Guide to Arts & Culture in Waterville Valley

Waterville Valley is a year-round hub for outdoor activities and exploration. During the summertime, Waterville Valley supports local artists, actors, directors, musicians, and craftsmen by hosting several arts & culture events. From large crafts festivals to our weekly outdoor concert series - there are plenty of ways to soak up the White Mountain culture here in Waterville Valley. 

This summer, Theatre Under the Stars returns to Waterville Valley for their 17th year, with an incredible lineup of performances during weekends in August. This in-house professional summerstock theatre troupe performs family-friendly theatrical productions for locals and guests free of charge. Unwind and relax outside while enjoying one-of-a-kind productions with panoramic mountain views as the backdrop. Performances range from classical plays by Shakespeare and A.R. Gurney to original productions inspired by old classics. Performances take place at the Gazebo Hill Amphitheater with the Snowy Owl Inn serving as the backup rain location. Seating opens at 6pm and shows commence at 6:30pm sharp. You can bring your own chair or rent one for a small fee!

The Artisan Fair - an annual street-style crafts fair - will take over Waterville Valley's Town Square this upcoming Saturday, July 9th. Explore handmade art, curated goods, and specialized produce while supporting local artisans, vendors, and small businesses. Local musicians will perform live outdoor concerts at the Town Square Gazebo stage from 12pm-3pm, and again from 6pm-9pm.

Over the weekend of July 23rd-July 24th, Waterville Valley will transform into one of New England's largest antique festivals - Vintage Bazaar. This festival will have over 135 curated vendors and artisans, live music, adult libations, and food trucks - all surrounded by panoramic mountain views. Explore the plethora of stalls and discover antiques, vintage finds, architectural salvage, rusty junk, repurposed goodies, indie crafts, and one-of-a-kind art.

 The New Hampshire Music Festival returns to Waterville Valley this summer, hosting a series of 3 outdoor events.

Last weekend, they hosted the Musical Petting Zoo, in which musicians were dispersed around the Community Gardens, playing string, wind, brass, and percussion instruments. Kids were encouraged to wander around the gardens, following the symphony of sounds and investigating their origin. Musicians demonstrated their instruments to these curious kids, guiding these children through their musical exploration.

Next week, New Hampshire Music Festival returns to the Rey Cultural Center for Music in the Mountains, a free event taking place at the Rey Center Village Trail. The Garden Chamber Concert will take place Thursday, July 23rd. This fundraising concert will take place at the Rey Cultural Center Community Gardens, featuring a flute trio and string sextet performing Tchaikovsky. The entrance fee is $45 - you'll be treated to some fresh hors d'oeuvres in addition to an awe-inspiring outdoor concert.

Learn about the deep, rich history of Waterville Valley through the weekly Historical Trolley Tours. These free historical tours take place every Sunday and are hosted by the Waterville Valley Historical Society. Tours take visitors all around the town, highlighting important features and describing how the town's landscape, industries, and community have transformed throughout the ages.

The Rey Center offers beginner-friendly monthly Stargazing events. After dark, locals, visitors, and a visiting NH Astronomical volunteer meet to explore a variety of astronomical topics and have a look at what’s viewable from Waterville Valley. Topics depend on the visiting NH Astronomical volunteer and current sky events and range from celestial targets, carbon stars, current NASA missions, Deep Sky Objects, observing techniques, observatory construction and use, Dark Matter, Historical Astronomy, and much more! In addition to Monthly Dark Sky Stargazing, keep an eye out for special programs on current astronomical events!

Waterville Valley hosts weekly live outdoor concerts. These afternoon & evening concerts are the perfect way to wind down and relax after a long day of outdoor exploration.

Join the Waterville Valley community of locals and visitors for our weekly Outdoor Movie Nights. Bring a blanket and some snacks to Packard's field, and enjoy the crisp alpine air as the mountain sky turns from dusk to night.