Category: Cover Stories

Manchester’s Holiday Parade will have a sweet theme this year

By John Fladd
jfladd@hippopress.com

This year, Manchester’s annual Holiday Parade on Saturday, Dec. 6, will have a new route. According to a Nov. 3 press release from fire chief Peter Marr, “all parades moving forward … will start at Bridge Street and Elm Street continuing south on Elm Street and concluding at Elm Street and Central Street.” “This change improves security, traffic control, and allows for a stronger overall safety posture for events,” the release said.

For Sophia Koustas, chairperson of Manchester’s Parade Committee, this has an immediate practical impact: the need to dress in layers.

“We will be lining up on the [Notre Dame] bridge. and we want to make sure that everybody’s nice and warm,” she said. “I walked it on Veterans Day just to kind of see the route, and I had a windburn at the end of the day.”

Regardless of the weather, Koustas said the yearly parade is a tradition that showcases the pride Manchester has as a community.

“It’s an event that’s open to the [everyone] to participate,” she said. “Members of our community, businesses and organizations come together and bring the downtown area together. I live downtown, so being part of the parade gives me a different perspective of the sense of community that can exist here, and I really, really appreciate that.”

The Parade will be preceded by the Santa Claus Shuffle road race, where hundreds of participants will run a 3-mile course through downtown dressed in Santa suits, stopping to “enjoy samples from Santa’s four major food groups [cookies, maple, chocolate and candy] at four sweet stops along the route down Elm Street,” according to the event’s website. “Once the last runner from the Shuffle goes by the line, that’s when the parade gets started,” Koustas said.

The theme of this year’s Parade is “Candy Cane Lane.”

“That was not something that was just decided by a committee,” Koustas said. “We [the Parade Committee] shared about 10 different themes on social media for folks to vote on which theme they wanted, and Candy Cane Lane was the one that received the most votes. I know that there’s also another competition going on downtown with candy canes, and local businesses downtown will be decorating candy canes. So there will be competition with that also.” As always, Koustas said, this year’s parade will feature marching bands. “As of right now, we have the three [Manchester] high school bands joining us for sure. And I think we might have a couple more entries.”

Manchester’s traditional Grand Marshals for the Holiday Parade are Santa and Mrs. Claus, who will be on the final float in the parade.

“I’m looking forward to seeing people happy,” Koustas said. “We have been very fortunate that for all our participants that enter there’s a very positive spirit overall. It’s just nice to see people come together.”

Manchester Holiday Parade and Santa Claus Shuffle
Saturday, Dec. 6
Santa Claus Shuffle will take place at 3
p.m., preceded by Lil Elf Runs for children
at 2:30 p.m. Visit milleniumrunning.com/
santa.
The parade will begin at approximately 4
p.m. at the corner of Bridge and Elm streets
and will proceed south to Victory Park. Participants
and spectators are encouraged to
dress warmly

Featured Photo: Photo courtesy of Sophia Koustas.

Tree lightings, parades and other community celebrations of the season

Compiled by Amy Diaz
adiaz@hippopress.com

Cities, towns, farms and wineries offer all sorts of ways to celebrate the season.

• LaBelle Lights, the LaBelle Winery’s lighted outdoor display at its location at 14 Route 111 in Derry, is open through Sunday, Jan. 18, according to labellewinery.com. The walkable lights course is open most days through Jan. 4 (closed Mondays, Thanksgiving, Christmas and Christmas Eve) as well as Thursdays through Sundays for the first two full weeks of January. Santa Claus will make an appearance at the lights course on select days in December and there will be a LaBelle Winterfest on Friday, Jan. 2, according to the website, where you can purchase tickets for specific entry timeslots.

• Fully decorated artificial trees, often decorated on a theme, will be on display at Bektash Shriners’ annual Feztival of Trees at 189 Pembroke Road in Concord, according to bektashshriners.org. The display will be open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 25, through Saturday, Nov. 29, (closed Thanksgiving Day) and on Sunday, Nov. 30, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., after which raffle winners of the trees will come to pick them up, the website said. See the Bektash Shriners’ Facebook page for details on admission prices and more.

• The Gift of Lights display at NH Motor Speedway, 1122 Route 106 in Loudon, will open Thursday, Nov. 27, and operate daily through Sunday, Jan. 4, opening at 4:30 p.m. on most days, according to nhms.com, where you can purchase a ticket (one ticket per vehicle) for one visit or for unlimited seasonal visits. There will be theme nights throughout the season, including an opportunity to meet Santa, according to the website.

• The 6th Annual Festival of Trees to benefit Share Outreach, sharenh.org, will be open at First Congregational Church Parish House, 10 Union St. in Milford, Friday, Nov. 28, and Saturday, Nov. 29, at 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 30, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., according to facebook.com/festivaloftreesforSHARE, where you can find details on admission.

• The Plaistow Lions Club will hold its Festival of Trees Friday, Nov. 28, through Sunday, Nov. 30, at the Plaistow Fish & Game Club, 18 May Ray Ave. in Plaistow, according to plaistowfishandgame.com, where you can find a schedule of events including Santa visits and raffles of baskets and trees.

• Strawbery Banke, 14 Hancock St. in Portsmouth, strawberybanke.org, is celebrating Thanksgiving with “Harvest Celebrations: A History of Thanksgiving Guided Tours,” which conclude with times Friday, Nov. 28, through Sunday, Nov. 30, according to the website. “Travel through time and visit four historic houses to learn how this holiday has evolved. Discover how people celebrated Thanksgiving in 1777 at the William Pitt Tavern, experience the height of the Victorian period in 1870 at the Goodwin Mansion, share in the experience of a Jewish immigrant family learning about the American holiday in 1919 at the Shapiro House, and learn about Thanksgiving on the Homefront in 1943 at the Abbott House and Store,” according to the website, where you can purchase tickets. The Candlelight Stroll, with decorated homes and costumed roleplayers showing holiday traditions from 1795 through the 1950s, will run Fridays through Sundays before Christmas in December, with entry times at 4:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m., according to the website, where you can purchase tickets. There is also a Daylight Stroll on Sunday, Dec. 14, at 2 p.m., the website said.

• Concord will hold its annual Christmas Tree Lighting on Friday, Nov. 28, from 4 to 7 p.m. with vendors and events, an appearance by Santa and a gathering at Eagle Square garage to watch fireworks from the Everett Arena area,” according to facebook.com/ChristmasTreeLighting, the Facebook page for the event.

• Holly Jolly Journey, a holiday light show at Mel’s Funway Park, 454 Charles Bancroft Highway in Litchfield, opens Friday, Nov. 28, and runs most days through Sunday, Jan. 11, opening at 4:30 p.m., according to hollyjollyjourney.com. The attraction spans more than two-thirds of a mile and features different light displays, music, food and more, according to the website, where you can purchase tickets for specific entry times.

• The Southern New Hampshire Festival of Trees held in Sherburne Hall in the Municipal Building, 6 Village Green in Pelham, will run Friday, Nov. 28, from 5 to 9 p.m.; Saturday, Nov. 29, from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 30, from noon to 5 p.m.; Monday, Dec. 1, through Friday, Dec. 5, from 5 to 9 p.m., and Saturday, Dec. 6, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., according to snhfestivaloftrees.pelhamcommunityspirit.org, where you can find information on admission and raffle tickets. The event will feature appearances by Santa Claus, food for purchase, decorated trees and more, the website said.

• Amherst Parks & Recreation and the Amherst Conservation Commission invites “holiday elves, nature lovers, and trail trekkers” to Deck the Trails! starting on Saturday, Nov. 29, by picking a tree on the trails of the Joe English Reservation to decorate, according to amherstnh.myrec.com, where you can find all the rules and details.

• Enjoy Christmas with the Cows at Brookford Farm, 250 West Road in Canterbury, Saturdays and Sundays, Nov. 29-30, Dec. 6-7 and Dec. 13-14, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., featuring a German Christmas Market, DIY crafts, caroling with the cows, a bonfire, tractor rides, food for sale and more, according to brookfordfarm.com, where you can purchase tickets.

• A Very Derry Holiday will take place Saturday, Nov. 29, with Small Business Saturday happenings; the Nutfield Holiday Parade starting at 31 West Broadway at 1 p.m.; crafts and visits with Santa from 2 to 5 p.m. (must be in line for Santa by 3:30 p.m.) at Vets Hall; cocoa, carols and a tree lighting at 5 p.m. at Benon’s Lawn, and more, according to derrynh.gov.

• The Bedford Women’s Club will hold its Festival of Trees & Holiday Market on Friday, Dec. 5, from 4 to 7 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 6, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Fellowship Hall at the Bedford Presbyterian Church, according to bedfordwomensclub.org/festival-of-trees. The decorated trees will be raffled off and the event will include opportunities to meet Santa and shop the holiday market, the website said.

• Goffstown’s Main Street Program will celebrate Friday Night Under the Lights on Friday, Dec. 5, from 5 to 8 p.m. with a tree lighting, music, a live nativity, a visit from Santa and more, according to goffstownmainstreet.org/friday-night-lights.

• Fright Kingdom, 12 Simon St. in Nashua, will present Fright Before Xmas, described as “a horribly scary winter wonderland. You will encounter rabid reindeer, crazed carolers, cannibalistic elves and other merry mayhem-makers. Food vendors will be available,” according to frightkingdom.com. The attraction will run Fridays, Dec. 5 and Dec. 12, and Saturdays, Dec. 6 and Dec. 13, from 7 to 10 p.m., according to the website, where you can purchase tickets for specific entry times.

• Locations for this year’s self-guided Southern New Hampshire Tour of Lights will be announced Friday, Dec. 5, according to merrimackparksandrec.org, where Merrimack residents can register their decorative abodes through Dec. 3. Several towns are participating, the website said.

• The Amherst Tree Lighting on the Village Green will take place Friday, Dec. 5, at 6 p.m., according to the Souhegan Valley Chorus’ Facebook page.

• Christmas at the Crossing will take place at Crossing Life Church, 122 N. Lowell Road in Windham, on Friday, Dec. 5, and Saturday, Dec. 6, from 5 to 9 p.m., according to a post on the church’s Facebook page. Admission is free to the event, which will feature a Christmas market with food and vendor products available for purchase, a kid zone, wagon rides through holiday lights, bonfires, the appearance of St. Nicholas for photos and more, according to the post.

• The Millyard Museum, 200 Bedford St. in Manchester, will hold its Holiday Open House on Saturday, Dec. 6, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. featuring children’s holiday crafts, cookies and cider, old-fashioned board games, Santa from noon to 1 p.m., local historian and author Robert Perreault at 2 p.m., and more, according to manchesterhistoric.org/event/holiday-open-house.

• Christmas at Canterbury at the Canterbury Shaker Village will take place on Saturday, Dec. 6, from 1 to 6:30 p.m. and feature a Symphony New Hampshire holiday concert, holiday wreath making, village tours, Polar Express readings, festive hot drinks, ornament making, a village train display and more, according to a flyer from the village. Purchase tickets for a specific entrance time at shakers.org.

• Windham’s Tree Lighting Festivities on the Town Common will take place Saturday, Dec. 6, from 2:30 to 5 p.m., according to windhamnh.gov. The event will feature Santa arriving by fire truck and offering photo opportunities, a DJ, a bonfire, the tree lighting at 4:45 p.m. and more, the website said.

• Hooksett’s Light Up the Village will take place on Saturday, Dec. 6, from 4 to 8 p.m. at locations in center Hooksett, according to lightupthevillage.wordpress.com where you can find a list of participating locations. Activities include photos with Santa, storytime and more, the website said.

• Merrymaking on West Merrimack, described as “ free holiday festival celebrating the historic Amoskeag Millyard Housing district” in Manchester, will take place on Sunday, Dec. 7, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. “featuring live entertainment [from Upright Dogs], food & drinks, and local craft vendors,” according to merrymakingmht.com, where you can find a list of craft and food vendors.

• Merrimack Parks and Recreation will hold its annual Holiday Parade and Tree Lighting on Sunday, Dec. 7, at 3 p.m. featuring the theme “Home Alone Hijinks,” according to merrimackparksandrec.org.

• Raymond’s 10th Annual Festival of Trees will take place Thursday, Dec. 11, through Sunday, Dec. 14, featuring trees decorated by local businesses and organizations on display at New Life Church, 84 Nottingham Road in Raymond, that will be raffled off at the end of the event with proceeds going to buy Christmas gifts for local children in need, according to the event’s Facebook page. The display is open Thursday and Friday from 3 to 8 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., according to the page.

• Find a full day of events in Hollis during the Hollis Holiday Luminaria Stroll &

Town Band Concert 2025 on Saturday, Dec. 13, including a gingerbread house contest, a holiday craft fair, an open house at Hollis Historical Society’s “Always Ready Engine House” Museum, a Lit Tractor Parade with Santa Claus, the annual Hollis Town Band and Holiday Concert and Bake Sale and more, according to hollisluminaria.org, where you can find a complete schedule.

• Brookside Congregational Church, 2013 Elm St. in Manchester, will hold Christmas at Manning House on Saturday, Dec. 13, from 1 to 7 p.m., where guests can “find out what Christmas in Manchester was like a century ago” with the help of a living history interpreter playing Mary Manning, according to brooksidecc.org/christmas-at-the-manning-house, where you can purchase tickets to this 45-minute tour.

• The Hampstead Christmas Parade will be Sunday, Dec. 14, at 1 p.m., according to the event’s Facebook page. This year’s theme is “A Gingerbread Christmas,” the page said.

• Goffstown First Night: Rockin’ New Year’s Eve Celebration takes place on Wednesday, Dec. 31, from 5 to 9 p.m., according to goffstownmainstreet.org/goffstown-first-night, where you can check back for details of the event.

• New Year’s New London, a First Night event, will bring a mix of free and paid events (a button purchase will get you in to those) on Wednesday, Dec. 31, including a storytime, kids’ countdown, free skate with music and hot cocoa, a movie at 1:30 p.m. at Tracey Memorial Library, a 3×3 hockey tournament, musical performances, a DJ party and more, according to centerfortheartsnh.org/nynl2025, which explains where to purchase buttons.

Featured Photo: LaBelle Lights. Courtesy photo.

Concord holds nighttime Christmas block party

By John Fladd
jfladd@hippopress.com

According to Jessica Martin, the executive director of Intown Concord, Midnight Merriment is like a block party for downtown Concord.

“It’s really a shop-local event designed to promote the downtown,” she said. “The Main Street businesses stay open, many of them until midnight. There are a lot of fun promotions happening. Gibson’s Bookstore, for example, will have progressive discounts throughout the evening — the closer it gets to midnight, the more money you save.”

Martin said Intown Concord has worked to make Midnight Merriment welcoming to people of all ages and interests, regardless of the weather.

“We’ll have free hot chocolate while supplies last in Bicentennial Square,” she said. “We’ll also have free s’mores. There will be food trucks on Capital Street [and] a warming station in City Plaza, which is the area right in front of the Statehouse, where the tree will be. We have Santa at Arts Alley from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., so people can come down and take their pictures. He’ll be outside, in the courtyard, so people should dress warm. The Concord Arts Market will be in the Eagle Square atrium from 5 to 11 p.m.” This is an indoor space across Main Street from the Statehouse, she said.

As always, music will play a big role in Midnight Merriment, Martin said.

“DJ Nazzy will be with Santa, so that will be fun,” she said, “and we also have holiday music that will be piped in throughout the downtown so people can hear the holiday music as they’re going in and out of the stores. There will also be performances throughout the evening with carollers, and there will be a variety of different local singing groups.”

DJ Nazzy has been providing music for Midnight Merriment for more than 20 years. He said one of the secrets of choosing the right holiday music is to take cues from the people attending an event.

“It’s really knowing your crowd,” he said. “Let’s say you have a group of kids, you want to play music that is tailored to the kids, music that they’re going to enjoy. If it’s a bunch of adults, you want to play classic Christmas music that they grew up enjoying, music that they love. People love nostalgia. People love to relive the good old days of when they were young and they woke up Christmas morning and they experienced the Christmas magic. And I love creating that nostalgia.”

“You see people smiling if you’re playing Bing Crosby,” Nazzy continued. “That’s the type of multi-generational Christmas music that’s just passed down from generation to generation. Gene Autry, all those fun classic Christmas songs that grandparents love, parents love, kids, everybody. That’s why I’ve been doing this for so long, man. I love creating that vibe.”

Midnight Merriment
When: Friday, Dec. 5, beginning at 5 p.m.
Where: downtown Concord
More: Visit intownconcord.org and click
on the “Events” tab.

Featured Photo: Photo courtesy of Intown Concord.

Holiday theater with laughs and heart

Compiled by Amy Diaz
adiaz@hippopress.com

Get more merriment at these holiday-themed live performances.

• Elf The Musicalcontinues at the Seacoast Repertory Theatre, 125 Bow St. in Portsmouth, seacoastrep.org, with shows through Sunday, Dec. 21, with times most Wednesdays through Sundays.

• Nuncrackers: A Nunsense Christmas Musical will be on stage at Majestic Theatre, 880 Page St. in Manchester, majestictheatre.net, on Friday, Nov. 28, at 7 p.m.; Saturday, Nov. 29, at 2 and 7 p.m., and Sunday, Nov. 30, at 2 p.m.

• Ye Merry Gentlemen, a holiday comedy probably geared to grown-ups (see the website), continues at The Players’ Ring, 105 Marcy St. in Portsmouth, playersring.org, with shows on Friday, Nov. 28, at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, Nov. 29, at 2:30 and 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, Nov. 30, at 11:30 a.m. and 4 p.m.

• A New England Christmas presented by Pontine Theatre at Plains School, 1 Plains Ave. in Portsmouth, and featuring Christmas Back Home, A Speakin’ Ghost, fiddle music with Ellen Carlson and the New England Fiddle Ensemble and a post-performance party with homemade cookies, will run Friday, Nov. 28, through Sunday, Dec. 14, according to pontine.org, where you can see the times and purchase tickets.

• Christmas Murder Mystery Dinner Party will be held on Sunday, Nov. 30, at 6:30 p.m. at LaBelle Winery, 14 Route 111 in Derry, labellewinery.com, featuring professional actors and a three-course meal, the website said.

• Get a bit of reality TV on stage with Holidays with the Housewives, featuring Dolores Catania of Real Housewives of New Jersey and Sonja Morgan of Real Housewives of New York City, on Tuesday, Dec. 2, at 7:30 p.m. at the Palace Theatre, 80 Hanover St. in Manchester, according to palacetheatre.org.

• White Christmas, Irving Berlin’s musical, will be presented by the Ogunquit Playhouse at the Music Hall, 28 Chestnut St. in Portsmouth, Wednesday, Dec. 3, through Sunday, Dec. 21, according to themusichall.org, where you can see available showtimes and purchase tickets.

• The Manchester Community Theatre Players will present Tastes Like Christmas, written by Tom Anastasi and directed by Tajoura Davies, on Friday, Dec. 5, and Saturday, Dec. 6, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 7, at 2 p.m. at the MCTP Theatre at North End Montessori School, 698 Beech St. in Manchester. See manchestercommunitytheatre.com.

• The Best Christmas Pageant Ever will be presented by the Bedford Youth Performing Center performers in grades 1 to 6 on Friday, Dec. 5, at 7 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 6, at 1 p.m. at the Derryfield Repertory Theatre, 2108 River Road in Manchester, according to bypc.org, where you can purchase tickets.

• Storytellers: A Country Christmas with the Ayla Brown Band featuring a full band, Christmas classics, holiday stories and original songs at the Dana Center at Saint Anselm College, Manchester, on Friday, Dec. 5, at 7:30 p.m. p.m., according to tickets.anselm.edu.

• Break at Leg Legally, breakaleglegally.com, presents Two Tales for Christmas, a production of two one-act plays: Scrooge Has Left the Buildingand A Strange For Christmas, according to breakaleglegally.com. Catch the show at The Strand, 20 Third St. in Dover, thestranddover.com, on Fridays, Dec. 5 and Dec. 12, and Saturdays, Dec. 6 and Dec. 13, at 8 p.m. and Sundays, Dec. 7 and Dec 14, at 2 p.m.

• Concord Dance Academy presents “A Holiday Spectacular” on Saturday, Dec. 6, at 1 and 6 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 7, at 1 p.m. at the Concord City Auditorium, 2 Prince St. in Concord, according to theaudi.org/events.

• Songs for the Holidays will be presented by the NH School of Ballet at the Dana Center at Saint Anselm College, Manchester, on Sunday, Dec. 7, at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., according to tickets.anselm.edu.

• Safe Haven Ballet, safehavenballet.org, will present Charlie Brown Christmas on Sunday, Dec. 7, at 4 p.m. at the Capitol Center for the Arts, Chubb Theatre, 44 S. Main St. in Concord, ccanh.com. The “performance is set to both classical music & contemporary holiday music & includes narration so each audience member has a clear understanding of the story & can fully appreciate the artistry of the professional dancers,” according to the website.

• It’s a Wonderful Life, a musical production by the Majestic Theatre, 669-7469, majestictheatre.net, will be on stage on Friday, Dec. 12, at 7 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 13, at 2 and 7 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 14, at 2 p.m., at the Derry Opera House, 29 W Broadway in Derry.

• It’s A Wonderful Life Radio Show will be presented by Epping Community Theatre, eppingtheater.org, Friday, Dec. 12, through Sunday, Dec. 14, at Epping Playhouse, 38 Ladds Lane, Epping. Tickets cost $15 and up at tix.com.

• Frozen Jr.will be presented by the Peacock Players, 14 Court St. in Nashua, peacockplayers.org, on Friday, Dec. 12, at 7 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 13, at 2 and 7 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 14, at 2 p.m.

• Another Very Pittsfield Players Christmas will be presented by the Pittsfield Players, pittsfieldplayers.org, Friday, Dec. 12, through Sunday, Dec. 14, at Scenic Theater, 6 Depot St., Pittsfield. Tickets will be on sale soon at pittsfieldplayers.org.

• Granite State Dance Center presents “Holiday Spectacular” on Sunday, Dec. 14, at 2 p.m. at the Concord City Auditorium, 2 Prince St. in Concord, according to theaudi.org/events.

• Chanukah at the Palace, featuring “America’s Master Mentalist Jon Stetson, Comedy Ventriloquist Marc Rubben, and Musical Cantor Adi Ziv,” will take place Monday, Dec. 15, at 6:30 p.m. at the Palace Theatre, 80 Hanover St. in Manchester, according to palacetheatre.org.

• Jack and the Beanstalk: A Traditional English Panto will run Friday, Dec. 19, through Thursday, Jan. 1, at the Winnipesaukee Playhouse, 33 Footlight Circle in Meredith, according to winnipesaukeeplayhouse.org. “What’s a panto? It’s a musical filled with bright lights, big costumes, dynamic dancing, slapstick for the littles, innuendo for the adults, and a double entendre or two (or three),” the website said.

• Noel at LaBelle: Holiday Brunch & Dance Performance by NSquared will take place on Sunday, Dec. 21, at 11 a.m. at LaBelle Winery, 345 Route 101 in Amherst, labellewinery.com, the website said.

• Christmas Murder Mystery Dinner Party will be held on Sunday, Dec. 21, at 6:30 p.m. at LaBelle Winery, 345 Route 101 in Amherst, labellewinery.com, featuring professional actors and a three-course meal, the website said.

Featured Photo: Nuncrackers presented by the Majestic Theatre. Courtesy photo.

Find The Nutcracker and A Christmas Carol

Compiled by Amy Diaz
adiaz@hippopress.com

Fan of the classics? There are many opportunities to catch A Christmas Carol and The Nutcracker this season.

• A Christmas Carol with Gerald Dickens, a one-man show featuring the great-great-grandson of Charles Dickens and billed as Dickens’ farewell tour of the U.S., will be performed on Friday, Nov. 28, at 7 p.m. at the Nashua Center for the Arts, 201 Main St. in Nashua, nashuacenterforthearts.com.

• A Christmas Carolwill run Friday, Nov. 28, through Sunday, Dec. 28, at the Palace Theatre,80 Hanover St., Manchester, 668-5588, palacetheatre.org, with shows on Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m. plus Thursdays, Dec. 4-18, at 7:30 p.m.

• Methuen Ballet Ensemble’s The Nutcracker will be on stage at the Dana Center at Saint Anselm College, Manchester, on Saturday, Nov. 29, at noon and 4 p.m., according to tickets.anselm.edu.

• The Nutcracker will be presented by Safe Haven Ballet on Saturday, Nov. 29, at 4:30 p.m., at Colonial Theatre, 609 Main St., Laconia, coloniallaconia.com. See safehavenballet.org for more on the ballet company.

• Stranger Than Fiction improv comedy troupe will present What the Dickens, “an improvised Christmas Carol,” on Saturday, Nov. 29, at 6:30 p.m. at Kimball Jenkins, 266 N. Main St. in Concord, according to kimballjenkins.com, where you can purchase tickets for this recommended-for-adults-only event.

• A Christmas Carol will be presented by the Pinkerton Players at Stockbridge Theatre, 5 Pinkerton St. in Derry, stockbridgetheatre.showare.com, on Friday, Dec. 5, and Saturday, Dec. 6, at 7 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 7, at 2 p.m.

• A Christmas Carolwill be presented at The Players’ Ring, 105 Marcy St. in Portsmouth, playersring.org, Friday, Dec. 5, through Sunday, Dec. 28, with shows Thursdays through Sundays, as well as Monday, Dec. 22, and Tuesday, Dec. 23.

• The Nutcracker will be presented by Safe Haven Ballet on Saturday, Dec. 6, at 2 and 7 p.m. at the Capitol Center for the Arts, Chubb Theatre, 44 S. Main St. in Concord, ccanh.com.

• The Nutcracker will be presented by the Bedford Dance Center at the Dana Center at Saint Anselm College, Manchester, on Saturday, Dec. 6, at 6 p.m., according to tickets.anselm.edu.

• A Christmas Carol: The Musical Ghost Story presented by Powerhouse Theatre Collaborative of Laconia, powerhousenh.org, Thursday, Dec. 11, through Sunday, Dec. 14, at Colonial Theatre, 609 Main St., Laconia.

• The Nutcracker: Act II will be presented by St. Paul’s School Ballet Company in Memorial Hall at St. Paul’s School in Concord, sps.edu, on Friday, Dec. 12, and Saturday, Dec. 13, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 14, at 3 p.m. The event is free and open to the public and slated to last about an hour, according to an email from the school’s Arts Department. Doors open 30 minutes before showtime, teh email said. Guests are invited to bring toy donations (not to exceed $25 in value), the email said.

• A Christmas Carol will be presented by the Rochester Opera House, 31 Wakefield St. in Rochester, rochesteroperahouse.com, Friday, Dec. 12, through Tuesday, Dec. 23.

• Turning Pointe Center of Dance’s The Nutcrackerwill be on stage at the Concord City Auditorium, 2 Prince St. in Concord, on Saturday, Dec. 13, at 2 p.m., according to theaudi.org/events.

• The Nutcracker will be presented by Safe Haven Ballet on Saturday, Dec. 13, at 4:30 p.m. at the Nashua Center for the Arts, 201 Main St. in Nashua, nashuacenterforthearts.com.

• Fezziwig’s After Dark is described as “an evening of debauchery and mayhem at [the Fezziwigs] first annual adults only (21+) Christmas revel! Arrive at 6:30 for the pre-show hour to meet your hosts and take a selfie, grab a beverage, and socialize with your fellow guests. At 7:30 the Fezziwigs will introduce the Circuit Breakers for an improv performance, followed by an ugly Christmas sweater contest (wear one or bring it!) and then the main event of the evening, a 45-minute Christmas Carol parody cabaret performed by members of [Powerhouse Theatre Collaborative’s] A Christmas Carol cast,” according to the powerhousenh.org. The show is Saturday, Dec. 13, at Colonial Theatre, 609 Main St., Laconia, coloniallaconia.com.

• Southern New Hampshire Dance Theatre will present excerpts of The Nutcracker atThe Nutcracker Ballet Tea Party on Saturday, Dec. 13, at 10 a.m. at LaBelle Winery in Derry and Sunday, Dec. 14, at 10 a.m. at LaBelle Winery in Amherst, according to labellewinery.com.

• Dance Visions Network will present The Nutcracker Suite on Sunday, Dec. 14, at the Dana Center at Saint Anselm College in Manchester, at 12:30 and 5:30 p.m., according to a press release. See tickets.anselm.edu for tickets.

• What The Dickens, described as “improvised comedy, festive mayhem, and heartwarming surprises as Stranger Than Fiction reimagines Dickens’ timeless tale in ways Charles could never have imagined,” will be on stage at The Players’ Ring, 105 Marcy St. in Portsmouth, playersring.org, on Sunday, Dec. 14, at 6 p.m., according to the website.

• The Nutcracker 2025 will be presented by Ballet Misha at the Dana Center at Saint Anselm College, Manchester, on Saturday, Dec. 20, at 1 and 6 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 21, at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., according to tickets.anselm.edu.

• The Nutcrackerwill be presented by the Safe Haven Ballet on Saturday, Dec. 20, at 7 p.m. Tickets are at pinkertonacademy.org/stockbridge-theatre.

• The NH School of Ballet will present The Nutcracker on Sunday, Dec. 21, at 2 p.m. at the Concord City Auditorium, 2 Prince St. in Concord, according to theaudi.org/events.

Featured Photo: Gerald Dickens. Courtesy photo.