Category: Cover Stories

The many tasty uses for this green-skinned nut

Pistachios are beautiful, delicious and green. They make a pie crust shockingly good, and in the hands of an expert bartender they will make you completely rethink the whole concept of a mai tai.

And yet, until relatively recently, most of us rarely thought much about pistachios, or about the Emirate of Dubai. That changed with the craze for Dubai chocolate, which became suddenly famous about a year ago.

The Dubai craze

Made popular by Fix Dessert Chocolatier, an ultra-high-end chocolate shop in Dubai, “Dubai chocolate” is a style of dark chocolate filled with chopped filo pastry, tahini (sesame paste) and pistachios. Jaime Metzger, the manager of Granite State Candy Shoppe in Manchester, said customers started asking for it about a year ago.

“I think it was roughly last summer that it started to pop up all over the place,” Metzer said, “and it became a craze; it became a trend like all these new things, and then it kind of fizzled like trends do. But suddenly it came back again!”

The ingredient in Dubai chocolate that enthusiasts seem to have latched onto is pistachios. It might be their exotic green color, or their rich, slightly woody flavor, but it’s an element that customers feel strongly about, according to Trina Bird, the Head Baker at Lighthouse Local in Bedford. As it turns out, she said, pistachios can be a bit temperamental to work with.

“A lot of [makers] use pistachio cream,” Bird said. “Pistachio paste is all natural; it’s literally just pistachios, salt and a little bit of oil. But pistachio cream typically has sugar in it or white chocolate, which gives it a sweet creaminess. At first I was trying to make Dubai chocolate-treats with just the pistachio paste because I didn’t trust the ingredients in the ‘cream.’ But then what I figured out is I could use the paste and have our chocolate lady whip me up some white chocolate and I will drizzle a small amount of that in to promote emulsion, and that gives it what people want — they want that sweet spreadability.”

The key, under-appreciated ingredient in Dubai chocolate, Bird said, is the crushed filo dough, or kadayif. Because pistachios are pretty oily, pistachio paste has a tendency to leak out of whatever you’ve put it in. The threads of kadayif provide a matrix to help keep it in place.

Pistachio Butter
2 cups (250 g) roasted, salted pistachio nuts
1 teaspoon flavorful olive oil
Pinch of salt

Combine all ingredients in your food processor or blender, and blend until you break their spirit. First, the mixture will grind into a floury powder, but if you keep grinding/blending/processing it, the pistachios’ oil will start to be forced out and it will form a stiff paste. It will try to play on your emotions and pretend that it has no more to give, but if you keep working it, it will eventually break down into a runny peanut butter consistency. At this point, taste it to see if it needs more salt.
Alternatively, you could just buy some pistachio butter at the store.

Pralines and halvah

But clearly pistachios have a bigger role to play outside of Dubai chocolate. Pistachios have been grown in Iran for more than 8,000 years and are a critical part of food cultures throughout the Middle East. According to Master Chocolatier Richard Tango-Lowy, owner of Dancing Lion Chocolate in Manchester, while pistachios have a distinctive flavor, that flavor lends itself to a large number of applications.

“When you taste pistachios,” he said, “they have a fairly unique, almost like slightly woody flavor to them when you pay attention. They’re native to Iran, where some of the most interesting foods are from. Hence, it’s common in Persian food. It’s an [ingredient] that you can easily use in savory applications. We tend to sort of pigeonhole things a lot, but the reality is [that] pistachios can go in a lot of different directions. If you’re doing a fish or chicken dish with some pistachio and brown butter, or maybe some Persian lime or something, it would be really good. Or, of course, you can go in the sweet direction with it.”

“We might do a praliné,” Tango-Lowy said, “which is kind of what Dubai chocolate is, which is cooking the nuts in molten sugar to make like a brittle. You lay it out for a day or so until it completely crystallizes and it’s really nice and hard. And then you break it up and grind it to a paste, and you get this beautiful sort of caramelly, nutty [building block], and you have a lot of control of the flavors you want to bring out of it. So those sorts of techniques are actually pretty old. Pralinés go way back in France but a lot of this stuff actually does go back to Persia.”

Another classic sweet way of using pistachios, Tango-Lowy said, is in halvah, a dry, crumbly, fudge-like confection.

“We’ve been doing a lot of halvah lately,” he said. “People are used to it with sesame seeds, but it’s also very frequently made with pistachios. And there are so many different ways of making halvah, depending on where you’re talking about. You have Israeli halvah. In Iran they put flour in their halvah, which is really different — wheat flour, which completely surprised me when I learned about it. It’s a much softer thing; it’s served for dessert. You scoop it or eat it with a fork. It’s a very different take on halvah. And you have Greek halvah, which is a different thing, yet again.”

“At its most fundamental,” Tango-Lowy explained, “you’re basically toasting sesame seeds, or in this case pistachios, grinding them into a paste with whatever spices you want, then pouring over hot sugar syrup and stirring it until it crystallizes. Halvah’s pretty easy to make. But then you can do it with other nuts. We’ve made halvah with pecans and maple.”

Moka Pot’s Pistachio Sauce
1 1/4 cups (125 g) shelled, raw, unsalted pistachios
2 Tablespoons unsalted butter
3/4 cup (190 g) whole milk or light cream, divided
4 ounces (115 g) high-quality white chocolate, chopped
2 Tablespoons confectioner’s sugar
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

Boil the pistachios for three minutes, then drain them and rub them with a towel, to remove the skins. Set them aside to dry.
Combine the butter and about a third of the milk, and heat until the butter has melted. Add the chopped white chocolate and stir it until everything has come together. You can put the bowl over a pot of simmering water, or heat everything in your microwave, a few seconds at a time.
Add the pistachios, powdered sugar, salt, and the white chocolate mixture to a blender, and blend everything until it forms a paste. Add any remaining milk to the mixture, and blend it until it reaches a consistency you like. Remember that it will stiffen up as it cools, so you can probably afford to make it a little runny.

Pistachio latte

According to Angie Castro Andrade, cafe manager and co-owner of The Moka Pot in Manchester, pistachios make a staggeringly good latte.

“It gives it more of a nuttiness,” she said. “I like that creaminess to it, so when we decided to build a latte around it, I wanted to make the pistachio element myself. It turned out to be a little tricky. It’s full of oils, which doesn’t mix well with the espresso. We tried to just use the paste and it turns out that it just destroys the milk. So it’s like super hard to use just straight up.” Ultimately, she said, she and her team deconstructed the whole idea of a pistachio syrup, and broke it down to its very basic elements.

“We blanched [fresh pistachios],” she said. “Then we let them sit, and then like pulled the skin off of them. We cooked them down with white chocolate and milk and cream. It made this thick, like, almost like, chocolate sauce.” The white chocolate acted as an emulsifier, Castro Andrade said. “It was sweet, but not overbearing. “It was really, really good on its own. We were very tempted to just take it by the spoonful and eat it. But with the coffee, it was very delicious. We made a latte with it for St. Patrick’s Day because of the color. Everyone always uses mint for this sort of thing, and we wanted to go in a different direction; we called it The Nutty Irishman.”

By the scoop

For anyone over the age of 30 the word “pistachio” brings up memories of pistachio ice cream. Today it seems like an old-fashioned ice cream flavor, like rum-raisin, that probably is a bit of a food relic. You’d think that, said Victoria Riese, manager of the Puritan Backroom Restaurant in Manchester, but you’d be wrong.

“We have a couple of super-old-fashioned flavors that have had a real resurgence in popularity over the past few years,” Riese said. “Orange-pineapple is one, and pistachio is the other. At the Puritan, we make really good ice cream. But I think pistachio overall, that flavor is very in vogue right now. I think it all plays together. People are seeing more pistachio flavor out there, and they’re coming in and they’re asking for it. And our pistachio ice cream is very good.”

Pistachio is one of The Puritan’s original ice cream flavors, probably going back to when the restaurant started in 1917, Riese said. “I asked our ice cream maker, and he makes about 30 pints of it a week to sell. That’s on top of the [pistachio] ice cream we serve here at the restaurant and for takeout.”

Pistachio Ice Cream
¾ cup (180 g) pistachio butter (see page 10)
¾ cup + 2 Tablespoons (180 g) sugar
2⅔ cups (660 g) half and half
pinch of salt
⅛ teaspoon vanilla

Combine all ingredients in a blender or food processor until thoroughly combined.
If you have an ice cream maker: Chill this ice cream base for several hours, then churn according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
If you do not have an ice cream maker: Pour this base into a large zippered plastic bag. Lay it on its side in your freezer until it has frozen solid. Break it into chunks, then blend it in your blender. It will break down into soft-serve consistency (which is what an ice cream maker would produce). Spoon it into freezing containers, and harden it in your freezer for two hours or overnight.
This is a simple classic pistachio ice cream. How green it is will depend on the pistachios in your pistachio butter.

Other treats

According to baker Trina Bird, the taste of pistachios works extremely well in baked goods.

“It’s a very pure flavor,” Bird said. “It’s not like it’s a strong flavor, but it insists upon itself.” Because of its woody richness, it’s complemented by floral flavors like rosewater, she said. It’s a classic Middle Eastern combination. “Our baker who makes all our scones,” she said, “makes a rosewater-pistachio scone and it is so popular!”

What a baker needs to keep in mind when they bake with pistachios, Bird said, is giving the pistachios the support they need. Toasted pistachios are fine sprinkled on top of baked goods, or added inside a muffin or a scone, but if someone wants to really highlight pistachios’ flavor and color, they will probably want to use pistachio paste, which means they’ll have to face the runniness issue again.

“I like to swirl it into a brownie or a blondie,” Bird said. “That way, as the base bakes super-firm; it will hold the pistachio in a sort of a matrix. That’s why [pistachio] is also a great filling for a cupcake — it’s completely surrounded by cake that keeps it from running away.”

Other drinks

Phil Mastroianni is the co-owner of Fabrizia Spirits in Salem. His company makes premium limoncello, but also pistachio liqueur.

“A lot of our customers in the North End of Boston were telling us, ‘You know, we’re getting more people that are asking for pistachio martinis. Would you consider making [a pistachio liqueur]?,’” he remembered. “And so I went into the lab and it was without a question the most challenging recipe we’ve developed. What I found out is while there’s like more or less one recipe for limoncello — lemon zest, alcohol, sugar and water — there’s no set recipe for pistachio liqueur. … At the time, I started buying some pistachios from California. We tried roasted ones. We tried fresh ones, then just dry, not roasted. And ultimately we came up with a recipe to launch a pistachio liqueur. And the only change we’ve ever made to that recipe is a couple of years in when it was doing well and we said, wait a minute, we bring our lemons in from Sicily, and Sicily is known for pistachios. We started buying our pistachios directly from one family on the backside of Mount Etna in the small town of Bronte — which is famous throughout the world but definitely in Italy — for its pistachios.”

The key to great-tasting pistachios, Mastroianni said, is toasting them.

“What people really like about pistachios,” he said, “what I’ve learned even from my own consumer standpoint is that what we like about the pistachio is as much the toasting and the taste of the charred pistachio. In our liqueur, the toasty, almost decadent pistachio flavor is, in my opinion, what really connects people’s minds with their enjoyment of our final product.”

Pistachio Pesto
½ cup (65 g) roasted, shelled, salted pistachio nuts
2 Tablespoons fresh squeezed lemon juice
1 clove of garlic, peeled
sea salt to taste
freshly ground black pepper to taste
1 1/2 cups (about 75 g) fresh basil leaves
1/2 cup (about 25 g) fresh parsley or cilantro
¼ cup or so (about 55 g) of your favorite olive oil
¼ cup (about 15 g) of grated parmesan cheese – not the dust in the green tube

Some of the measurements above are a bit vague. One of the liberating things about making pesto is that it is very much a “handful of this” and “a pinch of that.” Do you have super-flavorful basil in your garden? You might want to add less — or more — of it. Did you forget to buy actual Parmesan cheese but find a mummified lump of cheese at the back of the refrigerator that you can grate with your food processor? Cool.
Add the pistachios, lemon juice, garlic, and herbs to your food processor or blender. (If you’re feeling really old-school, you could pound all this in a large mortar and pestle.) Mix/chop/grind it up, until it forms a paste. Drizzle in the olive oil, a little at a time. If you try to pour the whole amount in at once it will be too much for your pesto to deal with emotionally, and it will break into an oily mess. You know that hole in the lid or your blender, or the little holes in the insert for your food processor? This is what they are there for.
Mix everything until you are happy with it.
Transfer the pesto to a bowl, and mix the cheese in. If you can manage to get it to the table before it is all “tasted” away by kitchen bystanders, serve this pesto on a twisty ridged pasta that will hold onto it.

Your guide to sports, theater, music and more extracurricular excitement

Get your kid excited about the new school year by finding new activities to learn or a new team to join or level up on a favorite pastime. Here are some of the organizations offering kids after-school adventure this school year. And, for adults looking to try something new, many of these organizations and venues also offer classes and workshops for adults. For music, dance and more, also inquire about private lessons. Information comes from the organizations’ websites and social media; call or go online for specifics on cost and other details.

General interest

• Beaver Brook Association (117 Ridge Road, Hollis, 465-7787, beaverbrook.org) offers two-, three- and five-day preschool options for kids ages 3 to 5 starting Sept. 3 as well as home-school programs for ages 7 through 14 starting Sept. 9.

• Boys & Girls Club of Central and Northern New Hampshire (The Bradley Street Clubhouse is at 55 Bradley St. in Concord, 224-1061; this club has other locations in Andover, Berlin, Belmont, Lisbon, Laconia, Holderness, Epsom, Hopkinton, Pittsfield, Warner, Weare, Allenstown and Bradford and operates in some Concord schools; nhyouth.org) has early learning centers for infants through pre-K at nine locations. It offers before- and after-school programs for grades K-8 as well as drop-in after-school programming for high schoolers at its clubhouses in Concord, Laconia and Suncook, according to the website.

• Boys & Girls Club of Greater Derry (40 E. Derry Road, Derry, 434-6695, derrybgclub.org) offers after-school programming as well as arts, health, education, leadership and sports programs, including basketball, karate and wrestling (for pre-K through eighth grade), according to the website.

• Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Manchester (555 Union St., Manchester, 625-5031, mbgcnh.org) offers morning and after-school programs at its Union Street Club House for grades K-12 (morning program at the club house is for grades K-8) as well as morning and after-school programs at Manchester’s Gossler Park Elementary Schools, Highland-Goffes Falls School and Jewett Street School.

• Boys & Girls Club of Greater Nashua (1 Positive Place, Nashua, 883-0523, bgcn.com) offers before-school programming (for grades K-6) as well as after-school programming for grades K-2. The Clubhouse program is open for after-school programming to grades 3-5 with the Stahl Teen Center for grades 6-12. The Greater Nashua club also offers early learning day care for infants through pre-K.

• Boys & Girls Club of Greater Salem (3 Geremonty Drive, Salem, 898-7709, salembgc.org) offers after-school programming for grades 1-5 from 3 to 7 p.m. and for grades 6-12 from 2:10 to 7 p.m. The club also offers a preschool for kids “3.9-5 years of age,” according to the website.

• Boys & Girls Club of Souhegan Valley (56 Mont Vernon St., Milford, 672-1002, svbgc.org) offers after-school programs for kids in grades 1-12, with before-school programming for Milford students in grades K-5. The club also offers arts, STEAM, theater and dance.

• Concord Parks & Recreation (concordnh.gov/1984/Parks-Recreation) offers fall programming including ballet & tap (ages 2 to 6), a nature program that meets weekly in September (ages 2 to 5), arts programs (ages 6 to 12 and 8 to 16), baking (ages 8 to 12 and 10 to 15), a nature class for ages 6 to 10 and more. See the website for the brochure. Most programs begin the first or second week of September.

• The Culinary Playground (16 Manning St., Suite 105, Derry, 339-1664, culinary-playground.com) offers one-hour cooking classes for “mini chefs” (ages 3 to 6) as well as classes for ages 6 through teens (and for adults). The classes for kids ages 6+ include one-off classes of a few hours, such as Apple Cinnamon Cobbler on Saturday, Sept. 27 (with sessions for ages 6 to 10 and 10+) and six-week classes that meet once weekly for 90 minutes such as All About Baking, with sessions Sept. 8 through Oct. 13 and Oct. 20 through Nov. 24 and classes for ages 6 to 11 and 11+, according to the website.

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

• Franco-American Centre (100 Saint Anselm Drive, Davison Hall, No. 1798, Manchester, 641- 7114, facnh.com) offers French classes for kids ages 6 through 11, with a fall semester running Sept. 30 through Dec. 2, the website said. Private and semi-private French classes are also available for elementary and high school age students.

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

• Girls Inc. of New Hampshire (340 Varney St., Manchester, 623-1117; 27 Burke St., Nashua, 882-6256, girlsincnh.org) offers after-school programming in Manchester and Nashua, with members arriving at centers via buses, according to the website. The girls get snacks, homework time and structured programs, the website said.

• Granite YMCA (30 Mechanic St., Manchester, 623-3558; 116 Goffstown Back Road, Goffstown, 497-4663; 206 Rockingham Road, Londonderry; 437-9622; 15 N. State St., Concord, 228-9622; 35 Industrial Way, Rochester, 332-7334; 550 Peverly Hill Road, Portsmouth, 431- 2334; 35 Bartlett Ave., Somersworth, 692-2081; graniteymca.org/child-care) offers before- and after-school programming as well as Early Learning Centers, depending on the location. Manchester, Goffstown and Concord are among the locations that offer swimming lessons for kids as young as 6 months. Goffstown and Concord also have swim teams — the Sailfish Swim Team in Concord is open to ages 6 to high school. The Tiger Sharks Swim Team in Goffstown is open to ages 5 to 19 and usually begins practice in October, the website said. The YMCA locations also offer a variety of athletic classes for kids, depending on the location. The Goffstown YMCA offers classes and programs in gymnastics and ninja, indoor tennis for ages 4 to 17, climbing and martial arts, according to the website. Some locations also offer teen nights and other family programming. Brochures for the fall sessions are available on the website.

• Hampshire Hills Athletic Club (50 Emerson Road, Milford, 673-7123, hampshirehills.com) offers kids swim lessons as well as swim team prep for ages 6 to 14. Tennis programs are offered for kids as young as 3.

• Manchester Police Athletic League (409 Beech St., Manchester, 626-0211, manchesterpoliceathleticleague.org) offers athletic and enrichment programs including aikido, boxing, baton twirling, dodgeball, girls empowerment, Girl Scouts, jiu jitsu, skateboarding and wrestling, as well as occasional cooking classes. The fall schedule will begin on Thursday, Sept. 4.

• Mathnasium (257 DW Highway, Nashua, 242-2004; 1 Bicentennial Drive, Manchester, 644-1234; mathnasium.com) offers math classes for kids in grades K-12.

• Merrimack Parks & Recreation (merrimackparksandrec.org) offers fall programming including paint and play (ages 1 to 6), little scientists (ages 3 to 6), soccer (grouped by age for ages 1 to 5) and programs for days the school is off or early release.

• Naticook After School (merrimackparksandrec.org) offered at Mastricola Elementary School, Thornton’s Ferry Elementary School, Reeds Ferry Elementary School and James Mastricola Upper Elementary School in Merrimack for one to five days a week.

• NH Audubon (including Massabesic Center, 26 Audubon Way in Auburn, 668- 2045; McLane Center, 84 Silk Farm Road in Concord, 224-9909; nhaudubon.org) offers family-friendly events as well as home-school programming.

• The Virtual Learning Academy Charter School (vlacs.org) offers full- and part-time school options for students in elementary through high school, including offering students enrolled in a local school the opportunity to take classes not available in their school or accelerated classes.

• YMCA of Greater Nashua (24 Stadium Drive, Nashua, 882-2011; 6 Henry Clay Drive, Merrimack, 881-7778, nmymca.org) offers before-school (at Amherst Middle School and the Merrimack YMCA) care as well as after-school programming at schools in Amherst and Mont Vernon as well as at the Nashua and Merrimack YMCAs. The YMCA also offers swim lessons and swim team, dance, ninja, preschool sports, basketball, archery, soccer, flag football, tennis, volleyball, gymnastics and martial arts, according to the website. The Y also offers teen sports programs and leagues, the website said. The YMCA also offers full-day child care and early education for ages 6 weeks to kindergarten at its Merrimack facility as well as a three-hour kindergarten readiness program for ages 3 to 5 in Nashua.

Arts

• Creative Ventures Gallery (411 Nashua St., Milford 672-2500, creativeventuresfineart.com) offers classes and workshops including sessions for adults and sessions geared to kids. Upcoming offerings include Painting Fun for Children and Tweens, Thursdays, Aug. 21 and Aug. 28, 4:30 to 6 p.m., for ages 8 to 12, and Friday Homeschool Art Class Fridays, Aug. 22 and Aug. 29, 1:30 to 3 p.m, for ages 6 to 18.

• Hollis Artspace (30 Ash St., Hollis, 465-4300, hollisartspace.com) offers classes and workshops such as the “Magical Maps & Dragon Eggs” (featuring illustration and clay work) on Monday, Aug. 25, 10:15 a.m. to noon, for ages 6 to 10. See the website for the fall offerings.

• Kimball Jenkins School of Art (266 N. Main St., Concord, 225-3932, kimballjenkins.com) offers youth classes and teen classes in subjects such as puppet making, knitting, drawing, water color and more in two fall sessions — Sept. 15 to Oct. 18 and Oct. 20 to Nov. 22.

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

• Paint pARTy (135 N. Broadway, Salem, 898-8800, paintpartynh.com) offers classes for kids in grade 1 through high school (as well as adults).

• Studio 550 Art Center (550 Elm St., Manchester, 232-5597, 550arts.com) offers after-school class sessions of eight to 10 weeks in the fall, winter and spring, with fall classes (starting the week of Sept. 15) on clay (with sessions for ages 9 to 12 and for teens), drawing and painting (with sessions for ages 7 to 11) and drawing and illustration (for teens, ages 10+), according to the website. The center also offers one-day workshops and family workshops.

Dance

• Allegro Dance Academy (100 Factory St., Nashua, 886-7989, allegrodancenh.com) offers preschool dance classes (for ages 18 months to 5 years); recreational dance classes (for ages 6 to 18) in ballet, pointe, jazz, modern, musical theater, hip-hop including a boys-only class, tap and tumbling), and competitive dance (for ages 6 to 18), according to website information about last year. Check back for updates on this fall.

• Ameri-kids Baton & Dance (Candia Youth Athletic Association, 27 Raymond Road, Candia, 391-2254, ameri-kids.org) has offerings this fall including competition teams, acro, baton & dance and twirlers, according to the studio’s Facebook page. Classes begin on Wednesday, Sept. 10. Email contact@ameri-kids.com.

• Bedford Dance Center (172 Route 101, Bedford, 472-5141, bedforddancecenter.com) offers classes for all ages (starting with a preschool ballet program for ages 3 to 5.5) and levels in ballet, jazz, modern, contemporary, tap, hip-hop and acro. Classes for the new school year begin Tuesday, Sept. 2.

• Bedford Youth Performing Company (155 Route 101, Bedford, 472-3894, bypc.org) offers dance classes starting with preschool ballet for ages 2 to 5 years old. Dance offerings for school-age kids include ballet, lyrical, jazz, tap and acro. Enrollment is open now and classes begin the week of Aug. 25.

• Broadway Bound Performing Arts Center (501 DW Highway, Merrimack, 429-8844, broadwayboundpac.com) offers classes in ballet, hip-hop (including a boys-only class), jazz, lyrical, tap and tumbling and it has special needs, competition and performing company classes. Kidz Kombo classes have offerings for kids age 2 to kindergarten. Classes begin Sept. 8.

• The Cadouxdle Dance Studio (297 Derry Road, Hudson, 459-4392, thecadouxdledancestudio.com) is enrolling now for ballet classes, grouped by age, for ages 3 to 10, with a session running from September to December.

• Concord Dance Academy (26 Commercial St., Concord, 226-0200, concorddanceacademy.com) offers a competition program for ages 5 to 18 as well as recreational classes grouped by age in tap, acro, jazz, karate, ballet, lyrical and hip-hop for ages 7 to 13+. Combo classes in ballet, tap, jazz and tumbling are available for ages 2 to 4 and ages 5 to 7 (for whom there are also karate classes). Classes start Sept. 15.

• Creative Dance Workshop of Bow (1355 Route 3A, Bow, 225-7711, nhdances.com) offers classes and teams in cheer. For dance, the studio offers a competition team and classes, including classes for kids as young as 2 years old (these are combo classes, which are also available to kids up to 9 years old). Classes for school-age kids include ballet and pointe, tap, jazz, musical theater, acro, lyrical/contemporary and hip-hop. The school also offers voice lessons. Classes start the week of Sept. 15.

• The Dance Company (130 Route 101A, Amherst, 864-8374, thedancecompanyonline.com) offers classes for kids as young as 2 years old (including ballet, tap, acro, tumble and “hippity-hop”). Classes for school-age kids include jazz, ballet, tap, lyrical, hip-hop and acro, with some combination classes, as well as performance teams — all grouped by age and level.

• Dance Connection Fitness & Performing Arts (8 Rockingham Road, Windham, 893-4919, danceconnectionnh.com) will kick off fall classes Sept. 15. The studio offers classes (depending on age) in ballet, tap, jazz, hip-hop and cheerdance, as well as combo classes for ages 2.5 (ballet/tap) through teen. Gymnastics classes with varying genre focuses are offered for ages 3 through 12. The studio offers all-boys tap (ages 5 to 9) and hip-hop (ages 4 to 12, grouped by age) as well as hip-hop classes for boys and girls (ages 6 to 17). There are also company classes, which meet several times a week, grouped by level.

• Dance Visions Network (699 Mast Road, Manchester, 626-7654, dancevisionsnetwork.com) begins its school year classes Sept. 8. The studio offers tap, jazz, ballet, pointe, contemporary, hip-hop (for ages 8+) and tumbling for ages 2.5 through adult as well as a competition team, the website said.

• The Dancing Corner (23 Main St., Nashua, 889-7658, dancingcorner.com) offers classes for kids as young as 3 years old (pre-dance classes, which are available for ages 3 to 6, grouped by age). Classes for older kids include ballet and pointe, jazz, tap, hip-hop, lyrical, and musical theater, as well as movement and fitness-based classes. The studio also has a non-competitive dance company that performs for the community at events and at local nursing homes, the website said. Classes begin Sept. 3.

• Dimensions in Dance (84 Myrtle St., Manchester, 668-4196, dimensionsindance.com) offers Twirling Twos and Pre Ballet classes as well as classed (grouped by age and level) in acro-jazz, ballet, contemporary, jazz, hip-hop, lyrical, modern, pointe, tap and more. The studio also offers a Little Artists program for ages 3 to 6 on Wednesdays from 9 to 11:30 a.m. with a mix of dance, music, art, theater and literature. Classes begin Sept. 8.

• Happy Feet Dance School (25 Indian Rock Road, Windham, 434-4437, happyfeetdanceschool.biz) ages 6 and up (grouped by age and skill level) include ballet, jazz, tap, hip-hop, contemporary and more. Classes for ages 2 to 5 include Tiny Tots, Creative Dance and Kinder Kids classes. Programs offering two or more classes a week and participation in the Fancy Feet Performing Company are also available. The new season begins Wednesday, Sept. 3.

• Kathy Blake Dance Studios (3 Northern Blvd., Amherst, 673-3978, kathyblakedancestudios.com) offers preschool classes for ages walking to 5 (including ballet, tap and AcroDance) and performing arts classes for ages 5 to 18 that include AcroDance, ballet, jazz, musical theater jazz, hip-hop, lyrical/contemporary, tap and tap/ballet and tap/jazz combos. There are also Rhythm Works Integrative Dance for ages 3 through teen and dance teams for ages 4 to 18.

• Londonderry Dance Academy (21 Buttrick Road, Londonderry, 432-0032, londonderrydance.com) begins its new school year on Tuesday, Sept. 2, with registration open Aug. 15. The academy offers classes, grouped by age and level, in ballet (to students as young as 2 through teen), pointe, tap and jazz (ages 5.5 and up), contemporary (ages 6 to teen), Triple Threat Prep (ages 8 to 17), hip-hop (ages 6+) and acro (ages 7+).

• Martin School of Dance (288 Route 101, Bedford, 488-2371, martinschoolofdance.com) classes start Sept. 2. The school offers programming for ages 18 months to 6 years in tap, ballet and tumbling, and for ages 5 to 8 in ballet, jazz, hip-hop, tap and acro. Programs for dancers aged 7+ include Commercial Division featuring classes in contemporary, jazz, tap, hip-hop and acro, and Academy Division, which focuses on ballet.

• Melissa Hoffman Dance Center (210 Robinson Road, Hudson, 886-7909, mhdcdance.com) offers toddler classes (for ages baby through 6 years old); recreational dance classes (for ages 5 to 13+ grouped by age) in ballet, jazz, tap, hip-hop, tumble, lyric and modern; competitive dance classes, and Broadway Dance classes (ages 4 to 12+).

• Miss Kelsey’s Dance Studio (2626 Brown Ave., Manchester, 606-2820, mkdance.com) offers classes for ages 1.5 years old through adults and begins its fall season Sept. 8. Classes include Acro, ballet, breakdance workshops and camps, lyrical/contemporary, hip-hop, jazz, musical theater and tap with preschool classes in movement and pre-dance combo classes.

• Nancy Chippendale’s Dance Studios (49 Range Road, Building 2, Suite A, Windham, 458-7730, chippswindham.com) offers recreational (ages 3 to 18) and competitive (ages 8 to 18) dance classes as well as a Babysteps program for ages 1 to 4, all grouped by age and level. Recreational classes include combos of ballet, jazz, tap and hip-hop.

• New England School of Dance (679 Mast Road, Manchester, 935-7326, newenglandschoolofdance.com) kicks off its season Sept. 8 for school-age kids’ classes. Offerings (which can vary by age and level) include ballet, pointe, tap, contemporary, jazz, tumble and theater dance. A preschool program offers a fall, winter and spring session — the fall session runs the week of Oct. 6 through the week of Nov. 11 — with classes for kids starting at 18 months through 4 years old. The school also has a competitive performing company.

• New Hampshire Academie of Dance (1 Action Blvd., No. 4, Londonderry, 432-4041, nhadance.com) offers classes for kids as young as 8 months through 16+. Classes grouped by age and level include ballet, tap, hip-hop, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, acro and aerial (offerings vary based on age). The school will hold an open house on Friday, Aug. 22, from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

• New Hampshire School of Ballet (183 Londonderry Tpke., Hooksett, 668-5330, nhschoolofballet.com) offers classes for ages 2½ and up; classes include ballet, jazz, tap, tumbling, lyrical, contemporary, modern and hip-hop. Classes start Sept. 8 with registration running August to September.

• NH Scot (nhscot.org)offers Highland Dance classes Mondays at 25 Triangle Park Drive in Concord. An eight-week fall session begins Oct. 6 with a beginner and new students class (for ages 5 and up) from 4:30 to 5:15 p.m. and an 18+ class 5:15 to 6:15 p.m.

• N-Step Dance Center (1134 Hooksett Road, Hooksett, 641-6787, nstepdance.com) offers classes grouped by age and level for ages 7+ in ballet, contemporary (for ages 10+), jazz, lyrical, musical theater, tap and tumbling (for ages 5+). Classes for younger kids include Tiny Tots (1.5 + years old), Predance (2.5+ years old) and Kindercombo (age 5+). Classes start the week of Sept. 8.

• Palace Theatres Dance Studio (most classes at Forever Emma Studios, 516 Pine St. in Manchester; palacetheatre.org) will begin its fall session, which runs through early November, with classes starting as early as Sept. 2. Offerings include Intro to Dance (for 3- to 5-year-olds), theater dance (for grades 1-5), hip-hop and contemporary (grades 4-12), jazz (grades 6-12), technique (grades 6-12) and tap (grades 6-12). The session culminates in a showcase on Nov. 9. The Palace will have auditions for its Palace Teen Company and Palace Teen Apprentice Company on Wednesday, Aug. 27, at 5 p.m., according to the Palace Youth Theatre Facebook page. Email MeganAlves@PalaceTheatre.org to sign up or MeganQuinn@PalaceTheatre.org with questions.

• Rise Dance Studio (125 Northeastern Blvd., Nashua, 402-2706, risedancenh.com) offers classes to ages 3 to 18, by age and level, in pre-dance, ballet, jazz, contemporary and hip-hop. Classes start Sept. 8.

• Scottish Arts (nhssa.org/dance) offers Highland Dance classes for kids as young as 4. See the website for updates.

• Southern New Hampshire Dance Theater (19 Harvey Road, Bedford, 637-4398, snhdt.org) offers programs for preschool (18 months to 6 years old), youth (7 to 18 years old) and pre-professional (ages 10 to 18). Dance taught includes ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, modern and contemporary. Auditions for the Nutcracker and the school’s student company will be held Friday, Aug. 22, and Saturday, Aug. 23.

• Turning Pointe Center of Dance (371 Pembroke St., Pembroke, 485-8710, turningpointecenterofdance.com) offers classes, which start in September, for ages 3+ as well as private lessons. Classes, grouped by age and level, include ballet, jazz, pointe (by invitation), tap, lyrical, hip-hop and combo classes.

• Unbound Dance Academy (237 Londonderry Tpke., Hooksett, 714-2821, unbounddanceacademy.com) kicks off the new season Sept. 15. “All ages and abilities welcome,” says the website for Unbound Dance, which has classes in ballet, pointe, jazz, tap, contemporary, lyrical, musical theater, hip-hop and acro. The school will hold an open house with tryout classes for ages 3 to 12 on Saturday, Aug. 23, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., according to its Facebook page.

Gymnastics

• A2 Gym & Cheer (16B Garabedian Drive, Salem, 328-8130, a2gc.com) kicks off fall classes on Sept. 2. The school offers gymnastics and tumbling classes for kids aged 18 months through high school as well as competitive programs and open gym opportunities.

• Flipz the Gym for Kids (Flipz Gymnastics, 14 Chenell Drive, Concord, 224-3223, flipzgymnastics.com) offers classes, grouped by age, for kids ages 1 to 7. An Intro to Gymnastics class for ages 5 to 7 has two fall sessions — Sept. 3 through Oct. 8 and Oct. 15 through Nov. 19.

• Gymnastics Village (13 Caldwell Drive, Amherst, 889-8092, gymnasticsvillage.com) starts its school year Aug. 27. The school offers preschool programs (18 months to 3 years old), after-school programs for ages 5 and up, ninja classes for ages 6 to 14 and girls’ and boys’ competitive gymnastics teams.

• Gym-Ken Gymnastics (184 Rockingham Road, Windham, 434-9060, gymkengymnastics.com) begins its session Aug. 24, according to its calendar. Offerings include preschool classes (for kids who are walking through kindergarten), recreational classes for grades 1-8 (including a boys class for grades 1-3), parkour for grades 1 and above, tumbling classes for grades 1 and above and a girls’ competitive team.

• Impact Gymnastics (301 River Road, Bow, 219-0343, impact-gymnastics.com) begins its classes Sept. 2. Offerings include coed preschool programs (for kids who are walking through age 5), girls’ recreational gymnastics (with classes for ages 5 to 8 and 8+), a Girls Stars program (which starts at age 4), boys’ programs starting at ages 5, coed home-school programs and coed special athletics programs.

• Noha’s Gymnastics Academy (200 Perimeter Road, Manchester, 518-7660; 30 Pond St., Nashua, 880-4927; ngacademy.us) offers recreational classes in both cities with classes for kids who are walking through grade 8 as well as competitive teams for girls and boys.

• Palaestra Gymnastics Academy (8 Tinkham Ave., Derry, 818-4494, pgagym.com) runs its fall session for preschool classes, recreational gymnastics and tumbling Sept. 8 through Dec. 6. The academy also has a competitive team.

• Phantom Gymnastics (142 Route 111, Hampstead, 329-9315, phantomgymnastics.com) has a competitive team, parkour (grouped by age for ages 4 to 13+), preschool classes (for ages 6 months through 4 years) and classes for ages 5+ as well as open gym opportunities. The school also offers CPR classes.

• Sky High Gymnastics (185 Elm St., Milford, 554-1097, skyhighgym.com) offers after-school programs (the school is a Milford Schools bus stop, according to the website) as well as classes (grouped by age) for ages infant through 18. Classes include cheer and tumbling, tumbling and gymnastics. There are also open play opportunities.

• Southern New Hampshire Gymnastics Academy (4 Orchard View Drive, No. 11, Londonderry, 404-6181, snhga.com) offers gymnastics classes for ages 18 months through 18 years and has a tumbling program and a competitive team.

• Spectrum Gymnastics (26 Buttrick Road, Londonderry, 434-8388, spectrumgymnast.com) offers preschool classes for walkers through kindergarten and school-age classes for girls and boys (grades 1 to 5 for boys, according to the website) as well as a competitive team.

• Tumble Town Gymnastics (444 E. Industrial Park Drive, No. 10, Manchester, 641-9591, tumbletownnh.com) begins its school year Sept. 2. The school offers recreational classes for ages 4 and up as well as pre-team and competitive team programs.

Martial Arts

Note: most of the locations mentioned here offer classes and training for adults, sometimes in disciplines not offered for kids.

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

• Aqueous Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (30 Harvey Road, Bedford, 566-7775, aqueousbjj.com) offers a Little Warriors program for kids.

• ATA Martial Arts of Merrimack (707 Milford Road, Merrimack, 881-5435, atabbanh.com) offers kids’ classes starting at 3.5 years old.

• Averill’s Martial Arts Academy (3 N. Main St., Concord, 223-0300, averillsmartialarts.com) offers youth boxing.

• Balance Point Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (50 Emerson Road, Milford, 470-7136, balancepointbjj.com) offers classes for ages 4 to 13.

• Bedford Martial Arts Academy (292 Route 101, Bedford, 626-9696; Bedford Martial Arts Academy East, 273 S. River Road, Bedford; 703-2327, bedfordmartialartsacademy.com) offers programs for ages 3 through 17. The academy also offers an after-school program with sessions at its Route 101 location as well as other locations in Bedford, Chester, Peterborough and Windham.

• Blue Wave Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (1 Progress Ave., Nashua, 321-5032, bluewavejj.com) offers kids’ Brazilian Jiu Jitsu classes for kids ages 3 through teen.

• Bodyworks Martial Arts Training Center (45 Chenell Drive, Concord, 225-5620, bodyworksnh.com) offers classes for kids age 4 and up.

• Brazilian Top Team Londonderry (73 Rockingham Road, Londonderry, 212-9258, bttlondonderry.com) offers kids classes for ages 4 to 6 and 7 to 16.

• Bulsajo TaeKwonDo (703-1914, bulsajotkd.com) offers classes at locations in Goffstown for ages 6 and up.

• Capital City Tae Kwon Do (78 Fisherville Road, Concord, 227-0555, capitalcitytkd.com) offers tae kwon do for ages 6 to 12.

• Central Tae Kwon Do Academy (222 Central St., Suite 8, Hudson, 882-5617, central-tkd.com) offers children’s tae kwon do classes as well as taerobics classes.

• Checkmate Martial Arts (200 Elm St., Manchester, 666-5836, checkmateselfdefense.com) offers kids and teen karate classes (starting at age 4), youth boxing and youth Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

• Chung’s Tae Kwon Do Academy (115 Northeastern Blvd., Nashua, 883- 2577, chungs-tkd.com) offers children’s classes for various levels.

• Concord Karate Studio and Academy (89 Fort Eddy Road, No. 3, Concord, 224-5425, cks-nh.com) offers an after-school program with three- and five-day options, for kids kindergarten through grade 8. Karate classes are available for ages 3 and up, with preschool, kindergarten and older kid programs as well as classes for teens and adults.

• Determined Martial Arts (Salzburg Square, 292 Route 101, Amherst, 672-3570, determinedma.com) offers classes for ages 4 and up including teen classes for ages 13+.

• Dojo Sante (1 Winn Ave., Hudson, 467-9384, mbsdojosante.com) offers kids’ programming starting with age 3.

• Empowering Lives Martial Arts (542 Mast Road, No. 15, Goffstown, 978-414-5425, martialartsnewhampshire.com) offers martial arts classes for kids starting at age 4 as well as special abilities classes and Leadership Life Training, a by-invitation program for juniors and teens.

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

• Gate City MMA (28 Charron Ave., Unit 8, Nashua, 722-0238, gatecitymma.com) offers kids’ MMA.

• Golden Crane Traditional Martial Arts (46 Lowell Road, No. 6, Windham, 437-2020, goldencranenh.com) offers kids’ programming starting with age 5 as well as a teen program for ages 12 to 15.

• Granite State American Kenpo Karate (290 Derry Road, No. 5, Hudson, 598-5400, gsakenpo.com) offers kids’ programming starting at age 3 as well as teen classes for ages 13+. The school also offers an after-school program in Hudson.

• House of the Samurai (28 Buttrick Road, Londonderry, 434-2265, samurainh.com) offers youth classes for ages 4 to 12 and teen classes for 13+.

• Independent Martial Arts School (138 Lake St., Nashua, 882-6917, imasnh.com) offers classes for kids including specialty classes.

• Inner Dragon Martial Arts (77 Derry Road, Hudson, 864-8756, innerdragonma.com) offers martial arts programs for kids and an after-school program in Hudson.

• Inspired Martial Arts (58 Range Road, Windham, 893-7990, inspiredmartialartscenter.com) offers kids’ martial arts programs.

• Karasu Tengu Academy (1 Chestnut St., No. 5D, Nashua, 689-4966, ktacademymma.com) offers Youth MMA Striking for ages 7 to 12 and youth Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

• Karate International of Windham (60 Rockingham Road, No. 14, Windham, 898-5367, windhamkarate.com) offers preschool (starting at age 4), kid and teen classes.

• Kenpo Academy of Self Defense (40 Manchester Road, Derry, 437-9900, kenpo-academy.com) offers programs for kids starting at 3 years old as well as classes for older kids, tweens and teens. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Kickboxing are available for ages 16+.

• Leverage Jiu Jitsu (70 Pembroke Road, Concord, 738-0227, leveragebjjnh.com) has classes for kids starting at age 5.

• Manchester Karate Studio (371 S. Willow St., Manchester, 625-5835, manchesterkarate.com) offers karate programs for ages 3+ divided by age, including a teen class for 13+ (ages 14+ are eligible for adult classes).

• The Martial Arts Zone (31 Auburn St., Manchester, 206-5716, themartialartszone.com) offers a youth Brazilian Jiu Jitsu program for ages 5 to 11.

• Meikyo Dojo (292 Derry Road, Hudson, 415-9658, meikyodojo.com) offers kids’ and teens’ martial arts programs.

• Merrimack Karate (534 DW Highway, Merrimack, 424-7458, merrimackkarate.com) offers children’s programs for ages 6 to 12 and teen & adult programs for ages 13+.

• Mindset Wrestling (185 Elm St., Milford, 721-2551, mindsetwrestling.net) offers wrestling classes for grades K-5 and for grade 6 and up.

• Neil Stone’s Karate Academy (22 Proctor Hill Road, Hollis, 672-8933, neilstoneskarate.com) offers programs for kids as young as 2 through teen and adult. The school also has home-school programming and more.

• New England Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy (30 Henniker St., Unit 9, Concord, 369-4764, nebjj.com) offers kids programs starting at age 5.

• NH Kicks Taekwondo Family Fitness (90 Airport Road, Concord, 714-5472, nhkicks.com) offers programs for ages 5 to 12 and teens and up.

• Ocasio’s True Martial Arts – Plaistow (160 Plaistow Road, No. 5, Plaistow, 382-4199, ocasiostma.com) offers children’s classes starting at age 3.

• Phoenix Fire Martial Arts (79 Plaistow Road, Plaistow, 234-8665, phnixfire.com) offers classes for children through adults in Shotokan and teen through adult classes in Krav Maga.

• Professional Martial Arts Academy (15 E. Broadway, Derry, 434-7995, pmaderry.com; 501 DW Highway, Merrimack, 429-0008, pmamerrimack.com; 37 Plaistow Road, Plaistow, 974-2455, pmaplaistow.com) offers kids’ programs in karate and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

• Souhegan Valley Karate Club (1 Main St., Brookline, 505-6777, svkc.online) offers “Karate Kids,” a program for ages 5 to 10.

• School of Warrior Arts (122 N. Lowell Road, Windham, 781-249-7073, facebook.com/schoolofwarriorarts), described as “a Holistic and Christ-centered education through the combative, creative, performing, and healing arts,” offers programs for children and teens.

• SDSS Martial Arts of Concord (124 Hall St., Suite E, Concord, 224-3777, sdsskungfu.com) offers kids’ (starting at age 4) and teens’ programs.

• Strikeback Dynamic Defense Systems (458 DW Highway, Merrimack, 262-9299, strikebackdds.com) offers youth and teen programs.

• Tiger Black Belt Academy (11 Kimball Drive, Unit 121, Hooksett, 627-7744, tigerblackbeltacademy.com) offers tae kwon do for kids starting at ages 3.5 through teens. The school also offers Kumdo, which means “way of the sword,” according to the website.

• Tim Barchard’s Professional Martial Arts Academy (15 E. Broadway, Derry, 434-7995, pmaderry.com) offers kids’ classes in martial arts and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

• Tokyo Joe’s Studios of Self Defense (85A Northeastern Blvd., Nashua, 889-4165; 20 Hammond Road, Milford, 672-2100; tokyojoes.net) both locations offer kids’ martial arts programming.

• Tokyo Joe’s Studios and Team Link NH (1338 Hooksett Road, Hooksett, 641-3444, tokyojoeshooksett.com) youth programs include karate (ages 3 to 12), Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (ages 5 to 15) and kickboxing (ages 5 to 15).

• The Training Station (200 Elm St., Manchester, 505-0048, thetrainingstationnh.com) offers programs for kids starting at age 4 running through teen classes (ages 12 to 14), with ages 15+ eligible for adult classes.

• Triumph Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (456 W. Hollis St., Nashua, 769-3819, teamtriumphbjj.com) offers kids’ classes.

• Universal Kenpo Federation (37 Wilton Road, Milford, 547-5226, facebook.com/UniversalKenpoFederation) offers private and group lessons.

• USA Ninja Challenge (locations at Gymnastics Village, 13 Caldwell Drive, Amherst, 889-8902, gymnasticsvillage.com; Flipz Gymnastics, 14 Chenell Drive, Concord, 224-3223, ninjaconcordnh.com; 17 Friars Drive, Unit 18, Hudson, 417-6820, ninjahudson.com; and 444 E. Industrial Park Drive, Manchester, 935-7100, ninjamanchesternh.com) offers classes for boys and girls age 2.5 through 17. Manchester, Concord and Hudson offer ninja teams for ages 6 up.

• Valle Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (44 Nashua Road, Unit 19, Londonderry, 553-1736, vallebjj.com) offers kids’ and teens’ classes.

• World Class Martial Arts (25 Nashua Road, Unit D3, Londonderry, 845-6115, londonderrymartialarts.com) offers classes for ages 3+.

Music

• AB Music School (4 Faxon Ave., Nashua, 978-677-9244, abmusicschool.com) offers music lessons for kids starting at age 4. Instruments taught include flute/piccolo, clarinet, ukulele, piano, violin, cello, oboe, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, viola and banjo, according to the website. The school also teaches music theory.

• Amy Conley Music (102 Elm St., Milford, 249-9560, amyconleymusic.com) offers early childhood classes, special needs classes, ukulele classes and more.

• Bedford Youth Performing Company (155 Route 101, Bedford, 472-3894, bypc.org) offers music starting as young as the Kindermusik program with offerings for infants to 1 year old. Instrument prep classes are available for kids 5 to 7 years old. For older kids (age depending on instrument), BYPC has private lessons in piano and keyboard, guitar, drums and percussion and voice (group voice lessons are also available). BYPC also has rock band ensembles for kids 10+ and 14+ (by invitation). Classes and lessons begin the week of Aug. 25.

• Bemish Green Piano Studio (188 Central St., Hudson, 235-9378, greenpiano.com) offers piano lessons. “Students are ready for lessons when they can recognize their letters and numbers and focus for at least a 30-minute lesson,” the website said.

• Concord Community Music School (23 Wall St., Concord, 228-1196, ccmusicschool.org) offers private lessons for voice, banjo, bass, bassoon, cello, clarinet, composition, double bass, fiddle, flute, French horn, guitar, mandolin, oboe, percussion, piano, recorder, saxophone, trombone, trumpet, tuba, ukulele, viola and violin. There are also group classes and ensembles for kids and teens (including, for teens, folk, rock and jazz bands). The school will hold an open house on Saturday, Sept. 6, from 10 a.m. to noon.

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

• Eric Dupont Drum Instruction (809-9575, ericdupontdrums.com) teaches drummers of all ages.

• Figaro Music Studios (254 N. State St., Unit G, Concord, 369-0265, figaromusicstudios.com) offers piano and guitar lessons as well as a preschool program (for ages 3 to 5) and a choir for ages 6 to 11.

• Jeanne Martin Piano Studio (38 Pearson Road, Merrimack, 493-2961, musictoenjoy.com) offers piano lessons.

• Jimmy Mags Music Lessons (321 Laxson Ave, Manchester, 682-2550, jimmymagsmusiclessons.com) offers guitar, bass and piano lessons.

• John Medeiros Jr. Music (498-3819, johnmedeirosjr.com) offers drum, guitar and bass lessons.

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

• Lidman Music Studio (419 Amherst St., Nashua, 913-5314, lidmanmusic.com) offers lessons in viola, violin and piano.

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

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

• Melody Music Studios (277-3289, melodymusicstudios.com) teaches lessons in piano, voice, guitar, drums, string instruments and woodwind and brass instruments.

• Merrimack Music Academy (1 Bryce Drive, Merrimack, merrimackmusicacademy.com, 493-9214) offers private lessons on guitar, bass, piano and voice.

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

• Music Class with Mr. Aaron (mraaronmusic.com/classes). See the website for classes with Mr. Aaron, a “multi-instrumentalist performer and composer” for kids and their grown-ups.

• Music Lessons By Lisa N (Concord, 781-832-2127, musicbylisan.wixsite.com) offers lessons in saxophone, clarinet, violin, piano, music theory and more and is now offering lessons at Ted Herbert Music in Manchester to ages 10+.

• Music Workshop of Concord (64 Dunklee St., Concord, 226-0690, musicworkshopofconcord.com) offers early childhood music classes (ages 2 to 6) and group and private piano lessons.

• Nashua Community Music School (2 Lock St., Nashua, 881-7030, nashuacms.org) offers private lessons in piano, guitar, voice, violin, cello, flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, French horn, trombone and percussion. The school also offers music therapy for all ages, a group music class and ensembles including a rock band for current students. The school’s family-friendly fundraising event, Play It Forward, which will feature the Teen Rock Band as the opening act (headliner is Big D and the Kids Table), will take place Saturday, Aug. 23, from 2 to 5 p.m. at Anheuser-Busch Biergarten in Merrimack. Tickets cost $40 (kids under 5 get in free).

• New Song Piano Studio (Derry, newsongpianostudio.com) offers piano lessons.

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

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

• Palace Theatre Voice Studio (palacetheatre.org) offers vocal coaching for grades 2-12 and piano lessons for grades 1-12.

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

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

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

• School of Rock Nashua (225 DW Highway, Nashua, 600-7625, schoolofrock.com) offers music lessons in guitar, drum, singing, bass, keyboard and piano. The school also offers music programs for kids as young as 4 years old that mix individual and group learning as well as house bands, songwriting lessons (ages 12 and up) and camps and workshops. Catch the Summer 2025 Season Finale at Spyglass Brewing in Nashua on Sunday, Aug. 24, from 2 to 5 p.m. with performances by an adult band, the Rock 101 band (ages 8 to 13) and a Performance Group band (ages 8 to 18).

• Scottish Arts (nhssa.org) offers individual lessons in bagpipe and fiddle. See the website for updates.

• Strings and Things Music (339 Village St., Concord, 228-1971, stringsandthingsmusic.com) offers lessons in voice, banjo, mandolin, bass, clarinet, djembe, drums, fiddle, flute, sax, guitar, piano, trumpet and ukulele, according to the website.

• Suzuki Violin Studio (890 Valley St., Manchester, 785-1884, musiclessonsnh.com) offers lessons in violin, viola, cello, guitar, bass and piano.

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

• Travis Shelby Music Lessons (370-8853, travisshelbymusic.com) offers guitar lessons to all ages, skill levels and genre interests in Exeter, Manchester, Bedford, Nashua, Merrimack, Hooksett, Concord and Derry, according to the website.

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

• Weare School of Music (77 Barnard Hill Road, Weare, 206-0135, see listing on Facebook). “We teach all band instruments, strings, voice, piano, guitar, ukulele, and recorder. We also offer try-it lessons so you can figure out what instrument you might like to play,” according to a May Facebook post.

• Zagaria Vocal Academy Manchester-Hooksett (954-418-9730, musicandvoicelessonsmanchesternh.com) offers lessons in piano and trumpet.

Sports

• Amoskeag Rowing Club (amoskeagrowing.org) offers a youth rowing team for grades 7-12 with the fall practice schedule to begin Aug. 18.

• Baboosic Lake Rowing Club (baboosiclakerowing.org) offers a junior rowing program for high school students. According to the website and the club’s Facebook page, the spring season begins in March with registration open in February.

• Bedford Athletic Club (bedfordac.com) offers fall and spring recreational soccer (grades pre-K through 6); an adaptive program (ages 5 to 15), and a travel program with fall and spring seasons (for U8 through U15). The fall season begins in late August but registration is open through Sept. 28.

• Bedford Basketball League (bedfordbl.com) offers winter basketball for boys and girls with recreation programs (grades 1-8 plus a grades 9-12 Biddy League) and a travel program (for grades 3-8).

• Bedford Cannons Youth Lacrosse (bedfordcannons.org) offers spring programs for ages 4 and up as well as grades 1-8. Indoor winter skills begins in mid-January with outdoor practices and games usually beginning in April. Look for registration to open around December.

• Bedford Crew (bedfordcrew.org) begins its fall season Aug. 18 and is open to Bedford High School students. There is also a spring season and a fall “Learn to Row” session for Lurgio Middle School students.

• Bedford Little League (bedfordll.com) offers spring, summer and fall leagues, with the largest age range offered in spring teams — ages 4 through 13. Registration for spring begins in early December and registration for fall closed in mid-August.

• Bedford Youth Football & Cheer Bulldogs (bedfordbulldogs.org) offers football and cheer for ages 5 to 15 with programs in the fall (registration for fall 2026 will be in the spring) with programs including flag football for younger players and adaptive cheer.

• Bow Athletic League (bowathleticclub.com) offers programs including basketball, field hockey (grouped by age for grades K-8), soccer (grades 1-8, register now for fall soccer), golf (grades 1-8), wrestling (grades 1-8; last year practice began in November), lacrosse (8U to 14U for girls, 8U to 12U for boys) and baseball (ages 4 to 14) and softball (8U to 16U).

• Brazilian Art Soccer Training (basoccertraining.com) offers holiday and vacation camps as well as summer programming.

• Cannons Baseball Club (Manchester, facebook.com/CannonsNH) offers fall baseball and softball for players age 9 through 18U as well as other opportunities throughout the year.

• Cap City Basketball (based at Capital City Sports & Fitness in Concord; capcitybasketball.com) offers AAU basketball teams for boys and girls, grades 3 through high school, during spring and fall as well as vacation camps, a winter Sunday league and more.

• Capital City Sports & Fitness (10 Garvins Falls Road in Concord; 224-7787, capitalcitysportsandfitness.com) offers swim lessons for kids and teens starting at 6 months old. The facility is also the home for Cap City Basketball, Futsanity Academy and Skyhawks Sports.

• Concord Crew (concordcrew.org) offers fall, spring and summer youth and middle school programs, according to the website. Practices take place at Bert Wittemore Bouthouse, 15 Loudon Road in Concord.

• Concord Parks & Recreation (concordnh.gov/1984/Parks-Recreation) offers fall programming including preschool open gym (with sessions Sept. 16-Oct. 21 and Oct. 28-Dec. 9); yoga for parents and babies, preschoolers and preteens; tennis; flag football (for ages 6 to 14, starting Sept. 7); recreational soccer for preschool through 6th grade; fall archery (ages 7+) and more. See the website for the brochure. Most programs begin the first or second week of September.

• Concord Soccer Association (concordsoccer.com) offers fall and spring soccer for kids born in 2021 through U18 and U19 for girls (U19 boys will be available in spring). Opening day for the fall season will be Sept. 6. There are also travel teams for boys (birth year 2017 through 2009) and girls (birth year 2017 through 2014 plus 2007). There is also a winter futsal program.

• Concord Youth Hockey Association and the Concord Capitals (leaguelineup.com/welcome.asp?url=cyha1) offers a youth program for birth years 2020 through 2014 and then the Capitals travel team for ages 9 to 11. There are also learn to skate/learn hockey programs for ages 4 to 9. Registration is open now for the 2025-2026 school year.

• Conway Arena (5 Stadium Drive, Nashua, 595-2400, conwayarena.com) offers learn to skate (ages 3 to 9) and learn to play hockey (ages 5 to 9), youth leagues, camps and clinics and more.

• Derry Diamond Athletic Association (derryll.org) offers baseball programs (ages 6 to 15) and softball (8U and up) in fall and spring (as well as winter and summer offerings). Registration is open now; waitlists and late fees begin on Aug. 21, the website said.

• Derry Demons Football and Cheer (derrydemons.com) offers flag football (ages 5 to 8), tackle football (ages 8 to 12) and cheer (grades K-5). Registration for fall programs is in late spring into summer. Camps and clinics have also been offered.

• Derry Soccer Club’s Hawks (derrysoccerclub.org) offers a full year (fall and spring) of soccer with practices for 2025-2026 slated to begin on Sept. 2 for U4 through U18. Registration is open now.

• Derry Wolverines Youth Football and Cheer (derry-wolverines.sportngin.com) offers football for grades 7-8 and cheer for grades 6-8, with registration opening in March for the following year.

• Executive Swim Club (gomotionapp.com/team/neehsc/page/home) is a year-round competitive team with seasons September through March and April through August. Registration is open now.

• FC Stars New Hampshire Region (starsofma.org/new-hampshire) has soccer teams for boys and girls (birth year 2007/2008 through 2016).

• 4 Leaf Lacrosse (4leaflax.org) offers programming around northern New England including in Hooksett and Dover. Supplemental tryouts for the boys’ travel team will be held at the NH Sportsdome in Hooksett on Sunday, Sept. 14. Goalie training will be offered in Hooksett Sundays, January through February, for grades 3-12 (grouped by age). See the website for other offerings.

• Futsal NH (futsalnh.com) offers futsal training and leagues, which last year ran from December to mid March.

• Futsanity Academy (based at Capital City Sports & Fitness in Concord; soccerskillscamp.org) offers an indoor futsal program, which last year ran from November into February for boys and girls in age groups U8-10, U11-12 and U13/14 and ninth-graders.

• Girls on the Run New Hampshire (137 Water St., No. 3, Exeter, 778-1389, girlsontherunnh.org) is offered for girls in grades 3-5 and 6-8 with a junior coach program for girls 16 to 18 years old. Registration for the lottery for a spot on a team opened Aug. 6 for spots first come, first served. See the website for locations, which set their own weekly meet-up and run schedules, or to start a team. The fall season culminates in a 5K on Nov. 15.

• Goffstown Junior Baseball (goffstownjrbaseball.com) offers baseball programs starting at age 4. Last year registration for spring opened Jan. 1.

• Goffstown Screamin’ Eagles ( goffstownscreamineagles.isportz.us) offers competitive cheer for ages 5 to 15. There are also camp and clinic opportunities.

• Granite State Kids New Hampshire Junior Team Tennis (granitestatekids.com) offers a fall tennis program for ages 5 through 11+ in Bedford as well as spring and summer programs. The fall session begins Monday, Sept. 1.

• Greater Manchester Colt League (manchestercoltleague.com) is registering now for the fall league. The program serves players ages 12 through 23.

• Healthy Kids Running Series (healthykidsrunningseries.org) offers a fall running series with races on Sundays, Sept. 14 through Oct. 12, in the afternoon at locations in Amherst, Manchester and Nashua, according to the website. The series is open to kids in grades pre-K through 8 with age-appropriate events including 50- and 75-yard dashes and the 1/4-mile, the 1/2-mile and the 1-mile run, according to the website. The cost is $16.90 for a single-day walk-up on race day or $48.70 for the whole series, the website said.

• Houligan Lacrosse (based in Epping, houlaganlacrosse.com) offers fall, spring and summer teams for boys and girls in grades 1-12.

• Hudson Litchfield Bears (hudsonlitchfieldyouthfootballandcheer.sportngin.com) offers cheer for ages 5 to 14, tackle football for ages 6 to 13 and flag football for ages 5 to 7. Registration for the fall season has already taken place; practices usually begin in August.

• Londonderry Soccer Club (londonderrysc.org) offers fall and spring recreational programs (for U3 through U18) as well as a travel program (U8 through U18).

• Londonderry Wildcats (lyfs.org) offers cheer programs (ages 5 to 14), flag football (grades K-2) and tackle football (for grades 2-6) with practices that begin in July. Check back with the website for information on next fall, summer and other programming.

• Manchester Angels (maysl.org) offers a recreational spring soccer league for U4 through U19.

• Manchester Basketball League (manchesterbasketballleague.com) offers basketball programs for boys and girls ages 4 through 12 (13+ for boys). The new season begins in October.

• Manchester Bears (manchesterbears.com) offers youth football for grades 2-8. The fall session began on Aug. 11.

• Manchester Cal Ripken Baseball (manchestercalripken.org) offers baseball programming for boys and girls ages 4 to 12. Registration for spring baseball began in January last year, according to the organization’s Facebook page.

• Manchester Central Little League (sports.bluesombrero.com/manchestercentral) offers baseball, including T-ball for ages 4 to 8, for spring.

• Manchester East Soccer League (mesl.org) offers intra-league competition for ages 4 to 18 and inter-league competition for ages 12 to 18, according to the website. Register for the fall season through Aug. 31.

• Manchester Girls Softball League (mgslnh.com) offers softball for ages 4 to 18. Last year, registration for the spring season started in November, according to the Facebook page, which also showed registration in November for winter clinics.

• Manchester NH Little League (manchesternhlittleleague.com) offers spring baseball as well as clinics and other programming before the season.

• Manchester North Soccer League (mnsl.org) is a recreational league for ages 5 to 19.

• Manchester Parks & Recreation (manchesternh.gov/Departments/Parks-and-Recreation/Programs-and-Activities) offers programs including fencing, tennis, swimming lessons (in summer), ice skating lessons September through March, Stick & Puck in West Side Arena and more.

• Manchester Regional Youth Hockey Association (mryha.org) offers hockey travel teams for U6/U8 through U18, recreational leagues for 6U through 15U (a 24-week program that starts in late September), learn to skate and learn to play hockey programs (with the first session starting Sept. 19), a girls’ high school boot camp (Sept. 8 through Nov. 26) and skills programs for 6U through 15U (also starting Sept. 8).

• Manchester Soccer League (manchestersoccerleague.com) offers a fall program in partnership with the Beech Street Football Club for ages 4 to 15.

• Manchester South Junior Soccer (msjsl.com/manchestersouthsoccer) offers fall soccer (U6 through U19), spring skills and drills (ages 4 to 13) and winter indoor soccer (U6 through high school). The fall season starts Aug. 23.

• Manchester South Sabres (manchestersouthsabres.com) offers flag football for ages 5 to 7, tackle football for ages 8 to 13 and cheer for ages 5 to 14. The first day of practice was July 28.

• Manchester Thunder (manchesterlacrosse.com) offers girls’ lacrosse for grades K-8. Last year, registration opened in December with indoor training beginning in March and April.

• Meraki Volleyball (merakivolleyball.com) offers volleyball for girls in U12 through U17/18 age groups with tryouts at the NH Sportsplex in Bedford starting in early October and the season beginning in November. Boys’ teams are for age groups 14U through 18U and practices for boys begin Aug. 18. There are also boys’ and girls’ training programs.

• Merrimack Jr. Tomahawks (merrimackjrtomahawks.org) offers cheer (grades K-8), flag football (ages 5 to 7) and tackle football (grades 2-8). Practices begin in August.

• Merrimack Youth Baseball (myabaseball.com) offers seasonal programs for T-ball (ages 3 and 4) and baseball (ages 5 through 16). Last year, spring registration opened in February.

• Milford Community Athletic Association (mcaa.us) offers programs including baseball (for ages 5 to 15), soccer (for ages 3 to 11), basketball (for grades K-8) and softball (for ages 6 to 11). Fall soccer registration is open through Aug. 17 with the season set to begin in early September, according to the association’s Facebook page, where you can find a link to register. Fall baseball and softball registrations are also open.

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

• My Gym Londonderry (30 Main St., Londonderry, 818-4107, mygym.com/londonderry) offers classes for infants starting at 3 months old through just under 6 years old (5 years and 11 months, according to the website), including, for the older part of that age range, gymnastics and ninja jr.

• Nashua Blast Lacrosse (nashualacrosse.com) offers a Little Stix program (ages 4 to 6) as well as boys’ and girls’ teams for 8U through 14U.

• Nashua Cal Ripken Baseball (nashuacalripken.org) offers fall baseball for ages 4 to 12 as well as baseball and T-ball in the spring.

• Nashua Parks & Recreation (nashua.recdesk.com) offers Biddy Basketball for ages 7 to 15 (last year’s registration was in September for the winter season) and Fall Babe Ruth Baseball (ages 13 to 16) and Softball (ages 7 to 14) with a spring season that starts in April (registration for that begins in February).

• Nashua Police Athletic League (52 Ash St. in Nashua, 594-3733, nashuapal.com) offers programs including boxing (ages 11+), cross-country, Storm Football & Spirit (ages 5 to 15, flag football for ages 5 to 7 and cheer for ages 5 to 14), street hockey and track and field (last school year’s program started in April).

• NE Inferno Baseball (noreastersbaseball.com) operates in regional facilities including in Nashua (3 Progress Ave.) with programs starting at U8/9, depending on location.

• New England Crusaders (necrusaders.com) offers coed basketball skills programs for ages 3 to 8 and girls’ basketball teams for grades 4 through high school (there is also a girls’ training program for grades 6-8 that last year started in December). Tryouts for the spring teams were held in January last year. Tryouts for fall are Aug. 13 and Aug. 20 at the Presentation of Mary, 182 Lowell Road in Hudson: 6 to 7:15 p.m. for grades 4-7 and 7:15 to 8:30 for grades 8-11.

• New England Storm (new-england-storm.com) offers AAU basketball for boys and girls in grades 3-12 (varying by season) with fall, spring and summer programming. Last year, tryouts for spring took place in early January. Last year there was also a winter program for girls in grades 6-8.

• NH Climbing and Fitness (10 Langdon Ave., Concord, 715-9171, nhclimbinggym.com) has climbing classes for ages 3 through 5, 6 through 8 and 9+. Clubs and teams are available for ages 8 through 19.

• New Hampshire Mountain Kings Hockey (Tri-Town Arena, 311 W. River Road, Hooksett, mountainkingshockey.com) offers youth hockey (starting with teams for kids under 8 years old), Academy hockey and other options for teens, skating lessons (starting Sept. 8), figure skating and more. The hockey season runs September through March with tryouts usually in March and April, according to a brochure on the website.

• New Hampshire Junior Roller Derby (nhjrd.com; facebook.com/NHJrRollerDerby) teaches roller derby to any gender ages 8-17.

• New Hampshire Spartans Youth Basketball (nhspartans.com) offers AAU basketball with programming during all seasons and teams on the Seacoast and in Derry. Tryouts for fall will be Saturday, Aug. 23, at Pickup USA Gym in Manchester for boys and girls in grades 3 through high school. Times are 10 to 11 a.m. for boys and girls in grades 3-6, and 11 a.m. to noon for boys and girls in seventh grade through high school. Contact Chris Coates at CoatesNew@hotmail.com with questions, according to an email.

• New Hampshire Sportsplex (68 Technology Drive, Bedford, 641-1313, nhsportsplex.com) offers youth flag football (grouped by ages) for ages 5 through high school; youth recreational soccer in five age groups; youth 3 x 3 basketball, softball and a Lil Athlete series of offerings (such as Lil Laxers and Lil Dribblers) to introduce younger kids to specific sports. See the website for the seasons for these sports. The Sportsplex is also the indoor home to sports clubs, such as the NH Tomahawks Lacrosse, New England Phantoms Flag Football and more.

• New Hampshire Tomahawks Lacrosse (nhtomahawks.com) offers fall, spring and summer lacrosse teams for boys and girls, graduation year 2037 and older, and indoor winter leagues as well as clinics, some for kids as young as 3 years old.

• North Manchester Hooksett Baseball (nmhll.com) offers spring T-ball, adaptive challenger divisions and baseball, with programs for ages 4 through 16.

• One Dream Basketball (based at the NH Sportsplex in Bedford; onedreambasketball.com) has boys’ basketball teams for grades 3 to varsity and girls’ basketball teams for grades 5 through varsity. Tryouts for the fall teams take place Saturday, Aug. 16, for boys grades 3-8 and Sunday, Aug. 17, for girls teams and for boys grades 9-11, according to the Facebook page, where you can find the times for each grade. One Dream has teams in the fall and in the spring, with tryouts for both sessions (look for spring tryouts to take place in January).

• Phantoms Flag Football (nhsportsplex.com/phantoms-flag-football.html) operates out of the NH Sportsplex in Bedford and offers teams in the 8U, 10U and 12U age divisions. Its most recent season ran April through August with tryouts starting in the end of March; see the website or the NH Sportplex Facebook page for updates.

• Plex Softball Club (based at NH Sportsplex in Bedford; plexsoftballclub.com) offers an indoor Friday Night Softball League for U12 through U18 with games that start in late December. Outdoor teams play in the spring and the club offers other training opportunities.

• Queen City F.C. (qcfcnh.com) is a nonprofit organization offering competitive soccer in Manchester. Find them on Facebook for information about tryouts.

• Queen City Flag Football (queencityflag.com) offers flag football for ages 4 through 12+, with fall programs (registering now) and spring programs including a girls-only division offered in spring.

• Rivals Elite Basketball (rivalselite.com) offers boys’ and girls’ AAU basketball programs in New Hampshire for grades 3-12. Tryouts take place Aug. 12 through Sept. 2 — see the website for dates and times according to age — at Essex Sports Center in Middleton, Mass. (some boys’ tryouts will take place in Manchester) though practices for the Lady Rivals will take place at Salem High School in Salem, N.H.

• Summit Field Hockey (summitfieldhockey.com) offers indoor and outdoor field hockey, with an indoor travel team and academy and outdoor fall, spring and summer season as well as clinics and more. The fall season starts Sept. 7 with registration open now for grades K-8.

• Vertical Dreams (250 Commercial St., Manchester, 625-6919; 25 E. Otterson St., Nashua, 943-7571; verticaldreams.com) has offered youth climbing teams and climbing clubs at both locations. Check back for updates.

• The Volley Llamas Volleyball Club (volleyllamas-nh.com) offers teams for teenagers, grouped by age, with practices twice a week. Tryouts are Saturday, Aug. 16, and Sunday, Aug. 17, from 4 to 6 p.m. for ages 12 to 15 and from 6 to 8 p.m. for ages 16 to 18, all at Capital City Sports & Fitness in Concord.

• Weare Athletic Club (weareathleticclub.com) offers flag and tackle football, soccer, softball, lacrosse, field hockey, cheer, baseball and basketball. See the website for information about seasons and registration.

• Wrestling Rebels (Boys & Girls Club of Greater Derry, 40 E. Derry Road, Derry, 434-6695, derrybgclub.org/team-page) is a youth wrestling club for boys and girls K through eighth grade. The wrestling season usually starts in October with an information night early in the month, based on Facebook posts from last year.

Theater

• Actorsingers (219 Lake St., Nashua, 889-9691, actorsingers.org) community theater group holds auditions for Teen Actorsingers productions in spring.

• Bedford Youth Performing Company (155 Route 101, Bedford, 472-3894, bypc.org) offers performance and acting classes, grouped by age, for ages 4 through 12+, as well as musical theater and performance by-invitation classes. An acting and improv class is available for ages 13+. BYPC also has productions kids can join including a production of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever for grades 1-6, a March musical for grades 7-12 and a spring musical for grades K-6. Classes begin the week of Aug. 25.

• Broadway Bound Performing Arts Center (501 DW Highway, Merrimack, 429-8844, broadwayboundpac.com) offers classes in musical theater and theater arts. Classes start the week of Sept. 8.

• The Community Players of Concord (communityplayersofconcord.org) offer winter and summer vacation camps and workshops as well as audition opportunities through their Children’s Theatre Project.

• The Dance Company (130 Route 101A, Amherst, 864-8374, thedancecompanyonline.com) offers theater classes for ages 4 to 18 with ensembles grouped by age as well as an all-ages home-school ensemble and a by-audition troupe. The Dance Company also has theatrical productions with shows for kids, grouped by age with 30-minute or one-hour productions, in grades K-12.

• Kids Coop Theatre (46 E. Derry Road, Derry, kctnh.org) is open to kids ages 8 to 19. Check their website for upcoming productions and audition dates. Beetlejuice Jr. will be performed Nov. 21-23 at the Derry Opera House with auditions to take place in late August or early September (check the website for updates on auditions and for fall workshops).

• The Majestic Academy of Dramatic Arts (880 Page St., Manchester, 669-7469, majestictheatre.net) provides performing opportunities in community theater productions and workshops year-round. Upcoming shows include Monster Mash Cabaret on Oc.t 25 (for ages 10 to 17), It’s A Wonderful Life Dec. 12-14 (for all ages), Seussical Jr. Jan. 23-25 (ages 8 to 16), High School Musical Jr. March 27-29 (ages 8 to 16), and Legally Blonde May 8-10 (ages 13 to 18). See the website for audition updates.

• Palace Academy and Palace Youth Theatre (688-5588, palacetheatre.org) The Acting Studio offers “diverse range of courses year-round, including Improv and Acting Games, Scene Study, Mini Camps, and much more,” according to the website. The Palace Youth Theatre holds auditions for grades 2-12 for productions throughout the year (see the upcoming schedule at palacetheatre.org/youth-theatre-in-manchester-palace-youth-theatre/pyt-season). The next auditions will be for an October production of Beetlejuice Jr. the week of Sept. 15.

• Peacock Players (14 Court St., Nashua, 886-7000, peacockplayers.org) offers vacation week camps as well as productions for youth (ages 6-14), teens (ages 14-18), crossover (ages 6-18) and all ages. Peacock Players also features private lessons in voice, piano and music theory and acting and monologue coaching.

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

Annual comedy festival brings together 31 local comedians for six days of laughs

Since it began in 2010, two constants have endured at the annual Hampton Beach Comedy Festival. Every night, two comedians contributed to the festivities: Jimmy Dunn, who created the six-night laugh fest as an excuse to have his friends come, hang out, eat barbecue and tell jokes; and ace booker Dave Rattigan.

This year, however, Dunn won’t be at the festival, because of a dream gig he did Aug. 1. Along with Jimmy Cash he co-headlined Casino Ballroom, a hometown venue where he’d once stood outside as a teenager, too young to get in, listening to legends like Richard Pryor and imagining a career of his own in comedy. So while its founder basks in the afterglow, the festival will carry on. Rattigan, for his part, anticipates a great time, with a few new faces appearing and a solid return lineup. His certainty is rooted as much in the mojo of the event as it is in the talent appearing at McGuirk’s Ocean View.

“Yes, there are great comedians and it’s a great lineup, but also just the vibe of the place is unlike any show I’ve been on,” he said recently. “There’s a really good connection between the audience and the comedians, and all of the comedians who come up want to come next year, and the next year, and the next year.”

Rattigan is looking forward to audiences seeing Tyler Hittner, a mobility-challenged comic who uses a walker.

“He’s incredibly likable, and really funny,” he said. “He uses his disadvantage to his advantage by making it funny, by including everybody in the joke. He laughs at the challenge, and we laugh with him.”

Kristy Kielbasinski, who was a late addition to last year’s festival, will host on Aug. 17. “She had these high heels,” Rattigan recalled. “It’s an outdoor event and she had to get up the steps at night. I kept thinking, I hope she doesn’t get one of those heels caught in the grooves between the planks on the stage. She didn’t, and had a great set.”

First-timer Jim Ruberti is another comic to be excited about. “He hosts a lot for me down the Cape,” Rattigan said, something he’ll do on Aug. 14. “We’re trying to put really good hosts on … they won’t be Jimmy, but they’ll be good. Jim Ruberti’s a really funny guy and a great host.”

Hampton Beach Comedy Festival
When: Tuesday, Aug. 12, through Sunday, Aug. 17, 8 p.m.
Where: McGuirk’s Ocean View Hotel, 95 Ocean Blvd., Hampton
Tickets: $23.18 per show at Eventbrite.com

Tuesday, Aug. 12
Jeff Koen hosts
Paul Gilligan, Will Noonan, Karen Morgan, Dave Rattigan, Ken Rogerson
Wednesday, Aug. 13
Brian Glowacki hosts
Carolyn Plummer, Nick ‘’Fitzy’’ Stevens, Dave Rattigan, Steve Scarfo, Jim Colliton
Thursday, Aug. 14
Jim Ruberti hosts
Kelly MacFarland, Mike Donovan, Paul D’Angelo, Paul Nardizzi, Dave Rattigan
Friday, Aug. 15
Steve Bjork hosts
Nick Gordon, Courtney Cronin, Mitch Stinson, Dave Rattigan, PJ Thibodeau
Saturday, Aug. 16
Jody Sloane hosts
Tony V, Dan Miller, Dave Rattigan, Tyler Hittner, Ryan Gartley
Sunday, Aug 17
Kristy Kielbasinski hosts
Dave Rattigan, Andrew Della Volpe, Ryan Ellington, Jason Merrill, Frank Santorelli of The Sopranos

Festival performers

Can’t catch them at the Festival? Many of these performers also have shows scheduled locally in the coming months.

• Steve Bjork (Friday, Aug. 15) is one of Boston’s best observational humorists and a big fan of his home base. He is known for his clean and funny style.

• Jim Colliton (Wednesday, Aug. 13) Married and raising three kids in the Boston suburbs, Jim keeps his comedy focused on dad life. Along with fellow comic Karen Morgan, he performs the theater show Lawn & Order. His DryBar Comedy special is “Please, Take the Lunch!”

• Paul D’Angelo (Thursday, Aug. 14) An ex-assistant district attorney and criminal-defense trial lawyer, D’Angelo is a fixture in A-list comedy clubs with nearly four decades of standup under his belt.

• Andrew Della Volpe (Sunday, Aug. 17) has appeared at Boston’s Comedy Attic as well as Manchester’s Shaskeen Pub and the Rex Theatre. From 2021 to 2023 he co-hosted a podcast, The Soft Boys, with HBCF favorite Will Noonan. Catch him Saturday, Aug. 9, at the Brook Showroom in Seabrook.

• Mike Donovan (Thursday, Aug. 14) is a mainstay in the Boston comedy world who’s also written several books, including one on U.S. history. “He’s not a normal guy, his head is not a casual head,” Steven Wright once said of Donovan. “He’s got like 18 Harvards up there.”

• Ryan Ellington (Sunday, Aug. 17) The new kid at last year’s festival, Ellington has a white mother and a Black dad, and he’s pale with curly red hair. He wins crowds with lines like, “I don’t look biracial, I look like I have a very complicated order at Starbucks.”

• Ryan Gartley (Saturday, Aug. 16) Gartley’s comedic style is characterized by quick, critical observations and dry, family-friendly humor. He’s appeared from Las Vegas to New York to Bangor, Maine.

• Paul Gilligan (Tuesday, Aug. 12) , aperennial Boston headliner, likes to riff on family life and his pale Irish heritage. “On summer vacations,” goes one joke, “I hide under the deck in a ski mask with 68 sunblock, wrapped in a towel.”

• Brian Glowacki (Wednesday, Aug. 13) has a secret weapon: a face that telegraphs mischief. When he pauses with a sly smirk during a joke setup, it’s like watching a Mento dropped into a bottle of Coke; audience laughter builds, then explodes.

• Nick Gordon (Friday, Aug. 15) has performed at Nick’s Comedy Stop in Boston, as well as the Vermont, the Bricks and Bridges and the Portland, Maine, comedy festivals. He’s a founding member and frequent performer at the Great Falls Comedy Club in Lewiston, Maine.

• Tyler Hittner (Saturday, Aug. 16) Suffering from viral meningitis and relying on a walker has never stopped the Rhode Island-based comic from lighting up stages. His charisma, charm and likability allow him to connect with all types of audiences.

• Kristy Kielbasinski (Sunday, Aug. 17)“Worcester’s Funniest Mom” draws from her life as a stay-at-home parent — she even wrote a children’s book. Her humor, she said a few years back, “is based on an exaggerated version of a desperate housewife who’s sick of her kids, sick of her husband, and it’s a little dark and twisted.”

• Jeff Koen (Tuesday, Aug. 12) regularly supports Juston McKinney at his shows, and performs throughout New England. Koen’s self-deprecating humor lands well with audiences. He had the role of Uncle Rick in the 2011 cult film Heavy Times.

• ​Kelly MacFarland (Thursday, Aug. 14) She’s opened for Kathleen Madigan on several occasions and launched the all-female Mother of a Comedy Show with Kerri Louise and Christine Hurley.

• Jason Merrill (Sunday, Aug. 17), a native of Lawrence, Mass., became a comedian at age 41. Getting on the bill at a few of Dave Rattigan’s Scamps shows accelerated his rise, and now he’s a regional favorite, with an act described as “one part Saturday-morning cartoon character and one part pro-wrestler.”

• Dan Miller (Saturday, Aug. 16) Boston native Miller was “born a comedian but made it official in 1992.” He’s shared stages with local and national headliners like Lenny Clarke, Dane Cook and Dave Attell.

• Karen Morgan (Tuesday, Aug. 12) is a former trial attorney who got her start as a finalist on Nickelodeon’s Search for the Funniest Mom in America. She has two Dry Bar Comedy specials and frequently can be heard on SiriusXM Radio.

• Graig Murphy (Friday, Aug. 15) began in comedy using his impressions of sports and television personalities but has now grown into a national headliner with a quick-witted act of everyday humor.

• Paul Nardizzi (Thursday, Aug. 14) A winner of the Boston Comedy Festival, Nardizzi has appeared on Late Night with Conan O’Brien, Comedy Central, NESN and on Fox Sports’ Best Damn Sports Show Period. He offers observational humor about his family life, sports and more.

• Will Noonan (Tuesday, Aug. 12) Noonan, whose Live In Boston YouTube special dropped in 2024, made an impression on festival organizer Dunn at his initial HBCF appearance, and now he’s a regular. “The first time Will came up, he was wearing a suit,” Dunn recalled. “I was like, ‘Oh, I like this kid’s style already.’”

• Carolyn Plummer (Wednesday, Aug. 13) appeared at Denis Leary’s annual Comics Come Home benefit in 2022. A New Hampshire native — she grew up in Wolfeboro, a minister’s daughter — Plummer got into comedy after responding to an ad.

• Dave Rattigan (all nights) “He looks like a cross between a semi-hip banker and your mild-mannered father-in-law,” blogger Ralph Fatello once said.

• Ken Rogerson (Tuesday, Aug. 12) is a veteran of Rescue Me as well as When Standup Stood Out, a great documentary about Boston’s comedy heyday in the early ’80s. He’s a favorite of Dunn’s, who said, “I legitimately find him one of the funniest people on the planet…”

• Jim Ruberti (Thursday, Aug. 14) has appeared with headliners such as Lenny Clarke, Steve Sweeney, Paul Nardizzi, Mike McDonald, Dave Rattigan and Steve Bjork.

• Frank Santorelli (Sunday, Aug. 17) Best-known for playing the recurring role of “Georgie the Bartender” in The Sopranos and acting in numerous movies, including No Reservations, Meet the Parents and Crooked Lines.

• Steve Scarfo (Wednesday, Aug. 13) came up in the Boston club scene and once took part in a funny mashup of Survivor and Last Comic Standing that still gets YouTube hits. He started doing standup almost 30 years ago and was noticed by The Boston Globe on his first performance.

• Jody Sloane (Saturday, Aug. 16) is a regular at Headliners throughout New England, Gotham Comedy Club in New York City, Nick’s Comedy Stop, plus roadhouses, Elks Clubs and dives from Portland to New York.

• Nick “Fitzy” Stevens (Wednesday, Aug. 13) Well-known for his drive-time show on WEEI Sports Radio in Boston, Stevens’ passion for his teams, comedy and seeking the approval of strangers led him to create an alter ego named, Fitzy, a satire of and love letter to the foul-mouthed fans he attended Boston sports with growing up.

• Mitch Stinson (Friday, Aug. 15) Ex-Navy jet pilot with more than 200 carrier landings during his career, he’s now a comedian. He appears at venues all over New England.

• P.J. Thibodeau (Friday, Aug. 15) Rhode Island-based comedian known for quick wit, blue-collar charm and sharp observational humor.

•Tony V. (Saturday, Aug. 16) A national headliner who’s appeared on late night television and shared the stage with everyone from Steven Wright to Adam Sandler, he’s a Boston comedy legend, and also Jimmy Dunn’s best friend. Catch him Saturday, Aug. 9, at the Brook Showroom in Seabrook.

Season of laughs

Where to find inland comedy

Thursday, Aug. 7
R-Rated Hypnotist Frank Santos Jr. LaBelle Derry, labellewinery.com

Friday, Aug. 8
Jerry Seinfeld at BankNH Pavilion in Gilford, banknhpavilion.com)
Brad Williams (2 shows) at Capitol Center in Concord, ccanh.com

Saturday, Aug. 9
Steve Sweeney & Friends at Beans & Greens in Gilford beansandgreensfarm.com

Saturday, Aug. 16
Vic DiBitetto at Nashua Center for the Arts in Nashua, nashuacenterforthearts.com

Friday, Aug. 22
Tom Cotter at Chunky’s in Manchester, chunkys.com
Jody Sloane, Rob Steen & Greg Boggis at Peterborough Community Theatre, headlinersnh.com

Saturday, Aug. 23
Ken Rogerson & Friends at Averill House in Brookline, averillhousevineyard.com
Jody Sloane at Headliners in Manchester, headlinersnh.com

Saturday, Sept. 6
Steve Hofstetter at Rex Theatre in Manchester, palacetheatre.org

Saturday, Sept. 13
Matt Berry at Chunky’s in Manchester, chunkys.com
Bob Marley (2 shows) at Flying Monkey in Plymouth, flyingmonkeynh.com
Tim McKeever at Headliners in Manchester, headlinersnh.com
Queen City Improv at Rex Theatre in Manchester, palacetheatre.org

Wednesday, Sept. 17
Jody Sloane, Pat Napoli, Rob Steen at Stark Brewing (500 Commercial St., Manchester, headlinersnh.com)

Friday, Sept. 19
Nurse Blake at Capitol Center in Concord, ccanh.com
Piff the Magic Dragon at Nashua Center for the Arts, nashuacenterforthearts.com

Saturday, Sept. 20
Lenny Clarke & Tim McKeever at Chunky’s in Manchester, chunkys.com
Mark Scalia at Headliners in Manchester, headlinersnh.com

Friday, Sept. 26
Matt Friend at Capitol Center in Concord, ccanh.com
Peter Lui & Rob Steen at Liquid Therapy in Nashua, headlinersnh.com

Saturday, Sept. 27
Stand Up Dads – Mike Koutrobis & Steve Bjork at Averill House in Brookline, averillhousevineyard.com
Kevin James (2 shows) at Capitol Center in Concord, ccanh.com
Funny Women of a Certain Age w/ Carole Montgomery, Leighann Lord and Julia Scotti at Flying Monkey in Plymouth, flyingmonkeynh.com
James Dorsey at Headliners in Manchester, headlinersnh.com
Kerri Louise, Christine Hurley, Kathe Ferris at Rex Theatre in Manchester, palacetheatre.org
Mark Riley at Chunky’s in Manchester, chunkys.com

Saturday, Oct. 4
Jimmy Cash at Flying Monkey in Plymouth, flyingmonkeynh.com
Mark Riccadonna at Chunky’s in Manchester, chunkys.com

Saturday, Oct. 11
Steve Bjork at Headliners in Manchester, headlinersnh.com
Jody Sloane at Chunky’s in Manchester, chunkys.com

Friday, Oct. 17
John Cleese of Monty Python at Capitol Center in Concord, ccanh.com

Saturday, Oct. 18
Frank Santorelli at Headliners in Manchester, headlinersnh.com
Juston McKinney (2 shows) at Palace Theatre in Manchester, palacetheatre.org
Mark Scalia at Chunky’s in Manchester, chunkys.com
Christopher Titus at Tupelo Music Hall in Derry, tupelohall.com

Friday, Oct. 24
Tim McKeever & Pat Napoli at Liquid Therapy in Nashua, headlinersnh.com

Saturday, Oct. 25
Brian Beaudion at Chunky’s in Manchester, chunkys.com
Joey Carroll at Headliners in Manchester, headlinersnh.com
Emily Ruskowski & guest comedians at Averill House in Brookline, averillhousevineyard.com

Thursday, Oct. 30
Craig Ferguson at Nashua Center for the Arts, nashuacenterforthearts.com

Friday, Oct. 31
Tim Hayes/Teddy Smith at the Rex in Manchester, palacetheatre.org

Saturday, Nov. 1
Steve Bjork at Chunky’s in Manchester, chunkys.com

Saturday, Nov. 8
Bob Marley at Capitol Center in Concord, ccanh.com
Will Noonan at Chunky’s in Manchester, chunkys.com

Saturday, Nov. 15
Frank Santorelli at Chunky’s in Manchester, chunkys.com

Friday, Nov. 21
Matt Berry & Shawn Ruiz at Liquid Therapy in Nashua, headlinersnh.com

Saturday, Nov. 22
Joe Carroll at Chunky’s in Manchester, chunkys.com

Saturday, Nov. 29
Juston McKinney at Flying Monkey in Plymouth, flyingmonkeynh.com)
Carolyn Plummer at Chunky’s in Manchester, chunkys.com

Saturday, Dec. 6
Jim Gaffigan at SNHU Arena in Manchester, snhuarena.com

Find community and a multi- genre playlist at line dancing
— beginners, sneakers and pop music fans welcome

Decades after “Boot Scootin’ Boogie” and “Achy Breaky Heart” helped propel it into a national craze, line dancing is experiencing a renaissance, particularly in New England. From the Seacoast to the Lakes Region, in nightclubs, town halls and senior centers, across the spectrum of ages, the blend of choreography, fitness and just plain fun is back — but with a fresh soundtrack.

Go out to The Goat in Manchester, Bernie’s Beach Bar in Hampton or the Big House in Laconia, to name a fraction of venues offering weekly nights of line dancing, and it’s likely the crowded floors will be moving in time to Pitbull, Dasha or Eminem along with Keith Urban and Blake Shelton.

To put a finer point on it: This isn’t a country revival. It’s not even a rebranding, but an old thing repurposed for an entire genre of music that heretofore did not know it existed. It’s fueled in no small part by a generation with a preference for comfortable shoes over cowboy boots.

Cathy Garland teaches all over New England. She was around for the line dancing’s first wave, watched it ebb and relished its return, She has a theory about its current resurgence.

“I’m gonna honestly say that social media probably plays the biggest role,” she said. “I know there are the classic line dance instructors who have been hardcore for 50-60 years. The last thing they want to see is a young person doing a line dance on TikTok and maybe adding their own flair or changing the choreography a little bit. But for me that can only help.”

The new blood keeps Garland agile when she hosts a dance.

“On any given night, I might think I’m gonna play ABCD, and then I look at the crowd and I’m like, ‘nope, we’re switching it up,’” she said. “I love the fact that I can take a large group of people and have them move together as one, and make it fun and entertaining.”

There are a lot of great things about line dancing. For starters, it’s a way to be active for all ages. Gail Eaton teaches at senior centers in Nashua, Pelham and Hudson to students age 50 and up. “Most of them are in their 60s, 70s, and I have several in their 80s,” she said. “I have one that’s turning 90 this year.”

Jennifer Hanson is the owner of Dance The Line and teaches several classes on the Seacoast.

“One of my oldest students is turning 90 this year,” Hanson said, “I always ask her what’s her key, and she says, ‘Don’t stop moving.’ She’s like, ‘If I stop, you know what’s going to happen? I don’t want to talk about it.’”

It’s also a great tool for easing everyday struggles. Kathleen Crocker first tried line dancing to momentarily forget about her job as a high school principal, in 2012. Crocker now runs 603 Line Dance with Kim Murray Carpentino. The organization holds events at Bonfire and The Goat in Manchester, Tuscan Village in Salem, Lakeport Opera House in Laconia, and a few Seacoast spots.

“I needed an outlet where I could forget about my day, and line dancing did that for me, because you can’t do it and think about your troubles — you have to think about what you’re doing,” she said. “Everybody gets drawn to it for different reasons. Some are lonely and need something different, some are feeling sick or sad … some come as a couple. People have met and gotten married because they found each other on the dance floor.”

The absolute best thing about line dancing, however, is that it’s very easy to learn and welcomes newcomers. If you can’t figure out the steps to one song, wait for another. Gail Eaton, who runs On The Dance Floor, has a YouTube video for what she calls Absolute Beginners that covers the basics.

“They need to know a grapevine, something called a rocking chair, a jazz box, a Charleston kick,” she said. “I teach in sections of eight. So we have a 32-count dance. It’s broken down into four sections of eight counts. If you know how to walk, you know how to count to eight.”

Equally important is what not to know. Ginger Kozlowski started line dancing in 1995 and began teaching five years later. She now holds classes in Bedford, at the Old Town Hall. She almost didn’t attend that first dance, worried that it was some ‘yee-haw’ affair, but got hooked when “I’m Too Sexy” was the first song played. She doesn’t want others to make that mistake.

“What drives me nuts about line dancing is that people have this hokey stereotype about it,” she said, “Some people wear boots and cowboy hats, including me at times. But most just wear sneakers, jeans, T-shirts [and] we dance to all kinds of music, including country, pop, rock, Irish, waltzes, you name it. There’s a wide range of skill levels, from simple walking and stomping patterns to complicated routines that take a lot of practice.”

A great website to look at the many line dances created over the years is copperknob.co.uk. It offers detailed steps from easy to hard and includes profiles of choreographers — some of whom are contributors to this story. If you want to see how complex The Sphinx dance is, for example, this is the place.

Right now the Seacoast is a jumping spot for line dancing enthusiasts. Michelle Jackson-White runs three different gatherings every week, all summer long. On Mondays at Bernie’s Beach Bar in Hampton Beach she leads Country Nights, and on Thursdays she’s at the more family-friendly Seashell Stage. Tuesdays, the action happens across the border at Surfside on Salisbury Beach.

Each dance is different. Monday’s crowd is varied and often includes people who need help with dancing. That’s something readily provided at pretty much every line dance. At a given moment, she’ll call the curious to the center of the room to demonstrate an easy set of moves.

This is not for the seasoned steppers, she explained. “Dancer-dancers can do them with their eyes closed, but this is for somebody brand new that doesn’t dance. So several times throughout the night I’ll say, OK, after this, a micro-lesson. People are hanging around, it’s a good party vibe, that’s the thing.”

The Tuesday event in Salisbury is also taught by 603 Line Dance’s Kathleen Crocker and “is more like a social night,” Jackson-White observed, with lots of open dancing and couples pairing off along with line dancing. “There’s so many people. Then Thursday is, for me personally, more business and professional.”

Music, as the Bernie’s night’s title suggests, includes more than a little country, but every instructor says that being flexible with the playlist is crucial given the diversity of the ever-growing audience. Crocker, for her part, believes this is much easier than most people might think.

“We can put dances to multiple different songs, depending upon the beat and how the dance works,” she said. “Initially, every dance is choreographed with a particular song in mind, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be done to a different song, depending upon the steps and the beat of the music. There are dances that can go to a hundred different songs out there.”

Anyway, if tossing the ten-gallon hat and the pure country tune for Eminem or Nickelback inspires a ballcap wearing twentysomething to become a new convert, it’s worth it. Everyone’s welcome, all genres are played, and anything can happen at these happy get-togethers.

All that’s asked is for folks to jump in line and smile.

“The dance floor is your happy place,” Jennifer Hanson insists. “It’s a community. We call it our dance family because we’re together more than we see our own family sometimes, as much as you like to dance. It’s the happy place where you get to meet other people and exercise and forget about everything else that’s going on in the world. You can just focus on the music, and the dance, and it’s … just a happy place.”

Where to line dance

If you’re looking for a line dance, first check out the calendar hosted by Ginger Kozlowski at bit.ly/4jwZncR, which is growing daily. Here are several recurring events and few one-offs, including dates, times, cost and level of difficulty. Most if not all welcome absolute beginners.

Old Town Hall, 10 Meetinghouse Road, Bedford
Host: Ginger Kozlowski
Price: $7-$10
Level: All
When: Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday (begins September), 7 p.m.

Broadway North Dance Studio, 217 DW Highway, Belmont, 524-6225
Host: Sue
Price: $90 per person for 10
Level: Beginner
When: Mondays 6:45-8:15 p.m.

Bow Community Building, 3 Bow Center Road, Bow
Host: Michele Vecchione
Price: $61 for 8 classes for residents, $65 non-Bow residents
Level: Absolute Beginner, Beginner, Improver
When: Mondays Beginner & Wednesday Improver

Brookline Event Center, 32 Proctor Hill Road, Brookline (673-4474)
Host: Bernie Barrette
Price: $5 Beginner, $6 Beyond
Level: Beginner, Improver
When: Mondays 6-8:30 p.m.

Line Dance Classes, 8 Raymond Road, Deerfield (463-8811, ext. 305)
Host: Joe Manzi
Price: $4
Level: All
When: Wednesdays 6 p.m.

Upper Village Hall, 52 East Derry Road, Derry (396-0753)
Host: Linda Alfonsi & Mark Sandland
Price: $10 per person
Level: All
When: Thursdays 6:30-9:30 p.m.

Dover Elks, 282 Durham Road, Dover (782-4949)
Host: Gail Eaton
Price: $15, no outside drinks, bar will be open
Level: Partner Dance Event
When: Aug. 1, Sept. 19, Oct. 17, Nov. 21 and Dec. 19, 7-10:30 p.m.

Dover Elks, 282 Durham Road, Dover (502-5917)
Host: Dance The Line
Price: $10, cash only
Level: All
When: Mondays, 6-7:30 p.m. Beginner & 7:30-9 p.m. Intermediate

Epping American Legion, 232 Route 125, Epping (782-4949)
Host: Gail Eaton
Price: $10 for the night
Level: Beginner, Improver & Intermediate
When: Wednesdays, 6-7 p.m. Beginner, 7-9 p.m. Improver/Intermediate

Francestown Town Hall, 2 New Boston Road, Francestown (562-8910)
Host: Dorene Adams
Price: $5
Level: Absolute Beginner, Beginner
When: Tuesdays 7 p.m.

Bernie’s Beach Bar, 73 Ocean Blvd., Hampton (nashvillelinedance.com)
Host: Nashville Line Dance
Price: Free
Level: All
When: Mondays 7-11 p.m.

Seashell Stage, 180 Ocean Blvd., Hampton (nashvillelinedance.com)
Host: Nashville Line Dance
Price: Free
Level: All
When: Thursdays 6-7 p.m.

Where: Loyal Order of Moose Lodge, 15 School St., Hillsborough (562-8910)
Host: Dorene Adams
Price: $5
Level: Absolute Beginner, Ultra Beginner, Beginner
When: Mondays 7 p.m.

Where: Hudson Senior Center, 19 Kimball Hall Road, Hudson (782-4949)
Host: Gail Eaton
Price: $5 members, $7 non-members
Level: Beginner, Intermediate
When: Thursdays, 9-10 a.m. Beginner, 10-11:30 a.m. Intermediate

Where: Saddle Up Saloon, 92 Route 125, Kingston (347-1313)
Host: Linda Alfonsi
Price: $15 per person
Level: Absolute Beginner, Ultra Beginner, Beginner, Improver
When: Tuesday 7-9 p.m.

Where: Lakeport Opera House, 781 Union Ave., Laconia (603linedance.com)
Host: 603 Line Dance
Price: $15 at the door or Venmo
Level: All
When: Sunday, Aug, 24, 7-10:30 p.m.

Where: The Big House, 322 Lakeside Ave., Laconia (granitestatestomp.com)
Host: Granite State Stomp
Price: Free
Level: All levels
When: Fridays, Aug. 1 & 15, 6-9 p.m., lessons at 7 p.m.

Where: Bonfire, 958 Elm St., Manchester (603linedance.com)
Host: 603 Line Dance
Price: Free
Level: 5 p.m. Advanced, 6 p.m. Beginner
When: Sundays 6 p.m.

Where: The Goat, 50 Old Granite St., Manchester (603linedance.com)
Host: 603 Line Dance
Price: Free
Level: All
When: Mondays & Wednesdays 7 p.m.

Where: Nashua Senior Center, 70 Temple St., Nashua (603-782-4949)
Host: Gail Eaton
Price: $5 members, $7 non-members
Level: Beginner
When: Tuesdays, 10-11 a.m. Beginners, 10-11:30 a.m. Intermediate

Where: Old Homestead Farm, 7159 Greenville Road, New Ipswich (603linedance.com)
Host: 603 Line Dance
Price: $15 at the door or Venmo
Level: All
When: Saturdays, Aug. 16, 7 p.m.

Where: Fox Run Dance Hall, 50 Fox Run Road, Newington (dancetheline.net)
Host: Dance The Line
Price: $10, cash only
Level: Beginner, Intermediate
When: Wednesdays, 6-7:30 p.m. Beginners, 7:30-9 p.m. Intermediates

Where: Rockingham Ballroom, 22 Ash Swamp Road, Newmarket (603linedance.com)
Host: 603 Line Dance
Price: $15 at the door or Venmo
Level: All
When: Friday, Aug. 8

Where: The Gathering Place, 1471 First NH Turnpike, Northwood (dancetheline.net)
Host: Dance The Line
Price: $10, cash only
Level: Beginner
When: Tuesdays 6-7:30 p.m.

Where: Hobbs Community Center, 8 Nashua Road, Pelham (603-782-4949)
Host: Gail Eaton
Price: $5
Level: Beginner
When: Mondays 1 p.m.

Where: George Maloof, 101 Fairgrounds Road, Plymouth (603-536-1179)
Host: George Maloof
Price: $5
Level: Beginner/Intermediate
When: 2nd & 4th Sundays only, 4-6:30 p.m.

Where: Eastside Tavern, 43 Highland St., Rochester (dancetheline.net)
Host: Dance The Line
Price: Free
Level: open dancing & requests
When: Thursdays 7-8 p.m. (co-host Michelle Jackson-White)

Where: Tuscan Village Outdoor, Stage 9 Via Toscana, Salem (603linedance.com)
Host: 603 Line Dance
Price: Free
Level: All
When: Thursdays 6-8p

Where: Dellicolli Dance Studio, 875 Lafayette Road, Seabrook (603-782-4949)
Host: Gail Eaton
Price: $10 beginner, $15 for both
Level: Beginner, Improver & Intermediate
When: Mondays 6-7 p.m. Beginner, 7-8:30 p.m. Improver/Intermediate

Where: Bow Lake Community Center (The Grange), 569 Province Road, Strafford (dancetheline.net)
Host: Dance The Line
Price: $10, cash only
Level: Beginner
When: Tuesdays 10-11:30 a.m.

Where: Pembroke City Limits, 134 Main St., Suncook (603linedance.com)
Host: 603 Line Dance
Price: Free
Level: All
When: Saturday, Aug. 2, 6 p.m.

Where: Smitty’s Theatre & Game Lab, 630 W. Main St., Tilton (603linedance.com)
Host: 603 Line Dance
Price: Free
Level: All
When: Tuesdays

Where: Bent-Burke Post 10 American Legion, 24 Maple St., Wilton (562-8910)
Host: Dorene Adams
Price: $5
Level: Beginner, Improver
When: Thursdays 7 p.m.

Where: Windham Senior Center, 2 N. Lowell Road, Windham (782-4949)
Host: Gail Eaton
Price: $5 pay as you go
Level: Beginner (6-7p), Improver & Intermediate (7p)
When: Thursdays 9:45-10:45 a.m.

Ginger Kozlowski on What’s Awesome About Line Dancing
It is for ANYONE! All ages, all body types. You will feel better physically and emotionally. You can meet new people and make friends. You will have FUN! Best of all, there’s nothing better for keeping your mind and body healthy.
If you dance with me, I try hard to make it all about the fun!

Here’s the most popular line dance on the World Line Dance Newsletter (worldlinedancenewsletter.com) right now:

No Remorse: youtu.be/8dB2kV2Req0

This is a very hard dance: The Sphinx: tinyurl.com/34hvurf6

… and a very easy dance: Dancin’ In the Country: tinyurl.com/mpk8cmj9

Here’s me having just taught a dance to a bunch of people at an event in Sturbridge, Mass. [look for “Ginger Love Me to Heaven” on YouTube.]

Getting fancy and keeping it simple with summer’s favorite dish

Former governor Chris Sununu was a bit of a hot dog purist.

“He always ordered the same thing,” Gretchen Peters remembered, “a plain hot dog with yellow mustard.”

Peters owns and operates Puppy Love Hot Dogs on Main Street in Concord, across the street from the Statehouse. She has spent much of her life serving hot dogs to customers from her cart.

“This is a second-generation family-owned and -operated business,” she said. “We’re in our 47th season. My parents started the business in 1978, right here in this little alleyway on Main Street in Concord.”

Hot dog season

In the winter Peters sells hot dogs out of a storefront, but during warm weather her cart is located just off the sidewalk and all her customers are on foot.

“[A hot dog is] the cheapest fastest lunch on Main Street,” she said, “so I have lots of regulars, who have their regular orders. I know their orders probably better than I know their names.” She describes her style of hot dogs as “a New England classic.”

According to Peters, hot dogs are part of our culture. “We’re really … seasonal people,” she said. “Like, we wait for strawberry season, blueberry season, corn on the cob, lobster rolls. This is hot dog season. I think I’m lucky that my customers do come and support me throughout the year. So in the wintertime I do probably sell more chili dogs because it is comfort food. When one of my customers had a hard day or whatever, they’ll come in and they’ll say, ‘I need some hot dog therapy.’ It just makes you feel better, because it’s something that you grew up [with]; you kind of crave whatever you grow up with. There are different dogs — like if people ask for Red Snappers, they’re from Maine, or a Coney Island dog, or a Chicago dog — it just depends on where you grow up.”

According to Peters, hot dogs are part of our culture. “We’re really … seasonal people,” she said. “Like, we wait for strawberry season, blueberry season, corn on the cob, lobster rolls. This is hot dog season. I think I’m lucky that my customers do come and support me throughout the year. So in the wintertime I do probably sell more chili dogs because it is comfort food. When one of my customers had a hard day or whatever, they’ll come in and they’ll say, ‘I need some hot dog therapy.’ It just makes you feel better, because it’s something that you grew up [with]; you kind of crave whatever you grow up with. There are different dogs — like if people ask for Red Snappers, they’re from Maine, or a Coney Island dog, or a Chicago dog — it just depends on where you grow up.”

Candia Road Brewing Co.
There are currently seven hot dogs on the menu: a traditional hot dog, a Seattle dog, a New York-style dog, an Omaha dog, and three varieties of Vietnamese-style bánh mì dogs. The hot dogs are made with all-beef franks, and traditional New England split-top buns are grilled.
Where: 840 Candia Road, Manchester
More: 935-8123, candiaroadbrewingco.com

A proper dog

According to James Malik, the taste and texture of a hot dog sets it apart from most other sausages. Malik is a career butcher, working at Wicked Good Butchah in Bedford. He said a smooth texture is a hallmark of a hot dog and is difficult to achieve without specialized equipment.

“To make sausages,” Malik said, “you need something called a bowl chopper, to give you a proper hot dog texture. You’re looking for a very smooth texture. When you cut open a hot dog, there won’t be little chunks inside. The meat has been chopped down until it’s completely smooth, to an almost paté-like texture. A bowl chopper is a machine with a rotating bowl that minces meat much finer than a typical meat grinder. It’s also where the spices and flavors are added.” This increases a hot dog’s consistency, he explained; there will not be any pops of flavor.

“It’s kind of how it’s always been done,” Malik continued. “You also need to ask yourself what kind of casing [skin] you want to use, or if you’re going to smoke it. There’s a couple of different directions you could go.”

Puppy Love Hot Dogs
Steamed beef/pork hot dogs on traditional New England split-top buns.
Where: 50 N. Main St., Concord, across the street from the Statehouse
Hours: Tuesday through Saturday, 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
More: puppylovehotdogs.com

A dog for all tastes

The staff at Candia Road Brewing Co. in Manchester likes how many directions it’s possible to take a hot dog in.

“We crank out really good hot dogs here,” said Candia Road co-owner Graham Rissel. “We have some standards on our menu that aren’t standard for a lot of other places. Like we have a Banh Mi dog, we have an Omaha dog, which is like pastrami, Swiss, Thousand Island and some black pepper. It’s really good. We do a really good job.”

The secret to a really good hot dog, Rissel said, is grilling it on a flat-top, rather than boiling or steaming it.

“We grill the bun and we grill the dog,” he said. This gives both a buttery sear, he explained. The brewery uses traditional New England split-top buns, which lie flat on their sides on the grill. Most of Candia Road’s hot dogs are made with all-beef franks, he said, though vegan dogs can be substituted in many of their iterations.

While there are usually three different types of hot dogs on the menu at Candia Road, Rissel said, once a year the brewery goes a little hot dog crazy.

“Every year we have what we call Weenie Weekend where we release our — we call it a wiener lager, but it’s a Vienna lager style beer — and then we put on like a lot of hot dogs. We usually have over 20 hot dogs on the menu, all different styles that are really crazy and funky, and then we have a big day where we just have only hot dogs. We sell them here and it’s good.”

Coming up with creative hot dogs for Wienie Weekend involves the entire Candia Road staff, Rissel said.

“We were just joking about that, actually,” he said. “So Mike, our head brewer, his wife was texting him with some crazy ideas that she was coming up with. But really it’s just kind of like a collaborative thing. We had a chimichurri dog on that menu last year. [Chimichurri is a South American sauce made from freshly ground herbs.]

“And then we had a queso dog,” Rissel continued, “with sausage, like chorizo. We make legit queso [cheese] sauce. Usually it’s just kind of like we spitball, to come up with ideas. We have a nori dog, which has seaweed and a Japanese-style dog. But if we like something else, we try to figure out how to put it onto a dog. We did a fried rice dog last year. We thought, ‘Everyone likes fried rice. Let’s put fried rice on a hot dog, you know?’ It worked out pretty good.”

This year’s Wienie Weekend menu is still up in the air, Rissel said.

“There’s been some discussion,” he said. “There were some dog ideas that aren’t going to make the final cut and I won’t be going on record just how bad some of these ideas were. No, there’s some good ideas they got. Because what I say might not make the final cut, and then I’ll be the guy who had the bad opinion,” Rissel said.

Hare of the Dawg
Currently has eight hot dogs on the menu. All are made with gas-grilled all-beef franks, served on grilled split-top brioche buns. Customer suggestions are taken seriously.
Where: 3 E. Broadway, Derry
More: 552-3883, hareofthedawgnh.com

Classic dogs

At Hare of the Dawg in Derry, the approach to hot dogs is more conventional, said owner Kevin Decker, but taken just as seriously, though the restaurant isn’t actually named after them.

“The name of the business is kind of a dog theme,” he said. “It’s not a hot dog theme per se, but we’re just very dog-friendly. A lot of things on our menu have dog names. Hot dogs became kind of a specialty as more and more customers asked for them. We ended up creating a great menu with a lot of different hot dogs. Some of them are named after dogs I’ve had and dogs other people have brought in, but we make everything from scratch, including a true Chicago dog, which a lot of people don’t do in the area.”

Decker said that while it’s easy to find hot dogs at many area restaurants it can be challenging to find really good ones.

“We felt there was a need,” he said. “We went to a lot of places that had hot dogs on their menu. Eventually we found a really, really good beef dog that we liked after trying a lot of different ones and just designed different names and different style dogs. So it’s been popular, and we’ve expanded that menu based on the customers’ requests. I think it’s one of those things, where once you get people that learn to expect a good dog then they’ve got suggestions where to go from there.”

According to Decker, hot dogs have a no-nonsense authenticity that suits his customers.

“We are a downtown, blue-collar bar,” he said. “It’s a working man’s bar. We’re not fancy, but everything we make is made in-house. Obviously we don’t make the hot dog itself, but we prepare it.”

Hare of the Dawg also uses an all-beef hot dog and cooks it on a gas grill.

“We grill it on an actual grill,” Decker said. “And we use a top-split, grilled brioche roll; that really is kind of a game-changer for the dog. It’s a richer flavor. It’s just nice, you know.”

“One of the specials this weekend will be a bacon-wrapped, deep-fried hot dog with cheese melted on the top and onions on it, on a brioche roll. Right now it’s raw onions, but I think caramelized onions would go along with the bacon.”

Wicked Good Butchah
Where: 209 Route 101, Bedford
More: wickedgoodbutchah.com

Dogs for a cause

Hot dogs play a big role in Robert Bergin’s life. He is one of the organizers of NH Hot Dogz for ALZ, a fundraising event for the Alzheimer’s Association. Once per year — usually in June, which is Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month — Bergin and his team sell hot dogs. According to act.alz.org, to date, the hot dog event has raised almost $100,000.

“We started in 2016,” Bergin remembered, “and we started with the silly idea that we would sell hot dogs. And we sold about 300 the first year. And then the team grew, and we started expanding the ideas of awareness, and we have progressed to the point where we have eight exhibitors, and the hot dog event became the memory that created the environment that generated 1,200 people showing up on the same day. We have a drive-thru, which helps us not be as crowded at our main tent. We can seat about 120 people at a time.”

“When we open on what is the last Thursday of every June we’re ready for 120 guests immediately, and we have probably 300 hot dogs made when we open at 11 [a.m.],” he said. “There are companies that come by and buy 50 bags. A bag for us is $5 and you get two hot dogs in the bag and an additional bag of chips. We sold 2,700 hot dogs this year.”

For Bergin, hot dogs are a solid way to raise money, but they are also a simple, pure concept that guests with memory issues can wrap their heads around.

“The simplicity of our event is what I try to drive home to people,” he said. “The whole event could be the menu. The menu is the memory. The memory is what is going for someone who has Alzheimer’s. So if you take the memory of a hot dog and you keep it simple, like we do, you help build a new memory.”

NH Hot Dogz for ALZ
Fundraising event
Where: Merrimack
When: every year at the end of June

Annika’s Hot Dogs
Serves boiled and steamed kosher all-beef franks, as well as vegan hot dogs.
Where: at Annika’s father’s barber shop, Hair Biz Salon, 4 N. Main St., Concord

The vegan dog

Hot dog enthusiasts in Concord have two choices of hot dog stands on Main Street. Three blocks or so south of Puppy Love Hot Dogs, Annika Holden runs Annika’s Hot Dogs with her father, David.

“I’ve been here for about five years,” Annika said. “I sell hot dogs, vegan dogs, sausages, smoky maple sausages, mac and cheese on top of a hot dog, and pulled pork on top of a hot dog.”

David said Annika’s vegan hot dogs set her stand apart.

“I think that she’s the only person that we know of in Concord that sells a vegan dog,” he said. “There’s a vegan population here, and they do not want a hot dog; they want a vegan dog. So when we cook the vegan dogs, Annika cooks them separate from the hot dogs, because that’s also something the customers insist on. We get a lot of out-of-towners who like vegan dogs. Then, there are some people who don’t realize she sells vegan dogs.”

Aside from her plant-based hot dogs, Annika sells all-beef kosher hot dogs — which were very popular with Gov. Sununu, who, unsurprisingly, always ordered a plain dog with yellow mustard.

David Cortes is a full-time hot dog man. His food truck, Mr. Hot Dog, can be found near the Nashua Airport parking lot. He is fiercely loyal to his favorite brand of hot dog. “It’s an all-beef hot dog,” he said, “Kirkland’s brand. I’ve tried others like Hebrew Nationals, Nathan’s, Ballparks, and nothing holds up like a Kirkland hot dog. It’s the best hot dog you can eat.”

During the summer Cortes steams his hot dogs, but during cold weather he often grills them on a flat-top griddle. “At that point,” he said, “it’s up to the customer if they want them grilled; 80 percent like them grilled.”

Cortes offers mostly traditional toppings for his hot dogs, with one exception.

“My condiments are sauerkraut, onion, chopped onions, sweet relish, mustard, mayonnaise, ketchup, and hot sauce,” he said. He was surprised, though, at how many customers asked him for mayonnaise. “It’s mostly people from South America,” he said. “I think it originated from Brazil, but Colombians, people from Peru, and even Mexico love loading up their hot dogs with it.”

Another condiment Cortes never expected to offer is celery salt.

“That was something I had to learn,” he said. “Born and raised in New York City, I’d never seen celery salt on a cart. I’d never even tried it, you know, to this day. But the first day that I was in business, a customer asked, ‘You have celery salt?’ And I looked at him like he was nuts, but a week later I had celery salt on the cart, because you know I have to try to have everything that the customers want.”

Unlike many other hot dog businesses, Cortes only offers spicy brown mustard.

“It’s not a yellow,” he said. “It’s not a Dijon. It’s just a regular deli mustard. My customers love it. Very few ask for a yellow mustard.”

Cortes likes to build a hot dog from the condiments up.

“I put sauerkraut, onions and relish at the bottom,” he said. “It’s just a neater hot dog. Once I have those dressings there, I put the hot dog over it and then I dress it up with either ketchup, mustard, or both, mayonnaise, whatever the customer wants. That way the condiments don’t go all over the place when you try biting into it. They just stay put.”

Mr. Hot Dog
All-beef hot dogs are steamed. Regular-size dogs are served on a standard New England-style split-top bun. Jumbo dogs are served on a 7-inch side-split bun.
Where: Charron Ave., Nashua, near the Nashua Airport parking lot
Hours: Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
More: 333-7323

11 spots where you can enjoy nature and more

By Chelsea Spear

listings@hippopress.com

In Hippo’s Best of 2025 readers’ poll, we asked readers to vote for their favorite city parks. With the temperature rising and the days still long, you might be looking for someplace to soak in the sun’s rays or beat the heat. Here are the top 11 winners in that category.

Livingston Park

156 Hooksett Road in Manchester, 624-6444

Amenities: The park, which is about 131 acres, features Dorrs Pond Trail (a trail, a little less than a mile, that loops around the pond); Livingston Pool; an accessible playground; athletic fields; picnic areas; a kayak and canoe launch; a running track; ice skating in winter (weather permitting), restrooms and Brigit’s Garden (a public garden; see brigitsfoundation.org), according to the city’s parks and recreation website.

According to an email from Manchester’s Recreation and Enterprise Manager Brendan Lynch, the green space stands out because “it offers something for everyone. Whether you’re looking to cool off in the pool, enjoy a peaceful walk around the pond, or bring the kids to a vibrant and inclusive playground, the park blends natural beauty with well-maintained amenities.”

The newly finished running track is home to Central High School Track and Field, and the baseball fields are home to Manchester-North Hooksett Little League and Central High School’s JV baseball team. Livingston Pool is currently open for the summer; see manchesternh.gov/Departments/Parks-and-Recreation/Parks-Trails-and-Facilities/Aquatic-Facilities/Livingston-Pool for the lap swim and public swim hours.

Rollins Park

116 Broadway St. in Concord, 225-8690

Amenities: The park features baseball and softball fields, a basketball court, ice skating in winter, a picnic shelter, a playground, a pool, portable toilets, tennis courts and walking fields, according to concordnh.gov. Rollins Park “was a gift of the late governor Frank West Rollins, in memory of a distinguished townsman and senator, the Honorable Edward. H. Rollins,” according to an email from Concord Parks and Recreation Director David Gill.

The park “is the local park for residents of the south end of Concord where everyone knows each other … Just a great neighborhood park,” Gill wrote.

Rollins Pool is open daily from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. as well as 6 to 7:30 p.m. on weekdays and will be home to the citywide swim team the first week of August, according to posts on the parks and recreation department’s Facebook page.

Rollins Park is also home to the monthly Arts in the Park events held by the Concord Arts Market. The events feature more than 65 arts vendors as well as food vendors, live music and more and will run Saturdays Aug. 9, Sept. 13 and Oct. 11, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., according to concordartsmarket.org.

Rollins will also host the annual National Night Out on Tuesday, Aug. 5, from 5 to 8 p.m. The event, meant to “promote cooperation between the police and the community,” will feature food, prizes, K-9 demonstrations, a zoo exhibit, a rock climbing wall, touch a truck and more, according to the summer and fall activities brochure, which you can find at concordnh.gov/1984/Parks-Recreation.

White Park

1 White St. in Concord, 225-8690, concordnh.gov

Amenities: Soccer and baseball fields, a basketball court, ice skating and sledding in winter, a playground, roller hockey rink, portable toilets, a splash pad and walking trails, according to the city’s website.

White Park played an important role in Concord history. It was given to the city in 1884 by Armenia White in 1884, in memory of her husband Nathaniel, a founder of The American Express Co., and was designed by renowned architect Charles Elliott, according to an email from Gill.

“[White Park has] something for everyone – places to relax and enjoy nature as the park has large pond and over half of the park is trees and open areas,” Gill wrote.

The splash pad, installed in 2023, is open weekdays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and weekends 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., according to the parks department’s website.

The park’s Monkey Around Playground was slated to hold its sendoff celebration on July 15 ahead of demolition and construction of a “Monkey Around Playground 2.0,” which is billed as inclusive and featuring interactive elements, according to FriendsofWhitePark.org. See concordnh.gov/1472/White-Park-Playgroundconcordnh.gov/1472/White-Park-Playground for an explanation of the plans.

This summer, catch free concerts in the park at the Lodge Patio on Sunday mornings at 10 a.m. Concerts will run weekly through Aug. 24 and then finish up on Sept. 14 and Sept. 21. Next up is Steve Blunt on July 20.

In the winter, the park hosts the Black Ice Pond Hockey Tournament (see blackicepondhockey.com) and ice skating, with skate rentals available at Merrimack Lodge.

Greeley Park

100 Concord St. in Nashua, 589-3370, nashuanh.gov/facilities/facility/details/greeley-park-29

Amenities: The park features baseball and softball fields, a spot to play horseshoes, lighted picnic areas, a playground, restrooms, sledding in winter, tennis courts, trails and a wading pool, according to its website.

The 125-acre Greeley Park has been at the heart of Nashua since 1896.

“The land was deeded to the city of Nashua by Joseph Thornton Greeley, the grandson of the original Joseph Greeley,” according to an email from Parks Director Lauren Byers. “In 1908, John E. Cotton donated $5,000, an amount that was matched by city funds, to change the Greeley Farm into a public park. The money was used to create a stone and cement rest house, a fountain, a shallow pond, a gravel walk and flower beds.”

Today Greeley Park is a hub of activity, with events scheduled for all ages throughout the year. The Greeley Park Art Show, now in its 72nd year, takes place in August (this year Saturday, Aug. 16, and Sunday, Aug. 17, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.), according to nashuaarts.org/greeleyparkartshow.

Many of the city’s SummerFun events take place in Greeley, including the annual Fairytale Festival, which will be held on Saturday, July 19, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nashua Community Music School holds a “Musical Playgroup” most Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10 a.m. and the YMCA holds a “Yoga in the Park” on Mondays at 6 p.m. Most Tuesdays through Aug. 26 catch free concerts at the Bandshell, with shows starting at 7 p.m. Next up is Tru Diamond (a Neil Diamond tribute band) on Tuesday, July 22, according to nashuanh.gov/546/SummerFun. Nashua’s National Night Out on Tuesday, Aug. 5, will also be held at Greeley Park, the website said. Greeley events continue into the fall (Halloween Boo Bash is slated for Saturday, Oct. 18, from 3 to 7 p.m.) and winter (Santa in the Park is slated for Saturday, Dec. 6, from noon to 2 p.m.), according to nashuanh.gov/529/Special-Events.

Stark Park

550 River Road in Manchester, starkpark.com

Amenities: Stark Park is “built on land once part of the Stark family farm and the final resting place of John Stark, his wife, and several of their children — one can still visit the headstones today,” according to manchesternh.gov. The park features walking walking paths, a large statue of Revolutionary War hero Gen. John Stark and the Hecker-Hastings Bandstand, the website said.

Stark, of “live free or die” fame (it was written in a toast for the Battle of Bennington), died in 1822, according to the Friends of Stark Park website, starkpark.com. His grandchildren deeded a portion of his farm to the city of Manchester so New Hampshire residents could pay tribute to the fallen major general, the website said.

The western lower half of the 30-acre park consists of the Walk in the Woods trail, ideal for walking, cross-country skiing/snowshoeing and mountain bike riding, according to the city’s website.

“The walking paths, gardens, and tall trees make it a peaceful place to stroll and reflect,” according to the city’s parks director Brendan Lynch in an email. See the Friends’ website for a map of the trails.

An outdoor nature children’s playspace “Molly Stark’s Wildwoods,” named for Gen. Stark’s wife, is located along the trail and features sculptures from Tom LeComte of Laurel Hill Studio, according to the city’s website.

In the summer, check out the Summer Concert Series, mostly on Sundays at 2 p.m., running through Sept. 14 in Stark Park. Next up is a rare Saturday evening show, Mr. Aaron’s Kids Concert on Saturday, July 19, at 5:30 p.m. On Sunday, July 20, Another Tequila Sunrise (an Eagles tribute band) performs from 2 to 4 p.m. See starkpark.com/summer-concert-series for the full lineup.

Twin Bridge Park

485 DW Highway in Merrimack, 882-1046, merrimacknh.gov/parks-and-recreation/pages/twin-bridge-park

Amenities: Picnic tables, walking paths, Kids Kove Playground and baseball fields, according to the city’s website.

Since the Colonial era, there have been two bridges that locals use to cross Baboosic Brook. In 1927 a committee of Merrimack residents deeded 27 acres to the town to create Twin Bridge Park, according to the city’s website. They retained the massive stones used for the original bridge abutments and built a park around it, the website said. The Merrimack Youth Association, the city’s sports programs, has its headquarters at Twin Bridge Park; see merrimackyouthassociation.com.

“On a daily basis [the park] is humming with activity between the playground, the baseball field and the walking trails,” said Merrimack Parks Director Matthew Casparius in an email, “so it has a good all-around appeal for all ages.”

Mine Falls Park

Whipple Street in Nashua, 589-3400, ext. 5005, nashuanh.gov/facilities/facility/details/Mine-Falls-Park-14

Amenities: The park features athletic fields, trails including biking and walking trails, boating, fishing and in the winter cross-country skiing, according to the city’s website.

“Mine Falls makes you forget you are in the second biggest city in the state,” according to an email from Nashua Parks Director Lauren Byers. This 325-acre park includes forest, wetlands and open fields and is bordered on the north by the Nashua River and at the south by the Mill Pond canal system, according to the city’s website. These natural barriers keep the park quiet and give it an idyllic feel, as once explained by a tour guide.

Mine Falls is not only “one of the most instantly recognizable and vital parts of Nashua,” as Byers described it, but it’s also one of the newest parks to make Hippo’s list. The city of Nashua purchased the land in 1969, and the park was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1987, according to the city’s website. “In 1992, the park trails were designed as part of the New Hampshire Heritage Trail, a trail network that extends 130 miles from Massachusetts to Canada,” the website said.

Hippo readers also picked Mine Falls Park as a favorite in the Best Bike Trail category. Find a map of the park’s trails on the city’s website. The Mine Falls Committee also hosts Trail Days to help maintain the space, the website said. Upcoming dates are Saturdays, Aug. 16, Sept. 27 and Oct. 25, with the group meeting at the Lincoln Park entrance at 9 a.m., the website said.

Derryfield Park

Bridge Street in Manchester, manchesternh.gov/Departments/Parks-and-Recreation/Parks-Trails-and-Facilities/Parks/Derryfield-Park

Amenities: The park features a playground, sports fields, tennis courts and walking trails. A map on the city’s website shows a 1-mile, a 2.1-mile and a 5K course at the park.

Derryfield Park has played a vital role in the Hillsborough County community since the 1700s, when the park grounds were likely used as a pasture for livestock, according to the city’s website. After Derry and Londonderry were settled in the early 1800s, the city of Manchester claimed the 76 acres and developed it, the website said. The park is “one of the more popular parks in Manchester today,” the website said.

One of the most significant sites in the park is the Weston Tower Observatory, which was built in honor of New Hampshire governor James A. Weston, the website said. While Weston Tower is usually locked, the Halloween event “The Witch of Weston Tower” run by the nearby McIntyre Ski Area in recent years has allowed visitors to climb the stairs to check out the views.

Wagner Park aka “Pretty Park”

242 Myrtle St. in Manchester, 624-6444, manchesternh.gov/Departments/Parks-and-Recreation/Parks-Trails-and-Facilities/Parks/Wagner-Park

Amenities: The park features benches, a gazebo and a Greek-style temple, the website said.

In an email, Manchester Parks Director Brendan Lynch described the park as “a hidden treasure in the North End — a small, well-loved neighborhood park that’s perfect for casual family outings.”

Known by many in Manchester as “Pretty Park,” Wagner was created by Manchester native Ottilie Wagner Hosser, who willed the land she lived on to the city, requesting them to build a park of “Peace and Love” because the city already had enough parks that commemorated wars and military leaders, according to the city’s website. The park was modeled after one of her favorite parks in Paris and has become a favorite location for graduation and wedding pictures, the website said.

Prescott Park

105 Marcy St., Portsmouth, 610-7208; portsmouthnh.gov/prescottpark

Amenities: Prescott features gardens (as well as free garden tours Fridays at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. through Aug. 22), Four Tree Island (a picnic area with grills and restrooms; spots can be reserved for larger parties), the “Whale” sculpture and an outdoor stage for Prescott Park Arts Festival programming.

A 10-acre park on the banks of the Piscquata River, Prescott Park is a hub of activity in the Portsmouth community.

“It’s the perfect spot to take a stroll, eat lunch or catch a show,” said Todd Henley, the Parks Director for the City of Portsmouth, in an email. The Prescott Park Arts Festival offers a summer-long lineup of music, movies and theater, including the season-long production of Freaky Friday; see prescottpark.org for a schedule of events.

City horticulture interns answer questions and offer gardening tips during the Friday tours of the Park’s formal gardens, according to the city’s website. The park overlooks the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, the nation’s oldest continuously operating U.S. navy yard, the website said.

Benson Park

19 Kimball Hill Road, Hudson, 886-6018, friendsofbensonpark.org

Amenities: The park features 4 miles of hiking trails, fishing ponds, gardens, picnic areas, wildlife viewing blinds, the Hudson Firefighters Memorial, the 9/11 Memorial, bathrooms, a dog park and a playground, according to hudsonnh.gov/bensonpark.

Benson Park commemorates a different kind of history than many of the parks on this list. From 1926 to 1987 the land was home to Benson’s Wild Animal Farm, a zoo and amusement park that was attended by families throughout New England, according to the Friends of Benson Park website. Twenty years after the zoo closed, the town of Hudson reopened it as a town park, and some of the zoo’s attractions — like the Old Woman’s Shoe and the elephant barn — have been repaired by the Friends of Benson Park, the website said.

Find maps of Benson’s trails, which range in length from .1 mile to 2.5 miles, on the city’s website.

Through Aug. 29 Benson Park holds a “hide-and-seek adventure” featuring Barney the Gnome, who will be in a new spot each week Saturday through Friday, according to the Friends of Benson Park Facebook page. The Friends will also hold a Family Fun Day on Saturday, Sept. 20, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., a post said.