We’ve got the best winter festivals in New Hampshire all in one place. Check out these 11 options that will keep your calendar warm all season long.
Fall’s barely begun, yet we’re looking ahead to winter so we can plan to make the most of it this year. Like New Hampshire’s autumn, winter in the Granite State is truly special. Our snowscapes are some of the most stunning in the country, skiing and snowboarding are easily accessible statewide, our frozen waterfalls are must-see winter attractions, and, of course, we have magical festivals to usher us into and through the chilly months.
New Hampshire winters are cold—there’s no beating around the bush there. But there’s something immediately cozy about wrapping up in your favorite coat, scarf, gloves, and hat and then exploring a winter festival with your loved ones. From holiday music to steaming hot chocolate and immaculate decorations, these festivals create a true sense of euphoria, as well as long-lasting memories.
With that said, here’s your go-to calendar for winter festivals in New Hampshire for the 2026-2027 season!
1. LaBelle’s LightsFest
Where: LaBelle Winery (14 NH-111, Derry, NH 03038)
When: Nov. 20, 2026
Price: $32
Each year, LaBelle Winery transforms its magical property into a glorious winter wonderland complete with endless strings of colorful lights. You can purchase tickets to see the lights on many days, but if you want a full experience, you’ll attend LightsFest on Friday, Nov. 20. After a light switch-on kickoff at 4:30 p.m., attendees will have time to explore a large light course, snap photos with Santa Claus, bask in live holiday music, and more. Plus, each ticket comes with a light-up cup that you can use to remember your journey for years to come.
2. Winter Stroll
Where: Main St, Nashua, NH 03064
When: Nov. 28, 2026
Price: Free
Two days after Thanksgiving, Nashua’s community will take to the streets in a truly time-honored tradition: the Winter Stroll. This year marks the 31st anniversary of the festival, which is a city-wide call to usher in the holidays. Food stalls sell warm, cozy drinks and snacks to fuel everyone, live music keeps everyone’s energy up, and vendors from a variety of fields sell their art and wares. Naturally, the evening culminates in one big spectacle: a candlelit procession led by Santa from City Hall to the Hunt Memorial Building, where the city’s towering tree is lit.
3. Holiday Festival & Tree Lighting
Where: Settlers Green (2 Common Ct, North Conway, NH 03860)
When: Dec. 5, 2026
Price: Free
The Conway outlet mall Settlers Green rings in the holiday season with style every year. Its annual Holiday Festival & Tree Lighting event brings the community together for yummy food, joyful music, and all-around good vibes. The event is slated to run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 5, this year, with the Christmas tree being lit up at the very end. Plus, one lucky attendee will receive a $500 gift card, so be sure to add this to your calendar.
4. Illuminated Holiday Parade
Where: Market Square, Portsmouth, NH 03801
When: Dec. 5, 2026
Price: Free
We can’t talk about winter festivals in New Hampshire without jumping over to Portsmouth. Like many cities, Portsmouth welcomes the holidays by bringing its town square to life in brilliant colors. On Saturday, Dec. 5, Portsmouth’s city council will light up the city’s tree at 5 p.m. in Market Square before commencing the Illuminated Holiday Parade at 6 p.m. The walk will lead folks through the nearby area and empty them out back in Market Square, where they can continue mingling with their fellow community members and stay enamored by the lights.
5. Lincoln Holiday Lights Tree Lighting & Fireworks
Where: The Mills Marketplace (25 S Mountain Dr, Lincoln, NH 03251)
When: Dec. 5
Price: Free
Hosted by South Peak Resort, the 2nd annual Lincoln Holiday Lights Tree Lighting & Fireworks event will descend on The Mills Marketplace from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 5. This festival has everything you could want on a beautiful winter day: hot cocoa, live holiday music, colorful fireworks, themed foods, Santa Claus photo ops, a s’mores-making firepit, and much more. Oh, and we can’t forget the giant tree lighting. It’s a color explosion at every turn, and one you won’t want to miss. You can register for free on Eventbrite.
6. ‘Twas Just Before Christmas
Where: Main St, Newport, NH 03773
When: Dec. 12, 2026
Price: Free
The annual ‘Twas Just Before Christmas festival is back once again in 2026, landing on Saturday, Dec. 12, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. in downtown Newport. The main event sees children filling a passport with stamps from local businesses, which they can then use as “payment” for a photo with Santa Claus in the Newport Opera House. Outside of this, attendees can roast marshmallows, get their faces painted, sip hot chocolate, and enjoy horse-and-wagon rides, among other delightful activities.
7. LaBelle’s WinterFest
Where: LaBelle Winery (14 NH-111, Derry, NH 03038)
When: Jan. 2, 2027
Price: $32
Like LightsFest, LaBelle’s annual WinterFest will see attendees taking in all of the winery’s famous light displays during one of the most colorful winter festivals in New Hampshire. That said, many of the other activities are unique to the event. Instead of Santa Claus, guests can take pictures with a whole crew of wintry characters straight out of a fairy tale, including two famous ice princesses. Live music and live ice sculpting will also enchant audiences. If you couldn’t make it to LightsFest but still want the light-up cup, you’re in luck: WinterFest ticket holders will receive the souvenir cup, too.
8. Ice & Snow Festival
Where: Central Square, Keene, NH, 03431
When: Feb. 6, 2027
Price: Free
On Saturday, Feb. 6, Keene will come alive for its 24th annual Ice & Snow Festival from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Each year, the town square fills with ice sculptures precariously carved live throughout the event, and residents can meander around and appreciate them. They even vote to choose the best sculpture of the year. If ice sculptures aren’t your thing, don’t worry—you can also find yummy treats, pony rides, face painting, cheery music, and so much more.
9. Newport Winter Carnival
Where: Newport Recreation Department (17 Meadow Rd, Newport, NH, United States, 03773)
When: Feb. 9-14, 2027
Price: Free
Next up, we have one of the oldest winter festivals in New Hampshire: the Newport Winter Carnival. The 2027 edition marks the event’s 111th year, and it’s set to last for six days of endless fun. The festival always has delectable food, from mac ‘n’ cheese cook-offs to freshly made s’mores and homemade sourdough galore, and you’ll find more than just good eats there, too. Past activities at the carnival have included axe throwing, yoga, dance parties, karaoke, dodgeball, Zumba, and more. Ultimately, there’s something for everyone, and you’re guaranteed to find fun.
10. The Squam Lakes Association Winterfest 2027
Where: Squam Lakes Association (534 US-3, Holderness, NH 03245)
When: Feb. 20, 2027
Price: Free
Hosted by the Squam Lakes Association, a nonprofit that works to protect and preserve Squam Lake, Winterfest is a yearly tradition in Holderness. This free event—slated for Saturday, Feb. 20, from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.—will feature a variety of activities that are fun for the whole family, including ice skating and sledding, making s’mores over a live fire, a chili cook-off, and winter mini golf. There’s even an educational component: a water quality demonstration that helps folks understand why preserving nature matters.
11. Inn-to-Inn Chocolate Festival
Where: Mt. Washington Valley
When: Feb. 28, 2027
Price: $45
Holiday lights are magical, but we’d argue that they can’t hold a candle to chocolate. That’s precisely why you should check out the Inn-to-Inn Chocolate Festival on Sunday, Feb. 28. About to be in its 37th year, this festival sees ticket holders ski or otherwise traverse the trails of Mt. Washington Valley to get from inn to inn, taste-testing the chocolate treats that await them at each stop. In addition to chocolate, these stops are known for their friendly staff, which makes the day even sweeter. Altogether, it’s no wonder that this festival is known to some as the “Sweetest Day on the Trails,” according to the event’s website—it’s certainly one of the sweetest winter festivals in New Hampshire.
