Laconia: local rooms, events and more

Photo: Dougtone · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Town and around · New Hampshire · 65k people

Laconia

Locals say Lakes Region · “The City of the Lakes”, “Motorcycle City”

The heart of the Lakes Region

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Welcome to the Lakes Region, where the lake is the center of life. Whether you're here for the summer or year-round, you'll find a friendly community and plenty of outdoor adventures. Get ready to make some memories on the water.

Clubs for Laconia

No clubs for Laconia yet.

The room

Laconia Quiet now The heart of the Lakes Region

One room for everyone around Laconia. 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 Laconia. Sign in to sell something.

Things to do

Lake Winnipesaukee The big lake at the heart of the region.
Gunstock Mountain Resort Year-round recreation with skiing, hiking, and a mountain coaster.
Weirs Beach Classic summer spot with arcades, ice cream, and a boardwalk.
Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion Outdoor amphitheater on the lake hosting big-name acts.
Mount Major Popular hike with panoramic views of Lake Winnipesaukee.
Squam Lake Quieter lake, famous from 'On Golden Pond'.

Outdoors Hike Mount Major
Outdoors Boat or kayak on Lake Winnipesaukee
With kids Visit Funspot, the world's largest arcade
With kids Ride the Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad
Evenings Concerts at Bank of NH Pavilion
Evenings Sunset cruises on the lake
Locals love Lake beaches
Locals love Ice cream stands

Through the year

Laconia Motorcycle Week June Huge motorcycle rally drawing thousands to the Weirs Beach area.
New Hampshire Pumpkin Festival October Pumpkin-themed fun with giant pumpkin weigh-offs and family activities.
Wolfeboro Arts and Crafts Festival August Juried show with local artisans along the lakefront.
Great Rotary Fishing Derby February Ice fishing derby on Lake Winnipesaukee with prizes for big catches.
Gunstock Summer Concert Series Summer Outdoor concerts at Gunstock Mountain Resort with a mix of genres.

Cold, snowy winters and warm, humid summers. Best time to be out is summer for lake activities and fall for foliage. Best: Summer is prime for lake activities, and fall brings crisp air and foliage.

Talk like a local

“Winni”: Lake Winnipesaukee
“The Weirs”: Weirs Beach area
“Boat season”: Summer, when everyone's on the lake
“Mud season”: Spring, when roads are muddy

Getaways

Concord State capital with shops, restaurants, and the State House.
Manchester Largest city with museums, the Currier, and the airport.
Portland, ME Coastal city with a working waterfront, breweries, and food scene.
Lebanon Home to Dartmouth College and the Upper Valley.

Local flavour

Teams

Laconia Muskrats New England Collegiate Baseball League

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

Eat and drink

Maple creemee Soft-serve ice cream flavoured with local maple syrup, a summer staple at farm stands and creameries
Lobster roll New England classic, often served cold with mayo or hot with butter, available at lakeside eateries
Apple cider donuts Fall favourite from local orchards, often paired with fresh cider
New England clam chowder Creamy chowder found on menus throughout the region
The Common Man A New Hampshire restaurant chain with locations in the Lakes Region, known for comfort food and rustic ambiance

Where people go

Lakefront resorts Family-run lodges and inns along the shores
Marinas Docks and boat rentals that buzz in summer
Summer camps Traditional sleepaway camps tucked into the woods
Farm stands Roadside stands selling produce, maple syrup, and baked goods
Boardwalks The Weirs Beach boardwalk with arcades and ice cream shops
Hiking trails Trails in the Belknap Mountains and around the lake

Heritage and traditions

The Lakes Region is proud of its sparkling lakes and summer-resort heritage, where generations of families return each year to swim, boat, and relax in the same spots their grandparents loved.

This time of year in Laconia

Foliage cruises October Boat tours to see the autumn colors on the lake.

Say it like a local: “Wicked” — very

Festivals

Old Home Week summer A New Hampshire tradition since 1899, when towns invite former residents back for a week of parades, picnics, and reunions.
Wolfeboro Winter Carnival February A weekend of ice sculptures, snowshoe races, and a chili cook-off on the shores of Lake Winnipesaukee.
Laconia Christmas Stroll December An evening of caroling, horse-drawn wagon rides, and a tree-lighting ceremony downtown.
Moultonborough Old Home Day August A small-town day with a parade, craft fair, and a classic car show.

Landmarks with a story

Belknap Mill A 19th-century textile mill that now houses a museum and art gallery, a reminder of the region's industrial past.
Governor Wentworth House Summer estate of colonial governor John Wentworth, marking Wolfeboro as the oldest summer resort in America.
Old Meeting House (Moultonborough) An 18th-century meeting house used for worship and town gatherings, one of the oldest in the state.
Gilmanton Academy A 19th-century academy building that now serves as a community center.

Food traditions

Tourtière A French-Canadian Christmas Eve meat pie brought by mill workers who settled in Laconia.
Sugar on snow During maple syrup season, hot syrup is poured over snow to make a taffy-like treat.
Baked beans on Saturday night A New England custom of slow-cooked beans with brown bread, often served at community suppers.
Fiddleheads in spring Foraged fern fronds, sautéed with butter, a short-lived seasonal delicacy.
Fish chowder A creamy chowder made with local lake fish, a staple at lakeside restaurants.

Music and arts

Summer stock theater in Wolfeboro and Gilford Local theater groups perform musicals and plays in the summer.
Folk music and campfire sing-alongs At lakeside camps, guitars and sing-alongs are a beloved tradition.
Wooden boat building Celebrated at the antique boat show, a craft passed down through generations.
Local pottery and craft fairs Artisans sell handmade ceramics, quilts, and woodwork at summer fairs.

A little history

1763 Wolfeboro founded as a summer resort for Governor Wentworth.
1800s Laconia grows as a mill town with textile and knitting mills.
1872 The M/S Mount Washington begins sailing Lake Winnipesaukee.
1930s Gunstock ski area developed, boosting winter tourism.
1899 Old Home Week tradition starts in New Hampshire.

Game day Ice fishing derbies
Game day Sailing regattas
Outdoors Ice skating on a frozen lake
Outdoors Snowshoeing through the woods
With kids Building a snowman in the front yard
With kids Visiting a local farm to pick apples

Locals speak with a soft New England accent, often dropping the 'r' in words like 'car' and using 'wicked' for emphasis. They also use 'ayuh' for yes and call a summer cottage a 'camp'.

Only here

The world's largest motorcycle rally (Laconia Motorcycle Week) rolls into town every June.
Wolfeboro claims to be the oldest summer resort in America.
The M/S Mount Washington has been cruising Lake Winnipesaukee since 1872.
The Great Rotary Fishing Derby is one of the largest ice fishing derbies in the country.

New here? A few tips

Learn to pronounce place names: Winnipesaukee (win-uh-puh-SAW-kee), Laconia (luh-KOH-nee-uh), Wolfeboro (WOLF-burrow).
Expect heavy traffic on summer weekends, especially around Weirs Beach.
Winter is long and cold; invest in good winter gear and learn to drive on snow.
Try a maple creemee and a sugar-on-snow party in spring.
Many locals call their summer cottage a 'camp'.

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

Mount Washington ValleyNew HampshireBig mountains, clear lakes, and a slower pace.ConcordNew HampshireThe granite heart of New England.Manchester–NashuaNew HampshireWhere the Merrimack winds through mill towns and maple groves.LebanonNew HampshireWhere the Connecticut River runs through every season.KeeneNew HampshireWhere the mountain meets Main Street.PortlandMaineWhere the sea meets the pines, and the welcome is warm.BarreVermontWhere granite meets the Green Mountains, and maple runs deep.BrattleboroVermontWhere the river meets the hills, and everyone knows your name.

Laconia, 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.