Garret’s Granite State Weekend Guide: Aldean, Pickles & Fall Fun

Well... here we are. We have officially reached the part of the New Hampshire calendar where every town owns a pumpkin, somebody is serving cider, and we're all voluntarily driving around looking at trees. This weekend also gives us one more round of the Granite State Fair, a festival devoted to pickles, maritime music taking over Portsmouth, Jason Aldean at BankNH and a couple of great excuses to get outside.

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NEW HAMPSHIRE WEEKEND EVENTS: September 25–27, 2026

Granite State Fair — Rochester | Thursday–Sunday

If you missed the first weekend, you've got one more shot.

The Granite State Fair returns to the Rochester Fairgrounds for its **final weekend September 24–27**. The fair opens at **4 p.m. Thursday and Friday and 10 a.m. Saturday and Sunday**, with the midway opening at noon on the weekend. General admission is $12, kids 8 and younger are free, and active and retired military get free admission with valid ID.

And Sunday gives us the most fair-like way imaginable to end the whole thing: a demolition derby at 4 p.m. I grew up around demo derby's and I loved them.

Apparently gently saying goodbye to fair season wasn't an option. We're smashing cars instead. I respect that.

READ MORE: Here's How to Register for the WOKQ Best Apple Pie in New England Contest

Winchester Pickle Festival — Winchester | Saturday

There are festivals.

And then there's an entire New Hampshire festival devoted to pickles.

The Winchester Pickle Festival returns Saturday, September 26, bringing thousands of people together for live entertainment, food, vendors and an impressive amount of pickle-related nonsense. New Hampshire tourism lists it among the state's can't-miss fall festivals and says the annual event draws more than 5,000 people.

Five thousand people gathering in one New Hampshire town because we all agreed cucumbers weren't exciting enough until somebody soaked them in vinegar. I'm in.”

Portsmouth Maritime Folk Festival — Portsmouth | Saturday–Sunday

This one feels very Seacoast

The Portsmouth Maritime Folk Festival celebrates its 25th festival September 26–27, filling Portsmouth with traditional maritime music and performers. Even better: the festival is completely free.

If you've ever wanted to walk around downtown Portsmouth while people spontaneously sing sea shanties, congratulations... your oddly specific opportunity has arrived.

Basically Portsmouth becomes a pirate musical for the weekend, and somehow nobody thought to give me a role.

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NEW HAMPSHIRE LIVE MUSIC EVENTS: September 25–27, 2026

Jason Aldean — BankNH Pavilion | Friday & Saturday

Apparently one night in New Hampshire wasn't enough.

Jason Aldean at BankNH Pavilion plays Friday, September 25 at 7:30 p.m., and then Aldean does it all over again Saturday night with a second show at BankNH Pavilion in Gilford. Jason Aldean at BankNH Pavilion

Both nights feature Chase Matthew and Mackenzie Carpenter, with BankNH Pavilion also listing Dee Jay Silver as part of the Songs About Us Tour

Jonas Brothers — Manchester | Saturday

The Jonas Brothers bring The Burning Up Tour All Over Again to SNHU Arena Saturday, September 26th.The official arena listing confirms the show, and Jamie Miller and Deleasa are also on the bill.

If ‘Burnin' Up’ starts and you suddenly become the person you were in 2008, I support your journey.

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NEW HAMPSHIRE OUTDOOR ADVENTURES: September 25–27, 2026

Mount Kearsarge — Wilmot

We're getting into prime hiking weather.

Winslow State Park gives you access to Mount Kearsarge from the northwest side. From the picnic area, there's a one-mile trail to the summit, with a longer 1.75-mile trail that lets you make it a loop. The park remains in its full-time operating season through November 9.

From the summit area you're getting big views across central New Hampshire... exactly what you want as fall color starts creeping in.

Nothing makes you question your fitness choices quite like being passed on a mountain by a 72-year-old carrying one bottle of water.

Hawk Watch — Holderness

Remember all those migrating raptors we've been talking about?

Here's your chance to actually go look for them.

Squam Lakes Natural Science Center hosts a **Hawk Watch Saturday from 10 a.m.–2 p.m.**, where participants help count migrating raptors passing over the Science Center. The observations contribute to migration data. ([NH Lakes Region Tourism Association][8])

**Garret line:** *“We're all staring at the trees for foliage while thousands of birds are basically running an interstate above our heads.”*

NEW HAMPSHIRE HIDDEN GEM: September 25–27, 2026

Fat Dog Kitchen — Dover

99 Oak St, Dover, NH 03820, United States

I'm keeping this one close to home. I love this place

Fat Dog Kitchen calls what it does “Funky Comfort Cuisine,” which is honestly enough of a sales pitch for me.

It's a quirky little breakfast-and-lunch spot known for big portions and creative spins on brunch comfort food. It's open 7 a.m.–2 p.m. Friday through Sunday, making it an easy starting point before whatever trouble you've selected from this guide.

If breakfast requires a nap afterward, I consider that excellent value.

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NEW HAMPSHIRE ROAD TRIP: September 25–27, 2026

Currier & Ives Scenic Byway

I'm giving the Kanc a week off.

The Currier & Ives Scenic Byway is a 40-mile drive through Henniker, Hopkinton, Warner, Webster and Salisbury with farmland, stone walls, covered bridges, historic villages and views toward Mount Kearsarge and Pats Peak.

And here's why I particularly like it this Saturday

The route takes you through Warner, where the Mt. Kearsarge Indian Museum is holding its Harvest Moon Festival from 10 a.m.–3 p.m. with traditional crafts, demonstrations, storytelling and Native foods including Hidatsa bison stew and Three Sisters soup.

So instead of merely driving around looking at leaves, you've actually got somewhere to stop.

We have officially entered the New England tradition of driving 40 miles to look at trees and then acting shocked every single time one is orange

⭐ If I Only Had One Day This Weekend...

I'm staying on the Seacoast Saturday.

Start with breakfast at Fat Dog Kitchen in Dover.

Then head into Portsmouth for the Maritime Folk Festival. Walk downtown, catch some music, grab lunch and embrace the possibility that at some point you'll be standing on a sidewalk listening to 30 strangers sing a sea shanty.

Spend the afternoon around Portsmouth and the coast, then head to Gilford for Jason Aldean at BankNH.

That's breakfast... Portsmouth... ocean... sea shanties... Jason Aldean.

There is absolutely no coherent theme to that day, which is precisely why I like it.