Adventures in Tequila

How the versatility of agave is gaining tequila and mezcal a new following.

Eddie Leon of La Carreta in Derry and Londonderry is one of several Granite Staters who has flown down to Mexico to hand-select their own single-barrel tequilas. He first learned of the opportunity about eight years ago through a barrel buying program from Brown-Forman Corp., the owner of Tequila Herradura in Amatitán, Jalisco.

“We did it a few times with Herradura and it was very, very popular. … Then we opened it up to other brands like Patrón and Casa Noble,” Leon said. “People really liked the idea of being able to try something different that is not available in the normal stores.”

Over the years, pre-pandemic, Leon has since been joined by owners of some other local eateries and bars, including Cask & Vine in Derry, New England’s Tap House Grille in Hooksett, and 815 Cocktails & Provisions in Manchester. Even New Hampshire Liquor Commission spirits marketing and sales specialist Mark Roy has followed suit.

Agave plants are harvested in Mexico by farmers called jimadors. Photo by Eddie Leon.

The group lands and stays in the state capital of Guadalajara, taking day trips to nearby tequila distilleries. Tequilas are bottled before they cross the border, shipped to New Hampshire through a local broker and then purchased from the state to pour at each establishment.

“I’ve kind of become the tour guide for them, and I end up being the translator for a lot of things,” Leon said. “Guadalajara is actually the area where my parents came from originally, so it’s a really great experience. We’ve probably done at least eight or nine trips now.”

More and more premium barrel-aged selections of both tequila and its cousin, mezcal, have become available in New Hampshire in recent years, thanks to a continuously growing demand.

“We’re definitely seeing a huge upswing,” Roy said of tequila sales in Liquor & Wine outlets. “I think when you ask a lot of people who say that they’ve had a bad experience in the past with tequila, it usually ends up being a lower end or even a mixto, which is technically a tequila but is sometimes a blend of liqueur and tequila with higher sugar. … So I really try to encourage people not to associate tequila with the experience they’ve had before and to try to reintroduce themselves and come into it with an open mind. It’s an incredible experience and I think people could be missing out on a category of spirits that they’ve kind of pushed to the side.”

As part of New Hampshire Distiller’s Week, returning for its third year, the Liquor Commission will host “Hold the Lime and Salt: Exploring Premium Tequila and Mezcal,” a tasting seminar on Wednesday, Nov. 3, at the Manchester Country Club in Bedford. The event will feature a panel of five brand ambassadors of premium tequilas and mezcals from multiple regions of Mexico.

Here, local restaurateurs and Distiller’s Week presenters talk about the types of tequilas and how they differ from mezcals.

“Ultima Palabra” cocktail
Courtesy of Kendra Malone of the 7-20-4 Lounge in Londonderry

1½ ounces Casa Noble joven tequila
¾ ounce green Chartreuse liqueur
¾ ounce luxardo maraschino liqueur
¾ ounce lime juice

Shake and strain. Garnish with luxardo cherries.

Tequila time

Kurt Kendall of Twins Smoke Shop and the 7-20-4 Lounge in Londonderry, who has accompanied Leon on the trips to Mexico, agrees that tequila can be somewhat misunderstood.

“Tequila truly is a premium spirit that is meant to be sipped and enjoyed,” Kendall said. “We’ve turned on many customers that typically would enjoy Scotch or bourbon to these ultra-premium tequilas, and it really starts with a little bit of education to understand what it is, how to drink it properly and what you’re discovering. … Once people go through that little process, they become tequila sippers. It’s pretty amazing.”

Both tequila and mezcal are made from the agave plant, of which there are dozens of varieties that are indigenous to Mexico. The main difference between the two spirits, Leon said, is that tequila is made from only one species — the blue Weber agave, or agave tequilana. Mexican laws decree that tequila can only be made in certain regions of the country, he added, including in the state of Jalisco and a few limited areas in other states.

The agave plant can take anywhere from seven to 10 years to reach maturity. A farmer called a jimador harvests the plant by pruning it down to the piñas, or the agave hearts. Those hearts are then chopped up, cooked and juiced before the fermentation process begins.

There are four categories of 100 percent blue agave tequila: blanco (or silver), reposado, añejo and extra añejo. Their differences, Kendall said, have to do with how long each one is aged for.

A blanco or a silver is either unaged or aged for a very short time, depending on the brand, while a reposado could be aged anywhere from a few months to a year. Añejo tequilas are typically aged a minimum of one year and a maximum of three years, and the extra añejo can be aged for three years or longer to reach a greater complex flavor profile.

According to the website of the Tequila Regulatory Council, the governing body for tequila in Mexico, a blend of aged and unaged tequilas is known as a joven, which means “young” in Spanish. The aging process also gives each tequila a distinct color, ranging from a clear silver to a golden yellow, a lighter brown, and finally a dark amber.

Graciela González, a fourth-generation distiller and the brand ambassador of her family’s company, El Mayor tequila, will be one of the featured presenters at the New Hampshire Liquor Commission’s “Hold the Lime and Salt” seminar. El Mayor features a full line of tequilas, each of which is distilled with agave grown on its own plantation just outside of the city of Arandas.

To demonstrate the evolution of each of her family’s products, González said she plans to showcase El Mayor’s blanco, reposado and añejo tequilas. She’ll also be offering samples of a new cocktail they’ve never done before: a spiked tepache, featuring their añejo tequila as the base.

“It’s going to be very unique and very fresh,” she said of the cocktail. “We’re using pineapple and tamarind … so with the tamarind having a tart flavor and the pineapple being more on the sweet side, it balances out perfectly well.”

Spiked tepache
Courtesy of Graciela González, fourth-generation distiller and brand ambassador of El Mayor tequila in Jalisco, Mexico

2 ounces El Mayor añejo tequila
1 ounce pineapple juice
1 ounce tamarind syrup
2 dashes Angostura bitters

All about mezcal

Leon remembers a time in the not so distant past when he could find only one brand of mezcal in the entire state. Now he estimates there to be well over 20 of them across store shelves.

“We’re starting to carry more because there has definitely been a growing call for it,” he said.

Even though mezcal is an agave-based spirit just like tequila, there are several distinct differences between the two. While tequila is made only from the blue Weber agave variety, mezcal can be made from combinations of dozens of other agave species, all with their own sizes, flavor profiles, growing conditions and maturation periods.

Piñas, or agave hearts, are cooked in an underground pit oven or above ground and covered with dirt, giving mezcal its distinct smoky flavor. Photo by Eric Timmerman.

A majority of mezcal comes from the state of Oaxaca, several hundred miles southeast of Jalisco, but agave varieties used to make the spirit are also known to grow in Durango, Guerrero, Zacatecas and a few other states. Eric Timmerman, national sales manager of the Sonoma, California-based 3 Badge Mixology, will be participating in the “Hold the Lime and Salt” Nov. 3 seminar with selections of the company’s Bozal mezcal brand.

“A lot of people think about mezcal as a smoky tequila. … Tequila for the most part is done in steam and ovens and autoclaves … but mezcal primarily is done in an underground pit oven, or above ground and covered with dirt. It’s almost like barbecue, is what I like to equate it to,” Timmerman said. “Those piñas are roasting slow and low and they are absorbing that smoke, so that’s why obviously mezcal has that smokier profile.”

Mezcal is also known for being much older than tequila, dating back at least to 9th- or 10th-century Oaxaca with the Zapotec culture, Timmerman said. Many of the practices that have been in place for hundreds of years are still in use today for Bozal products, including the use of the tahona, a stone wheel pulled in a circle by a donkey or horse to mash the agave hearts.

“It truly is one of the last handmade spirits in the world,” Timmerman said.

About 90 percent of all of the mezcal coming to the United States is crafted using the espadín agave plant, a variety characterized by its rich, smoky flavor profile, according to Timmerman. Bozal mezcal products, however, are distilled with all kinds of other agave species. Its Ensamble mezcal, for instance, features a blend of espadín, barril and Mexicano agave plants, while the Cenizo mezcal comes from a variety that grows in cool conditions and high altitudes in Durango.

During the seminar, Timmerman said he plans to showcase a Oaxacan margarita using

Bozal Ensamble mezcal, a riff on the classic cocktail with a bit of smokier profile.

“Obviously, everyone loves a good margarita and it’s such a universal cocktail, so we’re going to show them how it’s done with mezcal versus tequila,” he said.

Bozal Oaxacan margarita
Courtesy of Eric Timmerman of 3 Badge Mixology in Sonoma, California

2 ounces Bozal Ensamble mezcal
1 ounce fresh lime juice
¾ ounce agave nectar

Add all ingredients in a shaker filled with ice. Shake for 10 seconds and strain into a double rocks glass over ice. Garnish with sal de gusano (agave worm salt) and a dehydrated citrus wheel.

Your guide to Distiller’s Week

Eighth annual Distiller’s Showcase of Premium Spirits

When: Thursday, Nov. 4, 6 to 8:30 p.m.

Where: DoubleTree by Hilton Manchester Downtown, 700 Elm St., Manchester

Cost: $60 per person; “sip and stay” packages are also available to purchase through the hotel

Visit: distillersshowcase.com

Event is 21+ only.

More New Hampshire Distiller’s Week happenings

The third annual New Hampshire Distiller’s Week will take place from Monday, Nov. 1, through Friday, Nov. 5 — check out this list of events and happenings for the week. For the most up-to-date calendar of Distiller’s Week events, visit distillersshowcase.com/events or follow New Hampshire Liquor & Wine Outlets on Facebook @nhliquorwine.

Distiller’s Week. Matthew Lomanno Photography.

• National Hockey League Hall of Famer and Belfour Spirits owner-operator Ed Belfour will participate in multiple bottle signing and tasting events this week, including at New Hampshire Liquor & Wine Outlet No. 38 (100 Rotary Way, Portsmouth) on Tuesday, Nov. 2, from 5 to 7 p.m., and at New Hampshire Liquor & Wine Outlet No. 50 (294 Daniel Webster Hwy., Nashua) on Wednesday, Nov. 3, from 5 to 7 p.m. Admission is free, and bottles of Belfour’s rye and Texas pecan-finished bourbon will be available for purchase.

• Get your tickets before they’re gone to a Casa Noble tequila dinner scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 2, at 6 p.m. at The Birch on Elm (931 Elm St., Manchester). The dinner will feature five courses paired with Casa Noble tequila-infused cocktails. Tickets are $99 per person. Visit thebirchonelm.com/tequiladinner to make reservations.

• The Birch on Elm is also hosting a New Riff Distilling Kentucky bourbon dinner on Wednesday, Nov. 3, at 5 p.m., another five-course meal prepared by chef Nick Provencher that will feature cocktail pairings from New Riff bourbons. Tickets are $99 per person. Visit thebirchonelm.com/bourbondinner to make reservations.

• The New Hampshire Liquor Commission will host Hold the Lime and Salt: Exploring Premium Tequila and Mezcal on Wednesday, Nov. 3, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Manchester Country Club (180 S. River Road, Bedford). Five leading industry experts will present their tequilas and mezcals during this exclusive seminar-style tasting. Each panelist will talk about three of their products and offer a signature cocktail sample during the event’s reception. At the conclusion of the seminar each product that was presented will be available for purchase. Tickets are $60 per person and can be purchased through Eventbrite.

• Brain Brew Custom Whiskey founder and former Nashua resident Doug Hall will host a seminar at New Hampshire Liquor & Wine Outlet No. 50 (294 Daniel Webster Hwy., Nashua) on Wednesday, Nov. 3, at 6 p.m. Participants will learn about the history of whiskey, how New Hampshire wood is used in different products and the use of woodcraft finishing. Featured products will include Dexter three wood straight bourbon whiskey, Paddle Wheel triple oak bourbon, and Brain Brew’s custom bourbon blending kit. Tickets are $12 and can be purchased through Eventbrite.

The Distiller’s Showcase

First introduced in 2013, the Distiller’s Showcase of Premium Spirits is now the flagship event of New Hampshire Distiller’s Week and one of the largest tasting events for spirits on the East Coast. After the pandemic caused it to transition into a series of virtual tastings in 2020, the Showcase is back in full force — the event returns for an 8th year on Thursday, Nov. 4, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at the DoubleTree by Hilton Manchester Downtown.

“We’re hoping to get back to some sense of normalcy,” said Mark Roy, spirits marketing and sales specialist for the New Hampshire Liquor Commission. “We were blown away by the response to some of the virtual programs last year, [but] the goal is to go back to the regular forte of the Showcase and the different events leading up to it.”

Roy said the idea of the event came after he attended the Winter Wine Spectacular, normally held in late January. Like during its Wine Week counterpart, brand ambassadors and industry leaders from all over the world come to the Showcase to present their products. Attendees are given a program booklet with a full map of the dozens of tables of spirits that are featured, totaling more than 700 premium whiskeys, bourbons, tequilas, rums, vodkas, gins and other spirits to try. Because of the large volume of products available, Roy said, it’s always a good idea to go into the Showcase with a game plan, by seeking out what you may be most interested in or curious about.

This is the first year that Eric Timmerman, national sales manager of the Sonoma, California-based 3 Badge Mixology, will be participating. He’ll talk about and offer samples of the company’s lineup of products, which include Uncle Val’s botanical gin, Benjamin Chapman whiskey and Kirk and Sweeney rum, in addition to its Bozal mezcal and Pasote tequila.

“As much as I enjoy doing talks on Zoom, there’s still something to be said about being able to have those conversations with people and seeing their reactions when they try the samples,” Timmerman said. “[The Showcase] is a really great opportunity to try a lot of really great products that are on the market … and it gives people a chance to experience things that they may not necessarily have otherwise tried. So we’re excited to be part of it.”

Other participants will include National Hockey League Hall of Famer Ed Belfour, who owns and operates Belfour Spirits; Graciela González, a fourth-generation distiller and the brand ambassador of El Mayor tequila in Jalisco, Mexico, who will be one of the five panelists at the Hold the Salttequila and mezcal seminar the evening before; and Tim Smith, founder of Tim Smith Spirits and star of the Discovery Channel reality series Moonshiners.

The Showcase wouldn’t be complete without its lineup of Granite State spirits purveyors, either — Charles “CJ” Lundergan of Steadfast Spirits Distilling Co. in Concord will be pouring his moonshine-mixed cocktails at the event for the first time, while Brian Ferguson of Flag Hill Distillery & Winery in Lee is also expected to return with his bourbon and rye whiskeys.

More than two dozen New Hampshire restaurants and catering companies will have tables of their own, offering various hors d’oeuvres and appetizers. Several are first-time participants, including Manchester’s Elm House of Pizza, and Red Beard’s Kitchen, a takeout business that chef Matthew Provencher launched earlier this year featuring ready-to-eat comfort meals. Returning businesses will be The Crown Tavern, the Hanover Street Chophouse, The Common Man, Stark Brewing Co., and Twins Smoke Shop and the 7-20-4 Lounge.

If you sample something during the Showcase and decide you want a whole bottle of it, you can purchase it at the conclusion of the event and arrange to pick it up at any one of the 68 New Hampshire Liquor and Wine Outlet stores in subsequent days. The hotel is also once again offering “sip and stay” packages, which include tickets to the event along with a room.

Proceeds from the Showcase will benefit the New Hampshire Food Bank, a new partner for 2021. Last year the New Hampshire Food Bank distributed more than 17 million pounds of food to its hundreds of partner agencies statewide. Executive director Eileen Liponis said there were 71 mobile food pantries held in 2020 — compared to only around a half dozen during a normal year pre-pandemic — serving just under 30,000 New Hampshire families.

“We’re extremely delighted to be part of such a premier event, and we think it’s very important to come out and support the New Hampshire Liquor Commission,” Liponis said. “I think if there’s one thing that Covid may have given us as a silver lining, it’s that our biggest enemies are always shame and stigma. … I think in everyone’s social circle they saw someone being challenged by the effects of the pandemic on them … and I hope that because of that we have more empathy for the fact that food is a basic necessity we all deserve.”

Featured photo: Spiked Tepache Courtesy of Graciela González, fourth-generation distiller and brand ambassador of El Mayor tequila in Jalisco, Mexico.

Good and Spooky

Your guide to fun scares and Halloween happenings

It’s the scary season — you know, fun scary.

If worrying about the real world has you frazzled, take some time out to enjoy the intentional spookiness, the costumes, the jack-o’-lanterns and of course the candy of Halloween. Though some events are still on hold or modified for the year, a lot of the seasonal fun is back. Find events geared toward kids (including, of course, trick or treating), plus movie screenings, music and costume parties for the older crowd and haunted houses and attractions for those who dare.

More treats than tricks

Halloween events for kids and families

Compiled by Angie Sykeny

Bring the kids for some Halloween fun at these family-friendly events, where they can trick-or-treat at downtown business, do spooky (and not-so-spooky) activities at the museum, show off their costumes in a parade and more.

• There’s a Halloween Dance Party with a DJ at George B. White Basketball Court (8 Raymond Road, Deerfield) on Friday, Oct. 22, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., open to kids in grades 3 through 5. Prizes will be awarded for the most creative, scariest and best-overall costumes. Admission costs $5. Visit deerfield.recdesk.com.

• Join the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire (6 Washington St., Dover) for its Not So Spooky Weekend, happening Friday, Oct. 22, through Sunday, Oct. 24. There will be Halloween-themed educator-led programs and self-led drop-in activities each day. Costumes are welcome, but regular masks are still required. The Halloween festivities are included with regular admission to the museum, which costs $11 for adults and kids over age 1, and $9 for seniors. Register online in advance. Visit childrens-museum.org.

• Chunky’s Cinema Pubs (chunkys.com) has some screenings on the schedule geared at younger movie goers. On Saturday, Oct. 23, at 6:30 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 24, at 6 p.m., the theaters in Nashua (151 Coliseum Ave.) and Manchestser (707 Huse Road) will offer an all-ages friendly screening of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (PG, 2001), with costumes encouraged. Tickets cost $5.99. Take the kids for a “Little” Lunch Date to see the 2019 animated movie The Addams Family (PG) at Chunky’s Cinema Pubs in Manchester, Nashua and Pelham (150 Bridge St.) on Friday, Oct. 29, at 11:30 a.m. Tickets are free but reserve a spot with a $5 food voucher.

Paint a Halloween owl at The Canvas Roadshow (25 S. River Road, Bedford) on Saturday, Oct. 23, at 10 a.m. The cost is $25 for the step-by-step workshop and 11”x14” canvas painting. Registration is required by Aug. 21. Then, on Sunday, Oct. 31, at 1 p.m., there’s a Halloween candy charcuterie tray and pumpkin painting workshop, recommended for kids ages 5 through 10. Tickets, which include admission for one adult and two children, one charcuterie and two small pumpkins, cost $75. Register by Oct. 28. Visit thecanvasroadshow.com.

• DeMeritt Hill Farm (20 Orchard Way, Lee) presents its Storybook Halloween Hayride on Saturdays, Oct. 23 and Oct. 30, and Sundays, Oct. 24 and Oct. 31. The event is designed for elementary school-aged children, featuring storytelling with characters like Snow White, Cinderella, Superman, Belle and others along the hayride. Each child will receive Halloween goodies and a pumpkin. The hayride lasts about 30 to 45 minutes and departs every half-hour. The cost is $14 per child and $5 per adult. Reservations are recommended. Visit demeritthillfarm.com.

• The YMCA’s Trunk-or-Treat will be held at Camp Sargent (141 Camp Sargent Road, Merrimack) on Saturday, Oct. 23, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The free outdoor event will feature crafts, games and snacks. Tickets must be purchased in advance. Visit bit.ly/3EtsieG for the EventBrite page.

• Derry will have its Halloween festivities on Saturday, Oct. 23, including the Spooktacular Costume Parade and Contest at Hood Park (4 Rollins St.) from 11:30 a.m. to noon, with categories for kids ages 12 and under and families; and the Downtown Trick-or-Treat from noon to 3 p.m. Visit derrynh.org.

Hopkinton’s Halloween Holler is on Saturday, Oct. 23, at Harold Martin School (271 Main St.). A kids costume parade will take off from the parking lot at 11 a.m. and proceed down Main Street to Hopkinton Village Store, then back to the school. Following the parade there will be games, crafts, s’mores over the campfire, hot cocoa and cider and more. Admission is free. Visit hopkintonrec.com.

• The Aviation Museum of New Hampshire (27 Navigator Road, Londonderry) is issuing free “Broomstick Pilot Licenses” to kids age 12 and under on Saturday, Oct. 23, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The experience lasts about 20 minutes and includes a “ground school” where the ghosts of aviation pioneers from history will talk about their achievements and teach about the basic principles of flight. Then, applicants will then have their headshots taken and receive their license, as well as some Halloween treats. The regular museum admission charge of $10 will still apply for visitors age 13 and up. Visit aviationmuseumofnh.org or call 669-4820.

• Charmingfare Farm (774 High St., Candia) continues its Children’s Trick-or-Treat experience on Saturdays, Oct. 23 and Oct. 30, and Sundays, Oct. 24 and Oct. 31. The experience includes costumed characters handing out candy in the barnyard; a tractor train or horse-drawn wagon pumpkin patch ride; a cow milking contest; pumpkin decorating; and pony rides. The cost is $22 per person and free for children under age 2. Visit visitthefarm.com to register for a timeslot.

• With its mix of candy and fear, Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (G, 1971) captures the Halloween spirit. The movie will screen on Sunday, Oct. 24, at 3 p.m. at the Rex Theatre (23 Amherst St. in Manchester; 668-5588, palacetheatre.org). Tickets cost $12; a portion of the proceeds goes to the Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth.

Milford’s Trick-or-Treat on the Oval is on Friday, Oct. 29, from 3 to 4:30 p.m. The town Recreation Department and businesses on the Oval will be handing out candy and small toys to kids in costume. Visit milfordrec.com.

• Canterbury hosts its Wicked Weekend on Friday, Oct. 29, and Saturday, Oct. 30. The Canterbury Woods Trick-or-Treat will take place on Friday from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Then, on Saturday, there’s the Sherwood Forest Trick-or-Treat from 2 to 5 p.m.; the Town Center Trick-or-Treat from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.; and a Haunted Trail at 224 Baptist Road at 6:30 p.m. See the “Canterbury, NH” group on Facebook.

• Wear your costumes and trick-or-treat at Manchester City Hall (1 City Hall Plaza) on Friday, Oct. 29, from 3 to 5 p.m. Meet Mayor Craig, pick up a book from the library’s Bookmobile, then do some trick-or-treating at the businesses on Elm Street. Visit manchesternh.gov.

• The CHaD Storybook Tablescape Tour comes to the Bedford Event Center (379 S. River Road, Bedford) on Saturday, Oct. 30, with tours starting at 11:30 a.m. Guests will receive a red carpet welcome by costumed characters who will guide them through a storybook experience, ending with sweet treats. Tickets cost $10 per person, free for kids age 2 and under, and must be purchased in advance. Masks are required. Visit getinvolved.dartmouth-hitchcock.org.

• Come in costume and get ready to sing and dance at the Mr. Aaron Band Halloween Bash, happening at the Kimball Jenkins Estate (266 N. Main St., Concord) on Sunday, Oct. 31, with shows at 10 a.m. and noon. The outdoor shows will include some Mr. Aaron favorites as well as some Halloween songs. Bring a blanket or lawn chairs. Tickets $10. Visit mraaronmusic.com.

Deerfield’s Tailgate Trick-or-Treat and Costume Parade returns to the Deerfield Fairgrounds (34 Stage Road) on Sunday, Oct. 31, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Visit deerfield.recdesk.com.

Tilton’s Downtown Trunk-or-Treat and Children’s Costume Parade will take place on Saturday, Oct. 31, from 4 to 6:30 p.m. on Main Street. There will be a costume contest, music, family activities and more. See the “Tilton Downtown Trunk or Treat 2021” event on Facebook.

Bow’s Trunk-or-Treat will take place on Sunday, Oct. 31, from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at Bow High School (55 Falcon Way). Visit bownh.gov.

• Head to the Village Green in Amherst for the Halloween Doors trick-or-treating event on Saturday, Oct. 31. Register online in advance for a time slot between 1 and 4 p.m. Visit amherstnh.myrec.com.

Trick or Treat

When do adults need to stock up on mini Snickers and Reese’s (or full-size bars, if you want to be a hero) so costumed kids can hit the streets to look for candy? According to town websites, social media pages and/or town officials, the following are the scheduled trick-or-treat times. In case of the odd Halloween snow storm or other strange weather, check with your town on the day to make sure trick-or-treat is still on.

Saturday, Oct. 30

Barrington: 5 to 7 p.m.
Boscawen: 5 to 8 p.m. (The Boscawen Police Dept. is slated to hold a Trunk or Treat event from 5 to 8 p.m. at Boscawen Elementary School.)
Canterbury: Canterbury does a trunk-or-treat/Halloween celebration in the Town Center from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., according to the police department.
Dover: 5 to 8 p.m.
Durham: 5 to 7:30 p.m.
Greenland: 5 to 7 p.m.
Hampton Falls: 5 to 7 p.m.
New Castle: 5 to 7 p.m.
Newmarket: 5 to 7 p.m.
North Hampton: 4 to 7 p.m.
Portsmouth: 3 to 6 p.m. (The police department is giving away free bright yellow Halloween bags to Portsmouth residents.)
Rollinsford: 5 to 7 p.m.
Seabrook: 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Strafford: 5 to 8 p.m.
Stratham: 5 to 7:30 p.m.
Tilton: 6:30 to 8 p.m. (The Trunk or Treat and children’s costume parade will run from 4 to 6:30 p.m.)

Sunday, Oct. 31

Allenstown: 5 to 7 p.m.
Amherst: 6 to 8 p.m. (Halloween Doors on the Green will also offer trick-or-treating from 1 to 4 p.m.; register for a specific time slot at amherstnh.myrec.com.)
Antrim: 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Atkinson: 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Auburn: 1 to 4 p.m.
Bedford: 6 to 8 p.m.
Belmont: 4 to 8 p.m.
Bennington: 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Bow: 5 to 8 p.m. (Bow Parks & Recreation will hold Trunk or Treat at Bow High School from 2 to 3:30 p.m.)
Bradford: 5 to 8 p.m. (Main Street will be closed during this time.)
Brentwood: 6 to 8 p.m.
Brookline: 6 to 8 p.m.
Candia: 5 to 8 p.m.
Chichester: (The PTO is holding a trunk-or-treat event on Sunday, Oct. 24, from 4 to 6 p.m. at Carpenter Park.)
Concord: 5 to 7:30 p.m.
Danville: 6 to 8 p.m. (The Danville Police Department is handing out free glow bracelets to anyone who plans to trick-or-treat. The Recreation Department will host a trunk-or-treat at the Community Center from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.)
Deerfield: 4 to 7 p.m. (The Parks & Rec department is holding a tailgate trick-or-treat and costume parade for town residents at the Deerfield Fairgrounds from 1 to 2:30 p.m. with parking beginning at noon. See deerfield.recdesk.com for ticket info.)
Deering: 5 to 8 p.m.
Derry: 6 to 7:30 p.m.
Dunbarton: 4 to 7 p.m.
Epping: 5 to 7 p.m.
Epsom: 4 to 8 p.m.
Exeter: 4 to 7 p.m.
Francestown: (Main Street trick-or-treating and Horse Sheds Trunk or Treat will run from 6 to 7:30 p.m.)
Franklin: 4 to 7 p.m.
Goffstown: 6 to 8 p.m.
Hampstead: 6 to 8 p.m.
Hampton: 5:30 to 8 p.m.
Henniker: 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Hillsborough: 5 to 8 p.m.
Hollis: 6 to 8 p.m.
Hooksett: 6 to 8 p.m.
Hudson: 6 to 8 p.m.
Kingston: 5 to 8 p.m.
Laconia: 5 to 8 p.m. (Laconia Parks & Rec will host trick-or-treating in Opechee Park from 5 to 8 p.m.)
Lee: 5 to 7 p.m. (Lee’s Fireman’s Association will hold drive-thru Trunk or Treat at the Lee Safety Complex Oct. 31 from 5 to 7 p.m.)
Litchfield: 6 to 8 p.m.
Londonderry: 5 to 7:30 p.m. (Starting Oct. 27, trick-or-treaters can pick up a glow necklace at the police department lobby.
Lyndeborough: 6 to 8 p.m.
Manchester: 6 to 8 p.m. (Halloween at City Hall/Downtown Trick or Treat is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 29, from 3 to 5 p.m. Visit City Hall Plaza for a free book and then participating downtown businesses for treats.)
Milford: 6 to 8 p.m.
Mont Vernon: 5 to 8 p.m. (Trick or Treat in the Village will run from 6 to 8 p.m.)
Merrimack: 6 to 8 p.m.
Nashua: 6 to 8 p.m.
New Boston: 6 to 8 p.m. (A trunk-or-treat event will start at 5:30 p.m. at New Boston Town Hall.)
New Ipswich: 5 to 7 p.m.
New London: 4 to 6 p.m.
Northfield: 5 to 8 p.m.
Nottingham: 5 to 7 p.m.
Pelham: 5 to 8 p.m.
Pembroke: 5 to 8 p.m.
Pittsfield: 5 to 7 p.m.
Plaistow: 5 to 7 p.m.
Raymond: 5 to 7 p.m.
Salisbury: 5 to 8 p.m.
Sanbornton: 4 to 7 p.m. (Trunk or Treat will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. at Sanbornton Central School.)
Sandown: 6 to 8 p.m.
Warner: 5 to 8 p.m.
Washington: 5 to 8 p.m. at the town commons
Weare: 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Wilton: 6 to 8 p.m.
Windham: 5 to 8 p.m.

Enter if you dare

Haunted houses, barns and dark woods to explore

By Matt Ingersoll

Chad Zingales remembers his brother and father presenting “The Haunted Barn,” a Halloween-themed attraction that was attached to his childhood colonial home in Hollis.

“That’s what kind of started my love for it all,” he said. “I’m a very right-brained individual, so I’ve always enjoyed the entertainment side of Halloween and entertaining people.”

For 14 years Zingales ran The Dark Crop over several weeks in October, a “haunted” corn maze at Lavoie’s Farm featuring a cast of scary costumed characters. Now he has a new annual haunt — The Dark Woods, a dimly lit trail behind the farm stand at Trombly Gardens in Milford.

The self-guided tour is decked out with all kinds of unique sets as you make your way through. Costumed characters, each with their own names, voices and props, will be lurking in the shadows, and you’ll never know what types of people you’ll be meeting. For Zingales it’s that theatrical aspect of Halloween attractions that makes putting them on so much fun. Actors — he fondly refers to them as “creeps” — aim for at least two to four scares per group.

“You could build this beautiful haunted house, but if you don’t have any good actors it’s a hard sell,” he said. “We’ve taught our actors how to be creepy and how to scare people, and that timing is everything. … We also strive to have everybody have a backstory. There’s a reason why this character is out in the woods, and why you encounter this particular person.”

Courtesy of Fright Kingdom in Nashua.

Haunted houses have also been a lifelong love for Tim Dunne, owner of Fright Kingdom in Nashua. Now in its 17th year of serving up scares, Fright Kingdom features five uniquely themed attractions for each visitor to go through. He described “Apocalypse Z,” for example, as a scenario straight out of The Walking Dead, while “Bloodmare Manor” is inspired by an old 19th-century Victorian mansion, with family mysteries and secrets to discover.

“It’s definitely an immersive experience. We try to start scaring people as soon as they get into the parking lot,” Dunne said. “The people on our team could be bagging your groceries or handling your finances. … The one thing they all have in common is that they love Halloween.”

Each year Dunne and his team try to think of new ways to scare people, through the inclusion of new rooms or hallways, soundtracks, or costumes or makeup artistry. Fright Kingdom is also unique because the haunts don’t stop after Halloween is over.

“We do a Krampus-themed event during Christmas, and then we do a catered dinner inside the haunted house for Valentine’s Day that always sells out,” Dunne said.

You’ll also encounter spooky sets and costumed characters at The Salisbury Woods, a haunted barn and trail staffed entirely by volunteers on the Salisbury property of Brett Walker.

“On a normal night we can have anywhere from 60 to 70 actors out there in various spots, and there are quite a few animatronics out there as well,” Walker said. “The animatronics kind of act as a distraction for the actors to come out and get another good scare.”

The Salisbury Woods first launched eight years ago as a short walk through the barn. But over the years, Walker said, more and more sets have been added. The production is a fundraiser for several Salisbury-area organizations, like the town’s parent-teacher group and the Fire Explorers.

In Litchfield, Spooky World Presents Nightmare New England is celebrating its 30th year in business. It’s been at Mel’s Funway Park for just over a decade, according to co-owner Mike Accomando, but originally opened in Berlin, Mass., back in 1991.

“It’s a massive show that you can spend the entire night coming out to enjoy,” he said. “We tell people to definitely plan on staying for at least a couple of hours.”

Like at Fright Kingdom, new features are always being added to Spooky World’s repertoire. A haunted hayride spanning more than 80 acres of the property was introduced a few years ago. New to this year’s Spooky World experience is a haunt called “Asylum 47.”

“It’s an entirely new medical scene that we’ve designed,” Accomando said. “As you’re leaving one room and going into another, everything is changing, from the sounds to the lights to the smells, and so everything is constantly working in your head. … We’re also constantly changing scare zones, so you may know what’s going to happen if you were there before but we make sure it’s something different that you see each time you’re there.”

A host of haunts

There are plenty of opportunities for a frightful Halloween in New Hampshire this year. Check out this list of local haunted houses, barns and outdoor trails through the woods.

The Dark Woods at Trombly Gardens

150 N. River Road, Milford, 465-DARK (3275), thedarkwoodsnh.com

Hours: Fridays and Saturdays, Oct. 22 and 23, and Oct. 29 and 30, and Sunday, Oct. 31; gate opens at 7 p.m., with the last ticket sold at 10:30 p.m.

Cost: $21 general admission; advance ticket purchasing online is encouraged

During this self-guided tour through the woods behind the farm stand at Trombly Gardens in Milford, you’ll find a cast of creepy characters and misfits, each with their own props, stories and reasons for being there.

Fright Kingdom

12 Simon St., Nashua, 809-1173, frightkingdom.com

Hours: Fridays and Saturdays, 7 to 11 p.m., and Sundays, 7 to 10 p.m., now through Nov. 6 (haunts close after the last ticket holder goes through)

Cost: $29 general admission; purchase advance tickets online

Now in its 17th year of serving up scares, Fright Kingdom features five haunted house attractions, each with their own unique themes, from “Psycho Circus” to “Bloodmare Manor.” Special “In the Dark” experiences are set for Friday, Nov. 5, and Saturday, Nov. 6, when attendees will be given a single light source per group as they attempt to navigate their way out.

Haunted Overload

DeMerritt Hill Farm, 20 Orchard Way, Lee, 868-2111, hauntedoverload.com

Hours: Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, now through Oct. 31, beginning at 7 p.m. and ending at 8:30 or 9:30 p.m., depending on the night. Day walks are also available on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Cost: Main event admission is $28 and day walk admission is $8. Other rates apply for special themed events, including a Fright Night Lite on Thursday, Oct. 28 ($14.50 per person; no scares), a Glow Stick Night on Saturday, Oct. 30 ($18 per person), and a Black Out Night on Sunday, Oct. 31 ($17 per person). All tickets must be purchased in advance.

Located on DeMerritt Hill Farm in Lee, Haunted Overload has multiple types of shows to choose from. Its main event features a full cast of actors, complete with theatrical lighting and special events, as attendees traverse through a spooky wooded trail. You can also enjoy the lighting and effects without the scares during Fright Night Lite, or visit the trails and see the props during any of the day haunts.

The Salisbury Woods

19 Franklin Road, Salisbury, 496-2334, facebook.com/thesalisburywoods

Hours: Fridays and Saturdays, Oct. 22 and 23, and Oct. 29 and 30; 7 to 10 p.m. each night

Cost: $10 admission; advance ticketing online is strongly recommended (choose your own timed ticket slots), but cash tickets will be sold at the gate if they are available.

The Salisbury Woods is a haunted barn and trail, staffed entirely by volunteers and featuring dozens of costumed actors and animatronic setups. It’s also a fundraiser for several local organizations, including the Salisbury Parent Teacher Group and the Salisbury Fire Explorers.

Screeemfest

Canobie Lake Park, 85 N. Policy St., Salem, 893-3506, canobie.com/screeemfest

Hours: Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, now through Oct. 30; hours are 6 to 11 p.m. on Fridays, 3 to 11 p.m. on Saturdays and 1 to 8 p.m. on Sundays

Cost: General admission rates are $46 on Fridays and Sundays, and $55 on Saturdays. Admission is $32 all three days for kids under 48 inches tall and seniors over 60, and free for kids ages 3 and under. Group rates are also available. Advance reservations are required.

For six weeks, Canobie Lake Park transforms into Screeemfest, a Halloween-themed destination featuring five themed haunted houses, plus a full schedule of live shows, games, rides and more. Indoor haunts open at 6 p.m. on Fridays and 5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, while outdoor haunts open as soon as it gets dark (typically around 6:45 p.m.).

Spooky World Presents Nightmare New England

Mel’s Funway Park, 454 Charles Bancroft Hwy., Litchfield, 424-7999, spookyworld.com

Hours: Regular season now runs Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, through Oct. 31. Shows begin at 7 p.m. each night and end around 9:35 p.m. on Thursdays and Sundays, and 11:05 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Two special events will close out the season, including a TikTok Meet & Greet on Friday, Nov. 5, and a Lights Out event on Saturday, Nov. 6.

Cost: Rates vary; general admission starts at $41.49 on Thursdays and Sundays, $46.49 on Fridays and $51.49 on Saturdays. VIP rates are also available (varies before or after 9:30 p.m.)

Spooky World is celebrating its 30th anniversary in business this year — the haunted attraction originated in Berlin, Mass., in 1991 before briefly moving to Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, eventually landing at its current spot at Mel’s Funway Park in 2009 when it joined forces with Nightmare New England. In 2015, Spooky World added a 1-mile-long haunted hayride, and it has a new attraction for 2021 called “Asylum 47.”

Haunted happenings

All-ages Halloween fun

Compiled by Angie Sykeny

From costume contests to hikes and parades, these all-ages Halloween events have something for everyone.

• Join the NH Audubon (84 Silk Farm Road, Concord) for an Enchanted Forest experience on Friday, Oct. 22, or Saturday, Oct. 23, with tours offered between 5 and 7:45 p.m. Follow a forest trail, illuminated by jack-o-lanterns, and encounter creatures, plants and characters along the way, who will perform skits. The walk ends with a storytime at a campfire. This family-friendly experience is open to kids ages 4 and up and adults. The cost is $15 per person, and pre-registration is required. Visit nhaudubon.org.

• The Haunting of Wilton will take place on Saturday, Oct. 23, with downtown merchants trick-or-treating from 2 to 4 p.m., a costume parade down Main Street at 4:30 p.m., and a costume dance in the park with a DJ from 6 to 9 p.m. Visit visitwilton.com.

• Deerfield hosts its 5th annual Haunted Stables on Saturday, Oct. 23, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Deerfield Fairgrounds (34 Stage Road). Residents of Deerfield and surrounding towns are invited for a night of spooky fun and tasty refreshments. Visit facebook.com/deerfieldpolicenh.

• Intown Concord’s Halloween Howl returns to Main Street in the Capital City on Friday, Oct. 29, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Come in costume and enjoy trick-or-treating, Halloween decor, and games and activities for all ages in downtown. Admission is free. Visit intownconcord.org.

• There’s an all-ages Zombie Walk in Dover on Saturday, Oct. 30. The walk starts at 2 p.m. at the Dover Chamber of Commerce parking lot (550 Central Ave.) and will proceed down Central Avenue, ending at Rotary Arts Pavilion. Participants will receive goodie bags and raffle tickets to win gift cards for downtown Dover businesses and other prizes. Non-zombie costumes are also welcome. Visit dovermainstreet.org.

Deering’s Trunk-or-Treat will be held on Saturday, Oct. 30, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Deering Fish and Game (Fish and Game Road). In addition to the trunk-or-treat, there will be games, hay rides, a campfire, snacks and a jack-o’-lantern contest (bring your own, pre-carved). The event is BYOB for adults. Visit deering.nh.us.

• Meet at Keach Park in Concord for an all-ages Halloween Hike on Saturday, Oct. 30, starting at 1 p.m. There will be games, songs, books, crafts and more. Costumes are welcome. Visit concordnh.gov.

• Merrimack will have its 29th annual Halloween Party, Sparkly Spooktacular, on Saturday, Oct. 30, from 2 to 7 p.m. at Wasserman Park (116 Naticook Road). Festivities will include free games, crafts, entertainment and food vendors from 2 to 5 p.m.; a concert by the Whiskey Business Band from 5 to 6:30 p.m.; and fireworks at 6:30 p.m. Visit merrimackparksandrec.org/halloween-party.

• Allenstown’s Townwide Halloween Lighting Contest is going on now, with winners to be announced at an awards ceremony at Blueberry Express Park (16 School St.) on Saturday, Oct. 30, at 4 p.m. First-, second- and third-place prizes will be awarded for the houses with the best Halloween decorations. Visit allenstownnh.gov for a list of participating residences.

• The Exeter Halloween Parade and Costume Contest will be held on Saturday, Oct. 30, with the parade starting at 10:30 a.m. at the Water Street end of Swasey Parkway and proceeding to the center pavilion, where there will be refreshments and awards for the best costumes. Additionally the Downtown Trick-or-Treat will be going on from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Visit exeternh.gov.

• Head to the Brown Lane Barn at Beaver Brook Nature Center (52 Brown Lane, Hollis) for a Halloween Enchanted Forest Walk on Saturday, Oct. 30, with time slots from 3 to 5 p.m. The non-scary self-guided walk will include educational stations along the way where participants can learn about New England wildlife, and will end at a campsite with cider and s’mores over a campfire. The cost is $12 per person. Visit beaverbrook.org.

• Head to the JFK Coliseum (303 Beech St., Manchester) for a Halloween Skate Party on Saturday, Oct. 30, from 2 to 4 p.m. Enjoy ice skating, a costume contest and a photo booth. Wear your costume and get a goodie bag at the door. Tickets cost $5 for adults and $3 for children and seniors (cash only). Skate rentals will be available for $5. Visit manchesternh.gov.

• The Amherst Orthodontics Trick or Trot 3k takes place on Sunday, Oct. 31, at 11 a.m., in Arms Park (10 Arms St., Manchester). The course goes up to the Notre Dame Bridge, crosses the bridge, then returns back across the bridge to Arms Park. The Stonyfield Lil’ Pumpkin Fun Runs for kids age 8 and under will proceed the race at 10 a.m. Registration costs $25 for adults age 21 and older, $20 for youth ages 12 through 20 and $15 for kids ages 9 through 11 for the 3k, and $10 for the Lil’ Pumpkin Runs. The registration deadline is Oct. 29, at 9 a.m., and race-day registration will not be available. Visit millenniumrunning.com/trick-or-trot.

• Don’t miss the Portsmouth Halloween Parade on Sunday, Oct. 31. All are welcome to come in costume and march in the parade; meet at Peirce Island by Prescott Park at 6 p.m. No sign-up is required. The parade will begin at 7 p.m. and march through downtown. Visit portsmouthhalloweenparade.org.

• Head to McIntyre Ski Area (50 Chalet Way, Manchester) for its Witch of Weston Tower experience, happening every weekend in October on Fridays, from 4 to 8 p.m., Saturdays from noon to 8 p.m., and Sundays from noon to 6 p.m. (last ride is at 30 minutes before closing). The experience includes transportation up the mountain and a hayride to the tower, where participants can meet the witch, play games and more. The cost is $15 for kids and adults age 9 and up, and free for kids under age 9. Visit manchesternh.gov.

• The Harvest Festival at Applecrest Farm (133 Exeter Road, Hampton Falls) is going on every Saturday and Sunday in October, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., with pick-your-own opportunities, a corn maze, live music, tractor rides, barnyard animals and more. Admission is free. Stop by on Sunday, Oct. 24, to see the Great Pumpkin Carve, where a master carver will take on an 800-pound jack-o-lantern. Visit applecrest.com.

• The corn maze at Coppal House Farm (118 N. River Road, Lee) is open through October. Farm hours are Monday, Thursday and Friday, from noon to 5 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with the last admission at 4:30 p.m. The cost is $9 per person; $7 for kids ages 5 through 12, seniors age 65 and up, and military; and free for kids age 4 and under. A flashlight night maze will be open on Saturday, Oct. 23, from 6:30 to 9 p.m., (BYO flashlight), with tickets priced at $12 per person, ages 5 and up. Tickets for the flashlight maze must be purchased online in advance. Visit nhcornmaze.com.

Also check out the corn maze at Riverview Farm (141 River Road, Plainfield), open through October, Tuesday through Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The cost is $5 per person and free for kids age 4 and under. Visit riverviewnh.com.

O’neil Cinemas at Brickyard Square (24 Calef Hwy. in Epping; 679-3529, oneilcinemas.com) continues its Film Frenzy $5 series of classic films with some Halloween appropriate titles: The Shining (R, 1980) which screens through Thursday, Oct. 21; Beetlejuice (PG, 1988) which screens Monday, Oct. 25, through Thursday, Oct. 28, and A Nightmare on Elm Street (R, 1984), Monday, Nov. 1, through Thursday, Nov. 4. The films are screened multiple times each day.

• Jeff Rapsis will present The Phantom of the Opera (1925), the silent film starring Lon Chaney, with live musical accompaniment on Thursday, Oct. 21, at 6:30 p.m. at the Flying Monkey (39 Main St. in Plymouth; 536-2551, flyingmonkeynh.com). Tickets start at $10. He will also perform live music to accompany the film on Wednesday, Oct. 27, at Park Theatre at 7 p.m. (19 Main St. in Jaffrey; theparktheatre.org). Admission costs $12 per person and tickets are available online or at the door.

Nosferatu (1922)

• The Rex Theatre (23 Amherst St. in Manchester; 668-5588, palacetheatre.org) will offer a classic 1980s horror film and a classic silent era horror. On Thursday, Oct. 21, at 7 p.m., see A Nightmare on Elm Street (R, 1984). Tickets cost $10 ($8 with student ID). On Thursday, Oct. 28, see Nosferatu (1922), the silent film directed by F.W. Murnau, at 7:30 p.m. The presentation features live musical accompaniment by Jeff Rapsis. Admission costs $10.

Red River Theatres (11 S. Main St. in Concord; 224-4600, redrivertheatres.org) continues its series of horror films screened on Thursdays in October at 7 p.m. On Oct. 21, catch 1972’s Frenzy and on Oct. 28, see 1982’s The Thing.

• Chunky’s Cinema Pub in Manchester (707 Huse Road), Nashua (151 Coliseum Ave.) and Pelham (150 Bridge St.) will screen Psycho (1960), starring Anthony Perkins and Janet Leigh) on Friday, Oct. 29, at noon, as part of a senior showing. Admission is free; secure a seat by purchasing a $5 food voucher at chunkys.com

Boootiful music

Costume parties & more for the grown-up Halloween fan

Compiled by Amy Diaz

For the older crowd, several area breweries, restaurants and other venues have parties, often with costume contests planned this Halloween season. Because the holiday itself falls on a Sunday, some parties are happening Saturday or even earlier in the week, giving you more opportunities to dress up and head out. (Note: Some events are 21+. Information here comes from the venues’ websites and social media.) Know of a party not listed here? Let us know at music@hippopress.com.

In the days before Halloween…

Jewel Music Venue (61 Canal St. in Manchester; 819-9336) will host a Pop Punk Halloween on Thursday, Oct. 21, at 6:30 p.m. featuring Big Smile, Driveways, Rematch, Promise Game, 20 Something and Day Trip. Tickets cost $12 in advance, $15 at the door, for this 18+ event.

Twin Barns Brewing (194 Daniel Webster Hwy. in Meredith; 279-0876) will host a pumpkin painting party on Friday, Oct. 22, at 5 p.m.

Averill House Winery (21 Averill Road in Brookline; 371-2296, averillhousevineyard.com) will hold a Spooktacular Halloween Comedy Show with headliner Mike Koutrobis on Saturday, Oct. 23, from 7 to 8 p.m. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Costumes are encouraged. Tickets cost $15 in advance.

• Head back to Jewel Music Venue (61 Canal St. in Manchester; 819-9336) on Saturday, Oct. 23, at 7 p.m. for the Halloween Bash featuring tribute sets with bands performing the music of Slipknot, Deftones, Vanna and Hawthorne Heights, free candy, a costume contest with prizes and more. Tickets cost $12 in advance, $20 the day of (or $15 day of with a costume) to this 18+ show.

• Monique Toosoon will co-host a Halloween-themed “Life’s a Drag” show at Chunky’s Cinema Pub in Manchester (707 Huse Road) on Saturday, Oct. 23 at 9 p.m. (doors open at 8 p.m.). Tickets cost $25 and are available at chunkys.com. “The shows are high energy, funny, diverse and interactive. Performers dance, lip-sync and some even sing live,” Monique said in an email.

Copper Door restaurants in Bedford (15 Leavy Dr.; 488-2677, copperdoor.com) and Salem (41 S. Broadway; 458-2033) will hold Wicked Scary Week Oct. 24 through Oct. 31, with special lunch and dinner menus, drinks, games and live music on Oct. 24 (11 a.m. to 2 p.m.), Oct. 28 (7 to 10 p.m.) and Oct. 31 (11 a.m. to 2 p.m.).

Sea Dog Brewing Co. (5 Water St. in Exeter; 793-5116, seadogbrewing.com) will hold a Mug Club Social Halloween Bash on Monday, Oct. 25, from 5 to 8 p.m. RSVP and find out more about joining the brewery’s Mug Club at ecox@seadogbrewing.com. The night will feature live music, food, raffles and more.

• Last in Linewill play The Big House (322 Lakeside Ave. in Laconia; bighousenightclub.com) on Friday, Oct. 29, at 6 p.m. for a Halloween Party, costumes encouraged. Tickets cost $25 in advance, $30 at the door.

Chop Shop Pub (920 Lafayette Road in Seabrook; 760-7706, chopshoppub.com) will hold a Halloween Extravaganza Costume Party with music by FastTimes (playing 1980s music) on Friday, Oct. 29, at 6:30 p.m.

Chunky’s Cinema Pub in Pelham (150 Bridge St.; chunkys.com) will hold a live, 21+ Ghouling Pianos Halloween Bash on Friday, Oct. 29, at 8:30 p.m. featuring the Dueling Pianos. Costumes are encouraged; tickets cost $20.

Wally’s Pub (144 Ashworth Ave. in Hampton; 926-2801) will host Prospect Hill’s 12th annual Halloween Bash, featuring special guests Lansdowne, Sleepspirit and Psycle, on Friday, Oct. 29, starting at 7:30 p.m. Tickets for this 21+ event cost $20.

Lynn’s 102 Tavern (76 Derry Road in Hudson; 943-7832, lynns102.com) will hold a karaoke costume party on Friday, Oct. 29, starting at 8 p.m. with gift certificates for the best costume.

Saturday, Oct. 30

Millyard Brewery (25 E. Otterson St. in Nashua; 722-0104, millyardbrewery.com) will host Bradley Copper Kettle and Friends at 3 p.m.

Chunky’s Cinema Pub in Nashua (151 Coliseum Ave.) and Manchester (707 Huse Road; chunkys.com) will hold a live, 21+ Ghouling Pianos Halloween Bash on Saturday, Oct. 30, at 8:30 p.m. featuring the Dueling Pianos. Costumes are encouraged; tickets cost $20.

Cercle National Club (550 Rockland Ave. in Manchester; 623-8243) will start its Halloween party at 5 p.m. with Off Duty Angels.

The Polish American Club (15 School St. in Nashua; 821-7535) will hold a karaoke Halloween Party starting at 6 p.m., with prizes for best costumes, food and more.

Shane’s BBQ (61 High St. in Hampton; 601-7091, shanes-texas-pit.com) will hold a costume contest starting at 6 p.m, with prizes for first and second place.

• Head back to Chop Shop Pub (920 Lafayette Road in Seabrook; 760-7706, chopshoppub.com) at 6:30 p.m. for a second night of celebrations with Halloween Bash with a costume party with prizes and bands including Notley Crue (a Motley Crue tribute band), Band Inc. and Casual Gravity.

Area 23 (254 N. State St. in Concord; 881-9060, thearea23.com) will hold a Halloween party with a costume contest and the band Holy Fool from 7 to 11:47 p.m.

• The Purple Pit Coffee Lounge (28 Central Sq. in Bristol; 744-7800, thepurplepit.com) will feature The Krimson Krewe from 7 to 9 p.m., with a Mardi Gras costume contest. Doors open at 6 p.m.; admission costs $15 per person.

High Octane Saloon (1072 Watson Road in Laconia; 527-8116, highoctane603.com) will kick off its Halloween party at 7 p.m. with music by EXP Band, a costume party with prizes and an entry fee of $5.

Long Blue Cat Brewing Co. (298 Rockingham Road in Londonderry; 818-8068, longbluecat.com) will hold a Halloween party at 7 p.m., with costumes encouraged (and prizes for the best costumes) and beer and drink specials and a DJ and dancing.

Boston Billiards Club & Casino (55 Northeastern Blvd. In Nashua; 943-5630, bostonbilliardclubcasino.com) will hold its annual Halloween Bash starting at 8 p.m. featuring the band Plan B and a costume party with prizes.

The Gas Light (64 Market St. in Portsmouth; 430-9122, portsmouthgaslight.com) will host Nightmare on Market Street Halloween Party, which starts at 8 p.m. with a DJ, dancing, drink specials, costume contest with prizes and more. Tickets in advance cost $12 (plus fees) for general admission and $30 (plus fees) for VIP tickets.

• Head back to Lynn’s 102 Tavern (76 Derry Road in Hudson; 943-7832, lynns102.com) today for a Halloween Bash at 8 p.m. featuring Sindicate and a cash prize for best costume.

The Peddler’s Daughter (48 Main St. in Nashua; 821-7535, thepeddlersdaughter.com) will kick off its party at 8 p.m. Check with social media closer to the date for updates.

Saddle Up Saloon (92 Route 125 in Kingston; 369-6962, saddleupsaloonnh.com) will hold its Halloween party starting at 8 p.m. with Bite the Bullet, drink specials, giveaways and a costume contest.

Tower Hill Tavern (264 Lakeside Ave. in Laconia; 366-9100, towerhilltavern.com) will hold a karaoke costume party with DJ Tim starting at 8 p.m.

The Big House (322 Lakeside Ave. in Laconia; bighousenightclub.com) will hold a costume party featuring DJ Kadence starting at 9 p.m. with a $5 entry fee and a costume contest featuring prizes.

Halloween, Oct. 31

The Big House (322 Lakeside Ave. in Laconia; bighousenightclub.com) will host the Weirs Drag Brunch on Halloween morning starting at 9:30 a.m. Tickets cost $25.

Smuttynose Brewing (105 Towle Farm Road in Hampton; smuttynose.com, 436-4026) will hold a Mutt-ster Mash from 1 to 4 p.m. The afternoon will include a dog costume contest with prize, treats for humans and pups and Smuttynose Beer, with proceeds to go to Pope Memorial Humane Society.

• The Village Trestle (25 Main St. in Goffstown; 497-8230, villagetrestle.com) will hold a Halloween Party, costumes encouraged, featuring music from Bob Pratte and Steve Roberge on sax and harp starting at 3:30 p.m.

The Alamo Texas Barbecue & Tequila Bar (99 Route 13 in Brookline; alamobarbecue.com, 721-5000) will celebrate its three-year anniversary and Halloween with live music starting at 4:30 p.m. by Ralph Allen, raffles and giveaways and more.

Fody’s Tavern (9 Clinton St. in Nashua; 577-9015, fodystavern.com) will have a Halloween party featuring DJ Mark Allen starting at 8 p.m.

And beyond…

• On Saturday, Nov. 6, Liquid Therapy (14 Court St. in Nashua; 402-9391, liquidtherapynh.com) will hold a Halloween Trivia ExtravaganzaSaturday, Nov. 6, from 1 to 4 p.m.

Featured photo: Courtesy photo.

Retro Games

Arcades, bowling alleys and game shops to level up your game night

High scores

Classic video gaming at New Hampshire’s arcades

by Matt Ingersoll

Portsmouth native Sean Greenlaw grew up playing retro video games, thanks in part to his father’s managing the former Dream Machine arcade at the Fox Run Mall. So when he learned that Manchester’s Electric Avenue Arcade was up for sale, he saw a unique opportunity.

“I was definitely here pretty regularly. This was a place that I loved to come to and remembered having an amazing community to participate with,” Greenlaw said. “I’ve wanted to start my own business, and this pandemic really taught me that there were opportunities out there for me and that I needed to take chances. … So I threw my hat into the ring to purchase the arcade.”

Last month Electric Avenue fully reopened under Greenlaw’s ownership after an extended absence. All of the arcade’s more than two dozen games are available to play once again, from timeless classics like Pac-Man and Galaga to Donkey Kong, Space Invaders and many others, plus multiple pinball machines and a few Skee-Ball lanes. Greenlaw is looking into adding a few more games on the floor too, including one he acquired that used to be at the Dream Machine.

Arcades were products of their time, before the age of the internet and smartphones, when gamers would gather around hunched over a machine and attempt to surpass the high score. It’s all part of that nostalgic factor Greenlaw hopes to carry on at Electric Avenue.

“You can play a game on your computer or your phone, and that’s a very solitary experience,” he said, “but when you come into an arcade you hear the classic sounds that you grew up with. You’re able to meet up and challenge other folks face to face, which is something that has kind of been lost. … So I really appreciate the feeling of the arcade bringing everyone together. That’s the vibe I’m going for here, is that you feel like you’re walking into your friend’s basement.”

Block Party Social in Hooksett. Photo by Matt Ingersoll.

Indeed, when Greenlaw reopened the doors, many of the arcade’s faithful regulars returned.

“There were people who hadn’t seen each other since the pandemic began who were able to meet up again, and for me that was the best part,” he said. “It’s a testament to [former owners] Chuck and Sara [Vorias], and that’s something that I want to continue.”

In the spirit of starting fresh, Greenlaw is resetting the high scores of each of the machines and is also working toward adding a token dispenser. The bar side of the arcade, meanwhile, will continue to feature a rotating selection of local brews and light food options.

At Block Party Social in Hooksett, formerly the Space Entertainment Center, there are dozens of new arcade games to play in its recently renovated space. Each game operates using preloaded funds on a game card, which you can also use to accumulate points and win prizes.

While there are several iconic games that are represented, many have their own modernized twist. If you love to play Pac-Man or Galaga, for example, you can experience them on a giant LED video billboard. Space Invaders Frenzy combines the classic gameplay of the original Space Invaders with ray gun-like controllers in place of traditional joysticks and buttons. There are also multiple interactive arcade experiences, such as Jurassic Park and Halo.

“The games all kind of have that physical experience to them. It makes for more of an immersive environment,” Block Party Social marketing director Ron Weinberg said. “In a certain sense it is a throwback to maybe when you used to go to the arcade at the beach and play Skee-Ball, but this is almost like a little more high-tech version of it.”

Weinberg said the new games were all part of a complete rebranding of the business that took place last year. Other attractions, like indoor ropes courses, zip lines and an axe-throwing lounge with multiple games to choose from using superimposed screens, have all been added.

In Concord, Wow Fried Chicken & Subs owner Maher Abbas recently turned the adjacent vacant building space on the corner of Main and Pleasant streets into Wow Chicken Arcade, which officially opened to the public on Oct. 1.

Wow Chicken Arcade in Concord. Photo by Matt Ingersoll.

Abbas said kids of all ages enjoying the few games he has inside in his restaurant made him realize that there wasn’t any central arcade in town for them to go to. Unlike at Electric Avenue, which currently utilizes special tokens to play the games that are sold in bagged quantities at the counter, machines at Wow Chicken Arcade are quarter-operated.

Games include many of the classics, as well as a few pinball machines, racing simulators, ice hockey tables and basketball shooting machines. Abbas is making the downstairs space available to rent as a function room for family-friendly private parties and gatherings and has plans to offer entertainment outings like open mic or karaoke nights in the near future.

Visit an arcade

From Pac-Man to Space Invaders and dozens of other classics in between, here’s a list of some spots in southern New Hampshire where you can get your retro video gaming on.

Block Party Social

51 Zapora Dr., Hooksett, 621-5150, blockpartysocial.com

Hours: Sunday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to midnight

Formerly the Space Entertainment Center, Block Party Social features a newly renovated arcade space with more than 100 types of video games to enjoy, in addition to an in-house restaurant, a revamped 5,000-square-foot laser tag arena, ropes courses, and an axe-throwing lounge with a variety of game formats.

Dave & Buster’s

1500 S. Willow St., Manchester, 506-3100, daveandbusters.com

Hours: Sunday and Monday, 11 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.; Tuesday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Wednesday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Thursday, 11 a.m. to 11:30 p.m., and Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

The Granite State’s first Dave & Buster’s location, which arrived in the Mall of New Hampshire plaza in August 2020, features a large arcade with chances to win prizes, plus a sports bar and virtual reality gaming.

Electric Avenue Arcade

24 Bridge St., Manchester, 518-5770, electricavearcade.com

Hours: Thursday, 6 to 11 p.m.; Friday, 6 p.m. to midnight; Saturday, noon to midnight, and Sunday, noon to 7 p.m. (may be subject to change)

Reopened last month under new ownership, Electric Avenue is back with all of the same arcade games as before, including Pac-Man, Donkey Kong, Paper Boy, Galaga, Q*Bert and more, plus a rotating offering of local brews and a light food menu.

Funspot

579 Endicott St. N., Laconia, 366-4377, funspotnh.com

Hours: Monday through Friday, noon to 10 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m., and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Billing itself as the “largest arcade in the world,” Funspot features several hundred classic arcade games, as well as other activities like indoor mini-golf, bowling and cash Bingo.

FunWorld

200 Daniel Webster Hwy., Nashua, 888-8735, funworldnh.com

Hours: Friday, 3 to 8 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, 1 to 8 p.m. (hours are temporarily reduced due to the pandemic and may be subject to change)

This Nashua center features more than 250 video games for all ages, plus a three-story playground and three indoor amusement rides.

Hilltop Fun Center

165 Route 108, Somersworth, 742-8068, hilltopfuncenter.com

Hours: Monday through Thursday, noon to 8 p.m.; Friday, noon to 9 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Arcade games are just one of the attractions at Hilltop Fun Center, which also features mini-golf, laser tag, batting cages and more.

Mel’s Funway Park

454 Charles Bancroft Hwy., Litchfield, 424-2292, melsfunwaypark.com

Hours: Friday, 5 p.m. to midnight; Saturday, noon to midnight, and Sunday, noon to 7 p.m.

One of several attractions to enjoy at Mel’s Funway Park, the indoor arcade is expected to remain open through the end of Spooky World’s annual run this Halloween season, according to co-owner Mike Accomando.

Tokens Taproom

284 Central Ave., Dover, 343-2879, tokenstaproom.com

Hours: Monday through Thursday, 4 p.m. to midnight; Friday, 4 a.m. to 1 a.m.; Saturday, 11:30 a.m. to 1 a.m., and Sunday, 4 to 11 p.m.

Known as a “barcade,” a combination arcade and bar, Tokens Taproom has classic arcade games and pinball machines that have been collected over the years by owner Josh Hynes. It’s open to visitors ages 21 and up, but minors are allowed in on Saturdays, from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., with accompanying adults.

Wow Chicken Arcade

2 N. Main St., Concord, find them on Facebook @wowchickennn

Hours: Monday through Thursday, noon to 10 p.m., and Friday through Sunday, noon to midnight (may be subject to change)

New to the local arcade scene, Wow Chicken Arcade opened Oct. 1 on the corner of Main and Pleasant streets in downtown Concord. Games include pinball, ice hockey, simulated racers, Skee-Ball and more, while a function space is available to rent.

Right up your alley

Bowling still fun for all ages

By Meghan Siegler

The game of bowling hasn’t changed much in the past few decades. You lace up your well-worn rental shoes, grab a ball — a big one with finger holes if you’re playing 10-pin, a much smaller one with no holes if you’re playing candlepin — and send it down the lane, aiming for the pins at the end and hoping the ball stays out of the gutters. But not everything has stayed the same.

“What has come a long way is the technology,” said Kelly Cross, manager of Yankee Lanes in Manchester.

There are two basic kinds of bowling centers, Cross said: traditional league houses that are focused on league bowlers and tournaments, and the centers that are geared more toward family entertainment. She said Yankee Lanes falls somewhere in the middle, with league-based play during the weekdays and non-competitive players coming in on nights and weekends.

Photo courtesy of Kelly Cross of Yankee Lanes.

“After 9 it’s really geared more toward the casual bowlers,” Cross said. “We crank up the music and turn on the glow-in-the-dark lights.”

Cross has been working at Yankee for 20 years, so she’s watched the scene evolve in that time.

“The swing toward a more casual bowler has been the most dramatic change,” she said.

There are also two main kinds of bowling: candlepin and big-ball, the former of which is really only a thing in New England, Cross said.

“It’s a pretty niche market,” she said.

With candlepin, you’re using a smaller ball and aiming for skinnier “candlesticks,” so named because the pins are tapered and resemble candlesticks. The lane conditions are different too; there’s a protective coat of oil that goes on big-ball lanes that’s not used on candlepin lanes.

With its smaller balls, candlepin might seem like a better choice for kids and families, but most bowling centers that have 10-pin offer lighter-weight balls for kids. They also have ramps for really young kids, and bumpers help minimize the frustration of gutter balls.

“There are no benchwarmers in bowling,” Cross said. “Everyone can participate. … We have bowlers who are 2 or 3, all the way up to 90.”

Go bowling

Candlepin

Boutwell’s Bowling Center

152 N. State St., Concord, 224-0941, boutwellsbowl.com

Hours: Sunday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Tuesday and Wednesday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Thursday 8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

King Bowling Lanes

751 Mast Road, Manchester, 623-9215, kinglanes.com

Hours: Sunday 1 to 6 p.m., Monday 3 to 9 p.m., Tuesday noon to 9 p.m., closed Wednesday, Thursday 1 to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday 1 to 10 p.m.

Lakeside Lanes

2171 Candia Road, Manchester, 627-7722, lakesidelanes.com

Hours: Sunday noon to 9 p.m., Monday, Wednesday and Friday 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., Tuesday 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., Thursday 8:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Saturday noon to 10 p.m.

Leda Lanes

340 Amherst St., Nashua, 889-4884, ledalanes.com

Hours: 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily

Park Place Lanes

16 Rockingham Road, Windham, 898-4422, parkplacelanes.com

Hours: Closed Monday, open Tuesday through Saturday noon to 9 p.m., Sunday noon to 6 p.m.

Ten-pin

Merrimack Ten Pin

698 Daniel Webster Hwy., Merrimack, 429-0989, merrimacktenpin.com

Hours: Sunday through Thursday 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. to 1 a.m.

Strikers East Bowling Center & Function Room

4 Essex Dr., Raymond, 895-9501, strikerseast.net

Hours: Sunday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday 5 to 10 p.m., Tuesday 5 to 9 p.m., Wednesday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Thursday 5 to 10 p.m., Friday 2 to 11 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Yankee Lanes

216 Maple St., Manchester, 625-9656, yankeelanesentertainment.com

Hours: Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to midnight, Saturday noon to midnight, Sunday noon to 11 p.m.

Really Retro

King Bowling Lanes in Manchester has been around since 1939, according to its website. When it first opened, there were “pinboys” who would set the pins because there were no automatic pinsetters — those weren’t added until 1954. In 1989 King Bowling upgraded to automatic scoring, which is now the norm at most bowling centers.

Well-played

Local game shops host tabletop games, old and new

by Angie Sykeny

Tabletop games are alive and well, from the ones you played as a kid to new ones being released all the time. Many local game and comic book stores double as venues where people can gather for open-play gaming and organized gaming events.

The fantasy tabletop role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons, or D&D, has been a household name in the game world since the 1980s, but some local game shop staff said it’s starting to break into the mainstream.

D&D has really come out of the basement and into the spotlight in the last few years, with shows like The Big Bang Theory,and shows that stream D&D games, like Critical Role, where you see Hollywood voice actors playing the game,” said Jay Ribak, owner of Relentless Dragon, a game store in Nashua. “I think the demographic [of players] is growing.”

Megan Kilar, who works at Collectibles Unlimited, a game store in Concord, said the pandemic was also responsible for a “Dungeons & Dragons renaissance.”

“There are a lot of board games that you can really only play in person, but D&D is one that you can play together online, so for many people, playing D&D was a way to connect with their friends during Covid,” she said.

Relentless Dragon hosts organized D&D games three nights a week that are open to anyone with any level of interest in the game.

“People are welcome to drop in and sit in on a session to observe, or to join,” Ribak said. “You don’t really need anything except a willingness to try things out. … We’ll help you get an introduction to the game.”

Tabletop gaming at Game Knight in Manchester. Courtesy photo.

Another game that has stood the test of time and continues to attract new players is Magic: The Gathering, a fantasy trading card game that came out in the early 1990s.

Magic is great, because the rules haven’t changed,” Kilar said. “If you knew how to play Magic 10 or 15 years ago, you still know how to play Magic, and if you don’t, it’s easy enough to pick up.”

You can find weekly Magic games at both Collectibles Unlimited and Relentless Dragon as well as other local game shops.

If you like games involving strategy and games that allow you to be creative, Warhammer, a medieval-fantasy war game played with custom miniatures, has the best of both worlds, Kiler said. Around since the 1980s, Warhammer has maintained a following and is, according to Kiler, the most popular game at Collectibles Unlimited.

“There’s a lot to it,” she said. “You paint your miniatures on your own however you want to, and then you have to think about how you’re going to use your army and what each of your units is going to do.”

Your tabletop game options don’t end with the classics; Matt Summers, owner of Game Knight, a BYOB game shop and gaming lounge in Manchester, said there’s “a pretty decent market” for tabletop games, and that it’s growing all the time.

“A lot of people think board games have gone by the wayside, but they’ve actually been evolving,” Summers said. “There’s brand new games — all kinds of crazy games — coming out almost every month.”

Modern games have expanded into many different themes and genres beyond fantasy, Summers said, such as cyberpunk, outer space, crowd games and games based on anime series like Cowboy Bebop and My Hero Academia.

Every Saturday, Game Knight opens a game that’s new to the store and teaches people how to play it.

“We don’t want to be a niche-type store,” Summers said. “The sky’s the limit in [the game] world — if you can think of it, there’s probably a game for it — and we want to do it all so that anyone can come and game the way they want.”

If your post-pandemic social life could use a boost, Riback said, playing games at your local game store is a great way to get out of the house and engage with other people in a relaxed atmosphere.

“It’s really important, especially now, to be able to step away from our screens for a bit and get some face time with our fellow humans,” he said. “[The store] provides a place where people can do that, and everyone is welcome.”

Play tabletop games

Here are some local game shops and gaming lounges where you can play tabletop games.

Awesome Cards, Collectibles, & Games (123 Nashua Road, Unit 14, Londonderry, 404-6996, awesomeccg.com)

Boards and Brews Board Game Cafe (941 Elm St., Manchester, 232-5184, boardsandbrewsnh.com)

Collectibles Unlimited (25 South St., Concord, 228-3712, collectiblesunlimited.biz)

Weekly events:

Warhammer – Tuesday, 5:30 to 9:30 p.m.

Magic: The Gathering – Friday, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.

Diversity Gaming (1328 Hooksett Road, Hooksett, 606-1176, diversitygaming.store)

Weekly events:

Dragon Ball Super – Monday, 6 to 10 p.m.

Dungeons & Dragons – Tuesday, 6 to 10 p.m.

Double Midnight Comics (245 Maple St., Manchester; 341 Loudon Road, Concord; 669-9636, dmcomics.com)

Weekly events at Manchester location:

Heroclix – Sunday, 1 p.m.

Dragonball Super – Sunday, 1 p.m.

Digimon – Tuesday, 7 p.m.

Dungeons & Dragons – Tuesday, 7 p.m.

Magic: The Gathering (modern) – Tuesday, 7 p.m.

Yu-Gi-Oh – Wednesday, 7 p.m., and Saturday, 11 a.m.

Magic: The Gathering (Commander) – Thursday, 7 p.m., and Saturday, 3 p.m.

Magic: The Gathering (draft) – Friday, 7 p.m.

Flesh & Blood TCG – Friday, 7 p.m.

Cardfight Vanguard – Saturday, 3 p.m.

Weekly events at Concord location:

Flesh & Blood TCG – Sunday, 1 p.m.

Magic: The Gathering (Commander) – Thursday, 7 p.m., and Saturday, noon

Magic: The Gathering (draft) – Friday, 7 p.m.

Game Knight (North End Shops at Livingston Park, 545 Hooksett Road, Manchester, 232-4813, gameknightnh.wixsite.com)

Weekly events:

Dungeons & Dragons – Wednesdays, 6 to 10 p.m.

Magic: The Gathering (Commander) – Thursday, 5 to 10 p.m.

Magic: The Gathering (Draft) – Friday, 7 p.m.

Ultimate Day of Gaming (the shop introduces a new game)

The Relentless Dragon Game Store (483 Amherst St., Nashua, 204-5275, relentlessdragon.com)

Weekly events:

Dungeons & Dragons – Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, 6 to 9 p.m.

Magic: The Gathering – Friday, 5 to 11 p.m.

Merrymac Games and Comics (550 Daniel Webster Hwy., Merrimack, 420-8161, merrymacgc.com)

Weekly events:

Magic: The Gathering (Draft) – Wednesday, 6 to 10 p.m.

Magic: The Gathering (Commander) – Thursday, 6 to 9 p.m.

Magic: The Gathering (Modern) – Friday, 6:30 to 10 p.m.

Midgard Comics and Games (55 Crystal Ave., No. 21, Derry, 260-6180, midgardcomicsandgames.com)

Weekly events:

Digimon – Thursday, 6:30 to 10 p.m.

Magic: The Gathering – Friday, 6:30 to 10 p.m.

Tactical Tabletop Gaming (940 Suncook Valley, Epsom, 736-0411, tacticaltabletopgaming.com)

Free RPG Day

Free RPG Day, an annual worldwide promotional event for role-playing tabletop games, will take place on Saturday, Oct. 16. Participating game, comic book and hobby retailers partner with participating game publishers to provide free content for RPGs, including booklets with exclusive adventures, campaigns, guides, character profiles and previews, as well as RPG accessories and swag, like special-edition dice. This year’s featured RPGs will include Twilight Imperium, Talisman Adventures, Fabula Ultima, Warhammer, Victoriana, Achtung! Cthulhu, Pathfinder, Zombicide, Blue Rose, Vast Grimm, Humblewood, Epic Encounter, Iron Kingdoms and Dungeons & Dragons. More may be announced. For more information and updates about Free RPG Day, visit freerpgday.com or find them on social media @freerpgday.

Here are the local retailers officially registered as Free RPG Day participants. Other retailers may be hosting unofficial celebrations with special activities and promotions of their own.

Awesome Cards, Collectibles, & Games (123 Nashua Road, Unit 14, Londonderry, 404-6996, awesomeccg.com)
Game Knight (North End Shops at Livingston Park, 545 Hooksett Road, Manchester, 232-4813, gameknightnh.wixsite.com)
Jetpack Comics (37 N. Main St., Rochester, 330-9636, jetpackcomics.com)
Pop Culture Cards, Comics, Collectibles, and Gaming (66 Route 27, Raymond, 244-1850, popculturenh.com)
The Relentless Dragon Game Store (483 Amherst St., Nashua, 204-5275, relentlessdragon.com)

Featured photo: Electric Avenue Arcade in Manchester. Courtesy photo.

Pick your Pumpkin

CELEBRATE YOUR FAVORITE GOURD AT LOCAL PUMPKIN FESTS PLUS WHERE TO PICK YOUR OWN

Flavors of fall

Milford Pumpkin Festival returns

by Matt Ingersoll

When longtime Milford resident Wade Campbell learned that the town’s annual pumpkin festival was at risk of not continuing in 2018, he and several volunteers, local organizations and community members set out to take it over. Three years later, Campbell is now director of the Granite Town Festivities Committee, carrying on the decades-long tradition of the Milford Pumpkin Festival in partnership with the Milford Rotary and Lions clubs.

The three-day event will return to the Milford Oval and surrounding areas from Friday, Oct. 8, to Sunday, Oct. 10, featuring local food vendors, beer and wine tastings, live music and family-friendly activities.

This will be the first in-person version of the Milford Pumpkin Festival in two years, although a scaled back virtual event mainly highlighting local musicians took place in 2020.

“I’m really excited. I’ve been looking forward to this ever since we ramped it back up,” Campbell said. “We did cancel the variety show and we have a few less vendors in the town hall, but overall there really isn’t much of a difference between this year and 2019.”

Friday evening’s opening festivities will include a pumpkin lighting ceremony at the Milford Town Hall, while on the Oval honorees for Milford’s Citizen of the Year will be announced.

At the nearby Community House Lawn, the Milford Rotary and Lions clubs are presenting two nights of beer, wine and spirit tastings on Friday and Saturday from more than two dozen local and regional vendors. Admission is available at the gate either night beginning at 5:30 p.m. — attendees are given a total of 10 tasting tickets, which are redeemable for a four-ounce sample of beer, a one-ounce sample of wine or a ½-ounce sample of liquor per vendor.

Pumpkin Fest Tasting

Beer, wine and spirits tastings

When: Friday, Oct. 8, and Saturday, Oct. 9, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Where: Milford Community House Lawn, 5 Union St., Milford
Cost: $20 per person; includes 10 tasting tickets, each for a four-ounce sample of beer, a one-ounce sample of wine or a ½-ounce sample of liquor
Visit: milfordpumpkinfestival.org/bws-tastings
Free parking and shuttle bus services will be available at Milford Middle School (33 Osgood Road) on Friday and at Milford High School (100 West St.) throughout the weekend. Per federal regulations, face masks are required while riding the shuttle bus regardless of vaccination status.

This will be the first official festival participation for Concord’s Steadfast Spirits Distilling Co. since it opened in early 2020. Lori Lundergan, whose husband, CJ, is head distiller, said they will likely be pouring their fan-favorite Apple Pie moonshine-mixed cocktail — better known under the name Trouble’s Moonshine — in addition to some other flavors of their signature selections.

Averill House Vineyard of Brookline will be there with its barrel-aged True Blue blueberry wine and its Little Secret Nebbiolo wine, owner Bob Waite said. The winery will also be promoting a unique Halloween-themed twist for its igloo experiences, which are being transformed into “wine caves” with blacklights and decorative spider webs throughout the month of October.

The beer, wine and spirit tasting on the Community House Lawn, Milford Pumpkin Fest. Courtesy photo.

Of course, in keeping with the festival’s theme, you can expect pumpkin brews. The Loft Brewing Co. of Milford will offer its OMG pumpkin ale, while on Friday only, Martha’s Exchange of Nashua is expected to bring its PumpkinWeizen, in addition to other selections.

“We have a few vendors who couldn’t physically make it but are donating product, so there will be a couple of tables where we’ll have volunteers, Rotarians or Lions doing the pouring,” said Tim Finan, former Milford Rotary Club president and coordinator of the tastings.

Dozens of local vendors, from restaurants and food trucks to crafters and artisans, will be set up at multiple spots throughout the weekend. On Friday night Papa Joe’s Humble Kitchen of Milford will be serving burgers at the Community House Lawn. Then on Saturday, members of the Milford Rotary and Lions clubs will team up to offer burgers, homemade sausages and more.

Rotarian Janet Langdell added that The Memo Foundation, a Milford-based nonprofit, will be back to serve Frito Pie, featuring homemade chili and cheese served in a Fritos corn chip bag.

More than 20 bands and singers will hold performances across two stages throughout the weekend. The Flying Gravity Circus will be there on Saturday afternoon, while the Boys & Girls Club of Souhegan Valley’s competitive dance team will perform on Sunday morning.

Other featured activities during the festival will include pumpkin and face painting, a “haunted trail” at the nearby Emerson Park, a pumpkin weigh-in contest and a pumpkin catapult.

32nd annual Milford Pumpkin Festival

Official Milford Pumpkin Festival hours are Friday, Oct. 8, 5 to 9 p.m.; Saturday, Oct. 9, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; and Sunday, Oct. 10, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Visit milfordpumpkinfestival.org.

Friday, Oct. 8
Live music performances: 5 to 9 p.m. on the Oval and Community House Lawn stages
Opening ceremonies and Town Hall pumpkin lighting: 6:30 p.m.
Haunted Trail: 6 to 9 p.m. at Emerson Park (6 Mont Vernon St.); tickets are $5 for adults and $1 for children under 10

Saturday, Oct. 9
Milford history walking tour: 8 or 9:30 a.m.; begins at the Carey House (6 Union St.) and goes around the Oval and nearby sites
Live music performances: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on the Oval and Community House Lawn stages
Scarecrow making, pumpkin painting and face painting: 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on the Community House Lawn ($15 per scarecrow, $5 per pumpkin painting, $1 per face painting cheek and $5 for full face painting)
Pumpkin catapult: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the lower parking lot of TD Bank (57 South St.); the cost is $3 for one pumpkin shot and $5 for two shots
Eye-Spy scavenger hunt: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the Carey House (6 Union St.)
Pumpkin carving: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the Oval
Great Pumpkin Weigh-In contest: Noon on the Oval
Flying Gravity Circus performance: 3 to 6 p.m. along Union Square, near the intersection of Union and Elm streets
Haunted Trail: 5:30 to 9 p.m. at Emerson Park (6 Mont Vernon St.); tickets are $5 for adults and $1 for children under 10

Sunday, Oct. 10
Milford history walking tour: 8 or 9:30 a.m.; begins at the Carey House (6 Union St.) and goes around the Oval and nearby sites
Pumpkin catapult: 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the lower parking lot of TD Bank (57 South St.); the cost is $3 for one pumpkin shot and $5 for two shots
Scarecrow making, pumpkin painting and face painting: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., on the Community House Lawn ($15 per scarecrow, $5 per pumpkin painting, $1 per face painting cheek and $5 for full face painting)
Boys & Girls Club of Souhegan Valley’s competitive dance team performance: 10 a.m. on the Community House Lawn stage
Live music performances: 10:45 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the Oval and Community House Lawn stages
Rubber duck race: 1 p.m. on the Souhegan River; ducks can be purchased at the Milford Ambulance Association’s booth on Middle Street, starting Friday at 5 p.m. and ending on Sunday at noon ($5 per duck, or $20 for five ducks)

Boatload of fun

Enormous pumpkins the star of Goffstown’s annual event

by Angie Sykeny

Goffstown Giant Pumpkin Weigh-off and Regatta

Where: Downtown Goffstown and the Piscataquog River
When: Saturday, Oct. 16, and Sunday, Oct. 17
Cost: Free admission
More info: goffstownmainstreet.org/pumpkin-regatta

There are a lot of creative uses for pumpkins, but it’s hard to top Goffstown’s Giant Pumpkin Weigh-off and Regatta.

The two-day fall festival will return on Saturday, Oct. 16, and Sunday, Oct. 17, with all kinds of pumpkin-related fun in the downtown area and, of course, the regatta, where teams from local community groups, schools and businesses will race down the Piscataquog River in boats made from giant pumpkins.

Images from previous Goffstown Giant Pumpkin Weigh Off & Regattas. Courtesy photos.

It all started in 2000 when Jim Beauchemin, a member of the New Hampshire Giant Pumpkin Growers Association, was thinking about what to do with his giant pumpkins once the pumpkin weigh-offs were over. His idea was to use the pumpkins as boats and create a community event centered around a pumpkin boat race on the river. It was a hit, with around 500 people attending the inaugural regatta.

“It’s a tradition and a really special thing … not just for Goffstown but for New Hampshire and even for New England, especially now, being able to come together again when we haven’t been able to for so long,” said Tracey Hutton, executive director of Goffstown Main Street Program, which hosts the event.

Members of the New Hampshire Giant Pumpkin Growers Association will present their pumpkins at the weigh-off on Saturday and compete to be the grower with the heaviest pumpkin. Then, all of the pumpkins that are structurally sound enough to be used as boats — Hutton said she’s expecting around six this year — will be handed over to the regatta teams to be converted.

For a pumpkin to function as a boat, it must be carved out, then filled with sandbags to ensure that it’s balanced and won’t roll over when it’s in the water. Once that’s done, the teams will get to work painting and decorating their boats based on this year’s chosen theme, “Back to the Future.”

“We thought that was an appropriate theme after having to skip last year’s event because of the pandemic,” Hutton said. “It’s like, we’re ‘back to the future’ of the regatta; the regatta is back.”

The regatta itself will take place on Sunday. Each team designates a captain, who is usually in costume fitting the theme, to race their pumpkin boat. Spectators gather along the perimeter as the captains use kayak paddles to float down the river, about 100 yards, to the Goffstown bridge. The team with the first boat to make it under the bridge wins the race and receives a trophy. The team with the best pumpkin boat design will also be awarded, with a travelling trophy to keep until next year’s regatta.

Another highlight of the event, Hutton said, is the pumpkin drop on Sunday.

“We take one of the giant pumpkins and drop it from a crane,” she said. “It’s always exciting to see that big pumpkin go ‘kersplat’ and explode.”

New this year, the event will also feature a fireworks show on Saturday night.

“We’re really excited to be doing something that we’ve never done before,” Hutton said. “I think people will really enjoy that extra bit of festivity.”

Other festivities happening throughout the weekend will include a mini pumpkin race on the river, pumpkin carving demonstrations, a pie eating contest, a dog costume contest, yoga and fitness classes, a scarecrow contest, a 10k road race, activities for kids, street vendors and food concessions.

“There are so many different things going on,” Hutton said. “It’ll be a great time to get something good to eat, buy a few things and just relax and enjoy each other’s company.”

Schedule of events

Saturday, Oct. 16
• 10K Race check-in (behind the Village Trestle) – 7 a.m.
• Giant pumpkins arrive on the Common – 9 a.m.
• Vendors, demonstrations and activities – starting at 9 a.m.
• Doggie costume contest – 10 a.m.
• Pumpkin Weigh-off on the Common – 10:30 a.m.
• Kids pumpkin dash (Mill Street) – 11 a.m.
• Crowing of the Prince and Princess (on the Common) – noon
• Giant pumpkin boat building begins (Mill Street) – 2:30 p.m.
• Fireworks – dusk

Sunday, Oct. 17
• Giant pumpkin carving demonstration (on the Common) – 10 a.m.
• Giant pumpkin drop (Citizens Bank Field) – noon
• Pie eating contest – 1 p.m.
• 50/50 mini pumpkin race (Piscataquog River) – 2 p.m.
• Arrival of the Pumpkin Princess and Prince (parade on Mill and Main streets) – 2:45 p.m.
• Pumpkin Regatta (Piscataquog River, Mill Street and Village Bridge) – 3 p.m.

Fields of orange

How pumpkin crops have fared this year

by Angie Sykeny

It’s been a challenging year for growing produce, and pumpkins were no exception.

Holly Kimball, a family owner of Beech Hill Farm in Hopkinton, said the farm had “some disappointments” with its pumpkin crop this year, particularly the gourds and mini pumpkins, due to the large amounts of rain and not enough sunny days.

“Gourds will usually grow pretty much anytime, anywhere, but the one thing they really don’t like is a lot of moisture,” she said, “so they didn’t do very well.”

Beech Hill’s pumpkin crop was at a disadvantage from the start. The rain was particularly heavy in early May, which is when the farm normally plants pumpkins, Kimball said. The ground was too soggy for the farmer to take the tractor out, so they had to hold off on planting the pumpkins until the end of the month.

“If you plant too early or too late by even one week, that can affect your crop,” she said.

Harvesting at the right time is also critical. Beech Hill had to pick their pumpkins prematurely this year, which “wasn’t ideal,” Kimball said, but, if they were to allow the pumpkins to grow for a few more weeks in order to reach full maturity, the farm would be risking a frost, which would wipe out the entire crop.

“It’s tricky, but it is what it is,” she said. “When you’re a farm in New Hampshire, you have to take your losses, because every year is different.”

In the past Beech Hill has invited visitors to pick their own pumpkins right from the patch, but this year, with growing the pumpkins being such a challenge, preservation is the priority, Kimball said, and the farm will be able to preserve more pumpkins if they handle the harvesting.

“If someone steps on a vine, you lose [all of the pumpkins] that are on that plant,” she said, “and if we leave them out in the field [for pick-your-own] there’s a greater chance of them getting frosted, or of animals getting to them, and we just can’t risk losing all those pumpkins.”

There was one upside to this year’s growing conditions. Unlike gourds, the regular orange pumpkins love water; the more rain they get, the bigger and plumper they grow. Kimball said she estimates this year’s pumpkins to be between 20 and 30 pounds, making them the heaviest pumpkins the farm has grown since she’s been there.

“They’re beautiful,” she said. “They’ve got thick, strong stems and nice ridges all the way around, and you can put your arms all the way around them; they’re a perfect armful.”

When you go to pick out your pumpkins, consider what you want to do with them.

As you can gather from their name, sugar pumpkins — the smaller orange ones that you can hold on one hand — have higher sugar content than other kinds of pumpkins.

“Those are the ones that you want to get for eating,” Kimball said. “You can roast them or cook with them or make a pie.”

If it’s the pumpkin seeds you’re after, go for the bigger orange pumpkins.

For decor, the best pumpkins are simply a matter of personal preference, Kimball said. Though the big orange pumpkins are the most popular choice for carving and using as jack-o’-lanterns, other kinds of pumpkins are just as suitable.

“People choose all sizes and shapes and for carving,” Kimball said. “Some people like tall, thin ones, some people like warty ones, and then, there’s the colored pumpkins, too, which are really trendy.”

Pick your own pumpkin

Head to the pumpkin patches at these farms to find your perfect pumpkin. Picking hours and pumpkin availability are subject to change, so call or check the farm’s social media for updates before you go.

Applecrest Farm Orchard (133 Exeter Road, Hampton Falls, 926-3721, applecrest.com) has PYO pumpkins, including field pumpkins and jack-o’-lanterns for 75 cents per pound, sugar pumpkins for 95 cents per pound, and specialty heirloom gourds and pumpkins for $1.25 per pound. Open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., weather-dependent.

Butternut Farm (195 Meaderboro Road, Farmington, 335-4705, butternutfarm.net) has PYO pumpkins for 60 cents per pound, open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed Mondays. An “All You Can Haul” pumpkin carrying challenge is tentatively planned for the weekend of either Oct. 16 or Oct. 23, TBD. The cost for the challenge will be $25 per person.

Charmingfare Farm (774 High St., Candia, 483-5623, visitthefarm.com) has PYO pumpkins for 50 cents per pound, starting at $6, during its Pumpkin Festival, which runs from Saturday, Oct. 9, through Monday, Oct. 11. Admission costs $22, free for children age 23 months and under.

DeMeritt Hill Farm (20 Orchard Way, Lee, 868-2111, demeritthillfarm.com) has PYO pumpkins, open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Call for pricing.

J&F Farms (124 Chester Road, Derry, 437-0535, jandffarmsnh.com)has PYO pumpkins until Oct. 31, open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call for pricing.

Lavoie’s Farm (172 Nartoff Road, Hollis, 882-0072, lavoiesfarm.com) has PYO pumpkins through October, open daily from 8 a.m. wto 7 p.m. Call for pricing.

Mack’s Apples (230 Mammoth Road, Londonderry, 434-7619, macksapples.com) has PYO pumpkins through the end of October, open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call for pricing.

Moulton Farm (18 Quarry Road, Meredith, 279-3915, moultonfarm.com) has PYO pumpkins through October, open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call for pricing.

Scamman Farm (69 Portsmouth Ave., Stratham, 686-1258, scammanfarm.com) has PYO pumpkins for 60 cents per pound, fancies for $1 per pound, Jack B Littles for $1 each, and gourds for $1.50 per pound under 20 pounds or $1 per pound over 20 pounds, through Oct. 31, open weekdays from noon to 5 p.m., closed Tuesday, and open on Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Sunnycrest Farm (59 High Range Road, Londonderry, 432-7753, sunnycrestfarmnh.com) has PYO pumpkins through Oct. 31, open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., weather-dependent. Call for pricing.

Trombly Gardens (150 N. River Road, Milford, 673-0647, tromblygardens.com) has PYO pumpkins as well as specialty pumpkins, gourds and mini pumpkins, open Sunday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Celebrating Pumpkins

• Charmingfare Farm (774 High St. in Candia; visitthefarm.com) holds the last weekend of its Pumpkin Festival this Columbus Day weekend on Saturday, Oct 9, through Monday, Oct. 11. Tickets cost $22 per person (for everyone ages 24 months old and older). Take a tractor train ride to the pumpkin patch to pick your own or get one at the farm stand. The event also includes horse-drawn wagon rides, live music (Lynda Nelson and Dan Morgan, described as having “notes from country, folk and bluegrass”), a cow milking contest, a take-home pumpkin art project (for $8 when purchased online), costumed characters, pony rides (also $8 when purchased online) and visits with the barnyard animals. Purchase tickets online for the specific day and time.
• Applecrest Farm Orchards (133 Exeter Road in Hampton Falls; 926-3721, applecrest.com) will hold another Great Pumpkin Carve Sunday, Oct. 10, when a master carver will work with an 800-pound pumpkin. The day is part of live music (on Sunday, hear Unsung Heroes), pumpkin picking and more.
• The Somersworth Festival Association’s Pumpkin Festival will take place Saturday, Oct. 9, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Somersworth Plaza on Main Street. A $10 bracelet gives kids access to multiple activities including pumpkin decorating and other pumpkin crafts, scarecrow making, hayrides, photos and more, according to a press release, which said the day will also feature a bouncy house and games. Kids in costume get a $1 discount. The event will also feature live entertainment, a food court and raffles.

Pumpkin cookies

This recipe for pumpkin cookies came from Michelle Moulin, who used to own Michelle’s Bakery in Manchester, and first ran in the Hippo years ago. Somewhere between a little pumpkin cake, a cookie and a mini-scone, this pumpkin treat gets much of its sweetness from its icing. Halved, the recipe makes a little more than three-dozen, teaspoon-sized cookies.

1 pound of butter (4 sticks), softened

2 cups of brown sugar

2 eggs

2 cups pumpkin

4 cups flour

2 teaspoons baking soda

2 teaspoons cinnamon

½ teaspoon nutmeg

½ teaspoon cloves

For icing:

1½ cups confectioner’s sugar

½ teaspoon cinnamon

¼ cup water

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

Cream softened butter and sugar.

Add eggs and pumpkin and mix until blended.

Stir together dry ingredients (flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves) and add slowly, with mixer set on low, until blended.

Scoop teaspoon-sized dough scoops and bake for 10 to 12 minutes until firm. Cool.

Mix together icing ingredients (confectioner’s sugar, cinnamon and water) until smooth.

Spoon onto cookies and let sit for glaze to harden.

Featured photo: Courtesy photo.

The NH Mixtape

27 PERFORMERS AND BANDS TALK ABOUT THE LOCAL SCENE, FELLOW MUSICIANS AND THE UPCOMING NEW ENGLAND MUSIC AWARDS

When the annual New England Music Awards ceremony takes place on Sunday, Oct. 17, New Hampshire will be well-represented, with a slate of dozens of nominees. The Hippo reached out to many of them, and 27 responded, sharing their thoughts on their nominations and what it’s like to be part of the local music scene.

New Hampshire’s Soundtrack

Michael Witthaus built a Spotify playlist highlighting the artists here. Find it by searching for him or “New England Music Awards 2021 — Representing New Hampshire” on Spotify. As Dead Harrison put it when asked about favorites among this year’s nominees: “There are so many excellent people here. Carissa Johnson, Liz Bills, Hunter, Jennifer Tefft, Major Moment, Mindset X, SixteenX20, Sepsiss, Walter Sickert … all of them are great…. Even still, there are so many nominees that I haven’t even discovered yet. You all need to go get some wholesome music into your earholes.”

Amanda McCarthy

Female Performer of the Year

On being nominated: Grateful … but also a little surprised, since I now reside primarily in Nashville. However, I do strive to remain active in New England and perform regularly when I visit home, so I was really happy to see that be recognized. The first time I was nominated, in 2019, I’d had zero expectations and I was truly shocked.

On NEMA’s importance: Awards are a funny thing in music. I don’t think they are or should be the end-all-be-all of what any musician does. That being said, it always feels good to be recognized and these nominations/wins definitely make a resume look better, which helps with bookings and getting bigger opportunities.

On her category: I haven’t really released new music since the last awards cycle, but I have continued to perform music for a living despite the Covid challenges, so I think it was actually the perfect category this time around.

On being a New England musician: It’s very easy to travel to different areas and make the rounds… There’s opportunity [to play] original music, but also work the covers scene for money. While I do feel Nashville is the place for me to be at this time as a songwriter, I fully credit New England for allowing the chances to develop my career … and I always look forward to coming back.

Upcoming shows: In New England on Saturday, Oct. 16, and Monday, Oct. 18, locations TBA

Bitter Pill

Live Act of the Year, Best in State

On being nominated: [The band, led by father-daughter duo Billy and Emily Butler, answered together via email] Billy said, H, look at that,’ sipped his coffee and pulled on a spliff, while Emily said, “Weeeeee!”

On NEMA’s importance: Awards are not important to us but we do love the community aspect of it. Celebrating original music from our region is something we feel is very important.

On their category: We were nominated for Best Live Act and Best of New Hampshire. That’s pretty cool. We love playing live and our audiences eat up our silliness, fun and love.

On being New England musicians: New England audiences love live original music. Also there is something in the air here in the North Country, especially the original music. Maybe it’s the four seasons or the deeply rooted working-class journeyman history. It’s one of the reasons we call ourselves Bitter Pill. It is hard living in the winter but when spring comes, that pill isn’t so hard to swallow.

Upcoming shows: Claremont Opera House, Saturday, Oct. 23

Charlie Chronopoulos

Album of the Year – Chesty Rollins’ Dead End

On being nominated: I’m honored. There are a lot of really awesome people making albums around here, so to be included in that conversation is a wonderful thing.

On NEMA’s importance:I’ve followed the awards over the years often voting for friends. I’ve found some really great music after looking into some of the other nominees I didn’t know. It’s a really great thing they’re doing in the community even just helping artists find one another.

On his category: Album of the year is my favorite category. It’s what I’m most interested in, so I’m glad to be there.

On being a New England musician: It has many upsides. You can afford studio space if you’re willing to look around off the beaten path. You can make friends for life in sleepy towns who don’t move away like friends in the city tend to. You can find a swimming hole on the way to a gig. Stuff like that makes it worth leaning into this community for sure.

Upcoming shows: Currier Museum of Art, Thursday, Oct. 28

“He’s the real deal. Definitely lived and done the thing and his writing really reflects that.”

Charlie Chronopoulos on Tyler Allgood

Dakota Smart

New Act of the Year and Best in State

On being nominated: When I found out, I felt humbled and in disbelief. I realize there’s a lot of talented artists in New England, and it’s an honor to be on a list with them. My first response was to thank the New England Music Awards, and to congratulate fellow musicians and producers who were also nominated. Then I encouraged my family, friends and fans to vote.

On NEMA’s importance: They are a huge deal to me. I live and breathe to write music and perform. I’ve been writing songs since I was 10 years old. My life’s passion is to produce music that has a positive impact and is enjoyed by people of all ages … to win would really help to spotlight my work, and provide an outlet for my music to be heard.

On his category: The two categories fit my level of work to date. Although I’ve been performing for years, this year I launched. My newest 12-song professional album is the best I’ve ever written, and I’m the most confident on stage I’ve ever been. … I feel this is the year that my career really has a chance to take off.

On being a New England musician: The music scene in New England is very supportive. It’s a small community that’s very inclusive of artists from various backgrounds and styles. Also, the venues are very open to live music, and that keeps us working.

“I’ve had the opportunity to collaborate with him in the past. He’s extremely talented, has a unique style, and is a pleasure to work with.”

Dakota Smart on Senie Hunt

David Corson

Best in State

On being nominated: My first response was actually shock. … I was scrolling through the nominees trying to see which bands I knew personally had been nominated and randomly saw my name. I was ecstatic, because I have been working really hard at this for a long time.

On NEMA’s importance: The awards are extremely important to every musician in this area because it gives us validation that all of our grinding has amounted to something. It also helps us get more gigs, because it looks great on our resume.

On his category: I have been playing music in New Hampshire and the surrounding area since I was 18, so being nominated for best in the state feels so good; almost 10 years of work is finally paying off.

On being a New England musician: I would say the best thing about being a New England musician is the community that I’m surrounded by. The musicians and the audiences create an atmosphere of acceptance and appreciation of all types of music.

Upcoming shows: Cara Irish Pub in Dover on Friday, Oct. 1; Dwyer’s Pub in Portsmouth on Wednesdays in October; Tailgate Tavern in Stratham on Friday, Oct. 8; Shane’s Backyard in Hampton on Friday, Oct. 15; Sawbelly Brewing in Exeter on Saturday, Oct. 16

Dead Harrison

Best in State

On being nominated: Our first nomination in 2019 … struck us with great hope. Even if we weren’t going to win, it gave us something to strive for. Now we’re on our third year [and] all the love and support from our community is so empowering and makes us push even harder to just do what we love to do, to make more and better music than the year before.

On NEMA’s importance: It sheds light on all those musicians around the New England area. There is so much talent that the majority of the public doesn’t see. It puts a little perspective to how hard people work [at] being a musician. It gives a musician hope. It helps us to never give up, and be better than you were at the gig before.

On their category: I don’t think we have ever felt that we were the best act in New Hampshire, but it is such a high honor to hold close to the heart. The past year and a half has been tough on us all. We all work so hard, and there are so many great bands out there keeping the fires lit. I feel it helps keep people inspired.

On being a New England musician: New England musicians have a strong work ethic and don’t give up easily. Not only that, but the community of other musicians has always been a supportive one. Always be encouraging. Always be truthful and don’t let pride be your downfall. We strive to be helpful, not hurtful. We push each other to be the best we can be, and then push a little further.

Upcoming shows: Octoberfest at Lithermans Limited, Concord, Saturday, Oct. 16, and Sinfest at Jewel, Manchester, Saturday, Nov. 13

DJ Midas

Digital Performer

On being nominated: I got a message from a friend/fan from Nashua who wrote, ‘I voted for you.’ I had no idea if it was a weird joke, a compliment or insult. I asked him what he meant and he sent me the link. I wasn’t familiar with the New England Music Awards, so I was initially skeptical as to what it was.

On NEMA’s importance: As a fairly off the beaten path type of artist, it is really heartwarming to know there are people out there that appreciate and recognize my efforts.

On his category: After spending so many years on vinyl and transitioning into the digital word only in the last decade, it feels pretty damn good.

On being a New England musician: I love [the] sparky New England attitude. I love that there is still breathing room in our area to be yourself.

Upcoming shows: Late Night Delight with Midas on 95.3 WMNH every Saturday and Sunday at midnight; Vice 80’s party at 603 Bar and Lounge in Dover on Saturday, Oct. 16

“I love Roots Of Creation; they end the rules, and sound so juicy.”

DJ Midas on Roots of Creation

Fil Pacino

Male Performer of the Year

On being nominated: Surprised. I’m not normally considered for such things and I found out from a friend a few days after nominees were announced.

On NEMA’s importance: The majority of what I do operates in the covers/GB scene. I do write, record and perform a lot of my own music, which can be found on all the streaming media and my website, but I’ve done OK with having not received any accolades in the past.

On his category: Well, I am a male and I perform pretty much every day of the year, so I think they nailed it.

On being a New England musician: There’s a lot of opportunity. I love that it’s a genre melting pot, and who doesn’t love getting to play music in all four seasons?

Upcoming shows: filpacino.com

Hunter

Best in State

On being nominated: I’m surprised and grateful.

On NEMA’s importance: I’m always going to be doing music and giving it my all, but it’s a really cool thing to have recognition for that work and energy spent.

On their category: There are so many good bands in every category and I’m blessed to know most of them. I love being nominated for best in state because I’ve worked really hard to represent New Hampshire with the band. I hope to be in performer of the year or female performer of the year because I do primarily think of myself as a performer and entertainer more than a musician.

On being a New England musician: I love the community of it in most areas — the support shared between the musicians and bands, sharing each other’s stuff, helping each other get gigs, and how we stay in touch and play shows together.

Upcoming shows: Portsmouth Feed Co., Portsmouth, Saturday, Oct. 9

Justin Cohn

Best in State

On being nominated: I was surprised. I’ve checked the nominations the last few years the day they’ve come out … this year I didn’t, assuming I wouldn’t get a nomination. A friend reached out to me and congratulated me; that’s how I found out. It’s an honor.

On NEMA’s importance: To be included as a nominee with a bunch of incredibly talented New England musicians for whom I have so much respect is very affirming. I play a lot of cover gigs to pay the bills, and while I’m so grateful to the venues that book me, it means a lot to be recognized as a musician in this vibrant creative community.

On his category: It is a meaningful category for me. I was born and raised here, and my roots will always be here. No matter where this career takes me, it would be an honor to win that award. Just to be nominated is an honor.

On being a New England musician: We have a lot of quality, original artists up here, and I love being in that community. That’s not to say other parts of the country don’t, but in my traveling and my conversations with friends, I think we have something special up here. Maybe it’s the four distinct seasons, maybe it’s the history. Whatever it is, I enjoy being a small part of it.

Upcoming shows: Hippy Hollow House Show in Greenville on Saturday, Oct. 2; Milford Pumpkin Festival in Milford on Saturday, Oct. 9; Square Root in Boston (opening for Cat Attic) on Friday, Oct. 15

Katie Dobbins

Best in State

On being nominated: I feel especially stoked … because it has been such a crazy time for musicians; you can start to feel nervous about losing momentum. So it’s nice to see that people are still excited about what I’m doing.

On NEMA’s importance: My success depends on me; that has really helped me deal with the inevitable rejection we all face in this industry. But of course being nominated helps build my musical resume, and I think it helps people take me more seriously. It does boost my confidence as well, which helps me feel like I’m on the right track.

On her category: It feels really great because New Hampshire is where I was born and raised, where I have continued to have an ongoing presence throughout my music career … it’s validation that I’m in the right place and that people are cheering me on. It’s also interesting because there are a lot of amazing New Hampshire artists that I look up to who didn’t make the list.

On being a New England musician: I have found the music community here to be so supportive. I’ve made a lot of very close friends in the industry, and in my experience everyone really wants to help each other out. We celebrate one another’s successes, we help one another get new opportunities. I don’t know that it’s like that everywhere; I’m grateful. … Nashville definitely has a piece of my heart, but there’s nothing like coming back home to New England.

Upcoming shows: Community Fest at The Belknap Mill, Gilford, Saturday, Oct. 16

Liz Bills

Female and Digital Performer, Pop Act, Song and Video of the Year – “WiHi”

On being nominated: I was honestly shocked to be nominated for so many awards.

On NEMA’s importance: The nominations and awards look great on the resume, and it helps with networking and connections.

On her category: I’m grateful to be nominated in five categories. It means the world to me to be nominated for female performer of the year because I feel that performing is one of my strongest abilities. It’s so funny, in a good way, to be nominated for pop act of the year because I won roots act of the year and rock act of the year in the past. It just goes to show you how difficult it is to categorize my genre, and I love that.

On being a New England musician: I love how close we are to neighboring states, making tours pretty sweet and easy. I am a New England girl born and raised, so it feels good to have roots here in music.

Upcoming shows: Pasta Loft in Milford (with April Cushman), Saturday, Nov. 13

“I have so many favorites who are also dear friends of mine. Wyn Doran’s emotionally haunting vocals bring me to tears. I also really love Coral Moons as people and songwriters… Erin Harpe is a freakin’ goddess guitar wizard master, Dwight and Nicole blow my mind, Veronica Lewis is a slayer of the keys, Prateek is an awesome songwriter and storyteller, Josh Knowles stopping hearts with his entrancing violin melodies and emotional vocals.”

Liz Bills on … lots of people

Maddi Ryan

Country Act of the Year

On being nominated: I was extremely humbled by the fact that even though we had one of the toughest years yet, I was still able to make an impact enough to be nominated. Excited, I was also excited!

On NEMA’s importance: I don’t really count my successes in awards or nominations, I just do what I love, but I think the nomination is more of a reminder that I’m on the right path.

On her category: I feel grateful to have been nominated among the talented performers within the country sphere of New England.

On being a New England musician: I love the community that music has in New England; everyone is so friendly and genuine. Also, the fans are some of the best around. If you’ve ever come to a show, the energy is always unreal!

Upcoming shows: The Goat in Manchester on Friday, Oct. 8; Bonfire Country Bar in Manchester on Friday, Oct. 29

Mindset X

Hard Rock/Metal Act of the Year

On being nominated: It felt good to be recognized again. Always nice that people pay attention to what Mindset X is up to and we do truly appreciate that.

On NEMA’s importance: I have never played music to win awards [but] because I have something to say and I adore the beauty that music is. That said, we’ve been doing this a long time [so] it does feel good to be recognized for creating music that reaches people. That is important to us, certainly.

On their category: I think it made perfect sense. We’re a band that likes to explore different styles so who knows? Maybe next it’ll be country. Or country prog metal. Is that a thing? If not it should be.

On being a New England musician: The best thing is probably the musical diversity. For such a relatively small area, we are gifted with so many great musicians and styles of music.

Upcoming shows: See mindsetx.com.

Prospect Hill

Hard Rock/Metal Act of the Year

On being nominated: Singer Adam Fithian said, “I was actually surprised since … we hadn’t been nominated in a few years. All I could say to myself was, ‘Well that’s pretty cool.’”

On NEMA’s importance: We worked hard for years solidifying our New England scene before we started touring around the country. What that did was allow us to come home after being on tour for a two-month run and have an amazing home show. To be nominated, at least for me, is a pat on the back for a lot of effort put forward in building our brand.

On their category: To be nominated in the hard rock/metal category is fitting for our style. We are a balance of both of these genres.

On being a New England musician: There is a very special group of musicians here, different than what I have seen around the country — the bonds that we create, the unique talents that we share together. I feel like I’m one lucky SOB to be a part of such an amazing family.

Upcoming shows: Prospect Hill’s 12th annual Halloween Bash, Wally’s Pub, Hampton Beach, Friday, Oct. 29

Roots of Creation

Live, Roots and World Act

On being nominated: It came as a huge surprise and honor to be nominated alongside a lot of our friends in three categories. We pushed really hard during the pandemic to challenge ourselves with livestreams, grow our connection with our fans. I like that we turned a crap sandwich and almost bankruptcy into a positive movement full of personal and musical growth.

On NEMA’s importance:I discover new artists from the nomination process and live performances at the award show, and our fans get stoked when we are nominated for awards. Winning previous awards has opened many doors for us, on both local and national levels.

On their categories: Winning live act of the year would be most exciting and validating, as it truly is where Roots of Creation shines.

On being a New England musician: It’s a really cool tight-knit scene that transcends genre. There’s a lot of collaboration behind the scenes, on stage, in the studio and at pickup gigs… I like being a big fish in a small pond, and no matter the beauty I encounter on the road, New Hampshire always makes me feel grounded and at home.

Senie Hunt

Male Performer of the Year

On being nominated: I found out through a friend of mine who asked me if I had realized that I was on the list of nominees. I didn’t even think to look for my name as I had just moved to Nashville a few months prior. I was honored and delighted to see my name among some of the amazing musicians that had also been nominated.

On NEMA’s importance: I had been following it even before I took the leap of faith to become a full-time musician. To me it was a reminder of how much music really impacts people and how much appreciation we all have toward the performers who put their hearts and soul into the music. I’m honored to just be nominated.

On his category: I’ve never been one for categorizing, especially when it comes to music. It’s such a widely varying art form that it can be overwhelming to place yourself in any category. To be nominated, however, as male performer of the year with all the talented people on and off the list is inspiring. It’s also a reminder that putting yourself out there and sharing your vulnerability through music can be well worth it.

On being a New England musician: Even after my recent move to Nashville, I always appreciate the love, support and family that comes from being part of the New England music scene. I also can’t say enough how incredibly dedicated, talented, resilient and hardworking all the musicians and venues I’ve had the pleasure of meeting and working with are in New England.

Upcoming shows: New England tour in November, see seniehunt.com

“The ones that stand out the most are Dakota Smart, who I first heard at an open mic…; Amanda McCarthy is not only an incredible songwriter and singer but also a kind and inspirational person. I like Justin Cohn [and] I was pleased to see my longtime friend and fellow musician Wesley Thurber … watching him and his music grow from when we first had classes together in college to his first single release this past year is an inspiration.”

Senie Hunt on Dakota Smart, Amanda McCarthy, Justin Cohn and Wesley Thurber

Sepsiss

Hard Rock/Metal Act of the Year

On being nominated: Singer Melissa Wolfe: After the challenges of a year quarantined with our shows, for NEMA to nominate us this year was a massive surprise. We are a community band, and our neighbors nominating us means the world to us all.

On NEMA’s importance: Wolfe: Sepsiss isn’t a weekend getaway; we don’t have side jobs or take breaks. Our project is a lifetime commitment, as leaders, creating awareness of the experience and authentic universal love for music, art and healing. It is important that New England celebrates all its talented neighbors.

On their category: Guitarist William Savant: Heavy metal is still traditionally a style where the people and players have to grow an appetite for practice, depth of intellect and discipline. It’s smart, challenging and, additionally, physical and interactive.

On being a New England musician: Savant: The seasons help remind us to grow and reflect, expanding with life and change. It reminds us of a well-balanced world where variety and colors shape our bold planet … and this is where Sepsiss creates. One foot in the unknown and the other right here at home, the birthplace of creativity.

Upcoming shows: Jewel, Manchester, Saturday, Nov. 6

“We all voted for Dead Harrison … because they understand the stamina game, the quality of building healthy relationships in the community, and are competitive while remaining generous [and] making music, in our opinion, for realistic reasons.”

Sepsiss on Dead Harrison

Slack Tide

Live Act of the Year

On being nominated: Guitarist and singer Chris Cyrus: The keyboardist Michael sent the band a group chat. It was surreal seeing us on the same list as some of our favorite bands. Needless to say, I celebrated pretty well.

On NEMA’s importance: As a musician, you really need to be your own biggest fan. Some days you aren’t going to get any support but you push on because you believe in your art. Having some formal recognition goes a long way toward maintaining that perseverance.

On their category: Jam bands don’t do studios well; even Deadheads often don’t like the Grateful Dead’s albums. It’s all about the live show for us. Being placed in best live act is hands down the most appropriate category for the type of music that we create.

On being a New England musician: Once you reach a level where only the ones who’ve worked their asses off remain, it really does become a family. The venues, bookers, bands and fans are all one big happy clump, and I never plan on leaving that funky clump.

Upcoming shows: Waterville Valley Resort in Waterville Valley on Saturday, Oct. 9; Woodstock Inn & Brewery in Woodstock on Friday, Nov. 12; Pipe Dream Brewing in Londonderry on Saturday, Nov. 20

Soggy Po’ Boys

Roots Act of the Year

On being nominated: It’s a big honor to be nominated for these awards and to broadly be seen as representatives in some way for New England roots music.

On NEMA’s importance: It is always nice to be appreciated for your craft and while we do not think of our music in terms of awards or accolades and more in terms of our message and audience engagement it still is nice to be acknowledged!

On their category: I think it was appropriate for us to have been nominated in the Roots category as that is the category most representative of our music. It is also somewhat challenging to find a genre home for us so Roots seems like a nice catch-all.

On being a New England musician: The area is brimming with talent so to be nominated here and see our peer list and to be appreciated within the community is a huge honor.

Upcoming shows: soggypoboys.com

Supernothing

Live Act of the Year

On being nominated: Humbled. Supernothing has been a project where we didn’t know where it was going to go. Surely not being mentioned among one of the best acts in New England. This is our second year in a row being nominated, just a different category.

On NEMA’s importance: It’s an accolade, something we can say we are proud of, but as musicians we are not in competition with anyone. It’s all about supporting each other and the NEMAs do just that, win or lose.

On their category: We love being considered among some of the best live bands that headline festivals…. Twiddle, Goose and our great buddies from Boston, The Elovaters, all slay it. We know we are good and tight live, but man, best in New England is an honor… to be noticed for the hard work we are doing live is amazing.

On being a New England musician: We have a small tight group of bands that all support each other’s craft. It’s amazing.

Upcoming shows: supernothing603.com

“The Elovaters are amazing friends and brothers in music and are killing it in our scene.”

Supernothing on The Elovaters

Town Meeting

Americana Act and Album of the Year – Make Things Better

On being nominated: It’s always an honor to be recognized and to know your work is being appreciated somewhere. We work really hard and care deeply about our music. It feels good to know it’s not just getting lost in the ether.

On NEMA’s importance: On the one hand, I always feel uneasy about anything that turns art, which is entirely subjective, into a competition. It’s weird and on some level it’s always bothered me … on the other hand, I also see the importance of things like NEMA because they shine a light on a lot of local music that otherwise might not be seen. It’s a bittersweet thing.

On their category: It feels great to have our album recognized. We worked really hard on it. Dan Cardinal, who mixed and produced it, also deserves a ton of credit. We also love to see our name alongside everyone in the Americana category. Honestly, we’re humbled by it. There’s so much talent there and it feels weird to know a band of goofballs like us are considered peers.

On being a New England musician: New England has the best local music, the best venues, the best musicians, the best scene, the best vibe and community for live music, period. There’s not even a close second.

Upcoming shows:townmeetingmusic.com

Truffle

Best in State

On being nominated: Surprised … not sure if we have been nominated before, didn’t even know until we received a letter. Obviously, we are honored and happy to be a part of it.

On their category: Best in New Hampshire of course makes sense as that’s our home state. We play a lot in Maine and Massachusetts as well, a bit in Vermont, but not as much these days in Connecticut or Rhode Island.

On being a New England musician: It’s an honor; there are so many great talented players, it’s a very vibrant scene. We celebrated our 35th anniversary, and although we did a lot of touring the first 15 years, we always called New England home. It always felt good to tell folks where the band was from.

Upcoming shows: Shooters Beer Garden in Exeter on Friday, Oct. 1; Fury’s Publick House in Dover on Friday, Oct. 15; The Tavern in Exeter (Halloween show) on Saturday, Oct. 30

Tyler Allgood

Album of the Year – Through the Empty

On being nominated: I was confused when I first heard. I thought someone might have been pulling a joke on me. Then, I cried.

On NEMA’s importance: The awards and every local resource, promotion, fan, advertisement [area] extremely important in this work.

On his category: I was ecstatic to be nominated for album of the year. I’ve always wanted to compose albums around my writing. Never expected this, though.

On being a New England musician: It’s wholesome to be a New England musician. There’s a real community and passion around here, and so much love between working musicians.

Upcoming shows: Granite Roots Brewing in Troy on Friday, Oct. 1; Penuche’s Alehouse in Concord on Saturday, Oct. 2; The Alamo in Brookline on Thursday, Oct. 14; Hancock Depot in Hancock on Friday, Oct. 15; Molly’s Tavern in New Boston on Saturday, Oct. 23

Wesley Thurber

Best in State

On being nominated: The thought hadn’t even crossed my mind. I received a few text messages congratulating me … and I couldn’t help but say to myself, ‘What is happening and why am I being congratulated?’ [Then] I became humbled, honored and beyond excited.

On NEMA’s importance: Before, they weren’t even a thought in my mind, awards and such. However, after being nominated I’ll be sure to keep a closer eye on these sorts of things. Win or lose, I couldn’t care less. I’m simply happy to even be nominated.

On his category: I take pride in my work, and I’m honored it’s able to be broadcasted on another outlet, especially one like the New England Music Awards.

On being a New England musician: New England has an entire feel and vibe of its own that’s incredibly unique. To be a part of that, especially as a musician, is quite wonderful.

Will Hatch

Album of the Year – Downtown

On being nominated: We were surprised when a friend told us. … We weren’t expecting this, but were grateful to be added to the list.

On NEMA’s importance: Our goal is to have fun and to make good music. Personally, I’m driven to create for my own fulfillment, but having a little recognition always feels good.

On his category: It is a great category to be in. There’s a lot of fantastic, hardworking bands out there so I will leave it up to others to decide what categories we belong in.

On being a New England musician: Given that the scene in New Hampshire is smaller, it promotes a camaraderie amongst the local diehards. It’s nice to connect with other musicians year after year and to get the impression that they’re in it for the long haul.

Upcoming shows: Penuche’s Ale House, Concord, Friday, Oct. 30

Wyn Doran

Best in State, Digital Performer of the Year

On being nominated: Gratitude and confusion. I felt a deep shift in how I approached creativity in quarantine. I went from worrying about how I presented myself externally to focusing on projects that I always secretly wanted to do but didn’t think I could pull off. The nominations provided a mirror that I have accomplished more than I thought … and I am unbelievably grateful.

On NEMA’s importance: It’s the icing on the cake. I don’t create with NEMA in mind, but in a world where I feel the arts are overall under-appreciated, I am so excited for an event that highlights artists and the important work they do.

On her categories: I’m really excited about Digital Performer because I realized my favorite projects to date fall under that category. I always wanted to arrange my songs for a choir of voices, and with my husband, Mike, [we created] a handful of videos over quarantine. To be recognized in a category that highlights those works is extremely fulfilling and inspiring.

On being a New England musician: I grew up in Illinois, where you could drive three hours and get nowhere. Every state in New England is gorgeous. … It’s a beautiful thing to have access to perform in so many great communities across a number of states within reasonable driving distance.

Upcoming shows: Stone Church, Newmarket, Wednesday, Nov. 3

Featured photo: Liz Bills. Photo by Isa Rosa Photography.

Prost!

Celebrate Oktoberfest with German eats and brews

On Saturday, clad in lederhosen, To Share Brewing Co. co-owner Aaron Share and his team will be pouring their seasonal German-style beer release and serving bratwurst, sauerkraut and pretzels while oompah music plays in the background — yes, it’s Oktoberfest season.

Since the very first event in early 19th-century Germany, the fall tradition has grown into a worldwide phenomenon celebrating Bavarian culture through its beers and foods. This will be To Share Brewing’s third Oktoberfest, one of many similar celebrations taking place across the Granite State over the next several weeks.

The centerpieces of nearly every Oktoberfest are German-style beers, among some of Share’s favorites to drink this time of year.

“I love beer in general, but I really enjoy a good clean malty lager,” he said. “A lot of the German styles have this nice sweet, bready maltiness to them. … Especially when the weather starts to cool off and it’s a little crisp in the air, it’s just perfect.”

Several local breweries this fall are either taking part in an Oktoberfest celebration or hosting their own, as well as introducing limited beer releases. Some restaurants are also joining in on the fun with their own seasonally inspired menus of German food items, from bratwurst, schnitzel and sauerkraut to Bavarian-style pretzels, specialty dessert stations and more.

So what exactly is defined as an Oktoberfest beer, and where did this tradition come from, anyway? We spoke with local brewers, chefs and restaurateurs to get some answers.

Bratwurst from Bavarian German Restaurant. Courtesy photo.

“March beer”

The most common beer style traditionally associated with Oktoberfests is known as a märzen, a lager that is characterized by its malty flavor and deep golden or amber color.

“Classic German beers are very simple compared to what we brew here in the States today. They would use malt and whatever hop variant they had from the harvest, and that was the basis of it,” said Dennis Molnar, co-owner of Concord Craft Brewing Co. “[A märzen style] is a little maltier in flavor than what we’re probably used to thinking of as an American Pilsner lager, like a Budweiser or something. … It’s hopped a little bit more as well, but because there’s a bit of a maltier backbone, it doesn’t necessarily taste more hopped than any other simple yellow beer.”

Even though the style is synonymous with Oktoberfests, the word “märzenbier” actually means “March beer,” as it was historically brewed in the spring. According to The Oxford Companion to Beer, an encyclopedia edited by Garrett Oliver and published by Oxford University Press, a Bavarian decree issued in the year 1553 by the duke at the time prohibited new beer from being brewed between the dates of April 23 and Sept. 29. This was due in part to the risk of fires, in addition to the threats of wild yeasts and bacteria, during the hot weather. As a result, märzens would be brewed in March and lagered, or stored, until the end of the summer.

Last week Concord Craft Brewing Co. brought back its Oktoberfest release, a märzen-style lager that Molnar said he expects will last through about mid-October. Other local brewers, like Kelsen Brewing Co. of Derry and Great North Aleworks of Manchester, have märzen-style releases of their own — the latter’s, called “Märzen Rover,” goes light on the hops, with a breaded, honey-like flavor from a blend of a few different malts.

But Oktoberfests don’t have to strictly be märzens, either. Derry’s Rockingham Brewing Co. recently debuted “For Better or For Wurst,” a German-style festbier that co-owner Ali Leleszi described as being similar to a märzen but with a slightly lighter color and more hop bitterness. They have it on draft now, and they’ll also be pouring it at an Oktoberfest celebration on Saturday, Oct. 2, at Twin Barns Brewing Co. in Meredith, she said.

Henniker Brewing Co. also has a seasonal lager inspired by the modern festbier. Teresa Pominville, director of events and marketing, said the brewery’s “Wurst Bier” adds a little bit of rye to help complement the malts and the spicy herbal notes from the German hops used.

To Share Brewing releases a German-style altbier, or “alt,” during Oktoberfest season, using a recipe dating back to Share’s time as a homebrewer.

“An alt is one of those weird hybrids between a lager and an ale. The main difference between lagers and ales are the yeasts that you use and the temperatures in the fermentation process,” Share said. “So an alt is pretty similar to a märzen in terms of the flavor profile. Just a really easy-drinking, clear amber beer that’s perfect for when the weather gets colder.”

In Dover, Garrison City Beerworks will be introducing two new beers to be released the day of its Oktoberfest celebration on Friday, Sept. 24 — Glean is a lager brewed with Maine-grown grain, while Jet-Setting is a New England IPA dry-hopped exclusively with German hops.

“It’s got the smooth, bright haze of the New England IPA style, with some really interesting melon and farmhouse notes from the … hops,” co-owner Andy Gray said of Jet-Setting.

A glossary of terms

This list contains various terms you may encounter at local Oktoberfest celebrations or on German restaurant menus, including seasonal food options, beer styles and traditions.

Altbier (or Alt): A German-style amber-colored beer that To Share Brewing Co. co-owner Aaron Share described as a hybrid between a lager and an ale, with a balance of malty sweetness and bitterness from its hops. This is the third year the brewery has released an Oktoberfest alt.
Apfelstrudel: Bavarian-style apple strudel. You can find this homemade dessert on the menu at Bavaria German Restaurant in Hooksett, or at the annual Oktoberfest celebration at Mile Away Restaurant in Milford on Sunday, Oct. 3.
Blaukraut: Red cabbage cooked with apple.
Bratkartoffeln: Bavarian-style roasted potatoes.
Bratwurst: German sausage, most commonly made with pork, veal or a combination of the two, according to Monika Berger, co-owner of Bavaria German Restaurant in Hooksett.
Brezn: Bavarian-style pretzels, which are characterized by their crisp, dark exterior and soft interior, according to Matt Brown, owner of The Salted Knot in Rollinsford.
Dunkel: A German-style lager characterized by its dark brown color and malty flavor.
Festbier: A German-style lager similar to a märzen, but with a slightly lighter color and more hop bitterness, according to Ali Leleszi of Rockingham Brewing Co. in Derry.
Hefeweizen: A German-style wheat beer. Daydreaming Brewing Co. of Derry will have “Daydreaming of Martha,” its hefeweizen in collaboration with Martha’s Exchange & Brewery of Nashua, at its Oktoberfest celebration on Saturday, Sept. 25.
Hunter’s Stew: A savory brown sauce-based stew with pork, beef, veal and vegetables. Mile Away Restaurant in Milford will be serving hunter’s stew during its Oktoberfest event on Sunday, Oct. 3.
Märzen: A malty German-style amber lager most commonly associated with Oktoberfest celebrations. Several local breweries, including Concord Craft Brewing Co., Kelsen Brewing Co. of Derry and Great North Aleworks of Manchester, have their own märzen-style releases this time of year as an ode to the classic Germanic style.
Masskrugstemmen: A beer stein hoisting competition, typically held at Oktoberfest events.
Rinderroulade: Rolled slices of tender beef, filled with mustard, onions, bacon and pickles.
Sauerbraten: Traditional German pot roast, featuring marinated, roasted beef boiled in a wine-based sauce and topped with gravy. Sauerbraten is available at Bavaria German Restaurant in Hooksett with homemade spätzle and red cabbage. It will also be on the menu during Mile Away Restaurant’s Oktoberfest celebration in Milford on Sunday, Oct. 3.
Sauerkraut: Sour fermented cabbage.
Schnitzel: Literally translating to “cutlet,” schnitzel is a thin slice of meat, usually pork, that has been breaded and fried. Bavaria German Restaurant in Hooksett has multiple schnitzel options available on its menu that also feature the option to substitute pork for veal.
Schweins haxn: Bavarian-roasted pork shank.
Spätzle: Bavarian-style egg noodles.

Bavarian bites

German beers may be the stars of the show, but Oktoberfest season is also a great opportunity to try all kinds of authentic foods. At Mile Away Restaurant in Milford, for instance, a special menu will be served during its 15th annual Oktoberfest event on Sunday, Oct. 3. Dinner plates featuring items like schweineschnitzel (pork schnitzel) and sauerbraten (German pot roast) will be available, in addition to a dessert station with items like apfelstrudel (apple strudel).

Share said the brewery will be offering a shareable snack board all day during its Sept. 25 event, featuring bratwurst with sauerkraut, plus pretzels courtesy of The Hop Knot.

Speaking of pretzels, be on the lookout in the coming weeks for Matt Brown of The Salted Knot, a Rollinsford-based Bavarian-style pretzel company launched earlier this year. Brown has a full schedule of events he’ll be serving his pretzels at, including the Powder Keg Beer Festival in Exeter on Saturday, Oct. 2, and the Great Oktoberfest at Anheuser-Busch Tour Center & Biergarten in Merrimack on Saturday, Oct. 16. He’ll also appear at Henniker Brewing Co. on Sunday, Oct. 10, during its two weekend-long Fall Fest.

Brown received training from another German-style pretzel maker while staying in Pennsylvania, a state he said is known for its pretzels and German ancestry. Now he works for himself, also selling his pretzels at farmers markets and via a few wholesale accounts.

“My pretzels are a lot darker and they tend to be more crispy than soft pretzels you might get at the mall,” Brown said. “The way I shape them, the middle is the thickest part.”

At Twin Barns Brewing Co.’s Oct. 2 event, food options will be served courtesy of The Silo, an onsite food trailer in collaboration with Osteria Poggio restaurant in Center Harbor. Options will likely include different plays on authentic items like bratwurst or pierogi.

“We’re probably going to be doing some German-style tacos, so basically like a sauerbraten taco with braised beef, and then maybe things like sweet cabbage and apple,” Osteria Poggio chef Kaylon Sweet said. “We’re just trying to find ways to make it more approachable to people.”

Pats Peak Ski Area in Henniker will have seasonal specials of its own during its annual Oktoberfest on Sunday, Nov. 7. Led by chef Guy Pelletier, its in-house kitchen team will be preparing items like bratwurst, hot German potato salad and braised red cabbage.

If you want to try German food but can’t wait to attend an Oktoberfest event, Bavaria German Restaurant in Hooksett has authentic options year-round, made fresh daily from family recipes. They also currently have Spaten Brewery’s Oktoberfest — touted as “the world’s first Oktoberfest” beer — and Weihenstephaner’s wheat beer available on tap.

The eatery has been owned and operated by Anton and Monika Berger since March 2010. Anton Berger has more than four decades of experience as a chef, including at a more than 200-seat restaurant and outdoor beer garden in Munich, Germany.

Bavaria’s schnitzel is one of its most popular items, and there are multiple varieties. The jägerschnitzel, for example, features a boneless strip of pork that’s topped with a scratch-made mushroom cream sauce. It’s then served with spätzle, or Bavarian-style egg noodles.

Bratwurst selections, according to Monika Berger, can be ordered with pork, veal, or a combination of the two. They are served with either homemade sauerkraut or a potato salad.

Specials are occasionally featured as well, like schweins haxn (Bavarian-roasted pork shank).

The first Oktoberfest

The origins of Oktoberfest can be traced back to Munich, Germany, during the early 1800s. The first event was not even organized as a beer festival — rather, it was a wedding.

According to the official Oktoberfest website, King Ludwig I of Bavaria married Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen on Oct. 12, 1810. The couple was wed at the site of what would later become known as Theresienwiese, the official Oktoberfest grounds in Munich. Their celebration included a large horse race and was so well-received that the demand for more events immediately grew. Soon it became an annual destination for agricultural entertainment.

A major defining year for the festival was 1841, when Spaten Brewery introduced its amber märzen at the event. By 1872 Spaten was the first brewery to call it an Oktoberfest beer.

Today the Munich Oktoberfest has grown into a massive, multi-week affair, spanning 16 to 18 days from mid-to-late September to early October and attracting more than six million visitors from around the world. Plans are already underway for the event to return in September 2022, after the pandemic forced its cancellation in both 2020 and 2021.

Stein hoisting competitions

Among the traditions of several Oktoberfest celebrations is a stein hoisting competition — or, as it’s known in Germany, masskrugstemmen (pronounced “MAHSS-kroog-stem-men”). Participants are given a stein filled to the top with beer that they must hold by the handle out in front of their bodies for as long as possible. The person who can hold it for the longest amount of time without breaking form or spilling their stein is declared the winner.

According to the U.S. Steinholding Association’s official rules, you must only grip the handle of the stein with one hand. The current national record is 21 minutes and 17 seconds, set in 2018 by Michael Tyler at the Central Park Oktoberfest in New York City.

To Share Brewing Co. in Manchester will hold a stein hoisting competition at 6 p.m. during its annual Oktoberfest on Sept. 25. The winner, co-owner Jenni Share said, will receive a Mug Club membership to the brewery, or beers out of a 22-ounce mug for the price of a pint.

“You hold your stein out at a 90-degree angle, so your body has to be straight and your arm is perpendicular, and you hold it as long as you can,” she said. “You cannot spill any beer.”

Stein hoisting competitions have consistently increased in popularity in recent years as strength endurance contests. The U.S. Steinholding Association, founded in 2015, promotes the sport by providing training tips and resources on where you can go to compete.

Upcoming Oktoberfests and other beer festivals

Upcoming Oktoberfests and other beer festivals

A stein hoisting competition will take place at Garrison City Beerworks in Dover on Sept. 24. Courtesy photo.

Check out this list of Oktoberfest celebrations and fall-themed festivals at local breweries, as well as other upcoming beer festivals happening across the state. Do you know of an Oktoberfest event coming up soon that isn’t on this list? Let us know at food@hippopress.com.

Friday, Sept. 24: Garrison City Beerworks (455 Central Ave., Dover) will hold an Oktoberfest from 4:30 to 10 p.m. featuring two new beer releases and a German-inspired food menu with options like pretzels and house mustard, smoked sausages and sauerkraut and potato pancakes. A stein hoisting competition is also planned. Visit garrisoncitybeerworks.com.

Saturday, Sept. 25:Join To Share Brewing Co. (720 Union St., Manchester) for its third annual Oktoberfest, happening from 1 to 9 p.m. There will be a food special featuring a shareable snack board with meats and cheeses, bratwurst and sauerkraut, and pretzels courtesy of The Hop Knot, plus beer releases and two stein hoisting competitions (at 1 p.m. for Mug Club members and at 6 p.m. for the public). Reservations are requested for parties of four or more. Visit tosharebrewing.com.

Saturday, Sept. 25:Daydreaming Brewing Co. (1½ E. Broadway, Derry) will hold its second Oktoberfest at 1 p.m., with several specialty beers available, including a hefeweizen brewed in collaboration with Martha’s Exchange & Brewery of Nashua. Visit daydreaming.beer.

Saturday, Sept. 25:Northwoods Brewing Co. (1334 First New Hampshire Turnpike, Northwood) is holding its inaugural Fall Fest, featuring a trunk show from 10 am. to 3 p.m. with more than 20 New England-area businesses and live music throughout the day. Also planned are the releases of the brewery’s new Oktoberfest-inspired lager, specialty fall cocktails from its sister establishment, Johnson’s Seafood & Steak, and brewery specials, like bratwurst with homemade slaw, pretzels with beer cheese, and a savory autumn pizza. Visit northwoodsbrewingcompany.com.

Saturday, Sept. 25: The Kingston Brewfest returns for a second year from noon to 4 p.m. at 148 Main St. in Kingston. The event will feature a variety of local beer and food options as well as live music. Tickets are $35 per person for full access to the beer tastings, or $5 for designated drivers. Donations to the Kingston Volunteer Fire Association will also be accepted. Visit kingstonbrew.com or follow the event on Facebook @kingstonbrewfest.

Sunday, Sept. 26: Osteria Poggio (18 Main St., Center Harbor) will host an Oktoberfest from 2 to 6 p.m. featuring various German-style foods and pourings from several local breweries. Visit osteriapoggio.com.

Saturday, Oct. 2: New England’s Tap House Grille (1292 Hooksett Road, Hooksett) will hold an Oktoberfest patio event from 5 to 7 p.m. featuring a seasonally inspired food menu, a stein hoisting competition and music from The Rebel Collective, with proceeds benefiting CASA of New Hampshire. Visit taphousenh.com.

Saturday, Oct. 2:Join Twin Barns Brewing Co. (194 Daniel Webster Hwy., Meredith) for an Oktoberfest celebration from noon to 10 p.m. There will be live music, seasonal pourings from six guest breweries, and a German-inspired food menu courtesy of The Silo, an onsite food trailer in collaboration with Osteria Poggio in Center Harbor. Commemorative event mugs will also be for sale, with proceeds benefiting the New Hampshire Brewers Association. Visit twinbarnsbrewing.com.

Saturday, Oct. 2:The Powder Keg Beer Festival returns to Swasey Parkway in Exeter. Ticketholders have two sessions to choose from, either from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. or from 2 to 4 p.m., when samples of more than 200 different beers, ciders and hard seltzers will be available. In place of the chili, which is normally a staple of the festival, this year food trucks offering all kinds of options will be attending. Tickets are $35 per person or $10 for designated drivers. Visit powderkegbeerfest.com.

Sunday, Oct. 3:Mile Away Restaurant (52 Federal Hill Road, Milford) will be hosting its annual Oktoberfest from 12:30 to 5:30 p.m. Dinner plates are available for $17 per person, featuring sauerbraten (German pot roast), schweineschnitzel (pork schnitzel), hunter’s stew, or spicy beef and sausage chili with cheddar cheese, along with two sides (German potato salad, sea salt chips and sauerkraut, braised red cabbage, pickled beets or applesauce). There will also be a dessert and pretzel station with additional a la carte items, like pumpkin pie, Black Forest cake, flourless chocolate torte and more. Live music will be featured from the TubaFrau Hofbräu Band, a Waltham, Mass.-based German oompah band. There is a $20 parking fee per car. The event is cash only and first-come, first-served. Visit mileawayrestaurantnh.com.

Sunday, Oct. 3:Stripe Nine Brewing Co. will present a Brew Fest in the Orchard at DeMerritt Hill Farm (20 Orchard Way, Lee) with general admittance from 1 to 4 p.m. and VIP admittance at noon. More than 25 local breweries are expected to attend, and there will also be seasonal food options and live music from Matty & the Penders. Tickets are $45 general admission, $75 VIP admission and $15 for designated drivers. See “Stripe Nine’s 2021 Brew Fest in the Orchard” on Eventbrite to purchase tickets.

Saturday, Oct. 9:Join the Bektash Shriners of New Hampshire (189 Pembroke Road, Concord) for an Oktoberfest from 5 to 9 p.m. featuring bratwurst, potato salad, pretzels and more. Visit bektashshriners.org or call the office at 225-5372 to RSVP.

Saturday, Oct. 9: The New Hampshire Brewfest returns to Cisco Brewers (35 Corporate Drive, Portsmouth), with general admittance from 1 to 5 p.m. and VIP admittance at noon. Admission ranges from $50 to $65 and includes access to tastings from a variety of New England-area craft breweries. Food options from local food trucks will also be available at an additional cost. Visit nhbrewfest.com.

Saturdays and Sundays, Oct. 9-10 and Oct. 16-17:Henniker Brewing Co. (129 Centervale Road, Henniker) will hold its annual Fall Fest over two weekends this year, from noon to 7 p.m., on Saturdays, Oct. 9; Sunday, Oct. 10; Saturday, Oct. 16, and Sunday, Oct. 17. In addition to pourings from the brewery’s Wurst Bier seasonal festbier, there will be food options from The Salted Knot and The Russian Dumpling Co., plus stein hoisting competitions and live music. Visit hennikerbrewing.com.

Saturday, Oct. 16:Anheuser-Busch Tour Center & Biergarten (221 Daniel Webster Hwy., Merrimack) will host the Great Oktoberfest featuring more than two dozen fall and winter brews that will be available to taste, including several authentic German varieties. There are two sessions to choose from, either from noon to 3 p.m. or from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. The festival will also feature European-style food from several local food trucks, games, live music and more. Tickets start at $45 general admission and $15 for designated drivers, with proceeds supporting the Merrimack Rotary Club. Visit greatoktoberfest.com.

Sunday, Oct. 31: The Manchester Brewfest returns for the first time since the summer of 2019 to Arms Park (Commercial Street, Manchester) with general admittance from 1 to 4 p.m. and VIP admittance at noon. Tickets are $40 general admission, $50 VIP admission and $15 for designated drivers. Visit manchesterbrewfest.com.

Sunday, Nov. 7:Pats Peak Ski Area (686 Flanders Road, Henniker) will host its annual Oktoberfest celebration in conjunction with its ski and snowboard sale, happening from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The event will feature live music from The Bavarian Brothers, plus a beer garden with Harpoon Brewery, games, a stein hoisting competition, and authentic German food options prepared by Chef Guy Pelletier and his team. Foods will include bratwurst, hot dogs with a side of hot German potato salad, and braised red cabbage with baked apple. Admission is free and foods are priced per item. Visit patspeak.com.

Saturday, Nov. 20: Join Pipe Dream Brewing (49 Harvey Road, Londonderry) for a Fall Fest from noon to 10 p.m., when there will be a special festbier release, bratwurst and sauerkraut food specials, and live music from the reggae band Slack Tide from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Visit pipedreambrewingnh.com.

Featured photo: Aaron Share of To Share Brewing Co. in Manchester. Courtesy photo.

Farm Fun

Get in the harvest season spirit with some pig racing and corn mazes

It’s a farm’s time to shine.

Here in the thick of the late summer early fall harvest season, farms are getting a chance to show off their hard work — from displaying animals at upcoming fairs to welcoming guests for some agritainment.

Hence that cover pig. Pig-related events feature on the schedule of both the upcoming Granite State Fair and the Deerfield Fair. In addition to the pig barn and some pig racing on the schedule, you can see other animals in the barnyard babies, petting zoo and cattle barn at the Granite State Fair, which kicks off on Thursday, Sept. 16. Starting Sept. 30, you can see the horses, alpacas, sheep, goats and more at the Deerfield Fair.

There are also good reasons to go visit a local farm or orchard. Local corn mazes have opened their attractions, offering a chance to spend some time in their corn fields. Apple picking season has started and growers are reporting that it’s been a good year for apples.

Feeling in the mood for some farm fun? Here are a few places to go.

Farmers at the fair

Animals are the highlight of New Hampshire’s agricultural fairs

By Angie Sykeny

From live music and amusement rides to demonstrations and delicious food, New Hampshire state fairs offer all kinds of fun, but the heart of the fair remains the same year after year.

“Agriculture is the bedrock of what fairs represent,” said E.J. Dean, fair coordinator for the Granite State Fair in Rochester. “Farmers wanting to showcase all of their hard work is how the fairs were born.”

“The largest percentage of time that a patron spends at any fairground is looking through the barns,” co-coordinator Mark Perry added. “At the end of that day, that’s why people come.”

For local farmers, the fair is a chance to engage with the public, spread the word about their farms and promote their products — like a farmers market, Dean said, but on a larger scale.

“The farmers are proud,” he said. “They love talking with people and showing off what they do.”

For fairgoers, the fair is a place to learn about agriculture in the state and see up-close how a cow is milked, how a sheep is sheared, how butter is made and more.

“When you hear that there’s 21 billion gallons of milk produced in the United States each year, it’s hard to quantify that number,” Dean said. “[The fair] sheds some light on the [agriculture] industry and puts all of the things that we take for granted in perspective.”

Putting a face to the name behind where their food comes from can encourage people to buy more local food and products, Perry said.

“People see and hear things [about food] in the news, and they want to know what is true,” he said. “Who better to ask than the farmer who produces the food?”

Another goal of the fair, Perry said, is to expand agriculture in the state by inspiring people with homesteads to take up farming, even if only on a small scale. Just half an acre is enough for a person to raise animals such as rabbits, chickens or goats, he said.

“As the number of full-time farmers decreases, there’s a need that’s being filled by part-time farmers,” he said. “We want to help champion those part-time farmers.”

But educating the public about agriculture isn’t the only mission of the fair, Perry said; making the experience fun and memorable is equally important, especially for children and families, and for people living in urban areas who don’t have many opportunities to visit farms or see live animals.

“When a kid gets to reach out and touch a calf or see a cow being milked for the first time, that’s a powerful thing,” Perry said. “There’s magic in that moment.”

Granite State Fair

Daily festivities include a cattle barn, pig barn, barnyard babies, exhibitions and displays, chickery, a petting zoo and live judging in the exhibition hall. Helicopter rides will be offered Friday through Sunday. Daily entertainment will include racing pigs, Circus Hollywood ($15 for a ringside box for up to four people) and a variety of live music. Recycled Percussion will perform on Friday, Sept. 17, at 8 p.m. (Tickets are $20). The horse pulling competition will take place on Saturday, Sept. 18, at 11 a.m. A mechanical bull riding competition will be held on both Thursdays, a cornhole tournament on both Fridays, and a demolition derby on both Sundays.
When: Thursday through Sunday, from Sept. 16 through Sept. 19, and Sept. 23 through Sept. 26. On Thursday and Friday, both the main fair and midway open at 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, the main fair opens at 10 a.m., and the midway opens at noon.
Where: 72 Lafayette St., Rochester
Tickets: $10 per person, free for children age 8 and under. Plus $7 for parking. Wristbands are available for $25 on Thursday from 4 p.m. to close, Saturday from noon to 4 p.m., and Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m., and, on the final Sunday, from 5 p.m. to close.
More info: granitestatefair.com

Deerfield Fair

Daily festivities include agricultural shows like a horse pull, pig scramble, cattle pull and more, as well as agricultural demonstrations, exhibits and competitions; tractor pulls and demonstrations; children’s shows and activities; magic shows; a variety of live music on multiple stages and strolling performers. Special events include a woodsman contest on Thursday at 10 a.m., a pumpkin weigh-off on Thursday at 6 p.m., Granite State Disc Dogs on Saturday at 2 and 4 p.m., a truck pull on Saturday at 5 p.m., and a women’s frypan toss on Sunday at 4 p.m.
Where: 34 Stage Road, Deerfield
When: Thursday, Sept. 30, through Sunday, Oct. 3. Hours are 8 a.m. to 10 pm., Thursday through Saturday, and 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., on Sunday.
Tickets: $12 for adults ($10 if purchased online before Sept. 27), free for kids age 12 and under and for active military and veterans. $9 for seniors age 65 and older on Thursday and Friday at the gate only. Premium parking is available for $10. Midway wristbands are available for $30 on Friday (valid through 6 p.m.) and for $35 on Sunday (valid through closing).
More info: deerfieldfair.com

Mazes of maize

Lose yourself in a corn maze this fall

By Matt Ingersoll

Traversing through a corn maze is a uniquely fall activity at the farm — most of them are open to the public from early to mid-September through about Halloween. From family-friendly mazes to spookier nighttime outings, there are all kinds of unique features and experiences you can discover as you make your way through the cornfields trying to get out.

Corn maze at Sherman Farm. Courtesy photo.

At Beech Hill Farm and Ice Cream Barn in Hopkinton, there are two different 4-acre corn mazes with their own distinct themes that are never repeated after each year. Co-owner Holly Kimball, who was an elementary school teacher for more than 20 years, said she has a lot of fun designing the mazes and implementing various educational aspects into each theme.

“It’s a great outdoor activity that appeals to all ages,” Kimball said of the mazes. “This is our 24th year doing the mazes … and [they have] become a fall tradition for many people. … We get field trips from elementary school students right up through high school, [and] it can be a fun date activity or an outing for workplace team building.”

This year happens to be the 250th anniversary of the nine-generation Beech Hill Farm, a milestone Kimball has integrated into one of the corn mazes. People are given a crossword puzzle with different clues to the answers they must search through the maze to find. Each clue has to do with a different fact about farming history.

The other corn maze activity at Beech Hill Farm is what Kimball calls a “Clue-Dunnit,” featuring a corn maze mystery twist on the popular board game. Attendees are tasked with finding the “suspect” who stole the weather vane off the top of the farm’s barn.

“It’s a cornfield scavenger hunt, where you go through with a checklist and find the ‘suspects,’ which are all farm animals,” she said. “They are all signs people have to find in the maze.”

Animals are also regularly used corn maze themes at Coppal House Farm in Lee. Owner John Hutton said they will usually focus on a different animal or bird each year that you’re likely to find in your backyard. As you make your way deeper into the maze, you’ll come across different facts about that animal — this year, he said, it’s all about red foxes.

“The different facts you find … help you navigate your way through the maze,” Hutton said, “so on top of learning about the fox, it’s a scavenger hunt. … It’s something fun that the whole family can do together, and it’s very interactive with no electronics involved.”

In Milford, Trombly Gardens has a corn maze that’s open to the public from dawn to dusk, with four wooden farm animals each maze-goer is challenged to find. According to business manager Alicia Kurlander, a Halloween-themed “haunted” corn maze with actors is currently in the works for each weekend throughout the month of October.

Where to find a local corn maze

Check out this list of local farms and orchards with corn mazes to discover this fall. Many of them feature their own unique themes, often with clues you must find to navigate your way out.

Applecrest Farm Orchards
133 Exeter Road, Hampton Falls, 926-3721, applecrest.com
Hours: Daily, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Cost: $7 per person and free for ages 5 and under
This 8-acre corn field features a maze of twists and turns that typically remains open through Halloween or early November depending on the weather conditions, according to Applecrest Farm Orchards owner Todd Wagner. Visitors who want to traverse it during the week are encouraged to check in at the farm market, as the maze entrance is only staffed on the weekends.

Beans & Greens Farm
245 Intervale Road, Gilford, 293-2853, beansandgreensfarm.com
Hours: Daily, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; a night maze is offered Thursday through Saturday, from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m., with a final sweep of the maze at 10 p.m.
Cost: $14 for adults and $10 for kids; the cost for the night maze ranges from $18 to $22 (tentative)
According to Cheyenne Patterson of the farm’s management team, the corn maze will open for the season on Sept. 17 and will conclude with a special Halloween-themed maze on Oct. 31.

Beech Hill Farm and Ice Cream Barn
107 Beech Hill Road, Hopkinton, 223-0828, beechhillfarm.com
Hours: Daily, noon to dusk
Cost: $6 per person and free for kids ages 3 and under
Beech Hill Farm and Ice Cream Barn has two 4-acre corn mazes, and one applied rate gives you access to both. Co-owner Holly Kimball said the farm has been offering them for more than two decades, with a different theme each year that has never been repeated. This year’s mazes include a cornfield-sized “crossword puzzle” in celebration of the farm’s 250th anniversary in 2021, as well as a “Clue-Dunnit” corn maze inspired by the popular board game.

Brookdale Fruit Farm
41 Broad St., Hollis, 465-2240, brookdalefruitfarm.com
Hours: Saturday and Sunday, noon to 5 p.m.
Cost: $3 per person
The corn maze, set to open soon, is among several of the family-friendly activities that will be available at Brookdale Fruit Farm this fall, along with hayrides and apple picking.

Coppal House Farm
118 N. River Road, Lee, 659-3572, nhcornmaze.com
Hours: Monday, Thursday and Friday, noon to 5 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (last entrance is at 4:30 p.m.). Columbus Day hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Cost: $9 for adults, $7 for kids ages 5 to 12 and for students, seniors and active military service members, and free for kids ages 5 and under
Coppal House Farm features two corn mazes, with a different theme every year centered around a bird or animal you might see in your backyard.
This year the theme is red foxes — maze attendees will learn various facts about the red fox that help them navigate their way out of the maze. Coppal House Farm co-owner John Hutton said the mazes are typically open through the last weekend of October, after which the corn is harvested for grain. There are also three upcoming nighttime maze dates that are open to the public, scheduled for Sept. 18, Oct. 9 and Oct. 23 (general admission is $12 per person; online ticketing only). Bring your own flashlight.

Elwood Orchards
54 Elwood Road, Londonderry, 434-6017, elwoodorchards.com
Hours: Daily, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (last entrance is at 5 p.m.)
Cost: $10 per person and free for kids ages 5 and under
The 15-acre corn maze at this family-owned and -operated farm and orchard is open now through the first weekend of November, owner Wayne Elwood said. Throughout the month of October, there is also a nighttime maze on Fridays and Saturdays that runs until 10 p.m. (last entrance is at 9 p.m.). Bring your own flashlight.

Emery Farm
147 Piscataqua Road, Durham, 742-8495, emeryfarm.com
Hours: Daily, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Cost: $5 per person and free for kids ages 2 and under
This corn maze, featuring an educational pollinator theme, will be open daily through Oct. 31. Tickets can be purchased inside the farm’s market and cafe.

J & F Farms
124 Chester Road, Derry, 437-0535, jandffarmsnh.com
Hours: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Cost: $8 per person
One of several available family-friendly activities, the corn maze at this longtime family-run farm is open to the public now through the end of October.

Lavoie’s Farm
172 Nartoff Road, Hollis, 882-0072, lavoiesfarm.com
Hours: Daily, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Cost: Free
At the family-owned and -operated Lavoie’s Farm, visitors can traverse the 3-acre corn maze with a pick-your-own apple or pumpkin purchase.

Riverview Farm
141 River Road, Plainfield, 298-8519, riverviewnh.com
Hours: Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Cost: $5 per person and free for kids ages 4 and under
Artist and illustrator Emily Zea comes up with all kinds of unique themes each year for Riverview Farm’s corn maze. The theme of this year’s 3-acre maze is Ghosts and Monsters of New England.

Scamman Farm
69 Portsmouth Ave., Stratham, 686-1258, scammanfarm.com
Hours: Monday, and Wednesday through Friday, noon to 5 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (last entrance is at 4:30 p.m.)
Cost: $9 for adults, $7 for kids ages 5 to 12 and for seniors and active military service members, and free for kids ages 4 and under with a paid adult
At more than 6 acres, Scamman’s Farm’s corn maze features a different theme every year. This year’s theme is “Fantasy Land.”

Sherman Farm
2679 E. Conway Road, Center Conway, 939-2412, shermanfarmnh.com
Hours: Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Cost: Varies from $12 to $15 per person, depending on the day, and free for kids ages 2 and under
Known simply as “The Maize,” this year’s 12-acre corn maze was designed with help from students at Pine Street Elementary School in Center Conway. It’s due to open for the season on Sept. 18 and will welcome visitors every Saturday and Sunday through Oct. 24.

Trombly Gardens
150 N. River Road, Milford, 673-0647, tromblygardens.net
Hours: Daily, dawn to dusk
Cost: $5 per person and free for kids ages 3 and under
Four wooden animals hidden throughout this corn maze for attendees to attempt to find. Trombly Gardens business manager Alicia Kurlander said a Halloween-themed haunted nighttime maze with actors who will try to jump out and scare you is also being planned for each weekend throughout the month of October. You can receive a discount to enter the corn maze if you bring a non-perishable canned food item to donate to the local food bank.

Washburn’s Windy Hill Orchard
66 Mason Road, Greenville, 878-2101, find them on Facebook @washburnswindyhill
Hours: Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Cost: $5 per person and free for kids ages 3 and under
The 5-acre corn maze at Washburn’s Windy Hill Orchard is open through the end of October, according to owner Timothy Anderson. A nighttime maze will also be hosted from Friday, Oct. 29, through Sunday, Oct. 31, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. each night.

Macs and Honeycrisps

Where to load up on apples

By Amy Diaz

The McIntoshes are ready.

Over Labor Day weekend, Apple Hill Farm in Concord kicked off its season of pick-your-own with its trees heavy with McIntoshes. The rain, rough on ground crops, has been good for apples, helping them to get big and juicy, said Diane Souther, owner at Apple Hill.

“The apples are plentiful,” Souther said on Sept. 7, when she expected Cortlands to be ready for picking in a few days and then Macouns soon after that, followed by Empires, with other varieties expected more toward the third and fourth weeks of September. Souther’s farm has more than 60 varieties of apples, some in PYO and some that the farm picks, some of them for eating and baking and some for hard cider.

Leigh Hardy, pick-your-own manager at Brookdale Fruit Farm, agreed that this year’s crop is large — big apples and lots of them. Brookdale has 32 varieties for pick your own as well as other varieties available in the farm stand. On Sept. 7 she said Jonamacs, Galas, McIntoshes and Honeycrisps were ready, with Cortlands and Empires coming soon.

“They’re coming in a bit earlier,” Hardy said, estimating that crops were available about 10 days or so earlier.

While some varieties like the McIntoshes and Galas will go all season long some apples have shorter seasons of three or so weeks when they are available, so Souther recommends that pickers be flexible if their favorite variety isn’t available at the moment and try something new. She recommends, at pick your own or at farm stands and farmers markets, asking farmers about varieties you may not have seen in decades past, such as Ambrosia, a yellowish apple with a red tinge that is sweeter and can last a while in the refrigerator.

Hardy said some people are becoming “apple connoisseurs” and interested in new varieties as well as some of the older New England varieties, such as the Baldwin apple, which is harder and stores well but has a great flavor when you cook with it, she said. Empire (a cross between a Red Delicious and a McIntosh) has a good flavor as does Spencer (a cross between a Golden Delicious and a McIntosh).

“Those are really good,” Hardy said.

Others to look for later in September are the Snow Sweet (a mild apple that doesn’t turn brown when you cut it), a Ruby Mac (a McIntosh variety that is sold red and a little bit tarter) and some new Honeycrisp varieties that are available later, like Pink Luster, Firecracker and Crimson Crisp, Hardy said.

At Brookdale they offer both a paper map and a version you can get on your smartphone via a QR code that will help direct you toward trees that are ready for picking and help you find the varieties you’re interested in.

For apples you don’t eat right away, Souther and Hardy recommend putting them in a refrigerator at as close to 33 degrees as possible for future eating. Sweeter apples especially need refrigeration, Hardy said, and if you store apples in a cool basement or garage, don’t leave them directly on cement, where moisture will get into the apple and speed rot; elevate them a little. Souther also suggested that apples you don’t eat now can go toward a future pie: Make a pie filling and freeze to use later in the winter when you want a fresh taste of fall.

Apple Grower of the Year

Brookdale Fruit Farm, which has been operated for 174 years by seven generations of the same family, received special recognition this year: Chip Hardy and sons Trevor Hardy and Tyler Hardy were named 2021 Apple Growers of the Year by American Fruit Grower and Western Fruit Grower magazines, according to a story on GrowingProduce.com. (Tyler Hardy, who died in 2019, was called “one of New Hampshire’s up-and-coming agricultural stars” in the story.) The farm is only the second farm in New Hampshire to receive the award, the website said.

Where to get your apples

Here are a few of the local apple orchards offering pick-your-own. On the day you plan to head out, call ahead to check that the varieties you’re interested in are available. Most of these farms also sell apples at their farm stands (along with other goodies) if you’d rather pick up than pick your own, and many of the websites (which, along with the farms’ and orchards’ social media, is where most of the pricing and hours listed here come from) list varieties available at the orchard (including, in some cases, what’s currently available for picking). Is your favorite pick-your-own farm not on this list? Let us know about it at food@hippopress.com.

Apple Annie
66 Rowell Road East in Brentwood; 778-3127, appleannienh.org
Hours open for PYO: Thursday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (Email for reserving group times Monday through Wednesday)
Cost: Bags priced at $1.75 per pound

Applecrest Farm Orchards
133 Exeter Road (Route 88) in Hampton Falls; 926-3721, applecrest.com
Hours open for PYO: daily, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Cost: $15 for half a peck, $30 for a peck, $40 for half a bushel
Also: In September, PYO raspberries and peaches; into October, pumpkins and gourds. On weekends look for harvest festivals, which run Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and can feature live music, tractor rides, eats for sale and more.

Apple Hill Farm
580 Mountain Road (Route 132) in Concord; 224-8862, applehillfarmnh.com
Hours open for PYO: daily, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Cost: Peck is $15, half bushel is $25.
Also: As of Sept. 3 Apple Hill still had PYO seedless grapes.

Appleview Orchard
1266 Upper City Road in Pittsfield; 435-3553, applevieworchard.com
Hours open for PYO: daily, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (earlier as the sun sets earlier)
Cost: Call for pricing.
Also: Free hayrides on weekends, weather permitting.

Brookdale Fruit Farm
41 Broad St. in Hollis; 465-2240, brookdalefruitfarm.com
Hours open for PYO: Wednesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (call for information on group outings on Mondays and Tuesdays)
Cost: $35 for half a bushel or $1.75 per pound.
Also: PYO pumpkins later in the season, according to the farm’s website. On weekends, check out the corn maze and hayrides.

Carter Hill Orchard
73 Carter Hill Road in Concord; 225-2625, carterhillapples.com
Hours open for PYO: Daily, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Currier Orchards
9 Peaslee Road in Merrimack; 881-8864, find them on Facebook @currierorchards
Hours open for PYO: Daily, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Cost: $15 for a 10-pound bag; $30 for a 20-pound bag.
Also: The store is open until 6 p.m.

DeMeritt Hill Farm
20 Orchard Way, Lee; 868-2111, demeritthillfarm.com
Hours open for PYO: Monday and Tuesday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m; Wednesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Cost: Purchase one peck bag to pick: $18 for a peck bag.
Also: PYO pumpkins. Visit farm animals and on weekends take a hayride ($2 per person), weather permitting. The farm also has several upcoming events including a Harvest Weekend (Sept. 25 and Sept. 26) and a Pumpkinfest (Oct. 2 and Oct. 3) and Haunted Overlook, a haunted attraction that opens Oct. 8.

Elwood Orchards
54 Elwood Road in Londonderry; 434-6017, elwoodorchards.com
Hours open for PYO: Open daily 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Cost: Call for pricing.
Also: Elwood will offer pick your own pumpkins and runs a corn maze daily (with nighttime corn mazes on Fridays and Saturdays in October).

Gould Hill Farm
656 Gould Hill Road in Contoocook, 746- 3811, gouldhillfarm.com
Hours open for PYO: Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (plus Monday, Oct. 11)
Cost: Quarter peck (which is about two or three pounds depending on the apple) is $7, half peck is $12, peck is $18, half bushel is $28.
Also: Gould Hill operates Contoocook Cider Co., which has a tasting room open weekends from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. for flights, tastings and light food (such as cheese plates) and live music from 1 to 4 p.m., according to the website. Cider doughnuts on weekends.

Hackleboro Orchards
61 Orchard Road in Canterbury; 783-4248, on Facebook
Hours open for PYO: Daily, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Cost: By the page $6 half peck, $10 peck and $20 a half bushel
Also: Every weekend they offer burgers, hot dogs, cider doughnuts and ice cream.

Hazelton Orchards
280 Derry Road in Chester; 493-4804, find them on Facebook @hazeltonorchardschesternh
Hours open for PYO: Daily 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Cost: Call for pricing.

Lavoie’s Farm
172 Nartoff Road in Hollis; 882-0072, lavoiesfarm.com
Hours open for PYO: Daily, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Cost: $1.99 per pound.
Also: PYO pumpkins. Look for hay rides on weekends and a corn maze open whenever the farm is open.

Lull Farm
65 Broad St. in Hollis; 465-7079, livefreeandfarm.com
Hours open for PYO: Daily, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Cost: Peck for $15, and half bushel for $30.
Also: Food on weekends and The Daily Haul fish market Saturdays (preorder at thedailyhaul.com).

Mack’s Apples
230 Mammoth Road in Londonderry; 432- 3456, macksapples.com
Hours open for PYO: Daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Cost: Purchase bags for picking as you enter the orchard.
Also: PYO peaches and pumpkins.

McLeod Bros. Orchards
735 N. River Road in Milford; 673-3544, mcleodorchards.com
Hours open for PYO: Monday through Friday from 1 to 5:30 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (also 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Columbus Day)
Cost: Buy bags or baskets before picking — $16 for peck bag, $27 for a half bushel bag; $24 for a peck basket, $35 for a half bushel basket.
Also: For groups larger than 7 people, make a reservation online.

Meadow Ledge Farm
612 Route 129 in Loudon; 798-5860, meadowledgefarm.com
Hours open for PYO: Daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Also: Look for the farm’s Harvest Festival on Columbus Day weekend, with games for the kids, music and entertainment. After Thanksgiving they sell Christmas trees and wreaths among other items.

Sullivan Farm
70 Coburn Ave. in Nashua; 595-4560, find them on Facebook
Hours open for PYO: Daily, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Washburn’s Windy Hill Orchard
66 Mason Road in Greenville; 878-2101
Hours open for PYO: Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Cost: $12 for a peck, $24 for a half bushel. Purchase apple bags inside the farm stand or reusable baskets.
Also: PYO pumpkins. The orchard also has a corn maze and free hayrides on weekends.

Featured photo: Corn maze at Beech Hill Farm and Ice Cream Barn in Hopkinton. Courtesy photo.

2021 Fall Guide

It’s a fall full of events!

This fall, there are indoor events as well as outdoor events and we are getting more of the music, theater, art exhibits, special film screenings and festivals that traditionally fill the season’s schedule.

Of course, as with everything this year, events listed here may change closer to event-time and check with the organization in advance about special Covid-related precautions or requirements. Take out your calendar and get ready to save some dates…

Theater

• The Peterborough Players (55 Hadley Road, Peterborough, peterboroughplayers.org) perform Where You Are at the new outdoor Elsewhere Stage at the Players now through Sept. 12, with showtimes daily at 4:30 p.m. Tickets cost $47.

•​ The Winnipesaukee Playhouse (33 Footlight Circle, Meredith, winnipesaukeeplayhouse.org) presents It Had To Be You outdoors now through Sept. 18, with showtimes Tuesday through Saturday at 4 p.m. plus matinees on Saturdays, Sept. 11 and Sept. 18, at 11 a.m. Tickets cost $20 to $37.

• The Community Players of Concord will perform White Rabbit Red Rabbit at the Hatbox Theatre (Steeplegate Mall, 270 Loudon Road, Concord) from Sept. 10 through Sept. 26, with showtimes on Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $22 to $25 for adults, $19 to $22 for members, seniors and students, and $16 to $19 for senior members. Visit hatboxnh.com.

• The Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester; palacetheatre.org, 668-5588) presents Queen of the Night – A Tribute to Whitney Houston from Sept. 10 through Sept. 26, with showtimes on Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at noon and 5 p.m. Tickets cost $39 to $46 for adults and $25 for children.

•​ Jekyll & Hyde – The Musical will be at the Seacoast Repertory Theatre (125 Bow St., Portsmouth) Sept. 16 through Nov. 6, with showtimes on Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 8 p.m., and Sunday at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $32 to $50. The show is also available to livestream. Visit seacoastrep.org.

•​ The Seacoast Repertory Theatre (125 Bow St., Portsmouth) presents Honey Punch ’n’ Pals on Saturday, Sept. 18, at 11 a.m. Tickets cost $10. The show is also available to livestream. Visit seacoastrep.org.

• The Players’ Ring Theatre (105 Marcy St., Portsmouth) presents Barefoot in the Park from Sept. 18 through Oct. 3, with showtimes on Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 2:30 and 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 2:30 p.m. Tickets cost $25 for adults and $22 for seniors age 65 and up and students. Visit playersring.org.

•​ Winnipesaukee Playhouse (33 Footlight Circle, Meredith, winnipesaukeeplayhouse.org) presents Glorious Sept. 22 through Oct. 9, with showtimes Tuesday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m. plus matinees on Tuesday, Sept. 28, and Thursday, Sept. 30, at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $20 to $37. Visit winnipesaukeeplayhouse.org.

•​ The Seacoast Repertory Theatre (125 Bow St., Portsmouth) presents Cruel Intentions The ’90s Musical from Sept. 23 through Oct. 23, with showtimes on Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 8 p.m., and Sunday at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $32 to $50. Visit seacoastrep.org.

• Theatre KAPOW presents The Boyg at the Stockbridge Theatre (5 Pinkerton St., Derry) Sept. 24 through Sept. 26, with showtimes on Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $15 for students and seniors and $20 for adults. Visit tkapow.com.

•​ The Kids Coop Theatre will perform Willy Wonka at the Derry Opera House (29 W. Broadway, Derry) from Sept. 24 through Sept. 26. Visit kids-coop-theatre.org.

Cirque-Tacular comes to The Dana Center (100 Saint Anselm Drive, Manchester) on Saturday, Sept. 25, with showtimes at 4 and 7 p.m. Tickets cost $45. Visit anselm.edu.

• The Hatbox Theatre (Steeplegate Mall, 270 Loudon Road, Concord) presents Greater Tuna from Oct. 1 through Oct. 10, with showtimes on Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $22 for adults, $19 for students, seniors and members and $16 for senior members. Visit hatboxnh.com.

•​ New World Theatre presents 9/12 at the Players’ Ring Theatre (105 Marcy St., Portsmouth) from Oct. 8 through Oct. 17, with showtimes on Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 2:30 and 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 2:30 p.m. Tickets cost $25 for adults and $22 for seniors age 65 and up and students. Visit playersring.org. New World Theatre will also bring 9/12 to the Hatbox Theatre (Steeplegate Mall, 270 Loudon Road, Concord) from Nov. 12 through Nov. 21, with showtimes on Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $22 for adults, $19 for students, seniors and members and $16 for senior members. Visit hatboxnh.com.

• The Community Players of Concord will perform Neil Simon’s Barefoot in the Park at the Concord City Auditorium (2 Prince St., Concord) on Friday, Oct. 15, and Saturday, Oct. 16, at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, Oct. 17, at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $20 for adults and $18 for youth age 17 and under and seniors age 65 and up before Oct. 13, and an additional $2 after Oct. 13. Visit communityplayersofconcord.org.

• The Peacock Players will perform Matilda The Musical Jr. at the Court Street Theatre (14 Court St., Nashua) from Oct. 15 through Oct. 24, with showtimes on Friday at 7 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 7 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. Visit peacockplayers.org.

• The Hatbox Theatre (Steeplegate Mall, 270 Loudon Road, Concord) presents American Son from Oct. 15 through Oct. 24, with showtimes on Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $22 for adults, $19 for students, seniors and members and $16 for senior members. Visit hatboxnh.com.

• The Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester; palacetheatre.org, 668-5588) will present a mainstage production of Mamma Mia from Oct. 15 through Nov. 14, with showtimes on Thursday and Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at noon and 5 p.m. Tickets cost $39 to $46 for adults and $25 for children.

Illusionist David Caserta performs at The Dana Center (100 Saint Anselm Drive, Manchester) on Thursday, Oct. 21, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $45. Visit anselm.edu.

• Phylloxera Productions presents Wonders at the Hatbox Theatre (Steeplegate Mall, 270 Loudon Road, Concord) from Oct. 29 through Nov. 7, with showtimes on Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $22 for adults, $19 for students, seniors and members and $16 for senior members. Visit hatboxnh.com.

Friends! The Musical Parody comes to the Capitol Center for the Arts (44 S. Main St., Concord, ccanh.com) on Sunday, Oct. 31, at 2:30 p.m. Tickets cost $35 to $55.

Clue!

The traveling performance troupe Lend Me a Theater will present Clue!,a dinner theater production based on the board game and the 1985 film, in November. Catch it Saturday, Nov. 6, at 6 p.m. at the DoubleTree by Hilton (700 Elm St. n Manchester); tickets (which include dinner) cost $40. Or see the show at the Tupelo Music Hall (10 A St. in Derry; tupelomusichall.com) on Saturday, Nov. 20, when the dinner starts at 6 p.m. (tickets cost $40 for the dinner and the show) or see just the show at 7:30 p.m. (tickets cost $20). See lendmeatheater.org.

Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story comes to the Capitol Center for the Arts (44 S. Main St., Concord, ccanh.com) on Friday, Nov. 12, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $44.50.

• The Community Players of Concord’s Children’s Theater Project presents All Together Now! at the Concord City Auditorium (2 Prince St., Concord) on Friday, Nov. 12, at 7 p.m., and Saturday, Nov. 13, at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $15. Visit communityplayersofconcord.org.

• The Peacock Players will perform The Wedding Singer at the Court Street Theatre (14 Court St., Nashua) from Nov. 12 through Nov. 21, with showtimes on Friday at 7 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 7 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. Visit peacockplayers.org.

•​ The Seacoast Repertory Theatre (125 Bow St., Portsmouth) presents Peter Pan from Nov. 18 through Dec. 23, with showtimes on Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 8 p.m., and Sunday at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $32 to $50. Visit seacoastrep.org.

• The Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester; palacetheatre.org, 668-5588) presents The Nutcracker on Friday, Nov. 19, at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, Nov. 20, at 11 a.m. and 4 and 7:30 p.m.; and Sunday, Nov. 21, at noon and 4:30 p.m. Tickets $39 to $46 for adults and $25 for children.

That Golden Girls Show: A Puppet Parody comes to the Capitol Center for the Arts (44 S. Main St., Concord, ccanh.com) on Saturday., Nov. 20, at 8 p.m. Tickets cost $35.

TV on the stage

Catch some favorite TV shows live on stage at the Capitol Center for the Arts (44 S. Main St. in Concord; ccanh.com, 225-1111) this fall. On Sunday, Oct. 31, see Friends! The Musical Parody at 2:30 p.m. Tickets cost $35 to $55 (plus fees). On Saturday, Nov. 20, picture it, 8 p.m., four women considering cheesecake at That Golden Girls Show! A Puppet Parody. Tickets cost $35 plus fees.

Music

• See country legend Willie Nelson at the Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion on Friday, Sept. 10, at 5 p.m. Tickets start at $89.75.

Carbon Leaf will be at the Bank of New Hampshire Stage on Friday, Sept. 10, at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $25 general admission.

• Singer-songwriter LeAnn Rimes will take the stage at the Tupelo Music Hall on Friday, Sept. 10, at 8 p.m. Tickets range from $75 to $95.

Kittel & Co. will be at The Historic Music Hall on Friday, Sept. 10, at 8 p.m. Tickets range from $35 to $45.

• See Susan Werner at the Rex Theatre on Saturday, Sept. 11, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $25.

• The Tupelo Music Hall will host hard rock legends Blue Oyster Cult on Saturday, Sept. 11, at 8 p.m. Tickets range from $65 to $77.

Breaking Benjamin will perform with Memphis May Fire at the Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion on Saturday, Sept. 11, at 7 p.m. Tickets start at $25.

• Pink Floyd tribute act The Machine will be at The Flying Monkey Movie House & Performance Center on Saturday, Sept. 11, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $34.

Cold Chocolate will be at Fletcher-Murphy Park on Sunday, Sept. 12, at 3 p.m. Tickets are $12.

• See singer-songwriter Gordon Lightfoot at The Historic Music Hall on Wednesday, Sept. 15, at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $48.75.

• See the Eagles tribute band Another Tequila Sunrise at the Palace Theatre on Thursday, Sept. 16, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets range from $29 to $39.

American Idol alum David Cook will be at the Tupelo Music Hall on Thursday, Sept. 16, at 8 p.m. Tickets range from $35 to $40.

TLC will be at the Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion on Friday, Sept. 17, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $29.

• See Blue Light Rain at the Bank of New Hampshire Stage on Friday, Sept. 17, at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15.

George Thorogood and The Destroyers will take the stage at the Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom on Friday, Sept. 17, at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $27.

Tom Rush will be at the Tupelo Music Hall on Friday, Sept. 17, at 7 p.m. Tickets range from $35 to $45.

• Great American Concerts will present Gin Blossoms and Vertical Horizon, with opener Best Not Broken, at the Anheuser-Busch Tour Center & Biergarten on Saturday, Sept. 18, at 1 p.m. Tickets start at $40.

• See Alice Cooper at the Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion on Saturday, Sept. 18, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $25.

Scarab: The Journey Experience will take the stage at the Rex Theatre on Saturday, Sept. 18, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $29.

Jxdn will perform at the Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom on Saturday, Sept. 18, at 8 p.m. Tickets are $30 in advance and $35 at the door.

Al Di Meola will be at The Flying Monkey Movie House & Performance Center on Saturday, Sept. 18, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $45.

• See John Hiatt and The Jerry Douglas Band at the Chubb Theatre on Sunday, Sept. 19, at 7 p.m. Tickets range from $49 to $69.

Kimayo will be at Fletcher-Murphy Park on Sunday, Sept. 19, at 3 p.m. Tickets are $12.

Martha Davis and The Motels will be at the Tupelo Music Hall on Sunday, Sept. 19, at 7 p.m. Tickets are $35.

• See Tiger Saw & The Reasons Why at The Historic Music Hall on Tuesday, Sept. 21, at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Tickets start at $60 for a small table (two-person limit).

• Country star Granger Smith will be at the Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom on Thursday, Sept. 23, at 8 p.m. Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door.

• Grammy Award-winning trumpeter and composer Chris Botti will be at The Historic Music Hall on Thursday, Sept. 23, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $38.

• Country duo Thompson Square will be at the Tupelo Music Hall on Thursday, Sept. 23, at 8 p.m. Tickets range from $35 to $50.

Brad Paisley will take the stage at the Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion on Friday, Sept. 24, at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $29.

• Eagles tribute act Eaglemania will be at the Chubb Theatre on Friday, Sept. 24, at 8 p.m. Tickets range from $35 to $45.

• See the Blaggards at the Bank of New Hampshire Stage on Friday, Sept. 24, at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15.

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy will perform at The Flying Monkey Movie House & Performance Center on Saturday, Sept. 25, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $45.

• See Crystal Bowersox at the Tupelo Music Hall on Saturday, Sept. 25, at 8 p.m. Tickets range from $30 to $35.

• The Rex Theatre will host an evening with Livingston Taylor on Saturday, Sept. 25, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $40.

• The Gratitude Music Festival, a multi-stage outdoor music festival honoring local first responders and frontline workers, is set for Saturday, Sept. 25, in Portsmouth and will feature live performances by Neighbor at 1 p.m. on Chestnut Street, Carsie Blanton at 3:30 p.m. at Portwalk Place, and Anderson East at 8 p.m. at the Historic Theater. Tickets are $90 for a day pass, or $30 for access to an individual performance. You can also nominate your favorite frontline hero to win a free pair of passes to the festival.

Toad the Wet Sprocket performs at the Tupelo Music Hall on Sunday, Sept. 26, at 7 p.m. Tickets range from $59 to $74.

The Mersey Beatles will be at The Flying Monkey Movie House & Performance Center on Wednesday, Sept. 29, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $36.

• See 3 Doors Down at the Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion on Thursday, Sept. 30, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $29.

Justin Hayward performs at The Flying Monkey Movie House & Performance Center on Thursday, Sept. 30, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $74.

Not Fade Away, a tribute show celebrating some of the biggest names in rock ’n’ roll, will be at the Rex Theatre for two performances on Thursday, Sept. 30, and Friday, Oct. 1, at 7:30 p.m. each evening. Tickets are $29.

• Rapper and singer-songwriter NF will be at the Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion on Friday, Oct. 1, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $29.50.

• See GA-20 and JD Simo at the Bank of New Hampshire Stage on Friday, Oct. 1, at 8 p.m. Tickets are $25.

Under the Streetlamp will be at the Palace Theatre on Friday, Oct. 1, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $50.50.

• Country star Sara Evans performs on Friday, Oct. 1, at 8 p.m. at Tupelo Music Hall. Tickets range from $70 to $90.

• Bruce Springsteen tribute act Bruce in the USA performs at the Chubb Theatre on Saturday, Oct. 2, at 8 p.m. Tickets range from $25 to $45.

• See Rush tribute act Lotus Land at the Bank of New Hampshire Stage on Saturday, Oct. 2, at 8 p.m. Tickets are $35.

• Rock legends The Association will be at The Flying Monkey Movie House & Performance Center on Saturday, Oct. 2, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $39.

Christopher Cross performs at the Tupelo Music Hall on Saturday, Oct. 2, at 7 p.m. Tickets range from $45 to $60.

Five For Fighting

Catch the band Five For Fighting with a string quartet on Sunday, Oct. 3, at 7 p.m. at the Tupelo Music Hall (10 A St. in Derry; tupelomusichall.com). Tickets cost $40 to $55.

Korn will perform with Staind at the Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion on Sunday, Oct. 3, at 6:30 p.m. Tickets start at $29.50.

• See Billy Currington at the Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom on Thursday, Oct. 7, at 8 p.m. Tickets are $48 in advance and $53 at the door.

Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo will be at the Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom on Friday, Oct. 8, at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $37.

• See Herman’s Hermits at the Palace Theatre on Friday, Oct. 8, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $44.50.

• Blues guitarist Joanne Shaw Taylor performsat the Rex Theatre on Friday, Oct. 8, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $25.

Grain Thief will be at the Bank of New Hampshire Stage on Friday, Oct. 8, at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15.

• ’80s tribute act Foreigners Journey will perform two shows at the Tupelo Music Hall on Friday, Oct. 8, and Saturday, Oct. 9, at 8 p.m. each evening. Tickets range from $32 to $37.

Lez Zeppelin, an all female tribute act to the rock legends, will perform at the Bank of New Hampshire Stage on Saturday, Oct. 9, at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $25.

• Maryland rockers Clutch take the stage at the Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom on Saturday, Oct. 9, at 8 p.m. Tickets are $35 in advance and $40 at the door.

Jingo, a tribute to Santana, will be at the Rex Theatre on Saturday, Oct. 9, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $29.

• Country stars Lady A will take the stage at the Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion on Sunday, Oct. 10, at 7 p.m. Tickets start at $28.

Tom Rush will be at The Flying Monkey Movie House & Performance Center on Sunday, Oct. 10, at 6:30 p.m. Tickets start at $59.

The Capital Jazz Orchestra, a tribute to Sinatra, will be at the Chubb Theatre on Sunday, Oct. 10, at 4 p.m. Tickets start at $27.50.

• See Frank Turner at the Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom on Sunday, Oct. 10, at 8 p.m. Tickets are $32 in advance and $37 at the door.

• Grammy Award-winning mandolinist Chris Thile will perform at The Historic Music Hall on Monday, Oct. 11, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets range from $45 to $50.

• See The Struts at the Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom on Wednesday, Oct. 13, at 8 p.m. Tickets are $28.50 in advance and $33.50 at the door.

Rick Wakeman will be at the Tupelo Music Hall on Thursday, Oct. 14, at 8 p.m. Tickets range from $55 to $70.

• Maine roots rockers The Mallett Brothers Band will be at the Bank of New Hampshire Stage on Friday, Oct. 15, at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15.

Ben Folds will be at the Chubb Theatre on Friday, Oct. 15, at 8 p.m. Tickets range from $55 to $75.

Everclear will be at the Tupelo Music Hall on Friday, Oct. 15, at 8 p.m. Tickets range from $50 to $69.

The Sixties Show

The Sixties Show, a performance featuring former band members of The Who, The Saturday Night Live Band and Bob Dylan, will be held at The Flying Monkey Movie House & Performance Center on Friday, Oct. 15, at 7:30 p.m. With live performances of some of the most popular songs of the 1960s, the show is a full multimedia Broadway-type production, dramatized by a combination of special effects, narration and newsreel footage. Tickets start at $29.

• See the Brooklyn Charmers, a tribute to Steely Dan, at the Bank of New Hampshire Stage on Saturday, Oct. 16, at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $25.

Peter Wolf of the J. Geils Band takes the stage at The Flying Monkey Movie House & Performance Center on Saturday, Oct. 16, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $39.

The Linda Ronstadt Experience, featuring American Idol finalist Tristan McIntosh, will be at the Rex Theatre on Saturday, Oct. 16, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets range from $29 to $39.

Rumors of Fleetwood Mac, a tribute act to the rock legends, will perform at the Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom on Saturday, Oct. 16, at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $21.

Damn the Torpedoes, a tribute to Tom Petty, will be at the Tupelo Music Hall on Saturday, Oct. 16, at 8 p.m. Tickets are $30.

• Great American Concerts returns with a performance from country artist Sam Grow on Sunday, Oct. 17, with doors opening at 1:30 p.m. Tickets are $26.

ABBA The Concert, a tribute to the Swedish pop group, will be at the Chubb Theatre on Wednesday, Oct. 20, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets range from $29.50 to $49.50.

• See Patty Griffin and Gregory Alan Isakov at the Chubb Theatre on Thursday, Oct. 21, at 8 p.m. Tickets are $50.

Saving Abel will be at the Tupelo Music Hall on Thursday, Oct. 21, at 8 p.m. Tickets range from $30 to $35.

Start Making Sense, a tribute to the Talking Heads, will be at the Bank of New Hampshire Stage on Friday, Oct. 22, at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $18.

Voyage, a tribute to Journey, will be at the Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom on Friday, Oct. 22, at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $21.

• See Piff the Magic Dragon at the Chubb Theatre on Friday, Oct. 22, at 8 p.m. Tickets are $35.

Josh Turner will be at The Historic Music Hall on Friday, Oct. 22, at 8 p.m. Tickets range from $55 to $78.

• Rock supergroup The Airplane Family will be at the Tupelo Music Hall on Friday, Oct. 22, at 8 p.m. Tickets range from $40 to $45.

• Queen tribute act Almost Queen will perform at the Chubb Theatre on Saturday, Oct. 23, at 8 p.m. Tickets range from $27 to $47.

• Doobie Brothers tribute act The Doobie Others will take the stage at the Rex Theatre on Saturday, Oct. 23, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $29 in advance and $39 at the door.

• See John Cafferty & The Beaver Brown Band at The Flying Monkey Movie House & Performance Center on Saturday, Oct. 23, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $29.

• U2 tribute act Unforgettable Fire will perform at the Tupelo Music Hall on Saturday, Oct. 23, at 8 p.m. Tickets are $40.

• See Amythyst Kiah at the Bank of New Hampshire Stage on Sunday, Oct. 24, at 7 p.m. Tickets are $25.

The Glenn Miller Orchestra will be at the Tupelo Music Hall for two shows on Sunday, Oct. 24, at noon and at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are $40.

The Mavericks will perform two shows at The Historic Music Hall, on Tuesday, Oct. 26, and Wednesday, Oct. 27, at 7:30 p.m. each evening. Tickets range from $48 to $75.

• See Bad Bad Hats at the Bank of New Hampshire Stage on Friday, Oct. 29, at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15.

• The Adam Ezra Group will take the stage at the Flying Monkey Movie House & Performance Center on Friday, Oct. 29, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $25.

• Acclaimed Led Zeppelin tribute act Get the Led Out will be at the Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom on Saturday, Oct. 30, at 8 p.m. Tickets are $31 in advance and $36 at the door.

• The Rex Theatre will host an evening with Jonathan Edwards on Saturday, Oct. 30, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $29.

Bernard Ilsley will be at the Tupelo Music Hall on Sunday, Oct. 31, at 7 p.m. Tickets are $45.

• See Pat Metheny on Thursday, Nov. 4, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $79.

• Nashville-based singer-songwriter Liz Longley will be at the Tupelo Music Hall on Thursday, Nov. 4, at 8 p.m. Tickets are $25.

I Am Kaweki performs at the Bank of New Hampshire Stage on Friday, Nov. 5, at 8 p.m. Tickets are $18.

• Country star Phil Vassar will be at The Flying Monkey Movie House & Performance Center on Saturday, Nov. 6, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $44.

Buddy Guy and Samantha Fish will be at the Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom on Saturday, Nov. 6, at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $31.

The U2 Show, a tribute act to the acclaimed rockers, is set for Saturday, Nov. 6, at 7:30 p.m. at the Rex Theatre. Tickets range from $29 to $39.

Hollywood Nights, a tribute to Bob Seger, will be at the Tupelo Music Hall on Saturday, Nov. 6, at 8 p.m. Tickets are $35.

The Kitchen Dwellers will perform at the Bank of New Hampshire Stage on Sunday, Nov. 7, at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15.

• See Lettuce at The Historic Music Hall on Sunday, Nov. 7, at 8 p.m. Tickets range from $32 to $52.

George Winston will be at the Tupelo Music Hall on Sunday, Nov. 7, at 7 p.m. Tickets range from $40 to $60.

Harlem 100, a show celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Harlem Renaissance with several local live performances, will be at the Chubb Theatre on Tuesday, Nov. 9, at 7:30 p.m. Admission is free (limit of four tickets per party).

• See The Wailin’ Jennys at The Flying Monkey Movie House & Performance Center on Thursday, Nov. 11, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $59.

The Blues Project will be at the Tupelo Music Hall on Thursday, Nov. 11, at 8 p.m. Tickets are $35.

• See Jocelyn & Chris at the Bank of New Hampshire Stage on Friday, Nov. 12, at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $12.

Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story will be at the Chubb Theatre on Friday, Nov. 12, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $44.50.

• Multi-platinum-selling country artist Joe Nichols will be at the Tupelo Music Hall on Friday, Nov. 12, at 8 p.m. Tickets range from $45 to $65.

The Wailin’ Jennys will perform at The Historic Music Hall on Friday, Nov. 12, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $29.75.

• See Keller Williams at The Flying Monkey Movie House & Performance Center on Friday, Nov. 12, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $29.

Peter Wolf will also perform at the Tupelo Music Hall on Saturday, Nov. 13, at 8 p.m. Tickets range from $45 to $65.

• See singer-songwriter Marc Broussard at the Tupelo Music Hall on Sunday, Nov. 14, at 7 p.m. Tickets range from $35 to $55.

The Immediate Family will take the stage at the Tupelo Music Hall on Thursday, Nov. 18, at 8 p.m. Tickets range from $35 to $40.

Roomful of Blues will be at the Tupelo Music Hall on Friday, Nov. 19, at 8 p.m. Tickets are $30.

Jamantrics Reunion will be at the Bank of New Hampshire Stage on Friday, Nov. 19, at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15.

• See Alasdair Fraser and Natalie Haas at the Bank of New Hampshire Stage on Saturday, Nov. 20, at 8 p.m. Tickets are $30.

Glen Phillips of Toad the Wet Sprocket and Chris Barron of Spin Doctors will perform a dual show at The Flying Monkey Movie House & Performance Center on Saturday, Nov. 20, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $29.

• Singer-songwriter Jake Clemons will perform at the Rex Theatre on Saturday, Nov. 20, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets range from $29 to $39.

• See The Psychedelic Furs at the Chubb Theatre on Sunday, Nov. 21, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets range from $29 to $49.

• See Eric Martin of Mr. Big at the Tupelo Music Hall on Sunday, Nov. 21, at 7 p.m. Tickets range from $30 to $35.

The Freese Brothers Big Band will be at the Rex Theatre on Sunday, Nov. 21, at 2 p.m. Tickets are $29.

Live music venues

Anheuser-Busch Tour Center & Biergarten, 221 Daniel Webster Hwy., Merrimack, greatamericanconcerts.com

Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion, 72 Meadowbrook Lane, Gilford, 293-4700, meadowbrook.net

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

Chubb Theatre, 44 S. Main St., Concord, 225-1111, ccanh.com

Fletcher-Murphy Park, 28 Fayette St., Concord, 225-1111, ccanh.com

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

Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom, 169 Ocean Blvd., Hampton Beach, 929-4100, casinoballroom.com

Historic Music Hall, 28 Chestnut St., Portsmouth, 436-2400, themusichall.org

Music Hall Loft, 131 Congress St., Portsmouth, 436-2400, themusichall.org

Palace Theatre, 80 Hanover St., Manchester, 668-5588, palacetheatre.org

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

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

Fairs & Fests

• The Hillsborough County Agricultural Fair returns to Hilldale Lane in New Boston from Friday, Sept. 10, through Sunday, Sept. 12, featuring a weekend full of midway rides, demonstrations, 4-H animal shows and exhibitors, live music and more. Visit hcafair.org.

Auburn day and duck race

The Auburn Historical Association is holding its annual Auburn Day and Duck Race on Saturday, Sept. 11, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Auburn Day is the Association’s largest fundraiser, taking place out in front of the Griffin Free Public Library and featuring dozens of food and craft vendors. New this year will be an Author’s Alley with several local authors set up for a meet and greet in the library parking lot. During the duck race, thousands of rubber ducks are set adrift on Sucker Brook, with prizes being awarded to first through 10th place. On Friday, Sept. 10, there will also be a mini-fest hosted by the town’s Parks and Recreation Department, at Auburn Village School (11 Eaton Hill Road). Happenings will include live music, eats from local food trucks and a fireworks display. Visit auburnhistorical.org.

Hollis Old Home Days are happening on Friday, Sept. 10, and Saturday, Sept. 11, at Nichols Field and the adjacent Lawrence Barn (Depot Road, Hollis). Festivities will include a town parade, midway rides, a local artisan market, live entertainment and a fireworks celebration at dusk on Saturday. Visit hollisoldhomedays.org.

• Join Petals in the Pines (126 Baptist Road, Canterbury) for its ninth annual New Hampshire Monarch Festival on Saturday, Sept. 11, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The festival aims to educate kids and adults about the monarch butterfly, featuring games and activities, local vendors, children’s book authors, butterfly wing tagging, free milkweed seeds and more. There is a $5 suggested donation for adults, but kids receive free admission. Visit petalsinthepines.com/monarch-festival.

Thunder Over New Hampshire

Thunder Over New Hampshire, an air show featuring the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds as well as performances by flying aerobatics pilots such as Rob Holland and Mike Wiskus, will take place at Pease Air National Guard Base in Newington on Saturday, Sept. 11, and Sunday, Sept. 12, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on both days. Flying will take place from noon to 4 p.m. on both days; see the lineup of all the performers at thunderovernewhampshire.com. Admission is free, though on-site parking requires reservations (see the website for parking tickets in advance). There will also be military and civilian planes as part of a ground display, kid activities and concessions, according to the website.

• The Granite State Fair (formerly the Rochester Fair) will be held from Thursday, Sept. 16, through Sunday, Sept. 19, and from Thursday, Sept. 23, through Sept. 26, at the Rochester Fairgrounds (72 Lafayette St., Rochester). The fair features midway rides, a full schedule of live music, local vendors and exhibitors, circus performances and more. Advanced tickets are $8 per person and are available through Sept. 12. Tickets at the door are $10 per person (free for children ages 8 and under). Visit granitestatefair.com.

• The American Independence Museum (1 Governors Lane, Exeter) is throwing a 300th birthday party on Friday, Sept. 17, from 5 to 7 p.m., to celebrate the anniversary of the historic Ladd-Gilman House. The event will be held on the newly reconstructed lawn of the Folsom Tavern and will feature an evening of cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, a silent auction and music. Tickets are $75 per person. Visit independencemuseum.org.

• Loon Mountain in Lincoln will once again transform into the Scottish Highlands for one weekend during the New Hampshire Highland Games & Festival, happening from Friday, Sept. 17, through Sunday, Sept. 19. The flagship event of the New Hampshire Gathering of the Scottish Clans, the games and festival will celebrate Scottish culture with music and dance competitions, local vendors and more, all at Loon Mountain Resort (60 Loon Mountain Road, Lincoln). This year, tickets will be sold per carload. A carload admission ticket is $200 per vehicle for one-day admittance (up to five people per vehicle, including children; ages 2 and under are free). Visit nhscot.org.

• Don’t miss Derryfest, scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 18, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at MacGregor Park (East Broadway, Derry). Derryfest features a full day of live entertainment, including games, balloons, live animal demonstrations, local crafters and vendor booths. Visit derryfest.org.

Pelham’s Old Home Day is set for Saturday, Sept. 18, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 3 Main St. and will feature a variety of activities, like craft vendors, food trucks, a town parade, live performances, a penny sale, a cornhole tournament and more. Visit pelhamoldhomeday.org.

• TEAM Exeter will host its annual Fall Equinox Festival on Saturday, Sept. 18, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Swasey Parkway, featuring live music, artisan vendors, local food, children’s activities, dance performances and cultural exhibits. There is a suggested donation of $10 per person or $20 per family. Visit teamexeter.com.

Granite State Comic Con returns on Saturday, Sept. 18, and Sunday, Sept. 19, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the DoubleTree by Hilton Manchester Downtown (700 Elm St., Manchester). One of the largest area comic book and pop culture festivals, Granite State Comic Con features panels and workshops, costume contests and other competitions, local exhibitors and more. Admission is $25 per person on Saturday and $20 on Sunday, or you can get a weekend pass for $40. Visit granitecon.com.

• The Sandown Old Home Day Fall Festival returns to Sandlot Sports (56 North Road, Sandown) from Friday, Sept. 24, through Sunday, Sept. 26. Festivities will include live entertainment, games, craft and food vendors, a 5K fun run and a fireworks display. Follow festival happenings on Facebook @sandownnhfallfestival.

• Join the Mt. Kearsarge Indian Museum (18 Highlawn Road, Warner) for its Harvest Moon Festival and Naturefest, happening on Sunday, Sept. 26, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. There will be Native American foods for sale, plus craft demonstrations, tomahawk throwing, and a special “raptor rapture” program with New Hampshire Audubon. Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for children and for Indian Museum members, or $30 per family. Visit indianmuseum.org.

Go Joe!

If this summer’s Snake Eyes movie got you back into G.I. Joe you may want to check out the New England G.I. Joe Show, on Sunday, Sept. 26, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Holiday Inn (9 Northeastern Blvd. In Nashua). Admission costs $5 (kids under 12 get in free); early bird preview starts at 9 a.m. when admission costs $10, according to the event’s Facebook page. According to a post about the 2020 show, the event features vintage (‘60s and ‘70s) through modern-era figures as well as G.I. Joe comic books and more.

• The Deerfield Fair, scheduled from Thursday, Sept. 30, through Sunday, Oct. 3, at the Deerfield Fairgrounds (34 Stage Road), will feature amusement park rides, live music and other performances, 4-H animal shows and demonstrations and much more. Fair hours are from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets are $12 for adults and free for kids ages 12 and under. Visit deerfieldfair.com.

• Charmingfare Farm (774 High St., Candia) is holding a multi-day pumpkin festival featuring pumpkin picking, tractor train rides, horse-drawn wagons, pumpkin art, live music and more. Visit their website to pick a date and time to attend. Available dates are Saturday, Oct. 2, and Sunday, Oct. 3, and Saturday, Oct. 9, through Monday, Oct. 11. Tickets are $22 per person and must be purchased online (free for kids ages 23 months and under). Visit visitthefarm.com.

• The Milford Pumpkin Festival is returning to the town’s Oval from Friday, Oct. 8, through Sunday, Oct. 10. Festivities will include live music on the Community House Lawn and Oval stages all three days, plus local food and artisan vendors, scarecrow making, pumpkin and face painting, circus and dance performances and other family-friendly activities. Visit milfordpumpkinfestival.org.

• A modified version of the Warner Fall Foliage Festival is scheduled from Friday, Oct. 8, through Sunday, Oct. 10, in downtown Warner. While the parades and the children’s fun run have been canceled, the festival will still feature local craft and artisan vendors, rides, food, music, competitions and more. Visit wfff.org.

• The Goffstown Giant Pumpkin Weigh-off and Regatta returns to the Goffstown Historic Village on Saturday, Oct. 16, and Sunday, Oct. 17, featuring local vendor booths, pumpkin boats and more. Visit goffstownmainstreet.org/pumpkin-regatta.

Professional Bull Riders

The PBR Monster Energy Invitational comes to the SNHU Arena (555 Elm St. in Manchester; 644-5000, snhuarena.com) on Friday, Oct. 15, at 7:45 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 16, at 6:45 p.m. Tickets for either show, featuring professional bull riders in a championship competition for a world finals in early November (according to the arena website), start at $19. On pbr.com, find add-on events, such as an Granite State Escape Room event on Oct. 16 at 11 a.m. for $75 per ticket.

Art

Exhibits

• The Currier Museum of Art(150 Ash St., Manchester; 669-6144, currier.org) has a number of special exhibitions on display now and into the fall. “The Body in Art: From the Spiritual to the Sensual,” which runs through Sept. 12, provides a look at how artists through the ages have used the human body as a means of creative expression. Philadelphia-based potter Roberto Lugo pays homage to his Puerto Rican heritage and explores his cultural identity in the exhibit “Te traigo mi le lo lai – I bring you my joy,” up through Sept. 26. “As Precious as Gold, Carpets from the Islamic World” opens on Oct. 23 and will feature 32 carpets dating from the 15th century to the 19th century. Museum admission costs $15 for adults, $13 for seniors age 65 and up, $10 for students, $5 for youth ages 13 through 17 and is free for members and children under age 13. Museum hours are Thursday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Friday through Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• The Portsmouth Historical Society (10 Middle St., Portsmouth, portsmouthhistory.org) has two exhibits on display now through Sept. 12. “Twilight of American Impressionism” showcases New England painters and masters of impressionism Alice Ruggles Sohier and Frederick A. Bosley. “Don Gorvett: Working Waterfronts” features more than 60 works by the contemporary Seacoast printmaker. Admission costs $7.50 for adults and is free for kids under age 18, seniors age 70 and older and active and retired military. Gallery hours are daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• The New Hampshire Art Association presents an exhibit, “Images Made from Adventures Great and Small, featuring photographs by Sarah Cail, at the Concord Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center (49 S. Main St.) now through Sept. 16, followed by “Around New Hampshire,” featuring the oil paintings of Elaine Farmer, from Sept. 21 through Dec. 16. The New Hampshire Art Association also has several exhibitions at its NHAA’s Robert Lincoln Levy Gallery (136 State St., Portsmouth) on view now through Sept. 26. “Landscapes – Real & Imagined” features paintings by Peter Anderson. “Circle of Life” is a themed show featuring works by multiple artists. “The Shop: Photographs of European Auto of Rye” features work by Carol Van Loon. “And What a Time it’s Been” features a compilation of new works created by painters JoAnn Portalupi and Shawn Pelech during the past 18 months of pandemic living, and will include a conversation with the artists at the gallery on Sunday, Sept. 12, from 2 to 4 p.m. Visit nhartassociation.org or call 431-4230.

• Art 3 Gallery (44 W. Brook St., Manchester, 668-6650, art3gallery.com) has an exhibit, “Think Outside the Box,” on view now through Sept. 30, featuring experimental pieces in a variety of media created by local artists during the pandemic.

• Creative Framing Solutions (89 Hanover St., Manchester) features work by different New Hampshire Art Association artists every month. The artists for September are Ellen Marlatt, Eileen Belanger and Elizabeth Craumer. There will be an artist reception on Friday, Sept. 10, from 5 to 8 p.m. Visit nhartassociation.org or call 431-4230.

• A new community art installation, “1,000 Cranes for Nashua, is on display now in The Atrium at St. Joseph Hospital (172 Kinsley St., Nashua). It features more than 1,000 origami paper cranes created by hundreds of Nashua-area kids, adults and families since April. Visit nashuasculpturesymposium.org.

• The Women’s Caucus for Art’s New Hampshire Chapter presents an exhibit, “Kick-Start!, at Twiggs Gallery (254 King St., Boscawen; 975-0015, twiggsgallery.wordpress.com) from Sept. 11 through Oct. 31, with an opening reception on Saturday, Sept. 11, from 1 to 3 p.m. The shoe-themed exhibit will feature paintings, sculptures, artist books, drawings and mixed media pieces.

• The New Hampshire Art Association presents its 22nd annual Joan L. Dunfey Exhibition at the NHAA Robert Lincoln Levy Gallery (136 State St., Portsmouth) from Sept. 29 through Nov. 28. It features artwork in a variety of media by regional NHAA members and non-members that follows the theme “Portals.” Visit nhartassociation.org or call 431-4230.

• The Kimball Jenkins Estate (266 N. Main St., Concord, 225-3932, kimballjenkins.com) presents its “Salon 2021” exhibition from Nov. 6 through Jan. 6. The exhibition features offbeat and experimental works in a variety of media by regional artists with diverse studio practices and artistic approaches.

• Manchester art gallery Kelley Stelling Contemporary presents an exhibition, “The Dysfunction of Social Practice,at the Kimball Jenkins Estate (266 N. Main St., Concord). The exhibition, which opens on Nov. 20, will feature paintings, sculpture and performance works by five New Hampshire artists. Visit kelleystellingcontemporary.com.

Fests and fairs

• The annual TEAM Fall Equinox Festival will take place along Swasey Parkway in downtown Exeter on Saturday, Sept. 18, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. It will feature live music, artist vendors, local food, yoga, activities for kids and more. Admission is a suggested donation of $10 per person or $20 per family. Visit teamexeter.com.

• The ​last two Concord Arts Markets of the season will take place on Saturdays, Sept. 18 and Oct. 16, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Rollins Park (33 Bow St., Concord). The juried outdoor market features a variety of art and crafts by local artists and craftspeople. Visit concordartsmarket.net.

• The Canterbury Artisan Festival returns to Canterbury Shaker Village (288 Shaker Road, Canterbury, 783-9511, shakers.org.) on Saturday, Sept. 25, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The annual event celebrates artisanal, handcrafted works and features live music and demonstrations. Admission costs $12 for adults, $6 for Village members, and is free for youth and young adults under age 25.

• The Capital Arts Fest, hosted by the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen, will take place on Saturday, Sept. 25, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, Sept. 26, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., outside the League of NH Craftsmen headquarters (49 S. Main St., Concord). The fair will feature contemporary and traditional crafts by League members and invited artisans, live music, pop-up street theater, dance performances, author presentations and more. Visit nhcrafts.org or call 224-3375.

• The Beaver Brook Association (117 Ridge Road, Hollis, 465-7787, beaverbrook.org) hosts its 40th annual Fall Festival and Nature Art Show on Saturday, Sept. 25, and Sunday, Sept. 26, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The event will feature art by regional artists, children’s art, live music, live animal demonstrations, guided hikes and natural products for sale.

• Girls at Work, a Manchester-based nonprofit that empowers girls through woodworking and building, will host its inaugural Women’s Artisan Fair on Friday, Oct. 15, and Saturday, Oct. 16. The fair will feature handcrafted fashion pieces, home goods, paintings and other visual arts by women artisans. More information is TBA. Visit girlswork.org or call 345-0392.

Classical Music

•​ Two piano concerts are coming to the Concord City Auditorium (2 Prince St., Concord). Richard Dowling performs “The World’s Greatest Piano Masterpieces” on Saturday, Oct. 2, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $20 at the door or $23 online. William Ogmundson performs American piano music on Wednesday, Oct. 6, at 7:30 p.m. That concert is free. Call 344-4747 or visit ccca-audi.org.

•​ Symphony New Hampshire’s opening night concert will take place on Saturday, Oct. 9, at the Keefe Center for the Arts (117 Elm St., Nashua). The concert will feature Frank Ticheli’s There Will Be Rest, a tribute to health care workers and those lost during the pandemic, followed by Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante for Four Winds and the concert chamber orchestra suite of Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess. Visit symphonynh.org.

•​ The New Hampshire Philharmonic presents “From Darkness to Hope” at Seifert Performing Arts Center (44 Geremonty Dr., Salem) on Saturday, Oct. 16, and Sunday, Oct. 17. The concert will feature Beethoven’s Coriolan Overture, Adagio for Strings by Samuel Barber and Tchaikovsky’s Fifth Symphony. Visit nhphil.org.

•​ The Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra’s fall concert will be held at The Music Hall Historic Theater (28 Chestnut St., Portsmouth, themusichall.org, 436-2400) on Sunday, Oct. 24, at 3 p.m. The concert will feature Tchaikovsky’s Tempest, Julius Eastman’s “Gay Guerilla” and Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony. Tickets cost $25 to $35 for adults, $25 to $30 for seniors age 60 and up and $20 for students.

•​ Symphony New Hampshire presents “Suites and Schubert” on Friday, Nov. 5, at St. Mary and Archangel Michael Coptic Orthodox Church (39 Chandler St., Nashua). The concert will feature music by Bach, Schubert and Florence Price, the first African American female composer to have her music performed by a major symphony orchestra in 1933. Notable pieces will include Price’s Suite of Dances, Bach’s Orchestral Suite No. 3, “Air on a G String,” and Schubert’s Symphony No. 5. Visit symphonynh.org.

Film

• The Silent Film Series at the Flying Monkey (39 S. Main St. in Plymouth, flyingmonkeynh.com, 536-2551) continues through the fall, with screenings accompanied by live music performed by Jeff Rapsis. On Thursday, Sept. 9, catch The Shakedown (1929). On Thursday, Oct. 21, the film is The Phantom Of the Opera (1925), starring Lon Chaney. On Wednesday, Nov. 10, it’s The Big Parade (1925). For all films, doors open at 6 p.m. and the movie starts at 6:30 p.m. General admission costs $10.

Fathom Events has a full slate of anniversary screenings and other special movie screenings this fall. Upcoming screenings include the 35th-anniversary screening of Labyrinth (PG, 1986, David Bowie) at the AMC Londonderry and the Regal Fox Run in Newington Sept. 12 at 3 and 7 p.m. and Sept. 13 and Sept. 15 at 7 p.m.; Forever Golden: A celebration of The Golden Girls featuring a screening of some of the series episodes on Sept. 14 at 7 p.m. at Cinemark Rockingham Park in Salem and Regal Fox Run in Newington; Citizen Kane (1941) on Sept. 19 at 3 p.m. at Cinemark Rockingham Park and Regal Fox Run (where it will also screen at 7 p.m.) and on Sept. 22 at 7 p.m. at both locations; and Carrie (R, 1976) at AMC Londonderry and Regal Fox Run on Sept. 26 at 3 and 7 p.m. and on Sept. 29 at 7 p.m. Find a complete roster of upcoming events and purchase tickets at fathomevents.com.

Rex Theatre (23 Amherst St. in Manchester; 668-5588, palacetheatre.org) has several movies on the schedule this fall. As part of its Movies for a Cause series, catch recent classics (1980s and after) at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $12 and benefit a local organization. Next up on the schedule: Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (PG, 1989) on Sept. 14, Field of Dreams (PG, 198 ) on Sept. 15, Hedwig and the Angry Inch (R, 2001) on Sept. 21, Serial Mom (R, 1994) on Sept. 22, Frankenweenie (R, 2012) on Oct. 17, and The Nightmare Before Christmas (PG, 1993) on Oct. 18. Also on the schedule for the Rex: Nosferatu (1922), the silent film starring Max Schreck and directed by F.W. Murnau,will screen with live musical accompaniment by Jeff Rapsis on Thursday, Oct. 28, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $10.

Telluride by the Sea returns to the Music Hall (28 Chestnut St. in Portsmouth; themusichall.org, 436-2400) Friday, Sept. 17, through Sunday, Sept. 19. This year’s new (not yet widely released) films on the lineup include director Jane Campion’s The Power of the Dog, the film A Hero from Iran, the Maggie Gyllenhaal-directed The Lost Daughter, The Hand of God from Italy, the documentary Cow and the documentary The Real Charlie Chaplin. Tickets to individual films cost $20 and packages including all films and special events and seating are also available.

• Jeff Rapsis will also be performing at silent films screening at the Wilton Town Hall Theatre (Main Street in Wilton; wiltontownhalltheatre.com). Drifting (1923) will screen on Sunday, Sept. 19, at 2 p.m. On Sunday, Oct. 10, it’s The White Tiger (1923). On Friday, Oct. 29, at 7:30 p.m. it’s The Blackbird (1923). On Saturday, Oct. 30, at 2 p.m. it’s Outside the Law (1920) and The Unholy Three (1925). On Sunday, Oct. 31, at 2 p.m. it’s Where East is East (1929). On Sunday, Nov. 14, it’s Hot Water (1924), starring Harold Lloyd. On Sunday, Nov. 28, catch Paths to Paradise (1925) and Hands Up! (1926). All Sunday films start at 2 p.m.; suggested donation is $10.

• Be part of the film festival jury at the 24th annual Manhattan Short Film Festival, which will screen Friday, Oct. 1, through Sunday, Oct. 3, at NHTI in Concord (in Sweeney Hall). Watch the 10 shorts that made it to the final round (out of 960 entries from 70 countries) and then vote for the film you think should win. Admission costs $10. The batch of 10 films will screen Friday, Oct. 1, at 7 p.m.; Saturday, Oct. 2, at 2 and 7 p.m., and Sunday, Oct. 3, at 2 p.m. Find information about the films at manhattanshort.com.

The Invisible Man meets The Wolf Man

Two Universal monster movie classics are getting a double feature release in theaters on Saturday, Oct. 30. Catch 1933’s The Invisible Man (starring Claude Rains and Gloria Stuart) and 1941’s The Wolf Man (also starring Rains as well as Ralph Bellamy, Bela Lugosi and Lon Chaney Jr.) starting at 1 p.m. at AMC Londonderry 10 (16 Orchard View Dr.), Cinemark Rockingham Park 12 (15 Mall Road in Salem) and Regal Fox Run Stadium 15 (45 Gosling Road in Newington). Tickets cost $12.50. Find more information at Fathom Events (fathomevents.com).

Food

Tastings, Classes, Workshops & Meals

• The Women’s Fellowship of the Union Congregational Church (71 Main St.) will host a lasagna dinner on Thursday, Sept. 9, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The dinner will feature a spread of homemade meat and vegetable lasagnas, along with tossed salads, Italian breads, assorted home-baked pies and more. Tickets will be sold at the door only (no reservations). The cost is $10 for adults and $5 for children. To-go containers are also available. Find the church on Facebook @uccunionnh.

• LaBelle Winery (345 Route 101, Amherst; 14 Route 111, Derry) has several cooking and wine pairing classes coming up on its schedule at both locations; the next two, set for Wednesday, Sept. 15, and Thursday, Sept. 16, both in Derry at 6 p.m. will respectively cover classic wine and chocolate pairings and knife skills. A similar knife skills class is planned for the Amherst space on Wednesday, Sept. 22, also at 6 p.m. Visit labellewinery.com for the full schedule.

• The Bedford Village Inn (2 Olde Bedford Way, Bedford) will continue its summer dinner series with a New Orleans dinner on Thursday, Sept. 23, at 6 p.m. on its Grand Terrace. The five-course dinner will feature New Orleans-inspired options, and each course will be paired with a classic handcrafted New Orleans cocktail. Tickets are $125 per person (event is open to attendees ages 21 and up only). Visit bedfordvillageinn.com.

• Join LaBelle Winery (345 Route 101, Amherst) at its Amherst location for a beer recipes cooking class on Wednesday, Oct. 6, at 6 p.m. Attendees will get to enjoy a sample of several items cooked with beer, including beer-battered fish tacos, bratwurst in beer with sauerkraut and stout beer chocolate cheesecake. Wine pairings and recipe cards will also be provided. Admission is $32.70 per person. Visit labellewinery.com.

• The next boxed Greek dinner to go, a drive-thru takeout event at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church (68 N. State St., Concord), is happening on Sunday, Oct. 10, from noon to 1 p.m. Orders are being accepted now for boxed meals, featuring half lemon roasted chicken. The event is drive-thru and takeout only — email ordermygreekfood@gmail.com or call 953-3051 to place your order. For details on any future takeout events at the church, visit holytrinitynh.org.

• LaBelle Winery will host classes in decorative focaccia bread making, first at its Derry location (14 Route 111) on Wednesday, Oct. 13, at 6 p.m., and then at its Amherst location on Wednesday, Oct. 20, at 6 p.m. Founder and winemaker Amy LaBelle will walk participants through how to make their own focaccia bread from scratch and how to decorate it with fresh herbs and vegetables to create an edible work of art. The cost is $49.05 per person (including tax) and all ingredients and tools will be provided. Visit labellewinery.com.

• Local chowder and chili makers will compete for the best dish during the 20th annual Lake Sunapee Chowder and Chili Challenge, happening on Sunday, Oct. 17, from noon to 3 p.m. at Sunapee Harbor. A kids tent and local vendors are also expected. See the event on Facebook @chowderchallenge.

• Enjoy Thanksgiving afternoon tea with The Cozy Tea Cart of Brookline, happening on Sunday, Nov. 14, from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Gatherings at The Colonel Shepard House (29 Mont Vernon St., Milford). In addition to teas, food options will include multiple types of tea breads and sandwiches, seasonal pastries and more. Tickets are $39.95 per person and reservations are required. Visit thecozyteacart.com.

• The Bedford Village Inn (2 Olde Bedford Way, Bedford) will hold its annual Able Ebenezer FORUM Ale Dinner on Thursday, Nov. 18, from 6 to 9 p.m. in its Charolais Room. The event will start with a cocktail hour and hors d’oeuvres, followed by a four-course dinner, with each course paired with a craft beer selection from Able Ebenezer Brewing Co. of Merrimack. Tickets are $79 per person and must be purchased in advance. Visit bedfordvillageinn.com.

• Have a Feast of the Pilgrims at the Colby Hill Inn (33 The Oaks, Henniker) on Saturday, Nov. 20. The multi-course wine dinner will feature the chef’s interpretations of some of the foods that could have been served at the original Thanksgiving feast, based on records of what was available during the fall harvest in Plymouth. Live music will also be featured. The cost is $130 per person. Visit colbyhillinn.com.

Festivals

• Join The Children’s Museum of New Hampshire (6 Washington St., Dover) for the NH Maker & Food Fest, set for Saturday, Sept. 18, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. New this year, the event is offering a “pay what you can” admission (suggested donations are $5 per person). Visit childrens-museum.org.

• The Egyptian Food Festival is due to return to St. Mary and Archangel Michael Coptic Orthodox Church of Nashua (39 Chandler St.) from Friday, Sept. 17, through Sunday, Sept. 19. Visit stmarycoptsnh.org or follow the church on Facebook @stmaryandarchangelmichael.

Glendi

Get your pastichio, Greek meatballs, baklava and more at Glendi, a three-day festival celebrating Greek culture with food, live music, dancing and crafts. The long-running event will return for the first time since 2019 to St. George Greek Orthodox Cathedral (650 Hanover St., Manchester), from Friday, Sept. 17, through Sunday, Sept. 19. Festival hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday (with food service ending at 9:30 p.m.) and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday. Visit stgeorgeglendi.com or follow festival happenings on Facebook @glendinh.

• Food options from around the world will be represented at the Concord Multicultural Festival, returning on Sunday, Sept. 19, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. to a new location at Keach Park (Newton Ave., Concord). Food vendors include restaurants and community members, and the festival also features live entertainment, artisan vendors and more. Visit concordnhmulticulturalfestival.org.

• Join The Stone Church Music Club (5 Granite St., Newmarket) for Oysterfest, scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 19, from noon to 5 p.m., an outdoor event that will feature several local oyster farms, craft beer and live music. Visit stonechurchrocks.com.

• Don’t get yourself in a pickle, because the Winchester Pickle Festival is due to return to downtown Winchester on Saturday, Sept. 25. An event celebrating the town’s Polish heritage, the festival will feature local vendors all day, free Patriot Pickle Co. pickles on the Town Hall lawn (corner of Main Street and Route 119) until they are gone, and photo opportunities at noon on the gazebo with “Mr. Pickle.” Visit winchesternhpicklefestival.org for a full schedule of events.

• Join Tuscan Market (9 Via Toscana, Salem) for Passeggiata: Walk of Wine, an annual festival featuring more than 40 Italian and world wines along with several stationary and passed appetizers happening on Saturday, Sept. 25, from 1 to 4 p.m. Tickets are $30 per person. Visit tuscanbrands.com.

• The New London Rotary Club and the Lake Sunapee Region Chamber of Commerce are organizing the second annual New London Food Truck Festival on the Town Green on Sunday, Sept. 26, from noon to 4 p.m. More than 10 local food trucks are expected to attend, and a beer tent and live music from Peabody’s Coal Train are expected as well. Admission is $8 for adults and $5 for kids (foods are sold separately per item), with proceeds benefiting the Rotary Club’s Charitable Foundation. Visit lakesunapeeregionchamber.com.

• Join Black Bear Vineyard & Winery (289 New Road, Salisbury) for its annual Harvest Weekend on Saturday, Sept. 25, and Sunday, Sept. 26. Attendees can enjoy live music outside between 1 and 5 p.m. each day, and will also have the opportunity to learn how grapes are processed from vine to wine. Food trucks will be on site all day too. Reservations are not required, but bringing your own chairs is recommended. Visit blackbearvineyard.com.

Apple Harvest Day returns to downtown Dover on Saturday, Oct. 2, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The day-long family event features more than 300 vendors, food, live entertainment and more. Visit dovernh.org/apple-harvest-day.

• Join The Salvation Army of Nashua for its annual Applefest, a two-day event happening on Saturday, Oct. 2, and Sunday, Oct. 3, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day, at Sullivan Farm (70 Coburn Ave., Nashua). Applefest features a variety of family-friendly fall activities, like apple picking, hay rides, scarecrow making, pumpkin painting and more. Demonstrations from local restaurants and groups will take place throughout both days, and fresh cider, apple pies, ice cream, hamburgers and hot dogs will be available for sale. Visit nne.salvationarmy.org/nashua/applefest.

New Hampshire PoutineFest Spooktacular

A special Halloween edition of the event beloved by poutiniacs from all over New England, the New Hampshire PoutineFest Spooktacular will take place at Anheuser-Busch Tour Center & Biergarten (221 Daniel Webster Hwy., Merrimack) on Saturday, Oct. 23, with VIP entry at 11:30 a.m. and general admittance at 12:45 p.m. Restaurants, food trucks and other vendors will be vying for your palate for the best poutine dish, and the festival will also feature craft beer, children’s activities, games and a DJ. Attendees are encouraged to dress in costume. Tickets to the festival go on sale on Saturday, Sept. 18, and are $39.99 for general admission, $49.99 for VIP admission, $14.99 for kids ages 6 to 12 with sampling and free for kids ages 6 to 12 with no sampling and for kids ages 5 and under. Visit nhpoutinefestspooktacular.eventbrite.com. Photo by Matt Ingersoll.

• Join the Junior Service League of Concord for its annual Fall Festivus, returning on Thursday, Nov. 4, from 6:30 to 10 p.m. This year’s event will be held at The Barn at Bull Meadow (63 Bog Road, Concord) and will feature live music and beer, wine and food samples from local vendors. Tickets are $25 per person or $80 for a group of four. Visit jslconcord.org.

Drinks

• Join the Wilmot Public Library (11 N. Wilmot Road) for Brewing in New Hampshire: An Informal History of Beer in the Granite State from Colonial Times to the Present, a program scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 9, at 7 p.m., in partnership with New Hampshire Humanities. Presenter Glenn Knoblock will explore the history of the state’s beer and ale brewing industry from the Colonial days to today’s modern breweries and brew pubs. Visit nhhumanities.org.

• The Kingston Brewfest will return for a second year on Saturday, Sept. 25, from noon to 4 p.m., at 148 Main St. in Kingston. The event features a variety of local beer and food options, and live music is also planned. Tickets are $35 per person for full access to beer tastings, or $5 for designated drivers. Donations to the Kingston Volunteer Fire Association will also be accepted. Follow them on Facebook @kingstonbrewfest.

Red, White & Brew, a craft beer and wine festival presented by Veterans Count, returns to Funspot (579 Endicott St. N., Laconia) on Saturday, Sept. 25, with VIP admittance from noon to 1 p.m. and general admittance from 1 to 4 p.m. The event also features food, a car show, raffles, an auction and live music from The Bob Pratte Band. General admission is $35 and VIP admission is $50. Admission for all attendees includes sampling tickets and a commemorative glass while supplies last. Visit vetscount.org/nh/events/red-white-brew-craft-beer-wine-festival.

• To Share Brewing Co. (720 Union St., Manchester) will host an Oktoberfest celebration on Saturday, Sept. 25, from 1 to 9 p.m. featuring food specials, beer releases, stein hoisting competitions and more. Visit tosharebrewing.com.

• Northwoods Brewing Co. (1334 First New Hampshire Turnpike, Northwood) is holding its inaugural Fall Fest on Saturday, Sept. 25, featuring a trunk show from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. with more than 20 New England makers and small businesses, plus live music throughout the day, the release of a new Oktoberfest brew, fall cocktail specials, specialty food menus and more. Visit northwoodsbrewingcompany.com.

• LaBelle Winery (345 Route 101, Amherst) is holding a blindfolded wine tasting at its Amherst location on Wednesday, Sept. 29, at 6 p.m. Attendees will try five wines while blindfolded during the session, relying on their senses of smell and taste to guess which is which. Admission is $49.05 per person (including tax) and registration is required. Visit labellewinery.com.

• The Powder Keg Beer Festival returns to Swasey Parkway in Exeter on Saturday, Oct. 2, with two sessions, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 2 to 4 p.m. The event is presented by the Exeter Area Chamber of Commerce and the Exeter Parks and Recreation department, featuring more than 200 different beers, ciders and hard seltzers to taste from a variety of local vendors. In place of the chili this year, which is normally a staple of the festival, food trucks offering all kinds of options are expected to attend. Tickets are $35 per person, or $10 for designated drivers. Visit powderkegbeerfest.com.

• LaBelle Winery (345 Route 101, Amherst) will host the fourth and final session of its Walks in the Vineyard series on Sunday, Oct. 3, at 11 a.m. Vineyard manager Josh Boisvert and wine educator Marie King will lead attendees on an educational walk throughout LaBelle’s Amherst vineyard, focused on the vines’ overall life cycles. You’ll also have an opportunity to taste four different types of wines throughout the session. Admission is $27.25 per person and includes tax. Visit labellewinery.com.

• The Milford Rotary and Lions Clubs are working on presenting a lineup of vendors for two nights of beer, wine and spirits tastings during the Milford Pumpkin Festival, on Friday, Oct. 8, and Saturday, Oct. 9, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. on the Community House Lawn (Union Street, Milford). The cost is $15 per person for 10 tasting tickets before Oct. 4 and $20 per person after Oct. 4. Visit milfordpumpkinfestival.org/bws-tastings.

• The New Hampshire Brewfest will return to Cisco Brewers (35 Corporate Drive, Portsmouth) on Saturday, Oct. 9, with VIP admittance from noon to 1 p.m. and general admittance from 1 to 5 p.m. Admission ranges from $50 to $65 and includes access to tastings from a variety of New England-area craft breweries. Food options from local food trucks will also be available at an additional cost. Visit nhbrewfest.com.

• Don’t miss the Great Oktoberfest, happening on Saturday, Oct. 16, at Anheuser-Busch Tour Center & Biergarten (221 Daniel Webster Hwy., Merrimack). Two sessions are available, from noon to 3 p.m. or from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m., when attendees will get to taste more than two dozen fall and winter brews, including several authentic German varieties. The festival will also feature European-style food, live music, food trucks, games and more. Tickets start at $45 general admission and $15 for designated drivers, with proceeds supporting the Merrimack Rotary Club. Visit greatoktoberfest.com.

• Save the date for the Manchester Brewfest, which is due to return to Arms Park (Commercial Street, Manchester) on Sunday, Oct. 31, with VIP admittance from noon to 1 p.m. and general admittance from 1 to 4 p.m. Tickets are $40 general admission, $50 for VIP admission and $15 for designated drivers. Visit manchesterbrewfest.com.

Lakes Region Uncorked returns on Thursday, Nov. 4, to the Church Landing at Mill Falls (281 Daniel Webster Hwy., Meredith), with doors opening at 5 p.m. The event features tastings of more than a dozen area craft breweries and wineries, plus food samples, a silent auction, live music, raffles and more. General admission is $50 per person. There is also a premier ticket rate of $90 per person, which grants you access to a celebrity chef demonstration and tasting, with seatings at either 5:30 or 6:30 p.m. All proceeds benefit Lakes Region Community Services. Visit lakesregionuncorked.com.

• Get your ticket now to the eighth annual Distiller’s Showcase of Premium Spirits, happening on Thursday, Nov. 4, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at the DoubleTree by Hilton Manchester Downtown (700 Elm St., Manchester). The centerpiece of New Hampshire Distiller’s Week, the event features more than 700 spirits and foods from more than 25 restaurants to sample. Tickets are $60 per person, with proceeds benefiting the New Hampshire Food Bank. Visit distillersshowcase.com.

Books

Kerri Arsenault presents Mill Town:Reckoning with What Remains at The Music Hall (28 Chestnut St., Portsmouth, themusichall.org) on Thursday, Sept. 9, at 6 p.m. Tickets start at $60 for a small table with two copies of the book included.

Margaret Porter presents The Limits of Limelight at Gibson’s Bookstore (45 S. Main St., Concord, gibsonsbookstore.com) on Tuesday, Sept. 14, at 6 p.m.

• Bookery Manchester (844 Elm St., Manchester, bookerymht.com) welcomes R.W.W. Greene with his book Twenty Five to Life on Friday, Sept. 10, from 5:30 to 7 p.m.

Regina Hansen will be at Bookery Manchester (844 Elm St., Manchester, bookerymht.com) on Wednesday, Sept. 15, from 5 to 6 p.m., presenting her book The Coming Storm.

Lara Bricker presents Dead on Deadline at The Word Barn (66 Newfields Road, Exeter) on Wednesday, Sept. 15, at 7 p.m. Registration is required. Tickets are a suggested donation of $5 per person. Bricker will also be at Water Street Bookstore (125 Water St., Exeter) on Friday, Sept. 17, from 5 to 7 p.m. Visit waterstreetbooks.com.

Daniel Cantor Yalowitz presents Reflections on the Nature of Friendship at the Toadstool Bookshop (12 Depot Square, Peterborough, toadbooks.com) on Saturday, Sept. 18, at 11 a.m.

• Barnes & Noble (1741 S. Willow St., Manchester, barnesandnoble.com) welcomes Gigi Georges with her book Downeast: Five Maine Girls and the Unseen Story of Rural America, on Saturday, Sept. 18, at 1 p.m.

• A Freethinker’s Corner(652 A Central Ave., Dover, 343-2437, freethinkerscorner.com) will host a multi-author book signing and sale on Saturday, Sept. 18, from noon to 4 p.m., and a multi-author children’s book signing and sale on Saturday, Sept. 25, from noon to 4 p.m.

• Gibson’s Bookstore (45 S. Main St., Concord, gibsonsbookstore.com) welcomes Jeff Benedict with his book The Dynasty on Wednesday, Sept. 22, at 6 p.m.

Emma Philbrick will be at Barnes & Noble (1741 S. Willow St., Manchester, barnesandnoble.com) signing her book Arkivestia on Saturday, Sept. 25, at 1 p.m.

• Humor writer David Sedaris comes to the Capitol Center for the Arts (44 S. Main St., Concord, ccanh.com) on Sunday, Sept. 26, at 7 p.m. Tickets start at $49.

• Barnes & Noble (1741 S. Willow St., Manchester, barnesandnoble.com) hosts a book signing with Dianne Tolliver for her book Life Everyone Has a Story on Saturday, Oct. 9, at 10 a.m.Teks and Trails

Hike Happy

Heading into fall is the perfect time to go for a hike, with less heat and humidity, fewer bugs, and views that turn even more picturesque as the leaves start to change. All of this, along with the physical and mental health benefits, is a recipe for hiking happy. Find out how to do it safely, plus check out four southern New Hampshire hikes that prove you don’t have to hit the White Mountains to get in a challenging — but doable — climb.

Hiking well

Hit the trails for a healthy body and mind

by Angie Sykeny
asykeny@hippopress.com

From building muscle strength to lowering stress levels, hiking can have all kinds of benefits for your physical and mental wellness.

“Whether it’s daily, every other day or even just once a week, it’s really worth it for your health to go hiking regularly and spend some time out in nature,” said Lucie Villeneuve, outdoor guide and owner of outdoor guide service Outdoor ESCAPES New Hampshire.

Traversing a mixed terrain of rocks and boulders, tree roots, hills, streams and other natural landscape elements requires a variety of movements, Villeneuve said, giving you a unique full-body workout that you can’t get on an exercise machine or uniform walking surface.

“You’re using pretty much all of your muscles,” she said. “With every step, you’re twisting your ankles in different directions, and you’re putting the brakes on and off with your legs when you’re going uphill and downhill.”

For the same reason, hiking can lead to better balance, stability and coordination, particularly if you’re hiking a mountain where you may need to do some climbing.

“When you’re going up from one piece of rock to the next on your hands and feet, you’re essentially using your whole body, which really improves your balance,” said Conor Benoit, New Hampshire outdoor guide and owner of CMB Guide Service.

Hiking can also be a great workout for cardio and weight loss, depending on your pace and how rigorous the trail is. You could burn as much as 3,000 calories in a day of hiking, Villeneuve said, not only from the physical exertion but also from your body’s work to regulate your body temperature.

“If it’s hot or cold out, your body is going to burn more calories,” she said.

If you wear a backpack to carry some extra water, snacks and emergency supplies which you should that will also enhance your workout, Benoit said.

“A few pounds on your back may not sound like much, but by the time you [finish the hike] you’re definitely going to feel it,” he said.

Unlike working out on an exercise machine that you can turn off at any point, “you can’t just quit halfway” during a hike, Benoit said, which can help you push yourself to new physical limits. Setting a goal with a tangible reward, like reaching an interesting landmark or a place with beautiful scenery, can also motivate you to keep going.

“I’ve seen people consistently impressed with how far they are able to make it,” Benoit said. “When you make that commitment to yourself and have the mindset of ‘I’m so close; just a little farther,’ you see that you can accomplish more than you originally thought was possible.”

Hiking is good not just for the body but also for the mind, Villeneuve said. To get the most out of your hike, she recommends making a conscious effort to “be in the present moment,” push away thoughts about what you’ve got going on back home, and home in on your natural surroundings.

“You need to practice having awareness,” she said. “Use all of your senses to take it in: smell the fresh air; feel the temperature of the air; see the views that are right in front of you.”

Conversely, you could use hiking as an opportunity to “reflect [on] and process” things that have been on your mind, away from technology and other distractions, Benoit said, so that you can return to your home and work life with renewed energy and focus.

“That physical and mental exhaustion really sets you up to be more clear-headed throughout the week,” he said. “You leave [the hike] with less than what you carried in, feeling mentally lighter.”

Fall in line

Hiking safely as summer winds down

By Matt Ingersoll
mingersoll@hippopress.com

Photo courtesy of Jake King of Thrive Outdoors in Manchester.

Crisp weather and colorful foliage are great reasons to hit the hiking trails this fall — as long as you’re prepared for a change in the seasons that will bring shorter days and cooler temperatures.

“Fall is my favorite season to hike in behind winter. You don’t have to worry quite as much about sweating and losing all of your moisture,” said Jake King of Thrive Outdoors, a team-building and leadership assessment organization based in Manchester. “At the same time, fall nights get much cooler. … So if you’re stuck, any perspiration or moisture you have is now going to be used against you, whereas in the summer it really does help you cool off.”

One of the most important things to keep in mind when hiking in the fall is that the later in the season, the quicker it will get dark out. With however many hours of daylight you have, King said a good rule of thumb is to give yourself a third of it to get in and two thirds to get out.

“Always give yourself that extra time on the way out,” he said. “A lot of people will like to split it 50/50, thinking they’re going to get out just as quickly as they went in, but then if something goes south, you have no time to play with. … Remember that it’s going to get darker sooner, and then as soon as it does it’s going to get cooler.”

Rick Silverberg, chairman and leadership training coordinator of the Appalachian Mountain Club’s New Hampshire chapter, said the differences in elevation also play a role, as you’re more likely to encounter exposed areas above the trees.

“As soon as you get into those higher elevations, the temperatures get colder … [and] you have a lot more wind,” he said. “In the fall it’s much more dramatic.”

You don’t always have to start your hike dressed in layers. In fact, King said it’s much easier to control your body temperature level by layering up rather than down.

“You should always have a base layer … that sits up against the skin but isn’t too tight, and then a mid-layer and top layer that is wind- and water-resistant,” he said. “Don’t start with all of them on, though. Even if it’s a bit chilly, don’t start warm, because you may find that you’re overheating and once you start sweating, it’s too late. … You’ve broken that seal, so to speak.”

Early on in the fall, you won’t typically encounter a lot of frost. But as the season gets deeper into October and November, morning frost on certain surfaces has the potential to be hazardous.

“A frosty rock can be slippery,” King said. “The other thing to remember is if it starts to warm up during the day, then frost is going to turn into moisture, which is what you want to avoid.”

It’s good to remain mindful too of when specific trails or parks close for the season, which can be any time from mid-September to November depending on where you go.

If you’re heading out for views of the foliage, Silverberg said peak times of the year will differ in the state — far northern areas will usually see their peak a few weeks earlier than those in the south. It will also get colder at night much faster after all the leaves fall from the trees.

Tough but doable

A few challenging, family-friendly hikes

By Meghan Siegler
msiegler@hippopress.com

If you’re not ready to tackle the state’s 4,000-footers but want to take a real hike — as opposed to a walk on a rail trail that you could do wearing flip-flops — here are a few peaks in southern New Hampshire.

Mt. Monadnock. Photo courtesy of Matt Ingersoll.

Mount Monadnock, Jaffrey

There are a few ways to get to the top of Mount Monadnock, which stands at 3,165 feet — and none of them is a walk in the park. According to nhstateparks.com, “all routes to the top are steep and rocky.” There are three main access points. Monadnock HQ (169 Poole Road), which provides access to the main trails and is the most direct route to the top, and Old Toll Road (9 Halfway House Road), which provides access to many side trails and alternative destinations, are both 4-mile hikes that take approximately four hours to complete. Gilson Pond (585 Dublin Road) is a longer, less populated trail for hikers who are looking for solitude; it’s 6 miles and takes about six hours.

What it’s really like: “I was probably 12 or 13 years old the first time I climbed Mt. Monadnock, but I’ve seen kids and adults young and old successfully scale it. It’s a perfect moderately challenging day hike that will take you no more than a few hours each way up and down. What’s great about it is that, unlike having just one route to the top and one back down to the bottom, there are multiple inter-connecting trails of varying difficulty that you can take, all of which are very clearly marked and easy to follow. The shortest and simplest ones are probably either the White Dot Trail or the White Cross Trail. The White Dot has a very gradual level of steepness that starts to get a bit rockier near the top, but once you reach past the treelines, the views on a clear day are breathtaking. Personally, I like to go up via the White Dot and down via the White Cross, because the latter trail is a little bit steeper and will make for a quicker descent.” — Matt Ingersoll

If you go: Reservations are strongly recommended in order to secure a parking spot at any of the three trailheads. Visitors who do not make a reservation will be admitted on a first come, first served basis. Reservations can be made prior to arrival and no later than 3 p.m. that day at nhstateparks.org. The parking pass costs $15 and includes admission for six people in one vehicle.

Mount Kearsarge, Wilmot & Warner

To get to the summit of Mount Kearsarge, which stands at 2,937 feet and features a fire tower and bald face that offers 360-degree views, there are a few options. From Winslow State Park in Wilmot, there are two trails: the 1.1-mile Winslow Trail and the 1.7-mile Barlow Trail. The former is the more challenging option, while the latter is a more gradual climb and offers vistas of the Andover area, Ragged Mountain and Mount Cardigan. The trailhead has a good-sized picnic area and a playground for kids. The Rollins Trail begins at the picnic area in Rollins State Park in Warner and follows the route of the old carriage road for a half mile to the summit. You could also start at the Lincoln Trail at Kearsarge Valley Road, a 5-mile trail that climbs to the Rollins picnic area.

What it’s really like: “I’ve climbed Kearsarge several times with people of varying levels of fitness. I like that you can go up one main trail and down another so you’re getting different views throughout the hike, and saving your knees from the steeper Winslow Trail if you tackle that first and come down the gentler Barlow Trail. My teenagers both enjoyed this hike, though my daughter kept leaving my son and me in the dust, both on the way up and the way down, and we weren’t exactly taking our time. It definitely feels like a workout on the way up, and I’ve stopped for a few quick breathers no matter who I’ve hiked with. The view at the top is nice, though not quite as spectacular as Mount Major’s, in my opinion.” — Meghan Siegler

If you go: Reservations are strongly recommended and can be made online at nhstateparks.org. Parking is limited, but walk-in spaces are available on a first come, first served basis. Admission is $4 for adults, $2 for children 6 to 11, and free for kids 5 and under and New Hampshire residents who are 65 and older.

Mount Major, Alton

The 1.5-mile Mt. Major Trail begins at a parking area on Route 11 in Alton. The trail ascends a steep, severely eroded section and has some steep scrambles near the top. At 1.3 miles there are two alternate routes, one that forks to the right and climbs up steep ledges (potentially dangerous when wet or icy), and a detour that diverges left. The Brook Trail is 1.7 miles and begins at the junction of Mt. Major Trail and Belknap Range Trail. Aptly named, this trail features two brook crossings in higher water where “some very creative rock hopping is required to keep your feet dry,” according to belknaprangetrails.org. From there on the grade alternates between easy and moderate. The Boulder Loop Trail starts at the trailhead parking area on Route 11 and offers a somewhat gentler climb, with portions of it being part of a snowmobile trail. It features large boulders that you pass by and sometimes go through. At the summit, you’ll find the remnants of the George Phippen hut built in 1925.

What it’s really like: “First, the views at the top are amazing, looking out onto Lake Winnipesaukee, so it’s a well-worth-it reward for a hike that’s particularly tough at the end. I’ve done this one a few times, and my kids have been there more than once for summer camp field trips. There are moments during the climb where I wondered how kids managed to make it to the top; it’s certainly not easy. But it’s also a pretty popular hike — during the summer the parking lot is almost always overflowing, with cars parked along the main road, so if you’re not a fan of crowds, try to save this one for a weekday.” — Meghan Siegler

If you go: There’s no fee to climb Mount Major or to park; just be prepared to walk quite a ways from your car to the trailhead on a nice summer day when cars spill out onto the road.

Mount Sunapee, Newbury

The summit of Mount Sunapee, with an elevation of 2,743 feet, can be reached via ski trails or a number of hiking trails, including Summit, Lake Solitude and Newbury. According to mountsunapee.com, you can also hike any of the ski trails during the summer. Summit is a 2-mile trail at the lodge at Mount Sunapee. The Lake Solitude trail starts east of the summit, and it’s about a mile to White Ledges, which overlooks Lake Solitude. From there, Lake Solitude is a 0.6-mile hike from the overlook. The 2-mile Newbury Trail continues from Solitude Trail and does not return to the ski area base. The trailhead is near the southern end of Lake Sunapee off Route 103 in the village of Newbury, approximately 3 miles from Mount Sunapee Resort.

What it’s really like: “I just hiked Mount Sunapee for the first time a few weeks ago, and I’m not sure what took me so long to get there. Summit Trail is beautiful, although after all the rain we’d had earlier this summer, there were quite a few muddy spots. There were also some steep-ish ascents that had my quads burning, but those were nicely balanced with less intense stretches of trail. When we crested the summit, the view was a little underwhelming, and the ski lodge seemed out of place (I don’t ski and apparently had no idea what happens at the top of a ski mountain). However, a little exploration led to a gorgeous view of Lake Sunapee and the quaint little towns around it. I do wish we’d had enough time to check out Lake Solitude, but it gives me a good reason to go back soon.” — Meghan Siegler

If you go: There are no parking or hiking fees here, and parking at the resort is plentiful for an easy in, easy out day hike.

Treks and Trails

Jake King of Thrive Outdoors in Manchester shares some of his favorite hikes to take during peak fall foliage season.

Manchester Cedar Swamp Preserve (Country Side Blvd., near Waterford Way, Manchester)
Massabesic Audubon Center Trails (26 Audubon Way, Auburn): “For people who haven’t really gotten out into the wilderness a lot, it’s a good starter experience. It’s flat and easy.”
Nottingcook Forest (Woodhill Hooksett Road and South Bow Road, Bow)
Uncanoonuc Mountains (Mountain Road, Goffstown): “On Uncanoonuc North, you can see bits and pieces of Manchester surrounded by trees, and in the fall, it’s a beautiful sight.”
Welch-Dickey Mountain Trail (Orris Road, Thornton)

Featured photo: Mt. Major in May 2017. Photo courtesy of Matt Ingersoll.

What’re we drinking?

Bartenders talk about serving cocktails in 2021, plus what trends are in the mix

Dan Haggerty and Jeremy Hart weren’t sure what to expect as they prepared to open their new craft cocktail bar and eatery in early February. Although vaccine rollouts were well underway, New Hampshire remained under a state of emergency, with the statewide mask mandate still in effect and spacing restrictions at bars and restaurants in nearly every county.

Three nights into the bartending duo’s first week open at Industry East Bar in downtown Manchester, a friend came in to visit — and later ended up jumping behind the bar herself.

“She was just in the bar checking it out and she goes, ‘It’s really busy. If you guys need any help…’ and so then I was like, ‘Can you come in tomorrow?’” Haggerty said. “So she became kind of our barback and food runner for a little bit, just by being there.”

Jeremy Hart, bartender and co-owner of Industry East Bar in Manchester. Photo by Live Free or Die Design Photography @livefreeordiedesignphoto.

When the last of the restrictions were lifted early in the spring, “it was like the floodgates opened,” according to Haggerty, with a constant turnaround of thirsty customers that dwarfed even what he, Hart and executive chef Jeff Martin saw during their first few weeks. He can count on one hand the number of times that Industry East has closed early, at or before midnight.

“I didn’t think that people would consume as much product as they are consuming,” Haggerty said. “I don’t know if it was just because all they had been spending money on was Amazon and takeout, and so they were like, ‘Oh my God, I’m at a bar, and someone’s actually making me a drink,’ [but] people are consuming food and drink at an insane pace right now.”

In spite of their immediate success, the small team has also encountered challenges along the way, from finding adequate staffing to acquiring quality products for drinks.

Bar managers and bartenders of both new and established restaurants have faced all kinds of similar obstacles over the year and a half that continue to linger today. We spoke with several of them to get a sense of what life has been like behind the bar.

Setting the bar

Kellie Connolly, bar manager at the Copper Door Restaurant in Bedford, was out of work for about three weeks during the initial pandemic shutdown. She returned to a bar that was rendered completely unrecognizable, transformed instead into a “conveyor belt” for takeout orders.

“All of the alcohol was off the bar. Everything had been boxed up and stored away,” Connolly said of the early months of the pandemic. “The beer coolers and wine fridges were full because [we] were now able to utilize those in a takeout fashion. … But besides that, it was an empty hub, no longer anything of what you would have seen at a bar. It was very bizarre.”

Connolly was part of a small team of staff that were brought back originally and included both bartenders and servers. But with no bar in the traditional sense, there was no cocktail mixing.

“No longer were you a bartender. You were just a man on the team and it was everyone in and everyone out. That was kind of the mentality of it,” she said. “We all had positions, whether it was answering phones, running takeout orders, or doing the cleaning. It was all hands on deck.”

The bar would eventually see its alcohol replenished with the return of indoor and outdoor dining. Social distancing restrictions, however, required the Copper Door to use only half of its bar seats, with dividers placed between pairs. But even then, only parties of guests who came to the bar together were able to be in adjacent seats — unless the dividers moved, a single person sitting in one chair would make the chair beside it unusable.

“You could slide a seat down and make a three-person section, [but] you couldn’t move the chairs from one side to the other,” Connolly said. “It was like a game of Tetris, just constant moving. … Reintroducing people to the new landscape and just explaining everything to them how we were doing things was also a big part of the job.”

Bar seats were similarly spaced out at Shopper’s Pub + Eatery in Manchester, which originally closed for about a month and a half, according to general manager Nick Carnes.

“When we initially reopened indoors, we started with about five of our 16 bar and waitstaff,” he said, “and then it was just a solid six-month stretch where it was just myself and one other person every day, all day open to close, just trying to grind everything out by ourselves.”

Spacing is already an inherent challenge at Industry East with only 20 indoor seats. Carnes noted that, with the Residence Inn by Marriott hotel directly next door, Shopper’s tends to see an influx of customers who are traveling for work during the week. Especially in the early days of the pandemic, this meant out-of-staters who were essential travelers.

“Every now and then, you’d have one guy that doesn’t know anybody that just flew into town, he’d sit down and take up three seats [at the bar], and then nobody could sit in those other two seats,” he said. “So it was a mixture of making sure you could come out and have a good night … while keeping everyone else safe and making sure nobody else got sick.”

But overall, Haggerty said the consensus among patrons has been one of both positivity and gratitude.

“I think 99 percent [have been] happy, fun-loving people, being almost extra nice,” he said. “Generally, pretty much everyone is like, ‘Hey, I’m so glad that your profession is still a thing and you guys are open. Thanks so much.’ … But I mean, only a certain percentage of the population is still even coming out. We get people in here every single day that say this is the first place they’ve gone since last March.”

The “Vax.” pictured with Madears co-owner, chef and mixologist Robb Curry, has carrot juice, orange juice, ginger, lemon juice and a simple syrup, and includes a side of either tequila or brandy to “inject” into it. Courtesy photo.

Similarly, the new location of Madear’s Southern Eatery & Bakery in downtown Pembroke that opened last October has introduced many more people in the area to the eatery’s scratch-made Southern concept. Co-owner, chef and mixologist Robb Curry said he and partner Kyle Davis now have a much larger kitchen and bar, as well as nearly twice the dining room capacity as their predecessor on Hanover Street in Manchester.

“For the most part, our guests have been very respectful and understanding,” Curry said of the overall response so far. “I do also see that people at the bar tend to be a lot more understanding because they see more of what’s going on between the kitchen and the front of the house.”

Regulars were also happy to return to the bar at Stella Blu in Nashua when it reopened last year.

“We … had to put time limits in place, but we weren’t having to really use them or say it to people,” front-of-the-house manager and bartender Elissa Drift said. “They were definitely respectful enough to kind of just go with the flow.”

While the Copper Door has steadily maintained a loyal clientele, Connolly said she has noticed a shift in bargoers’ overall habits within the last year to year and a half.

“Happy Hour starts a lot earlier now,” she said. “Normally that was around 4:30, 5 o’clock, but now it’s at 2:30 or 3. … What was the quieter time is now full of people that are just done with working at their house and are coming out for that afternoon cocktail. At least in this area, I feel like the whole flow has altered a little bit.”

Thirsty trends

Since Industry East opened its doors earlier this year, Haggerty has noticed distinct trends in the types of cocktails being ordered.

“The espresso martini is back in full force. I think I’ve made more espresso martinis in the last six months than I’ve made in the last three years,” he said. “A ton of people are ordering cosmos too. … All of those older drinks that kind of went away after the early to mid-2000s, when the craft cocktail movement had a boom, are now back.”

There has also been a significant boom in tequila-based cocktails, and not just because it’s summer. The most popular specialty drink currently on Industry East’s menu is known as the C.R.E.A.M. (as Haggerty explains, an acronym standing for “Cucumber Rules Everything Around Me”). That drink features a cucumber shrub and tequila base with lemon juice, a little bit of jalapeno to offset its sweetness and a cucumber ribbon garnish with salt and pepper.

“Even in February when we opened … everybody has been way into tequila. I can’t explain it,” Haggerty said. “I think maybe a lot of people are just getting into it that maybe hadn’t been, or they were just like, ‘You know what, I’m really tired of drinking vodka.’ … People will drink tequila on the rocks. I’ve also seen people get tequila old-fashioneds.”

Drift agreed that tequila is a leading trend in the cocktail world right now, followed by bourbon and also Aperol spritzers. Options at Stella Blu include a blood orange paloma with fresh pressed juice and a house-made mango habanero salt; a strawberry jalapeno margarita with pureed fruit and a zesty lime salt rim; and a tequila and mezcal-based drink called the Mezcalita, featuring pineapple juice, Cointreau orange liqueur and a smoky-flavored house vanilla bean syrup.

The espresso martini at the Copper Door — called the Rocket — has been among the eatery’s top-selling cocktails, according to Connolly, as well as the restaurant’s blood orange cosmo, which uses Solerno blood orange liqueur, cranberry juice and a freshly squeezed lime; and the “Pepperoncini-Tini,” featuring olive juice, pepperoncini juice and blue cheese-stuffed olives.

Connolly added that a menu of mocktail options was rolled out last year to rave reviews.

“I’ve really seen, especially since Covid, a spike in people coming out and choosing a craft mocktail instead of a cocktail,” he said. “We also have a few unique non-alcoholic beers that have been flying off the shelves.”

Madear’s has had fun with all kinds of creative drinks, including a few that are meant to be satirical of the times, like the “Covid rum punch.” Another one, known simply as the “Vax,” is a mimosa-style cocktail featuring orange, carrot and mango juices, ginger bitters and your choice of an “injected” ounce and a half of tequila or an ounce and a half of brandy.

“All of those are super juices, so the idea was it was something to build the immune system,” Curry said. “It was something that was immensely popular when the vaccinations came out.”

Ready-to-drink canned cocktails are also a major trend. Carnes said they became a game-changer at Shopper’s with the onset of the pandemic when it comes to customer volume.

“The main concern right now is if you don’t have the staff to really maintain with cocktails … the simplicity is where you need to try to make up for it,” he said, “and [the canned cocktails] are all good. It’s not like you’re downgrading by getting one.”

Staffing and production

Consumers may have returned to the bar in droves, but managers say the pandemic has resulted in unprecedented struggles in obtaining product. This goes for everything from specific liquor brands to some of the most arbitrary of cocktail ingredients — and, in some cases, even beer.

“Big names like Budweiser and Coors … have stopped production of bottled beers due to a glass shortage,” Drift said. “So what you see is what you get right now. Whatever is in stock is being blown through, and after that it will just be cans and aluminum bottles, or on draft.”

Early on, Haggerty said even getting basic supplies like silverware and rocks glasses was a challenge, due to the high volume of inventory ordering that took place as restaurants and bars reopened. Finding and maintaining a quality staff has itself also been an issue at times.

“It’s a little better now, but at the start it was like pulling teeth trying to find anyone,” he said.

Staffing in general has been tough at Madear’s, especially behind the bar and at the front of the house, Curry said. Moving out of the Queen City to Pembroke, a much smaller town, Curry said he had the idea that the space would get more of a basic drink crowd. But the opposite has been true, as over the last year he has sold more signature craft cocktails.

“It’s easier for me to get a server than it is a bartender. … Bartending tends to have a lot more responsibility behind it than on the service side, especially in our establishment,” he said. “You’re not only bartending, you’re also a liaison between the back of the house and the front of the house, so you’re at the first step of things coming out.”

Left to right: The Blood Orange Cosmo, the Copper Door “Cosmo” with pomegranate juice, and the Pepperoncini-Tini with olive juice, all from the Copper Door. Courtesy photo.

Stella Blu transitioned to a tip pooling system for its staff, meaning that tips were divided amongst everyone based on the number of hours they work. Drift said that this has been an effective approach thus far at boosting the overall employee morale.

“We found, coming back from all of this, that the tip pool really does drive a better, more cohesive team,” she said. “There’s no ‘That’s my table.’ … I think guests get better service and better attention, and people are more willing to help each other because it’s for the greater good.”

Haggerty noted that a positive aspect to come out of the pandemic has been the renewed sense of solidarity among different places of business, especially for bar staff and waitstaff. He and Hart both picked up bartending shifts at Shopper’s while Industry East was still being built, for instance.

“Now that everyone’s been through the wringer … there’s been almost this revamped, new kind of inter-bar camaraderie,” Haggerty said. “It’s really cool now to be able to see that happening.”

Crafty Cocktails

We asked local bartenders and bar managers which types of cocktails have been trending lately. Here’s a snapshot of some of those drinks and where you can get them.

C.R.E.A.M. (“Cucumber Rules Everything Around Me”)
From behind the bar at Industry East Bar, 28 Hanover St., Manchester, 232-6940, industryeastbar.com

Mi Campo tequila
lemon juice
cucumber shrub
Dolin Blanc vermouth
ancho verde liqueur
jalapeno tincture

The “Rocket” espresso martini
From behind the bar at The Copper Door Restaurant, 15 Leavy Dr., Bedford, 488-2677; 41 S. Broadway, Salem, 458-2033; copperdoor.com

vanilla vodka
Baileys Irish Cream liqueur
dark crème de cacao
freshly brewed espresso

Chocolate coconut macaroon
From behind the bar at Stella Blu, 70 E. Pearl St., Nashua, 578-5557, stellablu-nh.com

Chocolate coconut cream
coconut rum
amaretto liqueur
toasted coconut rim

Blood orange paloma
From behind the bar at Stella Blu, 70 E. Pearl St., Nashua, 578-5557, stellablu-nh.com

tequila
fresh-pressed blood orange juice
squeezed lime
soda float
mango habanero salt

The “Vax”
From behind the bar at Madear’s Southern Eatery & Bakery, 141 Main St., Pembroke, 210-5557, madears603.com

carrot juice
mango juice
orange juice
lime juice
ginger bitters
(optional) tequila or brandy on the side

Industry East Bar’s espresso martini
From behind the bar of Industry East Bar, 28 Hanover St., Manchester, 232-6940, industryeastbar.com

Caffe Borghetti espresso liqueur
Vodka
Orange bitters
Chocolate bitters
Cinnamon tincture

Strawberry jalapeno margarita
From behind the bar of Stella Blu, 70 E. Pearl St., Nashua, 578-5557, stellablu-nh.com

Tequila
Fresh pureed strawberries
Jalapeno-infused simple syrup
Squeezed lime
Zesty lime salt rim

Featured photo: Sandy Rozek, bar and beverage director for the Copper Door. Courtesy photo.

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