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 was all to celebrate Dunbarton’s 250th anniversary. The Dunbarton Garden Club sold and planted 100,000 daffodils from 2005 – 2015. This spring the Club is bringing back their Daffy sale to commemorate the 20-year anniversary of the Daffodils of Dunbarton project, so expect to see even more of these magnificent blooms in the coming years.
Tulip Fete – Hancock
May 3 - May
The farm at Wolf Pine Hollow is the place to be for tulip lovers this spring! The fields here will be full of hundreds of thousands of bright, beautiful blooms just in time for Tulip Fete 2024. This is a U-Pick Tulip event, so simply pay for the tulips you pick. There is no admission fee, visitors are encouraged to make a parking reservation to guarantee entrance to the fields. As the parking areas are a bit of a walk to the fields, visitors are asked to plan accordingly and be sure to wear comfortable shoes. Fields are open most days 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
Celebration of Lupines - Franconia, Sugar Hill
Late May – Mid June
Springtime means a celebration of lupines in New Hampshire’s White Mountains. This is the time of year fields and pastures are awash in shades of white, pink, purple and blue. Visitors are invited to drive the scenic roads and byways on a self-guided tour around Sugar Hill and Franconia to see the show. Once the flowers start blooming follow along with Celebration of Lupine and Harman’s Cheese & Country Store, as both share suggestions of where you can see the spring sight. Be sure to bring a camera along to capture this iconic bloom and a reminder to practice leave no trace to ensure others have an enjoyable experience too.
Rhododendron State Park - Fitzwilliam
Early to Mid-July
Explore Rhododendron State Park this summer where these big, beautiful blooms are the star of the show. 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 and watch how the flowers are progressing and get suggestions on the best time to visit. Build in a little extra time on your trip to walk the nearby wildflower trail with flowers blooming throughout the summer season.
Sunflower Festival – Lee
July 27 – August 4
You might say it’s the perfect flower to celebrate summer: the sunflower! Coppal House Farm turns into a sea of sunflowers in the summer months for 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 the festival wasn’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.
Sunfox Farm Sunflower Bloom Festival – Concord
August 10 – 18
Twenty acres of sunflowers awaits you at Sunfox Farm’s 6th Annual Sunflower Bloom Festival! This dazzling display of flowers takes place on their 57-acre farm right 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, and stretching as far as the eye can see! During festival weekends enjoy local musicians, as well as a variety of vendors showcasing unique offerings, and food trucks too.
Sunflower Soiree - Canterbury
August 10 - 18
Bask in the beauty of blooming sunflowers at Brookford Farm’s Sunflower Soiree.
Bring family and friends to this fun farm event that happens during mid-August! See the flowers and capture the perfect picture from their sunflower observation deck. In addition to the blooms there are plenty of other activities scheduled too; live music, vendors, hayrides, cow parades, a sunflower stroll and of course PYO sunflowers.
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 was all to celebrate Dunbarton’s 250th anniversary. The Dunbarton Garden Club sold and planted 100,000 daffodils from 2005 – 2015. This spring the Club is bringing back their Daffy sale to commemorate the 20-year anniversary of the Daffodils of Dunbarton project, so expect to see even more of these magnificent blooms in the coming years.
Tulip Fete – Hancock
May 3 - May
The farm at Wolf Pine Hollow is the place to be for tulip lovers this spring! The fields here will be full of hundreds of thousands of bright, beautiful blooms just in time for Tulip Fete 2024. This is a U-Pick Tulip event, so simply pay for the tulips you pick. There is no admission fee, visitors are encouraged to make a parking reservation to guarantee entrance to the fields. As the parking areas are a bit of a walk to the fields, visitors are asked to plan accordingly and be sure to wear comfortable shoes. Fields are open most days 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
Celebration of Lupines - Franconia, Sugar Hill
Late May – Mid June
Springtime means a celebration of lupines in New Hampshire’s White Mountains. This is the time of year fields and pastures are awash in shades of white, pink, purple and blue. Visitors are invited to drive the scenic roads and byways on a self-guided tour around Sugar Hill and Franconia to see the show. Once the flowers start blooming follow along with Celebration of Lupine and Harman’s Cheese & Country Store, as both share suggestions of where you can see the spring sight. Be sure to bring a camera along to capture this iconic bloom and a reminder to practice leave no trace to ensure others have an enjoyable experience too.
Rhododendron State Park - Fitzwilliam
Early to Mid-July
Explore Rhododendron State Park this summer where these big, beautiful blooms are the star of the show. 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 and watch how the flowers are progressing and get suggestions on the best time to visit. Build in a little extra time on your trip to walk the nearby wildflower trail with flowers blooming throughout the summer season.
Sunflower Festival – Lee
July 27 – August 4
You might say it’s the perfect flower to celebrate summer: the sunflower! Coppal House Farm turns into a sea of sunflowers in the summer months for 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 the festival wasn’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.
Sunfox Farm Sunflower Bloom Festival – Concord
August 10 – 18
Twenty acres of sunflowers awaits you at Sunfox Farm’s 6th Annual Sunflower Bloom Festival! This dazzling display of flowers takes place on their 57-acre farm right 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, and stretching as far as the eye can see! During festival weekends enjoy local musicians, as well as a variety of vendors showcasing unique offerings, and food trucks too.
Sunflower Soiree - Canterbury
August 10 - 18
Bask in the beauty of blooming sunflowers at Brookford Farm’s Sunflower Soiree.
Bring family and friends to this fun farm event that happens during mid-August! See the flowers and capture the perfect picture from their sunflower observation deck. In addition to the blooms there are plenty of other activities scheduled too; live music, vendors, hayrides, cow parades, a sunflower stroll and of course PYO sunflowers.
