WATERVILLE VALLEY, New Hampshire ??” Waterville Valley’s Town Square will host their seventeenth annual Chowderfest Saturday, September 30 and Fall Carnival October 7 – 9.

Chowderfest, on September 30, will witness Waterville Valley area restaurants competing for the “Valley’s Best Chowder” bragging rights. The event will take place in Town Square and guests will have the opportunity to sample all of the participating restaurants’ chowder and vote for their favorite. Chowderfest begins at noon and runs until the chowder is gone. The $5 fee includes a sample of each entry and a beverage. Jim Hollis, the renowned one-man band who performs classic rock and original music, will provide musical entertainment.

Waterville Valley’s Fall Carnival, October 7 – 9, is a three-day event of excitement and entertainment that celebrates the change of seasons and the coming of the winter season. There will be amusement rides all day from D&L Amusements both Saturday and Sunday! Saturday’s events will begin with summer’s final barbecue, from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., sponsored by Legends 1291. Complimentary entertainment includes Roxanne and the Voodoo Rockers at the Town Square Gazebo stage 12 – 3p.m. and the amazing Juggling Jim at 3 pm.

Sunday’s events will begin with a road race sponsored by the Waterville Valley Academy and BBTS Ski Club. Registration information can be found at www.wvbbts.org, or email [email]sschmidt@wvbbts.org[/email] for details. The Traveling Barnyard will be making a stop at Town Square on Sunday and children will have an opportunity to see, touch and feed their favorite farm animals. The Barnyard will be open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and a nominal fee is charged for grain to feed the animals. Kids will also have a chance to select their own pumpkins and paint them from noon to 4 p.m. Pumpkins range in price from $3 to $5, depending on the size. From noon to 3 p.m., families will be able to rock out in Town Square with live music from Sole City.

The main event on Sunday will be an eating contest. Registration begins at noon and is limited to the first 20 people. At 3:30 p.m. contestants will have ten minutes to eat as much as possible and a cash prize of $300 will go to the heartiest appetite.

For more information about Town Square events please call 800-GO-VALLEY or visit www.waterville.com.