the Meredith Area Chamber of Commerce and is the area’s largest show and sale of fine arts and crafts.  This popular event is an outdoor, juried arts and crafts exhibition, featuring the high-quality works of over 110 artists and craftspeople.  Main Street in Meredith will be closed to traffic to make room for the show, which will be held among the Meredith Village Shops and the Mill Falls Marketplace.

This festival is always a great place to find treasures for yourself, or gifts for loved ones.  All of the exhibitors display and sell their own work, so you know you are supporting local artisans, and enjoying unique pieces.  Hope to see you there!

Carrie Reed
The Mill Falls Blogging Team

Images courtesy of the Meredith Area Chamber of Commerce

Ongoing Summer Fun in Meredith, NH

Music in the MIll Falls Marketplace

It seems there is always something going on in this town!  Whether you want to take a cruise on Lake Winnipesaukee, or catch some live entertainment, there is no shortage of culture in this quaint NH village…

Looking for something different to do with the kids?  Pack up your lawn chairs and take the gang to Hesky Park for an outdoor movie!  Every Thursday night at dusk, the Meredith Parks and Recreation Department shows a family-friendly feature under the stars.  A $2 donation is appreciated, and all proceeds from sales of concessions go to programs for local youth.

Every Friday night, the Mill Falls Marketplace hosts live music in the courtyard, featuring various local musicians.  Enjoy the music of Tom Robinson Creamsicle, The Craig Jaster Duo, Jared Steer Experience, and Casual Labor as you stroll through all the little shops.  Music in the Marketplace takes place Friday evenings from 5:30 – 8:30, now through the end of August.

The Summer Theatre in Meredith Village is featuring musicals this summer!  This recently renovated and air-conditioned theatre is dedicated to providing professional theatre experiences for all residents and visitors to the area, and will offer four Broadway hits in August:  “Chicago,” “My Way – A Musical Tribute to Frank Sinatra,” “Camelot,” and the hysterical new musical comedy “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.”

So get out and enjoy those summer nights while they last—if you’re in Meredith, there is no excuse for boredom!

Carrie Reed
The Mill Falls Blogging Team

Kidz Camp at Mill Falls Enhances a Fun NH Family Vacation

When planning your summer family vacation on Lake Winnipesaukee, don’t forget about Kidz Camp at The Inns and Spa at Mill Falls.  Enjoy a romantic dinner for two, relax at the spa, or simply soak up some quiet time while your children are having fun at a themed activity night!

Kidz Camp is a complimentary childcare service offered by the Inns every Monday and Thursday evening from 6 – 8pm in July and August.  This activity program is organized and staffed by Go Nanny, a professional child sitting service that brings expert merriment to the kids.  The planned themed nights include Circus, Circus, with face painting and carnival-type games, BINGO Night, with lots of prizes and giveaways, and a Hawaiian Luau, with fun beach games and flower leis!

Children and teens from 2 – 17 years old are welcome at Kids Camp.  Even the teenagers have a blast!  As one parent wrote in a testimonial to Go Nanny, “I would like to thank you for supervising our two teenage boys while we attended the wedding at Mills Falls.  Originally, they were not very excited about the idea as they are 13 & 14, but they had a great time going to the arcades and swimming in the pool.  Emily was A+++.”

With Kidz Camp at Mill Falls, finding balance in your family vacation is easy—it’s a win-win for parents and children alike!  For more information, visit the Inns’ Activity page or call 800-622-6455.

Carrie Reed
The Mill Falls Blogging Team

Image credit:  Lauri Väin at Flickr.com

Fun Festivities for the Fourth of July in Meredith!

Ahhh…  Summertime at last!  The heat has arrived, and with it, the chance to relax outside in the evening and enjoy fun, traditional New England fare along with the fresh air.  The quintessential summer celebration, Independence Day, is around the corner, and what could be better than watching the fireworks over Lake Winnipesaukee from a comfy spot at an old-fashioned clambake?  Camp’s patio at Chase House will be the place to be on the Fourth of July!

Dig in to a feast of lobster, steamers, and chowder at Camp’s All-American Clambake on Sunday, July 4^th starting at 6:30pm.  Then at dusk, sit back and enjoy the beautiful fireworks display over Meredith and Center Harbor Bay.  To keep the living easy, one price covers everything – just $64 per adult and $32 per child under age 12 includes tax, gratuity, and a great view of the show!  This popular event sells out quickly, so call 800-622-6455 to reserve your spot.

Come into town early for the 19^th annual Meredith Lions Club Rubber Duckie Race.  This spectacle is the organizations biggest fundraiser of the year, and benefits David’s House at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, as well as many other projects in the community.  At 4:00pm on July 4^th, over 3,500 yellow duckies will tumble down the cascade at Mill Falls and float to the finish line just past the footbridge in Hesky Park.  Tickets for cash prizes are $5 each or five for $20, and will be on sale until 3:30 of race day.  Last year’s event had quite the turnout, with nearly 4000 rubber duckies racing to Meredith Bay!  For more information, contact the Lions Club at at 279-6016.

We hope to see you in Meredith Village on the Fourth!

Carrie Reed
The Mill Falls Blogging Team

The 5th Annual Winnipesaukee Wine Festival at Church Landing!

Get ready for two great nights of music, food, and wine next week, as the Fifth Annual Winnipesaukee Wine Festival and the Pre-Festival Beach Party come to the shores of Meredith Bay on Wednesday, June 23^rd and Thursday the 24^th!

The Wine Festival will be held on Thursday from 5:30 – 8:00 in the Winnipesaukee Ballroom at Church Landing, where 21 vendors and winemakers will offer tastings of hundreds of fine wines accompanied by delicious hors d’oeuvres.  These delectable dishes will be prepared by several local eateries, including Lakehouse Grille, The Corner House Inn, The Coe House, Wild Coyote Grill, Owen’s Farm Stand, Town Docks, Lago, and Camp.

Also on hand will be Cisco Brewers, a microbrewery and distillery from Nantucket, offering samples of their small-batch beers, as well as their popular Triple Eight Vodka.  They will even set up an ice bar, where folks can enjoy martinis poured through the ice luge!

Music will be provided by the talented local jazz duo of Don Williams and David Tonkin, who play frequently throughout New Hampshire in various jazz ensembles and bands, and are also on staff at the Concord Community Music School.  Nothing goes better with fine wine and food than great jazz music!

A $50 donation per person is requested, and all proceeds benefit The Haiti Limb Project, a small charity that was started locally to help survivors of the recent earthquake in Haiti.  All the money raised will be hand delivered to the people who directly help the amputees there.

The Inns and Spa at Mill Falls are helping out too, by extending special rates just for the occasion.  With proof of your ticket purchase for the festival, a room at Mill Falls is $99, and a room at Chase House or Bay Point only $109.  You can wine and dine all night long and not worry about driving home!

Frank Barbagallo of Duckhorn Wine Company in Napa Valley, California pours samples for attendees at last year's Winnipesaukee Wine Festival.

“It’s the biggest bang for your buck,” says Diane Downing of the Common Man Family, who is organizing the event.  “There will be over 100 wines, beautiful food, wonderful music, rooms at the Inns at half price… and every penny goes to our charity.”

To top it off, there will be a raffle for the fundraiser with some great prizes, including magnums of wine from some of the vendors, an overnight stay at the Inns and Spa at Mill Falls, an overnight stay at the Common Man Inn, something special from Wholly Tara Boutique in Ashland, and a vacation package of three nights and four days for four people at a beach cottage on Nantucket.

Kick off the event early at the Pre- Festival Beach Party to be held at Town Docks Wednesday evening at 6:00.  Enjoy some summer sangria while you dance on the sand!  Robbie Leblanc, formerly of Toto, will be there with his new band to keep the party jumping!  There will be no cover charge for this event and half the proceeds will go to the Haiti Limb Project.

These two days of festivities are “more than just sipping wine,” says Diane.  “These people give so much.”  To join the fun and the good cause, call the Common Man Family at 603-968-9330 or visit their website at www.thecman.com.  For the special room rates at the Inns, please call 800-622-6455 and mention the Winnipesaukee Wine Festival.  Hope to see you there!

Carrie Reed
The Mill Falls Blogging Team

Image credit:  yashima at Flickr.com

Beautiful Weddings at The Inns and Spa at Mill Falls

Summer season is upon us, and with that, the joyous sound of wedding bells!  The Inns and Spa at Mill Falls in Meredith are proud that many couples choose to hold their wedding weekends here, and the reasons are obvious:  a beautiful setting, ample accommodations, and top-notch service.  But summer isn’t the only time to tie the knot, and the team at this New Hampshire resort makes weddings memorable at any time of year!

The Inns have two different wedding locations.  The Chase House can accommodate weddings of up to 120 guests, and The Winnipesaukee Ballroom at Church Landing can accommodate up to 230 guests.  Church Landing was recently featured in New Hampshire Magazine’s BRIDE as part of a “perfect summer wedding”, and as icing on the cake, this setting has been awarded Best of BRIDE “Best Outdoor Ceremony” for 2009!

Stacey Dumais and Hilary Thurston are the event coordinators at Mill Falls, and offer couples personalized service in planning their weddings.  “From the time of the first phone call, the initial contact, we take that phone call all the way through the day of the wedding,” said Stacey in a recent phone conversation.  “We give them a tour, go through the booking process… through the planning process, and then put all of those details and plans into motion on the wedding weekend.” Read the rest of this entry »

Memorial Weekend Craft Festival in Meredith

Kick off the summer season at Lake Winnipesaukee this weekend with the 19^th Annual Memorial Day Weekend Craft Festival!  Meredith will be buzzing with over 100 craftspeople from all over New England, who will set up shop for three days of demonstrations, exhibits, live music, and great food.

The fair will take place throughout the parking area and walkways of the Mill Falls Marketplace this Saturday through Monday.  Artisans will have their creations on display and available for sale at this popular event, where all exhibitors will be selling only their own work, so you know each item is handcrafted and unique!

Show hours are Saturday 10am to 6pm, Sunday 10am to 5pm, and Monday 10am to 4pm.  After visiting the craft fair, take a stroll down to the lake or to one of the many great restaurants in town.  Meredith is beautiful at this time of year, when everything is coming alive and the sun is warm!  Happy summer!

Hybrid Parking Spaces at Mill Falls!

As a new part of their Green Initiative, The Inns and Spa at Mill Falls have created designated parking spaces for environmentally friendly cars.  The “preferred parking” spots are being tested at Church Landing and the Inn at Mill Falls, where there is one space at each location to start.

“Our Green Team came up with the idea,” says Gail Batstone, General Manager of the Inns.  “Our green team includes members from each department within the hotel.  The team’s intention, in respect to signifying these spaces, is to increase consumer awareness and encourage guests to use lower emission transportation.”

Ms. Batstone adds that the Inns wanted to build upon their current Green Mission Statement, which describes several ways the company is making environmental efforts in all areas of operation.  According to the initiative, “We continually seek improvements and initiatives to lessen the impact on the local and global environment.”

The Inns plan to add more designated hybrid spaces if the project proves successful.  Meanwhile, the management is looking forward to guest feedback.  Feel free to share your thoughts!

A Mini Working Vacation at Mill Falls

Feeling like you need to get away for a change of scenery and a little relaxation, but can’t be completely disconnected from your working life?  No worries.  You can have the best of both worlds at The Inns and Spas at Mill Falls.

On a recent visit to Meredith, I stayed at beautiful Church Landing, where the atmosphere was instantly peaceful, calming, and nostalgic—and modern in all the right places.  The lobby was warm and inviting with a fireplace and plenty of comfortable seating that just begged some quiet time away from all the hustle and bustle.  And yet, at arm’s length was a nice selection of newspapers, such as The New York Times, USA Today, and The Boston Globe, as well as local publications, so if anyone wanted to catch up on the daily buzz, it was right there.  The Wi-Fi connection was fast and easy, too, with various networks to choose from.

In my room, with an unparalleled view of Lake Winnipesaukee and a cozy fireplace and loveseat, I felt nurtured and truly away from it all.  I could step outside and soak up the beauty and the fresh, clean air, then come back in to check my e-mail on another handy network.  I was able to keep up with assignments while enjoying one of the nicest getaways in a long time.  Talk about peace of mind!

It was a little too cold to work outside when I was there, but I noticed a newspaper article on the wall near the Lakehouse Grille that stated there was even Wi-Fi at the beach for those who wanted to hang out by the water while surfing the internet!  The Inns offer this wonderful amenity at no charge, so guests and others visiting the lake can stay in touch with the world.  This also makes the Inns a great place to hold a business conference!

What are you doing this weekend?  Or even mid-week (the rates are lower)?  Don’t let work stop you from recharging your own batteries.  At the Inns at Mill Falls, it is win-win!

Celebrate Mother’s Day at the Inns

Lakehouse Grill

It’s not too late to make this Mother’s Day memorable for the special woman in your life.  The Inns and Spa at Mill Falls are offering a unique getaway package, as well as a grand buffet brunch, to treat moms to the elegance and respite they deserve.

Bring your loved one to the Inns on Saturday, May 8^th and enjoy a special rate that includes dinner for two at one of the Inns restaurants, such as Lago, Lakehouse Grille, Mame’s, Camp, or Giuseppe’s, all within walking distance of any of the Inns.  The package also includes two seats at Mother’s Day brunch on Sunday morning.

The gourmet brunch buffet will be held from 10:30am – 3:00pm in the Winnipesaukee Ballroom at Church Landing and will feature fine Mother’s Day fare prepared by Lakehouse Grille.  Bring the whole family to celebrate Mom!  A professional photographer will be on hand taking family portraits that will be available to take home that day.  All moms will also receive a gift of a carnation and a wallet photo with any photo purchase!

Whether she is your own mom, mother to your children, or a woman who has inspired you, show her how much you appreciate her on this beautiful spring weekend.  Take her away to lovely Meredith for a little fresh air!  To inquire about the special getaway rates or to make a reservation for brunch, please call the Inns at 800-622-6455 or the Grille at 603-279-2253.