Garret’s Granite State Weekend Guide: Aliens, Fairs & One Last Summer Weekend

If you're looking for something to do in New Hampshire over Labor Day weekend, I found aliens in Exeter, one of the oldest fairs in the state, three straight nights of huge concerts in Gilford, a circus on Hampton Beach and one last excuse to pretend summer isn't ending.

And honestly, that feels like a pretty appropriate way to send it out.

Credit: Getty Images

NEW HAMPSHIRE WEEKEND EVENTS: September 4-7, 2026

Exeter UFO Festival — Exeter | Saturday & Sunday

This is easily my most New Hampshire thing happening this weekend.

The Exeter UFO Festival returns September 5–6, commemorating the famous 1965 “Incident at Exeter,” when 18-year-old Norman Muscarello reported seeing a strange object near Kensington — and responding Exeter police officers later reported seeing something unusual, too.

Nothing says New Hampshire like spending Saturday afternoon casually looking for extraterrestrials.

This year also marks the 65th anniversary of Betty and Barney Hill's 1961 UFO story, with their niece Kathleen Marden serving as keynote speaker. Downtown will have speakers, trolley rides to the Exeter incident site, kids activities, alien dancers, an alien pet contest and Saturday's alien costume parade. Kids activities are free, while the Town Hall speaker series is $40 for both days. Festival profits support Seacoast charities serving children and families.

And if you've ever wanted to dress your dog like an alien and parade it through downtown Exeter... apparently Saturday is your day.

Full Exeter UFO Festival schedule

Lancaster Fair — Lancaster | Thursday–Monday

If your Labor Day weekend requires fried food, midway rides and agricultural-fair chaos, go north.

The Lancaster Fair runs September 3–7 and traces its history to 1870, making it a Great North Woods Labor Day tradition that's been around for more than 150 years. Admission includes the midway rides, and parking is free.

There's livestock, horse shows, entertainment and all the wonderfully random stuff that makes a county fair a county fair... including a kids' Power Wheels demolition derby Monday.

That last sentence alone may be worth the drive.

Lancaster Fair schedule and tickets

Labor Day Weekend Craft Fair — Gunstock | Saturday & Sunday

If you want something a little more relaxed, Gunstock Mountain Resort hosts its Labor Day Weekend Craft Fair Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m.–5 p.m.

More than 100 exhibitors will be there with handmade crafts, art, food products and demonstrations, plus live music both days.

Best part: admission and parking are free, and friendly leashed dogs are welcome.  Learn more here

Credit: Getty Images

NEW HAMPSHIRE WEEKEND SHOWS: September 4-7, 2026

Parker McCollum — Gilford | Friday, September 4, 2026

Country gets first pick this weekend.

BankNH Pavilion has a ridiculously stacked Labor Day weekend, starting Friday night at 7:30 p.m. with Parker McCollum, Vincent Mason and Owen Riegling.

And the Pavilion basically doesn't stop after that: ZZ Top with George Thorogood Saturday, followed by Tedeschi Trucks Band with Lukas Nelson Sunday.

Three nights. Three completely different crowds.

BankNH Pavilion Labor Day weekend concerts

Preservation Hall Jazz Band — Portsmouth | Saturday, September 5, 2026

For something completely different, one of New Orleans' most recognizable musical institutions comes to The Music Hall Saturday night.

Preservation Hall Jazz Band has carried the tradition of New Orleans music for more than 65 years, while continuing to push that sound forward.

And Portsmouth gets another fun one Sunday: Big Bad Voodoo Daddy takes over the Historic Theater.

Credit: Getty Images

NEW HAMPSHIRE OUTDOOR ADVENTURES | Friday, September 4-7, 2026

Paddle Pawtuckaway Lake — Nottingham

Before you put the kayak away for the year, give it one more good day.

Pawtuckaway State Park has a public canoe/kayak launch, rentals and a lake full of little islands and coves to explore. The park also has hiking and biking trails, a huge glacial boulder field and a mountaintop fire tower.

Day-use admission is $5 for adults, $2 for kids 6–11 and free for children under five. The park warns that the beach can hit capacity early on holiday weekends, so reserving ahead is smart.

READ MORE: Why Exeter? New Hampshire Has an Entire Festival Dedicated to UFOs

Kayak Great Bay — Seacoast

Here's the outdoor adventure that sometimes gets overlooked because we're surrounded by mountains.

Great Bay.

Visit NH calls it the second-largest estuary on the East Coast, with marshes, woods, open meadows, islands and plenty of wildlife to see from the water.

This isn't necessarily a casual throw the kayak in anywhere and wing it paddle... tides, wind and currents matter here... so check conditions and plan your route before heading out.

But on the right day? This is one of the coolest ways to see the Seacoast.

Credit: Anatolia Mediterranean Restaurant Somersworth NH via Facebook

 Hidden-Gem Restaurant of the Week | Friday, September 4-7, 2026

Anatolia Mediterranean Restaurant — Somersworth
Mediterranean Restaurant (603) 841-5372

This week's pick is hiding in the lower level of Somersworth's historic train-station building, which is already enough to get my attention.

Anatolia specializes in Turkish and Mediterranean food, grilled meats, kebabs, dips, fresh bread and generous portions — in a cozy brick-and-stone space that feels completely different from what you'd expect walking in.

Current hours have them open 11 a.m.–10 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 11 a.m.–9 p.m. Sunday, making this an easy Seacoast weekend stop.

This is exactly what I want from this category: the place somebody tells you about that you would've never randomly found yourself.

Credit: Getty Images

 New Hampshire Road Trip of the Week | Friday, September 4-7, 2026

Waterville Valley

This one is less road trip and more refusing to acknowledge that summer is ending.

Waterville Valley has built an entire Labor Day weekend around sending summer out properly.

Saturday night has lawn games, s'mores and live music around Corcoran Pond, followed by fireworks at 8:30 p.m.

Sunday brings live music, the annual charity Duck Race down Snow's Brook, lawn games and more activities in Town Square.

Then Monday has a free live-animal presentation from Squam Lakes Natural Science Center and tie-dye in Town Square.

Mountains. Pond. Live music. S'mores. Giant inflatable duck.

I don't know what else you need.

Waterville Valley Labor Day Weekend Guide

If I Only Had One Day This Weekend…

I'm staying on the Seacoast Saturday.

Start in downtown Exeter for the UFO Festival.

Watch the alien costume parade. Take the trolley toward the site of the famous Exeter incident. Wander downtown and get lunch.

Then head toward Hampton Beach.

Walk the beach, grab dinner and stick around for Cirque du Hampton Beach that evening.

That's aliens in the morning and aerialists over Hampton Beach at night.

I challenge another state to give me that Saturday.

We’ve got about five minutes of summer left, New Hampshire. Let’s not waste ’em.

Happy Labor Day Weekend