Mike Weaver from Big Daddy Weave sings at a previous Soulfest at Gunstock Mountain Resort in Gilford, New Hampshire.
Photos by Cheryl Landes
Soulfest, a three-day event in early August at Gunstock Mountain Resort in Gilford, New Hampshire, is New England’s largest music festival. More than 75 artists perform and speak on four stages at the base of Gunstock Mountain and on the mountaintop.
Gunstock Mountain Resort was the largest Works Progress Administration (WPA) project in New Hampshire during the Great Recession. It opened in 1937 as the Belknap Mountains Recreation Area and was believed to be the largest four-season recreation area in the eastern United States. The recreation area featured one of the first fully developed ski trail systems in the country, the first chairlift in the Northwest, and a group of four graduated ski jumps. The longest ski jump was used for Olympic tryouts in 1938. The resort hosted national motorcycle competitions in the summer.
The Main Lodge was the most expensive WPA-funded building project in the state.
Soulfest brings more than 5,000 people every year to Gunstock Mountain Resort, along with many top names in contemporary Christian music. The 2020 festival was cancelled due to COVID-19, so today’s armchair photo tour features highlights from previous Soulfests.
Main Stage Shows at Gunstock Mountain Resort
The Main Stage at Soulfest
New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu welcomes the crowd to Soulfest
Mac Powell and the Family Reunion
The FREED Movement with Fred Vassallo. Fred Vassallo is at the front of the stage, wearing the yellow shirt and black pants.
On the Mountaintop
Riding the chairlift to the top of Gunstock Mountain
A view from Gunstock Mountain. Lake Winnipesaukee, the largest lake in New Hampshire, is in the distance.
Panorama Pub on Gunstock Mountain
The mountaintop concert venue on Gunstock Mountain
Rachel Taylor sings in a mountaintop concert.
The zipline platform at the top of Gunstock Mountain
The chairlift boarding platform at the top of Gunstock Mountain
A view during the descent from Gunstock Mountain. Lake Winnipesaukee is in the distance.
Sunset at Gunstock Mountain Resort
Gunstock Mountain Resort is 102 miles northwest of Boston.
Beautiful photos, Cheryl. You captured the joy on many of the artists/speakers faces.
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Thank you, Gail!
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