Category: Cover Stories

Looking to try something new?

Here are 39 ideas for arts, crafts, outdoor activities and more to help you break out of your routine and find a new source of fun or rediscover a forgotten passion.

• Get hooked on fishing. On Saturday, Jan. 21, you can give fishing a try without getting a license during Free Fishing Day. Two days a year (the third Saturday in January and the first Saturday in June) New Hampshire Fish and Game invites state residents and nonresidents to fish in any inland water or saltwater throughout the state without a fishing license. Visit wildlife.state.nh.us/fishing for everything you need to get started, including maps of fishing locations, fishing season dates, a guide to local fish species and how to bait them, and more. If you want to keep fishing all year long, you can buy a fishing license online at nhfishandgame.com.

• Finally learn how to knit. While knitting can seem intimidating to beginners picking up the needles, the instructors at Elegant Ewe (75 S. Main St., Unit 1, Concord) are offering knitting classes to all levels. Classes range from specific projects to learning specialized stitches and fixing mistakes. The instructors also offer private classes for knitters looking for one-on-one time. The classes vary in price, as well as days and times. Visit elegantewe.com for more information about the classes offered.

• Or expand your fiber arts knowledge with crochet, rug making and more. Yarn and Fiber (14 East Broadway, Derry) isn’t just a yarn store; it also offers lessons in topics such as spinning wool into yarn and casting on for beginner knitters. The shop has an even less formal way of learning for beginners and experts alike, with a lounge area in the store where employees encourage crafters to bring projects and hang out with like-minded individuals. Classes meet on a rotation, and some require signing up in advance. Visit yarnandfiber.com

• Make works of art that keep you warm. Learn how to make quilts with the New Hampshire Modern Quilting Guild at one of their meetings. The guild, which takes a fresh approach to old-fashioned guilds, has challenges for square patterns, charity quilt making and more. The next meeting is on Friday, Feb. 10, at 7 p.m.; email [email protected] for location details and to attend as a guest. The first meeting is free to attend as a guest; subsequent meetings cost $5. If you wish to become a member, dues are $65 and can be paid at nhmqg.org.

• Get into opera. The Music Hall (131 Congress St. in Portsmouth) explains the art with Opera Connection, where the Hall screens recordings of famous operas and holds a beginner-friendly conversation about the music and story. The discussions are led by opera writer and producer Dennis Neil Kleinman. The next opera being screened is Fedora by Umberto Giordano on Saturday, Jan. 14, at 11:30 a.m. Tickets cost $15 and can be bought in advance at themusichall.org. The operas themselves, broadcasts from The Metropolitan Opera, also screen via the Capitol Center for the Arts at the Bank of New Hampshire Stage (16 S. Main St. in Concord), as is the case with Fedora (also screening Saturday, Jan. 14, with doors opening at 12:30 p.m.). See ccanh.com.

• Expand your movie and TV horizons. Positive Street Art (48 Bridge St., Nashua) is hosting a series of movies followed by creative painting sessions. The series, called “Inspired By,” will show a movie about Jackson Pollock, an American abstract expressionism painter, at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 27. The tickets to the movie showing are free, and the artistic session afterward costs $30. To learn more about this event or to reserve a spot, visit positivestreetart.org.

Watch movies from the early days of film at silent film screenings at Wilton Town Hall Theatre on Main Street in downtown Wilton. The films, which screen every couple of weeks, feature live musical accompaniment by Jeff Rapsis, who presents silent films and plays music at area theaters including the Rex Theatre in Manchester and the Flying Monkey in Plymouth (see silentfilmlivemusic.blogspot.com). Next up at Wilton, Safety Last (1923), a Harold Lloyd comedy, screening on Sunday, Jan. 15, at 2 p.m. Admission is free; $10 donation per person is encouraged.

Get caught up on the most recent episodes of the most popular anime at Double Midnight Comics (252 Willow St., Manchester) on Monday nights. The anime watch partyat the comic shop shows episodes that the crowd chooses that night, with all shows being streamed on the Japanese animation streaming service Crunchyroll. Entry is free and the streaming begins at 7 p.m.

• Draw. Learn how to draw your favorite animal at the Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St. in Manchester) with Drawing Fundamentals, an adult class that will teach the basics and rules of drawing realistic animal portraits. The four-week class, which starts on Thursday, Jan. 26, is taught by local artist Robin Deary. Deary will walk students through forming the body of animals, creating visual textures and other artistic methods to capture the likenesses. There is a full list of materials available online at currier.org, as well as a link to registration for the class and information about other classes offered. The cost for the class is $200 and there are slots available for nonmembers.

• Make comics. New Hampshire-based cartoonist and educator Marek Bennett teaches comics workshops, which you can find out about at his website, marekbennett.com, where he also has videos with comics-making and drawing tutorials. Bennett spoke with Angie Sykeny in the Jan. 5 issue of the Hippo about his newest book, The Civil War Diary of Freeman Colby Vol. 3, which is on sale Jan. 25. Find the e-edition of last week’s issue at hippopress.com; the Q&A with Bennett is on page 6.

• Make stuff with added dimension. Port City Makerspace (68 Morning St., Portsmouth) offers an Intro to 3D Printing workshop on the second Wednesday of every month, from 6 to 9 p.m. Participants learn the basics of taking a design or idea and turning it into a 3D model using two different types of programs, and how to print the model using a 3D printer. The cost is $25 for Makerspace members and $45 for nonmembers. Register online at portcitymakerspace.com.

• Find your old camera and put it to use. Expand your photography knowledge and skill with the Manchester Camera Club, a group of amateur photographers who meet up to view and critique each other’s work and host workshops to help each other grow. The meetings for the club are currently done virtually over Zoom, and the group meets twice a month. The next meeting is a critique meeting with an “anything goes” segment, a “color in winter” segment and a “running water” segment. Sign up for a slot at manchestercameraclubnh.wordpress.com.

• Get your start working in clay. Explore pottery at Time to Clay (228 Daniel Webster Hwy., Nashua) with assorted projects and classes beginning in January. The next class available is Clay Handprints, where parents can capture the handprint or footprint of their little one. The studio will complete the clay casting with a personalized painting. One casting costs $35. The event will be on Tuesday, Jan. 24, and Wednesday, Jan. 25, with timed slots available from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visit timetoclay.com.

• Take clay to the next level. Kimball Jenkins (266 N. Main St. in Concord; kimballjenkins.com, 225-3932) is offering “Beginner Wheel Throwing with Meadows Madsen” Fridays 6 to 8 p.m. starting Friday, Jan. 13, and running through March 17. “Students practice using the potter’s wheel and begin throwing basic forms such as bowls and mugs,” according to the website. The cost of the class starts at $355 and includes clay and tools (though a set of tools and additional clay are available for purchase).

• Make art with glass. Create some light-changing artwork at Studio 550 (550 Elm St., Manchester) with the stained glass class. The class will run for 10 weeks and will introduce people to ways to work with glass, and techniques needed to make the artwork. Students will make everything from a small suncatcher to windows for their home. Classes start and run on different days and at different times. Each class is two hours long and the full session costs $270. Visit 550arts.com for more information or to sign up.

• Make your jewelry just how you want it. The League of New Hampshire Craftsmen offers an ongoing open-enrollment Fundamentals of Making Jewelry class at SRS Studio (35 Howard St., Wilton). The class, open to adults and teens age 14 and up, covers the basic techniques of jewelry making using wire and sheet in copper and silver and how to pierce, solder and finish metals. It consists of six two-hour sessions that can be taken on Thursday, Friday or Saturday. The cost is $240 for tuition, plus $50 to $90 for materials, depending on the type of jewelry made. Participants can expect to complete four to five projects. Visit nashua.nhcrafts.org/classes.

• Start writing and then take your writing to an audience. The New Hampshire Writers’ Project is hosting writers’ night out, an informal gathering for amateur and professional writers to get critique, feedback and encouragement from other writers in their area. The event is also a space to discuss where and how to submit work for publication, and what writers are currently reading. The monthly event is held across southern New Hampshire. While most groups have already met for their January session, there are ways to contact the organizers on the website nhwritersproject.org.

• Get in the reading habit and find some new books. The Bookery (844 Elm St., Manchester) has monthly book club meetings on the third Thursday of each month, with the next one on Thursday, Jan. 19, at 6 p.m. The book for this month’s meeting is The Paris Apartment, a mystery where Jess, a woman who needs a fresh start, asks her half-brother if she can crash on his couch in Paris, to which he agrees. When Jess reaches Paris and her brother is missing, she has to dig into his life to unravel the mystery of his disappearance. Join the club at bookerymht.com.

• Become a local history buff. New Hampshire Humanities hosts free public programs throughout the state year-round on a wide variety of specialized topics. Some upcoming programs include “12,000 Years Ago in the Granite State,” exploring the native Abenaki people’s role in the history of the Monadnock region, on Thursday, Jan. 19, at 6:30 p.m. at Nesmith Library (8 Fellows Road, Windham); “African American Soldiers and Sailors of New Hampshire During the American Revolution,” held virtually on Wednesday, Jan. 25, at 7 p.m; and “New Hampshire’s Long Love-Hate Relationship with its Agricultural Fairs,” held virtually on Wednesday, Feb. 1, at 7 p.m. Visit nhhumanities.org/programs/upcoming to see New Hampshire Humanities’ full schedule of programming.

• Dust off your French language skills. The Franco-American Centre, a nonprofit based in Manchester, is offering a special Traveler’s French virtual class series for adults, geared toward novice visitors to a predominantly French-speaking country. A variety of themes will be discussed in class, including everything from how to check in to a hotel to ordering at a restaurant and navigating local public transportation, among other activities. New classes start on Saturday, Jan. 21, and continue every week from 10 a.m. to noon through Feb. 18. See facnh.com to register (all are welcome regardless of your membership status with FAC).

• Understand wine. Become your own wine sommelier during an upcoming five-week wine course at WineNot Boutique (25 Main St., Nashua), which begins on Thursday, Jan. 19, and continues every Thursday at 6 p.m. through Feb. 16. Facilitated by WineNot owner and wine educator Svetlana Yanushkevich, the first two-hour class will teach you how to “taste wine like a pro” by going over basic vocabulary necessary for exploring wine to the fullest. Called “Sommelier’s Secrets,” the second class, on Jan. 26, will explore how to discern different smells and flavors in wines, while the following class, on Feb. 2, will feature tastings of six wine varietals from different regions around the world. Compare “Old World” and “New World” grape varietals on Feb. 9, and learn all about wine and food pairing do’s and don’ts during the final class on Feb. 16. The cost is $200 per person for all five classes, and includes samples of wine and fine cheeses, salami and chocolate. Visit winenotboutique.com.

• Discover mixology. Tuscan Market (9 Via Toscana, Salem) on Tuesday, Jan. 24, at 6 p.m. will hold a class for beginner mixologists (or those just looking to impress their friends at their next social gathering). This class led by Tuscan Brands beverage director Luis Betancur will go over how to craft two seasonal cocktails. All who participate will have the opportunity to snack on some desserts from Tuscan Market. If you can’t make this class, there’s another one scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 4, at 6 p.m. The cost is $45 for the Jan. 24 class and $50 for the Feb. 4 class. Visit tuscanbrands.com.

• Make artful food. Charcuterie board-building classes are hosted by the team at 603 Charcuterie. You’re given everything from the ingredients to the tools and walked through step by step to make your own “Instagram-worthy” charcuterie board, as coined by 603 Charcuterie’s Theresa Zwart. From start to finish, each class typically takes about an hour and a half to two hours and, depending on where it’s held, might include a glass of beer or wine per participant. You even get to take the board home at the end of the class. A full schedule of upcoming classes, mostly at area breweries and wineries, is available to view at 603charcuterie.com (next up is on Sunday, Jan. 22, at Pipe Dream Brewing in Londonderry) — click on the date you want to attend to register.

• Up your bread game. Learn the art of challah braiding during a special virtual class being offered by Cheryl Holbert of Nomad Bakery in Derry on Sunday, Jan. 22, at 1 p.m. She’ll walk participants step-by-step through the process of making this popular Jewish artisan bread, including how to prepare and shape the dough, which makes all the difference in the overall braiding process. The two-and-a-half-hour class will cover three ways to braid four strands total, and Holbert will also share various tips for glazing, finishing and baking these challah loaves consistently. The class is $60 per person and is open to all baking levels — it will also include printable versions of Holbert’s signature and water challah recipes and lots of opportunities to ask her questions. Visit nomadbakery.com.

• Expand your cooking skills. Learn how to cook Italian specialties at one of the upcoming Winemaker’s Kitchen cooking classes at LaBelle Winery in Amherst (345 Route 101) and Derry (14 Route 111). Sessions are to take place in Derry on Thursday, Jan. 19, and in Amherst on Wednesday, Jan. 25, from 6 to 7 p.m. Classes cost $35 per person. See labellewinery.com. Or make your “eat better” resolutions more international with an introduction to the Mediterranean diet being offered by The Culinary Playground (16 Manning St., Derry) either on Thursday, Jan. 26, from 1 to 3 p.m., or on Sunday, Feb. 26, from 4 to 6 p.m. Led by The Culinary Playground’s registered dietitian culinary instructor, the class will cover the many health benefits of the Mediterranean diet while also exploring knife and cooking skills. The cost is $80 per person and pre-registration is required — see culinary-playground.com.

• Broaden your love of chocolate. Journey into the world of cacao beans with a special chocolate adventure class, hosted by Richard Tango-Lowy of Dancing Lion Chocolate (917 Elm St., Manchester). To be held next on Thursday, March 2, at 5:30 p.m., the class will cover how to grind cacao beans into chocolate, as well as how to properly taste chocolate like a chocolatier would. You’ll even get to sip the drinking chocolate (called xichoatl) like the ancient Mayans used to. Tango-Lowy will also discuss various myths and realities surrounding fine chocolate. The cost is $125 per person and registration is available online at dancinglion.us.

• Garden. New Hampshire Audubon is presenting a workshop on seed-starting for home gardeners on Wednesday, Jan. 25, at 6:30 p.m., featuring master gardener Sarah Marcoux of UNH Cooperative Extension. You’ll learn all about the benefits and best practices for starting your own plants indoors from seeds and cuttings, including the requirements for successful germination, and different growing methods, light and temperature needs and avoiding common problems like household pests. Admission is free but registration is required to receive an emailed link to the workshop — see nhaudubon.org.

• Garden herbs, for food and wellness. Become a home herbalist with a special virtual course series taught by Maria Noel Groves of Wintergreen Botanicals in Allenstown. Participants can take the nine-part course online at their own pace — each class covers how to incorporate herbs into your diet and discusses common health concerns related to herbs and herbal medicine. This winter Groves is also offering participants the option of getting a remedy kit to go with the course series, while supplies last. Kits are available first-come, first-served and are expected to be ready for shipping this month. The cost is $495 with the remedy kit included and $395 for just the nine-week series (no remedy kit). Visit wintergreenbotanicals.com.

• Learn to forage. Mushroom walks put the “fun” in fungus. Beginner and intermediate level foragers are invited to take the two-part Mushroom ID Class by Dunk’s Mushroom Products & Foraging in Brentwood (313 Route 125). The Part No. 1 class covers what a mushroom is, a mushroom’s life cycle and the anatomy of a mushroom and will be offered on Mondays, Jan. 23, Feb. 20 and March 20. The Part No. 2 class covers mushroom identification skills, how to make a spore print and how to use resources for mushrooming and will be offered on the Mondays following the Part No. 1 classes, on Jan. 30, Feb. 27 and March 27. Participants can take either or both classes. All classes start at 6 p.m., and the cost is $60 for each. Visit dunksmushrooms.com.

• Become an apiarist. The Deerfield-based Pawtuckaway Beekeepers Association is holding a two-day Beginner’s Beekeeping School on Saturday, March 11, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Saturday, March 18, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Deerfield Community Church (15 Church St.). The course will cover everything from basic bee biology and standard beekeeping equipment to how to obtain bees, honey bee colony management, seasonal responsibilities, pest and disease management practices and more. The cost is $100 per person. Register online at pawtuckawaybeekeepers.org.

• Look to the skies and get acquainted with New Hampshire’s feathered friends. The New Hampshire Audubon holds guided birding walks at the Massabesic Center (26 Deer Neck Road, Auburn) every other Saturday from Jan. 14 through Feb. 25. They start at 9 a.m., and participants should expect to walk 1 to 2 miles. The cost is $8 for NH Audubon members and $10 for nonmembers, and binocular rentals are included. Pre-registration is required. Visit nhaudubon.org/event and select the walk you’re interested in attending on the calendar to register.

• Look to the skies and get acquainted with the stars. The New Hampshire Astronomical Society has regular skywatches, many of which are open to the public, including a monthly skywatch as part of the Super Stellar Fridays on the first Friday nights of each month at the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center (2 Institute Dr. in Concord; starhop.com, 271-7827). The Society, a volunteer nonprofit educational organization, can be a place to start to learn about telescopes and telescope making, astrophotography and more, according to the group’s website, nhastro.com. Annual membership dues are $30.

• Rock climb without having to find rocks. Vertical Dreams, an indoor climbing gym with locations in Manchester (250 Commercial St.) and Nashua (25 E. Otterson St.), offers a beginner lesson package that includes instruction on everything you need to know to start indoor climbing, including how to belay, how to tie a figure-eight knot and basic technique. The cost is $40, and walk-ins are always welcome. Hours at both locations are Monday through Friday, from 3 to 9 p.m.; Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and Sunday, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m . Visit verticaldreams.com.

• Run with a crowd. In last week’s (Jan. 5) issue of the Hippo, we looked at running clubs and groups and how the camaraderie of fellow runners can keep you going. Find that story, as well as a listing of area clubs, winter running series and a calendar of road races over the next few months in the story that starts on page 10. Find the e-edition of the issue at hippopress.com.

• Become a pickleballer. Your local YMCA might be a good place to start: YMCA of Downtown Manchester (30 Mechanic St., Manchester, graniteymca.org) offers pickleball in the morning Monday through Friday from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m., and Saturday 8 to 10 a.m.; in the afternoon on Tuesday and Thursday from 1 to 3 p.m.; and in the evening on Tuesday from 6 to 8 p.m.; and YMCA of Greater Nashua (90 Northwest Blvd., Nashua, nmymca.org) offers pickleball Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to noon; Friday from 5 to 7 p.m.; and Sunday from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

• Get fit while stretching outside your comfort zone with pole dancing. New Perspectives Pole and Aerial (35 Londonderry Turnpike, Suite GH, Hooksett) offers an Intro to Pole class on Monday and Friday at 7 p.m., Tuesday at noon, Wednesday at 5:15 p.m., and Saturday at 9:30 a.m. First-time classes are available at a reduced price of $20; single classes after that cost $30 each, and there are packages available as well. Register online at newperspectivesnh.com.

• Go on a quest (with dice). For those who watched Stranger Things and wanted to get involved with a Dungeons & Dragons campaign but didn’t know how to start, Double Midnight Comics (252 Willow St. in Manchester) is hosting Adventure League D&D, a beginner- and drop-in-friendly quest, on Tuesdays at 6 p.m. The join fee is $5 per game night. Visit dmcomics.com for more information about the game, or to see a full list of rules and a link to the official Dungeons & Dragons website.

• Quest with costumes. The kingdom of Argost awaits members of Fealty, a New Hampshire-based high fantasy LARP (live-action role-playing) group. This year’s events will take place at Camp Allen in Bedford (56 Camp Allen Road) on the weekends of April 14 through April 16; May 5 through May 7; Sept. 8 through Sept. 10; and Oct. 6 through Oct. 8. In the meantime, visit fealtylarp.com to study up on the campaign and start developing your character; you can be a knight, a noble, a soldier in the royal army, a mercenary or a witch.

• Quest in your own city. Quench your thirst for adventure and put your puzzle-solving skills to the test with scavenger hunting. There are a number of apps and programs offering scavenger hunts in New Hampshire cities. They’re self-guided, so you can do them on your own schedule, alone or with a team. Compete against others and try to beat their times for a top spot on the leaderboard. Let’s Roam (letsroam.com) has hunts for Manchester, Concord and Portsmouth; Puzzling Adventures (puzzlingadventures.com) has hunts for Manchester and Portsmouth; Wacky Walks (wackywalks.com) and It’s a Scavenger Hunt (itsascavengerhunt.com) have hunts for Manchester; and Diversions Puzzles and Games (diversionsgames.com), Cashunt (cashunt.com) and Portsmouth Scavenger Hunts (portsmouthscavengerhunts.com) have hunts for Portsmouth.

• Learn how to create, record, edit and produce your beats. NH Tunes (250 Commercial St., Suite 2017, Manchester) Music Production offers lessons, taught by music professionals, that cover the music-making software program Ableton; recording midi and audio; using instruments; using effects; exporting songs; song writing and structure, and music theory while exploring a variety of musical genres. A half-hour lesson costs $31.50, and a 1-hour lesson costs $56.70. Students are encouraged to take one class a week for several weeks. All ages and skill levels are welcome. Visit nhtunes.biz/learn-music-production to schedule your first lesson.

• Discover an old-school way to socially network. Amateur radio, also known as ham radio, can be a fun way to experiment with communications technology, increase your emergency preparedness and connect with people from all over the world. To learn about how you can get on the air, attend a meeting held by a local radio club. The Granite State Amateur Radio Association (gsara.org) meets on the second Friday of every month at 7 p.m. at the Bedford High School library (47 Nashua Road, Bedford), and the Nashua Area Radio Society (n1fd.org) meets on the first Tuesday of every month at 7 p.m. via Zoom.

–Angie Sykeny, Katelyn Sahagian and Matt Ingersoll

Featured photo: The Gate City Striders’ Freeze Your Buns 5K. Courtesy photo.

Races and running groups to get you moving

Looking to get out (or maybe get back out) and go for a run? We talked to running aficionados who are part of running groups and race series that will help you lace up and head out, even during these colder months. For additional motivation, we have a rundown of some upcoming road races. And, for those who prefer to run inside but are treadmill-averse, we found a few local spots with indoor tracks.

Picking up the pace

Why you should join a local running club or group

By Matt Ingersoll

[email protected]

Running is a sport that doesn’t always have to be done alone. Joining a local running club or group — especially when staying active during frigid temperatures sometimes proves to be a challenge — can serve as a valuable motivator for runners of all ages and abilities.

“I think it’s really a matter of being part of a group of other like-minded individuals,” said Stephen Rouleau, president of Gate City Striders, a Nashua-based running group that was founded in 1979. “I know that, for me, it’s tougher to get motivated to get out the door by myself, whereas if I have a group of people that I know I’m going to meet with there and go run, it’s more enjoyable. The shared miles make it so much better. … We also try to do a whole bunch of social events and other things within the community. In the past, for instance, we’ve rented out a theater and done a movie night. We have ice cream runs, we have our group socials and we try to do some speaker nights.”

With more than 600 members, Gate City Striders is one of the largest running clubs in the state.

“We try to make ourselves a home for everyone,” Rouleau said, “so we have everyone from starters … all the way up to your really competitive faster runners.”

The club is known for hosting a number of signature events and race series throughout the year — next up, Rouleau said, is the Freeze Your Buns 5K series, which kicks off on Sunday, Jan. 8, and will continue every other Sunday through March 5. Each race begins at 9 a.m. at the Conway Arena (Stadium Drive, Nashua), and is open to all registrants, regardless of your membership status with the club.

“The course is pretty much from the YMCA on roads down to Nashua High School [South]. You circle that a couple of times and come back to the finish line there,” Rouleau said. “It’s flat, it’s fast and it’s family-friendly, so it’s a great way to get out there and get your miles in.”

Each race takes place as scheduled, Rouleau said, unless inclement weather interferes with snow removal operations at the high school, or there are dangerously cold temperatures or wind chills. Registration is available online in advance or in person the day of, starting at 8 a.m.

“It’s open to the public, and there are a good number of non-members who run it, or they are members of other clubs in the area, so it’s a good mix,” Rouleau said.

The sense of community that comes with being part of a running group is also a major benefit for Blake Tyler, a lifelong Queen City native and a member of the Greater Manchester Running Club (formerly known as the Athletic Alliance Running Club). They currently meet for a run every Wednesday at 5 p.m. on the corner of Bridge Street and Mammoth Road, near the Derryfield Country Club, and also host group runs on Saturdays at 7 a.m., meeting at Fitlab in the city’s Millyard.

“I’ve always been a socially sports-based person,” Tyler said. “I really enjoy sharing an activity that I like with fellow people who are part of that activity, and I just find that in particular, the running community is really [made up of] just very genuine folks. … People just love running, they love being around other people who love running, and speaking for me, in my opinion, it’s been a great boon to my mental health, especially coming off the Covid lockdowns and isolation and the lack of being able to connect with people.”

Tyler agreed that, especially during the winter months, connecting with other runners is crucial.

“You can ask any runner who’s been doing this for a while … that in the wintertime, when it gets dark by 4 or 4:30 and the days feel way shorter, it’s a lot easier to slide into habits of, ‘Oh, I’m not going to go for a run today. It’s dark and it’s cold,’” he said. “For runners, I think the ability to get out with other people, even if it’s only a mile or a couple of miles, I think there’s something to be said for that.”

Up in the Concord area, Northeast Delta Dental is a chief sponsor of two racing series set to begin this month. Their third annual Hopkinton Winter 5K series kicks off on Sunday, Jan. 8, at 10 a.m. at Storms Fitness Center (442 Pine St., Contoocook), followed by two other races on Jan. 22 and Feb. 5. Then, beginning Saturday, Jan. 14, Delta Dental’s Snow or No, We Go Trail series returns, first taking place at Highway View Farm (100 River Road, Boscawen). Other races in that series are set to take place on Jan. 28, Feb. 11 and Feb. 18 at Canterbury Shaker Village (288 Shaker Road) and on Feb. 4 and March 4 at Prospect Acres (4 Beaumier Drive, Franklin). Each of those trail races is between 2 and 4 miles, running on one or two loops, and participants are encouraged to run on snowshoes.

“Delta Dental sponsors us so all the registration money can go to charities,” series coordinator Ellen Raffio said in an email, adding that the 2-mile option for the Snow or No, We Go Trail series is the perfect distance for a beginner on snowshoes. “Every series we do … brings a different crowd, and they’re always great people. It’s a lot of fun.”

Winter Races

• The Snowflake Shuffle will take place on Sunday, Jan. 15, at 9:30 a.m. from 25 Constitution Drive in Bedford. The cost for participants age 21 and up is $35 in advance and $40 on race day, and the cost for youth participants is $30 in advance and $35 on race day. Awards will be given to the top three male and female participants overall and within age groups. There will be a post-race beer garden and refreshments. Visit millenniumrunning.com/snowflake.

• The Northeast Delta Dental Boston Prep 16-Miler and 5-Miler organized by the Greater Derry Track Club will take place on Sunday, Jan. 22, at 10 a.m. at West Running Brook Middle School (1 W. Running Brook Lane, Derry). The cost for the 16-miler is $75 in advance until Jan. 20, $80 in advance after Jan. 20 and $85 on race day. The cost for the 5-miler is $40 in advance until Jan. 20 and $45 after Jan. 20 and on race day. Awards will be given to the top three male and female participants overall and within age groups for the 16-miler and to the top three male and female participants overall for the 5-miler. The first 325 runners will receive a race shirt. An after-party will be held at 603 Brewery in Derry, and all participants age 21 and up will receive a voucher for a free beer. Visit gdtc.org/run.

• The 50 Football Fields Road Race will be held on Sunday, Jan. 29, at 11 a.m. at 2 Delta Drive in Concord. The cost is $25. Awards will be given to the top three male and female participants overall and within age groups. Visit runsignup.com/Race/NH/Concord/50FootballFieldsRoadRaceJanuary2911am.

• The Super Sunday 4-Miler will be held on Sunday, Feb. 12, at 9:30 a.m. at 1750 Taphouse (170 Route 101, Bedford). The cost for participants age 21 and up is $35 in advance and $40 on race day, and the cost for youth participants is $30 in advance and $35 on race day. Awards will be given to the top three male and female participants overall and within age groups. There will be a post-race party at 1750 Taphouse with entertainment and refreshments. Visit millenniumrunning.com/supersunday4miler.

• The Hampton Half Marathon & 5K returns to Hampton Beach on Sunday, March 5, at 10 a.m. The cost for the 5k is $39 in advance through Jan. 8, $44 in advance through Feb. 5 and $49 until registration closes. The cost for the half marathon is $74 in advance through Jan. 8, $79 in advance through Feb. 5 and $89 until registration closes. There will be an after-party at the Ashworth By The Sea Hotel with hot soup and complimentary Smuttynose beer for participants age 21 and up. Visit hamptonhalf.com.

• The Shamrocks and Shenanigans 4-Miler will take place on Sunday, March 12, at 9 a.m. from Great North Aleworks (1050 Holt Ave., Manchester). Awards will be given to the top three male and female participants overall and within age groups. The participant age 21 or older who is wearing the best representation of a kilt will win a pint. All participants age 21 and older will receive free beer vouchers redeemable following the race at Great North Aleworks or The Wild Rover Pub in Manchester. The cost is $35 for participants age 12 and up and $30 for youth participants age 11 and under. The first 400 registrants will receive a race shirt. Visit totalimagerunning.com/shamrocksandshenanigans4m.

• The Together We Fight 5K and 10K, to raise funds for Dana Farber for Nancy Rank and the American Liver Foundation for Bill Ducasse as they raise funds for the 127th Boston Marathon, will be held on Sunday, March 19, at 9 a.m. at 2 Delta Drive in Concord. The cost for the 5k is $20 until Jan. 31 and $25 after Jan. 31. The cost for the 10k is $35 until Jan. 31 and $40 after Jan. 31. Awards will be given to top participants within age groups. Additionally, there will be a free kids fun run at 8:45 a.m. Visit runsignup.com/Race/NH/Concord/TogetherweFight5K10K.

• The Citizens Bank Shamrock Half Marathon & Relay will be held on Saturday, March 25, at 8:50 a.m. at Veterans Park in downtown Manchester. The relay splits are 5.2, 3.2 and 4.7 miles, and awards will be given to the top three teams in the male, female and co-ed divisions. The cost for the three-person relay is $135 in advance until Feb. 28, $145 in advance after Feb. 28 and $155 on race day. The cost for the half marathon is $85 in advance until Feb. 28, $95 in advance after Feb. 28 and $105 on race day. The Citizens Bank Shamrock Shuffle, a 2-mile race, will be held the following day, Sunday, March 26, at 11 a.m. at Veterans Park in downtown Manchester. The Stonyfield Organic Lil’ Leprechaun Runs, a 100-yard fun run for kids age 8 and under, will precede the Shuffle at 10:30 a.m. The Manchester Saint Patrick’s Day Parade will follow the Shuffle at noon. The cost for the Shuffle is $25 in advance and $30 on race day for participants age 21 and up, $20 in advance and $25 on race day for youth ages 12 through 20 and $10 in advance and $15 on race day for kids age 11 and under. There will be medals for finishers, and awards will be given to the top three male and female participants overall and within age groups. The first 1,250 registrants will receive a long-sleeved race shirt. Visit millenniumrunning.com/shamrock.

• The Nashua Soup Kitchen and Shelter’s Run and Walk for Food & Shelter will take place on Sunday, March 26, at 1 p.m. outside the Muldoon Fitness Center on the campus of Rivier University (420 S. Main St., Nashua). There will be a 5k race, a 10k race and a 3k walk. Additionally, there will be a kids sprint for kids age 7 and under preceding the main event at 12:30 p.m. The cost ranges from $30 to $45 for adults and from $20 to $35 for students for the 10k; from $25 to $40 for adults and from $15 to $30 for students for the 5k and the 3k, depending on the registration date. The cost for the kids sprint is $5. Visit nsks.org/run-and-walk-for-food-and-shelter.

• The SEA 5K Road Race and Fitness Walk, a fundraiser with proceeds going to Operation Santa Claus, will be held on Saturday, April 1, at the Governor Meldrim Thomson State Office Complex (27-29 Hazen Drive, Concord). Visit seiu1984.org/sea_5k.

• The Easing Heartbreak Hill 5K: Don’t Forget Your Wings, to benefit the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, will be held on Sunday, April 2, at 10 a.m. at 2 Delta Drive in Concord. The cost is $25. There will be awards for top racers overall and within age groups. Search “Easing Heartbreak Hill 5K: Don’t Forget Your Wings” on eventbrite.com.

• The Cheap Marathon, a Boston Marathon qualifier with a half marathon and full marathon, will take place on Sunday, April 16, at the Derry Rail Trail (1 E. Broadway, Derry). The full marathon will begin at 7:30 a.m., and the half marathon will begin at 8:45 a.m. Awards will be given to the top three male and female participants overall and within age groups. The cost ranges from $26.21 to $49.99 in advance and is $60 on race day. Visit millenniumrunning.com/cheapmarathon.

• The NHTI/Northeast Delta Dental 5K Road Race will be held on Friday, April 21, at NHTI (31 College Drive, Concord). The cost is $20. Visit runreg.com/nhti-delta-dental-5k.

• The Stonyfield Earth Day 5K will take place on Saturday, April 22, at 9 a.m. at Londonderry West Soccer Fields (90 West Road, Londonderry). A 100-yard fun run for kids age 8 and under will follow the race at 10:15 a.m. Awards will be given to the top three male and female participants overall and within age groups. The cost until March 11 is $25 for adults, $20 for youth ages 12 through 20 and $10 for kids age 11 and younger; the cost increases by $5 after March 11; the cost on race day increases by $10. The first 1,000 registrants will receive a race shirt. Visit millenniumrunning.com/stonyfield5k.

Local running clubs and groups
Here’s a list of locally based community organizations that are currently operating and promoting the sport of running through weekly meets and runs, special race series and more. Did we miss any? Let us know via email at [email protected].

Gate City Striders
gatecity.org, follow them on Facebook @thegatecitystriders and Instagram @gatecitystriders
How to join: Registration is available online at $30 per year for individuals or $40 per year for families. Individuals must be a minimum age of 13 and families must be a maximum of two adults and four children. Benefits include access to their bi-weekly email newsletter and discounts at some local businesses, like Fleet Feet Sports (4 Coliseum Ave., Nashua)

Greater Derry Track Club
gdtc.org, follow them on Facebook @gdtc78 and Instagram @gdtc_derrynh
How to join: Registration is available online at $25 per year for individuals and families, plus a $2.50 processing fee. Member benefits include discounts at some local and online vendors, access to monthly meetings, an annual dinner and more.

Greater Manchester Running Club
gmrcnh.org, join the Facebook group @gmrcnh
How to join: Registration is available online at $30 per year for individuals or $35 per year for families. Member benefits include access to weekly emails providing information on group runs and races, as well as some discounts.

Millennium Running
138 Bedford Center Road, Bedford, millenniumrunning.com/club, or see “Millennium Running Club” on Facebook
How to join: Registration is available online at $75 per year. Member benefits include club singlets, 15 percent off all purchases at Millennium Running’s retail store, weekly group training and workout opportunities and more.

Run Walk Brew
Total Image Running, 63 Coleman Road, Auburn, totalimagerunning.com/club, or see “Run Walk Brew Social Club” on Facebook
How to join: Registration is available online at $80 per year. Member benefits include 10 percent off all purchases at Total Image Running, Runner’s Alley and Her Tribe Athletics, as well as $10 off on two of Total Image Running’s signature races per year. New members also receive some Total Image Running swag, and membership renewals receive 30 percent off one item through their online store.

Runner’s Alley
669 Elm St., Manchester; 142 N. Main St., Concord; see “Runner’s Alley Concord Run Group” or “RA Manchester Run Group” on Facebook
How to join: Runner’s Alley’s run groups are free and runners are welcome each week. The Concord group meets on Thursdays at 6 p.m. and runs through all parts of the city, while in Manchester, groups meet Tuesday nights at 5:45 p.m. and Saturday mornings at 8 a.m. The Tuesday night group in Manchester features a 1-mile loop on Elm Street that you have 30 minutes to complete. The Saturday morning group is about 5 miles with shorter options possible.

To Share Run Club
To Share Brewing Co., 720 Union St., Manchester, see “To Share Run Club” on Facebook or follow them on Instagram @tosharerunclub
How to join: This club meets every Friday at 6 p.m. at the brewery, and all are welcome regardless of age, pace or running ability. Runners make their way around downtown Manchester with a lot of flexibility to choose your own distance.

Taking the inside track

A winter run doesn’t have to mean braving the elements

By Katelyn Sahagian

[email protected]

There are different options to running in the cold New Hampshire air this winter: treadmills, of course, but also indoor tracks.

“Treadmills have their values, but it does a little bit of the work for you,” said Mike Davis, the head running coach and owner of No Finish Line Fitness in Dover. “It’ll direct and force your movement and pace.”

According to Davis, who specializes in gait analysis and has been coaching people on running for 15 years, running on a treadmill can make it challenging for runners to know exactly how they’re moving.

Form is very important, he said, and keeping a good form is one of the few ways runners can protect their legs and joints from injury.

Davis’ advice to new runners is to get the right equipment (meaning a good pair of running shoes that fit well), to not download a one-size-fits-all running plan from the internet and to not sign up for a race that’s only six months or less away.

Davis recommends using a time-based model for training, starting at 30 minutes a few times a week, and doing intervals of walking and running until it gets easier. He said that listening to your own body is key in making good running decisions.

“I always say be conservative, take it easy, find your happy pace, and don’t sign up for a race too soon,” Davis said.

Indoor tracks

Here are a few locations with indoor tracks. Some locations require a membership to be able to run on the track while others will charge for a day pass.

• Executive Health and Sports Center (1 Highlander Way, Manchester; ehsc.com, 668-4753) Call for pricing details.

• Hampshire Dome (34 Emerson Road, Milford; hampshiredome.com, 673-7123) $6 for a one-day pass, $80 for a 20-visit punch card. Members of Hampshire Hills Athletic Club can use the facility for free.

• Health Club of Concord (10 Garvins Falls Road Concord; healthclubofconcord.com, 224-7787) Call for pricing details.

• Nashua YMCA Branch (24 Stadium Drive, Nashua; nmymca.org) $100 to join; adult pricing starts at $49

• Merrimack YMCA Branch (6 Henry Clay Drive, Merrimack; nmymca.org) $100 to join; adult pricing starts at $49.

Upcoming winter running series
Here are a few upcoming organized running series brought to you by local clubs and groups.

Freeze Your Buns 5K series
Gate City Striders, gatecity.org
When: Sundays, Jan. 8, Jan. 22, Feb. 5, Feb. 19 and March 5; races kick off at 9 a.m. each day
Where: Conway Arena, 5 Stadium Drive, Nashua
Cost: $5 registration per race, or $20 for the entire series ($12 for runners ages 17 and under); a virtual option is also available

Hopkinton Winter 5K series
runsignup.com/Race/NH/Contoocook/HopkintonWinter5kSeries
When: Sundays, Jan. 8, Jan. 22 and Feb. 5; races kick off at 10 a.m. each day
Where: Storms Fitness Center, 442 Pine St., Contoocook
Cost: $25 registration per race; a virtual option is also available

Snow or No, We Go trail series
shakers.org/winterraces
When: Saturdays, Jan. 14, Jan. 28, Feb. 4, Feb. 11, Feb. 18 and March 4; races kick off at 10 a.m. each day
Where: Locations vary depending on the date; the Jan. 14 race will take place at Highway View Farm (100 River Road, Boscawen), the Jan. 28, Feb. 11 and Feb. 18 races will take place at Canterbury Shaker Village (288 Shaker Road), and the Feb. 4 and March 4 races will take place at Prospect Acres (4 Beaumier Drive, Franklin).
Cost: $25 registration per race; each race is limited to 75 participants

Featured photo: The Gate City Striders’ Freeze Your Buns 5K. Courtesy photo.

Local confectioners discuss candy cane creation

Christmas may be days away, but at Nelson’s Candy in Wilton, it’s not uncommon for the unmistakable scent of peppermint to fill the air as early as October — a sign that candy cane season has begun.

“The minute they know we have them … people will ask,” owner Nancy Feraco said of Nelson’s candy canes. “We do wait to hang them up until about a week or two before Thanksgiving, but people will ask for them, and we’ll run in the other room and get them, and sell them that way.”

Feraco took over the shop in early 2019 for the late Doug Nelson, continuing his decades-long legacy in town of chocolate and candymaking. Chief among their products during the holiday season are the candy canes — made the old-fashioned way, of course, using large kettles of boiling water and a taffy puller.

“The candy cane recipe goes way back,” said Philip LaVergne, one of Nelson’s candymakers. “Doug rarely used a thermometer. Everything was all by feel. … But when it came to the candy canes, he would use one because it’s a little bit more specific.”

Indeed, the practice of making these beloved peppermint canes by hand is about as traditional as it gets in the candymaking world. It requires a distinct level of precision — not to mention consistent manpower for all the quick cutting, rolling and shaping due to the short window of time before the candy hardens — to craft them from start to finish, making the final product that much more special.

“It’s not a difficult process to learn. It is pretty straightforward but there’s a lot of scientific stuff behind it,” said Emily Lewis, production manager of Van Otis Chocolates, which, in the past, has held public candy cane making demonstrations as fundraisers for Easterseals New Hampshire. While the demonstrations have been put on hold due to the pandemic, Van Otis does carry an assortment of seasonal items during the holidays, including peppermint cream and candy cane Swiss fudge, or dark and white chocolate Swiss fudge blended with candy cane pieces.

Up in the Weirs Beach area of Laconia, Kellerhaus is another New Hampshire shop known for making its own candy canes by hand. Owner Daryl Dawson said they always make sure to get their first batch done just in time for their annual holiday event in late November.

“We’re not in a temperature-controlled facility … and so we need it to be a cool temperature and low humidity in order for the candy to harden correctly,” Dawson said, “and that’s usually around [the] end of October, beginning of November for our candy canes and also our ribbon candy.”

Granite State Candy Shoppe, with stores in Concord and Manchester, also offers handcrafted candy canes — they’re available individually as is, or dipped in white or dark chocolate. The shop also offers white and dark chocolate-layered peppermint bark and candy cane cocoa bombs, featuring a combination of dark chocolate and their homemade candy cane pieces.

From the traditional red and white peppermint cane to those in an assortment of crazy colors and flavors, we take a deep dive into how local candy experts make the magic happen and explore the folklore and claims of origin behind the candy cane as a uniquely Christmastime treat.

Ribbon candy
Like candy canes, ribbon candy is perhaps associated with the Christmas season more than any other time of the year. Kellerhaus in Laconia, in business since 1906, is known for being one of the few shops in the Granite State that regularly makes its own ribbon candy. They usually start making it around November in tandem with the candy canes, according to owner Daryl Dawson.
“A candy cane is really solid, but the ribbon candy we’ll pull into really thin strips,” Dawson said. “A lot of people think of ribbon candy as what they’ll see in the grocery store and it’s very thick. Ours is very thin, so thin that it’s almost one of those Listerine strips. It sort of will just melt in your mouth. … You won’t be chewing on it or having to suck on it for very long.”
For flavors, Dawson said they offer two different boxes — one is a traditional box holding cinnamon, wintergreen, peppermint, molasses and chocolate, while the other is an old-fashioned box with flavors like licorice, clove, spearmint, root beer and vanilla.
Nellson Perry, a candymaker who joined the staff of Nelson’s Candy in downtown Wilton back in March, has a mostly hard candy background — including candy canes and ribbon candy. Owner Nancy Feraco said they’ve made a few types of ribbon candy so far and hope to start experimenting with more soon. They have also been playing around with small hard candy pieces featuring drawn festive imagery in the center, like snowflakes and Santa Claus faces.

Getting hooked

Depending on their size, LaVergne said Nelson’s can usually produce around 150 individual candy canes or slightly more per batch, while at Kellerhaus, Dawson said that number tends to be between 75 and 100 due to its larger, nearly foot-long canes. The process starts by cooking a mixture mostly made up of sugar and water together until it reaches a temperature of just about 300 degrees.

“Once it hits the 300 degree mark, we pour that mixture out onto a stainless steel table that is heated with water to prevent the candy from breaking,” Dawson said. “When it’s poured onto the table, it’s completely clear. You can almost see through it into the table and we let it cool and add flavoring and color. … When it’s really hot it comes out in pools on the table, and you have to block it from kind of flowing off of the table, it’s so liquidy.”

When the sugar mixture cools enough and reaches a malleable, plastic-like state, that’s when it can be taken over to a taffy puller.

“They are like big coat hooks, basically,” Lewis said. “You have to wear gloves because it’s still very hot at that point, probably at around 250 degrees, and so some of us will wear multiple layers of gloves. … You rapidly flip it over the hook and pull it down and flip it over the hook and pull it down again, and that incorporation of air is actually going to make your candy cane turn white.”

Dawson said this process of turning the mixture from a clear color to a solid white only takes about five minutes.

“It’s really remarkable to see that happen,” he said. “[Pulling it] not only helps to cool it, but it also makes it a little bit more pliable and easier to work with. … We’ll also pull the red of the candy cane stripe until it’s nice and shiny looking.”

From there, the mixture — also known as a loaf — is moved to a table to be rolled, extruded and cut into individual pieces. Candymakers will use a sharp knife or a pair of shears to carefully section pieces off.

“You make a big log out of the white in the center, and then you put the stripes you added flavoring in on the side to create a design,” Lewis said. “You pull it into almost like a rope shape, and then cut your desired length and then shape them and pass them on. It sets really quickly on the table. I mean, once it gets removed from any kind of heat, it’ll set within maybe 30 seconds to a minute. So you can’t really play around with it too much or you’ll start cracking it.”

The final step, Dawson said, involves gently bending the top of each rolled up piece to create that signature hook-like shape of the candy cane.

As they reach the end of a batch, LaVergne noted, sometimes the stripes won’t always line up just right, or there won’t be enough left to create a full-sized candy cane. Those pieces are set aside to be used on other items like Nelson’s peppermint bark.

“[The candy cane pieces] are all mixed into the dark chocolate layer and the white chocolate layer, and then we sprinkle more of them on top,” he said.

Fun with flavors

Who says candy canes have to just be red and white and peppermint-flavored? In March of this year, Peterborough native Nellson Perry joined the staff of Nelson’s — Feraco likes to joke that they named the shop after him — bringing with him an extensive background in hard candy making from his time in the Los Angeles area.

“Nellson actually showed us another methodology of flavoring [candy canes] in the kettle,” LaVergne said, “because before, we used to flavor it on the hook. This way, it’s more specific, more precise and it’s the same exact flavor every time. … The other thing was that before, the stripes didn’t get flavor, because we cut off that piece of candy before they brought it to the hook. So now everything’s got flavor, and you’re going to get a better product out of it.”

The changed step of adding the flavoring into the kettle has also afforded them the opportunity to more readily experiment with different types of candy canes. Peppermint remains the tried and true favorite, but Nelson’s has also been known to make orange candy canes, blue raspberry candy canes, root beer candy canes and even anise candy canes for those who like the taste of black licorice. They made an orange candy cane with black stripes during the Halloween season, and recently Perry combined green apple, pineapple and orange flavors to create a fruit punch candy cane. Other unique flavor combinations have included a “chocolate-filled” candy cane, the inside of which Feraco equated to the chewiness of a Tootsie Roll.

“We took the candy loaf and flattened it out first, and then we put a big tube of chocolate taffy in there and then sealed it up,” LaVergne said.

At Kellerhaus, Dawson said they’ll always roll out peppermint and wintergreen candy canes, along with a third flavor that’s typically switched up every season.

“The peppermint is your typical red and white candy cane, and then the wintergreen is green and white,” he said. “Wintergreen is kind of like if you think about a wintergreen gum. It’s a little bit sharper and not as minty as the peppermint. … Everybody’s got different tastes of what they like; it just depends on the person. But the peppermint is definitely the top seller for us.”

As for that third flavor, this year it’s a blue and pink-colored cotton candy-flavored cane. But Dawson added that, oftentimes, the sky’s the limit with what they can come up with.

“We’ve done gingerbread, grape, orange, sour apple … [and] some of them actually do really well,” he said. “We usually like to let some of our newer employees decide on the flavor to do.”

An age-old tradition

There is much folklore surrounding the origin of candy canes and their significance at Christmastime. According to The Oxford Companion to Sugar and Sweets, an encyclopedia edited by Darra Goldstein and published by Oxford University Press, a common story comes from the German city of Cologne, around the year 1670.

Hard candy sticks were a popular confection in Germany during the 17th century. Goldstein writes that a choirmaster of Cologne Cathedral, in his attempt to quiet children during holiday church services, consulted with a local candymaker. He ended up asking him to make a special version of a hard candy stick — one with a hook on the end, to resemble a shepherd’s crook.

Of course, there’s also the customary suggestion that, because a candy cane turned upside down resembles the letter “J,” it’s symbolic of Jesus Christ. Goldstein goes on to write that other theologians have suggested the white color of candy canes to be reflective of purity.

Prior to World War I, candy canes were manufactured by hand just about everywhere in the world. That began to change, Goldstein writes, around the early 1920s when the Bunte Brothers of Chicago applied for a patent for a machine that would manufacture them.

Considering the fact that candy canes have been mass-produced by machine now for roughly an entire century, it’s rather remarkable to see local shops like Nelson’s Candy — which, in its own right, has been in business since 1914, dating back to its days in Lowell, Mass. — take the time to continue to make them the old-fashioned way today.

Inside the Wilton shop is a framed black-and-white photograph of Doug Nelson’s grandmother and other family members and employees. Above them is a large chandelier-style structure with homemade candy canes hanging from it.

“As a child, Doug started making candy for her, and he made it all his life,” Feraco said. “In the 1980s, she sold [her shop] and she had all the grandchildren come in and take whatever they wanted for equipment. And so Doug took the taffy machines, he took the kettles and a few other things. … He moved here [to Wilton] in the early ’90s.”

Where to get your candy cane fix

Here are some local shops that offer their own handmade candy canes and other candy cane-related items, from peppermint bark to candy cane cocoa bombs.

Granite State Candy Shoppe
13 Warren St., Concord, 225-2591; 832 Elm St., Manchester, 218-3885; granitestatecandyshoppe.com
With stores in both downtown Concord and Manchester, Granite State Candy Shoppe offers handmade peppermint- or wintergreen-flavored candy canes — they are sold individually as is, or come dipped in milk or dark chocolate. Other products include dark and white chocolate peppermint bark (topped with the shop’s homemade peppermint pieces) and dark chocolate candy cane cocoa bombs.

Kellerhaus
259 Endicott St. N, Laconia, 366-4466, kellerhaus.com
Located in the Weirs Beach area of Laconia, Kellerhaus typically gets rolling on the candy canes and other peppermint-flavored items just before Thanksgiving. Individual canes are rather large — nearly a foot long after they are hooked, according to owner Daryl Dawson — and come in peppermint or wintergreen flavors, as well as a third flavor that rotates out every season. This year it’s cotton candy, featuring a blue and pink-colored cane.

Nelson’s Candy and Music
65 Main St., Wilton, 654-5030, nelsonscandymusic.com
It’s not uncommon for the sweet scent of peppermint to flow through the air inside this downtown Wilton shop as early as October. Nelson’s Candy is known for being somewhat of an experimental candy cane factory behind the counter — the traditional peppermint-flavored canes are available here, as well as everything from fruit punch to root beer candy canes. The same candy cane pieces are used in the shop’s own homemade peppermint bark.

Van Otis Chocolates
341 Elm St., Manchester, 627-1611, vanotis.com
While this Manchester shop has halted its candy cane making demonstration fundraisers due to the pandemic, there are still all kinds of seasonal treats here, from the peppermint creams to the candy cane Swiss fudge, featuring dark and white chocolate Swiss fudge mixed with candy cane pieces.

Featured photo: Candy cane Swiss fudge from Van Otis Chocolates in Manchester. Photo by Kreativ Studios.

Keeping the lights and heat on this winter — and what it will do to your wallet

The skyrocketing costs of energy in 2022 have left many New Hampshire families struggling to afford their heating and electric bills, and some even in fear of their homes going cold and dark this winter. Fortunately, there are a number of resources available to the state’s more vulnerable populations to ensure that doesn’t happen, as well as actions that residents of all demographics can take to reduce energy consumption — and the balance on their energy bills.

New Hampshire energy professionals shared their expertise on the current state of and onlook on energy costs; how to pay less for energy now and over time; and where to find the appropriate assistance to meet your family’s unique energy needs.

Why is energy so expensive now?

The biggest reason, according to New Hampshire energy professionals, is an increased demand for natural gas around the world, triggered by global events, particularly the war in Ukraine.

“Even though the U.S. is a major producer of natural gas, we’re in the same global market as everyone else on the planet,” New Hampshire’s Consumer Advocate Donald Kreis said. “When the demand for natural gas around the world goes up, our prices go up.”

New England’s power grid relies heavily on natural gas, so when the price of natural gas goes up, so does the price of the electricity produced with it.

“The regional market for electric supply consists of 50 percent or so, give or take, natural gas,” said William Hinkle, media relations manager for Eversource, New Hampshire’s largest utility, “so the prices [of electricity] are always very closely tied to the price of natural gas.”

In the winter, the demand for natural gas is even greater as many homes also use it for heating.

“The winter is tough, because a big portion of the natural gas supply gets diverted for use by millions of people using it to heat, but the power plants still need the same amount of natural gas to produce electricity,” said Seth Wheeler, communications coordinator for New Hampshire Electric Co-op, a member-owned and -controlled electric utility.

Will prices keep going up?

“Probably not,” said Kreis, who, as Consumer Advocate, represents the interests of residential utility customers in government proceedings. “I don’t expect it to go much higher than it is, but that still isn’t good news, because prices are double than what they were a year ago.”

Eversource recently filed its proposal for its next energy service rate adjustment, which will go into effect on Feb. 1, with the New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission. It’s a slight decrease, from 22.6 cents per kilowatt-hour, the rate set in August, to 20.2 cents per kilowatt-hour.

“The price is going down, but it’s still incredibly high, and still much higher than it was in February 2022,” Hinkle said.

“We enjoyed, for a good 10 years or so, what turned out to be really low prices for electricity and natural gas,” Kreis said, “but that era of 10-cents service rates is over, and I don’t see it coming back anytime soon.”

What are my options for heating my home? Which heating source is the most economical?

According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2015-2019 American Community Survey, fuel oil is the most common, with 44 percent of New Hampshire homes using it as a primary heating source. Natural gas is the second most common, used by 21 percent of homes, followed by propane gas, used by 16 percent. Electric heating is the primary heating source in nine percent of homes; seven percent use wood, and two percent use coal, solar or another heating source.

In the short term, the most economical option is to continue using your home’s existing heating infrastructure while taking measures to get the most bang for your buck.

“Replacing the heating system in your house with a different one is a substantial investment; that’s going to be expensive,” Kreis said. “The first best option is energy-efficiency and conservation — finding ways to use less energy and need less heat.”

But investing in a different heating system could pay off in the long term.

One of the most economical heating sources that New Hampshire energy professionals are advocating for is the heat pump. Powered by electricity, a heat pump sits outside the home, extracts and condenses heat from the air and blows that heat into the home through ducts. It can also be used during the summer to extract and condense cooling air.

“It’s three times as efficient as more traditional heating, which means you get a lot more heat for less money,” Wheeler said. “It’s going to increase your electric bill a bit, but it will still cost you less on heating overall.”

You can also save money by powering a heat pump or another electric heating system with renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind.

“Renewable energy has declined so dramatically in price,” said Sam Evans-Brown, executive director of Clean Energy NH, a nonprofit that advocates for clean energy initiatives in the state. “It’s a persistent myth that it’s expensive because, frankly, people are bad at math. Up front, it’s expensive, but over time, it’s the cheapest thing you can do.”

What can I do right now to reduce my energy usage at home?

“Unfortunately, we’re at a time when people need to be active users of energy,” Kreis said. “You can’t just flip a switch and forget about it anymore. By being mindful about how and when and why you’re using energy, you can save a substantial amount of money.”

Here are some energy-efficiency actions that New Hampshire energy professionals said require little effort but can have a big impact:

• Dress warmly and use warm bedding so that you can turn the heat down.

• Turn off lights in unoccupied rooms.

• Replace incandescent lighting with LED lighting.

• Turn the heat down when you’re not at home.

• Open window blinds during the day to absorb heat from the sunlight.

“It sounds glib, but that stuff has an important role to play,” Kreis said. “Energy is never going to be free, and it’s probably never going to be cheap, but anything you can do to bring down your electric bill is worth pursuing.”

Weatherization — making energy-friendly improvements to your home — can also go a long way toward reducing your energy bill. The most important improvement you can make, Evans-Brown said, is tightening up your home’s insulation, but that can be costly. If you aren’t ready to make that investment, there are some relatively inexpensive DIY improvements that you can make to your home right now to conserve as much heat as possible:

• Put weather stripping around doors

• Install a shrink-to-fit plastic window cover

• Use spray foam insulation to fill in cracks and gaps along the ceilings and walls

“These are quick and easy things that anybody can do to lower their energy bill this winter,” Evans-Brown said.

Can I get electricity at a cheaper price?

Possibly. Your electric bill pays for the electricity you use and for the delivery of that electricity to your home. The system of poles and wires through which your electricity is delivered is managed by an electric utility, and that utility is, with limited exceptions, chosen for you based on where you live. You do, however, have a choice of companies to purchase your electricity, or “supply,” from. These companies, known as “competitive energy suppliers,” can set their own prices and contract terms and offer sign-up incentives. If you don’t choose your own supplier, your utility is your default supplier, and you pay the “default energy service rate,” which is adjusted every six months to reflect market prices and demand.

“Customers should know that they have options,” Hinkle said. “They should definitely shop around to ensure that they’re paying the lowest possible supply rate.”

“Some of the prices that the competitive suppliers are offering right now are substantially lower than the utility’s price,” Evans-Brown said. “You can [switch to] a competitive supplier and cut your bill by like, 15 percent right this moment.”

What kind of assistance is available to me if I’m struggling to afford electricity and home heating?

In September, $35 million in state surplus funds was allocated to deliver an emergency energy relief package to New Hampshire households earning between 60 and 75 percent of the state’s median income. Qualifying households can receive a one-time benefit of up to $450 for home heating costs and up to $200 for their electric bill. Apply for emergency assistance through your local community action agency by April 30, 2023.

“The eligibility requirements are looser in terms of income, and people who don’t normally qualify for benefits may qualify [for emergency assistance],” Wheeler said. “Normally, you wouldn’t see this. This is a one-off thing that reflects the climate we’re in right now of an energy crisis.”

For New Hampshire households earning less than 60 percent of the state’s median income, there are three main ongoing energy assistance programs available, also through community action agencies:

• The Fuel Assistance Program provides qualifying households with benefits ranging from $304 to $3,024 to offset home heating costs.

• Electric Energy Assistance provides qualifying households a discount of eight to 76 percent on their utility bill.

• Weatherization Assistance provides qualifying households with home improvements for energy efficiency at no cost.

In applying for emergency assistance, many households find that they actually qualify for ongoing assistance programs.

“When people look at the numbers and self-assess, they think they aren’t going to qualify,” said Ryan Clouthier, chief operating officer at Southern New Hampshire Services, the Community Action Partnership for Rockingham and Hillsborough counties, “but there are many different [factors] that come into play, so it’s important that people talk to us and let us help them with the application process.”

Even if you don’t qualify for the state’s main ongoing assistance programs, it’s worth reaching out to your local community action agency as it may know of other kinds of energy assistance that aren’t public knowledge that you could qualify for.

“There are other programs that aren’t as large that may be able to help you with something,” Clouthier said. “If you get your application in with a community action agency, we can see if there’s anything else out there to connect you with.”

Utilities, for example, may also offer assistance programs for customers who are struggling to pay their bills.

“We encourage customers to reach out to us so that we can work with them one-on-one to find a solution that will help them in their individual case,” Hinkle said.

Eversource has a number of income-based assistance programs and payment plan options available and can guide customers in identifying energy-efficiency solutions to reduce their bill:

• The New Start program helps customers with an overdue balance by creating a new budgeted monthly payment for them based on the average amount of their regular monthly bill. If they are diligent in paying their new monthly payment, Eversource will forgive a portion of the overdue balance each month.

• Payment plans can be established for customers who have an overdue balance but don’t qualify for forgiveness. If they make an agreed-upon minimum payment, they can pay off their remaining balance over the course of up to 12 months.

• Budget billing is an arrangement that allows customers to make fixed monthly payments for 12 months based on the past annual energy usage for customers in their location. If, at 12 months, the customer’s usage has totaled more than what they’ve paid for, they can “settle up” their remaining balance. If their usage has totaled less than what they’ve paid for, they will receive a reimbursement credited to their next bill.

• Neighbor Helping Neighbor is a partnering nonprofit that provides grants to utility customers who don’t qualify for income-based assistance but are experiencing an emergency or isolated financial hardship that has made it difficult for them to pay their bills.

“A lot of people, when they fall into arrears with their bills, see their utility company as this big bad enemy and try to avoid them,” Kreis said. “You should be doing the opposite; lean into talking with your utility. They have all sorts of resources that can help you.”

New Hampshire energy resources

New Hampshire utilities

• Eversource (electric): 800-592-2000, eversource.com
• Liberty (electric and natural gas): 800-833-4200, libertyutilities.com
• New Hampshire Electric Co-op (electric): 800-698-2007, nhec.com
• Unitil (electric and natural gas): 888-301-7700, unitil.com

To see a list of New Hampshire competitive energy suppliers and compare their rates and plans, visit energy.nh.gov/consumers/choosing-energy-supplier.

Community Action Agencies

Local resources for energy assistance programs.

• Southern New Hampshire Services (Hillsborough and Rockingham counties): 668-8010, snhs.org
• Community Action Program Belknap-Merrimack Counties: 223-0043, capbm.org
• Community Action Partnership of Strafford County: 435-2500, straffordcap.org
• Southwestern Community Services (Cheshire and Sullivan counties): 352-7512, scshelps.org
• Tri-County Community Action (Coos, Carroll and Grafton counties): 752-7001, tccap.org

See “Federal Energy Resources for Individuals and Homeowners,” a document released by U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen outlining the energy cost-saving benefits of the federal Inflation Reduction Act passed in August and New Hampshire energy assistance programs at shaheen.senate.gov.

New Hampshire Office of the Consumer Advocate (oca.nh.gov) represents the interests of residential utility customers in government proceedings.

NHSaves (nhsaves.com) is a collaboration of New Hampshire utilities that acts as a resource for energy-efficiency, providing residents with information, incentives and support.

New Hampshire fuel prices are updated regularly at energy.nh.gov/energy-information/nh-fuel-prices.

For more information on all things pertaining to energy in New Hampshire, visit the state’s Department of Energy website, energy.nh.gov, or Public Utilities Commission website, puc.nh.gov.

Maybe solar?

If there’s one good thing to come out of this winter’s high energy costs, Evans-Brown said, it’s that they’ve led many people to reevaluate their energy sources and take an interest in renewable energy sources, particularly solar.

“It’s waking people up and pushing more people in that direction [of clean energy],” he said.

The upfront cost of solar installation is not cheap, but there are a number of programs in New Hampshire that offer rebates and other incentives for qualifying residents who install clean energy generation systems on their homes.

One of those programs is the New Hampshire Department of Energy’s Low-Moderate Income Solar Grant Program, which awards grants to fund solar projects for low- to moderate-income multi-family housing communities. Project proposals and applications are being accepted now through Jan. 24, 2023, with grant amounts ranging from $75,000 to $175,000.

“Inflation and rising energy prices hit our low-income families hardest, and this bill will help ensure that these New Hampshire families and communities can share in the benefits of clean energy,” Gov. Sununu said in a statement after signing the bill for the program in July.

New Hampshire utilities have also joined the push toward transitioning residents to renewable energy sources.

“It’s an important priority for the company,” Hinkle said in regard to Eversource. “Ensuring that we’re able to maximize the benefits of [clean energy] programs for all customers, particularly low- and moderate-income customers, is something we work on every day.”

The number of people installing solar energy systems on their homes and businesses is around four times higher this year than it was last year, Evans-Brown said.

“If you call up a solar contractor today, they wouldn’t be able to get to your house until like, next August,” he said. “They’ve got people beating down their doors.”

But switching to solar is not a decision to be made in haste; people who are considering making the switch would be wise to use the waiting period for service as an opportunity to thoroughly research solar energy and connect with local resources like Clean Energy NH that provide support and guidance to clean energy users.

“That’s your next step,” Evans-Brown said.

Resources

Clean Energy NH (cleanenergynh.org) is a nonprofit that advocates for clean energy initiatives in the state.

Learn more about the New Hampshire Department of Energy’s renewable energy programs and initiatives at energy.nh.gov/renewable-energy.

New Hampshire Energy Highlights

June – In response to a nationwide increase in energy costs, Gov. Chris Sununu and the New Hampshire Department of Energy sign off on a $7.5 million emergency energy relief package. For the first time ever, low-income households qualifying for assistance through the Fuel Assistance Program receive summertime assistance to offset the costs of cooling their homes. Additionally, $7 million in state surplus funds is allocated to the Electric Assistance Program, which provides low-income households with assistance on their electric bills.

July – Gov. Chris Sununu signs SB270, a law under which New Hampshire’s Department of Energy will work with the state’s utility companies to enroll low- to moderate-income families in a community solar energy program. Families enrolled in the program receive a credit on their electricity bill.

August – Eversource, New Hampshire’s largest electric utility, notifies customers of an “unprecedented increase” in the supply portion of their bill due to record-high natural gas prices and energy supply pressures from the global economy. The energy provider’s energy service rate, which is adjusted twice a year in August and February, increases from 10.669 cents per kilowatt hour to 22.566 cents per kilowatt hour.

September – HB2023 is passed, allowing $35 million in state surplus funds to be put toward a one-time emergency fuel assistance program and supplemental electric benefit for households earning between 60 and 75 percent of the state’s median income. “New Hampshire just delivered the largest energy relief package this state has ever seen, helping families in need this winter,” Gov. Chris Sununu says in a press release. An additional $7 million is allocated to support existing assistance programs for low-income households.

October – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen leads a roundtable discussion with New Hampshire energy professionals to highlight state and federal programs available to assist New Hampshire households with heating costs. “There are numerous programs and opportunities available to help Granite Staters, but those are only effective if folks know about them,” Sen. Shaheen says in a press release. Sen. Shaheen releases “Federal Energy Resources for Individuals and Homeowners,” a document outlining the energy cost-saving benefits of the federal Inflation Reduction Act passed in August and state energy assistance programs.

November – The Low Income Home Energy Assistance program (LIHEAP), which funds New Hampshire’s Fuel Assistance Program, receives $33.9 million in federal funding to help low-income households pay their home heating and energy bills, make minor energy-related home repairs and weatherize their homes to make them more energy-efficient.

December – Eversource files its proposed energy service rate for Feb. 1 with the New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission. If approved, the rate will decrease from 22.6 cents per kilowatt-hour to 20.2 cents per kilowatt-hour, lowering the supply portion of the average residential customer’s bill by approximately seven percent.

Featured photo: Courtesy photo.

This year, give kids the gift of activities, adventures and experiences.

[email protected]

For the holidays, give a gift to kids that allows them to explore art, nature and science through museum passes, activity gift cards, movie tickets and more.

Michael Accomando, the owner of Mel’s Funway Park, said that even though Mel’s is closed until the spring, they are still selling gift cards and Fun Packs (which include admission for all activities at the park) for the upcoming season. To Accomando, giving activities to kids is important.

“I try to keep people as far away from sitting on their phones or screens,” Accomando said. “I want to see kids outside and having fun.”

Below are a list of some area venues that offer gift cards, passes and more for kids and families to enjoy.

• Altitude Trampoline Park (360 Daniel Webster Hwy., Merrimack, altitudemerrimack.com, 261-3673) Gift cards can be requested through the website. An average jump session starts at $20 and there are multiple session passes available for purchase at the park.

• Aviation Museum of New Hampshire (27 Navigator Road, Londonderry, 669-4820, nhahs.org) Membership for the full year includes a 10 percent discount in the Museum gift shop, borrowing privileges from the Slusser Aviation Lending Library, an invitation to quarterly luncheon programs and all Aviation Museum of New Hampshire events, and a subscription to the quarterly newsletter The Aeronaut. Individual membership costs $35, with family membership costing $70. Memberships can be purchased online.

• Children’s Museum of New Hampshire (6 Washington St., Dover, childrens-museum.org, 742-2002) The museum is offering gift cards that are one playtime pass for $12.50 for an adult and one child. A yearlong membership costs $145 per family.

• Chunky’s (707 Huse Road, Manchester, 206-3888; 151 Coliseum Ave., Nashua, 880-8055; 150 Bridge St., Pelham, 635-7499; chunkys.com) The movie theater offers physical and printable gift cards ranging from $10 to $100 and an anytime movie pass for $8. There are also gift boxes starting at $22, such as the one that includes a $10 gift card, one prepaid admission and one prepaid popcorn coupon.

• Cowabungas (725 Huse Road, Manchester, cowabungas.com, 935-9659) The playground offers gift cards in any amount that can be purchased on its website.

• Crotched Mountain (615 Francestown Road, Bennington, crotchedmtn.com, 588-3668) Day lift passes start at $64 for youth ages 7 to 17.

• Fun City Trampoline Park (553 Mast Road, Goffstown, funcitygoffstown.com, 606-8807)Gift cards can be purchased at the park. Jump times start at $10 for toddlers ages 6 and younger or $16 for children ages older than 6. There is a VIP pass available online that includes two hours of fun, with a 60-minute jump time, laser tag and bumper cars. Pricing for children older than 6 is $30, $18 for toddlers.

• Granite Base Camp (300 Bloudin Road in Manchester; experiencebasecamp.org/pages/granite, 623-5962) offers annual family members (at $150 for four passes per weekend and $200 for six) or get a day pass for $20 per person. During Saturdays in winter, Granite Base Camp has ice skating, ice fishing, snow shoeing, indoor archery, STEM programs and more.

• Krazy Kids (60 Sheep Davis Road, Pembroke, krazykids.com, 228-7529) Gift cards start at $25 and a two-hour play session costs $15 for a child and an additional $5 for an accompanying adult.

• McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center (2 Institute Dr., Concord, starhop.com, 271-7827) The Center features different levels of memberships that can be purchased online. Base level membership includes free admission to exhibit halls, free admission to the monthly Super Stellar Fridays series, free admission to regular planetarium shows, free or reduced admission to science centers that are part of the Association of Science-Technology Centers (ASTC) reciprocal program, free admission to partner museums and attractions, discounts on Discovery Center workshops and programs, and discounts at the Science Store. Membership for students ages 18 and under start at $30.

• McIntyre Ski Area (50 Chalet Way, Manchester, mcintyreskiarea.com, 622-6159) They offer everything from day lifts to season passes available to purchase on the website. Prices range from $20 to $389. Gift cards are also available starting at $10.

• Mel’s Funway Park (454 Charles Bancroft Hwy., Litchfield, melsfunwaypark.com, 424-2292)Email [email protected] or call to purchase gift cards or a Funway fun pack. Packs start at $38 per person and include a go-kart ride, a round of mini golf, a laser tag session, a bumper boat ride, two admissions to the laser maze and five batting cage tokens.

• Muse Paintbar (42 Hanover St., Manchester, musepaintbar.com, 888-607-6873, musepaintbar.com) The studio is offering gift cards that can be purchased online. The starting price for a gift card is $25 and sessions start at $35.

• O’neil Cinemas (24 Calef Hwy., Epping, oneilcinemas.com, 679-3529) The movie theater offers gift cards from $5 to $100. Gift cards can be purchased online or in the cinema.

• Pats Peak (686 Flanders Road, Henniker, patspeak.com, 428-3245) Gift cards start at $20, and a lift pass for juniors costs $82.

• SEE Science Center (200 Bedford St., Manchester, see-sciencecenter.org, 669-0400) Individual membership costs $30, membership for a family of four costs $120, for a family of up to eight is $150. Gift certificates can be purchased by calling the center’s phone number.

• Studio 550 (550 Elm St., Manchester, 550arts.com, 232-5597) The clay studio offers classes in drawing or clay work for students ages 9 and older during the school semesters and a pottery camp over summer vacation. Gift cards (made out of clay) are available and range from $10 to $300.

• Vertical Dreams (250 Commercial St., Manchester, verticaldreams.com, 625-6919) The rock climbing gym has gift cards starting at $25 that can be purchased online. A beginner lesson package costs $40 and a day pass costs $15 for children. Memberships for children start at one month for $45.

• XtremeCraze (4 Orchard View Dr., Unit 10, Londonderry, xtremecraze.us/londonderry, 404-6064) Pricing starts at $18.

Featured photo: The Aviation Museum of N.H.’s annual ‘Holiday Festival of Model Planes and Toy Aircraft.’ Courtesy photo.

Give the experience of a live performance this year

By Katelyn Sahagian

[email protected]

Theaters, orchestras and cinemas are offering gift cards and season memberships for live performances.

“I think when you come to a show the overall experience is elevated,” said Shannon Sullivan, the development director at the Palace and Rex Theatres in Manchester. “It’s a chance to get out and come be part of the community. We love getting people over here to the Palace and the Rex to experience it firsthand.”

Sullivan said that the Palace is in the swing of its 2022-2023 season now, with showings of A Christmas Carol throughout December, to be followed by the Piano Men tribute show in January and Broadway classic Rent coming later in the year.

The Rex will continue having live music performances and comedy shows every Friday evening, as well as tribute bands and other entertainment, like magicians and silent films. Both venues will have local and national musicians playing throughout the year.

Sullivan recommended that people purchase gift certificates or memberships to the theater. She added that tickets could be bought as presents, but they wouldn’t be exchangeable for other days due to all ticket sales being final at checkout. Memberships for the Palace and Rex start at $100 and gift cards could be for any price.

According to Sullivan, the base level of membership includes “two tickets, access to private members club at the palace … various discounts … acknowledgement in the playbill, and members are invited to receptions and dress rehearsals as a perk.”

At Tupelo Music Hall in Derry, owner Scott Hayward said that it’s incredibly important to him to give people a fantastic experience. Growing up, Hayward said, his favorite presents were gift cards to movie theaters.

“I love getting experience for that,” Hayward said. “You want to do something and now you can without paying for it.”

The Tupelo has season memberships for $250 and also offers gift cards people can purchase. As at the Palace and the Rex, ticket sales are final, and Hayward advises against purchasing tickets over the gift cards. He said the average price for one ticket at Tupelo is $42.

There’s a whole series of comedians, musicians and other performers coming up at Tupelo, Hayward said. He is most excited about Crash Test Dummies, an alternative and folk rock band from Winnipeg, Manitoba. They’ll be playing on Feb. 19 at 8 p.m. The ticket price wasn’t listed on the website at the time of printing.

When it comes to a choice with gifting, Hayward said that there’s nothing like live entertainment.

“You can give a physical gift but when you give them tickets or venue gift cards it’s giving an experience,” Hayward said. “You get to give them a full night out.”

Here are some organizations in the Granite State that are offering gift certificates or memberships:

• Capitol Center for the Arts (44 S. Main St., Concord, ccanh.com, 225-1111) Memberships are available starting at $120 and include exclusive access to the best seats in the house at the Chubb Theatre, members-only ticket insurance exchange policy, a 24-hour presale window, concession quick-lane pass, access to Listener Lab programming club, and free access to online content.

• Community Players of Concord (435 Josiah Bartlett Road, Concord, communityplayersofconcord.org, 344-4747) Season tickets are still available at the time of printing, costing $16 per ticket. Order by calling or by emailing [email protected].

• Chunky’s (707 Huse Road, Manchester, 206-3888; 151 Coliseum Ave., Nashua, 880-8055; 150 Bridge St., Pelham, 635-7499; chunkys.com) The movie theater offers physical and printable gift cards ranging from $10 to $100 and an anytime movie pass for $8. There are also gift boxes for $22 that include a $10 gift card, one prepaid admission and one prepaid popcorn coupon. Chunky’s also offers gift baskets for one, two or a family of four priced at $25.50, $43 and $84 respectively.

• Flying Monkey (39 S. Main St., Plymouth, flyingmonkeynh.com, 536-255) In addition to gift cards starting at $25, Flying Monkey also offers a “Prime-Mate” membership package for $250 that includes 48-hour advance notice on new shows, a $100 gift card, a copy of the “Rockin’ the Flying Monkey” photo book, merchandise, a pair of tickets to the annual anniversary bash, and special membership offers and discounts.

• Hatbox Theatre (270 Loudon Road, Concord, hatboxnh.com, 715-2315) The theater has tickets for sale for the 2022-2023 season; tickets for adults cost $22 to $25 while tickets for students, seniors and members cost $19 to $22. Memberships are still available, and prices start at $40 a year.

• Nashua Chamber Orchestra (505 Amherst St., Nashua, nco-music.org, 978-226-8575) Ticket prices are $20 for adults, $15 for seniors ages 65 and older, military and college students, free for students under 18. A season pass costs $50 for adults, $35 for seniors, military and college students.

• O’neil Cinemas (24 Calef Hwy., Epping, oneilcinemas.com, 679-3529) The movie theater offers gift cards from $5 to $100. Gift cards can be purchased online or in the cinema.

• Palace and Rex Theatres (80 Hanover St. in Manchester for the Palace Theatre and its box office, palacetheatre.org, 668-5588) Memberships start at $100. Gift certificate pricing starts at $25.

• Red River Theatres (11 S. Main St., Concord, redrivertheatres.org, 224.4600) Gift cards can be purchased online or at the theater for $10 or more. The theater also has package deals that include two movie passes for Red River Theatres and a $25 gift card to a participating restaurant, and also a year-long membership that starts at $65.

• Symphony New Hampshire (6 Church St., Nashua, symphonynh.org, 595-9156) Memberships are not currently available at the time of printing, according to the website. Ticket prices start at $20 per show.

• Tupelo Music Hall (10 A St. in Derry, tupelomusichall.com, 437-5100) Memberships start at $250 and gift cards can be purchased for any amount.

Featured photo: Margaret Kasper of Mountain Girl Clothing, based in Milford. Courtesy photo.