Weekend Top 10

May 21. 2013 1:47PM

Weekend Top 10 Planner

Lisa Martineau
NewHampshire.com

Photo: Memorial Day Observances

Top 10 Things To Do

Friday, May 24 - Monday, May 27, 2013

With Memorial Day Weekend upon us we are now entering the "unofficial" start to summer. With all the indoor and outdoor activities happening now, there is sure to be something for everyone to enjoy. Start with our list of the Top 10 Things to Do in New Hampshire this weekend. Be safe, NH!

Also:

• All things to do Friday
• All things to do Saturday
• All things to do Sunday
• All things to do Monday
• All things to do next weekend!

Fireworks and fun
Sunday, 2-9 p.m.
What better way to celebrate the kickoff to the summer season than with fireworks, music, family fun and rubber duckies? The Rock 101 Fisher Cats Skyshow Memorial Day Community Event and Duck Race will take place at Arms Park on the Merrimack River in Manchester this weekend. The day of festivities will include a duck race on the river, face painting, a bounce house, several bands performing throughout the event including a performance by the 80s rock band Quiet Riot, a gigantic fireworks display, and more. Admission is $5. Also, purchase a duck for $5 to race downriver to raise money for the Manchester Community Health Center.
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Chowder Feast
Sunday, 12-4 p.m.
Waterville Valley will be ringing in summer with their 24th Annual Chowderfest and Brews celebration. Come up to the Valley for the weekend and enjoy the youth fishing derby first, followed by a chowder competition among local restaurants and brew festival on Sunday. Sample chowder, grab a ballot, and vote for your favorite. It will be a throw down Iron Chef sytle for the ultimate prize, the "Golden Clam" Award. Seasonal Ales from Smuttynose will be on tap at the Lantern Restaurant's brew tent all afternoon and there will be a concert at the gazebo in Town Square. So bring the family and enjoy the beauty of spring in the White Mountains - for all ages! Admission varies by event. Call 800-468-2553 for more information.
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Lilac love
Saturday, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
The Wentworth-Coolidge Mansion Lilac Festival blooms this weekend in Portsmouth. The festival celebrates the state flower and the 250 year old lilacs on the property, which are the oldest in the country. The event will feature lots of activities for the children. A petting zoo, art projects, and scavenger and treasure hunts will keep their hands busy. For the adults, a silent auction, tours of the mansion, and artists participating in a plein air exhibit are all part of a historic festival that is set against the backdrop of this beautiful estate. Admission is free. Call 603-463-9889 for information.
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Craft craze
Saturday, 10 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Sunday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Monday, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
The 22nd Annual Memorial Day Weekend Craft Festival will take place at the Mill Falls Marketplace in Meredith this weekend. The craft festival has become an annual tradition and features over 100 artisans showing and selling their wares in a scenic lakeside setting. There will be folk art, soy candles, Intarsia, woodcrafts, pottery, photography, fine jewelry and much more. Also, come and sample the culinary delights of herbal dips, maple, dips and sauces, jams, jellies and more. Come and enjoy the beautiful art set in this spectacular setting. Admission is free.
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Lucky ducks
Sunday, 7 a.m.
The 24th Annual Wildquack Duck River Festival will be held this weekend at Jackson Village Park in Jackson, in the heart of the White Mountains. The event will feature more than 3,500 rubber ducks racing down the Wildcat River to make their way to the finish line. Pick a spot on the side of the river to watch and see if your duck wins you a prize! There will also be a silent auction, a barbecue, a parade starting at the covered bridge, a chance to become the Wildquack Duck River Festival King and Queen and to pose with the Chamber of Commerce duck mascot. The "Cake Boss" competition - and a chance to taste all the cakes entered - plus a talent competition are also both part of the festivities. Admission is free but there is a fee for some of the food and to be a part of the talent competition. Come watch for free and enjoy all the fun!
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Smoke and mudders!
Saturday, 10 a.m.
Get dirty at the Northern Tire Mud Fest and Smoke Run at Northern Tire in Colebrook this weekend. Jump start your summer with this one-of-a-kind bring-it-on festival. Bring your family and friends to watch who will need a tow out of the mud, enjoy inflatable family games, a 50/50 raffle, craft vendors, helicopter rides and more. The smoke show is also a lot of fun; come watch cars put the pedal to the metal, smoking their tires until they (sometimes) pop. Admission is free.
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Reggae, mon
Sunday, 7:30 p.m.
Toots and the Maytals will perform this weekend at the Lebanon Opera House. This is a rare unplugged acoustic show. Toots Hibbert is one of the great voices of Jamaica, a true legend who spans the genres of ska to rock-steady to reggae. Considered "one of the true architects of reggae," Toots and the Maytals have been working together since the 60s, becoming one of Jamaica's most enduring and beloved groups. They are even considered to have coined the term reggae with their 1968 hit, "Do the Reggay." Come see them at this intimate show. Tickets are $27-47.
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Family fun
Saturday, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, 3 p.m.
Enjoy the 5th Annual Customer Appreciation Fireworks Show at Wayne Eddows Field in Auburn this weekend. Kick off summer the way it should be done - with fireworks! But first enjoy an afternoon of family fair food, a petting zoo, bounce houses, fire trucks, music and hot air balloon rides. It's a family event that will be topped off with a huge extravaganza of fireworks. A $2 donation is requested to benefit the new playground in town. For more information, call 800-242-7876.
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The Weagle way
Saturday, 6 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Spend a day at the Mount Washington Auto Road in Gorham. It's Alton Weagle Day, a day to celebrate all the firsts at the Mount Washington Auto Road. Alton Weagle had such a passion for the Auto Road that he climbed Mt. Washington in a number of ways - by car, on foot, walking backwards, blindfolded, and even pushing a wheelbarrow full of sugar. Can you come up with an unusual way to climb the Auto Road? Today's your day! The event is free.
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Never forget
See dates, times
Please remember those who were lost while serving in the military. Memorial Day Parades and Observations will be held across the state in several communities. We have many of them listed here. If you are wondering whether your town is holding a parade or observance, please call your town hall for more information. Please note that some commemorations will be held on May 30, the traditional Memorial Day. And please, take a moment to remember those who died in service of our country.
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