Guests at the Pumpkin Walk, Castle in the Clouds, Moultonborough
“Autumn in New Hampshire has always been a season of story and tradition,” said Jeff Barraclough, President of the New Hampshire Heritage Museum Trail. “This year, our member museums are blending the mysterious with the family-friendly in ways you won’t find anywhere else.”
In the Lakes Region, the historic Belknap Mill in Laconia takes center stage during Laconia Pumpkinfest on Friday, October 23 and Saturday, October 24, with a weekend brimming with Halloween fun, folklore, and a touch of mystery.
The festivities begin Friday evening with a free Witches’ Ladder Workshop led by folklorist Roxie Zwicker, where participants will craft their own traditional witches’ ladder while unraveling the history and symbolism behind this fascinating 16th-century craft.
On Saturday, visitors can stop by the Mill for free 10-minute pumpkin tarot readings with Zwicker or attend her free Introduction to Tarot Workshop. As twilight falls,visitors can settle in for “Witches Cottage: Witchcraft Tales Outside of Salem” at 6:30 PM, an atmospheric journey through the true stories, folklore, and legends of accused witches throughout New England.
“The stories of accused witches beyond Salem deserve to be told, and there’s no more hauntingly beautiful setting for them than a 19th-century mill,” said Katherine Switala-Elmhurst, Executive Director of Belknap Mill. “Expect chills, but the good kind.”
No Pumpkinfest would be complete without the return of the Pumpkin Festival Duck Derby at 3:00 p.m., where visitors can cheer on their favorite duck as it races down the Winnipesaukee River, with cash prizes for the winners. Proceeds benefit the Laconia Pumpkin Festival and the Belknap Mill.
In the Sunapee Region, the John Hay Estate at the Fells in Newbury hosts its beloved Hay Day Fall Festival on Sunday, October 11, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., a fun-filled day for all ages featuring old-fashioned games, wagon rides, a petting zoo, and live music. Younger visitors can enjoy children’s art projects, face painting, and ice cream, while adults can browse local vendors and watch beekeeping and crafter demonstrations.
Guests can also explore nature trails, build a fairy house in the Fairy Village, discover the estate’s exhibits and art installations, and more. Food will be available for purchase on site.
“Whether you’re crafting a witches’ ladder by lantern light or enjoying a wagon ride on a crisp October afternoon, The Trail offers a full spectrum of fall experiences this year,” Barraclough added.The New Hampshire Heritage Museum Trail connects the public with culturally rich heritage institutions across the Seacoast, Lakes Region, White Mountains, Dartmouth-Sunapee Region, and Merrimack Valley.