NEW HAMPSHIRE

This festival celebrate foods from Canadian, German, Irish, Italian, Native American, Norwegian and Russian heritages. Chefs will prepare bean-hole-beans, Canadian ragout, pets de soeur, potato candy, homemade donuts, Russian cabbage rolls, German bratwurst & sauerkraut, Norwegian meat cakes, Italian lasagna, Canadian meat pies, Irish cuisine, Cherokee Brunswick stew, French pea soup, Italian wedding soup, desserts and more. Entertainment by Patrick Ross and Tim Dion. Discounted River Boat tours all day. The Roy Family Farm in Milan will bring their animals for viewing. Special appearance by North Country Classics Car Club and their automobiles. Information: www.northernforestheritage.org/cf_main.htm

River Day, a day of celebrating the Androscoggin River, is a day full of things to do and see. There will be a family fun float, a canoe/kayak race, exhibits and displays. Children will enjoy meeting two special guests, Woodsy Owl and Smoky Bear. Wingzilla, also celebrated on June 16, is a block party, barbeque chicken wing cook-off competition and horse shoe tournament. This an all-day fun occasion. There will be discounted river boat tours all day. The Roy Family Farm in Milan NH will bring their beautiful animals for viewing. Two great festivals, same day, same location. Information: http://www.northernforestheritage.org/rd_main.htm

Festival includes workshops for novice and accomplished writers in the morning, a Literary Flash competition in the afternoon, barbecue lunch and a talk from the keynote speaker, Fritz Wetherbee, at 2 p.m. in the amphitheater. There will be arts and crafts vendors and a book appraiser in the afternoon. Come see what your favorite old book might be worth. Authors will be available to autograph and sell their books as well as to answer questions. Information: www.northernforestheritage.org/writers.htm

Day-long event for the entire family featuring art exhibits along Main Street, classes, displays, and hands-on demonstrations. The W.I.L.D. Center and Zoological Park of America will exhibit some of their animals at the Mount Kearsarge Indian Museum. Also, dance and theater workshops, used book sale at BookEnds, Historical Society Barn sale, live local music throughout the day. Free horse and carriage rides. Mayfest Music Concert at Riverside Park beginning at 6:30 p.m. Time: 10 a.m. Information: www.kearsargechamber.org

Balloon launches, balloon rides, Hometown Parade on Sunday, art fair. Admission is free; parking if $5. Information and schedule: www.balloonfestival.org.

Renaissance fun, food, and frivolity. Events include Children’s Glen, Live Chess Matches with human pieces, Maypole Dance, Tea with the Queen, Wench & Lad Auction, Beltaine Celebration on May 12. Admission: Adults, $12; children ages 5-12, $8. Cash only. Information: www.nhrenfaire.com

The festival will feature workshops and demonstrations throughout the house and garden about timber framing; colors and textiles; historic furnishings and decorative arts; herbs and flowers for the 18th century garden; bees and beekeeping in the 18th and 19th centuries; lighting the harbor in the 18th century; flower arranging; historic archaeology, and caring for the museum's trees. Family and children's activities like pirate crafts, treasure hunts, and making marbled paper and writing with a quill pen will be ongoing throughout the festival. On sale will be heirloom plants from the garden. The celebration culminates with a concert in the 18th-century warehouse at 4:45 p.m. Time: 1 to 4:30 p.m.; concert at 4:45 p.m.

This beloved Seacoast event features a wide array of activities for children & families, lilac enthusiasts, and history buffs. Activities include lilac lectures & sales, art projects treasure hunts, and an alpaca petting zoo. Artists participating in a plein air event will be onsite during the Festival and their work will be feature in an onsite gallery. Time: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission: Free. Information: www.wentworthcoolidge.org

Fields of Lupine Festival pays homage to this captivating wildflower. Retailers and restaurants will be offering, promotions, discounts, entertainment, and refreshments, as will museum and historic inn tours, an open-air market on Main Street Sugar Hill, and other locations throughout the communities all month long. Fields of Lupine Festival Program Tour Book is a calendar of daily and weekend events, a location map of Lupine fields and directions, interesting historical facts, as well as full details of special events, concerts and the open-air markets. Information and schedules: www.franconianotch.org/things-to-do/special-events/lupine-festival.aspx

Area restaurants bring their chowders to booths at Town Square in hopes of winning the coveted prize of the Golden Clam Award, noon to 2 p.m. Vote for your favorite chowder to win the Golden Clam Award. Accompanied by a free concert from a great area band. Admission fee gets guests ample-sized tastes of each chowder and a ballot to vote for their favorite concoction. Time: Noon-4 p.m.

This outdoor action-packed day centers upon the launch of 3,500 yellow rubber ducks into the river. Entertainment from the Duck Stage. Kids Decorated Ducks on Parade at 1 p.m.; silent auction from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Jackson Fire Department Obstacle Course & More; food vendors; pony rides; Jackson's Cake Boss Competition. Events begin at 7 a.m. Duck races at 1:45 and 2 p.m. Duck Tickets cost $6 each or $20 for 4 tickets. Information: www.jacksonnh.com