Category: Cover Stories

When it comes to live music in New Hampshire, there are plenty of choices. It all comes down to what suits the mood. Maybe a country singer with a story to tell, or a musical conversation between the members of a jam band, in the form of nods and hand signs. Or a troubadour folkie with a song that joins old traditions to modern sensibilities might be just right. Maybe it’s a bluegrass combo keeping the mood acoustic, or perhaps the interplay of jazz, the emotive rock of pop-punk, the soaring sound of progressive rock. It’s all here.

Eight of the state’s musical mavens were asked to define their genres and talk about what people might not know about them. Each also weighed in on the leading purveyors and the best venues where they perform.

Hopefully, it’s a handy guide for a night of appreciating the state’s music.

Folk

Tom Pirozzoli is a singer, songwriter, painter and promoter. In 1994 he had a new album and wanted to do a release show, so he asked Tom Mills, owner of Flying Goose Bar & Grille in New London, if he’d be interested in hosting it. Thirty-one years later, weekly folk nights are a staple at the restaurant, bar and brewery. Pirozzoli also books other shows at coffee houses in the area. Find his schedule at pirozzoli.com.

How would you define folk?

Every folk musician gets the same answer. Bill Broonzy once said, ‘I ain’t never heard no horses singing.’ To me, it’s somebody like Harvey Reid, who’s a true troubadour. Harvey knows so many songs. I mean, he knows some pop songs, too, like ‘Ode to Billie Joe,’ which was a hit record, but it’s really a country song. He knows all the Carter Family music, he’s got a huge catalog of folk music. And he’s a great songwriter as well.

What got you interested in it?

I was born in 1950, so I was listening to a little transistor radio when I was 13 years old in 1963. Everybody got one at that age. Then The Beatles came out, and I still remember all the words to their songs. But when I first heard Bob Dylan singing … ‘Just Like A Woman’ was the first song I heard by him and it just blew my mind. It was right around then I started playing guitar, and I guess I got into folk music because it was what I could do.

Who are some of New Hampshire’s representative folk acts?

Well, Tom Rush, obviously, would be at the top, even though I think he jumped in between Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Click Horning is with a band called Night Kitchen with Gerry Putnam … his son plays bass, and then Alex Keenan, who plays in a variety of bands down on the Seacoast. Cormac McCarthy was born in New Hampshire, but he lives in Maine now — you can count him.

Where are some of the best places to see folk performed?

Well, the Flying Goose and there’s also the Peterborough Folk Music Society. There’s also Bass Hall, and Deb McWethy’s house concerts — those are what is going to save us…. There are also coffee houses — in Sunapee and Andover, there’s the Deering Coffee House and then the Anonymous Coffee House in Lebanon. Also, the Word Barn in Exeter is great, and the Stone Church [in Newmarket] is too.

Pop Punk

Aaron Shelton plays in a band and runs Kinetic City Events. Most of his shows happen at the Shaskeen in Manchester (such as Emo Karaoke Night with a live backing band, the next of which takes place Friday, Nov. 14, at 8 p.m.), but he occasionally books other venues. The emo band tribute night Live Free or Cry has grown into an institution, as well as the muti-band shows that regularly happen in the back room of the Elm Street Irish bar and restaurant. Find Kinetic City Events’ upcoming schedule on their Facebook page.

How would you define pop punk?

I think it’s largely just anything that is more poppy, accessible punk. Typically lighthearted, upbeat punk music.

What got you interested in it?

I listened to nu metal in the late ’90s and around 2001 I came across Thursday, New Found Glory, Boy Sets Fire, bands like that (only one is pop punk), and that led me to dive deeper and found bands like Rufio, The Stryder and Saves The Day.

Who are some of New Hampshire’s representative pop punk acts?

The bands that come to mind at the moment are Donaher, Hell Beach and Breaking Up. I’m sure I’m missing some, though.

Where are some of the best places to see pop punk performed?

I’m a little biased but right now I think The Shaskeen and BAD BRGR are doing a lot of excellent pop punk and emo/post hardcore stuff. [Editor’s note: Other venues include Terminus Underground in Nashua, with a Pop Punk Pop happening on Nov. 29, as well as Newmarket’s Stone Church and the Press Room in Portsmouth.]

What’s the most misunderstood thing about pop punk?

I’m not sure I’d say anything is misunderstood exactly. I think there are some big jumps between what I would call true (or good) pop punk and radio pop punk bands like Sum 41 and Good Charlotte, which are of course the biggest of the broad term of the genre.

Jam band

A founding member of JamAntics, Eric Reingold has played in a multitude of bands over the years. Lately he fronts Concord supergroup UP and plays bass with JamAntics spinoff Lucas Gallo & the Guise. Past groups include People Skills, Cold Engines and Blacklight Ruckus. Reingold’s take on jam band music isn’t one of rules-free improvisation. He prefers compact songs and believes discipline, skills and communication are the genre’s hallmarks. Find “UP – the band” on Facebook. Lucas Gallo & The Guide will play Penuche’s Ale House in Concord on Wednesday, Nov. 26, at 9 p.m.; follow them via lucasgallomusic.com.

How would you define jam band music?

My impression of jam bands is picking things up on the fly … a little bit loosey-goosey but coming back into a very tight togetherness, whether it’s the verse or the chorus, or taking a stroll down in order to segue into a different song. Now, that being said … if a song is 20 or 30 or 40 minutes long, even if a song is seven or eight minutes long, I’m ADD enough to be like, ‘OK, that’s enough for me,’ and it’s very much shaped my way of being in a jam band. I’ve very much modified my own style to be jam band but tight and short.

Who are some of New Hampshire’s representative jam band acts?

Concord especially, where I live, is so welcoming of not only jam bands but just music, original music. … On any given night it’s tougher to find a cover band in Concord than it is to find an original band.I love that about Concord. But the jam band scene, … Any of the Laliotis brothers, all three of them are great musicians. Scott Solsky is another great artist. My bands, Lucas Gallo & the Guise, and UP. Other bands that I’ve become friendly with, in and outside of Concord, and recommend seeing are Kenny Brothers, J3ST, Holy Fool and Trade, which is one of the best examples of super-talented jam originals. Other bands I could recommend I actually became part of after being a fan, like People Skills, Cold Engines and Blacklight Ruckus.

Where are some of the best places to see jam band music performed?

The love of my life will always be Penuche’s. I love that place. … Feathered Friend has really done a lot. They have a great big stage out back, so they’re really up and coming. Then there’s the Bank of New Hampshire Stage, which is amazing … anybody can play on all scale levels. That’s where Andrew Grosvenor puts on an open mic. He’s done a great job of getting solo artists and individual groups that don’t have any following up onto a stage that might never get that opportunity to play on such high-end equipment or such a nice stage. The Tap House is a new place in the Lakes Region, and I want to make a point to bring up Henniker Brewing Co.

What’s the most misunderstood thing about jam band music?

I just want to reiterate … it’s not that people are noodling around and really loose on stage. I think jam bands actually take a lot more skill than having parts and exact songs playing in exactly that way. Just because you need to know…. There needs to be communication up on stage. It’s a tougher thing for a band to have.

Jazz

Brad Myrick leads an eponymous trio and performs solo throughout the region when he’s not traveling in Europe, where he’s made guitar albums with musical partner Nicola Cipriani, and has a new one coming early next year. A characteristic of good jazz, he said during a break from a series of workshops with fellow musician Vinx in southern France, is that it contains echoes of other sounds — pop, rock, the Great American Songbook — to draw listeners in. Catch the Brad Myrick Band Sunday, Dec. 7, at 10 a.m. at Jimmy’s Jazz & Blues Club in Portsmouth. Find more shows at bradmyrick.com.

How would you define jazz?

… I think jazz is really about the spirit of listening, interplay, improvisation and not setting rules. It’s really a wide open space and that’s why it’s been so amazing….

What got you interested in it?

When I was a teenager in the ’90s, I was playing a lot of pop and rock … I was into prog and metal and some of the heavier stuff, and I was into popular music. … But my guitar teacher, Joe Gattuso, kept introducing me to new little things like, Hey, check this out, check this out…. I realized that as a guitar player there were all these other things I could do beyond just the pop and rock stuff, and I just fell in love with jazz and world music …

Who are some of New Hampshire’s representative jazz acts?

I’m not as tapped into that as I probably should be, but I love David Newsam. He was the head of the UNH guitar program for a long time, and he still teaches at Berklee. David’s got a whole bunch of different projects going on. … Choro Loco is a great little band where they play Brazilian music — choro and samba and that kind of stuff is really interesting. But I would say if you can tap into Dave he’s got a few projects. He works with some saxophone players that are just fantastic.

Where are some of the best places to see jazz performed?

I’ve actually been trying to reach out and find different places that aren’t necessarily music venues. So I’ve been going to art galleries and presenting ideas. Obviously Jimmy’s Jazz & Blues in Portsmouth is a beautiful venue. Another place I’ve played some music with was a place called Glimpse Gallery in Concord…. My trio plays at Jimmy’s, we do the brunches, and that’s great. They treat us pretty well there, but there’s not a lot of venues that are paying real money for jazz musicians.

What’s the most misunderstood thing about jazz?

I don’t want to speak for anybody else, but my experience is that you, as an artist, should give people a little bit of permission to come be part of what you’re doing, instead of just being the guy on stage with your head down playing a lot of notes. If you include them a little bit, people are really open to it … they say, I don’t know what’s going on here but I’m interested and it’s cool. So just saying hello, talking about the song, raising your head up and smiling at the crowd. … I try to interact with people and let them know, here’s what’s going on.

Prog rock

Though Jerry LoFaro isn’t a musician, he knows plenty about progressive rock, and he even built a venue in back of his Henniker home for concerts. Everyone from Springsteen keyboard player turned jazz fusionist David Sancious to New Hampshire’s own Rocking Horse Music Club has performed at the LoFaro Center, with more shows on the way. LoFaro is also an artist who’s done album covers, including one for a CD/DVD tribute to prog hero Keith Emerson, and he’s the house photographer at Tupelo Music Hall in Derry. Find the LoFaro Center’s schedule on Facebook.

How would you define prog rock?

The simple explanation is to point to the bands that everyone thinks of…. Yes, ELP, Genesis and of course Pink Floyd. That was the benchmark, and of course a lot of people consider the Beach Boys’ Pet Sounds to be one of the first prog albums, and The Beatles’ Magical Mystery Tour … coming from the ’60s, and then all the experimentation happened. So the early definition was pushing the boundaries of composition and skill level … a lot of these jam bands are clearly influenced by prog rock due to the stretching of instrumentals. You hear it in bands like Umphrey’s McGee.

What got you interested in it?

I had all Elton John’s records, and then his Greatest Hits came out with him with the white tux and the hat on the cover. I bought it to have for my collection. I grew up on Long Island and the popular radio station played this commercial with Keith Emerson [and] it was so intriguing. Here’s a guy with a keyboard, and I’m listening to Elton John … I think I’d heard ‘Lucky Man.’ After that commercial, and this is in the days when you could do that, I went back to Sam Goody, where I bought the Elton John record, and traded it in for Brain Salad Surgery, even steven. That album, it just changed my life. I mean, the journey officially began.

Who are some of New Hampshire’s representative prog rock acts?

That’s a tough question. The only one I can think of right now is the Rocking Horse Music Club, who just performed here. Rocking Horse creates popular music and they work with a lot of different artists, but when Brian [Coombes, the studio’s owner and producer[ wants to do his own thing, it’s, it’s very prog oriented, very adventuresome, eclectic. His latest album, Last Pink Glow, is really beautiful and very progressive. Then there’s Mindset X from Manchester, and Delusive Relics, which was called Mavara.

Where are some of the best places to see prog rock performed?

I have a loyal following here, but of course the Tupelo Music Hall has had prog rock, it had the Musical Box, a Genesis tribute act, a number of times, and some others that touch upon the genre for sure. Flying Monkey in Plymouth, too. John Lodge played both places, and he certainly would be considered part of that.

What’s the most misunderstood thing about prog rock?

I think the fact that people consider it intellectual music is a barrier for a lot of people. They think, I like rock ’n’ roll, but I don’t want to have to think too much or pay attention to the music. I just want to hear it as background. That has always been a bad rap. Of course, for those of us that lean intellectually, we love that. Another misconception is that it’s pompous, full of itself or show-off or it doesn’t reflect the essence of rock ’n’ roll. Meanwhile, you’ve got Madonna in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Country

Born and raised in New Hampshire, April Cushman is arguably the state’s most successful country artist. The past four years, she’s been nominated at the New England Music Awards for Best Country Artist and won two times. While fans can catch her in clubs, lately Cushman has been headlining places like the Colonial Theatre in Keene. In the recent past she’s become the go-to country performer for the New England Patriots, singing the national anthem multiple times and, last Nov. 2, starring in a Salute to Service-themed halftime show. See aprilcushman.com for upcoming shows.

How would you define country?

What makes it country music is the stories behind the songs. Typically country music is real life experiences, the life that you’re living, the life that you’ve seen other people live. … It’s the lyrics, not necessarily the melody or which branch of country music it kind of pulls off from. There’s always that storyteller element.

What got you interested in it?

I grew up on Tom Petty, The Eagles, Sheryl Crow, Fleetwood Mac, all the stuff that my dad essentially grew up on … but I believe it was Keith Urban that really drew me into more of the early 2000s country, Rascal Flatts and stuff, [and] I’m a huge ’90s country fan. Honestly, I think the thing that made me fall in love with it was the relatability of the stories, even though I was a young teenage kid. I think essentially the older you get too, the more you can look back and be like, ‘Oh, yeah, I can relate to Reba McEntire, I totally get it.’

Who are some of New Hampshire’s representative country acts?

I feel like a lot of the country music acts in New England kind of fall from the Massachusetts side of things. … Martin and Kelly … are both out of New Hampshire. There is the North County Band. They’re out of Connecticut and they play up in New Hampshire a lot. They’re really, really great people. Nate Ramos is another one.

Where are some of the best places to see country performed?

One of the places that I play a lot, and I’ve actually got a residency that I’m going to be pulling next summer, is up in Center Harbor, New Hampshire. It’s called the Tap House. It’s right out, you can see Winnipesaukee, it’s right there. And I believe they have a lot of classic rock stuff in there too, but it’s a very country-forward place if you have country artists in there, and they’re wonderful. Then there’s Saddle Up Saloon in Kingston, Bonfire and The Goat in Manchester. Arts Alley is great. BNH Stage is right there too, and the rooftop is super cool. …

What’s the most misunderstood thing about country?

A lot of the people that listen to today’s more modernized country and the pop country thing, I think they think … that’s what it is just as a whole, that’s all that it is, but they don’t realize that there’s very different branches and elements to country music that come off from the genre as a whole. So I think the most misunderstood part about country is that there are many, many branches that come off of it, and I think a lot of people don’t realize that not every country song is about missing a girl in the neon lights sitting at the bar.

Bluegrass

Scott Heron is an acoustic multi-instrumentalist who performs with a number of bluegrass groups, including The Treetellers, who recently covered Bill Monroe and Flatt & Scruggs at a Ryman Auditorium Remembered show in Concord. He also leads Any Which Way and the Heron Bluegrass Company and is a member of Big Sweetie, a Seacoast supergroup that includes Jake Davis, Zac Arnault and Jake Smith, which draws from a variety of influences, from country to r&b and rock ’n’ roll. Upcoming shows include with the Heron Bluegrass Company at the Barrington-based Nippo Lake Golf Club’s Bluegrass Series on Sunday, Nov. 30, at 6 p.m.; see scottheron.com.

How would you define bluegrass?

That’s a very good question, because I play a lot of not bluegrass. I play all sorts of genres. I love bluegrass, and I think people see you with a banjo and their perceptions are that, oh, you’re playing bluegrass. You have a banjo or you have a fiddle, so you’re playing bluegrass. So it’s a funny thing to try to define, but there’s … that typical Bill Monroe five-piece outfit: fiddle, banjo, guitar, mandolin and upright bass. So it can be looked at as the instrumentation is making it bluegrass, but obviously the sound, there’s a particular sound that’s bluegrass. You know it when you hear it.

What got you interested in it?

Probably like everybody else, I came across the movie O Brother, Where Art Thou? I was familiar with some of it … the Stanley Brothers, and I knew who Bill Monroe was. But I think that really put it in the forefront, and so it kind of got me going down a rabbit hole. Conversely, I came at it from another angle, ultimately from classic rock, and I just kept kind of diving further and further. You get to classic rock, then get to Bob Dylan and The Band, and then you get to Bob Dylan’s influences, Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger, and then you start getting into the whole folk revival.

Who are some of New Hampshire’s representative bluegrass acts?

I’m fortunate to come across a lot of these folks, particularly where I’m on the Seacoast, we have quite a few bluegrass and Americana bands. One of the long-term ones, my buddy Cecil Abels plays in the New England Bluegrass Band. He’s from Mississippi originally, but he’s been up here in New Hampshire for quite a few years, and they play all over. My buddy Rick Watson used to play in the Bolt Hill Band, but I don’t think they’re around any longer. One of my favorite people, his name’s Old Time Dave Talmadge. The big one that comes to mind, who’ve been playing together for over 50 years, is Lunch at the Dump.

Where are some of the best places to see bluegrass performed?

Obviously, the Nippo Lake Bluegrass Series jumps out, and the Word Barn. Stone Church used to do a bit more bluegrass, and they may be bringing it back. There’s a summer series at the Applecrest Farms. There is Pembroke City Limits. I love seeing something like what Rob Azevedo’s done. He’s just made this wonderful space. It can be a honky-tonk, a listening room or just a rowdy bar. He’s been so welcoming.

Hip-hop

Few music genres in New Hampshire have a cheerleader with the energy of Bill Fee, who performs hip-hop as Fee the Evolutionist. He’s nominated for a 2025 New England Music Award, which follows a Rising Star New Hampshire win a couple of years ago. “It only took me 20 years,” he said with a laugh at the time. With his life partner Ruby Shabazz, another NEMA winner, Fee is also a big booster of his hometown of Nashua and often does shows there, along with performing throughout the state and across the Massachusetts border. Fee the Evolutionist is on the bill for Hellbound for the Holidays Toy Drive and Concert on Saturday, Dec. 13, at The Spot in Nashua at 6 p.m., according to his Facebook page, where you can find more upcoming performances. Follow Ruby Shabazz on her Facebook and Instragram pages.

How would you define hip-hop?

Hip-hop, for me, is more than just music; it’s a culture, a movement, a force for truth and connection. It’s about the four pillars — MCing, DJing, breakdancing and graffiti—but it’s also about knowledge, consciousness and giving back. When I define it in my music, I’m talking about that raw, organic feeling from the golden era, where soul samples and real instrumentation drive the beat. It’s a living art form that allows for storytelling, social commentary and genuine expression.

What got you interested in it?

Growing up, hip-hop always resonated with me; it speaks to my soul. I harked back to the fun, melodic harmonies and soul samples of the golden era. I was fascinated by the whole culture and wanted to learn everything I could. I remember sitting in Ski Beatz’s living room and watching him flip deep soul samples into bangers — it was magic to me. That raw, authentic sound, and the ability to use my voice for something meaningful, that’s what got me hooked and kept me evolving.

Who are some of New Hampshire’s representative hip-hop acts?

The New Hampshire and general New England scene has some serious talent. I’ve been proud to collaborate with great artists from the area like Ruby Shabazz, DJ Myth, Dez tha Baker, Cody Pope & Byron G. I also work with legends from the broader New England scene like Edo G, Termanology, Brady Watt and REKS, who are all putting in work and repping the culture strong. Flow Free or Die is a production company from Nashua that is continuously putting out podcasts and promoting shows. Mr. Goodbarz at ToyBox studios has been producing a lot of local acts. Recently a brand new multimedia company called 603 Beat Collaborative just launched and they specialize in live sound, recording production and content creation so that is exciting. We’re all part of this movement that’s bringing respect to the art form.

Where are some of the best places to see hip-hop performed?

The scene is growing and spots are popping up. Locally, I’ve been to some great shows at places like The Spot here in Gate City. I have also performed outside on Main Street during the summer for a series of shows that the Great American Downtown organization put together, which has been great for exposure and community. Believe it or not we played a fantastic show at Jimmy’s Jazz club in Portsmouth! We have played a bunch of times at Warp & Weft in Lowell and have a gig coming up on Nov. 22 at the Lass Stop with the live band. The key is finding venues and events that respect the culture and provide a platform for local artists to shine. “Rap Night” in Manchester is New Hampshire’s longest-running hip-hop residency and recently celebrated its 12th anniversary in June. It is held at The Shaskeen Pub and Restaurant every Sunday night and is hosted by DJ Myth, Eyenine and Shawn Caliber.

How healthy is the scene for hip-hop?

The scene is flourishing — I’d call it a renaissance period for hip-hop up here in New England. It’s becoming more diverse and inclusive. Sure, it can be tough for homegrown talent to get exposure, but if you love your craft and stay persistent, progress is inevitable. I was just nominated for Hip Hop Act of the Year by the New England Music Awards, so the industry is definitely acknowledging the art form here in New Hampshire. There’s a real hunger for that organic, jazz-style hip-hop with vision and purpose. People are appreciating the authenticity, which makes the scene very healthy in my eyes.

What’s the most misunderstood thing about hip-hop?

I think the most misunderstood thing is that when some people think of hip-hop they think of the extreme. They either associate it with gangster music or materialism. But at its core real hip-hop is about the culture, social commentary and knowledge. My music is all about shining a light on real life, cutting through the noise to deliver a message that has meaning and gives back to the community. It’s not just noise; it’s art with a vision.

Find your sound
Here are some of the upcoming shows where you can enjoy your genre of choice.

Folk – David Wilcox, Thursday, Nov. 13, Flying Goose Brew Pub & Grille, 40 Andover Road, New London, flyinggoose.com
Prog Rock – Levin Brothers, Friday, Nov. 14, LoFaro Center, 722 Gulf Road, Henniker, jerrylofaro@mcttelecom.com
Hip-Hop – Sound Off Saturday, Saturday, Nov. 15, Shaskeen Pub, 909 Elm St., Manchester, facebook.com/billyfee/events
Jazz – David Newsam Trio (brunch), Sunday, Nov. 16, Jimmy’s Jazz & Blues Club, 135 Congress St., Portsmouth, jimmysoncongress.com
Pop Punk – Waltham, Donaher & Colleen Green, Saturday, Nov. 22, Shaskeen Pub, 909 Elm St., Manchester, facebook.com/KineticCityEvents
Jam Band – Lucas Gallo & the Guise, Wednesday, Nov. 26, Penuche’s Ale House, Bicentennial Square, Concord, facebook.com/lucasgallomusic
Country – Nate Ramos Band, Friday, Nov. 28, Derryfield Restaurant & Lounge, 625 Mammoth Road, Manchester, nateramosmusic.com
Bluegrass – Heron Bluegrass Company, Sunday, Nov. 30, Nippo Golf Club, 88 Stagecoach Road, Barrington, nippobluegrass.com

Featured photo: Fee the Evolutionist and Ruby Shabazz, photographed at Castro’s Back Room in Nashua by Colleen Jamieson, courtesy Fee the Evolutionist.

From now through December, the weekends will be filled with craft fairs.

Whether you’re looking for unique gifts or locally made, handmade items for yourself, these fairs offer a chance to shop items you won’t find in big box stores and maybe even meet the people who made them.

In this week’s cover story, we offer a list of upcoming fairs and artisan markets (let us know if we missed any at adiaz@hippopress.com). And, for those who don’t just enjoy shopping crafts but also want to make some themselves, we take a look at some area shops catering to those who sew. From those who can make a quilt or a full outfit to those who are just learning, these businesses help you find community and a new outlet for artistic expression.

Art & community

Sewing offers an outlet for creative expression and a reason to get together

By Chelsea Spear
news@hippopress.com

At first glance the poster-sized portrait of a woman hanging in Jeeni Criscenzo’s studio looks like a photo. The eyes sparkle and the grayscale looks like the many shades of gray you’d see in a vintage photograph. Take a closer look: All those different shades of gray are individual pieces of fabric, arranged like halftone dots across the surface of the quilt. Criscenzo designed and sewed together a quilt portrait as a loving tribute to her mother.

“I created a technique using something called ‘wonder under wear,’” Criscenzo said on a recent Zoom call, gesturing toward the quilt. “It’s almost like making a mosaic with fabric and then quilting over it so you can push the envelope to express things creatively as well as using it in a sustainable way.”

Over the past few years, shops and community centers like DIY Craft and Thrift in Concord, where Criscenzo volunteers as a sewing and quilting instructor, have increased in popularity across New Hampshire. While knitting and crochet had gotten a boost in popularity at the start of the 2000s, with books like the bestselling Stitch & Bitch series, shop owners noticed a renewed interest in sewing in the spring of 2020.

“I really think it started with the pandemic people wanting to learn to sew,” said Carol Lawrence, the owner of Angels Sewing & Quilting in Salem. “We repair all brands [of sewing machines]. You should have seen these old machines we had coming in the store. It was pretty cool. Lots of old featherweight Singers and stuff like that.”

For other sewists, learning to sew allowed them to make some pandemic necessities at home. “During the pandemic, a lot of people were making masks,” Criscenzo said. “I took the time to research what would make a good mask that would actually protect you … I found a very high thread count fabric, then I put a raw silk backing inside, and then another fabric on the back. Based on the testing of those fabrics, I was providing people with something that I felt protected them. And I started selling that online. So then that got me into sewing to make a little money.”

For other business owners, the pandemic offered them an opportunity to reflect on the kind of work they’d like to do.

“A little over six years ago now, I was getting very burnt out from my career,” said Paula Bowen, co-owner of Night Owl Quilting Studio in Goffstown. “I was a director of nursing, and this was right before Covid, and I was getting just tired of the stress of the job. I was looking for a creative outlet, [and I] wanted to own my own business.”

A late-night call inspired Bowen to move forward with her idea.

“I called my mom at 11 p.m. and … I said to her, mom, do you want to start a quilt shop with me? And she’s like, ah, what are you saying? So we just got this idea to just do it for fun,” Bowen said. The shop opened a few nights a week in Goffstown, “and it just exploded. And within a year of being open, my mom retired from her job in the corporation.”

Both Paula Bowen and Jeeni Criscenzo learned to sew from their mothers. For those who didn’t learn to sew as kids or for those looking to pick it back up, communities have formed around sewing, weaving and spinning in New Hampshire and beyond.

Thinking back on a recent trip to a craft store, Criscenzo said: “Wolfeboro Makers Mill had a long-arm quilter that was donated to them. I had to go to a class and get [approved] to use it, but now I can go there. And what I found is they have weaving looms. They have dozens of Janome sewing machines. They have an embroidery machine and even an industrial machine for sewing heavy things. And the people that are there, I found myself driving home just smiling. I don’t know what politics they have, but they certainly have a politics of cooperation. I would love to duplicate that energy of integration.”

A recent New York Times article looked at the growing interest in sewing and pinned some of it to the need to mend ripped or worn clothing. That aspect doesn’t appeal to Lawrence. “Us sewists, we don’t like to mend,” Lawrence says with a laugh. “I don’t even mend my husband’s pants. I’ll cut off with pinking shears. I won’t even hem them.”

“Sewing is no longer just about making garments; it’s about art, it’s about creative expression, and the combination of the craft of sewing and the art is very exciting to me because I’ve always been interested in expressing my creativity through sewing. And it’s a wonderful combination of right and left brain because you can be creative and yet you have to pay attention and think logically about how you’re constructing something,” Criscenzo said.

That creative flair is spreading to areas these crafters wouldn’t have predicted. “Benson Boone had a quilt vest thrown to him in the audience,” Paula Bowen said. “He wore it and it was the thrill of the whole night and everyone’s talking about it.”

Makers in 2025 are seeing the benefits of sewing and are adapting the craft for their own interest. “People gathering to support one another in a craft have something so strong in common that they can let the rest of it go away and they can re-experience that good feeling of working with other people and then hopefully translate that into other parts of their lives,” Criscenzo said. “There’s a mental benefit to sewing in community. There’s a brain benefit in sewing on your own. And then there’s the sustainability, the fact that most of us these days have to struggle to make ends meet. We don’t have these thousand-dollars-a-month clothing budgets that some people have. And so we have to figure out how to make what we have work and last.”

Paula Bowen says succinctly: “The craft world is not going away.”

Sewing shops
Angels Sewing & Quilting 236 N. Broadway in Salem, 898-0777, angelssewing.com
DIY Craft and Thrift 46 N. Main St. in Concord, diycraftandthrift.com
Night Owl Quilting Studio currently 4 Main St. in Goffstown, 384-2557, nightowlquiltingstudio.com. The shop is moving to Amherst soon, according to the website.

Hand crafted

Local fairs offer shoppers a chance to meet artists

Compiled by Amy Diaz
adiaz@hippopress.com

November and December are full of craft fairs, arts markets, artisan fairs and other events where you can find handmade works and probably meet the person who made them. Here are some slated for the coming months. Know of events not mentioned? Let us know at adiaz@hippopress.com.

• The Craftworkers’ Guild shop in Bedford (3a Meetinghouse Road, down the hill in the Library parking lot) will hold its Hearts & Home Shop through Sunday, Nov. 23, open Thursdays through Sundays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and its Holiday Shop Friday, Nov. 28 through Sunday, Dec. 21, open Thursdays through Sundays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. See thecraftworkersguild.org.

• The Concord Arts Market will be at Intown Concord’s First Friday event on Nov. 7, from 4 to 8 p.m., when the theme is Art Walk, according to firstfridayconcord.com. Find them on Capitol Street, according to concordartsmarket.org.

• First Church of Nashua, 1 Concord St. in Nashua, will hold its Holiday Fair and Silent Auction on Friday, Nov. 7, from 4 to 7 p.m., and Saturday, Nov. 8, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., featuring homemade sweets, food to go, gift baskets, craft items, puzzles and more, according to an email from event organizers. Kids can visit with Santa on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., dinner will be available Friday from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., lunch will be available Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., the email said.

• The Merrimack Knights of Columbus will hold their 25th annual Fall Craft Fair on Friday, Nov. 7, from 5 to 8 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 8, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Mastricola Upper Elementary School, 26 Baboosic Lake Road in Merrimack. The event will feature more than 40 crafters, a bake table, meals and snacks, an auction and more; admission is free, according to an email from event organizers.

• The United Church of Penacook (Community Drive and Canal Street in Penacook) will hold its Christmas Fair and Bake Sale Saturday, Nov. 8, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. featuring holiday decorations, home decor, knitted items and more, according to ucpnh.org.

• St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church (300 Route 25, Meredith, stcharlesnh.org) will hold its Craft Fair on Saturday, Nov. 8, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., according to the church website.

• Main Street United Methodist Church, 154 Main St. in Nashua, will hold a Fall/Holiday Craft Fair on Saturday, Nov. 8, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. featuring baked goods, crafts, a cookie walk, handmade items, breakfast and lunch items, Christmas and winter crafts and more. See mainstreet-umc.org.

• St. Elizabeth Seton Church(190 Meetinghouse Road, Bedford, stelizabethsetonchurch.org) will hold its Holiday Craft Fair on Saturday, Nov. 8, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. featuring 50 crafters and artisans, baked items, lunch and more, according to the church website.

• The Granite State Choral Society will hold its Fall 2025 Shop Till You Drop Craft Fair on Saturday, Nov. 8, from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the James W. Foley Memorial Community Center, 150 Wakefield St. in Rochester. The event will feature works by local artisans, a selection of homemade soups, chilis and stews starting at 11 a.m. and more, according to a press release. See gschoralsociety.org.

• The Seacoast Artisans Holiday Fine Arts & Craft Show will take place Saturday, Nov. 8, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Great Bay Community College, 320 Corporate Drive in the Pease Tradeport in Portsmouth, according to seacoastartisansshows.com. Admission costs $7; ages 14 and under get in for free, the website said.

• Manchester Memorial High School, 1 Crusader Way in Manchester, will hold its annual Craft Fair on Saturday, Nov. 8, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. according to memorial.mansd.org. Admission costs $2 per person, to benefit the Booster Club, and the event features more than 200 tables of crafts as well as raffles, according to information from the event organizer.

•The Nashua YMCA of the YMCA of Greater Nashua, 24 Stadium Drive in Nashua, will hold its Fall Craft Fair on Saturday, Nov. 8, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will feature concessions, kids activities, local vendors and more, according to nmymca.org/fall-craft-fair.

• The Capital City Holiday Craft & Artisan Show will take place Saturday, Nov. 8, and Sunday, Nov. 9, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Capital City Sports & Fitness Club, 10 Garvins Falls Road in Concord. The fair will feature 100 exhibitors, speciality foods, live music and an appearance by Santa, according to GNECraftArtisanShows.com. Admission costs $5, valid both days; ages 14 and under get in for free.

• The Bedford Handmade Fair takes place Sunday, Nov. 9, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Bedford High School, 47 Nashua Road. See sites.google.com/bedfordnhk12.net/bedfordhandmade for a map of the fair and a listing of all the vendors. Admission and parking are free and Santa is scheduled to appear at the fair for photos, the website said.

• St. Paul’s United Methodist Church (335 Smyth Road, Manchester; stpaulsumcnh.org) will hold its Craft Fair on Saturday, Nov. 15, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. featuring crafts, a cookie walk, a bake sale, a children’s table, a white elephant sale and more, according to a post on the church’s Facebook page.

• The 2025 Craft Fair at Manchester Community College will take place Saturday, Nov. 15, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the college’s all-purpose room, 1066 Front St. in Manchester, according to a Facebook page for the event. The event will feature more than 50 vendors, and admission is free, the post said.

• The Pembroke Academy DECA will hold a Holiday Craft Fair on Saturday, Nov. 15, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Pembroke Academy, 209 Academy Road in Pembroke, according to the Spartan Market Facebook page.

• The Lil Iguana’s Craft Fair & Raffle will be held Saturday, Nov. 15, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Nashua High School North, 8 Titan Way in Nashua, according to liliguanausa.org/craft-fair. The event will feature more than 200 crafters, vendors and area businesses as well as raffles and more, according to the website. Admission is free.

• The Pelham High School Craft Fair, 87 Marsh Road in Pelham, will be Saturday, Nov. 15, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and feature 40+ vendors, according to the event’s Facebook page.

• Bow Mills United Methodist Church, 505 South St. in Bow, will hold its annual Snowman Fair on Saturday, Nov. 15, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The day will feature an appearance by Santa, crafts to make for kids, holiday crafts for sale, baked goods and a cafe, themed gift baskets and more, according to an email from event organizers. See bowmillsumc.org.

• St. Patrick Church (34 Amherst St. in Milford, stpatrickmilfordnh.org) will hold a Craft Fair on Saturday, Nov. 22, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. featuring crafts, a cookie walk, penny sale baskets, frozen apple pies, concessions and more, according to an event organizer.

• The United Methodist Women of Hampton United Methodist Church, 525 Lafayette Road in Hampton, will hold their annual Christmas Fair on Saturday, Nov. 22, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. featuring lunch, homemade pies by the slice, attic treasures, bake and treat shop, photos with Santa, a silent auction and more, according to an email from fair organizers. See hamptonnhumc.org.

• The PTO at New Searles Elementary School, 39 Shady Lane in Nashua, will hold a Holiday Craft Fair on Saturday, Nov. 22, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. featuring crafters, raffles and more, according to the PTO’s Facebook.

• Holiday Fine Craft & Artisan Show on the Seacoast takes place Saturday, Nov. 22, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday, Nov. 23, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Rim Sports Complex in Hampton, according to GNECraftArtisanShows.com. The event will feature 145 exhibitors, food trucks, a juried show, an appearance by Santa and more, the website said. Admission costs $5, valid both days; ages 14 and under get in for free.

• The Picker Artists, 3 Pine St. in Nashua, will host its annual Holiday Open House on Saturday, Nov. 22, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. See pickerartists.com for a listing of artists.

• The Milford 3rd Annual Holiday Fair, hosted by New England Vendor Events, will be held Saturday, Nov. 22, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at VFW Post, 99 VFW Way in Milford, according to New England Vendor Events’ Facebook page. Admission is free, as are photo opportunities with Santa, the post said.

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

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

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

• The UNH Maker’s Expo will be held at the MUB Granite State Room on Friday, Dec. 5, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. featuring “cool & creative stuff made by UNH students, staff, and faculty. Engineers who knit! IT folks doing scratch prints! Jewelry from biologists!” according to unh.edu/mub/events/unh-makers-expo.

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

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

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

• Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Milford, 20 Elm St. in Milford, will hold its Holiday Fair on Saturday, Dec. 6, from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will feature crafts, gifts, a cafe for breakfast and lunch and more, according to event organizers.

• The St. Nicholas Fair at Grace Episcopal Church, 30 Eastman St. in Concord, will be held Saturday, Dec. 6, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and will feature hand-crafted items, second-hand jewelry, baked goods, used books, and white elephant items, according to an email from an organizer.

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

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

• NHSS Athletic Boosters Annual Craft Fair will take place at Nashua High School South, 36 Riverside St. in Nashua, on Saturday, Dec. 6, 9 a.m. to 2p.m., according to the Boosters’ club Facebook.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

6 ways to put pumpkin on your menu

While breaking down a whole pumpkin and cooking it from scratch might sound a little overwhelming, Jason Devriendt is confident that you’ve got this. He is a farmer and one of the owners of Devriendt Farm Products in Goffstown. You just have to pick the right variety of pumpkin, he said, which probably isn’t the kind you carved for Halloween.

“Jack-o’-lantern pumpkins are a much older variety,” Devriendt said. “They kind of started it all. Nowadays, we obviously have eating pumpkins. The main difference is that the content of sugars an eating pumpkin will produce is going to be significantly higher. You can still eat jack-o’-lantern pumpkins. They’re just going to be very, very bland.”

“One of the biggest names [of eating pumpkins] is a style called cheese pumpkins. We grow a particular variety of it called Long Island Cheese and it’s a squatter, tan color squash pumpkin. They boast an even higher sugar content than even sugar pumpkins. Supposedly the flesh of those smooths out a lot more in the cooking process. It breaks down better. The average cheese pumpkins get larger than a sugar pumpkin. I’d probably say somewhere in the 10- to 15-pound range, whereas your average sugar pumpkin is going to be anywhere between three to five pounds.”

On the other hand, there is no shame in using canned pumpkin. For Amy Casella, the owner-operator of Crumbs on Cambridge in Bedford, canned pumpkin is her default ingredient. “Truthfully, I don’t break down pumpkins,” she said. “It’s just too time-consuming for me, so I’ll go after the organic canned pumpkin and I think it’s lovely. The flavor is good, the texture is good.”

Pumpkin to Drink

One of To Share Brewing’s most popular seasonal beers is something called Sophisticated Pumpkin, but co-owner and brewer Aaron Share says he had to be talked into offering it.

“When we first opened [the brewery], I was very resistant to the idea of making a pumpkin beer,” Share said. “I made pumpkin beers as a home brewer, but I just didn’t think it was something that folks would really enjoy, because it just had a lot of pumpkin. And so after a couple years of [my staff] insisting that we make a pumpkin beer I finally caved and told them that I was going to do it my way. It wasn’t going to be overly sweet. So what I did is I used our Vienna lager recipe and we add 40-something pounds of pumpkin to our mash. We add just a touch of pumpkin pie spice and we add some bourbon-soaked vanilla to it to just give it some added flavor and sophistication. So it’s a little more upscale than I would say some of the ones out there that are made with mostly sugar.”

Because even his pumpkin beer has some sweetness to it, Share suggests pairing it with other sweet foods. “I would go with something a little bit more robust in flavor. Maybe something like a pumpkin ravioli or something like that. Or even if you’re just snacking on a piece of pumpkin bread or something, I think it would stand up to that. Even something like a Boston cream pie could pair nicely with it.”

Bourbon Pumpkin Smash

This cocktail will help you ease into the holiday season. Even with a bunch of complementary flavors, the pumpkininess shines through.

• 2 ounces pumpkin syrup (See below. You’ll have to make it yourself, but like all syrups it is almost embarrassingly easy to make.)
• 2 ounces bourbon – there are several strong flavors at play here, so probably don’t use your very best bourbon for this
• ½ ounce orange juice
• Several dashes of orange bitters – this is to offset the sweetness of the other ingredients. Use your best judgment
• Ginger beer to top – not ginger ale. Ginger beer. You want the spicy bite of the good stuff.

Combine the pumpkin syrup, bourbon, orange juice and bitters in a cocktail shaker, then dry shake it (without ice) for several seconds, before adding ice and shaking it again. This is to prevent the syrup from seizing up when it hits the ice.

Strain over fresh ice in a large rocks glass, and top with a couple ounces of ginger beer.

Pumpkin Syrup

• ½ cup (156 g) maple syrup – the real stuff, please
• ⅓ cup (75 g) water
• ⅓ cup (75 g) pumpkin puree
• ½ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
• a pinch of sea salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla

Add all the ingredients but the vanilla to a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Simmer over low heat for two to three minutes to make sure all the ingredients have gotten to know each other.

Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla. (Vanilla is very volatile. It won’t explode or anything, but it evaporates easily and takes some flavor with it.)

Not for nothin’, but if you’re a pumpkin spice fan this is great in your coffee.

Pumpkin with Chocolate

Given its distinctive flavor, pumpkin pairs surprisingly well with a wide variety of other distinctive flavors — brown butter, whiskey (particularly bourbon), “warming” spices like ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon and black pepper, almost every type of nut, and of course chocolate.

Brown butter pumpkin chocolate chip cookies

If you were to tell people that you were field-testing pumpkin recipes, a shocking number of them, a truly startling percentage, would try very, very hard to give you their recipe for pumpkin chocolate chip cookies.

These cookies hit several of pumpkin’s sweet spots: brown sugar, chocolate, and brown butter. While theoretically there is probably a baked good somewhere that would not be improved by the use of brown butter, this is not one of them. The caramelized milk solids bring a rich, almost savory flavor that stands up to the pumpkin’s muskiness. A pinch of citric acid balances out the brown butter’s heaviness and gives these cookies a mouth-watering quality.

• ½ cup (1 stick) butter
• ¼ cup (50 g) dark sugar
• ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 6 Tablespoons (86 g) pumpkin puree
• 1½ cups (188 g) all-purpose or white whole wheat flour
• ¼ teaspoon salt – I like kosher salt or coarse sea salt
• ¼ teaspoon baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon baking soda
• ¼ teaspoon citric acid (optional – the odds of your having a bag of citric acid hanging around in your pantry are admittedly low)
• 1½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
• ½ cup (90 g) semisweet or dark chocolate chips

Brown the butter in a small saucepan over low heat. Wait until it has stopped foaming, then watch it like a hawk until it turns the color of dark toast, then remove it from the heat and let it cool for a couple of minutes.

In a large bowl, combine the powdery ingredients — the flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, citric acid and spices. Set it aside. Mutter “Your time will come” to it.

With a stand mixer or hand mixer, beat the brown butter and the sugars until they are as combined as you can get them, about three minutes. Add the vanilla and keep beating. Add the pumpkin and keep beating until it is fluffy and looks like caramel frosting.

Turn your mixer to low, to prevent the poofing of flour, and spoon the dry ingredients into the mixture until everything is barely combined. Stir the chocolate chips in by hand. Cover the dough and chill it in your refrigerator for at least half an hour.

Preheat your oven to 350°F.

Flatten tablespoonfuls of the chilled dough onto the palm of your hand. Roll it into a ball, then flatten it, and place it on a parchment or silicone-lined baking sheet. Arrange six of the disks on the sheet, then bake for 12 to 13 minutes.

Let the cookies cool completely before removing them from the pan. This recipe will make between 15 and 18 cookies, so you’ll be making three batches. Remember to keep the remaining cookie dough in the fridge between batches.

Pumpkin as Soup

Because it pairs so well with sweet ingredients, it’s easy to forget how well pumpkin works in savory dishes. Perhaps the most popular savory application for pumpkin is as a soup. For super ambitious hosts, serving pumpkin soup from a hollowed out pumpkin, or individual servings in baby pumpkins, is a Show-Stopping Number. But if you have too much drama in your life already, pumpkin soup is a Tier 1 Comfort Food.

Curried Coconut Pumpkin Soup

• 2 Tablespoons coconut oil
• ¼ teaspoon chili oil (optional)
• 1 small or ½ large white or yellow onion, diced
• 1 to 2 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1 Tablespoon pickled jalapenos, minced
• 1 teaspoon dark brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon garam masala or sweet curry powder
• 1 15-ounce can of pumpkin puree
• 1 15-ounce can of coconut milk
• 1 cup of broth – I like vegetable broth, but chicken or turkey broth would work well too
• salt and pepper to taste
• roasted pumpkin seeds and chopped cilantro for garnish

In a large saucepan, fry the onions, garlic and jalapeños in the two oils until the onions turn translucent and start to pick up a little color. You’re not looking for full caramelization here, but some light browning will bring extra flavor to the finished soup.

Stir in the garam masala and let the mixture cook for a minute or so, until your kitchen starts to smell spicy. Stir in the pumpkin and let the mixture cook for another few minutes, then add the broth and coconut milk. Bring to a simmer and let it cook for a few minutes.

Either transfer the soup to a blender or use an immersion blender to puree it until smooth. Season it with salt and pepper, then serve garnished with cilantro and pumpkin seeds.

Pumpkin in Bread

Pumpkin bread and its affiliates, pumpkin muffins, are fall classics.

“Once you get into this, your fall season, everybody wants pumpkin and apple,” baker Amy Casella said. One reason for pumpkin bread’s popularity, she speculated, is that it makes even novice bakers look good.

“If you’re using canned pumpkin,” she said, “it has a ton of moisture, so even if you overcook [pumpkin bread or muffins] it’s very forgiving.”

Pumpkin bread with crystalized ginger and a bourbon glaze

The conventional raisins have been replaced in this recipe by crystallized ginger — the spicy cubes that have the same texture as gummy candies. This gives the pumpkin bread pops of flavor, in contrast to raisins, which are, shall we say, more introverted in the way they present themselves. While the boozy glaze is not strictly necessary, it improves the already delicious pumpkin by at least 15 percent.

• 1 package (about 16 ounces) boxed yellow cake mix
• 2 cups (one 16-ounce can) pumpkin puree
• ⅓ cup (113 g) molasses
• 4 eggs
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon fresh grated nutmeg – Seriously, if you’ve never grated nutmeg yourself, you’ve been missing out. The whole nutmeg kernels never go stale (as opposed to the pre-ground version, which turns to sawdust within a month or two) and smell almost citrusy. If you don’t have a microplane grater, use the smallest side of your box grater, the one you’ve always wondered what it was for. It’s for this.
• ⅓ cup (38 g) chopped nuts (optional) – I like pecans for this, but if the idea of nuts in baked goods angers you, I totally understand.
• ⅓ cup (57 g) crystalized ginger, chopped
• Bourbon glaze – see below

Preheat your oven to 350°F.

Empty the cake mix into a large mixing bowl, and toss the ginger pieces in it. This will keep the ginger from clumping together. Add in the rest of the ingredients and beat the mixture for about two minutes.

Pour the batter into two greased loaf pans and bake for 45 minutes to an hour, depending on how big your loaf pans are. (Check them with a toothpick at 45 minutes.) Let them cool before depanning them. Drizzle them with bourbon glaze.

You can make this recipe as muffins. Remember to use liners in your muffin tin, and check doneness at 20 minutes.

Bourbon Glaze

• 2 cups (227 g) powdered sugar
• 5 Tablespoons bourbon – again, use some that tastes good, but don’t break out the premium stuff
• ½ teaspoon vanilla
• ½ teaspoon milk or half & half
• a pinch of salt
• 1 Tablespoon melted butter – aside from being delicious, this will help the glaze set and keep it from dripping off your bread or muffins

Mix everything together, adding the butter last, then drizzle over anything that needs to be drizzled — in this case the pumpkin bread, but I can’t help thinking this would be great with grilled pork chops.

Pumpkin Contributes to Granola

If you’ve never thought much about pumpkin seeds outside of field-dressing a jack-o’-lantern, you can find the roasted, salted variety in the seed-and-nut section of your supermarket, sometimes called pepitas.

In this granola recipe, pumpkin seeds fill the role usually played by chopped nuts. Much like pumpkin, they get along with an impressive number of other ingredients. In this case the addition of soy sauce and black pepper will play off their sweet/savory nature and add complexity to the final granola.

• 2½ cups (263 g) rolled oats
• ¾ cups (75 g) roasted, salted pumpkin seeds (pepitas)
• ¼ cup (37 g) poppy seeds, sesame seeds, or a mixture of both
• 3 Tablespoons dark brown sugar
• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• ¼ cup (50 g) vegetable oil
• ⅓ cup (104 g) dark maple syrup, the real stuff
• 2 teaspoon soy sauce
• ¾ cup (127 g) dried, sweetened cranberries

Preheat your oven to 300°F.

In the largest bowl you have, combine the oats, seeds, sugar and spices, and toss them with your hands. Separately, mix the oil, syrup and soy sauce, then pour the mixture over the dry ingredients. Combine everything — again, with your hands. (You could theoretically use a spatula or something, but hands work better.)

Scoop the mixture onto a baking sheet, spread it out, and press it into the corners.

Bake the proto-granola for 15 minutes, then stir it up and press it back down into the pan. This time you will probably need to use a spatula or a large spoon; it will be too hot for your hands. Bake for another 15 minutes, then remove from the oven.

Let the granola cool. Hopefully there will be some clumps. Mix in the cranberries.

Ta-dah.

Pumpkin Made Fancy

Pumpkin soufflé is one of those dishes that can seem very intimidating. That also means it brings a lot of street cred if you can pull it off.

But here’s the secret: It’s easy to pull off. Just follow the instructions, one at a time. The final soufflé will be light and delicious.

• ½ cup (113 g) whole milk or half & half
• 1 Tablespoon corn starch
• ½ teaspoon fresh-grated nutmeg – see the pumpkin bread recipe for a diatribe about this
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ⅛ teaspoon ground cloves
• ⅛ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
• a pinch of salt
• 2 Tablespoon dark brown sugar
• 2 cups (one 16-ounce can) pumpkin puree
• 1 Tablespoon orange liqueur – Grand Marnier is a classic for this, but orange curacao or even triple sec will work
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• zest of a large orange
• 8 egg whites
• ¾ cup (150 g) white sugar

Preheat your oven to 400°F.

Thoroughly butter the inside of a soufflé dish, the ceramic one with vertical ridges on the outside. Really slather the butter on. Then dust the buttered surface with white sugar. Set the dish aside.

In a small saucepan, combine the milk or cream, the cornstarch and the spices, and bring to a simmer. It should thicken considerably. Remove from heat and transfer to a mixing bowl.

Stir in the salt, brown sugar, pumpkin, orange liqueur, vanilla and orange zest. Mix thoroughly and set aside.

Using the whisk attachment on your stand or hand mixer, beat the egg whites until they reach “soft peaks.” This means they’ve turned white and are slightly thickened. Mix the sugar into the egg whites and whip on high speed, until they reach “stiff peaks.” This means, if you turn the bowl sideways or upside down, they stay put.

OK, this is the closest this recipe gets to tricky. Don’t panic. Drink a slug of the orange liqueur, if you have to.

Add about a third of the stiff egg whites to the pumpkin mixture, and stir to combine. This is just to lighten up the batter. Add half of the remaining egg whites to the pumpkin bowl and gently fold them into the mixture. This means to mix it super-gently so you don’t deflate the fluffy egg whites. (If you are nervous about this, search online for a video: “how to fold egg whites.” It’s actually very simple.) When the egg whites are folded in, do the same with the remaining egg whites.

Transfer the eggy pumpkin mixture to the soufflé dish. Put it on the middle rack in your oven and bake for 30 minutes. When it is done it will have risen above the rim of the dish and will be a golden brown color.

As soon as you take the soufflé out of the oven, take a picture of it. Within the next 10 minutes or so it will deflate and will not look as awe-inspiring. But it will still be delicious.

8 hikes for autumn adventures

By John Fladd

jfladd@hippopress.com

Mark Swasey does a lot of hiking. According to his Ascent List on peakbagger.com, he has hiked to the top of more than 1,000 mountains. According to him, the best hiking of the year is just starting.

“Fall hiking,” he said, “outside of winter, is probably my favorite time of the year to hike. Number one, it’s the weather. You tend to get these cooler, drier days in the fall. Of course, the foliage and just the various flora that we have in New Hampshire just seems to really pop this time of year.”

Ken MacGray is the author/editor of Southern New Hampshire Trail Guide: AMC’s Comprehensive Resource for New Hampshire Hiking Trails South of the White Mountains. October is his favorite time of year to hike.

“I wait for this time of year all year long,” he said. “I just prefer the cool weather over when it’s 90 degrees with high humidity. Of course, the foliage color is always fantastic l to see. This year has been a little different because it’s been so dry. But the main reason for me is basically the cooler weather.”

Whether it’s cooler weather, or beautiful views, or relief from mosquitoes or even other hikers, hiking can be at its best in the fall. The following are eight hikes Hippo readers voted as their favorites in the “Best Of 2025” poll.

Mount Monadnock

Mount Monadnock State Park, 169 Poole Road, Jaffrey, 532-8862; nhstateparks.org/find-parks-trails/monadnock-state-park

There are 37 trails to the top of Mount Monadnock, covering about 40 square miles.

From the Park’s website:

Mount Monadnock, or Grand Monadnock, is a mountain in the town of Jaffrey, NH. At 3,165 feet, Mount Monadnock is nearly 1,000 feet higher than any other mountain peak within 30 miles. The park is surrounded by thousands of acres of protected highlands. Monadnock’s bare, isolated, and rocky summit provides expansive views. It is known for being featured in the writings of Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau. In 1987, Mount Monadnock was designated a National Natural Landmark. The park offers year-round recreational opportunities.

Elizabeth Guguet climbs Mount Monadnock three or four times a year. She loves hiking there because of the way the mountain itself makes her feel.

“I think mountains in general attract people for that bit of intrigue and mystery that they have,” she said. “You see the summit shrouded in a cloud and then all of a sudden the light bursts through. The Native Americans that lived here, the Abenaki, ‘Monadnock’ means in their language the ‘mountain that stands alone.’ And I love that.”

Guguet likes how many trails there are on Mount Monadnock.

“I don’t think there’s an ‘easy’ way to go up,” she said. It depends on how you’re feeling. I just did the Dublin Trail and I love that trail because it’s not traveled as frequently as, say, the White Dot or the White Cross [trails]. Sometimes there’s a lot of people up there, and you can absolutely take another trail and you’ll see barely anybody.”

Mount Major

Trailhead parking is just off Route 11 in the Mount Major Parking Lot, at 875 Mount Major Hwy, Alton; blog.nhstateparks.org/mt-major-family-friendly-hike

Mount Major is a small (about 1,700 feet high) and easily hikable mountain in Alton. There are two main trails to the top of the mountain, each about one and a half miles long. It only takes an hour or two to climb, even for inexperienced hikers, but has outstanding views from the summit.

Mark Swasey bases much of his hiking around “52 With a View,” a list of 52 hikes in New Hampshire that are not as ambitious as the state’s 4,000+-foot peaks but still have good views. He said the views from the top of Mount Major do not disappoint.

“Mount Major’s got one of the best views in the state,” he said. “It has a lot of bang for the buck. It’s not a long hike from the parking lot. From the summit there’s a view of the lakes and the various [mountain] ranges that are around, even into Maine. The views are expansive.”

Greg Boisvert is a guidance counselor and student advisor at Deerfield Community School. He has taken many groups of students to hike at Mount Major. He said it is an especially good hike for children.

“It’s a relatively short hike,” Boisvert said, “with a big punch at the end. At the top you have kind of a 360-degree view. You get to see the Lakes Region. You get to see north to Mount Washington. It’s relatively close, probably the closest sizable hike for kids who live closer to the seacoast. Kids feel very successful about climbing it; they feel tired, but then at the top it’s nice and open, with lots of room for kids to run around, but also the view is really nice too.”

Andres Institute of Art

Andres Institute of Art, 106 Route 13, Brookline, 673-7441; andresinstitute.org

The Andres Institute is the largest outdoor sculpture park in New England. There are 10+ miles of trails over 140 acres, with 100+ sculptures (including new pieces added during this year’s International Bridges and Connections Sculpture Symposium, just ended in early October), representing 40+ countries. Hikes are self-guided, with docents available. According to the Institute’s website, “Trails are open every day from dawn until dusk. There is no fee to enter but donations are greatly appreciated either online or in the trailhead or studio donation boxes.”

According to Kristi St. Laurent, the president of the Andres Institute of Art, the hiking trails at the Andres Institute are designed with frequent stops in mind.

“The park is situated on a former ski area,” she said, “so there is a little bit of a vertical challenge to the hiking. But then, of course, there are the sculptures. For everyday hikers, the opportunity to stop and rest and consider the art makes the hike more doable. If you go straight to the top and back again, [it’s a hike of] about 2 miles. But there’s a whole host of other trails that you can take. And most people say it takes them probably two hours on the hill for their first visit.”

For first-time visitors, St. Laurent recommends taking the Parkway Trail.

“It’s actually the paved driveway up to the spring,” she said, “but the footing is good and you can see a lot of sculptures along the way. And from the studio it’s a short hike from there up to the summit. And from there, you can see off to Mount Monadnock, it’s just a glorious view overlooking Sculpture No. 1 from the [Institute’s] first symposium 27 years ago, The Phoenix, which is 15 feet high and 11 tons.”

“If I need a quick hit,” St. Laurent continued, “I do the Quarry Trail. There’s several sculptures along there that I like. It used to be a granite quarry, and we have something called a grout pile, with the leftover stone that they would take out of the quarry. But it goes along the base of the hill, so it doesn’t have the vertical climb that some of the other trails do.”

Pawtuckaway State Park

Pawtuckaway State Park, 128 Mountain Road, Nottingham, 895-3031; nhstateparks.org/find-parks-trails/pawtuckaway-state-park

Pawtuckaway State Park is a 5,000-acre preserve named for Pawtuckaway Lake and the Pawtuckaway Mountains. The park extends from the west shore of the lake to the west side of the mountains. According to AllTrails.com there are 29 hiking trails in the park.

Ken MacGray said the views from the hiking trails in Pawtuckaway State Park are inspiring, particularly for geology enthusiasts.

“It’s quite a unique park, actually,” he said. “It’s the remnants of an ancient volcano. So if you actually look at it on a topographic map you can see the circular shape of the mountains. It’s called a ring dike complex. There are three mountains within the park. There’s North Mountain, Middle Mountain and South Mountain. South Mountain has a fire tower on it, which is probably the most popular hike in the park.”

Veteran hiker Mark Swasey agreed that Pawtuckaway’s geology is fascinating.

“You can just imagine that at one time there was a volcanic mountain sitting there that was about the size of Mount Rainier,” Swasey said. “To walk around that is amazing. The boulders and the various rock formations that are in there are impressive. The woods themselves are unique and it is just a wonderful loop hike.”

Ken MacGray said hiking to the fire tower isn’t physically demanding but can take a while.

“It’s not terribly tough,” he said. “It’s a little bit long depending on where you start. Most people usually come in from the main state park entrance, so it’s about a 6-mile round trip if you start from there. There are shorter ways to do it. You can drive into the interior of the park and take what’s called Tower Trail up. It’s less than a half mile but it’s very steep. And that’ll just get you up to the summit.”

Pulpit Rock Conservation Area

Pulpit Rock Conservation Area, New Boston Road, Bedford, 792-1320; plcnh.org/pulpit-rock-trail

Parking:

1. Kennard Trailhead: on the south side of New Boston Road, about .2 mile west of Esther Drive, at approximately 596 New Boston Road

2. Gage’s Mill Trailhead: turn onto Pulpit Road from New Boston Road and drive .72 miles, on the right just after 144 Pulpit Road

From the Pulpit Rock website:

The Pulpit Rock Conservation Area is ‘Bedford’s Natural Treasure’ and one of the town’s best places for local hiking, bird watching, and close-to-home outdoor experiences. With a marked trails system and varied terrain, the 338-acre parcel features the gorge and ledge named ‘Pulpit Rock,’ wetlands, Pulpit Brook, a number of small picturesque waterfalls; rocky outcroppings, glacial erratics such as Indian Rock, beaver lodges, and the remnants of Gage’s Mill, along with forest and fauna. This conservation land offers more than three miles of hiking trails and other opportunities for passive recreation.

Author Ken MacGray said Pulpit Rock is another hike that does not involve a lot of climbing. “It’s kind of centered around a gorge,” he said. “The trails from the road lead into this gorge. You can do a loop and then descend down into the gorge and then come back up, then Pulpit Rock is a ledge overlooking the gorge. It’s not really big; it’s not a ton of climbing. There’s a little bit when you go down into the gorge and coming back out, but it’s nothing crazy.” He said that the attraction of the area is in the forest, the gorge, and the surrounding wetlands. “There’s no big views or anything like that there,” he said.

Uncanoonuc Mountains Hiking Trails

Uncanoonuc Trails Parking, 300 Mountain Road, Goffstown; trailspotting.com/2022/03/north-uncanoonuc-mt-goffstown-nh.html

There are three hiking trails at Uncanoonuc, 1.2 miles, 1.6 miles and 2.6 miles in length, with a climb of between 440 and 770 feet.

From TrailSpotting.com:

The two rounded peaks of Uncanoonuc Mountains stand out above the Goffstown landscape, virtually equal in height and around 700 feet in prominence. At 1,324 feet above sea level, North Uncanoonuc Mountain is officially several feet taller than the south mountain. Though North Uncanoonuc narrowly avoided being turned into a ski area in the 1960s, some of today’s trails on the slopes are a legacy of the forest clearing performed during the abandoned development of the resort.

The two mountains in Goffstown, North and South Uncanoonuc mountains, are immediately next to each other and are similar in shape and size, but author Ken MacGray says they offer very different hiking experiences.

“South Mountain is more heavily developed at the summit,” he said. “It has a lot of communication towers and structures on top. I prefer North Mountain personally, because it doesn’t have that and it feels more natural, without the artificial buildings on top. Before I started doing the AMC Southern New Hampshire Trail Guide, one of the previous editors years ago described South Mountain as ‘having the finest forest of communication towers in Southern New Hampshire.’ I always get a kick out of that. … Different people appreciate different things, though, and I can see people that would actually enjoy a hike where they’re looking at manmade objects”

Mark Swasey agreed. “I thought North [Mountain] was very nice,” he said, “and there were nice trails to the top. It really reminded me of the Wapack Range, of some of the trails that you get on North Pack and Pack Monadnock.”

Mount Kearsarge

Rollins State Park, 1066 Kearsarge Mountain Road, Warner, 456-3808

nhstateparks.org/find-parks-trails/rollins-state-park

According to AllTrails.com, climbing Mount Kearsarge via Rollins and Lincoln Trail involves hiking a 1-mile loop, with a 337-foot gain in elevation:

This short trail starts from the parking lot at the end of the Rollins State Park auto road and climbs to meet the Lincoln Trail just below the summit of Mount Kearsarge. The Rollins trail is the easiest way to the summit and the total distance from the parking lot to the summit is about 0.6 mile. The trail starts as a crushed gravel path, crossing a few small bridges as it passes through the picnic area. It then ascends via easy to moderate grades as it climbs along the old route of a carriage path. It meets the Lincoln Trail, which ascends 0.1 mile to the open summit over bare ledge.

Ken MacGray said he loves Mount Kearsarge.

“I think it’s one of the nicest peaks in southern New Hampshire,” he said, “just because it’s very prominent. It has what’s called a lot of topographic prominence, meaning that it stands very high over the surrounding countryside. So that results in a lot of just really great views from the top.”

Tower Hill Pond Trails

10 Tower Hill Road, Candia

HikingProject.com describes the Tower Hill Pond Loop Trail as “a relatively easy loop trail right outside of Manchester with nice views of Tower Hill Pond. The full loop from Tower Hill Road is 4 miles. The trail is fairly flat and wide. Great for running, biking, or walking. This spot is especially nice in the autumn when you can enjoy views of the water and changing foliage. This is also a great place to walk the dog, but they must be leashed and are not allowed to swim as this is in the watershed.”

Ed Devereaux is a watershed patrol officer for the Manchester Water Works, which manages the Loop. He said it provides a convenient place for area residents to walk.

“It’s mostly local people,” he said. “There is an amount of people from Massachusetts, probably because it’s close. If you take it from the Tower Hill Pond gate, which is on Tower Hill Road … goes all the way around the pond and back … it’s 4 miles in total. It’s easy walking; it’s just the length of it that might be an issue for some people. There are a lot of side trails that can increase the length of your walk, though. A map is available on the Water Works website.”

According to Ken MacGray, the Tower Hill Pond Loop is less about wilderness hiking than it is about walking with your dog or a friend.

“It’s a pleasant walk,” he said. “I wouldn’t necessarily call it a hike myself, but it’s definitely a pleasant walk. It’s a place that’s definitely accessible to a lot of people. When I say accessible I don’t mean like ADA accessible, but it’s easy to get to. The trails are easy to walk. You can go there with your kids. It’s just an easy place to get outside.”

All Persons Trail at NH Audubon’s Massabesic Center

New Hampshire Audubon recently opened a nature trail for visitors with limited mobility at its Massabesic Center (26 Audubon Way, Auburn, 224-9909, nhaudubon.org). Massabesic Center Director Kimmie Whiteman said the new All Persons Trail was built to provide a chance for “all persons” to enjoy being in nature.

“Our trail is 0.4 miles,” she said, “and it goes from the front of the center through several of our garden spaces. and then across a brand new boardwalk over a vernal pool area to connect with our field trails and continue down to Milne Pond, where there’s a beautiful scenic enjoyment site.”

Whiteman said October is an excellent time to enjoy the trail.

“Really, in all seasons, you get such a wide variety of habitat as you’re walking through,” she said. “But in the fall you have that pop of color from the woodland area that surrounds the fields. The pollinators are still out collecting that late season nectar. We’ve been seeing a bobcat periodically here recently, which is really neat. If you’re here at the right time of day in the morning or at dusk you might get a little glimpse of it.”

Resources for Hikers

– Southern New Hampshire Trail Guide: AMC’s Comprehensive Resource for New Hampshire Hiking Trails South of the White Mountains, featuring Mounts Monadnock and Cardigan, edited by Ken MacGray. Paperback, 320 pages. Published by Appalachian Mountain Club Books in 2021. $23.95. Available online and in bookstores and outdoor outfitters’ shops.

– New Hampshire 52 With a View Passport $19.95 through amcstore.outdoors.org. This is a concise way to log hikes on some of the state’s scenic, not necessarily strenuous, mountains.
• PeakBagger.com A website where serious hikers can log a lifetime of hikes as they are accomplished.

– nhstateparks.org/find-parks-trails The list of New Hampshire state parks, including Mount Monadnock and Pawtuckaway State Park.

– Grand Monadnock Facebook Group (facebook.com/groups/557083607702443)
A collection of hikers with strong opinions about Mount Monadnock.

– HikerBabes Community: Southern New Hampshire Chapter (facebook.com/groups/2587362171290164) A Facebook resource for women who hike.

– TrailSpotting.com An online resource where you can find information about specific hiking trails including location, length, changes in elevation, and level of difficulty.

Your guide to haunted attractions, downtown celebrations, scary movies, kid-friendly events and more spooky season fun

Halloween is more than just Oct. 31. For nearly the whole month of October, there are events for all ages that get in on spooky season fun. Whether you are looking for serious scares at a haunted house or community celebration at a downtown event or just another reason for the kids to wear their costumes, there are plenty of ways for everyone to get in on the Halloween excitement.

Haunted attractions

Here are season-long haunted attractions. See the websites for a look at the imagery and a sense of the scariness level. Many of the attractions strongly recommend or require advance ticket purchase (especially for nighttime entries).

• The Dark Woods at Trombly Gardens, 150 N. River Road in Milford, thedarkwoodsnh.com, is open for general admission evenings Fridays and Saturdays through Nov. 1 (except for Oct. 31) and in a The Darker Woods experience with nearly no light and characters that may touch or be near you on Thursdays, Oct. 16, Oct. 23 and Oct. 30 as well as Sunday, Oct. 26. Tickets cost $25, with a $40 VIP option. Pick an entry time when purchasing tickets. “Guests take a self-guided (walking) tour through dimly lit woodlands while being met by an unusual cast of creeps and misfits,” according to the website.

• Fear Farm at Beans & Greens Farm, 245 Intervale Road, Gilford, 293-2853, beansandgreensfarm.com, runs Fridays and Saturdays in October, 7 to 10 p.m. (last entry at 9:30 p.m. People under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

• Fright Kingdom 12 Simon St. in Nashua, frightkingdom.com, features five “frightening attractions” — Apocalypse Z, Bloodmare Manor, Psycho Circus, Grim and The Abandoned — as well as a Monster Midway (with costumed characters, photo opportunities, concessions and merch sales), which operate Friday through Sunday evenings through Nov. 1. When you purchase general admission tickets (which cost $38) you pick an entry time. Tickets for Dark Ride, a “‘double level, gravity feed, pretzel style’ amusement ride from 1970 that has been lovingly restored,” are available, weather permitting, on site for $10 per person, cash only, the website said. A “Hardly Haunted” version is available on Sunday, Oct. 19, from noon to 3 p.m. for kids of all ages with an outdoor midway, face painting, a haunted house tour and more, the website said; tickets cost $10. On Friday, Nov. 7, and Saturday, Nov. 8, there is an “In the Dark — No Restrictions” version of the attractions when the event is no or low light with a single light source per group and characters may touch you, the website said. The attraction recommends parental discretion for children under 12, the website said.

• Fright Nights at the Field: Screaming Line Drive takes place at Delta Dental Stadium in downtown Manchester, milb.com/new-hampshire/ballpark/halloween, Thursdays through Sundays, Oct. 16-19 and Oct. 23-26, as well as Wednesday, Oct. 29, through Saturday, Nov. 1. The park features two separate attractions with separate ticketing: a Haunted Stadium Tour and Save the Ballpark Escape Room. The attraction will not permit children under 12 years old, and kids 15 and under must be accompanied by an adult, the website said. The park is open Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays from 6 to 9 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays from 6 to 10 p.m.

• Haunted Overload at DeMeritt Hill Farm, 20 Orchard Way in Lee, hauntedoverload.com, is open evenings Thursdays through Sundays through Nov. 2 as well as for Day Haunt sessions (described as actor-free and family-friendly) Fridays through Sundays through Nov. 2, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The attraction runs its “Frite Nite Lite” on the evenings of Thursdays, Oct. 16, and Oct. 23, featuring “[a]ll the lights, sounds, and effects without the scares!” according to the website. A Lights Out night will run in the evening on Sunday, Nov. 2. “Haunted Overload is a haunted trail that winds through a dense patch of wooded area. It has uneven ground, twists, turns, hills and valleys,” the website said.

• Hellwood’s Cursed Forest Elwood Orchards, 54 Elwood Road in Londonderry, 434-6017, elwoodorchards. com, is separate from the orchard’s corn maze and offers a haunted adventure that is “100% volunteer based and 100% of the proceeds go to charity,” specifically Manchester Girl Scouts, Future in Sight and Nashua Soup Kitchen, according to a post on Elwood’s Facebook page. Admission costs $8 per person and children under 5 get in for free, the post said. Fright Nights, which it says may “be too scary for some audiences,” run Fridays, Oct. 17, Oct. 24 and Oct. 31, from 7 to 10 p.m. and Saturdays, Oct. 18 and Oct. 25, from 6 to 10 p.m. Frite Lite, which is described as a “child-friendly/sensory-safe daytime experience,” runs Fridays, Oct. 17, Oct. 24 and Oct. 31, from 6 to 7 p.m. and Saturdays, Oct. 18 and Oct. 25, from 6 to 7 p.m., and Sundays, Oct. 19, and Oct. 26, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

• The Salisbury Woods Haunted Barn and Trail 19 Franklin Road in Salisbury, salisburywoods.com, is open evenings Friday, Oct. 17, and Saturday, Oct. 18, and Friday, Oct. 24, and Saturday, Oct. 25 (tickets cost $20 plus fees), as well as on Friday, Oct. 31, with a Lite Fright Night (no actors) from 6 to 8 p.m. (costumes encouraged; tickets cost $10 plus fees) and on Saturday, Oct. 25, from noon to 2 p.m. for a Daytime Sneak Peek (no actors, some scares; tickets cost $10). “As you venture through our haunted trails, you’ll encounter spine-chilling scenes and terrifying creatures that will make your blood run cold,” the website said.

• Screeemfest at Canobie Lake Park in Salem, canobie.com, is open Fridays through Sundays until Nov. 1, opening at 5 p.m. on Fridays, 3 p.m. on Saturdays and 1 p.m. on Sundays. The attraction is described as delivering “family fun by day and a healthy dose of fear by night. You get TONS of rides, haunted houses, kid-friendly fun, live shows, roving monsters and much, much more,” according to the website. The park features five haunted houses — TerrorForm (a Mars outpost themed attraction labeled as new for 2025), Carnivus 2, Cargo, Pinecrest Sanitarium and Haven — with parental guidance recommended for ages 13 and under for the haunted houses, the website said. The park has static displays with haunted characters in haunted scenes around the park, the website said. There is a monster parade on Saturdays and Sundays at 5:45 p.m., and, for younger kids, a lights-on tour of a haunted house from 4 to 4:45 p.m. on Sunday (no actors, lighting and sounds turned off), the website said. See the website for a list of available rides.

• Spookville 1 Cheshire St. in Nashua is put together by S.C.A.R.E. NH, a nonprofit organization providing Halloween costumes to kids in need and offering free admission to its haunted house, according to scarenh.org. The Spookville attraction features volunteer actors and new themes every year, the website said. Spookville operates Friday, Oct. 17, 7 to 9 p.m.; Saturday, Oct. 18, 6 to 9 p.m.; Friday, Oct. 24, 7 to 9 p.m.; Saturday, Oct. 25, 6 to 9 p.m., and Friday, Oct. 31, 6 to 9 p.m. There will be two kid-friendly days: Sunday, Oct. 19, and Sunday, Oct. 26, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. This is also a United Way Collab Saturday, Nov. 1, from 6 to 9 p.m, “Spookville: A Decade of Darkness” with tickets for $10. At all Spookville sessions, donations are accepted.

• Spooky World Presents Nightmare New England 454 Charles Bancroft Hwy. in Litchfield, nightmarenewengland.com, is open Thursday, Oct. 16, through Sunday, Oct. 19; Thursday, Oct. 23, through Sunday, Oct. 26, and Wednesday, Oct. 29, through Saturday, Nov. 1, with entry times starting at 6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays and 7 p.m. Wednesdays through Fridays. The attraction offers “80 acres of fear” with attractions including the Haunted Hayride, Nightmare in 3D, Asylum 47 and The Colony as well as a Monster Midway featuring axe throwing, Zombie Paintball, a beer garden, psychic readings, food and games and more, the website said. Weather permitting, some Mel’s Funway Park attractions may also be open, the website said. Costumes are encouraged on Halloween night (see website for rules) and Saturday, Nov. 1, will be a Lights Out night. Purchase general admission tickets or VIP tickets online.

Night & day in the corn maze

• Beans & Greens Farm (245 Intervale Road, Gilford, 293-2853, beansandgreensfarm.com) offers entry to its corn maze daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The farm also offers hayrides and other farm activities — see the website for the different pricing packages. The farm also hosts Beans & Screams Fear Farm (see Haunted attractions).

• Beech Hill Farm and Ice Cream Barn (107 Beech Hill Road, Hopkinton, beechhillfarm.com) offers two corn mazes open from noon to dusk through Oct. 31. The cost is $7 per person (children ages 3 and under get in free) for access to both mazes, which feature puzzles and scavenger hunt-like activities to get through the maze, according to the website.

• Brookdale Fruit Farm (41 Broad St., Hollis, 465-2240, brookdalefruitfarm.com) In addition to its pick-your-own apple offerings, farm stand and more, Brookdale offers a corn maze and tractor ride on Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The cost is $4 per person.

• Coppal House Farm (118 N. River Road, Lee, nhcornmaze.com) presents a Monarch & Chrysalis Corn Maze this year, open Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays from noon to 5 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Saturday, Nov. 1. Admission costs $10 for ages 13+ and $8 for ages 5 to 12, 65+, military and college students with ID. The final public night maze of the season is Saturday, Oct. 25, from 6:30 to 9 p.m.; tickets cost $15 for ages 13+ and $12 for ages 5 to 12. Look for food trucks, an artisan fair and wagon rides Saturday, Oct. 18, and Sunday, Oct. 19 (wagon rides will also be available the following weekend, Oct. 25-26), the website said.

• Devriendt Farm (178 S. Mast St., Goffstown, devriendtfarm.com) opens its corn maze (and pick your own pumpkin field) on weekends, Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The corn maze costs $10 for ages 14+ and $5 for ages 4 to 13, according to the website. The last day for the corn maze and PYO pumpkins will be Sunday, Oct. 26, the website said.

• Elwood Orchards (54 Elwood Road in Londonderry; 434-6017, elwoodorchards. com) has a 15-acre corn maze open daily at 9 a.m. On Fridays and Saturdays, the maze is open at night, with the last admission at 9 p.m. Admission costs $12 per person. Separate from the maze, the orchard is also hosting Hellwood’s Cursed Forest this season (see the Haunted attractions section).

• J&F Farms (124 Chester Road, Derry, jandffarmsnh.com) has a 4-acre corn maze open daily through Halloween. Admission costs $10, according to the website. You can also visit with the farm animals.

• Mack’s Apples (230 Mammoth Road, Londonderry, 432-3456, macksapples.com) offers a corn maze daily along with its PYO apples and pumpkin patch, according to its Facebook page.

• Moulton Farm (18 Quarry Road, Meredith, 279-3915, moultonfarm.com) offers a full-size maze and a children’s maze, according to its website. Admission, which includes both mazes, costs $12 per person; $6 for ages 3 to 6.

• Trombly Gardens (150 N. River Road, Milford, 673-0647, tromblygardens.net) opened its corn maze Aug. 31, according to its Facebook page. The farm also sells doughnuts, fresh produce and more.

A little spooky, for kids

• Griffin Free Public Library, 22 Hooksett Road in Auburn, griffinfree.org, will host a Not So Spooky Story Walk with the book Willow’s Way on Thursday, Oct. 16, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The event will feature games, candy, sensory bins and a live reading, according to the website, which says that costumes and a trick-or-treat bag are encouraged.

• The Derry Public Library, 64 E. Broadway in Derry, derrypl.org, will present One Spooky Night — Return of the Haunted Library on Thursday, Oct. 16, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Register to take a tour of the haunted library trail, costumes welcome, the website said.

• Enjoy some Spooky Science on Friday, Oct. 17, 4 to 6 p.m. at the Seacoast Science Center in Odiorne Point State Park in Rye. At 5 p.m. there will be a squid dissection. Attendees are invited to come in costume to learn about “eerie science topics such as skeletons, bioluminescence, deep sea creatures and more,” according to a Seacoast email. The event is free but register atseacoastsciencecenter.org.

• The Not-So-Spooky Spectacular will take place at the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire, 6 Washington St. in Dover, childrens-museum.org, on Saturday, Oct. 18, with play sessions from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m. Costumes are encouraged for the day, which will feature take-home crafts, science experiments, a pumpkin scavenger hunt and more, according to the website, where you can purchase advance admission for the event.

• The Aviation Museum of New Hampshire, 27 Navigator Road in Londonderry, aviationmuseumofnh.org, will be giving Broomstick Pilots Licenses to kids ages 12 and under — along with free admission to the museum — on Saturday, Oct. 18, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The day will also feature “the ghosts of past aviation pioneers, who will describe their achievements and explain basic principles of flight” and Halloween treats for licensees, according to a press release.

• Children’s Trick or Treat will take place at Charmingfare Farm, 774 High St. in Candia, visitthefarm.com, on Saturdays and Sundays, Oct. 18-19 and Oct. 25-26, with entry times starting at 10 a.m. Take a horse-drawn wagon or tractor ride throughout the farm along a Halloween-themed trail to meet with characters, visit farm animals and receive candy, according to the website. Admission costs $29 per person, with add-ons for pumpkin art and pony rides. The Halloween Juggling Spectacular show featuring Jason Tardy will take place throughout the day; see the website for times.

• The Concord Public Library, concordnh.gov, will hold a Community Costume Swap on Saturday, Oct. 18, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

• Bookery, 844 Elm St. in Manchester, bookerymht.com, has a spooky season themed storytime with the book Creepy Sheepyand a craft on Saturday, Oct. 18, at 11:30 a.m. Reserve a spot online.

• The Harvest Fest at Griffin Park in Windham will take place Saturday, Oct. 18, from 1 to 4 p.m. and feature trick-or-treating, crafts and games, a bubble show, DJ Dominik, Steve Blunt at 3 p.m., animals and more, according to windhamnh.gov.

• Nashua will hold its annual Halloween Boo Bash on Saturday, Oct. 18, from 3 to 7 p.m. in Greeley Park, according to nashuanh.gov. The event will feature a haunted house, hay ride, trunk or treat, crafts entertainment and more, the website said.

• Trick or Treat and Take a Seat! is billed as a scare-free event at the Joppa Hill Educational Farm, 174 Joppa Hill Road in Bedford, jhef.org, on Saturday, Oct. 18, at 4 p.m. Walk through the farm’s trick-or-treat path and then watch an all-ages outdoor movie, according to the website. Tickets cost $30 per family (for up to six people).

• Try your knowledge of PG spooky season movies at Family Halloween Movies trivia Saturday, Oct. 18, at 6 p.m., at Chunky’s, 707 Huse Road in Manchester, chunkys.com.

• Manchester City Library, 405 Pine St. in Manchester, manchester.lib.nh.us, will host Zombie Games on Wednesday, Oct. 22, from 3 to 5 p.m., where kids grades 1 through 6 can drop in to play zombie-themed games.

• Manchester City Library, 405 Pine St. in Manchester, manchester.lib.nh.us, will host a Halloween Party for kids ages 1 to 5 on Friday, Oct. 24, at 10 a.m. with games, stories, a scavenger hunt and a craft, according to the website, where you can register (which is required).

• Kids can trick or treat the Concord Farmers Market on Capitol Street next to the Statehouse in downtown Concord during its final market of the season on Saturday, Oct. 25, from 8:30 a.m. to noon. See concordfarmersmarket.com.

• The Nashua Public Library, 2 Court St. in Nashua, nashualibrary.org, will hold a Costume Parade on Saturday, Oct. 25, from 11 a.m. to noon. Kids can parade through the library in costumes, collecting surprises at each department, according to the library website.

• The BWINH Collective will hold its 3rd Annual Trunk or Treat on Saturday, Oct. 25, from 3 to 5 p.m. at Manchester Community Action Coalition, 340 Granite St. in Manchester, according to bwinhsc.com. This free family-friendly event is open to all, and kids are encouraged to come in costume for trunk-or-treating and other kid-friendly activities and music, according to the website.

• The Town of Merrimack Halloween Party will take place Saturday, Oct. 25, from noon to 2 p.m. in Wasserman Park. The day will feature games, crafts, face painting, food vendors, a costume contest, community organizations and more, according to merrimackparksandrec.org.

• Hudson’s Best Trunk or Treat at the Hudson Mall, 77 Derry Road in Hudson, will take place Sunday, Oct. 26 from 10 a.m. to noon, according to thehudsonmall.com. Register via facebook.com/innerdragonma (find it under “Events”).

• The McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center in Concord, starhop.com, will present the Family Fright Fest celebration on Sunday, Oct. 26, from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The day will feature hands-on Halloween science, live demonstrations, a special Halloween-themed planetarium show, a trick-or-treat scavenger hunt and more, according to a press release The event is described as all-ages and costume-friendly, the release said. Activities are included with general admission, the release said.

• The Laurie Berkner Halloween Concert will be on stage at the Chubb Theatre at the Capitol Center for the Arts, 44 S. Main St. in Concord, ccanh.com, on Sunday, Oct. 26, at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.

• Geneva —Ween Trick or Treating will take place Sunday, Oct. 26, 3 to 8 p.m. at 108 Geneva Point Road in Moutlonborough, for cabin to cabin trick or treating. See genevapoint.org.

• The Trick or Trash Community Cleanup, organized by SEE Science Center, Manchester Connects and the City of Manchester, will take place Monday, Oct. 27, from 3 to 5 p.m. Sign up to receive park meet-up locations. This 18+ event is aimed at creating “a safe environment for our kids as they head out trick-or-treating,” according to see-sciencecenter.org, where you can sign up as a group or individual.

• Cowabunga’s Indoor Playground 725 Huse Road in Manchester, cowabungas.com, has a Halloween party slated for Thursday, Oct. 30, with costumes encouraged and crafts and other activities planned.

• The Weare Public Library, 10 Paige Memorial Lane in Weare, wearepubliclibrary.com, will hold a Kids Halloween Party on Thursday, Oct. 30, 4:30 to 6 p.m. for ages 4+. “Not-too-scary stories, games, activities, and ghoulish treats. Costumes encouraged! Followed by Spooky Toons” at 6 p.m. with popcorn and prizes.

• Trick or Treat at Concord Community Music School, 23 Wall St. in Concord, ccmusicschool.org, on Friday, Oct. 31, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., according to the website.

Festivals & downtown fun

• Wilton’s Haunted Trail at Goss Park will run Friday, Oct. 17, 6 to 9:30 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 18, 5:30 to 9:30 p.m., according to visitwilton.com.

• Ghosts on the Banke at Strawbery Banke, 14 Hancock St. in Portsmouth, strawberybanke.org, will run Fridays and Saturdays, Oct. 17-18 and Oct. 24-25, with arrival times beginning at 5 p.m. Billed as family-friendly, the event features outdoor trick-or-treating at the historic houses where guests can meet pirates and a fortune-teller, hear “ghostly tales” and enjoy an All Hallows Bonfire, according to the website. The evening will also feature music (Mr. Aaron is slated to perform on Oct. 25, according to.mraaronmusic.com), games and other activities, the website said. Admission costs $16 per person.

• The Animal Rescue League of NH will host the Howl-O-Ween 5K on Saturday, Oct. 18, 10 a.m. at Delta Dental Stadium in downtown Manchester. Both human and dog participants are encouraged to wear costumes, according to rescueleague.org/howloween5k, where you can register (prices vary based on age of participants and number of dogs).

• Howl-O-Ween Doggie Costume Parade will take place Saturday, Oct. 18, at 11 a.m. at Griffin Park in Windham, according to an email from the Salem Animal Rescue League which hosts the event. The parade is free and open to the public but registration in advance or from 10 to 10:45 a.m. on-site is required, the release said. Prizes will be awarded. See sarlnh.org.

• The Giant Pumpkin Weigh-Off and Regatta in Goffstown will take place Saturday, Oct. 18, and Sunday, Oct. 19, with activities throughout the weekend including yard and bake sales on Saturday morning, a book sale on Saturday, a touch-a-truck on Saturday, vendor booths and a bounce house in the downtown both days, the giant pumpkin weigh-off Saturday at 11 a.m., a pumpkin cook-off contest Saturday afternoon, a Parading of the Pumpkins Saturday at 11:30 a.m., an art show both days and a pie eating contest on Sunday at 1 p.m. The Giant Pumpkin Regatta in the river will take place Sunday at 3 p.m., according to goffstownmainstreet.org/pumpkin-regatta, where you can find rules to all the contests.

• The Witch of Weston Tower returns to McIntyre Ski Area, 50 Chalet Way, Manchester, 622-6159, mcintyreskiarea.com, on Friday, Oct. 24, 4 to 8 p.m., and Saturday, Oct. 25, and Sunday, Oct. 26, noon to 6 p.m. Take a chairlift to the summit, a tractor ride along a spooky trail and visit the Witch of Weston Tower — where visitors can climb the tower stairs, according to the website, where you can purchase tickets.

• The 2025 Halloween Howl in downtown Concord will take place Friday, Oct. 24, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. and feature trick-or-treating, a trunk-or-treat, a costume contest, games and more, according to intownconcord.org. Main Street will be closed to traffic from Centre Street and Loudon Road to Hills Avenue for the event, the website said.

• Downtown Trick or Treat in downtown Manchester will run Friday, Oct. 24, from 3 to 6 p.m. with businesses along Elm Street and in Stanton Plaza handing out candy to trick-or-treaters as well as other activities, according to the Manchester Economic Development Office’s Facebook page and manchesterproud.org.

• The Hanover Street Fall Festival is slated for Friday, Oct. 24, from 3 to 8 p.m. on Hanover Street in Manchester, coordinated by Downtown Business Collaborative and the Palace Theatre, according to the city’s economic development office.

• America’s Stonehenge, 105 Haverhill Road in Salem, stonehengeusa.com, will hold a Haunted History Lantern Tour on Friday, Oct. 24 and Saturday, Oct. 25, at 6 p.m. Tickets cost $35 and must be purchase online for this event that is recommended for age 18+, the website said. “Join local historian James Lacefield for a candlelit tour of America’s Stonehenge to encounter the ghostly remains – otherwise known as artifacts – of Salem, New Hampshire’s haunted history,” the website said. America’s Stonehenge will be open Saturday, Nov. 1, for Samhain from 9 a.m. to sunset with a drum circle from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., the website said.

• The Dover Zombie Walk featuring local dance studio zombies dancing to “Thriller” will take place Friday, Oct. 24, at 6 p.m. starting at Citizens Bank and headed from Bridge Street to North Main Street and onto Hanson Street to the intersection with Central Street, according to rochestermainstreet.org. Zombies can join in with volunteers in the front of the parade, the website said.

• Main Street Monster Mash Howl-o-Ween will take place Saturday, Oct. 25, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Main Street in downtown Nashua. Kids can trick-or-treat at downtown businesses and take part in costume contests — as can pets, according to a post on the Great American Downtown Facebook page. There will be a Pearl Streets Howl-o-ween Puppy Parade at 11:30 a.m. and a performance by the ActorSingers at noon, the post said. Attendees can also vote for their favorite Downtown Scarecrow.

• Rochester will hold its Downtown Trick or Treat on Saturday, Oct. 25, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Kids can come dressed up and downtown businesses will hand out candy, according to rochestermainstreet.org.

• Pumpkinpalooza will take place Saturday, Oct. 25, from 1 to 4 p.m. at Kimball Jenkins, 266 N. Main St. in Concord, kimballjenkins.com. This family-friendly all-ages celebration invites you to bring your own pumpkin to decorate before taking part in a candy scavenger hunt and a costume parade and listening to “‘A Spooky Serenade,’ a live performance by Melissa Elsman, Contralto,” according to the website, where you can register to attend (advance registration required).

• The Haunting of Wilton continues on Saturday, Oct. 25, with a costume parade at 1:30 p.m., Main Street merchants trick or treat at 2 p.m. and a performance by A Company of Witches at 2:30 p.m., according to visitwilton.com.

• Squam Lakes Natural Science Center in Holderness will hold its annual Fall New Hampshire Day on Sunday, Oct. 26, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $8 for trail admission the day will feature “Up Close to Animals” presentations and more. Reserve a spot at nhnature.org.

• Downtown Trick or Treat on Main Street in Goffstown will take place Friday, Oct, 31, from 6 to 8 p.m., according to goffstownmainstreet.org.

• The Portsmouth Halloween Parade takes place Friday, Oct. 31, at 7 p.m. starting at Peirce Island by Prescott Park. See portsmouthhalloweenparade.org for the route and more parade information, including details on fundraising events and other happenings leading up to the parade such as the Pumpkin Smash on Oct. 18 and the Jumbo Circus Peanuts Halloween Bash on Oct. 27.

Halloweeny happenings

• Flag Hill Distillery & Winery in Lee, flaghill.com, will hold a horror movie trivia night on Thursday, Oct. 16, at 6 p.m. Register a team of up to six people to compete; food and drink, including a themed cocktail, will be available for purchase.

• Chunky’s, 70 Huse Road in Manchester, chunkys.com, has lots of Halloween trivia on the schedule this month including Rocky Horror 18+ trivia Thursday, Oct. 16, at 7:30 p.m.; Halloween movies 18+ trivia Thursday, Oct. 30, at 7 p.m., and horror movies 18+ trivia Thursday, Oct. 30, at 7:30 p.m.

• The Haunted Winnipesaukee Ghost Story Cruise by Mount Washington Cruises (211 Lakeside Ave., Laconia, 366-5531, cruisenh.com) takes place Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, Oct. 16 through Oct. 25, featuring ghost stories told by live actors and desserts, according to the website. The cruise costs $60 per person. A 21+ Halloween Masquerade Ball will be held Saturday, Oct. 25, at 6 p.m. Tickets cost $73.

• Bookery, 844 Elm St. in Manchester, bookerymht.com, will host a horror book talk club on Friday, Oct. 17, at 6 p.m.

• Spooky Soiree: Drag Night with Raya Sunshine will take place Friday, Oct. 17, at 8 p.m. at Auspicious Brew, 1 Washington St. in Dover, auspiciousbrew.com. Tickets cost $12 in advance, $15 on the day.

• Castle in the Clouds in Moultonborough will celebrate Halloween with several upcoming events. On Friday, Oct. 17, at 6 p.m. it’s a Pumpkin Walk, billed as family-friendly. The event is free but preregistration is suggested. The Castle in the Clouds also hosts a Graveyard History Walking Tour on Mondays, Saturdays and Thursdays through Thursday, Oct. 30. “This informative history walk will discuss the families that lived here and the funerary traditions from each time period. Along the journey, guests will also stop at cellar holes to see where the families, now buried on the property, used to live. The Graveyard Tour is a two-mile walk outdoors that includes inclines and uneven ground,” according to a press release. Registration costs $15 per person. See castleintheclouds.org.

• Bella Vita Dance Academy, 859 Hanover St. in Manchester, facebook.com/BellaVitaDance, will hold a 603 Salsa & Bachata Social: Gothic Ball Edition on Saturday, Oct. 18, at 8 p.m. Tickets cost $25 in advance, $28 at the door, according to a post on the Academy’s Facebook page. The night will include a beginner salsa lesson, “Spooky hors d’oeuvres and treats,” complimentary drinks and more, the post said.

• The Friends of the Salem NH Historical Society will host their annual Salem Soul Stroll, Sunday, Oct. 19, from 3 to 5 p.m. This will be a tour of the Salem Burying Ground at The Salem Common. Meet at the Old Town Hall (310 Main St., Salem). Children under age 13 must be accompanied by an adult, according to the group’s Facebook page.

• Gibson’s Bookstore, 45 S. Main St. in Concord, gibsonsbookstore.com, will host a horror panel with authors CJ Leede (Maeve Fly), Delilah S. Dawson (Star Wars: Phasma) and Clay McLeod Chapman (Ghost Eaters) on Wednesday, Oct. 22, at 6:30 p.m.

• “Ghosts and Legends” with Jeff Belanger will feature a multimedia program focused on “haunts in your backyard and around the world” on Wednesday, Oct. 22, at 7:30 p.m. at the Concord City Auditorium, 2 Prince St. in Concord. Admission is free; the doors open at 7 p.m. See walkerlecture.org.

• LaBelle Winery will hold Swing, Sip and Savor: Evening Glow Golf at the Derry location (14 Route 111) on Wednesday, Oct. 22, 6 to 9 p.m. featuring a nine-hole golf scramble competition at The Links golf course (with a glass of wine) followed by light bites in the private dining room at Americus Restaurant. The cost is $89 per person. See labellewinery.com.

• Jeffrey Zygmont will perform Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Raven” at Derry Public Library, 64 E Broadway in Derry, on Wednesday, Oct. 22, at 6:30 p.m. Register at derrypl.org.

• The Rockingham Ballroom, 22 Ash Swamp Road in Newmarket, rockinballroom.club, will host Halloween line dancing with 603 Line Dance on Friday, Oct. 24, at 6:30 p.m. (when doors open; lessons start at 7 p.m.). Admission costs $15.

• Night at the BOOzeum, a 21+ Grown Up Play Date event at the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire, 6 Washington St. in Dover, childrens-museum.org, will take place Friday, Oct. 24, from 7 to 9 p.m. The evening will feature a Monster Mash dance party, a scavenger hunt, a craft, a cash bar and more, according to the website. Tickets cost $25 in advance, $30 at the door.

• The Buzz Brews & Boos Halloween party, a 21+ event, will take place at The Hill Bar & Grille at McIntyre Ski Area, 50 Chalet Way, Manchester, 622-6159, mcintyreskiarea.com, on Saturday, Oct. 25, from 7 to 10 p.m. featuring The Morning Buzz, an appetizer buffet, a DJ, a Halloween costume contest and more, according to the McIntyre website, where you can purchase tickets for $50 per person.

• The Rockingham Ballroom, 22 Ash Swamp Road in Newmarket, rockinballroom.club, will host a Halloween party at the Haunted Ballroom with DJ Johnny B Groovy & Soul Sister Pamela on Saturday, Oct. 25, at 7 p.m. Scaryoke will be at 11 p.m. Admission includes light treats and a complimentary cocktail, the website said. Admission costs $15 in advance, $20 at the door.

• Auspicious Brew, 1 Washington St. in Dover, auspiciousbrew.com, will present BOO-lesque Night with THEM Burlesque on Saturday, Oct. 25, at 8 p.m. Costumes are encouraged (there will be a contest), according to the website. Admission to this 21+ show costs $15 in advance, $20 on the day.

• Fitzy’s Fright Fest at 37 Maple Ave. in Newton, will operate Saturday, Oct. 25, and Sunday, Oct. 26, from 6 to 9 p.m. This outdoor haunt is described as family run and family friendly, according to an email from the happening. The event is free and open to the public, donations accepted, and attendees are asked to drive slowly through the neighborhood and only park on the same side of the road as the haunt, the email said. See facebook.com/Fitzysfrightfest.

• To Share Brewing Co., 720 Union St. in Manchester, tosharebrewing.com, will hold a Dungeons & Drafts: Spooky Edition D&D event on Sunday, Oct. 26, at 1 p.m. Regulars and beginners are welcome to this “special spooky one-shot campaign hosted right here at the brewery,” according to a post on the brewery’s Facebook page. Costumes are encouraged.

• Balin Books, 375 Amherst St. in Nashua, balinbooks.com, will host Horrorfest, a multi-author discussion of The End of the World As We Know It: New Tales of Stephen King’s The Stand, on Tuesday, Oct. 28, at 6:30 p.m.

• Ronny LeBlanc, an author, researcher, screenwriter and television personality, will discuss his “work exploring Bigfoot, UFOs, and other paranormal phenomena” at the Exeter Public Library, 4 Chestnut St. in Exeter, Exeterpl.org, on Tuesday, Oct. 28, at 6 p.m., according to a library email. The event is free and open to the public.

• The Weare Public Library, wearepubliclibrary.com, will host “Weare: Beyond Belief III” on Wednesday, Oct. 29, at East Weare Cemetery at 24 Buzzell Hill Road (or in the library if it’s raining). Call 529-2044 for details.

• The Pembroke Town Library, 313 Pembroke St. in Pembroke, will host Jeffrey Zygmont doing a presentation on and recitation of Edgar Allan Poe’s poetry on Wednesday, Oct. 29, at 7 p.m.

• Ghost Encounters at Canterbury Shaker Village, 88 Shaker Road in Canterbury, shakers.org, will run Thursday, Oct. 30; Friday, Oct. 31, and Saturday, Nov. 1, with times at 5, 6 and 7 p.m. The 45-minute tour will discuss the growth of spiritualism as part of the Shaker religion and feature firsthand accounts of “otherworldly encounters,” according to the website. Tickets in advance cost $10 for ages 12 and under and $20 for general admission, $25 on the day.

• Tomes of Terror horror trivia will be hosted by Paloma Serena on Thursday, Oct. 30, 7 p.m., at Bookery, 844 Elm St. in Manchester, bookerymht.com.

• Double Midnight, 252 Willow St. in Manchester, dmcomics.com will host Double Spooky Draft Night on Friday, Oct. 31, at 7 p.m. “Players will be given a random selection of three spooky-themed Magic: the Gathering boosters, with two of their choice to draft as normal, and the third to open as-is and add to their sealed pool. Play three rounds against other players, and earn packs for each round that you win. Event entry is $20,” according to a post on the shop’s Facebook page.

• The Rochester Opera House, rochesteroperahouse.com, will present the 2nd Annual Monster Bash at the Castle on Charles on Friday, Oct. 31, from 7 to 11 p.m. at 31 Charles St. in Rochester. The 21+ night will feature a cash-only bar, a costumed dance party, a costume contest and light food, with tickets benefiting the Opera House and the youth theater programs, the website said. Tickets cost $20.

• Sunstone Brewing, 298 Rockingham Road in Londonderry, sunstonebrewing.com, will hold a Halloween party on Saturday, Nov. 1, at 5 p.m. with an adult costume contest, live music from Mollicious Intent and more, according to the website.

Autumnal art

• Chunky’s, 70 Huse Road in Manchester, chunkys.com, has Halloween-themed art events on its schedule this month. On Friday, Oct. 17, at 7:15 p.m. it’s a Paint Night with “Señorita Calavera ‘Sugar Skull.’” On Friday, Oct. 24, at 7:15 p.m. it’s a Paint Night for a Haunted Pumpkin Patch. Go online to reserve a spot.

• Celebrate Samhain will take place Sunday, Oct. 19, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the DoubleTree Hilton Nashua, 2 Somerset Parkway in Nashua, according to facebook.com/NHSamhain. Admission costs $12, or $10 with a non-perishable food item, the page said. The day will feature presentations by prominent metaphysical authors and instructors, vendors and artisans, psychics providing readings, music and an open ritual honoring ancestors, the post said.

• The Dover Witches Market runs Sunday, Oct. 19, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Dover City Hall Auditorium and on Central Avenue in Dover, according to groovywitch.com. Admission is free to this event, which will feature “local artisans and small businesses offering their spellbinding handcrafted merch,” the website said.

• “Haunts,” a themed exhibition of three New Hampshire based artists — Aerial Grace, Max Gagnon and Aaron Cane — will be on display at See Saw Art, 66 Hanover St., Suite 201, in Manchester, seesaw.gallery, through Oct. 26.

• A Witchy Workshop will be held at Lucky Bug Farm in Amherst by the New Hampshire Craft Club on Sunday, Oct. 26, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., according to nhcraftclub.com. Make witch bells and mini brooms; the cost is $45, the website said.

• The Center for the Arts, 428 Main St. in New London, will present Celebrating 100 Years of Edward Gorey on Sunday, Oct. 26, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. “Celebrate what would have been Gorey’s 100th birthday by participating in the Edward Gorey House 2025 All Ages Halloween Envelope Art Contest! Bring your drawing tools, imagination, and a stamped envelope. The CFA will provide space, inspiration, encouragement, and camaraderie,” according to a Center newsletter. The theme is “The Evil Garden” and children under 14 “must be accompanied by a semi-responsible adult,” the newsletter said. See centerfortheartsnh.org.

• “Nature’s Palette” with paintings and photography by John A. Webster that “showcases the natural beauty of New England’s change of seasons” will be on display at NH Audubon’s Massabesic Center, 26 Audubon Way in Auburn, nhaudubon.org, through Thursday, Oct. 30. The center is open Wednesdays through Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• “Exquisite Corpse,” “a group exhibition inspired by the surrealist game where hidden hands shape unexpected creations,” will be on display at at Mosaic Art Collective, 66 Hanover St., Suite 201, Manchester, mosaicartcollective.com, through Sunday, Nov. 2, with “calling hours,” as the artist reception is being themed, Saturday, Oct. 11, 4 to 8 p.m., the website said. See Michael Witthaus’ story about the exhibition in the Oct. 2 issue of the Hippo; find it in the digital library at hippopress.com. The story is on page 16.

Spooky & fantastical theater

• Dracula Radio Show Epping Community Theater (38 Ladds Lane, Epping, eppingtheater.org) will present the Dracula Radio Show Friday, Oct. 17, through Sunday, Oct. 19.

• The Legend of Sleepy Hollow will be presented by the Pinkerton Players Friday, Oct. 17, through Sunday, Oct. 19, at the Stockbridge Theatre (5 Pinkerton St., Derry, pinkertonacademy.org/stockbridge-theatre).

• Shrek the Musical will be presented by the Manchester Community Players (698 Beech St., Manchester, manchestercommunitytheatre.com) on Friday, Oct. 17, and Saturday, Oct. 18, at 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, Oct. 19, at 2 p.m.; Friday, Oct. 24, and Saturday, Oct. 25, at 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, Oct. 26, at 2 p.m.

• Dracula will be presented by Break A Leg Legally Productions in Dover, breakaleglegally.com, Friday, Oct. 17, through Sunday, Oct. 26, at The Strand, 20 Third St., Dover. Tickets cost $20 at breakaleglegally.com. This is the ninth anniversary production of the classic vampire tale performed by this local troupe, an audience favorite. Eight performances, two each day in the afternoon and evening.

• Zombie Prom Atomic Edition will be presented by RPAC Teen Mainstage at the Rochester Opera House, 31 Wakefield St. in Rochester, rochesteroperahouse.com, on Friday, Oct. 17, at 5 p.m.; Saturday, Oct. 18, at 11 a.m., and Sunday, Oct. 19, at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. “This girl-loves-ghoul rock and roll musical is set in the atomic 1950s at Enrico Fermi High, where the law is laid down by a zany, tyrannical principal,” according to the website. The performers are ages 11 to 18.

• The Man Who Laughs, a horror romance based on the Victor Hugo novel, will be presented by Players’ Ring Theatre, 105 Marcy St. in Portsmouth, playersring.org, Friday, Oct. 17, through Sunday, Nov. 2, with shows Thursdays at 7 p.m.; Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. (except for Oct. 31, when the show starts at 9 p.m.) and Saturdays and Sundays at 2:30 p.m.

• The Shark Is Broken, a play about the making of the movie Jaws, will be presented by the NH Theatre Project, 959 Islington St. in Portsmouth, nhtheatreproject.org, Friday, Oct. 17, through Sunday, Nov. 2, with stage times on Fridays at 7 p.m.; Saturdays at 4 p.m. and Sundays at 2:30 p.m.

• The Winnipesaukee Playhouses’s Professional Theatre for Young Audiences program will present Winnie-the-Poohon Saturdays, Oct. 18, and Oct. 25, at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 26, at 1 p.m. at the Winnipesaukee Playhouse, 33 Footlight Circle in Meredith. See winnipesaukeeplayhouse.org.

• Macbeth will be presented by the Seacoast Rep, 125 Bow St. in Portsmouth, seacoastrep.org, with showtimes Thursday, Oct. 23, through Saturday, Nov. 1.

• A Clockwork Orange will be presented by Actors Cooperative Theatre at the Derry Opera House, 29 W. Broadway in Derry, Friday, Oct. 24, through Sunday, Oct. 26. See kctnh.org/act.

• Monster Mash Cabaret, a youth production, will be on stage on Saturday, Oct. 25, the Majestic Theatre, 880 Page St. in Manchester, 669-7469, majestictheatre.net.

• Heathers The Musical Teen Edition will be presented by the Seacoast Rep Academy MainStage Sunday, Oct. 26, at 2 & 7:30 p.m.; Wednesday, Oct. 29, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 2, at 2 & 7:30 p.m., according to seacoastrep.org. The Seacoast Repertory Theatre is at 125 Bow St. in Portsmouth.

• Beetlejuice Jr. presented by the Palace Youth Theatre, with a cast of performers in grades 2 through 12, will be on stage at the Palace Theater, 80 Hanover St. in Manchester, palacetheatre.org, on Tuesday, Oct. 28, and Wednesday, Oct. 29, at 7 p.m.

• Witch Perfect, a live singing parody of Hocus Pocus, will be performed on Wednesday, Oct. 29, 7 p.m. at the Rex Theatre, 23 Amherst St. in Manchester, palacetheatre.org.

• Southern Fried Murder will be presented on Friday, Oct. 31, through Sunday, Nov. 2, by the Majestic Theatre, 880 Page St. in Manchester, 669-7469, majestictheatre.net.

• Dracula presented by the Anselmian Abbey Players at the Dana Center at Saint Anselm College, 100 Saint Anselm Drive, Manchester, tickets.anselm.edu, Friday, Oct. 31, and Saturday, Nov. 1, at 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 2, at 2 p.m.

• Seussical The Musical RGC Theatre of Portsmouth, facebook.com/RGCTheatre, will present the Dr. Seuss musical Friday, Oct. 31, through Sunday, Nov. 2, at Derry Opera House, 29 W. Broadway, Derry. Tickets $28 and up at eventbrite.com. Weaving together favorite Dr. Seuss characters such as The Cat in the Hat, Horton the Elephant and the Whos, director Geehae Moon “takes a fresh and powerful perspective: highlighting how imagination can be both a refuge and a revolutionary act for those whose voices are often silenced,” according to RGC.

• Sweeney Todd will be presented by the Village Players of Wolfeboro, village-players.com, Friday, Oct. 31, through Sunday, Nov. 9, at Village Players Theater, 52 Glendon St., Wolfeboro. Tickets cost $25 at village-players.com. Stephen Sondheim’s Tony-winning adaptation of the Christopher Bond play about an unjustly exiled barber whose return to London in search of vengeance against the judge who framed him leads to an unlikely partnership with a meat pie maker, according to the website.

• Deadly Deal Lend Me a Theater will present the murder mystery dinner theater Deadly Deal at Tupelo Music Hall (10 A St., Derry, tupelomusichall.com) Saturday, Nov. 1, and Sunday, Nov. 2, with dinner and a show and show-only ticket options. See lendmeatheater.org for more on the show.

• The Addams Family young@part presented by the Palace Teen Apprentice Company, with a cast of performers ages 12 to 18, will be on stage at the Palace Theater, 80 Hanover St. in Manchester, palacetheatre.org, on Wednesday, Nov. 5, and Thursday, Nov. 6, at 7 p.m.

• The Addams Family The Riverbend Youth Company presents The Addams Family at the Amato Center for the Performing Arts (56 Mont Vernon St., Milford, amatocenter.org/riverbend-youth-company) Friday, Nov. 7, through Sunday, Nov. 9.

Scary movies

From classic horror films to fall films to fantastical films (Willy Wonka + candy?), here are some of the seasonal screenings on the schedule.

• The Phantom of the Opera(1925), starring Lon Chaney, will screen with live musical accompaniment by Jeff Rapsis on Thursday, Oct. 16, at 6:30 p.m.,at the Nashua Public Library, 2 Court St. in Nashua, nashualibrary.org.

• It (R, 2017) will screen at Chunky’s, 707 Huse Road in Manchester, chunkys.com, on Thursday, Oct. 16, at 7 p.m.

• Trick ‘r Treat(R, 2007) a movie from writer/director Michael Dougherty starring Anna Paquin, Brian Cox and Dylan Baker, will screen via Fathom Events on Thursday, Oct. 16, at the Cinemark Rockingham Park in Salem (7 p.m. and 9 p.m.), the O’Neil Cinemas Brickyard Square Epping (7 p.m.) and Regal Fox Run in Newington (7:05 p.m. and 9:25 p.m.). See fathomevents.com.

• Hocus Pocus (PG, 1993) will screen outdoors at Arts Alley in Concord on Friday, Oct. 17, at 6 p.m., courtesy Red River Theatres in Concord, redrivertheatres.org. Check back for details.

• Casper (PG, 1995) will screen Friday, Oct. 17, at dusk in Derryfield Park in Manchester courtesy the Manchester City Library, Manchester Public Television, the city’s Parks and Recreation, Economic Development and Mayor’s offices.

• A Nightmare on Elm Street 2 (R, 1985) will screen Friday, Oct. 17, at 6 p.m. at the Manchester True Collective Center, 72 Concord St. in Manchester, as part of the group’s Queer Cinema Club, which is free and open to everyone 18+, allies welcome, according to manchestertrue.org.

• Grow (PG, 2025) a live-action family movie about a girl who grows a giant pumpkin starring Nick Frost and Jane Horrocks, will screen via Fathom Events Oct. 17 through Oct. 23 at O’Neil Cinemas Brickyard Square in Epping. See fathomevents.com for specific days and times.

• Spirited Away (PG, 2001) will screen via Fathom Entertainment ,fathomentertainment.com, Saturday, Oct. 18, through Wednesday, Oct. 22, with dubbed and subtitled versions at O’Neil Cinemas at Brickyard Square in Epping, Cinemark Rockingham Park in Salem and Regal Fox Run in Newington; see the website for specific times.

• The Phantom of the Opera (1925), a silent film presented with original live music by the Dylan Jack Quartet, will screen on Saturday, Oct. 18, at 8 p.m. at NH Theatre Project, 959 Islington St. in Portsmouth, nhtheatreproject.org. Tickets cost $20.

• Rocky Horror Picture Show (R, 1975) will screen at Red River Theatres in Concord, redrivertheatres.org, on Saturdays, Oct. 18, and Oct. 25, at 10 p.m. with special guests and theater provided props for a night of audience participation. The show is 18+ or 16+ with an adult, the website said.

• Faust (1926), a silent film by F.W. Murnau, will be presented with live musical accompaniment by Jeff Rapsis at Wilton Town Hall Theatre on Sunday, Oct. 19, at 2 p.m.

• A Nightmare on Elm Street (R, 1984) will screen Tuesday, Oct. 21, at 7 p.m. at the Rochester Opera House, 31 Wakefield St. in Rochester, rochesteroperahouse.com.

• The Exorcist (R, 1973) will screen at Chunky’s, 707 Huse Road in Manchester, chunkys.com, on Thursday, Oct. 23, at 7 p.m.

• Willy Wonka & The Chocolate FactoryTaste-Along Experience featuring a screening of the 1971 film starring Gene Wilder with an accompanying box of candy to taste during specific moments in the film, will be at the Music Hall Historic Theater, 28 Chestnut St. in Portsmouth, themusichall.org, on Thursday, Oct. 23, at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $39.

• The Man Who Laughs (1923) a silent film based on the Victor Hugo novel, will screen with live musical accompaniment by Jeff Rapsis on Thursday, Oct. 23, at 7 p.m. at the Flying Monkey in Plymouth, flyingmonkeynh.com.

• Paranorman (PG, 2012) the animated movie remastered in 3D will screen via Fathom Entertainment,fathomentertainment.com, Saturday, Oct. 25, through Tuesday, Oct. 28. See website for theaters and times.

• Repo: The Genetic Opera (R, 2008) plus the live performance “Cult: A Draglesque Tribute to Classic Horror Movies” and a costume party dance will take place at the BNH Stage, 16 S. Main St. in Concord, ccanh.com, on Saturday, Oct. 25, at 6 p.m. Tickets cost $27.

• Rocky Horror Picture Show (R, 1974) will screen at Chunky’s, 707 Huse Road in Manchester, chunkys.com, on Saturday, Oct. 25, at 9 p.m. Props and costumes are allowed (an email will advise about which props are allowed), the website said.

• Gremlins (R, 1984) will screen Tuesday, Oct. 28, at 7 p.m. at the Rochester Opera House, 31 Wakefield St. in Rochester, rochesteroperahouse.com.

• The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920), will screen on Wednesday, Oct. 29, at 7 p.m., with live musical accompaniment by Jeff Rapsis at the Derry Opera House, 29 W. Broadway in Derry, sponsored by the Derry Public Library (see derrypl.org). See silentfilmlivemusic.blogspot.com for more details and for screenings around the greater New England area.

• The Twilight movies will screen during the final days of October via Fathom Events. On Wednesday, Oct. 29, Twilight (PG-13, 2008) will screen at Apple Cinemas in Merrimack and Hooksett (7 p.m.); Cinemark Rockingham Park in Salem (10:40 a.m.; 1:20 p.m.; 4 p.m.; 6:40 p.m.; 7 p.m., and 9:20 p.m.); O’Neil Cinemas Brickyard Square in Epping (7 p.m.) and Regal Fox Run in Newington (4 & 7 p.m.). On Thursday, Oct. 30, catch The Twilight Saga: New Moon (PG-13, 2009) at Apple Cinemas in Merrimack and Hooksett (7 p.m.); Cinemark Rockingham Park in Salem (10:40 a.m.; 1:20 p.m.; 4 p.m.; 6:40 p.m.; 7 p.m., and 9:20 p.m.); O’Neil Cinemas Brickyard Square in Epping (7 p.m.) and Regal Fox Run in Newington (4 & 7 p.m.). On Friday, Oct. 31, The Twilight Saga: Eclipse (PG-13, 2010) will screen at Apple Cinemas in Merrimack and Hooksett (7 p.m.); Cinemark Rockingham Park in Salem (7 p.m.); O’Neil Cinemas Brickyard Square in Epping (7 p.m.) and Regal Fox Run in Newington (4 & 7 p.m.). On Saturday, Nov. 1, The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn — Part 1 (PG-13, 2011) will screen at Apple Cinemas in Merrimack and Hooksett (7 p.m.); Cinemark Rockingham Park in Salem (7 p.m.); O’Neil Cinemas Brickyard Square in Epping (7 p.m.) and Regal Fox Run in Newington (4 & 7 p.m.). On Sunday, Nov. 2, The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn — Part 2 (PG-13, 2012) will screen at Apple Cinemas in Merrimack and Hooksett (7 p.m.); Cinemark Rockingham Park in Salem (7 p.m.); O’Neil Cinemas Brickyard Square in Epping (7 p.m.) and Regal Fox Run in Newington (4 & 7 p.m.).

• Halloween (R, 1978) will screen at Chunky’s, 707 Huse Road in Manchester, chunkys.com, on Thursday, Oct. 30, at 7 p.m.

• Halloween franchise double feature with Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers (R, 1988) and Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers(R, 1989) will screen at the Music Hall Historic Theater, 28 Chestnut St. in Portsmouth, themusichall.org, on Thursday, Oct. 30, at 7 p.m. Tickets for the double feature cost $5.

• The Bride of Frankenstein (1935) with Boris Karloff will screen at the Park Theatre, 19 Main St. in Jaffrey, theparktheatre.org, on Friday, Oct. 31, at 7 p.m.

• House on Haunted Hill (1959) starring Vincent Price, will screen at the Park Theatre, 19 Main St. in Jaffrey, theparktheatre.org, on Friday, Oct. 31, at 7:15 p.m.

• The Corpse Bride (PG, 2005) the stop-motion animation feature co-directed by Tim Burton, will screen at the Park Theatre, 19 Main St. in Jaffrey, theparktheatre.org, on Saturday, Nov. 1, at 2 & 6:30 p.m.

• Screaming Skull (1958) will screen at the Park Theatre, 19 Main St. in Jaffrey, theparktheatre.org, on Saturday, Nov. 1, at 7 p.m.

• Zombieland (R, 2009) will screen Tuesday, Nov. 4, at 7 p.m. at the Rochester Opera House, 31 Wakefield St. in Rochester, rochesteroperahouse.com.

Haunted music

• Loud Entertainment presents Lords of Salem (a tribute to Rob Zombie) and Sun and Steel (an Iron Maiden tribute) on Friday, Oct. 17, at 8 p.m. at Jewel Nightclub, 61 Canal St. in Manchester, find them on Facebook. Tickets cost $18 in advance, $25 at the door.

• Shadowlounge Gothic Rock & New Age Dance Party with DJ Drae the Undead will take place Saturday, Oct. 18, at 8 p.m. at the Terminus Underground, 134 Haines St. in Nashua, newhampshireunderground.org. The event is 21+ with a suggested $10 donation.

• Strafford Wind Symphony Halloween show will be performed Wednesday, Oct. 22, at 7 p.m. at the Rochester Opera House, 31 Wakefield St. in Rochester, rochesteroperahouse.com. Tickets cost $12 online, children under 12 get in free.

• Hachi’s Halloween Party with Lumasi, OkayJake, Voartyx, Smokes Lets Go and more will take place Friday, Oct. 24, at 8 p.m. at Jewel Nightclub, 61 Canal St. in Manchester, find them on Facebook. Costumes are highly encouraged, according to the Facebook post, where you can find a link to tickets.

• Recycled Percussion will present three Special Halloween Shows at The Cake Theatre, 12 Veterans Square in Laconia: Saturday, Oct. 25, at 2 & 7 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 26, at 2 p.m. Tickets with fees run $54 to $109; see thecaketheatre.com.

• Ritual of Samhain with Abel Blood, Benthic Realm, Psychomanteum, Konseptikor, and Dead Harrison will take place Saturday, Oct. 25, at 7 p.m. at the Terminus Underground, 134 Haines St. in Nashua, newhampshireunderground.org. The event is 21+; tickets cost $15.

• Rasa String Quartet will perform their “Soundtrack to a Nightmare” Saturday, Oct. 25, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at The Orchard Chapel 143 Exeter Road in Hampton Falls. See thewordbarn.com.

• Candlelight: Haunted Halloween Classics at the Rex Theatre, 23 Amherst St. in Manchester, palacetheatre.org, in two shows on Thursday, Oct. 30, at 6 & 8:30 p.m.

• LaBelle Winery, 345 Route 101 in Amherst, labellewinery.com, will host a Halloween Disco Party with Booty Vortex Band on Thursday, Oct. 30. Doors open at 7:15 p.m., the performance begins at 8 p.m. Disco attire is encouraged. The cost is $40 per person.

• All Hallow’s Eve: Spooky Tunes, Songs and Tales From Scotland will take place Thursday, Oct. 30, at 7 p.m. at the Word Barn, 66 Newfields Road in Exeter. Tickets cost $25. See thewordbarn.com.

• Space Oddity, the Quintessential David Bowie Tribute Experience, will take place at the Music Hall Historic Theater, 28 Chestnut St. in Portsmouth, themusichall.org, on Friday, Oct. 31, at 9 p.m. Costumes encouraged, according to the website.

• Dr. Gasp and The Eeks will perform on Friday, Oct. 31, at 9 p.m. at the Press Room, 77 Daniel St. in Portsmouth. See doctorgasp.com/tour for tickets to this 21+ event.

Sweets & treats

• LaBelle Winery will hold Halloween cookie decorating classes at the Amherst location (345 Route 101) on Saturday, Oct. 18, from 9:30 a.m. to noon and at the Derry location (14 Route 111) on Saturday, Oct. 25, at 9:30 a.m. to noon. The cost for either class is $69. See labellewinery.com.

• Wine On Main (9 North Main St. in Concord, wineonmainnh.com) will hold a Halloween Wine Tasting on Saturday, Oct. 18, from 1 to 4 p.m.

•Wine On Main (9 North Main St. in Concord, wineonmainnh.com) will host a discussion and wine tasting called Haunted Histories and Ancient Estates with sessionson Tuesday, Oct. 21, and Wednesday, Oct. 22, 6:30 to 8 p.m. “This wine class focuses on some of the oldest wineries in the world in a fun and spook-tacular way,” the website said. The cost is $35 per person (21+) and includes six wines and light snacks, the website said.

• Averill House Vineyard (21 Averill Road, Brookline, 244-3165, averillhousevineyard.com) will present the Halloween Wine Cave Igloo Experience Wednesday, Oct. 22, through Sunday, Nov. 2, featuring a Halloween wine tasting, a charcuterie board and more. The cost for these private igloos is $100 for two guests and $39 for each additional guest, up to eight guests per igloo, the website said.

• Van Otis Chocolates, 341 Elm St. in Manchester, vanotis.com, will hold a Haunted Cabin classon Thursday, Oct. 23, at 5:30 p.m. Decorate pre-made chocolate haunted cabins with provided treats, according to the website. Recommended for ages 12 and up. Tickets cost $87.21.

• LaBelle Winery will hold Halloween Candy & Wine Pairing classes at the Derry location (14 Route 111) on Saturday, Oct. 23, at 6 to 7 p.m. and at the Amherst location (345 Route 101) on Wednesday, Oct. 29, from 6 to 7 p.m. The cost for either class is $40. See labellewinery.com.

• The Culinary Playground (16 Manning St. in Derry, culinary-playground.com) will hold a “Baked Spiderweb Donuts” class on Saturday, Oct. 25, from 10 a.m. to noon (for ages 6 to 10) and 1 to 3 p.m. (for ages 10+). The cost is $45 per person.

• This year’s New Hampshire PoutineFest is the PoutineFest Spooktacular on Saturday, Oct. 25, starting at 11:30 a.m. at the Biergarten Anheuser-Busch in Merrimack. See poutinefest.com/ newhampshire for ticket information.

• Monster Mash Drag Bash, an 18+ event featuring a themed drag brunch and cocktails, will take place Sunday, Oct. 26, at the Flying Monkey in Plymouth, flyingmonkeynh.com. Doors open at 11:30 a.m. (the brunch buffet runs to 1:30 p.m.); the show begins at 1 p.m. The day will also feature a costume contest. See the website for ticket options.

• LaBelle Winery, 345 Route 101 in Amherst, labellewinery.com, will host two Harry Potter-inspired meals on Sunday, Oct. 26. At 11 a.m. it’s Morning at Hogwarts: A Potter Inspired Cocktail Brunch featuring four courses paired with cocktails for $65. At 6:30 p.m it’s Evening at Hogwarts: A Potter Inspired Wine Dinner, where a four-course meal is paired with LaBelle wines (and, for the dessert, a Butterbeer Cocktail). The cost is $85.

• Celebrate the change of seasons at the Oktoberfest + Ski & Snowboard Sale on Sunday, Nov. 2, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Pats Peak in Henniker. Buy and sell new and used equipment; see patspeak.com for details. The Oktoberfest will feature German food offerings available for purchase, a Sam Adams German beer garden, a magic show with Marko Master Magician and Hypnotist, live music by the Bavarian Brothers Band, kids activities, axe throwing and more, the website said.

• Flag Hill Distillery & Winery in Lee, flaghill.com, will hold a Boo Brunch on Sunday, Nov. 2, at 11 a.m. The cost is $69 per person and includes a farm-to-table brunch and a build your own mimosas bar, according to a winery newsletter. Costumes are encouraged.

And other ways to help keep the local arts scene afloat

Arts and cultural leaders from throughout the state recently gathered for the first annual Creative Culture Summit at the BNH Stage in Concord, a meetup organized in response to a devastating year that saw arts funding in the state all but wiped out. But it was a day to plan, not lament, said Sal Prizio, who runs the Capitol Center, leads advocacy group Arts4NH, and was a driving force behind the event.

“We got our butts kicked in May and June by this stuff. We didn’t get anything we asked for, and they more or less ignored us,” Prizio said one week after the conference. “So you have two choices. You can either wallow in sorrow and say ‘woe is me,’ or you get back in the ring.”

Arts4NH believes a bigger tent means greater chances for success, so a call went out to groups that are part of the creative economy but often aren’t included in discussions about the arts. This included craft brewers, librarians and a nonprofit devoted to recruiting and retaining young talent, Stay Work Play NH.

“What I do know matters to people is a sense of not feeling alone anymore,” Prizio said. “The argument I keep making to elected officials is that all of us in the creative economy, not just the arts but humanities, tourism, the brewers, you name it … is what makes New Hampshire uniquely New Hampshire.”

The energy shown at the Creative Culture Summit will, he hopes, mean a bigger megaphone to lobby with.

“We’re always operating at the margins just to get through the day, and there’s never enough time for collective action,” he said. “But we matter. We represent billions of dollars’ worth of revenue … hundreds of thousands of people in this state. You need to start listening to us.”

Michael Haley Golden, Executive Director of NH Humanities and a summit keynote speaker, said, “These feel like dark times, because things are hard. We must change the narrative … build a bridge between the arts and humanities. All kinds of areas that we don’t think of as exactly our work need to be exactly our work.”

In his opening remarks at the summit, Prizio was succinct. “Don’t try to change the world, change your world,” he said.

When she’s not preparing for a Theatre Kapow production — the next is What The Constitution Means To Me in February — Carey Cahoon, Arts4NH board member and a panel leader at the Creative Economy Summit, tries to experience as much of the local arts scene as she can. Here’s how she thinks individuals can make a difference: “There are so many different ways that folks can participate. You can go see a show, or a museum. But also think about your local library… go online or stop by and see what they have coming up — there’s undoubtedly a free program that you can participate in… We’re also entering the holiday craft fair season … call a friend and say, hey, there’s an awesome craft fair downtown. Do you want to go? Or, hey, there’s an open mic night at the bar we like to go to, let’s go see what’s up with local music. Or a slam poetry night. There are all these things that we don’t necessarily think of because you have to buy a ticket, reserve in advance. No, you don’t. There’s all kinds of things all around you … right in your backyard. And share what you’re doing. Talk about it.”

To that end, here are some ways for individuals to make a difference to the creative economy, from small acts like letter writing to grander gestures, like turning your apartment lobby into an art gallery.

Ways To Support The Creative Economy In Its Time Of Need

Donations help, large or small

The annual Mural Festival in Manchester was set for August, but it had to be postponed when a major donor pulled out. That’s not the only financial challenge the beloved event faces as it plans (hopefully) to return in the spring. Festival organizer James Chase said tariffs caused cans of spray paint historically ordered from a supplier in Canada to jump in cost. It’s all an uphill battle. “In order for the spring festival to really mirror the impact that we’ve had in the past, I’m still trying to raise $30,000 in the next eight months to be able to support artist pay stipend and raise funds, so financial support directly would help make this vision a reality,” he said. Any amount helps — go to artsbuildcommunity.com/donate.

Chase’s organization is called Arts Build Community, and it lives the name as it seeks ways to bolster the local scene on a budget. In 2010, when empty storefronts dotted the downtown, he began asking proprietors to use them for art shows. The first event, called the Big Takeover, was supposed to last one day, but the response pushed it out. “We had 300 pieces of art by 100 different artists,” Chase said. “That was my way of seeing how art can have that transformative aspect.”

Chase urges folks to get involved. They can join ABC’s mailing list for early notice about their pop-up shows. “We have a drift gallery where we have a U-Haul that shows up at events unexpected. So you kind of have to be in the know to get a preview of where it’s going to be,” he said.

Attend an event

Get festivein the Lake Sunapee region at the Hay Day Fall Festival with live music, local vendors, old-timey games, wagon rides, food, fun activities for kids, and a strolling performance from magician Andrew Pinard. Before moving to magic full-time, Pinard had first-hand experience running an arts organization as the founder of Concord’s Hatbox Theatre. Following that venue’s closure, he ran the Claremont Opera House for two years, along with AVA Gallery in Lebanon.

The Hay Day festival will be held at the John Hay Estate at The Fells, 456 Route 103A, Newbury, on Sunday, Oct. 12, starting at 11 a.m.

Buy local

At the Manchester Craft Market, located in the Mall of New Hampshire (manchestercraftmarket.com), more than 250 sellers have consignment space in the store, even including regional writers, who have a book nook featuring a bevy of new titles. There’s an online component as well. Artisans “hand make all of their items,” MCM owner Jess Moores said. “I don’t let anyone bring in imported things or resell stuff, and no antiques. All handmade in New England.” For those looking to get craftier, there are classes, in things like weaving and illustration.

Find fine art

At the League of NH Craftsmen Gallery in Concord. Juried member works include ceramics, handblown glass, jewelry, prints, textiles, woodwork and more. Entry-level cost is surprisingly low, though demand can be high for items like the annual Christmas ornament, a pewter moose named Theodore. The League hosts a weeklong fair every August that showcases the best of the region’s creators. Many arts lovers plan the summer around the event. The gallery is at 36 N. Main St. in Concord, nhcrafts.org.

Sign up

Bang for buck comes with the purchase of a membership card from one of the four member Manchester Museums in the NH Museum Alliance: the Millyard Museum, the Currier Museum of Art, the SEE Science Center and the Aviation Museum of N.H. Members of any one of these museums can show their membership card at any of the others and receive half-price admission for up to four visitors. Visit manchestermuseums.org.

Appreciate architecture

The Currier is the only museum in the country to steward not one but two Frank Lloyd Wright houses. Both are open to the public for guided tours. The Zimmerman House was commissioned by Isadore and Lucille Zimmerman in 1949 and embodies Wright’s Usonian architectural concepts. The Kalil House is one of only seven easily constructed “automatic” homes and was recently added to the National Registry of Historic Places. Go to currier.org/frank-lloyd-wright to book a tour.

Turn a quiet night riotous

Comic Jody Sloane hosts Warner Comedy Underground every third Thursday in the downstairs room of Reed’s North restaurant in the bucolic town. Recently, a happy crowd enjoyed Kenny Rogerson and Rob Steen along with a buffet dinner. On Oct. 23 national headliner Rafi Gonzalez stops by (6:30 p.m. dinner, 8 p.m. show, simpletix.com), with support from Sloane and regional favorite Matt Barry. These nights help boost the local economy and mirth meter in a myriad of ways. For bonus points, folks can organize one in their town.

New comics get their start at places like the Laugh Attic open mic held every Thursday night at Strange Brew Tavern in Manchester. Show your support for these hopefuls by turning out. Equally important is enjoying a beverage and some food while you’re laughing. Ditto if you’re waiting for your three- to five- minute time slot. As one of the comics who launched the now eight-year-old get-together explained a while back, “Open mics exist to bring in people in the hopes that they buy something. That means you should support the venue even if that means only ordering a soda and giving the bartender a few bucks.” Strange Brew Tavern is at 88 Market St., Manchester; the Thursday Night Laugh Attic starts at 9 p.m. (8:15 signup).

Jam at an open mic

KC’s Rib Shack (837 Second St., Manchester, ribshack.net) has a popular open mic happening every Tuesday that also offers an extended set from a local performer. Pembroke City Limits (134 Main St., Pembroke, pembrokecitylimits.com) has an event every month on the first Wednesday hosted by Sharon McKinney. The village venue is a solid supporter of local music, with many original performers playing there, and owner Rob Azevedo is a tireless advocate for independent artists.

Want poetry, man?

Head over to Stark Brewing in Manchester for the weekly Slam Free or Die poetry open mic and slam on Thursday night at 8 p.m. in the venue’s back function room. Open mics are held at every event, while poetry slams are several times a month, with a $3-$5 sliding scale cover charge. In September the venerable event, which began at the Bridge Street Café before moving over to the Mill District, celebrated 20 years. Nationally known poets have been known to stop by for what’s usually an uplifting experience. Visit slamfreeordie.org.

Andrew Pinard on arts support at the state level, slashed to $150K/year
“It’s been a struggle. I spent 13 hours one day at the Statehouse alone for the SB2 budget hearings, and it was a punch in the gut for most of us in the state. [Legislators would say,] ‘We’d really like to support this’ and then vote the opposite way to destroy the level of arts funding. An argument can be made, ‘oh, no, we support and we saved arts funding in New Hampshire,’ but $150,000 a year barely covers the cost of one employee … and losing the arts funding, meaning the matching funds at the federal level, has a significant impact, more so in rural and outlying communities [that] rely on getting 10, 12 or 15 thousand dollars a year.”

Give a vote of confidence

One of the talking points often heard from opponents of public funding for the arts is that it’s “a want, not a need.” Keith Coughlin, Executive Director at New London Barn Playhouse, finds that short-sighted.

“We are enriching our communities all over the state with what we’re able to offer,” he said. “We are driving the economy and tourism, and we’re also just making our state better, right? We talk about attracting and keeping young people, attracting employees to hospitals or the colleges…. They’re being driven by what their community has to offer them. If we’re not supporting the arts and culture, we’re just taking that away from our communities.”

New London Barn contributes in ways that aren’t as high-profile as, say, their summer stage series but are no less vital. Take for example the Caregiver Play Project, inspired by a program that gave caregivers the skills to work with dementia patients using improv. It’s grown into a production set to have a staged reading in the spring.

Unfortunately, earlier this year, the Barn received word that it lost its Improv for Caregivers funding, which put the effort in jeopardy. Fortunately, an avenue to appeal was available, and in August they received word that it was a success, though Coughlin noted, “we haven’t seen it yet officially.”

Coughlin had this to say about how individuals can help: “Participate in a way that shows this is an important fabric of the communities we live in.” That can mean giving money, or volunteering. “Support may be big or it may be small, but it very much impacts an organization, even like the Barn. We often say that ticket sales cover approximately 60 percent of our operating costs and the rest comes from donations and support, votes of confidence from our community that say, ‘We believe in what it is you’re doing and we want you to thrive.’”

Events ahead at New London Barn include a screening of Rocky Horry Picture Show on Halloween night, a night of comedy Friday, Nov. 7, starring Jim McCue of Boston Comedy Festival fame, along with Ryan Gartley and Greg Boggis, and an evening of folk tales with storyteller Simon Brooks on Nov. 14. Tickets are available at nlbarn.org/fleming.

A bit far-flung but definitely worth the trip is a performance of Romeo & Juliet by Amplified Arts in Plainfield, on Dec. 8 and Dec. 9 (tickets $10 and up at eventbrite.com). The reason it’s a good idea to go is that it’s happening in the tiny hamlet’s Town Hall, which has a three-dimensional stage backdrop that was painted by Maxfield Parrish in 1916, and restored during the 1990s following a vigorous fundraising effort.

Find art everywhere

Art galleries exist everywhere, even when they aren’t explicitly given that name. The halls of hospitals and the lobbies of apartment buildings are frequently filled with paintings, sculpture and the like. So here’s a thought for art activists: If there’s a space that could use some spice, advocate for a transformation.

Joni Taube of Art 3 Gallery in Manchester has contracted with institutional clients for more than four decades, and filled their walls with art by mostly regional creators.

“Art is the final thing,” Taube said. “When someone’s doing a space, it’s the art that warms it up and makes it a home or makes it a place of business where people want to come into. I go in as a consultant to help them figure out what’s the best way to, one, give exposure for artists, but also to make their space aesthetically the way they want it to be.”

Art 3 Gallery, at 44 W. Brook St. in Manchester, is open weekday afternoons from 12:30 to 4 p.m. A new show, “Shifting Lights,” will open in early November. The name was chosen because it “sort of suggests both the physical beauty of light and motion and the broader human experience of change, perception, transformation,” Taube said.

Gallery at the Block, located on Elm Street in Manchester in the lobby of the Bedford Block Apartments, takes the idea of using a semi-public space to bring attention to local artists and foster community. Recently, the gallery held an Urban Art Exhibit and invited a DJ to perform. “Through exhibitions and community gatherings, we aim to support creative expression, spark meaningful conversations, and promote the cultural vitality of our neighborhood and beyond,” they write on their website, galleryattheblock.com.

Talk to artists

The art world doesn’t have to be daunting. Glimpse Gallery, next to the Statehouse in Concord, is a friendly, warm space run by Meme Exum that hosts bimonthly shows. The next is Oct. 11 and features works from Mark Ruddy, Justin Smulski, Darren Taylor, Kevin Kintner, Sharon Boisvert, Benjamin Archibald and Robyn Whitney Fairclough. Glimpse offers good entry-level prices for novice collectors, but that’s not why Exum wants folks to come to an opening.

“Some people think, ‘I have to buy if I’m going to support the arts,’ but that’s not the case,” she said. With Glimpse, you’re supporting a community. Talking to the artist about their art is lifting them up and giving them an opportunity in itself. So it’s not, ‘Oh, just buy art.’ Come to the opening. Spend time with us. That’s all it is. And then if you want to buy art, that would be awesome.”

Galleries can also be great places to learn. Mosaic Art Collective, located next to the Palace Theatre in Manchester, hosts shows like the Halloween-themed “Exquisite Corpse” exhibition opening Oct. 11, but also offers classes in things like working in watercolors, acrylic painting, and art instruction for home-schoolers, all led by Mosaic staff members.

Walk around

Another good way to experience and support art is by taking it to the streets. Manchester offers a couple of art walks. One, launched recently by Mosaic Art Collective owner Liz Pieroni, focuses mainly around the theatre district. MHT Art Walk is more far-flung, with almost 40 locations stretching from the Factory on Willow to the Currier. For the latter, there’s an online map at orbitgroup.com/art-walk. Finally, a mural tour led by Arts Builds Community can be booked on their website.

Speaking of murals, Positive Street Arts in Nashua received kudos at the Creative Economy Summit for its work using urban art “to build strong communities through educational workshops, community events, and artistic services.”

The organization has an online store offering framed versions of their street creations, along with swag, and a Zeffy donation page. Those thinking big can commission a mural. Positive Street Arts has helpfully placed a price calculator on its web page, positivestreetart.org.

Have a beer and some art

Learn what your favorite craft brewery is doing to support the arts. This can include booking indie musicians, holding comedy nights, hanging works on walls for artists to sell or, in the case of To Share Brewing in Manchester, offering the premises to arts groups.

“To Share holds our artist talk when we do the mural festival,” James Chase said. “They’re so supportive, and they have a gallery right there too.”

Kate Saunders, Director, League of NH Craftsmen, talks about its early role in economic growth
“A lot of people don’t know that the League was formed as we were coming out of the Great Depression, and the League actually worked with the state. It was one of the first programs that was created to be a stimulus to help the state reemerge out of a really difficult financial time. So it was actually in partnership with that state support. It’s a different era now, but it’s a legacy that’s 92 years old.”

Look at the library

Walking the walk is Symphony New Hampshire, which has a number of outreach programs in addition to the classical music performances it offers in Nashua at Keefe Auditorium and the city’s Center for the Arts, the BNH Stage in Concord and Manchester’s Rex Theatre. Symphony NH’s Executive Director Deanna Hoying sees local libraries as vital touchstones.

“Not every city or town has an opera house or a theater, but they almost always have libraries as cultural gathering places because they do a lot of programming,” she said. “Symphony New Hampshire has done performances for small ensembles for the Nashua Public Library, and we provide discounts for library patrons across the state.”

Hoying also considers the New Hampshire defunding of the arts as short-sighted.

“I think it is an uninformed statement when they say it’s a want, not a need, because they obviously are missing the economic part of this, and we have certainly presented all that,” she said. “I think there’s still … this idea of arts being charities, that we’re not businesses. This is not unique to arts; I think nonprofits in general often are looked at in some way as second-class citizens. We’re businesses. We employ people. We pay the taxes. We provide services.”

She was encouraged by the unity on display at the Creative Economy Summit, and hopes that it helps send a message about why the arts matter that may not be top of mind, but critical in a time of social divisiveness.

“I think people forget that our arts spaces are probably one of the last places that are open to everyone. We are not political. If we’re celebrating, we’re laughing, we’re crying, we’re feeling, we’re doing all these things together as a community. I think that often is lost…. We need even more to be able to have opportunities to do something together that we can all agree on.”

Hoying continued, “Finding these ways to still keep our community together are even more important when we know there are a lot of forces out there that are trying to pull us apart. And so arts spaces, whether it’s your local theater, opera house, museum, even going to see your kids play at their band concert … all those things are bringing us together because it is that neutral thing we’ve all decided is important enough that we’re going to get up off the couch and go do it.”

Featured photo: “Sassy Sarah Vaughan” by Darren Taylor, on display now at the Glimpse Gallery in Concord.