The Hippo Press – Page 232

Bringing the Holiday Fun — 11/24/22

From town parades and tree lightings to Nutcracker and Christmas Carol productions, arts markets, comedy events and more, find holiday events to pack your seaonal calendar.

Also on the cover Katelyn Sahagian talks to three members of the same Nashua area family who currently have their art on display as part of St. Joseph Hospital’s Healing through the Arts gallery (page 31). Michael Witthaus highlights some concerts to look forward to throughout the month of December (page 48). Matt Ingersoll catches up with the owners of Cafe la Reine and New Hampshire Doughnut Co., who respectively have opened new locations in Manchester (page 38) and Bedford (page 39).

News & Notes 22/11/24

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.

Money for more broadband Gov. Chris Sununu submitted a letter to the members of the Joint Legislative Fiscal Committee on ...

Land and water

woman standing outside, smiling, cool weather

The Nature Conservancy gets a new director Meet Rachel Rouillard, the new state director of The Nature Conservancy in New ...

No turkey in Celtics start

If you are a Celtics fan you wake up this Thanksgiving morning thankful for how the season has started. That’s ...

Quality of Life 22/11/24

Scouting for Food Scouts from the Daniel Webster Council – Boy Scouts of America participated in the recent Scouting for ...

This Week 22/11/24

Man holding shopping bags with presents on the street

Big Events November 24, 2022 and beyond Friday, Nov. 25 Shops across the Granite State are participating in Small Business ...

Bringing the Holiday Fun

Walking man with heap of Christmas gifts on sledges against red background with space for text

Your Guide to the 2022 Season of Festive Events Welcome to Hippo’s Holiday Guide — our annual listing of fun ...

Bringing the Holiday Fun: Drinksgiving

Back to Categories Wobble for a landing This year’s pre-Thanksgiving options The night before Thanksgiving is often called Drinksgiving. It’s ...

Bringing the Holiday Fun: Races and runs

a man and a woman wearing santa hats, dressed for race on a cold day

Back to Categories Race through the holidays 5Ks on Thanksgiving and beyond Lace up those sneakers Thursday morning — there ...

Bringing the Holiday Fun: Holiday theater

group of actors in colorful Victorian costume on stage singing carols

Back to Categories Dickens & Tchaikovsky Get your A Christmas Carol and The Nutcracker The classic holiday season productions of ...

Bringing the Holiday Fun: Festive parades and lights

people walking down street at night during parade

Back to Categories Holiday happenings Twinkling lights, seasonal parades and holiday festivals to set the mood By Katelyn Sahagian ksahagian@hippopress.com ...

Bringing the Holiday Fun: For the kids

Man dressed as Santa Claus sitting in decorated sleigh

Back to Categories Santa Claus is coming… Holiday events for junior Granite Staters, including meeting Santa and Mrs. Claus By ...

Bringing the Holiday Fun: Downtown merriment

man and woman dressed as Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus istting on float during parade

Back to Categories Santa in the Gate City Nashua’s Winter Holiday Stroll returns By Mya Blanchard listings@hippopress.com The Winter Holiday ...

Bringing the Holiday Fun: festive flavors

baked pie with cinnamon dusted crust sitting on table

Back to Categories Festive flavors All kinds of holiday fun for foodies From holiday-themed cooking classes and wine tastings to ...

Bringing the Holiday Fun: Arts and crafts

Back to Categories Decking the halls Holiday arts, crafts, and more across Southern New Hampshire By Katelyn Sahagian ksahagian@hippopress.com Holiday ...

Bringing the Holiday Fun: Sounds of the season

Back to Categories Holiday sounds Symphonies, choral performances and more By Angie Sykeny askyeny@hippopress.com • The Granite State Ringers handbell ...

Bringing the Holiday Fun: Film favorites

Back to Categories ‘Fra-gee-lay!’ See holiday classics at a theater near you Movie theaters will be filled with would-be blockbusters, ...

Art runs in the family

Sarah Larson, her mom and aunt talk about their family history as artists By Katelyn Sahagian ksahagian@hippopress.com Some things are ...

The Art Roundup 22/11/24

The latest from NH’s theater, arts and literary communities • Shop art: Two Villages Art Society (46 Main St. in ...

Include homegrown (or local) vegetables in your holiday feasts

carrots, brussel sprouts, leeks, laid out on table

Eating from your garden is possible even in December I personally think that the Canadians have the right idea: They ...

Kiddie Pool 22/11/24

Family fun for the weekend Getting crafty • Head to Bookery (844 Elm St. in Manchester; bookerymht.com) on Saturday, Nov ...

Treasure Hunt 22/11/24

rectangular piece of wood with image painted on top

Hello, Donna, Can you help me by telling me what this is? My wife says a wax stamp for envelopes ...

On The Job – Ryan Aloise

Painter Ryan Aloise is an independent professional painting contractor and the owner of Painting Perfection, based in Nashua. Explain your ...

The Weekly Dish 22/11/24

News from the local food scene • Grab a pint: The New Hampshire Brewers Association is once again promoting breweries ...

Coffee, cocktails and community

women holding 4 flavors of shakes with whipped cream on top

Café la Reine opens second spot in Manchester’s North End Nearly a decade after Saint Anselm College alum Alex Horton ...

Doughnut you know it

box of doughnuts with holiday decoration

NH Doughnut Co. opens in Bedford, expands menu offerings When Amanda Baril opened the first New Hampshire Doughnut Co. on ...

In the kitchen with Alan Frati

Alan Frati of Derry is the co-owner and co-founder of Crack’d Kitchen & Coffee (327 S. Broadway, Salem, 212-1511, crackdkitchen.com), ...

Soft sugar cookies

close up of round sugar cookies covered in different colors of frosting

Welcome to eating season! I’m embracing it wholeheartedly with this cookie recipe. Who doesn’t want to bake cookies with cold ...

Staggering toward 34th Street

3 drinks in cocktail glasses on table with leaves

There are two great scenes in 1947’s Miracle on 34th Street: “Hey, Lou! How many letters do we have to ...

Album Reviews 22/11/24

Louis Armstrong, The Standard Oil Sessions

Soen, Atlantis (Silver Lining Music) With Trans-Siberian Orchestra’s traditional holiday tour coming soon, our thoughts turn of course not to ...

Novelist as a Vocation, Haruki Murakami

Novelist as a Vocation, Haruki Murakami; translated by Philip Gabriel and Ted Goossen (Knopf, 224 pages) The career of Haruki ...

She Said (R)

New York Times reporters Megan Twohey and Jodi Kantor investigate reports of sexual harassment and assault by Harvey Weinstein in ...

The Music Roundup 22/11/24

Local music news & events • Hail queen: Basking in the glow of a New England Music Award for Country ...

Live for the season

4 band members standing in pile of metal wearing shiny suits

Step out for a musical December From big stages to small, national touring acts and regional heroes will fill the ...

Click to read our E-Edition PDF for FREE.
Our advertiser supported e-edition will always be free to view and download.

Kiddie Pool 22/11/24

Family fun for the weekend

Getting crafty

• Head to Bookery (844 Elm St. in Manchester; bookerymht.com) on Saturday, Nov. 26, (which is also Small Business Saturday, when Bookery is planning live music and more) for a wolfy storytime and craft at 11:30 a.m. The featured book is Little Good Wolf by Susan Stevens Crummel and illustrated by Janet Stevens. It follows the son of the Big Bad Wolf, and how he is too good to be evil the way all the adults in his life want him to be. After the story, kids will learn how to make a paper bag wolf puppet. The event is free, but register at the Bookery website.

• The Addiction Recovery Coalition of New Hampshire (180 Elm St., Suite E, Milford) is starting a kids’ holiday craft series startingon Sunday, Nov. 27, at 1 p.m. The four-week series will have a new craft each session for kids, as well as cookies and juice. Parents can stay with the kids, get their own craft, or drop kids off. Price is $10 for the first child, an additional $5 for each child after. Register at the Evebrite page, or visit arcnh.org.

Library fun

• The Plaistow Public Library (85 Main St.) is hosting an outdoor activity called tinkergarten’s frozen treasures on Monday, Nov. 28, at 10 a.m. The event will have kids 18 months to 8 years old, as well as their parents, exploring outside to discover frozen nature treasures. To learn more about the event or to sign up, visit plaistowlibrary.com.

• Read to a dog at the Pelham Public Library (24 Village Green) on Tuesday, Nov. 29, from 5 to 6 p.m. Blondie is a trained therapy dog who will stay with children while they read. For information about the benefits behind kids reading to a therapy dog, see the Nov. 3 issue of The Hippo, under the story called “Meet Mischka” (find the e-edition at hippopress.com). To register for this event, call the library at 635-7581 or email services@pelhamweb.com.

YMCA playtime

• Join the YMCA of Greater Londonderry (206 Rockingham Road) for a “Lounge Day” version of kids’ night at the Y for ages 4 to 12 on Friday, Nov. 25, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Y’s trained child care staff will take care of kids while parents have time to themselves to do holiday shopping or other errands. Kids will have fun activities, like art and STEM projects or active playtime, and a pizza will be served. Spots are $45 per child, $40 for each additional sibling. Visit bit.ly/ygl-kids-nights to sign up. Register by Nov. 22.

The Art Roundup 22/11/24

The latest from NH’s theater, arts and literary communities

• Shop art: Two Villages Art Society (46 Main St. in Contoocook; twovillagesart.org) will display its Holiday Art Show and Sale from Friday, Nov. 25, through Saturday, Dec. 24, featuring handmade gifts by local artists, including paintings, pottery, mixed media, photography, fabric art and more. A show reception will be held Saturday, Nov. 26, from noon to 2 p.m. Gallery hours are Thursday through Sunday, from noon to 4 p.m.

• Music and melodies: Canterbury Shaker Village (288 Shaker Road in Canterbury; shakers.org, 783-9511) will host Concert & Cocktails, featuring a holiday string quartet from Symphony NH, on Saturday, Dec. 3, at 4 p.m. The event will include a festive reception with farm-grown appetizers by the Rustic Gourmet and a signature cocktail by Cold Garden Distillery, according to a press release. Tickets cost $75. The show is the first of several Merry Merry Canterbury events; see the website.

• Snaps for the Cap: Legally Blonde The Musical will come to the Capitol Center for the Arts (Chubb Theatre, 44 S. Main St. in Concord; ccanh.com) on Thursday, Dec. 1. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $65 (plus fees).

• Make your own crafts: And before we get to the craft fairs, Studio 550 Community Art Center (550 Elm St. in Manchester; 232-5597, 550arts.com) offer the opportunity to make your own gifts on Small Business Saturday (Nov. 26). From 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Studio 550 will host “a buffet of drop-in workshops,” according to a press release. The projects will range in price from $15 to $35 and all ages are welcome (with adult assistance), the release said. Stations will include a milk & cookies cup and plate set, a custom mug, large decorative paper snowflakes, winter fairy houses, treasure boxes, paint your own pottery, paint your own ornaments, succulent plant arrangements and pottery on the wheel (with pre-registration), the release said. The day will also feature a $1 pottery sale, live maker demos of stained glass and pottery, prizes for the first 10 shoppers and more, the release said.

Kids can make crafts at the Loon Preservation Committee’s open house at the Loon Center in Moultonborough (see loon.org, 476-5666) on Saturday, Nov. 26, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This free event will include horse-drawn hay rides, balloon animals and a visit from Santa along with the crafts for kids and a sale at the Loon’s Feather Gift Shop, according to a press release.

• Music and history: Jordan Tirrell-Wysocki will present “Songs of Emigration: Storytelling through Traditional Irish Music” with stories, songs and historical context on Tuesday, Nov. 29, at 6:30 p.m. at the Goffstown Public Library (2 High St. in Goffstown; 497-2102). The program, New Hampshire Humanities’ “Humanities To Go” series, does not require registration, according to goffstownlibrary.com. See also nhhumanities.org.

• Manchester in photos: The exhibit “Manchester Through the Lens of Frank Kelly,” highlighting the works of Manchester photographer Kelly in the 1950s through 1980s, will open Wednesday, Nov. 30, with a reception from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Millyard Museum (200 Bedford St. in Manchester; manchesterhistoric.org). RSVP to history@manchesterhistoric.org or call 662-7531. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission costs $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and college students and $5 for ages 12 to 18; children under 12 get in free.

Craft fairs

While there are fewer fairs this holiday weekend, there are still a few on the schedule. Send information about upcoming craft fairs to adiaz@hippopress.com.

• The Craftworkers’ Guild opens its doors for its Holiday Craft Shop at the Kendall House (behind the Bedford Library, 3A Meetinghouse Road in Bedford) Friday, Nov. 25, through Wednesday, Dec. 22. The show is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and online shopping is available at thecraftworkersguild.org.

• The VFW 5613 Auxiliary Annual Holiday Bazaar will take place Saturday, Nov. 26, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the VFW Hall (12 Hathorn Road in Jaffrey) and will feature more than 40 tables of handcrafted items, local vendors and art as well as lunch concessions, bake sales and raffles, according to Facebook post at NH Craft Fair Connection.

• The Exeter Holiday Parade Committee will present a craft fair on Saturday, Nov. 26, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Exeter Town Hall building by the bandstand. Admission is free and the Town Hall stage will be set with holiday scenes for family photos, according to a press release. See exeternhholidayparade.com.

• The New England Premier Events Holiday Expo will run Saturday, Nov. 26, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Doubletree by Hilton Downtown Manchester (700 Elm St.) and will feature demos, giveaways, dessert samples, swag bags and more, according to myneevent.com.

• New England Vendor Events has two fairs scheduled for this weekend, according to their Facebook page. The Hudson Holiday Craft Fair will take place Saturday, Nov. 26, from noon to 5 p.m. at Hudson Memorial School (1 Memorial Drive in Hudson) and feature Santa and the Grinch and more than 40 crafters and vendors, according to the post. The Merrimack Holiday Craft Fair will run from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 27, at VFW Post 8641 (282 Daniel Webster Hwy. in Merrimack). This fair will feature photos with Santa and more than 30 vendors and crafters, according to the post.

Art runs in the family

Sarah Larson, her mom and aunt talk about their family history as artists

By Katelyn Sahagian

ksahagian@hippopress.com

Some things are genetic, like hair and eye color. In this family, it seems that art is also a genetic link. With familial love and creativity comes a system that leads to support and healing.

Sara Larson, Liz Winchester-Larson and Harriet Winchester Kuzdrall are all professional artists in the Nashua area. They are also all related. Larson is Winchester-Larson’s daughter and Winchester Kuzdrall’s niece.

“Most of what I have learned [is] from my parents and my Aunt Harriet,” Larson said. “I’m following the family footsteps.”

The women are currently presenting their artworks at St. Joseph Hospital as part of the gallery Healing Through the Arts. They’ve had shows together before, with their current exhibition being the most recent while they prepare for more of the series “Art in the Family.”

The art on display at the hospital’s show is primarily nature-based, said Larson-Winchester. All three women grew up in New Hampshire, with Larson-Winchester and Winchester Kuzdrall hailing from Hollis and New Ipswich, and Larson raised in suburbs outside Keene.

Larson said that she loves having her aunt and mother to support her passion for art. She grew up watching her mother and aunt paint and sketch and draw as a way to remember hikes and vacations they’d gone on. They painted en plein air, out in nature at the scene, or they’d snap a photograph and bring it home to their studio.

All three women use different media, even if they have similar tastes in subjects and styles. Larson uses traditional oil paints, Winchester-Larson favors colored pencils, and Winchester Kuzdrall has recently made the switch to oil paints that wash out with water after doing 20 years of work with pastels.

“When I was doing pastel, I really like painting marshes, because in the spring and fall if you paint a marsh with maybe a few Mount Monadnocks, you can use all the pastels in the box ’cause it’s so rich in color,” said Winchester Kuzdrall. She said that the dust from the chalk had become too much for her lungs. “I still enjoy painting those native New Hampshire scenes.”

Painting New England nature is a favorite for all three women, said Larson-Winchester. Larson said that the scenery in New England was what kept her sane during the pandemic, even though she was close to 1,000 miles away from the Granite State.

During the pandemic, Larson was living in Lansing, Michigan. At the height of the pandemic, she said, she couldn’t leave her house to do the nature walks that gave her inspiration for her paintings. Then, her mother and aunt stepped in to help.

“I’m on the phone just about tearing my hair out, crying to both Mom and Aunt Harriet,” Larson said. “They got together a series of really neat photographs and Harriet sent a whole packet and said, ‘Paint these things.’”

It was ultimately this series of paintings that Larson did that brought her back to New Hampshire, and back to painting with her family.

During some research for a 2021 art show, the women discovered there had been professional painters in their family for at least a century.

Even though they hadn’t been aware of the depth of family history in fine arts, Winchester-Larson and Winchester Kuzdrall both remember growing up being encouraged by their own mother to continue their artistic pursuits.

“You can run across families where for generations everybody has been a teacher or nurses and things like that,” said Winchester-Larson. “So it’s not a unique idea … that there’s generations [of artists] in the family.”

Healing Through The Arts
Where: Inside and leading up to the Atrium at St. Joseph Hospital, 172 Kinsley St., Nashua
When: On display through Saturday, Jan. 7
Visit: stjosephhospital.com

Bringing the Holiday Fun: Sounds of the season

Back to Categories

Holiday sounds

Symphonies, choral performances and more

By Angie Sykeny

askyeny@hippopress.com

• The Granite State Ringers handbell ensemble presents “A Nutcracker Holiday,” a concert featuring music from The Nutcracker as well as other holiday music, at LaBelle Winery (345 Route 101, Amherst) on Sunday, Nov. 27, at 3 p.m. Tickets cost $25 for adults and $15 for children ages 3 through 12 and are free for children under age 3. The Ringers will also perform the concert at the Concord City Auditorium (2 Prince St., Concord) on Wednesday, Nov. 30, at 7:30 p.m. The concert at the Audi is free, with no tickets or reservations required. Visit granitestateringers.org.

• The Manchester Community Music School (2291 Elm St., Manchester) presents its Holiday Pops concert on Friday, Dec. 2, 6:30 p.m. Tickets cost $45. Visit mcmusicschool.org.

• The Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St. in Manchester; currier.org, 669-6144) will hold Caroling at the Currier on Saturday, Dec. 3, at noon with the Manchester Choral Society performing in the Historic Court, which will be able to be heard throughout the museum, according to the website. Hours on Saturday are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and admission costs $15 for adults, $13 for seniors, $10 for students, $5 for ages 13 to 17 and free for 12 and under.

• Canterbury Shaker Village (288 Shaker Road, Canterbury) will host a Merry Merry Canterbury Concert and Cocktails event on Saturday, Dec. 3, at 4 p.m., featuring Symphony NH’s string quartet. Tickets cost $75. Visit shakers.org/event/merry-merry-canterbury.

• The New Hampshire Gay Men’s Chorus presents its holiday concert series, “Suddenly Silver Bells,” with shows on Saturday, Dec. 3, at 7:30 p.m. at Christ the King Lutheran Church (3 Lutheran Drive, Nashua); Sunday, Dec. 4, at 4 p.m. at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church (22 Fox Run Road, Newington); Saturday, Dec. 9, at 7:30 p.m. at The Park Theatre (19 Main St., Jaffrey); and Sunday, Dec. 11, at 4 p.m. at The Derryfield School (2108 River Road, Manchester). Tickets cost $20 for adults; admission is free for children ages 12 and under. Visit nhgmc.com.

• The Nashua Choral Society performs its holiday concert, “Rejoice! ’Tis the Season,” on Sunday, Dec. 4, at 3 p.m. at Immaculate Conception Church (216 E. Dunstable Road, Nashua). Tickets cost $20 for adults and $10 for students. Admission is free for children. Visit nashuachoralsociety.org.

• The First Congregational Church (508 Union St. in Manchester; fccmanchesternh.org, 625-5093) is holding a Christmas Cantata with Christmas carols, a choir, handbells, an orchestra, readings and soloists during the service on Sunday, Dec. 4, at 10 a.m. The event is free and open to the public.

• The New Hampshire Philharmonic Orchestra’s brass and string quartets present a Holiday Pops concert at LaBelle Winery (14 Route 111, Derry) on Sunday, Dec. 4, at 4 p.m. Tickets cost $30 for adults and $20 for children ages 4 through 12 and are free for children under age 4. Visit nhphil.org.

• Hear Handel’s Messiahat St. Paul’s Church (22 Centre St., Concord) on Sunday, Dec. 4, at 7 p.m. The concert is free. Visit walkerlecture.org.

• Great Bay Philharmonic Orchestra’s string quartet presents a holiday concert at the Music Hall Lounge (131 Congress St., Portsmouth) on Friday, Dec. 9, at 8 p.m. Tickets cost $45 to $55. Visit themusichall.org or call 436-2400.

• The Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra performs its Holiday Pops concert at the SNHU Arena (555 Elm St., Manchester) on Saturday, Dec. 10, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $55. Visit snhuarena.com.

• The Souhegan Valley Chorus performs its holiday concert, “Sharing Christmas Joy,” on Saturday, Dec. 10, at 7 p.m. at First Congregational Church (10 Union St., Milford). Tickets cost $18 for adults and $15 for students and seniors and are free for children ages 12 and under. Visit souheganvalleychorus.org.

• The Manchester Choral Society and Orchestra presents its holiday concert on Saturday, Dec. 10, at 7 p.m. at Ste. Marie Parish (378 Notre Dame Ave., Manchester), and on Sunday, Dec. 11, at 4 p.m. at Manchester High School Central (535 Beech St., Manchester). Tickets cost $30 for adults and $25 for seniors and are free for children. Visit mcsnh.org.

• The Rockingham Choral Society presents its holiday concert, “Love Shall be Our Token,” on Saturday, Dec. 10, at 7:30 p.m. at First Parish Church (218 Central Ave., Dover) and on Sunday, Dec. 11, at 3:30 p.m. at Christ Church (43 Pine St., Exeter). Tickets cost $14 in advance and $15 at the door if still available. Visit rockinghamchoral.org.

• Symphony NH performs its Holiday Pops concerts on Saturday, Dec. 10, at 7:30 p.m. at Keefe Center for the Arts (117 Elm St., Nashua), and on Sunday, Dec. 11, at 3 p.m. at Concord City Auditorium (2 Prince St., Concord). Tickets are free for youth under age 12 and start at $10 for students, $18 for seniors age 65 and up and $20 for adults. Visit symphonynh.org.

• The Strafford Wind Symphony performs its holiday concert at the Rochester Opera House (31 Wakefield St., Rochester) on Wednesday, Dec. 14, at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $15 for adults and $8 for seniors and students and are free for children under age 12. The Symphony will also perform the concert at The Strand (20 Third St., Dover) on Sunday, Dec. 18, at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $18 for adults and are free for children under age 12. Visit straffordwindsymphony.org.

• TubaChristmas performs at Timberlane Performing Arts Center (40 Greenough Road, Plaistow) on Saturday, Dec. 17, at 2 p.m. Visit tubachristmas.com.

• The New Hampshire Philharmonic Orchestra presents its Holiday Pops concert at Seifert Performing Arts Center (44 Geremonty Drive, Salem) on Saturday, Dec. 17, at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 18, at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $5 to $8 for students, $25 for seniors and $30 for adults. Visit nhphil.org.

• The Portsmouth High School Concert Choir and Percussion Ensemble will perform its Family Holiday Pops concert at Portsmouth High School (50 Andrew Jarvis Drive, Portsmouth) on Saturday, Dec. 17, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 18, at 3 p.m. Tickets cost $30 for adults, $25 for seniors age 60 and up and $15 for students. Visit themusichall.org or call 436-2400.

• The Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra presents its New Year’s Eve Champagne Pops concert at the Music Hall Historic Theater (28 Chestnut St., Portsmouth) on Saturday, Dec. 31, at 8 p.m. Tickets cost $38. Visit themusichall.org or call 436-2400.

Songs (and jokes) of the season

Jazz concerts, comedy shows, Celtic music and more

By Matt Ingersoll

mingersoll@hippopress.com

From seasonal jazz and Celtic music to modern renditions of the holiday classics — and even a few holiday-themed comedy shows — there’s a performance to get everyone into the festive spirit this year.

Music

• The Trans-Siberian Orchestra presents The Ghosts of Christmas Eve, its annual holiday show, on Friday, Nov. 25, at the SNHU Arena, with shows at 3 and 7:30 p.m. Tickets range from $52.50 to $102.50. Check out Michael Witthaus’s interview with Jeff Plate, the band’s drummer, on page 38 of the Hippo’s Nov. 17 issue — go to issuu.com/hippopress to download and read the e-edition for free.

• Truffle’s annual Turkey Jam is set for Friday, Nov. 25, at 8 p.m., at The Stone Church Music Club. Tickets are $15 general admission, plus fees.

• Don’t miss A Piano Christmas with Robert Dionne, a special piano cabaret and sing-along event, on Saturday, Nov. 26, at 7 p.m. at The Majestic Theatre. Tickets are $20.

• A Kat Edmondson Christmas — “Holiday Swingin’” is scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 1, at Jimmy’s Jazz & Blues Club, with two shows, at 7:30 and 10 p.m. Tickets range from $10 to $45.

• There will be a special holiday-themed open mic night at High Street Coffee House on Friday, Dec. 2, at 7 p.m., sponsored by Boscawen Congregational Church. Admission is free and donations will be accepted.

• Enjoy Christmas with the Celts at The Flying Monkey Movie House & Performance Center on Friday, Dec. 2 — the doors open at 6 p.m., with the show starting at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $39.

• Children’s musician Mr. Aaron will hold a special holiday party and concert at the Bank of New Hampshire Stage on Saturday, Dec. 3, at 11 a.m. Tickets are $13, including service fees.

• Seamus Egan presents a Celtic Christmas at the Chubb Theatre on Saturday, Dec. 3, at 8 p.m. Tickets range from $32 to $42.

• Gary Hoey presents Ho! Ho! Hoey, his annual holiday-themed show, at the Tupelo Music Hall on Sunday, Dec. 4, at 7 p.m. Tickets range from $35 to $50, plus fees.

• Cherish the Ladies, the world renowned Grammy-nominated Irish-American supergroup, presents a Celtic Christmas at the Dana Center on Friday, Dec. 9, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets range from $25 to $45, plus fees.

• Don’t miss A Sinatra Christmas with Boston-based jazz singer Rich DiMare and the Ron Poster Band at the Rex Theatre on Saturday, Dec. 10, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets range from $29 to $39, plus fees.

• Rockapella returns to the Stockbridge Theatre on Saturday, Dec. 10, at 7 p.m., featuring “buckets of catchy original pop songs and contemporary versions of pop, rock and soul classics,” according to the website. Tickets range from $25 to $35.

• Ben Rudnick and Friends will play unique spins on the classics during a family-friendly holiday concert at LaBelle Winery in Amherst on Sunday, Dec. 11, at 1 p.m. Tickets are $12 for adults, $8 for kids ages 2 to 12 and free for kids under 2.

• The Canterbury Singers will sing holiday Shaker songs at the Canterbury Shaker Village on Sunday, Dec. 11, from 4 to 5 p.m. Donations will be accepted.

• A Joyful Christmas with Celtic legend Eileen Ivers will take place at the Rex Theatre on Sunday, Dec. 11, at 4 p.m. Tickets are $39.

• See a Christmas show featuring the Granite Statesmen at Pinkerton Academy’s Stockbridge Theatre on Sunday, Dec. 11, at 2 p.m. Tickets are $30 for adults, $20 for seniors and $10 for kids.

• Catch The John Denver Christmas Show at The Flying Monkey Movie House & Performance Center on Sunday, Dec. 11, at 4 p.m. Tickets start at $29.

• The Lakes Region Symphony Orchestra’s production of “Christmas with the Crooners” will be at the Colonial Theatre on Sunday, Dec. 11, at 7 p.m. The show features a mix of traditional carols and modern holiday tunes by Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Andy Williams and more. Tickets range from $22 to $32 for adults and from $12 to $22 for students.

• See the Capital Jazz Orchestra’s Holiday Pops show at the Chubb Theatre on Sunday, Dec. 11, at 4 p.m. Tickets range from $27.50 to $47.50, plus fees.

• Nashville-based jazz and pop vocalist Anthony Nunziata presents The Italian Broadway Christmas Show at the Rex Theatre on Wednesday, Dec. 14, at 7 p.m. Tickets range from $29 to $39, plus fees.

• Enjoy A Nashville Christmas at LaBelle Winery Derry on Thursday, Dec. 15, at 6:30 p.m. The event will feature a lineup of acclaimed Christmas songs country style, sprinkled in by the likes of Johnny Cash, Patsy Cline, Merle Haggard and more. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., with the performance beginning at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $35, plus fees.

• The Morning Buzz Christmas Ball featuring the Greg and the Morning Buzz team along with comedians, musicians, special guests and more is happening at the Chubb Theatre on Thursday, Dec. 15, at 7 p.m. Tickets are $45, plus fees.

• The Eric Mintel Quartet presents A Charlie Brown Christmas at the Rex Theatre on Thursday, Dec. 15, at 7 p.m. Tickets start at $29.

• New Hampshire’s own Irish and American folk duo The Spain Brothers will perform a mix of traditional and original Christmas songs at the Rex Theatre on Saturday, Dec. 17, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $29.

• See Franco Corso, a.k.a. “The Voice of Romance,” at Fulchino Vineyard on Saturday, Dec. 17, at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $139 and include a three-course dinner with the show.

• David Clark’s All About Joel, an evening tribute show to the Piano Man featuring holidays and hits, will be at Lakeport Opera House on Saturday, Dec. 17, at 7:30 p.m. As of Nov. 18, limited VIP seats are available for $60, plus fees.

• The Heater Pierson Jazz Trio is set to perform the soundtrack of “A Charlie Brown Christmas” at The Park Theatre on Saturday, Dec. 17, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $25 for adults and $10 for kids ages 16 and under.

• Ted Vigil: A John Denver Christmas will be at the Chubb Theatre on Sunday, Dec. 18, at 7 p.m. Tickets range from $29.50 to $49.50, plus fees.

• Join children’s musician Mr. Aaron for a family holiday concert at LaBelle Winery Derry on Sunday, Dec. 18, at 3:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for kids ages 2 to 12 and free for kids under 2.

• Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Judy Collins will take the stage at the Tupelo Music Hall for a special seasonal concert, Holiday & Hits. The show is happening on Sunday, Dec. 18, at 7 p.m. and tickets range from $55 to $70.

• See The Wizards of Winter, a holiday rock event featuring former members of some of classic rock’s biggest names — Alice Cooper, Blue Oyster Cult, Def Leppard and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, just to name a few — at The Flying Monkey Movie House & Performance Center on Thursday, Dec. 29, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $49.

Comedy

• Jimmy Dunn’s Comedy Christmas returns to the Rex Theatre on Friday, Dec. 16, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $25 (show is 18+).

• See a special holiday edition of Life’s a Drag, happening at Chunky’s Cinema Pub in Manchester on Saturday, Dec. 17, at 9 p.m. Tickets are $25 (event is 21+ only).

• Fulchino Vineyard presents Comedy Poured on Friday, Dec. 30, at 5 p.m., featuring an all-star cast of comedians like Paul D’Angelo, Dave Russo and Matt Barry, along with wine and charcuterie available for purchase. Tickets are $29.

• Comedian Juston McKinney’s annual Year in Review show returns to the Rex Theatre for two nights on Friday, Dec. 30, and Saturday, Dec. 31, at 8 p.m. Tickets are $35 (show is 18+).

• Headliners Comedy Club presents its annual New Year’s Eve gala on Saturday, Dec. 31, with showtimes at 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. Featured comedians will include Joe Yannetty, Jody Sloane, Rob Steen and Eric Hurst. Packages start at $35.

• Comedian Bob Marley will perform three New Year’s Eve comedy shows on Saturday, Dec. 31, at 2 p.m., 5:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. Tickets start at $46.50.

Magic & more

• Chabad of New Hampshire presents Chanukah at the Palace, a special event happening at the Palace Theatre on Tuesday, Dec. 20, at 6 p.m., featuring acclaimed mentalist Craig Karges and America’s Got Talent magician Jay Mattioli, along with a Chanukah musical interlude by vocalist Elazar Waldman. Tickets start at $18.

Music & comedy venues

Bank of New Hampshire Stage, 16 S. Main St., Concord, 225-1111, ccanh.com

Canterbury Shaker Village, 288 Shaker Road, Canterbury, 783-9511, shakers.org

Capitol Center for the Arts — Chubb Theatre, 44 S. Main St., Concord, 225-1111, ccanh.com

Chunky’s Cinema Pub, 707 Huse Road, Manchester, 206-3888, chunkys.com

Colonial Theatre, 609 Main St., Laconia, 800-657-8774, coloniallaconia.com

Dana Center for the Humanities, Saint Anselm College, 100 Saint Anselm Drive, Manchester, 641-7700, anselm.edu

The Flying Monkey Movie House & Performance Center, 39 S. Main St., Plymouth, 536-2551, flyingmonkeynh.com

Fulchino Vineyard, 187 Pine Hill Road, Hollis, 438-5984, fulchinovineyard.com

Headliners Comedy Club, DoubleTree by Hilton Manchester Downtown, 700 Elm St., Manchester, 988-3673, headlinersnh.com

High Street Coffee House, 12 High St., Boscawen, 520-9196, boscawencongregationalchurch.com

Jimmy’s Jazz & Blues Club, 135 Congress St., Portsmouth, 888-603-5299, jimmysoncongress.com

LaBelle Winery Amherst, 345 Route 101, Amherst, 672-9898, labellewinery.com

LaBelle Winery Derry, 14 Route 111, Derry, 672-9898, labellewinery.com

Lakeport Opera House, 781 Union Ave., Laconia, 519-7506, lakeportopera.com

The Majestic Theatre, 880 Page St., Manchester, 669-7469, majestictheatre.com

The Park Theatre, 19 Main St., Jaffrey, 532-9300, theparktheatre.org

Rex Theatre, 23 Amherst St., Manchester, 668-5588, palacetheatre.org

SNHU Arena, 555 Elm St., Manchester, 644-5000, snhuarena.com

Stockbridge Theatre, Pinkerton Academy, 44 N. Main St., Derry, 437-5210, stockbridgetheatre.com

The Stone Church Music Club, 5 Granite St., Newmarket, 659-7700, stonechurchrocks.com

Tupelo Music Hall, 10 A St., Derry, 437-5100, tupelohall.com

Featured photo: Kat Edmonson. Courtesy photo.

Bringing the Holiday Fun: Arts and crafts

Back to Categories

Decking the halls

Holiday arts, crafts, and more across Southern New Hampshire

By Katelyn Sahagian

ksahagian@hippopress.com

Holiday time means letting creativity flow. Whether it’s making decorations, appreciating fine art, or shopping at craft fairs for presents, there are different ways to be artistic during this time of year. The following are some of the fine arts-related holiday events happening across the Granite State.

• Twiggs Gallery (254 King St., Boscawen) is hosting its annual holiday show Sleighbell Studios now through Saturday, Dec. 17. The show will have crafts and artworks for sale throughout the day at the Spriggs Shoppe, located inside the gallery. Gallery hours are Thursday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. Visit twiggsgallery.wordpress.com.

• “Salon 2022” is on display now at Kimball Jenkins (266 Main St. in Concord; kimballjenkins.com, 225-3932). The exhibit featured small works in all media and runs through Sunday, Dec. 18. The gallery is open Mondays through Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• “Small Works — Big Impact” is a showcase of pieces from more than 30 area artists that are under a foot in size and is on display now at Creative Ventures Fine Art (411 Nashua St. in Milford; creativeventuresfineart.com, 672-2500), through Dec. 31. The gallery is open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m; Thursday from noon to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m

• Seacoast Artist Association (130 Water St., Exeter) is holding a holiday show called “Big Gifts Come in Small Packages” now through Jan 6. Gallery hours are Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m. Visit seacoastartist.org.

• Joyful Giving at Expert Design Solutions (Ripano Stoneworks, 90 E. Hollis St., Nashua) is going on now through Jan. 29, 2023. The show features acrylics, colored pencil, oils, pastels, watercolors and photography. The works on display are also available for sale. Visit nashuaarts.org.

• The Village Store Holiday Sale at the Canterbury Shaker Village (288 Shaker Road in Canterbury; shakers.org, 783-9511) will run Friday, Nov. 25, through Sunday, Nov. 27, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The day will feature free hot chocolate and cider and tours at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. The shore sells Shaker boxes, books, candles, local honey, maple syrup, handmade childrens toys and more, according to the website.

• The holiday fair and online shop by the Craftworkers’ Guild at the historic Oliver Kendall House (3A Meetinghouse Road, Bedford) will be up and running Friday, Nov. 25, through Thursday, Dec. 22. Find more information at sites.google.com/view/the-craftworkers-guild.

• Two Villages Art Society (846 Main St. in Contoocook; twovillagesart.org) will hold its annual winter exhibit and sale, Winter 2022 Members’ Art Show, from Friday, Nov. 25, through Saturday, Dec. 24, featuring works form more than 30 artist members in media including oil and watercolor, ceramics, prints, photography, jewelry, wearable art and more, according to a press release. An artists reception will be held on Saturday, Dec. 3, from noon to 2 p.m. and during Hopkinton’s Starry, Starry Weekend (Dec. 2 through Dec. 4) the gallery will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The regular gallery hours are Thursday through Sunday from noon to 4 p.m.

• Muse Paintbar in Manchester (42 Hanover St.) is hosting several holiday-themed painting events from Friday, Nov. 25, through the end of December. Prices range from $25 to $50 per painting session. Visit musepaintbar.com to reserve a slot.

• Firefly Pottery (72 Mirona Road, Suite 7, Portsmouth) is offering a free ornament to every customer from Friday, Nov. 25, through Sunday, Nov. 27. Reservations are required. Visit fireflypotterynh.com or call 431-7682 to reserve a pottery time.

• AR Workshop (875 Elm St., Manchester) is hosting a gift making workshop on Saturday, Nov. 26, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., where participants can make one of a selection of crafts for gift giving. Prices vary. Visit arworkshop.com.

• Frisella Fine Arts (16 Deer Run Road, Candia) is having a Home for the Holidays open house on Saturday, Nov. 26, from 2 to 7 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 27, from 2 to 5 p.m. Visit robinfrisella.comt.

• Time To Clay (228 Daniel Webster Hwy., Nashua) is hosting a platter painting class with holiday motifs on Wednesday, Nov. 30, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Slots cost $45 each and can be purchased at timetoclay.com.

• Join Studio 550 (550 Elm St., Manchester) for a bunch of drop-in holiday workshops on Saturday, Nov. 26, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Prices range from $15 to $35 per each workshop. Visit 550arts.com.

• The Amherst Junior Women’s Club is hosting a snowman making and open house on Tuesday, Nov. 29 from 7-8:30 p.m. at the Brick School (1 School St.) Reserve a spot by Sunday, Nov. 27 by messaging the club on Facebook.

• Studioverne Fine Art Fused Glass is hosting The Art of Gifting Art, a shopping event co-hosted by the studio and Creative Framing Solutions starting Thursday, Dec. 1, and running through Saturday, Dec. 31. The gift box will have art from Studioverne as well as other local artists and is available for only a limited amount of time. Visit studioverne.com.

• Make a holiday fresh flower centerpiece box at AR Workshop (875 Elm St., Manchester) on Thursday, Dec. 1, from 6:30 p.m. For more information visit arworkshop.com.

• High Mowing School (77 Pine Hill Drive, Wilton) holds its 45th annual Pine Hill holiday fair with an artisan market for adultson Friday, Dec. 2, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. and family festivities on Saturday, Dec. 3, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Visit pinehill.orgn.

• The winter giftopolis by the Concord Arts Market will be on Friday, Dec. 2, from 6 to 11 p.m. during Intown Concord’s Midnight Merriment, at the Atrium at 7 Eagle Square. For more information, visit concordartsmarket.net.

• Join The Lane House Arts Center (380 Lafayette Road, Hampton) for its third annual Art for the Holidays open house, open studio and gallery show. The open house and studio will be from Friday, Dec. 2, through Sunday, Dec. 4, and the gallery show will remain open through Dec. 22. Gallery hours are Wednesday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, 11 a.m. 4 p.m. See lanehousearts.com.

• Starry Starry Weekend is back in Contoocook Village from Friday, Dec. 2, through Sunday, Dec. 4, starting at 10 a.m. each day. In addition to an artisan craft fair, local shops and artists will have pop-ups around town. Visit contoocookchamber.com.

• Join the Unitarian Universalist Church of Manchester (669 Union St.) for the annual holiday faire on Saturday, Dec. 3, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the church’s fellowship hall. Visit uumanchester.org.

• The First Baptist Church of Nashua (121 Manchester St.) is hosting an Olde-Fashioned Christmas Fair on Saturday, Dec. 3, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will be handmade crafts as well as food and other activities. Visit fbcnashua.org.

• The Concord Arts Market is hosting its annual Holiday Arts Market on Saturday, Dec. 3, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Kimball Jenkins School of Art (266 N. Main St.). For more information visit concordartsmarket.net.

• The annual holiday shopping day by the Picker Artists (3 Pine St., Nashua) is back this year on Saturday, Dec. 3, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with handmade gifts, live music, snacks and more, according to pickerartists.com.

• Join Main Street Art (75 Main St., Newfields) for their annual Holiday Small Works Show opening on Wednesday, Dec. 7, from noon to 4 p.m. with a reception on Thursday, Dec. 8, from 4 to 7 p.m. Additional gallery days are Wednesdays, Dec. 14 and Dec. 21, from noon to 3 p.m. Visit mainstreetart.org.

• Head to the DoubleTree Hilton (2 Somerset Plaza, Nashua) for the Holly Jolly Craft Fair on Saturday, Dec. 10, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. There will be more than 70 artisans there selling their holiday wares. Visit joycescraftshows.com.

• The Great Holiday Shopping Extravaganza is being hosted by The Great New England Craft and Artisan Shows at the Hampshire Dome (34 Emerson Road, Milford) on Friday, Dec. 9, from 5 to 9 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 10, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visit gnecraftartisanshows.com.

• The New Hampshire Audubon’s Holiday Craft Fair will take place on Saturday, Dec. 10, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the NH Audubon McLane Center (84 Silk Farm Road in Concord; haudubon.org). The fair will feature local handmade crafts and other products and the food truck The Spot To Go, which serves up Puerto Rican street food.

• The light it up wood signs craft is coming back to Canvas Roadshow (25 S. River Road, Bedford) on Saturday, Dec. 17, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Registration closes on Dec. 14. Register at thecanvasroadshow.com.

• Join the Canvas Roadshow (25 S. River Road, Bedford) to make a red truck canvas painting on Sunday, Dec. 18, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Registration closes on Dec. 17. Visit thecanvasroadshow.com to register.

Featured photo: Artwork by Savannah Goyette on display at Creative Ventures Gallery. Courtesy photo.

Author: The Hippo Press

Bringing the Holiday Fun — 11/24/22

Kiddie Pool 22/11/24

The Art Roundup 22/11/24

Art runs in the family

Bringing the Holiday Fun: Sounds of the season

Bringing the Holiday Fun: Arts and crafts

Stay in the loop!

Get FREE weekly briefs on local food, music,

arts, and more across southern New Hampshire!