What is there to do over Labor Day Weekend in the White Mountains? SO much!

Our arts and culture scene has upped the ante with everything from sand sculptures to collaborative gallery shows, and the likes of Sherlock Holmes, "On Golden Pond", and "Mamma Mia!" are lighting up our theatres throughout the region.

Meanwhile, we’ve got your classic vacation staples like our Major Attractions, fireworks, cabins to rent, rail bikes to ride, rubber ducky races to watch, and nature programs to give you that last taste of sweet summer escapes.

But we’d hate to spoil it all in the intro. Keep scrolling for our top Labor Day ideas to get you celebrating with friends and family, right here in the White Mountains.

JACKSON AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE (Jackson, NH)

Throw a thank you to Mother Nature for this one; due to the weather, the Jackson Area Chamber of Commerce switched up their fireworks schedule over Fourth of July weekend.

Now, the big fireworks blowout is scheduled for Labor Day weekend!  Head to Jackson, NH on Sunday, 9/3; local businesses like the Snowflake Inn and Inn at Jackson are inviting visitors to take in the sparkly spectacle (scheduled to start at approximately 8pm) from their property. Come early if you’d like to take advantage of other festive offerings, including popcorn, soda, glow necklaces, and more!

Fireworks will also be held at the Waterville Valley Town Square (Waterville Valley, NH) on Sunday, 9/3. For more information, look under “Labor Day Events & Activities”.

Jackson Area Chamber of Commerce Fireworks Flyer (Fireworks Over Red Covered Bridge)

Lodging Deals

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BRETTON WOODS VACATIONS (Various Locations)

Labor Day lodging deals in the White Mountains are easy to find with a scroll through Bretton Woods Vacation’s website. Pick from chalets, condos, lodges, and farmhouses – just don’t forget to enter “MAKEIT4” at checkout if you would like your 4th night free at any one of Bretton Woods’ 122 properties.

 

OMNI MOUNT WASHINGTON RESORT (Bretton Woods, NH)

Celebrate Labor Day 2023 with the Omni Mount Washington Resort. Friday, 9/1 – Monday, 9/4, this historic property will host a four-day celebration complete with musical performances, family friendly activities, and fantastic food. Highlights include a “Create Your Own Terrarium” activity, a Labor Day Pool Party complete with mountain views, weekend-long family movie nights, and even a Red White and Blue Family 5k followed by a Backyard Carnival in the Presidential Garden!

Book a stay at the Omni at their Best Available Rate to take advantage of the Buy 2 Nights, Get a 3rd Night Free offer (available Labor Day weekend).

Omni Mount Washington Labor Day Graphic (Four Swimmers on Tubes in Pool)

 

Events & Activities

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BELIEVE IN BOOKS LITERACY FOUNDATION (Intervale, NH)

Led Zeppelin in the White Mountains? You better believe it, and it’s all thanks to the Sunset Concert Series hosted by the beloved Believe in Books Literacy Foundation. While it might not be the real Led Zeppelin, the Four Sticks more than make do, and we can’t think of a better tribute band to cap off a summer of revelry in Intervale, NH.

Friday, 9/1, 7:30 – 9:30pm. Tickets start at $20. BIBLF members receive $5 off. Visit the BIBLF website for more information.  

 

GUNSTOCK MOUNTAIN RESORT (Gilford, NH)

Get crafty at Gunstock Mountain Resort with a Labor Day Craft Fair on Saturday, 9/2 and Sunday, 9/3. There will be over 100 exhibitors and goods that run the gamut from resin arts to jewelry, quilts, charcuterie boards, pet portraits, and NH maple syrups and homemade blueberry sauces (just to name a few). Best of all, this is a FREE event and friendly, leashed dogs are welcome to explore alongside their owners.

Saturday, 9/2 & 9/3, 10am to 5pm. Rain or shine. Free parking.

 

ICE CASTLES (North Woodstock, NH)

The reappearance of Ice Castles is the last thing you’d expect in North Woodstock before the snow flies – but isn’t that what makes this local event all the more spectacular? Swap the ice for sand and add in a bit of art, and you’ll start getting the gist of Sculptured Sand, a brand-new event kicking off on Friday, 9/1 at the Ice Castles property.

Picture this: strolling the woods as the leaves change color, in search of sand sculptures created by world-renowned artists. The adventure can be yours, every weekend through 10/29!

Tickets are $15 per person and go on sale Friday, 8/11 on the Sculptured Sand website.

Sculptured Sand Promo Image (Tales of the Dark Forest): Frog Sculpture with Arms Folded

 

LANCASTER FAIR (Lancaster, NH)

This is it. The legendary Lancaster Fair in Lancaster, NH is back again over Labor Day weekend! We can’t wait to see the live music, big rig truck pulls, and animal demonstrations that make this event a can’t-miss capstone to summer in the White Mountains.

Thursday, 8/31 – Monday, 9/14. General Admission: $22. Current/Active-Duty Military: $2 off admission. Children under 36”: FREE when accompanied by a paying adult. Seniors 70 and older: FREE on Thursday and Monday, $13 on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. FREE parking.

 

SCENIC RAILRIDERS (Concord, NH)

Looking for a diversion on your drive up to the White Mountains? Take to the (rail)road this Labor Day weekend for a pedaling adventure like no other!  Your ride is a 2- or 4-person railbike equipped with pedals and handbrakes that is perfectly built to get you out exploring 6.4 miles of scenic railroad.

Scenic Railriders is open Friday, 9/1 – Sunday, 9/3. Closed Labor Day Monday.

 

WATERVILLE VALLEY RECREATION DEPARTMENT (Waterville Valley, NH)

Take those doodling skills to the sidewalk. The Waterville Valley Recreation Department is hosting their annual Family Chalk Art Festival on Saturday, 9/2, and you’re invited! In addition to art to admire and create, there will also be inflatables for bouncing, live music, and family fun for all.

Saturday, 9/2, 1 – 3pm. Cost: $10/inflatables. $5/chalk.

 

WATERVILLE VALLEY TOWN SQUARE (Waterville Valley, NH)

You can always count on Waterville Valley Town Square for holiday weekend festivities and this Labor Day is no different. Town Square starts the weekend on a high note with the Black Bear Half Marathon on Saturday, 9/2. Not a big runner? You can also opt for a 5k or encourage your kiddos to partake in the 1-mile Bear Cub Fun Run for the kiddos.

After that, there’s the End of Summer Bash & Fireworks on Sunday, 9/3. On the actual Labor Day (Monday, 9/4), look for the Squam Lakes Natural Science Center under the tent in Town Square for their latest Animal Encounter Series, “Why Do Animals Do That?”.

Black Bear Half Marathon: Saturday, 9/2, 7:30am – 12:30pm. End of Summer Bash & Fireworks: Sunday, 9/3, 4 – 9:30pm. Animal Encounter Series: Monday, 9/4, 10am – 11am.

 

WESTERN WHITE MOUNTAINS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE (North Woodstock, NH)

The annual Rubber Ducky Regatta (hosted by the Western White Mountains Chamber of Commerce) returns for its 27th year in North Woodstock, NH on Monday, 9/4. Close to 1,500 yellow ducks will be released in the Pemigewasset River at Cascade Park as part of the Chamber’s efforts to raise money for their scholarship fund, so come put down some dough and see if your very own duck just might be a winner!

Monday, 9/4, 10am – 12pm. Single Rubber Duck: $5.00. Family of 5: $20. Scholarship Donation: $10.

Rubber Duck Regatta

 

WHITE MOUNTAINS INTERPRETIVE ASSOCATION

The White Mountains Interpretive Association is hosting the last of its Russell Pond Campground Nature Programs for the summer season; will we see you there? The topic this time around is “Darkness in Daytime: The Total Solar Eclipse and Our Place in the Universe”, hosted by Douglas N. Arion, PhD of Mountains of Stars. We can’t wait to listen in!

Saturday, 9/2, 7 – 8pm at the Russell Pond Campground Amphitheater.

 

WOODSTOCK INN BREWERY (North Woodstock, NH)

If you’ve checked out our past events-themed blogs, you know the drill. The Woodstock Inn Brewery is your one stop brewpub if you want to catch a live band, watch an open mic night, and participate in a music bingo bonanza over one epic holiday weekend.

Live Band: Friday, 9/1 & Saturday 9/2 (8:30 – 11:30pm). Open Mic: Sunday, 9/3 (8 – 11:30pm). Music Bingo: Monday, 9/4 (7 – 9pm).

Theater & Arts

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BARNSTORMERS THEATRE (Tamworth, NH)

Solve a classic mystery but add some comedy in the mix! The famous Barnstormers Theatre welcomes “Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery” on Friday, 9/1 and Saturday 9/2, and we are more than ready to watch this iconic whodunit featuring Holmes, Watson, and five actors tackling the challenge of portraying more than 40 characters in one whirlwind play.

Friday, 9/1 & Saturday, 9/2, 7 – 9pm. Tickets start at $22.50. For additional ticket prices, show dates, and information, visit the Barnstormers website.

 

LOCAL WORKS MARKETPLACE & THE GALLERY AT WREN (Bethlehem, NH)

Mark your calendar for Friday, 9/1: Signs of Life opens in the refined Gallery at WREN in Bethlehem, NH. This main street gallery space is opening its doors to the likes of Elaine Farmer (landscape painter), Lucy Golden (jewelry metalsmith), and Douglas Weisman (photographer) for a dazzling display of local art at its finest.

The show runs through 10/29, but we’d recommend going to the free opening reception on Friday, 9/1 from 5 – 7pm.

black and white photo of ferns

"Ferns" by Douglas Weisman

 

NORTH COUNTRY CENTER FOR THE ARTS AT JEAN’S PLAYHOUSE (Lincoln, NH)

Did you know the Oscar-nominated “On Golden Pond” was filmed at NH’s Squam Lake? This Labor Day weekend, the theatrical production that inspired the screenplay is also setting up shop in NH, right at the North Country Center for the Arts at Jean’s Playhouse in Lincoln, Nh.  If you’ve been craving a bit of comedy and vacation vibes alongside a nostalgic family drama, this is your show.

Friday, 9/1 & Saturday, 9/2, 7 – 9pm. Tickets start at $32. For additional ticket prices, show dates, and information, visit the Jean’s Playhouse website.

 

WEATHERVANE THEATRE (Whitefield, NH)

“Mamma Mia!”, here we go again! Another round of excellent performances is lighting up the Weathervane Theatre’s marquee over the holiday weekend.

Kick things off with “The Old Man and The Old Moon” on Friday, 9/1, a tale of seafaring complete with storms, ghosts, and the search for a wayward spouse. After that, it’s the aforementioned “Mamma Mia!”, an irresistible musical featuring the tunes of Abba and an idyllic setting on the Greek Islands, set to premiere on Sunday, 9/3 and Monday, 9/4. See you there?

The Old Man and The Old Moon: Friday, 9/1, 7:30 – 10pm. Tickets start at $14.50. Mamma Mia!: Sunday, 9/3 & Monday, 9/4, 7:30 – 10pm. Tickets start at $29. For more information on both shows, visit the Weathervane Theatre’s website.

 

That’s a wrap on our things to do over Labor Day in the White Mountains. Have fun, whatever you get up to!