Author: Michael Witthaus

Your guide to sports, dance, arts, music and more extracurricular excitement

Get your kid excited about the new school year by finding a new team to join, a new style of dance or a new instrument to play. Here are some of the organizations offering opportunities for kids to try new things or get better at a favorite pastime this school year.

GENERAL

• Beaver Brook Association (117 Ridge Road, Hollis, 465-7787, beaverbrook.org) offers preschool as well as home school (with a class for grades 1-6 and one for grades 7-9) programming, beginning the week of Sept. 9.

• Boys & Girls Clubs of America (555 Union St., Manchester, 625-5031, mbgcnh.org; 1 Positive Place, Nashua, 883-0523, bgcn.com; 3 Geremonty Drive, Salem, 898-7709, salembgc.org; 56 Mont Vernon St., Milford, 672-1002, svbgc.org; 55 Bradley St., Concord, 224-1061, nhyouth.org; 40 E. Derry Road, Derry, 434-6695, derrybgclub.com) offers a variety of before- and after-school programs that include homework assistance, sports and recreation, arts and crafts, leadership development, life skills and more. Programs and costs vary with location and based on age.

• The Culinary Playground (16 Manning St., Suite 105, Derry, 339-1664, culinary-playground.com) offers one-time classes for mini chefs (ages 3-6) and older kids (6-11 and 11+) as well as six-week series that meet for an hour once a week. There are also one-time “kid with adult” cooking classes and classes for home-schoolers available as well. See the website for upcoming classes.

• Daniel Webster Council Scouts SA (625-6431, nhscouting.org) is the center of information for New Hampshire Scouts (formerly the Boy Scouts of America). Contact them for information about joining a local pack. Packs and Dens set their own start dates, meeting days and times and meeting locations. Many Packs hold fall activities where potential new members can learn more about Scouting.

• Franco-American Centre (100 Saint Anselm Drive, No. 1798, Manchester, 641- 7114, facnh.com) Children’s Beginner French is offered for ages 6-11 for 10 weeks on Tuesdays, Oct. 1, through Dec. 3. The classes run from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. and operate over Zoom. The cost is $150 plus a French workbook.

• Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains (1 Commerce Drive, Bedford, 888-474-9686, girlscoutsgwm.org) offers programs for girls in kindergarten through grade 12, focused on leadership-building, community engagement, STEM and nature. Visit their website or call to learn how to join a local troop or join as a solo Girl Scout. Troops set their own start dates, meeting days and times, and meeting locations. The council also offers programming and events.

• Girls at Work (200 Bedford St., Manchester, 345-0392, girlswork.org) offers after-school workshops for ages 8 to 14 where girls can learn building skills. Some classes are specifically offered for students of certain Manchester schools and some are open to all schools; see their website for details.

• Girls, Inc. of New Hampshire (340 Varney St., Manchester, 623-1117; 27 Burke St., Nashua, 882-6256, girlsincnewhampshire.org) Girls are picked up by bus at Nashua and Manchester schools to go to a Girls, Inc. center where they can participate in a variety of classes. The program runs from after school to 6 p.m. (or 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on full days) with a snack and dinner provided. The cost is $85 per week; financial assistance is available.

• Granite YMCA (30 Mechanic St., Manchester, 623-3558; 116 Goffstown Back Road, Goffstown, 497-4663; 206 Rockingham Road, Londonderry; 437-9622; 15 N. State St., Concord, 228-9622; 35 Industrial Way, Rochester, 332-7334; 550 Peverly Hill Road, Portsmouth, 431- 2334; 35 Bartlett Ave., Somersworth, 692-2081; graniteymca.org/child-care) YMCAs offer before- and after-school programs for kids and teens. Programs vary at each location; call the local branch. The Ys also offer athletic programs that can include, depending on the location, swimming, climbing, tennis, gymnastics, dances and a variety of sports. These programs run in sessions. Check with individual branches for session start dates.

• Hampshire Hills Athletic Club (50 Emerson Road, Milford, 673-7123, hampshirehills.com) offers classes, events and activities for children as well as adults.

• Manchester Police Athletic League (409 Beech St., Manchester, 626-0211, manchesterpoliceathleticleague.org) offers aikido, boxing, skateboarding and wrestling, as well as occasional cooking classes. MPAL is open to kids ages 5-18 who are attending school; membership is free.

• Mathnasium (257 DW Highway, Nashua; 1 Bicentennial Drive, Manchester; mathnasium.com) offers math classes for kindergarten through high school as well as test prep. Students are recommended to attend Mathnasium two to three times a week.

• NH Audubon (including Massabesic Center, 26 Audubon Way in Auburn, 668-2045; McLane Center, 84 Silk Farm Road in Concord, 224-9909; nhaudubon.org) offers family and children programs as well as homeschool programs. Next on the schedule: “The Magic of Monarchs Children’s Program” on Saturday, Sept. 7, at 9:30 a.m.

• YMCA of Greater Nashua (24 Stadium Drive, Nashua, 882-2011; 6 Henry Clay Drive, Merrimack, 881-7778, nmymca.org) offers before-school programs at Amherst Middle School and at the Merrimack YMCA (with transportation to schools included) and after-school programs at Amherst Clark-Wilkins Elementary School, Merrimack YMCA, Mont Vernon Village School and Nashua YMCA. The Ys also offer swimming, dance, arts, music, sports, ninja, teen classes and more.

ART

• Currier Museum Art Center (180 Pearl St., Manchester, 518-4922, currier.org) offers a myriad of weekly classes for kids and teens Wednesdays after school and Saturdays. The first fall session starts Sept. 25.

• Hollis Artspace (30 Ash St., Hollis, 465-4300, hollisartspace.com) offers youth classes and workshops. Fall 2024 schedule is coming soon, according to the website.

• Kimball Jenkins School of Art (266 N. Main St., Concord, 225-3932, kimballjenkins.com) offers youth classes and teen classes in various art forms.

• Let’s Play Music! (145 Hampstead Road, Derry, 425-7575; letsplaymusic.com) offers art classes (grouped by age) for kids ages 6-12 as well as classes for teens. Classes have open enrollment for students to join any time there are openings in a class.

• Paint pARTy (135 N. Broadway, Salem, 898-8800, paintpartynh.com) Classes in painting, drawing and art lessons in other media run continuously (for children as well as for teens and adults). Home-school and toddler-and-me classes are also available.

• Studio 550 Art Center (550 Elm St., Manchester, 232-5597, 550arts.com) After-school sessions are offered in the fall, winter and spring in clay sculpting as well as drawing and painting. Clay classes for kids 9-12 years old start Sept. 10 and run on Tuesday afternoons from 4 to 5:15 p.m. (eight total classes for $150); teen (ages 13-18) clay classes run Mondays, starting Sept. 9, and another on Thursdays, starting Sept. 12, both from 4 to 5:15 p.m. (eight total classes for $160). A home-school session also runs on Thursdays starting Sept. 5 for kids and teens (ages 12-18) and is a 10 week-session that runs from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. (10 total classes for $285). Students under 9 are welcome in one-day workshops and classes for home-school students can also be scheduled (for six or more students).

DANCE

Note on dance classes: In addition to monthly tuition, many dance classes also have registration, performance and costume fees. Many studios also offer discounts for siblings and for taking multiple classes per month.

• Alicia’s School of Dance (Fox Pond Plaza, 58 Route 129, Suite 201, Loudon, 406-0416, aliciasschoolofdance.com) The new season of classes begins Monday, Sept. 9. Offerings include a creative dance class for ages 2-3, tap/jazz/ballet combo classes for ages 4-10 (grouped according to age), hip-hop, gymnastics and teen classes. Classes cost $60 per month for one class a week plus $20 per class for extra classes and $35 per class for siblings and parents.

• Allegro Dance Academy (100 Factory St., Nashua, 886-7989, allegrodancenh.com) offers a variety of classes for several age groups, starting with ages 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 and up to ages 14 and older. Classes must have a minimum of six dancers to run. Classes include ballet, tap, hip-hop, tumbling, boys’ intro to hip-hop, acro, jazz, Irish, lyrical & contemporary, and performance team & technique. Pricing is per family; preschool registration is $69 per month, other pricing is tiered, depending on number of classes per week, and there is an annual registration and recital fee of $65 per student or $80 per family.

• Ameri-kids Baton & Dance (Candia Youth Athletic Association, 27 Raymond Road, Candia, 391-2254, ameri-kids.org) offers baton-twirling and dance in recreational and competitive programs for kids ages 3+, September through May. Classes start at $65 for a 45-minute session, plus an annual $30 registration fee.

• Bedford Dance Center (172 Route 101, Bedford, 472-5141, bedforddancecenter.com) Classes start in September; tuition costs between $59 and $74 per month, based on the hours per week of class, and a $315 per month pass allows for unlimited classes. Classes are available for ages 3 through 18 with subjects including ballet, acro, jazz, tap, hip-hop, modern dance and ensemble for different age and skill levels.

• Bedford Youth Performing Company (155 Route 101, Bedford, 472-3894, bypc.org) Classes begin the week of Aug. 26 and run through June 9. Dance classes include preschool ballet (starting at age 2-5) as well as ballet, acro, jazz and tap (for ages 5-18). Prices vary based on class and age and are charged monthly. BYPC also offers music and theater classes.

• Broadway Bound Performing Arts Center (501 DW Highway, Merrimack, 429-8844, broadwayboundpac.com) Classes start the week of Sept. 11 and include preschool classes (ages 2-5), ballet, hip-hop, jazz, lyrical, tap, tumbling, musical theater, theater arts and competition classes as well as special-needs classes. The center also offers adult ballet and tap. Most classes are $65 or $70 per month.

• The Cadouxdle Dance Studio (297 Derry Road, Hudson, 459-4392, thecadouxdledancestudio.com) Classes start at age 3 and beginner-friendly classes are available for elementary and middle school-age kids. Cadouxdle also offers private lessons and beginner-friendly adult classes. Offerings include tap, ballet, jazz, lyrical and more.

• Concord Dance Academy (26 Commercial St., Concord, 226-0200, concorddanceacademy.com) Competition classes start Sept. 9 and recreational classes start Sept. 16 and include tap/ballet/jazz combo classes (for ages 2-4 and 5-7), ballet, tap, hip-hop, jazz, contemporary (for ages 13+), pointe (also age 13+, by invitation) and karate. Tuition starts at $80. Adult classes in several subjects are also available.

• Creative Dance Workshop of Bow (1355 Route 3A, Unit A & B, Bow, 225-7711, nhdances.com) Classes start Sept. 11 and include Tiny Dancers (for ages 18 months through 3 years), Dance Kids (for ages 3-4), combo classes (tap/ballet/jazz or tap/jazz) grouped by age, and single-subject classes — ballet, tap, jazz, musical theater, acro, lyrical/contemporary and hip-hop. There are also dance teams (auditions required) and adult classes. Tuition per class is $75 per month.

• The Dance Company (130 Route 101A, Amherst, 864-8374, thedancecompanyonline.com) Classes begin in September. Offerings include preschool (grouped by age, from under 3 through 5) classes (ballet, tumble, tap) as well as acro, ballet, hip-hop, jazz, tap and theater for ages 5 through 18. Lyrical/contemporary and power clinics are also offered. Monthly tuition starts at $64 and is based on length of class.

• Dance Connection Fitness & Performing Arts (8 Rockingham Road, Windham, 893-4919, danceconnectionnh.com) The new season begins Sept. 16. Combo classes, grouped by age, are available for ages 2 1/2 through 8 (combos include ballet/tap, ballet/tap/jazz, hip-hop/gymnastics) as well as a cheerleader/gym class for ages 7-10. Single-subject classes include hip-hop (starting at age 5, including an all-boys class), contemporary (starting at age 8), gymnastics (starting at age 6) and company classes (which perform and compete).

• Dance Visions Network (699 Mast Road, Manchester, 626-7654, dancevisionsnetwork.com) Classes begin after Labor Day and are geared toward age 7+. Subjects include ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary, hip-hop and tumbling. Monthly tuition is based on length of class.

• The Dancing Corner (23 Main St., Nashua, 889-7658, dancingcorner.com) Classes for the fall/winter/spring begin after Labor Day. Tuition is based on classes per week and is broken up into five equal payments, due on the first class of each new seven-week session. Classes range in age from 3 through adult with pre-dance classes (grouped by age) available for kids ages 3 through 6. Class subjects include ballet, jazz, tap, hip-hop, lyrical, musical theater and more.

• Dimensions in Dance (84 Myrtle St., Manchester, 668-4196, dimensionsindance.com) Classes begin Sept. 9. Classes are available for ages 2 through adult and focuses include ballet, acro-jazz, contemporary, jazz, hip-hop, lyrical, modern, tap, theater dance and more. Monthly tuition is based on class length and starts at $55.

• Gen’s Dance Studio (151 Manchester St., Building 5, Concord, 224-0698) Classes start Sept. 16. Ages 3+. Tap, ballet, lyrical, jazz, tumbling. No registration fee. Prices vary based on class and age.

• Happy Feet Dance School (25 Indian Rock Road, Windham, 434-4437, happyfeetdanceschool.biz) Classes start at age 2 and are available through teens. Dance classes for ages 2-5 include Tiny Tots, Creative Dance and Kinder Kids classes. Offerings for ages 6 and up (grouped by age and skill level) include ballet, jazz, tap, hip-hop, contemporary and more. Monthly tuition is based on length of class and starts at $65.

• Highland Dance of NH Scot (nhscot.org) is accepting new students for its classes, which will run in four sessions during the 2023-2024 school year, starting with the first session on Oct. 7. Eight-week sessions take place on Monday at 25 Triangle Park Drive in Concord, divided by ages with the youngest group (ages 5-6) dancing from 4:15 to 4:45 p.m. and then a beginner level I (ages 7-16) and beginner level II (ages 9-17) class.

• Kathy Blake Dance Studios (3 Northern Blvd., Amherst, 673-3978, kathyblakedancestudios.com) Classes begin Sept. 4. Classes are available for kids as young as 1 (walking) and classes for older preschoolers include ballet, tap & ballet and AcroDance. Classes for ages 5 through 18 (grouped by age and skill) include jazz, musical theater jazz, hip-hop, lyrical contemporary, AcroDance, ballet, tap and more. The studio also offers dance teams (grouped by age) and adult classes. Monthly tuition is based on class length and starts at $60.

• Londonderry Dance Academy (21 Buttrick Road, Londonderry, 432-0032, londonderrydance.com) Class begins Sept. 3 and offerings include ballet (starting at ages 2), jazz, tap, contemporary, hip-hop, acro and triple threat prep (open to ages 8-17). Tuition is billed every two months and is based on class length.

• Martin School of Dance (288 Route 101, Bedford, 488-2371, martinschoolofdance.com) Classes start Sept. 3 and include ballet, hip-hop, tap, acro and jazz. Classes are available for ages 2-5, ages 5-7 and ages 7+, including a program focused solely on ballet. (Adult fitness classes are also available).

• Melissa Hoffman Dance Center (210 Robinson Road, Hudson, 886-7909, melissahoffmandancecenter.info) Classes begin Sept. 9 and include offerings from babies through teens. Dance focuses include ballet, tap, hip-hop, tumble, modern, lyric and jazz.

• Miss Kelsey’s Dance Studio (2626 Brown Ave., Manchester, 606-2820, mkdance.com) Classes include acro, ballet, breakdance, lyrical/contemporary, hip-hop, jazz, tap and musical theater as well as a series of classes for preschool (as young as 1 1/2 years) students.

• Nancy Chippendale’s Dance Studios (49 Range Road, Building 2, Suite A, Windham, 458-7730, chippswindham.com) The studio offers Babysteps (ages 1-4) programming as well as recreational (ages 2-19) and competitive (entering grades 3-12; audition required) offerings. Recreational classes (grouped by age) include combo classes featuring ballet, tap, jazz and hip-hop (the mix of styles is based by age).

• New England School of Dance (679 Mast Road, Manchester, 935-7326, newenglandschoolofdance.com) offers a variety of classes that range from 30 minutes per week to an hour or two per week for younger students to classes for students hoping for a career in dance or theater (students in the pre-professional track, for example, take six to 10 hours of dance per week). Dance styles include ballet, tap, jazz, hip-hop, lyrical and acro. Monthly tuition is based on class length/number of class hours.

• New England Scottish Arts Centre has ongoing Highland dance classes for kids 7 and older with the first lesson always free and subsequent lessons $15 per class, according to their website. Classes are held on Sundays at noon and will be at the Creative Dance Workshop (1355 Route 3A, Bow). They also offer a version for kids ages 4-6 called Tartan Tots. Visit nhssa.org/dance.

• New Hampshire Academie of Dance (1 Action Blvd., No. 4, Londonderry, 432-4041, nhadance.com) Classes range from babies (Dance and Play With Me, starting at 8 months) through teen. Dance classes include ballet, aerial, hip-hop, jazz, acro, lyrical and tap. Monthly tuition is based on length of class/number of class hours and starts at $57.

• New Hampshire School of Ballet (183 Londonderry Tpke., Hooksett, 668-5330, nhschoolofballet.com) Class offerings include ballet (for kids starting at 2 1/2 years), tap, jazz, tumblers and lyrical. Students perform in two shows a year. Monthly tuition is based on class level and number of classes per week.

• N-Step Dance Center (1134 Hooksett Road, Hooksett, 641-6787, nstepdance.com) Class offerings include preschool offerings (tiny tots for ages 1 1/2 as well as pre-dance), as well as multiple levels of ballet, lyrical, musical theater, jazz, hip-hop and tumbling. Monthly tuition varies by level and number of classes per month.

• Palace Theatres Dance Studio (palacetheatre.org) offers 11-week sessions starting in September, teaching technique and choreography in jazz, tap, contemporary and more. Classes are held at Forever Emma Studios, 516 Pine St., Manchester. Intro to Dance is for ages 3-5; a tap/jazz/ ballet hybrid class is offered for grades 1-2 and for grades 3-5. Classes in hip-hop and contemporary dance are offered for grades 4-12, and for grades 6-12 there are three levels of classes in tap, jazz, and dance technique. Classes cost $240 with some categories offering additional courses for $180.

• Rise Dance Studio (125 Northeastern Blvd., Nashua, 402-2706, risedancenh.com) Class offerings include pre-dance as well as ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary and hip-hop. The studio also features by-invitation ballet, hip-hop and contemporary companies.

• Southern New Hampshire Dance Theater (19 Harvey Road, Bedford, 637- 4398, snhdt.org) Company and Nutcracker auditions will be held Friday, Aug. 23, and Saturday, Aug. 24, for ages 8-18. Classes are offered in divisions — preschool (18 months to 6 years), youth (7-18), pre-professional (ages 10-18) and adult. Youth classes include ballet, modern, jazz, tap and hip-hop. There is also a student company.

• Turning Pointe Center of Dance (371 Pembroke St., Pembroke, 485-8710, turningpointecenterofdance.com) Monthly tuition is based on number of classes and starts at $75. Classes include ballet, jazz, lyrical, hip-hop and tap.

• Unbound Dance Academy (237 Londonderry Tpke., Hooksett, 714-2821, unbounddanceacademy.com) Classes begin Wednesday, Sept. 7. Class offerings start with parent-and-tot (ages 2+) through pre-dance classes (grouped by age to 6 years old). Classes for older students include ballet, pointe, jazz, lyrical, modern/contemporary, tap, hip-hop, acro and musical theater.

GYMNASTICS

• A2 Gym & Cheer (16B Garabedian Drive, Salem, 328-8130, a2gc.com) Classes in gymnastics and tumbling start in September and registration is open now.

• Flipz the Gym for Kids (Flipz Gymnastics, 14 Chenell Drive, Concord, 224-3223, flipzgymnastics.com) offers classes for ages 12 months through 4 years, with ongoing openings as space is available. Classes are 45 minutes long with tuition based on the number of classes taken per week. Classes are Mondays through Tuesday at 8:30 and 9:30 a.m., Wednesdays at 8:30 a.m., and Saturday and Sunday at 8:30 and 9:30 a.m.

• Gymnastics Village (13 Caldwell Drive, Amherst, 889-8092, gymnasticsvillage.com) The school-year schedule begins Monday, Sept. 9. Gymnastics classes are offered for preschoolers and as after-school sessions (hour-long classes grouped by age). The studio also offers ninja challenge classes and boys’ and girls’ competitive gymnastics teams.

• Gym-Ken Gymnastics (184 Rockingham Road, Windham, 434-9060, gymkengymnastics.com) offers classes starting with walkers and preschoolers through a competitive girls’ team. Offerings include tumbling, gymnastics and parkour.

• Impact Gymnastics (301 River Road, Bow, 219-0343, impact-gymnastics.com) Classes start Tuesday, Sept. 5, and offerings include a preschool program (with classes for walking through 3 years old and 3-5 years old), a girls’ and boys’ recreational program, a boys’ and girls’ competitive program, a boys’ and girls’ pre-competitive program and a Special Athletes program designed for children ages 5-17.

• Noha’s Gymnastics Academy (200 Perimeter Road, Manchester, 518-7660; 30 Pond St., Nashua, 880-4927; ngacademy.us) offers recreational classes as well as a team.

• Palaestra Gymnastics Academy (8 Tinkham Ave., Derry, 818-4494, pgagym.com) offers preschool, recreational and team gymnastics as well as cheer/tumble. Fall classes start Sept. 9. • Phantom Gymnastics (142 Route 111, Hampstead, 329-9315, phantomgymnastics.com) Fall 1 session starts Sept. 9. The studio offers gymnastics for preschool and school age as well as a competitive team. Parkour and CPR education are also offered.

• Sky High Gymnastics (185 Elm St., Milford, 554-1097, skyhighgym.com) offers classes and open play.

• Southern New Hampshire Gymnastics Academy (4 Orchard View Drive, No. 11, Londonderry, 404-6181, snhga.com) Fall session classes begin Monday, Aug. 26. There are classes for ages 18 months through 18 years as well as a team program.

• Spectrum Gymnastics (26 Buttrick Road, Londonderry, 434-8388, spectrumgymnast.com) offers preschool and school-age classes grouped by age (including boys’ classes for grades 1-5). There are also two competitive teams.

• Tumble Town Gymnastics (444 E. Industrial Park Drive, No. 10, Manchester, 641-9591, tumbletownnh.com) offers preschool and school-age recreational and advanced classes as well as team programs. The new school year starts Tuesday, Sept. 3.

MARTIAL ARTS

• American Dragon Shaolin Kempo (146 Londonderry Turnpike, Unit 11, Hooksett, 629-9118, americandragonnh.com) offers classes for children, teens and adults, for $100 per month.

• Aqueous Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Fitness Center (30 Harvey Road, Bedford, 566-7775, aqueousbjj.com) offers individualized classes for children and adults.

• ATA Martial Arts of Merrimack (707 Milford Road, Merrimack, 881-5435, atabbanh.com) teaches self-defense to children and adults 4 years old and up, with in-person and virtual classes. Special focus is put on conflict avoidance and resolving conflict with words. Special-needs students are welcome.

• Averill’s Martial Arts Academy (3 N. Main St., Concord, 223-0300, averillsmartialarts.com) is a boxing gym with classes for men, women and children 10+. Beginners are allowed to participate at their own pace and comfort level and do not have to spar.

• Balance Point Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (50 Emerson Road, Milford, 470-7136, www.balancepointbjj.com) teaches classes to children and adults. Children’s classes are broken into two age groups — 5-9 years old, and 10-12 years old. Students ages 13 and 14 have the option of attending either the kids’ classes or adult classes with the head instructor’s approval.

• Bedford Martial Arts Academy (292 Route 101, Bedford, 626-9696; Bedford Martial Arts Academy East, 273 S. River Road, Bedford; 703-2327, bedfordmartialartsacademy.com) offers classes for mini masters (ages 3-6), as well as for school-age kids and teens and adults. The academy also operates the Elite After School program at Bedford elementary schools and on site at the academy.

• Blue Wave Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (1 Progress Ave., Nashua, 321-5032, bluewavejj.com) teaches classes to children ages 3-5 and 6-14. Priority is given to learning how to focus and behave responsibly.

• Bodyworks Martial Arts Training Center (45 Chenell Drive, Concord, 225-5620, bodyworksnh.com) teaches karate to children ages 4-6 and 7-11.

• Brazilian Top Team Londonderry (73 Rockingham Road, Londonderry, 212-9258, bttlondonderry.com) teaches classes for ages 4-6 once per week, and ages 7-16 twice per week.

• Bulsajo TaeKwonDo (703-1914, bulsajotkd.com) has classes for students 5 years old and up. Children’s classes focus on martial art skills, personal responsibility and listening skills. Classes are taught at the Allard Center YMCA (116 Goffstown Back Road, Goffstown) and Goffstown Parks and Recreation (55 S. Mast St., Goffstown).

• Capital City Tae Kwon Do (78 Fisherville Road, Concord, 227-0555, capitalcitytkd.com) teaches classes to boys and girls ages 6-12.

• Central Tae Kwon Do Academy (222 Central St., Suite 8, Hudson, 882-5617, central-tkd.com) offers tae kwon do and taerobics (a self-defense class).

• Checkmate Martial Arts (200 Elm St., Manchester, 666-5836, checkmateselfdefense.com) offers youth martial arts for ages 5-13 as well as adult classes.

• Chung’s Tae Kwon Do Academy (115 Northeastern Blvd., Nashua, 883- 2577, chungs-tkd.com) offers classes for ages 4 through adult.

• Concord Karate Studio and Academy (89 Fort Eddy Road, No. 3, Concord, 224-5425, cks-nh.com) teaches karate to children 3 years old and up. There is also a Family Class, where parents and children can learn together. There is an after-school program, which includes a 45-minute karate class, 45 minutes of academic support/tutoring and 45 minutes of special programming.

• Determined Martial Arts (Salzburg Square, 292 Route 101, Amherst, 672-3570, determinedma.com) offers classes for kids as young as 4 through adults.

• Dojo Sante (1 Winn Ave., Hudson, 467-9384, mbsdojosante.com) teaches martial arts to students 3 to 5 years old, and 6 and up, with a focus on anti-bullying behavior.

• Empowering Lives Martial Arts (542 Mast Road, No. 15, Goffstown, 978-414-5425, martialartsnewhampshire.com) has programs for ages 4-6 and 7-12 as well as teen and adult programs and special abilities programs (for children and adults). There is also a cardio kickboxing program open to teens and adults.

• Eric Menard’s Complete Martial Arts Academy (220 Innovative Way, Suite E, Nashua, 888-0010, cma-martialarts.com) offers classes for kids and adults.

• Family Martial Arts of Pelham (122 Bridge St., No. 6, Pelham, 635-8323, familymartialartsofpelham.com) offers classes for tots through teens.

• Gate City MMA (28 Charron Ave., Unit 8, Nashua, 722-0238, gatecitymma.com) teaches children 7 years old and up different aspects of Brazilian jiu jitsu, muay thai, wrestling, judo, kung fu and boxing. While the focus is confidence, respect, humility, leadership and skill, the classes are taught in a fun structure.

• Golden Crane Traditional Martial Arts (46 Lowell Road, No. 6, Windham, 437-2020, goldencranenh.com) offers classes grouped by age for ages 6 through teens as well as a variety of adult classes.

• Granite State American Kenpo Karate (290 Derry Road, No. 5, Hudson, 598-5400, gsakenpo.com) offers programs for kids ages 3+ as well as teens and adults.

• House of the Samurai (28 Buttrick Road, Londonderry, 434-2265, samurainh.com) teaches junior traditional karate classes geared toward children ages 4-12. Each class takes about 45 minutes.

• Independent Martial Arts School (138 Lake St, Nashua, 882-6917, imasnh.com) teaches children, teens and adults traditional kenpo karate, enshudo, weapons training, grappling and breaking.

• Inner Dragon Martial Arts (77 Derry Road, Hudson, 864-8756, innerdragonma.com) started enrolling beginner kids’ martial arts programs in July. There is also an after-school program.

• Inspired Martial Arts (58 Range Road, Windham, 893-7990, inspiredmartialartscenter.com) offers martial arts classes for kids as well as adults.

• Kaizen Academy (17 Freetown Road, No. 6, Raymond, 895-1545, raymondkarate.com) offers a juniors program for ages 6 to 12 as well as teen and adult programs.

• Karasu Tengu Academy (1 Chestnut St., No. 5D, Nashua, 689-4966, ktacademymma.com) teaches youth classes in Brazilian jiu jitsu, mixed martial arts and kickboxing for students 7+.

• Karate International of Windham (60 Rockingham Road, No. 14, Windham, 898-5367, windhamkarate.com) teaches karate to preschoolers, children, teens and adults.

• Kenpo Academy of Self Defense (40 Manchester Road, Derry, 437-9900, kenpo-academy.com) offers preschool, kid and teen programs (as well as adults).

• Kian Taekwondo (236 N. Broadway, Salem, 894-5425, kiantkd.com) teaches taekwondo to students 3 years old and up. The goal of the kids’ programs is to help children develop discipline as well as valuable self-defense skills.

• Leadership Martial Arts Academy (Harris Pond Plaza, 32 DW Highway, Unit 5, Merrimack, 718-0989, facebook.com/LMA603) Contact the studio for details.

• Leverage Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (70 Pembroke Road, Concord, 738-0227, leveragebjjnh.com) teaches Brazilian jiu jitsu to children 5-9 and 9-13.

• LFG Fitness – Life Fitness Goals (303 S. Broadway, Salem, 458-5899, lfgfitnessnh.com) offers a junior boxing program for teens and tweens, ages 11-17. A membership costs $99 per month.

• Manchester Karate & Gracie Jiu Jitsu Center (371 S. Willow St., Manchester, 625-5838, manchesterkarate.com) offers a kid program (for ages 4-12) and adult programs (13+) as well as self-defense programs for ages 14+.

• The Martial Arts Zone (31 Auburn St., Manchester, 206-5716, themartialartszone.com) Beginner kids’ classes are enrolling in August. Classes (grouped by age) run for ages 5-15. There are also a variety of adult classes.

• Meikyo Dojo (292 Derry Road, Hudson, 415-9658, meikyodojo.com) teaches children, teens and adults kyokshin karate, a traditional system of Japanese karate.

• Merrimack Karate (534 DW Highway, Merrimack, 424-7458, merrimackkarate.com) has programs for ages 6-12 as well as teen/adult programs for 13+.

• Mindset Wrestling (185 Elm St., Milford, 721-2551, mindsetwrestling.net) teaches wrestling to students in kindergarten through fifth grade, and in middle and high school.

• National Karate Institute (401 Main St., Salem, 205-1157, nationalkarateinstitute.godaddysites.com) teaches karate to children. Contact the studio for information.

• Neil Stone’s Karate Academy (22 Proctor Hill Road, Hollis, 672-8933, neilstoneskarate.com) offers programs (grouped by age) for ages 2-12 as well as teen/adult programs for 13+. There is also a home-school program.

• New England Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy (30 Henniker St., Unit 9, Concord, 369-4764, nebjj.com) offers a program for ages 5-8 and ages 9-13. Kids’ classes start at $100 per month.

• NH Kicks Taekwondo Family Fitness (90 Airport Road, Concord, 714-5472, nhkicks.com) offers classes for children 5-12, for teenagers, and for families to study together.

• Ocasio’s True Martial Arts – Plaistow (160 Plaistow Road, No. 5, Plaistow, 382-4199, ocasiostma.com) teaches karate to students 3 and up.

• Phoenix Fire Martial Arts (79 Plaistow Road, Plaistow, 234-8665, phnixfire.com) offers Shotokan martial arts for ages 3 and up as well as teen/adult krav maga classes.

• Professional Martial Arts Academy (15 E. Broadway, Derry, 434-7995, pmaderry.com; 501 DW Highway, Merrimack, 429-0008, pmamerrimack.com; 37 Plaistow Road, Plaistow, 974-2455, pmaplaistow.com) offers kids’ martial arts and jiu jitsu as well as adult programs. Kids’ classes are for children age 3 and older. Three classes and a uniform are $19.99.

• Souhegan Valley Karate Club (1 Main St., Brookline, 505-6777, svkc.online) teaches Okinawan-style karate to “Karate Kids” ages 5-10 on Saturday mornings.

• School of Warrior Arts (125 N. Lowell Road, Windham, 781-249-7073, facebook.com/schoolofwarriorarts) teaches Christian-oriented uechi ryu karate & Brazilian jiujitsu to children and teens.

• SDSS Martial Arts of Concord (124 Hall St., Suite E, Concord, 224-3777, facebook.com/SDSSofConcord) Contact the studio for information.

• Spero’s Martial Arts Academy (31 Westville Road, Plaistow, 275-7111, speromma.com) offers martial arts for children 4-8, kids’ MMA for ages 8-13 and kids’ jiu jitsu.

• Southpaw Boxing & Fitness (41 Range Road, Windham, 324-8200, southpaw-boxing.com) is a boxing gym with a youth program designed for ages 6-15 that teaches real boxing skills.

• Strikeback Dynamic Defense Systems (458 DW Highway, Merrimack, 262-9299, strikebackdds.com) teaches martial arts and self-defense to youth and adult students.

• Tiger Black Belt Academy (11 Kimball Drive, Unit 121, Hooksett, 627-7744, tigerblackbeltacademy.com) is offering a start-up special for the fall for $99, which includes a uniform and a month of classes. Classes start at age 3½ and are available for all ages and levels of training.

• Tim Barchard’s Professional Martial Arts Academy (15 E. Broadway, Derry, 434-7995, pmaderry.com) teaches martial arts and Brazilian jiu jitsu to kids and adults.

• Tokyo Joe’s Studios of Self Defense (85A Northeastern Blvd., Nashua, 889-

4165; 20 Hammond Road, Milford, 672-2100; tokyojoes.net) offers programs, grouped by age, for kids starting at age 3, including a teen group for ages 13-17. There are also adult classes.

• Tokyo Joe’s Studios and Team Link NH (1338 Hooksett Road, Hooksett, 641-3444, tokyojoeshooksett.com) offers youth programs including kempo karate for ages 3-12, Brazilian jiu jitsu for ages 5-15 and kickboxing for ages 5-12. Adult programs start at 13 or 15, depending on the discipline.

• The Training Station (200 Elm St., Manchester, 505-0048, thetrainingstationnh.com) offers programs for kids, grouped by age, starting at age 3, with a teen class for ages 12-14 and adult and fitness programs starting at 15+.

• Triumph Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (456 W. Hollis St., Nashua, 769-3819, teamtriumphbjj.com) teaches Brazilian jiu jitsu to children and adults, six days per week.

• Universal Kenpo Federation (37 Wilton Road, Milford, 547-5226, facebook.com/UniversalKenpoFederation) offers lessons in kenpo karate to children and adults. Contact the studio for details.

• USA Ninja Challenge (locations at Gymnastics Village, 13 Caldwell Drive, Amherst, 889-8902, gymnasticsvillage.com; Flipz Gymnastics, 14 Chenell Drive, Concord, 224-3223, ninjaconcordnh.com; 17 Friars Drive, Unit 18, Hudson, 417-6820, ninjahudson.com; and 444 E. Industrial Park Drive, Manchester, 935-7100, ninjamanchesternh.com) offers ninja classes starting at age 4. The Concord location offers a teen fitness class and a class for ages 13-17. Hudson’s classes start at 2½, as do Manchester’s. There are also team programs for ages 6 and up.

• Valle Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (44 Nashua Road, Unit 19, Londonderry, 553-1736, vallebjj.com) teaches Brazilian jiu jitsu to children, teens and adults. • White Tiger Karate (120 Laconia Road, Suite 201, Tilton, 998-1511, whitetigerkarate.net) teaches children 18-36 months old, 3-4 years, 5-6 years, 7-9 years, and 10+ a mixture of karate, kung fu and muay Thai, with special instruction for children on the autism spectrum ages 7+.

• World Class Martial Arts (25 Nashua Road, Unit D3, Londonderry, 845-6115, londonderrymartialarts.com) offers classes for ages 3½ and up.

• Z10 Gibson’s Gym (168 Amory St., Manchester, 232-4651, facebook.com/Z10Taekwondo) Contact the studio for details.

• Zenith Martial Arts (40 Thorndike St., Concord, 513-9993, zenithmartialarts.net) offers kung fu classes grouped by age, starting at age 3, as well as kickboxing for ages 14+. An after-school program for 6+ is offered, with transportation from some Concord schools.

MUSIC

• AB Music School (4 Faxon Ave., Nashua, 978-677-9244, abmusicschool.com) offers personalized instruction on 15 instruments along with music theory and composition. Students are 4 years old and up. Lessons start at $120 per month.

• Amy Conley Music (102 Elm St., Milford, 249-9560, amyconleymusic.com) offers programs for families/early childhood and special needs, ukulele classes for teens and adults, and private guitar, ukulele, piano and banjo classes for ages 7 and up. Fall classes start Sept. 9.

• Bedford Youth Performing Company (155 Route 101, Bedford, 472-3894, bypc.org) offers musical programs for children as young as infants and toddlers as well as lessons for older kids in guitar, voice, piano, drums and percussion. BYPC also offers musical ensembles, including rock bands (by audition) for ages 10+. Fall lessons start Aug. 26.

• Bemish Green Piano Studio (188 Central St., Hudson, 235-9378, greenpiano.com) teaches piano to children and adults. Appointments may be scheduled up to 50 weeks in advance, and rescheduled or canceled 24 hours a day. Lessons begin at $147 per month.

• Bordeleau Keyboard Studios (8 Maple Drive, Bedford, 472-5566, facebook.com/BordeleauKeyboardStudios) is dedicated to the fine art of keyboard education. Contact the Studios for details.

• Carey & Henderson Vocal Studio (14 Court St., Nashua, 889-6580, careyhendersonvocal.org) trains vocalists of all ages and abilities. Styles include musical theater, popular music, jazz, opera/classical music, or any combination of the above. Lessons by appointment only.

• Charles Davis Drum Instructor (58 Monroe St., Nashua, 930-9897) teaches students in elementary school to high school, beginner to advanced.

• Concord Community Music School (23 Wall St., Concord, 228-1196, ccmusicschool.org) offers private lessons for voice, banjo, bass, bassoon, cello, clarinet, composition, double bass, fiddle, flute, French horn, guitar, mandolin, oboe, percussion, piano, recorder, saxophone, trombone, trumpet, tuba, ukulele, viola and violin. There are also group classes and ensembles for kids and teens (including, for teens, folk, rock and jazz bands). Tuition is based on a 16-week semester; financial aid is available. Classes start in September.

• Don Sanni Guitar & Bass Lessons (108 Taylor St., Nashua, 882-7468, donsanni.com) teaches students 8 years old and up.

• Eric Dupont Drum Instruction (809-9575, ericdupontdrums.com) teaches drummers of all ages. Lesson topics include Rudiments & Snare Drum Studies, Drum Set Technique & Coordination, Fundamental Drum Set Grooves, Song Forms, Brush Techniques, Chart Reading/Interpretation, Improvisation/Solo Transcription & Analysis, Equipment & Tuning, and Drum Set History & Evolution.

• Figaro Music Studios (254 N. State St., Unit G, Concord, 369-0265, figaromusicstudios.com) teaches children in preschool and older piano, guitar and choir skills.

• Guitar Center (1051 S. Willow St., Manchester, 621-3016; 258 DW Highway, Suite 4, Nashua, 891-5777, guitarcenter.com/services/lessons) teaches students of all ages and abilities guitar, bass, drums, piano, voice, DJing and more.

• Hollis Musical Arts (154 Witches Spring Road, Hollis, 400-1026, hollismusicalarts.com) teaches piano and voice to students of all ages.

• Jeanne Martin Piano Studio (38 Pearson Road, Merrimack, 493-2961, musictoenjoy.com) teaches piano to children and adults.

• Jimmy Mags Music Lessons (321 Laxson Ave, Manchester, 682-2550, jimmymagsmusic.com) teaches guitar, bass and piano to students of all ages. Lessons start at $110 per month.

• John Medeiros Jr. Music (498-3819, johnmedeirosjr.com) teaches drums, guitar and bass.

• Joy of Piano (1 Pembroke Drive, Derry, 703-8400, nhpianolessons.com) offers private instruction for children ages 5+.

• Kevin Horan Music (494-2716, kevinhoranmusic.com) teaches guitar and drums in person or online.

• Let’s Play Music! (2626 Brown Ave., Unit A2, Manchester, 218-3089; 145 Hampstead Road, Derry, 425-7575; 136 Lowell Road, Hudson, 882-8940; letsplaymusic.com) has choral groups and musical theater programs and rock bands as well as private lessons in piano, guitar & bass, stringed instruments, singing, drums, horns and reed instruments, ukulele, banjo, mandolin and accordion. Kindermusik classes are available for newborns through 4 years old and Kidzrock classes are available for 4- to 7-year-olds.

• Lidman Music Studio (419 Amherst St., Nashua, 913-5314, lidmanmusic.com) offers lessons in piano, violin and viola, with individual instruction and yearly recitals, for children as well as adults.

• Manchester Community Music School (2291 Elm St., Manchester, 644-4548, mcmusicschool.org) offers group programs, including a jazz ensemble, orchestras and choirs. Private lessons are offered in woodwind, brass, percussion, strings, voice, music theory, composition, piano, guitar, harp, ukulele, mandolin and more. Early childhood classes are also available.

• Manchester Music Mill (329 Elm St., Manchester, 623-8022, manchestermusicmill.com) See mmmlessons.com for the lessons-related landing page. Lessons include guitar, bass, drums, saxophone, clarinet, flute, trumpet, trombone, piano and voice.

• Melody Music Studios (277-3289, melodymusicstudios.com) teaches lessons in home, in a studio, or online, including piano, voice, guitar, drums, voice and band instruction.

• Merrimack Music Academy (1 Bryce Drive, Merrimack, merrimackmusicacademy.com, 493-9214) offers customized private music (including guitar, bass guitar and piano) and voice lesson for children and adults, according to their Facebook post.

• Mike Loce Music (5 Bowers Landing Drive, No. 304, Merrimack, 318-1723, mikeloce.com) teaches guitar to students of all ages.

• Milford Music Academy (37 Wilton Road, Milford, 219-1518) teaches in person or online for guitar, piano, voice, drums and bass guitar.

• Minjing Vandenbos Music Studio (52 Main St., Nashua, minjingvandenbos.com) provides piano instruction to students of all ages.

• Music Lessons By Lisa N (11 Redwood Ave, Concord, 781-832-2127, facebook.com/MusicByLisaN) provides instruction on saxophone, flute, clarinet, violin, piano and musical theory to students 5 to adult.

• Music Workshop of Concord (64 Dunklee St., Concord, 226-0690, musicworkshopofconcord.com) teaches piano to students from early childhood up.

• Nashua Community Music School (2 Lock St., Nashua, 881-7030, nashuacms.org) offers private lessons in piano, guitar, voice, violin, cello, flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, French horn, trombone and percussion. The school also offers music therapy for all ages, a group music class and ensembles including a rock band for current students. Introductory classes for kids include Mini Musicians (for ages 4 to 7) and Broadway Star Search (ages 7 to 10). The academic year starts on Sept. 9.

• NH Guitars (41 Range Road, Windham, 978-267-7597) teaches guitar, bass and ukulele to students of all ages.

• NH Tunes (250 Commercial St., No. 2017, Manchester, 660-2208, nhtunes.biz) offers lessons in voice, guitar, piano, ukulele, drum, banjo/mandolin and band instruments. There are also music discovery lessons (where a student can try multiple instruments) and music production.

• North Main Music (28 Charron Ave., Nashua, 505-4282, northmainmusic.com) teaches students of all ages guitar, drums, piano, bass, voice, violin, saxophone, ukulele and trumpet. North Main especially recommends the ukulele for students under 8 years old.

• Palace Theatre Voice Studio (palacetheatre.org) offers private vocal coaching each month, in person at Forever Emma studios in Manchester and via Zoom with professional performers from around the country, for grades 2 through 12, $30 per half hour. Email meganalves@palacethe-

atre.org for information.

• Peter Hostage Music Lessons (12 Adams Road, Londonderry, 437-2575, peterhostagemusiclessons.com) offers lessons in piano, guitar, bass guitar, voice, drums, banjo and mandolin to children and adults, in person or online.

• Piano Studio of Jacqueline Morin (15 Marion St., Concord, 508-633-5534, missjackienotes.com) teaches piano to students from 4 to adult.

• Quality Music Lessons (166 N. Broadway, Unit 4, Salem, 890-0209, qualitymusiclessonssalem.com) teaches individual lessons in voice and audition preparation, instruments and music theory. Instruments include piano, drums, ukulele, classical guitar, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass and banjo. A flat fee of $100 is paid monthly for 30-minute weekly lessons.

• Rattlebox Studio (in Kimball Jenkins School of Art, 266 N. Main St, Concord, 770-298-6482, mraaronmusic.com) Mr. Aaron leads music classes for children up to 7 years old. Weekly, every Wednesday and Friday and most Saturdays at 9:30 a.m. Each 45-minute class is an introduction to music and creativity. Children sing, drum and dance to favorite original songs, kids’ classics and pop favorites. Each session is $15 for the first child, $10 for each sibling.

• The Real School of Music (10 A St., Derry, 260-6801, therealschoolofmusic.com) teaches music lessons for students ages 5 and up, bands and ensembles for students 9 and up, Yamaha group classes for ages 3 to 7, musical theater for ages 7 to 14, and adaptive music for neurodivergent students.

• Satellite School of the Arts (222 Cedar St., Manchester, satelliteschoolofthearts.com) teaches instrument lessons in piano, guitar, bass, violin, drums and saxophone, as well as songwriting and recording, and vocal and performance coaching. Financial assistance is available.

• School of Rock Nashua (225 DW Highway, Nashua, 600-7625, schoolofrock.com) is slated to open in Fall 2024 and will offer music programs for kids as young as 4 years old and songwriting programs for kids 12 and up as well as a house band program for ages 17 and under, according to the website where you can sign up to get updates on the opening.

• Souhegan Piano Instruction (294 Route 101, Unit 6, Amherst, 672-4844, see listing on Facebook) provides piano training to children of various ages.

• Strings and Things Music (339 Village St., Concord, 228-1971, stringsandthingsmusic.com) is a music store, offering lessons in banjo, mandolin, bass, clarinet, djembe, drums, fiddle, flute, saxophone, guitar, piano, trumpet and ukulele. Register for classes on the store’s website.

• Suzuki Violin Studio (890 Valley St., Manchester, 785-1884, musiclessonsnh.com) offers instruction in the studio, in students’ homes, or online. Instruments include violin, viola, cello, drums, guitar, piano, bass guitar, mandolin, songwriting and performing, music theory and improvisation training, rock band coaching, and ensemble and chamber music.

• Ted Herbert Music School (Majestic Studio Theatre, 880 Page St., Manchester; majestictheatre.net, tedherbert.com) offers lessons in brass, drums, guitar/bass, piano/keyboard, strings, theater/dance, voice and woodwind. Instrument rentals are available. The school also holds open mic nights for musicians of all levels.

• Travis Shelby Music Lessons (370-8853, travisshelbymusic.com) teaches students of all ages to play acoustic, electric or bass guitar. Lessons are structured around a student’s personal musical interests.

• Trinity Music Academy (Trinity Baptist Church, 80 Clinton St., Concord, 410-4138, tbcnh.org/tma) offers individual music lessons for flute, guitar (individual and group), piano (individual and group), trumpet, ukulele, viola, violin, voice and orchestra. There is a registration fee of $100, and a re-enrollment fee of $100. Thirty lessons are guaranteed through the academic year.

• The Voice Studio (16 Crystal Ave., Derry, 560-2495, thevoicestudione.com) teaches lessons to students of all ages in voice, piano, guitar, bass, ukulele and saxophone. Twice per year the Studio holds a recording camp.

• Weare School of Music (77 Barnard Hill Road, Weare, 206-0135, see listing on Facebook) is currently booking lessons for the fall in all school band instruments, piano, guitar, ukulele, recorder, violin, viola, cello and voice.

• Zagaria Vocal Academy Manchester (954-418-9730, musicandvoicelessonsmanchesternh.com) teaches musicians of all ages in piano, trumpet and voice.

SPORTS

• Amherst Soccer Club (amherstsoccerclub.com) Programs include tots (birth year 2020 to 2022), EDP U6-U10 (birth year 2015 to 2019) and U8-U19 Travel (birth year 2006 to 2016). In addition to a fall season, there is also winter skill training and a spring season.

• Bedford Athletic Club (bedfordac.com) Registration for fall soccer is open now. This is a six-week program designed to provide an opportunity to develop fundamental soccer skills in a fun environment, with recreational programs for pre-K, kindergarten, grades 1-2, grades 3-4, grades 5-6, and grades 7-9. An adaptive program is also listed. The cost is $65.

• Bedford Little League (bedfordll.com) fall baseball registration is open until Aug. 19. for Intermediates (ages 12-14), Majors (10-12), Minors AAA/AA Combo (8-10), and Single A Clinic (6-8). The 2024 fall season runs from Aug. 20 through Oct. 31. Visit the website to register.

• Boys & Girls Club of Central and Northern NH (55 Bradley St., Concord, 224-1061, nhyouth.org/athletics) The Meraki Volleyball Club of Bedford and the Boys & Girls Club are offering a program designed to teach and perfect foundational skills at every position. Kids in grades 4-6 will develop skills and work with trained staff to improve in the world of volleyball. The program costs $100 for one evening per week, and $185 for two evenings. The session runs from Sept. 17 through Oct. 23.

• Cannons Baseball Club (Concord, cannonsbaseballclub.com) offers year-round baseball and softball for middle school and high school.

• Concord Crew (concordcrew.org) offers fall, spring and summer youth programs, no prior experience necessary, according to the website. Practices take place at Bert Wittemore Bouthouse, 15 Loudon Road in Concord.

• Concord Soccer Association (concordsoccer.com) provides community-based youth soccer instruction and games. The program approach fosters character development, sportsmanship, skill acquisition and fun in a positive, respectful environment. It is focused on player development and has no standings, won-loss records, championships or playoffs below U12. Age groups for fall 2024: Kiddie Kicker I boys and girls born in 2020, Kiddie Kickers II boys and girls born in 2019, U8 boys and girls born in 2017 or 2018, U10 boys and girls born in 2015 or 2016, U12 boys and girls born in 2013 or 2014, U14 boys and girls born in 2012 or 2011 (boys born August-December 2010 will play U14 too, this fall), U19 girls born 2006-2010 (no U19 boys in fall because of HS soccer; there will be U19 boys next spring). Registration fees:Kiddie Kicker I $90, Kiddie Kicker II $125, U8 $140, U10 and above $160. A $25 fee will be charged on all registrations submitted after Aug. 9. Availability of a spot on a team is not guaranteed, even if registration is open.

• Concord Youth Soccer (concordnh.gov/1407/Fall-Youth-Soccer) Concord Parks & Recreation offers fall soccer leagues for children ages 4 years old through 6th grade. Leagues are broken down by age, grade and school: Soccer Fun-Damentals (ages 4 and 5), Division I (grades K and 1), Division II (grades 2 and 3), Division III (grades 4-6).

• Concord Youth Hockey Association (capitals.concordyouthhockey.org) The 2024 fall hockey season runs from October through December and features Learn To Skate, Intro to Hockey (Atoms), DynoMites (birth years 2019 through 2016) and Capitals Travel Team programs.

• Conway Arena (5 Stadium Drive, Nashua, 595-2400, conwayarena.com) Registration for fall skating opened Aug. 7. Conway is a hockey and figure skating rink with programs for all ages and abilities.

• Derry Diamond Athletic Association (derryll.org) offers baseball (ages 6-13) and softball (ages 6-14) fall programs. Registration will begin soon; check the website for updates.

• Derry Soccer Club (derrysoccerclub.org) offers recreation, intertown and travel leagues. Recreational programs are open for ages 2.5 and up with fall and spring seasons. The fall season begins in September.

• Girls on the Run New Hampshire (137 Water St., No. 3, Exeter, 778-1389, girlsontherunnh.org) is offered for girls in grades 3-8. Registration for the lottery for a spot in Girls on the Run NH opened Aug. 8. See the website for locations, which set their own weekly meet-up and run schedules, or to start a team. The fall season culminates in a 5K on Nov. 16 in Concord.

• Goffstown Junior Baseball (goffstownjrbaseball.com) There are currently spots open on the following Little League teams for the fall season: tee-ball, minor-player pitch, intermediate (50/70) and senior teams. Registration closes on Aug. 18.

• Goffstown Screamin’ Eagles (screamineagles.org) is a local nonprofit youth sports organization for ages 5-15, providing safe and competitive cheer teams for the youth of Goffstown and surrounding areas. Registration for the 2024 fall season is open.

• Granite Base Camp (300 Blondin Road, Manchester, 617-615-0004, experiencebasecamp.org) offers programming in archery, STEM, fishing, hiking, arts & crafts, environmental studies and more for ages 6-17.

• Granite State Kids New Hampshire Junior Team Tennis (granitestatekids.com) offers fall and spring programs in Bedford and winter junior team events at the YMCA in Goffstown. Fall tennis meets Mondays and Wednesday and begins Monday, Sept. 2. Classes are available for kids as young as 5 through kids 11+, with beginner, advanced beginner and intermediate levels.

• The Icenter (60 Lowell Road, Salem, 893-4448, icentersalem.com) offers competitive and recreational figure skating, learn to skate and learn to play hockey programs and Top Gun Hockey.

• Londonderry Soccer Club (londonderrysc.org) offers fall and spring recreational programs as well as a travel program. Recreation programs are available for ages 2 1/2 through 18. There is also a Unified Top Soccer program for grades K-8 for “athletes who need physical or emotional assistance in order to participate,” open to kids in Londonderry, Litchfield and Hudson. Registration is open now. The 2024 season runs from Sept. 7 through Oct. 26.

• Longfellow New Hampshire Tennis & Swim Club (140 Lock St., Nashua, 883-0153, longfellownh.com) offers junior tennis clinics for ages 5-18 of all abilities, Monday, Sept. 9, through Sunday, Nov. 3.

• Manchester Basketball League (manchesterbasketballleague.com) The 4th Annual Manchester Basketball League is set to begin in October and November. Registration will be open in August and September. There are divisions for boys and girls, ages 4+.

• Manchester East Soccer League (mesl.org) offers soccer for ages 4-18 (with interleague play for ages 12-18). Registration for fall costs $60 per player, $140 max per family.

• Manchester North Soccer League (PO Box 58, Manchester, mnsl.org) offers recreational soccer for kids ages 5-19 ($90 per kid for the season) and for younger kids ($55 per player). Its home fields are at Livingston Park in Manchester.

• Manchester Soccer League (manchestersoccerleague.com) The 3rd Annual Manchester Soccer League on the West Side will begin Saturday, Aug. 31. Register online.

• The Manchester Police Athletic League (409 Beech St., Manchester, 626-0211, manchesterpoliceathleticleague.org) offers a variety of athletic and enrichment programs, all of which are free. There are youth sports programs in aikido, boxing, skateboarding and wrestling. Visit the League website.

• Manchester Youth Sports Leagues The City of Manchester offers a variety of youth sports opportunities, from leagues to special tournaments. Leagues are run by private organizations but use fields and facilities maintained by Manchester Parks & Recreation. Sports leagues include baseball, basketball, football, ice hockey, soccer and softball. See links on the Manchester Parks and Recreation website for more specific information.

• Meraki Volleyball Club (68 Technology Drive, Bedford, 978-219-4041, merakivolleyball.com) Fall training for boys and girls in grades K-8 begins Aug. 29. Boys team tryouts are Aug. 18 and Aug. 25; girls team tryouts will be held in October.

• Merrimack Youth Baseball (myabaseball.com) is accepting registrations for the following age groups: T-Ball (ages 3-4), Rookie (ages 5-6), AA (ages 7-8), AAA (ages 9-10), Majors (ages 11-12) and Babe Ruth (ages 13-16).

• Milford Community Athletic Association (mcaa.us) Registration is open for the fall season in soccer, baseball and softball; contact the Association for details.

• My Gym Children’s Fitness Center (410 S. River Road, Bedford, 668-7196, mygym.com/bedford) offers classes for infants starting at 3 months old through preschool with a few classes for older kids (up to 10 years old, according to the website) including ninja training and gymnastics.

• Nashua Cal Ripken Baseball (multiple field locations in Nashua and surrounding towns, nashuacalripken.org) offers fall ball for ages 4-12 (with ages 4-6 playing tee-ball). The fall season starts in September and runs through October.

• NH Climbing and Fitness (10 Langdon Ave., Concord, 715-9171, nhclimbinggym.com) has climbing classes for ages 3-5, 6-8 and 9+. Call for more information.

• NE Inferno Baseball (noreastersbaseball.com) operates in regional facilities including in Nashua (3 Progress Ave.) for 10U to 16U.

• New Hampshire Junior Roller Derby (facebook.com/NHJrRollerDerby) teaches roller derby to any gender ages 8-17. See the website for future sessions and events.

• New Hampshire Spartans Youth Basketball (nhspartans.com) offers three tryout dates for Seacoast and Derry AAU teams starting Aug. 25 for grades 2 through high school for the fall season.

• New Hampshire Sportsplex (68 Technology Drive, Bedford, 641-1313, nhsportsplex.com) offers youth flag football (grouped by ages) for ages 5 through high school and youth recreational soccer in five age groups.

• New Hampshire Tomahawks Lacrosse (nhtomahawks.com) offers fall leagues and indoor winter leagues as well as fall clinics with programs starting for kids kindergarten and up (a recent summer program started at age 3).

• Project S.T.O.R.Y. (Supporting Talents of Rising Youth) (39 Shaker Road, Concord, 491-7740, projectstorynh.com/sports) offers soccer, basketball and dance programs. Project S.T.O.R.Y. pays all fees to select affiliated programs and offers transportation to those who need it. The Project’s Keach Soccer Club offers a fun and supportive environment for players of all ages and abilities at Keach Park in Concord. It meets once a week for pickup-style soccer, allowing athletes to learn from various players.

• Salem Youth Baseball (salemyouthbaseball.net) Registration is open for the fall season. Tee-ball is available for ages 4-6; baseball is available for ages 7-14.

• Seacoast Fencing Club (271 Wilson St., Manchester; 261 N. Main St., Rochester, 428-7040, seacoastfencingclub.org) offers group lessons for as young as 7, as well as competitive training starting at age 7, and private lessons. Both facilities will be closed during August.

• Tri-Town Ice Arena (311 W. River Road, Hooksett, 270-1024, tri-townicearena.com) is accepting registrations for its Learn To Skate, Learn Hockey and hockey league programs.

• Vertical Dreams (250 Commercial St., Manchester, 625-6919; 25 E. Otterson St., Nashua, 943-7571; verticaldreams.com) offers a youth climbing club (for kids ages 6-12 who are beginning climbers) beginning Sept. 24 in Manchester and Sept. 26 in Nashua. The youth climbing team (for experienced climbers ages 12-18) session starts on Sept. 25 in Manchester and Sept. 26 in Nashua. Both programs have a 10-week session. For either age group, the cost is $285.

• Weare Athletic Club (weareathleticclub.com) Registration is open for fall youth field hockey. The season starts Sept. 8.

• Wrestling Rebels (Boys & Girls Club of Greater Derry, 40 E. Derry Road, Derry, 434-6695, derrybgclub.org/team-page) is a youth wrestling club for kids pre-k through 8th grade. The wrestling season usually starts in October.

THEATER

• Actorsingers (219 Lake St., Nashua, 889-9691, actorsingers.org) amateur community theater group holds auditions for Teen Actorsingers productions in spring with show dates in summer and fall.

• Bedford Youth Performing Company (155 Route 101, Bedford, 472-3894, bypc.org) Classes begin the week of Aug. 26 and run through June 2025. BYPC offers several classes in performance and acting starting at age 4 through high school as well as by-invitation musical theater classes. Students can also participate in fall, Christmas and spring productions.

• The Community Players of Concord (communityplayersofconcord.org) offer winter and summer vacation camps and workshops as well as audition opportunities through their Children’s Theatre Project. The current show being auditioned is Bye Bye Birdie, with auditions Sunday, Aug. 18, and Monday, Aug. 19. See the website for details and requirements.

• Derryfield Repertory Theater (2108 River Road, Manchester, derryfieldrepertorytheatre.com) is a summer company founded in 2006 by Laurel Devino. Over the summer, DRT has two sessions of a musical theater camp for children in grades 4-12. For the first time, the DRT will stage a winter show in February 2025. According to the DRT website, more information will be available this fall.

• Kids Coop Theatre (46 E. Derry Road, Derry, kctnh.org) is open to kids ages 8-18. To audition for a show, membership to Kids Coop costs $30. The next show is Disney Descendants – The Musical. See the website for info about auditions and rehearsals.

• The Majestic Academy of Dramatic Arts (880 Page St., Manchester, 669-7469, majestictheatre.net) provides performing opportunities in community theater productions year-round. The next production is Sh-Boom: A Christmas Miracle with auditions Sunday, Aug. 18, at 7 p.m.

• Palace Youth Theatre (Forever Emma Studios, 516 Pine St., Manchester, 688-5588, palacetheatre.org) is open to performers in grades 2-12. The Palace Teen Company and the Palace Teen Apprentice Company are open to students ages 12-18 interested in pursuing theater beyond high school. Dance classes are offered (grouped by age) for ages 3 through 18+ beginning Sept. 9 and running for 11 weeks, culminating in a student showcase at the Palace Theatre. There will also be acting classes this fall. There are also several upcoming auditions for shows and for the teen companies; see palacetheatre.org/pyt/pyt-auditions.

• Peacock Players (14 Court St., Nashua, 886-7000, peacockplayers.org) offers vacation camps as well as productions for youth (ages 6-14), teens (ages 14-18), crossover (ages 6-18) and all ages. Upcoming auditions include Disney’s Alice in Wonderland Jr and Mean Girls High School Version.

• Riverbend Youth Company (Boys & Girls Club of Souhegan Valley, The Amato Center for the Performing Arts, 56 Mont Vernon St., Milford, amatocenter.org/riverbend-youth-company) presents mainstage plays and musicals with performers ages 6-18. Visit the Company’s website for news of upcoming auditions and productions.

Find your favorite comedians at a six-day festival and at venues around New Hampshire

Jimmy Dunn is having a great year. He plays Moose on the Paramount+ reboot of Frasier, and as a phone interview begins he’s standing outside a Hollywood soundstage, having just wrapped the second season. His last sitcom, The McCarthys, was canceled with four unaired episodes, so he’s in great spirits.

Dunn is mum about storylines, but he will say that fans of the show, which stars Kelsey Grammer, can expect a few head-spinning guest appearances when it returns Sept. 19. Additionally, there is one episode of the show that lingers in his mind as extra special.

“For a kid who started telling jokes in the back of Chinese restaurants, I couldn’t believe what I was doing,” he said. “What I did with Kelsey last week was just an absolute pinch-me moment, like this isn’t happening — is it really? It was so damn cool. There’s a lot to look forward to.”

His lucky streak on the West Coast continued with deciding to fly JetBlue before every other airline became immobilized by a massive computer bug. So Dunn will be home soon, and ready to kick off another Hampton Beach Comedy Festival.

The event began as an excuse for Dunn to invite a bunch of his comedian pals to his home in Hampton Beach for a few days of barbecuing steaks in his backyard, playing cards and surfing, after telling jokes at Ashworth-by-the-Sea, a hotel where he parked cars as a teen. It’s now held at McGuirk’s Ocean View Hotel.

Fifteen years on, the event has grown to six nights, with the camaraderie, along with the work and play vibe, remaining.

“I love California in the winter; I’m not as crazy about it in the summer,” Dunn said with a laugh. “I just wrapped up the coolest job I’ve ever had, so that part was cool, but I can’t wait to get back home and get to the beach and see my friends.”

Dunn appears at every show, as does Dave Rattigan, who’s also the festival’s producer and promoter. “It’s not what I do well,” Dunn said of handing the reins to Rattigan. “I’m not very details-oriented, that’s how I ended up in stand-up comedy, you know what I mean? I’m not that guy.”

Rattigan’s also hilarious; he’s even taught stand-up. He’ll also perform every night.

“He’ll do a little short set, but it’ll be different jokes,” Dunn said. “I’ll be doing different stuff every night. Every show is different.”

Back in the early 2000s, Dunn took part in the Nantucket Comedy Festival.

“My buddy Kevin used to have the keys to a hotel down there,” he said. “We stayed there for five days with 20 other comedians, and it was summer camp. It was absolute insanity. And we had so much fun doing that. When I came home from that, I was like, why don’t I do this in Hampton?”

The best part for Dunn is just having his friends over for dinner. “Usually, we’re in the back of a comedy club eating chicken wings. If we’re on the same show together; but people like Tony and I, we rarely are because we’re both at that headliner level. So the thing that I love the most is there are a lot of people on there that I don’t see all year.”

If it’s not a backyard dinner, at least Dunn has an hour with them after the crowd leaves McGuirk’s. “So that’s the thing I love the most. If the weather works out and there’s some waves, taking them and their kids surfing is always something that’s really, really cool. Then we usually get on to Playland afterward and we’ll play a few games. And there might be some gambling involved in that. But yeah, that’s it. It really is.”

Hampton Beach Comedy Festival
When: Tuesday, Aug. 13, through Sunday, Aug. 18. Shows start at 8 p.m. each day, doors open at 6 p.m. Shows are weather permitting (see website for information about weather cancellations).
Where: McGuirk’s Ocean View Hotel & Restaurant, 95 Ocean Blvd., Hampton, mcguirksoceanview.com
Tickets: $20 for each night, plus fees. Shows are 21+.
More info: hampton-beach-comedy-festival.weebly.com

Get more Jimmy Dunn
Jimmy has several local shows on the schedule, according to jimmydunn.com, where you can find all the dates for his Fall 2024 Hydrodynamic Tour.

Thursday, Aug. 29, at 6:30 p.m. for the Our Place Fundraiser at The Brook Casino in Seabrook. 18+ Tickets cost $35 in advance, $45 at the door.
Saturday, Sept. 7, at 7:30 p.m. at the Epping Community Theater in Epping, eppingtheater.org. 18+ Tickets cost $35.
Saturday, Sept. 28, 8 p.m. at BNH Stage in Concord, ccanh.com. Tickets cost $31 in advance, $36 at the door.
Friday, Nov. 1, at 8 p.m., Jimmy Dunn Comedy All Stars (with Andrew Della Volpe, Frank Santorelli, Jimmy Cash and Ken Rogerson) at the Nashua Center for the Arts, nashuacenterforthearts.com. Tickets cost $36.
Saturday, Nov. 2, at 8 p.m., Jimmy Dunn Comedy All Stars (with Andrew Della Volpe, Frank Santorelli, Jimmy Cash and Ken Rogerson) at the Colonial Theatre in Laconia, coloniallaconia.com. Tickets cost $36.
Saturday, Nov. 9, at 8 p.m. at Rochester Opera House, rochesteroperahouse.com. Tickets start at $31.

Jimmy’s Friends

The Hampton Beach Comedy Festival happens at McGuirk’s Ocean View Hotel & Restaurant in Hampton Beach with shows starting nightly at 8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 13, through Sunday, Aug. 18. Six comedians are on the schedule for each night. Every comic is there via a personal invitation from Dunn, and he goes back years with most of them. Others are new, met on the road at various shows. Here’s who’s coming to this year’s shindig. Can’t make it to the coast? We’ve included some other shows where you can find these regulars on the local scene and websites to check out their schedules.

Steve Bjork (Friday, Aug. 16)

He once turned down a role in The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas because he didn’t want to leave New England. Inspired to become a comic by listening to Bill Cosby as a kid, Bjork always works clean, noting, “Unless he’s dating you, there’s nobody cleaner than Cosby.” Find more upcoming shows at stevebjork.com. Catch him Saturday, Aug. 17, at 8:30 p.m. at Murphy’s Taproom in Manchester and at Cara Irish Pub in Dover on Thursday, Sept. 19, at 8 p.m.

Paul D’Angelo (Tuesday, Aug. 13)

Once an assistant district attorney and criminal-defense trial lawyer, D’Angelo is a comedy veteran with nearly four decades of stand-up under his belt. He has performed at venues such as the Friar’s Club and the Waldorf Astoria ballroom in New York City, as well as Harrah’s and Caesars Palace. Keep up with Paul at pdangelo.com.

Andrew Della Volpe (Friday, Aug. 16)

A Boston Comedy Festival finalist and a regular all over New England for the past six years, Volpe has appeared at Boston’s Comedy Attic as well as Manchester’s Shaskeen and Rex Theatre. From 2021 to 2023, he co-hosted a podcast, The Soft Boys, with HBCF favorite Will Noonan. Find future shows at andrewdellavolpe.com. He’s listed on the roster of performers at Jimmy Dunn Comedy All Stars Friday, Nov. 1, at 8 p.m. at the Nashua Center for the Arts.

Dan Donahue (Sunday, Aug. 18)

A rising star on the comedy scene who gives off a mountain man vibe with his long beard. He’s an electrician by day, and much of his humor comes from on-the-job experiences. He recently acted in his first film, the horror-comedy short Mars Hill Bait & Tackle, which will screen this weekend at the Manchester International Film Festival (see page 14 for details on the event; the film, which also features comedian Juston McKinney, screens during the New England shorts block on Friday, Aug. 9).

Mike Donovan (Tuesday, Aug. 13)

A mainstay in the Boston comedy world who’s also written several books, including one on U.S. history that began as a manuscript twice as long as the Bible. “He’s not a normal guy,” Steven Wright once said of Donovan. “His head is not a casual head. He’s got like 18 Harvards up there.”

James Dorsey (Sunday, Aug. 18)

With dozens of voices and a perpetually animated face, Dorsey shares family life experiences and more. He won the national Catch a New Rising Star competition a while back, but even better, he once followed Jim Gaffigan at a NYC club and held the audience! Find him on Instagram.

Ryan Ellington (Saturday, Aug. 17)

“He’s the new kid,” Dunn said. “He opened for me at the Off Cabot, and was really funny. I was like, ‘Hey, do you want to do this thing?’” His mother is white, his dad’s Black, and he’s pale with curly red hair, so he has lines like, “I don’t look biracial, I look like I have a very complicated order at Starbucks.” Follow him on Instagram.

Paul Gilligan (Tuesday, Aug. 13)

This perennial Boston headliner likes to riff on family life and his pale Irish heritage. “On summer vacations,” goes one joke, “I hide under the deck in a ski mask with 68 sunblock, wrapped in a towel.” Gilligan is a solid draw at clubs throughout New England. Find more shows at paulgilligancomedy.com.

Kathy Gilmour (Friday, Aug. 16)

Relatively new to the scene, the plus-sized Gilmour once said she conquered her weight problem with the magic words, “I now identify as skinny.” Working in tourism for nearly 30 years led her to comedy, and she’s been doing stand-up for a little over five years. Her Instagram lists a show Saturday, Aug. 17, at Murphy’s Taproom in Manchester.

Brian Glowacki (Thursday, Aug. 15)

He’s headlined Boston’s Wilbur and the Cape Cod Melody Tent. Glowacki has a secret weapon: a face that telegraphs mischief. When he pauses with a sly smirk during a joke setup, it’s like watching a Mento dropped into a bottle of Coke; audience laughter builds, then explodes. Find more upcoming shows at bglowcomedy.com.

Mike Hanley (Friday, Aug. 16)

He’s opened for Jay Mohr, Tom Arnold, David Koechner and Jessica Kirson. One of this young comic’s best bits is about being the father of an infant girl and accidentally brushing his teeth with Desitin, then calling for emergency medical assistance and becoming the funniest thing the help line encountered that evening. Find upcoming shows via standupmikehanley.com.

Jeff Koen (Thursday, Aug. 15)

He regularly supports Juston McKinney at his shows, and performs throughout New England. Koen’s self-deprecating humor lands well with audiences, and some may remember him from his role as Uncle Rick in the 2011 cult film Heavy Times. Follow him at facebook.com/jeff.koen.

​Kelly MacFarland (Sunday, Aug. 18)

She’s opened for Kathleen Madigan on several occasions and is part of the all-female Mother of a Comedy Show with Kerri Louise and Christine Hurley. MacFarland is one of Madigan’s favorite comics. “Everybody should go see her,” she said. “She’s just rock solid funny, the best.” Catch Kelly at the Lakeport Opera House in Laconia on Friday, Aug. 16, at 8 p.m.; opening for Kathleen Madigan on Saturday, Aug. 24, at 7 p.m. at the Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom; Sunday, Oct. 20, at 5 p.m. at Luna Bistro in Salem, and Saturday, Nov. 30, at 8 p.m. at The Music Hall Lounge in Portsmouth, according to kellymacfarland.com.

Jason Merrill (Thursday, Aug. 15)

A native of Lawrence, Mass., Merrill became a comedian late in life, at age 41. Meeting Dave Rattigan and getting on the bill at a few of his Scamps shows accelerated his rise, and now he’s a regional favorite who frequently jokes about his family life. See jasonmerrillcomedy.com and follow him on Facebook.

Dan Miller (Saturday, Aug. 17)

According to his bio, Boston native Miller was “born a comedian but made it official in 1992.” He’s shared stages with local and national headliners including Lenny Clarke, Dane Cook and Dave Attell. Dunn said catching up with Miller is one of his favorite things about the HBCF. Follow him on Instagram.

Karen Morgan (Wednesday, Aug. 14)

Former trial attorney who got her start as a finalist on Nickelodeon’s Search for the Funniest Mom in America. “Now she’s selling out theaters around the country, and there’s no way we would get her if she didn’t love my wife,” Dunn said. Her third album, Shiny Happy People Laughing, will be released soon. Follow her at karenmorgan.com.

Graig Murphy (Tuesday, Aug. 13)

Murphy is one of New England’s top comedians and has appeared at The Riviera in Las Vegas, the Improv in Fort Lauderdale, Comix at Foxwoods, along with a long list of New England comedy clubs.

Paul Nardizzi (Thursday, Aug. 15)

A winner of the Boston Comedy Festival, Nardizzi has appeared on Late Night with Conan O’Brien, Comedy Central, NESN and Fox Sports’ Best Damn Sports Show Period. He offers observational humor about his family life, sports and more. Find him on Facebook.

Will Noonan (Sunday, Aug. 18)

Noonan, whose Live In Boston YouTube special dropped last year, made an impression on festival organizer Dunn at his initial HBCF appearance, and now he’s a regular. “The first time Will came up, he was wearing a suit,” he recalled. “I was like, ‘Oh, I like this kid’s style already.’” Follow him on Facebook.

Carolyn Plummer (Thursday, Aug. 15)

She appeared at Denis Leary’s annual Comics Come Home benefit in 2022, along with the far-flung Burbank Comedy Festival on the West Coast. A New Hampshire native — she grew in Wolfeboro, a minister’s daughter — Plummer got into comedy after responding to an ad. See her Saturday, Oct. 12, at 5:30 p.m. at Averill House Vineyard in Brookline, according to carolynplummer.com.

Dustin Pueschel (Sunday, Aug. 18)

According to Dunn, Pueschel is “a 15-year-old kid that somehow got one of the most powerful agents in Hollywood to call me and say, ‘Hey, would you put this kid on your festival?’ I went, ‘Well, if he got you to call.’ I put him on last year and I loved it.” Follow him on Facebook.

Mark Riley (Friday, Aug. 16)

He was once a professional ice hockey referee (with a very short stint in the NHL) who also ran a Gymboree. He headlines in Boston as well as playing in Las Vegas, Los Angeles and Atlantic City, and he’s a former first runner-up at the Boston Comedy Festival. Catch Mark next at a Seacoast Performance Academy benefit at The Brook Casino in Seabrook on Friday, Aug. 23, at 6 p.m., according to markrileycomedy.com.

Ken “The Viper” Rogerson (Saturday, Aug. 17)

A veteran of Rescue Me and When Standup Stood Out, the great documentary about Boston’s comedy heyday. “I legitimately find him one of the funniest people on the planet,” Dunn said of Rogerson. “I would put his Zookeeper bit up there in the top five or 10 comedy bits of all time.”See his standup reel at comedynorth.com/ken-rogerson. Ken is slated to join the Jimmy Dunn Comedy All Stars show at the Nashua Center for the Arts on Friday, Nov. 1, at 8 p.m.

Frank Santorelli (Wednesday, Aug. 14)

Best-known for playing the recurring role of “Georgie the Bartender” in The Sopranos and acting in numerous movies, including No Reservations, Meet the Parents and Crooked Lines. He’s appeared at clubs like Catch a Rising Star, The Improv and Caroline’s on Broadway. Frank is slated to join the Jimmy Dunn Comedy All Stars show at the Nashua Center for the Arts on Friday, Nov. 1, at 8 p.m.

Steve Scarfo (Saturday, Aug. 17)

Scarfo came up in the Boston club scene and once took part in a funny mashup of Survivor and Last Comic Standing that still gets YouTube hits. He started doing stand-up almost 30 years ago and was noticed by The Boston Globe on his first performance. Catch him at a comedy fundraiser on Friday, Aug. 23, at 7 p.m. at the Franklin Opera House and on Thursday, Oct. 3, at 7 p.m. at Soho Asian Restaurant and Bar in Hudson, according to stevescarfo.com.

Harrison Stebbins (Wednesday, Aug. 14)

A gifted observational comic who’s shared the stage with the likes of Lewis Black, Jeff Ross, Mitch Hedberg and Bill Burr. The first name is an alter ego; the comic describes his act as “very high-energy, very aggressive … I don’t ask a lot of questions from the audience.” See harrisonstebbins.com and follow him on Facebook.

Mitch Stinson (Tuesday, Aug. 13)

Ex-Navy jet pilot with over 200 carrier landings during his career, he’s now a comedian. Stinson’s material frequently touches on the transition from military to civilian life. He appears at comedy clubs all over New England. Follow him on Facebook.

Jerry Thornton (Wednesday, Aug. 14)

Thornton is a founding member of Barstool Sports, and one of its original writers. “He was a stand-up comic before that,” Dunn said. “We used to talk about the Patriots and the Bruins, and we used to talk sports when we were doing open mics together.” Follow him on Instagram.

Tony V. (Wednesday, Aug. 14)

A Boston comedy legend and Dunn’s best friend. “Tony V and I will probably be walking through the gates of hell together at some point,” Dunn said. A national headliner who’s been on late-night television and shared stages with everyone from Steven Wright to Adam Sandler. Follow him on Instagram.

Chris Zito (Saturday, Aug. 17)

A well-known radio host in addition to being a 30-plus-year veteran of the New England comedy scene, his specialty is talking about his family life. Zito also hosts the podcast Dad Like It’s Your Job. Find him on Instagram.

Playing at a hot machine

Kathleen Madigan hits big

While Jimmy Dunn is stoked that his comedy festival is now a record six nights, he knows there’s a difference between what he’s doing and what happens at the nearby Casino Ballroom.

“The big, big names — Kathleen Madigan, David Spade — they’re going to sell out the Casino,” he said. “This is a little hundred and fifty seat outdoor venue; it’s more for the locals. And we have a great time with it.”

Comedy at the Casino this year has included two sold-out Pete Davidson shows, along with TikTok favorite Nurse Blake. Upcoming is Madigan, with her pal Lewis Black appearing in September. The Missouri comedian is riding a wave of late. Her Hunting Bigfoot special is a hit, skewering aging politicians kindly but gently and empathizing with millennials in service jobs.

Also, after years of resistance, she launched a podcast.

“There were way too many comics, that’s why I never did it,” she explained by phone from a tour stop in Nashville. “I’d go to Improv City in L.A. there’s 20 people at the bar going, ‘You want to do my podcast?’ No, I don’t! We’re all talking about the same thing. It’s just comedians interviewing comedians … let’s raise the bar here.”

She’s the only comic on Madigan’s Pubcast, with her assistant acting as a foil. On each show, she drinks a local craft beer and has a few snacks, then takes on current events, in between virtually stalking her hero, Queen Stevie Nicks. It’s fun, loose and full of Madigan’s trademark “Are you kidding me?” snarkiness.

She also digs into favorite topics, like the differences between today’s youth and her generation. During the interview, she talked about twentysomething Zoomers who’ll leave a job before even starting it. “I look at my parents, they took jobs that they were supposed to,” she said. “They seem to know themselves better than we did, and I think that’ll be good in the long run.”

It continues a brilliant bit from her last special that placed the weight of the world on Taco Bell workers who could quit at a moment’s notice. “Do you know how to make a chalupa, because I don’t,” she said, urging boomers not to trigger them with angry demands for out-of-stock mild sauce.

Her Aug. 24 appearance at Hampton Beach will be set up cabaret style, with a general admission section in front of the stage and some high top tables behind, with the majority standard seating, a format that was first tried last year.

“When I looked at the seat maps online, I thought, ‘This is going to be funky,’” she said, “but it works for comedy.”

Madigan is currently on the Potluck Party 2024 Tour. “If you’ve seen the Amazon special, there’ll be some of that, some new stuff and then some greatest hits,” she said. “It’s basically a big old potluck of whatever fits the night. Last week I was doing jokes about Biden being old, and we’ve kind of moved on from those. I mean, I guess they still work, he’s still the president, but I try not to write topical stuff, ever … it’s nearly impossible, unless you have a staff of writers every day.”

She’s grateful for comedy’s resurgence post-pandemic, with things like Bill Burr — “the funniest person right now to me, like the person I’d pay for” — selling out Fenway Park and others doing similarly outsized business.

“If you think about the ’80s and ’90s, there were maybe five comics that could do an arena and sell it out, and now there’s probably over 10,” she said. “It’s like we’ve become the rock stars in this weird turn of events 35 years into this. I’m like, ‘Oh, now we’re mainstream?’ We used to be a niche thing … like jazz.”

Now in her 50s, Madigan has no plans to slow down. “I kind of feel like the slot machine is finally paying off, you put all your money in … and then it starts hitting. I’m not leaving now; I’ll leave when the machine goes cold. So far, the machine’s super-hot, so I’m staying.”

Kathleen Madigan: The Potluck Party Tour
When: Saturday, Aug. 24, at 7 p.m.
Where: Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom, 169 Ocean Blvd., Hampton
Tickets: Starting at $33 via casinoballroom.com. Show is 18+. Doors open at 6 p.m.
More Kathleen: See kathleenmadigan.com for her podcast, tour information and more. Her 2013 special Madigan Again and her 2023 special Hunting Bigfoot are on Amazon Prime Video. Her 2016 special Bothering Jesus is available on Netflix, as is her episode of Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee with Jerry Seinfeld.

More comedy

Here are some of the ticketed shows on the upcoming comedy schedule. Check back with the Comedy This Week listings, which run every week in Hippo’s Nite section, for more shows.

• Palace Theatre 80 Hanover St., Manchester, palacetheatre.org
Juston McKinney, Saturday, Oct. 4, 8 & 9:30 p.m.
Colin Mochrie & Brad Sherwood, Sunday, Oct. 4, 5 & 7 p.m.
Roger Kabler’s Robin Williams Experience, Friday, Oct. 11, 7:30 & 9:30 p.m.

• Rex Theatre 23 Amherst St., Manchester, palacetheatre.org
Dusty & Dott, Saturday, Aug. 17, 2 & 4 p.m. (family-friendly)
Robert Dubac’s Stand Up Jesus: Blessed Be the Punchlines, Friday, Oct. 18, 7:30 p.m.

• Capitol Center for the Arts 44 S. Main St., Concord, ccanh.com
Nurse John, Saturday, Sept. 14, 8 p.m.
Jessica Kirson, Friday, Oct. 11, 7 p.m.
Tracy Morgan, Saturday, Nov. 2, 8 p.m.
Nick Swardson, Thursday Nov. 14, 8 p.m.
Bob Marley, Saturday, Nov. 16, 8 p.m.

• BNH Stage 16 S. Main St., Concord, ccanh.com
Jimmy Dunn, Saturday, Sept. 28, 8 p.m.

• Nashua Center for the Arts 201 Main St., Nashua, nashuacenterforthearts.com
Jim Florentine, Tom Cotter, Tammy Pescatelli, Friday, Sept. 27, 8 p.m.
Jimmy Dunn’s Comedy All-Stars, Friday Nov. 1, 8 p.m.

• Amato Center for the Arts 56 Mont Vernon St., Milford
Bob Marley, Thursday, Sept. 12, 7 p.m. (see bmarley.com for tickets)

• Atkinson Country Club 85 Country Club Dr., Atkinson, atkinsonresort.com
Steve Sweeney, Friday, Sept. 6, 8 p.m.

• Chunky’s Cinema Pub 707 Huse Road, Manchester, chunkys.com
Alex Giampapa, Saturday, Aug. 10, 8 p.m.
Ben Pratt (comedy illusionist), Sunday, Aug. 18, 8 p.m. (adults only Aug. 24)
Brian Beaudoin, Saturday, Aug. 24, 8 p.m.

• Murphy’s Taproom 494 Elm St., Manchester, murphystaproom.com
Jay Chanoine, Saturday, Aug. 10, 8:30 p.m.
Steve Bjork, Saturday, Aug. 17, 8:30 p.m.
Jason Merrill, Saturday, Aug. 24, 8:30 p.m.
Dave Rattigan, Saturday, Aug. 31, 8:30 p.m.

• Soho Asian Restaurant 49 Lowell Road, Hudson, sohocuisinenh.com
Dave Andrews, Tanaa Scott, Jonah Simons, Thursday, Aug. 15, 8 p.m.

• Colonial Theatre 609 Main St., Laconia, coloniallaconia.com
Jimmy Dunn’s Comedy All-Stars, Saturday Nov. 2, 8 p.m.

• Lakeport Opera House 781 Union St., Laconia, lakeportopera.com
Kelly MacFarland, Tony V., Ann-Marie Keene, Friday, Aug. 16, 8 p.m.

• Casino Ballroom 169 Ocean Blvd., Hampton, casinoballroom.com
Kathleen Madigan, Saturday, Aug. 24, 7 p.m.
Brad Williams, Saturday, Sept. 21, 7 p.m.
Lewis Black, Friday, Sept. 27, 8 p.m.

• The Music Hall 23 Chestnut St. for the theater, 131 Congress St. for the Lounge in Portsmouth, themusichall.org
Joe Sib at the Lounge, Sunday, Aug. 11, 7:30 p.m.
Chris Franjola at the Lounge, Friday, Aug. 16, 8:30 p.m.
Kevin Smith at the Theatre, Friday, Aug. 30, 8 p.m.
Carmen Lynch at the Lounge, Saturday, Sept. 7, 6 & 8:30 p.m.
Heather Shaw at the Lounge, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 7:30 p.m.
David Drake at the Lounge, Saturday, Sept. 21, 6 & 8:30 p.m.
Charlie Berens at the Theatre, Saturday, Sept. 21, 8 p.m.

• McCue’s Comedy Club 580 Portsmouth Traffic Circle, Portsmouth, mccuescomedyclub.com
EJ Murphy, Liam Hales, Cher Lynn, Mike Pincus, Saturday, Aug. 10, 8 p.m.
Casey McNeal, Saturday, Aug. 17, 8 p.m.
McCue’s Comedy Showcase, Saturday, Aug. 24, 8 p.m.
Kathe Farris, Saturday, Aug. 31, 8 p.m.
McCue’s Comedy Showcase, Saturday, Sept. 7, 8 p.m.
McCue’s Comedy Showcase, Saturday, Sept. 14, 8 p.m.

• Flying Monkey Movie House & Performance Center 39 S. Main St., Plymouth, flyingmonkeynh.com
Bob Marley, Friday, Sept. 13, 8 p.m.
Jim Florentine, Tom Cotter, Tammy Pescatelli, Saturday, Sept. 28, 8 p.m.
Jim Failla, Saturday, Nov. 23, 8 p.m.

Featured photo: Jimmy Dunn. Courtesy photo.