Best 2012 Summer Festivals in New England
Summer season in New England is jam packed with fairs, event, parades, and celebrations spanning art, food, music, antiques, history, and culture. While it’s impossible to take in all of the fun, with some careful planning, you can look choose a few special events to make your summer memorable.
Below is a featured summer festival in each of New England’s six states, but for more, check out our complete list of Editors’ Picks for Best 2012 Summer Festivals in New England.
June 15-17: Quechee, VT Hot Air Balloon & Craft Festival
Book a ride on one of the more than 20 hot-air balloons taking scheduled flights over the town green, or stay grounded and enjoy the artisanal wares, music, food, and special kids’ activities.
802-295-7900; quecheeballoonfestival.com
June 22-24: Newport, RI Flower Show
An elegant and festive event with a salsa theme takes over the enviable landscape of Rosecliff Mansion. The show’s exotic plants and colorful designs are inspired by the fusion of Latin music and dance.
401-847-1000; newportflowershow.org
July 6-9: New London/Groton, CT OpSail 2012 CT
Commemorating the bicentennial anniversary of the War of 1812 and the origins of our national anthem, the tall ships arrive by parade of sail at New London. The harborfront and nearby towns invite you to take part in history and heritage events, watch sailboat races, and enjoy fine food, the music of the U.S. Coast Guard Band, a clambake, spectacular fireworks, and the Governor’s Ball.
860-447-2519; opsail2012ct.org
July 10-15 : Brimfield, MA Brimfield Antique Show
If you can’t find it here, it probably doesn’t exist. The largest outdoor antiques show around attracts more than 6,000 dealers along a one-mile stretch of Route 20. If you miss July’s event, the show will be back from September 4-9.
brimfieldshow.com
August 1-5: Rockland, ME Maine Lobster Festival
Harbor Park hosts five days of feasting and fun. Do your part to consume a portion of the more than 20,000 pounds of iconic crustacean, watch the sea-goddess coronation and parade, and take in the live entertainment. Plus a variety of artisans and craftsmen, Navy ship tours, cooking contests, and more.
207-596-0376; mainelobsterfestival.com
August 4-12: Newbury, NH League of New Hampshire Craftsmen’s Fair
Shop the more than 200 exhibit booths displaying both contemporary and traditional wares made by juried league members at this most prestigious of craft fairs. Plus exhibits, demonstrations, workshops, and a variety of food vendors, all at Mount Sunapee Resort.
603-224-3375 (League office), 603-763-2416 (Fair office); nhcrafts.org
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New Sweden is celebrating their 142nd Midsummer Festival in New Sweden, Maine. Our guests this year are the Orust Dance group with musicians. This is a group of 27 people who visited us in 2004. Check out the Maine Swedish Colony website!
The Central Maine Egg Festival is celebrating the 40th anniversary this year. The Egg Festival Committe has events planned starting July 17th. The Kiwanis Karnival will run from July 19th – 21st and The Great Central Maine Everythign That Flies Fly In will happen on July 21st at the Municpal Airport. More details available on the Town of Pittsfield Web Site or the Egg Festival Site: http://wix.com/centralmaineeggfest/centralmaineeggfest
Lowell, MA The Lowell Folk Festival The Largest Free Folk Festival in the Nation
Always the last three day weekend in July. This year July 27th, 28th and 29th
Come on down to Downtown Lowell Plenty of parking garages, 50 different kinds of ethnic foods, five to seven stages of constant music all within walking distance of the other from every part of the globe. A great music festival with a train from Boston on Friday night and Saturday. Come on down !