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Fairs and Fun in Seacoast NH and Maine!

By Ann Cummings

Real Estate Agent with RE/MAX Shoreline - NH and Maine NH and Maine Broker

October 11, 2007 12:18 AM

Orange Fall Leaves Against Blue Sky in Portsmouth NH

Fall is certainly fair and festival time here in New Hampshire and Maine! For the last few weeks, we've had the pleasure of lots of fairs all over the place, and this coming weekend is no exception.

We've got 3 great festivals here in the local Portsmouth NH area - check them out!!

Prescott Park Chili Cookoff One of the local favorites here in Portsmouth is the 18th Annual Chili Cook-Off. This is a long-standing favorite that's held at our beautiful in-town Prescott Park along the Piscataqua River. Lots of area restaurants compete and vie for the "Best Chili" title to proudly display in their restaurant for all to see. Bragging rights galore to the winners of this yearly contest!

If you love chili, this is a great opportunity to try a wide variety of chili from all over this area. Some of the chili dishes you'll be able to sample are offered in the restaurants now, and others are jazzed up some for this fun competition.

Two awards will be given - "The People's Choice Award", and "The Judge's Award". Sometimes the two go to the same entry, however most of the time, each award goes to different contestants. Come on down to the park this Saturday, the 13th, starting at 11:30am until the last drop of chili is gone! Rain date is Sunday, the 14th.

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Nubble Lighthouse - York Maine - Ann Cummings 10-2007
One of my own personal favorites is the Harvestfest in York Village in Maine, just 15 minutes or so north of Portsmouth. Harvestfest is taking place this weekend, starting tomorrow, Friday the 12th and going on through Sunday the 14th. This year marks the 23rd Annual York Village Harvestfest, and I try to attend every year that I can!

This year's Harvestfest is the biggest yet, and includes all kinds of fun stuff in the pretty downtown village and along the beach area.

You'll find all kinds of yummy foods, beautiful juried arts and crafts booths, lots of local vendor booths, and new this year will be horse-drawn rides along the beach, and fireworks on Saturday night. The "Old Fashioned Marketplace" is where I love to go first. I've found some beautiful artwork here in the past, and some gorgeous locally made jewelry here, too. I wonder what treasures I'll have to bring home with me this year??

Short Sands Beach - York Maine - Ann Cummings 2007 Harvestfest also has "Kidsfest" and a fun big top tent with some great entertainment. Love chocolate? Then you have to make sure to enjoy the "Chocolate Lover's Fling" - chocoholics will be in heaven here.

While you're down in the Village, don't forget the rest of the Harvestfest fun at the York Beach Ballpark - the Classic Car Show will be here, as will even more crafts, yummy food and a Native American Pow-Wow. The fun goes on all weekend long, so be sure to plan stop in York Maine this weekend!

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Exeter New Hampshire - Town Hall Building - Ann Cummings 2007

Another fun food event here in the Seacoast this Saturday, the 13th, is the Fall Festival in Exeter NH. One of the yummy things going on at this festival will be the apple pie contest.

Local amateur bakers will be competing for the "Baker's Choice Award". This will be the 2nd year of having this bake-off in Exeter. There will also be judging for a "People's Choice Award" as well. If you love pie, find your way to Exeter and take part in the judging!

Other fun things going on during Exeter's Fall Festival will be horse-drawn rides, pumpkin bowling, lots of food samplings, sidewalk sales at all the downtown shops, raffles, kids activities, a magic show, and more. Downtown Exeter is quite charming, so make sure to check out this festival and enjoy the quaintness Exeter has to offer!

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Fall's in the air, and those of us who are so fortunate to live in this fabulous area of New Hampshire and Maine know that these fairs are a huge part of fall here. Take some time off to enjoy these good old-fashioned fun fairs and festivals. What better way to spend some time outside than enjoying some great food and fun in these awesome towns?!?!? Bright Red Maple Tree in Portsmouth NH - Ann Cummings 10-2007

I'll be out there - hope you get to take part as well!

To learn more about the Seacoast areas of New Hampshire and Maine, be sure to check out my Community Tours, and the information links below ~

Portsmouth New Hampshire Community Tours

Portsmouth New Hampshire Homes
Seacoast New Hampshire and Maine Real Estate
Information on New Hampshire and Maine Seacoast Towns
Buying New Hampshire and Maine Real Estate
Selling Real Estate in New Hampshire and Southern Maine

Ann Cummings
RE/MAX Coast to Coast
Portsmouth NH
888-349-5678 x 3839
Servicing the Coastal Areas of NH & Southern Maine

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Gena Riede

Riede Real Estate, Lic. 01310792 - Sacramento, CA

Real Estate Broker - Sacramento CA Real Estate (916) 417-2699

Ann, I'm not sure I could chose just one of those...I'd have to attend all of them!! They sound wonderful each one more spectacular the other but in an all together different way. What a fabulous time of year for you.

Oct 12, 2007 02:38 PM

Lynda Eisenmann

Preferred Home Brokers - Brea, CA

Broker Associate ,CRS,GRI,SRES, Brea,CA, Orange Co

Hi Ann,

Wow, so many great things to do and things to eat! My kind of fun.

Oct 12, 2007 05:41 PM

Ann Cummings

RE/MAX Shoreline - NH and Maine - Portsmouth, NH

Portsmouth NH Real Estate Preferrable Agent

Hi Gena - I agree with you, choosing which one will be the problem. They're each different with very different offerings. I do always try to make it to the one in York, so will be there later today, I hope!

Hi Lynda - I love these kinds of fun things, too, and the food always adds that much more to all the other fun things!

Thanks for reading!
Ann

Oct 12, 2007 08:15 PM

Katerina Gasset

The Gasset Group & Get It Done For Me Virtual Services - Provo, UT

Amplify Your Real Estate & Life Dreams!

Ann- How beautiful is all I can say! Thanks for sharing these photos and fall in your area. Katerina

Oct 13, 2007 02:29 AM

Ann Cummings

RE/MAX Shoreline - NH and Maine - Portsmouth, NH

Portsmouth NH Real Estate Preferrable Agent

Hi Katerina - I'm glad you enjoyed this post and the pictures I used. Fall here is just a gorgeous time and the colors are so incredible.

Thanks for reading!
Ann

Oct 13, 2007 11:22 AM

Sandra Cummings

William Raveis Real Estate - Guilford, CT

Real Estate Agent, Guilford Connecticut

Hi Ann

Great job on the post...don't you just love fairs in the fall, there is nothing better and all that food!

Oct 13, 2007 11:28 AM

Ann Cummings

RE/MAX Shoreline - NH and Maine - Portsmouth, NH

Portsmouth NH Real Estate Preferrable Agent

Hi Sandra - I do love fairs and festivals, and love getting to try some yummy foods, too. I like being outside in the fall, it's just really crisp and refreshing!

Thanks for reading!
Ann

Oct 13, 2007 11:34 AM

Rita Taylor

None - Sanford, NC

Sanford NC Real Estate - Homes for Sale in Sanford North Carolina

Ann,

The picture of the lighthouse in York is beautiful. We just got back from our local fair and it was fun. The kids enjoyed the rides and the adults enjoyed the food.

Oct 13, 2007 01:36 PM

Joan Whitebook

BHG The Masiello Group - Nashua, NH

Consumer Focused Real Estate Services

I love going to the seacoast. It looks like I will have a lot of good reasons to visit. I have gotten busy, so I hope I can find some time to get away. I love this time of year.

Oct 13, 2007 02:33 PM

Ann Cummings

RE/MAX Shoreline - NH and Maine - Portsmouth, NH

Portsmouth NH Real Estate Preferrable Agent

Hi Rita - that lighthouse in York is the Nubble Lighthouse, and is supposedly the most photographed lighthouse in the world. It is a pretty one, for sure, and there is a constant stream of people and cars in the parking lot of the park where you can view this lighthouse. The New England coastline, especially Maine and NH are dotted with lighthouses, and it can be mesmerizing to look at them. There are 4 right here within just a few minutes that I am fortunate to live hear. The Nubble in York, pictured above is about 15 minutes north of me.

Sounds like your fair was a fun one! I love fairs, and I always enjoy checking out all the food you can find at fairs!

Ann

Oct 14, 2007 12:02 AM

Ann Cummings

RE/MAX Shoreline - NH and Maine - Portsmouth, NH

Portsmouth NH Real Estate Preferrable Agent

Hi Joan - we are lucky to live in such a gorgeous state, and one that has fairs and festivals going on all over the state. Hope you can find some time to sneak in a fair or two!

Ann

Oct 14, 2007 12:04 AM

Ginger S

Wilkinson & Associates, Wilmington NC - Wilmington, NC

Wilmington NC Real Estate & Relocation~

Ann, it must be beautiful in NH this weekend . Have the leaves peaked yet?

Roger & I visited the York area for a vacation before we moved south. I ate a fried clam sandwich for lunch 5 days in a row... Love those clams!

Ginger

Oct 14, 2007 05:06 AM

Cynthia Tilghman, Realtor® Onslow County NC Home Specialist

Kingsbridge Realty, Inc - Hubert, NC

Hi Ann,
What wonderful photos. I love this time of year and all the festivals, sounds like you guys have lots going on there. Enjoy

Oct 14, 2007 07:12 AM

Anonymous

Judy Tuscano

Hi Ann,

You are making me hungry reading this blog:) I didn't know about a lot of these events even though they are just a few miles from our home. I look forward to learning more from you about the local area.

Judy T

Oct 15, 2007 10:22 AM

#25

Ann Cummings

RE/MAX Shoreline - NH and Maine - Portsmouth, NH

Portsmouth NH Real Estate Preferrable Agent

Hi Ginger - It is beautiful here now, and will be here in my area for the next week or two. We still have more green than other colors here along the coast, but the color that's started is gorgeous. I've never had a fried clam sandwich, but I do enjoy a nice bowl of steamers! I love fried shrimp, and I love fried lobster, too. That's something that a lot of people either have never heard of or that just doesn't go together, but it is the yummiest of all to me!

Ann

Oct 15, 2007 10:38 AM

Ann Cummings

RE/MAX Shoreline - NH and Maine - Portsmouth, NH

Portsmouth NH Real Estate Preferrable Agent

Hi Cynthia - thanks for reading, and we do always have lots of fun stuff going on all over the state!

Hi Judy - WELCOME again! It's funny as I learn a lot about things going on around the area, too, by doing these pots. Thanks for reading and commenting!

Ann

Oct 15, 2007 10:41 AM

Ginger S

Wilkinson & Associates, Wilmington NC - Wilmington, NC

Wilmington NC Real Estate & Relocation~

Ann, You never had fried clams...You have got to try. Sometimes I get such a craving for them! the only place you can get the real thing ( not the clam strips ) is New England. Ho Jo's used to have a great fried clam roll.

Mike's Clam Shack in York Maine is the place to go next time you are in the area.

Fried lobster I have never tried. Love the fresh steamed lobster, and shrimp scampi!

Ginger

Oct 17, 2007 07:35 AM

Ann Cummings

RE/MAX Shoreline - NH and Maine - Portsmouth, NH

Portsmouth NH Real Estate Preferrable Agent

Hey Ginger - yep, never had a fried clam yet! But I just may try them next time we're out for seafood. I'll have to look up Mike's Clam Shack and give them a whirl! York is just about 15-20 minutes away from me.

The only places I've ever seen fried lobster are up here in my areas - it is SO yummy!!! Decadent for sure, but yummy for the tummy!!

Ann

Oct 17, 2007 08:11 AM

Jay Beckingham

Christensen Financial Mortgage - Port St Lucie, FL

Seniors ROCK!

thanks for the lighthouse and the beach. my grandmother's house was the last on the right coming from the village (york) before libby's trailer park.

for years everyone knew it because of the anchor in the front yard.

then someone stole the anchor one night.

Oct 26, 2007 02:11 AM

Ann Cummings

RE/MAX Shoreline - NH and Maine - Portsmouth, NH

Portsmouth NH Real Estate Preferrable Agent

Hi Jay - I know right where her house was! And I think I remember that anchor, too. It was a big anchor, right? Libby's Park is still there, and boy is that land ever valuable now! What a spot for a park like that!!

Ann

Oct 29, 2007 12:40 PM