Put These Annual New England Events on Your Calendar

Who doesn’t love a great festival? And here in New England, we celebrate everything from seafood and jazz to maple syrup and Scottish heritage. We love the celebratory energy of festivals, so we’ve put together 13 can’t miss annual New England events. Some you’ve probably heard of and others are just simply New England unique.

And here’s a helpful wedding planning tip: Check with your local visitor’s center when planning your New England wedding to make sure your day doesn’t conflict with a major festival. A large-scale event can impact traffic and vendor availability, as well as accommodations for your out of town guests.

From lobster rolls to reggae in Maine

Maine Lobster Festival: Held for five days over the first weekend in August at Rockland’s Harbor Park, visitors from around the country enjoy the coveted Maine lobster while amateur chefs compete in a seafood cooking contest. There’s entertainment, a beer & wine garden, arts & crafts, children’s activities, a road race, and a parade. There’s even The Great Crate Race where competitors brave Rockland Harbor to race across a string of lobster crates without falling. Less than 2 hours from Portland and Bangor, you’ll find all kinds of accommodations in Rockland and other nearby seaside towns.

Sugarloaf’s Reggae Fest: While New Hampshire and Vermont get a lot of “powder publicity,” this Maine ski resort has its own good times - both on and off the slopes. Sugarloaf is home to the biggest spring party in ski country with this April island music festival. Hit the slopes for the last runs of the season and then enjoy the base beach scene.

Need more Maine festival ideas? You’ll find them here.

Musical and maritime heritage in Connecticut

CT Folk Fest: Fans of folk, blues, and bluegrass will feel right at home visiting this music festival hosted at New Haven’s Edgerton Park. Since 1989, CT Folk has held this annual event to promote environmental and social justice policies while providing opportunities for new and veteran musicians to perform for a wider audience. Take a listen to 2023 CT Folk Fest on Spotify.

Maritime Heritage Festival: “Celebrate the Sea” in the CT port of New London. In 1961, President John F. Kennedy created Operation Sail - a series of nationwide events to promote goodwill and cooperation between countries, celebrate maritime heritage and provide training. During the second week of September, OpSail CT hosts some of the pride of the US fleets. And the festival also includes a parade celebrating maritime folklore - mermaids and sea monsters.

Spending some time in CT? Check out some more great festivals.

Making music in Rhode Island

Newport Jazz Festival: This is the ultimate music festival for jazz enthusiasts. Held every August since 1954, artists like Jon Batiste, Branford Marsalis and Diana Krall have graced the stage. And if jazz isn’t your genre, check out the Newport Folk Festival held in July. This is the stage where Dylan brought out his, at the time controversial, electric guitar. Now the stage is home to musicians like Aimee Mann, Brandi Carlisle, Jason Isbell, and My Morning Jacket.

RI Seafood Festival: Enjoy the fresh taste of New England seafood at beautiful India Point Park in Providence. Since 2011, this festival has showcased the best seafood restaurants and food trucks in The Ocean State. Held in September, this two-day festival also features great live music from local bands.

Explore more Rhode Island festivals, events, and fairs.

Celebrating all thing maple in Vermont

Maple Open House Weekend: Vermont is known for its beloved maple syrup. Twice a year, during spring and fall, Vermont sugar houses open their doors to the public for tours and treats. Enjoy a tasty - an educational - experience at some of the more than 75 sugarmakers around Vermont. Use Vermont Maple’s Meander Map to plan your tour.

Fall Foliage: What’s another thing that comes to mind when you think of Vermont? Probably the spectacular fall foliage. After all, forests cover 70% of Vermont. Between mid-September and mid-October you’ll find the leaves at their finest. For a different perspective, get a stunning overhead view of the beauty on a ski resort chair lift.

Plan a visit around one of these Vermont festivals.

Explore history and culture in New Hampshire

RiverFire: Berlin is known as the “city that trees built” because of its logging mills. During the annual October festival, the Androscoggin River is lit up with fires on the historic boom piers. These piers were vital during the logging era, when they guided trees down the river to the mills. Enjoy the free festival at Heritage Park and then take a walk along the bridge and enjoy the glow. 

NH Highland Games & Festival: It’s all things Scottish at this fall festival at Loon Mountain Resort. As one of New England’s most popular events, you can take in Scottish music, dance, and food. Witness sheep dog trials as well as a crowd favorite, the massed bands. Sign up for a class in street curling or stone lifting. You can even learn to trace your Scottish ancestry.

Take a look at more NH festivals and annual events.

From frights to flowers in Massachusetts

Salem Haunted Happenings: It wouldn’t be a New England annual events list without including the historic town of Salem. Every Halloween season Salem transforms into a festival. Throughout October, Haunted Happenings features ghostly house tours, storytelling, and a parade. And you’ll also learn about Salem’s history with witchcraft and the infamous witch trials. 

Nantucket Daffodil Festival: Every April, Nantucket Island says goodbye to winter with the Daffodil Festival. Take the ferry over and be amazed at the thousands of daffodils blooming for spring. Festivities include the signature Daffodil Flower Show, an antique car parade and tail gate, and lots of family-friendly events. Welcome spring admiring all this island town has to offer.

Here’s a handy list of MA festivals held throughout the year.

Maybe visiting one of these festivals will inspire you to choose New England for your wedding. Whether you’re a “local” or looking to experience destination romance, we love telling our wedding clients’ stories and capturing beautiful memories. View our portfolio and let’s connect to discuss your wedding day vision.