Lupine Festival

The event is called the Lupine Festival, a celebration that has earned Sugar Hill, New Hampshire, the title of New Hampshire’s lupine capital. Locals and repeat attendees often refer to it as the Annual Lupine Weekend or simply Lupine Season.

This festival is for anyone who appreciates natural beauty, local craftsmanship, and community spirit. The target audience includes families, nature enthusiasts, foodies, and those who enjoy handmade crafts and gently used treasures. While there are no specific notable guests or performers, the event is a showcase of local talent and community effort, with the Willing Workers Society, a non-profit charitable organization founded in 1920, being the driving force behind the festival.

The Lupine Festival typically occurs during the first or second weekend in June, coinciding with the peak blooming period of the lupines. For 2025, the main event is scheduled for Saturday, June 7, at the Sugar Hill Meetinghouse, located at 1448 Route 117 in Sugar Hill, New Hampshire. The festival runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., regardless of the weather.

The venue, the Sugar Hill Meetinghouse, is nestled in the picturesque town of Sugar Hill, tucked away northwest of the White Mountains. To get there, visitors can use Route 117, with the nearest major highways being Interstate 93 and Interstate 89. The nearest airport is the Lebanon Municipal Airport, though larger airports like Manchester-Boston Regional Airport are also accessible with a bit more travel time. The setting is renowned for its breathtaking natural beauty, with the countryside transforming into a vibrant canvas of purple and pink lupines that stretch towards the vistas of Franconia and the Presidential Range.

People should attend the Lupine Festival for its unique blend of natural splendor, community warmth, and local charm. The festival offers a day filled with food, fun, and shopping for handmade items and gently used treasures. Visitors can enjoy fresh baked goods available for on-site consumption or take-away, and the special dessert of the day is homemade strawberry shortcake. The Meetinghouse is stocked with an ever-changing variety of items from the attic, including books, tableware, small appliances, and decorative pieces.

The festival also serves as an opportunity to explore the local area, with visitors often touring the roads to admire the showy displays of lupines in bloom. The event is a celebration of community spirit and local craftsmanship, with the Willing Workers Society members showcasing items they have prepared all winter.

In essence, the Lupine Festival in Sugar Hill is a must-visit for anyone looking to immerse themselves in the beauty of New England’s spring, enjoy local cuisine and crafts, and experience the heartwarming community spirit of this charming town.