Whether it’s welcoming in spring with daffodils or celebrating summer with fields of sunflowers, there are plenty of reasons for all of us to stop and smell the roses, so to speak. Check out one of these flower festivals on a road trip through New Hampshire.
Daffodils for days – Dunbarton, Goffstown, Weare and New Boston
Late April – Early May
Daffodils, the flowers that symbolize new beginnings, are a sure sign of spring in New Hampshire. Enjoy thousands and thousands of these bright yellow and white blooms along the General John Stark Byway. They’re predominantly in Dunbarton, but you’ll also notice the yellow glow along sections of the scenic byway in Goffstown, Weare and New Boston. The effort started as a way to celebrate Dunbarton’s 250th anniversary. The Dunbarton Garden Club sold and planted 100,000 daffodils over ten years. The project culminated in 2015, but residents and visitors will be enjoying these flowers every spring for years to come.
Daffodil 400 – New Castle
Late April
Head to New Castle this spring for a celebration of daffodils 400 years in the making. Yellow, white and orange blooms are planted all around New Hampshire’s smallest town. See them around Great Island Common and the Town Landing to the fire and police stations and resident’s gardens. The Great Island Garden Club started organizing the effort back in 2020 in preparation for this monumental anniversary. Since daffodils signify rebirth and new beginnings, club members felt this would be a wonderful way to honor the past and look forward to the future.
Tulip Fete – Hancock
Late April – Mid May
Welcome spring with a visit to Wolf Pine Hollow where you’ll find a spectacular display of blooming tulips. Hundreds of thousands of the bright spring flower have been planted for Tulip Fete 2023. Tulip Fete will happen in late April through mid-May, with the festival weekend set for May 6th and 7th. In addition to fields of flowers, enjoy live music, food trucks, and family fitness activities including hiking and yoga. Tulip Fete tickets go on sale in April. For bloom reports and Tulip Fete updates sign up for email alerts here.
Fields of Lupine Festival – Bethlehem, Franconia, Sugar Hill
Late May – Mid June
The Celebration of Lupines is an annual event paying homage to tall spiky flowers that line the landscape around Sugar Hill and surrounding White Mountain towns during the spring. When the blooms pop, local fields and pastures become awash in shades of purple, pink, blue and white. Visitors are invited to take a self-guided tour to see these spectacular spires along the scenic roads and byways. Bring a camera and capture this iconic bloom at one of the many photo opps along the way.
Rhododendron State Park - Fitzwilliam
Early to Mid-July
Explore Rhododendron State Park this summer where these big beautiful blooms are the center of attention. The 16-acre grove of Rhododendrons is the largest grove in northern New England, and if you’ve never seen that many in bloom at one time, you’re in for a treat. Sign up for
bloom reports to see how the flowers are progressing and when might be the best time to visit. There’s also a wildflower trail nearby the grove with flowers blooming throughout the summer season.
Sunflower Festival – Lee
July 29 – August 6
You might say it’s the perfect flower to celebrate summer: the sunflower! Coppal House Farm turns into a sea of sunflowers every July during the NH Sunflower Festival. The variety of flowers at the farm is unique because they’re oilseed sunflowers. Unlike ornamental blooms, they only bloom for about 10 days so the window to witness this stunning site is short. As if big beautiful blooms weren’t enough reason to visit, the farm donates 10% of proceeds to Make-A-Wish NH, an organization that grants wishes for children diagnosed with a life-threatening medical condition. It’s a good idea to buy your tickets for the big flowery show in advance, especially if you’re hoping to see the sunrise in the sunflowers as tickets are limited.
Sunfox Farm Sunflower Bloom Festival – Concord
August 12 – 20
Twenty acres of sunflowers awaits you at Sunfox Farm’s 5th Annual Sunflower Bloom Festival! For the first time ever, the event will take place at their new 57-acre farm located in the heart of Concord, New Hampshire’s capital city. Walk through the fields and experience the beauty and vibrancy of sunflowers towering over you, stretching nearly as far as the eye can see! In addition to the beautiful blooms, during festival weekends enjoy local musicians, as well as a variety of vendors showcasing unique offerings, and food trucks too.