Summer Guide 2025 — 05/22/2025

On the cover

10 Time to break out your sunglasses — it’s summer, baby! Or, you know, it’s “summertime” — that season between Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day weekend when we all try for more relaxed and sunny vibes. In this year’s guide, we offer a look at some of the fairs, fests and other events that make the season shine.

Also on the cover, John Fladd gets all the details of the newly released NH Beer Trail Guide (page 24). Michael Witthaus talks to the Manchester Crafts Market ahead of their mulit-author event (page 20). Michael also talks to comedian Joe Fenti, who can help you kick off a weekend of laughs with a Thursday, May 22, show at Kettlehead in Nashua (see page 32). Find more comedy this weekend and beyond in the Comedy This Week, which is also on page 32.

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A graphic the shape of the state of New Hampshire, filled in with the New Hampshire flag made up of the crest of New Hampshire on a blue field.
Volunteer Fair The United Way of Greater Nashua will hold a Greater Nashua Volunteer Fair on Thursday, May 22, from ...
Photo of assorted sports equipment for football, soccer, tennis, golf, baseball, and basketball
The Big Story – Celtics Season Ends Early: That’s all she wrote for the 2024-2025 Celtics. And maybe for 2025-2026 ...
A graphic the shape of the state of New Hampshire, filled in with the New Hampshire flag made up of the crest of New Hampshire on a blue field.
Competitive Ford fixing As reported by Nashua InkLink on May 8, teams of high school students in auto tech programs ...
A closeup of pink and red geranium flowers.
Thursday, May 15 The BNH Stage (16 S. Main St., Concord, 225-1111, ccanh.com) hosts a performance of “This Is My ...
red haired girl / female with sunglasses looking at sunset
Fairs, festivals, food, fun and more events to look forward to this season Summer is here! OK, maybe it’s more ...
shelves along dark painted wall holding faced out books, neon light above reading "Read Local"
Manchester market hosts author event A collection of new books written by local authors isn’t something one expects to find ...
carved, painted, wooden duck decoy
Dear Donna, We were given this carved duck several years ago. Wondering an approximate value now. It is signed and ...
Red round icon that reads Weekly Dish
News from the local food scene • New Works: The Works Bakery Cafe (1000 Elm St., Manchester, 877-641-4787, workscafe.com/locations/manchester-nh) has ...
high shot of outdoor patio and yard at brewery, with picnic tables, buildings in the mid ground, mountain peak in the far distance.
A new map will make it easier to explore NH breweries. Road-trip enthusiasts who like to follow a theme have ...
head shot of woman standing beside window that looks out on mountain landscape with snow on the ground, woman dressed in cold weather clothes, smiling
Owner/Baker, Big Trees Baking Company “I make sourdough bread, which I sell at some local stores and at the Canterbury ...
fancy martini glass filled with cocktail that is blue at the bottom and white at the top, sitting on counter with limes and cocktail shaker
There’s a trope called “The Ninety-Dollar Tomato.” It describes an all-too-familiar situation that many of us frustrated gardeners go through: ...
album covers for Cautious Clay and Sparks
Sparks, MAD (Transgressive Records) The press notes for this nearly 60-year-old band’s 26th album start with this: “If the world ...
book cover with large text The Art of Winning, Bill Belichick
The Art of Winning, by Bill Belichick (Avid Reader Press, 289 pages) It is challenging to approach Bill Belichick’s new ...
A scene from the Wedding Banquet
Friends contemplate a green card marriage in The Wedding Banquet, a remake of the 1993 movie by the same name ...
Local music news & events • Fab Faux: Unlike many Beatles tribute acts, Studio Two sticks to John, Paul, George ...
man standing in front of wall with large photos of red roses, holding microphone and making shrugging gesture
Comedy Coop comes to Kettlehead Like the classic rock song, Joe Fenti has learned to roll with the changes. In ...

This Week 25/05/15

Thursday, May 15

The BNH Stage (16 S. Main St., Concord, 225-1111, ccanh.com) hosts a performance of “This Is My Brave – The Show” tonight at 7 p.m. benefiting NAMI New Hampshire. Performers will share personal stories of overcoming mental illness and substance use disorder. Tickets are $31.

Saturday, May 17

NH Muscle Cars will hold its Granite State Season Opener Car Show today from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Deerfield Fairgrounds featuring live music, vendors, fair food and of course fields of cars competing for 35 trophies in a variety of categories. Spectator admission costs $5; see nhmusclecars.com.

Saturday, May 17

Canterbury Shaker Village (288 Shaker Road in Canterbury; shakers.org) opens today for the season and will be open daily through October from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Today, the Canterbury Shaker Village Cross Country 5K begins at 10 a.m.

Saturday, May 17

Saint Peter’s Episcopal Church (3 Peabody Row, Londonderry, 437-8333, stpeterslondonderry.org) will hold its 38th Annual Spring Artisan Craft Fair today from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Saturday, May 17

The Manchester City Library (405 Pine St., Manchester, 624-6550, manchesterlibrary.org) holds its spring book sale today from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Library’s Winchell Room.

Saturday, May 17

The NH Philharmonic will present “Swashbucklers and Superheroes, a celebration of “the iconic music behind some of the greatest adventure films in cinematic history,” tonight at 7:30 p.m. and tomorrow, Sunday, May 18, at 2 p.m. at Seifert Performing Arts Center in Salem. Tickets cost $35 for adults, $30 for seniors, $10 for students. See nhphil.org.

Saturday, May 17

It’s the final weekend of the New Hampshire Renaissance Faire. Tickets, which can be purchased at nhrenfaire.com, cost $20 for adults and $15 for ages 6 to 12 and for military and veterans, the website said. Kids ages 5 and under get in for free.

Sunday, May 18

The Nashua Choral Society presents Vive La France, “a choral journey celebrating French composers,” at 3 p.m. at Immaculate Conception Church (216 E. Dunstable Road, Nashua). See nashuachoralsociety.org.

Sunday, May 18

Chunky’s Cinema Pub (707 Huse Road, Manchester, 206-3888, chunkys.com) hosts the 2025 New Hampshire High School Short Film Festival at 12:30 p.m. Presented by the New Hampshire Film Bureau, this festival screens a two-hour program of selected films. This event is free to attend. Visit nhmediateachers.org.

Tuesday, May 20

Beyond the Lawn: No Mow May’s Role in Sustainable Communities” will be the topic at tonight’s Science Cafe NH, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at SOEL Sistas Cafe, 30 Temple St. in Nashua.

Wednesday, May 21

Beaver Brook (117 Ridge Road in Hollis; beaverbrook.org) will host a Lilac Walk today from 1 to 3 p.m. Registration costs $22.

Saturday, May 17

It’s plant sale Saturday! The Goffstown Community Garden Club sale starts at 8 a.m. and runs until noon (or when they sell out, whatever is first) at the Goffstown Town Commons. Find the Milford Garden Club from 8:30 a.m. to noon at the Community House Lawn, at the corner of Union and Elm streets. The Nashua Garden Club will hold its annual plant sale from 9 a.m. to noon at the Nashua Historical Society, 5 Abbot St. The Bedford Garden Club will hold its sale at Joppa Hill Farm (174 Joppa Hill Road in Bedford) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Featured photo: Courtesy photo.

Quality of Life 25/05/22

Competitive Ford fixing

As reported by Nashua InkLink on May 8, teams of high school students in auto tech programs took part in a statewide competition to determine which team could most efficiently diagnose a troubled vehicle. The 2025 NH ACE Competition was a hands-on, timed event. “Ten New Hampshire Automotive Programs from across the state compete in teams of two to diagnose and repair a Ford Bronco within 90 minutes,” InkLink reported. The event, organized by the New Hampshire Automobile Dealers Association and Ford Dealerships, brought student tech teams together from 10 area high schools, the story said.

QOL score: +1 for investing in our vocational students

Comment: As reported by Nashua InkLink, “the winning school receives a 2024 Ford F-150 to enhance their training.”

A diploma and an ear-scritch

As reported in a May 14 online article by WMUR, Bear, the Derry Police Department’s first comfort dog, officially graduated from his training program in a ceremony attended by Gov. Kelly Ayotte. “During a ceremony, Ayotte congratulated Bear and his handler, Master Patrol Officer Erin Sullivan, for their hard work and dedication throughout training,” the WMUR story read. “More than 10 fellow service dogs from law enforcement departments across New Hampshire were also in attendance.”

QOL score: +1

Comment: Lt. Shawn O’Donaghue from the Derry Police Department said in a telephone interview that Bear, a 1-year-old black Lab, is ready to go to work full-time for the Department. His duties will “involve the well-being and mental health of officers,” O’Donaghue said, “as well as outreach to the community and helping ease emotional trauma for emergency victims.”

Not enough lifeguards

The City of Concord doesn’t have enough lifeguards. According to a May 13 online article by WMUR, Concord’s Parks and Rec Department is still trying to fill openings before the City’s pools open for the summer in mid-June. WMUR quoted City Councilor Stacey Brown: ““We desperately need more lifeguards. This is something that is incredibly important. We don’t want people swimming in the river; we want people learning how to safely swim. [Our pools are] clean, there is no cyanobacteria, and this is something that sets us apart from other communities,” In a telephone interview with the Hippo, Assistant Parks and Recreation Director Laura Bryant said there is no clear cause for this year’s lifeguard shortage. “It ebbs and flows year to year, so I think maybe people just aren’t thinking about it as much. We’re probably still looking for another 10 to 12 [more lifeguards] at this point.”

QOL score: -1

Comment: Bryant said her department has several interviews scheduled for prospective lifeguards over the next week. She said that there are still a few weeks until Pool Time. “Our Public Properties Division is just getting out and opening all the pools up and seeing where we’re at with everything. So we don’t have an official date, but typically it’s around Father’s Day weekend.”

QOL score last week: 61

Net change: +1

QOL this week: 62

What’s affecting your Quality of Life here in New Hampshire?

Let us know at news@hippopress.com.

News & Notes 25/05/22

Volunteer Fair

The United Way of Greater Nashua will hold a Greater Nashua Volunteer Fair on Thursday, May 22, from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Chandler Wing of the Nashua Public Library (2 Court St. in Nashua; nashualibrary.org), according to a press release. The event will feature more than 30 local nonprofits representing a variety of volunteer opportunities including “youth development, food security, environmental sustainability, or supporting older adults,” the release said. See unitedwaynashua.org.

New at MSD

Last week, the Manchester School District Board of School Committee approved the hiring of an assistant superintendent and principals at Highland-Goffe’s Falls Elementary School and Manchester School of Technology High School, according to a district release. Ryan Roth, currently working in a California school district, will serve as the assistant superintendent of middle schools and student services, the release said. “Longtime District administrator and current Assistant Principal Keith Puglisi was selected as the next Principal at Manchester School of Technology,” succeeding the retiring Principal Tim Otis, the release said. And Tim Larney, an administrator at the Nashua School District, will be Highland-Goffe’s Falls principal, the release said, succeeding the retiring Principal Sue Matthews. All the new positions are effective July 1, the release said.

New executive director

Liberty House, a Manchester-based program from Catholic Charities NH that provides “transitional housing and a community pantry for New Hampshire veterans,” has announced that Ashley Kitchell is the organization’s new executive director, according to a press release. Kitchell has worked at Liberty House for nearly a decade and was most recently the assistant director, the release said. See libertyhousenh.org.

Memorial Day commemorations

The Manchester VA Medical Center (718 Smyth Road in Manchester) will host a Memorial Day ceremony on Monday, May 26, from 10:30 a.m. to noon outside the Eagle entrance of the center, according to a press release.

Bedford holds its annual Bedford Memorial Day Hometown Parade on Sunday, May 25, at 1 p.m. The parade will run up Meetinghouse Road from Bedford Center Road to the Town Hall, followed by a celebration at Bedford Village Common Park, according to a post on the Bedford Parks & Recreation Facebook page.

The Concord Memorial Day Parade will take place Monday, May 26, at 9 a.m. and run from the Christ the King Church parking lot on Thorndike Street and wind toward the City Plaza, according to concordnh.gov.

Indie Lens Pop-up, a series featuring screenings of films from PBS’s Independent Lens, will present Free For All: The Public Library followed by a discussion with Susan Drisko Zago, Law Library Director and Professor of Law at UNH Franklin Pierce School of Law, on Saturday, May 31, at 11 a.m. at Red River Theatres in Concord, according to a Red River Theatres Facebook post, where you can find a link to reserve a seat for this free event.

Tickets are on sale now for the Palace Theatre’s Kitchen Tour on Sunday, June 1. The tour will run from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and feature a self-guided tour at kitchens in Amherst, Bedford Hollis and Manchester, with a lunch offered at Baron’s Major Brands in Manchester. Tickets cost $55 in advance, $65 on the day. See palacetheatre.org.

The Peterborough Town Library (2 Concord St. in Peterborough; peterboroughtownlibrary.org) will hold a two-day craft supplies swap Friday, May 23, from 2 to 6 p.m. and Saturday, May 24, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Bring in new or gently used art supplies to exchange.

Shirley Phillips will discuss her book How Not To Fly An Airplane: A Female Pilot’s Journey on Saturday, May 24, at 2 p.m. at Balin Books (Somerset Plaza, 375 Amherst St. in Nashua; balinbooks.com).

Summer Stage — 05/15/2025

Check out https://hippopress.com/ to read about local food and events or download our always free E-Edition from our Digital Library

On the cover

10 Michael Witthaus takes a look at summer theater — from the shows for kids and the shows by kids to the shows that will take place in the fresh air. Cover photo of a previous production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Saint Anselm College by Matthew Lomanno.

Also on the cover: Michael also takes a look at the Nashua Area Artists Association’s revived ArtHub Gallery (page 15). It’s a good weekend for Greek eats — John Fladd takes a look at Karv Greek Kouzina in Windham (page 18) and offers information about this weekend’s Greek Food Festival at St. Philip in Nashua (page 20). And find all sorts of music this weekend — shows at area restaurants (listed in the Music This Week on page 26), ticketed shows (see the Concert listings on page 30) and Ward Hayden & the Outliers at Pembroke City Limits (page 25, also by Michael).

Read the e-edition

A graphic the shape of the state of New Hampshire, filled in with the New Hampshire flag made up of the crest of New Hampshire on a blue field.
Family bicycle day Trek Bicycles and the Granite State Health & Fitness Foundation will hold a free family-friendly Bike Day ...
Photo of assorted sports equipment for football, soccer, tennis, golf, baseball, and basketball
The Big Story – C’s Go Down 1-2 to New York: There’s not enough space to list the number of ...
A graphic the shape of the state of New Hampshire, filled in with the New Hampshire flag made up of the crest of New Hampshire on a blue field.
Ew, ticks In a May 1 press release Gov. Kelly Ayotte declared May Lyme Disease Awareness Month in New Hampshire ...
A closeup of pink and red geranium flowers.
Thursday, May 15 The BNH Stage (16 S. Main St., Concord, 225-1111, ccanh.com) hosts a performance of “This Is My ...
A previous production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream by Theatre Kapow at Saint Anselm College. Photo by Matthew Lomanno.
A look at the coming theater season By Michael Witthaus mwitthaus@hippopress.com Cooperation, collaboration and interdependence are all hallmarks of New ...
Work by George Eross & Work by Brenda Noiseux. Courtesy photo.
ArtHub in Nashua opens on Main Street By Michael Witthaus mwitthaus@hippopress.com Among the many hard-luck stories to come out of ...
Purple Lisianthus flowers. Lisianthus comes in several colors and lasts forever in a vase. Photo by Henry Homeyer.
Start slowly and save your back By Henry Homeyer listings@hippopress.com It’s April, and spring has sprung. Or will soon. Winter ...
A collection of antique dessert silverware.
Hello, Donna, I believe this set of fruit knives and forks may have been a wedding present for my parents ...
Family fun for whenever STEM fun • Family STEM Day, presented by Brian S. McCarthy Memorial Foundation, will showcase more ...
Red round icon that reads Weekly Dish
News from the local food scene • Flowers, snacks, flowers, cocktails and flowers: Local Street Eats (112 W. Pearl St., ...
Three delicious-looking gyros well-wrapped stuffed with fries.
Sometimes lamb, sometimes pork By John Fladd jfladd@hippopress.com Alex Lambroulis would like to clear up a couple of misconceptions about ...
A DIY wine dispenser, with four various bottles on display.
Self-service might be the future of NH wine bars By John Fladd jfladd@hippopress.com A bill is working its way through ...
Poster for the St. Philip Greek Food Festival
Nashua church festival brings gyros and more By John Fladd jfladd@hippopress.com Saint Philip Greek Orthodox Church in Nashua will hold ...
Nick Provencher. Courtesy photo.
Executive Chef at The Birch on Elm (968 Elm St., Manchester, 836-1958, birchonelm.com) “I started by cooking in high school ...
A tasty plate of Guava and goat cheese cookies made by John Fladd.
These cookies are adapted from a recipe in Bodega Bakes by Paola Velez. The idea of cheese in a cookie ...
Malphas, Tales from the Olden Realm (self-released/Bandcamp) & Ches Smith, Clone Row (self-released)
Malphas, Tales from the Olden Realm (self-released/Bandcamp) From the murkiest depths of Michigan comes this sixth album from a one-man ...
Homestand, by Will Bardenwerper
Homestand, by Will Bardenwerper (Doubleday, 301 pages) Batavia is a small city in western New York that most people have ...
A scene from Another Simple Favor
Mom-frienemies played by Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively reunite in Another Simple Favor, a sequel to the 2018 movie that ...
Local music news & events • Mixed media: The Currier’s monthly Art Off the Walls event has Black Pudding Rovers ...
Ward Hayden & the Outliers
Ward Hayden & the Outliers bring Springsteen tribute to Pembroke By Michael Witthaus mwitthaus@hippopress.com When Pembroke City Limits scheduled its ...

Kiddie Pool 25/05/15

Family fun for whenever

STEM fun

Family STEM Day, presented by Brian S. McCarthy Memorial Foundation, will showcase more than 25 local science, technology, engineering and math programs and organizations on Saturday, May 17, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at World Academy, 138 Spit Brook Road in Nashua, according to a press release. The day will feature hands-on exhibits, interactive demonstrations and more, the release said. The event is free to attend and also will also feature food trucks, the release said.

Fish fun

• The Amoskeag Fishways Learning & Visitor Center (4 Fletcher St. in Manchester; find them on Facebook) was slated to open for the season on May 12. See fish on the move Mondays through Fridays, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission is free.

Theater fun

• The Mo Willems book comes alive when Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus hits the stage at Stockbridge Theatre in Derry on Friday, May 16, at 10 a.m. Tickets cost $12. See stockbridgetheatre.showare.com

The Emperor’s New Clothes is presented by the Majestic Academy Youth/Teens at the Majestic Theatre, 880 Page St., Manchester, majestictheatre.net, on Friday, May 16, at 7 p.m.; Saturday, May 17, at 2 and 7 p.m., and Sunday, May 18, at 2 p.m. at the Majestic Theatre (880 Page St. in Manchester; majestictheatre.net). Tickets cost $10 to $15.

Disney’s Moana Jr. is presented by Bedford Youth Performing Company at the Goffstown High School Theatre on Saturday, May 17, at 7 p.m. and Sunday, May 18, at 1 p.m. Find the link to purchase tickets via BYPC’s Facebook page.

The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical will be presented by Kids Coop Theatre (kctnh.org) at Derry Opera House (29 W. Broadway in Derry) on Friday, May 16, at 7 p.m.; Saturday, May 17, at 7 p.m., and Sunday, May 18, at 2 p.m. See derryoperahouse.org for links to tickets.

Book fun

• Calista Brill will discuss her new graphic novel Creaky Acres(written with and illustrated by Nilah Magruder)at the Barnes & Noble in Manchester (1741 S. Willow St., bn.com) on Saturday, May 17, from noon to 3 p.m. An excerpt of the novel was one of the books you might have picked up on Free Comic Book Day a few weeks ago. On to the Barnes & Noble website Creaky Acres is described as “[a] heartwarming graphic novel about being the new kid in middle school, making new friends, and learning to trust yourself through the power of horseback riding.”

• Children’s authors Kari Allen (whose latest book is Maddie and Mabel Make a Friend) and Carrie Kruck (whose latest book is Alfred Blooms) will attend a storytime on Sunday, May 18, at 1 p.m. at Gibson’s Bookstore (45 S. Main St. in Concord; gibsonsbookstore.com). They will sign copies of their books after storytime.