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Photo: via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.5
The state's annual Pumpkin Festival I used to be held in Keene, and was well-known for its annual, record-breaking collections of jack-o'-lanterns. In 2014, the Pumpkin Festival was marred by partying college students rioting in the streets relatively near the festival grounds, causing the city council to reject its annual permit the following year. As a result, the Keene Pumpkin Festival moved to Laconia, renaming it as the New Hampshire Pumpkin Festival. As with before in Keene, the annual festival held for two days in October celebrates autumn and pumpkins with games, entertainment, food, and of course, a goal to break the world record for most jack-o'-lanterns lit in one place.
The New Hampshire Pumpkin Festival is a pumpkin festival that is held in Laconia, New Hampshire, United States before Halloween. Each year, New Hampshire residents and citizens attempt to amass the largest number of lit jack-o'-lanterns in one place, trying to meet or beat the world record, which the city of Keene, New Hampshire—the festival's venue for its first 24 years—held for many years.
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Although Weirs Beach is always busy during the summer, for one week, every year, "busy" is an understatement. Based around Father's Day weekend, "Bike Week" is the biggest event of the year in Laconia and attracts tens of thousands of bikers consistently. Bike Week is held at Weirs Beach, and attracts so many bikers and curious visitors that traffic in and immediately around Weirs Boulevard is completely closed off for the week. To attend, it's necessary to park in one of many makeshift parking lots and trek over to Weirs Beach, or preferably, ride a bike.
In the summer months in Laconia, there is no dispute over where to find the most tourists. It is Weirs Beach. "The Weirs" consists of a boardwalk, which is about a half mile in length, a half dozen arcades, a pizza place, an ice cream parlor, an ample selection of souvenir shops, and of course, a beach.