Family events in Gilford, NH

Open to all ages, this free community gathering at Trestle View Park celebrates time on the river and New England’s only whitewater park. Attendees can watch the action, try boogie boarding, take a whitewater lesson, enjoy a picnic, wade in, fish, and meet new people. For those seeking structured instruction, Roll Sessions are offered on Wednesdays with an instructor who has experience. That class is $50 and requires advance registration.

Enjoy a weekly movie night that blends crowd-pleasers, beloved classics, and recent releases. Arrive early to enjoy dinner and drinks before the film. Tickets are $5 when purchased in advance and $8 on the day of the show, and children under age 3 attend free. Upcoming titles are listed online.

Take part in a hawk watch with Scott Weidensaul, a noted ornithologist and bestselling nature writer. He will share expert insights and stories from more than 40 years of studying birds around the world during this guided experience. The gathering takes place at Birch Ridge Community Forest above Merrymeeting Lake, where expansive views stretch to the northern mountains, including Mt. Molly, Mt. Bet, and Mt. Caverly, with Mt. Washington visible on a clear day. This popular annual event highlights a landscape kept protected and accessible through the Southeast Land Trust of NH, which acquired Birch Ridge in partnership with MMRG, the Merrymeeting Lake Association, and the Town of New Durham in June 2019. Attendees may want to bring a portable chair, water and a snack, a hat, sunscreen, bug spray, and binoculars. A few extra pairs may be available. Space is limited, and registrants will receive an email confirmation with any additional details. If migration conditions or weather require it, the event may move to the following day.

Celebrate the season at the 15th Annual Harvest Festival at Prescott Farm, a free, family-friendly community gathering that typically brings in more than 700 attendees. Spend the day enjoying wagon rides pulled by a tractor, lawn and field games, a chance to leap into hay, garden-fresh tastings, hands-on cider pressing, natural-materials crafts, face painting, nature-themed storytelling and activities, fiber arts demonstrations, live music, and a variety of food trucks. Beyond the festival fun, take time to explore Prescott Farm’s 160 acres, including three miles of hiking trails, a natural PlayScape, and heirloom gardens open for all to experience.