Author: Amy Diaz

Amy Diaz is the executive editor and writes about movies and compiles the Kiddie Pool column. Reach her at adiaz@hippopress.com.

Oscar documentaries

Many of this year’s Oscar-nominated feature-length (four of the five nominees) and short-film documentaries (three of the five) are available for home viewing and make for compelling, though not particularly lighthearted, watches.

My pick in the Documentary Feature category would be The Perfect Neighbor (Netflix), a chilling look at a sour neighbor relationship that turns tragic and is told largely through police body cams. The movie gets the drumbeat of dread going from the beginning.

It’s often the inmates telling their own story in The Alabama Solution (HBO Max), which looks at the abuse and neglect of prisoners in the state’s prison system and their attempts to get somebody to listen to their plight. Come See Me in the Good Light (Apple TV+) is a sad, beautiful and frequently funny look at Colorado Poet Laureate Andrea Gibson as they battle an incurable cancer, fighting for a chance to do one last live show and get more time with their wife, poet and author Megan Falley. In Mr. Nobody Against Putin (VOD and streaming on Kino Film Collection), a videographer at a school in Russia is horrified by the increasing amount of government propaganda pushed on the students and unsure how to help them and himself.

Of the short documentaries: I watched the 33-minute All the Empty Rooms (Netflix) in small chunks over several days — it offers heartwrenching interviews with four families whose kids were killed in school shootings and gives us a look at the bedrooms they left behind, with all their photos and stuffies and bits of hopeful kid-ness. In Armed Only with a Camera: The Life and Death of Brent Renaud (HBO Max), Craig Renaud talks about the work and death of his journalist brother, including a look at Brent’s focus on the people caught in war zones. Also on HBO Max, The Devil Is Busyoffers a well-constructed day-in-the-life of a woman who works at a women’s health care clinic and the stress and threat of violence she and her colleagues face.

27 Reasons to Get Excited for January

January can be awesome! Here are 27 reasons to get excited about the chilly first month of 2026.

1. Sure, the holiday season ends, but Girl Scouts cookie season begins Jan. 1, when local Girl Scouts will start taking orders (in person and via their own online stores), according to the Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains. If you don’t know a Girl Scout, look for a cookie booth — those will start Feb. 20 and run through mid March. Find a booth at girlscoutsgwm.org/en/cookies/find-cookies.html or text COOKIES to 59618 and you can get the Cookie Finder app, which “also offers troop links so customers can select a local troop to support,” according to an email from the group. And be on the lookout for this year’s new flavor, Exploremores: “This is a rocky road ice cream-inspired sandwich cookie filled with the flavors of chocolate, marshmallow and toasted almond crème,” the email said.

2. Ease into the new year with a short, afternoon-start-time road race. The Apple Therapy & Derry Sports and Rehab Millennium Mile, a 1-mile downhill race starting in front of Londonderry High School in Londonderry, will take place Thursday, Jan. 1, at 2 p.m., according to millenniumrunning.com. For a bit more of a challenge, check out the 3-mile HPM Insurance Snowflake Shuffle in Bedford on Sunday, Jan. 11, at 9:30 a.m., see millenniumrunning.com/snowflake.

The Freeze Your Buns 5K Series from the Gate City Striders returns for another season of runs in the whatever-winter-gives-us weather. The runs — “a great fun winter running series for runners of all abilities. Run on relatively flat, low-traffic roads, the series is beginner friendly. If you’re just starting out running for the new year, welcome! If you’re a seasoned runner, welcome back!” — step off at 9 a.m. on the road between Conway Area and the Nashua YMCA on Sundays starting with Jan. 4, according to gatecity.org/freeze-buns-5k-series. Register for the full series of five races or for individual races, which take place into March.

Other running opportunities this winter include the Hopkinton Winter 5K Series, which kicks off Sunday, Jan. 18, in Contoocook and features three races through the beginning of March. See fleetfeet.com/races/nh/contoocook/173314-hopkinton-5k-series-race-1-1-18-9-am.

3. Fathom Entertainment has some specialty screenings on its schedule, including Kidz Bop Live: The Concert Movie, which will screen Friday, Jan. 2, through Monday, Jan. 5, at 1 p.m. at O’Neil Cinemas in Londonderry and Epping and at 11 a.m. at Regal Fox Run in Newington (11:45 a.m. on Jan. 5). A 40th anniversary screening of Labyrinth (PG, 1986) will screen Thursday, Jan. 8, through Sunday, Jan. 11, at O’Neil Cinemas in Londonderry and Epping, Regal Fox Run in Newington and Cinemark Rockingham Park in Salem; see fathomentertainment.com for times. Fathom will also screen the three Lord of the Rings movies at Cinemark Rockingham Park in Salem and Regal Fox Run in Newington: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (PG-13, 2001) will screen Fridays, Jan. 16 and Jan. 23; The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (PG-13, 2002) will screen Saturdays, Jan. 17 and Jan. 24, and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (PG-13, 2003) on Sundays, Jan. 18 and Jan. 25.

Also under the heading of specialty screenings, NHTI Friday Night at the Movies on Friday, Jan. 23, at 7 p.m. will feature Easy Living(1937) written by Preston Sturges and starring Jean Arthur, Ray Milland and Edward Arnold, according to a press release. The movie will be shown in Sweeney Hall Auditorium at NHTI in Concord and admission costs $10 cash or check at the door, the email said.

And Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street in Wilton, 654-3456, will screen Annie Laurie (1927), a silent film starring Lillian Gish with live musical accompaniment by Jeff Rapsis, on Sunday, Jan. 25, at 2 p.m. Admission is free with a donation of $10 per person encouraged.

4. Shake off the post-holiday blues with Tupelo Night of Comedy at the Tupelo Music Hall, 10 A St. in Derry, tupelomusichall.com, on Friday, Jan. 2, at 8 p.m., featuring Will Noonan, Andrew DellaVolpe and Mona Forgione, according to the website, where you can purchase tickets. The line-up of January shows at the Tupelo includes the Pizzastock Showcase 2026 on Sunday, Jan. 4, at noon with host Lorelei Stahl and bands Rite of Passage, Punching Pedestrians and Spectrum; Beck-Ola (celebrating the music of Jeff Beck with Johnny A) on Friday, Jan. 9; The Dave Matthews Band Tribute (Saturday, Jan. 17); Beatlejuice on Saturday, Jan. 24, and more, according to the website, where you can find the complete schedule and ticket information.

5. The farmers markets have moved inside for the winter. The Downtown Concord Winter Farmers Market takes place Saturdays, 9 a.m. to noon, at 7 Eagle Square, according to downtownconcordwinterfarmersmarket.com, where you can find a rundown of vendors and links to information on musicians performing each week. The Milford NH Indoor Farmers Market takes place on specific Saturdays — including Jan. 10 and Jan. 24 — from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Milford Town Hall Auditorium on the Oval, according to milfordnhfarmersmarket.com. The Salem NH Farmers Market is at the Fisk School, 14 Main St. in Salem, during winter, Sundays 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., according to salemnhfarmersmarket.org.

6. Area libraries have plenty of fun slated for January. The Griffin Free Library, 22 Hooksett Road in Auburn, griffinfree.org, will hold a White Elephant Gift Exchange on Saturday, Jan. 3, from 10 a.m to 2 p.m., according to the website.

The Manchester City Library, 405 Pine St., manchester.lib.nh.us, will hold Reading Dragons & Friends, “a collectable card game that you add to by reading” for ages 5 to 18, from Monday, Jan. 5, through April 4, according to the website. Register at the Children’s Reference Desk or go to manchesternh.readsquared.com. On Saturday, Jan. 10, at noon, the library will host “The Dangerous Art of Chainsaw Sculpture” with Master Chainsaw Sculptor Dr. “The Machine” Jesse Green, according to the website.

The Hooksett Library, 31 Mount Saint Mary’s Way, hooksettlibrary.org, will hold its monthly Kids Comic Club on Monday, Jan. 5, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. (register online); several virtual author discussions, and a program called “Emergency Preparedness with Hooksett Fire and Troop 603” on Thursday, Jan. 29, at 6 p.m. (register online).

The Amherst Town Library, 14 Main St., has a month full of events including the Zoom event in collaboration with other libraries “Presidential Series with Doodler Heather Rodgers: #1 George Washington ‘Devourer of Villages” on Friday, Jan. 9, at 10:30 a.m.; register online, according to amherstlibrary.org.

The Friends of the Derry Libraries Book Sale will take place Saturday, Jan. 10, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Derry Public Library, 64 E. Broadway, derrypl.org. The Library will hold a puzzle swap on Saturday, Jan. 24, from 2 to 3:30 p.m.

The Bedford Public Library, 3 Meetinghouse Road, bedfordnhlibrary.org, will hold its 2026 Winter Reading Challenge Kickoff on Sunday, Jan. 11, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. with hot cocoa, crafts and other activities, according to the website, where you can register.

Goffstown Public Library, 2 High St., goffstownlibrary.com, will celebrate National Popcorn Day on Saturday, Jan. 17, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Children’s Room, according to the website.

Among its other offerings in January, the Nashua Public Library, 2 Court St., nashualibrary.org, will host an author talk with Laura Knoy for her book The Shopkeeper of Alsace (which will be available for purchase) on Sunday, Jan. 25, at 1 p.m.

7. Get more laughs at one of several other comedy shows slated for January. Chunky’s Cinema Pub, 707 Huse Road in Manchester, chunkys.com, will feature Joey Carroll Saturday, Jan. 3, at 8:30 p.m., and Carolyn Plummer on Saturday, Jan. 10, at 8:30 p.m. On the schedule at Headliners Comedy Club at DoubleTree by Hilton Downtown Manchester are Dan Crohn on Saturday, Jan. 10; Tim McKeever on Saturday, Jan. 17, and Cory McGee on Saturday, Jan. 31, according to headlinersnh.com. Headliners’ lineup also includes Frank Santorelli and Friends at Eastside Tavern in Rochester on Friday, Jan. 23, at 8 p.m. At Fulchino Vineyard in Hollis, catch Don Gavin on Saturday, Jan. 3, according to fulchinovineyard.com.

8. Get your basketball live and in person at local colleges. The Southern New Hampshire University Penmen women’s team next plays at Stan Spirou Field House on Sunday, Jan. 4, at 1:30 p.m. versus American International College — the first of five home games slated for January. The men’s team will face off against American International College at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday — the first of its five January home games. See snhupenmen.com. The Saint Anselm College Hawks men’s and women’s teams each have six home games scheduled for January. The women play at Stoutenburgh Gymnasium in Manchester on Wednesday, Jan. 7, at 5:30 p.m. against Pace. The men’s team also plays on Jan. 7 at 7:30 p.m., facing Bentley. See saintanselmhawks.com. (The Hawks and Penmen next face off on Jan. 13 at SNHU — women’s game starts at 5:30 p.m. and men’s game starts at 7:30 p.m.) Rivier University Raiders games take place at Muldoon Center in Nashua. The men’s team plays their next home game on Saturday, Jan. 3, at 1 p.m. (youth sports day, according to the school website) against Anna Maria College; the women’s team plays Wednesday, Jan. 14, at 4 p.m. versus Mitchell College. See rivierathletics.com. At NHTI, all Lynx home games are at the Dr. Goldie Crocker Wellness Center on campus in Concord. The men’s and women’s teams will play their next home games on Thursday, Jan. 22, versus Central Maine Community College, according to nhtiathletics.com.

9. Get some motivation to get outside. Beaver Brook Association, 117 Ridge Road in Hollis, beaverbrook.org, has winter hike series starting in the first full week of January including Monday Fitness Hikes (starting Jan. 5) at 9 a.m.; Easy Fitness Walks on Mondays at 10 a.m.; Fast Fitness Hikes on Tuesdays (starting Jan. 6) at 8:30 a.m.; Lunchtime Express Hikes on Thursdays (starting Jan. 8) at noon; Fitness Hikes Fridays (starting Jan. 9) at 9 a.m. and Easy Fitness Walks Friday at 10 a.m., according to the website.

Keep your eyes on the Joppa Hill Educational Farm website; the Bedford location is planning a Star Gazing Party in January. See jhef.org/events-at-the-farm.

Learn to ski locally — the McIntyre Ski Area, 50 Chalet Way in Manchester, mcintyreskiarea.com, has programs to help kids and adults learn to ski and improve their skills, including a five-week Women of Winter program projected to start Monday, Jan. 5, at 10 a.m., and evening adult classes on Mondays and Tuesdays. See the website for pricing and signup information.

The New Hampshire Audubon has trails at its Auburn and Concord centers and at the Wildlife Sanctuaries; see nhaudubon.org for maps and trail information. And enjoy an artistic perspective on the outdoors with the exhibit “Outings” featuring the landscape works of Nick Amadeo, opening Friday, Jan. 9, with a reception at 6 p.m. at the Massabesic Audubon Center, 26 Audubon Way in Auburn, according to nhaudubon.org. The exhibit will be on display through Saturday, Feb. 28. On display through Saturday, Feb. 7, at the McLane Center, 84 Silk Road Farm in Concord, is “Enchanted Owls,” an exhibit of fiber art, the website said. Both centers are open Wednesdays through Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

10. Embrace the ice with Disney on Ice presents Frozen & Encantoon Thursday, Jan. 8, and Friday, Jan. 9, at 7 p.m. and Saturday, Jan. 10, at 10:30 a.m., 2:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. at SNHU Arena, 555 Elm St. in Manchester, according to snhuarena.com, where you can find tickets. If the show inspires you to get out on the ice yourself, check out some local ice skating rinks. The JFK Coliseum, 303 Beech St. in Manchester, manchesternh.gov, has several public skating days each week (see the calendar on the city’s website for hours each day) $5 per person, cash only, with skate rentals, skate assist trainers and skate sharpening on weekends, school vacations and holidays, the website said. Nashua has outdoor rinks at Roby Park, Labin Park and Four Corners, open weather permitting; see nashuanh.gov for hours. Conway Arena, 5 Stadium Drive in Nashua, offers public skating and skate rentals; see conwayarena.com for the schedule. Douglas N. Everett Arena, 15 Loudon Road in Concord, concordnh.gov, offers public skate through March 12 on Sundays, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.; Mondays through Fridays, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Saturdays, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., with rentals, skate assist trainers and skate sharpening available, the website said. White Park Pond in Concord offers outdoor skating, weather permitting.

11. Actorsingers Second Stage, actorsingers.org, will present Stephen Sondheim’s Company on Friday, Jan. 9, and Saturday, Jan. 10, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Jan. 11, at 2 p.m. at the Nashua Center for the Arts, 201 Main St. in Nashua. See nashuacenterforthearts.com for tickets. Other shows at Nashua Center for the Arts in January include La Sanse Nashua, a celebration based on the Puerto Rican Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastián (Saturday, Jan. 17); the ballet Giselle presented by the Grand Kyiv Ballet (Thursday, Jan. 22), and music including Pink Talking Fish, a Pink Floyd/Talking Head/Phish tribute band (Saturday, Jan. 24).

12. The Aaron Tolson Dance Institute’s Winter Intensive will take place Saturday, Jan. 10, at the Dana Center for the Humanities at Saint Anselm College in Manchester, according to tickets.anselm.edu, where you can find the schedule of intermediate and advanced classes. Also at the Dana Center this month is “Bedford Rotary Presents: Regional Idol Scholarship Competition” (Saturday, Jan. 17, at 7 p.m.) and 1964 The Tribute on Sunday, Jan. 18, at 7 p.m., according to the website.

13. Head to the Currier Museum of Art, 150 Ash St. in Manchester, currier.org, on Saturday, Jan. 10, for the monthly free admission for New Hampshire residents on the second Saturdays of each month. THe museum is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays. Current exhibitsinclude “Joined Together: 30 Years of the Furniture Masters” (through Feb. 8); “Embellish Me: Works from the Collection of Norma Canelas Roth and William Roth” (through March 15); “Flourishing: Paintings by Wendy Edwards” (through April 5; There will be an Art Talk with Wendy Edwards on Sunday, Jan. 25, at 2 p.m.), and Frank Lloyd Wright in Manchester: The Histories of the Zimmermans and Kalils” through June 2026). On Martin Luther King Jr. Day (Monday, Jan. 19), the Currier will be open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and feature curator-led tours of Black American artists in the Currier collection, artmaking for all ages and “a keynote presentation with Jada Hebra, Senior Vice President and Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer, Southern New Hampshire University,” according to an email from the museum.

14. Book events abound in January. At Gibson’s Bookstore, 45 S. Main St. in Concord, gibsonsbookstore.com, catch Sally Cragin with Llewellyn’s 2026 Moon Sign Book: Plan Your Life by the Cycles of the Moon on Tuesday, Jan. 13, at 6:30 p.m.; Gary Fitzgerald with Capitalism Converts Christianity on Thursday, Jan. 15, at 6:30 p.m.; the Poetry Society of New Hampshire with poet David Banach on Wednesday, Jan. 21, at 4:30 p.m.; Kelly Scarborough with her book Butterfly Games in conversation with Laura Knoy on Wednesday, Jan. 21, at 6:30 p.m., and Kristi DeMeester with her book Dark Sisters on Tuesday, Jan. 27, at 6:30 p.m. At Balin Books, 375 Amherst St. in Somerset Plaza in Nashua, balinbooks.com, see Rev. Steve Edington with his new book, The Gospel According to Jack: Tracking Kerouac in My Life on Saturday, Jan. 10, at 2 p.m.; Lloyd Corricelli discussing the Ronan Marino Mystery series on Saturday, Jan. 17, at 2 p.m., and Nicholas Efstathiou and his book Killers in Their Youthon Saturday, Jan. 24, at 2 p.m. At Bookery, 844 Elm St. in Manchester, bookerymht.com, catch Sharon Kurtzman with The Lost Baker of Vienna on Friday, Jan. 9, at 12:30 p.m.

15. Vote for pizza, vote for ice cream, vote for the best southern New Hampshire hike. Voting on Hippo’s Best of 2026 opens Thursday, Jan. 15. Find a link to our annual survey at hippopress.com.

16. The Palace Theatre, 80 Hanover St. in Manchester, palacetheatre.org, presents the jukebox musical Rock of Agesas its next big production, running Friday, Jan. 16, through Sunday, Feb. 8 — this after Recycled Percussion wraps up a series of shows that started Dec. 31 and runs through Jan. 11. Shows at the Rex Theatre, 23 Amherst St. in Manchester, include comedy from Jimmy Cash (Saturday, Jan. 10), Joe Fenti (Friday, Jan. 16) and the Ladies of Laughter Comedy tour with Cathy Boyd, G.L. Douglas and Ellen Karis (Friday, Jan. 23), and The Granite Stage on Thursday, Jan. 29, described as a “community talent showcase,” according to the website.

17. Jewel Music Venue, 61 Canal St. in Manchester, will present A Tribute to Maynard James Keenan (playing the music of Tool, A Perfect Circle and more) and the local band The Dirty Taps on Friday, Jan. 16, at 8:30 p.m. according to a post on the venue’s Facebook page, where you can find a link to purchase tickets. Other shows at Jewel in January include The Magic Mike Show Live with Absolute Men on Friday, Jan. 23, at 8:30 p.m.; Gene Loves Jezebel, Black Season Witch, Gossip Collar and Silver Rein on Friday, Jan. 30, and Ritual Arcana on Jan. 30, the Facebook page said.

18. Saturday, Jan. 17, is the winter Free Fishing Day in New Hampshire, which means “[s]tate residents and nonresidents alike can fish any inland water — or saltwater — in New Hampshire that day without a fishing license,” according to wildlife.nh.gov. “Note that season dates, bag limits and all other fishing regulations must be followed on Free Fishing Day,” the website said.

19. The New Hampshire Historical Society, 30 Park St. in Concord, nhhistory.org, will host a curator’s tour, with director of education Elizabeth Durbulle, of the exhibition “If You Had to Choose: Patriots and Loyalists in Revolutionary New Hampshire” on Saturday, Jan. 17, at 2 p.m. Admission to the museum costs $10 for ages 18 and over (under 18 get in free) and the museum is open Tuesday through Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., according to the website. Other museum events this month include a lecture and book-signing with Mel Allen and his book Here in New England: Unforgettable People, Places and Memories That Connect Us All on Saturday, Jan. 24, at 2 p.m.; a screening and discussion at Red River Theatres in Concord on Saturday, Jan. 31, at 10 a.m. of “Spirit of Service,” an excerpt from the The American Revolution documentary followed by a discussion (tickets are $5; see redrivertheatres.org) and Family Fun Day on Saturday, Jan. 31, from 2 to 4 p.m., with activities geared to ages 6 to 10, according to the website.

20. RB Professional presents Grease on stage at the Capitol Center for the Arts’ Chubb Theatre, 44 S. Main St. in Concord, ccanh.com, on Saturday, Jan. 17, at 2 and 7 p.m. and Sunday, Jan. 18, at 2 p.m. Other shows at the Chubb Theatre this month include Mania! The ABBA Tribute (Thursday, Jan. 8) and Drum Tao! (Thursday, Jan. 22). At BNH Stage, 16 S. Main St. in Concord, shows include NightOUT with the Free Range Revue presents Get A Clue, “an interactive Clue-themed Cabaret” according to the website (Friday, Jan. 9), a sing-along screening of 2021’s Encanto(Sunday, Jan. 11), and Locally Sourced — Fox & Flamingos with Phoenix Syndicate (Friday, Jan. 23).

21. Get some Tuesday night comedy at “Wrong Hill to Die On” on Tuesday, Jan. 20, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Shaskeen in Manchester. Tickets cost $7.18 and are available at eventbrite.com by searching “Wrong Hill to Die On.” According to the event description there: “Comics defend the worst opinions ever in a chaotic live debate show where logic dies and laughter thrives. The Wrong Hill to Die On is a live comedy show where comedians go head-to-head defending the worst opinions imaginable. From ‘traffic lights are government mind control’ to ‘cats should be allowed to vote,’ each performer must argue their absurd stance with total conviction while hosts and the audience roast, challenge, and cheer them on.” Hosts are Nick Sands and Alex LaChance; contestants are Matt Barry, Mona Forgione, Zach Remi and Tristen Hoffler; special guest host is Ken Murphy and opening comic is Derek Zeiba, according to an event promo card.

22. The New England Winter Wine Spectacular takes place Thursday, Jan. 22, at 6 p.m. for general admission ticket holders and 5 p.m. for those with tickets that allow for early entry at the Doubletree by Hilton Downtown Manchester, 700 Elm St. in Manchester, according to nhwineweek.com, where you can purchase tickets for this event and find out about other New Hampshire Wine Week happenings. As in past years, this year’s Spectacular is preceded by a tasting with more wine education — this year it’s called the “Sommelier Select: An Intimate Evening of Discovery,” a blind tasting guided by sommeliers, and it takes place Wednesday, Jan. 21, at 5:30 p.m. at the Grappone Center in Concord.

23. The Majestic Theatre will present Seussical Jr. on Friday, Jan. 23, through Sunday, Jan. 25, at the Derry Opera House, 29 W. Broadway, according to majestictheatre.net, where you can purchase tickets. Majestic also has a benefit Bingo Night on the schedule at the studio theater, 888 Page St. in Manchester, on Thursday, Jan. 8, at 6:30 p.m. and the revue Disco Inferno: The ’70s! on Saturday, Jan. 17, at 7 p.m. (see website for tickets to both events).

24. Only about a month after her birthday (Dec. 16, 1775), celebrate Jane Austen with the 1995 adaptation of Sense and Sensibility starring Emma Thompson, Kate Winslet, Hugh Grant and Alan Rickman and directed by Ang Lee, screening on Saturday, Jan. 24, at 10 a.m. at Red River Theatres, 11 S. Main St. in Concord, redrivertheatres.org.

25. The Concord NH Winterfest will take place in downtown Concord Saturday, Jan. 24, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. with activities including a screening of the movie Balto (G, 1995) at Red River Theatres at 10:30 a.m., an ice carving competition and food trucks on the Statehouse Lawn, according intownconcord.org.

Alongside that event, the Concord Garden Club will take part in its 23rd annual “Art and Bloom” show in collaboration with the Women’s Caucus for Art, New Hampshire Chapter, and Kimball Jenkins Estate, 266 N. Main St. in Concord, where the show will be on display Thursday, Jan. 22, through Saturday, Jan. 24, according to a press release. “Club members and local floral professionals will create floral arrangements inspired by works of art and craft on display during Kimball Jenkins’ January art exhibition,” the release said. “Art and Bloom exhibit hours are Thursday, Jan. 22, 2 to 5 p.m., Friday, Jan. 23, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday, Jan. 24, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The opening reception will be held on Thursday, Jan. 22, 5 to 7 p.m., and will have light snacks and drinks. … A donation of $10 to support the Kimball Jenkins Estate is suggested.”

And the Black Ice Pond Hockey Tournament is slated for Friday, Jan. 23, through Sunday, Jan. 25, at White Park in Concord (with a make-up weekend in March at the Tri-Town Ice Arena), according to blackicepondhockey.com, where you will be able to find a schedule of events.

26. There is lots of art to enjoy. Mosaic Art Collective, 66 Hanover St., Suite 201, in Manchester, mosaicartcollective.com, will open its show “Peaceful Rebellion” on Wednesday, Jan. 28, according to the December newsletter. The show will feature “works that celebrate the act of art making and the awareness and solace it provides us,” the newsletter said. An open call for works to be part of the exhibit has a deadline of Jan. 14; see the website for submission details. An opening reception for the show will take place on Saturday, Feb. 14, 4 to 8 p.m.

The Glimpse Gallery, 4 Park St. in Concord, theglimpsegallery.com, will continue its current show through Friday, Jan. 9, featuring the works of Peter Anderson, Alex Rybak, Julie Daniels, Laurie Weston, Erica Bodwell, Corey Garland and Kristin Selesnick.

“Shifting Light” is on display at Art 3 Gallery, 44 W. Brook St. in Manchester, art3gallery.com. “With the end of daylight savings, reduced daylight hours, and the angle of the sun, there is a literal shifting of light and shadows and this changes how we perceive our familiar yet transformed environment. Figuratively, the shifting of light can act as a beacon and pinpoint changes in how we look at the greater world around us, new angles or narratives that direct personal, social, or political change,” according to an email from the gallery, which is open Monday through Friday, 12:30 to 4 p.m.

“A Symphony of Light and Shadow: The Landscape Photography of Jeff Dachowski” is on long-term display at LaBelle Winery in Derry, 14 Route 111, according to a LaBelle press release. “This breathtaking collection showcases Dachowski’s masterful black and white landscapes,” the release said. See DachowskiPhotography.com for more about Jeff Dachowski and his work. The gallery is open Monday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Tuesday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.; see labellewinery.com.

27. The Epping Middle High School Drama Club will present the radio play The War of the Worlds at the Epping Community Theater, 38 Ladd’s Lane in Epping, eppingtheater.org, on Friday, Jan. 30, at 7 p.m. and Saturday, Jan. 31, at 2 p.m., according to the website, where you can purchase tickets. Other shows at the theater this month include Silk Purse, a Linda Ronstadt tribute, on Saturday, Jan. 10, at 7 p.m.

Best movie of ‘a’ year

2025 adds some films to the canon

Was the best movie of 2025 1992’s Sneakers?

I feel like it was very much in the air with people who write and podcast about movies and pop culture, especially after the passing of Robert Redford. And once you acclimate yourself to the relaxing warm bath of its pacing, it is a very good time (it’s available for rent or purchase and would make a fine holiday movie night movie).

Similarly, the recent death of Rob Reiner has brought some of his all-time greats back into the conversation: 1989’s When Harry Met Sally … (Starz, purchase and at Red River Theatres on Saturday, Dec. 27, at 10 a.m.); 1987’s The Princess Bride (Hulu or purchase) and 1984’s This Is Spinal Tap (HBO Max, rent or purchase).

The streaming era has created a flattening of time where sometimes a movie of an earlier era bubbles up into the culture. This year’s release of Spike Lee’s Highest 2 Lowest had me spending some time with the always excellent Inside Man from 2006 (streaming on Netflix, rent or purchase) and the very evocative of its time The 25th Hour from 2002 (rent or purchase). As I write this in mid-December, Kevin Smith’s Dogma from 1999 is No. 2 in Apple’s TV store (it is available for purchase) recently rereleased after decades of ownership woes. (It is still very much itself and the CCD alums who had affection for it in all its janky, occasionally problematic glory will probably still enjoy a watch.)

But 2025 has its own releases that will one day be your comfort rewatches and rediscoveries. Here are some of the movies from this year worth checking out.

• Speaking of nostalgia. Adam Sandler brings you to a reunion of 1996 culture with Happy Gilmore 2 (Netflix). I deeply enjoyed the OG offenders of I Know What You Did Last Summer (Netflix, rent or purchase), particularly the former WB star who appears in a wins-the-whole-game cameo, but the new kids who commit vehicular manslaughter are nice too. Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning(Paramount+, purchase and rental) makes you sit through a lot of “remember X plot point from the previous movies” before you get to the Tom Cruise crazy stunts portion of the film but there were some fun looks back at the franchise, which is hopefully over, right? Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale (Peacock, rent or purchase) calls it a wrap on the Crawleys, probably, with a movie that recalled the cozy fun of the series.

• The best horror is weird. Weapons (HBO Max, rent and purchase) feels like at least as much an object of camp as it is an object of horror. It’s like goofy plus jump scares? Shell (YouTube Primetime, rent and purchase) is super-goofy body horror (specifically the middle-aged lady body in the harsh light of Hollywood) and features a fun faceoff between Elisabeth Moss and Kate Hudson. Drop (Prime Video, rent and purchase) builds its tension by showing us a first date where a woman terrorized by a mysterious texter doesn’t know who to trust. The Long Walk (rent or purchase), of Stephen King origins and anchored by a strong performance by Cooper Hoffman, gets you right in the “humanity is the true horror” spot.

• The right kind of dumb. The Liam Neeson- and Pamela Anderson-led franchise restart/sequel The Naked Gun (MGM+, Paramount+, rental and purchase) had me from its first goofy minutes when a thief steals a P.L.O.T. Device. M3GAN 2.0(Peacock, rental and purchase) was more pleased with itself than is usually tolerable but I enjoyed the “get in, loser” vibe of it all. A Working Man(MGM+, Prime Video, rental and purchase) does not reach the glorious Jason Statham-badassery heights of 2024’s The Bee Keeper (treat yourself — it’s streaming on Prime Video and available for rent or purchase) but it is still a fun dumb action movie and the villains are played as if maybe in the sequel they’ll turn out to be vampires.

• More! Like! This! In the movie G20 (Prime Video), President Viola Davis has to rescue a bunch of world leaders and the world economy from Bad Guys whilst doing hand-to-hand combat in formalwear. Dumb? Yeah! Awesome? Heck yeah! More! Like! This!

• Marvel tried things. Yes, Thunderbolts* (Disney+, rent or purchase) is a superhero movie about depression where the Big Bad is nihilism but it worked for me — I liked the scrappy gang of misfits. The Fantastic Four: First Steps(Disney+, rent or purchase) was visually very fun and had a nice “future is optimistic” tone. And yes, it’s all in service of more Avengers movies and the return of Robert Downey Jr. in same but for now, for this one, I had fun.

• DC got a win. Speaking of optimism and a future tinged with hope, Superman (HBO Max, rent or purchase) brought shiny new life to the DC movies. This Metropolis had comic book flair (other supers, kitschy villains) and managed an upbeat tone without getting, like, weird about it. Also, “a bit with a dog.” (Speaking of which, find 1998’s Shakespeare in Love on Paramount+ and for rent or purchase, which I might do after I get to Hamnet, in theaters now, one of this year’s releases still on my eager-to-see list along with The Testament of Ann Lee, slated for a Christmas Day release, and The Secret Agent, opening at Red River Theatres on Christmas Eve along with Marty Supreme and Song Sung Blue.)

• Family movie night. I know this isn’t a popular opinion, but I enjoyed the, a-hem, “live action” Lilo & Stitch(Disney +, rent or purchase), having no particular loyalty to the 2002 cartoon (also on Disney+). This year’s movie was perfectly acceptable fare with a nice blend of goofiness and sweetness about family in all its forms. Likewise, Pixar’s latest Elio(Disney+, rent or purchase) seemed to be received with a shrug at best but as a movie to watch with kids it’s a visually fun tale about a lonely boy who finally starts making new connections when he is accidentally transported to a spaceship where he is mistaken for the leader of Earth. And I’m a fan of Dav Pilkey books — the Captain Underpants and the like — both for their tales of adventure told with boy-accessible emotional themes and for their stylistic choices (spellings such as “supa cop” and drawings that look, correctly, as though two elementary schoolers crafted them). This year’s Dog Man(Netflix, rent or purchase), based on books that are supposed to be written by the Captain Underpants kids, is another similar success with fun visuals and laugh out loud silliness.

• Perfectly cromulent movie-night movies. Maybe these movies aren’t the best of the best but they are perfectly serviceable for an evening’s or snow day’s entertainment and are helped by solid duos in the leads: The Lost Bus (Apple TV) is based on a true story from the 2018 Camp Fire in California and succeeds due to the steady work of Matthew McConaughey and America Ferrera. Another Simple Favor (Prime Video, rent or purchase) didn’t quite sparkle like the 2018 original (available for rent or purchase) but it did have a fun telenovela quality and nice chemistry between Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively. Wicked: For Good (in theaters) suffers when it doesn’t put Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande together and is just generally darker than the first film but it is still a reasonably fun time. The Ballad of Wallis Island (Prime Video, rent or purchase) is a sweet melancholy tale about old friendship, longtime music fanship and trying to recapture a moment. Friendship is also a big part of My Dead Friend Zoe, which stars Sonequa Martin-Green trying to move on after time on the battlefield and the death of her friend played by Natalie Morales. The professional relationship that may or may not be a friendship between sad-charming George Clooney and sad-sweet Adam Sandler is the warm heart of Jay Kelly(Netflix). Spinal Tap II: The End Continues (HBO Max and rent or purchase) is a loose but fond jam session of comedy artists.

• Hot docs! Remember a very specific slice of the music of the 1990s with Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery (Disney+, Hulu), a very solid look back at the one-of-a-kind festival. Deaf President Now! (Apple TV) is a rousing look at a 1988 campus protest told by the now-middle-aged protesters. The Quilters(Netflix) and Final Finishers (Hulu) are two excellent shorts about, respectively, incarcerated quilt makers and the slowest finishers at the New York Marathon. The Perfect Neighbor (Netflix) is a chilling story, told through body cam footage, of a close-knit neighborhood and a difficult resident whose animosity for her neighbors has a tragic outcome. If you watch nothing else in this whole list, at least watch the first seven minutes of Ladies and Gentlemen … 50 Years of Saturday Night Life Music (Peacock), which is a delightfully-mixed tour (by Questlove) through SNL’s music performances. The meat of the documentary, equally excellent, digs into specific artists and how the music fits in with the show’s overall mission.

• Look for these. Rose Byrne is absolutely terrific in If I Had Legs I’d Kick You(rent or purchase), a movie full of people at their peak frustration points who are all wading through some kind of emergency. Byrne plays a mom looking after a sick daughter in the hotel room where they are waiting out repairs to their apartment after a burst water pipe.Her anger, fear, guilt and exhaustion are familiar to those who feel like they are forever failing at parenting — and funny! It’s funny! Sometimes! The Wedding Banquet (Paramount+, rent or purchase) is a sweet remake of the 1993 Ang Lee movie (which is available via Tubi, Pluto TV and Plex TV, according to Google) with solid performances from Lily Gladstone, Kelly Marie Tran, Bowen Yang and Han Gi-chan. One of Them Days (Netflix, rent or purchase) was an early 2025 release that offered solid comedy and a nice buddies-in-a-jam duo in Keke Palmer and SZA. Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy (Peacock, rent and purchase) is a surprisingly sweet installment in the story of the romance between Bridget and her Mr. Darcy and what comes after happily ever after. Roofman (MGM+, rent or purchase) features a nicely askew performance by Channing Tatum. Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein (Netflix) is beautiful to look at and an interesting, Romantic in the 19th-century sense, treatment of the material. Highest 2 Lowest(Apple TV), Spike Lee’s movie based on Akira Kurosawa’s High and Low (HBO Max, Plex, rent and purchase) from 1963, features excellent performances, including by Jeffrey Wright in a supporting role and a return to Lee’s New York-as-character form. Train Dreams (Netflix) is quiet and beautiful and features a standout performance by Joel Edgerton as a mostly solitary woodsman born in the latter half of the 1800s and living long enough to see men go to space. Wake Up, Dead Man (Netflix) is an excellent third entry in the Knives Out franchise with Daniel Craig’s Benoit Blanc investigating both the mystery of a (sorta) locked room murder and the mystery of faith — solid performances and thoughtful examination of what religion is and can be at this moment in culture. I’m still not entirely certain what I thought about Wes Anderson’s The Phoenician Scheme (Prime Video, rent or purchase) or about Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another (rent or purchase). Both feature excellent, compelling performances by Benicio del Toro and both deserve credit for their visual styles. One Battle After Another was at its best for me in its lower-fi moments, particularly a set-piece car chase in the movie’s final third, which called to mind some of the scruffier films of the 1970s in look and tone. The movie is at the top of many a critic’s year end list, but for me, a different movie settled in that spot in April and never left.

• My favorite movie of the year is Sinners. Yes, there are still movies I haven’t seen (Avatar: Fire and Ash, in theaters now, for example), but I doubt any of them will hit me quite like Sinners, which actually gave me chills when I saw the “I Lied to You” scene in the theater. Director Ryan Coogler’s latest was a home run for me for its performances (the two Michael B. Jordans, Miles Caton, Wunmi Mosaku and Delroy Lindo among them), its ability to weave together its supernatural and its real world darkness, its standout production value including the way it used light and the overall point of view of the way it told its story. Seek it out on HBO Max, for rent or purchase.

Carols with a beat (& Holiday laughs)

Jazz, rock, Celtic music and more

Compiled by Amy Diaz
adiaz@hippopress.com

From rocking holiday shows to celebrations with a Celtic flavor, here is some music to keep the season bright.

• The Stone Church Music Club, 5 Granite St. in Newmarket, stonechurchrocks.com, will present its annual Turkey Jam with Truffle on Friday, Nov. 28, at 7 p.m.

• After Thanksgiving Night Out, described as a “chance to swap the cozy couch for the dance floor and celebrate with a variety of music, dazzling lights, and great company,” will take place at the Lakeport Opera House, 781 Union Ave. in Laconia, lakeportopera.com, on Saturday, Nov. 29, at 7 p.m.

• The Word Barn in Exeter, thewordbarn.com, will hold its 12 Nights of Christmas Series at the Orchard Chapel, 143 Exeter Road in Hampton Falls. The shows include Halley Neal and Sam Robbins on Saturday, Nov. 29, at 7 p.m.; Mr. Sun Play Duke Ellington’s The Nutcracker on Sunday, Nov. 30, at 7 p.m.; An Irish Christmas With John Doyle and Cathie Ryan on Thursday, Dec. 4, at 7 p.m.; A Winter’s Evening with Ryanhood on Friday, Dec. 5 at 7 p.m.; Hannah Juanita and The Hardliners on Saturday, Dec. 6, at 7 p.m.; Harrison Goodell with a full band on Sunday, Dec. 7, at 7 p.m.; A Cape Breton Christmas with Còig on Thursday, Dec. 11, at 7 p.m.; A Nova Scotia Christmas with Cassie & Maggie on Friday, Dec. 12, at 7 p.m.; Scottish Fish Holiday Show on Sunday, Dec. 14, at 7 p.m.; A Celtic Christmas with Lunasa on Tuesday, Dec. 16, at 8 p.m.; Kat & Brett Holiday Show with Tyler Bolles & Will Seeders on Wednesday, Dec. 17, at 7 p.m.; Jordan TW Trio Celtic Christmas on Thursday, Dec. 18, at 7 p.m., and a Charlie Brown Christmas with Heather Pierson Trio on Saturday, Dec. 20, at 7 p.m.

• Viva Las Elvis: Christmas Tribute Concert will take place at LaBelle Winery, 14 Route 111 in Derry, labellewinery.com, on Sunday, Nov. 30, at 1 p.m.

• The Divas with a Twist: Holiday Concert, featuring five “powerhouse female vocalists with professional theater backgrounds combined with Grammy nominated musicians,” will hit the stage at The Rex Theatre, 23 Amherst St. in Manchester, on Sunday, Nov. 30, at 2 p.m., according to palacetheatre.org.

• The Squirrel Nut Zippers Christmas Caravan 2025 will come to the Nashua Center for the Arts, 201 Main St. in Nashua, nashuacenterforthearts.com, on Thursday, Dec. 4, at 7:30 p.m.

• Big Bad Voodoo Daddy: Wild and Swingin’ Holiday Party will come to the Colonial Theatre, 609 Main St., Laconia, coloniallaconia.com, on Thursday, Dec. 4, at 7:30 p.m.

• Mannheim Steamroller Christmas comes to the Capitol Center for the Arts Chubb Theatre, 44 S. Main St. in Concord, ccanh.com, on Friday, Dec. 5, at 7:30 p.m.

• The Drifters’ Christmas will come to the Flying Monkey, 39 Main St. in Plymouth, flyingmonkeynh.com, on Friday, Dec. 5, at 7:30 p.m.

• The annual Gary Hoey — Ho! Ho! Hoey! show will return to Tupelo Music Hall, 10 A St. in Derry, tupelomusichall.com, on Friday, Dec. 5, at 8 p.m.

• Joe Deleault Jazz Quartet will play the four-course holiday brunch at LaBelle Winery, 14 Route 111 in Derry, labellewinery.com, on Saturday, Dec. 6, at 11 a.m.

• MUSE: A Salute to Holiday Divas! Will be at The Music Hall Lounge, 131 Congress St. in Portsmouth, themusichall.org, on Saturday, Dec. 6, at 3 and 8 p.m.

• The Scott Spradling Band: Rockin’ Big Band Christmas will come to The Rex Theatre, 23 Amherst St. in Manchester, palacetheatre.org, on Saturday, Dec. 6, at 7:30 p.m.

• Joe Deleault Jazz Quartet will play the four-course holiday brunch at LaBelle Winery, 345 Route 101 in Amherst, labellewinery.com, on Sunday, Dec. 7, at 11 a.m.

• Jane Lynch’s A Swingin’ Little Christmas will come to the Nashua Center for the Arts, 201 Main St. in Nashua, nashuacenterforthearts.com, on Sunday, Dec. 7, at 7 p.m.

• LaBelle Winery, 14 Route 111 in Derry, labellewinery.com, will host a Winter Sound Bath & Yoga Nidra Experience on Wednesday, Dec. 10, at 6 p.m., the website said.

• Cherish the Ladies: A Celtic Christmas will be presented on Thursday, Dec. 11, at 7:30 p.m. at the Dana Center at Saint Anselm College, Manchester, according to tickets.anselm.edu.

• Catch David Benoit’s Charlie Brown Christmas at the Nashua Center for the Arts, 201 Main St. in Nashua, nashuacenterforthearts.com, on Thursday, Dec. 11, at 7:30 p.m.

• Nashville Christmas, featuring “traditional Christmas favorites along with some legendary classic country tunes … all performed by the fantastic cast of The Country Jamboree,” will come to The Rex Theatre, 23 Amherst St. in Manchester, on Thursday, Dec. 11, at 7:30 p.m., according to palacetheatre.org.

• One Tree Holiday: Tyler Hilton & Kate Voegele celebrating the music of the TV show One Tree Hill will perform at Tupelo Music Hall, 10 A St. in Derry, tupelomusichall.com, on Thursday, Dec. 11, at 8 p.m. Alex2e opens; tickets to a pre-show meet and greet are also available, the website said.

• Rockapella will bring their sounds of the holidays to Stockbridge Theatre in Derry, pinkertonacademy.org/stockbridge-theatre, on Friday, Dec. 12, at 7 p.m.

• A Celtic Christmas with The Jordan Tirrell-Wysocki Trio and The Spain Brothers will take place Saturday, Dec. 13, at 2 and 7 p.m. at The Rex Theatre, 23 Amherst St. in Manchester, according to palacetheatre.org.

• Concord Community Music School, 23 Wall St. in Concord, will hold its annual Holiday Folk Concert on Saturday, Dec. 13, at 7 p.m., according to ccmusicschool.org, where you can purchase tickets.

• Kimball Jenkins, 266 N. Main St. in Concord, kimballjenkins.com, will host a KJ Holiday Open Mic on Saturday, Dec. 13, from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Carriage House, according to the website. The event is free but advanced signup to perform is available online and at the door starting at 6:30 p.m., the website said.

• The Heather Pierson Trio plays A Charlie Brown Jazz Christmas at the BNH Stage, 16 S. Main St. in Concord, ccanh.com, on Sunday, Dec. 14, at 2 and 7 p.m.

• Catch the Capitol Jazz Orchestra Holiday Pops at the Capitol Center for the Arts Chubb Theatre, 44 S. Main St. in Concord, ccanh.com, on Sunday, Dec. 14, at 4 p.m.

• The Compaq Big Band Holiday Hits show will take place on Sunday, Dec. 14, at 6 p.m. at the Andres Institute of Art, 106 Route 13 in Brookline, andresinstitute.org.

• The Natalie MacMaster & Donnell Leahy: A Celtic Family Christmas comes to the Nashua Center for the Arts, 201 Main St. in Nashua, nashuacenterforthearts.com, Sunday, Dec. 14, at 7 p.m.

• Catch A Very Cher-y Christmas the Flying Monkey, 39 Main St. in Plymouth, flyingmonkeynh.com, on Sunday, Dec. 14, at 7 p.m.

• The Natalie MacMaster & Donnell Leahy: A Celtic Family Christmas will be at Rochester Opera House, 31 Wakefield St. in Rochester, rochesteroperahouse.com, Monday, Dec. 15, at 7 p.m.

• Nat Zegree: The Nat Before Christmas will be at the Music Hall, 28 Chestnut St. in Portsmouth, themusichall.org, on Monday, Dec. 15, at 7 p.m.

• John Denver Christmas featuring Chris Collins & Boulder Canyon comes to the Flying Monkey, 39 Main St. in Plymouth on Tuesday, Dec. 16, at 7:30 p.m.

• The Milk Carton Kids: Holiday Tour 2025 will come to the Nashua Center for the Arts, 201 Main St. in Nashua, nashuacenterforthearts.com, on Wednesday, Dec. 17, at 7:30 p.m.

• The annual Buzz Ball, where “Greg and the Morning Buzz team host an All-Star Cast of musicians, performers, comedians, and special guests,” will be at the Capitol Center for the Arts Chubb Theatre, 44 S. Main St. in Concord, on Thursday, Dec. 18, at 7 p.m., according to ccanh.com.

• Harvey Reid & Joyce Andersen Annual Christmas Concert at The Flying Goose Brew Pub & Grille, 40 Andover Road in New London, will take place Thursday, Dec. 18, at 7:30 p.m., according to flyinggoose.com.

• The Wizards of Winter, billed as “holiday rock Event for the whole family,” will be at the Tupelo Music Hall, 10 A St. in Derry, on Friday, Dec. 19, at 7 p.m., according to tupelomusichall.com.

• Christmas with the Celts, a show featuring “a vibrant mix of ancient Irish carols, classic Christmas favorites, electrifying Irish dance, and spontaneous humor,” will take place on Friday, Dec. 19, at 7 p.m. at Stockbridge Theatre, 5 Pinkerton St. in Derry, according to pinkertonacademy.org/stockbridge-theatre, where you can purchase tickets.

• A Charlie Brown Jazz Christmas with the Eric Mintel Jazz Quartetwill be on stage at the Rex Theater, 23 Amherst St. in Manchester, on Friday, Dec. 19, at 7:30 p.m., according to palacetheatre.org.

• Catch Eileen Ivers: Joyful Christmas on Friday, Dec. 19, at 7:30 p.m. at the Colonial Theatre, 609 Main St. in Laconia, coloniallaconia.com.

• Catch A Holiday Concert with Clay Cook on Saturday, Dec. 20, at 3 and 7 p.m. at the Lakeport Opera House, 781 Union Ave. in Laconia, lakeportopera.com.

• David Clark’s The Music of Billy Joel with a Christmas Twist comes to The Rex Theatre, 23 Amherst St. in Manchester, on Saturday, Dec. 20, at 7:30 p.m., palacetheatre.org.

• Abrielle Scharff’s Abby Holidays! will be at the Music Hall Lounge, 131 Congress St. in Portsmouth, themusichall.org, on Saturday, Dec. 20, at 8 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 21, at 5 p.m.

• A Sinatra Christmas with Rich Di Mare and the Ron Poster Trio comes to The Rex Theatre, 23 Amherst St. in Manchester, on Sunday, Dec. 21, at 1 p.m., palacetheatre.org.

• The Beach Boys Christmas Concert with the Beach Bums takes place Sunday, Dec. 21, at 1 p.m. at LaBelle Winery, 14 Route 111 in Derry, labellewinery.com.

• A Piano Christmas with Robert Dionne will take place at the Majestic Theatre, 880 Page St. in Manchester, majestictheatre.net, on Sunday, Dec. 21, at 2 p.m.

• A Sinatra Christmas with Rich DiMare and Ron Poster heads to the Music Hall Lounge, 131 Congress St. in Portsmouth, themusichall.org, on Monday, Dec. 22, at 5 and 7:30 p.m.

• Christmas with the Celts will be at the Colonial Theatre, 609 Main St. in Laconia, coloniallaconia.com, on Tuesday, Dec. 23, at 7:30 p.m.

• Recycled Percussion begins its annual run of shows New Year’s Eve and into January at the Palace Theatre, 80 Hanover St. in Manchester, palacetheatre.org, with 15 shows through Jan. 11, starting Wednesday, Dec. 31, with shows at 3 and 7 p.m.

• Adam Ezra Group plays the New Year’s Eve show at the Tupelo Music Hall, 10 A St. in Derry, with a dinner at 5:30 p.m. and the show at 9 p.m., according to tupelomusichall.com.

• The New Year’s Eve Gala at Arts Alley in Concord in the Main Venue kicks off at 6:30 p.m. and includes a cocktail hour with appetizers, a dinner buffet, Dueling Pianos and a DJ, according to artsalleyconcordnh.com, where you can purchase tickets to this 21+ event.

• A New Year’s Eve Celebration featuring a DJ, dancing, live music form Eric Grant Band and more will take place Wednesday, Dec. 31, at 7:30 p.m. at Lakeport Opera House, 781 Union Ave. in Laconia, lakeportopera.com.

• Celebrate New Year’s Eve with Cold Engines & Soul Rebel Project at Stone Church Music Club, 5 Granite St. in Newmarket, stonechurchrocks.com, on Wednesday, Dec. 31, starting at 8 p.m.

• The New Year’s Eve Party at the Strand, 20 Third St. in Dover, kicks off at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 31, and includes hors d’oeuvres, live comedy, live music from Little Lies, a Champagne toast and balloon drop at midnight, a DJ after party and more, according to thestranddover.com.

• The New Year’s Eve Roaring 1920s Gatsby Dinner, Dancing and Jazz will take place at LaBelle Winery, 345 Route 101 in Amherst, labellewinery.com, on Wednesday, Dec. 31, at 8 p.m.

Holiday laughs
Here are some of the holiday season
comedy shows on the schedule:
Emily Ruskowski’s Thanksgiving
Leftover Comedy Show featuring special
guests Chris D, Adam Hatch and Dan
Donahue will take the stage at The Rex
Theatre, 23 Amherst St. in Manchester, on
Friday, Nov. 28, at 7:30 p.m., according to
palactheatre.org.
Catch Bob Marley throughout the season
including on Thursday, Dec. 4, and
Sunday, Dec. 7, at 7:30 p.m. at Amato Center
for Performing Arts in Milford, and
Tuesday, Dec. 30, and Wednesday, Dec. 31,
at 8 p.m. at the Rochester Opera House. See
bmarley.com.
Juston McKinney will perform his
annual Comedy Year in Review show at
the Music Hall in Portsmouth, themusichall.
org, with five shows Friday, Dec. 26,
through Monday, Dec. 29; at the Nashua
Center for the Arts, 201 Main St. in Nashua,
nashuacenterforthearts.com, with three
shows Tuesday, Dec. 30, through Wednesday,
Dec. 31, and Saturday, Jan. 3, at 7:30
p.m. at the Colonial Theatre, 609 Main St.,
Laconia, coloniallaconia.com. See justonmckinney.
com.
Headliners, headlinersnh.com/newyears-
eve-events.html, has comedy shows
in Nashua at the Sheraton Nashua and
Sky Meadow Country Club; Manchester
at the DoubleTree by Hilton Manchester
and at Chunky’s Cinema Pub, and in Concord
with Dueling Pianos at the Arts Alley
on Wednesday, Dec. 31, according to the
website, where you can find ticket packages
and the line-up of comedians for each
event.
Comedian Jimmy Dunn’s New
Year’s Eve will be at the Rex Theatre, 23
Amherst St. in Manchester, on Wednesday,
Dec. 31, at 7:30 p.m., according to palacetheatre.
org.

Featured Photo: Rockapella. Photo from pinkertonacademy.org.

See the Whos down in Whoville (& Holiday eats)

Find holiday films on the big screen

Compiled by Amy Diaz
adiaz@hippopress.com

Get your “I know him!” and “You’ll shoot your eye out” on the big screen this season. Here are some of the holiday screenings on the schedule.

• The Flying Monkey, 39 Main St. in Plymouth, flyingmonkeynh.com, has some holiday films on the schedule. Catch Planes, Trains and Automobiles(R, 1987) on Wednesday, Nov. 26, at 6 p.m.; Daddy’s Home 2(PG-13, 2017) on Wednesday, Dec. 10, at 6 p.m.; Elf (PG, 2003) on Wednesday, Dec. 17, at 6 p.m., and It’s a Wonderful Life (1946) on Sunday, Dec. 21, at 2 p.m., according to the website. Warren Miller’s Sno-ciety will also screen on Friday, Nov. 28, at 3 and 7 p.m.

• Cinemark Rockingham Park, at The Mall at Rockingham Park, 15 Mall Road in Salem, cinemark.com, will offer special screenings as part of its Holiday Movie Clubhouse with screenings on Saturdays in the morning and Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. The lineup includes The Grinch (PG, 2018) on Nov. 29 and Dec. 3, and A Christmas Story (PG, 1983) on Dec. 6 and Dec. 10; Elf (PG, 2003) on Dec. 13 and Dec. 17.

• Fathom Entertainment, fathomentertainment.com, has several holiday films on the schedule that will play at O’Neil Cinemas at Brickyard Square in Epping and at the Londonderry Cinemas in Londonderry, oneilcinemas.com; Cinemark Rockingham Park in Salem, cinemark.com/theatres/nh-salem/cinemark-rockingham-park-and-xd, and Regal Fox Run in Newington, regmovies.com/theatres/regal-fox-run-rpx-1728, with some screenings also taking place at Apple Cinemas in Hooksett and Merrimack, applecinemas.com. Films include Another Sweet Christmas, a movie starring Candace Cameron Bure, on Sunday, Nov. 30, through Tuesday, Dec. 2; an encore of The Met’s The Magic Flute on Saturday, Dec. 6;André Rieu’s 2025 Christmas Concert: Merry Christmas on Sunday, Dec. 7, and Wednesday, Dec. 10; Christina Aguilera: Christmas in Parison Sundays, Dec. 14, and Dec. 21, and The Royal Ballet’s The Nutcrackeron Sunday, Dec. 21, and Monday, Dec. 22, according to the Fathom website, where you can find specific times at participating theaters.

• O’Neil Cinemas in both Londonderry (16 Orchard View Drive) and Epping (Brickyard Square, 24 Calef Highway) will screen Christina Aguilera: Christmas in Paris; Another Sweet Christmas;The Royal Ballet’s The Nutcracker; Andre Rieu’s 2025 Christmas Concert: Merry Christmas,andThe Polar Express. See oneilcinemas.com for details.

• Chunky’s Manchester, 707 Huse Road, chunkys.com, kicks off its schedule of holiday screenings with A Bad Moms Christmas (R, 2017) on Thursday, Dec. 4, at 8 p.m. The Polar Express (G, 2004) will screen multiple times a day Friday, Dec. 5, through Thursday, Dec. 18 — “Every child now receives Golden Ticket, Cookies, Bell and a Hot Chocolate during the iconic train scene!” according to the website. On Mondays, Dec. 8 and Dec. 15, at 5:30 and 6:30 p.m. the screenings will also receive a visit from Santa, the website said. Special holiday-movie themed Thursday trivia nights (at 7:30 p.m.) for December include The Santa Clause movies on Dec. 4 and A Christmas Carol movies on Dec. 11, the website said.

• Red River Theatres, 11 S. Main St. in Concord, has a A Very Red River Holiday Movie Series! slated for December, according to an email from Red River. On Saturday, Dec. 6, the 2005 Pride & Prejudicewith Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen as Elizabeth and Darcy will screen at 10 a.m. White Christmasfrom 1954 starring Bing Crosby, Rosemary Clooney and Danny Kaye will screen Sunday, Dec. 7, at 10 a.m. Greta Gerwig’s excellent 2019 adaptation of Little Women (PG) will screen Saturday, Dec. 13, at 10 a.m. Holiday rerun classic It’s A Wonderful Life(1946) will hit the big screen on Sunday, Dec. 14, at 10 a.m. Will Ferrell’s Elf(PG, 2003) will screen — with complimentary hot cocoa — on Saturday, Dec. 20, at 10 a.m. and 2018’s animated The Grinch (PG) will screen, also with hot cocoa, on Sunday, Dec. 21, at 10 a.m. Tickets are on sale now at redrivertheatres.org.

• Park Theatre (19 Main St., Jaffrey, theparktheatre.org) will screen It’s a Wonderful Life (1946) on Sunday, Dec. 7, at 2 p.m.; Home Alone (1990) at the annual Santa Claus Party on Sunday, Dec. 14, at 1 p.m.; The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992) on Sunday, Dec. 14, at 4:30 p.m.; David Copperfield (1935) on Friday, Dec. 19, at 6:30 p.m., and Scrooged (1935) on Friday, Dec. 19, at 7 p.m., according to the website.

• The Strand, 20 Third St. in Dover, will screen Elf (PG, 2003) as part of its annual Christmas Break on a Budget event, starting at noon on Saturday, Dec. 20, and including cookie decorating, snowflake making and more, according to thestranddover.com.

• Catch Warren Miller’s Sno-ciety at the Colonial Theatre, 609 Main St. in Laconia, coloniallaconia.com, on Monday, Dec. 29, at 7 p.m. See warrenmiller.com to watch the trailer.

Holiday eats

Here are some tasty holiday happenings:

• The Portsmouth Historical Society will open its 35th annual Gingerbread House Contest and Exhibition on Friday, Dec. 5, with a reception from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Through Sunday, Dec. 30, the exhibition will be on display at 10 Middle St. in Portsmouth, according to portsmouthhistory.org, where you can find visiting hours.

• The Canterbury Farmers Market will hold its Indoor Winter Market on Saturday, Dec. 6, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Canterbury Elementary School in the gym, 15 Baptist Road in Canterbury, according to canterburyfarmersmarket.com.

• Kimball Jenkins, 266 N. Main St. in Concord, kimballjenkins.com, will host The Home Sweet Home Gingerbread Exhibition, a “very sweet exhibition of artistic gingerbread creations crafted by community members, organizations, and businesses,” Saturday, Dec. 6, through Friday, Dec. 12 (no viewing hours on Dec. 11) from 1 to 8 p.m., according to the website. A Gingerbread Marketplace of local food and food-related vendors will take place on Sunday, Dec. 7, from noon to 6 p.m. in the Carriage House, the website said.

• Fulchino Vineyard, 187 Pine Hill Road in Hollis, will hold a Christmas Festival Friday, Dec. 12, through Sunday, Dec. 14, featuring indoor and outdoor elements such as food vendors, artisans and crafts people, fire pits, family photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus and more, according to fulchinovineyard.com, where you can purchase tickets for specific time slots.

• Amherst German Christmas Market will take place on Saturday, Dec. 13, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the Amherst Village Green in Amherst and featuring food vendors, a mini-biergarten, entertainment and vendors selling handmade crafts and more, according to amherstchristmasmarket.org, where you can purchase tickets for a specific arrival time.

• The Currier and Ives Cookie Tour will take place Saturday, Dec. 13, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 15 locations in Jaffrey, Swanzey, Harrisville, Troy and New Ipswich, according to currierandivescookietour.com. Tickets cost $20 and can be purchased, for cash only, starting Dec. 1, at a few of the participating locations, the website said. Each location will feature cookies, a cookie recipe and more, and proceeds from tickets this year support End 68 Hours of Hunger, the website said.

• The annual Holiday Inn to Inn Cookie Tour will take place at 11 locations in the White Mountains on Saturday, Dec. 13, and Sunday, Dec. 14, according to countryinnsinthewhitemountains.com/annual-holiday-inn-to-inn-cookie-tour, which has links to inns offering two-night packages for the weekend. Tickets to just the tour will be available on Dec. 1 at cookietour.square.site.

• Rogers Memorial Library (194 Derry Road, Hudson, 886-6030, rodgerslibrary.org) will hold a Cookie Swap on Saturday, Dec. 20, from 10 a.m. to noon. Registration is required. Make 48 homemade cookies and provide a recipe and then bring home an assortment of cookies.

Featured Photo: The Grinch.

Arts for the holiday

Where to find art shows and craft fairs

Compiled by Amy Diaz
adiaz@hippopress.com

Find fine art created specifically for the gifting season and handmade crafts at these shows, exhibitions and fairs.

• “Shifting Light” will be on display at Art 3 Gallery, 44 W. Brook St. in Manchester, art3gallery.com, this winter. “With the end of daylight savings, reduced daylight hours, and the angle of the sun, there is a literal shifting of light and shadows and this changes how we perceive our familiar yet transformed environment. Figuratively, the shifting of light can act as a beacon and pinpoint changes in how we look at the greater world around us, new angles or narratives that direct personal, social, or political change,” according to an email from the gallery, which is open Monday through Friday, 12:30 to 4 p.m.

• “Big Gifts Come in Small Packages,” the holiday show at the Seacoast Artist Association, 130 Water St. in Exeter, will run through December, according to a press release. The gallery is open Wednesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. See seacoastartist.org.

• “Illuminations,” described as holiday showcase that is “a captivating exhibition that celebrates local artists and the enduring inspiration of light in art” and features “works by CFA Visual Arts Guild Members Peter Anderson, Rolande Andrews, Deborah Bacon, Sara Byfield, Elizabeth D’Amico, Adrienne Elliott, Barry Fougere, Ludmila Gayvoronsky, Karen Haskell, Lindsay Holmes, Barbara Hunting, Sara LaMott, Heidi Lorenz, Kathy Lowe, Thomas McHugh, Lucy Mueller, Mark O’Neil, Juliana Read, Chris Scott, Yvonne Shukovsky, Alan Shulman, Rick Stockwell, Charlotte Thibault, and Alison Vernon,” will be on display at the Center for the Arts, 428 Main St. in New London, through Dec. 19, according to a press release. The studio is open Thursday through Saturday, 1 to 5 p.m. See centerfortheartsnh.org.

• “Small Works/BIG IMPACT” is at Creative Ventures Gallery, 411 Nashua St. in Milford, creativeventuresfineart.com, through Sunday, Dec. 21.

• Saad Hindal Holiday Gallery, a gallery of works by Iraqi-American artist Saad Hindal, will be on display at 57 N. Main St., Suite 105, in Concord through Christmas Eve, according to an email about the gallery. See saadhindalart.com.

• Great New England Holiday Crafts Show will take place Friday, Nov. 28, and Saturday, Nov. 29, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at LaBelle Winery, 14 Route 111 in Derry, according to GNECraftArtisanShows.com and labellewinery.com. Parking and admission are free and the show will feature 65 exhibitors, a juried show, food and more, the website said.

• A Holiday Arts Market will run at YMCA Allard Center, 116 Goffstown Back Road in Goffstown, Friday, Nov. 28, through Tuesday, Dec. 24, during the center’s regular hours, according to graniteymca.org.

• The New Hampshire Antique Co-op, 323, Elm St. in Milford, will hold its annual Holiday Open House Friday, Nov. 28 through Sunday, Nov. 30, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. featuring its current gallery exhibition “The American Still Life: Two Centuries of Timeless Tradition,” refreshments and more, according to a press release

• “Winter Wonderland Juried Art Exhibition,” featuring “local artists [whose] works will highlight the unique beauty of winter,”will be on display at Kimball Jenkins, 266 N. Main St. in Concord, kimballjenkins.com, Saturday, Nov. 29, through Friday, Dec. 19, with daily viewing hours from 1 to 8 p.m. and extended hours to 9 p.m. on Dec. 5 and Dec. 19 (closed Dec. 11).

• The Artisans Nook Kimball Jenkins, 266 N. Main St. in Concord, kimballjenkins.com, will feature a “pop up holiday showcase of locally made fine art and craft items featuring local artisans” called The Artisans Nook, according to the website. The shop will be open starting Nov. 29 in the lower level of the Carriage House Mondays through Saturdays from 1 to 8 p.m., and Sundays from 1 to 6 p.m. as well as Friday, Dec. 5, from 1 to 9 p.m.; Sunday, Dec. 7, from noon to 6 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 13, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Friday, Dec. 19 (closed Dec. 11), the website said.

• Winter Members Show & Sale 2025 at Two Villages Art Society, 846 Main St. in Contoocook, twovillagesart.org, will be on display Saturday, Nov. 29, through Saturday, Dec. 27. The gallery is open Thursdays through Sundays, noon to 4 p.m. with extended hours at Starry, Starry Weekend on Friday, Dec. 5 and Saturday, Dec. 6, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 7, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• The Warner Historical Society will hold a Holiday Artisans shopping event at the Upton Chandler House Museum, 10 W. Main St. in Warner, on Friday, Dec. 5, from 5 to 7 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 6, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., according to a press release. The Warner Historical Society Barn sale will also feature holiday decorations and home goods, the release said. The museum store and Barn Sale holiday items will also be open at the Upton Chandler House on Saturdays, Nov. 29, Dec. 13, and Dec. 20, as well as Sunday, Dec. 21, from 9 a.m. to noon, the release said. See warnerhistorical.org.

• “The Home Sweet Home Gingerbread Exhibition,” described as “sweet exhibition of artistic gingerbread creations crafted by community members, organizations, and businesses,” will be on display in the Mansion at Kimball Jenkins, 266 N. Main St. in Concord, kimballjenkins.com, Saturday, Dec. 6, through Friday, Dec. 12, from 1 to 8 p.m. (closed Dec. 11), according to the website.

• Winter Giftopolis by the Concord Arts Market will take place on Friday, Dec. 5, from 5 to 11 p.m. in the Eagle Square Atrium in downtown Concord during Intown Concord’s Midnight Merriment. See concordartsmarket.org.

• Contoocook Artisans Holiday Fair is set for Friday, Dec. 5, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 6, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Sunday, Dec. 7, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at American Legion Post No. 81 (E.R. Montgomery Event Center, 169 Bound Tree Road, Contoocook), according to the Contoocook Artisans Cooperative Facebook Page.

• The Atkinson Garden Club will hold its Greens and Gifts Sale on Friday, Dec. 5, and Saturday, Dec. 6, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Atkinson Community Center, 4 Main St. in Atkinson, featuring fresh greens, handcrafted decorations and more, according to a press release.

• UNH Makers Expo will be held at the MUB Granite State Room on Friday, Dec. 5, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. featuring “cool & creative stuff made by UNH students, staff, and faculty. Engineers who knit! IT folks doing scratch prints! Jewelry from biologists! It’s a great way to support local artisans and get some holiday shopping done. This event is free to enter and open to the public!” according to unh.edu/mub/events/unh-makers-expo.

• High Mowing School (77 Pine Hill Drive, Wilton) will host its annual Pine Hill Holiday Fair on Friday, Dec. 5, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. (for adults only) and Saturday, Dec. 7, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. for all ages, according to pinehill.org.

• The Vintage Bazaar and Holiday Festival will take place Friday, Dec. 5, through Sunday, Dec. 7, (Friday 1 to 6 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.) at 32 Industrial Drive in Exeter, with $10 admission tickets for adults, according to an email. See facebook.com/TheVintageBazaar.

• The First Baptist Church (121 Manchester St., Nashua, 882-4512, fbcnashua.org) will hold its Old-Fashioned Christmas Fair & Raffle Saturday, Dec. 6, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., according to the church website.

• Arlington Street United Methodist Church (63 Arlington St., Nashua) will celebrate its Holly Town Fair on Saturday, Dec. 6, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The fair will feature handmade items, candies, baked goods and a cookie walk, with lunch available from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Visit asumc.org or call 882-4663.

• The PTO at Broad Street Elementary School, 390 Broad St. in Nashua, will host a Holiday Craft Fair on Saturday, Dec. 6, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., according to sites.google.com/view/broad-street-pto.

• The Holiday Craft Fair at Brookline Event Center, 32 Proctor Hill Road in Brookline, will take place Saturday, Dec. 6, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission is free. See brooklineeventcenter.com/our-events.

• The Somersworth Festival Association will host its Holiday Craft Fair on Saturday, Dec. 6, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Somersworth High School (11 Memorial Drive, Somersworth), according to nhfestivals.org.

• Saint Patrick’s Parish (12 Main St., Pelham, 635-3525, stpatricks-pelham.com) will host its Annual Christmas Craft Fair in its Parish Center, Saturday, Dec. 6, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. featuring local crafters, food, a homemade baked goods table and raffles, according to the church website.

• The 36th annual Christmas in Strafford, featuring more than 50 artists and craftspeople across about 30 locations (stores, studios and other locations), is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 6, and Sunday, Dec. 7, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on both days (some stops are open Saturday only), according to christmasinstrafford.com.

• The Unitarian Universalist Church of Manchester (669 Union St. in Manchester) will hold its Holiday Fair on Saturday, Dec. 6, according to uumanchester.org, where you can check back for updates.

• The Animal Rescue League of NH (545 Route 101, Bedford, 472-3647, rescueleague.org) will hold a Holiday Fair Saturday, Dec. 6, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. featuring pet photos with Santa or the Grinch (by appointment), craft vendors, tree sales, a bake sale and more, according to rescueleague.org.

• Sanborn Mills Farm (7097 Sanborn Road in Loudon) will hold its Winter Market on Saturday, Dec. 6, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Fifield Hall, according to an email from the farm. The Market will feature local artisans and craftspeople, farm-made lunch and refreshments and festive music, the email said.

• The Nashua 10th Annual Holiday Fair, hosted by New England Vendor Events, will be held Saturday, Dec. 6, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Birch Hill School, 71 Amherst St. in Nashua, according to New England Vendor Events’ Facebook page. Admission is free, as are photo opportunities with Santa, the post said.

• The Rockingham Brewing Co., 1 Corporate Park Drive in Derry, will hold its 4th annual Countdown to Christmas Market on Saturday, Dec. 6, from 1 to 4 p.m. featuring local artisans, food from Teenie Weenie Canteenie and more, according to a post on the brewery’s Facebook page.

• Chapel + Main, 83 Main St. in Dover, chapelandmain.com, will hold Arts & Drafts, its semiannual maker fair, on Sunday, Dec. 7, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., according to the website.

• Concord Arts Market and Kimball Jenkins, 266 N. Main St. in Concord, kimballjenkins.com, will host the Gingerbread Marketplace at Kimball Jenkins on Sunday, Dec. 7, from noon to 6 p.m. featuring “sweet treats and gifts for your holiday shopping” as well as Kimball Jenkins’ The Artisans Nook of fine arts and crafts items, according to the website.

• Bishop Brady High School in Concord will hold a Craft Fair on Saturday, Dec. 13, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., according to the school’s Facebook page.

• The NH Audubon’s Annual Holiday Craft Fair is Saturday, Dec. 13, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the McLane Center (84 Silk Farm Road in Concord; nhaudubon.org) featuring more than 30 local crafters, raffles and more, according to the website.

• The PTO at Main Dunstable Elementary School, 20 Whitford Road in Nashua, will host a Holiday Craft Fair on Saturday, Dec. 13, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. featuring crafts by local artisans, baked goods, raffles, silent auctions, kids’ activities, a Santa meet and photo opportunity and more, according to mdespto.com.

• Concord Arts Market will host the Concord Holiday Arts Market at Kimball Jenkins, 266 N. Main St. in Concord, kimballjenkins.com, on Saturday, Dec. 13, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., according to the website.

• Caya Reiki and Healing (caya-healing.square.site) will hold its Winter Wonderland Craft Market & Psychic Fair at the Hooksett American Legion on Saturday, Dec. 13, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Find CAYA on Facebook for updates.

• Wrong Brain will hold its annual Holidaze Bizaare on Saturday, Dec. 13, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Community Campus, 100 Campus Drive in Portsmouth, according to Wrong Brain’s Facebook page. Billed as an “alternative craft fair,” the Holidaze Bizaare “will take place in the gymnasium, 2 lobbies, AND we have the art room for workshops & activities,” according to a post.

• The New Hampshire World Market will take place Saturday, Dec. 13, and Sunday, Dec. 14, at the Anheuser Busch Brewery, 221 DW Highway in Merrimack, featuring music, photos with Santa, food, arts and crafts and more, according to nhworldchristmasmarket.com, where you can purchase tickets.

• The Holly Jolly Craft Fair will be held at the DoubleTree Hilton (2 Somerset Plaza, Nashua) on Sunday, Dec. 14, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and will feature items from more than 75 artisans, according to joycescraftshows.com. Items will include holiday decor, country folk art, soy candles, gift baskets, wood art, artwork and more, the website said.

• Wrong Brain will hold its Night Bizaare on Monday, Dec. 22, from 6 to 10 p.m. at Chapel + Main (83 Main St. in Dover), according to Wrong Brain’s Facebook page.

Featured Photo: Courtesy photo

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