Mixing old fashioned New England tradition with quirky local flavor, the Seacoast’s one-of-a-kind fairs and festivals bring us together to eat, drink, dance, run three-legged races, ogle tractors, kiss babies, drink beer and bark at fireworks. It’s been a long spring. Now it’s time to get out and have some fun!

June 4: WOKQ Chowder Festival
Local restaurants serve up a variety of chowders at the state’s oldest and largest chowder festival. Attendees will vote one contender worthy of the title of Best Chowder Restaurant—and this year, veggie chowder, too! Starts at 11:30 a.m. and goes until it’s all gone. $10 for adults, $5 for children, free for Festival members. Prescott Park Arts Festival, Marcy St., Portsmouth, 603-436-2848, www.prescottpark.org.

June 4: Piscataqua Waterfront Festival
Enjoy hands-on children’s activities, browse booths on Ceres Street, take a free museum tour and check out traditional maritime artisan demonstrations along Ceres Street Wharf and in the newly restored warehouse at the Moffatt-Ladd House, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., followed by a free concert featuring Mudhook. Start at the Moffatt-Ladd House & Garden, 154 Market St., Portsmouth, www.gundalow.org.

June 11: Market Square Day
For the annual Market Square Day, the streets in downtown Portsmouth are open to pedestrians only for a day of festivities, including a 10k road race, live music on four stages, dancing, and shopping at scores of tables with local vendors and downtown merchants. Race starts at 9 a.m. and free festivities continue until 4 p.m., Market Square, Portsmouth, 603-436-3988, www.proportsmouth.org.

June 11: Gosport Regatta
The waters offshore will come alive in early June as a fleet of racing yachts from coastal New England vie for honors in the second annual Gosport Regatta, the return of a vintage sailing race around the Isles of Shoals. You can board the official race day spectator boat—Portsmouth’s  M/V Thomas Laighton—at an early bird cost of $55 per person. A regatta weekend pass, $85, includes the spectator boat as well as access to a Friday night reception on Star Island. Visit www.gosportregatta.org for tickets, look for updates on Facebook, or learn more at www.sailpsa.org.

June 12-18: Garden Tours

New Castle Village Walk & Garden Tour, June 12
Enjoy a self-guided walking tour of private gardens bursting with flowers and fragrance in historic New Castle, to benefit the cultural and educational programs of Pontine Theatre. Tickets are $15 in advance at www.pontine.org, and $20 the day of, with parking and departures from the Coast Guard Station off Route 1B. More information at www.pontine.org or 603-436-6660.

Portsmouth Pocket Garden Tour, June 17-18
Bike or walk through two miles of numerous private gardens, including Strawbery Banke’s Goodwin House, enjoying art, music and food along the way. Friday from 5 to 8 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Kids under 12 are free; purchase tickets in advance for $17 at www.southchurch-uu.org, or $20 on the day of at the South Church, 292 State St., 603-436-4762.

June 17-29: Master Sand Sculpting Competition
Watch 15 world-class master sand sculptors shape 300 tons of imported sand in a competition for more than $15,000 in prizes in the ninth annual Master Sand Sculpting Competition, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily through June 25, with viewing until June 30. Sculptures lighted for night viewing, free lesson on Saturday, June 25, people’s choice awards ceremony on Seashell Stage that night, followed by fireworks at 9:30 p.m., Hampton Beach, 800-438-2826, www.hamptonchamber.com.

June 18: Dover Arts Alive
Dover Main Street and the Dover Mill Arts Collaborative present an outdoor art exhibition. Artists and craftspeople will sell their creations while performing artists entertain visitors throughout the day on Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Henry Law Park in downtown Dover. For more information, call 603-740-6435.     

June 18: Somersworth International Children’s Festival
Music and fireworks kick things off with a bang on Friday night, followed on Saturday by multicultural and children’s activities, a petting zoo, pony rides, music, arts, crafts, exotic and traditional foods and more, with entertainment for everybody, not just children. The pre-festival celebration with local bands and fireworks is held 6:30 to 9 p.m. on Friday, June 18, at the Somersworth High School football field. Festival takes place Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Main Street and at the Noble Pines Playground, Somersworth, 603-692-5869, www.nhfestivals.org.

June 18-19: Catamaran Regatta
Spectators at the Hampton Beach Catamaran Regatta enjoy colorful sailboats skipping across the surf in a weekend of full of racing. Champions and (relatively) new sailors alike will participate. Continues on Sunday, Hampton Beach, 603-926-8717, www.hamptonbeach.org.

June 24: Prescott Park Arts Festival & Kids Festivals Season Opener
The riverside park opens its 37th annual summer-long arts festival with a full schedule of attractions. Bring a blanket and enjoy live music, theater, dance and food. “The Wizard of Oz” will be on the Main Stage Thursday through Sunday night, with all sorts of colorful events in between. Donation $5-$8. Visit www.prescottpark.org for schedule, updates, weather forecast and rain venues. Prescott Park, 105 Marcy St., Portsmouth, 603-436-2848.

June 25: South Berwick Strawberry Festival
Featuring the five-mile Strawberry Run and a 2.5-mile fun walk at 8 a.m., $15 registration, South Berwick Middle School, followed by ample amounts of strawberry shortcake, more than 120 juried artisans, live music, stage shows, an inflatable tiger slide and a rock climbing wall, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., free, Central School, Main Street, South Berwick, 207-384-3306. Register for the race online at www.southberwickstrawberryfestival.com.

July 4: An American Celebration!
Discover an old-fashioned Fourth of July, featuring a children’s parade, traditional games and crafts, historic garden tour, “living history,” music, entertainment and food. New this year: go aboard the gundalow, meet Abe Lincoln, visit an active shipyard, observe a U.S. naturalization ceremony. Takes place 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free admission for Strawbery Banke members and kids 17 and under, $15 for nonmembers, Marcy Street, Portsmouth, 603-433-1100, www.strawberybanke.org.

July 16: American Independence Festival
Celebrate the American spirit with a glimpse of life during the American Revolution. Events include colonial troop activities, traditional artisans village, museum tours, and military muster re-enactment; festivities include live music, children’s activities, food and more. Takes place 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., $7 for events on museum grounds and Swasey Parkway, free for ages 9 and under. American Independence Museum, downtown Exeter, 603-772-2622, www.independencemuseum.org.

July 21: Dover Night Out
Hosted by the Dover Coalition for Youth, to heighten crime and drug prevention awareness. Activities, live music, Irish dancing and a large health tent, along with police, fire and military demonstrations begin at 4 p.m. and conclude with a fireworks display over the Cochecho River at 9 p.m. Rain date is Thursday, Aug. 4. Henry Law Park, 603-516-3279, www.doveryouth.com.

July 21-24: Stratham Fair
A traditional family fair with horse and cattle pulls, cookie and bread baking competitions, Miss Stratham Fair Pageant, pie eating contest, pig scramble, Sunday night fireworks, exhibits, rides and midway. Also, a road race and The New England Festival of Arts and Fine Crafts. Admission is $7; $4 for ages 6-12 and 65+; ages 5 and under free with adult; and on Thursday, grandparents accompanied by at least one child under 12 can attend free. Stratham Hill Park, Route 33, Stratham, 603-772-4977, www.strathamfair.com.

July 24: Down on the Farm Potluck Picnic
Celebrate local farms with the fifth annual Slow Food Seacoast farm picnic. Bring picnic supplies (dishes, blankets, chairs) and a labeled dish to share, and enjoy tours, activities, and the chance to explore a small-scale local farm with the farmers as your guides. At Touching Earth Farm, Kittery, all ages welcome! Learn more at www.slowfoodseacoast.org.

July 29-31: Eliot Antique Tractor and Engine Show
Case, John Deere and Farmall aficionados can bring the whole family to this rural extravaganza. Tractor-related events, including tractor parades, tractor pulls, a kids’ pedal tractor pull and more are supplemented with standard festival fare—live music, auction, spaghetti dinner, square dancing, pancake breakfast, crafts, contests and other miscellaneous festivities. The fields will be open Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Admission is $5 or free for exhibitors and children 6 and under. Raitt Farm, Route 103, Eliot, Maine, 207-748-3303, www.eliotantiquetractorandengine.org.

July 30-Aug. 7: York Days Festival
Live the beach life with concerts, tournaments, sand castle building, fairs, live bands, softball and golf tournaments, a 5k road race, Christmas in July with a lighting of the Nubble Light and other events at various locations throughout York Beach. Fireworks and music on Short Sands Beach on Sunday, Aug. 7 at 7 p.m. Call the York Parks and Recreation Department for details at 207-363-1040 or visit parksandrec.yorkmaine.org.

July 31: Miss Hampton Beach Pageant
The long-running annual pageant entertains the crowds at the Seashell Stage, 2 p.m., free. The day before, stop by for the Little/JR Miss crowning, also at 2 p.m. More information at 603-926-8717, www.hamptonbeach.org.

August 6: Live Free and Wine
The New Hampshire Winery Association presents wine samplings from more than a 17 local wineries, plus live music from Beatle Juice and lots of locally made products. Tickets are $20 in advance and are unavailable the day of the event. Guests must be at least 21 years old. At Rochester Fairgrounds, 72 Lafayette St., www.nhwineryassociation.com.

August 12-14:  Mainely Grillin’ & Chillin’ BBQ Festival
Yes, BBQ, but also crafts from Maine artisans, beanhole games and other family activities, live entertainment, chili contest, and beer garden, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Raitt Farm, Route 103, Eliot, 207-363-4422, www.celebratemainefestival.com.

August 15-19: Hampton Beach Children’s Festival
Five days of free activities for children and their families. Starts with a magic show at the Hampton Beach Seashell Stage at 10 a.m. on Monday, and ends with a Giant Costume Parade at 11 a.m. on Friday. Also includes mini-golf, sand castle competitions, dancing, storytelling, ice cream, balloons and more, free, Hampton Beach, 603-926-8717, www.hamptonbeach.org.

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