Keene

Around Keene

Photo: Jon Platek · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Town and around · New Hampshire · 78k people

Keene

Locals say Monadnock Region · “The Elm City”

Where the mountain meets Main Street.

Keene State redMonadnock forest green

Join the room Ask the neighbours

Welcome to the Monadnock Region, where the mountain watches over everything. Whether you're here for the trails, the pumpkins, or the maple creemees, there's always something to do. Enjoy the small-town charm and the big outdoor adventures.

Clubs for Keene

No clubs for Keene yet.

The room

One room for everyone around Keene. 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

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Marketplace

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

Things to do

  • The Colonial Theatre Historic performing arts venue downtown.
  • Keene State College Public liberal arts college with a lively campus.
  • Central Square Heart of downtown Keene, with the common and historic buildings.
  • Ashuelot Covered Bridge Iconic covered bridge over the Ashuelot River.
  • Cheshire Fairgrounds Hosts the annual Cheshire Fair and other events.
  • Monadnock State Park Trails, camping, and access to Mount Monadnock.
  • Outdoors Hike Mount Monadnock
  • Outdoors Bike the Cheshire Rail Trail
  • With kids Apple picking at local orchards
  • With kids Pumpkin picking and corn mazes
  • Evenings Catch a show at The Colonial Theatre
  • Evenings Bar hop on Main Street
  • Locals love Apple orchards
  • Locals love Pumpkin patches

Through the year

  • Keene Pumpkin Festival October Thousands of carved jack-o'-lanterns and family fun.
  • Cheshire Fair August Agricultural exhibits, rides, and local food.
  • Monadnock International Film Festival (MONIFF) Fall Independent films and workshops.
  • Keene Music Festival Summer Local bands and live performances downtown.
  • Keene Farmers Market Saturdays, June–October Weekly market with local produce and crafts.

The Monadnock Region has four distinct seasons: cold, snowy winters; muddy springs; warm, pleasant summers; and crisp, colorful autumns. Best: Fall for foliage and hiking, summer for outdoor activities.

Talk like a local

“Creemee”
Soft serve ice cream, often maple flavored.
“Leaf peeper”
Tourist who visits to see fall foliage.
“Sugarhouse”
Building where maple syrup is made.
“Mud season”
Spring when trails are muddy.

Getaways

  • Brattleboro Quirky Vermont town with arts and food.
  • Greenfield Historic mill town with a vibrant downtown.
  • Amherst College town with bookstores and music.
  • Manchester Largest city in NH with shopping and dining.

Local flavour

Teams

  • Keene Swamp Bats New England Collegiate Baseball League

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

Eat and drink

  • Maple syrup Produced throughout the region.
  • Apple cider donuts A fall staple at local orchards.
  • Maple creemees Soft serve flavoured with local maple.
  • Pumpkin-themed treats Legacy of the Keene Pumpkin Festival.
  • The Works Bakery Café Local café chain that started in Keene.

Where people go

  • Mount Monadnock Iconic hiking destination.
  • Covered bridges Historic bridges scattered throughout the area.
  • Historic downtown Brick buildings and a classic New England main street.
  • Apple orchards U-pick farms and cider mills.
  • Pumpkin farms

Heritage and traditions

Keene is proud of its small-town New England charm, historic downtown, and the iconic Mount Monadnock, a hiking destination that draws visitors worldwide.

This time of year in Keene

  • Fall foliage October October: leaf peeping.
  • Pumpkin Festival October October: pumpkin displays.
  • Swanzey Covered Bridge Festival October Celebrates historic bridges with walks and talks.

Say it like a local: “Nor'easter” — A heavy snowstorm.

Festivals

  • Maple Weekend March Open houses at sugar houses each March.
  • Swanzey Covered Bridge Festival October Celebrates historic bridges with walks and talks.
  • Monadnock Music Festival Summer Classical concerts in historic venues.
  • Apple Harvest Day September Downtown street fair with cider and crafts.
  • Christmas Eve Candlelight Service December At the United Church of Christ in Keene.

Landmarks with a story

  • Wyman Tavern 1739 building, Revolutionary War meeting spot.
  • The Heberton Hall Civil War-era building, now community center.
  • The Keene Sentinel Building Oldest newspaper in NH, since 1799.
  • The Ashuelot Rail Trail Former rail line, now a bike path.

Food traditions

  • Maple sugaring Boiling sap to syrup, a spring ritual.
  • Apple cider donuts A fall favorite at orchards.
  • Maple creemees Soft-serve ice cream flavored with maple.
  • Pumpkin everything Pies, breads, and lattes in autumn.
  • Boiled dinner Corned beef and cabbage, a New England staple.

Music and arts

  • Folk music scene Coffeehouses and house concerts.
  • Community theater At the Colonial Theatre and Redfern Arts Center.

A little history

  • 1736 Keene founded
  • 1762 First town meeting in NH
  • 1909 Keene Normal School established
  • 1991 Pumpkin Festival begins
  • Game day Keene Swamp Bats baseball
  • Game day High school football rivalry
  • Outdoors Hike Mount Monadnock
  • Outdoors Bike the Cheshire Rail Trail
  • With kids Visiting the Horatio Colony Museum
  • With kids Swimming at Pool Brook

Locals speak with a soft Northern New England accent, dropping 'r's occasionally, and use terms like 'wicked' for 'very' and 'ayuh' for 'yes'.

Only here

  • The world's largest pumpkin lantern display at the Pumpkin Festival.
  • The Ashuelot Covered Bridge, one of the oldest in NH.
  • The Monadnock Region's 'currier and ives' landscapes.
  • Keene's downtown is a National Register Historic District.
New here? A few tips
  • Embrace winter: get good boots and try cross-country skiing.
  • Learn to love maple syrup; visit a sugar house in March.
  • Hike Monadnock early to avoid crowds; it's busier than you think.
  • Say 'Keene' like 'keen' — not 'keeny'.
  • Support local farms; farm stands are everywhere in summer.

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Part of Keene area

Nearby

Every area
BrattleboroVermontWhere the river meets the hills, and everyone knows your name.GreenfieldMassachusettsWhere the river meets the hillsAmherst–NorthamptonMassachusettsA valley of ideas and autumn leaves.Manchester–NashuaNew HampshireWhere the Merrimack winds through mill towns and maple groves.ConcordNew HampshireThe granite heart of New England.BenningtonVermontWhere covered bridges cross into the mountains.LebanonNew HampshireWhere the Connecticut River runs through every season.WorcesterMassachusettsSeven hills, one heart, and a diner on every corner.

Keene, 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.

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