Category: Cover Stories

A look at the region’s entry int the craft beer canon

By Matt Ingersoll and Mya Blanchard

[email protected]

On the tap list of just about every local craft brewery across the state is a New England IPA, the hazy, floral and citrusy brew that has taken the craft beer scene by storm in recent years.

“You can’t have a brewery these days, especially in this area, without having a very solid New England-style IPA,” said Aaron Share, co-founder and brewer at To Share Brewing Co. in Manchester. “I mean, our Gold Civic New England IPA probably makes up 40 percent of our sales. … We brew it about every three weeks.”

At Feathered Friend Brewing Co. in Concord, owner Tucker Jadczak estimates more than two-thirds of the beers they’ve put out since opening their doors in March 2022 have been New England IPAs. The brewery has a rotating roster of options available throughout the course of the year. Even currently, four out of their 12 taps, Jadczak said, are of that distinctly hazy variety.

In Londonderry, Pipe Dream Brewing keeps around 20 different IPA options in rotation, according to assistant brewer and can artist Curtis Dopson, several of which are New England-style.

Share said he views the New England IPA as a sort of gateway beer for many people.

“I get this a lot, where people come into the brewery and they say, ‘Oh, I don’t like IPAs,’ and a lot of times what they’re thinking of is the IPAs from the ’90s or the 2000s, where there was this race to get the highest IBUs [International Bitterness Units], so the most bitterness you can get out of it,” Share said. “And then so I’ll say, ‘Well, try this instead,’ and I’ll hand them our Gold Civic, [which] has flavors of mango and tangerine and things like that. Then they’re kind of wowed because it’s not this bitter bomb. Instead, you’ve got these nice fruit flavors.”

Indeed, the New England IPA is a relatively new concept within the overall craft beer landscape. Here’s a look at how this juicy beer has come to dominate tasting rooms in New Hampshire and beyond, as well as how it differs in flavor, aroma and color from other popular IPA pourings.

What’s in a name?

The term “IPA” stands for India pale ale, although the style did not originate in India, but rather in England. According to Share, the story goes that, during the height of the British colonization of the Indian subcontinent in the 18th and 19th centuries, shipping merchants would brew strong, heavily hopped beers designed to survive the long voyages between England and what is now India. The pinecone-like hop plant, also known as humulus lupulus, has many varieties and is an essential ingredient in craft beers, especially IPAs.

“They realized that adding more hops to the beer actually preserves the beer, because there are some antimicrobial and antibacterial properties that the hops help,” Share said. “So, they started adding more hops to their beer to ship it to India, and that’s where the term IPA came from.”

The popularization of the style would eventually migrate to the United States, and it became prominent by the mid- to late 1990s and early 2000s, especially in California and the Pacific Northwest — the latter continues to be one of the largest hop-growing regions in the country, said Brian Parda, sales and marketing manager for Great North Aleworks in Manchester.

While the term “IPA” has been muddied over the years since, Parda said that today it generally refers to any type of hop-forward beer.

“[The hops] are kind of the main feature of the beer, the star of the show, in an IPA. Every IPA that we make has more than one variety. It’s usually a combination of varieties,” Parda said. “Then when you get into what is ‘hoppy,’ I think that means different things to different people. Hops can be anywhere from kind of spicy, earthy and grassy all the way to fruity. … New hops are being developed all the time from all kinds of breeding programs … to create new expressions.”

Ali Leleszi, who has owned Rockingham Brewing Co. in Derry with her husband, Rob, since February 2015, said that while all beers are made with hops, it is their flavor profiles that set them apart from other beers.

“There’s only like one big change for an IPA versus any other beer, and it’s the amount of hops you add and when,” Leleszi said.

Hops are grown all over the country and the world today, including even New Hampshire. Share said part of the fun of being a craft brewer involves experimenting and playing around with different hop varieties, not only for IPAs but for a wide array of other beer styles.

“The vendors that sell hops, their sales reps will come around and give you little sample packs of the hop so you can try them out,” he said. “What you can do is you can open the package up and kind of crush it in your fingers and you can smell it, and then get kind of an idea of what the aroma is going to be.”

Concord Craft Brewing Co. brews several IPA options, according to owner Dennis Molnar — they are perhaps best known for Safe Space, a New England IPA that is available in more than 500 stores and 300 restaurants and bars across New Hampshire.

Concord Craft also pours brews, like Conquered (a single New England IPA), Finding NEIPA and Safer Space (session IPAs, defined by their lower alcohol by volume), and Double Safe Space (a double IPA, popular over the last 15 years and characterized by its higher ABV).

“West Coast and other IPAs tend to be filtered or packaged without most of the hops and yeast,” Molnar said in an email. “It is actually quite challenging to brew and package a beer with haze that stays consistently suspended over time.”

Traditionally, and especially prior to the rise of the New England IPA, Parda said, the bitterness of added hops served as a balancing agent to the sweetness of a beer’s malt.

“A perfectly balanced beer has the best of both of those, where you’ll go, ‘Oh, wow, this is really smooth and really refreshing.’ All of that comes from the back and forth between the bitterness and the sweetness,” Parda said.

Not only the varieties of the hops themselves but the combinations of certain varieties, and even at what point they are added in the brewing process, aid in creating different flavor profiles of a beer. These, Share said, are all among the factors for how the New England IPA would eventually be created.

The haze craze

A New England IPA is commonly characterized by several factors — its hazy, opaque appearance, milky yellow or straw-like color, soft mouthfeel and juicy, fruity or citrus flavors.

“You get very strong, juicy aromas from the hops, and typical flavor notes include anything from sweet citrus to tropical fruit like pineapple, guava or mango,” Dopson said in an email. “[They have] little to no bitterness and little to no malt profile; all you taste is the hops.”

One of the earliest brews credited with popularizing this style is known as Heady Topper, an IPA produced by The Alchemist, a brewery that originally opened in Waterbury, Vermont, in 2003.

“What they revolutionized in the beer market is something that we call dry-hopping, or more specifically, adding hops at the peak of the fermentation of a beer,” Jadczak said.

Hops can be added in at various times of the brewing process, according to Scott Karlen, a former firefighter and the current head brewer at TaleSpinner Brewery in Nashua, but dry hopping is key to the creation of a New England IPA. The first step in making beer, Karlen said, is putting the wheat through a mill, and opening the shell of the grain, exposing the endosperm. The endosperm is then broken down into fermentable sugars by mixing the grain and hot water in a mash tun.

“The different temperatures in the mash create different sugar contents,” Karlen said. “If we go at a higher mash temperature, we create a sweet beer. At a lower mash temperature we create a drier beer.”

The mash is then circulated, rinsed, boiled, and spun during what’s called the whirlpooling process. Karlen prefers to do this at a cooler temperature, in order to extract more hop oils and for flavor and less bitterness. Once the mixture is cooled, it goes into a fermenter and yeast is added. It is at this point that hops would be added for the dry hopping method.

“We add them in at warmer temperatures, so about 68 degrees, where a lot of dry hopping back in the older days of brewing used to be at like 30 degrees,” Karlen said. “At warmer temperatures we found a thing called biotransformation occurs and the yeast and the hops start to interact, creating … those tropical fruit flavors. This is really to me [where] all that big hop flavor comes from in a New England IPA.”

Different hops known for imparting more of a fruity flavor, Share said, are also commonly used.

“A traditional hop for a New England-style IPA is one that’s called Citra. It’s kind of known for that. You see Citra hops and a lot of times it’s going to be in a New England-style IPA,” Share said. “Galaxy is another one. That’s an Australian hop that gives a distinct pineapple flavor.”

To Share Brewing Co.’s flagship beer, the Gold Civic New England IPA, is dry-hopped with Mosaic and Azacca hops, Share said, two other varieties known for imparting fruity notes.

While it’s named for its place of origin, a New England IPA does not necessarily need to be brewed in New England; in fact, its popularity has spread all over the country. As recently as 2018 the Brewers Association officially recognized the juicy or hazy IPA as its own separate beer style for the first time.

“You go to any brewery, almost anywhere in the country now, and they’re going to have at least one hazy IPA on,” Share said. “Back then, people expected clear beers, but now, the haze is what people look for. They want to see their hazy IPAs, and so it’s really evolved since then.”

Among the craft brew offerings at Great North Aleworks are a series of New England IPAs called Hazy Rotation — each features a distinct combination of hops.

“Every three months we release a new batch of Hazy Rotation with a new blend of hops,” Parda said. “It’s an opportunity for us to experiment with different hop blends and combinations.”

At Feathered Friend, Jadczak similarly features a rotating lineup of options, starting with Second Sun, its flagship IPA, before then introducing Let It Be and So Says I around the middle part of the year — Let It Be is a hazy New England IPA made with Cashmere and Citra hops, while So Says I utilizes Nelson Sauvin, a hop known for pulling a white wine-like flavor profile.

Because of the amount of hops that are often used and when they are added to the beer, Jadczak said New England IPAs are best enjoyed as fresh as possible.

“After a certain amount of time the flavors from the hops start to fall off of the beer,” he said. “You want to keep it stored cold, as well. That’s how you preserve the flavor of the beer.”

Where to enjoy New England IPAs

Here’s a list of craft breweries in southern New Hampshire that offer their own IPAs, with styles that run the gamut from New England to West Coast. Check out their tap lists for the most up-to-date details on the availability of each brew.

603 Brewery & Beer Hall
42 Main St., Londonderry, 404-6123, 603brewery.com
Try this brew: Scenic Session, a New England IPA dry-hopped with Mosaic and Azacca hops

Able Ebenezer Brewing Co.
31 Columbia Circle, Merrimack, 844-223-2253, ableebenezer.com
Try this brew: Glory Not the Prey, a hazy IPA dry-hopped exclusively with Citra hops

Backyard Brewery & Kitchen
1211 S. Mammoth Road, Manchester, 623-3545, backyardbrewerynh.com
Try this brew: Full Send, a New England IPA and collaboration beer with the New England Mountain Bike Association

Blasty Bough Brewing Co.
3 Griffin Road, Epsom, 724-3636, blastybough.com
Try this brew: Boonie-Cruiser, a juicy New England IPA dry-hopped with Centennial hops

Border Brewery & Barbecue
224 N. Broadway, Salem, 216-9134, borderbrewsupply.com
Try this brew: Border Brewery’s New England IPA bears the juicy aromas of grapefruit and pineapple, and also features bright citrus notes

Candia Road Brewing Co.
840 Candia Road, Manchester, 935-8123, candiaroadbrewingco.com
Try this brew: Tree Streets, a New England IPA featuring Ella and Belma hops

Canterbury Aleworks
305 Baptist Hill Road, Canterbury, 491-4539, canterburyaleworks.com
Try this brew: Galaxius Maximus, a New England IPA featuring Galaxy hops

Concord Craft Brewing Co.
117 Storrs St., Concord, 856-7625, concordcraftbrewing.com
Try this brew: Safe Space, a New England IPA with a full mouthfeel and bursting flavor of tropical fruit

The Czar’s Brewery
2 Center St., Exeter, 583-5539, theczarsbrewery.com
Try this brew: Flabbergasted and Bewildered, two popular New England IPA options

Daydreaming Brewing Co.
1½ E. Broadway, Derry, 965-3454, daydreaming.beer
Try this brew: Awareness, a New England IPA with passion fruit, orange and guava flavors

Feathered Friend Brewing Co.
231 S. Main St., Concord, 715-2347, featheredfriendbrewing.com
Try this brew: Let It Be, a New England IPA featuring Cashmere and Citra hops

The Flying Goose Brew Pub & Grille
40 Andover Road, New London, 526-6899, flyinggoose.com
Try this brew: Rags to Riches, a hazy IPA brewed with Galaxy and Enigma hops

From the Barrel Brewing Co.
1 Corporate Park Drive, No. 16, Derry, 328-1896, drinkftb.com
Try this brew: Back on the Train, a New England IPA with Citra and El Dorado hops

Great Blue Brewing Co.
84 N. Water St., Boscawen, find them on Facebook
Try this brew: Fire Tail Finch, a New England Double IPA featuring a blend of Australian and New Zealand hops like Galaxy, Nelson Sauvin and Vic Secret

Great North Aleworks
1050 Holt Ave., No. 14, Manchester, 858-5789, greatnorthaleworks.com
Try this brew: Hazy Rotation, a rotating series of New England IPA varieties featured throughout the year. Available right now is a New England IPA with a blend of Mandarina Bavaria and Simcoe hops.

Henniker Brewing Co.
129 Centervale Road, Henniker, 428-3579, hennikerbrewing.com
Try this brew: Granite Trail, a piney New England IPA with a citrus-sweet aroma

Kelsen Brewing Co.
80 N. High St., No. 3, Derry, 965-3708, kelsenbrewing.com
Try this brew: Battle Axe, Kelsen’s flagship beer, is an IPA featuring a variety of American and Australian hops that create notes of pineapple and citrus fruits

Kettlehead Brewing Co.
407 W. Main St., Tilton, 286-8100, kettleheadbrewing.com
Try this brew: The Agent, Kettlehead’s flagship beer, is double dry-hopped and features orange and grapefruit flavors and a malty backbone

Liquid Therapy
14B Court St., Nashua, 402-9391, liquidtherapynh.com
Try this brew: Light Therapy, a New England Double IPA with notes of cream, citrus and gentle oak tannins

Lithermans Limited Brewery
126B Hall St., Concord, 219-0784, lithermans.beer
Try this brew: Misguided Angel, Lithermans’ flagship New England IPA, is brewed with Golden Promise, Oats, Vienna and Wheat malt, and double dry-hopped with Citra, Simcoe and Mosaic hops

The Loft Brewing Co.
241 Union Square, Milford, 672-2270, pastaloft.com/brewery
Try this brew: Weekend Hangover, a New England IPA dry-hopped with Mosaic, Citra and Amarillo hops

Long Blue Cat Brewing Co.
298 Rockingham Road, Londonderry, 818-8068, longbluecat.com
Try this brew: Latchkey is a New England IPA known as Long Blue Cat’s flagship beer, while other options include Big Blue, a New England-style Double IPA; and Hopical Island, a West Coast and New England-style hybrid IPA

Martha’s Exchange Restaurant & Brewery
185 Main St., Nashua, 883-8781, marthas-exchange.com
Try this brew: Green Dragon, an IPA brewed with “monstrous amounts” of aromatic Citra hops

Millyard Brewery
25 E. Otterson St., Nashua, 722-0104, millyardbrewery.com
Try this brew: Karaka, a hazy New England IPA featuring a mix of New Zealand hops and a juicy orange and fruit punch flavor

Mountain Base Brewery
553 Mast Road, Goffstown, 935-7132, mountainbasebrewery.com
Try this brew: South Peak, a New England Double IPA, is Mountain Base’s flagship beer, featuring juicy grapefruit notes and lemon and honey flavors.

Northwoods Brewing Co.
1334 First New Hampshire Turnpike, Northwood, 942-6400, northwoodsbrewingcompany.com
Try this brew: Preservation Line, an IPA brewed with Mosaic and Citra hops and featuring notes of mango and guava fruits

Odd Fellows Brewing Co.
124 Main St., Nashua, 521-8129, oddfellowsbrewery.com
Try this brew: Vision, a citrusy, fruity New England IPA

Oddball Brewing Co.
6 Glass St., Suncook, 210-5654, oddballbrewingnh.com
Try this brew: Ignition, a New England IPA double dry-hopped with Azacca and Idaho Gem hops and boasting juicy pineapple and mango flavors

Ogie Brewing
12 South St., Milford, 249-5513, find them on Facebook @ogiebrewing
Try this brew: Good Blaster, Ogie Brewing’s newest hazy, citrusy IPA

Out.Haus Ales
442 1st New Hampshire Turnpike, Northwood, 942-6036, outhausales.com
Try this brew: NúDIPA, a New England-style Double IPA with juicy mango flavors

Pipe Dream Brewing
49 Harvey Road, Londonderry, 404-0751, pipedreambrewingnh.com
Try this brew: Straight Outta Quarantine, a New England IPA with a unique tropical hop blend

Rockingham Brewing Co.
1 Corporate Park Drive, No. 1, Derry, 216-2324, rockinghambrewing.com
Try this brew: Hammer Time, an easy-drinking New England IPA heavily hopped with El Dorado, Citra and Cashmere hops, producing notes of candied orange, melon, tangerine and lemon lime

Sawbelly Brewing
156 Epping Road, Exeter, 583-5080, sawbelly.com
Try this brew: Eastbound Galaxy, a New England IPA featuring Citra and Galaxy hops

Spyglass Brewing Co.
306 Innovative Way, Nashua, 546-2965, spyglassbrewing.com
Try this brew: Binary Stars, a New England IPA featuring Citra and Galaxy hops

TaleSpinner Brewing Co.
57 Factory St., Suite B, Nashua, 318-3221, ramblingtale.com
Try this brew: Coosane, a New England IPA featuring Citra and Mosaic hops

To Share Brewing Co.
720 Union St., Manchester, 836-6947, tosharebrewing.com
Try this brew: Gold Civic, a New England IPA featuring Mosaic and Azacca hops

Topwater Brewing
748 Calef Hwy., Barrington, 664-5444, topwaterbrewingco.com
Try this brew: Simple Life, Topwater’s flagship beer, is a New England IPA featuring Citra, Mosaic and Simcoe hops

Twin Barns Brewing Co.
194 Daniel Webster Hwy., Meredith, 279-0876, twinbarnsbrewing.com
Try this brew: Palmer’s Town, one of Twin Barns’ flagship New England IPAs, features a tropical and citrusy flavor, while the other, Lake Cruiser, is known for its piney character.

Vulgar Brewing Co.
378 Central St., Franklin, 333-1439, vbc.beer
Try this brew: Mill City, a juicy New England IPA with tropical notes of papaya, pineapple and creamy peach and a citrus finish from a mix of Ekauanot, Mosaic and an experimental hop.

Find your IPA

Here’s a short glossary of IPA terms commonly found on the tap lists of local breweries, defined by owners and brewers themselves.

• American IPA: The term “American IPA,” according to Aaron Share of To Share Brewing Co. in Manchester, is generally used as a catch-all for a wide range of hop-forward pale ales. “We have one on tap right now that we call an American IPA which is Not an Exit,” Share said. “We’ve made it with kind of a West Coast-style malt bill, but the hops that we use and the way that we use them are more of a New England-style.”
• Black IPA: Rather than the straw-like golden color of its New England-style cousin, a black IPA is known for being very dark brown, almost black, in appearance. “A black IPA … would be an IPA made with some dark malts, so it’s almost got a darker appearance like a stout or a porter, but it’s still very hoppy,” Share said.
• Brut IPA: This IPA is known for being very dry, with a mouthfeel almost like that of a Champagne, according to Tucker Jadczak of Feathered Friend Brewing Co. in Concord.
• Cold IPA: Brian Parda, sales and marketing manager for Great North Aleworks in Manchester, said a cold IPA is a kind of IPA and lager hybrid that was born out of the Pacific Northwest. “The temperatures are a little cooler than [what is] typical of an IPA fermentation,” he said.
• Double IPA: Also known as an Imperial IPA, this a stronger version of any kind of regular IPA with a typically higher alcohol by volume. “The term ‘imperial’ just denotes very high alcohol, [it] doesn’t matter what beer style,” Curtis Dopson, assistant brewer and can artist of Pipe Dream Brewing in Londonderry, said in an email.
• English IPA: Unlike the hoppiness of its New England counterpart across the Atlantic, Jadczak said an English IPA tends to be more malt-forward.
• Milkshake IPA: An offshoot of the New England IPA, the milkshake IPA adds lactose and occasionally fruit to give it a creamier flavor, Jadczak said.
• New England IPA: It’s generally accepted that this style of IPA originated in Vermont in the early 2000s. Share said this brew is best characterized by its hazy, opaque appearance, milky yellow or straw-like color, soft mouthfeel and juicy, fruity or citrus flavors.
• Session IPA: Like double or imperial, “session” is a term that can be applied to any style of IPA. “It just means they are lighter in alcohol,” Share said. “It’s sessionable, meaning you can drink multiple ones in a drinking session. That’s where that came from. … We do a New England-style session IPA every now and then.”
• Triple IPA: A Triple IPA is characterized by a high ABV, even higher than what would be considered a Double IPA. “As a general rule of thumb, an IPA goes up to anywhere from 5 to, say, 7, 7-and-a-half [percent ABV] and then once you get over 7-and-a-half, you’re getting into the Double IPA range,” Share said. “You get over into like 9 or 10 percent, then it would be more like a Triple IPA.”
• West Coast IPA: West Coast IPAs are typically more balanced between their malt and hop profiles. “They tend to be much, much less opaque, almost clear, with little to no haze in appearance,” Dopson said. “They typically last much longer before the hops diminish, due to when hops are added to the beer. You … get much softer and more floral aromas and a much more bitter flavor profile.”

Featured photo: Tree Streets New England IPA from Candia Road Brewing Co. in Manchester. Courtesy photo.

Festivals, theater, Nature adventures and More during this season of fun

School’s out forever — OK, maybe not forever but when you’re facing a dozen weeks of summer vacation, it can feel a little like forever. If you need to fill up the calendar with some kid-friendly summer fun, here are some of the events you can look forward to between when your kids’ school’s out for summer and when they have to pick up those backpacks in the fall.

And, if you’re still filling out your summer camp schedule, check out our listing of area day camps in the Feb. 23 issue of the Hippo (find the e-edition at hippopress.com).

Fairs & festivals

Catch a local festival or old home day celebration.

• The Somersworth International Children’s Festival is back for its 41st year. Enjoy live music, food, wildlife encounters, a petting zoo, vendors and more on Saturday, June 17, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Main Street and at Noble Pines Park in Somersworth. A trolley will transport attendees to and from the two locations. A pre-festival celebration will take place at Somersworth High School (11 Memorial Drive, Somersworth) on Friday, June 16, at 6 p.m. with fireworks to end the night. Visit nhfestivals.org.

• Join the Aviation Museum of New Hampshire for its annual Father’s Day weekend Fly-In BBQ, happening Saturday, June 17, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Nashua’s Boire Field (83 Perimeter Road, Nashua). Attendees are welcome to enjoy a barbecue buffet lunch and get a close look at visiting aircraft on the ramp. Tickets, including the barbecue, are $30 for adults and $10 for kids ages 6 to 12. Tickets are $10 for adults and free for kids ages 12 and under without the barbecue. To purchase tickets visit nhahs.org to access the Eventbrite link.

• Plaistow’s Old Home Day returns on Saturday, June 17. It will include local vendors on the Town Hall green (145 Main St., Plaistow), as well as a beard contest, a baby contest, raffles, entertainment booths, a parade and more. This year’s theme is “Gather on the Green.” Follow the event on Facebook @plaistowoldhomeday for updates.

• American Legion Riders, Chapter 37 (5 Riverside St., Hooksett), is having a Father’s Day Festival in the Village of Hooksett on Sunday, June 18, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. In addition to having a “Dunk Your Dad” tank, there will be a chili cook-off, a farmers market, food, vendors, and activities for kids. See “Father’s Day Festival in the Village” on Facebook.

• Intown Concord’s 49th annual Market Days Festival runs from Thursday, June 22, to Saturday, June 24, in downtown Concord from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. The event includes a wide array of local vendors, live entertainment, family-friendly activities and more. Visit marketdaysfestival.com to see the full schedule, or follow Intown Concord on Facebook @intownconcord.

• Join the Wilton Main Street Association for its annual Summerfest on Saturday, June 24, starting at 10 a.m. and featuring an arts market, live music, food, street vendors, a pancake breakfast and a fireworks display in the evening. Rain date is June 25. See visitwilton.com/summerfest.

• Join the New Hampshire Farm Museum (1305 White Mountain Hwy., Milton) for Fourth on the Farm, happening Saturday, July 1, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Activities include a tractor ride to see farm animals, as well as demonstrations, reenactments, a scavenger hunt, lawn games, lunch and strawberry shortcake, and live performances of songs from the 1700s and 1800s. Admission is free for members and children under 4, $12 for adults, $8 for seniors and $6 for children ages 4 to 17. A family pass can be purchased for $30. Visit nhfarmmuseum.org.

• The Raymond Town Fair returns for its 48th year from Friday, July 7, to Sunday, July 9, at the Raymond Town Common (Epping and Main streets, Raymond). It will feature live music, family-friendly entertainment, a children’s parade, a fireworks display and more. See “Raymond Town Fair” on Facebook to keep up to date on details as they become available.

• The next New England Reptile Expo is scheduled for Sunday, July 9, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the DoubleTree by Hilton Manchester Downtown (700 Elm St., Manchester). The show features more than 200 vendor tables full of reptiles, pet supplies and more. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for kids ages 7 to 12 and free for kids ages 6 and under. Visit reptileexpo.com.

• The Hillsborough Summer Festival is back again this year at Grimes Field (29 Preston St., Hillsborough) from Thursday, July 13, to Sunday, July 16, with live entertainment, carnival rides, a fireworks show on Saturday night, a 5K road race on Friday, a parade on Sunday and more. Festival hours are 6 to 10 p.m. on Thursday; 5 to 11 p.m. on Friday; noon to 11 p.m. on Saturday, and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is free. Visit hillsborosummerfest.com.

• Returning to the grounds of the American Independence Museum (1 Governors Lane, Exeter) for its 33rd year is the American Independence Festival on Saturday, July 15, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Be transported back in time with a live reading of the Declaration of Independence, and enjoy historical reenactments and colonial artisan demonstrations as well as colonial games, music and dances. Visit independencemuseum.org.

• After a successful inaugural year, the Stratham 4-H Summerfest returns on Saturday, July 15, at the Stratham Hill Park Fairgrounds (270 Portsmouth Ave., Stratham). The work of 4-H volunteers and members will be on display in the 4-H building, show rings and livestock barns from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Exhibits include shows and displays on gardening, cooking, environmental stewardship, hiking and much more. Visit extension.unh.edu/event/2023/07/stratham-4-h-summerfest.

• The Aviation Museum of New Hampshire’s (27 Navigator Road, Londonderry) annual car show is set for Saturday, July 15, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. See vehicles of all makes and eras as well as the student-built two-seat RV-12iS light sport aircraft completed in August 2022 by students at Manchester School of Technology. Vehicle registration is $10, or you can come as a spectator for $5 (cash only; kids ages 12 and under are free). A rain date of July 22 is planned. Visit nhahs.org.

• Have a magical day with the Royal Princess Ball at LaBelle Winery (14 Route 111, Derry) on Sunday, July 23, at 2:30 p.m. Kids will get the chance to meet their favorite princesses, eat delicious treats, and sing and dance to their favorite songs. Tickets cost $35 for adults, $29 for children ages 2 through 12, free for kids 1 and younger. Visit labellewinery.com for more information or to reserve spots.

• Come to the Fairytale Festival at Greeley Park (100 Concord St., Nashua) on Saturday, July 29, at 10 a.m. as part of Nashua’s 2023 Summer Fun. Get a chance to meet with classic fairytale characters. There will be a stage show, a meet and greet with the characters afterward, and activities, vendors, food, games and book events. Visit nashua.gov for more information.

• The Canterbury Fair is celebrating its 65th year — join the fun on Saturday, July 29, at Canterbury Center (Baptist and Center roads) with live music, demonstrations from local artisan and antique vendors, children’s activities and more. Admission is free. Visit canterburyfair.com.

• From Friday, Aug. 4, through Sunday Aug. 6, the skies will be full of color for the 41st Suncook Valley Rotary Hot Air Balloon Rally at Drake Field (17 Fayette St, Pittsfield). In addition to the colorful aeronautic vessels, there will be vendors selling arts and crafts, options for different food, and the annual road race at 9 a.m. on Sunday, Aug. 6. At the time of this article, there were no official times listed for the rally on the website. More information can be found at nhballoonrally.org.

• The Belknap County Fair is set to return on Saturday, Aug. 5, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday, Aug. 6, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 174 Mile Hill Road in Belmont. The fair features live entertainment, food, exhibits and animal shows. Admission at the gate is $10 for adults, $5 for senior citizens 65 and older, police, fire and EMS personnel, and free for kids under 10 and for military service members. Visit bcfairnh.org.

• Hudson’s Old Home Days return from Thursday, Aug. 10, to Sunday, Aug. 13, on the grounds of the Hill House (211 Derry Road, Hudson). There will be carnival games, live music, fireworks, food and more. Event times are Thursday from 5 to 10 p.m., Friday from 5 to 11 p.m., Saturday from noon to 11 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. See hudsonchamber.com or visit their Facebook page @HudsonNHOldHomeDays for updates.

• The Hampton Beach Children’s Festival runs from Monday, Aug. 14, through Friday, Aug. 18. The event includes ice cream, dancing, balloons, storytelling, a magic show and a costume parade. All activities are free and open to the public. Visit hamptonbeach.org.

• Londonderry’s Old Home Days is set for Wednesday, Aug. 16, to Saturday, Aug. 19. The four-day event promises concerts, fireworks, a parade, a 5K road race, a baby contest, children’s games and more. See londonderrynh.gov or follow the event page on Facebook @townoflondonderryoldhomeday.

• The fifth annual History Alive event will be on Saturday, Aug. 19, and Sunday, Aug. 20, at Jones Road in Hillsborough. This year’s event will center around battle reenactments and village life experiences and will include activities, crafts, musicians and more. Tickets are $8 for adults when purchased ahead of time, and $10 on the days of the event. Kids ages 16 and under are free when accompanied by an adult. Visit historyalivenh.org.

• The New Hampshire Farm Museum (1305 White Mountain Hwy., Milton) is hosting its annual Truck and Tractor Day on Saturday, Aug. 19, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Trucks, wagons, antique cars and tractors dating back to the mid 1900s will all be on display, and the event will also feature demonstrations on things like the two-man saw and the butter churn treadmill. Attendees will have a chance to take a tractor ride around the farm to see various farm animals. Admission is $12 for adults, $8 for seniors 65 and older, $6 for children ages 4 to 17, and free for members and children under 4. A family pass is also available for $30. Visit nhfarmmuseum.org.

• Join Field of Dreams Community Park (48 Geremonty Drive, Salem) for its annual Family Fun Day on Saturday, Aug. 26, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. A wide variety of activities is planned, from circus acts and face-painting to bounce houses, photo opportunities with superheroes and princesses, food trucks, local vendors and more. Visit fieldofdreamsnh.org.

• Candia’s Old Home Day will return on Saturday, Aug. 26, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Moore Park (74 High St., Candia). The event starts with a parade after a firemen’s homemade breakfast. Local crafters and artisans, town community booths, games, a wildlife exhibit, food and music will also be featured. Visit candiaoldhomeday.com.

• Pembroke and Allenstown’s Old Home Day returns on Saturday, Aug. 26, starting with a parade that goes down Main Street in Allenstown and ends at Memorial Field (Exchange Street) in Pembroke. A fun-filled day is planned at the field, featuring two stages of live entertainment, antique cars, children’s games, a craft area, bounce houses and a fireworks display at dusk. Admission and parking are free. See “Pembroke & Allenstown Old Home Day 2023” on Facebook, or join its group page, for details.

• Don’t miss this year’s Hopkinton State Fair, a Labor Day weekend tradition happening from Thursday, Aug. 31, to Monday, Sept. 4, at the fairgrounds (392 Kearsarge Ave., Contoocook). There will be livestock shows, a demolition derby, carnival rides, monster trucks, live entertainment, food and more. The fair hours are 5 to 10 p.m. on Thursday; 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday. Tickets are $9 for all fairgoers ages 3 and up on Thursday night. Day passes for Friday through Monday are $14 for adults, $12 for seniors and $8 for youth ages 3 to 12. Children 35 months and under are free. Five-day passes are also available for $39. Visit hsfair.org.

• The Exeter UFO Festival returns to downtown Exeter on Saturday, Sept. 2, and Sunday, Sept. 3 — the event commemorates the anniversary of the “Exeter Incident” (an alleged UFO sighting on Sept. 3, 1965) with in-depth talks and presentations from experts on UFOs, along with a variety of “intergalactic” children’s games and food, all to benefit the Exeter Area Kiwanis Club. See exeterkiwanis.com/exeter-ufo-festival.

Live entertainment

Find live music for a family night out at town greens and theatrical performances for kids and teens.

• The Disney musical Newsiesat the Seacoast Repertory Theatre (125 Bow St., Portsmouth, seacoastrep.org) premiered last month and continues through Saturday, July 8. Shows run Thursday through Sunday, with showtimes at 2 p.m. or 7:30 p.m. that vary every day. Tickets start at $35.

• Henniker’s Summer Concert Series started on Tuesday, June 13, and has music at the Angela Robinson Bandstand (57 Main St.) starting at 6:30 p.m. Next up on the schedule is Dancing Madly Backwards performing on Tuesday, June 20. Food trucks and restaurants will attend the concerts to sell eats for the evening, according to a press release. Admission is free (donations accepted). See henniker.org for the summer’s lineup.

• Hampton Beach’s nightly Sea Shell Stage series continues with a performance by Angela West and Showdown on Thursday, June 15 — unless otherwise noted on the online schedule, all shows are held from 7 to 8 p.m. and from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. and are weather dependent. Visit hamptonbeach.org to view the full schedule.

• Stop by the Greeley Park Bandshell (100 Concord St., Nashua) for free summer concerts, featuring performances by Studio Two: A Beatles Tribute Band, American Legion Band, Belairs: Doo Wop and Vintage Rock n’ Roll and more. Performances are on Tuesdays at 7 p.m., dates offered June 20 through Aug. 15 (except July 4). Visit nashuanh.gov/546/summerfun to view the full schedule.

• Palace Teen Co. is serving up all that jazz with Chicagoon Tuesday, June 20, and Wednesday, June 21, at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester, palacetheatre.org). The shows are at 7 p.m. and tickets cost $12 to $15.

• The Londonderry Arts Council’s Concerts on the Common series continues with a performance on Wednesday, June 21, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. by Bruce Marshall and the Shadow Riders. Performances continue every Wednesday evening on the Town Common (265 Mammoth Road, Londonderry) through Aug. 16. In the event of inclement weather, most will take place inside the cafeteria of Londonderry High School (295 Mammoth Road). Visit londonderryartscouncil.org.

• Merrimack’s Summer Concert Series will host weekly concerts at Abbie Griffin Park (6 Baboosic Lake Road, Merrimack) on Wednesdays, starting with a performance by children’s musician Steve Blunt on Wednesday, June 21, from 6 to 8 p.m. Performances will continue through Aug. 16 and will include Crescendo’s Gate, Scenes: a Billy Joel Experience, The Reminisants, Marc Berger, The Twangtown Paramours, The Slakas and Will Parker. Visit merrimackparksandrec.org.

• The Prescott Park Arts Festival’s annual outdoor production at Prescott Park in Portsmouth is Little Shop of Horrors and it starts Friday, June 23. Shows will run most Thursdays through Sundays at 7 p.m. through Sunday, Aug. 13. See prescottpark.org for information on reserving a blanket or table for a performance.

• The Martin School of Dance presents Sleeping Beauty at the Capitol Center for the Arts (44 S. Main St., Concord) on Sunday, June 25, at 2 p.m. Tickets are $38.75 per person and are available online at ccanh.com.

• New Boston Parks & Recreation’s Concerts on the Common series returns on select Tuesdays from 6 to 7:30 p.m., starting with a performance by Jamdemic on June 27. Shows take place in the gazebo on the New Boston Town Common (corner of Route 13 and Meetinghouse Hill Road in New Boston) and continue for select weeks through Aug. 22. Chairs and blankets are welcome, and the Rail Trail Grill concession stand will feature hot dogs, hamburgers, soft drinks and snacks for sale, with proceeds benefiting the New Boston Rail Trail. The town’s community church will offer a dessert table. Visit newbostonnh.gov.

• Pelham Community Spirit will once again host its Summer Concerts on the Village Green in front of the town’s public library. Concerts will be held on Wednesdays from 6 to 8 p.m., beginning June 28, followed by July 12, July 26, Aug. 9 and Aug. 23. Lawn chairs or blankets are welcome. Visit pelhamweb.com.

• The 2023 Bank of New Hampshire Children’s Summer Series at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester, palacetheatre.org) begins with magician BJ Hickman Wednesday, July 5, through Friday, July 7. Children’s Series productions have shows Wednesday and Thursday at 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m., and Friday at 10 a.m. Tickets cost $10. The series includes Beauty and the BeastJuly 11 through July 14; RapunzelJuly 18 through July 21; Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Aug. 1 to Aug. 4; The Little Mermaid Aug. 8 to Aug. 11; Frozen KidsAug. 15 through Aug. 18, and Finding Nemo Jr. Aug. 22 through Aug. 25.

• This year’s Meetinghouse Park Concert series, sponsored by Hampstead Cable Television, is happening Tuesday evenings at 6 p.m. behind Hampstead’s Town Hall (11 Main St.). Performances are scheduled weekly from July 4 through Aug. 29 — see hampsteadconcerts.com for the full schedule. Wednesday night concerts are also planned at 6 p.m. at Ordway Park (Depot Road and Main Street), starting with a performance by children’s musician Steve Blunt on Wednesday, July 5, at 6 p.m.

• The creepy and kooky musical The Addams Familyis coming to Chubb Theatre (44 S. Main St., Concord, ccanh.com) on Friday, July 7, and Saturday, July 8, at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $15.75 for students and seniors and $18.75 for adults.

• Camp Encore presents Disney’s 101 Dalmatians Kids and The Artistocats Kids at the Prescott Park Arts Festival (105 Marcy St., Portsmouth) on Saturday, July 8, and Sunday, July 9, at 11 a.m. Other scheduled performances include Meredith Willson’s The Music Man Jr. on Saturday, July 22, and Sunday, July 23, at 11 a.m.; and Into the Woods Jr. on Saturday, Aug. 5, and Sunday, Aug. 6, at 1 p.m. See prescottpark.org.

• Up, up and away at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester, palacetheatre.org) for the Palace Youth Theatre’s version of Peter Panon Friday, July 14, at 7 p.m. Tickets begin at $12.

• See Mary Poppins Jr.at the Chubb Theatre (44 S. Main St., Concord, ccanh.com) on Friday, July 14, and Saturday, July 15, at 7 p.m. Tickets for the show cost $18.75 for adults, $15.75 for seniors and students.

• The Franklin Footlight Theatre presents Beauty and the Beast at the Franklin Opera House (316 Central St., Franklin) from Friday, July 14, through Sunday, July 16; and from Thursday, July 20, through Saturday, July 22 — showtimes are at 2 p.m. on Sunday and at 7:30 p.m. for the rest of the nights. Tickets are $18 for adults and $16 for seniors, students and children. Visit franklinoperahouse.org.

• On Saturday, July 15, at 2 p.m., RB Productions is putting on Annie Kids at the Bank of New Hampshire Stage (16 S. Main St., Concord, ccanh.com). The show starts at noon. Tickets cost $10 for adults, $8 for students.

• Head Into the Woods with RB Productions at the Chubb Theatre (44 S. Main St., Concord, ccanh.com) on Friday, July 21, and Saturday, July 22, at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $18.75 for adults, $15.75 for students and seniors.

• See the Kidz Bop Kidz on Sunday, July 23, at 4 p.m. at the Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion (72 Meadowbrook Lane, Gilford, banknhpavilion.com). Tickets start at $29.

• Circus Smirkus comes to the High Mowing School (222 Issac Frye Highway in Wilton) with “A Midsummer Night’s Circus” on Monday, July 24, at 1 and 6 p.m. and Tuesday, July 25, at 1 and 6 p.m. Tickets cost $35 for ages 13 and over and $20 for children ages 2 to 12. See smirkus.org.

• The youth performers with RB Productions are putting on a production of Disney’s Newsies Jr. at the Chubb Theatre (44 S. Main St., Concord, ccanh.com) on Friday, July 28, and Saturday, July 29, at 7 p.m. Tickets to the shows start at $15.75.

• The Kids Coop Theatre’s Teen Company will present a production of The Wedding Singer at the Derry Opera House (29 W. Broadway, Derry) from Friday, July 28, through Sunday, July 30 — showtimes are at 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and at 1 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased in advance online. See kids-coop-theatre.org.

• Celebrate Christmas in July with Elf Jr. performed by the Palace Youth Theatre on Friday, July 28, and Saturday, July 29, at 7 p.m. at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester, palacetheatre.org). Tickets range from $12 to $15.

• See Snow White at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester, palacetheatre.org), performed by the Palace Youth Theatre on Friday, Aug. 4, at 7 p.m. Tickets start at $12.

• The Peacock Players (14 Court St. in Nashua; peacock players.org) will presentLegally Blonde Jr.on Friday, Aug. 4, at 7 p.m.; Saturday, Aug. 5, at 2 and 7 p.m., and Sunday, Aug. 6, at 2 p.m.

• The Palace Youth Theatre presents High School MusicalJr.at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester, palacetheatre.org) on Friday, Aug. 18, and Saturday, Aug. 19, at 7 p.m. Tickets start at $12.

• Disney cover band The Little Mermen has a scheduled show on Sunday, Aug. 20, at 7 p.m. at the Sea Shell Stage on Hampton Beach. Admission is free. See thelittlemermen.com.

• See the Palace Youth Theatre’s performance of Winnie the Pooh Jr.at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester, palacetheatre.org) on Saturday, Aug. 26, at noon. Tickets for the show start at $12.

At the movies

Find kid-friendly screenings indoors and out.

• Join Chunky’s Cinema Pub (707 Huse Road, Manchester; 151 Coliseum Ave., Nashua; 150 Bridge St., Pelham) for a special “Little Lunch Date” screening of Madagascar (2005, PG) on Friday, June 16, at 3:45 p.m. Purchase tickets in advance online to receive a $5 off food voucher to be used toward your lunch during the show. See chunkys.com.

• Regal Cinemas, which has locations in Concord (282 Loudon Road) and Newington (45 Gosling Road), is holding its Summer Movie Express series, featuring discounted movie screenings on Tuesdays and Wednesdays for $2 per ticket, now through Sept. 6. Next up are Minions: The Rise of Gru (2022, PG) on Tuesday, June 20, and The SpongeBob Squarepants Movie (2004, PG) on Wednesday, June 21. See regmovies.com for the full schedule.

• Cinemark Theatres, which has a location in Salem (15 Mall Road, near the Mall at Rockingham Park), is once again running its Summer Movie Clubhouse program, featuring an eight-week schedule of previously released children’s and family-friendly films for $1.50 per ticket. Showtimes run on Wednesdays, beginning June 21 and through Aug. 9. See cinemark.com for the full list of films, which includes Sonic the Hedgehog (2020, PG), The Bad Guys (2022, PG) and Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (2022, PG), among others.

• Catch a family-friendly theater candy Bingo night at Chunky’s Cinema Pub, either on Friday, June 23, at 6 p.m. or on Friday, July 21, at 6:15 p.m. — both events are happening at Chunky’s Manchester location (707 Huse Road). Tickets are $10 per person and can be purchased in advance online at chunkys.com.

• Join Chunky’s Cinema Pub at its Manchester theater (707 Huse Road) for a family-friendly trivia night featuring Disney villains on Sunday, June 25, at 6 p.m. Chunky’s gift card prizes will be awarded to the first-, second- and third-place winning teams. Tickets are $6 per person and are available for purchase online at chunkys.com.

• Mondays and Wednesdays in July and August, O’neil Cinemas (24 Calef Hwy., Epping, 679-3529, oneilcinemas.com) hosts its annual summer kids series, featuring a schedule of children’s and family-friendly films for $3 per ticket. The screenings begin Monday, July 3, and Wednesday, July 5, with Minions: Rise of Gru and continue weekly through the week of Aug. 14. The theater will be offering an $8 popcorn-and-drink combo as well.

O’neil also holds regular sensory-friendly screenings, when the house lights are higher and there are no loud noises, according to the website, where you can find the full schedule of upcoming screenings. Movies in June include Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (PG, 2023) on Saturday, June 10, at 10 a.m. and the new Pixar film Elemental (PG, 2023) on Saturday, June 24, at 10 a.m.

• Movie Night Mondays on Hampton Beach (next to the playground) return on July 10 at dusk (approximately 8:25 p.m. for the first movie and then a few minutes earlier for each subsequent film). The films run weekly through Aug. 28, and admission is free. Bringing chairs or blankets are welcome. The lineup of family-friendly films kicks off with Hotel Transylvania: Transformia (2022, PG) on July 10. See hamptonbeach.org for the full schedule and the approximate dusk times; rain dates are on Tuesdays for all films.

• Another element of Nashua’s SummerFun programming is the “Pic in the Park” series, which starts Friday, July 14, at dusk with a screening of E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982). On Friday, Aug. 4, the film is High School Musical (G) and on Friday, Sept. 8, it’s National Treasure.

• Chunky’s Cinema Pub of Manchester (707 Huse Road) will host a Taylor Swift-themed family-friendly trivia night on Sunday, July 16, at 6:15 p.m. Teams of up to six players are welcome, and Chunky’s gift cards will be awarded to the first-, second- and third-place winning teams. Tickets are $6 per person and can be purchased online at chunkys.com.

• Join Merrimack Parks and Recreation for its annual Movies in the Park series, which returns on Saturday, July 29, with a screening of Top Gun: Maverick (2022, PG-13) at 8:30 p.m. The lineup also includes Minions: The Rise of Gru (2022, PG) on Saturday, Aug. 26, at 7:30 p.m. and Puss In Boots: The Last Wish (2022, PG) on Saturday, Sept. 30, at 6:30 p.m. Admission is free and open to Merrimack residents and non-residents. Screenings are held in Wasserman Park (116 Naticook Road, Merrimack). In the event of inclement weather, a decision will generally be posted to Merrimack Parks & Recreation’s website or Facebook by 1 p.m. as to whether or not it will be postponed. Visit merrimackparksandrec.org.

• Red River Theatres continues its annual summer movie series with a special outdoor screening of The Rescuers Down Under (1990, G) on Wednesday, Aug. 9, at Rollins Park (116 Broadway St., Concord), starting at dusk. Admission is free and open to all ages. See redrivertheatres.org.

Arts & museum

Find new experiences and maybe even sneak in a little learning at area museums.

• The American Independence Museum (1 Governors Lane, Exeter, 772-2622, independencemuseum.org) is a place for people of all ages to learn about America’s revolutionary history. It provides access to historic buildings and interactive, historically accurate depictions of what life was like during the American Revolution. Museum tours are offered Wednesday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission costs $8 for adults, $6 for seniors, students, educators and first responders, and $4 for children ages 6 to 18. Tickets are free for children under age 6 and for active or retired military veterans.

• The Aviation Museum of New Hampshire (27 Navigator Road, Londonderry, 669-4820, aviationmuseumofnh.org) is dedicated to the science, technology, history and culture of aviation and features interactive exhibits and educational programs. It’s open Friday and Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday, from 1 to 4 p.m. Admission costs $10 for adults, $5 for seniors age 65 and over, veterans, active duty and kids ages 6 through 12, and is free for kids age 5 and under, with a $30 maximum for families.

• Travel back to a simpler time at Canterbury Shaker Village (288 Shaker Road, Canterbury), a restored Shaker village and history museum with historic buildings, interactive exhibits and activities, educational programs and more. The Village grounds and trails are open every day from dawn to dusk with no admission fee. Guided indoor and outdoor tours with different themes are offered Tuesday through Sunday at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Tour tickets cost $20 to $25 for adults, depending on the tour, and are free for visitors age 25 and under. Call 783-9511 or visit shakers.org.

• The Children’s Museum of New Hampshire (6 Washington St., Dover, 742-2002, childrens-museum.org) is a family museum featuring unique interactive exhibits with a focus on art, science and culture. Summer hours are Tuesday through Sunday, from 9 a.m. to noon, with an additional session from 1 to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. Masks are required on Tuesday and Sunday, but optional Wednesday through Saturday. Tickets are available for either the morning (9 a.m. to noon) or afternoon (1 to 4 p.m.) sessions and cost $12.50 for adults and children over age 1 and $10.50 for seniors over age 65. Participants must register online.

• The Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St., Manchester) offers Creative Studio, a themed art-making project for families, every second Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., free for New Hampshire residents. On the third Saturday of every month it hosts Art for Vets Family Days, where veterans and active military members and their families get free admission to the museum and can enjoy art-making activities and a complimentary lunch. The museum also has many interactive exhibits on display at a time and art kits families can take home. Registration is required for all special events. Current gallery hours are Wednesday and Friday through Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Thursday, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Admission costs $15 for adults, $13 for seniors age 65 and up, $10 for students, $5 for youth ages 13 to 17 and free for children age 12 and under and museum members. General admission to the museum is also free for New Hampshire residents on the second Saturday of the month. Call 669-6144 or visit currier.org.

• Mariposa Museum & World Culture Center (26 Main St., Peterborough, 924-4555, mariposamuseum.org) is a museum of art and artifacts from around the world that includes hands-on exhibits with costumes, puppets, instruments and more for children to explore. It’s open Wednesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission costs $8 for adults, $6 for seniors and $5 for kids ages 3 through 16.

• The McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center (2 Institute Drive, Concord, 271-7827, starhop.com) is a museum focused on astronomy and aviation, offering interactive exhibits, simulations, an observatory, a planetarium and more. During the summer it’s open daily from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. General admission costs $12 for adults, $11 for students and seniors and $9 for kids ages 3 through 12. The museum also features a variety of planetarium shows, with daily showtimes on the hour from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., for an additional cost of $6 per person.

• The Millyard Museum (200 Bedford St., Manchester, 622-7531, manchesterhistoric.org/millyard-museum) is dedicated to educating the public about Manchester’s history, particularly the history of the Amoskeag Millyard. It’s open Tuesday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. General admission costs $10 for adults, $8 for seniors 62+ and college students, $5 for youth ages 12 through 18, free for kids under age 12.

• The New Hampshire Telephone Museum (1 Depot St., Warner, 456-2234, nhtelephonemuseum.com) features nearly 1,000 telephones, switchboards and other telecommunication memorabilia and history, and has an interactive kids’ room. Its summer hours are Tuesday and Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission costs $7 for adults, $6 for seniors age 65 and up and $3 for students in grades 1 through 12. There is a guided tour available for an additional $3 per admission ticket.

• Learn about New Hampshire marine life and science with live animals, hands-on exhibits and educational programs at the Seacoast Science Center (Odiorne Point State Park, 570 Ocean Blvd., Rye, 436-8043, seacoastsciencecenter.org). Summer hours are Wednesday through Monday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. General admission costs $12 for ages 12 and up, $8 for ages 3 to 11, and $10 for seniors age 65 and up. Children under age 3 are free. The Center recommends that attendees book ahead, since availability may be limited.

• SEE Science Center (200 Bedford St., Manchester, 669-0400, see-sciencecenter.org) is a museum focused on technology, engineering, mathematics and more, featuring interactive exhibits, demonstrations and educational programs. It’s home to the Lego Millyard Project, the largest permanent minifigure scale Lego installation in the world, depicting Manchester’s Amoskeag Millyard circa 1900. During the summer the museum is open Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission costs $12 per person and is free for kids under age 3.

• Strawbery Banke Museum (14 Hancock St., Portsmouth, 433-1100, strawberybanke.org) is an outdoor museum preserving more than 300 years of the history of New Hampshire’s oldest neighborhood to be settled by Europeans. Visitors can tour historic buildings preserved on their original foundations, meet costumed roleplayers, see traditional craft demonstrations and more. For June and September, the museum is open weekdays 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. In July and August it’s open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission costs $23 for adults, $21 for seniors ages 65 and up and $10 for children ages 5 to 17. Children under age 5 are free. Family and group rates are also available.

• Studio 550 Art Center (550 Elm St., Manchester, 232-5597, 550arts.com) offers an all-ages family clay sculpting workshop on select Fridays at 4:45 p.m., for $20 per person, and a family pottery wheel workshop for kids ages 9 and up every Friday at 4:30 p.m., for $35 per person.

• You’re Fired (25 S. River Road, Bedford, 641-3473; 133 Loudon Road, No. 101, Concord, 226-3473; 264 N. Broadway, Salem, 894-5456; yourefirednh.com) is an all-ages walk-in pottery studio, open Monday, Wednesday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. Mondays are “Mini Mondays,” when studio fees for kids age 12 and under are half off all day, and Fridays are “Teen Fridays,” when teenagers have half off studio fees from 5 to 9 p.m.

Outdoor fun

See a baseball game or discover wildlife right in your backyard. There’s something for everyone to enjoy outside this summer.

•​ The Squam Lakes Natural Science Center (23 Science Center Road, Holderness) recently reopened its live animal exhibit trail and hiking trails — daily hours are from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., with the last trail admission at 3:30 p.m. According to the Center’s website, the live animal exhibit trail winds through open meadows, mature forests and marsh boardwalks along a packed gravel path. Tickets are $24 for adults, $22 for seniors ages 65 and up, $18 for kids and teens ages 3 to 15 and free for kids ages 2 and under. Tickets grant attendees check-in access anytime between 9:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Plan about two and a half hours to walk through the trail. See nhnature.org for more details.

• The six-time champion Nashua Silver Knights, members of the Futures Collegiate Baseball League, will play their next home game at Holman Stadium (67 Amherst St., Nashua) on Thursday, June 15, against the Brockton Rox, with first pitch scheduled for 6 p.m. They will then take on the Norwich Sea Unicorns on Sunday, June 18, followed by the Worcester Bravehearts on Tuesday, June 20. Their last home game will be on Sunday, Aug. 6, at 3 p.m., when they will take on the Vermont Lake Monsters, before the playoffs begin later that week. Visit nashuasilverknights.com.

• The New Hampshire Fisher Cats, the Double-A minor-league affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball, are currently in the middle of a homestand against the Akron RubberDucks at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium (1 Line Drive, Manchester), with the next few games scheduled for Thursday, June 15, through Sunday, June 18 (first pitch is at 6:35 p.m. on Thursday, 7:05 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 1:35 p.m. on Sunday). Their season wraps up in mid-September with a series at home against the Somerset Patriots. Visit nhfishercats.com.

• New Hampshire Audubon and New Hampshire Fish and Game will host a free field training session on New Hampshire butterfly monitoring and conservation on Thursday, June 15, at 11 a.m. at the McLane Center (84 Silk Farm Road, Concord). Participants will learn how to identify butterflies in various habitats and contribute to long-term data collection to monitor changes in species’ ranges. The training will prepare participants for the first July Butterfly Survey in Concord. No prior experience is necessary, and all skill levels are welcome. Space is limited, and registration is required. Visit nhaudubon.org.

• View sand sculptures crafted on Hampton Beach at the 23rd annual Hampton Beach Master Sand Sculpting Classic, happening Thursday, June 15, through Saturday, June 17, at Hampton Beach (180 Ocean Blvd.). The event includes award ceremonies and prizes for the greatest sand sculptures built. The competition is by invitation only, but the sculptures will be illuminated for viewing at night until June 26. Visit hamptonbeach.org.

• Don’t miss the 100th annual Loudon Classic Middleweight Grand Prix, a 1.6-mile road race happening at New Hampshire Motor Speedway (1122 Route 106, Loudon) on Saturday, June 17, as part of Laconia Motorcycle Week. General admission is $40 and VIP admission is $70. Visit nhms.com.

• Squam Lakes Natural Science Center (23 Science Center Road, Holderness) will hold its annual StoryWalk Kickoff Reception on Friday, June 23, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Stroll along the Squam channel while reading Look and Listen by Dianne White, posted one page at a time along the trail. The story is a guessing game in a book that celebrates the curiosity and delight of a jaunt through a garden, meadow and alongside a brook, according to nhnature.org. After the kickoff reception, the trail will be open daily through Sept. 4.

• Dozens of high school football players from across the state will participate in the 11th annual CHaD NH East-West High School All-Star Football Game, scheduled for Friday, June 23, at 6 p.m. at Grappone Stadium at Saint Anselm College (100 St. Anselm Drive, Manchester). General admission tickets are $15, with all proceeds benefiting Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth-Hitchcock (CHaD). Visit chadkids.org.

• As part of Nashua Parks & Recreation’s annual SummerFun schedule of events, the Nashua Silver Knights game scheduled for Tuesday, July 4, at 11 a.m. will also feature an expanded kids’ zone and activities. Children ages 12 and under, in addition to the first 500 adults that reserve tickets, get into the game for free. The game will be followed by a full evening’s worth of live entertainment at Holman Stadium (67 Amherst St., Nashua), including a free concert by The Slakas at 5:30 p.m., the Spartans Drum & Bugle Corps at 7:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., Nashua Hall of Fame inductions at 8 p.m. and a fireworks show at dusk, according to the SummerFun event brochure. See the full schedule of events and happenings at nashuanh.gov/summerfun.

• Pumpkin Blossom Farm (393 Pumpkin Hill Road, Warner) is due to host Lavender U-Pick events in its lavender fields on various dates between July 5 and July 23, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Everyone is invited to wander the fields and cut and harvest bundles of lavender. Attendees are welcome to relax and have a picnic on the lawn, walk the shaded trail and visit the baby chicks. Lavender plants, products and treats will also be for sale. Discount bundles are $15 during the weekdays and $20 on weekends. Visit pumpkinblossomfarm.com.

• The annual summer concert series at Field of Dreams Community Park (48 Geremonty Drive, Salem) returns on Thursday, July 6, and will continue weekly at 6:30 p.m. through Aug. 17 (all dates, except for Friday, July 21, and Friday, July 28, are on Thursdays). Admission is free and open to the public and chairs and blankets are welcome. Visit fieldofdreamsnh.org.

• It’s NASCAR Weekend at New Hampshire Motor Speedway (1122 Route 106, Loudon) from Friday, July 14, through Sunday, July 16 — weekend happenings include Friday Night Dirt Duels on Friday; a doubleheader on Saturday featuring the Ambetter Health 200 NASCAR Xfinity Series race, followed by the Mohegan Sun 100 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour race, and the Crayon 301 race on Sunday. Tickets vary in price, depending on the race. See nhms.com.

• Head to Prescott Farm Environmental Education Center (928 White Oaks Road, Laconia) for Forest Trail Games for Kids and Adults on Saturday, July 22, from 10 a.m. to noon. Discover ways to make nature time enjoyable and captivating for the whole family through immersive games that spark children’s imagination and sense of adventure. The cost is $15 per person. Visit prescottfarm.org.

• The inaugural New Hampshire Butterfly Survey will take place on Saturday, July 29, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at New Hampshire Audubon’s McLane Center (84 Silk Farm Road, Concord). The collaborative effort between New Hampshire Audubon and New Hampshire Fish and Game is aimed at gathering long-term butterfly data in the Concord region and beyond to understand the changing ranges of butterfly species over time and support statewide butterfly conservation efforts. Visit nhaudubon.org.

• Prescott Farm Environmental Education Center (928 White Oaks Road, Laconia) presents an educational program, “Animals of New Hampshire: Monarch Butterflies,” on Saturday, Aug. 5, at 1 p.m. Learn about monarch butterflies, from their habitat and life cycle to their annual migration, as well as ways to contribute to conservation efforts in your own backyard. Explore the farm’s pollinator field and search for signs of the butterfly’s different life stages. This program is open to youth and adults. The cost is $15. Visit prescottfarm.org.

At the library

Libraries across the Granite State have all kinds of summer programming planned for kids and teens over the next few months, from arts and crafts to live performances, nature and wildlife events and more. Most libraries offer storytimes for specific age groups as well as age-specific crafts and reading-to-dog programs. Many events require registration; check with libraries for additional information. Here are a few of the stand out events.

• Aaron Cutler Memorial Library 269 Charles Bancroft Hwy., Litchfield, 424-4044, acmlnh.blogspot.com Summer programming highlights include Wildlife Encounters presentation Wednesday, June 21, 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.; STEM & Arts programs: Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 10 and 10:45 a.m., June 27 through July 25 (except July 4); Anime Movie Night: Wednesday, July 12, 5:30 p.m. (open to ages 9 and up); Game On! Video game event: Tuesday, July 18, 4 p.m. (open to ages 9 and up) ; “All About Lobsters” storytime with UNH’s Marine Program: Thursday, July 20, 11 a.m; Summer reading finale: “The Cure for the Common Show” Juggling and Comedy Act: Saturday, July 29, 1 p.m.

• Amherst Town Library 14 Main St., Amherst, 673-2288, amherstlibrary.org Wildlife Encounters is on Tuesday, July 11, 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. (ages 4 and up). See Bryson Lang, Juggler Extraordinaire: Wednesday, July 26, 3 to 4 p.m. (ages 4 and up). Be an Earth Hero with Squam Lakes Natural Science Center (live animal program): Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2 to 3 p.m. (ages 5 and up.End of Summer Ice Cream Social is on Friday, Aug. 11, 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. (all ages).

• Baker Free Library 509 South St., Bow, 224-7113, bowbakerfreelibrary.org. The Summer Reading Kick-Off Event: Touch-a-Truck is Saturday, June 17, 10 a.m. to noon. Everyone is welcome to attend and to register for the summer reading program, “Find Your Voice.” Maker Mondays are rop-in craft sessions are held every Monday, from 2:30 to 4 p.m., dates offered June 19 through Aug. 17 in the upstairs meeting room. Drop-in Stay & Play: Takes place on Tuesdays, June 20 through Aug. 8 (except for July 4), in the Merrimack County Savings Bank Room. Children age 2 to 6 are welcome with an accompanying adult. Summer Movie Sing-Along: Wednesdays, June 21, July 12, July 26 and Aug. 9, from 2 to 4 p.m for children with an accompanying adult. A Comics workshop with Marek Bennett is Wednesday, June 28, 4 to 5 p.m. (ages 7 and up). NH Shared Reading Program: Sign Language Storytime: Presented by Northeast Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services; everyone of all ages is welcome to this event on Saturday, July 8, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Ice cream party and children’s concert with Judy Pancoast will be heldThursday, Aug. 10, from 5 to 6:30 p.m.

• Bedford Public Library 3 Meetinghouse Road, 472-2300, bedfordnhlibrary.org Children ages 5 to 7 are welcome to take part in lawn game sessions on Mondays from 3:30 to 4 p.m., starting June 19. The Summer Reading Kick-Off Concert with Mr. Aaron is Monday, June 19, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. (ages 12 and under). STEM Pals will run Thursdays, 3:30 to 4:15 p.m., starting June 22 (ages 9 to 12). Touch a Truck is onTuesday, June 27, 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Camp Comics runs on Wednesdays from 7 to 7:45 p.m. for four weeks starting July 5. Super Mario Party is Friday, July 7, 11 a.m. to noon (ages 4 to 10). Camp Critters Drawing will run Tuesdays, July 11 and July 25, 3:30 to 4:15 p.m. (ages 7 to 9); registration is required. Wildlife Encounters is held Monday, July 17, 11 a.m. to noon, and 1 to 2 p.m. (ages 3 to 12). Get Stories and S’mores: Monday, July 24, 7 to 7:30 p.m. (ages 8 and under). Mike Bent Magic Show is Wednesday, July 26, 2 to 3 p.m.; and Thursday, July 27, 1 to 2 p.m. The Summer Reading Finale Party is Friday, Aug. 4, 2 to 3 p.m. (ages 12 and under).

• Boscawen Public Library 116 N. Main St., 753-8576, boscawenpubliclibrary.org.The Summer Reading Program Kick-Off Party is Monday, June 26, 2 to 5 p.m. Steve Blunt & Marty Kelly Music & Stories is Monday, July 17, 6:30 p.m. The Bryson Lang Comedy & Juggling Show is Saturday, Aug. 5, 1 p.m.

• Brookline Public Library 16 Main St., Brookline, 673-3330, brooklinelibrarynh.org. Yoga for Kids takes place the first and third Friday of each month at 4 p.m. Summer Reading Kick-Off Party featuring Wildlife Encounters takes place Saturday, June 17, 1 to 3 p.m. (all ages) at the middle school gym. Mario Video Game Day is Wednesday, June 21, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (all ages). Wolves Night – Beach Party! takes place Thursday, June 29, 6 to 7 p.m. (kids in grades 4 to 7). Take a Family Ukulele Lesson with Julie Stepanek: Friday, June 30, 4:30 to 5:45 p.m.

• Chester Public Library 3 Chester St., Chester, 887-3404, chesternh.org/chester-public-library. Summer Reading Kick-Off is Monday, June 26, 3 to 8 p.m. (all ages) and includes a Foam Party: from 5 to 7 p.m. (all ages). The Lego Challenge Club meets Mondays, 5 p.m. (except for July 3; ages 5 to 10). Catch the Annual Community Talent Show on Wednesday, June 28, 6 p.m. (all ages).

• Concord Public Library 45 Green St., Concord, 225-8670, concordnh.gov/Library. The Comic Book Club meets Fridays, June 16 and June 30, 10 to 11 a.m.The Summer Reading Kick-Off with Mr. Aaron will be Friday, June 23, 2 to 3:30 p.m.

• Derry Public Library 64 E Broadway, Derry, 432-6140, derrypl.org CONNECT (featuring crafts, snacks, stories and more) takes place Fridays, June 16, July 21, Aug. 18 and Sept. 15, 11 to 11:45 a.m. The Library Fan Con is Saturday, June 17, 9:50 a.m. to 4 p.m. All Together Now Glow Dance Party! is Tuesday, June 20; 11 to 11:45 a.m., and 1:30 to 2:15 p.m. Summer Reading Event: Cards for Veterans: takes place Thursday, July 6; 11 to 11:45 a.m., and 1:30 to 2:15 p.m. Working together: Amazing Animal Builders! Brought to you by the Children’s Museum of NH takes place Tuesday, July 11, 1:30 to 2:15 (ages 5 to 10). Catch Magic Fred!: Thursday, July 13, 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. (all ages). Lindsay & Her Puppet Pals vists Thursday, July 20, 1 to 2 p.m. Campfire Stories at Taylor Library takes place Thursday, July 27, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Bear Friends Celebration and Sleepover will take place Tuesday, Aug. 8, 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. (ages 3 and up). The End of Summer Party Featuring Mr. Aaron is Thursday, Aug. 10, 1 to 2:30 p.m.

• Dunbarton Public Library 1004 School St., Dunbarton, 774-3546, dunbartonlibrary.org Reading to dogs takes place Thursday, June 29, 11 a.m.; Thursday, July 13, 11:30 a.m., and Thursday, July 27, 11 a.m. “Touch Dunbarton Trucks” is Wednesday, June 21, 10:30 a.m. Summer Reading Kick-Off Musical Concert on the band stand is slated for Wednesday, June 28, 10:30 a.m. See Mr. Aaron concert on the band stand on Thursday, July 13, 10:30 a.m.

• Elkins Public Library 9 Center Road, Canterbury, 783-4386, elkinspubliclibrary.org. The littles can attend Tunes, Tales & Tumbles on Thursdays, 10 a.m. (next one is June 15), open to preschoolers. Other kids can check out storytime on Tuesdays, 10 a.m. (next one is June 20), open to kindergarteners and under

• Goffstown Public Library 2 High St., Goffstown, 497-2102, goffstownlibrary.com. Kids Garden Club runs Tuesdays, June 20, July 18 and Aug. 29, 3:30 p.m. (children in grades 1 through 5). North River Music concert is Tuesday, June 20, 6 p.m. The Miss Julieann Concert is Wednesday, June 21, 10 a.m. (ages 2 to 8). The Pokémon Passion Club meets Wednesday, June 21, 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. (children in grades 1 through 5). Lego Day at the Library is Friday, June 23, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. (children in grades 5 and under). Kids’ Graphic Novel Book Club meets Tuesday, June 27, 3:30 p.m.; Wednesday, July 12, 1 p.m., and Tuesday, Aug. 22, 3:30 p.m. (children in grades 2 to 4). Reading with Candy the Reading Therapy Dog will be on Tuesdays, June 27, July 18, July 25, Aug. 1 and Aug. 8; 15-minute sessions offered from 6 to 7:30 p.m. (children in kindergarten through grade 5) Learn Chess 101 for Kids on Wednesday, June 28, and Friday, July 14, 2 to 3:30 p.m. (children in grades 1 through 5). Forensics for Kids: Who Ate My Scooby Snacks? is on Thursday, June 29, 1 p.m. (children entering kindergarten through Grade 3). Skywatch with the New Hampshire Astronomical Society is scheduled for Wednesday, July 19, 7 p.m. (rain date Wednesday, Aug. 23).

• Griffin Free Public Library 22 Hooksett Road, Auburn, 483.5374, griffinfree.org. Summer Reading Crafts t take place most Wednesdays from 2 to 4 p.m. starting with Self Portraits on Wednesday, June 21. The Tail Winds Show is Saturday, June 24, 2 to 3 p.m. The Annual Book Sale is Saturday, July 29, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.; and Sunday, July 30, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

• Hollis Social Library 2 Monument Square, Hollis, 465-7721, hollislibrary.org. PokePals meet Saturdays, June 17, July 22 and Aug. 12, 11 a.m. to noon. (ages 5 to 15) Community Flowers (Part 1 and 2) is Wednesdays, June 21 and June 28, 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. (ages 3 to 11). Henna Tattoos with Mandy is Thursday, June 22, 5 to 7 p.m. (ages 12 and up). The Summer Reading Kick-Off Party: Friday, June 23, 3 to 5 p.m. The KindKids Music Concert is: Tuesday, June 27, 11 a.m. to noon(ages 12 and under). Outdoor Movie Night is Thursday, June 29, 8:30 to 10 p.m. (all ages). The End of School Party with the Brookline Public Library is Friday, June 30, 1 to 2 p.m. (for rising 7th graders). Insect Safari with Professor Bugman is Friday, July 7, 11 a.m. to noon (ages 4 to 12. Is Kindness rocks with the Brookline Public Library: Monday, July 10, 1 to 2 p.m. (ages 4 to 12). Touch-A-Truck event is Tuesday, July 18, 3 to 5 p.m. (all ages). Family Outdoor Movie Night is Friday, July 21, 8:30 to 10 p.m. (all ages); registration is required. See Aesop’s Fables with Bright Star Theatre on Monday, July 31, 2 to 3 p.m. See the Charmingfare Farm petting zoo on Thursday, Aug. 3, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. (all ages)Sing A Song Together with Steve Blunt & Marty Kelley is Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2 to 3 p.m. (all ages). Summer Reading Program Wrap Party is Friday, Aug. 11, 2 to 4 p.m. (all ages). Celebrate Hugo’s (children’s room mascot) 2nd Birthday Party on Thursday, Aug. 24, 2 to 4 p.m. (ages 3 to 12).

• Hooksett Public Library 31 Mount St Mary’s Way, Hooksett, 485-6092, hooksettlibrary.org Drop-In Summer Art Painting is Monday, June 19, through Friday, June 23, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Touch A Truck on Saturday, June 24, 10 a.m. to noon. Attend the Bubble Party Monday, June 26, 10 to 11:30 a.m. Family Movie will screen Thursdays, noon to 2 p.m., June 29 through Aug. 3 Tie Dye Day is Friday, July 14, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Family Bingo Night is Monday, July 17, 6 to 7:30 p.m. See Squam Lakes Natural Science Center: Hawks and Owls on Monday, July 24, 10 to 11 a.m. The End of Summer Reading Party featuring Mr. Aaron is Monday, July 31, 6 to 7:30 p.m.

• Leach Library 276 Mammoth Road, Londonderry, 432-1132, londonderrynh.gov/leach-library Elephant & Piggie visit the library onTuesday, June 20, 11 a.m.; Wednesday June 21, and Thursday, June 22, 4 p.m. The Kindness Club Ladybug Picnic takes place Tuesday, June 27, 11 a.m.The Library After Dark Movie Night is Lilo & Stitch and will screen Friday, June 30, 6 p.m.

• Manchester City Library Main Branch: 405 Pine St., Manchester, 624-6550; West Branch: 76 N. Main St., Manchester, 624-6560; manchester.lib.nh.us. Catch the Beach Party on Friday, June 16, 10 to 11 a.m. (ages 1 to 5) followed by the Summer Reading Kick-Off from 2 to 4 p.m. Elementary Experiments takes place every other Tuesday starting June 20, 3 to 4 p.m. (kids in grades 1 through 6). Family Flicks screen Thursdays, June 22 through Aug. 10, from 2:30 to 4 p.m. (all ages) Pollinator Party – Massabesic Audubon Center is Wednesday, June 28, 3 to 4 p.m. See a New Hampshire Wildlife presentation on Wednesday, July 12, 3 to 4 p.m. Teen Anime and Pizza Night is on Wednesday, July 12, and Tuesday, July 18, 5:30 to 7:40 p.m. (teens in grades 6 to 12). Teen Movie & Pizza Night is Wednesday, Aug. 9, 5:30 to 7:40 p.m. (teens in grades 6 to 12).

• Maxfield Public Library 8 Route 129, Loudon, 798-5153, maxfieldlibrary.com. Catch storytime on Thursdays at 10:30 a.m. and Music and Movement: Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m.

• Merrimack Public Library 470 Daniel Webster Hwy., Merrimack, 424-5021, merrimacklibrary.org Comics Club is the third Thursday of each month, 5:30 p.m. (ages 9 to 13). The Friends of the Library Book Sale is Saturday, June 17, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Summer Reading Kick-Off Concert with Steve Blunt is Wednesday, June 21, 6 p.m. Fandom-onium is on the fourth Thursday of every month, 4:15 to 5:15 p.m. (kids in grades 7 to 12). Catch Paint-a-Palooza Fridays, June 23, July 28 and Aug. 25, 1 to 2 p.m. Saturday Matinees screen Saturdays, July 1 and Aug. 5, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Pokemon Club Summer Session meets Wednesdays, 5 to 5:45 p.m. (July 5, July 9, Aug. 2 and Aug. 23); recommended for kids in kindergarten through grade 5. The Tween Genre Book Club meets the first Thursday of every month (starting July 6), 4:15 to 4:45 p.m. (ages 9 through 13).The Magic of HouDana: is Thursday, July 6, noon to 1 p.m. Teddy Bear Picnic is Thursday, July 20, 10:30 to 11:15 a.m. (ages 5 to 8). The Summer Reading Finale Concert with Will Parker is Wednesday, Aug. 16, 6 to 7 p.m.

• Nashua Public Library 2 Court St., Nashua, 589-4600, nashualibrary.org. A field trip to the Nashua National Fish Hatchery is Friday, June 30, 1 to 2 p.m. (toddlers and preschoolers). A field trip to the Amherst Street Fire Station is Friday, July 14, 1 to 2 p.m. (kids in kindergarten through grade 5. Meet Ellie, the Nashua Police Tracking and Therapy Dog on Tuesday, July 18, 1 to 2 p.m. (all ages).International Friendship Day is Thursday, July 27, 3 to 4 p.m. (kids in kindergarten through grade 5). Family Field Day is Tuesday, Aug. 1, 3 to 4 p.m. (all ages). Introduction to American Sign Language is Thursday, Aug. 3, 3 to 4 p.m. (kids in kindergarten through grade 5).

• Nesmith Library 8 Fellows Road, Windham, 432 -7154, nesmithlibrary.org. The Teen Rainbow Pride Party is Tuesday, June 20, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. (teens in grades 7 to 12).

• Pelham Public library 24 Village Green, Pelham, 635-7581, pelhampubliclibrary.org. Candy Bar Bingo is Friday, June 23, 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. (ages 4 and up). The Summer Reading Kick-Off is Wednesday, June 28, 6 to 8 p.m. Tween Time: Cupcake Wars will be Friday, June 30, 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. (ages 8 to 12). Slime Time is Wednesday, July 12, 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. (ages 5 and up). Working Together: Amazing Animal Builders is Friday, July 21, 11 a.m. to noon (ages 5 and up) All Together Now Carnival is Friday, Aug. 11, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

• Pembroke Town Library 311 Pembroke St., Pembroke, 485-4747, pembroke-nh.com/pembroke-town-library TheSummer Reading Kick-off Night: Wednesday, June 21, 5 to 6:30 p.m.

• Rodgers Memorial Library 194 Derry Road, Hudson, 886-6030, rodgerslibrary.org. Story Safari at Benson’s Park: Thursdays and Tuesdays through Aug. 1, 10 to 10:30 a.m. (geared toward ages 3 to 8). Family Candy Bingo is Tuesday, June 20, 1 to 2 p.m. Preschool Playtime and Family Lawn Games will take place Wednesdays, June 21 through July 26, 10 to 11 a.m. (ages 2 to 12). See Encanto: Interactive Family Movie on Wednesday, June 21, 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., and 6 to 8 p.m. Catch Amazing Animal Builders on Friday, June 23, 1:30 to 3 p.m. A Harry Potter Escape Room is slated for Monday, July 31, 10 to 11 a.m., and 11 a.m. to noon (ages 7 and up).

• Smyth Public Library 55 High St., Candia, 483-8245, smythpl.org. The Flying High Dog show is Thursday, June 29, 6 p.m.A Summer reading family program is Wednesday, July 5, 6:30 p.m. Summer concerts will be Wednesdays, July 12, July 19, July 26, Aug. 2 and Aug. 9, 6:30 to 8 p.m.

• Wadleigh Memorial Library 49 Nashua St., Milford, 249-0645, wadleighlibrary.org. TheSummer Reading Kick-Off Picnic is Friday, June 16, 6 to 7 p.m. Big Truck Day is Thursday, June 22, 10 a.m. to noon. Kindness Rocks! is Wednesday, June 28, noon to 5 p.m. (ages 5 to 11). We Dig Dinosaurs is Wednesday, July 5, 2 to 4 p.m. (kids in grades 5 and under). See Magic Fred Show on Monday, July 10, 2 to 3 p.m (kids in grades 5 and under). A Shark Week Party is Monday, July 17, 2 to 4 p.m. (kids in grades 5 and under). Kona Ice and Games (for Summer Reading Program) is Friday, July 28, 1 to 2 p.m.

• Weare Public Library 10 Paige Memorial Lane, Weare, 529-2044, wearepubliclibrary.com. Scholastic Chess runs Tuesdays, 2 to 4 p.m., through Aug. 1 (except for July 4). Pokemondays are Mondays, 2 to 5 p.m., through Aug. 7. The Summer Reading Kick-Off Party is Thursday, June 22, 6:30 to 8 p.m. A Skywatch with the New Hampshire Astronomical Society takes place Thursday, June 29, 8:30 p.m. (rain date: Thursday, July 20).

• Whipple Free Library 16 Mont Vernon Road, New Boston, 487-3391, whipplefreelibrary.org. The Summer Reading registration is Monday, June 19, 10 a.m.The Wildlife Encounters Kick-Off event is Monday, June 26, 6:30 p.m.

• Wilton Public & Gregg Free Library 7 Forest Road, Wilton, 654-2581, wiltonlibrarynh.org. The Summer Reading Program: “All Together Now” begins Monday, June 19A Story Circle is held Thursdays at 10 a.m.

Anticipating the strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and more that will add sweetness to your summer

By Mya Blanchard and Matt Ingersoll

[email protected]

Nothing signals the start of summer quite like fresh berries, and the time to pick is right around the corner. Despite a recent unseasonably cold snap that threatened this year’s crops, most area farms remain hopeful for a decent harvest.

According to the National Weather Service, the temperature dropped 40 degrees in the Manchester area on May 18, from a high of 68 to a record low of 28 degrees. Concord also tied its record low that night of 25 degrees, set back in 1983, data shows.

Recent conditions had the potential to devastate entire crops at places like Rossview Farm in Concord, which is gearing up for pick-your-own strawberries very soon. Owner Don Ross was able to save a majority of them thanks to his irrigation pumping system — but not without lots of work and countless hours of extra invested time.

“In 31 years of growing strawberries, it’s only the second time that I can think of turning the irrigation pump on for frost protection while it’s still light out the night before,” Ross said.

Ross said that, while the ice that forms from freezing water on a strawberry plant does act as somewhat of an insulator, it can’t be relied upon alone.

“You have to continue to add water,” he said. “As water becomes ice, it has to give off heat and has to go somewhere. … So that’s the science behind it. You’ve got to keep watering until it gets warm enough in the morning that the frost is no longer a threat.”

Sunnycrest Farm in Londonderry, which has been growing berries for the past 50 years, opens for pick-your-own strawberries on June 15. Farm manager Samanatha Fay said unusually cold temperatures far out into the spring had the potential to put this year’s crop at risk.

“We were [at] the end of our bloom so we thought we were safe, but a lot of damage set in because the temperatures dropped and they stayed for so long,” Fay said. “A lot of buds died off, unfortunately.”

Circumstances were similar at Kimball Fruit Farm, located on the Hollis town line bordering Pepperell, Mass., where some of the early blooms also took a hit. Despite the early damage, this year’s crop still seems promising.

The crops at Brookdale Fruit Farm in Hollis, meanwhile, also seem to be doing OK, according to fifth-generation owner Chip Hardy. They’ll also start out with pick-your-own strawberries, followed by blueberries, raspberries and blackberries as the summer draws on.

“The weather has not had an adverse effect on these crops.” Hardy said. “They all look very good.”

Due to warmer weather earlier in the season, raspberries and blueberries are even expected earlier than usual this year, Hardy said.

“It’s really convenient for the folks to come pick strawberries because by the end of June [to] early July, we’ll have strawberries and raspberries ripe at the same time, and usually by the first of July our first blueberries will be ripe too,” he said.

But the weather has had the opposite effect on crops for farms farther north. Strawberry crops could be delayed at Apple Hill Farm in Concord, due to the erratic weather patterns that area of the state has experienced, according to co-owner Diane Souther.

“Because of the spring that we’ve had, they may be a little later in June before we’re really picking solid, so I’ll say after the 25th of June,” she said.

At Rossview Farm, Ross aims to be open for strawberry picking around the second week of June, while blueberries tend to be ready shortly after the calendar turns over to July. He said that, unlike strawberries, his blueberries don’t always need irrigation to the same extent.

“The blueberries are actually [from] a bush, and strawberries are [from] a plant,” he said. “Blueberries, the way they hang, are facing the ground and so they almost have a built-in frost protection system, whereas strawberry blossoms face upright, [to] the sun.”

In Contoocook, Gould Hill Farm is perhaps best-known for its many varieties of pick-your-own apples, but will offer a small selection of other fruits and vegetables, including blueberries. Owner Tim Bassett said that if all goes well blueberries should be ready to go around July 16 to July 18, and would run into early August.

“We had a little bit of frost damage, but right now things look OK, and we’re hopeful it will be a good crop,” Bassett said.

When are they ready?
Sources: agriculture.nh.gov and extension.unh.edu

Strawberries: early to mid-June
Blueberries: early to mid-July
Raspberries: early to mid-July
Cherries: early to mid-July
Blackberries: mid to late July or early August

Varieties and when to pick

Different fruits, and their varieties, thrive in different temperatures. Strawberries are the first of the berries to bloom, usually coming in around the second week of June, the ideal time for pick-your-own being the end of the month, said David Wadleigh, owner of Kimball Fruit Farm.

“They’ll start to come out when it’s warm, but once it gets too hot they’re all done,” Wadleigh said. “They last until about the Fourth of July [or] really when it gets so hot the plants just don’t produce fruit anymore.”

It’s around this time, Fay says, that blueberries and cherries usually make an appearance, with July being the prime time for harvesting. Fay said it can be hard to lock down a specific time that’s too far in advance of when berries will be ready to harvest, as many fruits have multiple varieties that bloom at different times of the season.

“One strand … will produce earlier in the season for you, where another one comes in later just because of the different temperature qualities and how it could survive better,” Fay said.

When it comes to growing these fruits, planting different varieties is key to getting the most out of the season. At Brookdale Fruit Farm, about 10 different varieties of strawberries are grown and harvested, from a mix of early maturing ones such as Wendy and Galletta, to mid-season varieties like Dickens and Honeoye and late season varieties like Rutgers Scarlet.

At Kimball Fruit Farm, about 4,000 strawberry plants were planted — 1,000 each of four different varieties.

“You get so many varieties like that so you have a crop throughout the whole season,” Wadleigh said. “If we planted [only] one variety, we would only have strawberries for like a week because each variety is only out for a short amount of time.”

The same is true for other berries as well. Because blueberries usually last five to six weeks, five to seven varieties will need to be planted in order for the crop to last the whole season, Wadleigh said.

Raspberries, which usually arrive toward the end of June in the middle of strawberry season, tend to have a longer season than some of the other berries, so only about four varieties are needed to extend the season by multiple weeks, Wadleigh said. As for blackberries, on the other hand, only one type is grown at Kimball Fruit Farm.

“You basically keep picking them until it gets too cold and then they don’t produce for you anymore,” Wadleigh said.

While their ripening times vary, there otherwise isn’t a distinguishable difference between these varieties.

“When people come to pick, they don’t typically ask for a certain variety of strawberry,” Souther said.” They just want some that [are] red and sweet and juicy.”

Growing conditions

In addition to temperature, precipitation levels are crucial to the health and growth of crops.

“You need consistent rain,” Fay said.

Not having sufficient rain can hinder the growth and longevity of a berry’s season, as was the case last year with the raspberries at Kimball Fruit Farm.

“We had a pretty severe drought and kind of the blackberries too toward the end of the year, so it kind of shortened the raspberry season a little bit,” Wadleigh said. “We also had less raspberries out there to pick because the plant wasn’t getting one of the things that it needed.”

There is such a thing as too much of a good thing, and rain is no exception.

“Berries are also really prone to mold and mildew, [which] travel by spores, and spores use heat and water as vectors to get into plants,” Wadleigh said. “So when it’s the middle of summer and the plants are all wet, it’s like a big sign saying, ‘Mold and mildew welcome here.’ So you do need water for the berries, but too much rain can also be detrimental to your crop as well.”

Too much rain can also cause root rot, inflicting harm on the plant itself, as Fay points out. As with most things, a healthy balance is best and creates the ideal conditions for the berry season.

“It’s always a nice even keel between moisture and sunshine because you need the sun to ripen the fruit and make the flowers bloom,” Fay said.

Assuming that there isn’t damage or disease that has harmed the plant, these berry plants — and trees, in the case of cherries — are perennials, meaning they will come back every year until the end of their lifespan.

“We have some raspberry plants at the farm that we had when I was younger when I started working here in high school,” said Wadleigh, who’s been working at Kimball Fruit Farm for 19 years. “Some of the cherry trees are at least 60 [years old] if not more.”

Strawberry plants may need to be replaced more often, roughly every three to five years, depending on the weather conditions they have experienced, according to Wadleigh.

There are several important measures to be taken, Fay said, to protect these plants from the elements.

“The first year of growth you want to pick off any of the fruit or the flowers that first come, because instead of them focusing on growing any fruit the first year, you want them to really focus on the roots’ support system,” she said.

It’s also important to shield the plants from cold temperatures. This can be done by covering them with hay or straw, or even covering them with water.

“The water almost acts like a blanket on top of them and it actually prevents the flowers from being damaged by the cold,” Wadleigh said. “We [have] had to do that … and it actually saved most of the early berries. … If the yellow center [of the strawberry blossoms] turns black you know that it was damaged by the cold.”

After harvest

After you’ve picked your berries, they are best kept in the refrigerator, as keeping them cool slows down the breakdown of the fruit, according to Fay. Just as the plants are prone to mold and mildew, the berries themselves are as well, Wadleigh said — for this reason, it’s also important to keep them dry.

“I always recommend, because mold and mildew use water as a vector, [not to] wash them until you’re about to eat them,” he said.

Once harvested, there are numerous ways to enjoy them.

“Strawberry shortcake is always a standby favorite,” Souther said.

She also notes that if you plan to make smoothies or frappes you can freeze the berries to throw in the blender later. Other popular recipes are pies, as Souther pointed out, and jams, custards and other desserts, according to Fay.

Berries can also be cooked down and mixed into drinks, like, for example, adding a blueberry syrup to lemonade, Wadleigh said.

While often made into or paired with desserts, berries can be included in savory meals too.

“A lot of people cook the berries down and make a sauce that they use in a savory dish,” Wadleigh said. “I’ve heard of … people cooking them down and [putting] it with different cuts of meat.”

Berry festivals
Check out these events happening in the Granite State that center around local strawberries and blueberries when in season. Do you know of one that we missed? Tell us about it at [email protected].

Join J&F Farms (124 Chester, Road, Derry) for its annual strawberry fest on Saturday, June 17, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Festivities will include hayrides, food trucks, a petting farm and live music, in addition to food trucks and, of course, strawberries. Visit jandffarmsnh.com.
Applecrest Farm Orchards (133 Exeter Road, Hampton Falls) will hold its 16th annual strawberry festival on Saturday, June 17, and Sunday, June 18, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Enjoy pick-your-own strawberries, tractor rides and berry-inspired snacks while listening to live music. See applecrest.com.
A local tradition for more than 75 years, the Hollis Strawberry Festival returns on Sunday, June 25, from 2 to 4 p.m. on the town common (2 Monument Square, Hollis). The festival is put on by the Hollis Woman’s Club and features fresh, local strawberries and homemade biscuits, with or without hand-whipped cream and homemade ice cream, available for sale. There will also be children’s games, face-painting, craft vendors and a live performance from the Hollis Town Band. Visit holliswomansclub.org.
Celebrate the start of blueberry season at Applecrest Farm Orchards (133 Exeter Road, Hampton Falls) with a blueberry festival on Saturday, July 22, and Sunday, July 23, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Visit applecrest.com.

Where to pick your own berries

Here are some farms that plan to offer fresh berries for pick-your-own throughout this upcoming season. Know of any we missed? Tell us about it at [email protected].

• Apple Hill Farm 580 Mountain Road, Concord, 224-8862, applehillfarmnh.com What: Strawberries, blueberries and raspberries When: Projected opening date is around mid to late June, according to Apple Hill Farm co-owner Diane Souther, starting with pick-your-own strawberries.

• Applecrest Farm Orchards 133 Exeter Road, Hampton Falls, 926-3721, applecrest.com What: Strawberries, blueberries and raspberries When: The farm stand is open daily, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.; pick-your-own strawberries will likely be around mid-June, followed by blueberries in early July and raspberries in mid-August, according to applecrest.com.

• Berry Good Farm 234 Parker Road, Goffstown, 497-8138, find them on Facebook What: Blueberries When: pick-your-own blueberries will likely start around mid-July.

• Berrybogg Farm 650 Province Road, Strafford, 664-2100, berryboggfarm.com What: Blueberries When: Pick-your-own blueberries will likely start sometime shortly after the Fourth of July, according to the latest message from the farm’s picking hotline.

• Blueberry Bay Farm 38 Depot Road, Stratham, 580-1612, blueberrybayfarm.com What: Blueberries When: Pick-your-own blueberries expected to start on or around June 26, with peak picking season around the third week of July.

• Brookdale Fruit Farm 41 Broad St., Hollis, 465-2240, brookdalefruitfarm.com What: Strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and blackberries When: Pick-your-own strawberries are expected to be available around mid-to-late June, followed by blueberries and raspberries by early July and blackberries later into the summer.

• Butternut Farm 195 Meaderboro Road, Farmington, 335-4705, butternutfarm.net What: Strawberries, raspberries and blueberries When: Strawberry picking is projected to run from about June 15 through July 10, followed by raspberries from about July 1 to July 25 and blueberries from about July 15 to Aug. 31, according to Butternut Farm owner Giff Burnap.

• Carter Hill Orchard 73 Carter Hill Road, Concord, 225-2625, carterhillapples.com What: Blueberries When: Pick-your-own blueberries will likely start sometime in July, according to carterhillapples.com.

• Devriendt Farm Products 178 S. Mast St., Goffstown, 497-2793, devriendtfarm.com What: Strawberries When: Pick-your-own strawberries expected around the second or third week of June.

• Elwood Orchards 54 Elwood Road, Londonderry, 434-6017, elwoodorchards.com What: Cherries When: Pick-your-own cherries are expected to be available around July 4

• Gould Hill Farm 656 Gould Hill Farm, Contoocook, 746-3811, gouldhillfarm.com What: Blueberries When: Pick-your-own blueberries will likely start around July 16 to July 18, according to owner Tim Bassett, and is expected to run into early August.

• Grandpa’s Farm 143 Clough Hill Road, Loudon, 783-5690, grandpasfarmnh.com What: Blueberries When: Daily, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.; the projected opening date is around July 10, according to grandpasfarmnh.com.

• Grounding Stone Farm 289 Maple St., Contoocook, 746-1064, groundingstonefarm.com What: Blueberries When: Projected opening date is around July 10, according to groundingstonefarm.com.

• Hackleboro Orchards 61 Orchard Road, Canterbury, 783-4248, hackleboroorchard.com What: Blueberries When: Daily, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; pick-your-own blueberries are expected between mid-June and late August, according to hackleboroorchard.com.

• J&F Farms 108 Chester Road, Derry, 437-0535, jandffarmsnh.com What: Strawberries When: The farm will likely have pick-your-own strawberries around the second or third week of June.

• Kimball Fruit Farm Route 122, on the Hollis and Pepperell, Mass., border, 978-433-9751, kimball.farm What: Strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and blackberries Expected hours: Pick-your-own strawberries are projected for the latter half of June. The farm stand is open daily from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

• Lavoie’s Farm 172 Nartoff Road, Hollis, 882-0072, lavoiesfarm.com What: Strawberries and blueberries When: Farm hours are daily, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

• McKenzie’s Farm 71 Northeast Pond Road, Milton, 652-9400, mckenziesfarm.com What: Strawberries, raspberries and blueberries When: Strawberries are expected to be ready by the middle of June, followed by raspberries around July 4 and blueberries also in early July.

• Norland Berries 164 N. Barnstead Road, Center Barnstead, 776-2021, norlandberries.com What: Blueberries When: Berries will likely be available by early to mid-July.

• Rossview Farm 85 District 5 Road, Concord, 228-4872, rossviewfarm.com What: Strawberries and blueberries When: Strawberries are expected to be ready for pick-your-own by the second week of June, followed by blueberries around the Fourth of July, according to Rossview Farm owner Don Ross.

• Saltbox Farm 321 Portsmouth Ave., Stratham, 436-7978, find them on Facebook

What: Blueberries When: Blueberries are expected by early to mid-July.

• Smith Farm Stand 15 Smith Farm Road, Gilford, 524-7673, smithfarmstand.com What: Raspberries and blueberries When: The farm features three raspberry beds and one blueberry field, according to smithfarmstand.com. Raspberries are expected to be ready for picking around the second week of July, followed by blueberries in mid-July.

• Spring Ledge Farm 37 Main St., New London, 526-6253, springledgefarm.com What: Strawberries When: Pick-your-own strawberries expected later toward the end of June.

• Sunnycrest Farm 59 High Range Road, Londonderry, 432-7753, sunnycrestfarmnh.com What: Strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and cherries When: 7 a.m. to noon, daily for pick-your-own strawberries, with an expected opening date of June 15, according to farm manager Samantha Fay. Beginning in late June or early July are cherries, followed by blueberries and raspberries by the start of July.

• Trombly Gardens 150 N. River Road, Milford, 673-0647, tromblygardens.net What: Strawberries and blueberries When: Pick-your-own strawberries are expected later in June, followed by blueberries in early July.

Recipes

Homemade strawberry rhubarb lemonade ice pops
Courtesy of Diane Souther of Apple Hill Farm in Concord (makes about 12 to 15 ice pops)

3 stalks rhubarb, chopped fine (approximately 3 cups, packed loose)
¾ cup sugar
2½ cups water
3 cups strawberries, frozen or fresh, hulled and sliced
½ cup freshly squeezed lemon juice

In a large saucepan, bring the rhubarb, sugar, water and strawberries to a light boil for about three minutes, stirring to dissolve. Remove from the heat and let it sit in the pan for around 30 minutes or longer — this allows the fruit to blend together and lets it cool slightly before the next step. Place in a blender with the lemon juice and puree. Pour into ice pop molds and freeze until chilled.

Raspberry whip
Courtesy of Chip Hardy of Brookdale Fruit Farm in Hollis

1 pint raspberries
2 egg whites
¼ cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla

Whip the egg whites until soft, then add the sugar slowly and whip the egg whites until stiff. Fold in the vanilla. Add the raspberries and mix quickly with a beater. Refrigerate. Great for use on top of an angel food cake or pound cake.

All-berry pie
Courtesy of Chip Hardy of Brookdale Fruit Farm in Hollis

2 to 3 quarts any variety of berries (strawberries, raspberries, blueberries or blackberries)
¼ cup sugar
2 premade pie crusts
1 Tablespoon butter

Mix together the berries and add the sugar. Set aside. Using an 8- or 9-inch round pie plate, place the bottom pie crust inside and add the berry mixture on top. The top pie crust should have a lattice top for the steam to come out — if using the whole top crust, make sure to poke steam holes in the crust. Melt the butter and brush onto the top crust. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 to 40 minutes until the crust is slightly browned. Remove from the oven and serve warm with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream. Refrigerate after serving.

Strawberry buttercream frosting
Courtesy of Diane Souther of Apple Hill Farm in Concord

4 large egg whites, at room temperature
1¼ cups sugar
¾ pound (3 sticks) unsalted butter, softened and cut into small pieces
1½ cups fresh strawberries, pureed

Place whites and sugar in a double boiler cooking pot. Whisk until the sugar dissolves and the mixture registers 160 degrees on a candy thermometer. Remove from the heat and cool slightly. Whisk with a mixer on medium speed for five minutes. Increase the speed to medium-high and whisk until stiff and glossy peaks form (about six minutes). Reduce the speed to medium and add butter, one piece at a time, whisking well after each addition. Switch to a paddle attachment. With the mixer on low, add the strawberry puree and beat until smooth (about three to five minutes). Use immediately, or cover and refrigerate (can be refrigerated for up to three days — bring to room temperature and beat on a low speed until smooth before using).

Strawberry cupcakes
Courtesy of Diane Souther of Apple Hill Farm in Concord

1½ cups all-purpose flour, plus more for pans
1½ cups cake flour (not self-rising)
1 Tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature, plus more for pans
1¾ cups sugar, plus more for sprinkling fruit
4 large eggs
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1¼ cups milk
10 ounces strawberries, hulled and cut into small diced pieces, plus more for garnish

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line two and a half standard 12-cup cupcake pans with paper liners and set aside. Into a medium bowl, sift together the flours, baking powder and salt, and set aside. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy (three to four minutes), scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, and then beat in the vanilla. With the mixer on low speed, add the flour mixture in three parts, alternating with the milk and beginning and ending with the flour — beat until combined after each addition. Fold in the strawberries. Divide the batter evenly among the prepared cups so that each is about two-thirds full (about 2 ounces each). Bake, rotating the pans halfway through, until the cupcakes are golden brown and a cake tester inserted in the centers comes out clean (about 20 minutes). Transfer the pans to a wire rack to cool for five minutes. Remove the cupcakes from the pan and cool completely on the wire racks.

Featured photo: Strawberries from Sunnycrest Farm in Londonderry. Courtesy photo.

Discover new wines as NH moves its Wine Week celebration to a sunnier season

New Hampshire Wine Week, traditionally a late January affair, has been moved to June for the first time in its nearly 20-year history. Internationally renowned winemakers will once again travel to the Granite State to participate in a week of tastings, seminars and dinners, culminating with the rebranded New England Wine Spectacular. The annual expo-style wine tasting is returning for an 18th year on Thursday, June 15, and will feature thousands of wines to taste from around the world — sometimes poured and handed out by the winemakers themselves — plus a variety of locally prepared food options for pairing.

Last held in its traditional format in January 2020, New Hampshire Wine Week transitioned to a series of virtual tastings at the height of the pandemic the following year. Rising Covid-19 numbers by early January 2022 again forced the cancellation of the event, just two weeks before it was scheduled to take place. Now anticipation for the Spectacular’s return in full force is high among winemakers and organizers.

“What we’re seeing is an anxiousness for people to congregate again. I definitely get that sense with a lot of the winemakers and the brokerage community,” said Justin Gunter, wine beverage marketing specialist for the New Hampshire Liquor Commission. “We really want to take the foundation of the event that has been built over all this time and keep increasing that visibility.”

Lorrie Piper, the NHLC’s chief marketing officer, said that despite the date changes, the plan is to keep New Hampshire Wine Week mostly in the same format as in pre-pandemic years. While the Spectacular is on that Thursday, it will be surrounded by a week’s worth of other events, from wine dinners at local restaurants to bottle signings at several of the nearly 70 Liquor & Wine Outlet stores statewide.

The NHLC regularly monitors consumer trends that sometimes influence what you may discover at these events. Wines and spirits in the ready-to-drink category, for instance, are on the rise — Piper said the sheer number of RTD products on the shelves of each store rose by about 30 percent in 2022 from 2021.

“For the RTDs, I think you’re seeing people who are going to get out this summer, and they are looking for that kind of grab-and-go, thrown in your cooler sort of thing, heading out to your picnic or whatever you’re doing outside,” she said. “We continually get presented with new concoctions and things that are brand new to the market. … I think customers are leaning toward the brands that they already know and are comfortable with, and just kind of parlaying that into these ready-to-drink options as well.”

A spectacle of wines

The premier event of New Hampshire Wine Week, the New England Wine Spectacular will take place at the DoubleTree by Hilton Manchester Downtown. Since its inception, the Spectacular has become known as one of the largest wine tasting events in the country, boasting around 1,700 different products to try from regions all over the world. Attendees will also be able to meet face to face with many of the wine industry’s most well-known personalities throughout the evening, and can learn more or ask questions about their products.

“It’s really a great opportunity to get everybody together again, and to celebrate wine and everything that is,” Gunter said. “Wine enthusiasts of any level, from the very beginner who is starting to explore the world of wine … all the way to the wine aficionado, will have that opportunity to go to places they’ve never been able to go.”

Expected visitors of this year’s Spectacular hail from all over the West Coast, including in California’s Napa and Sonoma counties, as well as some European countries like France and Italy, and even below the equator in nations like Argentina. New Hampshire winemakers also join in on the fun with offerings of their own — LaBelle Winery of Amherst and Derry, Sweet Baby Vineyard of Hampstead and Zorvino Vineyards of Sandown are among those representing the Granite State.

Along with the thousands of wines, the Spectacular will have a variety of exclusive silent auction items available to bid on, and food samples from around 30 participating restaurants.

“They will primarily have … dishes on single-serve plates. It’s basically hors d’oeuvres, amuse-bouche types of servings,” Gunter said. “[The food is] not really designed to be the feature of the show, but it is designed to enhance the pairings of the two. … Most of the restaurants that are going to be supporting us are local, and so it’s an opportunity for them to present some of their fare and get their name out as well.”

The NHLC has developed an app for this year’s Spectacular that will be designed to help attendees navigate the wine purveyors. Gunter added that each table will offer a recipe submitted by the winemakers or wine representatives themselves for an item that pairs with at least one of their wines.

“From what I’ve seen, the recipes are all over the place from desserts to main courses. It really does run the gamut,” he said. “It’ll be a little bit more of an immersive experience our guests can take with them … that doesn’t just fade away over the course of the next week. … We’ve collected well over 100 recipes already and ultimately the goal is to have one at every single table.”

Proceeds from this year’s Spectacular will benefit the New Hampshire Food Bank, a program of Catholic Charities New Hampshire. According to Nancy Mellitt, the Food Bank’s director of development, the nonprofit distributed more than 16 million pounds of food statewide in 2022.

“We are thrilled to be partnering with the New Hampshire Liquor Commission … [and] to be the nonprofit beneficiary,” Mellitt said. “Our primary focus is the distribution of food to more than 400 partner agencies throughout the state, so that is your food pantries, your soup kitchens, your after-school and senior programs and more. Then in addition to that, we have our outreach programs, and so this … will help support all that we encompass.”

Tastes of Tuscany

The night before the Spectacular, on Wednesday, June 14, the NHLC will host “Perfect Pairings,” a multi-course sampling of Italian foods and wines at the Manchester Country Club in Bedford. Cristina Mariani-May, the president and CEO of Banfi Wines, will be in attendance to present some of her company’s offerings, each paired with four courses and a dessert courtesy of Chef Edward Aloise of Republic Consulting. Aloise, formerly of Republic Cafe and Campo Enoteca, two award-winning eateries in downtown Manchester, will also be joined in the kitchen by Manchester Country Club executive chef Dan Henry.

Aloise’s menu for the evening will focus on recipes he has previously used at both Republic Cafe and Campo Enoteca that were influenced by his trips to Tuscany, Italy, as well as his own research into the region’s culinary traditions. Mariani-May, a third-generation winemaker, regularly splits her time between New York and the Castello Banfi vineyard estate in Montalcino, a town in southern Tuscany that has more than 7,000 acres of land she oversees. “[Aloise] created a very special menu that pairs with the wines of Banfi, and so I think it’s going to be a really amazing treat for people to be walked through the menu and the wines they are tasting, and pairing them together,” Piper said. “It’s going to be a phenomenal night.”

More happenings

If you can’t make either the Spectacular or the “Perfect Pairings” samplings, New Hampshire Wine Week is filled with dozens of other events. The multi-course wine dinners, for instance, are often attended by the winemakers themselves, the food served in a uniquely intimate setting. Piper said one of their own wines is served with each course, and they will typically go over the notes detected in that wine and the reasoning behind its food pairing.

Many winemakers will also hold bottle signings and wine tastings at various Liquor & Wine Outlet stores — most of those run for two hours and are free to walk-in visitors.

“I think you’ll find that most of the winemakers like being out in stores as much as we love having them there,” Gunter said. “They like the representation of the product and the partnership that we try to create.”

Piper said a master list of each bottle signing and wine dinner can be found online at nhwineweek.com and will continue to be updated right up until the week begins.

“We’re making it sort of the destination for Wine Week activity, so it’s one place to learn everything that they want to learn about what’s going on that week,” she said.

Meet the wine expert: Cristina Mariani-May

President and CEO, Banfi Wines, banfiwinesusa.com

Cristina Mariani-May is the third-generation proprietor of Banfi, the company founded by her grandfather, John Mariani Sr., in 1919. The globally recognized wine brand is perhaps best known for its more than 7,000-acre Castello Banfi vineyard estate in Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy. Banfi’s domestic portfolio also includes Pacific Rim & Co. and Rainstorm, two Pacific Northwest-based collections of brands respectively located in Washington State and Oregon, and its ownership even extends to Natura wines, produced by Emiliana Organic Vineyards in Chile. Mariani-May joined Banfi in 1993, shortly after completing her studies at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Business. She is a longtime participant of New Hampshire Wine Week — you’ll find her both at this year’s Spectacular and during a special “Perfect Pairings” sampling event at the Manchester Country Club in Bedford on Wednesday, June 14, presenting Banfi’s wines alongside a thoughtfully crafted multi-course menu from award-winning chef Edward Aloise.

What will you be pouring at the New England Wine Spectacular?

We’ll be pouring our flagship, which is our Castello Banfi Brunello di Montalcino. [It’s made with] 100 percent sangiovese [grapes] and is one of our most beautiful wines. … We’ll be having our Gavi, [which is] called Principessa Gavia Gavi, and our Rosa Regale, which is our red sparkling dessert wine. [It’s] a little sweet. That one comes from Piedmont, Italy, and is always a hit at the show. [We will also have] our San Angelo pinot grigio, [and] our Chianti Classico Riserva, so quite a broad selection.

What makes your wines unique?

The ones we make from Italy have been developed over 40 years, really with pioneering research. We came to the area as Americans, which is very unusual. We ended up amassing 7,100 acres, so it’s one of the largest contiguous properties in all of Italy, but only one-third of it is dedicated to vineyards. The rest is a sustainable estate with agriculture. … So, what is so unique about our wines is that when we came to the area it was all virgin soil. From 1978 going forward, we paired up with the greatest oenology universities in the world — Bordeaux, Pisa, Milan, Davis — and we became a research center. We researched not only the Sangiovese grapes for brunello, but also with pinot grigio, merlot, syrah, [and] a lot of French varieties that had never existed in Italy. … So, really why Banfi Wines has done so well over time is because we have this constant, consistent and outstanding quality while also being 100 percent sustainable from when my family came to virgin land. … Because we are an experimental center, we are constantly improving and adjusting so that we can have the most outstanding quality in the most sustainable manner, vintage after vintage.

What are some trends you have noticed recently in the wine world?

Italian white wines that are alternatives to pinot grigio are definitely very trendy. … We have two whites that we look forward to showing. One is our Principessa Gavia Gavi, which is made from cortese grapes, and the other one that is doing so well is our La Pettegola Vermentino. … The Brunello di Montalcino, which is a classic red wine, has also not slowed down. People want heritage, they want authenticity, they want provenance, and they get that from the Brunello di Montalcino. … There’s definitely a premiumization that’s still continuing.

What do you look forward to the most about New Hampshire Wine Week?

What I like the most, really, is just the camaraderie and the joy that all the consumers get from coming to this event. … I’ve been to tastings all over the world, and sometimes you get people that just don’t really care much — they just want to drink. The difference I’ve always found in New Hampshire is that people come from all over New England, and they are really interested in learning even if they don’t know a lot about wine. And, I think that’s the most fun, is that we really resonate well with consumers.

Meet the wine expert: Tom Zack

Wine director, Zorvino Vineyards, zorvino.com

Located on 80 acres in Sandown, Zorvino Vineyards began as a hobby for founders Jim and Cheryl Zanello. They purchased the property in 2000 after retiring, planting a few wines in their new backyard. More than two decades later Zorvino Vineyards has grown to now offer around 75 types of wines and host all kinds of events from private wedding ceremonies and receptions to Sunday brunches, special multi-course dinners and more. Tom Zack has served as Zorvino’s wine director since 2005 and has been involved in many facets of the wine business, from marketing and sales to graphic and label design, event hosting and advising on wine production. Zack has also been a board member of the New Hampshire Winery Association since 2010. Earlier this year Zorvino Vineyards was named New Hampshire Winery of the Year in 2023 by the state’s Liquor Commission.

What will you be pouring at the New England Wine Spectacular?

We have seven different varietals that are in the state system. We’ll probably bring six of the seven. … One of the ones I’m touting right now is one we call Black Widowz, which is a black currant and apple blend, which is fabulous. … One of our top-selling wines for as long as I can remember is a strawberry blend. We call it Fragole Z — we use Z in everything we can — and Fragole means strawberry in Italian. We’ll be pouring that one too. We are the first ones in New Hampshire to make a peach wine and a pear wine. We’ll have those available as well.

What makes your wines unique?

When I came into the business I was already into wine and I was already a foodie. You can make wine when the grapes grow, which is in the spring in South America and in the fall up here. However, in order to keep wine rolling all the time, we really got into making fruit wines, because you can do fruit wines at all different times of the year if you have the juice. … One of the things I wanted to do is to not make sweet fruit wines. I wanted our fruit wines to be off-dry, so they would work well with all kinds of different foods. That’s a trend that we started a long time ago, and pretty much everybody up here has followed suit.

What are some trends you have noticed recently in the wine world?

One of the trends that I’ve noticed is I’m seeing a lot more 20-somethings and early 30s folks who are really getting into wine now. … I think part of that came from the pandemic. Our patio has been rocking since the pandemic … and it’s just become a crazy place to be. We typically sell it out a week in advance, when it starts getting busier in the summer. … We wanted to set some trends in the wine industry, and that’s why we created what we call the Z Wine Labs releases. What’s really cool about them is that they are meant to come out every couple of weeks and then sell out. Every year, we run through the season with a whole different list of these wines that are really kind of exciting and new — things like peanut butter and jelly, lemon lavender and honey, and a mojito wine we have that just came out. … Kudos for Z Wine Labs go to our young winemakers, Dave Sexton and Sam Breslin.

What do you look forward to the most about New Hampshire Wine Week?

The thing I look most forward to is renewing old acquaintances. I’ve been in this business for a long time now, [and] I know some of the great winemakers that have been around. I don’t get to see them, but they show up in our backyard now at this great expo. … I also love to see what new wines the New Hampshire wineries have, and to get to try them myself, so you’ll find me behind my booth but you’ll also find me chatting with some of my compatriots in the business.

Featured photo: Photo by Timothy Courtemanche.

Time to dive in to summer!

Looking for events to fill your calendar from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend? Our guide has you covered with suggestions for arts, theater, food, fairs, sporting events, music and more.

Fairs & Festivals

• The 31st annual Meredith Memorial Day Weekend Craft Festival is happening on Saturday, May 27, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sunday, May 28, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Monday, May 29, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Mill Falls Marketplace (312 Daniel Webster Hwy., Meredith). New England-based artisans and craftsmen will gather to sell their crafts, ranging from jewelry, up-cycled items and pottery to pies, sauces, pickles and infused oils. Admission is free. Visit castleberryfairs.com.

• Join the Manchester Firing Line (2540 Brown Ave., Manchester) for its weekly Summer Cruise nights every Monday from 5 to 8 p.m., starting Memorial Day (Monday, May 29) and continuing through Labor Day (Monday, Sept. 4). Events will feature live music, raffles, food trucks and a People’s Choice Award winner each week for the best cars, along with The Spot To Go food truck and Cedi’s Tasty Treats. Admission is free. Visit gunsnh.com.

• The Goffstown Rotary Club’s (Parsons Drive) car show is returning for its 10th year on Saturday, June 3, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will include goodie bags for the first 50 registrants, along with food trucks, raffles and trophies given in 16 classes. Admission is free, and the cost to participate as a registrant is $20 per car, with all proceeds benefiting local charities. Visit goffstownrotary.org.

• The Children’s Museum of New Hampshire’s (6 Washington St. in Dover; childrens-museum.org) New Hampshire Maker Fest ison Saturday, June 3, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event is a large-scale “show and tell,” with makers of all kinds, including artists, engineers, scientists and others showcasing their creativity. Admission is on a pay-what-you-can basis, with a suggested donation of $5 per person.

• Milford’s second annual Pride Festival is happening on Sunday, June 4, at noon, at Emerson Park (6 Mont Vernon St., Milford), and will feature live music, food and more. “See Milford NH PRIDE” on Facebook for more details.

• Market Square Day in downtown Portsmouth will return on Saturday, June 10, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Produced by the local nonprofit Pro Portsmouth, the festival kicks off with a 10K road race and features craft and artisan vendors, food, two live entertainment stages and more. Visit proportsmouth.org.

• It’s Children’s Day at the New Hampshire Farm Museum (1305 White Mountain Hwy., Milton; nhfarmmuseum.org) on Saturday, June 10, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Try your hand at old-fashioned games and check out storytelling, blacksmithing demonstrations, tractor rides, s’mores making and more. Admission is free for children under 4, $12 for adults, $8 for seniors and $6 for children ages 4 to 17. A family pass can also be purchased for $30.

• Laconia Motorcycle Week is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. The rally goes from Saturday, June 10, through Sunday, June 18, and includes motorcycle tours, live entertainment, vendors and scenic rides around Weirs Beach in Laconia. Visit laconiamcweek.com.

• Manchester Pride week kicks off on Saturday, June 10, with “Layers of Identity: A Visual Exploration” at Mosaic Art Collective in Manchester. Events continue throughout the week — including Queen City’s A Drag on June 12, Pride Karaoke on June 14, a flag raising at City Hall on June 16 — with the Pride Festival on Saturday, June 17, from 1 to 7 p.m. in Veterans Park featuring food trucks, vendors, arts, entertainment and more. See the complete line-up of events at manchestertrue.org.

• Take a trip to the coast for the 23rd Hampton Beach Master Sand Sculpting Classic, happening from Thursday, June 15, to Saturday, June 17. Prizes will be awarded for the best sand sculptures, and on Saturday a fireworks display will start at 9:30 p.m. The sculptures will be lighted for nightly viewing through June 26. Visit hamptonbeach.org.

• The Somersworth International Children’s Festival will featur live music, food, wildlife encounters, a petting zoo, vendors and more on Saturday, June 17, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Main Street and at Noble Pines Park in Somersworth. A pre-festival celebration will be taking place that night before at Somersworth High School (11 Memorial Drive, Somersworth) on Friday, June 16, at 6 p.m. with fireworks to end the night. Visit nhfestivals.org.

• Join the Aviation Museum of New Hampshire for its annual Father’s Day weekend Fly-In BBQ, happening on Saturday, June 17, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Nashua’s Boire Field (83 Perimeter Road, Nashua). Attendees are welcome to enjoy a barbecue buffet lunch and get a close look at visiting aircraft on the ramp. Pilots are invited to fly in, and vintage airplanes and home-built aircrafts are especially welcome. Tickets, including the barbecue, are $30 for adults and $10 for kids ages 6 to 12. Tickets are $10 for adults and free for kids ages 12 and under without the barbecue. To purchase tickets, visit nhahs.org to access the Eventbrite link.

• Plaistow’s Old Home Day returns on Saturday, June 17, and will include local vendors on the Town Hall green (145 Main St., Plaistow), as well as a beard contest, a baby contest, raffles, entertainment booths, a parade and more. This year’s theme is “Gather on the Green.” Follow the town Old Home Day’s Facebook @plaistowoldhomeday for updates.

• Intown Concord’s 49th annual Market Days Festival runs from Thursday, June 22, to Saturday, June 24, in downtown Concord from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. The event includes a wide array of local vendors, live entertainment, family-friendly activities and more. Visit marketdaysfestival.com to see the full schedule, or follow Intown Concord on Facebook @intownconcord.

• Join the Wilton Main Street Association for its annual Summerfest, happening on Saturday, June 24, starting at 10 a.m. and featuring an arts market, live music, food, street vendors, a pancake breakfast and a fireworks display in the evening. A rain date is scheduled for June 25. See visitwilton.com/summerfest.

• Don’t miss the annual Nashua Pride Festival, a free celebration of diversity, acceptance and fun focused on promoting equality. The festival is happening on Saturday, June 24, in the parking lot of the Nashua Public Library (2 Court St.), and will feature a parade that kicks off at 2 p.m. from Elm Street Middle School (117 Elm St.) and down Main Street. Visit nashuanh.gov/1217/nashua-pride-festival.

• Join the New Hampshire Farm Museum (1305 White Mountain Hwy., Milton) for Fourth on the Farm, happening on Saturday, July 1, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Activities include a tractor ride to see farm animals, as well as demonstrations, reenactments, a scavenger hunt, lawn games, lunch and strawberry shortcake, and live performances of songs from the 1700s and 1800s. Admission is free for members and children under 4, $12 for adults, $8 for seniors and $6 for children ages 4 to 17. A family pass can be purchased for $30. Visit nhfarmmuseum.org.

• The Raymond Town Fair returns for its 48th year from Friday, July 7, to Sunday, July 9, at the Raymond Town Common (Epping and Main streets, Raymond), and will feature live music, family-friendly entertainment, a children’s parade, a fireworks display and more. See “Raymond Town Fair” on Facebook to keep up to date on details as they become available.

• The next New England Reptile Expo is scheduled for Sunday, July 9, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the DoubleTree by Hilton Manchester Downtown (700 Elm St., Manchester). The show features more than 200 vendor tables full of reptiles, pet supplies and more. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for kids ages 7 to 12 and free for kids ages 6 and under. Visit reptileexpo.com.

• The Hillsborough Summer Festival is back again this year at Grimes Field (29 Preston St., Hillsborough) from Thursday, July 13, to Sunday, July 16, with live entertainment, carnival rides, a fireworks show on Saturday night, a 5K road race on Friday, a parade on Sunday and more. Festival hours are from 6 to 10 p.m. on Thursday, from 5 to 11 p.m. on Friday, from noon to 11 p.m. on Saturday and from noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is free. Visit hillsborosummerfest.com.

• Returning to the grounds of American Independence Museum (1 Governors Lane, Exeter) for a 33rd year is the American Independence Festival, on Saturday, July 15, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Be transported back in time with a live reading of the Declaration of Independence, and enjoy historical reenactments and colonial artisan demonstrations, as well as colonial games, music and dances. Visit independencemuseum.org.

• After a successful inaugural year, the Stratham 4H Summerfest returns for a second year on Saturday, July 15, at the Stratham Hill Park Fairgrounds (270 Portsmouth Ave., Stratham). Attendees are welcome to join as the work of 4-H volunteers and members will be on display in the 4-H building, show rings and livestock barns from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Exhibits include shows, displays on gardening, cooking, environmental stewardship, hiking and much more. Visit extension.unh.edu/event/2023/07/stratham-4-h-summerfest.

• The Aviation Museum of New Hampshire’s (27 Navigator Road, Londonderry) annual car show is set for Saturday, July 15, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and vehicles of all makes and eras are welcome. Trophies will be given out for the People’s Choice Award and the Museum Award, and the show will include a special appearance of a student-built two-seat RV-12iS light sport aircraft, completed in August 2022 by students at Manchester School of Technology. Vehicle registration is $10, or you can come as a spectator for $5 (cash only; kids ages 12 and under are free). A rain date of July 22 is planned. Visit nhahs.org.

• Organized by the Merrimack Valley Military Vehicle Collectors Club, this year’s Weare Rally will go from Thursday, July 27, to Sunday, July 30, at Center Woods School (14 Center Road, Weare). The rally features military vehicle displays, scenic rides, demonstrations, food and more. Admission is free. Visit mvmvc.org.

• Don’t miss the 15th annual Live Free or Die Tattoo Expo, happening from Friday, July 28, to Sunday, July 30, at the DoubleTree by Hilton Manchester Downtown (700 Elm St., Manchester). The event features various tattoo artists, contests, vendors, live music and performances. Show hours are from 5 p.m. to midnight on Friday, from 11 a.m. to midnight on Saturday, and from noon to 8 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets are $15 when purchased in advance for a one-day pass ($20 at the door), $20 in advance for a two-day pass ($25 at the door), and $30 when bought in advance for a three-day pass ($30 at the door). Visit livefreeordietattoo.com.

• The annual Summer Psychic & Craft Fair returns for a 12th year to Weirs Beach Community Center (25 Lucerne Ave., Laconia) on Saturday, July 29, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Hosted by CAYA Reiki and Healing, the event will include psychic readings, vendors and door prizes. Admission is free. See the event page on Facebook @cayahealing for more details.

• The Canterbury Fair is celebrating its 65th year — join the fun on Saturday, July 29, at Canterbury Center (Baptist and Center roads) with live music, demonstrations from local artisan and antique vendors, children’s activities and more. Admission is free. Visit canterburyfair.com.

• The Belknap County Fair is set to return on Saturday, Aug. 5, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and on Sunday, Aug. 6, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 174 Mile Hill Road in Belmont. The fair features live entertainment, food, exhibits and animal shows. Admission at the gate is $10 for adults, $5 for senior citizens 65 and older, police, fire and EMS personnel, and free for kids under 10 and for military service members. Visit bcfairnh.org.

• The second annual Manchester International Film Festival is set for Thursday, Aug. 10, through Saturday, Aug. 12, according to palacetheatre.org/film. The deadline for film submissions recently passed, and details on this year’s showcased films are expected to be available soon. Visit the website or follow the festival’s Facebook page @manchesterfilmfestival.

• Returning to the DoubleTree by Hilton Manchester Downtown (700 Elm St., Manchester) from Thursday, Aug. 10, through Saturday, Aug. 12, is the 66th annual New Hampshire Antiques Show, hosted by the New Hampshire Antique Dealers Association. Nearly 60 professional antique dealers will exhibit their collections of antique furniture, art, jewelry and more. Show hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. Tickets are $15 on Thursday, and $10 on Friday and Saturday, and return visits are free. Visit nhada.org.

• Hudson’s Old Home Days return from Thursday, Aug. 10, to Sunday, Aug. 13, on the grounds of the Hill House (211 Derry Road, Hudson). There will be carnival games, live music, fireworks, food and more. Event times are Thursday from 5 to 10 p.m., Friday from 5 to 11 p.m., Saturday from noon to 11 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. See hudsonchamber.com or visit their Facebook page @HudsonNHOldHomeDays for updates.

• Save the date for the Alton Bay Boat Show, returning to the Alton Town Docks on Saturday, Aug. 12, from 9 a.m. to noon, and featuring a variety of vintage boats on display. Admission is free. See the New Hampshire Boat Museum’s website at nhbm.org for more details.

• Don’t miss the Hampton Beach Children’s Festival, happening from Monday, Aug. 14, through Friday, Aug. 18. The event includes ice cream, dancing, balloons, storytelling, a magic show and a costume parade. All activities are free and open to the public. Visit hamptonbeach.org.

• Don’t miss Londonderry’s Old Home Days, set for Wednesday, Aug. 16, to Saturday, Aug. 19. More details are in the works, but the four-day event promises concerts, fireworks, a parade, a 5K road race, a baby contest, children’s games and more. See londonderrynh.gov or follow the event page on Facebook @townoflondonderryoldhomeday.

• The fifth annual History Alive event will be on Saturday, Aug. 19, and Sunday, Aug. 20, at Jones Road in Hillsborough. This year’s event will center around battle reenactments and village life experiences and will include activities, crafts, musicians and more. Tickets are $8 for adults when purchased ahead of time, and $10 on the days of the event. Kids ages 16 and under are free when accompanied by an adult. Visit historyalivenh.org.

• The New Hampshire Farm Museum (1305 White Mountain Hwy., Milton) is hosting its annual Truck and Tractor Day on Saturday, Aug. 19, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Trucks, wagons, antique cars and tractors dating back to the mid 1900s will all be on display, and the event will also feature demonstrations on things like the two-man saw and the butter churn treadmill. Admission is $12 for adults, $8 for seniors 65 and older, $6 for children ages 4 to 17, and free children under 4. A family pass is also available for $30. Visit nhfarmmuseum.org.

• The 125th Gilmanton Old Home Day is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 19, at 10 a.m. outside the Smith Meeting House (Meeting House and Governor roads, Gilmanton). Details on this year’s event are still being ironed out, but previous events have included live entertainment, a puppet show, a silent auction, an antique auto parade, an art show and more. Visit gilmantonnh.org.

• Join Field of Dreams Community Park (48 Geremonty Drive, Salem) for its annual Family Fun Day on Saturday, Aug. 26, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. A wide variety of activities are planned, from circus acts and face-painting to bounce houses, photo opportunities with superheroes and princesses, food trucks, local vendors and more. Visit fieldofdreamsnh.org.

• Candia’s Old Home Day will return on Saturday, Aug. 26, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Moore Park (74 High St., Candia). The event starts with a parade after a firemen’s homemade breakfast. Local crafters and artisans, town community booths, games, a wildlife exhibit, food and music will also be featured. Visit candiaoldhomeday.com.

• Pembroke and Allenstown’s Old Home Day returns on Saturday, Aug. 26, and will kick off with a parade down Main Street in Allenstown and end at Memorial Field (Exchange Street) in Pembroke. A fun-filled day is planned at the field, featuring two stages of live entertainment, antique cars, children’s games, a craft area, bounce houses and a fireworks display at dusk. Admission and parking are free. See “Pembroke & Allenstown Old Home Day 2023” on Facebook, or join its group page, for details.

• Don’t miss this year’s Hopkinton State Fair, a Labor Day weekend tradition happening from Thursday, Aug. 31, to Monday, Sept. 4, at the fairgrounds (392 Kearsarge Ave., Contoocook). There will be livestock shows, a demolition derby, carnival rides, monster trucks, live entertainment, food and more. The fair hours are 5 to 10 p.m. on Thursday; 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday. Tickets are $9 for all fairgoers ages 3 and up on Thursday night. Day passes for Friday through Monday are $14 for adults, $12 for seniors and $8 for youth ages 3 to 12. Children 35 months and under are free. Five-day passes are also available for $39. Visit hsfair.org.

• One of the largest annual car shows in the area, Cruising Downtown is scheduled to return to the streets of downtown Manchester for a 22nd year on Saturday, Sept. 2, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Organized by the Manchester Rotary Club, the rain-or-shine event will feature all kinds of cars on display, along with food, live demonstrations, local vendors and two stages of live entertainment. Admission is free as a spectator, and vehicle registration is $20. Visit cruisingdowntownmanchester.com.

• The Exeter UFO Festival returns to downtown Exeter on Saturday, Sept. 2, and Sunday, Sept. 3 — the event commemorates the anniversary of the “Exeter Incident” (an alleged UFO sighting on Sept. 3, 1965) by featuring in-depth talks and presentations from leading experts on UFOs, along with a variety of “intergalactic” children’s games and food, all to benefit the Exeter Area Kiwanis Club. See exeterkiwanis.com/exeter-ufo-festival.

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Food

• The town of Bennington will host a rhubarb festival from Friday, June 2, to Sunday, June 4, at Sawyer Memorial Park (Route 202) in Bennington. People can enter their own rhubarb plants and creations in a variety of contest categories, including the largest leaf, longest stalk and even a rhubarb-themed art contest. The celebration of all things rhubarb will also feature a pie contest, food trucks, vendors, live-action roleplay demonstrations, live music, petting zoos and more. Admission and parking to the festival are free. Follow the event page on Facebook @nhrhubarbfestival for more details.

• Tickets are on sale now for the High Hopes Foundation’s seventh annual New Hampshire Bacon & Beer Festival, returning to Anheuser-Busch Brewery (221 Daniel Webster Hwy., Merrimack) on Saturday, June 3, with general admission from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. and VIP admission beginning at 12:30 p.m. See page 40 for details or go to nhbaconbeer.com.

• The 97.5 WOKQ’s annual summer kick-off chowder festival, will be at Prescott Park (105 Marcy St., Portsmouth) on Saturday, June 3, from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Several local eateries will serve chowders and the festival will feature live music, kid-friendly activities, ice cream and more. Tickets are $20 per person and chowders will be available until the vendors run out. Visit portsmouthnhtickets.com/events/chowder-festival-summer-kick-off-6-3-2023.

• Herb & Garden Day, presented by the New Hampshire Herbal Network, returns to the Mount Kearsarge Indian Museum (18 Highlawn Road, Warner) on Saturday, June 3, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The event features a full schedule of workshops tailored to all skills and levels, along with plant and tree identification walks, an herbal market and plant sale, food vendors, children’s activities and more. Full-access general admission is $25 in advance and $35 the day of the event. Visit nhherbalnetwork.org/herbday.

• The Friends of the Library of Windham will present their 38th annual strawberry festival and book fair on Saturday, June 3, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Windham High School (64 London Bridge Road, Windham). Homemade strawberry shortcake will be served, and the festival will have live music, raffles, local vendors, games and more. Visit flowwindham.org.

• The Taste of Downtown Nashua, presented by Great American Downtown, returns to the Gate City on Wednesday, June 7, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. More than 30 participating restaurants, shops and other local businesses will have temporary food service set up inside their establishments, where samples will be served to ticket holders. Tickets are $45 per person and include access to samples from all of the event’s participating vendors. Visit downtownnashua.org/taste.

• Join LaBelle Winery Derry (14 Route 111) for From Vine to Wine: Tasting New England’s Grape Varietals, an exclusive wine tasting class happening on Wednesday, June 7, from 6 to 7 p.m. Attendees will learn about the different types of grapes cultivated at LaBelle, as well as the overall winemaking process in New England. Mini cheese boards featuring locally sourced accompaniments will also be provided. Tickets are $40 per person and can be purchased online at labellewinery.com.

• The Colby Hill Inn (33 The Oaks, Henniker) will host an Italian al fresco garden dinner party on Friday, June 9 — the event will begin with an Italian antipasti station and passed appetizers, followed by a three-course dinner and an Italian dessert station, along with live music from Brad Myrick and Italian wine tables hosted by Rossi Imports throughout the night. Tickets are $130 per person and include dinner and the wines. See colbyhillinn.com.

• Join the Bookery (844 Elm St., Manchester) in welcoming LaBelle Winery owner and winemaker Amy LaBelle on Sunday, June 11, from 4 to 6 p.m. — she’ll be there to present and sign copies of her debut book, Wine Weddings: The Ultimate Guide to Creating the Wine-Themed Wedding of Your Dreams. Released Dec. 16, the book offers advice on planning and hosting weddings of every size and type, covering everything from choosing invitation designs and wedding favors to creating your own menu of signature drinks and wine choices. Admission is free and the event will include a wine tasting. Visit bookerymht.com.

• Online ordering for the 26th annual New Hampshire Jewish Food Festival, presented by Temple B’nai Israel (210 Court St., Laconia), opens on Sunday, June 11, and will continue through Sunday, July 9. Menu items will include savory brisket with gravy, freshly sliced corned beef, pastrami and tongue from Evan’s New York Style Deli in Marblehead, Mass., as well as sweet creamy noodle kugel and a vast assortment of other home-cooked Jewish foods. Those who place their orders online will be prompted to select a time on either Friday, July 21, or Saturday, July 22, at Temple B’nai Israel. Visit tbinh.org/food-fest-menu to view the full menu.

• Enjoy garden-themed afternoon tea with The Cozy Tea Cart on Sunday, June 11, from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Gatherings at the Colonel Shepard House (29 Mont Vernon St., Milford). In addition to the fine quality teas, a variety of tea breads, sandwiches and pastries will be available. The cost is $39.95 per person and reservations are required. Visit thecozyteacart.com.

• Head to Fulchino Vineyard (187 Pine Hill Road, Hollis) for Canines Uncorked, a dog-friendly event to benefit the Humane Society for Greater Nashua on Tuesday, June 13, from 5 to 7 p.m. Registration is free and 20 percent of each glass of wine sold will benefit the Humane Society. More events are also scheduled for Aug. 15 and Oct. 10. Visit fulchinovineyard.com.

• LaBelle Winery Amherst (345 Route 101) presents A Celebration of Women Winemakers, a special four-course wine dinner happening on Wednesday, June 14, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Amy LaBelle and winemaker Lisa Evich of Simi Winery in California will be on hand to provide commentary on their philosophies and their selected pairings throughout the evening. The cost is $99 per person — purchase tickets online at labellewinery.com, where you can view the full menu.

• New Hampshire Wine Week is a June affair this year. The week will culminate with the New England Wine Spectacular on Thursday, June 15, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the DoubleTree by Hilton Manchester Downtown (700 Elm St.). The large seminar-style showcase is the premier event of the week, which has been moved to June from its traditional timeframe in January for the first time in its nearly 20-year history. The Spectacular will feature more than 1,700 wines to try, paired with all kinds of New Hampshire-sourced foods. It’s expected to be surrounded by a week’s worth of other events like wine dinners at local restaurants and tasting and sampling events at several of the Liquor & Wine Outlet stores. General-admission tickets to the Spectacular are $65 per person (21+ only), with proceeds benefiting the New Hampshire Food Bank. See nhwineweek.com.

• The next installment in The Winemaker’s Kitchen cooking class series, presented by LaBelle Winery, will be on Wednesday, June 21, from 6 to 7 p.m. in its Derry location (14 Route 111) and will highlight various Mexican recipes. Learn how to prepare everything from homemade flour tortillas to baked enchiladas, chicken and mole sauce and passionfruit seyval blanc margaritas, and collect recipe cards from the class to take home. General admission is $40 per person and tickets can be purchased online at labellewinery.com.

• Tickets are on sale for New Hampshire magazine’s annual Best of NH Party, happening on Thursday, June 22, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at Flag Hill Distillery & Winery (297 N. River Road, Lee), with an additional VIP barrel tasting and tour from 5 to 6 p.m. Visit nhmagazine.com/best-of-nh.

• Get ready for the Kingston Fire Association’s fourth annual Brewfest, set to take place on Saturday, June 24, from 2 to 6 p.m. on the Plains in downtown Kingston (148 Main St.). More than 60 different beers, ciders and hard lemonade from at least 30 pourers will be available to sample at the festival, which will also include food trucks and music. Tickets are $40 per person for full access (event is 21+ only) and $10 for designated drivers, and are available online now. Donations are also being accepted to the Kingston Fire Association. Visit kingstonbrew.com.

• Join the Colby Hill Inn (33 The Oaks, Henniker) for a Charles Smith garden barbecue on Saturday, June 24, at 6 p.m., which will feature grilled hors d’oeuvres and wine tasting tables, followed by a four-course wine pairing dinner, and live rock music in honor of “rockstar winemaker” Charles Smith. Derek Rush of Ruby Wines will serve as a guest presenter. Tickets are $130 per person. Visit colbyhillinn.com to view the full menu.

• The Hollis Strawberry Festival, presented by the Hollis Woman’s Club, returns for a 76th year to the Town Common (7 Monument Square, Hollis) on Sunday, June 25, from 2 to 4 p.m. Enjoy strawberry shortcake and other strawberry desserts while the Hollis Town Band performs. Face-painting, games and craft vendors are also part of the festival. Visit holliswomansclub.org.

• A family-friendly event featuring local food, drinks and entertainment, Farm-a-Q returns to Tuckaway Farm (36 Captain Smith Emerson Road, Lee) on Sunday, June 25, from noon to 5 p.m. Tickets are $35 per person, $15 for adult drink bracelets, $25 for students and seniors and free for kids under the age of 5. Proceeds support the Heritage Harvest Project, whose mission is to promote regional heritage foods and agricultural diversity among farmers, chefs and local communities. See “Farm-a-Q” on Eventbrite to purchase tickets.

• Save the date for the annual Keep NH Brewing Festival, happening on Saturday, July 8, at the Kiwanis Waterfront Park (15 Loudon Road, Concord; behind the Douglas N. Everett Arena). General admission is from 1 to 4 p.m., with VIP admission beginning at noon. The festival is the signature fundraising event for the New Hampshire Brewers Association and features one of the largest gatherings of craft beers on tap, with more than 140 options to try and more than 50 breweries represented. Food trucks, local vendors and live music will also be featured. Tickets are $50 in advance and $55 on the day of the event ($65 for VIP ticket-holders and $20 for designated drivers over 21). All tickets will include souvenir tasting glasses, and foods are priced per item. Proceeds benefit the New Hampshire Brewers Association. Purchase your tickets online at nhbrewers.org.

• Get ready for the Great American Ribfest & Food Truck Festival, a three-day event slated to return to Anheuser-Busch Brewery (221 Daniel Webster Hwy., Merrimack) from Friday, July 21, through Sunday, July 23. In addition to eats from a wide array of barbecuers and food trucks, the outdoor festival boasts a full schedule of live performances throughout the weekend. New this year will be an expanded children’s area and a People’s Choice rib sampler. The event will begin with a concert on Friday night, followed by two days of festivities, all to take place rain or shine. Advance admission is $32.50 for adults and $14.50 for kids ages 10 to 16 for the Friday night concert; and $12 for adults and $10 for seniors over 60 and military service members for Saturday and Sunday (kids ages 16 and under get in free per paid adult). Free entry for all attendees is available on Saturday, from 6:30 to 8 p.m., and on Sunday, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. See greatamericanribfest.com to purchase tickets.

• Monadnock Music will host its annual Progressive Garden Party, featuring multiple tastings and performances across areas of the Monadnock region, on Saturday, July 22. A botanical tour of the region, the event features unique food and drink options and live performances at each location. Tickets are $80 ($75 for Monadnock Music members). A rain date of July 29 is planned. Visit monadnockmusic.org.

• The Spicy Shark presents the second annual New England Hot Sauce Fest, returning to Smuttynose Brewing Co. (105 Towle Farm Road, Hampton) on Saturday, July 29, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The event will feature more than two dozen local hot sauce companies selling and offering samples of all of their spicy products, along with bounce houses, face-painting, several food trucks, a hot wing contest and four hot pepper eating contests. General-admission tickets are $11, and proceeds will benefit the Blue Ocean Society for Marine Conservation and the Seacoast Science Center. Visit newenglandhotsaucefest.com.

• The Cozy Tea Cart has a summertime afternoon tea tasting planned for Sunday, Aug. 6, from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Gatherings at the Colonel Shepard House (29 Mont Vernon St., Milford). In addition to teas, there will be tea breads, sandwiches and pastries available. Tickets are $39.95 per person and reservations are required. Visit thecozyteacart.com.

• The town of Windham’s Recreation department will host a food truck festival on the grounds of Windham High School (64 London Bridge Road, Windham) on Sunday, Aug. 13, from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. In addition to eats from local food trucks, there will be music and games of cornhole. For more details contact the Windham Recreation office by phone at 965-1208 or by email at [email protected].

• The Great New England BBQ & Food Truck Festival returns for a seventh year to the Hampshire Dome (50 Emerson Road, Milford) on Saturday, Aug. 12, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The event will feature a crafter’s booth and a kids’ zone in addition to eats from local food trucks, along with craft beer, live music, a cornhole tournament and more. Visit gnecraftartisanshows.com.

• After a successful comeback year in 2022, Gate City Brewfest will return to Holman Stadium (67 Amherst St., Nashua) on Saturday, Aug. 26, with general admission from 1 to 5 p.m. and VIP admission beginning at noon. Unique for being a family-friendly brewfest, the event also features food, live music, a cornhole tournament, children’s activities and more. General-admission tickets are $35 in advance and $50 the day of the event, while VIP tickets are $70 (limited to 200 tickets) and designated drivers and attendees under the age of 21 are $15. Proceeds benefit the Nashua Police Athletic League. See gatecitybrewfestnh.com.

• Food Truck Festivals of America presents the ninth annual Portsmouth Food Truck & Craft Beer Festival, happening at Cisco Brewers (35 Corporate Drive, Portsmouth) on Sunday, Aug. 20, with general admission from noon to 5 p.m. and VIP admission beginning at 11 a.m. In addition to food trucks, the festival features craft beer, lawn games, music and more. General admission is $10 and VIP admission is $20 (kids ages 10 and under are free). Visit foodtruckfestivalsofamerica.com/portsmouth.

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Concerts

• Louis Tomlinson is playing the Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion (72 Meadowbrook Lane, Gilford, banknhpavilion.com) Saturday, May 27, at 7 p.m. Tickets start at $25.

• See Live at the Fillmore, an Allman Brothers tribute band, at Tupelo Music Hall (10 A St., Derry; tupelomusichall.com) on Saturday, May 27, at 8 p.m. Tickets cost $37.

• Dave Mason is playing Tupelo Music Hall (10 A St., Derry, tupelomusichall.com) on Sunday, May 28, at 7 p.m. Ticket prices range from $60 to $75.

• Tuesday, May 30, Johnny Depp, Alice Cooper, Joe Perry and Tommy Henriksen, also known as Hollywood Vampires, are coming to SNHU Arena (555 Elm St., Manchester, snuharena.com). Show starts at 8 p.m., tickets start at $39.50.

• Hannah Ellis with Martin & Kelly are performing at the Bank of NH Stage (16 S. Main St., Concord, ccanh.com) on Thursday, June 1, at 7 p.m. General admission tickets are $10.

• See Walker Hayes at the Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion (72 Meadowbrook Lane, Gilford, banknhpavilion.com) on Friday, June 2, at 6:30 p.m. Tickets start at $35.

• Umphry’s McGee is playing the Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom (169 Ocean Blvd., Hampton, casinoballroom.com) on Friday, June 2, at 8:30 p.m. Tickets cost $33.

• See 33 1/3 at Tupelo Music Hall (10 A St., Derry, tupelomusichall.com) on Saturday, June 3, at 8 p.m. Tickets cost $39.

• The Dueling Pianos are performing at the Bank of NH Stage (16 S. Main St., Concord, ccanh.com) on Saturday, June 3, at 8 p.m. Tickets cost $28.

• Stand Up Audio is playing at The Rex Theatre (23 Amherst St., Manchester, palacetheatre.com) on Saturday, June 3, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $29.

• Tupelo Music Hall (10 A St., Derry, tupelomusichall.com) is having Mike Girard’s Big Swinging Thing on Saturday, June 3, at 8 p.m. Tickets cost $35.

• See Voyage,a Journey tribute band, at the Casino Ballroom (169 Ocean Blvd., Hampton, casinoballroom.com) on Saturday, June 3, at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $25.

• On Sunday, June 4, Air Supply is playing the Casino Ballroom (169 Ocean Blvd., Hampton, casinoballroom.com) at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $29.

• Singer and songwriter Charlie Puth is coming to the Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion (72 Meadowbrook Lane, Gilford, banknhpavilion.com) on Wednesday, June 7, at 7:30 p.m. Ticket prices start at $25.

• The Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester, palacetheatre.com) is hosting Debbie Gibson on Thursday, June 8, at 7:30 p.m. Prices start at $39.

• Celebrating Billy Joel is coming to the Nashua Center for the Arts (201 Main St., Nashua, nashuacenterforthearts.com) on Thursday, June 8, at 8 p.m. Tickets range from $29 to $59.

• The Casino Ballroom (169 Ocean Blvd., Hampton, casinoballroom.com) is having Killswitch Engaged on Friday, June 9, at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $37.

• Nashua Center for the Arts (201 Main St., Nashua, nashuacenterforthearts.com) is having Pat Methney Side-Eye perform on Friday, July 9, at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $59.

• See The Subtronics at the Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion (72 Meadowbrook Lane, Gilford, banknhpavilion.com) on Sunday, June 10, at 6:30 p.m. Tickets start at $19.

• The Simon and Garfunkel tribute band Forever Simon & Garfunkel is performing at The Rex Theatre (23 Amherst St., Manchester, palacetheatre.com) on Sunday, June 10, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $29.

• See Neil Young tribute Band Broken Arrow at the Tupelo Music Hall (10 A St., Derry, tupelomusichall.com) on Sunday, June 10, at 8 p.m. Tickets cost $37.

• Sunday, June 11, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue are performing at the Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion (72 Meadowbrook Lane, Gilford, banknhpavilion.com) at 7 p.m. Tickets start at $25.

• The Happy Together Tour is coming to the Casino Ballroom (169 Ocean Blvd., Hampton, casinoballroom.com) on Sunday, June 11, at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $29.

• Kidd G is performing at the Bank of NH Stage (16 S. Main St., Concord, ccanh.com) on Wednesday, June 14, at 8 p.m. General admission tickets cost $28, reserved balcony seating costs $40.

• Faster Pussycat is playing Tupelo Music Hall (10 A St., Derry, tupelomusichall.com) on Thursday, June 15, at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $40.

• See Leonid & Friends, a Chicago tribute band, at The Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester, palacetheatre.com) on Thursday, June 15, at 7:30 p.m. Ticket prices start at $29.

• The Marshall Tucker Band is performing at the Chubb Theatre at Capitol Center for the Arts (44 S. Main St., Concord, ccanh.com) on Thursday, June 15, at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $61.

• The Casino Ballroom (169 Ocean Blvd., Hampton, casinoballroom.com) is having Russell Dickerson on Thursday, June 15, at 8 p.m. Tickets cost $35.

• On Friday, June 16, Tupelo Music Hall (10 A St., Derry, tupelomusichall.com) is having Dueling Pianos play. Showtime is at 8 p.m., tickets cost $20.

• The Little River Band is playing the Casino Ballroom (169 Ocean Blvd., Hampton, casinoballroom.com) on Friday, June 16, at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $25.

• The Rex Theatre (23 Amherst St., Manchester, palacetheatre.com) is hosting The Buddha Blue Band on Saturday, June 17, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $29.

• See Grace Kelly at the Nashua Center for the Arts (201 Main St., Nashua, nashuacenterforthearts.com) on Saturday, June 17, at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $40.

• Tupelo Music Hall (10 A St., Derry, tupelomusichall.com) is having Martin Barre perform on Saturday, July 17, at 8 p.m. Ticket prices range from $45 to $60.

• The Bank of NH Stage (16 S. Main St., Concord, ccanh.com) is having Not Fade Away Band presents: Dead Zeppelin on Saturday, June 17, at 8 p.m. Tickets cost $20.

• See Toad the Wet Sprocket at Nashua Center for the Arts (201 Main St., Nashua, nashuacenterforthearts.com) on Sunday, June 18, at 7 p.m. Tickets start at $49.

• Dierks Bentley is performing at the Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion (72 Meadowbrook Lane, Gilford, banknhpavilion.com) on Thursday, June 22, at 7 p.m. Tickets start at $34.

• See American Idol alumnus Phillip Phillips at Tupelo Music Hall (10 A St., Derry, casinoballroom.com) on Thursday, June 22, at 8 p.m. Tickets range from $40 to $45.

• Eric Gales is performing at Tupelo Music Hall (10 A St., Derry, tupelomusichall.com) on Friday, June 23, at 8 p.m. Tickets cost $40.

• Nashua Center for the Arts (201 Main St., Nashua, nashuacenterforthearts.com) is having Kashmir perform on Friday, June 23, at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $29.

• See Jerry Harrison and Adrian Belew at the Casino Ballroom (169 Ocean Blvd., Hampton, casinoballroom.com) on Friday, June 23, at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $25.

• Chris Pinnella will be at Tupelo Music Hall (10 A St., Derry) on Saturday, June 24, at 6 p.m. Tickets range from $40 to $45.

• See the classic rock group Trinity at The Rex Theatre (23 Amherst St. Manchester, palacetheatre.com) on Saturday, June 24, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $29.

• Dirty Deeds is playing the Casino Ballroom (169 Ocean Blvd., Hampton, casinoballroom.com) on Saturday, June 24, at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $19.

• The Casino Ballroom (169 Ocean Blvd., Hampton, casinoballroom.com) is having Cinderella’s Tom Kiefer Band on Wednesday, June 28, at 8 p.m. Tickets cost $36.

• See Metal Church at Tupelo Music Hall (10 A St., Derry, tupelomusichall.com) on Thursday, June 29, at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $35.

• Billy Bob Thornton & The Boxmasters are performing at The Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester, palacetheatre.com) on Thursday, June 29, at 7:30 p.m. Prices start at $39.

• The Rex Theatre (23 Amherst St., Manchester, palacetheatre.com) is having The John Jorgenson Bluegrass Band play on Thursday, June 29, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $29.

• See 3 Doors Down at the Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion (72 Meadowbrook Lane, Gilford, banknhpavilion.com) on Friday, June 30, at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $25.

• On Friday, June 30, Michael Franti and Spearhead are playing the Casino Ballroom (169 Ocean Blvd., Hampton, casinoballroom.com) at 8 p.m. Tickets cost $45.

• Tribute band Magical Mystery Doors is performing at Tupelo Music Hall (10 A St., Derry) on Friday, June 30, at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $35.

• Badfish! A tribute to Sublime is playing the Casino Ballroom (169 Ocean Blvd., Hampton, casinoballroom.com) on Saturday, July 1, at 8 p.m. Tickets cost $27.

• On Saturday, July 1, Chicago is playing at the Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion (72 Meadowbrook Lane, Gilford, banknhpavilion.com) at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $39.

• See John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band on Saturday, July 1, at Tupelo Music Hall (10 A St., Derry, tupelomusichall). Showtime is at 8 p.m., tickets cost $45.

• Falling in Reverse is playing the Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion (72 Meadowbrook Lane, Gilford, banknhpavilion.com) on Sunday, July 2, at 6:30 p.m. Ticket prices begin at $25.

• Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion (72 Meadowbrook Lane, Gilford, banknhpavilion.com) is having Tedeschi Trucks Band on Monday, July 3, at 7 p.m. General admission tickets cost $25.

• Sam Hunt is playing the Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion (72 Meadowbrook Lane, Gilford, banknhpavilion.com) on Friday, July 7, at 7:30 p.m. Ticket prices begin at $34.75.

• The Doors tribute band Peace Frog is coming to Tupelo Music Hall (10 A St., Derry, tupelomusichall.com) on Friday, July 7, at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $30.

• See Barenaked Ladies at the Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion (72 Meadowbrook Lane, Gilford, banknhpavilion.com) on Saturday, July 8, at 7 p.m. Tickets start at $29.

• Dueling Pianos is coming to Tupelo Music Hall (10 A St., Derry, tupelomusichall.com) on Saturday, July 8, at 8 p.m. Tickets cost $20.

• On Saturday, July 8, the Bank of NH Stage (16 S. Main St., Concord, ccanh.com) is having Echoes of Floyd play at 8 p.m. General admission costs $31, reserved balcony seating costs $44.

• See The Allman Betts Band on Sunday, July 9, at Nashua Center for the Arts (201 Main St., Nashua, nashuacenterforthearts.com). Showtime is at 7 p.m., ticket prices start at $39.

• Tupelo Music Hall (10 A St., Derry, tupelomusichall.com) is having LA Guns perform on Sunday, July 9, at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $40.

• The Dave Matthews Band is playing the Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion (72 Meadowbrook Lane, Gilford, banknhpavilion.com) on Tuesday, July 11, and Wednesday, July 12, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $50.

• Nashua Center for the Arts (201 Main St., Nashua, nashuacenterforthearts.com) is welcoming Tab Benoit to its stage on Thursday, July 13, at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $29.

• The Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion (72 Meadowbrook Lane, Gilford, banknhpavilion.com) is hosting Peter Frampton on Thursday, July 13, at 8 p.m. Prices start at $35.

• Bruce in the USA is playing Tupelo Music Hall (10 A St., Derry, tupelomusichall.com) on Friday, July 14, at 7 p.m. Tickets start at $45.

• See Counting Crows at the Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion (72 Meadowbrook Lane, Gilford, banknhpavilion.com) on Friday, July 14, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $29.

• An Evening with Tom Rush accompanied by Matt Nakoa is coming to Nashua Center for the Arts (201 Main St., Nashua, nashuacenterforthearts.com) on Friday, July 14, at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $29.

• The Head and the Heart and The Revivalists will be performing at the Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion (72 Meadowbrook Lane, Gilford, banknhpavilion.com) on Saturday, July 15, at 7 p.m. Tickets start at $31.

• See Jake Shimabukuro on Saturday, July 15, at 8 p.m. at Nashua Center for the Arts (201 Main St., Nashua, nashuacenterforthearts.com). Tickets start at $29.

• The Kingston Trio is playing at Nashua Center for the Arts (201 Main St., Nashua, nashuacenterforthearts.com) on Tuesday, July 18, at 7 p.m. Tickets start at $52.

• On Tuesday, July 18, and Wednesday, July 19, The Music of ABBA – Direct from Sweden is coming to Tupelo Music Hall (10 A St., Derry, tupelomusichall.com) at 8 p.m. Tickets cost $35.

• On Wednesday, July 19, Royal Bliss is performing at Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion (72 Meadowbrook Lane, Gilford, banknhpavilion.com) at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $24.

• See Theo Von at the Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion (72 Meadowbrook Lane, Gilford, banknhpavilion.com) on Thursday, July 20, at 8 p.m. Pricing starts at $39.

• The Bank of NH Stage (16 S. Main St., Concord, ccanh.com) is hosting Ghost Funk Orchestra at 8 p.m. on Thursday, July 20. Tickets for general admission cost $23.

• Matchbox 20 is playing the Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion (72 Meadowbrook Lane, Gilford, banknhpavilion.com) on Friday, July 21, at 7:30 p.m. Ticket prices start at $80.

• See Beginnings, a Chicago tribute band, at Tupelo Music Hall (10 A St., Derry, tupelomusichall.com) on Friday, July 21, at 8 p.m. Tickets cost $37.

• The Struts are coming to the Casino Ballroom (169 Ocean Blvd., Hampton, casinoballroom.com) on Friday, July 21, at 8 p.m. General admission costs $27.

• The Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion (72 Meadowbrook Lane, Gilford, banknhpavilion.com) is hosting Bret Michaels on Saturday, July 22, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $25.

• See Martin Sexton at the Nashua Center for the Arts (201 Main St., Nashua, nashuacenterforthearts.com) on Saturday, July 22, at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $39.

• Ruben Studdard is performing at Tupelo Music Hall (10 A St., Derry, tupelomusichall.com) on Saturday, July 22, at 8 p.m. Tickets range from $45 to $65.

• See Kidz Bop Kidz on Sunday, July 23, at 4 p.m. at the Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion (72 Meadowbrook Lane, Gilford, banknhpavilion.com). Tickets start at $29.

• The Young Dubliners are performing on Sunday, July 23, at the Bank of NH Stage (16 S. Main St., Concord, ccanh.com). Showtime is at 8 p.m., tickets cost $36.

• See Dueling Pianos at the Bank of NH Stage (16 S. Main St., Concord, ccanh.com) on Friday, July 28, at 8 p.m. Tickets cost $28.

• The Fab Four, a Beatles tribute band, is coming to the Casino Ballroom (169 Ocean Blvd., Hampton, casinoballroom.com) on Friday, July 28, at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $25.

• Tupelo Music Hall (10 A St., Derry, tupelomusichall.com) is having Stephen Pearcy perform on Friday, July 28, at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $50.

• The High Kings are performing at Nashua Center for the Arts (201 Main St., Nashua, nashuacenterforthearts.com) on Sunday, July 30, at 7 p.m. Tickets start at $39.

• See The Beach Boys on Wednesday, Aug. 2, at 7:30 p.m. at the Casino Ballroom (169 Ocean Blvd., Hampton, casinoballroom.com). Tickets start at $29.

• The Outlaw Music Festival is coming to the Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion (72 Meadowbrook Lane, Gilford, banknhpavilion.com) on Wednesday, Aug. 2, at 5 p.m. Tickets start at $42.

• See Foreigner on Friday, Aug. 4, at 7 p.m. at the Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion (72 Meadowbrook Lane, Gilford, banknhpavilion.com). Tickets start at $40.

• Pointless Culture is coming to the Bank of NH Stage (16 S. Main St., Concord, ccanh.com) on Friday, Aug. 4, at 8 p.m. Tickets are not on sale yet.

• Tupelo Music Hall (10 A St., Derry, tupelomusichall.com) is having Zach Nugent’s Dead Set perform on Friday, Aug. 4, at 8 p.m. Tickets cost $30.

• The Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion (72 Meadowbrook Lane, Gilford, banknhpavilion.com) is having The Chicks on Saturday, Aug. 5, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $59.

• Jelly Roll is coming to the Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion (72 Meadowbrook Lane, Gilford, banknhpavilion.com) on Tuesday, Aug. 8, at 7 p.m. Tickets start at $60.

• See Marcus King at the Casino Ballroom (169 Ocean Blvd., Hampton, casinoballroom.com) on Tuesday, Aug. 8, at 8 p.m. Tickets cost $39.

• See Incubus on Wednesday, Aug. 9, at 7:15 p.m. at the Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion (72 Meadowbrook Lane, Gilford, banknhpavilion.com). Tickets start at $30.

• Melissa Etheridge is coming to the Casino Ballroom (169 Ocean Blvd., Hampton, casinoballroom.com) on Wednesday, Aug. 9, at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $59.

• Country music star Chris Stapleton is coming to the Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion (72 Meadowbrook Lane, Gilford, banknhpavilion.com) for three shows, Aug. 10 through Aug. 12, all starting at 7 p.m. Ticket prices begin at $98.

• Kick – The INXS Experience is performing at Tupelo Music Hall (10 A St., Derry, tupelomusichall.com) on Thursday, Aug. 10, at 8 p.m. Tickets cost $35.

• The Casino Ballroom (169 Ocean Blvd., Hampton, casinoballroom.com) is having KC and the Sunshine Band on Saturday Aug. 12, at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $29.

• Govt Mule’s “The Dark Side of the Mule” tour, a Led Zeppelin tribute, arrives on Thursday Aug. 17, at the Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion (72 Meadowbrook Lane, Gilford, banknhpavilion.com). Showtime is at 7 p.m., tickets start at $18.

• The Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion (72 Meadowbrook Lane, Gilford, banknhpavilion.com) is having In This Moment and Motionless in White play on Friday, Aug. 18, at 6:30 p.m. Tickets start at $29.

• See Blue Light Rain on Friday, Aug. 18, at the Bank of NH Stage (16 S. Main St., Concord, ccanh.com). Showtime is at 8 p.m., tickets cost $24.

• The Boston Pops are performing at the Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion (72 Meadowbrook Lane, Gilford, banknhpavilion.com) on Saturday, Aug. 18, at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $19.

• See Cherry Cherry, a Neil Diamond tribute band, on Sunday, Aug. 19, at 8 p.m. at Tupelo Music Hall (10 A St., Derry, tupelomusichall.com). Tickets cost $35.

• Miko Marks is performing at the Bank of NH Stage (16 S. Main St., Concord, ccanh.com) on Saturday, Aug. 19, at 8 p.m. Ticket prices are not listed at the time of publication.

• The Nashua Center for the Arts (201 Main St., Nashua, nashuacenterforthearts.com) is having Mary Chapin Carpenter on Sunday, Aug. 20, at 7:30 p.m. Ticket prices begin at $49.

• See Disturbed at the Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion (72 Meadowbrook Lane, Gilford, banknhpavilion.com) on Wednesday, Aug. 23, at 6 p.m. Ticket prices start at $29.

• Ann Wilson is playing the Casino Ballroom (169 Ocean Blvd., Hampton, casinoballroom.com) on Wednesday Aug. 23, at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $24.

• See Slightly Stoopid and Sublime with Rome on Thursday, Aug. 24, at the Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion (72 Meadowbrook Lane, Gilford, banknhpavilion.com). Showtime is at 5 p.m., tickets start at $29.

• Tyler Hubbard of Florida Georgia Line is playing the Casino Ballroom (169 Ocean Blvd., Hampton, casinoballroom.com) on Thursday, Aug. 24, at 8 p.m. Tickets cost $65.

• The Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion (72 Meadowbrook Lane, Gilford, banknhpavilion.com) is having The Smashing Pumpkins on Friday, Aug. 25, at 6:30 p.m. Tickets start at $45.

• On Friday, Aug. 25, Gabby Barrett performs at the Casino Ballroom (169 Ocean Blvd., Hampton, casinoballroom.com) at 8 p.m. Tickets cost $35.

• See Hank Williams Jr. on Saturday, Aug. 26, at the Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion (72 Meadowbrook Lane, Gilford, banknhpavilion.com). Tickets start at $39, show starts at 7 p.m.

• Ace Frehley is coming to the Nashua Center for the Arts (201 Main St., Nashua, nashuacenterforthearts.com) on Saturday, Aug. 26, at 8 p.m. Ticket prices start at $49.

• Tupelo Music Hall (10 A St., Derry, tupelomusichall.com) is having Metallica tribute band Four Horsemen on Saturday, Aug. 26, at 8 p.m. Tickets cost $35.

• See W.A.S.P. on Sunday, Aug. 27, at 8 p.m. at the Casino Ballroom (169 Ocean Blvd., Hampton). Tickets start at $30.

• Rod Stewart is coming to the Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion (72 Meadowbrook Lane, Gilford, banknhpavilion.com) on Monday, Aug 28, at 7:30 p.m. Ticket prices begin at $50.

• The Casino Ballroom (169 Ocean Blvd., Hampton, casinoballroom.com) is having One Night of Queen on Friday, Sept. 1, at 8 p.m. Ticket prices range from $19 to $39.

• See The Zac Brown Band on Saturday, Sept. 2, and Sunday, Sept. 3, at the Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion (72 Meadowbrook Lane, Gilford, banknhpavilion.com). Both shows start at 7 p.m., ticket prices start at $64.

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Comedy

• Hypnotist Frank Santos Jr. will perform an 18-and-up comedy and hypnotism show at Chunky’s Cinema Pub (151 Coliseum Ave., Nashua, chunkys.com) on Saturday, May 27, at 8 p.m. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased online at chunkys.com.

• Headliners Comedy Club (700 Elm St., Manchester, headlinersnh.com) will have Mark Riley on stage on Saturday, May 27, at 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at headlinersnh.com.

• See Marty Caproni at Chunky’s Cinema Pub (707 Huse Road, Manchester, chunkys.com) on Saturday, May 27, at 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $20.

• Comedian Stephanie Peters is bringing her brand of humor to Chunky’s Nashua (chunkys.com) on Saturday, May 27, at 8:30 p.m. Tickets cost $20.

• The Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom (169 Ocean Blvd. in Hampton, casinoballroom.com) is having Sam Morril on Thursday, June 1. The show starts at 7:30 p.m., and the doors open at 6 p.m. This is an 18-and-older performance. • See ImprovBoston at the Rex Theatre (23 Amherst St., Manchester) on Friday, June 2, at 7:30 p.m. as part of its Friday Night Comedy series. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased at palacetheatre.org.

• Comedian Brian Beaudoin is performing at Chunky’s Nashua (Chunkys.com) on Saturday, June 3, at 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $20.

• Chunky’s Manchester (chunkys.com) is having Johnny Pizzi take the stage on Saturday, June 3, at 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $20.

• James Dorsey is coming to Headliners Comedy Club (700 Elm St., Manchester, headlinersnh.com) on Saturday, June 3, at 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $20.

• Peter Revello is coming to Ruby Room Comedy at the Shaskeen Pub and Restaurant (909 Elm St., Manchester, shaskeenirishpub.com) on Wednesday, June 7, at 9 p.m. Tickets cost $10.

• Friday Night Comedy at the Rex Theatre (23 Amherst St., Manchester, palacetheatre.org) continues with a performance from Jim Colliton with Chris D on Friday, June 9, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $25.

• On Saturday, June 10, Dan Crohn will be telling jokes at Headliners in Manchester (headlinersnh.com). The show starts at 8:30 p.m..

• James Dorsey is going to be telling jokes at Chunky’s Nashua (chunkys.com) on Saturday, June 10, at 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $20.

• See The Prince of Mystery, a comedy and magic show by Skip Daniels at Chunky’s Manchester (chunkys.com) on Saturday, June 10, at 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $20.

• A Tribute to Robin Williams by Roger Kabler is coming to the Rex Theatre (23 Amherst St., Manchester, palacetheatre.org) on Friday, June 16, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $25.

• See Queen City Improv at the Hatbox Theatre (270 Loudon Road, Concord, hatboxnh.com) on Friday, June 16, at 7:30 p.m. The improv group’s shows are always different, making for unique performances each time. Ticket prices range from $16 to $22.

• On Saturday, June 17, Anthony Rodia is going to be telling jokes at the Capitol Center for the Arts’ Chubb Theatre (44 S. Main St., Concord, ccanh.com). The show starts at 8 p.m.; doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets range from $35.75 to $53.75.

• See Brian Beaudion at Headliners in Manchester (headlinersnh.com) on Saturday, June 17. The show starts at 8:30 p.m.; doors open at 8 p.m.

• Dan Crohn is performing at Chunky’s Nashua (chunkys.com) on Saturday, June 17, at 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $20.

• Chunky’s Manchester (chunkys.com) is having Mike Hanley on Saturday, June 17, at 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at chunkys.com.

• Brian Regan is performing at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester, palacetheatre.org) on Thursday, June 22, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $39 and can be purchased at palacetheatre.org.

• Headliners in Manchester (headlinersnh.com) will have Steve Scarfo take the stage on Saturday, June 24, at 8:30 p.m. Doors open at 8 p.m. and tickets can be purchased online at headlindersnh.com.

• See Amy Tee at Chunky’s Manchester (chunkys.com) on Saturday, June 24, at 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at chunckys.com.

• Skip Daniels is performing his magic and comedy show “The Prince of Mystery” on Saturday, June 24, at 8:30 p.m. at Chunky’s Nashua (chunkys.com). Tickets are $20.

• On Friday, July 7, Lenny Clark is bringing his stand-up stylings to the Rex Theatre (23 Amherst St., Manchester, palacetheatre.org). Showtime is 7:30 p.m., and tickets cost $25.

• Nashua Center for the Arts (201 Main St.) is putting on Glassjaw Presents: Boston’s Best Comic – A Night with Will Noonan on Saturday, July 8, at 7:30 p.m. Visit nashuacenterforthearts.com.

• Ace Aceto is bringing his comedy show to Headliners in Manchester (headlinersnh.com) on Saturday, July 8, at 8:30 p.m. The venue’s doors open at 8 p.m.

• Headliners in Manchester (headlinersnh.com) is having Mike Hanley perform on Saturday, July 15. Doors open at 8 p.m., and the show starts at 8:30 p.m.

• Chris Zito is performing at Headliners in Manchester (headlinersnh.com) on Saturday, July 22, at 8:30 p.m.

• See Robert Kelly at the Nashua Center for the Arts (201 Main St., nashuacenterforthearts.com) on Friday, July 28, at 8 p.m. Tickets cost $30.

• Laugh with Amy Tee at Headliners (headlinersnh.com) on Saturday, July 29, at 8:30 p.m. The doors open at 8 p.m.

• Spend An Evening with Actor and Comedian Kevin Pollak at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Mancehster, palacetheatre.org) on Saturday, Aug. 12. Showtime is at 7:30 p.m., and ticket prices start at $39.

• The Mother of a Comedy Show is coming to Nashua Center for the Arts (201 Main St., nashuacenterforthearts.com) on Friday, Aug. 18, at 8 p.m. The show stars comics Kelly MacFarland, Kerri Louise and Christine Hurley. Tickets cost $32.

• Comedian Jimmy Dunn is performing on Saturday, Aug. 26, at the Bank of NH Stage (16 S. Main St, Concord, ccanh.com). Showtime is 8 p.m., with the venue opening at 7 p.m. Tickets go on sale to the public on Thursday, June 1, at noon.

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Theater

• The Disney Musical Newsies opens at the Seacoast Rep (125 Bow St., Portsmouth, seacoastrep.org) on Thursday, May 25, and will run through Saturday, July 8. Shows are Thursday through Sunday, with showtimes at 2 p.m. or 7:30 p.m. that vary every day. Tickets start at $35.

• Join the Chubb Theatre (44 S. Main St., Concord, ccanh.com) for the musical The Lightning Thief, a show based on the popular young adult novel Percy Jackson and the Olympians. The show is on Friday, May 26, at 10 a.m. Tickets for the show cost $8.

• Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? is opening on May 26 at 7:30 p.m. at The Hatbox Theatre (270 Loudon Road, Concord, hatboxnh.com). The show will run through Sunday, June 11, with shows on Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m., and Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets start at $16.

• The Majestic Theatre (880 Page St., Manchester, majestictheatre.net) is putting on The Wild Women of Winedale, with opening night Friday, June 2, at 7 p.m. There will be additional showtimes Saturday, June 3, at 7 p.m. and Sunday, June 4, at 2 p.m. Tickets range from $15 to $20.

• See Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester, palacetheatre.org). The show opens on Friday, June 2, and runs through Sunday, June 25, with shows at 2 and 7 p.m. Tickets start at $25.

• The Palace Youth Theatre is putting on The Music Manat the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester, palacetheatre.org) on Wednesday, June 7, and Thursday, June 8, at 7 p.m. Ticket prices range from $12 to $15.

• See Theatre Kapow’s presentation of Tiny Beautiful Things Friday, June 9, and Saturday, June 10, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, June 11, at 2 p.m. at the Bank of NH Stage (16 S. Main St., Concord, ccanh.com). Full-price tickets cost $33.75; student tickets cost $26.75.

• The comedy Menopause: The Musicalis coming to Nashua Center for the Arts (201 Main St., nashuacenterforthearts.com) on Saturday, June 10, at 3 and 7:30 p.m. Tickets range from $32 to $69.

• Live forever at Palace Teen Apprentice Theater’s production of Fame on Tuesday, June 13, and Wednesday, June 14, at 7 p.m. at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester, palacetheatre.org). Tickets cost $12 to $15.

• Palace Teen Company is serving up all that jazz with Chicagoon Tuesday, June 20, and Wednesday, June 21, at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester, palacetheatre.org). The shows are at 7 p.m. and tickets cost $12 to $15.

• The 2023 Bank of New Hampshire Children’s Summer Series at The Palace (80 Hanover St., Manchester, palacetheatre.org) begins with magician BJ Hickman Wednesday, July 5, through Friday, July 7. Children’s Series productions have shows Wednesday and Thursday at 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m., and Friday at 10 a.m. Tickets cost $10. The series includes Beauty and the BeastJuly 11, through July 14; RapunzelJuly 18, through July 21; Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Aug. 1 to Aug. 4; The Little Mermaid Aug. 8 to Aug. 11; Frozen KidsAug. 15 through Aug. 18, and Finding Nemo Jr. Aug. 22 through Aug. 25.

• Cabaret opens at The Hatbox Theatre (270 Loudon Road, Concord, hatboxnh.com) on Friday, July 7, at 7:30 p.m. The show will run through Sunday, July 16. Showtimes are on Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m., and Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets start at $16.

• The creepy and kooky musical The Addams Familyis coming to Chubb Theatre (44 S. Main St., Concord, ccanh.com) on Friday, July 7, and Saturday, July 8, at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $15.75 for students and seniors and $18.75 for adults.

• Hairis being performed at Seacoast Rep (125 Bow St., Portsmouth, seacoastrep.org). The show opens Thursday, July 13, and runs through Sunday, Aug. 27. The theater will have performances Thursday through Sunday, with curtain times at 2 and 7:30 p.m. There is one additional show on Wednesday, July. 19. Tickets start at $35.

• The Majestic Theatre is producingCatch Me If You Can at the Derry Opera House (29 West Broadway). The show will open on Friday, July 14, at 7 p.m. and have additional performances on Saturday, July 15, at 7 p.m. and Sunday, July 16, at 2 p.m. Tickets range from $15 to $20 and can be purchased at majestictheatre.net.

• Up, up and away at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester, palacetheatre.org) for the Palace Youth Theatre’s version of Peter Panon Friday, July 14, at 7 p.m. Tickets begin at $12.

• See Mary Poppins Jr.at the Chubb Theatre (44 S. Main St., Concord, ccanh.com) on Friday, July 14, and Saturday, July 15, at 7 p.m. Tickets for the show cost $18.75 for adults, $15.75 for seniors and students.

• On Saturday, July 15, at 2 p.m., RB Productions is putting on Annie Kids at the Bank of NH Stage (16 S. Main St., Concord, ccanh.com). The show starts at noon. Tickets cost $10 for adults, $8 for students.

• Head Into the Woods with RB Productions at the Chubb Theatre (44 S. Main St., Concord, ccanh.com) on Friday, July 21, and Saturday, July 22, at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $18.75 for adults, $15.75 for students and seniors.

• See Big Fishat The Hatbox Theatre (270 Loudon Road, Concord, hatboxnh.com) for its three-day run, starting on Friday, July 21, at 7:30 p.m. The other shows are on Saturday, July 22, at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, July 23, at 2 p.m. Tickets start at $16.

• The youth performers with RB Productions are putting on Newsies Jr. at the Chubb Theatre (44 S. Main St., Concord, ccanh.com) on Friday, July 28, and Saturday, July 29, at 7 p.m. Tickets to the shows start at $15.75.

• Celebrate Christmas in July with Elf Jr.by Palace Youth Theatre on Friday, July 28, and Saturday, July 29, at 7 p.m. at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester, palace theatre.org). Tickets range from $12 to $15.

• The Hatbox Theatre (270 Loudon Road, Concord, hatboxnh.com) will have the show Private Lives open on Friday, Aug. 4, and run through Sunday, Aug. 20. The show will be on Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m., and Sundays at 2 p.m. Ticket prices start at $16.

• See Snow White by the Palace Youth Theatre at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester, palacetheatre.org) on Friday, Aug. 4, at 7 p.m. Tickets start at $12.

• See Nunsense IIat The Majestic Theatre (880 Page St., Manchester, majestictheatre.net) opening night, Friday, Aug. 11, at 7 p.m. with three other shows on Saturday, Aug. 12, at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. and on Sunday, Aug. 13, at 2 p.m. Tickets to the show range from $15 to $20.

• Palace Youth Theatre presents High School Musical Jr. at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester, palacetheatre.org) on Friday, Aug. 18, and Saturday, Aug. 19, at 7 p.m. Tickets start at $12.

• For three days only, Hatbox Theatre (270 Loudon Road, Concord, hatboxnh.com) will be showing performances of Masked. The show will run Friday, Aug. 25, and Saturday, Aug. 26, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Aug. 27, at 2 p.m. Ticket prices begin at $16.

• Grab some honey and see The Palace Youth Theatre’s performance of Winnie the Pooh Jr.at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester, palacetheatre.org) on Aug. 26 at noon. Tickets for the show start at $12.

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Art Events

• See the four artists participating in this year’s Nashua International Sculpture Symposium at work on their pieces at Picker Artists (3 Pine St. in Nashua), where they are working Mondays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on this year’s pieces. The artists are Anna Rasinska from Poland, Parastoo Ahovan from Iran, Tanya Preminger from Israel and Jim Larson, who grew up in New Hampshire and now lives in Maine, according to nashuasculpturesymposium.org, where you can sign up to donate to or pick up a meal for the artists. The pieces, which will become part of Nashua’s townwide exhibit of sculptures, will be unveiled in their installation locations on Sunday, June 3.

• The 31st Annual Memorial Weekend Craft Festival at Mill Falls Marketplace (312 Daniel Webster Hwy., Meredith) will be held on Saturday, May 27, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday, May 28, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Monday, May 29, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Explore a wide variety of crafts, including handmade jewelry, pottery, woodwork, textiles and more. Admission is free. Visit castleberryfairs.com.

• The Portsmouth downtown area hosts the Art ’Round Town gallery walk on the first Friday of every month from 5 to 8 p.m. (14 Market Square). Explore the art scene in this creative historical community by visiting different art galleries downtown. Visit artroundtown.org.

• The ​Concord Arts Market, an outdoor artisan and fine art market, will run one Saturday a month from June through October, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Rollins Park (33 Bow St., Concord). Market dates are June 3, July 15, Aug. 19, Sept. 16 and Oct. 21. Visit concordartsmarket.net.

• View jaw-dropping sculptures crafted on Hampton Beach at the 23rd annual Hampton Beach Master Sand Sculpting Classic, happening Thursday, June 15, through Saturday, June 17, at Hampton Beach (180 Ocean Blvd.). The event includes award ceremonies and prizes for the greatest sand sculptures built. The competition is by invitation only, but the sculptures will be illuminated for viewing at night until June 26. Visit hamptonbeach.org.

• The Hampton Falls Liberty Craft Festival takes place on Saturday, July 1, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, July 2, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Hampton Falls Town Common (4 Lincoln Ave.) This event is free to the public. More than 75 juried artisans will feature their work. Discover pottery, pillow quilts, wind chimes and more. Visit castleberryfairs.com.

• The Craftsmen’s Fair, an annual nine-day outdoor craft fair hosted by the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen, returns to Mount Sunapee Resort (1398 Route 103, Newbury) from Saturday, Aug. 5, through Sunday, Aug. 13. There will be hundreds of craftspeople with vendor booths, plus special craft exhibitions, demonstrations, hands-on workshops and more. Call 224-3375 or visit nhcrafts.org.

• The 2nd annual Manchester Arts & Crafts Fair takes place on Saturday, Aug. 12, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Park in downtown Manchester. The event features more than 30 booths, food trucks, the Manchester City Library Bookmobile, and an interactive art wall for kids run by Unchartered Tutoring. Visit manchesterartsandcraftsfair.com.

• The Greeley Park Art Show (100 Concord St., Nashua) returns on Saturday, Aug. 19, and Sunday, Aug. 20, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., both days. The annual outdoor juried art show hosted by Nashua Area Artists Association features a variety of artwork for sale. Visit nashuaarts.org/greeleyparkartshow.

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Art Exhibits

• The Women’s Caucus for Arts’ New Hampshire Chapter presents the exhibit “Head’s Up: The Many Hats Women Wear” at Twiggs Gallery (254 King St., Boscawen). The exhibit, showcasing a wide variety of works including paintings, sculptures, artist books, installations, photography, and mixed media pieces, runs through Saturday, May 27. The gallery is open Thursday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. Call 975-0015 or visit twiggsgallery.org.

• Natalia Yuresko-Belous’s exhibit at The Gallery at West Pearl Street (100 W. Pearl St., Nashua) will be on display until Tuesday, May 30. Natalia, a Ukrainian guest artist and a new member of the Hollis Arts Society, showcases her works in landscapes, still life, portraits and mural paintings. Visit hollisartssociety.org.

• The “Just Above a Whisper” exhibit, on display through May at Seacoast Artist Association (130 Water St., Exeter), showcases Lynn Krumholz’s paintings and small books, which were created using the relatively new process of oil and cold wax, resulting in a hard, durable surface with a velvety, matte finish. The gallery is open Wednesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m. Visit seacoastartist.org.

• The New Hampshire Art Association’s Robert Lincoln Levy Gallery (136 State St., Portsmouth) presents “Element,” on display throughout the month of May. The exhibit features works from member artists, exploring the connections and influences of the elements of life. The gallery is open Tuesday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. Visit nhartassociation.org or call 431-4230.

• The exhibit “Thirteen Moons — An Abenaki Child’s Year” is on display at the Children’s Museum of NH (6 Washington St., Dover) in its Gallery 6 until the end of May. This exhibit showcases photographs, drawings, diagrams, scale models and stories that depict the daily life of a child in an Abenaki village before the arrival of Europeans. The gallery is open during the museum’s operating hours, and you can visit the gallery at no extra charge. Museum admission costs $12.50 for everyone over 12 months and $10.50 for individuals aged 65 and above. The museum is open on Sundays and Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to noon, and Wednesdays through Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m. Visit childrens-museum.org.

• The Gallery at 3S Artspace (319 Vaughan St., Portsmouth) presents “Somewhere Around There,” an exhibition showcasing the ink paintings of abstract landscapes by Nishiki Sugawara-Beda, on display until June 11. Gallery hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday, and from noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Visit galleryat3s.org.

• See “Celebrating the Artist Next Door,” presented by Two Villages Art Society at the Bates Building (846 Main St., Contoocook) through June 17. The exhibition features works by more than 30 New Hampshire artists representing various media. The gallery is open Thursday through Sunday, from noon to 4 p.m. Visit twovillagesart.org or call 413-210-4372.

• “Seeing Is Not Believing: Ambiguity in Photography” is on view at the Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St., Manchester) through June 25. This exhibition challenges our perception through still lifes, abstract images and manipulated photographs, heightening our sense of wonder. The museum is open Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and admission costs $15 for adults, $13 for seniors, $10 for students, $5 for youth ages 13 through 17 and is free for members and children under age 13. Visit currier.org or call 669-6144.

• “All My Friends Are in This Show,” curated by Yasamin Safarzadeh, is on view until July 1 at the Carolyn Jenkins & Jill C. Wilson Galleries at Kimball Jenkins (266 N. Main St., Concord). The exhibit showcases innovative artists who actively shape their communities. Gallery hours vary weekly. Visit kimballjenkins.com.

• “rest/ROOM” exhibit at the New Hampshire Art Association’s Robert Lincoln Levy Gallery (136 State St., Portsmouth) is on view until July 2. The exhibit is the first showcase in the W.C. Gallery. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. Visit nhartassociation.org or call 431-4230.

• “A Garden Story Photography Exhibit” at The New Hampshire Audubon’s McLane Center (84 Silk Farm Road, Concord) is on view until July 5. The center is open Tuesday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visit nhaudubon.org.

• Michelle Peterson, a New Hampshire Art Association artist, presents her paintings in the exhibit “Threads and Where They Lead” at the Concord Chamber of Commerce (49 S. Main St. Suite 104, Concord) through July 7. The artwork depicts strings in patterns and shapes inspired by the game of cat’s cradle. According to Peterson, the use of symbols like water bottles, rocks, birds, and hands intertwined with visible and invisible strings helps create a personal psychogeography. The gallery is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visit concordnhchamber.com.

• “In Full Bloom: Floral Still Life & Garden Paintings from the 19th Century to the Present” is on display at the New Hampshire Antique Co-op (323 Elm St., Milford) through Thursday, Aug. 31. The gallery is open Tuesdays through Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visit nhantiquecoop.com or call 673-8499.

• Discover “A New Scheier Medium” at the Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St., Manchester), on view through the summer. Curated by Lorenzo Fusi, this showcase explores the connection between the renowned ceramic artists Mary and Edwin Scheier’s sculptures and tapestry work and the complexity of their artistic practice through drawings, textiles and sculptures, highlighting the relationship between cultures and the natural world. The museum is open Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and admission costs $15 for adults, $13 for seniors, $10 for students, $5 for youth ages 13 through 17 and is free for members and children under age 13. Visit currier.org or call 669-6144.

• “The Living Forest: UÝRA” is on display at Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St., Manchester) through Sept. 24. The exhibition features a comprehensive selection of photographs and videos encompassing Uýra’s entire artistic trajectory, with work from many of their past performances and recent appearances. The museum is open Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and admission costs $15 for adults, $13 for seniors, $10 for students, $5 for youth ages 13 through 17 and is free for members and children under age 13. Visit currier.org or call 669-6144.

• Don’t miss the “NEST” exhibition at Twiggs Gallery (254 King St., Boscawen), on view June 3 through Sept. 1. Juried by Pam Tarbell, this showcase features the works of New Hampshire artists exploring the literal and metaphorical dimensions of the concept of “NEST.” The gallery is open Thursday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. A reception will be held on Saturday, June 3, from 1 to 3 p.m. Call 975-0015 or visit twiggsgallery.org.

• “Biennial One” will be on display at the New Hampshire Art Association’s Robert Lincoln Levy Gallery (136 State St., Portsmouth) from Aug. 31 through Oct. 1. The exhibit invites artists to showcase their best work that takes creative risks and explores abstract expression, contemporary environmental and social justice issues and new media, with no specific theme. The gallery is open Tuesday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. Visit nhartassociation.org or call 431-4230.

• Nancy Josephson’s exhibit featuring mixed media sculptures is on display at the Mariposa Museum (26 Main St., Peterborough) through October. Visit mariposamuseum.org.

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Nature

• Join Chris Martin, NH Audubon Senior Biologist, on Thursday, June 1, at 6:30 p.m. for a presentation on tracing peregrine falcons across the state. Hear stories of individual falcons and the dedicated people who monitor them. The hybrid presentation can be attended in person at the Massabesic Center (26 Audubon Way, Auburn, nhaudubon.org) or virtually via Zoom. Registration is required by May 31. The cost is $15.

• Prescott Farm Environmental Education Center (928 White Oaks Road, Laconia, prescottfarm.org) presents an indoor educational program for adults, “A Year in the Life of the Honeybee,” on Thursday, June 1, at 7 p.m. Learn about the activities of honeybees throughout the year, similarities and differences between honeybees and other species of bees and how non-beekeepers can support the health of honeybees. The cost is $15.

• Go for a guided walk at Pickering Ponds (Pickering Road, Rochester) with the NH Audubon on Saturday, June 3, at 7 a.m. to observe nesting birds and their breeding evidence along the trails. Space is limited, and registration is required. Visit seacoastchapter.org.

• Saturday, June 3, is New Hampshire Fish and Game’s Free Fishing Day, when state residents and nonresidents are allowed to fish any inland water or saltwater in New Hampshire without a fishing license. Visit wildlife.state.nh.us.

• Join NH Audubon on Saturday, June 3, at 10 a.m. at Keach Park (Newton Avenue, Concord, nhaudubon.org) for a special guided nature hike in honor of Black Birders Week. The hike, free and open to all, celebrates and supports Black appreciation of and connection with nature and will focus on bird watching and highlight all aspects of nature within the park. Registration is required.

• Join the Seacoast Science Center for the annual Piscataqua Riverfest at Strawbery Banke Museum (14 Hancock St., Portsmouth) on Saturday, June 3, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event will feature sailing trips and tours, local food, a beer garden, live music entertainment and more. Visit seacoastsciencecenter.org.

• Discover the impact of invasive plants and learn how to manage them at the invasive plants workshop at Prescott Farm Environmental Education Center (928 White Oaks Road, Laconia, prescottfarm.org) on Saturday, June 3, at 10 a.m. Led by the Belknap County Forester, the free program will provide insights into the non-native plants that disrupt the balance of local ecosystems.

• Southeast Land Trust (SELT) is hosting a National Trails Day on Saturday, June 3, from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. to celebrate the opening of the Spruce Swamp Conservation trail systems in Fremont. Explore hiking trails with forester Phil Auger, enjoy a picnic, and volunteer for trail work afterward. Visit seltnh.org to register.

• NH Audubon and NH Fish and Game will host free field training sessions on New Hampshire butterfly monitoring and conservation on Saturday, June 3, at 10 a.m. and Thursday, June 15, at 11 a.m. at the McLane Center (84 Silk Farm Road, Concord, nhaudubon.org). Participants will learn how to identify butterflies in various habitats and contribute to long-term data collection to monitor changes in species’ ranges. All skill levels are welcome. Space is limited, and registration is required.

• Explore the world of birds on a guided birding walk with NH Audubon and local birder Joe Mahoney at Massabesic Center (26 Audubon Way, Auburn, nhaudubon.org) on Saturdays, June 3 and June 17, at 8 a.m. All ages and skill levels are welcome. Binocular rental is included. The cost is $8 for NH Audubon members and $10 for non-members. Register by June 2.

• A native plant sale and spring craft fair will be held at the NH Audubon’s McLane Center (84 Silk Farm Road, Concord, nhaudubon.org) on Sunday, June 4, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

• The Beaver Brook Association (117 Ridge Road, Hollis, beaverbrook.org) will have a 10-week adult aerobic trail walking class held every Monday from 9 to 11 a.m., from June 5 through Aug. 7. The class will include moderate- to fast-paced hikes, providing cardio exercise and outdoor exploration. The total cost is $100.

• Prescott Farm Environmental Education Center (928 White Oaks Road, Laconia, prescottfarm.org) will host a workshop, “Homegrown Wellness: Making Plantain Oil to Soothe the Sting,” on Saturday, June 10, at 10 a.m. Discover the healing properties of plantain, a common weed found in lawns and fields. The cost is $25. Visit prescottfarm.org.

• Squam Lakes Natural Science Center (534 Route 3, Holderness, nhnature.org) has its annual Breeding Bird Census on Saturday, June 10. The public is invited to listen for and document the territorial songs of male birds, which indicate probable nesting. The early session, from 5:30 to 8 a.m., will cover two forested zones including Mt. Fayal while the later session, from 8 to 9:30 a.m., will cover fields, exhibit areas and Kirkwood Gardens. There is no cost to participate, but registration is required.

• Prescott Farm Environmental Education Center (928 White Oaks Road, Laconia, prescottfarm.org) will host a workshop, “Wilderness Skills: Geocaching – The Nature Treasure Hunting Game,” on Saturday, June 10, at 1 p.m. The workshop is open to youth and adults and costs $15 per person.

• Join the Seacoast Science Center (570 Ocean Blvd., Rye) for World Ocean Day, Sunday, June 11, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event will feature hands-on games, educational activities, naturalist-led tide pooling sessions, food trucks, a beach clean-up and a life-size inflatable whale. Visit seacoastsciencecenter.org.

• UNH Cooperative Extension will host a program on the identification and role of native and non-native shrubs as habitat for birds at Pickering Ponds trails (Pickering Road, Rochester) on Wednesday, June 14, from 5:30 to 8 p.m., and Friday, June 16, from 7:30 to 10 a.m. Participants will identify various shrub species, explore their roles as bird habitats and learn which shrubs are beneficial to encourage on their own land for the benefit of birds. Space is limited, and registration is required. Visit seacoastchapter.org.

• Patrick Tate, Wildlife Biologist at NH Fish and Game, presents a lecture, “Facts, Myths, and Tales Regarding Mountain Lions in New Hampshire,” at Squam Lakes Natural Science Center (534 Route 3, Holderness) on Thursday, June 15, at 6 p.m. Learn about eastern and western mountain lions, New Hampshire sighting reports, hoaxes and misidentifications and more in relation to mountain lions in New Hampshire. Registration is required. Visit nhnature.org.

• Southeast Land Trust (SELT) is hosting a Howard Swain Memorial Forest Naturalist Tour on Thursday, June 15, from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in Deerfield. Explore Pawtuckaway State Park, plant and animal species, rocky trails, ponds and more with Kim Cote, a Natural Resources Steward and Nature-Based Educator. Visit seltnh.org to register.

• Prescott Farm Environmental Education Center (928 White Oaks Road, Laconia, prescottfarm.org) will host a workshop, “Wilderness Skills: Poisonous Plants & Hazards,” on Saturday, June 17, at 1 p.m. The cost is $15.

• Pumpkin Blossom Farm (393 Pumpkin Hill Road, Warner) hosts Lavender U-Pick in its lavender fields on various dates between July 5 and July 23, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Everyone is invited to wander the fields and cut and harvest bundles of lavender. Attendees are welcome to relax and have a picnic on the lawn, walk the shaded trail and visit the baby chicks. Lavender plants, products and treats will also be for sale. Discount bundles are $15 during the weekdays and $20 on weekends. Visit pumpkinblossomfarm.com.

• Prescott Farm Environmental Education Center (928 White Oaks Road, Laconia, prescottfarm.org) will hold an introductory session on mindful walking on Saturday, July 8, at 10 a.m. The session, recommended for adults, involves moderate physical demand in indoor and outdoor settings. The cost is $40.

• Head to Prescott Farm Environmental Education Center (928 White Oaks Road, Laconia, prescottfarm.org) for Forest Trail Games for Kids and Adults on Saturday, July 22, from 10 a.m. to noon. The cost is $15 per person.

• Prescott Farm Environmental Education Center (928 White Oaks Road, Laconia) will host a workshop, “Homegrown Wellness: First Aid Trail Plants,” on Saturday, July 29, at 1 p.m. Discover the power of nature’s remedies as you explore the fields and learn about the identification and uses of wild first aid plants. The workshop is open to adults and involves a moderate physical demand. The cost is $15. Visit prescottfarm.org.

• The inaugural New Hampshire Butterfly Survey will take place on Saturday, July 29, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the NH Audubon’s McLane Center (84 Silk Farm Road, Concord). The collaborative effort between New Hampshire Audubon and New Hampshire Fish and Game is aimed at gathering long-term butterfly data in the Concord region and beyond to better understand the changing ranges of butterfly species over time and support statewide butterfly conservation efforts. Visit nhaudubon.org.

• Head to Prescott Farm Environmental Education Center (928 White Oaks Road, Laconia, prescottfarm.org) for a special evening program, “Animals of New Hampshire: Fireflies Light Up the Sky,” on Saturday, July 29, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Learn about fireflies, then witness their emergence as dusk approaches. The program is recommended for adults and involves a moderate physical demand. The cost is $15.

• Prescott Farm Environmental Education Center (928 White Oaks Road, Laconia, prescottfarm.org) presents an educational program, “Animals of New Hampshire: Monarch Butterflies,” on Saturday, Aug. 5, at 1 p.m. Learn about monarch butterflies; their habitat, life cycle and annual migration; and ways to contribute to conservation efforts in your own backyard. This program is open to youth and adults. The cost is $15.

• Go for a beginner wild mushroom walk at Farm Environmental Education Center (928 White Oaks Road, Laconia) on Saturday, Aug. 26, from 10 a.m. to noon. Led by experts from the New Hampshire Mushroom Co., this guided walk will take you along the farm’s scenic trails to search for, collect, identify and become familiar with the distinguishing features of different mushrooms. The cost is $30. Visit prescottfarm.org.

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Sports

• The six-time champion Nashua Silver Knights, members of the Futures Collegiate Baseball League, will host their home opener at Holman Stadium (67 Amherst St., Nashua) on Saturday, May 27, against the Worcester Bravehearts, with first pitch scheduled for 6 p.m. Their last home game will be on Sunday, Aug. 6, at 3 p.m., when they will take on the Vermont Lake Monsters, before the playoffs begin later that week. Visit nashuasilverknights.com.

• The New Hampshire Fisher Cats, the Double-A minor-league affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball, play their next home game at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium (1 Line Drive, Manchester) on Tuesday, May 30, at 6:05 p.m. against the Reading Fightin Phils. That game kicks off a six-game homestand through Sunday, June 4, at 1:35 p.m. Games on Thursday, June 1, and Saturday, June 3 (a.k.a. “603 Night”), will be immediately followed by fireworks shows courtesy of Atlas Fireworks. Kids will be able to run the bases after the game on Sunday, June 4. Other events this season include a Father’s Day brunch on Sunday, June 18, at 1 p.m.; Pride Night on Wednesday, June 28; Star Wars Night with fireworks on Thursday, June 29; “Megablast Fireworks Weekend” at the games Saturday, July 1, through Monday, July 3; Manchester Chicken Tenders night on Thursday, July 27, and more. The final home game is slated for Sunday, Sept. 17. Visit nhfishercats.com.

• The Hoodkroft Open at Hoodkroft Country Club (121 E. Broadway, Derry) will feature the men’s super senior division on Thursday, June 1; the men’s senior division and the women’s division (all ages) on Friday, June 2, and the men’s division (all ages) on Saturday, June 3, and Sunday, June 4. The cost ranges from $50 to $100, depending on the chosen division, and golf carts are sold separately. Visit hoodkroftcc.com.

• Join Special Olympics New Hampshire for its 52nd annual State Summer Games, the organization’s largest competition of the year for its athletes, on Friday, June 2, and Saturday, June 3, at the University of New Hampshire (105 Main St., Durham). The games include competition in athletics, bocce, equestrian, powerlifting, unified sprint triathlons and swimming. Visit song.org.

• RelAxe Throwing (157 Gay St., Manchester) will be home to the annual Granite State Axe Tournament on Saturday, June 3, and Sunday, June 4, in celebration of the venue’s fourth anniversary. Matches begin at 11 a.m. on Saturday (big ax and dual matches) and at 11:30 a.m. on Sunday (hatchets). See relaxethrowing.com.

• AG Paintball (158 Deering Center Road, Weare) is celebrating its 35th anniversary this year — join them on Saturday, June 3, and Sunday, June 4, for the New Hampshire Paintball Classic, featuring 10-vs.-10 preliminary games and finals of Capture the Flag, with first, second and third-place cash prizes. Visit agpaintball.com.

• The 79th annual New Hampshire Soap Box Derby race will be held on Sunday, June 4, at 120 Broadway in Dover — check-ins begin at 7:45 a.m., with side-by-side competitions kicking off at 9:30 a.m. The Derby creates an opportunity for kids ages 7 and older to create a gravity-powered car and race it down a track in hopes of making the All-American Soap Box Derby World Championship, hosted in Akron, Ohio. Cheering on the racers is free, and parking is available at 73 Oak St. in Dover. Visit nh.soapboxderby.org.

• AmpSurf New England will hold a learn to surf clinic for people living with disabilities, as well as veterans and first responders, at Sawyers Beach (5 Perkins Road, Rye) on Saturday, June 10, from 7 a.m. to noon. Registration is $25 per surfer. Visit ampsurf.org.

• The final match of the Division 1 NHIAA Baseball Tournament will take place on Saturday, June 10, at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium (1 Line Drive, Manchester; time TBA). Visit nhiaa.org.

• The third annual Chandler’s Ball 3-on-3 Kids Basketball Tournament is happening on Saturday, June 10, from 2 to 6 p.m. at Emmett-Sheridan Park (324 Beech St., Manchester). The cost is $15 per team, and players will be divided into age groups of 10 to 12, 13 to 17 and 18 to 21 years old. Cash prizes and trophies will be awarded. Visit chandlersangels.org.

• The Milford Community Athletic Association’s annual softball and baseball Hit-a-Thon is happening on Sunday, June 11, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 26 N. River Road in Milford. Visit mcaa.us.

• Join the Milford Rotary Club to play 100 Holes of Golf in One Day on Friday, June 16, at Amherst Country Club (72 Ponemah Road, Amherst), with tee-off at 6 a.m. Play is expected to be completed by 7:30 p.m., and scoring will be based on 90 holes played continuously. Prizes will be awarded for closest to the pin and hole-in-one, if made. See golf100holes.com.

• Don’t miss the 100th annual Loudon Classic Middleweight Grand Prix, a 1.6-mile road race happening at New Hampshire Motor Speedway (1122 Route 106, Loudon) on Saturday, June 17, as part of Laconia Motorcycle Week. General admission is $40 and VIP admission is $70. Visit nhms.com.

• The Franklin Animal Shelter’s fifth annual charity golf tournament is happening on Monday, June 19, at Beaver Meadow Golf Course (1 Beaver Meadow Drive, Concord), with registration beginning at 7 a.m., followed by a shotgun start at 8:30 a.m. Prizes will be awarded to the first- and second-place winning teams, and several contests are also planned. All proceeds will benefit the Franklin Animal Shelter. Visit franklinanimalshelter.com/golf.

• Registration is now open for this year’s New Hampshire Senior Games — the first local event, a candlepin bowling tournament, is happening at Boutwell’s Bowling Center (152 N. State St., Concord) on Friday, June 23, at 1 p.m. More events are scheduled to take place throughout July and August, covering everything from disc golf, archery, basketball and swimming to racquetball, table tennis, badminton, pickleball and more. See nhseniorgames.org.

• Dozens of high school football players from across the state will participate in the 11th annual CHaD NH East-West High School All-Star Football Game, scheduled for Friday, June 23, at 6 p.m. at the Grappone Stadium at Saint Anselm College (100 St. Anselm Drive, Manchester). General admission tickets are $15, with all proceeds benefiting Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth-Hitchcock (CHaD). Visit chadkids.org.

• NH Roller Derby (nhrollerderby.com) has double-headers scheduled for Saturday, June 24, and Saturday, Aug. 5, at the JFK Coliseum in Manchester. For more on the team and the sport, check out last week’s cover story; see hippopress.com to find the May 18 e-edition (story starts on page 10).

• Putts for Pups, a golf tournament fundraiser for Second Chance Ranch Rescue in New Boston, returns to Stonebridge Country Club (161 Gorham Pond Road, Goffstown) on Monday, June 26. Registration opens at 8 a.m., followed by a 9 a.m. shotgun start — the day will include 18 holes of golf, lunch, drinks, raffles, silent auctions, giveaways and more. Registration is $125 per person, or $450 per foursome. Visit secondchanceranchrescue.com/events/golf.

• It’s NASCAR Weekend at New Hampshire Motor Speedway (1122 Route 106, Loudon) from Friday, July 14, through Sunday, July 16 — weekend happenings include Friday Night Dirt Duels on Friday; a doubleheader on Saturday featuring the Ambetter Health 200 NASCAR Xfinity Series race, followed by the Mohegan Sun 100 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour race, and the Crayon 301 race on Sunday. Tickets vary in price, depending on the race. See nhms.com.

• Monte Scheinblum’s Boston Clinic is hosted at World Cup Golf Center (4 Friel Golf Road, Hudson), where the professional golfer works with players of all skill types over the course of a few days. There will be group and individual sessions from Saturday, July 15, through Monday, July 17, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Search “Boston Golf Clinic with Monte Scheinblum” on eventbrite.com.

• The Milford Community Athletic Association’s third annual golf tournament is happening on Monday, July 17, at Amherst Country Club (72 Ponemah Road, Amherst), with a shotgun start at 8 a.m. The tournament will be followed by lunch and an awards ceremony and will feature several contests. Registration is $600 per foursome. Visit mcaa.us.

• The annual Fore Paws Golf Tournament, a fundraiser for the Salem Animal Rescue League, is tentatively scheduled for Monday, Aug. 14. Visit sarlnh.org.

• The next available event in the New Hampshire Golf Association’s Stroke Play Series is on Thursday, Aug. 24, at Hoodkroft Country Club (121 E. Broadway, Derry). The cost is $70 per golfer per individual 18-hole tournament. Visit nhgolfassociation.org.

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Featured photo: Nicole “Punky” Mavrogeorge Wehry makes plans to evade Maine Roller Derby’s blockers as she skates into the fray. Photo by Todd Grzywacz.

New Hampshire’s teams lace up for roller derby season

Game time at JFK Coliseum means something different in the spring and summertime than in the winter months. Spectators still flock to the stadium seats, but they also set up lawn chairs down on the concrete of the melted ice rink.

Officials in referee jerseys with names like “Tugboat,” “Doomsday Llama” and “She-Rantula” press neon pink tape over ropes that make up the flat track. Dozens of women roller skate around in black and pink or white and blue team tank tops. Some have on yoga pants, some have on bright colored skirts, all wear heavy-duty helmets and pads.

Music blasts through loudspeakers as fans, friends and family hold up homemade signs and scream their favorite player’s name.

With the first whistle on April 29, the roller derby season has officially started for New Hampshire Roller Derby’s travel teams.

NHRD was the first flat track roller derby organization in the Granite State. Its first season was 15 years ago. The sport has gained popularity throughout the country and locally. New Hampshire has four leagues, with varying numbers of teams. NHRD has two travel teams, three home teams and one recreational team.

Jena McClary, derby name Pixie Bruiser, has been a part of NHRD since 2008. She skates for the All Stars, the highest-ranked travel team, and for the home team Nightmares on Elm Street.

“It’s taken over my whole life,” McClary said. In addition to running the team’s public relations, she met her husband through the sport, and now he coaches the All Stars, and their kids also have played and worked as officiants as well.

McClary said it’s the best way to exercise, in her opinion, and also a great way to relieve stress.

“For me, it’s an outlet,” McClary said. “It’s an outlet I enjoy and the main thing that keeps me going is the challenge of it.”

Between the first whistle and the last introduction by the emcee, the skaters on New Hampshire Roller Derby’s A and B travel teams take a brief second to set up for the first jam of the night.

McClary and three other skaters stand in formation. She and two other blockers make a triangle, with the pivot standing close by. A few feet away, the first jammer of the night, Terror Nova, crouches down behind her line, waiting for the whistle.

When it sounds, it’s a race between Nova and Maine Roller Derby’s jammer to see who will control the match. Despite pushing and bobbing and weaving, the MRD jammer breaks out of the pack first. While Nova lost lead jammer this time, the friendly bout was only just beginning.

Roller derby is a sport that takes time, and someone who plays explaining it, to understand. It can be complex and confusing, especially if you’re learning in the middle of a game, where the seven officiants are keeping track of points and penalties, coaches and teammates are shouting suggestions, fans are cheering and skates are squealing on concrete while bodies are slamming into each other.

That being said, once the rules are laid out, it becomes easy to get wrapped up in the energy.

“It’s a combination of rugby and NASCAR,” said Raven Makenzie “Smackenzie Phillips” Ladao. “Many people refer to it as like the non-sporty sport. If you don’t fit in in other sports, this is your sport.”

Ladao said the easiest way to learn the game is to watch it. She has played all three of the positions on a roller derby team: jammer, pivot and blocker. She’s favoring the blocker position the most these days.

Ladao is a long-time veteran of roller derby. She’s played in several different states, as well as in Japan, which she represented in the 2018 World Championship in Manchester, England. Now she coaches NHRD’s junior league, which her kids either play in or officiate for.

NHRD will have a sign that says, “Ask me about roller derby” with an arrow pointed down to the person holding it. Ladao was the sign-bearer at the bout against Maine.

“Many people ask, ‘Where’s the ball?’ There is no ball in the sport,” Ladao said. She pointed out the two players with helmet covers on. “The person with the star on is essentially the ball, because that’s the only person on the track who can score the points.”

She explained that they are called jammers, and they have to start behind all the other players. Once the jammers make it past everyone on the track, one will be named the lead jammer and she’ll have the power to end the match early.

Jammers have to make it through the blockers. The blockers have to stay within 10 feet of each other, and try to keep the other team’s jammer from passing. It sounds easy enough, until you learn that they can’t use their forearms to block or hold onto the opposite team, as well as a plethora of other body parts they can’t make contact with.

The only form of punishment is a penalty, basically a time-out where the player has to sit in the penalty box for 30 seconds. The box has three chairs, one for a jammer, two for everyone else. There are plenty of different penalties that derby players can commit. Even coaches can be subject to penalties, and the team’s captain would have to sit it for the coach if that was the case.

“So the most basic penalty is a track cut,” Ladao explained. “That’s where someone hits you out of the track and you have to come in behind them. They can run back … but if you’re not paying attention and you jump back on the track before them that’s going-out-of-bounds penalty. So like going out of bounds, you have to come back in behind the person who bumped you out.”

Penalties are usually sat for 30 seconds; 20 of them the player has to be seated, the last 10 they can stand up and get ready to rejoin the game. Ladao said she’s never seen it happen before, but an entire team could be penalized at the same time, between two standing members and three seated ones.

Penalties are designed to keep players safe. The Women’s Flat Track Derby Association, the governing body for women’s roller derby around the world, is constantly updating its rules to make sure that players are safe.

Having clear rules makes it possible for NHRD to have players of all ages, shapes and sizes, said Emily “Blitzy Borden” Chebook, who was the captain at the bout and skates for All Stars as well as the home team Granite Skate Troopers.

“I think there’s a place for almost anybody, whether it’s on the track or not,” Chebook said. “With skating, you can be tall and wide, you can be short and lanky. It doesn’t really matter.”

Chebook has a unique history with NHRD. She saw her first derby bout at NHRD when she was in elementary school and immediately fell in love. She had wanted to play but she said there were no youth leagues back then.

She did a training session with NHRD before realizing she couldn’t commit the time to the sport. When she and her husband moved to the Midwest, she found a community because of roller derby.

“Some of the people I’ve met through derby are the sweetest teddy bears,” Chebook said.

Rachel “Jagged Little Kill” Smith, a new member of NHRD, who plays for the B travel team, The Cherry Bombs, and Nightmare on Elm Street, said that a lot of people have misconceptions about the people who play roller derby.

“I think when you roll derby, you kind of have an idea of the kind of person that plays,” Smith said. “You have a stereotype of, ‘Oh, you play derby, you must have piercings and face tattoos or live an “alternative lifestyle.”’ And we do have those people, but we have moms and nurses and accountants and grandparents.”

Smith said that the derby of the 1970s is not the derby of today, that it’s not just a bunch of women trying to hurt each other. Smith actually joined NHRD only five months ago after completing the training camp that started in September. She said that everyone on the team has been like having a second family.

“It is a little nerve-wracking to walk into this big group of people who are very close-knit,” Smith said. “We see each other two or three times a week in practice. A lot of people hang out socially outside of those times, and everybody is going to welcome you with open arms. It has been a completely incredible, welcoming community.”

Despite the players’ off-track personalities, their on-track personas were fiercely fighting to get ahead against MRD. Early in the bout, NHRD’s hard work paid off and they scored ahead in the leaderboard, and kept the pressure on for the rest of the bout. By the time the game had ended, they had won by close to 150 points.

After the game, the teams congratulated each other with high fives and cheers, as each group took a victory lap. It was as if they hadn’t spent the last hour tripping, pushing, shoving and body-checking each other.

Both teams amassed, standing and waiting for an announcer to say who won the most valuable jammer and blocker for each of the teams while the officiants counted up the final scores. Both sides cheered when the players were called forward, not caring about the rivalry they had just shared.

“People in derby are way nicer than we appear when we play,” Smith said. “We like to put on a good show for the audience. You know, be a little bit showboaty. But when it comes down to it … we’re normal people who just like to get together and sweat and push around our friends a little bit and then give each other high fives before we go home.”

Roller derby organizations and upcoming games
Granite Skate Roller Derby
Everett Arena, 15 Loudon Road, Concord, granitestaterollerderby.org
When: June 10, July 15, times to be determined.

Monadnock Roller Derby
Lee Clement Arena, 38 Grove St., Henniker, monadnockrollerderby.com
When: Saturday, Aug. 12, time to be determined.
Price: Online pre-orders are $10

New Hampshire Roller Derby
JFK Coliseum, 303 Beech St., Manchester, nhrollerderby.com
When: Saturdays, May 20, June 24, and Aug. 5, all at 4:30 p.m.
Price: $12 adults, free for children 12 and younger, veterans and NHRD veterans
How to join: Email the league at [email protected] for adult players. Youth skaters can sign up for the current session at nhjuniorrollerderby.com.

How to play

Rules come from the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association, wftda.com:

The game of Flat Track Roller Derby is played on a flat oval track. Games are divided into two 30-minute periods. Within each period there are play sessions called jams, which last up to two minutes. There are 30 seconds between jams.

During a jam, each team has up to five skaters on the track. Four of these skaters are called blockers (together, the blockers are called the pack) and one is called a jammer. The jammer wears a helmet cover with a star on it. One of the blockers wears a helmet cover with a stripe; they are called the pivot and can be an alternate for the jammer.

The two jammers start each jam behind the pack and score a point for every opposing blocker they lap, each lap. Before they can start scoring, they must get through the first pack and skate around the track before they can score points on opposing blockers.

Roller derby is a full-contact sport but skaters cannot use their heads, elbows, forearms, hands, knees, lower legs or feet to make contact with opponents. It is illegal to attack a player’s head, back, knee, lower leg or feet.

Play that is unsafe or illegal may result in a skater being penalized. Penalties are served by sitting in the penalty box for 30 seconds of jam time.

The team with the most points at the end of the game wins.

Derby lingo

All terms and definitions come from the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association, wftda.com:

Apex jump – when a jammer jumps out of bounds but lands back in bounds to break away from the pack.

Bank track – the traditional roller derby track from the 1970s. The track is sloped inward. Only a few are used in the United States.

Blocker – one of the three positions in a derby game. Their job is to block the other team’s jammer and help their own jammer accelerate through the jam.

Bout – the name for a roller derby game.

Falling small – the ability to keep arms and legs contained when falling to avoid further injuries.

Flat track – the more common style of derby track. This one is made by taping rope down on a hard surface, indoors or outdoors.

Jam – a round of the bout. Can last up to 2 minutes, but can also be called off by the lead jammer.

Jammer – the player who scores points for the team; they wear a star helmet cover.

Lead Jammer – the jammer to break through first; they have the ability to call off the round by tapping their hips four times.

Pack – blockers and pivot must form one by being within 10 feet of each other.

Pass/earned pass – how points are tallied. A jammer can score up to four points each time they lap the other team.

Pivot – a blocker that can receive the star helmet cover and become the new jammer if needed. They wear a striped helmet cover.

Power jam – only one team’s jammer is on the track.

Star pass – where the jammer passes the star helmet cover to the pivot. If the jammer was the lead jammer at the time, they forfeit that position and the full two-minute round is played.

Track – an oval-shaped loop that derby is played on.

Safety gear

This is the gear that NHRD requires each of its players use.

• “Quad” style roller skates (inline skates are not allowed) — There are places that specialize in selling roller derby equipment, like Bruised Boutique (522 Amherst St., Nashua). Wear the skates that fit best, because improperly fitting skates can hold a player back and increase risk of injury.

• Dual certified helmet — Because while there isn’t a helmet that can prevent concussions, good helmets can help minimize injury.

• Mouth guard — The brand SISU is one that is easy to breathe through and allows the wearer to communicate with teammates.

• Hard protective shell/insert elbow pads — They should have a snug, comfortable fit, because elbow pads often last longer than other protective gear.

• Hard protective shell/insert knee pads— Get ones that are cushioned for function over fashion, because skaters land most of their falls on their knees.

• Hard protective shell/insert wrist guards — They should provide good palm and stable wrist protection, because hand and wrist injuries are fairly common due to players’ catching themselves.

Featured photo: Nicole “Punky” Mavrogeorge Wehry makes plans to evade Maine Roller Derby’s blockers as she skates into the fray. Photo by Todd Grzywacz.