Things to Do in New Hampshire This Weekend: October 16

I think New Hampshire has officially run out of NORMAL things to do in October.

This weekend, we're racing boats made out of giant pumpkins, welcoming Hollywood stars to Portsmouth, hanging out with Vikings at an apple orchard and setting a river on fire.

Yes. An actual river.

Here's where I'm sending you this weekend.

NEW HAMPSHIRE WEEKEND EVENTS: October 16-18, 2026

New Hampshire Film Festival — Portsmouth, New Hampshire

Thursday, October 15 – Sunday, October 18

This might be the biggest entertainment event happening on the Seacoast this weekend.

The 24th annual New Hampshire Film Festival takes over downtown Portsmouth with more than 100 independent films, documentaries, short films, filmmaker conversations and special events.

Screenings happen at venues throughout downtown, including The Music Hall and 3S Artspace.

But here's the part that caught my attention.

Alicia Silverstone is coming to Portsmouth.

The actress who made Cher Horowitz an icon in Clueless will participate in a special evening featuring a screening of the movie and an audience Q&A.

That's scheduled for Sunday, October 18, at 7:30 p.m. at The Music Hall Historic Theater.

Alicia Silverstone is coming to Portsmouth. Suddenly, every woman who grew up in the '90s is saying 'AS IF!' again.

Good to know: Individual screenings and festival passes are available. Check the schedule before choosing which films to attend.

Keene Pumpkin Festival — Keene, New Hampshire

Saturday, October 17 | Beginning at 2 p.m.

You know a town takes Halloween seriously when the entire community comes together to celebrate carved pumpkins.

The Keene Pumpkin Festival returns Saturday, October 17, transforming downtown into a celebration of jack-o'-lanterns, costumes and live entertainment.

This year's schedule includes:

Free pumpkin carving at Railroad Square.
Children's costume parade beginning at Main and West streets.
Downtown trick-or-treating at participating businesses.
Live entertainment on multiple stages.

The festival's history of elaborate pumpkin displays makes it one of New Hampshire's most recognizable fall traditions.

I struggle to carve two triangles and a mouth into a pumpkin. Some of these people are apparently creating Renaissance artwork.

Goffstown Giant Pumpkin Weigh-Off & Regatta, Goffstown, New Hampshire

4 Main Street #2, Goffstown, NH

Saturday, October 17 – Sunday, October 18

Soooo.... THIS is the event I want to see. I want to know who invented this. Because I have several questions, and I think we should be friends.

Every October, Goffstown takes enormous pumpkins, weighs them, hollows them out and turns them into boats.

Then actual human beings climb inside and race them down the Piscataquog River.

I'm not making any of that up.

The annual Giant Pumpkin Weigh-Off and Regatta returns to Goffstown Village this weekend.

Saturday, October 17: 9 a.m.–4 p.m.

The giant pumpkin weigh-off, vendors, contests, family activities and a Touch-a-Truck event from 9 a.m.–2 p.m.

Sunday, October 18: 9:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m.

The festivities continue, including the famous pumpkin boat races featuring costumed paddlers.

Some pumpkins weigh more than 1,000 pounds before they're transformed into boats.

Somebody looked at a thousand-pound pumpkin and said, 'You know what? I bet I could paddle that thing.'

NEW HAMPSHIRE LIVE MUSIC EVENTS: October 15-18, 2026

Scotty McCreery — Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom

If your weekend begins Thursday night, 97.5 WOKQ presents Scotty McCreery at Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom on October 15.

Hunt Pipkin opens, doors are at 7 p.m., and the show begins at 8 p.m.

Dustbowl Revival — Portsmouth
Friday, October 16 | 7:30 p.m.

If you're looking for something a little different Friday night, this is my pick.

Dustbowl Revival takes the stage at Jimmy's Jazz & Blues Club.

This group blends Americana, soul, folk, funk and New Orleans-style brass into one big live performance.

They're known for energetic shows that are considerably more interesting than sitting quietly and politely nodding your head.

The venue lists doors at 5:30 p.m., so you can make dinner part of the evening before the 7:30 performance.

Sometimes you need a Friday night where you walk into a place knowing three songs and leave wondering why you haven't been listening to this band your entire life.

Neko Case — Nashua
Sunday, October 18 | 7 p.m.

For something more in the Americana and alternative-country world, Neko Case brings her *Neon Grey Midnight Green Tour* to the Nashua Center for the Arts.

She's joined by Destroyer.

Neko Case has built a career around distinctive vocals, powerful songwriting and music that doesn't fit neatly into one category.

The Sunday performance begins at 7 p.m. [

Credit: Great Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve via Facebook

NEW HAMPSHIRE OUTDOOR ADVENTURE: October 16-18, 2026

Explore Great Bay Discovery Center — Greenland, New Hampshire

89 Depot Rd, Greenland, NH

I'm deliberately keeping one outdoor recommendation close to the Seacoast this week.

The Great Bay Discovery Center is one of those places you can drive past for years without realizing how much there is to explore.

The property offers walking trails, boardwalks, marshland views and opportunities to observe wildlife along Great Bay.

The grounds are free and open daily from dawn until dusk.

The indoor Discovery Center exhibit room is also open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m.–4 p.m., through October 24.

It's a great option if you want to get outside without committing to an entire day of hiking.

NEW HAMPSHIRE HIDDEN GEM: October 16018, 2026

The Oak House — Newmarket, New Hampshire

110 Main Street, Newmarket

I'm sending you somewhere a little different this week.

The Oak House sits in downtown Newmarket and serves creative American comfort food with locally sourced ingredients.

This is the kind of place where you can grab a burger, try something a little unexpected and settle in for a casual meal.

And the menu has a couple of items that immediately got my attention.

Brisket grilled cheese.

Smoked brisket, cheddar, barbecue sauce, chili-garlic mayo and jalapeños on sourdough.

They also have brisket poutine with gravy, cheese curds and chives.

I don't know who decided regular grilled cheese needed brisket, but I would like to personally thank them.

NEW HAMPSHIRE ROAD TRIP: October 16-18, 2026

RiverFire — Berlin, New Hampshire
Saturday, October 17

If you're looking for an actual destination this weekend, I'm sending you north.

Berlin is setting the Androscoggin River on fire.

Okay, technically they're lighting large structures in the river, but you get the idea.

The annual RiverFire festival returns Saturday, October 17, at Service Credit Union Heritage Park.

It's an entire day of fall activities that ends with dramatic fires illuminating the river after dark.

And the schedule is pretty ridiculous.

Here's what's happening:

RiverFire Fun Zone with bounce houses, face painting and crafts.
Wildlife Encounters brings live animals for educational demonstrations.
RiverFire 5K.
Juggling and unicycle performances.
Halloween costume parade.
Lighting of the river structures and pumpkins on the bridge.
Live music.

There's also a Zombie ATV Poker Run associated with the festivities.

Admission is listed at $5 per person, with children 5 and younger free.

We're setting a river on fire. This seems like the kind of sentence that should require a phone call to somebody."

Zombie ATVs, juggling, pumpkins and a river on fire. Berlin apparently decided subtlety was overrated. I'm not sure who pitched this festival, but I want that person planning my birthday.

Vikings & Giant Pumpkin Carving — Applecrest Farm

Hampton Falls | Saturday & Sunday

This might be the most unexpectedly entertaining family activity of the weekend.

Applecrest Farm is hosting its Fall Harvest Festival, but this isn't just another weekend of apple picking.

There are Vikings.

The Straumfjordr Viking reenactment group will set up an encampment Saturday and Sunday with demonstrations of Viking-age food, textiles and combat.

And on Sunday, master pumpkin carver Mo Auger will tackle an approximately 800-pound pumpkin.

That's right.

Somebody is carving a pumpkin that weighs more than several refrigerators. I want to know what kind of carving knife he is using. Pretty sure it's not one of those little carving kits you buy at Market Basket.

There's also live music from noon–4 p.m., with Reunion Hill performing Saturday and the Rick Watson Band on Sunday.

The farm offers traditional fall activities including its corn maze, tractor rides, barnyard animals, cider donuts and apple picking, subject to conditions.

If I Only Had One Day This Weekend...

Here's Where I'd Go Saturday

I'm staying on the Seacoast this weekend.

And I'm putting together a Saturday that makes absolutely no sense on paper, which is exactly why I like it.

First stop: Applecrest Farm in Hampton Falls.

Coffee, cider donuts, a little apple picking and apparently a Viking encampment.

Because nothing says relaxing Saturday morning like watching somebody demonstrate medieval combat techniques.

Second stop: Downtown Portsmouth.

The New Hampshire Film Festival is happening throughout downtown.

I'd grab lunch, walk around Market Square and catch an afternoon film.

Final stop: Newmarket.

Head over to The Oak House for dinner.