Category: Featured Content

You can still PYO

May freeze affected this year’s apple crops

Now is prime time for apple picking, but sadly this year’s crop is not the best ever. Due to the drop in temperature in May, many orchards suffered damage to their crops, with some being wiped out entirely. Fortunately some farms were able to make it through.

“We were very lucky our whole pick-your-own was not affected,” said Tim Bassett of Gould Hill Farm in Contoocook. “We have a pretty decent crop … so it does look like hopefully we will continue as a normal fall depending on what … Mother Nature does next.”

While the pick-your-own supply may be OK, the heirloom supply in the retail store won’t be as plentiful as it usually is, as these trees are at a lower elevation and consequently exposed to colder conditions than the pick-your-own varieties.

Circumstances were similar at Kimball Fruit Farm in Hollis.
“The apples that are there are looking pretty good, at least at our farm because we’re kind of on a hill,” said David Wadleigh, owner of the farm.

“The stuff that was a little more uphill wasn’t quite as affected as the stuff more downhill [because] the temperatures are usually a bit warmer at the top of the hill and cooler at the bottom.”

Photo courtesy of Gould Hill Farm.

At the time of the frost, Wadleigh said, apple trees on the farm were beginning to blossom, many having flowers and some already sprouting small cherry-sized apples. Some of these froze and rotted, while others were fortunate to skate by with only some russeting (rough brown spots on the outside). While there are measures to try to prevent such damage, they aren’t as feasible as for crops like berries and tomatoes, which can be covered with a protective barrier, according to Wadleigh.

“Strawberries are low on the ground, so we can just set up a couple of sprinklers in the field and it will cover the entire strawberry field … [and] we were putting a cover over [early tomatoes] to protect them,” he said. “I’m sure that would work for the apples too, but with the size of the trees it’s just not practical to do something like that.”

Fortunately for apples, they tend to be heartier than their berry counterparts, according to Wadleigh.

Aside from the frost, the weather since — including all the rain — has not been disadvantageous to the apples.

“[Rain] does help them grow a little larger in size on some varieties, so it hasn’t been detrimental,” Bassett said. “Our biggest problem so far has just been having customers come out because the weather hasn’t cooperated and given the nice-weather days that people enjoy being out there on the farm, so we’re hopeful that that will turn around and we’ll have some nice, sunny weather.”

Pick your own

Information comes from the orchards’ websites and social media. Most hours and events are weather permitting. Call in advance to make sure the orchard is open that day and to find out what varieties are currently available for pick-your-own.

Applecrest Farm Orchards (133 Exeter Road, Hampton Falls; applecrest.com) Daily, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. On weekends through the end of October look for harvest festivals, which run Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., weather permitting. There’s also a corn maze.

Appleview Orchard (1266 Upper City Road, Pittsfield; applevieworchard.com, 435-3553) PYO apples Saturday and Sunday, weather permitting. Hours at the country gift shop are Wednesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Brookdale Fruit Farm (41 Broad St., Hollis; brookdalefruitfarm.com, 465-2240) PYO apples Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Farm stand is open daily 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. The farm also features an ice cream stand and a corn maze.

Carter Hill Orchard (73 Carter Hill Road, Concord; carterhillapples.com, 225-2625) September hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. The country store is open during these hours with cider, baked goods, pumpkins and more.

Currier Orchards (9 Peaslee Road, Merrimack; currierorchards.com, 881-8864) Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The farm stand sells baked goods, farm-made jelly and other items.

DeMeritt Hill Farm (20 Orchard Way, Lee; demeritthillfarm.com, 868-2111) The farm stand is open weekdays 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and weekends 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Call to find out the pick-your-own status on any given day. The farm has weekend fests through the first weekend of October and then Haunted Overload and Enchanted Storybook Hayrides.

Gould Hill Farm (656 Gould Hill Road, Contoocook; gouldhillfarm.com) PYO apple hours are Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The farm store is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., featuring apples, ice cream and more. The Contoocook Cider Co., offering hard ciders, is open Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Hackleboro Orchards (61 Orchard Road, Canterbury; hackleboroorchard.com, 783-4248) Daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Look for hay rides, apple cider, apple cider doughnuts and more.

Hazelton Orchards (280 Derry Road, Chester; find them on Facebook, 235-3027) PYO is open, weather permitting, most Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, usually 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call or find them on Facebook to check the current status.

NH Kimball Fruit Farm (Route 122, on the Hollis and Pepperell, Mass., state line; kimball.farm, 978-433-9751) PYO is open Saturdays and Sundays, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Check out the Tuesday children’s programs.

Lavoie’s Farm (172 Nartoff Road, Hollis; lavoiesfarm.com, 882-0072) Daily from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. The farm’s stand sells fruits, veggies, baked goods and apple cider and you can also pick your own pumpkins. A corn maze is open daily. On the weekends find hay rides and a corn boil from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Lull Farm (65 Broad St., Hollis; livefreeandfarm.com, 465-7079) 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends and 7 a.m. to 6 pm. Monday through Friday. The Daily Haul fish market is on site on Saturdays (pre-order at thedailyhaul.com) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Mack’s Apples (230 Mammoth Road, Londonderry; macksapples.com,432-3456) PYO open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Station 3 on Pillsbury Road, next to the Londonderry United Methodist Church, according to the website. The corn maze is open Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Station 2 on Adams Road. Pears are also available for picking. The farm market is open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

McLeod Bros. Orchards (735 N. River Road, Milford; mcleodorchards.com, 432-3456) PYO hours are Monday through Friday, 1 to 5:30 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The farm stand features apples, pumpkins, jams, jellies, maple syrup and more.

Smith Orchard (184 Leavitt Road, Belmont; smithorchard.com, 387-8052) Daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Stone Mountain Farm (522 Laconia Road, Belmont; stonemtnfarm.com) Daily 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Sunnycrest Farm (59 High Range Road, Londonderry; sunnycrestfarmnh.com, 432-7753) Daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The farm also offers pick-your-own raspberries and flowers and the farm stand offers produce, baked goods and more.

Washburn’s Windy Hill Orchard (66 Mason Road, Greenville; washburnswindyhillorchard.com, 878-2101) Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Featured photo: courtesy of Gould Hill Farm.

Find your fall 5K

Races to get you running

By Delaney Beaudoin
listings@hippopress.com

If you aren’t and have never been a runner, or if you are but haven’t laced up your sneakers to go for a casual jog in a couple years, the thought of running a few blocks can be intimidating — never mind signing up for a 5K.

Courtesy of John McGarry, President of the Greater Derry Track Club.

So how do you learn to love something that seems easier to dread? According to John McGarry, president of the Greater Derry Track Club (GDTC), the secret to enjoying running isn’t a fancy new pair of running shoes or a watch that tracks your every step, but simply overcoming the fear of running itself.

“It’s similar to trying just about anything new. It’s just that fear, and it’s overcoming the fear of feeling or knowing or wondering if that’s something that you can do. Getting out of the door and just taking that first step is probably the hardest obstacle that someone can overcome by just having that commitment of “I’m going to go outside and I’m going to start,” he said.

“Running can be hard!” said Jeanine Sylvester, founder and senior manager of Runner’s Alley, which bills itself as “New Hampshire’s oldest running specialty store.”

“If you are not physically fit and start running you may find it very difficult. Beginner runners must be able to move past being uncomfortable and within a few weeks will find that they slowly begin to feel more and more comfortable. With the proper gear and training plan just about anyone will feel less intimidated about running within four to eight weeks,” Sylvester said.

One of the most common mistakes people make when first attempting to run is taking on too much at once. McGarry noted how training to run does not necessarily mean you have to start with running right off the bat.

“They can start by walking, so they can walk for 15 minutes three times a week and they can do that for a couple of weeks. Then during one of those 15-minute walks, maybe they just start jogging very slowly and seeing how that feels, doing that for a minute or two. Then the next week jogging a little, then a little further and just slowly but surely getting their body adjusted to that,” McGarry said.

Shoes

One of the best parts of running, according to both McGarry and Sylvester, is the minimal equipment required. The advice from both: Before you begin training, get yourself a good pair of running shoes.

“It doesn’t have to be an expensive pair, but a good pair is the best way for somebody not to get injured,” McGarry said.

Sylvester explained the reasoning behind the need for a good pair of shoes: “Running shoes, socks, and possibly inserts are your most important gear. Your foundation starts from the ground up. Investing in your feet and body at the beginning of your training will serve you well and ensure you succeed in achieving your training goals by avoiding unnecessary injury.”

Goals!

ust like with any other practice or hobby, one of the best ways to motivate yourself and get over the initial obstacle of starting is to work toward a goal. Most commonly, a good goal for beginner runners according to McGarry is a 5K race.

The K in 5K stands for kilometers. Translating to about 3.1 miles, 5Ks are community-oriented races usually held as fundraisers, events and holiday celebrations or for good causes. Although the concept of 5Ks may seem intimidating to non-runners, the atmosphere of most is very welcoming and non-judgmental, the experts say.

According to Sylvester, the 5K is ideal for beginner runners.

“The 5K distance is appealing because it’s an achievable distance for almost anyone in a relatively short amount of time,” she said.

One of the most widely known training programs in the world, Couch to 5K, espouses this very philosophy. McGarry, who spearheads the GDTC’s Couch to 5K program, explains the philosophy behind the program: “The reason why it has so much success is because it’s a methodical training program…. It’s an eight-week program that prepares people that are ‘couch potatoes’’ and helps them take one day at a time to help them train for a 5K.”

A gradual combination of walking with minor running sprinkled in eventually shifts to add more running, until trainers are able to complete 3.1 miles of running without stopping.

Couch to 5K training is available in almost every medium imaginable: books, podcasts, apps, online training, you name it. To McGarry, the most valuable part of the GDTC’s group program lies in its social structure.

“I’ve been directing for the last 10 years, I’ve talked to literally hundreds of people about what made them join and how their experience has been…. Generally what I found was that people really love the commitment level because we meet a couple of days a week and we’re following a set program. We take attendance to have people check in. So people know that we know that they’re coming and we know that they’re there. So just the commitment that somebody makes by joining a program like this is a great motivator,” McGarry said.

If a busy schedule doesn’t allow for the addition of another club or activity, or if you prefer the solidarity and strength that comes with running on your own, another way to bring commitment to your 5K training goal is to pick a run being held in honor of a good cause that is meaningful to you.

Sylvester noted that it is easy to find 5K races all year round.

“You can find out what 5Ks are in your community by going to your local running store, looking at websites of your local running stores, or Googling 5K road races near me. You should always consider where the money goes from a road race before you sign up. If making a difference in your community is important to you, try to choose road races that are put on by volunteers and give 100 percent of the race proceeds to a local nonprofit,” Sylvester said.

If you’re still on the fence about beginning your running journey, McGarry and Sylvester both agree on the almost indescribable benefits that come with consistently incorporating the exercise into your routine.

Couch to 5K 2018. Courtesy of John McGarry, President of the Greater Derry Track Club.

“You can do it anywhere and at any time of day, you can go whatever pace and distance you’d like, other than having the right shoes there is not a lot of equipment needed, there are no dues or membership fees, results are seen and felt in a rather short amount of time, you can run on roads, trails, beaches or anywhere your heart desires [and] enjoy the beautiful surroundings around you. In my opinion, the mental and physical health benefits of running and walking are so numerous everyone should include it in their overall fitness regime,” Sylvester said.

Upcoming Races

Know of a K — 5, 10 or otherwise — not mentioned here? Let us know at adiaz@hippopress.com.

Total Image Running Races

See totalimagerunning.com for more on these races and to register.

  • BACtober FEST 5K In Hanson Park in Bow, the 3rd annual BACtober FEST, supporting the youth sports Bow Athletic Club, will take place on Saturday, Sept 30, at 4 p.m. at Gosling Field. Following the race will be a block party at Gergler Field featuring barbecue, cornhole, music and a beer tent. Adult registration costs $40 and youth (12 and under) registration costs $30. A Gosling Gallop for kids will take place at Gosling Field at 3:30 p.m.; registration costs $10 for children 8 and under and includes access to the post-race event and a youth shirt.
  • Footrace for the Fallen starts in the rear of the Manchester Police Department (405 Valley St., Manchester) on Sunday, Oct. 1, at 10:15 a.m. This 5K honors fallen police officers, and proceeds benefit the Manchester Police Athletic League to help provide free programming that connects police officers and kids ages 5 to 18. Same-day registration begins in the Manchester Police Department parking lot at 8:30 am. Advance adult registration costs $35 and youth (17 and under) registration costs $25. Day-of adult registration costs $40 and youth (17 and under) registration costs $30. The after-party begins immediately following the race inside Gill Stadium and will feature food, beverages (21+ for alcohol) and awards.
  • Howl-O-Ween 5K takes place on Saturday, Oct. 21, at 10 a.m. at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium in Manchester. The Animal Rescue League of New Hampshire hosts this dog-friendly race, where participants are encouraged to run or walk and come dressed in costume. Adult registration costs $40, young adult (age 13 to 17) registration costs $30, and child (12 and under) registration costs $20. Dog registration is available for $5; paw-ticipants are given a bib and show up in the end results. Register online or at the venue starting at 8 a.m. on race day.
  • Round the Res’ Tower Hill 5-Miler takes place on Saturday, Oct. 28, at 9 a.m. at Tower Hill Pond in Auburn. Adult registration is $35, youth registration (13 and under) $30. Fundraising efforts will benefit the Manchester Water Works Youth Education program.
  • The 15th annual BAC and Bow Police Department Turkey Trot will be held on Thursday, Nov. 23 (Thanksgiving), at 8 a.m. at 55 Falcon Way, Bow. Advance registration is $35 for adults, $25 for youth, $15 for kids. Same-day registration increases price by $5.

Millennium Running

These races are run by Millennium Running. See millenniumrunning.com to register and for more information.

  • Happy Hour Hustle: The last remaining race in the five-part series will take place on Thursday, Sept. 28, at 6 p.m. at McIntyre Ski Area (50 Chalet Ct., Manchester). Registration costs $25 per person. Race-day bib pick-up will be available from 5 to 5:45 p.m. at the registration tent. A post-race hang will be held at The Hill Bar and Grille at the ski area. All proceeds from the race will benefit the NH Campaign for Legal Services.
  • JP Pest Services Oktoberfest 5K will be held on Saturday, Oct. 7, at 9 a.m. at the Backyard Brewery & Kitchen (1211 S. Mammoth Road, Manchester). Registration prices as follows: ages 21+ $35 in advance, $40 on race day (if available); individual youth (age 12 to 20) $25 in advance, $30 on race day; individual kids (11 and younger) $10 in advance or on race day. Same-day registration will be available at the Millennium Running Retail Store (138 Bedford Center Road, Bedford) on Friday, Oct. 6.
  • The Delta Dental New England Half Marathon will take place Sunday, Oct. 22, at 8 p.m. with a downhill course starting at Gould Hill Farm. Advance registration costs $105. See millenniumrunning.com/ne-half.
  • The Catholic Medical Center Manchester City Marathon will take place Sunday, Nov. 12, and feature marathon (26.1 miles), half marathon (13.1 miles), relay and 5K options, most with an 8:50 a.m. start time and a start/finish line in front of Veterans Park in Manchester. See millenniumrunning.com/marathon for details on relay teams and registration, which costs $30 (for 5K) through $200 (four-person marathon relay).
  • The Thanksgiving 5K sponsored by Dartmouth Health and the Fisher Cats will take place on Thursday, Nov. 23, at 9 a.m. at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium (1 Line Drive, Manchester). Prior to the race there will be a Lil’ Turkey Trot held at 8:30 a.m. Early bib pickup will be available at the Millennium Running Retail Store (138 Bedford Center Road, Bedford) the day prior to Thanksgiving (Wednesday) from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Pickup for friends/family members is permitted. Race-day registration and bib pickup will be available from 7:30 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. at the stadium. Registration costs $30 for adults (ages 12+) until Nov. 10 at 11:59 p.m., $35 from Nov. 11 to Nov. 23, $40 on race day (based on availability). All proceeds will benefit the New Hampshire Food Bank.
  • BASC Santa Claus Shuffle happens on Saturday, Dec. 2, at 3 p.m. on Elm Street in Manchester before the Manchester City Christmas Parade. The 3-mile out-and-back course starts and ends at Veterans Park and includes four “aid stations” featuring the four favorite Santa food groups: chocolate, cookies and milk, candy and maple, according to the website. The first 1,400 participants to sign up get a Santa suit to run in. Stonyfield Organic Lil’ Elf Runs (of 100 yards) start at 2:30 p.m. Registration costs $30 for adults (12+) in advance, $35 on race day; $25 for youth (12 to 20), $30 on race day, and $10 for kids (11 and younger) in advance or on race day.
  • Yule Light Up the Night on Sunday, Dec. 10, at 4:30 p.m. at the New Hampshire Speedway in Loudon. Run the 2.1-mile course through the “Gift of Lights” display. Registration costs $25 for adults (12+) in advance, $30 on the day; $15 for youth (4 to 11) in advance, $20 on the day, and $10 for kids (3 and younger).
  • Apple Therapy and Derry Sports & Rehab Millenium Mile happens on Monday, Jan. 1, 2024, at 2 p.m. Start off 2024 with a 1-mile downhill race. The first 1,250 participants will receive winter hats. Registration costs $20 for adults (12+) in advance, $25 on race day; $10 for youth (11 and under), $15 on race day.

More races

  • The Fifth Annual RSB Lakes Region for Parkinson’s 5K will take place on Saturday, Sept. 23, at 9 a.m. at The DownTown Gym (171 Fair St., Laconia). Regular registration (through Sept. 21) will be $25 for adults, $20 for kids 14 and under. Race-day registration is $30 for adults and $25 for youth. The race will raise funds for Rock Steady Boxing Lakes Region; find them on Facebook to register.
  • The North Conway Half Marathon and 5K will be held on Sunday, Sept. 24, at 9 a.m. at Schouler Park (White Mountain Highway, North Conway). Registration is $75 for the half marathon portion, $30 for the 5K portion. Net proceeds benefit the Gretchen B. Hatch Memorial Scholarship Fund, which supports college-bound students from the Mount Washington Valley. See events.elitefeats.com/23nconway.
  • The 10th Annual Seacoast Cancer 5K will take place on Sunday, Sept. 24, at 9 a.m. at the Mass General Cancer Center at the Wentworth-Douglass Portsmouth Outpatient Center (121 Corporate Drive, Suite 100, Pease Tradeport, Portsmouth). Registration is $35. The funds raised from this event underwrite the Supportive and Wellness Services at the Mass General Cancer Center at Wentworth-Douglass Hospital. See seacoastcancer5k.org.
  • The 18th Annual Kelly Mann Memorial 5K Run & 3K Walk will take place on Sunday, Oct. 1, at 9 a.m. at Mine Falls/Nashua High School South (36 Riverside St., Nashua). Day-of registration and sign-in opens at 7:30 a.m. The cost to register for adults is $25 and for youth (12 and under) is $12.50. Proceeds will directly supports Bridges in their mission to eliminate domestic and sexual violence from our communities and provide a safe and empowering environment for the survivors who access their services daily. See bridgesnh.org/kellymannmemorialrace.
  • The 5K for Shea, presented by the Shea Thomas Patno Memorial Fund, will take place Sunday, Oct. 1, at 9 a.m. Registration costs $30 for adults, $25 for students (children under 10 can participate for free). See runreg.com/5k-for-shea.
  • 15th Annual Apple Harvest Day 5K Road Race will be held on Saturday, Oct. 7, at 8:30 a.m. at 25 St. Thomas St. in Dover. Registration is $30 for adults age 21 and over, $20 for runners under the age of 21. After the race stick around for some North County Apple Cider. See: www.dovernh.org/apple-harvest-day-5k-road-race.
  • Halloween Howl Hustle for Housing will be held on Saturday, Oct. 28, at 9 a.m. at the Masonic Lodge (53 Iron Works Road, Concord). Registration is $30 in advance, $35 day-of. Proceeds will benefit Fellowship Housing Opportunities, a local nonprofit organization providing decent, safe, affordable housing for community members who live with mental illness. See fellowshiphousing.org.
  • The Hugs from Brett Trail Race is a “10kish” race to be held on Saturday, Nov. 4, at 10 a.m. See runreg.com/hugs-from-brett-trail-race.
  • Pope Memorial SPCA Frosty Paws 5K Fun Run will take place on Saturday, Nov. 18, at 9 a.m. at their Concord location (94 Silk Farm Road, Concord). Dogs are welcome but must have a current rabies vaccination and be on leash at all times. Registration costs $35 for adults and $25 for ages 14 to 17. Children under 14 are free. Proceeds benefit homeless pets and programs that prevent animal cruelty. See popememorialspca.org/frosty-paws-5k-run.
  • The 4-mile 25th annual Novemberfest Race for the Nashua Children’s Home will be Sunday, Nov. 19, at 11:33 a.m., starting near the Pine Street Extension entrance to Mine Falls Park in Nashua. Registration costs $25 plus fees. See gatecity.org.
  • The Rotary Club of Merrimack’s 5K Turkey Trot starts at 8 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 23 (Thanksgiving). See merrimackrotary.org.
  • The Dover Turkey Trot starts at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 23, and is described as a 5K race for runners and walkers of all ages and abilities, according to doverturkeytrot.com. The start and finish is at Garrison Elementary School in Dover (to raise money for the Garrison School PTA) and registration costs $25 in advance, $30 on the day for adults; $12 in advance, $15 on the day for fourth grade and under.
  • The Hampstead Turkey Trot, a 5K, starts Thursday, Nov. 23, at 8:30 a.m. at St. Anne’s Church (26 Emerson Ave. in Hampstead). Register by Nov. 1 to receive a T-shirt. Registration costs $23 for adults (18 to 61), $18 for seniors (62+) and for children (5 to 17). Registration on race day (from 7 to 8:10 a.m.) costs $28 for adults, $23 for seniors and children. See sites.google.com/site/recreationhampstead.
  • The 16th annual Gilford Youth Center Turkey Trot 5K Race and Family Walk will start at 9 a.m. (8:45 a.m. for walkers) on Thursday, Nov. 23, at the youth center (19 Potter Hill Road in Gilford). Registration costs $26 per person or $90 for a family of up to five people. See gilfordyouthcenter.com.
  • The 17th annual Lake Sunapee Turkey Trot, a 5K where costumes are encouraged and proceeds go to the recreation department, starts at 9 a.m. at the Sunapee Harbor gazebo with a 1K Chicken Run for kids starting at 8:15 a.m. and going down Lake Avenue. Registration costs $30 for ages 13 to 64, $15 for ages 65 and up and $10 for ages 12 and under (kids 12 and under running in the Chicken Run are free). See sunapeeturkeytrot.com. The event and a pre-registration event from 4 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 22, will feature a pie sale; pies are $10 each.
  • The 2023 Jingle Bell Run, a 5K where festive costume dress is encouraged, will be held Sunday, Dec. 3, at 8:30 a.m. at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium in Manchester. Registration costs $40 until Oct. 31, $45 after Nov. 1, $50 on the day for timed runners; $35 until Oct. 31, $40 after Nov. 1 and $45 on the day for untimed runners (both include shirt and jingle bells), according to events.arthritis.org.

Featured photo: Courtesy of John McGarry, President of the Greater Derry Track Club.

Celebrate diversity

Multicultural Festival will return to Concord

Celebrate the cultures that make New Hampshire special through food, music, dancing and art at the Concord Multicultural Festival on Sunday, Sept. 24, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Keach Park.

The free festival began in the mid 2000s when many refugees were coming to the capital, as Concord was a refugee resettlement city, according to festival director Jessica Livingston.

“It was created as a way to introduce the community to the new community members who were being settled here from other countries,” she said. “A group of community leaders … decided to create a festival that would help connect people.”

Courtesy photo.

The festival has expanded over the years. In the international flag parade that was added to the festival around six or seven years ago, 40 countries were represented at first; the number is now over 70

More than 70 vendors will be at the festival selling crafts like African baskets, jewelry, wood carvings, instruments, clothing and shoes, and running activities like face painting, coloring and painting kindness rocks.
The overall favorite, according to Livingston, is the food, with community members making Mexican staples like tamales and horchata, dishes from Afghanistan like pashto samosa, and restaurants like Maddy’s Food Hub, with African, Caribbean and Italian food and Batulo’s Kitchen.

“[Batulo’s] specialty is sambusa … but this year since she has her own restaurant she’s now going to branch out and do a little more,” Livingston said. “She’s [making] rice plates with veggies or chicken …, home-baked bread, yellow split pea soup … fried potatoes [and] mandazi, which is an African fried dough.”

After the flag parade and opening ceremony, there will be live performances throughout the whole festival, with Japanese drumming, Hawaiian hula dancing, Nepali and Hindi folk and classical music, Irish dancing performed by In the Field Irish Dancers, and a Brazilian carnival performance by SambaViva.

“Our mission is about creating a welcoming community for everybody who is here regardless of where you’re from or how long you’ve lived here,” Livingston said. “It’s about bringing people together over shared love for food, music and art and connecting as a community [to] get to know each other in a fun way.”

Featured photo: Courtesy photo.

Sculptures on the hill

Andres Institute of Art holds international sculpture symposium

Three artists from different parts of the world will have three weeks to craft a sculpture along the 12-mile trail of the Andres Institute of Art in Brookline for the annual Bridges and Connections Sculpture Symposium. There will be multiple events at the Institute throughout the artists’ residencies, including dinners with the artists and a closing ceremony on Sunday, Oct. 8, when attendees can view their sculptures.

The Andres Institute of Art was established by Paul Andres and John Weidman in 1998 and has been holding the symposium since 1999, according to Gail Bloom, the president of the Institute.

“This year we’ve added [events] because we’re celebrating the 25th anniversary,” she said. “We have the opening ceremony, there will be a meet and greet with the artists … a showcase … [and] during the course of the three weeks we’re going to have two dinners.”

There are currently 98 sculptures throughout the sculpture park. This year’s symposium artists who will be adding to the collection are Ivona Biocic Mandic, from Croatia; Renubala Kashyap Rajput, from India, and Finn Cossar, from Australia.

“I’ve always created things whether it be sculptures or playing around with bits of wood,” Cossar said. “I’ve always been drawn to certain materials like rocks or metal or copper.”

After high school Cossar studied screen and media to pursue a career in film. When the film industry shut down due to the pandemic, he used the time to focus on his passion.

“Since there was no work for film I thought why not have a crack at doing the sculptures, which is what I always wanted to do … [and] I’ve always loved doing,” he said.

During the pandemic, Cossar made two large works, including a stone and metal tensegrity sculpture, which he says were very well-received.

“Ever since then I’ve been trying to push myself and create better and better works,” he said. “I think I really found my feet over the last couple of years and I’ve become more confident making large works, entering them into festivals, being recognized by local councils and meeting new artists, so I think I really found something that resonates.”

While camping, Cossar was contacted by the directors of the Swell Sculpture Festival in Australia, who told him about the sculpture symposium at the Andres Institute of Art.

“Immediately I jumped in my car and drove down to the town, where I had internet, and quickly filled out my portfolio,” he said. “I think it was two days later I got a call from Natasha, who’s the creator of Swell, and she said, ‘Pack your bags, you’re going to America,’” he said.

For Cossar, an artist’s residency and America are both new experiences.

“I have no idea what to expect,” he said. “[When] putting yourself in a completely new creative biome [I think] something amazing will come of it. … When you get creative minds together and share their creativity and create something beautiful that lasts for lifetimes, I think that’s extremely special. I’m extremely appreciative and I’m very much looking forward to it.”

Bridges and Connections Sculpture Symposium at Andres Institute of Art

Symposium artist showcase
When: Saturday, Sept. 23, 3 p.m.
Where: Andres Institute of Art (106 Route 13, Brookline) Welcome Center
Cost: Free

Dinner with symposium artists
When: Friday, Sept. 29, 6 p.m. (doors open at 5:10 p.m.)
Where: Andres Institute of Art (106 Route 13, Brookline) Welcome Center
Cost: $38

Cedi’s Tasty Treats Food Truck and music by kNowhere Kids
When: Saturday, Sept. 30, 4 to 7 p.m.
Where: Andres Institute of Art (106 Route 13, Brookline). Music in the Welcome Center.

Panel discussion: Art in the public sphere
When: Saturday, Oct. 7, 3 p.m.
Where: Andres Institute of Art (106 Route 13, Brookline) Welcome Center
Cost: Free

Closing ceremony
When: Sunday, Oct. 8, 1 p.m.
Where: Andres Institute of Art (106 Route 13, Brookline)
Cost: Free.

Ghosts and glamor

A paranormal investigator with a twist

– Renee Merchant

Monique Toosoon of Goffstown is a paranormal investigator with a twist — she conducts her investigations in full drag. Monique talked about her interest in paranormal investigation, her YouTube series and her upcoming involvement with the New Hampshire Pagans Faire.

Tell us about what you do and what happens at your events.
I am the only ghost-hunting drag queen and I’m pretty sure I’m the only one in the whole world. … I’ve been an investigator for 20 years now and I also have been doing drag for about 20 years. Then, during Covid I decided, ‘Why the heck am I not doing these things together?’ So I started doing the combination of the two. … Drag is the highest form of energy, so it feeds every location we go to. … When I do a ghost-hunting tour, essentially I host the tour … and then we ghost-hunt as a group first … and we teach everyone how to use the tools. … and then we usually sleep in these locations and then … we wake up and discuss the night before, it’s kind of like an adult slumber party — with the addition of the ghosts. I think the biggest difference between doing it with a normal investigation crew and doing it with a drag queen is the entertainment value.

What interests you about paranormal investigation?
It’s always interested me to connect with the other side and hear the stories of the people who are trying to talk to us … and I’ve always had this interest in horror and from a young age I realized that … I have a tiny bit of a sensitivity to me. … Then as an adult … I started going to [haunted] locations and I realized that I could see things and experience things a little differently. … Since I was in my thirties I’ve tried to reconnect with this gift and grow it and use it more.

What inspired you to get into drag?
I grew up watching Elvira and I was really obsessed. I think Elvira is really the reason I became a drag queen. … It was really hard being a gay person in New Hampshire, to be honest. I grew up in … a very small town and I was bullied a lot. … I think when I started doing drag at 18, that’s when I really found my place. I made friends, I had people looking up to me and I think that’s really where the change came from. … I was finally no longer this person that was always getting beat up or made fun of and I was someone that people were accepting.

What inspired you to bring together drag and paranormal investigation?
I’ve been doing drag for like 20 years. … I used to be the hostess at the 313 [club] for probably like 15 years. I was there every single weekend hosting shows, and then when Covid came it just blasted all that away. All of us performers really lost our identities and we were only able to perform online. … so I was like, ‘You know what, why don’t we go ghost-hunting in drag? I don’t have to worry about Covid, I’m going into buildings [alone]’ … and then I did it and I was so insanely impressed by the results that now I won’t stop doing it.

Tell us about your YouTube series Check Out My Equipment.
I’m the ghost-hunting drag queen, but I’m also a nerd for electronics … so I’ve always been in love with the equipment side of paranormal investigation. … One thing I realized about equipment in the ghost-hunting field is it’s not very user-friendly. … So I was like, ‘I need to do an equipment series because I’ve got more personality than a lot of investigators out there.’

Tell us about what you’ll be doing at the New Hampshire Pagans Faire.
I will be doing a lecture and talking about my experiences in the paranormal field. I’m also going to be doing a live Check Out My Equipment class featuring a couple of my favorite pieces of equipment … and a live demonstration on how each piece works.

What’s next for you?
I’ll finally have a new standup special out this fall on Netflix. My plan is for it to be the first in a trilogy — three standard specials that also go together as a larger story. The show I’m touring with now will be part 2. … Then, in the spring, I’m hoping to do my first art show. That’ll be in L.A. It’ll be fine art — paintings — but they’ll all be jokes, like, each canvas is a one-liner without words.

More about Monique
See Monique at the New Hampshire Pagans Faire on Saturday, Sept. 23, at the Belknap County Fairgrounds (174 Mile Hill Road, Belmont). Visit facebook.com/NHPFAE for more info.
Monique will be featured on an episode of Dark Echoes on Amazon Prime later this year.
Find her on Instagram @moniquetoosoon and on YouTube @moniquetoosoon8472 and search “Monique Toosoon” on Facebook.

Featured photo: Monique Toosoon. Courtesy photo.

Revolutionary

Shinedown returns with concept album

With the title track from 2022’s Planet Zero album, Shinedown brought its record-breaking total of No. 1 Billboard Modern Rock hits to 19. Later they topped the pop charts for a second time with the power ballad “A Symptom of Being Human.”

Their current tour stops at Gilford’s BankNH Pavilion on Sept. 19. Fans can expect favorites like “45,” “Enemies” and “Second Chance” mixed in with selections from their latest disc, a dystopian concept album narrated by a Big Brother-sounding robot. Drummer and founding member Barry Kerch discussed a variety of topics in a recent phone interview. You’re heading out on the road with Papa Roach and Spirit Box.

What are you looking forward to about it?

Any time we get to tour with our friends in Papa Roach it’s a great thing. We’ve done many tours over the years, and I consider them brothers of ours. It makes us work hard for our money because they put on such a high-energy show as well, and it becomes that friendly competition.

Planet Zero is a concept album … how are you bringing that to the stage?

It’s a very intensive visual show with lots of pyro and fire and video to give the fans what they paid for; it costs a lot of money to go to a show, so we want to give fans a hell of a show…. We also know that fans are there to hear our catalog of songs. We have a lot to choose from and to make a cool set list that satisfies all those out there.

What catalog songs do you enjoy playing the most, and what gets the crowd excited?

That’s a funny question. After 20 years of doing this in Shinedown and 19 No. 1 singles, it’s always hard to pick those songs. I think for me personally it goes audience to audience, night by night. Some nights you play ‘45’ and you connect with that one person in the crowd … you can hear him when the guitar comes in. That’s the song for that night.

Do you guys still get excited when you go into the studio to make a new album?

The excitement now is having a little bit of wisdom under your belt. You’ve learned from being in the studio many different times [how] to be more effective and as a musician maybe try different things, and you understand how things work better…. It’s easier now to go, ‘I know what this song means,’ and to play for the song instead of the ego. Planet Zero is about the anxiety of a world gone wrong through a particular set of eyes.

Who do you expect would be most reached and impacted by its message?

I would hope the masses that are angry at the bitter divisiveness in our culture right now. It’s sad; it saddens us. It was [written] at the height of that, but it hasn’t gone away, and it’s kind of a warning, a 1984-esque type of thing. If we keep going this way, we’re just gonna fall apart. We’ve got to accept each other with our differences and not always get along but to at least be able to find our humanity again, which I see being lost, especially through social media.

Slave to the algorithm.

Right…. I hate it. Having a 12-year-old daughter makes it even harder.

I know Brent Smith wrote it, but can you comment on ‘America Burning’ from Planet Zero? He says ‘hope’ is not a four-letter word in one song but ‘woke’ definitely is in that one. Are you concerned about how some fans might react?

We talk about these things. When ‘America Burning’ was sent to me in demo form and I heard those lyrics come out for the first time, we immediately had a band phone call. Like, ‘are we doing this?’ Because if we are, we gotta go full bore and support it, but it’s pretty on the nose…. It was a difficult thing, but now it’s probably one of my favorite songs on the record, because it is so just in your face and forceful.

Did you have any idea when it all began that you’d be here today?

I hoped and I didn’t know. To still be here and relevant and still making creative music — I pinch myself daily. And to still enjoy it and still get along with the guys, we still all ride the same bus together, we still eat dinners together, we still laugh together. I really do cherish it even on those days when it is a grind. We don’t rest on our laurels; we don’t look back or congratulate ourselves. If we’re lucky enough to get 20 No. 1’s or we get an award for something we go, ‘Oh, that’s cool. What’s next?’

What was your life like when you started this thing in 2001?

I had almost given up…. My brother lives here in Jacksonville, he’s a radio guy [and he helped me find] a job cleaning lakes for the state of Florida, spraying them to kill the feral weeds without killing the wildlife. It paid a teacher’s salary, if that, but I got it because I had a little bit of a chemistry background from my degree, [which] was enough…. I moved up here and that was it…. I was going to get married. I’d played in a bunch of bands in Orlando, did small tours, but nothing ever happened. My brother, being a radio guy, said, ‘Hey, I got this demo of this kid, he’s here in Jacksonville looking for a drummer. You should go try out.’ That was Brent, before Shinedown. So I went, and the ‘45’ on the first record was actually my audition recording.

Shinedown w/ Papa Roach and Spiritbox
When: Tuesday, Sept. 19, 6:30 p.m.
Where: BankNH Pavilion, 72 Meadowbrook Lane, Gilford
Tickets: $25 and up at livenation.com

Featured photo: Shinedown. Photo by Sanjay Parikh.

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