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Checking in with farmers markets

By Delaney Beaudoin

food@hippopress.com

There are few traditions upheld in the modern day that truly run back to the roots of civilization. The rise of technology in just the past few decades has virtually transformed life past a point of recognition for generations past. But one cornerstone of community has remained throughout: the farmers market.

Being one of the few business models that not only survived the pandemic, but thrived, farmers markets were one of the few opportunities to venture out of the house during lockdown. Taking place outside, with limited required contact, New Hampshire farmers markets saw a record high number of attendees and vendors. According to Richard Stadnick, president of the Bedford Farmers’ Market and owner of Pup’s Cider Co. of the Houndstooth Brewing Co., “When Covid came along, everybody’s sales went through the roof. Farmers markets are viewed as a great way of getting outdoors and supporting local merchants, etc. Everybody’s numbers just skyrocketed. … A lot of people were home and they were looking for side gigs and they were looking for other ways to make money. Lots of vendors came into the market and we probably had more vendors than we had markets to sustain them.”

Although the transition to comply with Covid guidelines wasn’t completely seamless, Stadnick explained that the changes to the overall function of most markets were minimal. Indoor markets were hit the hardest, either having to relocate to an outdoor location or shutting down. Markets which had typically operated outdoors simply implemented masks and social distancing policies. One noticeable change was in the procedures surrounding payment. As contact-free became the norm, more vendors utilized technology for payment, beginning to accept Venmo or card, instead of cash. Stadnick noted, however, that about half of vendors still continue to accept cash only.

“The credit cards were accelerated a little bit by Covid, but not dramatically, I think no more so than the societal in, as younger consumers have entered the market, they’re less likely to carry cash,” he said.

Now three years after summer 2020 Covid-19, according to Wayne Hall, the president of the Concord Farmers’ Market, interest in the markets has sustained.

“There was definitely an increase in business, but we really didn’t see much of a slowdown…. The more interest gathered, the more people come, and it’s just kind of a snowball effect, which is a wonderful thing,” Hall said.

Tom Mitchell, owner of Ledge Top Farm in Wilton, founded the Milford Farmers’ Market alongside Tim O’Connell back in 1978 and has been selling at farmers markets ever since. Mitchell noted that the change in attendance numbers didn’t so much seem to be due to Covid.

“I mean, I’m not so sure really if it is significant in my particular case as to whether or not Covid made a big difference. The sales were still pretty good. They’re actually less now. There may be totally different reasons and so on. I don’t know, maybe there’s more competition and people are getting tired of farmers markets. I think one of the things that hurts farmers markets is there’s so many of them, almost every town has a farmers market,” Mitchell said.

Stadnick pointed out the different experiences among the markets.

“In some cases, they [attendance numbers] declined after Covid waned. But in other cases they didn’t. We had established a new set of customers and people wanted to come out and support. They discovered this was a great venue. Instead of just going to Trader Joe’s or Whole Foods or something, they could get great produce and great products at the farmers market. So there’s not a consistent pattern,” he said.

street lined by multi story buildings and trees, vendors under tents on sides of streets, pedestrians walking down middle
Concord Farmers Market. Photo courtesy of Nancy Flowers-Mangs.

Stadnick mentioned another interesting shift in the market schedules, not necessarily attributed to Covid, but rather to the changing landscape of producers and the desires of consumers.

“In some cases, in many cases, they’re doing some greenhouse gardening as well. So they’re getting an earlier start. They can offer cherry tomatoes at the end of May. They’ll offer full-size tomatoes by the middle to the latter part of June. You end up seeing that they’ve got produce available earlier. So the markets are shifting. Even the outdoor markets are starting to shift into May,” he said.

Although sickness may not be the daily barrier it once was, a new stressor has taken its place now — rising prices. How have farmers markets fitted into the budget of New Hampshire locals conscious of pricing?

“If you’re in a financial bind, stretching your food dollar as far as you can, the farmers market isn’t necessarily a good place to do that,” Stadnick said. “Strawberries are a great example. Strawberry season is just now over. A few weeks ago, typical prices for a quart of strawberries at the farmers markets was about $10. Now, you can go to Shaw’s or Market Basket and get those same strawberries for about $4. It’s not the same strawberries, they’re not locally grown or they’ve got a lot of food miles on them and everything else…. Farming is not a particularly cost-effective venture. It’s a labor of love as much as anything else.”

Mitchell, who has been selling at markets for 45 years, noted that the prices have always been reflective of the amount of work that goes into local farming.

“We’ve tried to keep our prices fairly consistent over the years. I have increased a few of them here and there, and if we have a new product we price it a little higher. But farmers markets aren’t necessarily, in my estimation, places to go for a real bargain…. We’re all about quality and we try to give people the best possible quality that we can have. But we have to keep the price point high enough that we can actually keep the whole farm going,” he said.

For Hall, the farmers market is a place for shoppers to invest in the quality and freshness of their food.

“They are looking for a reasonable price but they want the quality, the freshness. The value to them is being able to say, ‘Hey, how did you grow those tomatoes?’” Hall said.

Even more, to Hall, the value of the market lies beyond just your weekly grocery shop. It is a place to directly invest in your local community.

“All your markets are going to be fantastic. You’re going to get some of the best products, you’re going to get local, you’re going to get fresh. It’s a good reason to get out. It’s a good event to socialize with your townspeople,” he said.

“I think the interest actually started before Covid. People definitely want to know where their food is coming from and they want to meet the farmers. They’re looking for a small, more personal touch to their farms…. The reason most of the farmers come to market is because of the patrons, because we enjoy engaging with the people,” Hall continued. “I was very proud to hear that it seemed to be the place to be on Saturday morning — at the farmers market,” he said.

Find a farmers market

Here are some of the area markets. If you know of a great local farmers market not listed here, let us know at food@hippopress.com.

Tuesday

• Bedford Farmers Market at Murphy’s Taproom, 323 Route 101, Bedford, on Tuesdays from 3 to 6 p.m. through Oct. 17. Market features flowers, maple, conventional produce, fish, jams, wine, fruits, baked goods, eggs, jellies, specialty foods, etc. See bedfordnhfarmersmarket.org.

Wednesday

• Canterbury Community Farmers Market at 9 Center Road on Wednesdays from 4 to 6:30 p.m. through September, rain or shine. Find vendors selling fresh produce, eggs, baked goods, cheese, milk, maple products, potted plants, meats, seafood, jams, cut flowers, herbs, crafts, etc. See canterburyfarmersmarket.com.

• Derry Homegrown Farm & Artisan Market next to Derry Feed and Supply at 1 West Broadway, Wednesdays from 3 to 7 p.m. through September. Choose from fresh produce, flowers/plants, dairy, maple, baked goods, meat, wine, ice cream, gluten-free items, jams/jellies, body care products, crafts. Events include live music and art demonstrations. See derryhomegrown.org.

• Kingston Seacoast Growers Association Across from the Kingston fire station at the intersection of Church and Main streets on Wednesdays from 2:15 to 6 p.m, through October, rain or shine. Enjoy baked goods, meat, eggs, fresh vegetables, fruits, plants, flowers. See SeacoastGrowers.org.

• Lee Cooperative Farmers Market at the Little River Park on the fourth Wednesday of every month from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. through September. Shop vegetables, fruits, bakery, lamb, pork, beef, elk, flowers, cheese, honey, syrup, canola oil, plants, crafts, soaps, fudge, music, scone overs in many flavors, sunflower oil, corn, berries, variety of breads, muffins, and pies. Find them on Facebook.

Thursday

• Loudon Farmers’ Market at 7039 School St. on Thursdays from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. through October. Vendors supply vegetables, fruits, flowers/plants, dairy, maple, meat, fish, prepared foods, baked goods, and crafts. Markets will feature live music. See facebook.com/loudonfarmersmarketnh.

Friday

• Francestown Community Market in the Francestown Horse Sheds at the Town Hall. Fridays from 4 to 6:30 p.m. through the end of October, rain or shine. Vendors supply vegetables, fruits, flowers/plants, dairy, maple, meat, prepared foods, baked goods, crafts, mustard, sauces, cider, beer, jams/jellies and honey. See facebook.com/francestowncommunitymarket.

Saturday

• Candia Farmers Market at the Smyth Library Grounds (55 High St.) on the third Saturday of the month from 9 a.m. to noon through October. All farmers and artisans bring fresh quality produce, value-added farm products, and crafts to market. See candiafarmersmarket.org.

• Concord Farmers Market on Capitol Street on Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. to noon through the end of October. Vendors include a regular rotation of fresh produce, flowers/plants, baked goods, maple, wines, beers, meat, dairy, fish, agricultural crafts, etc. See concordfarmersmarket.com.

• Contoocook Farmers Market at the Contoocook gazebo on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon through the end of October, rain or shine. Shop fresh produce, eggs, flowers/plants, dairy, maple, baked goods, meats, herbs, weekly entertainment, etc. See facebook.com/ContoocookFarmersMarket.

• Milford Farmers Market at 300 Elm St. on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. through Oct. 14. Shop fresh produce, flowers/plants, maple, baked goods, meat, fish, wool, guest chefs, weekly entertainment, etc. See milfordnhfarmersmarket.com.

• New Boston Farmers Market on the corner of Route 13, 7 Meetinghouse Hill Road, on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. through the end of October. Enjoy organic produce, fruits, flowers/plants, soaps, honey, teas, bakery goods, maple, chocolate, barbecue, eggs, wool products and local artisans, plus musicians, demonstrations and education. See facebook.com/NewBostonFarmersMarket.

• Warner Area Farmers Market on the Warner Town Hall Lawn on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. through the end of October. Find vegetables, baked goods, art and more. See warnerfarmersmarket.org.

Sunday

• Nashua Farmers Market (Main Street Bridge Farmers Market) on the Nashua Public Library Lot, 6 Hartshorn Ave. on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. through Oct. 22. Find fresh produce, meat, eggs, plants, pastries, artisan breads, honey, maple syrup, candy, ice cream, soap and crafts from a variety of vendors. See downtownnashua.org/nashuafarmersmarket.

• Salem Farmers Market at The Mall at Rockingham Park (77 Rockingham Park Blvd.) between Dick’s Sporting goods and Cinemark on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. all year. This year-round market features fresh produce, flowers/plants, dairy, maple, baked goods, meat, crafts, and live entertainment. See salemnhfarmersmarket.org.

Featured photo: Bedford Farmers Market. Courtesy of Cherilyn Bukofske.

News & Notes 23/07/27

2024 governor’s race

New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu has decided not to seek re-election in 2024, WMUR reported. In a letter to supporters, he explained that after much consideration and discussions with his family, he believes it is the right time for another Republican to lead the state. Following his announcement, the Republican field is already taking shape for the 2024 race in New Hampshire: former New Hampshire Senate President Chuck Morse immediately tweeted his gubernatorial candidacy announcement, saying, “Year in and year out New Hampshire ranks among the best states to live in. It’s not an accident and it’s not luck either. It’s because we elect conservatives who get results. It’s what I did as Senate President and it’s what I’ll do as Governor.” Morse previously lost the Republican primary for U.S. Senate in 2022. A few days later, former U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte announced her candidacy for governor, saying, “Today, I’m announcing our campaign to be the next Governor of New Hampshire. … I love New Hampshire. I was born here, raised here, raised my kids here, and I’m going to die here. What we have here is worth fighting for.” On the Democratic side, Executive Councilor Cinde Warmington and Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig have already declared their campaigns.

Historic house

The Sullivan House in Manchester has been added to the U.S. Secretary of the Interior’s National Register of Historic Places due to its remarkable architectural integrity and its significance as a rare example of a “Little House” architectural design. According to a press release, the Little House series was a unique collaboration between the magazine House and Garden and the department store W. and J. Sloane, aiming to offer affordable homes with room for expansion to young couples. The Colonial Revival-style Sullivan House, built in 1932 and 1933, showcases modernist decor elements inside while still retaining its original floor plan and finishes. It remains in the possession of the Sullivan family and stands as one of only six known Little Houses of this style. Listing on the National Register facilitates preservation efforts and provides potential benefits to property owners, such as qualifying for federal tax provisions and grants.

Road work

The New Hampshire Department of Transportation (NHDOT) began full span overhead sign foundation construction on Rockingham Park Boulevard in Salem on July 24 that will continue for seven weeks on weekdays from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., weather permitting, according to a press release. During this period, daytime lane closures will be in effect. To ensure safety, arrow boards and traffic control devices will be used to guide motorists through the construction zone, and drivers are advised to be cautious and follow all posted signs. Those traveling in the area are encouraged to sign up for real-time construction and traffic updates via text or email from newengland511.org. The construction is part of the $1.1 million Full Span Overhead Traffic Sign replacement project on Rockingham Park Boulevard in Salem, with an expected completion date of Sept. 8, 2023.

Lake preservation

Steve Wingate, a resident of the Lakes Region, has been honored with the 2023 John F. Morten Memorial Award for Exemplary Lake Stewardship by NH LAKES. According to a press release, Wingate has actively served in various local, regional and statewide organizations and projects dedicated to conserving New Hampshire’s lakes, wetlands and forests and educating lake residents about environmental care. The award was presented on July 15 at the Winter Harbor Way Association Meeting. The John F. Morten Memorial Award was established in 2002 to honor individuals who generously contribute their time, talent and resources to protect New Hampshire’s lakes and ponds. NH LAKES is a statewide nonprofit organization focused on preserving and restoring the health of New Hampshire’s lakes.

New hire

HealthForce NH and its backbone entity, Foundation for Healthy Communities, have named Kate Luczko as their new Senior Director, according to a press release. With extensive experience in economic and workforce development, Luczko’s previous role as the founding President & CEO of Stay Work Play New Hampshire focused on young workforce recruitment and retention. In her statewide leadership position, she will collaborate with various stakeholders, including employers, policymakers and underserved populations, to address health care workforce challenges and raise awareness for HealthForce NH strategies.

The State of New Hampshire will conduct an information session on Monday, July 31, to update the public on the progress of constructing a new 24-bed forensic psychiatric hospital. According to a press release, this facility, which is to be built adjacent to New Hampshire Hospital in Concord, aims to provide skilled psychiatric treatment in a secure and therapeutic environment for forensic patients. The session will take place virtually on Zoom at 6 p.m., and attendees can ask questions and share comments. Details can be found at dhhs.nh.gov/about-dhhs/locations-facilities/new-hampshire-hospital/proposed-forensic-hospital-information.

Manchester City Library (405 Pine St.) offers free lunches for children and teens age 18 and under through a pilot project by New Hampshire Hunger Solutions, running until Aug. 17. Meals are available on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from noon to 12:30 p.m., according to a press release. Children must be present, and supplies are limited. Visit nhhungersolutions.org.

The NH Division of Parks and Recreation, along with Hampton Beach State Park lifeguards, will host Water Safety Day at Hampton Beach State Park on Thursday, July 27. According to a press release, the event aims to raise awareness about water safety at New Hampshire State Parks and oceanfront beaches, lakes and rivers. It will feature rescue demonstrations, interactive discussions and an environmental component. The focus will be on water safety around Seacoast beaches, given the 207 ocean rescues already made this season by NH State Beach Patrol Ocean lifeguards. Visit usla.org/page/safety-tips.

Ever green

Young Dubliners perform in Concord

It’s been 35 years since the Young Dubliners debuted. With rocked-up songs that owed as much to Thin Lizzy as any trad band with a fiddle and bodhran, they were the West Coast counterparts to New York City’s Black 47.

“At the time, the term ‘Celtic rock’ didn’t exist,” band founder Keith Roberts said in a recent phone interview. “It was just … blending Irish music with other forms of music.”

Roberts, the last original member, seems bemused by his band’s longevity.

“The name tells you right away I didn’t plan it,” he said. “There’s no way when I was 22 that I thought, ‘Oh, yeah, Young Dubliners. That’s really gonna work when I’m 58.’ But it is what it is; I’m stuck with it. So, I have to pretend to be the Peter Pan of Celtic rock.”

The singer, songwriter and guitarist originally moved from Ireland to L.A. to chase a career in journalism. He buttressed an interesting but low-paying job doing research for NPR with odd jobs like driving an airport shuttle, which led to sound work on movie sets. One day, he bought an Irish bar in Santa Monica, mainly so the band he’d started could escape the pay-to-play gigs then dominating SoCal.

“I’d never intended on going on the road, I just wanted to own the pub and be the band on Saturday night,” he said. Weekend shows consisted of a headliner, the Young Dubliners and a band that later became Flogging Molly. “We got signed first and a year later they got signed, then Gaelic Storm…. It’s an interesting, fluky chain of events.”

They’ve solidified into a standard-bearer for the genre, playing all over the world, topping the bill on cruises, and every 18 months or so heading back to Ireland with over 100 Americans in tow. When Roberts was first approached with the idea of touring with a group of fans, “I couldn’t think of anything worse,” he recalled. “I eventually said, ‘Look, if I do this, I want it to be a normal tour.’”

So a plan was hatched that offers a balance of sightseeing and shows like an unplugged hotel lobby gig and a concert in a castle, with a sleepover.

“The Americans will have two days to just enjoy it like they are in Downton Abbey or something,” Roberts said, laughing. “Nobody wants to go to Ireland and see us play every single night…. This isn’t the Bruce Springsteen farewell tour. They’ve already seen us in America; they want to come and see Ireland with us.”

The Young Dubliners have made nine records and are close to finishing their 10th. The new album doesn’t have a title, but it’s shaping into an introspective effort. “Drive” was inspired by Roberts’ worry that he might not perform again, a thought shared by many musicians as the pandemic stretched on.

“My lyrics are all over the place and they definitely represent a lot of what happened,” he said. “We all sort of reinvented ourselves with skills we never knew we had during Covid, building furniture, making bread; I turned an old band trailer into a camper. The song is sort of uplifting about what would happen [and it] resonates now playing it to an audience.”

Another new song, “Look to the Stars,” pays homage to one of Roberts’ primary influences. “It’s absolutely got the Big Country riffs at the beginning, and I love them. They were probably the biggest — them and the Waterboys’ Fisherman’s Blues were probably what really pushed me out of just being a straight rock band and embracing the Irish stuff.”

Their current concert is a mix of old and new that begins with “a historical musical journey of the Young Dubs and how we wrote all our own stuff along the way,” Roberts said, followed by a portion “dedicated to the Irish Sessions album, where we did all the covers.” That trad-rich album included the bracing “Rocky Road to Dublin” and a lilting take of the Pogues’ “Pair of Brown Eyes.”

From there the music moves emphatically forward, Roberts continued. “If you only stay for the first half of the show, you’re going to miss out on a whole other part of our life,” he said. “I was joking about it the other day, saying if I was doing a farewell tour, this would probably be a pretty close set to what we would do.”

Young Dubliners w/ Rebel Collective
When: Sunday, July 23, 8 p.m.
Where: Bank of NH Stage, 44 S. Main St., Concord
Tickets: $35.75 at ccanh.com

Featured photo: Young Dubliners. Courtesy photo.

Rain or shine, the ribs go on

The Great American Ribfest returns

By Delaney Beaudoin
food@hippopress.com

The Great American Ribfest and Food Truck Festival will be returning, rain or shine, to Merrimack from Friday, July 21, to Sunday, July 23. Hosted at The Biergarten, the festival will feature a plethora of food and beverage trucks, hours of live music, and numerous goods and vendors.

Concerts will be held all three nights of the festival, with performances from Ben Cote Band and Slaughterhouse on Friday, FirstBourne, Lexi James and the New Hampshire Army National Guard Rock Band on Saturday and American Idol finalist Alex Preston on Sunday.

Food truck options cover a wide variety, including lobster rolls, fried dough, shaved ice, poutine, french fries, gyro, crepes, kettlecorn, street tacos, cannolis and more. Additionally, vendors will be selling goods and services such as CBD oils and salves, beef jerky, travel services, clothing, hot sauces, condiments and rubs, jewelry, sunglasses, home improvement products and more.

There will also be a 5-mile run taking place Sunday morning, which participants can register for online. The run will take place in person, with the option of participating virtually. Additionally, runners under 8 years old can register for the Stonyfield Lil’ Piglet Run.

The event will be hosted for the third time since 2019 by the Rotary Club of Merrimack, and proceeds from the event will benefit the club.

“[The Great American Ribfest] is something that the Rotary Club does for a number of reasons, partially to have an event that the community can come to and gather around and enjoy each other’s company and celebrate a little bit, but also we do raise funds with it and the funds help us to do things both in our community and internationally,” said Bob Best, a Rotarian in the club. Traditionally, the Rotary Club has utilized fundraising efforts to create thousands of dollars in scholarships locally, invest in the improvement of local parks and facilities, and a number of other community service projects both locally and internationally.

New additions for the 2023 festival include an expanded kids area consisting of a mobile base camp, several bouncy houses, a mobile video game trailer, ax throwing, face painting and more. New features for 2023 also include the addition of several food trucks including 603 Smok’n Que, Northeast Smokehouse, Travelin Bones and the offering of an exclusive People’s Choice Rib Sampler. The sampler allows participants to sample two ribs from five different barbecue vendors. According to Best, there are a number of new activities this year that had previously been taken away due to Covid-19 restrictions,

“There’s been different things that have been added and taken away over time,” Best said. “There had traditionally been a lot of things for kids to do … and when Covid came, there was no real way to keep those clean and sanitary, so they had to go away,” Best said. As we’re able to find partners that can do those things, you add them back in and so there should be a lot for the families to do. It’s not just coming for a few ribs and then leaving — you can listen to music all day and the kids can play and do a bunch of different kid activities.”

Ribfest
Where: The Biergarten, Anheuser-Busch, 221 Daniel Webster Hwy., Merrimack
When: Friday, July 21, from 4 to 8 p.m.; Saturday, July 22, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sunday, July 23, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Tickets: Tickets can be purchased in advance for a lesser fee, or bought at the gate if available. Tickets will be available for pre-purchase until 11:59 p.m. on July 20. Ticket prices vary depending on day, age, and level of ticket purchased. Friday tickets start at $32.50 for pre-purchase general admission for adults; kids age 10 to 16 get in for $14.50 prepaid, and kids under 10 get in free alongside a paid adult. Saturday and Sunday ticket prices start at $12 for adults (ages 16 to 59) prepaid while kids under 16 enter free with a paid adult. Parking will be offered on site for $20 a day, or offsite 3/4 mile away for $10 a day. The final 90 minutes of the festival on Saturday and Sunday offer free admittance.
More info: Attendees are permitted to bring folding/lawn chairs, blankets for sitting on the ground, and one bottle of sealed water per person. Items prohibited include outside food or beverage (including alcohol), coolers, tents, scooters, wagons and carts, as well as pets. For more details visit greatamericanribfest.com.

Featured photo: Great American Ribfest.

Kiddie Pool 23/07/20

Family fun for the weekend

Game time

• The Nashua Silver Knights, playing in the Future Collegiate Baseball League of New England, have their next home game at Holman Stadium (67 Amherst St. in Nashua) on Thursday, July 20, at 7 p.m. vs. the Brockton Rox. Single game tickets cost $10; see nashuasilverknights.com.

Showtime

• The 2023 Bank of New Hampshire Children’s Summer Series at The Palace (80 Hanover St., Manchester, palacetheatre.org) continues with Rapunzelthrough Friday, July 21, and Peter Pan July 25 through July 28. Children’s Series productions have shows Tuesday through Thursday at 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m., and Friday at 10 a.m.Tickets cost $10.

• Head Into the Woodswith RB Productions at the Chubb Theatre (44 S. Main St., Concord, ccanh.com) on Friday, July 21, and Saturday, July 22, at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $18.75 for adults, $15.75 for students and seniors.

• See the Kidz Bop Kidz on their “Never Stop Live Tour”on Sunday, July 23, at 4 p.m. at the Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion (72 Meadowbrook Lane, Gilford, banknhpavilion.com). Tickets start at $29.

• The Smirkus comes to town! Circus Smirkus will bring its traveling show to the High Mowing School (222 Isaac Frye Highway in Wilton) with “A Midsummer Night’s Circus” on Monday, July 24, at 1 and 6 p.m. and Tuesday, July 25, at 1 and 6 p.m. Tickets cost $35 for ages 13 and over and $20 for children ages 2 to 12. See smirkus.org.

• Mr. Aaron will perform at the Manchester City Library (405 Pine St. in Manchester; manchester.lib.nh.us) Thursday, July 27, from 6 to 7 p.m. A familiar performer at family-friendly music events, Mr. Aaron has a packed schedule of appearances at area libraries and other locations. See mraaronmusic.com.

On the big screen

• O’neil Cinemas’ (24 Calef Hwy., Epping, 679-3529, oneilcinemas.com)Summer Kids Series screenings on Monday, July 24, and Wednesday, July 26, at 10 a.m. will be 2021’s Sing 2(PG) featuring the voices of Reese Witherspoon, Taron Egerton and Scarlett Johansson. Tickets cost $3 and the theater has an $8 popcorn-and-drink combo as well.

• The Summer Movie Express Series lineup at Regal Cinemas in Concord (282 Loudon Road in Concord) for Tuesday, July 25, and Wednesday, July 26, is Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank(PG, 2022) and Sing 2. Tickets cost $2. The movies screen at 2 p.m.

Outdoors

• Pumpkin Blossom Farm (393 Pumpkin Hill Road in Warner; pumpkinblossomfarm.com) continues its lavender you-pick daily through July 23, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (check with the website before you head out to see if weather has changed the schedule). Walk through the lavender fields and on a shaded trail, take photos and bring a picnic lunch to enjoy. Lavender plants and other lavender items will be available for purchase, according to the website. Lavender bundles cost $20 on weekends and $15 during the week.

• Head to Prescott Farm Environmental Education Center (928 White Oaks Road, Laconia) for Forest Trail Games for Kids and Adults on Saturday, July 22, from 10 a.m. to noon. Discover ways to make nature time enjoyable and captivating for the whole family (ages 6+) through immersive games that spark children’s imagination and sense of adventure. The cost is $15 per person. Visit prescottfarm.org.

Spread the news

Ovation Theatre Company presents Newsies

By Mya Blanchard
mblanchard@hippopress.com

A week and a half away from opening night, the cast of Newsies at Ovation Theatre Company gave an electric preview of the second act of the show at their rehearsal on July 10. The production will be held at the Derry Opera House on Friday, July 21, at 7 p.m., and Saturday, July 22, at 1 and 7 p.m.

Disney’s Newsies, the Broadway musical written by Harvey Fierstein, was inspired by the true events of the New York City newsboys’ strike in 1899 against paper prices and unfair conditions.

“I love the show because it’s got a lot of energy, it’s really upbeat, it involved a lot of people, really dynamic dancing and I love the message it says to young people about having their voices [be] heard,” said Meg Gore, the director of Ovation’s production and the founder of the Londonderry-based theater company.

Although over a week away from opening, the numbers were commanding and clean, no doubt the result of Gore’s establishment of a fun yet serious rehearsal environment and the talent and hard work of the cast and crew. I was immediately impressed with the high-energy opening number of the second act, “King of New York,” featuring strong tap dancers and powerful vocalists.

“If there’s anything that’s going to blow [the audience’s] socks and shoes off, it’s going to be the dancing,” said Carson Curtis, who is making his Ovation debut with the role of Les. “The harmonizing is awesome [too].”

For Curtis, the youngest member of the show, playing the comedic 9-year-old has been fun, but a challenge.

“I am almost 13, so having to play a younger role [with] bad grammar and that stuff, it’s been challenging,” Curtis said. “I have a little brother that’s 9 and it’s fun because I can rehearse my lines and see how he says it.”

Jack Kelly, the ringleader of the newsies, is played by James Bridges, who embodies the character with such authenticity, right down to the spot-on New York accent, it seems as if he were made for the role. Surprisingly, portraying Jack did not come naturally to Bridges.

“He’s grown up on the streets all his life, and when Joseph Pulitzer raises the price of the papers, he’s the one who organizes the union to strike against the unfair practices,” he said. “I think Jack is a very assertive, confident and aggressive person, which is not how I would describe myself at all. … It’s been interesting and fun to be more of an exaggerated, confident swagger-filled guy.”

The newsies are helped by Katharine Plummer, a journalist who uses her skills as a writer to support the strike. For Chloe Ferraro, a dynamic vocalist with a flawless vibrato, playing Katharine is a dream come true.

“It’s actually been one of my dream roles forever, so I’ve been having a lot of fun,” Ferraro said. “It took me a lot to prepare for this character. Katharine’s very posh and elegant and I am not really those things, so it was really fun to kind of put myself into the character and just kind of send it.”

Although it was only a rehearsal, the cast gave a high-caliber performance.

“The experience with this cast has been amazing,” Gore said. “They’re great people and they’re very very very talented, but in addition to that they’re just very kind human beings. They’ve been great to work with.”

Ovation Theatre Company presents Newsies
When: Friday, July 21, at 7 p.m., and Saturday, July 22, at 1 and 7 p.m.
Where: Derry Opera House, 29 W. Broadway, Derry
Cost: Tickets are $25
More info: Visit ovationtc.com

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