Category: This Week

Big Events December 29, 2022 and beyond

Thursday, Dec. 29

The SNHU Arena (555 Elm St., Manchester) is hosting the Harlem Globetrotters today at 2 p.m. The team will show off their basketball skills with trick shots, routines and more. Ticket prices start at $29. Visit snhuarena.com to buy tickets.

Thursday, Dec. 29

See Joe Gatto for a night of comedy tonight at 7 and 9:30 p.m. at the Capitol Center for the Arts Chubb Theatre (44 S. Main St., Concord). Gatto, a comedian, actor, author and podcaster, has performed to sold-out shows at Madison Square Garden in New York City and the O2 Arena in London. Tickets start at $40 and can be bought at ccanh.com.

Thursday, Dec. 29

See The Wizards of Winter, a holiday rock event featuring former members of some of classic rock’s biggest names, including Alice Cooper, Blue Oyster Cult, Def Leppard and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, at The Flying Monkey Movie House & Performance Center (39 Main St., Plymouth) today. Tickets start at $49 and can be bought at flyingmonkeynh.com

Saturday, Dec. 31

Tupelo Music Hall (10 A St., Derry) is having The Adam Ezra Group perform tonight at 9 p.m. Buy tickets for the show only (doors open at 8:30 p.m.) for $45, or tickets for dinner and the show (starts at 5:30 p.m.) for $95, at tupelohall.com.

Sunday, Jan. 1

The Apple Therapy and Derry Sports & Rehab Millennium Mile, a one-mile downhill race on Mammoth Road in Londonderry, starts today at 2 p.m. Registration costs $20 for ages 12 and up and $10 for 11 and under, with the first 1,250 registrants getting a winter hat (if available, registration on race day costs $5 more). See millennium-running.com to register in advance.

Sunday, Jan. 1

Today is the last chance to see the Gift of Lights at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway (1122 Route 106, Loudon). The show, which has more than 3 million lights, is 2½ miles long with 80 different scenes. The shows start at 4:30 p.m. and admission for one car costs $35. Tickets can be bought at nhms.com.

Sunday, Jan. 1

Join NHSCOT for a Hogmany at LaBelle Winery (14 Route 111, Derry) today at 3 p.m. Celebrate the New Year in a Scottish way, with traditional board games, dancing, music, food and more. Tickets cost $32 per adult ages 15 and older, $15 per child ages 6-14, and kids ages 5 and younger are free. For more information, see the story in the Dec. 15 on page 14 (find the e-edition at hippopress.com) or visit nhscot.org.

Save the Date! Thursday, Jan. 19
It’s the opening night of the Cirque du Soleil show Corteo at the SNHU Arena (555 Elm St., Manchester). The show will have acrobats from around the world performing death-defying stunts. The show will be in town until Jan. 22. Opening night show will start at 7:30 p.m. Visit snhuarena.com for more information or to order tickets.

Featured photo. Harlem Globetrotters. Courtesy photo.

Big Events December 22, 2022 and beyond

Wednesday, Dec. 28

Recycled Percussion, the legendary drumming group from New England, opens their run at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester) today at 3 p.m. The group has performed on America’s Got Talent, opened at the 2017 Super Bowl, did a run on Las Vegas and has their own Emmy Award winning show on television called Chaos and Kindness. Tickets start at $37 and can be purchased at palaceteatre.org.

Thursday, Dec. 22

This is the last day for the snowman felting workshop at Averill House Vineyard (21 Averill Road, Brookline). The winery will provide all the materials and the workshop is for crafters of all skill levels in the art of felting. The craft will be accompanied with a winter wine tasting for visitors of age or a nonalcoholic beverage for guests younger than 21. Additional kits can be purchased at the workshop. Cost is $47 per person and tickets can be purchased at averillhousevineyard.com.

Friday, Dec. 23

Today is the last day of the handmade holiday market at Studio 550 (550 Elm St., Manchester). The market will run from noon to 8 p.m. and will have a variety of artworks to shop for. There will also be demonstrations by local artists and gift cards for Studio 550 available for purchase. For questions, call 232-5597 or email [email protected].

Friday, Dec. 23

Tonight is the last showing of Palace Theatre’s (80 Hanover St., Manchester) A Christmas Carol. Follow Ebenezer Scrooge as he is visited by the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future, so he can learn to keep the Christmas spirit all year round. Showtime is at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are still available as of Dec. 19. Prices start at $25 and tickets can be purchased online at palacetheatre.org.

Tuesday, Dec. 27

The adult winter reading challenge begins today at Derry Public Library (64 East Broadway). The theme this year is reading the rainbow, meaning that readers must log a book with a cover the same color as one in the rainbow. It can be any genre of book, from graphic novels to nonfiction. The challenge will run through Feb. 28 and the person who reads the most books will win a gift card to The Grind Rail Trail Cafe. Stop by the library to pick up a log. Visit derrypl.org for more information.

Tuesday, Dec. 27

Magician Ben Pratt is performing a family-friendly magic show today at Chunky’s Cinema in Manchester (707 Huse Road). Pratt, who grew up in New Hampshire, has performed his magic show across the country. The show starts at 6:30 p.m. Tickets cost $15 and can be purchased at chunkys.com.

Save the Date! Sunday, Jan. 1
Join Beaver Brook Association for a First Day Hike at noon on Sunday, Jan. 1, at Maple Hill Farm (117 Ridge Road, Hollis). The walk will take families around Beaver Brook that’s designed for them by the staff in the red yurt on the farm grounds. Visitors can bring the whole family, including leashed dogs. Visit beaverbrook.org.

Featured photo. Recycled Percussion. Courtesy photo.

Big Events December 15, 2022 and beyond

Thursday, Dec. 15

The 11th annual Tower of Toys Cocktail Party is today at 5 p.m. at the Beacon Building (814 Elm St. in Manchester). The party will have refreshments and live music. To go to the party, bring an unwrapped present to be donated for a child’s holiday gift. For more information, visit the website toweroftoys.org.

Thursday, Dec. 15

Join the Rex Theatre (23 Amherst St. in Manchester) today for A Charlie Brown Jazz Christmas featuring The Eric Mintel Quartet. The classic cartoon’s music will come to life with a jazzy feel and a holiday display. The quartet will also play covers of popular holiday songs. Showtime at 7 p.m. and tickets cost $29. Purchase tickets at palacetheatre.org.

Thursday, Dec. 15

The Morning Buzz Christmas Ball is back at the Chubb Theatre (Capitol Center for the Arts, 44 S. Main St. in Concord) today. Doors open at 6 p.m. and showtime is 7 p.m. The show will feature a cast of musicians, comedians and magicians emceed by Greg and the Morning Buzz radio host Greg Kretschmar. Tickets cost $45 and can be purchased at ccanh.com.

Saturday, Dec. 17

Today is the first day of the Professional Bull Riding Manchester Invitational at the SNHU Arena (555 Elm St. in Manchester). The show will have 35 of the top bull riders from around the world competing for the top spot in the sport. The doors open at 5:15 p.m. on Saturday for the first round of riding and they’ll open at 12:15 p.m. on Sunday, for the second and championship round. Tickets start at $20 and can be ordered on SNHU Arena’s website snhuarena.com.

Saturday, Dec. 17

The Tito’s Ugly Sweater 4 Miler, to benefit Second Chance Ranch Rescue, Humane Society of Greater Nashua and the Salem Animal Rescue League, will take place today at 9 a.m. The race begins and ends at Backyard Brewery (1211 Mammoth Road in Manchester) and features a post-race party with a Tito’s Handmade Vodka beverage. See hsfn.org/uglysweaterrun to register for this 21+ event.

Sunday, Dec. 18

Haven’t caught a big-screen ride on The Polar Express yet this season? Head to Red River Theatres (11 S. Main St. in Concord; 224-4600, redrivertheatres.org) today at 11 a.m. (or Saturday, Dec. 17, at 11 a.m.) to see the 2004 G-rated classic. Tickets for these screenings cost $5.

Save the Date! Saturday, Dec. 29
The Flying Monkey Movie House & Performance Center (39 Main St. in Plymouth) is having The Wizards of Winter, a holiday rock event featuring former members of some of classic rock’s biggest names, including Alice Cooper, Blue Oyster Cult, Def Leppard and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, today at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $49 and can be purchased at flyingmonkeynh.com.

Featured photo. The Wizards of Winter. Courtesy photo.

Big Events December 8, 2022 and beyond

Friday, Dec. 9

Catch SNHU Penmen basketball this weekend. The women’s team takes on Post University tonight at 5:30 p.m. The men take on Post tomorrow at 2 p.m. Both games take place at Stan Spirou Field House at Southern New Hampshire University (2500 River Road in Manchester) and admission is free. See snhupenmen.com.

Friday, Dec. 9

Jimmy Cash & Friends will bring the laughs to the Rex Theatre (23 Amherst St. in Manchester; palacetheatre.org) tonight at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $25 each. Find more comedy shows this weekend in the Comedy This Week listings on page 36.

Friday, Dec. 9

Catch musician Caylin Costello at Millyard Brewery (25 E. Otterson in Nashua) tonight from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Find more live music at area restaurants, breweries and other locales in the Music This Week listing, which starts on page 38.

Saturday, Dec. 10

It’s a weekend of cookie tours! The Currier & Ives Cookie Tour will return for its 17th year today from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. More than a dozen businesses in and around the Monadnock region participate, providing visitors with homemade treats, refreshments and recipes to take with them. Tickets cost $20 per person (cash only) and are available now at The Inn at East Hill Farm (460 Monadnock St., Troy), New England Everyday Goods (16 Colls Farm Road, Jaffrey) and the Woodbound Inn (247 Woodbound Road, Rindge). Visit currierandivescookietour.com. Up north, the Inn to Inn Holiday Cookie and Candy Tour returns for its 25th year today and tomorrow, Sunday, Dec. 11, with self-guided tours from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day. Several inns in various White Mountain region towns provide cookies and candy to taste, as well as holiday recipe and decorating tips. Those not wishing to reserve an overnight package at an inn can purchase tickets for $35 per person by visiting cookietour.square.site. See countryinnsinthewhitemountains.com.

Saturday, Dec. 10

Take a break with some art. Today is free admission second Saturday at the Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St. in Manchester; currier.org); admission is free to New Hampshire residents with ID. Come back tomorrow, Sunday, Dec. 11, for “ARTalk with JooYoung Choi,” whose works are a part of “State of Art 2020: Locate” the exhibit on display now through February. The talk starts at 2 p.m. and admission costs $15 (which includes admission to the museum).

Saturday, Dec. 10

The Dave Matthews Tribute Band will bring its Dave Matthews experience to the Tupelo Music Hall (10 A St. in Derry; tupelomusichall.com) tonight at 8 p.m. Tickets cost $35. Find more ticketed concerts in the listings on page 42.

Sunday, Dec. 11

The Capital Jazz Orchestra will present its Holiday Pops show today at 4 p.m. (doors open at 3 p.m.) at the Capitol Center for the Arts’ Chubb Theatre (44 S. Main St. in Concord; ccanh.com). Tickets start at $27.50 plus fees. For more holiday concerts and performances, check out the Arts section, which starts on page 12.

Save the Date! Saturday, Dec. 31
St. George Greek Orthodox Cathedral (650 Hanover St. in Manchester; 622-9113) will host a New Year’s Eve Dance, with doors opening at 8 p.m. Tickets cost $60 per person (children 12 and under get in free). The evening will feature music by the Kosta Taslis Band, Champagne, dinner, dancing and a cash bar, according to a press release.

Featured photo. Courtesy photo.

Big Events December 1, 2022 and beyond

Thursday, Dec. 1

The American Independence Museum will host a Holiday Tavern Open House at Folsom Tavern (164 Water St. in Exeter; independencemuseum.org) today from 4 to 8 p.m. The event is free and will feature light refreshments, make-and-take crafts and a silent auction, according to a press release.

Friday, Dec. 2

Head to downtown Concord to shop and celebrate the season today at Midnight Merriment from 5 p.m. to midnight. Find Santa at City Plaza from 5 to 8 p.m. (that’s also the site of Nazzy’s Holiday Dance Party); starting at 5 p.m. at Eagle Square you’ll find free hot cocoa while supplies last, and at 7 Eagle Square the Concord Arts Market will hold Giftopolis, according to the schedule at intownconcord.org. The event includes live music, a gingerbread house showdown and of course shopping at downtown shops that extend their hours for the night.

Friday, Dec. 2

Gerald Dickens, the great-great-grandson of Charles Dickens, brings his one-man performance of A Christmas Carol to the Dana Center (Saint Anselm College, 100 Saint Anselm Drive, Manchester) on Friday, Dec. 2, at 7:30 p.m. See anselm.edu/dana-center-humanities. Dickens will also do two shows in Nashua on Saturday, Dec. 3. The first, Mr. Dickens is Coming, will be at the Nashua Senior Center (70 Temple St.) at 12:30 p.m. The second, A Christmas Carol, will be at Nashua Community College (505 Amherst St.) at 7:30 p.m. Visit fortingage.com/dickens2022 for ticket information.

Friday, Dec. 2

Deo Mwano Consultancy will present “ Improvisation: Trust the Process,” an original show with dancers and musicians improvising together that fuses soul, funk, 80s hip-hop and Afro-beat music samples with live instrumentation, today at 7 p.m. at Kimball Jenkins (266 N Main St. in Concord), according to a press release. There will be a post-performance Q&A and Middle Eastern foods, the release said. Tickets cost $40 and are available at eventbrite.com/e/improvisation-trust-the-process-tickets-463648554307 or at the door.

Saturday, Dec. 3

Warner celebrates today during Warner Hometown Holidays. See the Festival of Trees in the town hall (where Santa and Mrs. Claus will appear for photos at 1:30 p.m.), live performances and music, a Polar Express-themed day at the NH Telephone museum, which will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and more. See mainstreetbookends.com/event/warner-hometown-holidays for a full schedule of events.

Saturday, Dec. 3

The Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St. in Manchester; currier.org, 669-6144) will hold Caroling at the Currier today at noon with the Manchester Choral Society performing in the Historic Court, able to be heard throughout the museum, according to the website. Hours on Saturday are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and admission costs $15 for adults, $13 for seniors, $10 for students, $5 for ages 13 to 17 and free for 12 and under.

Saturday, Dec. 3

Manchester’s Holiday Parade will head down Elm Street (from the Amoskeag Bridge to Granite Street) starting at 4 p.m. Kick off the festivities at 3 p.m. by watching runners in Santa costumes tackle the 3-mile BASC Santa Claus Shuffle, which features stops to snack on Santa’s favorite food groups (see millenniumrunning.com if you’re interested in hitting the road yourself). See the story about the parade on page 19 in last week’s (Nov. 24) issue of the Hippo (find the e-edition at hippopress.com). On page 18 in that issue, you’ll find a listing of other towns’ tree-lightings, parades and other holiday celebrations.

Save the Date! Saturday, Dec. 31
Send off 2022 with a performance by the Adam Ezra Group on New Year’s Eve at the Tupelo Music Hall (10 A St. in Derry; 437-2100, tupelomusichall.com). Come for a multi-course dinner at 5:30 p.m. (ticket to the dinner includes the show) or buy a ticket for the show only at 9 p.m.

Featured photo. Manchester Holiday Parade. Courtesy photo.

Big Events November 24, 2022 and beyond

Friday, Nov. 25

Shops across the Granite State are participating in Small Business Saturday, including Bookery (844 Elm St., Manchester), Toadstool Bookshop (375 Amherst St., Route 101A, Nashua) and Double Midnight Comics (245 Maple St., Manchester). Downtown Nashua will be handing out plaid bags for Plaid Friday at The Telegraph (110 Main St. in Nashua) while supplies last; visit downtownnashua.org.

Saturday, Nov. 26

The Fools, a Massachusetts rock band that has traveled the world performing and has had record-breaking radio playtime of their music, are coming to Tupelo Music Hall (10 A St., Derry) today at 8 p.m. Tickets cost $35 and can be purchased online at tupelohall.com.

Sunday, Nov. 27

The Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St., Manchester) is screening the documentary The Eagle Huntress (2016) today at 2 p.m. The documentary follows the story of a 13-year-old girl in Mongolia who is trying to become the first female eagle huntress in her family. Tickets are free for members of the museum and included in the price of admission for visitors. Visit currier.org.

Sunday, Nov. 27

The Bank of NH Stage (16 S. Main St., Concord) is welcoming Sophie B. Hawkins today at 4 p.m. Hawkins, a Grammy award winning artist, has performed in films and television, sold out concert venues, and played Janis Joplin in the critically acclaimed national tour of the play Room 105. Ticket prices start at $55 and can be bought at ccanh.com.

Sunday, Nov. 27

Saint Anselm College has a men’s basketball game today at 1 p.m. against Franklin Pierce University at Stoutenburgh Gymnasium (73 College Road in Manchester). Saint Anselm is 1-2 this season, while Franklin Pierce is 1-1. Tickets cost $10 per person and can be bought at the gym’s ticket stand. See saintanselmhawks.com.

Wednesday, Nov. 30

Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) has men’s and women’s basketball games today against Adelphi University. SNHU’s women’s game will be at The Stan Spirou Field House (2500 N. River Road, Manchester) at 5:30 p.m.; the men’s game will be at 7:30 p.m. Visit snhupenmen.com.

Wednesday, Nov. 30

Marek Bennett, New Hampshire based author of several graphic novels, will discuss his new graphic novel The Civil War Diary of Freeman Colby Volume 3 (1864), the third book in a series about a New Hampshire school teacher based on primary sources, today at Gibson’s Bookstore (45 S. Main St., Concord, 224-0562, gibsonsbookstore.com) on at 6:30 p.m. See Bennett’s work at marekbennett.com, where you can find more about the Freeman Colby series as well as videos about making comics.

Save the date! Thursdsay, Dec. 1
Legally Blonde, the award-winning musical, is coming to the Chubb Theatre (44 S Main St, Concord) on Thursday, Dec. 1. The show, based on the Reese Witherspoon movie of the same name, follows Elle as she attends Harvard Law to win back the man who broke her heart. Tickets cost $76 and up and can be purchased at ccanh.com.

Featured photo. Courtesy photo.