Concord: local rooms, events and more

Photo: Billy Hathorn · CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Town and around · New Hampshire · 157k people

Concord

Locals say Capital Area · “Capital City”

The granite heart of New England.

Autumn Maple OrangePine Forest GreenGranite Grey

Welcome to the Capital Area, where the State House anchors a lively downtown and the Merrimack River winds through town. Whether you're here for the farmers market, a Fisher Cats game, or just to explore the covered bridges, you'll find a friendly pace and four real seasons.

Clubs for Concord

No clubs for Concord yet.

The room

Concord Quiet now The granite heart of New England.

One room for everyone around Concord. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.

Ask the neighbours

All

A good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.

Coming up

No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.

Marketplace

Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Concord. Sign in to sell something.

Things to do

New Hampshire State House The oldest state capitol in the nation where the legislature still meets in its original chambers.
New Hampshire State Library A grand public library with historic collections and research rooms.
McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center Planetarium and hands-on exhibits honoring Christa McAuliffe and Alan Shepard.
Capitol Center for the Arts Hosts concerts, Broadway shows, and comedy in a restored 1927 theater.
Everett Arena Public skating and hockey games in the heart of the city.
Bicentennial Square A gathering spot with a fountain and seasonal events.

Outdoors Hike at Bear Brook State Park
Outdoors Kayak or paddleboard on the Merrimack River
With kids Explore the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center
With kids Go public skating at Everett Arena
Evenings Catch a concert at the Capitol Center for the Arts
Evenings See a film at Red River Theatres
Locals love Country stores
Locals love Maple sugar houses

Through the year

Hopkinton State Fair August A classic New England fair with animals, rides, and local food.
Market Days Festival July Downtown street fair with vendors, music, and food.
First Friday monthly Monthly art walk and gallery openings in downtown Concord.
Summer Concert Series summer Free outdoor concerts on the State House lawn.

Concord has four distinct seasons: cold, snowy winters; muddy, unpredictable springs; warm, humid summers; and crisp, colorful autumns. Best: Fall, especially late September through October, when the foliage peaks and temperatures are mild.

Talk like a local

“Creemee”: Soft serve ice cream, especially maple flavor.
“Sugarin'”: Maple syrup season (late winter/early spring).
“Mud season”: The slushy spring thaw.
“The capital area”: How locals refer to this region.

Getaways

Manchester Explore the Millyard and the Currier Museum.
Laconia Head to the Lakes Region for boating and the famous Weirs Beach.
Boston Big-city museums, sports, and dining.
Keene Collegiate charm and the Monadnock region.

Local flavour

Teams

New Hampshire Fisher Cats MiLB (AA)
New Hampshire Wildcats NCAA Division I

Also rooting for Boston Red Sox, New England Patriots, Boston Bruins, Boston Celtics

Eat and drink

Maple creemee Soft-serve maple ice cream, a summer staple at local stands and sugar houses.
Steamed hot dogs New England tradition, served on a New England-style bun, often with mustard and relish.
Apple cider donuts Fall classic from local orchards, often paired with fresh cider.

Where people go

State capitol building and government district The golden-domed capitol anchors the downtown, with historic brick and granite buildings.
General stores and country stores Classic New England stops for snacks, local goods, and a sense of community.
Maple sugar houses Where maple syrup is boiled down each spring, a defining local tradition.
Covered bridges Scattered across the region, iconic New England structures over rivers and streams.

Heritage and traditions

Concord is proud of its role as the political heart of New Hampshire, with a historic State House and a strong sense of community rooted in town meetings and maple syrup traditions.

This time of year in Concord

Fall foliage October Peak colors in October attract leaf-peepers.
Apple picking September-October Orchards open for u-pick and cider.
Apple Cider Donut Festival October Local orchards celebrate the fall harvest.

Say it like a local: “Packie” — A small convenience store, often with a deli.

Festivals

Hopkinton State Fair September Oldest agricultural fair in NH, since 1915.
Market Days Festival July Downtown Concord arts and crafts fair.
Concord Winterfest February Ice sculptures, sleigh rides, and hot cocoa.
Maple Sugar Festival March Sugar house tours and pancake breakfasts.
Old Home Day Summer Town picnics and parades in surrounding villages.
Concord Jazz Festival August Local and national jazz acts in the park.

Landmarks with a story

New Hampshire State House Oldest state capitol in the nation with a gold dome.
Pierce Manse Home of President Franklin Pierce, preserved as a museum.
New Hampshire Historical Society Museum and library with regional artifacts.
Eagle Hotel Historic hotel on Main Street, once hosted presidents.
Bicentennial Square Downtown gathering spot with the old courthouse.
Covered bridges Scenic wooden bridges dotting the countryside.

Food traditions

Maple creemee Soft-serve ice cream flavored with local maple syrup, a spring staple.
Steamed hot dogs Served on a bun with mustard and onions, a New England classic.
Apple cider donuts Made fresh at orchards, best with hot cider in fall.
Boiled dinner Corned beef, cabbage, and root vegetables, a hearty winter meal.
Poutine French Canadian influence, fries with cheese curds and gravy.

Music and arts

Folk music Singer-songwriters and bluegrass at local venues.
Community theater Active groups performing at the Capitol Center.
Visual arts Galleries and studios in downtown Concord.
Literary tradition Home to poets and authors, like Robert Frost's connections.

A little history

1808 Concord became the state capital.
1830s Franklin Pierce, 14th president, practiced law in Concord.
1850s Concord was a stop on the Underground Railroad.
1980s Christa McAuliffe taught at Concord High School.
1819 The State House was built of local granite.

Game day Fisher Cats baseball
Game day High school football
Outdoors Hike Mount Kearsarge
Outdoors Paddle the Contoocook River
With kids Maple creemee stands
With kids State House lawn

Locals speak with a mild Northern New England accent, dropping 'r's in words like 'car' and 'park,' and often say 'ayuh' for yes. French Canadian words like 'creemee' (soft-serve) and 'packie' (package store) are common.

Only here

The State House has the oldest continuously used legislative chamber in the US.
The McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center honors two NH astronauts.
The Merrimack River runs through downtown, offering urban paddling.
The Hopkinton State Fair is one of the oldest in the country.

New here? A few tips

Learn to love maple syrup; it's a year-round obsession.
Be prepared for mud season in April; roads get messy.
Don't call it 'Concord' with a hard 'c'; it's 'con-kurd'.
Get a good pair of boots for winter; it's snowy and cold.
Visit the State House; it's free and impressive.

Make this page better

Know a place, a festival, a word locals use, or something here that's wrong? Suggest it; someone at Popchat checks every one.

Part of Greater Boston

Nearby

Every area

Manchester–NashuaNew HampshireWhere the Merrimack winds through mill towns and maple groves.LaconiaNew HampshireThe heart of the Lakes Region Mount Washington ValleyNew HampshireBig mountains, clear lakes, and a slower pace.KeeneNew HampshireWhere the mountain meets Main Street.LebanonNew HampshireWhere the Connecticut River runs through every season.BrattleboroVermontWhere the river meets the hills, and everyone knows your name.BostonMassachusettsWhere every cobblestone has a story.WorcesterMassachusettsSeven hills, one heart, and a diner on every corner.

Concord, NH. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.