Category: This Week

Big Events May 18, 2023 and beyond

Thursday, May 18

Find new ways to help the community at The Greater Nashua Volunteer Fair today at 4 p.m. at the Nashua Public Library (2 Court St. in Nashua; nashualibrary.org). There will be more than 30 organizations looking for teen and adult volunteers to sign up.

Saturday, May 20

The Greater Nashua Habitat for Humanity is hosting its Third Annual Cornhole for a Cause, a tournament fundraiser for the shelter, today at The Biergarten at Merrimack Anheuser-Busch (221 Daniel Webster Hwy., Merrimack). The event starts at 11 a.m. and registration is $75 for a team of two players. There will be raffles and other prizes to win, and registered team members will receive commemorative T-shirts. Visit nashuahabitat.org to register.

Saturday, May 20

It’s another big plant sale weekend! The Bedford Garden Club (bedfordgardenclubnh.org) will hold its sale today at the Bedford Village Common (15 Bell Hill Road) from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The Goffstown Community Garden Club (facebook.com/goffstowngardenclub) will hold its sale at the Goffstown Commons on Main Street from 8 a.m. to noon. The Nashua Garden Club (nashuanhgardenclub.org) will hold its sale at the Nashua Historical Society (5 Abbott St. in Nashua) from 8 a.m. to noon. The Massabesic Garden Club (massabesicgc.org) will hold its sale today from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Griffin Free Library (22 Hooksett Road in Auburn) on the patio. The Milford Garden Club (milfordnhgardenclub.org) will hold its sale from 8:30 a.m. to noon on the Community House lawn. Stop by the Unitarian Universalist Church of Manchester (669 Union St. in Manchester; uumanchester.org) from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. for their plant sale. Project Inspire 603 (find them on Facebook) is holding a sale Friday, May 19, and today, May 20, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 88 Kelsey Mill Road in Northwood (the sale raises funds for school supplies). The GFWC Dover Area Women’s Club (doverareagfwc.org) is holding its spring plant sale at the Greater Dover Chamber of Commerce (550 Central Ave. in Dover) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Know of an upcoming plant sale? Let us know at [email protected].

Saturday, May 20

The Capitol Center for the Arts (44 S. Main St. in Concord; ccanh.com) will feature Samantha Bee on its Chubb Theatre stage tonight in her self-titled show Samantha Bee: Your Favorite Womanat 8 p.m. Bee currently holds the title for being the longest-serving regular Daily Show correspondent of all time and is known for her own weekly late-night show, Full Frontal with Samantha Bee. Tickets start at $48.25.

Saturday, May 20

The Life’s a Drag 21+ Show at Chunky’s (707 Huse Road in Manchester; chunkys.com) tonight at 9 p.m. will feature some of the fiercest performers from New England for a high-energy and interactive experience, according to the website. Tickets cost $25.

Sunday, May 21

The New Hampshire Gay Men’s Chorus wraps up their Spring 2023 Concert Serieswith a performance of “Silver Seasons of Love – How Do You Measure 25 Years?” at the Derryfield School (2108 River Road in Manchester) at 4 p.m. (The chorus also performs Saturday, May 20, in Newington at 7:30 p.m.). The show celebrates the 25th anniversary of the chorus; see the story about the chorus in the May 4 issue of The Hippo (hippopress.com to find the e-edition, the story is on page 16). Tickets for this event start at $17.50 and can be purchased at nhgmc.com.

Save the Date! Saturday, July 29
Nashua Center for the Arts (201 Main St.) will host An Evening with David Sedaris on Saturday, July 29, at 8 p.m. Sedaris is the bestselling author behind Calypso, Naked, Me Talk Pretty One Day, and Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim. He is celebrating the release of his newest book, Happy Go Lucky. After the reading, he will be holding a Q-and-A session and a book signing. Presale for tickets open to Spectacle Live members on May 19, and presale prices start at $52. Visit nashuacenterforthearts.com for more information.

Big Events May 11, 2023 and beyond

Friday, May 12

Winners of Rolling Stone’s readers poll for “Best New American Band” in 1987, the BoDeans are performing tonight at 8 p.m. at the Nashua Center for the Arts (201 Main St. in Nashua; nashuacenterforthearts.com). The band, which has had 10 records that hit the Billboard Top 200 Chart, is known for hit songs like “Fadeaway,” “Only Love,” and “Dreams.” Tickets start at $29.

Saturday, May 13

It’s plant sale season!

The Amherst Garden Club (amherstgardenclub.org) will highlight native plants at its plant sale from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Wilkins School (80 Boston Post Road in Amherst). The Hopkinton Garden Club (hopkintongardenclub.org) will hold its sale from 8 a.m. to noon at the Hopkinton Town Common (Park Street side). The Colonial Garden Club of Hollis (hollisgardenclub.org) will hold its sale from 9 a.m .to noon today at the Lawrence Barn Field on Depot Road in Hollis. Fuller Gardens (10 Willow Ave. in North Hampton; 964-5414, fullergardens.org) is holding its sale all weekend: Friday, May 12, through Sunday, May 14, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day. Have an upcoming plant sale? Let us know at [email protected].

And if you’re more of a plant appreciator than a plant planter, check out the Lilac Walk on Monday, May 15, at 1 p.m. Beaver Brook in Hollis. Registration costs $20; see beaverbrook.org.

Saturday, May 13

Join the Canterbury Shaker Village (288 Shaker Road in Canterbury) for their opening day today at 10 a.m. The ceremony will have a 5K race, information about the new exhibition “For Shakers, By Shakers: Canterbury Shaker Furniture from the Collection,” and a chance for visitors to meet the curator of collections, Shirley Wajda. Tickets cost $25 and can be purchased at shakers.org.

Saturday, May 13

Today, SNHU Arena (555 Elm St. in Manchester; snhuarena.com) welcomes the Monster Jam starting at 7 p.m. World-class drivers will show off crazy skills and all-out racing in fierce head-to-head battles for the event championship. Tickets start at $15.

Saturday, May 13

Boston musician, songwriter and storyteller Ellis Paul is performing today at 7:30 p.m. at the Rex Theatre (23 Amherst St. in Manchester; palacetheatre.org). Paul will perform songs that weave intimate, provocative and romantic tales, according to the Rex’s website. Tickets start at $29.

Wednesday, May 17

Needlework is on display at the Doubletree Hilton in Nashua (2 Somerset Parkway) for the 29th annual Celebration of Needlework today, starting at 3 p.m. The four-day celebration will have a variety of classes, shopping, raffles and a silent auction. Admission costs $9 for one day, $17 for two days, and $25 for three days. Some classes have additional fees. Visit celebrationofnw.com for more information.

Wednesday, May 17

New Hampshire Public Radio’s Jason Moon and Rabia Chaudry will discuss Bear Brook: Season 2 with Rebecca Lavoie at the Bank of New Hampshire Stage (16 S. Main St., Concord) today at 7 p.m. The live show looks at the second season of the series which tells the story of Jason Carroll, who is serving a life sentence for a murder he said he didn’t commit, according to ccanh.com, where tickets to the event start at $40.75.

Save the Date! Saturday, May 20
Join the American Independence Museum (1 Governors Lane, Exeter) for Trouble in the Tavern: An Escape Room Adventure in the Folsom Tavern. The event will take place from noon to 4 p.m. and ticket prices range from $12 to $25. Visit

Big Events May 4, 2023 and beyond

Thursday, May 4

Get ready for tacos! Taco Tour Manchester returns to Elm Street downtown today from 4 to 8 p.m., featuring more than 90 participating restaurants, food trucks and other businesses selling all-you-can-eat creative takes on tacos for $3 apiece (cash only). Visit tacotourmanchester.com to download the recently released Taco Tour map, and be sure to vote on your favorite taco by the end of the event.

Thursday, May 4

The New Hampshire Fisher Cats continue their home stand tonight at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium (1 Line Drive, Manchester) against the Harrisburg Senators — first pitch is at 6:35 p.m., and a special Atlas Fireworks show will immediately follow the conclusion of the game. The team has other games scheduled from Friday, May 5, through Sunday, May 7, before they hit the road next week to take on the Reading Fightin Phils. See nhfishercats.com for the full schedule and to purchase tickets.

Saturday, May 6

Join the Nashua Historical Society in welcoming author Andrew Noone, who will present his book Bathsheba Spooner: A Revolutionary Murder, today at 3 p.m. at the Florence H. Speare Museum (5 Abbott St., Nashua). The talk will explore the saga of New England’s most notorious crime of the American Revolution, according to a press release. Admission is free and open to the public. See nashuahistoricalsociety.org for more details.

Saturday, May 6

Registration is now open for the second annual Run the Rail Trail 5-Miler road race, taking off from the Aviation Museum of New Hampshire (27 Navigator Road, Londonderry) today at 9 a.m. The course includes a 1-mile forested path through undeveloped land and a scenic stretch of the newest portion of the Londonderry Rail Trail, according to a press release. Race day registration is $35, with proceeds benefiting the museum’s youth education programs. Visit nhahs.org/events to register.

Sunday, May 7

The New Hampshire Fiddle Ensemble makes a stop at the Derryfield School (2108 River Road, Manchester) today at 2 p.m. — the community orchestra of fiddles, guitars, banjos, mandolins, basses, harps, cellos and even some horns is backed by professionals delivering “a heartwarming and energetic performance,” according to a press release. Advance tickets are $16 for adults, $14 for seniors and students and free for kids ages 8 and under. Tickets are $2 extra on the day of the event. See nhfiddleensemble.org.

Wednesday, May 10

New Hampshire Humanities presents Storytelling on Film: A Screening of Lost Boundaries, tonight at Red River Theatres (11 S. Main St., Concord) from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Based on the true story of Dr. Albert Johnston, a Black man and his family who passed as white in early 20th-century Keene, Lost Boundaries “illustrates New Hampshire’s complicated history of racial passing,” according to a press release. Lawrence Benaquist, Professor Emeritus of Keene State College, is a featured presenter at the screening. Admission is free, but registration is required. Register online at redrivertheatres.org.

Save the Date! Saturday, May 20
Grease up those bike gears and get ready to pedal through the back roads of Francestown and nearby towns on Saturday, May 20. The Tour de Francestown is a recreational bike ride that offers 25-mile and 50-mile options of mostly gravel roads. The online registration deadline is 5 p.m. on Thursday, May 18, and there is a total registration limit of 200 riders. The registration fee — $45 for the 25-mile, $60 for the 50-mile — covers entry, beverage stops, and post-ride eats; extra family and friend meal tickets are available for $5 or $10. Proceeds will go toward preserving the Francestown Old Meeting House. Helmets are required. For more information and to register, visit www.bikereg.com/the-tour-de-francestown.

Featured photo. 2022 Taco Tour. Photo courtesy of Ethos & Able Creative.

Big Events April 27, 2023 and beyond

Thursday, April 27

Today is opening night for Cirque Alfonse-Animal at the Dana Center (100 Saint Anselm Drive, Manchester) at 7:30 p.m. The show reimagines Quebec folklore with a troupe of performers that include acrobats, musicians and a former ski champion. Tickets cost $45 and can be purchased at anselm.edu.

Friday, April 28

This is the last weekend to see the art exhibit “Love Our Planet” at the Massabesic Center (26 Audubon Way, Auburn). The exhibit features works of art celebrating the beauty of the natural world and wildlife. There are more than 30 pieces of artwork in various media including oils, watercolors, acrylics, pastel, mixed media, pen and ink, pencil, and photography. For more information visit nhaudubon.org.

Friday, April 28

Get spooky at Fright Kingdom’s (12 Simon St., Nashua) Halfway to Halloween haunted house today from 7 to 10 p.m. and Saturday, April 29 from 6 to 10 p.m. The haunt will have all five unique scary experiences open for people to wander through, with characters outside providing spooky entertainment. Tickets cost $35 and can be purchased at frightkingdom.com.

Saturday, April 29

Concord’s Giant Indoor Yard Sale is back today from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Everett Arena (15 Loudon Road, Concord). There will be thousands of items on sale for visitors to choose from, as well as food and drinks to keep up shoppers’ energy. Tickets cost $5, children ages 12 and younger are free. Email [email protected].

Saturday, April 29

The Rex Theatre (23 Amherst St., Manchester) is hosting Beatles cover band Beatlejuice today at 7:30 p.m. The group, which has been performing for more than 20 years, matches the original foursome note for note so audiences can feel like John, Paul, George and Ringo are performing their greatest hits. Tickets cost $29 and can be bought at palacetheatre.org.

Sunday, April 30

Join the Chubb Theatre at Capitol Center for the Arts (44 S. Main St., Concord) for Swing into Jazz tonight at 4 p.m., doors open at 3 p.m. The concert will feature guitarist John Pizzarelli, who has collaborated with Paul McCartney and Michael McDonald. Tickets start at $33.25 and can be purchased at ccanh.com.

Save the Date! May 6
Celebrate all things theater at the Broadway Rave at the Nashua Center for the Arts (201 Main St.) today. Dress up like your favorite Broadway show character, and belt along to the various cast albums at this event. There will be some surprise guests for theater lovers. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $19. Visit nashuacenterforthearts.com to order tickets or for more information.

Featured photo. Highlights from past Concord’s Giant Indoor Yard Sales. Courtesy photo.

Big Events April 20, 2023 and beyond

Friday, April 21

The beloved rock opera Rent is opening tonight at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester) at 7:30 p.m. The show, loosely inspired by the opera La Bohème, follows a group of artists and friends as they try to survive in New York’s Alphabet City while the HIV/AIDS epidemic rages around them. Tickets start at $25 and can be purchased at palacetheatre.org. The show runs through Sunday, May 14, with shows Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m. as well as Thursday, May 11, at 7:30 p.m.

Friday, April 21

Girl Named Tom is coming to the Nashua Center for the Arts (201 Main St.) today at 8 p.m. The band is siblings Bekah, Joshua and Caleb Liechty, and is the only group to ever win NBC’s The Voice. Tickets to the show are $29 to $69 and can be purchased at nashuacenterforthearts.com.

Saturday, April 22

See the ’80s glam rock cover “hair band” Mullet today at the Bank of NH Stage (16 S. Main St., Concord) today at 8 p.m., doors open at 7 p.m. The band is known for putting on shows covering classic rock ’n’ roll artists like Van Halen, Def Leppard, Bon Jovi, Journey and Poison. Tickets cost $30.75 and can be purchased at ccanh.com.

Saturday, April 22

Celebrate all things Scottish with the New Hampshire Indoor Scottish Festival at Salem High School (44 Geremonty Drive) today from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The festival will have competitions in Highland dance, bagpipes, Scottish snare, tenor and bass on stage. There will also be history talks, clan registrations, vendors, food trucks and more. Visit nhssa.org for more information.

Sunday, April 23

Shop for special antiques at the Spring Vintage and Collectibles Sale at the Timeless Toy Box (25 Elm St., Peterborough) from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Vendors will be set up to sell vintage toys, collectibles and more. Visit facebook.com/TimelessToyBox for more information.

Wednesday, April 26

Today is the opening day of the Manchester Spring Carnival at the JFK Arena parking lot (303 Beech St., Manchester), with the gates opening at 5 p.m. The carnival will run through April 30 and will have a variety of tasty food, exciting games and thrilling rides. Entry costs start at $30 online, $35 on site. Visit fiestashows.com.

Save the Date! Thursday, April 20
The Concord Multicultural Festival Latin Night is tonight at the Bank of NH Stage (16 S. Main St. in Concord; ccanh.com) at 6 p.m., doors open at 5 p.m. The show, presented by Barranquilla Flavor and the Concord Multicultural Festival, will have performances, dance demonstrations and South American cuisine. Tickets cost $50 per person.

Featured photo. Rent.

Big Events April 13, 2023 and beyond

Thursday, April 13

Prop comedian Tape Face has come a long way since his early days as a busker on the streets of Timaru, New Zealand. He’s played at the BBC Comedy Proms and placed in the finals of America’s Got Talent. Don’t miss his appearance at the Capitol Center for the Arts’ Chubb Theatre (44 S. Main St., Concord; 225-1111, ccanh.com) today at 7:30 p.m. Tickets range from $33.75 to 53.75, plus fees.

Thursday, April 13

Ruben Studdard and Clay Aiken will take the stage tonight at 8 p.m. at the Nashua Center for the Arts, the Gate City’s newly opened performing arts center. Katelyn Sahagian spoke to Ruben and Clay as part of her coverage of the new center in the April 6 issue of the Hippo. Find that Q&A on page 11 and more about the Nashua Center for the Arts in the story which starts on page 10. See hippopress.com to find the e-edition.

Friday, April 14

The Lend Me a Theatre production of Don’t Talk to the Actors begins its final weekend tonight at the Hatbox Theatre (270 Loudon Road in Concord; hatboxnh.com, 715-2315) at 7:30 p.m. Other shows this weekend include Saturday, April 15, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, April 16, at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $22, $19 for seniors and students.

Saturday, April 15

The 11th Annual Woman’s Service Club of Windham Spring Craft Fair will run today from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Windham High School and feature more than 100 artisans from New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Maine presenting arts and crafts including ceramics, glass, jewelry, bird houses, spring wreaths, home decor, textiles, handbags, scrapbooking, doll clothes, rag dolls, woodwork, garden sculpture, soaps and lotions, candles, photography, fine art and more, according to a press release. The day will also feature raffles and sale of artisanal food. Admission is a suggested donation of $2 per person. See WomansServiceClubofWindham.org.

Saturday, April 15

Win items for pennies at the St. Patrick’s Penny Sale today from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Parish Center (12 Main St. in Pelham). Drawings will begin at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday and pickup will be Sunday from noon to 2 p.m.

Saturday, April 15

The Palace Theatre in Manchester will hold a Casino Night tonight from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. to benefit the Palace Youth Theatre Campaign. The evening will feature drinks, music, blackjack, Texas hold ’em, craps, roulette and a chance to win prizes including a Southwest Airlines gift card, according to a Palace email. The event will be held at the Rex Theatre, 23 Amherst St. in Manchester. Tickets cost $35; call 668-5588.

Sunday, April 16

The Windham Swing Band will perform today from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Andres Institute of Art’s Welcome Center (106 Route 13 in Brookline; andresinstitute.org, 845-9174) as part of a concert series to benefit Andres. Tickets cost $25 for general admission seating; front-row tables that seat five cost $200. The show will feature concessions and a cash bar as well as a raffle and AIA merch, according to a press release.

Save the Date! Thursday, April 20
Saturday, April 29, is Independent Bookstore Day, a nationwide celebration of independent bookstores and the book-lovers who frequent them. Participating bookstores sell merchandise released exclusively for that day, which may include special-edition books, signed art prints and covers and literary-themed novelty items. Some may even host additional festivities, such as author visits, readings and book signings, live music, food, activities for kids, contests and giveaways and more. Visit indiebookstoreday.com to see a list of this year’s featured merchandise and to find a bookstore near you that is participating.

Featured photo. Tape Face. Courtesy photo.