CowabungaFest: A TMNT Weekend in Dover, NH
CowabungaFest
August 21–23, 2026
Downtown Dover, New Hampshire
Before the cartoons, movies, action figures and pizza-loving heroes became a global phenomenon, there were two artists drawing a comic in a living room on Union Street in Dover, New Hampshire.
Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird were living at 28 Union Street when they created the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in 1983. Their home doubled as the original Mirage Studios, a name Eastman has joked was appropriate because there wasn't actually a studio at all. The house is gone today, but the turtles' Dover origin story is very much alive. In 2023, the city unveiled two permanent markers recognizing the site, including a custom manhole cover featuring artwork by Eastman himself.
Find these Home of the Turtles postcards and other turtle gear at My Country Story.
This year, from Friday, August 21 through Sunday, August 23, Dover is leaning all the way into that history with Cowabunga Fest, a three-day celebration of turtles, pizza, art, skating and the wonderfully strange bit of pop-culture history that started right here in the Garrison City.
CowabungaFest takes over downtown Dover, with local restaurants, shops, museums and organizations joining the fun. Grab a Pizza Passport at the Woodman Museum or on Central Ave at My Country Story to explore the city along the way.
Friday night starts appropriately enough with a movie. Dover Main Street will host an outdoor screening of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Secret of the Ooze at the Rotary Arts Pavilion in Henry Law Park. Bring a blanket or lawn chair, find a spot on the lawn and settle in for a movie night. Having a pizza craving? OTTO will be delivering pizza orders to the pavilion during the movie.
On Saturday, come hungry. The Cowabunga pizza crawl sends visitors around downtown to try participating pizza spots including OTTO, Fuego, La Festa Brick & Brew, Domino's, Thirsty Moose Taphouse, and Tokens.
Got the munchies early? The Nook is going all-in with a TMNT-themed breakfast menu, featuring everything from Donatello Pizza loaded with eggs, sausage and hot honey to Raphael’s red velvet pancakes and Shredder’s teriyaki chicken avocado toast. Even April O’Neil gets her own tofu scramble. And the staff will be dressing for the occasion, too.
At My Country Story, kids can pick up a DIY ninja mask to color to match their favorite turtle, along with coloring pages, crayons and stickers while supplies last. The shop will also have locally made TMNT-themed cookies and cupcakes throughout the weekend by local bakery Autumn's Kitchen.
Keep wandering and you'll find more turtle surprises. Stop into Potter’s Green & Gift, where turtle-shaped planters are ready to be paired with the perfect little plant. Or make your way to Lickee's & Chewy's Candies & Creamery and hunt through its PEZ selection. We have a feeling a few familiar green faces may be hiding in there.
A little shell-ter for your favorite houseplant. Find these turtle friends at Potter’s Green & Gift on Third Street in downtown Dover.
The CowabungaFest Turtle Tasks make exploring downtown part of the fun. Find the commemorative TMNT manhole cover, snap a selfie, shop local, grab a sweet treat, and see how many tasks you can complete. Don’t miss the Woodman Museum’s TMNT history exhibit, celebrating the characters’ Dover roots. The museum will also sell raffle tickets for exclusive festival merchandise throughout the weekend so keep an eye out for their tents each day.
On Sunday, dust off the skateboard. From 2–6 p.m., the skate park becomes the site of the CowabungaFest Skate Jam, with skateboarding competition and demonstrations, live music and a food truck.
Forty-plus years later, Dover is still proud to call itself home of the turtles.
This August, come see why. Bring the kids, bring your skateboard, bring your appetite for pizza, and definitely bring your best “Cowabunga!”
CowabungaFest and this article are not affiliated with or endorsed by the owners of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise.
