Who’s Ready to Laugh? — 08/07/2025

On the cover

We could all use some laughs. Get six days of comedy at the coast and months more of comedians bringing the laughs to stages all across the greater Manchester/Nashua/Concord area. In this week’s cover, Michael Witthaus looks at the Hampton Beach Comedy Festival and the line up of shows into fall. On the cover and above, it’s comedian Will Noonan who will perform on the first night of the festival (courtesy photo).

Also on the cover Find out how local farms celebrate sunflower season in the story on page 16. Also on page 16, John Fladd serves up information about the new menu of pizza and more at Kettlehead Brewing in Nashua. And Michael talks to comedian Brad Williams ahead of two shows at the Capitol Center for the Arts in Concord on Friday, Aug. 8 (see page 22).

Speaking of comedians, let’s kick off this comedy-heavy issue with a fun story from the local comedy scene: Nick Lavallee of Wicked Joyful (and Manchester as “Chicken Tender Capital of the World” booster fame) designed one of his custom action figures for comedian and New Hampshire native Drew Dunn, who appeared on NBC’s The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on Tuesday, July 29. You can find Drew’s Tonight Show set on YouTube and you can see Nick’s creation on WIcked Joyful’s Instagram, inspired by Drew’s joke about having eaten so much plastic in his life that he’s “approaching action figure levels of plastic.” See drewdunncomedy.com for more on Drew.

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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.
Opioid abatement The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, on behalf of the NH Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission, ...
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The Big Story – Sox Lead Wild Card Race: So, where are the “the sky is always falling” folks in ...
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Animal news, part 1: Snake! As reported by WMUR in a July 29 online article, a Derry woman was shocked ...
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Thursday, Aug. 7 The New Hampshire Antiques Show, hosted by the New Hampshire Antique Dealers Association, returns to the DoubleTree ...
audience sitting at large outdoor patio seated at tables and laughing
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News from the local food scene • More markets: The new Dunbarton farmers market takes place Fridays through Aug. 29, ...
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Kiddie Pool 25/08/07

Family fun for whenever

Rx for Teddy

• The Children’s Museum of New Hampshire (6 Washington St., Dover, childrens-museum.org) will hold its annual Teddy Bear Clinic on Friday, Aug. 8, from 9 to 11 a.m. Kids can bring stuffed animals in for a checkup and learn more about what happens at the doctor’s office, according to the website. Admission costs $14.50 for everyone over 12 months, $12.50 for 65+ and free for kids under 12 months, the website said.

Family fun fests

Hudson’s Old Home Days will take place Thursday, Aug. 7, to Sunday, Aug. 10, on the grounds of the Hill House (211 Derry Road, Hudson). There will be carnival games, live music, food, vendors, a craft fair, kids’ activities and more. Event times are Thursday from 5 to 10 p.m., Friday from 5 to 11 p.m., Saturday from noon to 11 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. See hudsonoldhomedays.com

Salembration!, a celebration of the 275th birthday of Salem, New Hampshire, will take place on Geremonty Drive on Saturday, Aug. 9, from noon to 5 p.m. The event will feature food trucks, craft vendors and more, according to salemnh.gov/1096/salembration.

Kids beach week

• The Hampton Beach Children’s Festival is Monday, Aug. 11, through Friday, Aug. 15. The week features a slate of performances and activities every day. Some highlights: for Monday, wildlife encounters (2 p.m.), Blue Ocean Society Scavenger Hunt (3 p.m.) and a screening of Mufasa: The Lion King (7:45 p.m.); on Tuesday, free Buc’s Lagoon Mini Golf for ages 12 and under (12:30 p.m.), and a touch-a-truck with local first responders (3 p.m.); on Wednesday, “Ellen Goethel explores the ocean world” (11 a.m.) and fireworks (9:30 p.m., weather permitting), and on Thursday, balloon story telling (10 a.m.), Foo Family Band (1 p.m.) and ice cream with the lifeguards (3:30 p.m). The week wraps up on Friday with a parade at 10 a.m. (byo costume and participate) and a performance by Mr. Aaron at the Seashell at 11 a.m. All activities are free and open to the public. See the full schedule at hamptonbeach.org.

This Week 25/08/07

Thursday, Aug. 7

The New Hampshire Antiques Show, hosted by the New Hampshire Antique Dealers Association, returns to the DoubleTree by Hilton Manchester Downtown (700 Elm St., Manchester) today through Saturday, Aug. 9. Nearly 60 professional antiques dealers will exhibit their collections of antique furniture, art, jewelry and more. Show hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. Tickets are $15 on Thursday, and $10 on Friday and Saturday; return visits are free. Visit nhada.org.

Saturday, Aug. 9

The Friends of the Library of Hudson, New Hampshire will hold an “Everything Must Go” Second Hand Prose book sale today, and tomorrow, Sunday, Aug.10, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the Hills Library Building (18 Library St, Hudson). There will be books for all ages, from 25 cents to $2, as well as CDs and DVDs for $1. Cash or checks only. Find them on Facebook.

Saturday, Aug. 9

It’s the Second Saturday, which means free admission at the Currier Museum of Art in Manchester for New Hampshire residents today 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. See currier.org.

Sunday, Aug. 10

Today is the final day of the League of NH’s Craftsmen’s annual fair at Mount Sunapee Resort in Newbury. The fair is open daily through today, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. See nhcrafts.org/annual-craftsmens-fair or see our story on the fair in last week’s (July 31) issue of the Hippo. Digital issues of the paper are at hippopress.com; the story is on page 10.

Sunday, Aug. 10

Check out Studio Two, a tribute to the Beatles’ early career, when this quartet plays the Stark Park bandstand (550 River Road, Manchester) today at 2 p.m. Admission is free and open to the public.

Monday, Aug. 11

There will be an information night this evening from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. for anyone interested in auditioning for an upcoming production of The Addams Family Musicalby the Community Players of Concord (435 Josiah Bartlett Road, Concord, 224-4905, communityplayersofconcord.org). Auditions will be held on Aug. 17 and Aug. 18. Visit the Community Players’ website.

Tuesday, Aug. 12

Iconic rock foursome Stryper will take the stage at the Tupelo Music Hall (10 A St., Derry, 437-5100, tupelomusichall.com) tonight at 8 p.m., on their 40th Anniversary Tour, celebrating the release of the band’s 16th studio project, When We Were Kings. Tickets are $55.

Wednesday, Aug. 13

Londonderry’s Old Home Days kick off today and run through Saturday, Aug. 16. Tonight’s happenings include Senior Night Bingo & Barbecue at Lions Hall Pavilion and, fresh from Sunday, a performance by Studio Two at 7 p.m. at the Town Commons. See londonderrynh.gov for a full schedule

Save the Date! Sept. 19
The Granite State Comic Con is just a little more than a month away but you can get tickets (as well as merch, such as a Back to the Future-style Back to Granitecon shirt) now for the event, which kicks off Friday, Sept. 19, with a preview night and an 8-Bit Karaoke Bash at Strange Brew followed by the convention itself Saturday, Sept. 20, and Sunday, Sept. 21, at DoubleTree by Hilton Manchester Downtown and the nearby SNHU Arena. Guests for the event include actors, comic creators, game creators, cosplayers and more. Find vendors and exhibitors covering all things comic book and pop culture. Advance tickets include single day admission for Saturday or Sunday, weekend admission, Friday preview only and a VIP that comes with a swag bag. See granitecon.com to purchase tickets, see the line-up of guests and to see a layout of the convention.

Quality of Life 25/08/07

Animal news, part 1: Snake!

As reported by WMUR in a July 29 online article, a Derry woman was shocked to find a 5-foot python in her bathroom on Monday, July 28. “The woman called police for help,” WMUR reported. “They … found the snake inside the woman’s bathroom. Officers safely placed the snake in a tote and contacted some nearby neighbors to see if it belonged to them.” WMUR quoted the police responders who said that the snake was “docile, friendly, and clearly someone’s pet.”

QOL score: -1 because, like, this can happen? In NH?

Comment: WMUR consulted Kevin McCurley, owner of New England Reptile Distributors in Plaistow, who speculated that the snake may have gotten into the apartment through the toilet.

Animal news, part 2: Sad summer for pets

A July 31 online story by Nashua InkLink reported that area animal shelters are at capacity, due to an unusually large number of owner surrenders. According to Humane Society for Greater Nashua president and CEO Douglas Barry in the story, it’s not uncommon for newly homeless pet owners to be forced to give up their pets.

QOL score: -2

Comment: According to a recent study, the InkLink article reported, “In 2024, 5.8 million cats and dogs entered shelters and rescues in the U.S. This marks the fifth consecutive year that shelters experienced more intakes than outcomes.”

Animal news, part 3: Top dog

As reported by WMUR in an Aug. 4 online article, New Hampshire Fish and Game K9 Aspen has won a photo contest sponsored by the Vermont Police Canine Association. “Aspen will be the inspiration for the association’s next T-shirt design,” the article read. According to a post on the Association’s Facebook page, Aspen received 579 of 2,623 votes.

QOL score: +1

Comment: Aspen was recently in the news for locating a missing person, according to a WMUR report from July 27.

QOL score last week: 66

Net change: -2

QOL this week: 64

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

Let us know at news@hippopress.com.

News & Notes 25/08/07

Opioid abatement

The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, on behalf of the NH Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission, has selected Granite United Way to manage the statewide Opioid Abatement Community Grants Program, according to a press release. “This program … will provide $10 million in funding over the next two years to support projects that help communities combat opioid misuse and its effects. Granite United Way will work closely with a Community Advisory Team — made up of experts, community members, and people with lived experience — to design and advise this grant program,” the release said. The program will award short-term grants of up to $15,000 for one-time costs (“ technology, equipment, training, or events that meet immediate community needs”) and up to $75,000 per year for up to three years for multi-year projects “that address local needs and involve strong community partnerships,” the release said. See dhhs.nh.gov or graniteuw.org.

Senate race check-in

Dan Innis, the Republican state senator for District 7, announced his candidacy for U.S. Senate in 2026. Innis, who lives in Bradford, announced his candidacy on July 16, according to a press release. Republican Scott Brown announced his candidacy in late June, according to the Boston Globe. U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas, a Democrat, announced his campaign for the seat in early April.

Radiation oncology

Dartmouth Cancer Center opened a new radiation oncology center at Dartmouth Health’s Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinics Manchester (100 Hitchcock Way in Manchester) with a July 28 ribbon-cutting, according to a press release. “Patients can now see their oncologists, get test results from the in-house lab, and receive any of the primary cancer treatment modalities — radiation therapy, chemotherapy and surgery — all in one location, the release said. See cancer.dartmouth.edu/hematology-oncology.

Foto Fest

The New Hampshire Center for Photography will hold its second annual FotoFest on Saturday, Aug. 16, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Kimball Jenkins School of Art in the Carriage House, 266 N. Main St. in Concord, according to an email about the event. “Come hang out with your fellow New Hampshire photographers, talk shop and browse the market for film and digital cameras, lenses, darkroom equipment, studio lighting, expired film, assorted gear and Photographic Art! Don’t miss NHCP’s table “Make me an Offer” (that we can’t refuse),” the email said. Admission is free. See nhspa.wildapricot.org.

Monday, Aug. 11, is the final day to see “Keeping Faith: Commemorating 250 Years of Shakerism in America” an exhibit of some of the “oldest and rarely displayed artifacts” at the Canterbury Shaker Village in Canterbury. The exhibit is open Monday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. See shakers.org.

The Delta Dental/Elliot Corporate 5K Road Race will take place Thursday, Aug. 7, at 6:20 p.m. in downtown Manchester, starting on Elm Street at Stark Street and heading north to make a loop that ends at Veterans Park, according to millenniumrunning.com/corporate5k, where you can register online until noon.

The Derry Public Library (derrypl.org) will hold a West Broadway Historical Walking Tour on Saturday, Aug. 9, at 10 a.m. “We’ll see where William Hobdy played ragtime and where C.H. Gordon styled hair and sold burial vaults,” according to the event description. Register via the library’s website.

Jump in the Line — 07/31/2025

On the cover

Line dancing isn’t just for country music. Sure, you can wear your boots and cowboy hat, but you can also rock sneakers and your favorite pop diva T-shirt at these dances that play a wide range of musical styles, so Michael Witthaus explains in this week’s cover story.

Also on the cover The League of New Hampshire Craftsmen’s annual fair kicks off this weekend and runs through next Sunday (see page 12). The Southern New Hampshire Food Truck Festival comes to Milford (page 16). And Michael talks to Rodney Justo ahead of the Atlanta Rhythm Section’s Saturday show at Tupelo Music Hall in Derry (page 22).

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