New England Summer Festivals A to Z - Your Guide to the Hottest Summer 2009 Events in Connecticut Maine Massachusetts New Hampshire Rhode Island and Vermont

See More About:

New England Summer Festivals A-Z
An A-Z Guide to 2009 Summer Festivals in New England

The variety of summer festival offerings in New England is mind-boggling, and wherever you wander throughout the region's historic cities and quaint towns, you're sure to uncover unique and wonderful events with themes ranging from eating to dance from classical music to Irish culture. Here's an A to Z guide to New England's festival offerings for the 2009 summer season:

A rts & Ideas Festival - The International Festival of Arts & Ideas in New Haven, Connecticut, is a multifaceted celebration of the arts that runs June 13-27 in 2009. This year's 14th annual festival features hundreds of performances; most events are free. Highlights include the June 14 free performance on the green by They Might Be Giants at the culmination of Family Free For All Day and a series of foodie tours of the city.

B lueberry Festival - Did you know that Maine produces 98 percent of the country's wild blueberries? The 34th Annual Machias Wild Blueberry Festival in Washington County, where the majority of these berries are harvested, celebrates the state's top fruit crop August 14-16. The event features a children's parade, a fish fry, music, a blueberry pancake breakfast, crafts, a blueberry quilt raffle, a blueberry pie eating contest and more.

C hamber Music Festival - The Portland Chamber Music Festival marks its 16th year this summer with five wonderful classical performances in Portland, Maine. The Festival runs August 13-22 on select dates. Ticket and other information may be obtained by calling toll free: 800-320-0257. Or, order your tickets online at the festival Web site.

D iscover Jazz Festival - Burlington, Vermont, hosts 10 days of performances ranging from blues to jazz funk at a variety of venues on Lake Champlain during this June 5-14 festival. Vocalist Diana Krall will appear on the Flynn MainStage on Sunday, June 7, and legendary saxophonist Branford Marsalis will appear on Friday, June 12. Tickets for various performances may be purchased online. Some events at area restaurants, bars and clubs are free. For details, call 802-863-7992.

E gg Festival - Take part in the 37th Annual Central Maine Egg Festival, July 20-25. Pittsfield, Maine's Manson Park is the place to be for egg breakfast cooked in a 300-pound frying pan, entertainment, hot air balloon rides, the "Egg-lympics" and egg-citing surprises. The theme for 2009 is Dr. Seuss - Green Eggs and Ham. For information, call 207-217-4973.

F estival of Fireworks - Take your family to the 20th annual Festival of Fireworks in Jaffrey, New Hampshire, on Saturday, August 15, and in addition to seeing a spectacle in the sky--touted as one of the best fireworks shows in New England--you can enjoy live music, dancing, games, food and a skydiving exhibition. Tickets may be purchased in advance by calling the Jaffrey Chamber of Commerce at 603-532-4549 or at the gate for $8 per person over the age of 10.

G arlic and Herb Festival - No vampires allowed. The 14th annual Southern Vermont Garlic & Herb Festival takes place September 5-6 in Bennington, Vermont. Enjoy continuous music, sample a wide variety of garlic foods, learn about garlic and herbs and watch cooking demonstrations. You'll also want to try your hand at Garlic Golf. Call 802-447-3311 for more information.

H illsborough Balloon Fest & Fair - Watch hot air balloons lift off gracefully and color the sky during this four-day festival, July 9-12, in Hillsborough, New Hampshire. Other activities include an an old-fashioned fireman's muster, a parade, pancake breakfast, carnival midway, tractor pulls, food, fireworks and entertainment. For more information, call 603-464-0377.

I nternational Film Festival - The 12th annual Maine International Film Festival in Waterville, Maine, runs from July 10 to 19 and features a variety of American and foreign independent films, plus films made by Maine and New England filmmakers. Call 207-861-8138 for more information.

J acob's Pillow Dance Festival - With free "Inside/Out" performances Wednesday through Saturday evenings and a schedule of major performances by some of America's foremost dance companies and ensembles, Jacob's Pillow in Lee, Massachusetts, is definitely a dance lover's place to be this summer. 2009 marks the festival's 77th year; it is the longest running dance festival in the U.S. For a free brochure describing this summer's events, call 413-243-9919. For tickets, call the box office at 413-243-0745.

K neisel Hall Chamber Music Festival - From June 19 to August 23, enjoy a wide array of Friday evening and Sunday afternoon classical concerts at Kneisel Hall in Blue Hill, Maine, as this chamber music festival celebrates its 107th year in 2009. For more information on the festival, call 207-374-2811.

L owell Folk Festival - Head for the largest free folk festival in the U.S.--three days of traditional music and dance, crafts, ethnic foods and more on six outdoor stages throughout Lowell, Massachusetts, from July 24-26. For more information, call Lowell National Historical Park, the event sponsor, at 978-970-5200.

M aine Lobster Festival - If you love lobster, you need to be in Rockland, Maine, July 29-August 2 for the 62nd annual Maine Lobster Festival. There's only one word for this gargantuan celebration of Maine's beloved crustacean--Yum! Last year, the new world's largest lobster cooker was unveiled. For details, call 207-596-0376 or toll free, 800-LOB-CLAW.

Next page > Festivals N-Z > Page 1, 2

More of this Feature

Related Resources

Elsewhere on the Web

More from New England Travel