Cover Stories – Page 37

Did you hear the one about…

Jokes from local comedians — and where to see them perform

What’s a good joke?

There are puns like “when chemists die, they barium,” and absurdities along the lines of “I’m reading a book about anti-gravity, and I can’t put it down.” Comedian Amy Tee has an opening line to disarm crowds wondering about her androgynous appearance: “You’re probably wondering what bathroom I’m going to use,” she says. “It’ll be the one with the shortest line, I guarantee you that.”

We asked a gaggle (or is that a giggle?) of regional comics for their favorite jokes. The responses ranged from personal favorites used in their sets to “street jokes” that float in the comedic ether. Some quoted influences like the late Mitch Hedberg, George Carlin or Rodney Dangerfield.

Here’s what happens when you ask someone who makes people laugh professionally for three favorite jokes.

Francis Birch

The family-minded comic offers this from his act:

I coach my son’s little-league baseball team. One of his teammates said to him, ‘My dad can kick your dad’s butt.’ My son said, ‘Well, my dad’s name is Francis, so you’re probably right.’

His all-time favorite joke is one his beloved mother used to tell him:

Rosa and Salvi were an old married couple who had three kids. Salvi was concerned because the youngest of the three did not look like the other two. When he was born, Salvi said, ‘Rosa, this boy is different than the other two; he must not be mine. Tell me the truth. I won’t be mad.’ Rosa said, ‘That baby is yours, Salvi. You’re paranoid.’ As the boy grew he looked different. ‘Rosa, just tell me the truth. I love this boy. But I know he’s not mine.’ Rosa said, ‘Salvi, that boy is yours.’ When he grew into a teenager, Salvi just knew that the boy was different. He said, ‘Rosa. I’m leaving. All these years you have lied to me. I can’t take it anymore.’ Rosa said ‘Salvi, that boy is yours. I swear it. The other two are your brother’s.’

The Granite State native appears June 17 at the Laconia Opera House.

Jimmy Dunn

Dunn said his favorite newspaper-friendly joke is from Don Gavin, The Godfather of Boston Comedy:

I was in a casino and saw a sign that said, ‘If you have a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER.’ So I called and said, ‘Yes, I have a gambling problem. I have an ace and a six and the dealer is showing a seven.’”

(He said his favorite is a Willie Nelson joke whose punchline is, ‘I’m not Willie Nelson.’)

To hear the rest of this NSFW bit, check him out at Kooks Café and Beach Bar in Rye on June 17, Cellos in Candia on June 19, The Grog in Newburyport, Mass., on June 23 and The Rex in Manchester on July 23. Check Dunn’s website for news about his hometown comedy festival, which usually happens in August (jimmydunn.com).

Carolyn Riley

Voted Boston’s Funniest a couple of years back, the rising star comic lives in New York City but returns home for shows every now and then. Here are a couple of her own favorites:

I got a girl so mad at me once she said, ‘OK, New Hampshire’ like it was a slur. I was like, ‘B*tch, don’t make me kayak through this babbling brook and smack you with my paddle!’

I showed up on a date with a guy and noticed he was wearing a ring. I said, ‘Is that a wedding ring?’ He said, ‘No, no, this is my Harvard class ring.’ I said, ‘Oh wow, that is worse.’

Riley also likes this gem from Taylor Tomlinson:

I’ll have you know that in bed I am a wild animal — yeah, way more afraid of you than you are of me.

And from Matt Donaher, a Hudson native now working in Los Angeles whom Riley cites as ‘the first comic that made me want to do stand-up when I saw him in high school,’ there’s this one:

I got run over by a stretch limo … took forever.

Riley opens for Corey Rodrigues at Laugh Boston on June 18 and June 19, and appears at The Grog in Newburyport, Mass., on June 23 with Jimmy Dunn and Dave Rattigan. She’s also at Kooks in Rye Beach with Jimmy Dunn and Friends on June 24.

Dave Rattigan

Known as The Professor by many comics who’ve taken his public speaking class at Northern Essex Community College in Haverhill, Mass., Rattigan naturally cites favorite jokes by other comedians, along with iconic writer Dorothy Parker, who said, “beauty is only skin deep, but ugly goes clean to the bone.”

Rattigan likes this one from novelist and Conan writer Brian Kiley:

There’s always one teacher you had a crush on; for me, it’s my wife’s aerobics instructor.

And here’s a George Carlin favorite:

Think of how stupid the average person is and realize half of them are stupider than that.

He cites this gem from fellow New England comic Paul Gilligan:

Plumbers are expensive. You come home and see a plumber’s van in front of your house and think, ‘I hope he’s [having an affair] with my wife.’

Rattigan is a regular at The Winner’s Circle in Salisbury, Mass., during Tuesday open mic night, frequently hosting. He’ll be at Steve’s Pinehurst in Billerica on Saturday, June 19, and The Grog in Newburyport on Wednesday, June 23, with Jimmy Dunn and Carolyn Riley.

Carolyn Plummer

One of her own:

My Dad was a minister, so we always had to set an example for the other kids at Sunday school. That’s a lot of pressure when you’re 6, and they should have been more specific.

One of her Mitch Hedberg favorites:

An escalator can never break, it can only become stairs. You should never see an ‘Escalator Temporarily Out Of Order’ sign, just ‘Escalator Temporarily Stairs, sorry for the convenience.’

From Kathleen Madigan, she loves this one:

I bowled for two years in college, because I was drunk and needed shoes.

Plummer performs at The Boat in Dracut, Mass., on June 25, at McCue’s Comedy Club at the Roundabout Diner in Portsmouth on July 9, and at Great Waters in Wolfeboro with Juston McKinney on Aug. 6.

Jay Chanoine

Chanoine likes this one from George Carlin:

I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman, ‘Where’s the self-help section?’ She said if she told me, it would defeat the purpose.

And Chanoine says this one makes him laugh every time:

What do we want? Low-flying plane sounds! When do we want them? Nnnneeeeoooooowwwwwww!”

He calls this one the best dad joke he’s ever heard:

My best friend is a dad, and he built a patio behind his house. He got really into decorating it, like dads do. He sent pictures out to show it off when he was done and one of his buddies asked, ‘What’s that on the crushed stones?’ Kevin replied, ‘A whiskey barrel.’ His buddy was impressed, and said, ‘Oh, neat!’ And my friend goes, ‘Nope — it’s on the rocks.’

Upcoming shows include Chunky’s Pelham on June 26, and Chunky’s Nashua on July 3.

Matt Barry

Barry said he usually opens his sets with this one:

I did a show at a VFW recently. Half the crowd was dudes who looked just like my dad, and the other half of the crowd was women who looked just like my dad.

Barry said, “I draw a ton of inspiration from the late great Mitch Hedberg, which is obvious when you see my act,” and points to these two favorite Hedberg one-liners:

I don’t have a girlfriend, but I do know a woman who would be mad that I said that, and is a hippopotamus a hippopotamus, or just a really cool oppotamus?

But Barry said his “absolute favorite joke of all time” is one called The Dufrenes from Hedberg:

When you’re waiting for a table at a restaurant, the host will call out ‘Dufrene, party of two. Dufrene, party of two….’ And if nobody answers, they just move on to the next one: ‘Bush, party of three….” But like, what happened to the Dufrenes? Nobody seems to care. Who can eat at a time like this? People are missing! The Dufrenes are in somebody’s trunk with duct tape over their mouths. And they’re hungry!

Matt’s upcoming shows include Pine Acres RV Resort in Raymond on July 2, Chunky’s Nashua on July 3, July 9 and July 10, The Word Barn in Exeter on July 30, Chunky’s Manchester on Aug. 6 and Aug. 7, Chunky’s Pelham on Aug. 21 and Chunky’s Nashua on Aug. 28.

Jim Colliton

The Bedford, Mass., native talks a lot about marriage and family in his act:

My wife wanted a new bike. The man at the bike store said, ‘How many miles do you ride a week?’ I said, ‘We have been married 24 years, and we’ve gone on three bike rides. Do you have a bike we can borrow?’

I hate shopping because I’m a dad, and dads always buy the wrong thing. Last week I bought 25 rolls of paper towels because the list only said paper towels. My wife said, ‘Are those the paper towels you bought?’ I said, ‘No, I would never buy these. … I bought them to show you what other men would bring home to their families.’ She said, ‘You’ve lived in this house 20 years and don’t know what kind of paper towels we use?’ I said, ‘I don’t even know where we keep the paper towels. If they’re not by the sink, I use my T-shirt.’

Colliton, a frequent Headliners headliner, will be at Fulchino Vineyards in Hollis on July 9. Further afield, he’s appearing June 25 and June 26 at Giggles in Saugus, Mass.

Christine Hurley

Here’s Hurley on parenthood:

Being a mother of five can be overwhelming. This is why you should not have your Slimfast with vodka smoothie while trying to get them off to school; things can go bad pretty quickly. Case in point: a few weeks ago my middle daughter, Ryan, woke up not feeling well. I said, ‘Go back to bed, Ryan, I’ll call the school nurse and let her know you aren’t coming in.’ So I call and leave a message, ‘Ryan won’t be in today.’ Ten minutes later my phone rings. ‘Mrs. Hurley, I’m sorry to hear Ryan doesn’t feel well — but she doesn’t go here.’ I said, ‘Really? Do you know where she does go?’

Hurley headlines The Rex on July 16, with shows later this summer at Suissevale in Moultonborough on July 31, LaBelle Winery in Derry on Aug. 12 and The Word Barn in Exeter on Aug. 13.

Will Noonan

Noonan’s favorite joke of his own is about chicken being underpriced for a living thing:

I’m far from a vegetarian, but 25 cents a chicken wing is just insulting to the animal.

(“It’s my favorite because I came up with the premise in my second year of comedy and the joke never made it into my act until my 13th year,” Noonan said.)

His favorite types of jokes, he said, are the ones you think of every time you do something. “Corey Rodrigues has one I think of every time I brush my teeth. I think of Dave Attel every time I’m on an airplane, or as he calls it, ‘a fly fly.’”

Noonan, named Boston’s Best Comedianby The Improper Bostonianmagazine, appears frequently at Headliners — he’ll be at the Hampton location on Aug. 14 — and has weekly shows at Capo in South Boston. He’s expected to take part in Jimmy Dunn’s annual Hampton Beach Comedy Festival later this summer, which will be announced when a venue is nailed down.

Juston McKinney

Here’s McKinney on some Patriots players:

I did a Showtime comedy special with Rob Gronkowski, who did 10 minutes of stand-up and then introduced me. My opening joke was, ‘How great is Rob Gronkowski? My kids love Gronk. In fact, my 7-year-old for Halloween went trick-or-treating as Gronk. He got to the third house, hurt himself, and was done for the year.’ I thought Gronk, hearing this, he was gonna deck me. Luckily, he didn’t get the joke. After that year my boy wanted to start going as Tom Brady. He wants to be trick-or-treating until he’s 45 years old.

And on camping:

My wife and I usually go camping at least once a year. We don’t mean to, but we live in New Hampshire and the power goes out every year. It’s like going on a last-second camping trip — you don’t know how long it’s going to last, but at least you’ve brought all your stuff. I was born and raised in New Hampshire. It’s a great state. We recently raised the legal age of marriage to 16 — we raised it? It was 13 for girls and 14 for boys. Can you imagine getting married that young? ‘Were you guys high school sweethearts?’ ‘Not yet.’

Here’s a favorite bit from deadpan master Steven Wright:

I got on this chairlift with this guy I didn’t know. We went halfway up the mountain without saying a word. Then he turned to me and said, ‘You know, this is the first time I’ve been skiing in 10 years.’ I said, ‘Why did you take so much time off?’ He said, ‘I was in prison. Want to know why? I said, ‘Not really. … Well, OK, you’d better tell me why.’ He said, ‘I pushed an absolute stranger off a Ferris wheel.’ I said, ‘I remember you.’

McKinney’s next area show is Aug. 6 at Great Waters in Wolfeboro. He’s also at Concord’s Capitol Center for multiple shows Aug. 27 through Aug. 29.

Jody Sloane

Sloane cited one favorite that’s not her own:

My friend told me this joke about a party host who made his guests line up for juice. I can’t seem to remember the entire joke, but all I know is that there was a long punchline.

And one of her own that’s topical:

I am homeschooling my son during the pandemic; he’s 30.

Finally, one that she called “adorable, dumb and also not mine”:

What do you call a pile of kittens? A meowntain.

Jody, a Headliners regular, will be working local cruise ships over the summer, and she’s planning a two-week camping trip to Glacier. “I hope to come back with new material and intel on whether or not bears poop in the woods,” she says.

Rob Steen

Here are three from Headliners owner comedian Rob Steen:

My wife and I were discussing names we would choose for a child if it was a boy.

She said, ‘Alex.’

I said, ‘Who is Alex?’

She said, ‘That’s my first boyfriend’s name.’

Ugh. Then she asked me what name would I choose if we had a girl.

I said, ‘Jen.’

My wife asked me, ‘Who is Jen?’

I said, ‘That’s your sister’s name.’

That’s why I’m no longer married!

My mom is a super clean freak and not great with technology, so I helped her shop online for the first time ever. She spent $875 on a vacuum cleaner with a headlight. When I asked her what the light was for she replied, ‘If we lose power during a storm, I can still see where I’m vacuuming.’

My buddy was driving really fast in northern Maine and blew right through the border patrol crossing at 60 mph.

I said, ‘Are you crazy, impaired or just nuts?’

He replied, ‘No — I have EZ-Pass.’

Driving though we heard a loud cracking sound — he had lost his driver’s side mirror! Lesson:

You know there is a problem when you crash into a country!

Often called the King of New England Comedy, Steen books his Headliners franchise across New England. Venues include a showcase club in downtown Manchester that’s due to reopen soon, Chunky’s Cinema Pubs in Nashua, Manchester and Pelham, and more than a dozen other venues. He’s likely to turn up at any of them, as host or headliner.

Amy Tee

Amy Tee on New England weather:

Everyone is constantly bitching about the weather in New England. I don’t know why. I’ve lived here my entire life and there are two seasons: winter and construction. It’s not the heat, it’s the stupidity.

Tee appears frequently at Headliners Comedy Club.

Featured photo: (Not in order) Courtesy photo

Kids Summer Guide to 2021

Fairs, theater events, hands-on art and more ideas for a season of family fun

As the (very strange) school year comes to a close, you may be wondering what you’re going to do with the kids during the hot weeks ahead. Luckily, there are a whole lot more in-person activities and events planned, from family-friendly musicals and concerts to fairs and festivals. Make plans now to keep the kids happy all summer long.

Fairs & fests

From town fairs and festivals to local sporting events, there are plenty of opportunities to get out and soak up the summer this year. Check out this list of happenings and be sure to call or visit their websites for the most up-to-date information as it becomes available.

• The Wilton Main Street Association will present its annual SummerFest on Saturday, June 19, featuring fireworks and live performances on Carnival Hill in Wilton. Visit visitwilton.com.

• Don’t miss the Hillsborough Summerfest, set for Thursday, July 8, through Sunday, July 11, at Grimes Field (29 Preston St., Hillsborough). The event features carnival rides, local vendors, games, live entertainment, fireworks on Saturday and a town parade and car and truck show on Sunday. Festival hours are 6 to 10 p.m. on Thursday, 5 to 11 p.m. on Friday, noon to 11 p.m. on Saturday and noon to 5:30 p.m. on Sunday. Visit hillsborosummerfest.com.

• The Raymond Town Fair, a multi-day event on the town common featuring contests, parades, live entertainment, children’s activities and more, is scheduled to return from Friday, July 9, through Sunday, July 11. Admission is free. Find them on Facebook @raymondtownfair for updates.

• Sanbornton’s 250th Anniversary Celebration and Old Home Day is scheduled for Saturday, July 10, at 19 Meetinghouse Hill Road. See “Sanbornton Old Home Day” on Facebook.

• The North Haverhill Fair is tentatively scheduled to return from Wednesday, July 28, through Sunday, Aug. 1, at 1299 Dartmouth College Hwy., featuring live entertainment, 4-H animal events and other family-friendly activities. Visit nohaverhillfair.com.

• The Belknap County Fair is due to return on Saturday, Aug. 7, and Sunday, Aug. 8, at 174 Mile Hill Road in Belmont. Visit bcfairnh.org for updates.

• There will be a summertime family fun day at The White Birch Catering & Banquet Hall (222 Central St., Hudson) on Sunday, Aug. 8, from noon to 5 p.m., featuring children’s sack races, a bounce house, games, food and more. Email [email protected].

• Hudson’s Old Home Days are due to return to the grounds outside of the Hills House (211 Derry Road, Hudson) from Thursday, Aug. 12, through Sunday, Aug. 15, and will feature local vendors, carnival games, demonstrations, food and more. Visit hudsonoldhomedays.com.

• The town of Epsom has a three-day Old Home Weekend celebration scheduled from Friday, Aug. 13, through Sunday, Aug. 15, at Webster Park in Epsom. Planned events include fireworks, a parade, a bike decorating contest and more. Visit epsomnh.org.

• The Great New England BBQ & Food Truck Festival will return to the Hampshire Dome (34 Emerson Road, Milford) on Saturday, Aug. 14, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., featuring food trucks, live music, a cornhole tournament and a “Kidz Zone,” where there will be face-painting, bounce houses and various contests. Tickets are $5 in advance and $10 at the gate (free for kids ages 14 and under). Visit gnecraftartisanshows.com.

• Free Comic Book Day might be a little later than normal this year but the annual celebration of comics is on the schedule — Saturday, Aug. 14. Stay tuned to your favorite comic book shop to find out what they are doing for the big day and get a preview of the special free comic book day issues (including some all-ages offerings) on freecomicbookday.com.

• Londonderry’s Old Home Days return from Wednesday, Aug. 18, through Saturday, Aug. 21, and will feature town parades, games, local vendors and more. Find them on Facebook @townoflondonderryoldhomeday.

• Intown Concord’s annual Market Days Festival, a three-day free street festival, is set to return to Main Street in downtown Concord from Thursday, Aug. 19, through Saturday, Aug. 21. Visit marketdaysfestival.com for the list of ongoing happenings, which have included tastings, live entertainment, food trucks, outdoor movie screenings, a kids zone and other family-friendly activities.

• The Cornish Fair is due to return to 294 Town House Road from Friday, Aug. 20, to Sunday, Aug. 22, featuring agricultural and 4-H exhibits and shows, arts and crafts, midway rides, stage shows, food and commercial exhibits. Admission is $12 for adults, $3 for kids ages 6 to 12 and free for kids under 6. Weekend passes can also be purchased for $30 each. Visit cornishfair.org.

• The annual Battle of the Badges Baseball Classic will return to Northeast Delta Dental Stadium (1 Line Drive, Manchester) on Friday, Aug. 20. Team Police and Team Fire will renew their friendly rivalry in this game to support programs at Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth-Hitchcock (CHaD). Visit chadbaseball.org.

• History Alive returns to the town of Hillsborough on Saturday, Aug. 21, and Sunday, Aug. 22, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sponsored by the Hillsborough Historical Society, History Alive features live historical re-enactors, live music, presentations about the Abenaki tribe, demonstrations and a children’s parade on Sunday. Visit historyalivenh.org.

• Field of Dreams Community Park (48 Geremonty Drive, Salem) has a family fun day event scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 28, from noon to 6 p.m., when there will be local vendors, children’s games, face-painting, a Touch-a-Truck, live music, food trucks and much more. Admission is free. Visit fieldofdreamsnh.org.

• Plaistow’s Old Home Day will be held on Saturday, Aug. 28, at 51 Old County Road in Plaistow, and is expected to feature local vendors, live entertainment, fireworks, raffles and a road race. Visit plaistowohd.com.

• Gilford’s Old Home Day is currently scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 28, and will likely feature activities like a pancake breakfast, a parade, food and craft booths, games and field events, live music, fireworks and more. Visit gilfordrec.com.

• Candia’s Old Home Day is set for Saturday, Aug. 28, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Candia Moore Park, next to the town hall (74 High St.), and will likely feature wildlife exhibitors, local vendor booths, a parade and more. Visit candiaoldhomeday.com.

• The Hopkinton State Fair is due to return to 392 Kearsarge Ave. in Contoocook from Thursday, Sept. 2, through Monday, Sept. 6. A Labor Day weekend tradition, the fair will run for five days this year, featuring midway rides, food, educational exhibits, live entertainment and more. Fair hours are from 5 to 11 p.m. on Thursday, 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Monday. Tickets are $29 for teens and adults 13 and up, $22 for seniors over 60, $19 for kids ages 3 to 12 and free for kids under 3. Visit hsfair.org.

• The Manchester Rotary Club will present the 20th annual Cruising Downtown classic car show event on Saturday, Sept. 4, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Around 1,000 unique vehicles will be on display along Elm Street and nearby areas. Visit manchesterrotary.org.

Live entertainment

From theater and music to magic and puppets, there are all kinds of shows for kids and families this summer, both indoors and outdoors.

• The Palace Youth Theatre performs James and the Giant Peach Jr. at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester) on Friday, June 11, at 7 p.m., and Saturday, June 12, at noon. Tickets cost $12 for children and $15 for adults. Visit palacetheatre.org or call 668-5588.

• Children’s musicians Miss Julieann & Mr. Joey will perform a free concert at Abbie Griffin Park (6 Baboosic Lake Road, Merrimack) on Wednesday, June 23, at 6 p.m. Visit merrimackparksandrec.org/summer-concert-series.

• The Kids Coop Theatre performs Bring It On on Friday, June 25, and Saturday, June 26. More information is TBA. Visit kids-coop-theatre.org.

• Magician BJ Hickman performs a family-friendly magic show at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester) on Wednesday, June 30, and Thursday, July 1, at 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Tickets cost $10. Visit palacetheatre.org or call 668-5588.

• Cactus Head Puppets will perform a free puppet show in the park at The Belknap Mill (25 Beacon St. E., Laconia) on Monday, July 5, at 10 a.m. Visit belknapmill.org.

• The 2021 Bank of New Hampshire Children’s Summer Series presents a series of shows at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester) with a Tuesday-through-Thursday run every week in July and August. Shows include Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs July 6 through July 8; Peter Pan July 13 through July 15; Wizard of Oz July 20 through July 22; The Little Mermaid July 27 through July 29; Beauty and the Beast Aug. 3 through Aug. 5; Rapunzel Aug. 10 through Aug. 12; Cinderella Aug. 17 through Aug. 19; and Sleeping Beauty Aug. 24 through Aug. 26. Showtimes are at 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Tickets cost $10. Visit palacetheatre.org or call 668-5588.

• Magician, balloon sculptor and flea circus ringmaster Ed Popielarczyk will perform a free, family-friendly magic show at the Candia Pond Park gazebo (behind the library, 55 High St.) on Wednesday, July 7, at 6:30 p.m. Visit smythpl.org/music-series.

• You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown will be at the Prescott Park Arts Festival (105 Marcy St., Portsmouth) July 9 through Aug. 15, with shows daily at 7 p.m. Visit prescottpark.org.

• Children’s musician Mr. Aaron will perform a free concert in the park at The Belknap Mill (25 Beacon St. E., Laconia) on Wednesday, July 14, at 10:30 a.m. Visit belknapmill.org.

• Family-friendly indie band Bee Parks and The Hornets will perform at Canterbury Shaker Village(288 Shaker Road, Canterbury) on Sunday, July 18, at 4 p.m. There is a suggested donation of $10 per person. Call 783-9511 or visit shakers.org.

• Everlasting Characters, a group of fairytale character performers, present “Royal Ball,” a free show at the Pelham Village Green (in front of the library, 24 Village Green) on Wednesday, July 21, at 6 p.m. Visit pelhamcommunityspirit.org/sponsored-events/concerts-on-the-village-green.

• Children’s musician Steve Blunt will perform a free concert at Meetinghouse Park at Ordway Park (Main Street, Hampstead) on Wednesday, July 21, at 6 p.m. Visit hampsteadconcerts.com/concert-series.

• The Windham Actors Guild presents a youth production of Seussical outside at Windham High School (64 London Bridge Road, Windham) Thursday, July 22, through Saturday, July 24. More information is TBA. Visit windhamactorsguild.com.

• Strawbery Banke Museum (14 Hancock St., Portsmouth) hosts a kids night of outdoor entertainment featuring music by Mr. Aaron and a bubble magic show by Kali and Wayne of Sages Entertainment on Tuesday, July 27, at 5:30 p.m. The cost is $5 per person. Call 433-1100 or visit strawberybanke.org.

• Folk-rock band Knock on Wood performs a free, family-friendly concert at the Village Common Park Gazebo in Bedford (Bell Hill Road) on Wednesday, July 28, at 6 p.m. Visit bedfordreconline.com.

• Rockin’ Ron the Friendly Pirate will perform a free show of pirate-themed kids music at Abbie Griffin Park (6 Baboosic Lake Road, Merrimack) on Wednesday, Aug. 11, at 6 p.m. Visit merrimackparksandrec.org.

Outdoor fun

Watch a game, head to a farm or stroll through vibrant gardens or wooded trails.

• The New Hampshire Fisher Cats are back to 100 percent capacity at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium (1 Line Drive, Manchester), and will next take on the Hartford Yard Goats during a home stand that begins Tuesday, June 15, at 6:35 p.m. Upcoming theme days include Comic-Con night on Friday, June 18, “Kids Run the Bases” on Sunday, June 20, and Sunday, July 25, and fairly regular fireworks.

• The Nashua Silver Knights recently kicked off their 2021 season and will next play at Holman Stadium (67 Amherst St., Nashua) on Saturday, June 12, at 6:30 p.m., against the Norwich Sea Unicorns. Upcoming theme days include Health Care Heroes Night & Fireworks Friday on Friday, June 18, and Father’s Day Necktie Giveaway and Kids Club Sunday on Sunday, June 20. Visit nashuasilverknights.com.

• The New Hampshire Farm Museum (1305 White Mountain Hwy., Milton) will host Children’s Day on Saturday, June 19, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Kids can get their pictures taken with the farm’s animals and try their hand at horseshoes, bean bags, hoops of grace and more. The museums annual Fourth on the Farm Fourth of July celebration will be held on Sunday, July 4, from noon to 3 p.m. Guides in period dress will be serving strawberry shortcake with homemade whipped cream on the porch, while local musicians will be performing and tractor rides will be available throughout the farm. Museum admission costs $10 for adults, $7.50 for seniors over age 64, $5 for kids ages 4 and up and free for kids under age 4 and for members and active military. The Farm Museum summer hours (running through August) are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. Visit nhfarmmuseum.org.

• Squam Lakes Natural Science Center (534 Route 3, Holderness) celebrates its new raptor exhibit with “All About Birds Day,” held the first Thursday of each month from July through September. There will be a pop-up Animal Encounters exhibit featuring live raptors, with naturalists standing by to answer questions. Animal Encounters will also host a pop-up exhibit on “Fur, Feathers, and Scales Day” on Thursday, July 15, featuring mammals, birds and reptiles; and at “Have to Have a Habitat Day” on Tuesday, Aug. 10, with animals that live in various kinds of habitats. The live animal exhibit and hiking trails are open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., according to the website, where you can pre-purchase passes. Admission is $18 for adults and seniors, $13 for ages 3 to 15 and free to children ages 2 and under. Visit nhnature.org.

• Do a little hiking and see some animals at the Educational Farm at Joppa Hill (174 Joppa Hill in Bedford; theeducationalfarm.org, 472-4724) which is open daily from dawn to dusk. Admission is free. A trail map is available online, as is an animal scavenger hunt. A farm stand is also open Wednesday, 3 to 6 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the website said.

• Charmingfare Farm (774 High St. in Candia, visitthefarm.com, 483-5623) features farm animals (alpacas, cows, peacocks, goats and more), some of whom you can meet in the petting zoo, and animals in the wildlife exhibits (racoon, fox, bobcat, owl), according to the website, where you can purchase tickets for $22 per person (kids 23 months and younger get in free). The farm is open to visits Friday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

• Travel back to a simpler time at Canterbury Shaker Village (288 Shaker Road, Canterbury), a restored Shaker village and history museum with historic buildings, interactive exhibits and activities, educational programs and more. The Village grounds and trails are open every day from dawn to dusk with no admission fee. Guided tours will be offered Tuesday through Sunday starting on June 12, with outdoor general tours at 11 a.m., indoor general tours at 1 p.m., and indoor themed tours at 3 p.m. Tickets cost $20 for general tours and $25 for themed tours and are free for visitors age 25 and under. Purchasing tickets in advance is encouraged, but walk-ins will be permitted based on availability. Call 783-9511 or visit shakers.org.

• Learn about marine life and science at the Seacoast Science Center (Odiorne Point State Park, 570 Ocean Blvd., Rye). The museum features indoor and outdoor tide pools and touch tanks with live animals and a variety of hands-on exhibits. Exhibits currently on display examine whales and seals; coral reefs; undersea exploration and engineering; the marine habitat on the Gulf of Maine; keeping New Hampshire beaches clean and more. Current hours are Friday, Saturday and Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Starting June 23, hours will expand to Wednesday through Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Entry is permitted on the hour. Getting tickets in advance is encouraged, but walk-ins are welcome if space allows. Tickets cost $10 for adults and kids age 12 and up; $8 for seniors age 65 and up; $8 for active duty military and veterans; $5 for kids ages 3 through 11; and are free for kids under age 3. Call 436-8043 or visit seacoastsciencecenter.org.

• Spend the day out in nature at Beaver Brook Association (117 Ridge Road, Hollis) which has more than 35 miles of maintained trails, open every day from dawn to dusk. The trails cut through diverse landscapes, including forests, fields and wetlands and are home to a variety of wildlife. Admission is free. A number of different trail maps and accompanying guidebooks with pictures for identifying wildlife are available on the website. Call 465-7787 or visit beaverbrook.org.

• The New Hampshire Audubon’s McLane Center (84 Silk Farm Road, Concord) is now open to visitors, featuring live animals and exhibits, including the Reptile Room and raptor mews, and a Nature Store. Admission is free. Hours are Tuesday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The trails and gardens at both the McLane Center and the Massabesic Audubon Center (26 Audubon Way, Auburn) are open daily from dawn to dusk with no admission fee. Call 224-9909 or visit nhaudubon.org.

Arts & museums

You can work a pottery wheel, see animals up close, reenact history and more at these special events and programs hosted by local museums and educational centers.

• The Children’s Museum of New Hampshire (6 Washington St. in Dover; childrens-museum.org, 742-2002) is open Wednesday and Sunday mornings and Thursday, Friday and Saturday mornings and afternoons. Go online to reserve a play session. Newly open this year is the Play Patio billed as a place for “messy creative fun,” according to the website.

• Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St., Manchester) offers Creative Studio, a themed art-making project for families, every second Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.. which is free for New Hampshire residents. On the third Saturday of every month, it hosts Art for Vets Family Days, where veterans and active military members and their families get free admission to the museum and can enjoy art-making activities and a complimentary lunch. Registration is required for all special events. Reserved timed tickets for the Currier are available online. The museum is open Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Friday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission costs $15 per person ($13 for seniors, $10 for students, $5 for youth ages 13 to 17 and free to children 12 and under). Call 669-6144 or visit currier.org.

• Studio 550 Art Center (550 Elm St., Manchester) offers an all-ages family clay sculpting workshop for $25 per person and a family pottery wheel workshop for kids ages 9 and up for $30 per person every Saturday at 4, 5:15 or 5:30 p.m., depending on the day. Call 232-5597 or visit 550arts.com.

• Join the Aviation Museum of New Hampshire for its annual “Welcome Summer” Fly-In Barbecue on Saturday, June 19, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the hangar of Jet Aviation at Nashua Airport (83 Perimeter Road). Families will have the chance to check out all kinds of vintage aircraft and cars, as well as the Aviation Museum’s “Rob Holland Experience” virtual reality exhibit. A barbecue buffet will be served at the hangar at noon. Tickets are $30 for adults, $25 for museum members, $10 for kids ages 6 to 12 and free for kids ages 5 and under. The museum is open Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m. Admission costs $10 per person ($5 for seniors, children ages 6 to 12 and veterans and active duty military; children 5 and under get in free) with a family maximum of $30. Visit aviationmuseumofnh.org.

• SEE Science Center (200 Bedford St., Manchester) celebrates its kickoff to summer with “BubbleMania,” a science and comedy show by bubble artist and performer Casey Carle, daily from Monday, June 21, through Friday, June 25. Showtimes are at 11 a.m., noon and 3 p.m. Tickets cost $5, plus admission, which is $9. SEE Science Center is currently open weekends with reserved time slots available at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Starting Monday, June 21, SEE will open seven days a week; reserve a timeslot online. Call 669-0400 or visit see-sciencecenter.org.

• The American Independence Museum (1 Governors Lane, Exeter) is presenting a modified version of its annual American Independence Festival, offering a series of in-person and virtual events, like a family camp-out on the night of Saturday, July 24, in which participants can play colonial-era games, sing 18th-century songs by the fire and more. The museum is open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visit independencemuseum.org.

At the library

Libraries across southern New Hampshire have all kinds of in-person and virtual happenings planned for this summer. Some events and activities listed below may only be open to town or city residents, library cardholders or kids who are signed up for the library’s summer reading program, so be sure to check with your local library beforehand.

Amherst Town Library

14 Main St., Amherst, 673-2288, amherstlibrary.org

• Weekly storytimes (geared toward ages 3 and up unless otherwise noted): Zoom family storytime is Tuesdays from 10 to 10:45 a.m. (next one is June 15); outdoor family storytime is Thursdays from 10 to 10:45 a.m. on the library lawn, June 17 through Aug. 12; outdoor little listeners (babies and toddlers under 3) is Fridays from 10 to 10:30 a.m. on the library lawn, June 18 through Aug. 13

• Bryson Lang, juggler extraordinaire:Monday, June 28, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. on the library lawn (for kids ages 4 and up; registration is required)

• Reptiles on the move: Wednesday, July 7, from 10 to 10:30 a.m. on the library lawn (for ages 5 and up; registration is required)

• Zoom pet show:Wednesday, July 14, 2 to 3 p.m. (virtual event)

• Wingmasters live animal program:Monday, July 26, from 2 to 2:45 p.m. on the library lawn (for ages 5 and up; registration is required)

Baker Free Library

509 South St., Bow, 224-7113, bowbakerfreelibrary.org

• Weekly take-home kits:Every Wednesday from June 23 to Aug. 11, participants can register for a take-home kit to learn about that week’s featured animals, take part in virtual activities and create a craft project from home. Themes include “On the Farm,” “Under the Sea,” “On the Ice” and more (kits are designed for kids entering kindergarten through grade 6).

• Virtual storytimes:Thursdays, 10:30 to 11:15 a.m., June 24 through Aug. 12

• Wild About Turtles! Tuesday, June 29, from 6 to 7 p.m. (virtual event)

• Unicorns: Break the Cage:Tuesday, July 27, from 6 to 7 p.m. (virtual event)

Bedford Public Library

3 Meetinghouse Road, Bedford, 472-2300, bedfordnhlibrary.org

• Summer reading kickoff dance party:Saturday, June 12, 3 to 4 p.m.

• Weekly storytimes (registration required): Koala Kids (ages 2 to 4), Tuesdays, June 15 to July 27; Mother Goose (age 0 to 24 months), Wednesdays, June 16 to July 28, 10 to 10:30 a.m.; Lunch & Listen (ages 6 to 8), Wednesdays, June 16 to July 28, noon to 12:30 p.m.; Pop Up Storytimes (ages 6 and under), Thursdays, June 17 to July 29, 11 to 11:30 a.m.; Safari Storytimes (ages 3 to 5), Fridays, June 18 to July 30, 10 to 10:30 a.m.; all are held on the library lawn

• Wildlife Encounters:Monday, June 14, and Thursday, June 17, from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. (virtual events; for ages 3 and up)

• Little Explorers: Fridays, June 18 to July 30, 3:30 to 4 p.m. (virtual events; for ages 6 to 8)

• Kamishibai storytime (ages 4 to 9): Monday, June 21, 3:30 to 4 p.m.

• Virtual Cooks & Books (ages 8 to 12): Tuesdays, June 22, June 29 and July 6, 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.

• Stories with Mischka, the Bedford Police comfort dog (ages 6 and under): Monday, June 28, 10 to 10:30 a.m.

• Virtual Science Rocks (ages 8 to 12): Wednesday, June 30, 4 to 5 p.m.

• Wild collage poetry (ages 8 to 12): Mondays, July 12, July 19 and July 26, 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.

• Messy art (ages 6 to 8): Tuesday, July 13, 1 to 1:30 p.m.

• Virtual live animal program with Squam Lakes Natural Science Center (ages 8 to 12): Tuesday, July 20, and Thursday, July 22, 3 to 4 p.m.

Brookline Public Library

16 Main St., Brookline, 673-3330, bplnh.weebly.com

• Weekly storytimes: Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. at the Brookline Town Hall (limited to Brookline residents only)

Chester Public Library

3 Chester St., Chester, 887-3404, chesternh.org/chester-public-library

• Weekly storytimes:Tuesdays, 11:30 a.m. (next one is June 15); registration is required. All ages welcome.

• Washi tape suncatchers craft (ages 11 and up): Wednesday, June 16, 6 p.m. Registration is required, and all materials are provided.

• Among Us parties: Thursdays, June 17, July 15 and Aug. 19, 4:30 p.m., all ages

Concord Public Library

45 Green St., Concord, 225-8670, onconcord.com/library

• Take and make craft: funny face frog: Kits will be available to pick up at the library from Monday, June 14, through Friday, June 18, while supplies last.

• Virtual storytime: The Beach: Wednesday, June 16, 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.

• Take and make craft: standing peacock tail: Kits will be available to pick up at the library from Monday, June 21, through Friday, June 25, while supplies last.

• Take and make craft: dragon tail bookmark: Kits will be available to pick up at the library from Monday, June 28, through Friday, July 2, while supplies last.

Derry Public Library

64 E. Broadway, Derry, 432-6140, derrypl.org

• Family storytimes on the patio: Mondays, 10 to 10:30 a.m. (except on July 5); registration is required

• Upper Room online story and craft time: Fridays, June 11 and June 25, 10 to 10:30 a.m.

• Summer reading kickoff party: Tuesday, June 15, all day

• Mother Goose on the Loose storytime:Thursday, June 17, 10 to 10:30 a.m.; registration is required

• Great New Hampshire animal search:Thursday, June 17, 1:30 to 2 p.m. (virtual event)

• Birding sessions: Tuesday, June 22, 11 a.m. to noon, or 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.

• Buggy for Clothespin Bugs: Thursday, June 24, 11 a.m. to noon, or 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.

• Drum, violin, guitar and keyboard workshop:Wednesday, June 30, 3:30 to 5 p.m., all ages

• Goin’ on Safari:Tuesday, July 6, 11 a.m. to noon, or 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.

• Three Little Pigs STEM program:Thursday, July 8, 11 a.m. to noon, or 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.

• Finding science in folktales: Tuesday, July 13, 1:30 to 2 p.m. (virtual event)

• Ocean fish collage: Thursday, July 15, 11 a.m. to noon, or 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.

• Mermaids & Mateys:Thursday, July 22, 11 a.m. to noon, or 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.

• Monkey See, Monkey Do:Tuesday, July 27, 11 a.m. to noon, or 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.

• Campfire stories: Thursday, July 29, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Taylor Library (49 E. Derry Road, Derry)

• Get the farmyard beat: Tuesday, Aug. 10, 11 a.m. to noon, or 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.

• End of summer party: Thursday, Aug. 12, 1 to 2:15 p.m. at MacGregor Park, directly outside the library

Dunbarton Public Library

1004 School St., Dunbarton, 774-3546, dunbartonlibrary.org

• Find a Truck family scavenger hunt: Tuesday, June 29, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (virtual event); scavenger hunt forms can be picked up at the library

• Children’s musician Mr. Aaron: Wednesday, June 30, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.

• Reading to therapy dogs (grades 1 through 4): Thursday, July 15, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.; registration is required

• Virtual program with the Squam Lakes Natural Science Center: Tuesday, July 20, 1:30 p.m.

Griffin Free Public Library

22 Hooksett Road, Auburn, 483-5374, griffinfree.org

• Weekly storytimes on the patio: Tuesdays, 11 a.m. (next one is June 15); registration is required

Hollis Social Library

2 Monument Square, Hollis, 465-7721, hollislibrary.org

• Music & Movement with Miss Jackie: Friday, June 11, 11 a.m. to noon at Little Nichols Field, just outside the library

• DIY mystery craft kit: Wednesday, June 16, 11 to 11:30 a.m.; kits available for pick up at the library

• Summer reading kickoff party: Monday, June 28, 2 to 4 p.m. at Lawrence Barn Community Center (28 Depot Road, Hollis)

Hooksett Public Library

31 Mount Saint Mary’s Way, Hooksett, 485-6092, hooksettlibrary.org

• Weekly storytimes (registration is required): outdoor family storytimes: Wednesdays, 10 to 10:30 a.m., June 23 to July 28; baby rhymes with Miss Lori: Tuesdays, 9:30 to 10 a.m., June 22 to July 27

• Kickoff to summer reading with Mr. Aaron: Friday, June 18, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.

• Bubble party: Monday, June 21, 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., or 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

• Kids cook (ages 5 and up): Mondays, July 12, July 19 and July 26, 11 a.m. to noon

• Tie-dye day: Friday, July 16, 10 to 11:30 a.m., and 1:30 to 3 p.m. (open to Hooksett Library cardholders only)

Kelley Library

234 Main St., Salem, 898-7064, kelleylibrary.org

• Weekly outdoor storytime (ages 3 to 5): Wednesdays, June 23 to July 28, out on the library lawn

• Robotics programs (ages 7 to 10): Thursdays, June 24, July 8 and July 22, 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., registration is required

• Pet show (ages 3 to 12): Tuesday, June 29, 4 to 4:30 p.m. (virtual event)

• STEM build & play programs (ages 4 to 6): Thursdays, July 1, July 15 and July 29, 4:30 to 5 p.m.

• Fairytale costume contest (ages 3 to 12): Tuesday, July 13, 4 to 4:30 p.m. (virtual event)

• Rockabye beats (ages 5 and under): Thursday, July 15, 10 to 11 a.m. (virtual event)

Leach Library

276 Mammoth Road, Londonderry, 432-1132, londonderrynh.org

• Craft time: Monday, June 14, 10 a.m. (virtual event); craft kits are available for pick up at the library

• Virtual children’s storytime: Monday, June 28, 10 a.m.

Maxfield Public Library

8 Route 129, Loudon, 798-5153, maxfieldlibrary.com

• Summer reading kickoff event: Magic Show with Mike Bent: Saturday, June 26, 11 a.m.

• Live animal event with Squam Lakes Natural Science Center: Saturday, Aug. 7, 11 a.m.

Manchester City Library

Main Branch, 405 Pine St., Manchester, 624-6550; West Branch, 76 Main St., Manchester, 624-6560, manchester.lib.nh.us

• Weekly craft sessions (ages 2 and up): Mondays, 10 to 10:30 a.m., and 3 to 3:30 p.m. (virtual events; next one is June 21; no sessions on July 5)

• Family storytimes (ages 2 to 5): Tuesdays, 10 to 10:45 a.m. (virtual events; next one is June 22)

• Paddy scavenger hunt: Tuesdays, 3 to 3:30 p.m. (virtual events; next one is June 22)

• Mystery afternoons: Wednesdays, 3 to 3:30 p.m. (virtual events; next one is June 23)

• Messy animal art (ages 2 to 9): Thursdays, 10 to 10:45 a.m. (virtual events; next one is June 24)

• Stories and puppets (ages 2 to 5): Fridays, 10 to 10:45 a.m. (virtual events; next one is June 25)

• Create and tell science afternoon (grades 3 to 6): Fridays, 3 to 3:45 p.m. (virtual events; next ons is June 25)

• Lego weekend: Saturdays, 10 to 10:45 a.m. (virtual events; next one is June 26)

• Teens’ sloth paper take-home craft event: Main Branch, Monday, June 28; materials are available for pickup between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

• Teens’ seed bomb take-home craft event: Main Branch, Monday, July 12; materials are available for pickup between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

• Teen event: Summer Olympics trivia: Wednesday, July 21, 3 to 4:45 p.m. (virtual event)

• Teens’ loom friendship bracelet take-home craft event: Main Branch, Monday, July 26; materials are available for pickup between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

• Teen event: Escape room: Wednesday, July 28, 3 to 4:45 p.m. (virtual event)

Merrimack Public Library

470 Daniel Webster Hwy., Merrimack, 424-5021, merrimacklibrary.org

• Monthly “Elementary Explorers” STEM program: one Thursday per month, from 3:30 to 4 p.m. (next one is June 17)

• Weekly storytimes: Facebook Live storytime (ages 6 and under): Mondays and Fridays, 10:30 to 11 a.m. (next dates are June 21 and June 25, respectively; Read-aloud book club: Tuesdays, June 22 to Aug. 31, 3:30 to 4 p.m. (virtual); Sleepy Stories: Tuesdays, June 22 to Aug. 31, 7:30 p.m. (virtual); Books & Babies (ages 2 and under): Thursdays, June 24 to Aug. 12, 10:30 to 11 a.m. (virtual); Outta School Stories: Thursdays, July 1 and Aug. 5, 3:30 to 4 p.m.

• Tween baking challenge (ages 8 to 13): Thursday, June 17, 5 to 5:15 p.m. (virtual event)

• Teen fandom trivia night: Friday, June 18, 7 to 8:30 p.m. (virtual event)

• Messy Mondays with Miss Jenny: Mondays, June 21 to Aug. 16, 12:30 p.m. (virtual events)

• Musical Me: Tuesdays, June 22 to Aug. 10, 10:30 to 11 a.m. (virtual events)

• Summer reading kickoff concert: Wednesday, June 23, 6 to 8 p.m.

• Animal tracks scavenger hunt: Tuesday, July 6, through Friday, July 9, and Monday, July 12, and Tuesday, July 13, 10:30 a.m.

• Wildlife Encounters: Tuesday, July 13, 6 p.m. (virtual)

• Outdoor Pokemon party: Friday, July 16, 1 to 3 p.m.

• Teddy bear picnic: Wednesday, Aug. 4, noon to 12:45 p.m.

• End of summer reading concert with Rockin’ Ron the Friendly Pirate: Wednesday, Aug. 11, 6 to 8 p.m.

Nashua Public Library

2 Court St., Nashua, 589-4600, nashualibrary.org

• Weekly virtual storytimes: Mondays, 10:30 a.m. (next one is June 14)

• Monthly Babies & Books storytime: next one is Thursday, June 10, at 11 a.m.

• Virtual field trip to the Houston Zoo: Tuesday, June 22, 2 to 3 p.m.

• Take and make crafts: Various dates; next one is Monday, June 28

• Animal-themed yoga: Tuesday, July 20, 2 to 3 p.m. (virtual event)

• Wildlife Encounters program: Wednesday, July 21, 6 to 7 p.m.

• Jack: Kid Conservationist: Tuesday, Aug. 3, 2 p.m. (virtual event)

Nesmith Library

8 Fellows Road, Windham, 432-7154, nesmithlibrary.org

• Music with Mr. Aaron: Thursday, June 10, 10:30 a.m. (virtual event)

• Kids’ take-home craft: Monday, June 14; materials are available for pickup at the library from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

• June toddler time (ages 3 and under): Monday, June 14, 10:30 a.m., out on the library lawn

• June preschool storytime (ages 3 to 5): Thursday, June 17, 10:30 a.m., out on the library lawn

Pembroke Town Library

313 Pembroke St., Pembroke, 485-7851, pembroke-nh.com/library

• Summer reading kickoff program: Drive-thru ice cream social: Wednesday, June 23, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., all ages

• Craft Crew (ages 7 and up): Mondays, June 28 to July 26, 3 p.m., registration is required

• Weekly storytime (ages 2 and up): Tuesdays, June 29 to July 27, 10:30 a.m., registration is required

• Lego club (ages 6 and up): Wednesdays, June 30 to July 21, 3 p.m., registration is required

Rodgers Memorial Library

194 Derry Road, Hudson, 886-6030, rodgerslibrary.org

• Tween candy bar bingo (grades 4 through 8): Thursday, June 17, 3 to 4 p.m.

• Teen candy bar bingo (grades 7 through 12): Thursday, June 17, 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.

• Welcome summer party with Steve Blunt: Friday, June 18, 4:30 to 7 p.m.

• Tween laser tag (grades 4 through 8): Friday, June 18, 8 to 9 p.m.

• Teen laser tag (grades 7 through 12): Friday, June 18, 9:30 to 10:30 p.m.

• Picture Book Posse programs: Mondays, June 21 to July 26, 10 a.m.

• Curious Kids programs: Mondays, June 21 to July 26, 1 p.m.

• Story Safari programs at Benson’s Park (19 Kimball Hill Road, Hudson): Tuesdays at 10 a.m., Wednesdays at 6 p.m. and Thursdays at 10 a.m., dates offered June 22 to July 29

• Virtual snack attack (ages 4 through 12): Tuesdays, June 22 to July 27, 3:30 p.m.

• Virtual teen gaming club (grades 7 through 12): Tuesdays, June 22 to July 27, 3:30 p.m.

• Virtual pajamas and picture books (ages 3 to 7): Tuesdays, June 22 to July 27, 7 p.m.

• Mythical creature storytimes (grades 3 through 6): Wednesdays, June 23 to July 28, 10 a.m.

• “Tween Scene” DIY craft programs (grades 4 through 8): Wednesdays, June 23 to July 28, 1 p.m.

• “Teens Only” DIY craft programs (grades 7 through 12): Wednesdays, June 23 to July 28, 3 p.m.

• Virtual gaming club (ages 6 to 11): Thursdays, June 24 to July 29, 3:30 p.m.

• Songs and snuggles (ages 2 and under): Fridays, June 25 to July 30, 10 a.m.

• Creative kids (grades 1 through 5): Fridays, June 25 to July 30, 1 p.m.

• Virtual Minecraft club (ages 7 and up): Fridays, June 25 to July 30, 3:30 p.m.

• Family yoga (ages 8 and up): Saturday, June 26, at 10 a.m., out on the library lawn

• First Friday family candy bingo: Friday, July 2, 6:30 p.m. (virtual event)

Wadleigh Memorial Library

49 Nashua St., Milford, 249-0645, wadleighlibrary.org

• Baby lapsit: Fridays, 11 a.m. (next one is June 11), no registration required

• Family storytimes: Mondays, 10 a.m. (next one is June 14), space is limited to the first 25 people

• Pinecone animals craft event (ages 4 to 11): Wednesday, June 16, 9:30 a.m. or 11 a.m.

• Music with Mr. Aaron (ages 10 and under): Wednesday, June 23, 10 to 11 a.m. Space is first-come, first-served and limited to 50 people.

• Tape resist painting craft event (ages 4 to 11): Wednesday, June 30, 1 to 2 p.m.

• Wildlife Encounters event (ages 3 to 11): Wednesday, July 7, 10 to 11 a.m.

• Billy Goats Gruff STEM program (ages 4 to 11): Wednesday, July 14, 9:30 a.m. or 11 a.m.

• Bird house painting program (ages 4 to 11): Wednesday, July 21, 1 p.m. or 2:30 p.m.

• “Once Upon a Slime” program (ages 4 to 11): Wednesday, July 28, 1 p.m. or 2:30 p.m.

• End of summer reading party with ice cream and games: Friday, July 30, 3 p.m., all ages

Weare Public Library

10 Paige Memorial Lane, Weare, 529-2044, wearepubliclibrary.com

• Summer reading kickoff party: Thursday, June 24, 6:30 p.m., all ages

• Pickleball with the Weare Pickleball Club (ages 6 and up): Saturday, June 26, 1:30 p.m.

Whipple Free Library

67 Mont Vernon Road, New Boston, 487-3391, whipplefreelibrary.org

• Weekly storytimes: Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 10 a.m., dates offered June 21 to July 30

• Nighttime stories: Monday, July 12, and Monday, July 26, 6:30 p.m.

• Craft a story (junior book club program): Monday, July 12, 6:30 p.m.

• Special teen programs: Fridays, 6 p.m., beginning June 25; programs include a movie night, an open mic/karaoke night, a trivia night and more

Get Your Goat

Why you might want to add a companionable kid, some laid-back alpacas and other animals to your family

Maybe you’ve dreamed of owning goats that could mow your lawn, a donkey for companionship, or snails that will suck the algae off your fish tank. New Hampshire animal owners and caretakers shared their expertise on nine non-traditional “pets” and what it takes to give them a proper home. Note that zoning laws and rules about keeping nontraditional animals may vary by community, so be sure to check with your town or city hall before purchasing a new animal or altering your property.

Alpacas

Why you might want them: Not to be confused with llamas, alpacas are much smaller animals that were bred specifically for their fiber rather than for packing.

“Llamas have fiber, but mostly only around their mid-waist. Alpacas are strictly fiber animals,” said Barbie Tilton of Someday Farm in Canterbury, which is currently home to six alpacas.

According to Sandy Warner of Granite State Alpacas, based in Hampton Falls, alpacas are considered the easiest large livestock animal to care for because they require the least input from owners.

“[They] are hypoallergenic animals and their fiber and finished products are ideal for anyone who has wool allergies,” Warner said in an email. “Their coats are also naturally wicking, odor-resistant, and anti-static.”

There are two fleece types, according to Wendy Lundquist of Snow Pond Farm in Windham — Suri, which is characterized by its dreadlock-like fibers, and Huacaya, which look more like fluffy teddy bears.

What they do most of the time: According to Megan Long, whose family owns Nodrog Farms in Barrington, alpacas are very laid back animals that mostly eat, sleep or sunbathe in warm weather.

“Occasionally you will see them pronking around the yard, but mostly they are an easygoing animal,” Long said.

Ideal amount of space: Like with any other herd animals, Warner said the more space the better. Multiple pastures are ideal, with separate pastures to keep males and females apart.

“I’d say two [alpacas] are good, but three is company. The more the merrier,” Tilton said. “They like to be in a herd with a whole bunch of other alpacas.”

Smallest possible amount of space: Warner said she recommends at least one acre per two to three alpacas.

Their needs: Alpacas need shelter from wind and the elements, with at least a run-in shelter if not also a barn.

“They need to be shorn once a year, or they can be overheated in the summer wearing their winter wool,” Warner said.

Tilton said her alpacas also get ivermectin shots at least every 30 days, to protect them from a deadly parasite known as the meningeal worm that passes through feces in deer.

What you need to do for them: Alpacas should always have fresh hay, fresh water, grain, mineral supplements, toenail trimming and annual shearing. Similar to cats, Warner said, they can be aloof by nature.

“The more time you spend with them the more social they become,” she said.

Cost (of animal and upkeep): Long said that, on average, it costs about $500 per year for each individual animal.

Lifespan: Alpacas can live up to 20 years or longer, according to Warner.

Occasional animal: You can also contact a local alpaca farm or animal shelter to see if they have any alpacas that may need to be fostered, Long said.

Just looking: Some farms, including both Someday Farm, Snow Pond Farm and Nodrog Farms, welcome visitors if you contact them ahead of time. Others have also visited local farmers markets in the past — Everything Alpaca of Milford, for example, has brought its alpacas to the Milford Farmers Market.

Chickens

Why you might want them: Matt Gelbwaks of Julie’s Happy Hens in Mont Vernon said the benefits of chickens are that the hens will give you an egg a day, year-round; they produce high-quality fertilizer; they will remove bugs and grubs from around your garden and outdoor plants; and they are “mostly docile and pleasant … and Instagram-ready.”

What they do most of the time: Gelbwaks said chickens mostly wander around, investigating their surroundings, occasionally stopping to “dust bathe,” a form of self-cleaning in which they roll around in the dirt, then vigorously shake the dirt off. This helps them to remove any harmful bugs or parasites, keep their feathers clean by removing excess oil and shed old feathers.

Their needs: The ideal amount of space for chickens is 3 square feet per bird, or letting them free range on your whole yard.

“The more space they have, the less harsh they will be on their space,” Gelbwaks said. “If you give them the minimum, they will eat everything and reduce it to a dust bowl within a month or two.”

You could manage with as little as 1 to 2 square feet per bird, but only if you’re prepared to give them lots of attention.

“If you talk to them every day and remind them that you are taking care of their every need, they will be happy [with less space],” Gelbwaks said. “The less you actively engage with them, the more space they will need.”

Because chickens are prey animals, they need some kind of draft-free shelter in their space where they can hang out and sleep safely, out of reach of predators.

“They need a place to hide and feel secure,” Gelbwaks said. “Lots of things scare them.”

Their food and water should be in close proximity to the shelter. They need about one-third to one-half a pound of chicken feed a day, with some additives, such as oyster shell, for the aging chickens. As for their water, a simple dish is fine, but expect to have to “change it constantly,” Gelbwaks said, as chickens tend to dirty water very quickly.

What they cost: You can buy a baby chick for just a couple of bucks, though the price goes up if you’re looking into “rare, fancy ones,” Gelbwaks said. Hens range from $10 to $30, depending on their age; pullets — hens that are just about to hit egg-laying age — are on the higher end, while older hens are on the lower end. The initial setup could be as inexpensive as $50, depending on what kind of space you’re working with, but, Gelbwaks said, the sky’s the limit on how elaborate you want to get.

“Many people pay way too much and get ultra-fancy coops that rival their kids’ playhouses,” he said.

Their lifespan: Three to five years, depending on the breed.

If you aren’t ready to commit: You can rent chickens, Gelbwaks said, but once they’ve lived on a private property it’s nearly impossible to reintegrate them into a commercial flock, so they’ll most likely get culled. If you just want to see some chickens, most local farms are happy to accommodate, Gelbwaks said.

Goats

Chickens at Julie’s Happy Hens. Courtesy photo

Why you might want them: Goats can be fun companion animals that are easy to care for, just as long as you have a good fence to keep them in, said Teresa Paradis, founder and executive director of Live & Let Live Farm in Chichester. Goats can also be kept for a variety of reasons, from their milk to their meat or fiber.

What they do most of the time: Goats love hiking and spending time with their human companions, Paradis said. They love eating brush, poison ivy, unwanted thorn bushes and other problem growth you’d like to get rid of naturally without the use of pesticides.

Ideal amount of space: The more space you have the better. Noreen Rollins of Tilton Hill Goat Farm in Danbury said it’s best to have at least 5 acres of space available for goats.

According to Briana Desfosses of Fox’s Pride Dairy Goats in Mont Vernon, goats tend to prefer wooded areas or areas with brush.

“They don’t need nearly the [same] amount of space as sheep or other larger animals like horses or cows,” she said. “Many people keep a small handful of pet goats in their backyard.”

Smallest possible amount of space: Paradis said because goats are herding animals, it’s ideal to house at least between two to three of them together.

“You could house several goats on less than 2 acres of land and a proper enclosure [or] barn as long as they are allowed … in your city or town,” she said.

Their needs: A goat’s main source of food is shrubbery and hay. Paradis said they should also be checked for parasites and treated with an ivermectin injection yearly. Hoof trimming care can be done every few months, depending on the space they have to move around in that would wear their hooves down.

What you need to do for them: Rollins said goats require sufficient feed and shelter, and their fibers should be removed at least once a year.

Cost (of animal and upkeep): Depending on the natural food sources you have available, Paradis said the average goat may cost approximately $40 to $50 per month.

For goats that are producing milk, Desfosses said you’ll likely be spending a lot more on grain, as well as all sorts of supplements and veterinary care.

Lifespan: Goats typically live anywhere from 12 to 20 years, according to Paradis.

Occasional animal: Some local shelters, like Live & Let Live Farm and the New Hampshire SPCA, may have opportunities to adopt or foster farm animals, including goats. A few spots, like Gap Mountain Goats of Marlborough, have even offered their goats up for rent to eat your poison ivy, weeds or other unwanted vegetation, while at Jenness Farm in Nottingham there are baby goat yoga classes available for adults. Desfosses said some herds may lease their animals to partake in 4-H youth shows.

Just looking: Sunday guided tours at Live & Let Live Farm were temporarily suspended due to the pandemic, but according to Paradis, they will likely start back up in mid-June. Other spots, like Tilton Hill Goat Farm, may open to visitors with prior notice.

Guineafowl

Why you might want them: Guineafowl lay eggs seasonally, from May through September, Gelbwaks said, and the eggs are made up of a different protein than chicken eggs, making them safe for most people with regular egg allergies to eat. They eat ticks, and they are usually the first to alert you if there is something amiss on your property. That being said, they are also “loud, noisy and obnoxious,” Gelbwaski said.

“It takes a particular seriousness to want to keep guineas,” he said, adding that they can also be a bit dimwitted. “They run around and often forget they have wings and need to be let into a gate they just flew over.”

What they do most of the time: Run around, “looking for things to bark at,” Gelbwaski said, and digging around for bugs and seeds to eat.

Their needs: Guineas hate being contained and need to be able to roam free, Gelbwaks said. “They go where they want, and once they pattern on your roosting space, they come back,” he said. “Some hang out on our property while others range a mile or so.”

You still need to provide a draft-free shelter for the guineas to find refuge from predators and to roost. Give them water, and supplement their foraging with some feed.

What they cost: They only cost a few bucks, but it’s essential that you buy them as keets (babies) if you want them to stay on your property, Gelbwaks said.

“It’s really hard to repattern adult guineas,” he said. “If you want to start a flock, get keets and rear them in the location you want them to pattern to.”

Their lifespan: About five years, assuming they don’t get snatched up by a predator, which they often do, Gelbwaks said.

If you aren’t ready to commit: “Again, you can’t repattern adults, so once you get them you’re kind of stuck with them,” Gelbwaks said. If you want to see what guineas are like, your best bet is to visit a local farm that has them.

Horses, ponies and donkeys

Teresa Paradis with horses at Live & Let Live Farm in Chichester. Courtesy photo.

Why you might want them: Horses and ponies may be among the more costly animals to own but are also among the most spiritual and intelligent, according to Paradis. Ponies should not be confused with mini horses, which have been bred down to size through the years to produce smaller breeds.

Donkeys are also highly intelligent and have a strong sense of self-preservation, said Ann Firestone, president and co-founder of Save Your Ass Long Ear Rescue in South Acworth.

“As a rule, they are very friendly, people-oriented animals that have often been described as therapeutic due to their gentle, patient nature,” she said.

What they do most of the time: Horses and donkeys like to spend their time grazing — in the natural world, Paradis said, horses move around and graze for about 20 hours a day, sleeping for about three to four hours in 15- to 20-minute increments during the day.

Ideal amount of space: The average stall for horses and donkeys is 10 by 10 feet. Ideally, they should have at least one acre of space.

Smallest possible amount of space: At a minimum, Paradis said horses should have a sturdy three-sided shelter with a roof that they can freely move in and out of at will, or even a barn with an outside door that can lead into the pasture. The outside space, similarly, should be at least large enough for them to get into a good run to stretch, roll and play in.

“A dry lot area with a nice pasture to go out in is ideal,” she said.

Their needs: Paradis said you need to have a good source of hay. An average-sized horse eats an average-sized bale of hay, around 40 to 45 pounds, every two days, with ponies and mini horses eating much less. Donkeys, according to Firestone, have a diet of hay, barley straw and a vitamin-mineral supplement.

What you need to do for them: Jade Place of Weare, who adopted her pet horse from Live & Let Live Farm in 2001, said regular upkeep includes hoof trimming every six to eight weeks, as well as ongoing monitoring for parasites and yearly dental checks. Horses and ponies also need to be kept dry during inclement weather to prevent fungal infections such as rain rot.

Generally, if there are no emergencies, a horse is seen by its equine veterinarian about once a year. They should be checked over daily for things like cuts and ticks.

Cost (of animal and upkeep): For donkeys, Firestone said annual vaccinations will run you about $200 and dental visits at $100 or more. The cost of feed will depend on the size of your animal.

Lifespan: Donkeys live for about 30 years on average, Firestone said. Paradis said horses can live 30 to 40 years or more.

Occasional animal: Live & Let Live Farm offers horse fostering, which includes inspections for appropriate homes and facilities. Many other local farms and ranches offer horse or pony rides and lessons.

Just looking: Firestone said Save Your Ass Long Ear Rescue allows visitors by appointment only — appointments can be made by calling, emailing or sending a message on social media. Live & Let Live Farm is also expected to resume its weekly guided tours later this month.

Peafowl

Why you might want them: Gelbwaks said peafowl such as peacocks are “an acquired taste and a commitment.”

“They have very individual personalities but don’t often really like to socialize,” he said. “They are, however, quite striking to look at.”

What they do most of the time: Male peafowl are very vain, Gelbwaks said, and spend most of their time preening and trying to look good, while the female peafowl are very dismissive and spend most of their time playing hard-to-get with the male peafowl.

Their needs: Peafowl like to travel and need to be able to free range.

“You can keep a pea in a large cage, but they do not flourish, and they tend to mope and be unhappy all of the time,” Gelbwaks said.

They need food, water and a draft-free shelter where they can keep their feet out of the snow, since they are very susceptible to frostbite.

If you’re looking to spoil them, Gelbwaks said, feed them cheese.

“No one knows why, but peas seem to love cheese,” he said. “It’s the only thing they’ll eat out of our hands, and when they see us with some, they’ll come running from wherever they are.”

Peas also have a strong need for attention and adoration, “even if it’s just the occasional encouragement on their fanned tails or nicely groomed feathers,” Gelbwaks said.

“Don’t expect anything in return,” he said. “Secretly, they always harbor the desire to come and nuzzle, but peer pressure won’t allow them to do so.”

What they cost: Peafowl eggs can cost $10 to $30 per egg and are “notoriously hard to hatch” and keep alive during the first week, Gelbwaks said. Chicks can cost $25 to $50 each. Adults may cost $100 to $500, depending on their coloring.

Their lifespan: 25 to 40 years in the wild, but may be shorter when domesticated.

If you aren’t ready to commit: “Many zoos and parks have them in residence,” Gelbwaks said. “It’s best to go visit them there.”

Pigs

Why you might want them: Pigs are one of the smartest animals you can own as a pet and, contrary to the stereotype of a pig pen being messy, are actually very clean animals, said Holly Kimball of Beech Hill Farm in Hopkinton.

What they do most of the time: According to Kimball, many hours of a pig’s day are spent resting or sunbathing. A layer of mud or dirt that a pig may roll around in actually acts as a form of sunscreen, she said, because their skin sunburns very easily.

Rachel Savoie and her husband Kyle of Nashua adopted a pet pig named Cindy Lou from the New Hampshire SPCA two years ago. She said Cindy Lou, who is estimated to be about 3 years old, will sleep for a majority of the day and will often burrow underneath blankets.

“She has a whole bedroom, and at night she likes to roam around,” she said.

Ideal amount of space: Kimball said pigs require enough space to exercise, and they also need a designated bathroom area that is well apart from their eating and sleeping areas.

Their needs: Because of their skin pigmentation, pigs must always have protection from the sun.

What you need to do for them: Kimball said it’s important for piglets to be wormed and receive certain shots according to veterinarian recommendations. They also need clean bedding, ample grain, fresh water and shelter.

Savoie said her pet pig’s diet includes pig pellets, a large serving of fruits and vegetables, like tomatoes, cucumbers and carrots, and candied peppermints as treats.

“Her hooves are trimmed twice a year, and she goes to the vet once a year for a regular visit,” she said.

Cost (of animal and upkeep): Between the food and medical care, Savoie estimated the overall upkeep of a pet pig to be more than that of a dog each year. Kimball said it can be even more expensive if you’re raising pigs for the purpose of meat.

Lifespan: Savoie said a pig’s lifespan is between 15 and 20 years, depending on the breed type.

Occasional animal: You can contact a local farm or animal shelter to see if they have any pigs that may need to be fostered.

Just looking: During Beech Hill Farm’s summer season, which began May 1 and runs through Oct. 31, visitors are welcome to come see and learn about each of the farm animals. Other local farms with pigs may welcome visitors if you contact them ahead of time.

Rabbit snails

Why you might want them: “Some people like collecting different snails and critters,” said Michael Gioia, owner of Fish Mike Aquatics in Manchester. “Others may use them inside aquariums as a cleanup crew to eat algae and uneaten fish food.”

What they do most of the time: Crawl around, sometimes burrowing into the sand.

Their needs: These freshwater aquatic snails need a 10- to 20-gallon tank, Gioia said, with specific water temperatures and pH levels, depending on the species.

“An owner would require a cycled aquarium, as well as basic aquarium care knowledge to keep them healthy,” he said.

You can feed them regular commercial food used for fish and snails.

What they cost: A 20-gallon aquarium setup starts at around $100, which includes a filter, heater, tank, some gravel and a cheap light, Gioia said, but more elaborate setups can get expensive. The ongoing cost is minimal — just enough to cover food, replacement filters and water additives.

Their lifespan: 1 to 3 years.

If you aren’t ready to commit: You can go check them out at a public aquarium or local pet store that sells aquariums, Gioia said.

Worms

Why you might want them: Certain types of worms, like red wigglers, can be used for composting.

Joan O’Connor, a worm composter in Henniker, said you can feed worms non-citrus fruits, vegetables, eggshells, coffee grounds, tea bags, paper products and other organic waste that would otherwise get thrown in the trash.

“They could eat and process a pound of garbage in a week or so,” she said. “They’re your workers.”

Not only are you doing something good for the environment, O’Connor said, but you’re also rewarded with a rich, natural fertilizer for your personal use.

“You can take handfuls of this stuff and add it to your houseplants, your tomato plants, your gardens, your rhododendron bush outside,” she said.

What they do most of the time: “They just sit there, hang out, and eat your garbage … and if you keep them happy, they’ll reproduce,” O’Connor said.

Their needs: For your initial setup, O’Connor said, get a large plastic storage container that’s a couple of feet deep and drill some holes in the bottom for excess moisture to drain. Fill it with alternating layers of shredded newspaper and peat moss. Lay a window screen, mesh or thin fabric over the top of the container and wrap a bungee cord around it to keep the worms from escaping.

The key to keeping your worms alive, O’Connor said, is maintaining a temperature between 60 and 80 degrees.

“They’re very low-maintenance, but you’ve got to watch that temperature,” she said. “If they get too cold or too hot they’ll start to slow down.”

You don’t have to think too hard about how much you feed them, O’Connor said; worms don’t need to eat as much as they like to eat.

“If anything, overfeed them,” she said. “It makes them happy, and it makes them step up and keep [composting] for you.”

What they cost: A pound of worms, which is a good starting amount, O’Connor said, ranges from $20 to $50 online.

Their lifespan: An individual worm lives for weeks to months but will reproduce, so you’ll always have worms.

If you aren’t ready to commit: Try them out, and if it’s not for you, you should have no difficulty finding someone to take your worms off your hands, O’Connor said.

“Give them to a science teacher, a garden club, your neighbor, anyone with a green thumb,” she said.

2021 Summer Guide

With the return of many live and in-person events, Summer 2021 is already looking more action-packed than last year, as many venues are reopening with a full slate of concerts, theater, art exhibits and more. Use this guide to help you fill your summer with fun, from now through Labor Day.

Fairs & Festivals

Check out this list of expos, town fairs, old home day festivals and more scheduled to return across the Granite State now through Labor Day weekend. For the most up-to-date details on the status of these events, be sure to visit their websites or social media channels directly.

• Join the Manchester Firing Line (2540 Brown Ave.) for a free vintage car show every Monday night from 5 to 8 p.m. now through Labor Day. Bring a car you want to show off or just come to see the vintage displays. Visit gunsnh.com.

• The Meredith Memorial Day Weekend Craft Festival is happening Saturday, May 29, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sunday, May 30, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Monday, May 31, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Mill Falls Marketplace (Route 3, Meredith). More than 100 juried craftsmen and artisans will sell handmade jewelry, pottery, wall art, textiles, woodwork, leatherwork and more. Admission is free. Visit castleberryfairs.com.

• Goffstown Main Street is planning an Old Home Weekend for Saturday, June 5, and Sunday, June 6, in Goffstown Village, featuring games, a kids’ fishing derby, a charity auction and more. Visit goffstownmainstreet.org/old-home-day.

• The Queen City Pride Festival will return to Arms Park (10 Arms St., Manchester) on Saturday, June 19, from noon to 6 p.m., and will feature local vendor booths, live entertainment and more. Visit queencitypridenh.org.

• The New Hampshire Farm Museum (1305 White Mountain Hwy., Milton) has a children’s day event tentatively scheduled for Saturday, June 19, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Kids can get their pictures taken with the farm’s animals and try their hand at horseshoes, bean bags, hoops of grace and more. Museum admission is $10 for adults, $7.50 for seniors over 64, $5 for kids and teens ages 4 and up, and free for kids under 4 and for members and active military service men and women. Visit nhfarmmuseum.org.

• The next New England Reptile Expo is scheduled for Sunday, June 27, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the DoubleTree by Hilton Manchester Downtown (700 Elm St.). Pre-purchased admission tickets will go on sale beginning June 12 — the cost is $10 for adults, $5 for kids ages 7 to 12 and free for kids under 6. Visit reptileexpo.com.

• Fourth on the Farm, an annual Fourth of July celebration at the New Hampshire Farm Museum (1305 White Mountain Hwy., Milton) is set for Sunday, July 4, from noon to 3 p.m. Guides in period dress will be serving strawberry shortcake with homemade whipped cream on the porch, while local musicians will be performing and tractor rides will be available throughout the farm. Museum admission is $10 for adults, $7.50 for seniors over 64, $5 for kids and teens ages 4 and up, and free for kids under 4 and for members and active military servicemen and women. Visit nhfarmmuseum.org.

• Don’t miss the Hillsborough Summerfest, set for Thursday, July 8, through Sunday, July 11, at Grimes Field (29 Preston St., Hillsborough). The event features carnival rides, a beer tent, live music and a town parade on Sunday. Festival hours are 6 to 10 p.m. on Thursday, 5 to 11 p.m. on Friday, noon to 11 p.m. on Saturday and noon to 5:30 p.m. on Sunday. Visit hillsborosummerfest.com.

• The Raymond Town Fair, a multi-day event on the town common featuring contests, parades, live entertainment, children’s activities and more, is tentatively scheduled to return from Friday, July 9, through Sunday, July 11. Find them on Facebook @raymondtownfair for updates.

• The American Independence Museum (1 Governors Lane, Exeter) is presenting a modified version of its annual American Independence Festival, offering a series of in-person and virtual events, like a family camp out on the night of Saturday, July 24, in which participants can play colonial-era games, sing 18th-century songs by the fire and more. Visit independencemuseum.org.

• This year’s Weare Rally, presented by the Merrimack Valley Military Vehicle Collectors Club, is tentatively scheduled from Thursday, July 29, through Saturday, July 31. Visit mvmvc.org for updates.

• The Belknap County Fair is due to return on Saturday, Aug. 7, and Sunday, Aug. 8, at 174 Mile Hill Road in Belmont. Visit bcfairnh.org for updates.

• The 64th annual New Hampshire Antiques Show is tentatively scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 12, through Saturday, Aug. 14, at the DoubleTree by Hilton Manchester Downtown (700 Elm St.). The event features antique dealers from all over the region selling their various wares. Show hours are from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. The cost is $15 admission on Thursday and $10 admission on Friday and Saturday. Visit nhada.org.

• History Alive returns to the town of Hillsborough on Saturday, Aug. 21, and Sunday, Aug. 22, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and will feature live historical re-enactors, live music, presentations, demonstrations and more. Visit historyalivenh.org.

• Plaistow’s Old Home Day will be held on Saturday, Aug. 28, at 51 Old County Road in Plaistow. Visit plaistowohd.com.

What about this event?
Looking for these big summer events? Here are a few that have been pushed back a bit later in the year than normal.
• Intown Manchester’s Taco Tour is tentatively set to return sometime in mid-September, according to executive director Sara Beaudry. Find them on Facebook @intownmanch.

• The New Hampshire Bacon & Beer Festival, normally held in May, has a new date of Saturday, Sept. 11, in Merrimack. Visit nhbaconbeer.com.

• The Children’s Museum of New Hampshire (6 Washington St., Dover) has rescheduled its annual NH Maker & Food Fest to Saturday, Sept. 18. Visit childrens-museum.org.

• Portsmouth’s Market Square Day has been rescheduled from mid-June to Saturday, Sept. 18, in downtown Portsmouth. Visit proportsmouth.org.

Food

Enjoy some of the tastiest of what New Hampshire has to offer this summer, from both in-person and drive-thru festivals to cooking workshops, tastings and more.

• The Grazing Room at The Colby Hill Inn (33 The Oaks, Henniker) continues its Sunday Night Out event series every Sunday through Aug. 29, when the eatery features a local seafood raw bar, a special barbecue-themed a la carte menu, and flight trios of beer, wine and sake, in addition to hosting a different live music act each week courtesy of the New Hampshire Music Collective. Seatings are outdoors from 4 to 7 p.m. each evening, with reservations required. Visit colbyhillinn.com.

• Join the New Hampshire Farm Museum (1305 White Mountain Hwy., Milton) for Dairy Day on Saturday, May 29, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Kids can learn how to make butter, ice cream and cheese, play farm games, go on a tractor-drawn ride and partake in a barn scavenger hunt with prizes. Admission is $10 for adults, $7.50 for seniors over 65, $5 for kids and teens ages 4 and up, and free for children under 4, museum members and active military service members. Visit nhfarmmuseum.org.

• As with last year, Temple B’Nai Israel (210 Court St., Laconia) will hold its New Hampshire Jewish Food Festival virtually, with online ordering open from June 1 to June 27. Visit tbinh.org to order from the temple’s menu of traditional Jewish-style foods — curbside pickups will be by appointment between Friday, July 30, and Sunday, Aug. 1.

• Concord Hospital Trust will present The Beat Goes on Block Party, an evening of spirit, beer and wine tasting, on Friday, June 4, at the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center (2 Institute Drive, Concord). Guests will sample local restaurants’ and food trucks’ offerings, which will be thoughtfully paired with quality wines, craft beers, spirits and creative mocktails from local and regional breweries, vineyards and distilleries. The block party-style event will be held in the front parking entryway of the center. General admission is $65, with access to the event from 7 to 9 p.m., while VIP admission is $100 (guests receive admittance to the event an hour early). Visit ch-trust.org or call Concord Hospital Trust at 227-7162 to purchase tickets.

• The New Hampshire Herbal Network will present its Herb & Garden Day on Saturday, June 5, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on the grounds of the Mt. Kearsarge Indian Museum (18 Highlawn Road, Warner). The annual event brings together herbal educators and seasonal growers for a day of multi-interest level workshops, plus a large vendor fair featuring plants and herbs from local farmers. The event is open to the public. Visit nhherbalnetwork.wordpress.com/herbalday.

• The Friends of the Library of Windham are hosting a drive-thru strawberry festival on Saturday, June 5, with curbside pickup from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the parking lot of Shaw’s (43 Indian Rock Road, Windham). Strawberry shortcake family fun packs are available to pre-order now, which will include handmade biscuits, ice cream, strawberries and whipped cream. Visit flowwindham.org.

• Hampstead Congregational Church (61 Main St.) has its annual strawberry festival scheduled for Saturday, June 5, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., featuring strawberry shortcake, baked goods, raffles, a plant sale and more. Admission is free. See “Hampstead Congregational Church, UCC” on Facebook for more details.

• LaBelle Winery’s new Derry location (14 Route 111) will host its next cooking with wine class on Wednesday, June 9, at 6 p.m., which will dabble in healthy, homemade Chinese food recipes. Participants will learn how to make items like chicken and scallion dumplings, edamame and mushroom fried rice, and each item will be paired with wine. General admission is $32.70, including taxes. LaBelle’s flagship location at 345 Route 101 in Amherst will also host a cooking with wine class specializing in outdoor cocktail party recipes, scheduled for Thursday, June 24, at 6 p.m. Visit labellewinery.com.

• The Culinary Playground (16 Manning St., Derry) has several upcoming cooking classes for both kids and adults on its schedule, including a seafood supper class for couples on Friday, June 11, and Saturday, June 12, and a Dad’s day cinnamon rolls class for kids on Sunday, June 20. Visit culinary-playground.com to view the full schedule.

• Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church (68 N. State St., Concord) has its next boxed Greek dinner to go event scheduled for Sunday, June 13, when fresh gyro sandwiches will be available. The event is drive-thru and takeout only — email [email protected] or call 953-3051 to place your order.

• Join The Cozy Tea Cart of Brookline for garden afternoon tea on Sunday, June 13, from 1 to 3 p.m., at the Gatherings at The Colonel Shepard House (29 Mont Vernon St., Milford). Tickets are $39.95 per person and reservations are required. Visit thecozyteacart.com.

• Derry’s Taste of the Region event is due to return to the parking lot of the Tupelo Music Hall (10 A St., Derry) on Wednesday, June 16, from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Organized by the Greater Derry Londonderry Chamber of Commerce, Taste of the Region brings together more than 30 area food and beverage vendors that compete for fan favorites in three categories: savory, sips and sweets. Admission is $35 per person. Visit gdlchamber.org.

• The Cozy Tea Cart of Brookline has several virtual tea tastings on its schedule, the next of which is set for Saturday, June 19, from 4 to 5:30 p.m., dabbling in green and white teas. Reservations are required by June 5 — participants will be mailed a tea tasting kit prior to this event. Visit thecozyteacart.com.

• Join LaBelle Winery (14 Route 111, Derry) for a wine and cheese pairing on Wednesday, June 16, at 6 p.m. LaBelle’s wine educator Marie King and culinary director Peter Agostinelli will guide participants through the how and why of wine and cheese pairing, tasting five types of fine cheeses paired with five different wines. Tickets are $38.15 general admission per person (including taxes). Visit labellewinery.com.

• Learn how grapes are harvested at LaBelle Winery (345 Route 101, Amherst) during the next event in its Walks in the Vineyard series, scheduled for Sunday, July 11, from 11 a.m. to noon. Wine educator Marie King and vineyard manager Josh Boisvert will lead participants through a fun and educational walk through the vineyards. You’ll also get a chance to taste four LaBelle wines throughout the session.Tickets are $27.25 general admission per person (including taxes). Visit labellewinery.com.

• The next wine dinners at the Colby Hill Inn (33 The Oaks, Henniker), set for Friday, July 16, and Saturday, July 17, will feature an a la carte barbecue lunch, McPrice Myers wines and live music. Visit colbyhillinn.com.

• Monadnock Music is presenting a Progressive Garden Party with multiple tastings and performances across the town of Peterborough on Sunday, July 18, from 1 to 4 p.m. Your ticket to this botanical tour will include three different drinks, food tastings and musical performances. Tickets are $75. Visit monadnockmusic.org for a full list of event locations.

• The Great New England BBQ & Food Truck Festival will return to the Hampshire Dome (34 Emerson Road, Milford) on Saturday, Aug. 14, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., featuring food trucks, live music, eating contests, craft beer, a kids zone and more. Tickets are $5 in advance and $10 at the gate (free for kids ages 14 and under). Visit gnecraftartisanshows.com.

• Mahrajan, an annual Middle Eastern food festival held on the grounds of Our Lady of the Cedars Church (140 Mitchell St., Manchester), is due to return this year with tentative dates of Friday, Aug. 20, through Sunday, Aug. 22. Visit bestfestnh.com for updates.

• Windham High School (64 London Bridge Road) has scheduled a food truck festival for Sunday, Aug. 22, at noon. Visit windhamnh.gov.

• In lieu of its traditional beer festival and wing competition format, this year’s Gate City Brewfest will be pivoting to a live concert to be held at Holman Stadium (67 Amherst St., Nashua) on Friday, Aug. 27. The live concert being planned in its place will offer both stadium and pod-style lawn seating on the field, plus an assortment of beer, non-alcoholic beverages and food options available. Visit gatecitybrewfestnh.com.

• Assumption Greet Orthodox Church (111 Island Pond Road in Manchester; assumptionnh.org) will hold its Greekfest Express on Saturday, Aug. 28. As with their celebrations of Greek food throughout the last year, this event will be drive-through with food available for order in advance. See foodfest.assumptionnh.org.

Theater

With warmer weather and loosened restrictions on public events, many local theater companies are coming out of hiatus this summer, offering outdoor, in-theater and virtual performances.

• The Seacoast Repertory Theatre (125 Bow St., Portsmouth) presents Fun Home on Thursday, May 27, at 7:30 p.m., and Friday, May 28, at 8 p.m. Tickets cost $32 to $46. Visit seacoastrep.org.

• The Capitol Center for the Arts in Concord presentsRhapsody in Black, a one-man show byLeLand Gantt, virtually, on demand, free of charge, now through June 30. Visit ccanh.com.

• The Rotary Park Play Festival takes place on Saturday, May 29, and Sunday, May 30, from 3 to 5 p.m. at Rotary Park (30 Beacon St. E., Laconia). The festival, presented by Powerhouse Theatre Collaborative and Community Players of Concord, features short original plays by New Hampshire playwrights. Admission is free; donations are welcome. Visit belknapmill.org.

• The Kids Coop Theatre performs You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown on Saturday, May 29, at 1 and 7 p.m. at the Derry Opera House (29 W. Broadway, Derry). Tickets cost $15. Visit kids-coop-theatre.org.

• The Seacoast Repertory Theatre (125 Bow St., Portsmouth) presents Godspell on Saturday, May 29, at 2 and 8 p.m., and Sunday, May 30, at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $32 to $44. The show is also available to livestream. Visit seacoastrep.org.

• The Palace Youth Theatre will perform James and the Giant Peach Jr. at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester) June 4 through June 12, with showtimes on Friday, Saturday, Monday and Tuesday at 7 p.m., except for Sunday, June 12, which is at noon. Tickets cost $12 for children and $15 for adults. Visit palacetheatre.org.

• The Capitol Center for the Arts in Concord presents a livestream of Concord Dance Academy’s annual recital on Saturday, June 5, at 1 p.m. Tickets cost $20. Visit ccanh.com.

• The New Hampshire Theatre Project (959 Islington St., Portsmouth) presents The Uncertainty Principle virtually on Thursday, June 10, through Saturday, June 12, at 8 p.m., and Sunday, June 13, at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $20. Visit nhtheatreproject.org.

• Pippin will be at the Seacoast Repertory Theatre (125 Bow St., Portsmouth) June 10 through July 17, with showtimes on Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 8 p.m., and Sunday at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $32 to $50. The show is also available to livestream. Visit seacoastrep.org.

• Phylloxera Productions brings Holmes and Watson to the Hatbox Theatre (Steeplegate Mall, 270 Loudon Road, Concord) June 11 through June 27, with showtimes on Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $22 for adults, $19 for members, seniors and students, and $16 for senior members. Visit hatboxnh.com.

• Seacoast Civic Dance Co. will perform its 64th Annual Dance Showcase at The Music Hall Historic Theater (28 Chestnut St., Portsmouth) on Saturday, June 12, at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $20 to $30. Visit themusichall.org.

• The Winnipesaukee Playhouse (33 Footlight Circle, Meredith) presents Betrayal outdoors June 16 through July 3, with showtimes Tuesday through Saturday, at 4 p.m. Tickets cost $27 to $37. Visit winnipesaukeeplayhouse.org.

• The Hatbox Theatre (Steeplegate Mall, 270 Loudon Road, Concord) presents Discovering Magic with Andrew Pinard on Wednesdays, June 16, July 14 and Aug. 11, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $22 for adults, $19 for members, seniors and students, and $16 for senior members. Visit hatboxnh.com.

• The Palace Teen Apprentice Company will perform Xanadu Jr. at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester) on Thursday, June 17, and Friday, June 18, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $12 for children and $15 for adults. Visit palacetheatre.org.

• Queen City Improv comes to the Hatbox Theatre (Steeplegate Mall, 270 Loudon Road, Concord) on Thursdays, June 17, July 15 and Aug. 12, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $22 for adults, $19 for members, seniors and students, and $16 for senior members. Visit hatboxnh.com.

• The Majestic Theatre presents Steel Magnoliasat the Majestic Studio Theatre (880 Page St., Manchester) June 18 through June 27, with showtimes on Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $20 for adults and $15 for youth and seniors. Visit majestictheatre.net.

• The Hatbox Theatre (Steeplegate Mall, 270 Loudon Road, Concord) presents Comedy Out of the ’Box on Thursdays, June 24, July 29 and Aug. 26, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $22 for adults, $19 for members, seniors and students, and $16 for senior members. Visit hatboxnh.com.

• The Palace Teen Company will perform Pippin on Friday, June 25, and Saturday, June 26, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $12 for children and $15 for adults. Visit palacetheatre.org.

• The Kids Coop Theatre performs Bring It On on Friday, June 25, and Saturday, June 26. More info is TBA. Visit kids-coop-theatre.org.

• The Movement Box Dance Studio performs its recital “Movement in Motion” at the Capitol Center for the Arts (44 S. Main St., Concord) on Saturday, June 26, at 1 p.m. Tickets cost $30. Visit ccanh.com.

• The Winnipesaukee Playhouse (33 Footlight Circle, Meredith) presents Sleuth June 30 through July 17, with showtimes Tuesday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m., plus matinees on Tuesday, July 6, and Thursday, July 8, at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $20 to $37. Visit winnipesaukeeplayhouse.org.

• The Seacoast Repertory Theatre (125 Bow St., Portsmouth) presents its Mad Haus series on Wednesdays, June 30 and Aug. 18, at 8 p.m. Tickets cost $15. The show is also available to livestream. Visit seacoastrep.org.

• The Seacoast Repertory Theatre (125 Bow St., Portsmouth) presents its Rep Company Cabaret on Sunday, July 4, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $15. The show is also available to livestream. Visit seacoastrep.org.

• The 2021 Bank of New Hampshire Children’s Summer Series presents Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester) Tuesday, July 6, through Thursday, July 8, at 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Tickets cost $10. Visit palacetheatre.org.

• You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown will be at the Prescott Park Arts Festival (105 Marcy St., Portsmouth) July 9 through Aug. 15, with shows daily at 7 p.m. More information is TBA. Visit prescottpark.org.

• The 2021 Bank of New Hampshire Children’s Summer Series presents Peter Pan at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester) Tuesday, July 13, through Thursday, July 15, at 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Tickets cost $10. Visit palacetheatre.org.

• The Winnipesaukee Playhouse (33 Footlight Circle, Meredith) presents Dani Girl outdoors July 14 through July 31, with showtimes Tuesday through Saturday, at 4 p.m. Tickets cost $29 to $39. Visit winnipesaukeeplayhouse.org.

• The Majestic Theatre presents’Til Beth Do Us Part at the Majestic Studio Theatre (880 Page St., Manchester) July 16 through July 25, with showtimes on Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. The show is also available to livestream. Visit majestictheatre.net

• The 2021 Bank of New Hampshire Children’s Summer Series presents Wizard of Oz at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester) Tuesday, July 20, through Thursday, July 22, at 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Tickets cost $10. Visit palacetheatre.org.

• Cabaret will be at the Seacoast Repertory Theatre (125 Bow St., Portsmouth) July 22 through Sept. 5, with showtimes on Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 8 p.m., and Sunday at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $32 to $50. Visit seacoastrep.org.

• Tap dancer, teacher and choreographer Aaron Tolson presents an evening of music and dance at the Dana Center (Saint Anselm College, 100 Saint Anselm Drive, Manchester) on Friday, July 23, at 7:30 p.m., and Saturday, July 24, at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $40. Visit anselm.edu/dana-center-humanities.

• New World Theatre’s series of readings and workshop productions “Putting It Together” presents A Series of Inelastic Collisionsby Eugenie Carabatsosat the Hatbox Theatre (Steeplegate Mall, 270 Loudon Road, Concord) on Sunday, July 25, at 6:30 p.m. Tickets cost $22 for adults, $19 for members, seniors and students, and $16 for senior members. Visit hatboxnh.com.

• The 2021 Bank of New Hampshire Children’s Summer Series presents The Little Mermaid at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester) Tuesday, July 27, through Thursday, July 29, at 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Tickets cost $10. Visit palacetheatre.org.

• The Winnipesaukee Playhouse (33 Footlight Circle, Meredith) presents Tell Me On a Sunday July 28 through Aug. 14, with showtimes Tuesday through Saturday, at 7:30 p.m., plus matinees on Tuesday, Aug. 3, and Thursday, Aug. 5, at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $20 to $39. Visit winnipesaukeeplayhouse.org.

• The 2021 Bank of New Hampshire Children’s Summer Series presents Beauty and the Beast at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester) Tuesday, Aug. 3, through Thursday, Aug. 5, at 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Tickets cost $10. Visit palacetheatre.org.

• The Peterborough Players (55 Hadley Road, Peterborough) perform Our Town Aug. 4 through Aug. 15outdoors in downtown Peterborough. Tickets go on sale July 16. Visit peterboroughplayers.org.

• The 2021 Bank of New Hampshire Children’s Summer Series presents Rapunzel at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester) Tuesday, Aug. 10, through Thursday, Aug. 12, at 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Tickets cost $10. Visit palacetheatre.org.

• The 2021 Bank of New Hampshire Children’s Summer Series presents Cinderella at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester) Tuesday, Aug. 17, through Thursday, Aug. 19, at 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Tickets cost $10. Visit palacetheatre.org.

• The Peterborough Players (55 Hadley Road, Peterborough) perform Beehive: The 60s Musical at the new outdoor Elsewhere Stage at the Players Aug. 18 through Aug. 29. Tickets go on sale July 16. Visit peterboroughplayers.org.

• The Winnipesaukee Playhouse (33 Footlight Circle, Meredith) presents Hooligans and Convicts Aug. 18 through Sept. 4, with showtimes Tuesday through Saturday, at 7:30 p.m., plus matinees on Tuesday, Aug. 24, and Thursday, Aug. 26, at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $20 to $39. Visit winnipesaukeeplayhouse.org.

• The 2021 Bank of New Hampshire Children’s Summer Series presents Sleeping Beauty at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester) Tuesday, Aug. 24, through Thursday, Aug. 26, at 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Tickets cost $10. Visit palacetheatre.org.

• The Peterborough Players (55 Hadley Road, Peterborough) perform Where You Are at the new outdoor Elsewhere Stage at the Players Sept. 1 through Sept. 12. Tickets go on sale July 16. Visit peterboroughplayers.org.

• The Winnipesaukee Playhouse (33 Footlight Circle, Meredith) presents It Had To Be Yououtdoors Sept. 1 through Sept. 18, with showtimes Tuesday through Saturday at 4 p.m., plus matinees on Saturdays, Sept. 11 and Sept. 18, at 11 a.m. Tickets cost $20 to $37. Visit winnipesaukeeplayhouse.org.

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

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

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

Arts

Get reconnected with the New Hampshire arts scene at these exhibitions and special events, where you can talk with local artists and browse and buy all kinds of art.

Exhibits

• “Alnôbak Moskijik Maahlakwsikok: Abenaki People Emerging from Ashes,” an art show and sale presented by Two Villages Art Society, Abenaki Trails Project and Vermont Abenaki Artists Association, is on view now through Friday, May 28, at the Two Villages gallery (846 Main St., Contoocook). It features traditional and contemporary art created by tribal members of the Abenaki people and their community partners, including beading, pottery, birch bark building, fabric art, basketry, printmaking, painting, jewelry, painted gourds and leather work. Gallery hours are 1 to 5 p.m. Visit twovillagesart.org.

• The New Hampshire Art Association presents its 35th annual Omer T. Lassonde exhibition now through May 30 at the NHAA’s Robert Lincoln Levy Gallery (136 State St., Portsmouth) and online, featuring works in a variety of media by NHAA members and non-members centered around this year’s theme, “Beyond the Boundaries.” Gallery hours are Monday by appointment; Tuesday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Visit nhartassociation.org.

• The Seacoast Artist Association (130 Water St., Exeter) has an exhibit featuring oils by Jim Ryan and watercolors by Lorraine Makhoul on view through May. Visit seacoastartist.org.

• Twiggs Gallery (254 King St., Boscawen) presents an exhibit, “Retablos Reconsidered,” now through June 6, featuring works by 12 artists inspired by retablos, the honorific art form of devotional paintings that relate to miraculous events. Gallery hours are Thursday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. Visit twiggsgallery.wordpress.com.

• “Geometric Abstraction through Cut and Paste,” featuring the works of Meri Goyette, is on display in the windows and lobby of the Nashua Telegraph offices (110 Main St., Suite 1, Nashua) now through June 11. Goyette, 95, has been a longtime supporter and patron of the local arts, but has never publicly shown her own work until now. The exhibition will include statement collages and collectible greeting cards that she crafted from paper, fabric and glue during the pandemic. Visit cityartsnashua.org.

• The New Hampshire Art Association has an exhibition, “Transformations: Nature and Beyond,” featuring the work of digital artist William Townsend, on view at the gallery in the Concord Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center (49 S. Main St.) now through June 17. Townsend uses digital tools and techniques to alter line, form and color in photographs of natural objects, such as trees in a forest or seaweed on a beach. Gallery hours are Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visit nhartassociation.org.

• The New Hampshire Antique Co-op (323 Elm St., Milford) has an exhibit “Fresh Perspectives: Works by New Hampshire artists Peter Milton, Varujan Boghosian, Robert Hughes & More,” on view in the Co-op’s Tower Gallery now through Aug. 31. Visit nhantiquecoop.com.

• The Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St., Manchester) has an exhibition, “The Body in Art: From the Spiritual to the Sensual,” on view now through Sept. 1, that provides a look at how artists through the ages have used the human body as a means of creative expression. Tickets cost $15, $13 for seniors age 65 and up, and must be booked online. Museum hours are Thursday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. (free after 5 p.m.); and Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with the hour of 10 to 11 a.m. currently reserved for seniors and museum members. Call 669-6144 or visit currier.org.

• The Seacoast African American Cultural Center (located inside the Portsmouth Historical Society, 10 Middle St., Portsmouth) has an exhibit, “Fashion Forward: Africana Style,” on view now through Sept. 1, showcasing Black fashion and exploring connections between African American and African design aesthetics from past to present. Gallery hours are Monday through Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; visitors must reserve a 45-minute time slot in advance. Walk-in guests will be accommodated as space permits. Tickets cost $10 for the general public and $5 for Historical Society members and are available through eventbrite.com. Visit saacc-nh.org.

• The Portsmouth Historical Society (10 Middle St., Portsmouth) has an exhibit, “Don Gorvett: Working Waterfronts,” on view now through Sept. 12, featuring more than 60 works by the contemporary Seacoast printmaker. Gallery hours are daily, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission costs $7.50 for adults and is free for kids under age 18, seniors age 70 and older and active and retired military. Admission is free for all on the first Friday of every month. Visit portsmouthhistory.org.

• “Twilight of American Impressionism” is on view now through Sept. 12 at the Portsmouth Historical Society (10 Middle St., Portsmouth). The exhibit showcases New England painters and masters of impressionism Alice Ruggles Sohier and Frederick A. Bosley. Gallery hours are daily, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission costs $7.50 for adults and is free for kids under age 18, seniors age 70 and older and active and retired military. Admission is free for all on the first Friday of every month. Visit portsmouthhistory.org.

• The Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St., Manchester) has an exhibition, “Critical Cartography: Larissa Fassler in Manchester,” on view now through the fall, featuring immersive large-scale drawings that reflect the Berlin-based artist’s observations of downtown Manchester while she was an artist-in-residence at the Currier Museum in 2019. Museum hours are Thursday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. (free after 5 p.m.); and Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with the hour of 10 to 11 a.m. currently reserved for seniors and museum members. Call 669-6144 or visit currier.org.

• An exhibit celebrating the life and legacy of illustrator Tomie dePaola is on view now at the Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St., Manchester). It features a collection of dePaola’s original drawings. Tickets cost $15, $13 for seniors age 65 and up, and must be booked online. Museum hours are Thursday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. (free after 5 p.m.); and Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with the hour of 10 to 11 a.m. currently reserved for seniors and museum members. Call 669-6144 or visit currier.org.

• The Seacoast Artist Association (130 Water St., Exeter) will have an exhibit featuring works by painter Janice Leahy and photographer Dave Saums on view during June. Visit seacoastartist.org.

• The New Hampshire Society of Photographic Artists’ 21st annual exhibit will be on display at the Kimball Jenkins Estate (266 N. Main St., Concord) during June. Gallery hours are Monday through Thursday, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Visit kimballjenkins.com.

• The City of Concord and the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce host the fourth annual Art on Main, a year-round outdoor public art exhibit set up in Concord’s downtown opening. It will be installed in June. Visit concordnhchamber.com/creativeconcord.

• The New Hampshire Art Association presents “Transformations,” featuring the work of painters Barbara Stevens Adams and Catherine DiPentima, June 3 through June 27, at the NHAA’s Robert Lincoln Levy Gallery (136 State St., Portsmouth) and online. Gallery hours are Monday by appointment; Tuesday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Sunday, noon to 5 p.m. Visit nhartassociation.org.

• The Surface Design Association’s (SDA) New Hampshire Group brings an exhibit, “Tension: Process in the Making,” to Twiggs Gallery (254 King St., Boscawen) July 24 through Sept. 4. It features fiber art and textiles by New Hampshire artists. Visit twiggsgallery.wordpress.com.

• Concord artist and gallery owner Jess Barnet will host her first group art exhibit, “Summer Haze,” at her gallery (located in the Patriot Investment building, 4 Park St., Suite 216, Concord) Aug. 6 through Sept. 3. Visit jessbarnett.com.

Events

• The 14th annual Nashua International Sculpture Symposium is going on now through Saturday, June 12. The public is invited to watch three sculptors as they create outdoor sculptures for permanent installation in the city. The sculptors are working outside The Picker Artists studios (3 Pine St., Nashua) Monday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., now through Friday, June 4. They will relocate to the sculpture installation site on Saturday, June 5, where they will continue their work until the closing ceremony on Saturday, June 12. Visit nashuasculpturesymposium.org.

• The Concord Arts Market, an outdoor artisan and fine art market, is on Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., June through September, at Rollins Park (33 Bow St., Concord). Visit concordartsmarket.net.

• Kelley Stelling Contemporary in Manchester hosts “Fired Up! Outdoor Ceramics Show and Kiln Opening” on Saturday, June 19, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the studio of NH Potters Guild artist Al Jaeger (12 Perry Road, Deerfield). Visit kelleystellingcontemporary.com.

• The Craftsmen’s Fair, a nine-day craft fair featuring work by hundreds of juried League of NH Craftsmen members, takes place Saturday, Aug. 7, through Sunday, Aug. 15, at Mount Sunapee Resort (1398 Route 103, Newbury). More information is TBA. Visit nhcrafts.org.

• The Greeley Park Art Show (100 Concord St., Nashua) will be held on Saturday, Aug. 21, and Sunday, Aug. 22, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The annual outdoor juried art show hosted by Nashua Area Artists Association features a variety of artwork for sale. Visit nashuaareaartistsassoc.org.

Nature

Experience New Hampshire’s natural side with these hikes, educational programs and more.

• Beaver Brook Association (117 Ridge Road, Hollis) is offering a session of guided morning hikes every Friday at 9 a.m., now through July 9. The hikes are 3 to 4 miles long. The cost is $50 for the rest of the session. Visit beaverbrook.org.

• Join NH Audubon president Doug Bechtel for a casual one-hour bird walk every Saturday at 8 a.m. The location alternates each week between the Massabesic Audubon Center (26 Deerneck Road, Auburn) and McLane Audubon Center (84 Silk Farm Road, Concord); the next walk, on Saturday, May 29, is at the Massabesic Audubon Center. The walks are free, and no registration is required. Visit nhaudubon.org.

• Wildflower Walks continue at Beaver Brook Association (117 Ridge Road, Hollis) on Wednesdays at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., now through June 16. Learn about the natural history and various uses of wildflowers as they bloom. Visit beaverbrook.org.

• Join Seacoast Science Center (570 Ocean Blvd., Rye) for a weeklong celebration of World Ocean Day from Tuesday, June, 1, through Tuesday, June 8. There will be a variety of virtual and in-person events, including beach cleanup days, educational programs about marine life, a recycled arts contest, a virtual 5K run, tide pool explorations, trivia challenges and more. Visit seacoastsciencecenter.org/events/world-ocean-day-weeklong-virtual-celebration for the full schedule and to register for events.

• Saturday, June 5, is New Hampshire Fish and Game’s Free Fishing Day, when state residents and nonresidents are allowed to fish any inland water or saltwater in New Hampshire without a fishing license. Visit wildlife.state.nh.us.

• The New Hampshire Herbal Network will host its annual Herb & Garden Day on Saturday, June 5, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Mt. Kearsarge Indian Museum (18 Highlawn Road, Warner). The event will include workshops, plant and tree identification walks, grid work demonstrations, children’s activities, an herbal market and plant sale, local food vendors, raffles and more. Admission costs $25. Visit nhherbalnetwork.wordpress.com/herbday.

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

• Unwind in nature with Yoga in the Gardens at the Beaver Brook Association’s Maple Hill Gardens (117 Ridge Road, Hollis) on Tuesdays, June 8 through June 29, at 4 p.m., and on Fridays, June 25, July 30 and Aug. 27, at 6 p.m. The cost is $15. Visit beaverbrook.org.

• Prescott Farm Environmental Education Center (928 White Oaks Road, Laconia) hosts a series of guided hikes this summer, including a naturalist-led wildlife hike on Saturday, June 12, at 10 a.m., for $12, and Saturday, Aug. 7, at 5 a.m., for $15; a summer solstice sunrise hike on Sunday, June 20, at 5 a.m., for $15; a woods walk with a herbalist on Saturdays, June 26 and Sept. 4, at 9 a.m., for $27; a wild mushroom walk on Saturdays, Aug. 21 and Sept. 18, at 10 a.m., for $30; and a full moon hike on Monday, Sept. 20, at 6:30 p.m., for $15. Visit prescottfarm.org.

• Beaver Brook Association (117 Ridge Road, Hollis) hosts a fern walk through the woods on Tuesday, June 15, at 10 a.m. See more than a dozen different species of ferns within a half-mile walk and learn how to tell them apart. The cost is $15. Visit beaverbrook.org.

• The 9th annual Monarch Festival at Petals in the Pines Nature Explore Outdoor Classroom (126 Baptist Road, Canterbury) will be held on Saturday, Sept. 11. The event is focused on educating the public on what they can do in their own backyards to help monarchs thrive. There will be butterfly-themed activities for kids and adults. More information is TBA. Visit petalsinthepines.com.

Free Concerts

Bring a blanket or lawn chair and enjoy free live music at these outdoor summer concert series, featuring local and regional acts of all genres.

• The Family Concerts in the Park series in Bedford will be held Wednesdays at 6 p.m., from July 7 through Aug. 11, at the Village Common Park Gazebo (Bell Hill Road). Visit bedfordreconline.com.

• The Smyth Public Library Summer Music Series is held at the Candia Pond Park gazebo (behind the library, 55 High St.) every Wednesday, June 30 through Aug. 11, at 6:30 p.m. Visit smythpl.org/music-series.

• Concord Public Library presents its Live Music with the Library series, with shows on Wednesdays, June 16 at 6:30 p.m., at Keach Park (off Loudon Road), July 21 at 6 p.m., at Eagle Square, and Aug. 18 at 6 p.m., at the library (45 Green St.). Visit concordpubliclibrary.net.

• Exeter’s Summer Concert in the Park Series will feature music every Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m., at Swasey Parkway (316 Water St.). Visit exeternh.gov.

• The Hampstead Cable Television Summer Concert Series presents live music in Hampstead on Tuesdays, July 6 through Aug. 24, at 6 p.m. at Meetinghouse Park (11 Main St.), and on Wednesdays, July 7 through July 28, at 6 p.m. at Ordway Park (Main Street). Visit hampsteadconcerts.com/concert-series.

• Hampton Beach Sea Shell Stage Series brings music to Ocean Boulevard nightly, June 11 through Sept. 6, starting at 7 p.m. Visit hamptonbeach.org/events/seashell-stage-nightly-shows.

• The Henniker Summer Concert Series presents live music every Tuesday, June 15 through Aug. 31, at 6:30 p.m. at the Angela Robinson Bandstand in Community Park (57 Main St.). Visit henniker.org.

• The Londonderry Arts Council hosts Concerts on the Common in Londonderry (265 Mammoth Road) on Wednesdays, Aug. 4 through Aug. 25, at 7 p.m., and Saturdays, Sept. 4 and Sept. 11, at 5 p.m. Visit londonderryartscouncil.org/cotc-schedule.

• The Summer Concert Series at Stark Park in Manchester (89 Park Ave.) returns, with music on Sundays, July 11 through Aug. 8, and Aug. 29, at 2 p.m., and on Thursday, July 29, at 6 p.m. Visit friendsofstarkpark.org.

• Merrimack’s Summer Concert Series returns to Abbie Griffin Park (6 Baboosic Lake Road), with live music every Wednesday, June 23 through Aug. 11, at 6 p.m. Visit merrimackparksandrec.org/summer-concert-series.

• Milford hosts a Summer Concert Series in Emerson Park (off Route 13) on Wednesdays, June 30 through July 21, at 7 p.m. Visit milford.nh.gov.

• The Nashua SummerFun series hosts live music on Tuesdays, June 8 through Sept. 7, at 7 p.m. at the Greeley Park Bandshell (100 Concord St.). Visit nashuanh.gov/546/summer-fun.

• New Boston’s Concerts on the Common (7 Meetinghouse Hill Road) will return with live music on select Tuesdays evenings, June through August. A schedule is TBA. Visit newbostonnh.gov/recreation/pages/concert-common.

• Newmarket’s Summer Concert Series will return this summer, with a schedule TBA. Visit newmarketrec.org/summer-concert-series.

• Pelham’s Concerts on the Village Green (in front of the Pelham Public Library, 24 Village Green) will take place every other Wednesday, June 23 through Aug. 18, at 6 p.m. Visit pelhamcommunityspirit.org/sponsored-events/concerts-on-the-village-green.

• Plaistow’s Summer Concert Series will present live music every Wednesday, June 23 through Aug. 25, at 6 p.m. at the PARC (51 Old Country Road). Visit plaistow.com/recreation.

• Pro Portsmouth’s Summer in the Street brings live music and performances to Pleasant Street in downtown Portsmouth on Saturday evenings, July 10 through July 31. More information is TBA. Visit proportsmouth.org.

• The Summer Concert Series at Field of Dreams Community Park in Salem (48 Geremonty Drive) will return this summer, with a schedule TBA on its website. Visit fieldofdreamsnh.org.

Live Music

May

• Country singer-songwriter Jake Owen will take the stage at Northlands Live on Friday, May 28, at 6:30 p.m. Tickets start at $139 for a pod of up to five seats.

• See Elton John tribute act Captain Fantastic at the Tupelo Drive-In on Friday, May 28, at 6 p.m. Tickets are $75 per vehicle (one ticket per vehicle).

• The Tupelo Drive-In will host The Jon Butcher Axis on Saturday, May 29, at 4 p.m. Tickets are $75 per vehicle (one ticket per vehicle).

• Aaron Lewis of Staind will perform at Northlands Live on Saturday, May 29, at 6:30 p.m. Tickets start at $129 for a pod of up to five seats.

• Jake Owen will also perform at The Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion on Saturday, May 29, at 6 p.m. Tickets start at $65.

• See Kate Redgate outdoors at the Historic Music Hall on Saturday, May 29, at either 6 p.m. or 8 p.m. Tickets start at $60 per table (two-person limit).

• The Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion will host Titans of ’80s Rock, a tribute festival to storied rock bands of the 1980s, on Sunday, May 30, at noon. Tickets start at $22.50.

• The Tupelo Drive-In will present Gary Hoey on Sunday, May 30, at 1 p.m. Tickets are $75 per vehicle (one ticket per vehicle).

June

• Erin McKeown will hold two performances outdoors at the Historic Music Hall on Friday, June 4, at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Tickets start at $60 per table (two-person limit).

• Six-piece group Fortune will hold a performance at the Tupelo Drive-In on Friday, June 4, at 6 p.m. Tickets are $75 per vehicle (one ticket per vehicle).

• Pink Floyd tribute act The Machine will be at Northlands Live on Friday, June 4, at 6:30 p.m. Tickets start at $99 for a pod of up to five seats.

• See Badfish: A Tribute to Sublime at Northlands Live on Saturday, June 5, at 6:30 p.m. Tickets start at $99 for a pod of up to five seats.

• Grace Potter will take the stage at the Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion on Saturday, June 5, at 6:30 p.m. Tickets start at $29.

• The Tupelo Drive-In will present Classic Stones Live on Saturday, June 5, for two shows at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Tickets are $75 per vehicle (one ticket per vehicle).

• Joe Sabourin will perform at Fletcher-Murphy Park on Sunday, June 6, at 3 p.m. Tickets are $12, plus a $3 fee.

• Marble Eyes will perform two shows outdoors at the Historic Music Hall on Sunday, June 6, at 3:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. Tickets start at $70 per table (two-person limit).

• Blues rocker Popa Chubby will take the stage at the Tupelo Drive-In on Friday, June 11, at 6 p.m. Tickets are $75 per vehicle (one ticket per vehicle).

• See Son Little at the Historic Music Hall for two shows on Friday, June 11, at 5:30 p.m. or 8 p.m. Tickets range from $25 to $60.

• Jay Psaros and Jason Spooner will perform at The Flying Monkey Movie House & Performance Center on Saturday, June 12, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $25.

• See the Indigo Girls at Northlands Live on Saturday, June 12, at 6:30 p.m. Tickets start at $149 for a pod of up to five seats.

• The British Invasion Years will be at the Tupelo Drive-In for two shows on Saturday, June 12, at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Tickets are $75 per vehicle (one ticket per vehicle).

• See the No Shoes Nation Band, a tribute to country legend Kenny Chesney, at the Rex Theatre on Saturday, June 12, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 at the door.

• Jason Spooner will be at Fletcher-Murphy Park on Sunday, June 13, at 3 p.m. Tickets are $12, plus a $3 fee.

• Johnny A. will perform two shows at the Tupelo Drive-In on Sunday, June 13, at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Tickets are $75 per vehicle (one ticket per vehicle).

• See singer-guitarist Dwayne Higgins outdoors at the Historic Music Hall on Thursday, June 17, for two shows at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Tickets start at $60 per table (two-person limit).

• Don’t miss A Joyful Juneteenth Celebration with N’Kenge at the Historic Music Hall on Friday, June 18, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $35.

• Captain Fantastic returns to the Tupelo Drive-In on Friday, June 18, at 6 p.m. Tickets are $75 per vehicle (one ticket per vehicle).

• The Allman Betts Band will be at Northlands Live on Friday, June 18, at 6:30 p.m. Tickets start at $119 for a pod of up to five seats.

• The Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion will host two shows featuring Greensky Bluegrass on Friday, June 18, and Saturday, June 19, with doors opening at 6 p.m. on both days. Tickets start at $39.

• See Billy Joel tribute act The Uptown Boys at the Palace Theatre on either Saturday, June 19, or Sunday, June 20, with doors opening at 2 p.m. on both days. Tickets range from $39 to $49.

• American Elton, a tribute to rock legend Elton John, will be at the Rex Theatre on Saturday, June 19, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $25.

• See Kip Moore with special guest Ayla Brown at Northlands Live on Saturday, June 19, at 6:30 p.m. Tickets start at $129 for a pod of up to five seats.

• See the Laurel Canyon Band at the Tupelo Drive-In on Saturday, June 19, at 4 p.m. Tickets are $75 per vehicle (one ticket per vehicle).

• Boat House Row will perform two shows at the Tupelo Drive-In on Sunday, June 20, at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Tickets are $75 per vehicle (one ticket per vehicle).

• Ms. Yamica Peterson will perform at Fletcher-Murphy Park on Sunday, June 20, at 3 p.m. Tickets are $12, plus a $3 fee.

• See Midnight North outdoors at the Historic Music Hall on Sunday, June 20, at either 5 p.m. or 7 p.m. Tickets start at $60 for a small table (two-person limit).

• Crys Matthews will perform outdoors at the Historic Music Hall on Tuesday, June 22, at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Tickets start at $60 for a small table (two-person limit).

• Country singer Brantley Gilbert will perform two shows at the Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion on Friday, June 25, and Saturday, June 26, with doors opening at 5 p.m. on both days. Tickets start at $29.

• Classic Stones Live will be at The Flying Monkey Movie House & Performance Center on Friday, June 25, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $29.

• The Tupelo Drive-In will present the James Montgomery Band on Friday, June 25, at 6 p.m. Tickets are $75 per vehicle (one ticket per vehicle).

• Pop sensation Tiffany will perform two shows at the Tupelo Drive-In on Saturday, June 26, at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. Tickets are $75 per vehicle (one ticket per vehicle).

• Panorama: A Tribute to The Cars, will be at the Rex Theatre on Saturday, June 26, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $25 in advance and $29 at the door.

• Recycled Percussion will take the stage at Northlands Live on Saturday, June 26, at 6:30 p.m. Tickets start at $99 for a pod of up to five seats.

• Mullett will perform two shows at the Tupelo Drive-In on Sunday, June 27, at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. Tickets are $75 per vehicle (one ticket per vehicle).

• See local group Bitter Pill outdoors at the Historic Music Hall on Sunday, June 27, at 5 p.m. or 7 p.m. Tickets start at $60 for a small table (two-person limit).

July

• Foreigners Journey will perform at The Flying Monkey Movie House & Performance Center on Friday, July 2, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $29.

• Badfish: A Tribute to Sublime will take the stage at the Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom on Friday, July 2, at 8 p.m. Tickets are $25 in advance or $30 at the door.

• See New York City-based quartet Howard outdoors at the Historic Music Hall on Friday, July 2, at 6 p.m. or 8 p.m. Tickets start at $60 for a small table (two-person limit).

• The Tupelo Drive-In will present Don White on Friday, July 2, at 6 p.m. Tickets are $75 per vehicle (one ticket per vehicle).

• Eaglemania, a nationally touring tribute to rock legends the Eagles, will perform two shows at the Tupelo Drive-In on Saturday, July 3, at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. Tickets are $75 per vehicle (one ticket per vehicle).

• See Moe at Northlands Live on Saturday, July 3, at 6:30 p.m. Tickets start at $139 for a pod of up to five seats.

• The Soul Rebel Project will perform two shows outdoors at the Historic Music Hall on Saturday, July 3, at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Tickets start at $60 for a small table (two-person limit).

• Old Dominion will take the stage at the Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion for two shows, on Sunday, July 4, and Monday, July 5, with doors opening at 5 p.m. Tickets start at $35.

• Maine-based indie duo the Oshima Brothers will perform two outdoor shows at the Historic Music Hall on Thursday, July 8, at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Tickets start at $70 for a small table (two-person limit).

• Chris Janson is set to perform at the Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom on Thursday, July 8, at 8 p.m. Tickets are $36 in advance and $41 at the door.

• See the Old Crow Medicine Show at the Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom on Friday, July 9, at 8 p.m. Tickets are $40 in advance or $45 at the door.

• The Adam Ezra Group will be at the Tupelo Drive-In for two shows on Saturday, July 10, at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. Tickets are $75 per vehicle (one ticket per vehicle).

• Liz & Dan Faiella will be at Fletcher-Murphy Park on Saturday, July 10, at 6 p.m. Tickets are $12, plus a $3 fee.
• Eagles tribute act Dark Desert Eagles will be at the Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom on Saturday, July 10, at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $21.

• The Rex Theatre will host An Evening with The Spain Brothers on Saturday, July 10, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $20.

• See The Marshall Tucker Band at Northlands Live on Saturday, July 10, at 6:30 p.m. Tickets start at $99 for a pod of up to two seats.

• The nine-piece Scott Spradling Band will perform at the Palace Theatre on Saturday, July 10, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $20.

• The Tupelo Drive-In will present The Weight Band for two shows on Sunday, July 11, at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. Tickets are $75 per vehicle (one ticket per vehicle).

• The Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom will host the Little River Band on Thursday, July 15, at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $25.

• Toronto-based rock group Enter the Haggis will take the stage at the Tupelo Drive-In on Thursday, July 15, at 6 p.m. Tickets are $75 per vehicle (one ticket per vehicle).

• The Breakers, a tribute act to rock legend Tom Petty, will be at the Tupelo Drive-In on Friday, July 16, at 6 p.m. Tickets are $75 per vehicle (one ticket per vehicle).

• Scott Solsky will hold an album release party at the Bank of New Hampshire Stage on Friday, July 16, at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15 ($10 tickets are available for a livestream).

• The Tedeschi Trucks band will perform two shows at the Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion on Friday, July 16, and Saturday, July 17, with doors opening at 5:30 p.m. on both days. Tickets start at $35.

• Grammy Award-winning act Asleep at the Wheel will perform at The Flying Monkey on Friday, July 16, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $39.

• Pigeons Playing Ping Pong will be at Northlands Live on Friday, July 16, at 6:30 p.m. Tickets start at $119 for a pod of up to five seats.

• Internationally touring singer-songwriter Matt Nakoa will be outdoors at the Historic Music Hall on Friday, July 16, at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Tickets start at $70 for a small table (two-person limit).

• Seth Glier will be at Fletcher-Murphy Park on Saturday, July 17, at 6 p.m. Tickets are $12, plus a $3 fee.

• See David Clark at the Rex Theatre on Saturday, July 17, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $29.

• Singer-songwriter Kasim Sulton will be at the Tupelo Drive-In on Saturday, July 17, at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. Tickets are $75 per vehicle (one ticket per vehicle).

• Beatles tribute act The Weeklings will perform at the Tupelo Drive-In on Sunday, July 18, at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. Tickets are $75 per vehicle (one ticket per vehicle).

• Buddy Guy will take the stage at the Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom on Sunday, July 18, at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $31.

• See David Wilcox outdoors at the Historic Music Hall on Tuesday, July 20, at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Tickets start at $70 for a small table (two-person limit).

• Brooklyn-based five-piece group The Rad Trads will be outdoors at the Historic Music Hall on Thursday, July 22, at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Tickets start at $60 for a small table (two-person limit).

• Aaron Lewis of Staind will play two shows at the Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom on Thursday, July 22, and Friday, July 23, with doors opening at 7 p.m. on both days. Tickets are $39 in advance or $44 at the door.

• James Taylor tribute act JT Express will perform at the Tupelo Drive-In on Friday, July 23, at 6 p.m. Tickets are $75 per vehicle (one ticket per vehicle).

• The Bank of New Hampshire Stage will host Into the Mystic: The Van Morrison Experience on Saturday, July 24, at 8 p.m. Tickets are $30.

• Damn the Torpedoes, a tribute to Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, will be at The Flying Monkey Movie House & Performance Center on Saturday, July 24, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $19.

• The Black Crowes will play their acclaimed 1990 debut album Shake Your Money Maker front to back at the Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion on Saturday, July 24, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $29.

• The Tupelo Drive-In presents Saving Abel on Saturday, July 24, at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. Tickets are $75 per vehicle (one ticket per vehicle).

• Voyage, a Journey tribute band, will be at the Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom on Saturday, July 24, at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $19.

• Pink Talking Fish, a hybrid act paying tribute to rock bands Pink Floyd, Talking Heads and Phish, will be at The Flying Monkey Movie House & Performance Center on Sunday, July 25, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $26.

• See Michael Ray at the Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom on Sunday, July 25, at 8 p.m. Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door.

• The Kenny Brothers Band will be outdoors at the Historic Music Hall on Wednesday, July 28, at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Tickets start at $60 for a small table (two-person limit).

• Chris Stapleton has a show at the Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion on Wednesday, July 28, at 7 p.m. with tickets still available, starting at $99.75.

• The Fab Four: The Ultimate Beatles Tribute will be at the Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom on Friday, July 30, at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $21.

• Tapestry: The Carole King Songbook will be at The Flying Monkey Movie House & Performance Center on Friday, July 30, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $29.

• The Tupelo Drive-In presents Jonathan Edwards on Friday, July 30, at 6 p.m. Tickets are $75 per vehicle (one ticket per vehicle).

• See Led Zeppelin tribute act Get the Led Out at Northlands Live on Saturday, July 31, at 6:30 p.m. Tickets start at $89.30 for a pod of up to two seats.

• Lucas Gallo will be at Fletcher-Murphy Park on Saturday, July 31, at 6 p.m. Tickets are $12, plus a $3 fee.

• L.A.-based singer-songwriter Brad Byrd will be outdoors at the Historic Music Hall on Saturday, July 31, at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Tickets start at $60 for a small table (two-person limit).

August

• Colorado singer-songwriter Daniel Rodriguez will be outdoors at the Historic Music Hall on Sunday, Aug. 1, at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. Tickets start at $70 for a small table (two-person limit).

• Justin Moore will be at the Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom on Friday, Aug. 6, at 8 p.m. Tickets are $47 in advance and $52 at the door.

• Country juggernaut Luke Bryan will perform two shows at the Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion on Friday, Aug. 6, and Saturday, Aug. 7, with doors opening at 5:30 p.m. both days. Tickets start at $88.75.

• See Katie Dobbins at Fletcher-Murphy Park on Saturday, Aug. 7, at 6 p.m. Tickets are $12, plus a $3 fee.

• Alice Howe with Freebo will be outdoors at the Historic Music Hall on Saturday, Aug. 7, at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Tickets start at $70 for a small table (two person limit).

• Heart tribute act Crazy on You will be at the Tupelo Drive-In on Saturday, Aug. 7, at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. Tickets are $75 per vehicle (one ticket per vehicle).

• See KT Tunstall at the Tupelo Drive-In on Sunday, Aug. 8, at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. Tickets are $75 per vehicle (one ticket per vehicle).

• See Darryl Hall & John Oates at the Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion on Monday, Aug. 9, at 7 p.m. Tickets start at $31.50.

• TEOA will be outdoors at the Historic Music Hall on Wednesday, Aug. 11, at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Tickets start at $60 for a small table (two-person limit).

• Pay tribute to rock icon Freddie Mercury with One Night of Queen, which will be at the Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom on Wednesday, Aug. 11, and Thursday, Aug. 12, at 8 p.m. both nights. Tickets start at $21.

• Tower of Power will be at the Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom on Friday, Aug. 13, at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $21.

• See Greg Hawkes of The Cars, with Eddie Japan at the Tupelo Drive-In on Friday, Aug. 13, at 6 p.m. Tickets are $75 per vehicle (one ticket per vehicle).

• Blues Traveler will take the stage at the Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom on Saturday, Aug. 14, at 8 p.m. Tickets are $37 in advance and $42 at the door.

• See Bill Wylder outdoors at the Historic Music Hall on Saturday, Aug. 14, at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Tickets start at $60 for a small table (two-person limit).

• America is making a stop at Northlands Live on Saturday, Aug. 14, at 6:30 p.m. as part of its 50th anniversary tour. Tickets start at $55.50 for general admission.

• Herman’s Hermits will be at The Flying Monkey on Sunday, Aug. 15, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $69.

• Deb Talan of The Weepies will be outdoors at the Historic Music Hall on Sunday, Aug. 15, at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. Tickets start at $70 for a small table (two-person limit).

• See Cherry Cherry, a tribute to Neil Diamond, at the Tupelo Drive-In on Sunday, Aug. 15, at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Tickets are $75 per vehicle (one ticket per vehicle).

• The Miguel Zenon Quartet will be outdoors at the Historic Music Hall on Tuesday, Aug. 17, at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Tickets start at $80 for a small table (two person limit).

• Chris Lane takes the stage at the Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom on Thursday, Aug. 19, at 8 p.m. Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door.

• AJ Lee and Blue Summit will be outdoors at the Historic Music Hall on Thursday, Aug. 19, at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Tickets are $60 for a small table (two-person limit).

• Three Dog Night will be at the Tupelo Music Hall on Friday, Aug. 20, at 8 p.m., the first Tupelo show back indoors at full capacity. Tickets start at $70.

• See the Mt. Pleasant Band at Fletcher-Murphy Park on Saturday, Aug. 21, at 6 p.m. Tickets are $12, plus a $3 fee.

• Little Big Town will be at the Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion on Saturday, Aug. 21, at 7 p.m. Tickets start at $29.

• Kenny Wayne Shepherd will be at the Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom on Saturday, Aug. 21, at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $25.

• See Elektric Voodoo at the Tupelo Music Hall on Sunday, Aug. 22, at 7 p.m. Tickets start at $85.

• The Dave Matthews Band will perform two shows at the Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion on Tuesday, Aug. 24, and Wednesday, Aug. 25, with doors opening at 5:30 p.m. Tickets start at $45.50.

• See River Sister outdoors at the Historic Music Hall on Friday, Aug. 27, at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Tickets start at $60 for a small table (two-person limit).

• Country star Darius Rucker will be at the Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion on Friday, Aug. 27, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $29.

• Eaglemania, a tribute to the Eagles, will be at The Flying Monkey Movie House & Performance Center on Saturday, Aug. 28, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $29.

• Get the Led Out, a tribute to rock icons Led Zeppelin, will be at the Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom on Saturday, Aug. 28, at 8 p.m. Tickets are $29 in advance and $34 at the door.

• High Noon, a tribute to Lynyrd Skynyrd, will take the stage at the Rex Theatre on Saturday, Aug. 28, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $29.

• See The Honey Bees at Fletcher-Murphy Park on Sunday, Aug. 29, at 3 p.m. Tickets are $12, plus a $3 fee.

• 1990s rockers Collective Soul will perform with Tonic and Better Than Ezra at the Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom on Sunday, Aug. 29, at 8 p.m. Tickets are $65 in advance and $70 at the door.

• See Lee Brice at Northlands Live on Sunday, Aug. 29, at 6:30 p.m. Tickets start at $149 for a pod of up to five seats.

September

• Melissa Etheridge will be at the Historic Music Hall on Wednesday, Sept. 1, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $55.

• Alanis Morrissette performs with Garbage and Liz Phair at the Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion on Friday, Sept. 3, at 7 p.m. Tickets start at $66.

• See 33⅓ Live’s Killer Queen Experience at the Tupelo Music Hall on Friday, Sept. 3, at 8 p.m. Tickets are $35.

• Toby Keith will be at the Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion on Saturday, Sept. 4, at 7 p.m. Tickets start at $36.25.

Live Music Venues

Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion, 72 Meadowbrook Lane, Gilford, 293-4700, meadowbrook.net
Bank of New Hampshire Stage, 16 S. Main St., Concord, 225-1111, ccanh.com
Capitol Center for the Arts, 44 S. Main St., Concord, 225-1111, ccanh.com
Fletcher-Murphy Park, 28 Fayette St., Concord, 225-1111, ccanh.com
The Flying Monkey Movie House & Performance Center, 39 S. Main St., Plymouth, 536-2551, flyingmonkeynh.com
Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom, 169 Ocean Boulevard, Hampton Beach, 929-4100, casinoballroom.com
Historic Music Hall, 28 Chestnut St., Portsmouth, 436-2400, themusichall.org
Music Hall Loft, 131 Congress St., Portsmouth, 436-2400, themusichall.org
Northlands Live, Cheshire Fairground, 247 Monadnock Hwy., Swanzey, northlandslive.com
Palace Theatre, 80 Hanover St., Manchester, 668-5588, palacetheatre.org
Rex Theatre, 23 Amherst St., Manchester, 668-5588, palacetheatre.org/rex-theatre
Tupelo Music Hall/Tupelo Drive-In, 10 A St., Derry, 437-5100, tupelohall.com (on Aug. 20, the Tupelo Music Hall will move all shows indoors at 100 percent capacity)

Featured photo:

Garden Escapes

Get all of the flower-filled beauty with none of the work at public gardens

Plenty of people like working in the garden, planting and pruning and watching things grow. But there’s something to be said about relaxing in a luxurious garden where you don’t have to lift a finger to reap its rewards. Public gardens are the perfect opportunity to enjoy stunning displays of nature, from flowers that are bursting with color to vibrant trees, grasses and water features. So take a break from weeding — or from endlessly watching HGTV in the hopes that you’ll be inspired to do some weeding — and check out some of these public gardens.

Fuller Gardens

10 Willow Ave., North Hampton 964-5414, fullergardens.org

Colorful history: Fuller Gardens is a public, nonprofit botanical garden that dates back to 1927, when Massachusetts Gov. Alvan Fuller commissioned a landscape architect for his summer estate, known as Runnymede-by-the-Sea. In the ’30s, Fuller — also a successful businessman who started the first auto dealership in Boston — hired another firm to improve those gardens and to create a rose garden to honor his wife, Viola. Since then, the garden has expanded even more, with additions like a Japanese garden and a dahlia display garden.

The brains behind the beauty: Jamie Colen has been the garden director at Fuller since 1999, and there’s a staff of seven that works at the gardens seven days a week.

Standout features: Three acres of gardens featuring annuals and perennials, water features, a koi pond, ornamental statuary and more. Fuller is best known for its roses, Colen said, with about 1,700 rose bushes and approximately 125 varieties.

Growing season: At Fuller Gardens, getting the space ready for its busiest time of year starts in February and March, with work in the greenhouse. There are thousands of pots that have to be replanted, and then the crew gets outside to start the maintenance, like making sure the underground irrigation system is working and undoing all of the winterization that they did back in December, like tying the rose bushes and preserving the statuary and other parts of the garden’s hardscape.

“We basically take care of an outdoor museum,” Colen said.

And yes, there’s raking and pruning and weeding, too. What you won’t see, though, is the crew using bark mulch, a staple gardening supply for many home gardeners.

“Bark mulch is really acidic and you’re putting it on plants that like a neutral pH,” Colen said.

Fuller Gardens is also “virtually pesticide-free,” using potassium bicarbonate to keep the roses pest-free. Colen said they make a point of working with nature, not against it.

“We mow three times a week, no chemicals — there’s no magic here,” he said. “We have some clover. It looks great [and] takes a lot of abuse.”

Your garden experience: Because they do succession planting, there’s never a bad time to see the gardens, Colen said.

“It’s a beautiful design because there’s something in bloom all the time,” he said.

The roses start blooming at the end of June and are often still blooming until November, growing as high as 12 feet tall, Colen said.

“The first bloom is probably the biggest, but it’s not the most spectacular,” he said.

Whenever you choose to go, you can walk through the gardens at your leisure.

The details: Fuller Gardens opened for the season on May 10 and will remain open through mid-October, seven days a week, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The cost of admission is $9 for adults, $8 for seniors, $6 for students with an ID, $4 for kids under 12 and no charge for infants who are carried.

The Fells

456 Route 103A, Newbury 763-4789, thefells.org

Colorful history: The Fells, which encompasses 83 acres of woodlands and grounds and nearly half a mile of undeveloped Lake Sunapee shoreline, is located in Newbury and is the former summer home of American writer and diplomat John M. Hay (1838-1905), who began acquiring abandoned sheep farms in the late 1800s and ultimately owned nearly 1,000 acres of land. His son Clarence inherited the property when John Hay died in 1905, and he and his wife Alice transformed the rock pasture into extensive formal and informal gardens. In 1960 the Hays deeded 675 acres to the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests to protect it from development, and the remainder was deeded to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in the ’70s.

The brains behind the beauty: HorticulturistNick Scheu has been the landscape director at The Fells for three seasons and has an assistant and typically two interns in the landscape department.

Standout features: There are eight major gardens at The Fells, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Scheu said The Fells is well known for its rhododendrons, and he particularly likes the heath and the heather, and the “lovely” perennial border that dates back to 1909. There’s also a poetry walk and an ecology trail. On the property this year will be the Art in Nature 2021 Sculpture Exhibit, with pieces that areintegrated into the surrounding landscape and are based on the theme “Stillness & Motion.”

Growing season: Getting the property ready for the spring season starts in mid-March, Scheu said, when they start uncovering winterized plants and pruning the fruit trees and shrubs. Scheu runs pruning workshops throughout the spring, specific to blueberries, apple trees, spring bloomers and more, plus potting workshops that have participants potting seed and planting plugs for both The Fells and their own home gardens.

Your garden experience: Though the landscape will evolve throughout the spring and summer, “We hope we have things in flower pretty much from May to September or November,” Scheu said. Different plants do shine at different times, though, he said, noting that the rhododendron and azaleas are especially nice from mid-May to mid- to late July, while the asters in the fall are on full display and attract hundreds of butterflies.

“Early summer gardens are always a joy to see,” Scheu said. “[They have] really great colors and new growth appearing from Memorial Day to the end of June.”

The Fells offers guided garden tours each day that the Main House is open (see details below), and there’s a free guided hike on the first Thursday of every month. At any time, you can “casually walk the grounds and enjoy whatever is flowering,” Scheu said.

He said there’s often wildlife to see too — he had just left a fox den full of babies, and it’s not unusual to have deer, bear and fisher cats roaming the property.

Scheu suggests that prior to visiting The Fells guests should look at the extensive website, which includes maps of the property, a calendar of events and other useful information that can enhance the experience.

The details: The gardens and trails at The Fells are open daily year-round, and visitors may hike the trails and visit the gardens from dawn until dusk. The Fells’ Main House opens for the season on Saturday, May 29, and will be open on weekends until the summer season begins on June 16, at which point it will be open Wednesdays through Sundays until Sept. 6, when it reverts back to weekends and Monday holidays only, through Columbus Day. The hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. When the Main House is open, the cost of admission is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and students, $4 for kids 6 to 17, free for kids 5 and under, and $25 for families of two adults and two or more children ages 6 or above. When the Main House is closed, admission is $8 for adults, $6 for seniors and students, $3 for children and $15 for families of two adults and two or more children ages 6 or above. Winter admission, December through March, is $5 per household, payable at the self-serve Welcome Kiosk. Admission is always free for active military members and veterans, and their immediate family.

Forty-minute guided tours of the gardens, included in the cost of admission, are offered Wednesday through Sunday, Memorial Day weekend through Columbus Day weekend. Tours begin in Rose Garden at 11 a.m.

Scheu will host the next potting workshop on Saturday, May 22, from 9 to 11:30 a.m. The $5 per person fee includes a sample of plant specimens to take home. Reservations are required; call 763-4789, ext. 3. Check the website’s list of events for all kinds of activities scheduled throughout the remainder of the year.

Rose terrace at The Fells. Photo courtesy of thefells.org.

Bedrock Gardens

45 High Road, Lee 828-8300, bedrockgardens.org

Colorful history: The original farmhouse at Bedrock Gardens dates back to the 18th century, and the property was a dairy farm from 1845 to 1957. It was sold to the present owner in 1980 on a handshake, the 37 acres having been abandoned for about 40 years. It was first cleared of poison ivy and puckerbrush, and the landscaping project started around 1987, adding access to roads along with garden beds and a wildlife pond. About two-thirds of the property is now gardens.

The brains behind the beauty: Led by Executive DirectorJohn Forti, Bedrock Gardens also has a group of volunteers and a small ground crew. The founders are still very involved: “The two of them are like having a staff of a dozen,” Forti said.

Standout features: One main focus at Bedrock Gardens is showcasing rare and unusual native plants. “Everything looks vaguely familiar, but [for example], you’ve never seen a maple quite like that,” Forti said. There’s the ornamental Grass Acre — “the space was designed to look like an impressionist painting,” Forti said. “It evolves through the whole season.” There’s also a spiral garden, a rock garden, a Japanese Tea House and garden, and a serpentine waterway that Forti particularly likes, with its lotus and water lilies and the sense of motion that it adds to the landscape.

Growing season: “We are a garden that looks at sustainability,” Forti said. “We’re not racing to put out tens of thousands of annuals in the spring. … We really rely on perennials.

Of course there are a few garden cleanup days, plus planting the annuals and improving soil quality, he said, but the garden is laid out on a sort of grid system so that everything is easy to get to and maintain.

Your garden experience: “Unlike a lot of other public gardens, it’s not a single design space — it’s a landscape journey,” Forti said. “Over the course of 37 acres it keeps you moving through room after room, and each space has its own feeling and emotion.”

Forti said there are a number of ways to enjoy the garden, whether you want to take a walk along the mile-plus of walking trails, get a guided tour to learn about the gardens, or just relax. Forti said that one volunteer has said that when she walks through the gardens her blood pressure goes down about 20 points.

“Some people are just going there to quiet their minds … [and] enjoy nature,” he said. “They love to relax into the landscape. … You might be relaxing and reflecting by a pond and then move on … to a different garden.”

He said you can spend a couple hours there or a whole day — and there’s no “best” time of the year to visit.

“It’s so different by the season, and that’s … part of its design,” he said.

The details: Bedrock Gardens opened for the season on May 12 and is open Tuesday through Friday, and the first and third weekends of the month, through Oct. 11. The hours each day are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. There’s a suggested donation of $10 per adult; children 12 and under get in free. Daily overview garden tours are offered Tuesday through Friday at 10:15 a.m. and Saturday and Sunday at 10:15 a.m. and 1 p.m., when open. The guided tours are free with admission. You can also take a self-guided tour and spend as much time as you want on the property; you will be given a map with a suggested route.

Kirkwood Gardens

Squam Lakes Natural Science Center, 23 Science Center Road, Holderness, 968-7194, nhnature.org

Colorful history: Kirkwood Gardens is about an acre in size and was created on the grounds of the historic Holderness Inn, in the space of a former parking lot. In trying to figure out what should take the place of the parking lot, a plan put together by internationally known landscape designer — and six-year Science Center trustee — “Sunny” Grace Kirkwood won out. It used plants that are adapted to grow well in New Hampshire and that are attractive to birds, bees and other pollinators, according to resident garden expert Brenda Erler. Erler said Kirkwood was very elderly when she was designing the garden. “Her nurse would actually bring her to the gardens, complete with her oxygen tank, and she would just sit for hours and watch the shadows to see how [the sun would hit the plants],” Erler said. The entire community pitched in to make the design happen, from an anonymous gift to amend the soil to area garden centers and local residents donating plants, garden features and labor. Kirkwood only survived long enough to see the upper garden planted, Erler said; that was completed in August 1996, and Kirkwood died in September. “It was the last garden that she ever donated in the United States,” Erler said.

The brains behind the beauty: According to Marketing Manager Amanda Gillen, Brenda Erler is the “expert on all things Kirkwood Gardens.” Erler has been at the Science Center since before the gardens were designed, and she leads a group of volunteers in maintaining the gardens.

Standout features: A 25- by 60-foot bluestone patio offers scenic views and a place to sit in the summer shade. The upper garden has a variety of ferns, hostas, azaleas, rhododendrons and other shade-loving plants, while the lower garden features sun-loving shrubs, trees and perennials, a sundial and a millstone fountain that attracts birds and butterflies.

Growing season: Erler said that each season she and a group of volunteers do the pruning and cleanup of winter debris as well as improvements and enhancements. “We keep kind of adding things to the fringes and [consider the] things we want to improve the looks of, [like] the exits, the entrances.” She said at the start of the season the volunteers do a walkaround to see how the plants are doing and whether any need to be replaced or moved, and they figure out which annuals to plant.

Your garden experience: “People will see plants that will work well in their yard,” Erler said, noting that the plants have been labeled and a kiosk has information for every plant, including their growing conditions, to help anyone who might want to bring something home for their own garden. “You can spend time learning about the plants or just sitting on one of the benches and enjoying it,” Erler said. “People use the garden in all different ways.” There’s also a list of birds and butterflies to help people ID them.

Erler said that while the bulbs are “going like mad right now,” the gardens always have something to offer.

“Sunny was just a master at designing things, and there’s always something in bloom,” she said. “It changes radically through the seasons.”

One of Erler’s favorites is Joe Pye weed, a native plant that grows in wetlands.

“Most of the year people just ignore it, but when it goes into bloom the butterflies absolutely lose their minds over it,” she said. “There are so many monarchs hanging on it.”

Details: Kirkwood Gardens is open to the public daily, and there is no cost to get in and no need for reservations. However, if you want to spend a day at the Squam Lakes Science Center, admission is $18 for adults and seniors and $13 for ages 3 to 15, and it includes the live animal exhibit trail and all hiking trails. Trail passes must be pre-purchased online before arriving at the Science Center. The live animal exhibit trail and hiking trails are open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. (last trail admission is 3:30 p.m.).

More public gardens
Here are a few other public gardens to check out. If you know of any more beautiful public spaces like these, let us know at [email protected].

Maple Hill Gardens
Beaver Brook Association, 117 Ridge Road, 465-7787, beaverbrook.org
The 13 theme gardens, wildflower trail and natural play area are open to the public daily. The gardens are maintained by volunteers, and garden tours and presentations are available.

Prescott Park
Marcy Street, Portsmouth, 610-7208, cityofportsmouth.com/prescottpark
The gardens at Prescott Park are free and open to the public. In 1975, 40 formal garden beds were created on the South Lawn of Prescott Park, designed to study which varieties of ornamental plants performed best in the seacoast environment. Now, the gardens continue to be planted and maintained by the city’s Parks & Greenery department, which IDs the plants and flowers for visitors.

Tarbin Gardens
321 Salisbury Road, Franklin, 934-3518, tarbingardens.com
Opening in June, Tarbin Gardens is a hand-built English landscape garden covering five acres, with all kinds of plants, plus greenhouses, ponds and wildlife. The cost of admission (cash only) is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and students, and $30 for families of two parents and two or more children. Hours are Wednesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Featured photo: Pollinator on Cosmos. Photo courtesy of Squam Lakes Natural Science Center.

Play Ball!

Baseball returns as the NH Fisher Cats take the field

Panoramic view of Northeast Delta Dental Stadium in Manchester, home of the New Hampshire Fisher Cats. Courtesy photo.

It has been more than 600 days since the New Hampshire Fisher Cats last played a home game at Manchester’s Northeast Delta Dental Stadium, in August 2019. On Tuesday, May 11, the minor-league Double A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays will hold its season opener for the 2021 season, ending the nearly two-year professional baseball drought in the Granite State.

“I can’t tell you how excited I am to be able to welcome fans back to the ballpark,” team president Mike Ramshaw said. “I’m sure it’s going to be an emotional day for a lot of people.”

The Fisher Cats’ front office team has been closely following guidance from the State and from Major League Baseball, implementing a number of safety measures ahead of this season. Here’s a look at what you can expect when you come to the ballpark, plus some other events and happenings the front office has in store for this season.

Safety first

Northeast Delta Dental Stadium will be operating at 50 percent capacity, meaning it will be capped at just around 3,000 fans per game. In an effort to maintain social distancing, tickets will only be sold in “pods,” limited to two, four, six, eight or 10 people, with at least six feet between pods. At least 12 feet also separates the first row of seats from each dugout and bullpen.

“We’re really encouraging digital ticketing this year, just to try to limit the interaction between our staff and the fans,” Ramshaw said. “We’ll have ticketing that can be emailed or texted to you, and then [our staff] can just scan it and you’ll be good to go.”

Fans will not be allowed to congregate during any pregame happenings such as team batting practice, nor will there be autograph signings this year. During game play, Ramshaw said, masks or face-coverings are required for everyone over 2 years old, even when seated, except for when actively eating or drinking. Seats not in use during games will be Velcro-secured.

The types and sizes of bags that fans are allowed to bring into the park will be limited, also in an effort to limit staff interaction. Only necessary items such as medical bags, diaper bags and small clutch purses of about four-and-a-half by six-and-a-half inches will be allowed.

All of the concessions on the concourse, which include everything from hot dogs and hamburgers to french fries, peanuts, popcorn and domestic beers, will be open during games. Team officials are encouraging credit and debit card use whenever possible.

Both team stores will also be open, but at limited capacity. Ramshaw said there will be continuous sanitation throughout the park, especially on the concourse and in other high-traffic areas. In the event of rain delays, fans will be encouraged to return to their cars for the duration of the storm to avoid large gatherings. The Planet Fitness children’s play area will be open, but the bounce house has been removed in favor of other games that can be easily sanitized, like a giant inflatable tic-tac-toe game with basketballs that will be set up.

Coming out swinging

Despite the new precautions in place, the Fisher Cats will still be holding many of its usual special events throughout the season, including fireworks and giveaways.

“It will be a little different experience from what the fan is used to … and we just ask for our fans’ understanding and patience as we go through Covid,” Ramshaw said. “Minor league baseball is always about the player and fan interaction … [and] we want to still be able to bring as much as possible during a pandemic.”

Both the first home game of the season on May 11 and the game on Saturday, May 22, against the Portland Sea Dogs, for example, will wrap up with a fireworks show courtesy of Atlas Fireworks. Several giveaways are also planned, like for a magnet schedule on May 11 and May 12, and for a youth shirsey from former Fisher Cats player (and current Blue Jays major leaguer) Vladimir Guerrero Jr. on May 16.

The Fisher Cats will honor local essential workers and first responders, during the games on May 13 and May 14, respectively. Saturday, May 15, is Game Show Night, when fans will be challenged with trivia questions, puzzles and more in styles of popular game shows like Family Feud, Jeopardy! and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? More upcoming promotions will be announced on a monthly basis as the season goes on.

Nashua Silver Knights
Where: Holman Stadium, 67 Amherst St., Nashua
When: Home opener is Thursday, May 27, at 6 p.m., against the Worcester Bravehearts (this game will also include a championship ring ceremony)
Cost: Single game tickets start at $8 (limited to groups of 10 people); concessions are priced per item. Season ticket rates are also available.
Visit: nashuasilverknights.com

Following a championship-winning 2020 season, the Nashua Silver Knights will aim to defend their title in 2021, holding their home opener on Thursday, May 27. They will face off against the Worcester Bravehearts at Holman Stadium in the Gate City.
The Silver Knights are one of eight teams of the Futures Collegiate Baseball League, a summer league gathering college baseball players from throughout the New England area. Although the start of the team’s 2020 season was delayed by about a month, front office general manager Cam Cook said the Silver Knights were able to play a shortened season that began on July 2.
For much of the 2020 season Holman Stadium was only filled at 25 percent capacity, or around 750 fans. This year, Cook said, it will likely be raised to 50 percent, pending final City approval. The home opener will feature a championship ring ceremony, while other promotions will include several fireworks nights on game days throughout June and July.

Schedule and league changes

In ways similar to those of Major League Baseball teams in 2020, the pandemic has impacted the Fisher Cats’ schedule as the team tries to limit the amount of out-of-state travel among players.

The team will host the Portland Sea Dogs, Double A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox, 18 times in 2021 — a record since the Fisher Cats’ first season in New Hampshire in 2004.

“I know many of our fans always enjoy seeing the future Red Sox play here, so that’s going to be a big perk,” Fisher Cats broadcasting and media relations manager Tyler Murray said. “[The Sea Dogs] are coming three different times, each for a six-game series.”

In fact, adjustments to the Minor League Baseball schedule have the Fisher Cats either at home or on the road for six-game series matchups throughout the entire season, from Tuesday through Sunday with Mondays always designated off days. Half of the team’s 120-game season will be played within New England, with the exception of a few trips to New York and Pennsylvania, and one trip to Bowie, Maryland, at the end of June.

Due to a reorganization of certain team classifications that begins in 2021, the Fisher Cats will be playing a new rival during their opening homestand — the Somerset Patriots, who were announced as the new Double A affiliate of the New York Yankees late last year.

Under Minor League Baseball’s new scheduling format, there will be no All Star Game or playoffs this year. The Fisher Cats will close out their 2021 season with a series at home against the Harrisburg Senators, Double A affiliate of the Washington Nationals, from Sept. 14 to Sept. 19.

Field of opportunity

Even though the Fisher Cats didn’t play a single game in 2020, the team’s front office stayed busy throughout the year, hosting all kinds of socially distanced events on the field.

“The staff … worked so hard to try to find ways that we could stay engaged in the community and still pull off some of the events that we could do in the absence of baseball,” Ramshaw said. “We didn’t actually find out that the baseball season was going to be canceled until closer to July. … So for us, we were just trying to figure out how we could do other things in the interim.”

Immediately turning out to be a success, he said, was hosting local high school and college graduation ceremonies on the field. As the summer and fall went on, the Fisher Cats office hosted everything from a food truck festival and “Dinner on the Diamond” events to socially distanced movie nights and an outdoor concert series in partnership with the Palace Theatre, as well as a cornhole tournament, a fashion show, and even a Shakespeare-esque performance from members of the Cue Zero Theatre Co.

“We’ve always thought about a lot of the things that we were able to do last year, but never really had the bandwidth or time to do them,” Ramshaw said. “I think people and companies are realizing that we’re not just a ballpark but we’re a venue … [and] when you spread everybody out socially distanced, the park looks empty with 1,000 people.”

In 2021, Ramshaw said, events are already being booked for dates when the team is on the road, including graduation ceremonies. There have also been conversations to bring back the outdoor concert series in the summer months.

“Hopefully as things start to change throughout the duration of the summer, we can try to get some more fans out to the ballpark,” he said. “I think the ultimate goal would be that we’re able to be at 100 percent capacity by the end of the year.”

Upcoming NH Fisher Cats team promotions
• Tuesday, May 11: Atlas Fireworks show
• Wednesday, May 12: Magnet schedule giveaway
• Thursday, May 13: Essential Workers Night
• Friday, May 14: First Responders Night
• Saturday, May 15: Game Show Night
• Sunday, May 16: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. youth shirsey giveaway

Category: Cover Stories

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