Garret’s Granite State Weekend Guide: Seafood, Fireworks & Fall Vibes

Can you believe it? Labor Day is behind us, but New Hampshire apparently did not get the memo that summer-event season was supposed to calm down.

This weekend we’ve got the Honor Summit on Mount Washington, an entire mile of Hampton Beach devoted to seafood, fireworks over the ocean, a music festival on a family farm, colonial reenactors throwing tomahawks in the White Mountains, and just enough early-fall energy to make you start thinking about hoodies without fully surrendering to pumpkin spice.

Credit: The Honor Summit

NEW HAMPSHIRE WEEKEND EVENTS: September 11-13, 2026

The Honor Summit — Mount Washington | September 9–12, 2026

One of the most meaningful things happening in New Hampshire this week will take place on top of Mount Washington. It's hard to believe that this is the 25th anniversary of September 11. This week, The Honor Summit will send two powerful beams of light into the night sky from the Northeast’s highest peak, honoring the lives lost, the first responders who answered the call and the veterans who continue to serve. The lights are scheduled to shine from 8 p.m. to midnight, September 9–12, and may be visible from communities across New Hampshire and beyond, depending on weather and visibility.

There are some things you don’t need to say much about. You just need to take a moment and remember.

Hampton Beach Seafood Festival | Friday–Sunday September 11-13, 2026

The 37th annual Hampton Beach Seafood Festival takes over Ocean Boulevard September 11–13, turning Hampton Beach into a giant pedestrian street festival. Hours are noon–9 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.–9 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m.–6 p.m. Sunday. Daily admission is $15, while kids 12 and under get in free.

Beyond the obvious mission of eating an irresponsible amount of seafood, there are local restaurants, craft vendors, two stages of live music, cooking demonstrations, a lobster-roll eating contest, cornhole tournament and the Seafood Fest 5K.

And Saturday night ends with fireworks over Hampton Beach at 8:30.

Basically, if someone asks what New Hampshire is doing this weekend, this is probably the answer.

An entire mile of seafood? That’s not a festival. I take that as a personal challenge.

Highnote Festival — Epping | Saturday, September 12, 2026

This is one I really like because there's a great local story behind it.

The 26th annual Highnote Music & Fireworks Festival happens Saturday from 2 p.m. until dark at the Governor Prescott House on the McPhee family farm in Epping.

The event benefits the Adam McPhee Memorial Foundation. Over its first 25 years, organizers say Highnote attracted roughly 500 people annually and raised about $180,000 for the foundation.

It's live music on a family farm followed by fireworks.

Very New Hampshire. Very September.

Muster in the Mountains — Pinkham Notch | Friday–Sunday, September 11-12, 2026

And now for something completely different.

Muster in the Mountains takes over the base of the Mt. Washington Auto Road September 10–13 with reenactors representing the French and Indian War, Revolutionary War and Mountain Man periods from roughly 1750–1840.

There are demonstrations of period tools and clothing, cooking, weaving, basketmaking and candle dipping, plus woods competitions and tomahawk and knife throwing.

It's FREE, with public hours Friday 10–4, Saturday 10–5 and Sunday 10–1. The Auto Road remains open.

So basically, I’m going to learn how people lived without electricity, then I'm immediately going to complain that my phone has 12% battery.

Credit: Getty Images

NEW HAMPSHIRE WEEKEND SHOWS: September 11-13, 2026

Norman Brown — Portsmouth | Friday, September 11, 2026

If you're looking for a Friday-night date-night option, Grammy-winning guitarist Norman Brown is at Jimmy's Jazz & Blues Club Friday night.

Brown blends jazz with R&B, funk, blues and pop, and he's touring behind his 2026 album "Authentically Norman". Shows are listed for 7 and 9:30 p.m.

Dinner + live jazz in downtown Portsmouth on a September Friday night?

I don’t know if I’m cool enough for a jazz club, but I’m willing to find out.

 Drake White — Hampton Beach | Sunday, September 13, 2026

If you're looking for a country show to close out the weekend, this is the one. Drake White at Bernie's Beach Bar on Sunday, September 13, at 8 p.m., with Stephanie Ryann joining him.

Drake brings that mix of country, soul and blues that makes his live shows feel like a whole lot more than just somebody standing onstage singing songs. And with the Hampton Beach Seafood Festival happening the same weekend, you could make an entire Sunday out of it: seafood, a walk along the ocean and then Drake White at Bernie's.

If you’ve never seen Drake White live, this is your sign to stop making excuses and go. That's a pretty solid way to wrap up a New Hampshire weekend.

I’ll be there pretending Monday morning is not a problem for future Garret.

Credit: Two Bees Cafe + Patisserie via Facebook

Hidden-Gem Restaurant of the Week | Friday - Sunday, September 11-13, 2026

Two Bees Cafe & Patisserie — Dover

100 First St, Dover, NH 03820
603-343-2286

I'm keeping this week's hidden gem close to home.

Two Bees does this French-inspired, seasonally driven menu. They have pastries, sandwiches, salads, coffee and espresso.

And we're not talking grocery-store croissants here.

Their menu includes things like kouign-amann, butter croissants, seasonal morning buns, ham and brie on baguette and a North Country smoked-turkey sandwich with Vermont cheddar and harissa aioli. Check it out Here

They're open Saturday from 9 a.m.–4 p.m. and closed Sunday.

The kouign-amann is going to require me to point at the display case and say, ‘That one, please.'  How do you pronounce that?  I'm not even going to try.

Credit: Getty Images

 New Hampshire Road Trip of the Week | Friday, September 11-13, 2026

The Kancamagus → North Conway Loop

I'm calling it:

It's Kanc season.

We're probably still ahead of peak foliage, which is actually why I like doing this drive now,  you get that first hint of fall without peak-foliage traffic turning every overlook into the Mall of New Hampshire parking lot.

READ MORE: 7 Things About New Hampshire You Need to Know Before You Move to the Granite State

The Kancamagus Highway cuts through the heart of the White Mountains with overlooks, river stops and access to places like the Russell-Colbath Historic Site and Forest Discovery Trail. The federally designated scenic byway itself is about 26.5 miles, though you're going to want considerably more than the estimated hour once you start stopping.

Here's the route:

Lincoln → Kancamagus Highway → overlooks → Sabbaday Falls area → Conway → North Conway.

Eat lunch. Walk around town to work off lunch. Don't rush home.

Credit: Getty Images

Outdoor Adventures  | September 11-13, 2026

 Hike Mount Cardigan — Orange

We're entering one of my favorite stretches of the year for hiking.

Cardigan Mountain State Park covers more than 5,600 acres, and Mount Cardigan's 3,121-foot treeless granite summit gives you views stretching toward the White Mountains, Mount Monadnock, Vermont and Maine on a clear day. The park's gate is currently open for the season.

Here's how I look at this... I hike for the views. The fact that it justifies a burger afterward is purely coincidental.

Northwood Meadows State Park — Northwood

If you want something much easier, this is my “why haven't I done this yet?” pick.

Northwood Meadows State Park has more than 670 wooded acres with wetlands and easy trails for hiking and biking.

One important heads-up: the state says the park's lake has been drained while work continues on the failed dam, so don't go expecting the old pond experience.

This is a great option if your hiking ambition is currently somewhere between ‘fresh air’ and ‘let’s not overdo it.’ For example, taking a walk around in nature and not having my watch ask if I’m exercising.

⭐ If I Only Had One Day This Weekend...

I'm staying right here on the Seacoast Saturday.

Start with coffee and something ridiculous at Two Bees in Dover.

Then head south to Hampton Beach Seafood Festival around lunchtime.

Walk Ocean Boulevard. Eat something fried that absolutely doesn't fit into your weekday nutritional plan. Catch some live music. People-watch. That's it. That's the plan

And do not leave early. Because... fireworks over Hampton Beach.

That's a pretty strong New Hampshire Saturday.

The Granite State has given us another weekend full of reasons to leave the house. Now we just have to convince ourselves to put on real pants. If you know me, you know I don't like pants.  The struggle is real my friends.