Category: Featured Content

Making lemonade

Country singer Annie Brobst stays positive

By Michael Witthaus
mwitthaus@hippopress.com

There’s a timeless adage both revered and reviled among songwriters. Essentially, it says that any misery is mitigated if it produces a song. Shawn Colvin once responded to this sentiment with terse words. “I’d rather do anything,” she sang back in 1992, “than write this song for you.”

Annie Brobst can look at it from both sides.

For more than a decade, Brobst has been a big part of the region’s country music scene. The single “Red Wine On Mind,” from 2021’s Where We Holler, netted her latest in a string of New England Music Awards. The album is packed with gems like the popgrass rocker “Little Girl Dreams” and the blues-inflected “On the Record.”

Brobst didn’t set out to be a singer. She found her talents belting out her favorite hits in Boston karaoke bars, and followed her muse after meeting songwriter Roger Hagopian. He encouraged her to channel the elements of her life that resembled a country song into her own music.

Her first song came after a breakup. Brobst had followed her boyfriend from Ohio to Boston, where the romance faded. In response, she wrote “Ghost,” and won her first NEMA. On the other hand, she’d be content with skipping the experience that produced her second drawn-from-life composition, “After the Rain.”

Eighteen months ago, Brobst and her husband and creative partner Ryan Dupont returned from an out-of-town trip to find a burst pipe in their third-floor bathroom. “The place was ruined,” Brobst recalled in a recent phone interview. “We were displaced from our home for about a year.”

Initially, she didn’t feel inspired to write something like When We Holler’s charming “Make Lemonade,” however fitting that might have felt.

“I was just in this mind space,” she said. “I didn’t feel super creative in the time. Once we started to get on the other end of that, I did write a song about that. And then we have a couple more that we wrote and recorded.”

She’ll perform those and others from her debut EP and two albums — the other is My First Rodeo, released in 2018 — when she appears at Lost Cowboy Brewing Co. in Nashua on June 13. It’s one of a few shows Brobst has coming up in New Hampshire, a state she’s played infrequently, though she and Dupont were married in the White Mountains.

On June 28 she’ll headline an early evening show at Stone Church in Newmarket, backed by singer/songwriter Keith Crocker and special guest band Punktry Bumpkins. On July 12 she opens for country rapper Big Murph at The Flying Monkey in Plymouth, and she returns to The Range, a buzzy outdoor venue in Mason, on July 17.

Though the new song was inspired by Brobst’s own tragedy, its message is universal.

“It’s for anyone in that moment of limbo,” she explained. “There’s sun that comes out after the rain; you just can’t quite see it yet. That’s definitely what the song’s about. I think it can apply to so many people and so many situations that they’re just pushing through.”

“After The Rain” and a few others that have been polished in the studio will make their way into a future album.

“Yeah, we’re going to release some singles, and definitely keep writing now that we’re in a better space,” Brobst said. “I definitely always like to have my singles live on an album at some point. That’s kind of always been my M.O. “

Brobst, who’s spent close to 15 years in New England, is resisting the pull of Nashville as her next career move.

“I’m happy here,” she said. “My husband and my stepdaughters are here, so I do have our life rooted…. We’re going to be ourselves, write our music, play our awesome shows out this way, and see if at some point we can’t gain some traction or attention. I don’t see moving in our future anytime soon — not to say we wouldn’t if the opportunity was a great one.”

Annie Brobst

When: Friday, June 13, 7 p.m.
Where: Lost Cowboy Brewing Co., 546 Amherst St., Nashua
More: anniebrobstmusic.com

Also Saturday, June 28, 5:30 p.m. at Stone Church, 5 Granite St., Newmarket ($15 at stonechurchrocks.com)

Featured photo. Annie Brobst. Photo by Liza Czech.

A home for the bread

Woodman’s Artisan Bakery takes its farmers market success to its own shop

By John Fladd
jfladd@hippopress.com

Bill Woodman makes bread — a lot of bread.

“We rotate the breads every day,” he said, “probably a good 12 to 14 potential varieties of breads that we can offer from types of sourdough, German rye, baguettes, Italian semolina with sesame seeds — that’s a nice one — a German flaxseed rye called leinsamenbrot. That’s a hearty, hearty bread. Leinsamenbrot means flaxseed bread. So with rye flour, it’s a much denser bread.”

But what Woodman, the owner of Woodman’s Artisan Bakery in Nashua, really dreams about is panettone, a tall, round loaf of enriched Italian bread.

“Right now,” he said, “the unicorn, so to speak, is probably the Italian panettone. There’s a baker in Italy — we follow him on social media — I’ve dabbled a little bit in trying to make a panettone, but I’m too busy to actually focus on it the way it needs properly. But to be able to get a nice, proper Italian panettone like he makes, with a nice open, airy crumb from the sourdough, to be able to use the exact sourdough culture, you know, it’s a pasta madre, I believe they call it in Italian. It’s like a drier starter dough and it’s like wrapped up in a towel, so it partially dries out on the outside of the actual starter dough. And it’s supposed to impart these different finer nuances into the bread. But to be able to get that, it’s something that would be very unique and very special. You just don’t see around here very often or at all. You get the stuff in the grocery stores around Christmastime, but it’s definitely not the same thing.”

Woodman started his business by selling bread at area farmers markets.

“We started at Salem [the Salem Farmers Market] on Sundays,” he said. “We started there, trying to figure out if there is a demand for breads. We make European-style artisan breads and pastries — croissants, Danishes and German pretzels. After about a season, we had picked up business, so we decided to do the winter season. At that point we picked up a couple more farmers markets for the winter season. Business picked up a little bit. You started to see your regulars coming more and more. And then the following year came and we just decided to go all in. We picked up six markets a week, so there was no sleep for me whatsoever. And it kept going from there.”

Woodman recently opened a storefront bakery in Nashua. The bakery offers sandwiches and coffees, but the main focus is on bread.

“We tell people our breads are real bread,” he said. “The pastries are real pastries, and what we mean by that is that our sourdough for instance is flour, water and salt. So it’s real ingredients, real breads. We have a lot of people who are gluten-sensitive who can eat a lot of our sourdoughs and not get sick not have a reaction. They can eat our croissants and Danishes because the flour that we use in those products comes from France and it has a lower protein content, so they can eat those and have no reaction as well.”

Woodman was approached by an importer who introduced him to French flour.

“The sales rep came in and introduced himself,” Woodman said, “and started telling us a little bit about what the product was. He had explained the company is out of France, and they sell through his company here. If we were interested, a sales rep as well as a baker would come for a couple days, work with us and teach us about the products. I thought it was a great opportunity for my staff and myself to learn about something new. And so we said, sure, let’s give it a try, so they came in and we started working with it.” It was a game-changer, Woodman said.

Woodman’s Artisan Bakery

Where: 4 Sunapee St., Nashua,
Hours: Tuesday through Sunday, 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
More: 718-1694, woodmansartisanbakery.com
During the summer, Woodman also sells his bread at the Concord Farmers Market on Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. to noon, at the Bedford Farmers Market on Tuesdays from 3 to 6 p.m., and at the Salem Farmers Market on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Featured photo: Woodman’s Artisan Bakery makes traditional European style breads. Photo courtesy Bill Woodman.

Singular

A Chorus Line closes out Palace season — a review

By Michael Witthaus
mwitthaus@hippopress.com

When A Chorus Line opened in 1975, it upended the Broadway world. The behind-the-scenes look at casting a musical has no star; it’s a study in a shared spotlight. An impossibly massive ensemble of dancers opens the show, singing “I Hope I Get It” in unison. Each is vying for one of eight spots on the line, and half are dismissed in the first 10 minutes.

The musical ends the current Palace Theatre season, and it’s a detour from the multimedia-enhanced productions done so far. The staging is spare, set changes are minimal, and raw emotion drives the action, as Zach, the show’s director, admirably played by Justin Wolfe Smith, probes the remaining 17 hopefuls to learn more about them.

What begins with Zach asking a reluctant group about when and where they were born quickly leads to prodding the aspirants about their hopes, dreams and demons. Mike (AJ Love) recounts how he began dancing in preschool, while streetwise Sheila (Olivia Warner in a standout performance) dismisses the process.

The cracks in Sheila’s hard exterior are then laid bare in “At The Ballet,” an early musical highlight that reveals how she turned to dance as a refuge from a painful childhood. She’s joined by fellow auditionees Bebe (Alexis Yard) and Maggie (Jessie Roddy) for the poignant number, as both describe similar experiences.

One by one, each has their moment. Tone-deaf Christine (Palace veteran Emilee Clapp) and her supportive husband and dancer Al (Matthew Quintero), too short Connie Wong (Madeline Falco), Mark (Kevin Bowman), struggling with sexual identity, and others respond to the Oz-like Zach, who stays offstage for most of the show.

As Diana, Camille Theriault shines in her solo of “Nothing,” a song that reveals a primary theme of A Chorus Line, the line separating those who perform in search of acclaim from others who simply seek a sense of belonging. Spoiler alert: Everyone here belongs to the latter group.

“One,” the most well-known song in the show, is performed twice; the first time is a rehearsal, the second fully fleshed out and splendid. The initial run-through reinforces the tone raised by Diana, when Zach tells the dancers to move in perfect synchrony, commanding, “I don’t want anyone to draw my eye.”

The Act Two spotlight closes in on two characters who clearly don’t want it. During a tense interaction with Zach, Maggie pleads for a spot on the line as she performs “The Music and the Mirror,” a showstopper that brings her past to the surface, and finally shows a bit about the mysterious Zach.

Director Carl Rajotte does a solid job of bringing A Chorus Line’s many elements into focus, particularly in the first act. With help from Assistant Choreographer Sebastian Goldberg (who doubles as Zach’s number two in the show), an enormous cast is distilled fluidly, meeting the show’s biggest challenge of making many into one.

The show has many memorable and expertly performed songs, including AJ Love’s wonderful reading of “I Can Do That” and “Dance: Ten; Looks: Three,” a comically NSFW number done by Brooke Cox as Val. In “What I Did For Love,” Camille Theriault is joined by the full cast to testify everyone else longs to belong to the family of dance. The final number, brimming with the Palace’s signature flash and verve, is a great payoff. This production of A Chorus Line is by all means worth seeing, with a solid cast, wonderful music and a vital message.

A Chorus Line

When: Fridays at 7:30 p.m. Saturdays at 2 & 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. through June 22
Where: Palace Theatre, 80 Hanover St., Manchester
Tickets: $39 and up at palacetheatre.org

Featured photo: The cast of A Chorus Line. Photo courtesy of AnnMarie Lidman Photography.

2025 Kids Guide to Summer

Festivals, performances and other events offering big fun for the school-free season

Compiled by Amy Diaz
adiaz@hippopress.com

Looking for excitement and entertainment for the kids this summer? Here are some of the events and attractions to help you fill the next dozen or so school-less weeks.

Events

• The Concord Spring Fair is slated to run Wednesday, June 11, through Sunday, June 15 — opening at 6 p.m. on weekdays, 1 p.m. on weekends — at the Douglas N. Everett Arena (15 Loudon Road in Concord), according to the event organizers. Admission costs $3 and children under 6 get in for free. Unlimited ride wrist bands as well as individual ride credits are available for purchase. See fiestashows.com.

• Check out the professional sand castle builders at the 25th Annual Hampton Beach Master Sand Sculpting Classic, which will run Thursday, June 12, through Saturday, June 14, with the sculptures, lit up at night, on view through Monday, June 23. There will be a fireworks display on Saturday, June 14, at 9:30 p.m. See hamptonbeach.org.

• YMCA Downtown Manchester (30 Mechanic St. in Manchester) and YMCA of Concord (15 N. State St. in Concord) will each hold a Block Party on Saturday, June 14, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. These free community celebrations will feature a bounce house, music, games and crafts, food and drink and more. See graniteymca.org.

• The Aviation Museum of New Hampshire will hold its annual Father’s Day Weekend Fly In Barbecue on Saturday, June 14, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Nashua’s Boire Field, with the event taking place at Nashua Jet Aviation (Nashua Airport, 83 Perimeter Road). The public can come to check out the planes and enjoy the meal. Tickets to the barbecue cost $30 for adults and $10 for ages 6 to 12; kids 5 and under are free, the website said. Check out the planes without the food for $10 per person, kids 5 and under are free, the website said. Purchase tickets at the website or by calling 669-4877.

• SEE Science Center (200 Bedford St. in Manchester; see-sciencecenter.org) will hold its Kick Off to Summer, Dinosaur Edition running Saturday, June 21, through Friday, June 27. Throughout the week the center will offer special dinosaur activities and displays, which are included with the admission price. The museum is open daily at 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. on weekdays and 5 p.m. on weekends. Admission costs $14 per person ages 3 and up.

• Plaistow’s Old Home Day returns on Saturday, June 21, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. with a parade and activities on the Town Hall green (145 Main St., Plaistow). See plaistow.com for updates.

• St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church (1160 Bridge St. in Manchester; stnicholasgreekchurch.com) will celebrate on Saturday, June 21, from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. with a lamb barbecue and food festival and on Sunday, June 22, from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. with gyros.

• Wilton Main Street Association will hold its annual Summerfest on Saturday, June 21, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. featuring live music on two stages, food, street vendors, a pancake breakfast, a duck drop and a fireworks display in the evening on Carnival Hill. See visitwilton.com/summerfest.

• The Somersworth International Children’s Festival will take place on Main Street and in Noble Pines Park on Saturday, June 21, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. with Wildlife Encounters, roaming entertainers, a petting zoo, World Cultures Passport Center, a play area and other activities for kids as well as food and craft vendors, according to the Somersworth Festival Association at nhfestivals.org. The Association will also hold a Celebration Night on Friday, June 27, from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Somersworth High School (11 Memorial Drive) with live music, magic, kids’ activities and fireworks, according to the website, where you can also find the Association’s series of kids concerts in July and August.

• Miss Alli’s Kids Concert will take place Saturday, June 21, at 1 p.m. in Stark Park (550 River Road in Manchester; starkpark.com). Find Miss Alli Music on Instagram.

• The Nest Cafe (25 Orchard View in Londonderry; thenestfamilycafe.com) is holding the free community festival NestFest on Sunday, June 22, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The day will include live music (including Miss Alli), a bounce house, face painting, lawn games, touch a truck and more.

• The Hollis Strawberry Festival, presented by the Hollis Woman’s Club, will bring strawberry shortcake and other strawberry treats to the Town Common (7 Monument Square, Hollis) on Sunday, June 22, from 2 to 4 p.m. Visit holliswomansclub.org.

• The New Hampshire Audubon Nature Challenge will run Sunday, June 22, through Saturday, June 28, when participants can help to “document the birds, mammals, insects, reptiles, amphibians, flowers, trees, mosses, mushrooms, and everything that either stops at our sanctuaries or calls [the NH Audubon’s wildlife sanctuaries] home!” according to nhaudubon.org, where you can see the list of sanctuaries and get more information about how to participate.

• Concord’s annual Market Days Festival runs from Thursday, June 26, to Saturday, June 28, in downtown Concord from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. with local vendors, live entertainment, family-friendly activities and more. Visit marketdaysfestival.com.

• The next New England Reptile Expo is scheduled for Sunday, June 29, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the DoubleTree by Hilton Manchester Downtown (700 Elm St., Manchester). The show features more than 200 vendor tables full of reptiles, pet supplies and more. Tickets are $12 for adults, $6 for kids ages 7 to 12 and free for kids ages 6 and under. Visit reptileexpo.com.

• Joppa Hill Educational Farm (174 Joppa Hill Road in Bedford; jhef.org) will hold its KidsFest on Sunday, June 29, from 3 to 6 p.m. The afternoon will feature kid-friendly performers including Mr. Aaron, Miss Alli and Magic Fred as well as food trucks, face painting, crafts, balloons and more, the website said. Tickets cost $44.52 per family; register in advance via the website.

• The Hillsborough Summer Festival at Grimes Field (29 Preston St., Hillsborough) takes place Thursday, July 10, to Sunday, July 13, with live entertainment, carnival rides, a fireworks show on Saturday night, a 5K road race on Friday and a parade on Sunday. Festival hours are 6 to 10 p.m. on Thursday; 5 to 11 p.m. on Friday; noon to 11 p.m. on Saturday, and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is free. Visit hillsborosummerfest.com.

• The Raymond Town Fair, its 50th according to the group’s Facebook page, will take place Friday, July 11, through Sunday, July 13, at the Raymond Town Common (Epping and Main streets, Raymond). It will feature live music, children’s activities, a fireworks display, games, vendors and more. See “Raymond Town Fair” on Facebook.

• The American Independence Museum (1 Governors Lane, Exeter) will hold its American Independence Festival on Saturday, July 12, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in downtown Exeter. The day will feature the arrival and live reading of the Declaration of Independence, historical reenactments and colonial-era artisan demonstrations as well as colonial-era games, music and dances. Visit independencemuseum.org.

• The 9th annual Fairy and Hobbit House Festival will take place at Bedrock Gardens (19 High Road, Lee; bedrockgardens.org) on Friday, July 18, through Sunday, July 20, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. Compete in the Fairy House and Hobbit House showcase (see the website in advance) or just come in costume to enjoy the day, which includes craft activities, story time and more. Tickets cost $49.87 per carload.

• The Stratham 4-H Summerfest returns on Saturday, July 19, at the Stratham Hill Park Fairgrounds (270 Portsmouth Ave., Stratham) from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event will feature animal shows, agriculture exhibits, competitions and more. See extension.unh.edu/event/2025/07/2025-stratham-4-h-summerfest.

• Nashua will hold its Fairytale Festival in Greeley Park (100 Concord St., Nashua) Saturday, July 19, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The day will feature performances, princess characters and more. Visit nashua.gov.

• The Canterbury Fair is, as always, the last Saturday in July — Saturday, July 26, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Canterbury Center (Baptist and Center roads) with live music, demonstrations from local artisan and antique vendors, children’s activities and more. See canterburyfair.com.

• Pizzastock 9, a family community music event featuring 13 music acts on two stages as well as information on mental health, physical health and suicide prevention, will take place on Saturday, July 26, from noon to 6 p.m. at Pinkerton Academy in Derry next to the football field, according to a post on the Jason R. Flood Memorial Facebook page. The event will also feature kid activities, a teen/young adult “tailgate” game area, food trucks and of course pizza from Kendall Pond Pizza, the post said. Entrance to the event is free. See pizzastock.org or find them on Facebook.

• Find music, art, food, kids’ activities and more at the Nashua Summer Stroll on Saturday, July 26, from 3 to 8 p.m. in downtown Nashua. Find details and updates on the event’s Facebook page.

• Coppal House Farm (118 N. River Road in Lee; nhsunflower.com) will hold its Sunflower Festival Saturday, July 26, through Sunday, Aug. 3, 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. daily plus sunrise hours on Sunday, July 27, from 5:30 to 7 a.m. The festival also features kid events, a craft fair, music, food and more. See the website for information on tickets and happenings on specific days.

• The Suncook Valley Rotary’s Hot Air Balloon Rally on Friday, Aug. 1, through Sunday, Aug. 3, at Drake Field, Barnstead Road in Pittsfield. See nhballoonrally.org for updates on this year’s schedule.

• The Belknap County Fair is set to return Saturday, Aug. 2, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday, Aug. 3, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 174 Mile Hill Road in Belmont. Admission at the gate is $10 for adults, $5 for senior citizens 65 and older, police, fire and EMS personnel, and free for kids under 10 and for military service members. Visit bcfairnh.org.

More summer fun

Find more summer happenings in our Summer Guide 2025, which ran in the May 22 issue of the Hippo. Find the issue in the digital library at hippopress.com.

• Friends of Aine will hold its annual Kids Try-athlon on Sunday, Aug. 3, starting at 8 a.m. at Bedford High School and the Bedford Town Pool. The event is a swim, bike, run race for kids grouped by age — 4- to 10-year-olds and 11- to 15-year-olds, according to friendsofaine.com. The event is open to kids regardless of athletic ability and features a post-race festival, and registration currently costs $35 per kid, the website said.

• Tuesday, Aug. 5, is the National Night Out when many area first responder departments hold outreach events, such as fairs and touch-a-truck events. For example, in Concord, a National Night Out event featuring food, prizes, K-9 demonstrations, a climbing wall and more will take place in Rollins Park from 5 to 8 p.m.

• Hudson’s Old Home Days will take place Thursday, Aug. 7, to Sunday, Aug. 10, on the grounds of the Hill House (211 Derry Road, Hudson). There will be carnival games, live music, food, vendors, a craft fair, kids’ activities and more. Event times are Thursday from 5 to 10 p.m., Friday from 5 to 11 p.m., Saturday from noon to 11 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. See hudsonoldhomedays.com.

• The Children’s Museum of New Hampshire (6 Washington St. in Dover; childrens-museum.org) will hold its annual Teddy Bear Clinic on Friday, Aug. 8, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Kids can bring stuffed animals in for a checkup and learn more about what happens at the doctor’s office, according to the website. Admission costs $14.50 for everyone over 12 months, $12.50 for 65+ and free for kids under 12 months, the website said.

• The Sunflower Bloom Festival will take place Saturday, Aug. 9, through Sunday, Aug. 17, at Sunfox Farm on Gully Hill Road in Concord, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m daily. Visit the farm (admission costs $12 per person, ages 10 and under are free). Also at the farm find artisan and craft vendors, live music and food trucks, according to sunfoxfarm.org/sunflowerfestival.

• Salembration!, a celebration of the 275th birthday of Salem, New Hampshire, will take place on Geremonty Drive on Saturday, Aug. 9, from noon to 5 p.m. The event will feature food trucks, craft vendors and more, according to salemnh.gov/1096/salembration, and will take place in conjunction with Field of Dreams’ annual Family Fun Day.

• The Hampton Beach Children’s Festival, Monday, Aug. 11, through Friday, Aug. 15. The event includes ice cream, dancing, balloons, storytelling, a magic show and a costume parade on Friday. All activities are free and open to the public. Visit hamptonbeach.org/events/ childrens-events.

• Londonderry’s Old Home Days are scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 13, to Saturday, Aug. 16. See londonderrynh.gov for updates on details.

• The Mahrajan Middle Eastern Food Festival (bestfestnh.com) will take place Friday, Aug. 15, to Sunday, Aug. 17, at Our Lady of the Cedars Church (140 Mitchell St., Manchester, 623-8944, olocnh.org). Lebanese foods such as shawarma, falafel, lamb, grilled chicken and many types of pastries will be served. The fest will be open from 5 to 10 p.m. on Friday, noon to 10 p.m. on Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. on Sunday.

• The Aviation Museum of New Hampshire (27 Navigator Road, Londonderry; aviationmuseumofnh.org) will hold Planefest on Saturday, Aug. 16, featuring an exhibit about the Tuskegee Airman and the World War II-era Woman’s Army Service Pilots, known as the WASPs.

• History Alive 2025 will present a weekend of reenactments on Saturday, Aug. 16, and Sunday, Aug. 17, at Jones Road in Hillsborough. The weekend will feature reenactments of historical battles across the centuries — including Roman and Viking battles, the French and Indian War, the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, World War I and World War II, according to historyalivenh.org. The event will also feature other historical demonstrations as well as drawing and cartooning workshops with Marek Bennett, whose works include the Freeman Colby graphic novels about a real-life New Hampshire teacher in the Civil War. See the website for details and a schedule. Tickets cost $10 per adult, $8 for seniors and are free for kids 16 and under, the website said.

• Assumption Greek Orthodox Church (111 Island Pond Road, Manchester, 623- 2045, assumptionnh.org) will hold its 2025 Greekfest on Saturday, Aug. 23, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday, Aug. 24, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Visit the Church’s website for more information.

• Candia’s Old Home Day will take place on Saturday, Aug. 23, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Moore Park (74 High St., Candia). The day will feature local crafters and artisans, town community booths, games, a wildlife exhibit, food and music. See candiaoldhomeday.com.

• Pembroke and Allenstown’s Old Home Day returns on Saturday, Aug. 23, starting with a parade down Main Street in Allenstown to Memorial Field (Exchange Street) in Pembroke. A fun-filled day is planned at the field, featuring two stages of live entertainment, antique cars, children’s games, a craft area, bounce houses and a fireworks display at dusk. Admission and parking are free. See pembrokeallenstownoldhomeday.org.

• The Hopkinton State Fair bills itself as a Labor Day weekend tradition happening this year from Thursday, Aug. 28, to Monday, Sept. 1, at the fairgrounds (392 Kearsarge Ave., Contoocook). There will be livestock shows, a demolition derby, carnival rides, monster trucks, live entertainment, food and more. The fair hours are 5 to 10 p.m. on Thursday; 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday. See hsfair.org.

• The Exeter UFO Festival returns to downtown Exeter on Saturday, Aug. 30, and Sunday, Aug. 31 — the event commemorates the anniversary of the “Incident at Exeter” (the report of a UFO sighting on Sept. 3, 1965, in nearby Kingston) with speakers, kids’ events and more. See exeterufofestival.org.

Live performances

• Hot Peas N Butter, a family music band, will play at the BNH Stage (16 S. Main St. in Concord, ccanh.com) on Sunday, June 22, at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $25 per person.

• Palace Theatre’s (80 Hanover St., Manchester, palacetheatre.org) Bank of New Hampshire Children’s Summer Series runs July 8 through Aug. 28, with new shows each week and shows on most Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. as well as Fridays. Tickets cost $10. The show schedule is A Winnie-the-Pooh Birthday Tail (July 8-11), Peter Pan Jr. (July 15-18), Annie Jr. (July 22-25), Madagascar Jr. (July 28-Aug. 1), Berenstain Bears On Stage (Aug. 5-8), Willy Wonka Jr. (Aug. 12-15), Shrek The Musical Jr. (Aug. 19-22) and Magician BJ Hickman (Aug. 26-28).Tickets for these shows are $10.

The Palace also has productions from its various youth companies on the schedule.

The Palace Teen Company will present Urinetown The Musical on Tuesday, June 17, and Wednesday, June 18, at 7 p.m. The Palace Youth Theatre camp, featuring performances in grades 2 through 12, will present shows including James & the Giant Peach Jr. on July 2 and July 3; A Year With Frog & Toad Kids July 11; Junie B. Jones Jr. July 25 and July 26; Annie Kids Aug. 1; Mean Girls Jr. Aug. 15 and Aug. 16, and a youth version of The Addams Family Aug. 22.

• Teen Actorsingers will perform Teen Anastasia on Friday, July 11, and Saturday, July 12, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, July 13, 2 p.m. at the Janice B. Streeter Theatre, 14 Court St., Nashua, actorsingers.org. Tickets cost $20 for adults, $18 for seniors and students.

• The Majestic Theatre (majestictheatre.net) will present Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoaton Friday, July 11, through Sunday, July 13, at the Derry Opera House (29 W. Broadway in Derry) at 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Tickets cost $15 to $22.

• RB Productions Theatre Company (PO Box 67, Concord, rb-productions.com) will perform The Wedding Singer (July 11 and July 12), Wizard of Oz Youth Edition (July 18 and July 19), Aladdin Kids (July 19), Alice In Wonderland Jr. (July 25 and July 26) and Beetlejuice Jr. (Aug. 1 and Aug. 2). Shows are slated for Capitol Center for the Arts in Concord according to RB Production’s website; see ccanh.com.

• Epping Community Theatre (Epping Playhouse, 38 Ladds Lane, Epping, eppingtheater.org) will present Seussical the Musical on Friday, July 18, through Sunday, July 20.

• Ovation Theatre Company (61 Harvey Road, Londonderry, ovationtc.com) will present The Hunchback of Notre Dame Thursday, July 24, through Saturday, July 26, at 7 p.m. at Derry Opera House (25 Main St., Derry; derryoperahouse.org).

• Kids Coop Theatre (232 N. Broadway, Salem, kctnh.org) will present Hadestown Teen Edition Friday, Aug. 1, and Saturday, Aug. 2, at 7 p.m. and Sunday, Aug. 3, at 2 p.m. at Derry Opera House (25 Broadway, Derry). See derryoperahouse.org for tickets.

Summer day camp

Looking for some full-day fun for the kids? Check out our Feb. 22 issue featuring area day camps. Even though many camps start registering campers early in the year, some organizations don’t release camp schedules or programming until spring and many camps aren’t yet full or have waitlist opportunities that can lead to a camp spot.

• The end product of the Children’s Theatre Project Summer Camp, run by the Community Players of Concord (communityplayersofconcord.org), will be a performance of Moana Jr. on Saturday, Aug. 8. Check back with the website for details.

• Peacock Players (Janice B. Streeter Theatre, 14 Court St., Nashua, peacockplayers.org) will present a cast of 6- to 15-year-olds in Beetlejuice Jr. Friday, July 25, through Sunday, July 27. A cast of teens will performHadestown Teen Edition Friday, Aug. 15, through Sunday, Aug. 17.

Popcorn summer

• The Summer Movie Clubhouse, a lineup of kid-friendly films running Wednesdays at 10 a.m. at Cinemark Rockingham Park (15 Mall Road in Salem; cinemark.com/theatres/nh-salem/cinemark-rockingham-park-and-xd), started June 4 and continues through Aug. 6 with discounted ticket-and-snack combo prices. The lineup includes Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (June 18), Shrek 2 (June 25), Despicable Me 4 (July 2), Kung-Fu Panda 4 (July 9), The Wild Robot (July 16), Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (July 23), The Garfield Movie (July 30) and The LEGO Batman Movie (Aug. 6).

• The Milford Drive-In Theater (531 Elm St., Milford; milforddrivein.com) has two screens for movie screenings, each mostly offering double features, Fridays through Sundays. The box office opens at 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 7:15 p.m. on Sunday. Admission costs $35 per car (for up to six people; $6 per additional person). See the website for each week’s offerings.

• Red River Theatres (redrivertheatres.org) and Concord Parks & Recreation (concordnh.gov) will hold outdoor movie nights during the summer. Check back for updates on days, locations and films.

• Fathom Events (fathomevents.com) has anniversary screenings on the schedule for movies that might be of interest to teens and tweens at theaters including Apple Cinemas in Merrimack and Hooksett, Cinemark Rockingham Park in Salem, O’Neil Cinemas in Epping and Regal Fox Run in Newington. Films include Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (PG-13, 1989) on Saturday, June 14, and Sunday, June 15, and Wednesday, June 18, and Clueless (PG-13, 1995) on Sunday, June 29, and Monday, June 30. Fathom Events is also continuing its Studio Ghibli Fest 2025 with films including The Secret World of Arrietty (G, 2010) Sunday, June 22, through Tuesday, June 24; My Neighbor Totoro(G, 1988) Saturday, July 19, through Wednesday, July 23; Grave of the Fireflies (1988) Sunday, Aug. 10, through Tuesday, Aug. 12, and Ponyo (G, 2008) Saturday, Aug. 23, through Wednesday, Aug. 27.

• Movies in the Park takes place in Riverfront Park in Tilton, hosted by the Hall Memorial Library (hallmemoriallibrary.org), on Fridays throughout the summer, with the park opening at 6 p.m. and the movie starting at dusk. According to the website, the upcoming schedule is The Little Mermaid on June 20; Garfield on July 25; Moana 2 on Aug. 29, and Minecraft on Sept. 26.

• Chunky’s Cinema Pub (707 Huse Road, Manchester; chunkys.com) will be hosting “Little Lunch Dates” (usually at 11:30 a.m. on some Tuesdays) and “Sensory-Friendly Showings,” when house lights are left up and volume is lower than usual, throughout the summer. The next scheduled sensory-friendly screening is the new How To Train Your Dragon (PG) on Tuesday, June 24, 11:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

• Your kids can practice Elphaba’s high notes in “Defying Gravity” along with the film at a sing-along screening of Wicked (PG, 2024) on Sunday, June 29, at 2 p.m. at BNH Stage (16 S. Main St. in Concord, ccanh.com). Tickets cost $15 in advance, $20 at the door.

• O’Neil Cinemas Brickyard Square (24 Calef Highway in Epping; oneilcinemas.com) will offer a Summer Kid Series with shows Monday and Wednesdays at 11 a.m. and special ticket and snack deals (tickets cost $2; popcorn and soda combo is $5), according to an email from O’Neil. The film schedule is Despicable Me (PG, 2010) on July 7 & 9; Kung Fu Panda 4 (PG, 2024) on July 14 & 16; Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (PG, 2022) July 21 & 23; Sing 2 (PG, 2021) July 28 & 30, and Trolls Band Together (PG, 2023) Aug. 4 & 6.

Visit the museum

• Amoskeag Fishways Learning & Visitor Center (4 Fletcher St. in Manchester; find them on Facebook) was slated to open for the fish migration season. See fish on the move Mondays through Fridays, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission is free.

• The Aviation Museum of New Hampshire (27 Navigator Road, Londonderry, 669-4820, aviationmuseumofnh.org) offers exhibits related to the aviation history of the state — as well as a cockpit kids can get inside of, featuring real audio from traffic control at neighboring Manchester Boston Regional Airport. The museum is open Wednesdays through Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m. Admission costs $10 for ages 13+ and $5 for ages 6 to 12 and ages 65+ (as well as veterans and active military) and is free for kids 5 and under.

• The Children’s Museum of New Hampshire (6 Washington St., Dover, 742- 2002, childrens-museum.org) is a family museum featuring interactive exhibits with a focus on art, science and culture. It is open for morning (9 a.m. to noon) and afternoon (1 to 4 p.m.) play sessions Wednesdays through Saturdays and for morning sessions only on Tuesdays and Sundays. Admission costs $14.50 for everyone over 12 months, $12.50 for 65+; advance admission purchase is recommended. See the website for special programming, such as Toddler Tinker Time on Tuesdays, Wacky Art Wednesdays, Cultural Crafts on Thursdays and Science Fridays.

• The Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St., Manchester; currier.org) is open Wednesdays through Sundays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and admission costs $20 for regular admission, $15 for 65+ and students and $5 for ages 13 to 17 and is free for ages 12 and under. The museum also offers free admission for New Hampshire residents on the second Saturday of each month and offers free/donation-based admission during Art Off the Walls evenings, 5 to 8 p.m., on Thursdays June 19, July 17 and Aug. 21.

• The McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center (2 Institute Drive in Concord; starhop.com), a celebration of space, science, engineering and aviation, is open daily, 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., June 16 though Aug. 21 (before and after those dates the center is open Wednesdays through Sundays). The outdoor Science Playground is open when the center is open, weather permitting. Admission costs $13 for adults, $10 for ages 3 to 12, $12 for ages 62+ and ages 13 through college. Planetarium tickets cost an additional $7 for ages 3 and up. See the website for the current line-up of planetarium films.

• The Millyard Museum (200 Bedford St., Manchester; manchesterhistoric.org) is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and college students, $5 for ages 12 to 18, and free for children under 12. Print out the gallery games Mystery Objects and Millyard Museum Fun Book to help kids explore the exhibits.

Summer theater

Find information about summer theater in our May 15 issue. Go to hippopress.com and look for the issue in our digital library. The guide to summer theater starts on page 10.

• New Hampshire Historical Society (30 Park St., Concord; nhhistory.org) offers exhibits related to the state’s history. The exhibition space is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission costs $10 for adults and is free for kids ages 18 and under, full-time students and active military.

• SEE Science Center (200 Bedford St., Manchester; see-sciencecenter.org) is open daily at 10 a.m. — until 4 p.m. on weekdays and 5 p.m. on weekends. This hands-on science center offers exhibits on a variety of subjects. Admission (which is recommended to be purchased in advance via the website) costs $14 per person ages 3 and up.

• The New Hampshire Telephone Museum (1 Depot St., Warner; nhtelephonemuseum.org) features nearly 1,000 telephones, switchboards and other telecommunication memorabilia and history and has an interactive kids’ room. The museum is open Tuesdays through Fridays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturdays 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Admission costs $9 for ages 18 to 64, 7 for 65+ and $6 for students in grades K-12.

Attractions

• Andres Institute of Art (106 Route 13, Brookline; andresinstitute.org) has a network of trails decorated with sculptures. Find printable trail maps as well as a gallery of the sculptures online.

• Beaver Brook (117 Ridge Road in Hollis; beaverbrook.org) offers camps, regular walks and hikes and other programs as well as trails and gardens that are open daily. Maps for the trails are available on the website.

• Bedrock Gardens (19 High Road, Lee) is a 30-acre public garden that integrates unusual botanical specimens and unique sculpture into an inspiring landscape journey, with fun programming for the whole family, according to their website. It is open Tuesday through Friday and the first and third weekends of the month from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., according to the website. Visit bedrockgardens.org.

• Canobie Lake Park (85 N. Policy St., Salem; canobie.com), an amusement park with rides and water attractions, is open daily (opening 9 a.m. on some days during June and 10:30 a.m. in July and August) with tickets sold in advance only via the website. Prices vary by day. After-5 p.m. tickets are available Friday through Sunday nights.

• Charmingfare Farm (774 High St. in Candia, 483-5623, visitthefarm.com) is a working farm with wildlife exhibits featuring animals such as black bears, coyotes and more. Charmingfare is currently open Thursdays through Sundays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. A Scouting for Bigfoot event will be held Saturday, June 21 and Sunday, June 22, featuring live music, food available for purchase, Bigfoot related activities and more. Reptile Day is slated for Saturday, July 19, with a reptile show scheduled for 1 p.m.

• Chuckster’s Family Fun Park (Route 4 in Chichester; chuckstersnh.com) is open daily, hours vary by day (and weather). This year a new zipline is slated to open; the park also features minigolf, batting cages, bumper boats, a climbing wall, go karts and more. Admission varies based on attraction packages. Chuckster’s also has a minigolf-only location at 53 Hackett Hill Road in Hooksett.

• Funspot (579 Endicott Lane in Laconia; funspotnh.com) bills itself as the largest arcade in the world, including classic arcade games, and also offers bowling, indoor minigolf, on-site eateries and more. Open daily, Funspot’s hours starting June 23 will be 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. (11 p.m. on Saturdays).

• Joppa Hill Educational Farm (174 Joppa Hill Road in Bedford; jhef.org) is open daily, dawn to dusk, with a suggested donation of $5 per family. Visit the animals or check out the hiking trails, maps for which are on the farm’s website.

• Mel’s Funway Park (454 Charles Bancroft Highway in Litchfield; melsfunwaypark.com) offers minigolf, go karts, laser tag, arcade, batting cages, bumper boats, bounce houses and more. The park is open daily, with hours varying by day and attraction.

Playground road trip

Looking for low-cost summer fun? Check out the Live Free & Play Southern NH Playground Challenge, available at salemnh.myrec.com. The printout features a list of playgrounds in Salem, Auburn, Londonderry, Pelham, Milford, Merrimack and Danville.

• New Hampshire Audubon (nhaudubon.org) has two nearby centers — Massabesic Center (26 Audubon Way in Auburn) and McLane Center (84 Silk Farm Road in Concord). Both centers are open to visitors Wednesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Trails near the centers and in the Audubon’s 40 wildlife sanctuaries throughout the state are open daily, free of charge (though donations are welcome), the website said. Find maps and other information about the trails on the website, as well as a calendar of events.

• Prescott Farm Environmental Education Center (928 White Oaks Road in Laconia; prescottfarm.org) offers 160 acres of field, forest and gardens on 3+ miles of nature trails and a Natural Playscape, according to the website. The outdoor amenities are open daily from dawn to dusk; the Samuel P. Pardoe Building featuring visitor information, conservation displays and restrooms, is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., according to the website, where you can find a calender of special events and programs.

• Seacoast Science Center (in Ordiorne Point State Park, 570 Ocean Blvd in Rye; seacoastsciencecenter.org) offers exhibits, live animal displays and touch tanks featuring the nature of the New Hampshire coast and the Gulf of Maine. The center is open Tuesdays through Sundays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Advance purchase of tickets is recommended, according to the website where you can purchase both admission to the center and to Ordiorne Point State Park.

• Squam Lakes Natural Science Center (23 Science Center Road in Holderness; nhnature.org) offers animal exhibit trails featuring native animals as well as hiking trails, according to the website. The trails are currently open daily, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. (last admission is 3:30 p.m.). See the calendar for information on special tours, events and the narrated lake cruises. Admission to the trails costs $28 for adults, $26 for 65+ and $22 for ages 3 to 15. The 2025 Family Picnic “Friends of the Forest” will be held on Saturday, July 12, 5 to 8 p.m. and feature food, live music, lawn games, kids activities and more (see the website for tickets).

• Strawbery Banke Museum (14 Hancock St. in Portsmouth; strawberybanke.org) is open Wednesdays through Mondays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (and until 5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays in July and August). The museum’s historic houses and exhibits look at 350 years of Portsmouth history “from Indigenous history to the present day,” according to the website where you can find the calendar of special tours and events. Admission costs $24 for adults, $22 for 65+ and students, $12 for ages 5 to 17 and $60 for a family, the website said. Kids under 5 get in for free.

In a town near you

’Tis the season of reading programs at area libraries and live music in town green spaces. Some town and city events are meant just for residents and others don’t specify. Your location’s library and parks and recreation department will have the most up to date information about summer happenings. Here are some of the family-friendly highlights.

• Amherst: At the Amherst Town Library (amherstlibrary.org), Mondays are “Chalk the Walk” days, when chalk will be provided to draw on the sidewalk outside. The library is also kicking off its summer reading program with a concert featuring Steve Blunt Monday, June 16, at 6 p.m. (registration required).

The town’s big summer happening is the Amherst Fourth of July Celebration, which includes a parade (stepping off at 9:45 a.m.) and activities on the town green. See facebook.com/AmherstNHJuly4thCommittee.

• Auburn: The Griffin Free Public Library (griffinfree.org) is hosting its annual book sale Saturday, July 26, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m, and Sunday, July 27, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Auburn Village School in the gym.

Auburn Parks and Recreation will offer a concert series with monthly concerts at Circle of Fun Playground, 5 Bunker Hill Road, at 6 p.m. on the third Thursdays: Jennifer Mitchell Band on June 19, and Ukeladies on July 17; Bob Pratte Band on Aug. 21, according to the department’s newsletter.

Movies will also be screened at the Safety Complex (99 Raymond Road): Paddington in Peru on Friday, Aug. 8, at 8 p.m.; IF on Friday, Sept. 5, at 8 p.m., and Mufasa: The Lion King on Friday, Oct. 10, at 7 p.m., the newsletter said. See auburnnh.gov.

• Bedford: The Bedford Public Library ( bedfordnhlibrary.org) is also doing a summer reading kickoff concert with Steve Blunt — Tuesday, June 17, at 6:30 p.m. (registration required). A Wildlife Encounters event is scheduled for Monday, July 14, at 11 a.m. or 1 p.m. (registration required) for ages 6 to 12.

The Bedford Concerts in the Parks at the Gazebo in Bedford Village Common Park will run Wednesdays, June 25 through July 30, with a 6 p.m. start time, according to bedfordnh.myrec.com. To celebrate National Night Out, Bedford’s Police Department will play a softball game against Bedford Fire Department on Tuesday, Aug. 5, at 7 p.m., the website said.

• Bow: At the Baker Free Library (bowbakerfreelibrary.org), the summer reading kickoff party for kids is from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Friday, June 20, with a show featuring Magic Fred from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. A comics workshop for ages 8 to 14 is slated for Monday, June 23, at 3:30 p.m. with author Mat Heagarty (registration required). The library is also staging a production of The Wizard of Oz (register to participate) with a performance on Thursday, Aug. 7, at 5:30 p.m.

• Boscawen: The Boscawen Public Library (boscawenpubliclibrary.org) will hold its summer reading kickoff party Monday, June 23, from noon to 4 p.m. It will host Mr. Aaron on Tuesday, July 22, at 6:30 p.m.

See the performers

Some family-friendly performers make the rounds of libraries and other venues during the summer. Here are a few of the family performance favorites.

Miss Alli — Alli Beaudry has long been a regular on the local music scene and her family-friendly Miss Alli performances reach a whole new audience. Find updates at instagram.com/missallimusic

Mr. Aaron — Mr. Aaron offers classes as well as concerts. See a list of his upcoming engagements at area libraries at mraaronmusic.com/calendar.

Steve Blunt — Watch videos of Blunt’s performances at steveblunt.com, where you can also check back for updates on his scheduled appearances. He can sometimes be found at appearances with author Marty Kelley — the two have some upcoming library events scheduled, according to martykelley.com.

BJ Hickman — This family-friendly magician already has appearances booked at festivals this summer as well as a stretch of shows in August at the Palace. See bjhickman.com.

Magic Fred the Magician — Several library events are already on the summer schedule with Magic Fred; see magicfredshow.com.

Judy Pancoast — The singer/songwriter has a few New Hampshire library events on her schedule so far. See judypancoast.com.

Marek Bennett — A comics creator and musician, Bennett has some in-person library events on his upcoming schedule at marekbennett.com.

• Brookline: The Brookline Public Library (brooklinelibrarynh.org) will hold its summer reading kickoff party on Friday, June 20, at 11 a.m. with ice cream, bubbles, lawn games and more. A petting farm will come to the library on Thursday, June 26, at 2 p.m. (registration required). On Wednesday, July 2, at 10:30 a.m. visit the trucks of the Department of Public Works (registration required). Science gets tasty at STEM and Scoops with Sub Zero Nitrogen Ice Cream on Tuesday, July 22, at 3 p.m. (registration required). An arthropod petting zoo will be held Thursday, Aug. 7, at 6 p.m. (registration required).

• Concord: The Concord Public Library (concordnh.gov) will hold storytimes in the park on Wednesdays at 9:30 a.m.; see the website for a schedule of city parks.

Find Concord Parks and Recreation’s summer brochure online at concordnh.gov, where it lists programs as well as drop-in events like Saturday summer futsal. Find free concerts on Tuesday evenings (at parks across the city) and Sunday at 10 a.m. (White Park); check back with the department’s Facebook page for updates on Thursday concerts.

• Derry: The Derry Public Library (derrypl.org) has a packed schedule of summer events for kids. Register for fun such as Level Up Glow Dance Party on Tuesday, June 17, at 1:30 p.m.; FanCon on Saturday, June 21, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Library Field Day on Thursday, June 26, at 11 a.m.; and the end of the summer party with Steve Blunt on Thursday, Aug. 7, at 1 p.m. Game Day on Thursday, July 31, needs no registration.

Get live music in MacGregor Park (12 Boyd Road) on Tuesdays at 7 p.m. through Aug. 19. Next up on the schedule is The Reminisants, according to derrynh.gov.

• Dunbarton: The Dunbarton Public Library (dunbartonlibrary.org) will kick off its summer reading program with a concert featuring Steve Blunt and Marty Kelley on Wednesday, June 18, at 11 a.m. on the band stand. Additional summer fun includes a touch a truck on Wednesday, June 25, at 10:30 a.m.; a family concert with Mr. Aaron on Wednesday, July 23, at 10:30 a.m.; Raptor Rapture Outreach with Audubon on Tuesday, July 29, at 1 p.m. and more.

• Goffstown: The Goffstown Public Library ( goffstownlibrary.com) will hold its summer kickoff on Saturday, June 21, with art programs that day for kids, teens and adults (registration required). The library offers a full slate of workshops and programs for kids and teens throughout the summer, including, on Thursday, Aug. 14, the Great Cake Off for kids in grades 5 to 12 (registration required). The library will also offer regular opportunities for kids to read to Candy, the reading therapy dog (see the website to sign up).

• Hollis: Hollis Social Library (hollislibrary.org) will host the one-person Silver Circus on Monday, June 23, at 2 p.m. at the Lawrence Barn (registration recommended). Mr Aaron will play the barn on Friday, July 11, at 1 p.m. (registration required). The barn will also host a touch-a-truck on Wednesday, July 16, at 2 p.m. (registration required). Magic Fred will perform Friday, July 18, at the barn at 1 p.m. (registration required). The Pirate Guild the Brethren Order of the Northeast Sea will bring pirate fun to the barn on Saturday, Aug. 2, at 2 p.m. (registration required).

• Hooksett: The Hooksett Public Library ( hooksettlibrary.org) will hold a touch-a-truck event on Saturday, June 28, at 10 a.m.

• Hopkinton: Hopkinton Recreation Committee hosts the July 4th Family Fun Day in Riverway Park — a kids’ parade starts at 11 a.m. followed by the Independence Day parade at 11:30 a.m.; the Fun Day kicks off at noon in the park with live music by Brad Myrick, face painting, bounce houses, burgers and hot dogs, contests and more, according to hopkintonnh.myrec.com.

• Hudson: The George H. and Ella M. Rodgers Memorial Library (rodgerslibrary.org) will hold a Cupcake Caper & Birthday Party on Saturday, July 14, at 10 a.m. (registration required) and a Tie Dye for Everyone project on Wednesday, June 18 (register for specific time). Magician Mike Bent’s AbraKIDabra! Magic show is scheduled for Wednesday, June 25, at 2 p.m. (registration required). Other events to register for this summer include Wildlife Encounters on Wednesday, July 9, at 6 p.m., a Teddy Bear Picnic on Friday, July 11, at 10 a.m., Mr. Aaron on Wednesday, July 23, at 2 p.m. and multiple Storytime Safari outings in Benson Park.

• Litchfield: At the Aaron Cutler Memorial Library (litchfieldnh.gov/222/Aaron-Cutler-Memorial-Library) events include a family summer reading Kick-Off Concert with Mr. Aaron on Wednesday, June 25, at 10:30 a.m. (registration required), Tuesday scavenger hunts on the library lawn, Tween Summer Cupcake Wars on Thursday, July 10, at 4 p.m. (registration required), and a concert on the lawn with the Granite Statesmen Barbershop Chorus on Wednesday, July 16, at 6:30 p.m. (registration required).

• Londonderry: Get some new-to-you summer reads at the book sale at the Leach Library (londonderrynh.gov/371/Leach-Library) on Saturday, June 14, 10 a.m. to noon; Tuesday, June 17, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., and Saturday, June 21, from 10 a.m. to noon. Register for events including Pete the Cat’s visit to the library (Tuesday, June 24, at 11 a.m.; Wednesday, June 25, at 4 p.m., and Thursday, June 26, at 4 p.m.) and Children’s Cookie Decorating on Wednesday, June 18, at 4 p.m. No registration is required for a screening of Dog Man on Friday, June 27, at 1 p.m.

Outdoor adventures

Looking for minigolf or a state park? Check out our Best of 2025 readers’ poll results issue, which ran April 10 and features reader recommendations for all sorts of outdoor excitement.

• Loudon: At the Maxfield Public Library (maxfieldlibrary.com), kid-friendly offerings include a Summer Reading Kick Off with Jason Purdy Magic Show on Saturday, June 21, at 11 a.m. and a wrap-up event featuring Steve Blunt and Marty Kelley on Tuesday, Aug. 5, at 11 a.m., both at Charlie’s Barn/Loudon Community Building (29 South Village Road).

Summer Fun nights on Wednesdays at 6 p.m. in Loudon include Touch a Truck on July 9; Ice Cream Social on July 16; Freese Brothers Big Band on July 23 (6:30 p.m.); Wildlife Encounters on July 30; Mr. Aaron Band on Aug. 13 and a Pickleball Tournament on Aug. 20, according to loudonnh.org.

• Manchester: Manchester City Library (manchesterlibrary.org) offers programs for teens and kids throughout the summer — and the city, with bookmobile events (see the calendar for locations). Find community art projects on Mondays 10 to 11:30 a.m. at We Create Mornings, a drop-in event. Happenings to register for include Beach Party on Thursday, July 3, at 10 a.m. for ages 1 to 5; Escape Room on Wednesday, July 9, at 10 a.m. (grades 3 through 12); Captain Underpants Party on Wednesday, July 16, at 3 p.m. (grades preschool through 6), and more.

Check with manchesternh.gov/Departments/Parks-and-Recreation and with the department’s Facebook page for updates on the city’s pools.

• Merrimack: At the Merrimack Public Library (merrimack.aspendiscovery.org), the Friends of the Library will hold a book sale on Saturday, June 21, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The summer reading program will kick off with a Minecraft Party on Thursday, June 26, noon to 2 p.m. followed by a concert with Mr. Aaron at 6 p.m. in Abbie Griffin Park (registration required for both). Other events to register for include Old McDonny’s Friendly Petting Zoo in the park on Monday, July 21, at 11:30 a.m. and a Teddy Bear Picnic on Thursday, July 31, at noon.

Enjoy live music on Thursdays, June 26 through Aug. 21, at 6 p.m. in Abbie Griffin Park; the program kicks off with Mr. Aaron on June 26, according to merrimackparksandrec.org. The Town of Merrimack also hosts Fourth of July celebrations including a patriotic concert in the park on Thursday, July 3, at 6:30 p.m.; the Sparkler 5K Road Race and Pancake Breakfast, both on July 4 starting at 8 a.m.; the Fourth of July parade at 1 p.m. and fireworks display at Merrimack High School at 9:15 p.m. (the evening starts at 7 p.m. with music and food vendors), according to merrimackparksandrec.org/4th-of-july.

• Milford: At the Wadleigh Memorial Library (wadleighlibrary.org), the teen summer reading kickoff is Friday, June 13, at 3 p.m. and a children’s Level Up at Your Library party with yard games and a hot dog dinner is at 6 p.m. (no registration needed for either). Other events include the Silver Circus on Wednesday, June 18, at 1 p.m. at the Amato Center; a Red, White & Bluey party on Thursday, July 3, at 10 a.m. and Cookie Wars on Wednesday, July 30, at 2 p.m.

Milford Recreation will hold its 4th Annual Keyes Summer Bash on Saturday, June 21, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. featuring touch a truck, food trucks, kid activities, music and more in Keyes Memorial Park, according to milfordnh.recdesk.com

• Nashua: The Nashua Public Library (nashualibrary.org) will hold its summer reading kickoff on Friday, June 20, from 6 to 8 p.m. featuring a life-size Hungry Hippo game, Mario Kart Live!, popcorn, snow cones and more, the website said. See the website for a rundown of programs for children, tweens and teens each week.

The city also offers a full calendar of SummerFun programming including Tuesday concerts in the park at 7 p.m.; a Tree Street Block Party on Ash Street on Saturday, June 14, from 2 to 6 p.m.; July 4 event that includes a Silver Knights Game, a free concert and more events leading up to a fireworks show; the Nashua Community Music School’s Musical Playgroup; the National Police Night out on Aug. 5, a Nashua Goes Back to School event at the library on Thursday, Aug. 21, at 5 p.m. and more. See nashuanh.gov.

• New Boston: Whipple Free Library (whipplefreelibrary.org) will hold its summer kickoff with Wildlife Encounters on Monday, June 23, at 6:30 p.m. at the Town Common. In addition to story times, movie nights, teen events and more, the library will hold craft events, such as Build Your Own Pokemon Terrarium on Monday, July 14, at 6 p.m. (registration required).

Catch Concerts on the Common every other Tuesday evening at 6 p.m. at the New Boston Common starting June 24 with the Freese Brothers Big Band, according to newbostonnh.gov/recreation, where you can find the lineup.

• Salem: At the Kelley Library (kelleylibrary.org), the summer reading fun starts Monday, June 23. Check back for updates.

Salem is celebrating its 275th anniversary with a series of events all year, including a reenactment of the return of Lafayette on Saturday, June 21, at 2 p.m.; Salem Nights at Hedgehog Park starting Tuesday, July 8; Salembration on Saturday, Aug. 9, and more, according to salemnh.gov/1097/Anniversary-Events-Info.

• Windham: Nesmith Library (nesmithlibrary.org) starts the summer celebrations with a Tween School End Celebration on Thursday, June 12, at 6:30 p.m. for grades 5-8. The official Summer Reading Kick-Off featuring mini\golf will be Tuesday, June 24, starting at 4 p.m. (register for a time slot). Other events include Fun Cart Friday (find STEAM-related projects and play from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., June 27 through Aug. 1), a Summer Scavenger Hunt (Monday, June 30, through Saturday, July 5), Wildlife Encounters (Wednesday, July 9, at 10:30 a.m. or 1:30 p.m.; registration required); Meet the Town Vehicles (Wednesday, July 30, 10:30 a.m. to noon), and Magician Mike Bent’s AbraKIDabra (Wednesday, Aug. 6, at 10:30 a.m. or 1:30 p.m.; registration required), as well as a variety of children, tween and teen events.

Windham will hold Concerts on the Common (Emerson Carracedo on Saturday, June 14, at 2 p.m.; Windham Swing Band on Saturday, Aug. 23, at 1 p.m.) and Concerts at Griffin Park (PopRoks on Tuesday, July 15, at 6:30 p.m.; Relative Soul on Thursday, July 24, at 6:30 p.m.) and a Bubble Dance Party in Griffin Park on Thursday, Aug. 7, with the Fire Department, Police Department and Recreation Department followed by a movie (Moana 2) at 8 p.m., according to windham.recdesk.com. Catch an early Independence Day celebration on Wednesday, June 25, at Windham High School with a band, food vendors and fireworks; parking lot opens at 5:30 p.m.

More fun this weekend

This week, we made the whole cover story Kiddie Pool! The Kiddie Pool is our weekly column of kid and family fun. Other events happening this weekend:

On Friday, June 13, at 11:30 a.m., Gibson’s Bookstore (45 S. Main St. in Concord; gibsonsbookstore.com) offers a supersized story time. Four New Hampshire authors will attend with their picture books: David Preece and Jim Webber with Mr. Higgins to the Rescue, Katy Hunt with There’s a Wub in the Tub and Heidi Solomon-Orlick with I Have a Voice: A Book of Listening, according to the website.

At Bookery Manchester (844 Elm St.; bookerymht.com), there are three kid events on the schedule this week. On Thursday, June 12, at 11:30 a.m., the storytime will feature Mickey Davis and her book Noy, The Little Laotian Ambassador, according to the website, where you can reserve your spot. The event is free and geared at kids ages 2 to 10.
On Friday, June 13, from 5 to 7 p.m., the bookstore celebrates the spooky day with a Halfway to Halloween Party for kids (recommended ages 6 to 12). The event will feature games, prizes, a costume contest and more, according to the website, where you can reserve a spot.
And on Saturday, June 14, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. the story will host Scholastic’s nationwide Fire Fanwing Fest for readers of the Wings of Fire series. The event will feature games, activities and giveaways, the website said.

As the “Second Saturday” in June, Saturday, June 14, features free admission for New Hampshire residents to the Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St. in Manchester; currier.org). The museum is open Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Celebrate Father’s Day — Sunday, June 15 — at Charmingfare Farm (774 High St. in Candia; visitthefarm.com) with free admission, a ride wristband and a meal for dads, according to the website. Fathers accompanied by kids 12 and under can have a complimentary meal at the barbecue party (loaded hamburger or two hot dogs with chips and a drink), the website said. General tickets cost $23 or $29 with a ride wristband, which includes pony ride, horse-drawn ride and a tractor train ride, according to the website, where you can purchase advance admission (required for free father admission).

The Nashua Silver Knights will celebrate Father’s Day after their Sunday, June 15, 3 p.m. game at Holman Stadium (67 Amherst St., Nashua) with post-game catch on the field. See nashuasilverknights.com.

News & Notes 25/06/12

Hurricane season

The Atlantic hurricane season started June 1 and runs through Nov. 30, and the Red Cross is urging people to be prepared for the season predicted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to see 13 to 19 named storms, according to a Red Cross press release from its Northern New England Region office in Manchester. The release says even people living inland are at risk for wind, thunderstorms, flooding and power outages. The Red Cross Emergency app, which is free, offers weather alerts, open shelter locations and advice in English and Spanish, the release said. Find more on the app at redcross.org.

Forest lands

The Southeast Land Trust of New Hampshire acquired a 99-acre parcel of the Robert Rix Family Forest in Deerfield on May 14, an addition to the 4.5 acres donated last year and a 70.5-acre parcel across the street donated in 2022, according to a SELT press release. The Robert Rix Family Forest, consisting of the three parcels, is owned and managed by SELT in honor of Robert Rix Sr., father of Robert and Brill Rix, who donated the land, the release said. See seltnh.org for a look at SELT’s lands and trails as well as more on the organization.

NH Humanities

Tickets are on sale now for the New Hampshire Humanities 2005 Annual Celebration for the Humanities on Thursday, Oct. 9, featuring keynote speaker Akhil Reed Amar, an author and constitutional scholar, in conversation to Laura Knoy, according to an email from NH Humanities. “The Remaking of the American Constitution” is the subject of the talk, the email said. The evening begins at 7 p.m., doors open at 6 p.m., at the Bank of NH Stage, 16 S. Main St. in Concord. Tickets cost $44 general admission, $166 for a VIP ticket; add $40 for a copy of Amar’s 2025 book Born Equal: Remaking America’s Constitution 1840-1920,according to ccanh.com, where you can purchase tickets.

Design contest

The New Hampshire Secretary of State David M. Scanlan announced the launch of a contest to “find an original heirloom marriage certificate design,” according to a press release from the Secretary of State’s office. “The winning design, which should combine the joy of marriage with the beauty of New Hampshire, will be the official heirloom marriage certificate issued by the state. The contest is being executed by State Registrar and Vital Records Director Kristin Martino. Ms. Martino drew inspiration for the contest from an 1886 decorative marriage certificate she found while searching for antiques,” the release said. The contest is open through Sept. 5 to New Hampshire residents 18+ and designs “must be [non-religious] with a focus on New Hampshire and cannot be inappropriate or offensive,” the release said. See sos.nh.gov.

Members of either the McAuliffe Shepard Discovery Center (2 Institute Drive in Concord, starhop.com) or the North East Motorsports Museum (922 Route 106N in Loudon; nemsmuseum.com) can enjoy free admission to the other museum during June, according to a press release from North East Motorsports Museum, which is open Saturdays and Sundays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. During the summer, the Discovery Center is open daily from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The Pierce Manse, 14 Horseshoe Pond Lane in Concord, piercemanse.org, the onetime home of President Franklin Pierce and his family, will host Ed Brouder to discuss his book Manchester’s Airport: Flying Through Time on Wednesday, June 18, at 2 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

The New Hampshire Jewish Film Festival Movie Club will present the 2024 documentary Sabbath Queen on Sunday, June 22, at 3 p.m. at Chunky’s Cinema Pub, 707 Huse Road in Manchester. Tickets cost $10; see jewishnh.org/community-calendar/movie-club-sabbath-queen.

Science Cafe NH will feature a panel discussing “The Impacts of Technology on Child Development” on Tuesday, June 17, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Soel Sistas, 30 Temple St. in Nashua, according to an email. The event is free. See facebook.com/sciencecafenh.

Legendary voices

Crowned28 tribute show honors icons

In 2023, when Jordan Quinn did her tribute to generations of great female singers, called “Queens,” it was a one-woman show. She had backing vocalists, but the artists she chose were solo icons: Aretha, Whitney, Cher, Dolly, Gaga and the like. For her latest take on the format, the Manchester performer decided to open up the playing field a bit.

The result is Crowned28, a night of music that includes the aforementioned solo stars but also songs from groups, like the Pointer Sisters, and LaBelle, with its ’70s smash, “Lady Marmalade,” and a version of “I Say a Little Prayer” that, although an Aretha Franklin hit, hints at what Diana Ross & the Supremes might have done with it.

The show is also more theatrical this time around, Quinn explained in a recent phone interview.

“It allows me to blossom and transform into other people, which I really enjoy doing,” she said. “We try to take advantage of that, bring out a side that maybe you wouldn’t see in a typical tribute show with some of these artists.”

The costumes and choreography reflect this, and the milieu also has changed from the last production, which was done for a seated audience at Manchester’s Rex Theatre. This show is cabaret style and will be held in the Angel City Event Space of Rock ‘n Roll Meatballs on Elm Street.

“We are selling more tickets than there are seats, so there will be more standing around,” Quinn said. This will allow the singers to mingle and dance with the crowd, creating a nightclub vibe. Along with Quinn, there are two featured singers, each of whom will have their own spotlight during the show.

Mariah Delage won the Best Voice In Keene competition last year and appeared as a featured dancer in the Actorsingers’ recent production of Legally Blonde. Aysa Carnucci has worked with Palace Youth Theatre, Exeter’s Pine Street Players and the Amato Center’s dance company.

For Quinn, singing together with Delage and Carnucci is Quinn’s is a highlight of Crowned28.

“I really like the ensemble pieces; I love sharing the stage with them,” she said. “‘Lady Marmalade’ is one of my favorites, and the Pointer Sisters’ ‘I’m So Excited’ and then, of course, listening to the other girls sing Cher and Christina Aguilera is just a gift.”

For her solo turns, Quinn enjoys doing Tina Turner’s “Simply the Best,” and her take on Celine Dion covering “All By Myself” while decked out in an all-white suit was a showstopper in “Queens.” The three singers also do a solid version of Linda Ronstadt’s “You’re No Good” and give Heart’s “Barracuda” a terrific three-part harmony that it never had before.

While she continues to perform in the area’s restaurants and bars as a solo artist, Quinn is carving a niche with shows like Crowned28. It’s a pursuit that’s less about enjoying tributes, though watching her convincingly cover Donna Summer or Pat Benatar makes it clear she likes it.

“It’s the fact that it’s mine,” she said. “I grew up in the theater industry, and the whole idea behind creating my own show is because when you go into an audition for a musical theater piece, all you have is 36 bars to sing in front of the director. Then the director and their team decide if you’re right for the part or not. Thirty-six bars is like a minute of singing. In my mind, it’s like I am so much more capable than just 36 bars.”

Shaping a mood and casting an ensemble, which includes a band with drummer Stephen Baberadt, Greg Kieffer on guitar, bass player Jack Lianos and Derek Tanch on keyboards, is more satisfying than just taking part in a show, she continued.

“I feel like I’m able to show all of my capabilities, I think that’s what’s really exciting, because I have found a way to not limit myself,” she said. “There is no one category that everyone belongs in [and] I wanted to create a theatrical piece that everyone can enjoy, but also to showcase that we don’t belong in one category.”

Crowned28 – A Celebration of Iconic Women in Music
When: Thursday, June 5, 8 p.m.
Where: Angel City Event Space/Rock N Roll Meatballs, 179 Elm St., Unit B, Manchester
Tickets: $20 at eventbrite.com

Featured photo. From left to right: Mariah Delage, Jordan Quinn and Aysa Carnucci Courtesy photo.

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