Category: This Week

Friday, Sept. 6

Oliver!, the musical based on Charles Dickens’ Oliver Twist, kicks off the St. Mary’s Bank 2024-2025 Performing Arts Series at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester, palacetheatre.org) which offers a steampunk version of Victorian England for its production, according to a post on the theater’s Facebook page. The show runs tonight through Sunday, Sept. 29, with shows Friday at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday 2 and 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. as well as Thursday, Sept. 26, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $45 to $59.

Friday, Sept. 6

September’s First Friday tonight from 4 to 8 p.m. in downtown Concord is all about Back to School. Find food trucks, yoga on the Statehouse lawn, a Children’s Entrepreneur Market run entirely by children, pot painting, face painting, wine-tasting and outdoor dining. Visit intownconcord.org.

Saturday, Sept. 7

There will be a Thunder Run (thunderrunnh.com) today at 446 Raymond Road, Candia (the former site of Candia Springs). This race features more than 20 different obstacles and 5K of varied terrain. It bills itself as the best obstacle run experience in New Hampshire. Registration is $75 for adults and $40 for children. Group discounts are available. Register at the event website.

Saturday, Sept. 7

This year’s Monarch Festival (petalsinthepines.com/monarch-festival) concludes this weekend at Petals in the Pines (126 Baptist Road, Canterbury, 783-0220, petalsinthepines.com). Online reservations for two-hour time slots are required; the cost is $7 for adults, $3.50 for kids, and infants (non-walkers) get in free. Learn about ways to help migrating monarchs and other pollinators at the festival, which will feature kids’ activities and games, monarch tagging, book readings, labyrinths, ask a master gardener, free milkweed seeds and 2 miles of woodland trails and garden paths, according to a press release. Butterfly wings and costumes are encouraged, according to the website.

Saturday, Sept. 7

Today marks the 19th annual Pedaling for Payson Bike Event at Elm Brook Park (2097 Maple St., Hopkinton). This community event annually attracts more than 300 cyclists who help to support Concord Hospital Payson Center for Cancer Care. Choose from various routes: 50-mile, 30-mile, 16-mile, mountain bike, 22-mile gravel and 45-mile gravel rides. New this year is the P4P Spin Ride; sign up for a 40-minute wave, either as an individual or as a team, and spin for a good cause. Visit runsignup.com/Race/NH/Hopkinton/PedalingforPayson for registration costs and information.

Sunday, Sept. 8

Granite State Antique Shows (506-9848, gsashows.com) will stage an antique show today from 8:30 a.m. to noon at Granite Town Plaza (185 Elm St., Milford). General admission is $5 per person; early admission (beginning at 7 a.m.) is $30 per person.

Sunday, Sept. 8

Second Chance Ranch Rescue (secondchanceranchrescue.com) in New Boston is hosting its 4th Annual Poker Ride today from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The participants (cars and motorcycles) must visit five checkpoints, drawing a playing card at each one to create a poker hand. Having the best hand and winning is purely a matter of chance. Begin at Manchester Harley-Davidson (115 John E. Devine Drive, Manchester, 836-4997, manchesterharley.com) at 9 a.m. and show your hand at the Auburn Pitts (167 Rockingham Road, Auburn, 622-6564, auburnpitts.com) by 1 p.m.

Wednesday, Sept. 12

The BNH Stage (16 S. Main St., Concord, 225-1111, ccanh.com) will host Choir! Choir! Choir! tonight at 7 p.m. This is a fully interactive, participatory show that turns audience members into performers as they sing their hearts out with hundreds of other music-lovers. It’s like a big birthday party for the greatest songs of all time. General admission tickets are $43.75 in advance; balcony seats are $10 more. All tickets will cost an additional $5 at the door. Visit ccanh.com.

Wags to Whiskers Festival
Saturday, Sept. 16, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Anheuser-Busch Brewery (221 DW Highway, Merrimack, 595-1202, anheuser-busch.com/breweries/merrimack-nh). It will be a day of fun, featuring vendors, food trucks, demos, games and raffles. There will be an adoption tent on site with puppies. Visit hsfn.org/wags-whiskers-festival. Tickets are $15 for adults 21 and up, $12 for ages 17 to 20. Ages 16 and younger attend free.

Featured photo: Oliver at the Palace Theater.

Thursday, Aug. 29

Don’t miss this year’s Hopkinton State Fair, a Labor Day weekend tradition happening today through Monday, Sept. 2, at the Fairgrounds (392 Kearsarge Ave., Contoocook). See hsfair.org and check out the Kiddie Pool column on page 18 for more details.

Thursday, Aug. 29

Get an early start on the last (unofficial) weekend of summer with some “Piano Man” at Scenes: A Billy Joel Experience tonight at 7:15 p.m. at LaBelle Winery in Derry. Tickets cost $40; see labellewinery.com.

Friday, Aug. 30

Monstersongs presented by Actorsingers opens today in Nashua. “Monstersongs puts audiences in a synthesized world of graphic novels, rock musicals, live performance and new technology. … Monstersongs flips the switch on the monster narrative, inviting audiences to explore the humanity that binds us all,” according to actorsingers.org. The production runs today and Saturday, Aug. 31, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Sept. 1, at 2 p.m. at Janice B. Streeter Theatre (14 Court St., Nashua). Tickets cost $20 for adults, $18 for students (plus online fees).

Friday, Aug. 30

Tribute band Marcus Rezak’s Gumbo Live Phish Experience will perform at the Bank of New Hampshire Stage (16 S. Main St., Concord, 225-1111, ccanh.com) tonight at 9 p.m. Tickets cost $24 in advance, $5 more at the door.

Friday, Aug. 30

Jewel Music Venue (61 Canal St., Manchester, 819-9336, jewelmusicvenue.com) hosts Leathal Weekend 7, a shredding Labor Day weekend event, through Sunday, Sept. 1. Seventeen intense bands will take to the stage over three days, including Kottonmouth Kings, First Jason, Dr. Gigglez, Problemattik, and Lex the Hex Master. This is an 18+ event; ID is required. Single-day passes are $35; weekend passes are $90. Tickets are available through eventbrite.com.

Saturday, Aug. 31

Labor Day weekend is a big weekend for paintball. Paintball companies throughout the region are holding special events this weekend, including AG Paintball (158 Deering Center Road, Weare, 529-3524, agpaintball.com) and OSG Paintball (1053 North Barnstead Road. Center Barnstead, 800-707-7529, osgpaintball.com).

Saturday, Aug. 31

There will be a Taylor & Olivia Dance Party at the BNH Stage (16 S. Main St., Concord, 225-1111, ccanh.com) tonight at 7 p.m. Vampires and Lovers should be ready to spill their guts and shake it off on the dancefloor to Taylivia faves. This is an all-ages event. Tickets are $21.75 and are available at ccanh.com.

Save the Date! Sunday, Sept. 15
Less Leg More Heart (lesslegmoreheart.com), which supports amputees, will host a Firetruck Team Pull at the Anheuser-Busch Brewery (221 DW Highway, Merrimack)h) on Sunday, Sept. 15, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Teams of up to 12 get two attempts to pull a 40,000- to 60,000-pound fire engine 50 feet. The top three teams will win a trophy. Individuals can also pull a 1938 antique fire truck weighing nearly 11,000 pounds. The top three individuals will win a trophy. Registration is currently free for teams with a pledge to raise $250 in fundraising; individual registration is $25. Register at lesslegmoreheart.com/events.

Featured photo: Hopkinton State Fair.

Friday, Aug. 23

The two-day New Hampshire Irish Festival begins today, with shows tonight at 6 p.m. and Saturday, Aug. 24, at 6 p.m at the Palace Theatre, 80 Hanover St. in Manchester. Each night will feature six bands: The Spain Brothers, Ronan Tynan, Derek Warfield and the Young Wolfe Tones, Reverie Road, Seamus Kennedy and Screaming Orphans. Meanwhile, at the Spotlight Room, 96 Hanover St., catch Marty Quirk (5 p.m.) and Black Pudding Rovers (6:30 p.m.) on Friday and, on Saturday, Speed the Plough (3 p.m.), Marty Quirk (4:30 p.m.), Black Pudding Rovers (6 p.m.) and Erin Og (7:30 p.m.). The Spotlight Room shows are free. Reserve tickets online. Palace Theatre show tickets start at $49 for one day or $79 for a weekend pass. See palacetheatre.org.

Saturday, Aug. 24

The second annual Wildflower Festival will take place today from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. in downtown Milford. Walk around and check out the art market, grab a bite to eat from one of the food vendors and support local artists. Then head into town for a drink at one of Milford’s local businesses. Music will be from 6 to 9 p.m., with live performances from Winkler, Sneaky Miles and Rigometrics. Proceeds from the festival will be dedicated to the creation of pollinator gardens and bee hotels throughout the town of Milford.

Saturday, Aug. 24

The New England Racing Museum (New Hampshire Motor Speedway, 922 Route 106, Loudon, 783-0183, nemsmuseum.com) will host its annual Hot Rods, Muscle and More Car Show today from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This event will feature more than 250 vehicles with proceeds to support the mission of the Museum. The cost for spectators is $5 per person with kids under 12 admitted free. To learn more, visit nermuseum.com.

Saturday, Aug. 24

The 11th annual New Hampshire Monarch Festival (petalsinthepines.com/monarch-festival) begins this weekend at Petals in the Pines (126 Baptist Road, Canterbury, petalsinthepines.com, 783-0220). Online reservations for two-hour time slots are required; the cost is $7 for adults, $3.50 for kids, and infants (non-walkers) get in free. Learn about ways to help migrating monarchs and other pollinators at the festival, which will feature kids’ activities and games, monarch tagging, book readings, labyrinths, ask a master gardener, free milkweed seeds and 2 miles of woodland trails and garden paths, according to a press release. Butterfly wings and costumes are encouraged, according to the website.

Saturday, Aug. 24

The Capital Mineral Club (capitalmineralclub.org) will host the 60th Annual Gem, Mineral & Jewelry Show today from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Everett Arena (15 Loudon Road, Concord). There will be gems, jewelry, minerals, fossils, carvings, displays, demonstrations, and more. Admission for adults is $5 and free for children under 12.

Save the Date! Friday, Aug. 30
Jewel Music Venue (61 Canal St., Manchester, 819-9336, jewelmusicvenue.com) will host a shredding Labor Day weekend with 17 intense bands taking the stage Friday, Aug. 30, through Sunday, Sept. 1, including Kottonmouth Kings, First Jason, Dr. Gigglez, Problemattik, and Lex the Hex Master. This is an 18+ event; ID is required. Single-day passes are $35; weekend passes are $90. Tickets are available through eventbrite.com.

Featured photo: Screaming Orphans.

Thursday, Aug. 15

The Hampton Beach Comedy Festival continues through Sunday, Aug. 18, with shows featuring six comedians starting at 8 p.m. daily at McGuirk’s Ocean View Hotel & Restaurant. Michael Witthaus talked to Jimmy Dunn, the festival’s organizer, and offers a rundown of the comedians slated to perform in the cover story in the Aug. 8 issue of the Hippo. Find it in our digital library at hippopress.com; the story starts on page 10.

Thursday, Aug. 15

It’s Paint Nite at Salona Bar & Grill (128 Maple St., Manchester, 624-4020, facebook.com/Salona) tonight from 7 to 9 p.m. Enjoy food and drinks with your friends, then share some laughs while you create a painting of your very own from start to finish. Tickets are $39 each on Eventbrite.com.

Thursday, Aug. 15

Gibson’s Bookstore (45 S. Main St., Concord, 224-0562, gibsonsbookstore.com), New Hampshire Public Radio and the Capitol Center for the Arts (44 S. Main St., Concord, 225-1111, ccanh.com) welcome best-selling author Jodi Picoult to the Chubb Theatre tonight at 7 p.m. for an evening of literary discussion of her new novel, By Any Other Name. This is part of their author series, Authors on Main. Picoult will be in conversation with NHPR’s Casey McDermott. A meet-and-greet photo line will follow the event. Tickets are $40 and include a pre-signed hardcover copy of By Any Other Name. There will be no signing line at this event.

Saturday, Aug. 17

Combat Zone 85 is coming to the SNHU Arena (555 Elm St., Manchester, 644-5000, snhuarena.com) today at 6 p.m. Mixed Martial Arts Welterweight Champion Sean Wakefield will defend his title against Middleweight Champion Lucas Moreira. Combat Zone, New England’s longest-running fight promotion, promises 15 action-packed bouts, two of them title fights. Tickets start at $29..

Saturday, Aug. 17

Tonight is Swing Dance Night at the Capitol Center for the Arts (44 S. Main St., Concord, 225-1111, ccanh.com). Swing dancing lessons start at 6:30 p.m., followed by dancing at 7 p.m. Participants can dance the night away or just come to enjoy the exciting sounds of the 19-piece New Hampshire Jazz Orchestra. Tickets are $30.75.

Saturday, Aug. 17

Double Midnight Comics Concord (341 Loudon Road, Concord, 715-2683, dmcomics.com) will host a Pokemon League challenge today at noon. All players are welcome. Entry is $5, and there will be pack-per-win prizing.

Sunday, Aug. 18

There will be a router workshop at Rockler Woodworking and Hardware (290 S. Broadway, Suite 3A, Salem, 898-5941, rockler.com) today from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. This class is an opportunity to learn about the router and its use in woodworking. Tickets for this workshop are $75.

Save the Date! Saturday, Aug. 24 – Monster Hunt Manchester
For the 12th year, Studio 550 Arts Center (550 Elm St., Manchester, 232-5597, 550arts.com) and Queen City Cupcakes (816 Elm St., Manchester, 624-4999, qccupcakes.com) will hide 100 red clay monsters in downtown Manchester. Monster finders get the immediate reward of being able to keep the monster they find. All searchers are asked to keep only one, even if they see more, so the joy can be shared by as many people as possible. The public all-ages hunt begins after a kickoff meeting at 11 a.m. at City Hall Plaza. Visit 550arts.com/about/monsterhunt.

Featured photo: Jimmy Dunn.

Thursday, Aug. 8

It’s Jaws Week at Chunky’s (707 Huse Road, Manchester, 206-3888, chunkys.com). Tickets for the are on sale now. Sponsored by Narragansett Beer (narragansettbeer.com), the classic 1975 shark movie will be screened until Wednesday, Aug. 14, at 7 p.m. each evening, accompanied by retro 1975-inspired cans of Narragansett, swag and shark-bite bowls. Doors open at 6 p.m.

Thursday, Aug. 8

Hudson’s Old Home Days run Thursday, Aug. 8, to Sunday, Aug. 11, on the grounds of the Hill House (211 Derry Road, Hudson). There will be carnival games, live music, fireworks, food and more — 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.

Thursday, Aug. 8

It’s the opening day of the 66th annual New Hampshire Antiques Show, hosted by the New Hampshire Antique Dealers Association, at the DoubleTree by Hilton Manchester Downtown (700 Elm St.in Manchester). The show runs through Aug. 10 and will feature nearly 60 professional antique dealers. Show hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. Tickets are $15 on Thursday; $10 on Friday and Saturday. Visit nhada.org.

Thursday, Aug. 8

Cirque du Soleil returns to SNHU Arena (555 Elm St., Manchester, 644-5000, snhuarena.com) with its high-energy and high-acrobatic production “Ovo,” a colorful intrusion into a new day in the life of insects. Performances will be today at 7 p.m., Friday, Aug. 9, at 7 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 10, at 3 and 7 p.m, and Sunday Aug. 11, at 1 and 5 p.m. Tickets start at $45.

Saturday, Aug. 10

Brookford Farm (250 West Road, Canterbury, 742-4084, brookfordfarm.com) will host a Sunflower Soiree today through Sunday, Aug. 18, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. Enjoy sunflowers, food, hay rides, a sunflower stroll, sunflower picking, a cow parade and more. General admission tickets are $10 online and $15 at the door. See brookfordfarm.com.

Saturday, Aug. 10

It’s free admission Saturday for New Hampshire residents at the Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St. in Manchester; currier.org), which is open today from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. In the Creative Studio from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., make paper flowers inspired by the work of Daniel Otero Torres, whose “Sonidos Del Crepúsculo (Twilight Sounds)” exhibit is on display now through Oct. 6.

Wednesday, Aug. 14

School of Rock (PG-13, 2003) will screen in Veterans Park in Manchester today at dusk, according to a post on the Manchester Economic Development Office Facebook page.

Wednesday, Aug. 14

Outdoor Movies in Concord with Concord Parks and Rec and Red River Theaters will show Jurassic Park today at sundown in Memorial Field.

Save the Date! Friday, Aug. 16
There will be a Silent Dance Party at the Auburn Pitts (167 Rockingham Road, Auburn, 622-6564, auburnpitts.com), Friday, Aug. 16, from 7 to 11:30 p.m. Paricipants will use a pair of three-channel headphones, each with a different playlist. Tickets can be purchased in advance at gsgnh.org for $20. Admission will be $25 at the door. All proceeds will go to Granite State Generocity, to aid their mission of helping people in New Hampshire with debilitating illness or disabilities.

Featured photo: Jaws.

Thursday, Aug. 1

UNH Extension Master Gardeners will answer your gardening questions to Ask a Master Gardener Day, at New Hampshire Audubon’s Massabesic Center (26 Audubon Way, Auburn, 224-9909, nhaudubon.org) today, from 9 to 11 a.m. This event is free to attend.

Thursday, Aug. 1

The 7th Annual Rotary Trails 2 Ales 5K race (rotarytrails2ales.com) will take place today, starting at 6 p.m. in Legacy Park (200-224 New Boston Road, Bedford); runners can sign in starting at 5:30 p.m. Everyone attending can enjoy a burger and a drink and play cornhole. Adults 21+ are invited to taste a variety of craft beers and wines. Kids 12 and under are admitted free and can run the trails without registering. They will not receive a bib or be timed. The race will be capped at 500 runners. Registration is $30 on the race website.

Friday, Aug. 2

Celebrate the Dog Days of Summer tonight at Intown Concord’s First Friday in the city’s downtown. The evening will feature live music, food trucks, an outdoor screening of Jaws, a dog agility contest and more. See intownconcord.org.

Saturday, Aug. 3

The Merrimack Garden Club will hold its annual plant sale today starting at 8 a.m. at St. James Methodist Church, 646 DW Highway in Merrimack. See merrimackgardenclub.org.

Saturday, Aug. 3

Canterbury Shaker Village (288 Shaker Road, Canterbury, 783-9511, shakers.org) will begin a weeklong celebration today of the 250th anniversary of the establishment of the Shaker faith. Today, there will be a special dedication ceremony at 10 a.m. for the Postal Service’s 2024 series of first-class stamps honoring Shaker design. Other activities this week will include lectures, tours and the opening of a new museum exhibition “Keeping Faith.” All events are free of charge.

Sunday, Aug. 4

Merrimack High School’s FIRST Robotics team, Chop Shop 166 (ChopShop166.com), will host “Cars, Robots, and Coffee,” a combination car show and robotics demonstration, this morning from 8 a.m. to noon. Automobiles of all types are welcome to register or show up to participate in the Car Show portion of the event. Admission is free for spectators.

Sunday, Aug. 4

Heavy metal bands Lamb of God and Mastodon will perform at the SNHU Arena as part of their Ashes of Leviathan Tour (555 Elm St., Manchester, 644-5000, snhuarena.com) today at 6 p.m., celebrating 20 years of Ashes of the Wake and Leviathan. Tickets start at $20.

Save the Date! Friday, Aug. 9
The 2024 Manchester International Film Festival is set for Friday, Aug. 9, and Saturday, Aug. 10, at the Rex Theatre (823 Amherst St., Manchester, 668-5588, palacetheatre.org). Films will include animation, New England short films, LGBTQ+ films, international short films and more. Friday registration and check-in will begin at 6 p.m.; the doors to the theater will open at 6:30 p.m., and the program will begin at 7 p.m. On Saturday, the doors will open at 6 p.m., and the program will begin at 6:30 p.m. Passes for each night will be sold separately for $20 each at palacetheatre.org.

Featured photo: Ashes of the Leviathan Tour.