5 Fun NH Weekend Activities, Oct. 12-14

1. Old and Townie! It's back. The Bedford Olde Towne Day returns this year. This Saturday, Oct. 13, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., enjoy the festivities at the Sportsman's and Riley Field Complex including martial arts demonstrations, fun and games, and all kinds of live entertainment on the park's stage. For complete information, click here.

2. These pumpkins are HUGE! The NH Giant Pumpkin Growers Association and the Goffstown Main Street Program join forces in hosting the annual Giant Pumpkin Weigh-off and Regatta in Goffstown all day on Saturday. Don't miss this chance to see gargantuan gourds competing for prize money then get turned into boats and raced down the Piscataquog! Historic Trolley Tours, Art Show-off, Pumpkin Cook-off, kids games, giant pumpkin drop, pumpkin catapulting, food, music, flea market, more! Sponsored by TD Bank.

3. LOL! The Association for Police Cadets will be sponsoring a Comedy show fundraiser at the Headliners Comedy Club on Friday, Oct 12 at 8:30pm held in the Radisson Hotel in Manchester. Proceeds from this event will benefit the associations grant fund to provide financial assistance to Fire & Police Cadets programs.  This event will feature two headliners Mike McCarthy (voted Florida’s Best Comic) and Rob Steen (seen on Comedy central and David Letterman). 

4. Fun with police. As part of their 75th Anniversary Celebration, the NH State Police will be conducting an Open House at their Headquarters located in Concord.  We will have equipment and vehicles on static display from all of our specialty units to include Marine Patrol. There will be live demonstrations from our SWAT and K-9 members! For the first 100 parents attending with children, we will be providing a flash drive containing their child’s vital information with a current photograph to be used if the child is ever lost or missing. There will be several vendors on site displaying the latest and greatest police supplies and equipment.

5. Hot stuff! The New England Chili Classic is on this Saturday from 12-6 p.m. at Veteran's Park in Manchester, and picks up where the World’s Championship Chili Cookoff left off the last two years. More than 25,000 are expected to attend the 2012 event. Restaurants’ chili will compete to be named New England Chili Classic Champion, as well as Best Red Chili, Best Vegetarian Chili, Most Creative Chili and the People’s Choice Award. There will also be a prize for best booth. The New England Chili Classic will also feature live music, celebrity chef appearances, eating contests and more. The event will take place from noon-6 p.m. Oct. 13-14, and chili sampling will run from 1-4 p.m. Admission ($5 advance or $7 at the door) allows each guest five samples. A portion of the ticket sales will be donated to local nonprofit organizations; more than $30,000 was raised for nonprofits over the last two years.