Things to Do in New Hampshire This Weekend: August 28-30

If you’re looking for something to do in New Hampshire this weekend, I found everything from moose calling and poutine to food trucks, live music, a hidden gem of a restaurant and a road trip WAY up north.

We’re officially running out of New Hampshire summer weekends, so I’m not wasting this one. Here’s what’s happening around the Granite State August 28–30.

“WAIT… how is Labor Day already NEXT weekend?”

NEW HAMPSHIRE WEEKEND EVENTS: August 28-30, 2026

North Country Moose Festival - Colebrook, New Hampshire | Friday & Saturday, August 28-29, 2026

This wins Most New Hampshire Event of the Weekend without much competition.
The 34th annual North Country Moose Festival runs August 28–29 around Colebrook and includes the famous moose-calling contest, chili cook-off, live music, artisans, horse-and-wagon rides, a dog show and classic cars.

New Hampshire’s tourism office lists it as one of the states signature August events.

And yes, I would absolutely drive three hours north to watch adults publicly demonstrate their best moose call.

Granite State PoutineFest - Londonderry, New Hampshire | Saturday, August 29, 2026

French fries + cheese curds + gravy somehow became an entire festival, which frankly feels like something New England should have invented sooner.

The Granite State PoutineFest happens Saturday, August 29, at 603 Brewery. Restaurants from around the region compete for the championship belt while everyone else samples poutine, drinks local beer and enjoys live entertainment and family activities. General admission begins at 12:45 p.m., with an earlier 11:30 entry option.
And come hungry. This is not the afternoon to grab lunch beforehand.

Seacoast Food Truck Festival - Kittery, Maine | Saturday & Sunday, August 29 - 30, 2026

If committing to one food sounds too restrictive, just cross the bridge.

The 5th annual Seacoast Food Truck Festival takes over Kittery Premium Outlets this weekend. It runs 11 a.m.–6 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Sunday with a lineup of food trucks at the Old Navy lot.

My strategy: everybody orders from a different truck and then we establish a legally binding requirement that everyone shares.

NEW HAMPSHIRE WEEKEND SHOWS: August 28-30, 2026

The Devil Makes Three - Portsmouth, New Hampshire | Saturday, August 29, 2026

This is my Seacoast show of the weekend.

The Devil Makes Three hits Prescott Park Saturday night from 7–9:30 p.m., bringing that great mixture of Americana, blues, folk and slightly unhinged string-band energy to the waterfront. The Visit NH event listing currently shows no admission price, making this an especially attractive late-summer Portsmouth night.

That’s a very difficult Saturday night to screw up.

Slane: U2 Tribute — Intervale, New Hampshire | Friday, August 28, 2026

For the mountains option, Slane plays Theater in the Wood in Intervale Friday night as part of the Sunset Concert Series.

Doors open at 6 p.m., the opening act starts at 6:30 and Slane takes over around 7:30. Tickets are $30, and the show is held in the outdoor amphitheater; bring your own chair or blanket.

U2 songs outside in the White Mountains at the end of August?
Yeah. I can work with that.

NEW HAMPSHIRE HIDDEN GEM OF THE WEEK: August 28-30, 2026

Visit Grampy’s Drive-In in Pittsburg, New Hampshire

2658 N Main St, Pittsburg, NH 03592

Now THIS is what I want from the hidden-gem category.

It’s a small roadside North Country spot serving the kind of stuff you want after hiking, kayaking or searching for moose: breakfast sandwiches, burgers, grinders, fried food and donuts.

New Hampshire Magazine has specifically called Grampy’s an unassuming North Woods comfort-food stop.

So basically what I'm saying is: if somebody says, “There’s this little place way up in Pittsburg…”

That’s exactly where I want to eat.

Road Trip Destination of the Weekend

The Great North Woods: Colebrook → Dixville Notch → Pittsburg, New Hampshire

This weekend gives you the perfect excuse to finally keep driving north after Franconia Notch.
Start around Colebrook for Moose Festival.

Then take Route 26 through Dixville Notch. New Hampshire State Parks describes the park as a rugged little gorge with cascades, hiking and panoramic scenery; the 1½-mile Table Rock trail offers a huge view down into the Notch.

Then head north toward Pittsburg, First Connecticut Lake and Moose Alley.

Visit NH specifically recommends the Route 3 corridor for water views, paddling and wildlife watching, with First Connecticut Lake, Garfield Falls and the lakes around Pittsburg among the highlights.

This isn't a “drive somewhere, take a picture and drive home” road trip.
Give it the day.

If I Only Had One Day This Weekend…

I’m going ALL the way north Saturday.
And I mean way north.

Morning: North Country Moose Festival in Colebrook.

Then Route 26 through Dixville Notch. Then continue north to Pittsburg, grab food at Grampy’s, see Garfield Falls and drive Route 3 through the Connecticut Lakes.

If you have enough daylight, keep going up Moose Alley and see what walks out of the woods.

We've got another New Hampshire summer weekend sitting right in front of us. Use it.