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MONADNOCK REGION, N.H. (MyKeeneNow) Fall is arriving across the Monadnock Region, and the local event calendar is already filling up.
September and October will bring festivals, art tours, races, workshops, community celebrations and family activities, with more events expected to be added as the season approaches.
Here are some dates to save for fall 2026.
Sept. 26 — Annual Harvest Fair, Rindge
The annual Harvest Fair returns to the Recreation Building and grounds on Wellington Road in Rindge from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The free event will feature craft vendors, fresh produce, homemade pickles and relishes, baked goods, flowers, gently used jewelry and a cafe. Visitors can also have antiques and jewelry appraised and enter a basket raffle. Pumpkins will be available for children.
Sept. 26 — Rummage Sale & Flea Market, Keene
The United Church of Christ of Keene will hold a one-day Fall Rummage Sale and Flea Market from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 23 Central Square.
The sale will include secondhand goods, with a $5-per-bag sale from 12:30 to 2 p.m. Cash, checks and cards will be accepted.
Sept. 27 — Clarence DeMar Marathon and Half Marathon, Keene
Runners will take to the roads around Keene for the annual Clarence DeMar Marathon and Half Marathon.
The race is a longtime fall tradition, bringing runners and spectators into downtown Keene and surrounding communities.
Sept. 27 — Fall Glass Art, Winchester
Wicked Glass Art will lead a fall-themed glass art workshop from 2 to 4 p.m. at VFW Post 3968 in Winchester.
Participants will create a 5-by-7-inch piece using recycled broken glass and resin, with a choice of a pumpkin or fall tree design. Children are welcome with a parent or guardian. The cost is $20 and reservations are required.
Sept. 29 and Oct. 6 — Natural History of Autumn, Hancock
The Harris Center for Conservation Education will continue its exploration of the changing season with naturalist and author Susie Spikol.
The Environmental Studies Institute course examines autumn’s seasonal changes through field walks, readings and a personal almanac. Topics include bird migration, late-season flowers, mushrooms and acorns.
The course also meets Sept. 22 and Oct. 13. Registration is required.
Oct. 3 — Peak Into Peterborough
Peterborough’s annual fall celebration returns Oct. 3, bringing vendors, local businesses, live music, food and family-friendly activities to downtown.
The free event draws thousands of visitors each year. Because of bridge construction, Vendor Village will be located in the Depot Square area this year rather than Putnam Park.
www.greatermonadnock.com/peak-into-peterborough/
Oct. 2-4 — Monadnock International Film Festival
The Monadnock International Film Festival returns to Keene Oct. 2-4, bringing independent films and regional filmmaking to local venues.
The festival is another fall tradition for film fans and provides an opportunity to see films that might not otherwise reach the region.
Oct. 9 — Autumn Forest Bathing, Walpole
Distant Hill Gardens in Walpole will host an autumn forest bathing experience Oct. 9 from 5:30 to 7 p.m.
Led by Josephine Russell of Aloha, the experience will take participants onto Distant Hill’s trails to enjoy the fall landscape and changing leaves.
Tickets are $20, with proceeds supporting Distant Hill’s Accessible Trail Fund and the Aloha Give Back to Yoga Fund. Space is limited.
Oct. 10 — Foliage 5K and Little Leaf Dash, Brattleboro
The Winston Prouty Center for Child and Family Development will host its annual Foliage 5K and Little Leaf Dash Oct. 10.
The 5K follows forest and field trails on the organization’s campus, while the half-mile Little Leaf Dash is designed for young children and is suitable for strollers and babies in arms.
The event raises funds for the Winston Prouty Center.
Oct. 10-12 — Monadnock Art 30th Annual Open Studio Art Tour
The Monadnock Art Open Studio Tour returns Columbus Day weekend, giving visitors a chance to meet artists in their studios across the region.
This year’s free, self-guided tour features 84 artists working in 65 studios across Dublin, Hancock, Harrisville, Jaffrey, Marlborough and Peterborough.
Painting, printmaking, pottery, jewelry, sculpture, fiber arts, photography, woodworking and glass are among the mediums represented.
The tour runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day and combines art with a drive through the region’s fall landscape.
monadnockart.org/monadnock-art-open-studio-tour/
Oct. 10-12 — Fall Foliage Art Studio Tour
The Fall Foliage Art Studio Tour also takes place during Columbus Day weekend, offering another opportunity to explore local artists and studios while traveling through the region during foliage season.
Oct. 15 — Autumn Art Workshop, Brattleboro
Retreat Farm in Brattleboro will host a Vermont Harvest Still Life watercolor workshop Oct. 15 from 6 to 8 p.m.
Participants will work with fall flowers, grasses, leaves, fruits and vegetables while learning watercolor and botanical sketching techniques. All experience levels are welcome.
The workshop costs $25 for adults and $15 for children. Children under 14 must be accompanied by an adult.
www.fallfoliageartstudiotour.com
Oct. 17 — Keene Pumpkin Festival
Keene Pumpkin Festival returns Saturday, Oct. 17.
This year’s festival is being planned around the ongoing downtown reconstruction project, with organizers and city officials working on a revised footprint that will allow the event to continue downtown while construction is underway.
The annual celebration is one of the region’s signature fall events, drawing visitors to Keene for pumpkins, food, activities and entertainment.
Oct. 17 — Retreat Farm Market Party, Brattleboro
Retreat Farm will celebrate improvements to its market with a free Market Party Oct. 17 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The event will include local vendors, samples, music, food, fall-themed children’s activities and lawn games. The farm’s trails will remain open, and visitors can also see the animals in the pastures.
Oct. 17 — Peterborough Fall Ball
The Peterborough Town House will host the Peterborough Fall Ball on Oct. 17, with dancing scheduled from noon to midnight.
The event will feature four live bands and four callers. Admission details are still being finalized.
Oct. 25 — Fall Jubilee & Make Your Own Scarecrow, Keene
Stonewall Farm will celebrate the season with its Fall Jubilee and Make Your Own Scarecrow event Oct. 25 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The family-friendly celebration will include live music, farm animals, lawn games, wagon rides and seasonal food. Visitors can also make their own scarecrow.
Admission is free, with a suggested donation of $5 per person age 13 and older. Scarecrow-making costs $15, with a discount available for visitors who bring a canned good for the Community Kitchen.
Fall treats and products will include apple cider donuts, cider, pumpkins, mums, hot cocoa and maple cotton candy.
More Fall Events Are Coming
These are only some of the events currently on the 2026 calendar. More festivals, performances, workshops, markets, outdoor activities and community events will be announced as fall continues.
And not every fall tradition comes with a specific date. Apple orchards, farm stands, pumpkin patches, scenic drives and other seasonal destinations will also be part of the Monadnock Region’s autumn calendar.
My Keene Now’s Fall Guide will continue to be updated throughout the season as new events are confirmed and additional details become available.
Save this page and check back for updates.