Historic Canterbury

The Canterbury town center is a peaceful cluster of well-preserved buildings – church, library, town hall, meeting room, historical society, and one-room schoolhouse — clustered around a Country Store and town common, of sorts. The community gathers here for all sorts of occasions; everyone is welcome.

Home-grown July 4^th – The town celebrates will fireworks and games for the kids. Click here  for a video shot by Jesse Miller by drone of the 2017 celebration.

Canterbury Town Fair – Canterbury gathers for an annual, volunteer-run celebration of small-town community the last weekend in July.

The Canterbury Fair kicks off with the Woodchuck Classic 5k Road Race and 2K Chipmunk Classic Kids Run. It will also include traditional Morris dancing, children’s games on the green, a huge What-Not “tag” Sale, a used book sale, an abundance of live music, an antique tractor display including a Farmall for the kids to climb on, canoe polo on the fire pond, artisans and craftspeople, and delicious food to satisfy every craving. The Fair is free, with a suggested donation of $5 for parking (which includes a shuttle to Canterbury Center). For photo montage of 2017 fair, click here. For a video shot by Jesse Miller by drone of the 2017 fair, click here.

NH Open Doors Artisans and Artists –

Every year the state of New Hampshire organizes studio tours in May an October statewide. We list below some of the local participants in years past, ordered by proximity to Riverland. All of these interesting and creative people are worth a visit.

TWIGGS Gallery – Studio of calligrapher and lettering artist. Adele Sanborn, who combines her love of mixed media, watercolors and photography into messages from her spirit. Workshops offered.254 Kings Street, Boscawen. (4.3 miles from Riverland). Click here to learn more.

Jane Balshaw Studios – Jane Balshaw runs a three-in-one studio – art studio featuring stretched, quilted textile art, a make-up studio, and a skincare studio with apothecary. 12 Cogswell Hill Road, Canterbury. (5.8 miles from Riverland). Check out her website here.

Petals in the Pines — Our farm stand is stocked with practical, whimsical garden & nature themed gifts including individually hand crafted Leaf-Stone bird baths, tables, planters and Lazy Susan’s. Also, garden & nature themed silk scarves, baskets, & Swedish Almond Cakes baked in our kitchen. Visit our Nature Explore Outdoor Classroom, walk the woodland trails, build a fairy house, & roast marshmallows at our camp fire. 126 Baptist Rd, Canterbury, (6.9 miles to Riverland). Check out their website here.

End of the Road Artists -. Ann Saunderson is an artist who works in oils, with mixed media, does printmaking and also paints with ink on Yupo paper. 615 Lovejoy Rd, Loudon. (6.9 miles from Riverland). Check out her website here.

Woolen Pear and Red Horse Rugs — A unique fiber arts studio specializing in supplies, classes & workshops for rug hooking, rug braiding & other fiber arts to foster your creativity. With the largest selection of wool fabrics in the region, The Woolen Pear carries silk fibers, dyes, books, & designs for rug hooking.. 563 NH-106, Loudon. (8.5 miles from Riverland). Check out their website here.

Kathie Fife Photography — Fine Art Photography of New England Landscapes, Historic Sites, and Nature. 21 New Greeting Card designs, post cards, bookmarks, puzzles, ornaments, magnets, and fine art prints. My published books “Rockledge Farm Barn Restoration Project” c1780 and “Nature Journal: Exploring the NH Audubon Wildlife Sanctuaries” are available to view. 2 Baptist Hill Rd, Canterbury, (8.7 miles from Riverland). Check out their website here.

Old Ways Traditions — Shaker and contemporary accessories: carriers, pegboard, turned wooden bowls, plates and platters. Wooden toys and antiques for sale. Tools for kids (and adults) to try – saws, drills, planes, spoke shaves, lathes and more. Museum of early tools, machinery and steam engines. Hiking trails. Annual event every 3rd weekend in October – Old Ways Days with hands on demos for all ages – black smithing, wood turning and much more. Woodshop with antique machinery run by steam engines. 418 Shaker Rd, Canterbury. (11 miles from Riverland). Check out their website here.

Fox Country Smoke House – We carry on the centuries old tradition of carefully brine-curing and slowly smoking quality meats and cheeses. In our retail store, you will find 13 varieties of cheeses, beef jerky, kielbasa, bacon, ham, nuts, and mustard. 164 Briar Bush Road, Canterbury, (11.6 miles from Riverland). Check out their website  here.

Canterbury AleWorks is a one-barrel, water-powered and wood-fired showcase nano-brewery producing eight, hand-crafted beers, The brewery is open Saturday and Sunday afternoons and private tastings and tours are available on request. 305 Baptist Hill Road, Canterbury (11.6 miles from Riverland). Check out their website here.

Local Farms — Many farms sell to the public directly at farm stores, farmstands, farmers markets or online. Here is a list of some of these within 10 miles of Riverland.

Apple Hill Farm – Apple Hill grows … apples, of course, many heritage varieties, and many other fruits and vegetables. Their goods can be bought at the Concord Farmers Market on Saturdays and at their own farm store, which also sells bread, pies, jellies and jams. You can pick some kinds of fruit yourself. 580 Mountain Road (Rt. 132), Concord, (2.4 miles from Riverland).Check out  their website here.

Marshall Pumpkin Farm – Fall farmstand selling pumpkins – jack o’lanterns and sugar pumpkins – gourds and squash. 169 N. Main Street, Boscawen. (2.9 miles from Riverland). Check out their website here.

Marsh Meadow Bison – Marsh Meadow Bison is a small famiy farm selling grass-fed bison (commonly known as buffalo) products – meat, organs, bones, hides, calves.16 Scales Road, Canterbury. (4.1 miles from Riverland). Check out their website here.

Someday Farm Alpacas — Experience farm life an sip local hot cider while perusing our alpaca and other homemade NH products, Visit with n photograph our chickens, horses and bunnies. 65 Pickard Rd, Canterbury, (4.2 miles from Riverland). Check out their website here.

Canterbury Plantation – Herbs and an assortment of perennials grown in Canterbury and sold through select plant sellers, plant sales, the Canterbury Farmers’ market and outside the Canterbury General Store. (5.7 miles from Riverland.) Check out their website here.

Brookford Farm – Brookford Farm, a large organic farm for these parts, sells pasture-raised meat – beef, pork, poultry – organic vegetables, raw fermented vegetables, raw milk, cheese, cultured dairy an pasture-raised eggs. Their on-farm shop is located at 250 West Road. (5.8 miles from Riverland). Check out their website here.

Hackleboro Orchards – This farm is known for nine varieties of apples, blueberries, peaches and nectarines, plums, pears, maple syrup, pumpkins and squash and baked goods. In the fall, it’s fun to take a tractor ride out to the pick-your-own section or just visit the farmstand. 61 Orchard Road, Canterbury. (6.8 miles from Riverland). Check out their website here.

Our Place Farm – A family farm raising pork, chicken, goat, lamb, dairy and eggs on pasture. They sell mainly at local farmers markets. 290 Route 129, Loudon. (8.7 miles from Riverland). Check out their website here. 

Town of Canterbury – Canterbury does a good job of sharing information.

Elkins Public Library – The library’s collection can be accessed online here. Information on children and adult programs can be found here.

Canterbury Town government – the town’s website can be found here.