This Magical Event Is The Best Pumpkin Glow In New Hampshire

(Editor’s Note: Littleton’s Gathering of the Jack O’Lanterns did not take place in 2021. Visit the town’s website for information regarding future events.)

One of the most wonderful things about this season is the excitement that comes with Halloween. Whether you prefer to keep things kid-friendly or love the spooky tales that are told in the dark, it’s a fun holiday that marks the beginning if cozier months. There are lots of ways to enjoy it, including the best pumpkin glow in New Hampshire. This Halloween event takes place in Littleton and is our absolute favorite.

One of the most magical events of the year in New Hampshire is the Gathering of the Jack O’Lanterns event that has taken place in Littleton for the past eight years. This year’s event takes place on Friday, October 25th, and Saturday, October 26th, 2019.

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The event begins on Friday, culminating on Saturday evening with the lighting of over 500 jack-o-lanterns along the Ammonousuc River. WIthout a doubt, if you have little ones in the family, this is one of the best things to do in New Hampshire in the fall.

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The event is the brainchild of Dave Harkless, owner of Littleton Bike & Fitness on Cottage Street.

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Celebrations begin on Friday when the community is invited to carve pumpkins and drop them off at the local bike shop from noon to 5 p.m. until Saturday.

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Each pumpkin is then placed on the rocks that come out of the river.

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This is truly a group effort and part of the fun is seeing folks wade into the water or, in some cases, even row boats out to empty rocks.

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Then the newly carved masterpieces sit (patiently) along this unique pumpkin trail and wait for the grand lighting on Saturday evening.

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In the meantime, excitement builds throughout the town as people begin heading in for the fun events that lead up to the lighting. In terms of everything there is to do around this occasion, this is truly one of the best Halloween events in New Hampshire.

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From 10 a.m. through 9 p.m. on Saturday there’s something for everyone to do! The official schedule of events for 2019 has yet to be released, but you can bet it will closely follow the events from the 2018 celebration below…

Phlume Media, LLC / Vimeo From 10 a.m. to noon enjoy the Annual Littleton Police Department Halloween Festival at Littleton High School for grades K–6. Kids are invited to participate in a pumpkin carving contest, face painting, donuts and cider.

From 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. enjoy the Deep Earth Arts Open House to experience 20-minute readings for $20 beginning at 2 p.m.

From noon to 2 p.m. there’s a chili cook-off at the Littleton Food Co-op.

From 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. stop by Aylakai on Maine Street with your costume and have them help you become a zombie with makeup.

From 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. is the downtown trick-or-treat on Main and Mill Streets. Keep an eye out for “Welcome Trick or Treaters” signs in participating shop windows so you know who’s giving out treats.

From 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. adventurous folks can enjoy rock climbing, trampoline bungee jumping, basketball, and duck pond with Vertical Entertainment. There will also be glow-in-the-dark novelties available so you can be ready for the big event! You need to buy tickets for this, which are $5-7 per activity.

At the same time, you’ll find food trucks along Riverglen Lane.

At 5 p.m. is the zombie walk! Meet at Aylakai on Main Street for the spooky journey along Riverwalk Area.

From 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. you’ll find snacks and treats at the Littleton Senior Center.

And at 6 p.m. through 9 p.m. the pumpkins are lit!

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The lights are dazzling, made more impressive by the sheer number of pumpkins that line the walkways and river.

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This is one pumpkin hike you do not want to miss!

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There’s also a fun bonfire to keep the celebration going.

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This year’s event should be the biggest yet!

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Have you attended this event in past years and experience the best pumpkin glow in New Hampshire? To learn more about the Gathering of the Jack O’Lanterns event, visit the Littleton Chamber of Commerce website.

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From 10 a.m. to noon enjoy the Annual Littleton Police Department Halloween Festival at Littleton High School for grades K–6. Kids are invited to participate in a pumpkin carving contest, face painting, donuts and cider.

From 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. enjoy the Deep Earth Arts Open House to experience 20-minute readings for $20 beginning at 2 p.m.

From noon to 2 p.m. there’s a chili cook-off at the Littleton Food Co-op.

From 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. stop by Aylakai on Maine Street with your costume and have them help you become a zombie with makeup.

At the same time, you’ll find food trucks along Riverglen Lane.

At 5 p.m. is the zombie walk! Meet at Aylakai on Main Street for the spooky journey along Riverwalk Area.

From 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. you’ll find snacks and treats at the Littleton Senior Center.

LITTLETON BIKE & FITNESS / Facebook

If you prefer the more scary ways to celebrate the seasons, check out this story of an unsolved series of murders in the Granite State. You might want to read it with the lights on.

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Address: Littleton, NH 03561, USA

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Best Pumpkin Glow In New Hampshire August 03, 2019 Robin Jarvis What are the best Halloween events in New Hampshire? Each October, New Hampshire is awash with fun (and spooky!) events to celebrate the most ghoulish holiday of the year. From pumpkin patches (for the little ones) to terrifying haunted hayrides (for those not so little) and haunted houses galore, you’re sure to find more than one excuse to get out on the cool, crisp weekends in October for some Halloween fun. Our favorite event is The Gathering of the Jack O’Lanterns in Littleton. Each year during the last weekend in October this event urges locals (and visitors) to bring a carved jack-o-lantern to add to a pumpkin glow event along (and in) the Ammonousuc River. Thousands of lighted pumpkins, some with jolly faces and others with ghoulish grins, line the banks of the river - while others are actually placed on the rocks IN the river. Walking along this pumpkin trail is an experience you won’t soon forget! Leading up to the lighting ceremony are two full evenings of family-oriented Halloween events the whole family will enjoy! (Learn more about this fun event from the article above.) What are the best Halloween towns in New Hampshire? Without a doubt, for adults, the best Halloween towns in New Hampshire are those with loads of paranormal activity. Although the state is home to a number of towns where haunts have been reported, the best place to spot a ghost on Halloween is in the town of Hampton. Centuries of rife, scandals, turmoil, and unrest have left a permanent mark on this tiny town and you’ll want to experience it for yourself. Learn more about Hampton here. Of course, if you’re just looking for a notoriously haunted hotel or B&B to bed down for the night (good luck sleeping, though), then New Hampshire is rich in haunted places that are perfect for a Halloween getaway. You may not be guaranteed to spot a ghost at the eight most haunted hotels in New Hampshire, but it will be fun trying! What are the best pumpkin patches in New Hampshire? Grab a jacket and enjoy the cool, crisp autumn air at one of New Hampshire’s pumpkin patches with the kids! Here are eight of the best, where you can find the pumpkin that’s perfect for carving and placing on the front stoop for Halloween. Most pumpkin patches also offer warm cider, hayrides, and more! Have fun!

The OIYS Visitor Center

Best Pumpkin Glow In New Hampshire

August 03, 2019

Robin Jarvis

What are the best Halloween events in New Hampshire? Each October, New Hampshire is awash with fun (and spooky!) events to celebrate the most ghoulish holiday of the year. From pumpkin patches (for the little ones) to terrifying haunted hayrides (for those not so little) and haunted houses galore, you’re sure to find more than one excuse to get out on the cool, crisp weekends in October for some Halloween fun. Our favorite event is The Gathering of the Jack O’Lanterns in Littleton. Each year during the last weekend in October this event urges locals (and visitors) to bring a carved jack-o-lantern to add to a pumpkin glow event along (and in) the Ammonousuc River. Thousands of lighted pumpkins, some with jolly faces and others with ghoulish grins, line the banks of the river - while others are actually placed on the rocks IN the river. Walking along this pumpkin trail is an experience you won’t soon forget! Leading up to the lighting ceremony are two full evenings of family-oriented Halloween events the whole family will enjoy! (Learn more about this fun event from the article above.) What are the best Halloween towns in New Hampshire? Without a doubt, for adults, the best Halloween towns in New Hampshire are those with loads of paranormal activity. Although the state is home to a number of towns where haunts have been reported, the best place to spot a ghost on Halloween is in the town of Hampton. Centuries of rife, scandals, turmoil, and unrest have left a permanent mark on this tiny town and you’ll want to experience it for yourself. Learn more about Hampton here. Of course, if you’re just looking for a notoriously haunted hotel or B&B to bed down for the night (good luck sleeping, though), then New Hampshire is rich in haunted places that are perfect for a Halloween getaway. You may not be guaranteed to spot a ghost at the eight most haunted hotels in New Hampshire, but it will be fun trying! What are the best pumpkin patches in New Hampshire? Grab a jacket and enjoy the cool, crisp autumn air at one of New Hampshire’s pumpkin patches with the kids! Here are eight of the best, where you can find the pumpkin that’s perfect for carving and placing on the front stoop for Halloween. Most pumpkin patches also offer warm cider, hayrides, and more! Have fun!

The OIYS Visitor Center

Each October, New Hampshire is awash with fun (and spooky!) events to celebrate the most ghoulish holiday of the year. From pumpkin patches (for the little ones) to terrifying haunted hayrides (for those not so little) and haunted houses galore, you’re sure to find more than one excuse to get out on the cool, crisp weekends in October for some Halloween fun. Our favorite event is The Gathering of the Jack O’Lanterns in Littleton. Each year during the last weekend in October this event urges locals (and visitors) to bring a carved jack-o-lantern to add to a pumpkin glow event along (and in) the Ammonousuc River. Thousands of lighted pumpkins, some with jolly faces and others with ghoulish grins, line the banks of the river - while others are actually placed on the rocks IN the river. Walking along this pumpkin trail is an experience you won’t soon forget! Leading up to the lighting ceremony are two full evenings of family-oriented Halloween events the whole family will enjoy! (Learn more about this fun event from the article above.)

What are the best Halloween towns in New Hampshire?

Without a doubt, for adults, the best Halloween towns in New Hampshire are those with loads of paranormal activity. Although the state is home to a number of towns where haunts have been reported, the best place to spot a ghost on Halloween is in the town of Hampton. Centuries of rife, scandals, turmoil, and unrest have left a permanent mark on this tiny town and you’ll want to experience it for yourself. Learn more about Hampton here.

Of course, if you’re just looking for a notoriously haunted hotel or B&B to bed down for the night (good luck sleeping, though), then New Hampshire is rich in haunted places that are perfect for a Halloween getaway. You may not be guaranteed to spot a ghost at the eight most haunted hotels in New Hampshire, but it will be fun trying!

What are the best pumpkin patches in New Hampshire?

Grab a jacket and enjoy the cool, crisp autumn air at one of New Hampshire’s pumpkin patches with the kids! Here are eight of the best, where you can find the pumpkin that’s perfect for carving and placing on the front stoop for Halloween. Most pumpkin patches also offer warm cider, hayrides, and more! Have fun!