New Hampshire Festivals

Heat Won't Keep Feast from Sizzling

The festivities of the annual St. Mary’s Feast in Knightsville continued on Thursday night as visitors came from all over Cranston and beyond to experience the legendary tradition. 

Visitors engaged in a variety of activities; savoring their favorite Italian and local cuisine, enjoying games and amusements and lining up for carnival rides. 

The crowd was bustling, the vendors were energetic, and the air wafted through the sultry summer air redolent of sizzling sausage and peppers.

Cranston resident Teresa Esposito enjoying the feast with her friends Mary Anikin, Anna Pereira, and Sandra Cabrall, said she and her friends live right in the neighborhood and come every year. 

“We come to enjoy the fireworks, sights, and music.”Esposito said. 

Many of the vendors said they returned every year to feast to sell their products.  Perry Graham of New York runs a game booth at the feast and says he gives stuffed animals out as prizes even if the child doesn’t make the shot. 

“My job is to make kids happy”, he said.  Graham has being coming to St. Mary’s for over 6 years and says he loves it.  “The food is great and I love the people who come through, it’s like a fashion show. Rhode Island has pizzazz.”

Similarly, Dennis LaFontaine of New Hampshire has been operating his raw bar at the feast for the past three years. Much of his shellfish is from Rhode Island and the New England area. Along with littlenecks and cherry stones, La Fontaine also specializes in barbeque shrimp and calamari.  LaFontaine says he works at several festivals but he describes St. Mary’s as “something different.”

Those involved with organizing the feast were equally enthusiastic.  Anthony Palmisano, President and CEO of Royal Festivals Inc., said each show required about six months of planning but the final result was worth it. 

“It’s been a good night so far. Everybody loves a feast”, said Palmisano, who expects 50,000 visitors over the course of the five day festival. Palmisano is also a vendor at the feast, cooking his “world famous” Italian sausage and peppers, Philly cheese steak, and eggplant parmesan. 

John Nardolillo, President of the St. Mary’s Feast Society, explained the process of planning the feast, including the leasing of the grounds to vendors and the fundraising to offset the cost of expenses. Nardolillo praised the Feast Coordinator, Hank Squartino. “He’s the guy we count on to pull all of this together.

New Hampshire Fairs And Festivals | Festivals In New Hampshire ...

Would you like to visit a state which has a festival or celebration every month of the year? If your answer is ‘yes’ then New Hampshire is the place for you. It is a small state but it has much to celebrate about its heritage, seasons, art, natural beauty and food.

If you visit in January, you can witness the Snow Sculpting competition at the Winter Fest. The sculptures are made on a Friday and exhibited over the week end. You can also enjoy some hot chocolate after viewing the truly amazing sculptures. If you feel energetic, you can make your own snowman.

The Mount Washington Valley Winter Carnival is held in February and lasts for ten days. It is held in North Conway in the White Mountains. It is an outdoor event with music and food. The entertainment includes skiing, ice scatting and snow mobiling for the young. The not so young can enjoy a look at ice carvings and attend seminars.

March is dedicated to Maple sugaring. During late February and entire March and April, many farms allow visitors to participate in the process of converting Maple syrup to sugar. This is a unique experience few would like to miss. Maple syrup, candy and allied products can be purchased.

A ten day family festival is held in April by Brentton Woods Mountain Resort. It caters to children from age four upwards with separate events for teens. Children can watch movies, learn art and craft, listen to live bands and have theme dinners. Parents can enjoy skiing while the children are being taken care of.

The New Hampshire Sheep and Wool Festival is held in Contoocook at Hopkinton Fairgrounds. It is of special interest to those who raise sheep or work with wool. The art of weaving and spinning the wool fibres is demonstrated as are crafts like lace making and knitting. Outstanding samples of wool are displayed. There are also animal shows and contests.

The Prescott Park Arts Festival is held in Portsmouth. It begins in June and continues through the summer. The park is located on the Piscataqua River. Theatre, dance and music performances are held there. Artwork in different mediums, which are of interest to children, is displayed at the festival.

The main attraction at the Hillsborough Balloon Festival, held in July, is hot air balloons. Rides in them are, however, expensive. You can enjoy a parade, horse and tractor pulls or a car show. As usual there are craft and food shops.

In August, Dover hosts the Sea Cost Irish Festival where Irish music is played by Irish bands. Accompanying events are dancing, storytelling and the ever present food and craft booths.

Adventure Guide to New Hampshire

Music festivals in America

The New Hampshire register and farmer's almanac

History of the town of Wilton, Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, with a genealogical register by A.A. Livermore and S. Putnam

Film Festivals, Culture, People, and Power on the Global Screen