Community Events

Ice and Snow Festival

The Greater Keene Chamber of Commerce has been organizing this annual community event in downtown Keene since 2002. Held in early February, the Festival attracts 4,000-5,000 visitors and features competitions in ice carving, snow sculpting, and snowboarding. Professional and amateur ice carvers are situated on Central Square and in front of sponsoring businesses along Main Street for the four-hour competition. School groups and local residents compete for snow sculpting prize money and are located in Railroad Square. The snowboarding Rail Jam competitors show off their tricks on a specially groomed slope and rail located on Gilbo Ave.

Aside from the competitions, other attractions include Snowman Central where children can participate in a winter-themed craft, a fire pit and s'more making station, a lil' tot snowslide, child ID making, fire truck display, horse-drawn wagon rides, and local entertainment at the gazebo. Guests can also look forward to visits from Mr. Snowman and Miss Penguin who like to pose with families for free photos and a serenade by a quartet of strolling barbershop singers!

Throughout the day people can track the progress of the ice carvers who are happy to talk about their craft or visit one of several non-profit food vendor stations. Downtown businesses get in on the fun too offering a variety of in-store activities and specials.

Check the Chamber's website in January for the date and details on the next Ice and Snow Festival.

Cruzzin' Downtown

On the last Saturday in July, area visitors are treated to a unique display of antique and classic cars. More than 125 vintage car owners participate in this downtown event and display their automobiles for enthusiasts to enjoy. The day also features food vendors and in-store specials.

Art Walk

Each year during the first week of June, crowds of school children can be found walking along Main Street in Keene and stopping at each storefront. The children aren't necessarily window shopping, instead they are participating in the annual Art Walk. More than forty store windows serve as a public gallery in this juried exhibit of local and regional artists. The free event is open to the public and features paintings, sculptures, photographs, textiles, ceramics, and furniture. And on opening night, visitors can meet the artists and join the Keene Downtown Merchant Group for a block party and a chance to show their own work with Art On The Line, a clothesline strung about downtown sidewalks for anyone to hang their work. Sponsors of this event are MoCo Arts, The Keene Sentinel, Creative Encounters, Monadnock Area Artists Association, and the Keene Downtown Group.

Music Festival

Since 2001 this event has been organized by the Keene Music Festival Team and the Keene Downtown Group to lend support and inspiration to local musicians through the creation and production of a free, day-long, outdoor performance event held in downtown Keene in late August. The musical performances are held at five stage areas and three sidewalk locations. Musicians of diverse styles and backgrounds are encouraged to participate.

Art in the Park

The Monadnock Area Art Association sponsors Art in the Park each year over Labor Day weekend. It is a one-day public outdoor art show in the lovely garden walkways of Ashuelot River Park on West Street in Keene. This is a juried exhibition and attracts artists from all over New England to exhibit and sell their work.

Pumpkin Festival

In 2003 the City of Keene established their eighth world record for the most number of lit jack-o-lanterns. The total count was 28,952. But the history of Keene's Pumpkin Festival dates back to 1991 and over the years the event and the number of pumpkins increased dramatically reaching its peak with the 2003 world record. Since then other cities have gotten into the act and have out numbered Keene's pumpkin gathering contest. Yet, the spirit of the event continues to this day and each year the effort starts anew.

The event is held on a Saturday in October and attracts thousands of visitors and hundreds of food and product vendors.

Last Updated: 12/23/09