Category: Cover Stories

Symphonies, choruses and more holiday sounds

Compiled by Amy Diaz

adiaz@hippopress.com

Enjoy classical holiday music from symphonies, choral societies and more.

• The Trans Siberian Orchestra’s The Ghost of Christmas Eve, featuring the best of TSO and more, according to the website, will come to SNHU Arena, 555 Elm St. in Manchester, snhuarena.com, on Friday, Nov. 28, at 2:30 and 7:30 p.m.

• Handel’s Messiahwill be presented with professional soloists and a community chorus on Sunday, Nov. 30, at 6 p.m. at St. Paul’s Church, 21 Centre St. in Concord, according to a press release. An open rehearsal will be held Saturday, Nov. 29, at 10 a.m. See walkerlecture.org.

• A Granite State Ringers Holiday Handbell performance will take place Sunday, Nov. 30, at 2 p.m. at LaBelle Winery, 345 Route 101 in Amherst, labellewinery.com.

• Kimball Jenkins, 266 N. Main St. in Concord, kimballjenkins.com, will host Tinsel Tuesdays with “free performances offered in our Carriage House. Local artists and community organizations will delight audiences with festive and fun presentations,” according to the website, where you can see the full line-up of performers. The series will start on Dec. 2 and run to Dec. 16. The Dec. 2 slate includes The Avalyn Reed Trio (4 p.m.), CCMS Northern Lights Women’s Vocal Ensemble (5:15 p.m.) and Granite State Ringers at 7 p.m., the website said.

• The Vienna Boys Choir will present Christmas in Vienna at the Colonial Theatre, 609 Main St., Laconia, coloniallaconia.com, on Wednesday, Dec. 3, at 7:30 p.m.

• The Bach’s Lunch, a series of lectures and performances (which runs the first and second Thursdays of the month, October through May, from 12:10 to 1 p.m.) at Concord Community Music School, 23 Wall St. in Concord, will have a holiday theme in December: on Thursday, Dec. 4, it’s the Canterbury Singers 2025 Holiday Recital and Sing-Along “ We Sing Nowell” and on Thursday, Dec. 11, it’s Good People All: A Celtic Christmas (Liz & Dan Faiella), according to ccmusicschool.org.

• Jingle Brass, a performance by a brass quintet from Symphony NH, will take place Thursday, Dec. 4, at 7:30 p.m. at the Rex Theatre, 23 Amherst St. in Manchester, palacetheatre.org, and on Saturday, Dec. 6, at 3 p.m. at BNH Stage, 16 S. Main St. in Concord, ccanh.com.

• “Peace & Goodwill,” the New Hampshire Gay Men’s Chorus winter holiday concert, will travel to four venues this season. On Saturday, Dec. 6, at 7 p.m., catch the show at Christ the King Lutheran Church in Nashua. On Sunday, Dec. 7, at 3 p.m.. see the chorus at the BNH Stage, 16 S. Main St. in Concord. On Saturday, Dec. 13, at 7 p.m., the show will be at Stratham Community Church in Stratham. And the chorus will be on stage at The Rex Theatre, 23 Amherst St. in Manchester, on Sunday, Dec. 14, at 3 p.m. See nhgmc.com/tickets.

• The Rockingham Choral Society’s Winter Concert “Gloria” will be held on Saturday, Dec. 6, at 3 p.m. at Exeter High School and Sunday, Dec. 7, at 3 p.m. at Christ Church Episcopal in Exeter, according to rockinghamchoral.org.

• The Windham Community Bands Holiday Concert will take place Saturday, Dec. 6, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Windham High School featuring the Windham Concert Band and Windham Swing Band, according to a concert flyer. Admission is a $5 donation; children 12 and under get in free, the flyer said. See windhamcommunitybands.org.

• The Lakes Region Symphony Orchestra will present North Pole Playlist on Saturday, Dec. 6, at 7 p.m. at the Colonial Theatre, 609 Main St., Laconia, coloniallaconia.com.

• NH Philharmonic Orchestra will present Holiday Pops Concert: Brass & Strings on Sunday, Dec. 7, at 1 p.m. at LaBelle Winery 14 Route 111 in Derry, labellewinery.com.

• “Un-Silent Night,” described as “an epic holiday singalong” with Choir! Choir! Choir!, will take place Sunday, Dec. 7, at 2 p.m. at Rex Theatre, 23 Amherst St. in Manchester, according to palacetheatre.org. They will also be at Flying Monkey, 39 Main St. in Plymouth, flyingmonkeynh.com, on Saturday, Dec. 6, at 7:30 p.m.

• “Let the Season Sing” winter concert by the Nashua Choral Society under the direction of Dr. Brian Dukeshier will feature carols and Rutter’s “Gloria” on Sunday, Dec. 7, at 3 p.m. at the Immaculate Conception Church, 216 E. Dunstable Road in Nashua, according to an email from event organizers. Tickets cost $20 for adults, $10 for students and are free for children. See nashuachoralsociety.org.

• The Boston Pops Holiday Pops Concert with conductor Keith Lockhart comes to SNHU Arena, 555 Elm St. in Manchester, snhuarena.com, on Sunday, Dec. 7, at 6 p.m.

• The Manchester Community Music School, 2291 Elm St. in Manchester, will hold its Holiday Pops 2025 concert on Friday, Dec. 12, at 7 p.m., according to mcmusicschool.org.

• The Souhegan Valley Chorus will hold its Holiday Concert on Saturday, Dec. 13, at 4 p.m. at First Congregational Church of Milford, 10 Union St. in Milford. See souheganvalleychorus.org.

• Amare Cantare, the Seacoast chamber chorus, will perform its winter concert series “While All Things Were in Quiet Silence” on Friday, Dec. 12, at 7:30 p.m. at Christ Church, 43 Pine St. in Exeter; on Sunday, Dec. 14, at 3 p.m. at Dover City Hall, 288 Central Ave. in Dover, and on Wednesday, Dec. 17, at 7:30 p.m. at Middle Street Baptist Church, 18 Court St. in Portsmouth, according to a press release. See amarecantare.org, where you can purchase tickets, which will also be for sale at the door.

• Catch Symphony NH’s Holiday Pops concert on Saturday, Dec. 13, at 7:30 p.m. at Keefe Center for the Arts, 117 Elm St. in Nashua, according to symphonynh.org.

• The Manchester Choral Society presents Duke Ellington Sacred Concert and Holiday Pops with Big Band on Saturday, Dec. 13, at 7 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 14, at 3 p.m. at Manchester Memorial High School, 1 Crusader Way in Manchester, mcsnh.org.

• New Horizons Band of the Lakes Region will present Hometown Holiday Concert, “a joyful evening of holiday music and good cheer! … they’ll fill the season with festive sounds — from beloved traditional carols to lively holiday pop favorites — and even a fun audience sing-along,” according to coloniallaconia.com. The show will be Tuesday, Dec. 16, at 7 p.m. at the Colonial Theatre, 609 Main St. in Laconia.

• The Purple Finches Youth Chorus at Concord Community Music School, 23 Wall St. in Concord, will hold a winter concert on Monday, Dec. 15, at 6:30, according to ccmusicschool.org. The event is free and open to the public, with donations appreciated, the website said.

• The Strafford Wind Symphony Holiday Show will take place Tuesday, Dec. 16, at 7 p.m. at the Rochester Opera House, 31 Wakefield St. in Rochester, rochesteroperahouse.com.

• The Faculty Performance Series show on Thursday, Dec. 18, at 7 p.m. at the Manchester Community Music School, 2291 Elm St. in Manchester, will be “Welcome Winter,” according to mcmusicschool.org, where you can register in advance to attend this free concert.

• Candlelight: Christmas Classics will be on stage at The Rex Theatre, 23 Amherst St. in Manchester, on Thursday, Dec. 18, at 8:30 p.m., according to palacetheatre.org.

• Canadian Brass “Making Spirits Bright” will be at the Nashua Center for the Arts, 201 Main St. in Nashua, nashuacenterforthearts.com, on Friday, Dec. 19, at 7:30 p.m.

• The New Hampshire Philharmonic Orchestra will present Holiday Pops with singalong and Special Jolly Guest on Saturday, Dec. 20, and Sunday, Dec. 21, at 2 p.m. at Seifert Performing Arts Center, 44 Germonty Drive in Salem, according to nhphil.org.

• Christmas at First, a concert at The First Church, 1 Concord St. in Nashua, tfcucc.org, will take place Sunday, Dec. 21, at 9 and 11 a.m. and feature the Chancel Choir, Muddy Brook Chamber Players, soprano Janet Poisson, mezzo soprano Nicola Plummer, tenor Andrew Sokol, bass-baritone Mark Andrew Cleveland and conductor Joseph R. Oldefirowicz, according to the website.

• The Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra will present a Family Holiday Pops program on Sunday, Dec. 21, at 3 p.m. at Portsmouth High School, 50 Andrew Jarvis Drive in Portsmouth, according to portsmouthsymphony.org.

Featured Photo: Applause for Keith Lockhart, the Boston Pops and the Tanglewood Festival Chorus after “The Twelve Days of Christmas.” Photo by Hilary Scott from bso.org/pops.

Holiday fun for kids

Compiled by Amy Diaz
adiaz@hippopress.com

Here are some holiday events built especially for kids and families.

• Santa’s Wonderland at Bass Pro Shops, 2 Commerce Drive in Hooksett, will run through Tuesday, Dec. 24, according to basspro.com/b/santas-wonderland, where you can reserve a spot to visit with Santa.

• Charmingfare Farm, 774 High St. in Candia, is hosting several holiday season events. Santa’s Holiday Open House kicks off the season on Friday, Nov. 28, with a horse-drawn ride, a visit with Santa Claus, a visit with farm animals and more, according to visitthefarm.com. On Friday, Nov. 28, and Saturday, Nov. 29, in the morning and early afternoon, it’s the Christmas Tree Spree, where packages can include a Christmas tree as well as a visit with farm animals and a horse-drawn wagon ride, according to visitthefarm.com. Santa’s Christmas will run Saturday, Nov. 29, and Sunday, Nov. 30, as well as Fridays through Sundays before Christmas in December and Tuesday, Dec. 24, the website said. This event will feature “The North Pole,” including Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus with cookies, Santa’s reindeer and more as well as visits with farm animals, a horse-drawn ride, camp fires, and more, the website said. After Christmas, check out Encore of the Light featuring a horse-drawn ride through the lights display as well as costumed characters, a campfire, a visit to the barnyard and more, the website said. See visitthefarm.com for entry times for the events and to purchase admissions.

• Kimball Jenkins, 266 N. Main St. in Concord, will host a Sugar Plum Fairy Tea on Sunday, Nov. 30, with seating at the 3:30 p.m. session, according to kimballjenkins.com, where you can purchase tickets for this event featuring eats, tea and hot chocolate; children’s crafts and a short performance by the Sugar Plum Fairy.

• Visit with Santa at Kimball Jenkins, 266 N. Main St. in Concord, on Tuesday, Dec. 2, from 5 to 7 p.m. and Friday, Dec. 12, from 6 to 7:30 p.m., according to kimballjenkins.com. Bring a camera to take photos, the website said.

• The YMCA of Downtown Manchester, 30 Mechanic St. in Manchester, will host Brunch with Frosty on Saturday, Dec. 6, at 10 a.m. featuring pancakes, photos with Frosty, games and more, according to graniteymca.org, which said the event is free and open to the public.

• The Chester Public Library Foundation will hold Christmas in Whoville on Saturday, Dec. 6, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the library featuring holiday raffles, crafts for kids, a box of cookies for purchase, photos with the Grinch ($5 to bring home with proceeds going to the Foundation) and more, according to a post on the library’s Facebook page.

• Mr. Aaron’s Holiday Bash — “Mr. Aaron is bringing song, dance, and holiday cheer to the BNH Stage with Mr Aaron’s Holiday Bash!!! Come donned in your best holiday apparel (striped socks! string light necklaces!! ugly sweaters!!!)” — will come to the BNH Stage, 16 S. Main St. in Concord, on Saturday, Dec. 6, at 11 a.m., according to ccanh.com.

• The Millyard Museum, 200 Bedford St. in Manchester, will hold A Feast for the Holidays American Girl Tea Party on Saturday, Dec. 6, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. with foods and crafts from American Girl Dolls, according to manchesterhistoric.org/event/christmas-tea-2025, where you can purchase tickets.

• New Boston will hold its annual S’mores with Santa event on Saturday, Dec. 6, from 4 to 6 p.m. (rain date is Sunday, Dec. 7) at the Town Common & Gazebo, 5 Meetinghouse Road in New Boston. The event will feature “caroling by the New Boston Community Church, and New Boston Recreation and Recreation Commission will be providing hot cocoa, s’mores supplies, fires to roast,” and kids can visit with Santa, according to New Boston Recreation. See newbostonnh.gov/recreation for updates.

• The Friends of Griffin Free Library in Auburn will present a Santa Breakfast on Sunday, Dec. 7, from 8 to 11 a.m. at the Auburn Village School Cafeteria, 11 Eaton Hill Road in Auburn, according to an event organizer. Santa will arrive by fire truck by 8:45 a.m. and the morning will include a breakfast of pancakes, scrambled eggs, sausage, home fries, doughnuts and beverages; photo opportunities with Santa; holiday music; raffles and more, the email said. Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for kids up to grade 8 and free for kids under age 3 with cash, check and credit card accepted, according to the email. Contact secretary@friendsofgriffinfree.org for additional information.

• The Bedford Event Center, 379 River Road in Bedford, will host Breakfast with Santa on Sunday, Dec. 7, at 9 a.m. featuring a breakfast buffet, kids’ crafts, photo opportunities and more, according to bedfordeventcenter.com/public-events, where you can purchase tickets to the event.

• Children’s Museum of New Hampshire, 6 Washington St. in Dover, will hold its Jingle Bell Extravaganza on Sundays, Dec. 7 and Dec. 14, with time blocks of 1 to 2:45 p.m. and 3:15 to 5 p.m., according to childrens-museum.org, where you can buy admission to the event (pre-registration required). Kids can meet Santa, do a holiday craft, play in the museum and more, the website said.

• Joppa Hill Educational Farm, 174 Joppa Hill Road in Bedford, will hold The Fa-La-La Festival on Sunday, Dec. 7, from 2 to 4 p.m. featuring Santa in the tractor, a storybook path, holiday treats, caroling with Miss Alli and more, according to jhef.org, where you can purchase tickets.

• Kimball Jenkins, 266 N. Main St. in Concord, will host a Mr. Aaron Concert on Friday, Dec. 12, at 5 p.m. in the Carriage House, according to kimballjenkins.com.

• The YMCA of Greater Londonderry, 206 Rockingham Road in Londonderry, will host The Great Candy Cane Hunt on Friday, Dec. 12, from 6 to 8 p.m., according to graniteymca.org, where you can register and pay for the event. The YMCA’s Teen Leaders will hide candy canes all around the facility and kids, in groups divided by age, will search for them with candy cane bags they decorate, the website said.

• The Milford Recreation Department will hold a Breakfast with Santa featuring pancakes and sausage on Saturday, Dec. 13, from 8:30 to 10 a.m. at the Town Hall Auditorium, according to milfordnh.recdesk.com, where you can register and pay for limited seating.

• The Addiction Recovery Coalition of New Hampshire will hold a family-friendly Photos with Santa event on Saturday, Dec. 13, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 180 Elm St. in Milford, according to a press release. Carmen Hazelton Photography will take photos with kids, families and non-aggressive pets with a minimum donation of $10 for a digital photo, the release said.

• On Saturday, Dec. 13, at 11 a.m. the Aviation Museum of NH, 27 Navigator Road in Londonderry, will receive a visit from Santa Claus via helicopter, according to aviationmuseumofnh.org. Families wanting to watch Santa land should be at the museum by 10:45 a.m., the website said. Kids can meet with Santa at this free event until he departs at 1 p.m., the website said.

• Santa Live 2025 at the Londonderry Access TV, 281 Mammoth Road in Londonderry, will be held on Saturday, Dec. 13, from 1 to 3 p.m., according to the station’s Facebook page. Kids can meet with Santa and Mrs. Claus on TV while parents take photos, the post said. RSVP to Erin at 432-1147 or email erowe@londonderrynh.gov.

• It’s Astronaut Santa Day at the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center in Concord on Sunday, Dec. 14, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. when kids can visit with Astronaut Santa and explore the museum, according to starhop.com, where you can purchase admission for the museum only or for the museum and a planetarium show.

• Not quite a holiday event but it has become a tradition to get a visit from the Harlem Globetrotters post-Christmas; this year catch them Sunday, Dec. 28, at 2 or 7 p.m. at the SNHU Arena, 555 Elm St. in Manchester, snhuarena.com.

• Keep the wintery fun going with Disney on Ice presents Frozen and Encanto with shows Thursday, Jan. 8, through Sunday, Jan. 11, at the SNHU Arena, 555 Elm St. in Manchester, snhuarena.com.

Featured Photo: Courtesy photo.

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.