NH Grand North Archives

Mud, Music & More at the Jericho ATV Festival Presented by Progressive in Early August

Get ready for a terrific line-up of Mud, Music & More at the Annual Jericho ATV Festival Presented by Progressive each year in early August. The Festival draws upwards of 6,000 visitors each year.

Beautiful Jericho Mountain State Park is the setting for dozens of daytime events.

Festival organizers work hard concocting just the right mix of earth and water to produce all the oozy mud necessary for the always fun and exciting mud pit competitions that include Mud Races and Grudge Runs.

Major manufacturers Polaris, Can-Am, Kawasaki, Textron Off-Road & Arctic Cat will be bringing along their new models for you to dream and drool about! Take a demo ride and see what a new model can do for you.

Helicopter rides, a Friday Night Downtown Block Party, Monster Truck Racing and much, much more guarantee lots of fun, entertainment … and MUD! during the weekend of events.

For more information about the Jericho ATV Festival Presented by Progressive, please call (603) 752-6060 or visit www.jerichoatvfestival.com.

Kick Back, Relax & Enjoy Summer at Along the River Campground, Cabins & Ice Cream

Along the River Campground & Cabins (plus Ice Cream) on Route 302 in Twin Mountain, ticks off all the boxes for visitors looking for a close-to-nature experience with terrific amenities. Whether you are tenting, looking forward to sleeping in a cabin, or bringing your own RV, you’ll appreciate the friendly staff, fresh mountain air, beautiful views, and the campground’s location on the Ammonoosuc River.

Come for the night, enjoy a weekend away, relax during your vacation, or book a site for the season. The campground is open May-November. Choose from six cabins, tent sites with or without amenities, and RV sites with water, sewer and electricity (30 amp or 50 amp). The small family campground features both wooded and grassy campsites, some located at high and dry spots along the river. All sites have a picnic table and fire ring.

In addition to its central location, close to all of the popular White Mountain attractions — the Mt. Washington Cog Railway, Omni Mt. Washington Resort, Bretton Woods Adventure Center, Santa’s Village, Franconia Notch, Storyland and outlet shopping in North Conway, and outstanding hiking, biking and fishing opportunities — the campground boasts clean restrooms, FREE hot showers, and FREE campground-wide Wi-Fi.

Kids will enjoy the playground and the whole family can cool off in the pool or gather round for board games, pool or foosball in the Rec Hall or a rousing game of basketball, volleyball or horseshoes outdoors.

The campground is pet-friendly, so bring along your favorite pooch to enjoy the camping experience with you. Fifteen flavors of delicious creamy ice cream are served up at the on-site Ice Cream Shack, and it’s open to the public, too. The campground store is stocked with everything you need to make your visit enjoyable, from firewood to toiletries to snacks, along with maps and brochures. Just across the street, the 302 Grille a tasty selection of breakfast, lunch and dinner favorites.

Camping is one of life’s simple pleasures. So the next time you want a chance to fall asleep in a tent under a canopy of sparkling stars, sit around a roaring campfire singing songs or telling scary stories, toast marshmallows on a stick, awaken to bird song, watch a moose walk through your campsite, and cook your meals over an open fire, book your spot at Along the River Campground & Cabins. Best of all, enjoy your time away from the hustle and bustle and stresses of daily life in the company of treasured family and friends.

Littleton Area Chamber of Commerce Holiday Parade

Join us for a day of festive fun in Littleton with exceptional shopping and eateries and the 31st Annual Holiday Parade. The parade begins at noon, starting at Hitchiner’s and making its way down Main Street! A wonderful way to kick off your holiday season and get in your first holiday greetings to the big guy himself, Old Saint Nick!

NH Open Doors

Experience the best New Hampshire has to offer during this weekend-long touring and shopping event.

During this statewide tour, artists, craftsmen, and businesses owners are opening their doors with special activities and promotions.

Shop (tax-free) for locally-made art, food, and other products
Get an inside look at artists and craftsmen working in their studios
Taste locally-sourced products from food purveyors
Connect and engage with NH’s cultural heritage
Take the road less traveled and visit our main streets, big and small
Spend the night in a cozy accommodation overlooking NH views

NH Open Doors

Experience the best New Hampshire has to offer during this weekend-long touring and shopping event.

During this statewide tour, artists, craftsmen, and businesses owners are opening their doors with special activities and promotions.

Shop (tax-free) for locally-made art, food, and other products
Get an inside look at artists and craftsmen working in their studios
Taste locally-sourced products from food purveyors
Connect and engage with NH’s cultural heritage
Take the road less traveled and visit our main streets, big and small
Spend the night in a cozy accommodation overlooking NH views

Get Your Summer On with Whitewater Rafting and Paws & Paddles Packages at Raft NH & Muddy Paw Sled Dog Kennel

A variety of whitewater rafting adventures that range from mild Class II to wild Class IV along with rolling sled dog rides headline the thrilling summer packages offered by Raft NH and Muddy Paw Sled Dog Kennel.

The family-friendly trips are designed to appeal to everyone, with no experience necessary. The popular Paws & Paddles package lets you pack both activities into one day-long adventure: daytime whitewater rafting and evening rolling dog sled rides.

Make your reservation today for a memorable summer adventure!

Errol Class II Rapids for ages 6 and up — For families, beginning rafters and anyone looking to have fun on the water. The 3.5-hour adventure includes three runs on the water on rafts or river tubes, all safety gear, transportation to and from the raft base to the river and a light riverside snack.

Pontook Dam Class II+ Morning & Afternoon trips for ages 6 and up — These weekend adventures includes 2 runs down a 2.5 mile stretch below the Pontook Dam on the Androscoggin River. With sections of class II+ rapids and sections of calmer water, guests will hit the rapids with time to swim as well. All safety gear, transportation to and from the raft base to the river and a light riverside snack are included.

Magalloway River Class III & IV trips for ages 10 and up — Experience two runs down the rapids of the Magalloway on this exciting Class III & IV adventure. Choose from morning or afternoon trips. All safety gear, a guide, transportation to and from the raft base to the river and a light snack and lunch are included.

Rapid River Class IV trips for ages 12 and up — For the truly adventurous and adrenaline thrill seekers, this amazing trip is offered only 10 times during the summer season. Famous for its holes the size of SUVs and towering waves, the four-mile river run features rapid after rapid in increasing intensity. All safety gear, a guide, transportation to and from the raft base to the river and a light snack and lunch are included.

Paws & Paddles Package — Guests may select a rafting adventure of their choice, along with a rolling dog sled adventure for a full day of fun. The rolling dog sled ride is an interactive experience, with a 40-minute educational piece where you’ll meet the sled dogs, help your musher harness and hitch the team, and then take off on a two-mile sled ride that lasts approximately 20 minutes. You’ll go home with wonderful memories and a few doggie kisses, too!

The Mt. Washington Auto Road has Been Thrilling Visitors for more Than 150 Years!

For a one-of-a-kind experience drive yourself or take a guided tour up the Mt. Washington Auto Road to the summit of Mt. Washington, the highest peak in the Northeast. Be sure to pack your camera or iPhone because you’ll want to snap lots of photos along the way of the breathtaking vistas.

First opened in 1861, when horse-drawn wagons ferried visitors to the summit, the Mt. Washington Auto Road is America’s oldest man-made tourist attraction. Today, the mostly paved eight-mile-long Auto Road is traveled by motorists, motorcyclists, bicyclists and hikers eager to experience the amazing history, unpredictable weather, panoramic views and the opportunity to pass through four distinct climate zones.

Although days of sunny skies and jaw-dropping vistas elicit plenty of oohs and aahs, cloudy days show off the extreme weather that Mount Washington is so well known for. You can drive yourself to the summit, hop aboard an Auto Road van for a guided tour, or hike to the top of the 6,288-foot mountain.

The Auto Road offers two- and three-hour guided tours in comfortable vans with experienced drivers who regale passengers with the history and lore of the mountain.

The two-hour tour includes an hour on the summit, with time to explore the historic summit buildings and complimentary access to the Mount Washington Observatory’s interactive Extreme Mt. Washington Museum.

The three-hour guided tours provide visitors with the opportunity to explore the Auto Road anywhere from the base at Great Glen Trails to the summit of Mount Washington, with extra time for exploring scenic areas along the road and the option to spend more time on the summit.

Guests who choose to drive their own vehicles can spend the entire day exploring the pull-offs, short hikes, alpine flowers and vistas, but on a trip with one of the knowledgeable guides leading the way, will learn so much more and discover some of the hidden gems along the Auto Road.

Once you’ve conquered the summit, consider extending your stay and taking a guided tour of the paddling variety, which is available at Great Glen Trails located at the base of the Mt. Washington Auto Road. Enjoy a guided kayak trip along the scenic lakes and rivers of northern New Hampshire, away from the crowds and with brilliant mountain views and opportunities for wildlife viewing.

Or rent a bike at Great Glen Trails and peddle along well-marked carriage trails through beautiful meadows and along scenic rivers, with exciting mountain views at every turn.

The Mt. Washington Auto Road is open daily until late October for drive yourself touring. Two-hour guided tours are available daily through late October, while three-hour tours are available from June 7-September 3. All tours are weather permitting.

For the latest updates on Road conditions and the operating schedule, visit www.MtWashingtonAutoRoad.com or call (603) 446-3988. The Auto Road is located just off Route 16 in Pinkham Notch.

The Tillotson Center Is Home To Visual & Performing Arts, Community Heritage

Now a vibrant arts and cultural center, more than a century ago the Tillotson Center was known as “the Balsams Barn.” The original building housed the horses and carriages that carried guests from the Colebrook train station to Dixville Notch and what is now The Balsams resort. During the 1920s it served as a meeting hall and community center for the Colebrook Grange, and by the mid-‘60s it became the repository of historical artifacts collected by a local family.

A generous $50,000 donation from benefactor Louise Tillotson in 2006 spurred its development as center for community heritage and visual and performing arts. Additional donations from grants and the 500 founding members made the dream of a northern New Hampshire arts facility a reality. The community, in thanks, named the center after Mrs. Tillotson, because of her commitment to the project and her love for the arts.

Today, the Tillotson Center, designed by distinguished architect John Kaufmann, presents a full roster of activities, year-round, with concerts and other performances staged in its 171-seat theater, rotating shows by local and regional artists in the art gallery, and a Historical Society annex with displays that gives visitors a glimpse into the past.

The Kaufmann Theatre

The Kaufmann Theatre features both orchestra and balcony seating and is well-used by the community for everything from live stage performances, concerts and movies to guest speakers, school plays and community meetings.

2017 summer concert performances include:

June 17: Alan Epstein’s “Sunset on Meriden Hill” with Jim Prendergast. The concert debuts Alan Epstein’s CD, “Sunset on Meriden Hill,” and features Alan on mandolin accompanied by Jim on guitar.

June 24: Belle of the Fall. Tracy Walton and Julie Autumn Ford are multi-instrumentalists who creature folksy but contemporary music.

June 29: “Treasure Island” presented by University of New Hampshire Little Red Wagon Touring Company. Join the children’s theater troupe as they perform the classic tale of the pirate who buried his booty on Treasure Island before he died.

July 8: Comfort County. Four friends have joined forces to present the best in county music, with some bluegrass and gospel mixed in.

August 5: The Heather Pierson Trio. Folk ballads, blues and New Orleans traditional jazz are the forte of these talented musicians, whose intricate instrumental arrangements and three-part vocal harmonies will delight the evening’s audience.

August 23: Lux. A quartet of musicians who have been described as “funky, jazzy, quirky, entertaining (and) engaging,” performing covers and original tunes.

Museum

Visitors will want to check out the Historical Society Annex with its thoughtful displays of artifacts that illustrate everyday life during the region’s different eras. Of particular note is the display of firefighting equipment, including a soda-acid wagon that was used by the Colebrook Fire Department in the 1880s.

The Gallery

The talented artists of the Connecticut River Artisan Group (CRAG) keeps the art gallery filled with a rotating display of work, from paintings and ceramics to photographs and wood carvings. All work is for sale, and a piece of locally created art makes a nice gift to take home for yourself or a special friend. The gallery is open Wednesdays from 1 to 3 p.m. and during all events. Admission is free.

The Tillotson Center is located at 14 Carriage Lane, Colebrook. Learn more at www.tillotsoncenter.org.

Bear Rock Adventures Wants to be Your ‘Guide to the Wilds’

A brand new fleet of 2017 Polaris RZRs, Rangers and Sportsman Touring OHRVs at Bear Rock Adventures is ready to take you right into the heart of the thrilling Ride the Wilds 1,000-plus-mile trail system where memories are ready to be made!

With its fleet of incredible machines, diverse riding opportunities, including guided ATV tours and custom itineraries, along with impeccable customer service, the staff at Bear Rock Adventures stands ready to help you map out a day — or more — of fun and adventure on the trails.

Bear Rock can accommodate singles, couples, families and all levels of experience in its 2-, 4- and 6-seat side-by-sides and ATVs, so that anyone who wishes to enjoy the exciting sport of ATVing can do so. Bear Rock offers half-day, full day and multi-day rentals and the Ride the Wilds trail system has multiple terrain options that will appeal to beginners as well as well-seasoned riders.

Bear Rocks’ top-of-the-line vehicles include all of the equipment and gear you’ll need on the trails, like electric start, 4-wheel drive, automatic transmissions, and power steering for effortless maneuvering, along with the most up-to-date GPS and Bluetooth technology. With plenty of room to store riding gear, maps, picnic lunches, selfie sticks and more, these machines ensure your riding pleasure.

With your machine of choice, take a self-guided tour, or have an experienced tour guide lead the way. Bear Rock Adventures can outfit you with everything you need for an exceptional ride, whether you want to seek out mountaintops for extended vistas, see wildlife in its natural habitat, conquer challenging trails, or simply try an entirely new adventure.

Bear Rock Adventures is located right on the Ride the Wilds trail system, an interconnected 1,000 miles of trails across northern New Hampshire. The staff at Bear Rock can help you map out best places to ATV and stay in the region.

A couple of suggested itineraries to get you started include:

Aprils’ Maple: Take a scenic ride along the Connecticut River to April’s Maple in Canaan, Vt. Sample pure Vermont maple syrup and other goodies at the snack shack and stop into the gift shop to take home your own syrup or a maple-themed gift item.

Beaver Brook Falls: Beautiful Beaver Brook Falls is a refreshing rest stop on your day’s ride. A great photo op, with a nice picnic area, the 80-foot waterfall is located off South Hill Road in Colebrook, right off the Ride the Wilds trail system.

Fishing: Pack your rod and reel and spend the day riding and fishing! On this trail ride you’ll visit Murphy’s Dam on Lake Francis, Nathan’s Pond, and Little Diamond Pond. Drop your line, relax and take in all the sights and sounds. You might spot an eagle — or a moose, and maybe you’ll take home a fish or two.

Bear Rock Adventures is located at 545 Beach Road in Pittsburg directly across the street from Powderhorn Lodge on Back Lake. Learn more about Bear Rock and other “wild” adventures in northern New Hampshire — like biking, boating, camping, hiking, snowmobiling, soaring on a ropes course, and the Rapid River Float Plane Adventure — at www.bearrockadventures.com.