Category: This Week

Big Events June 16, 2022 and beyond

Thursday, June 16

The 22nd annual Hampton Beach Master Sand Sculpting Classic runs today through Saturday, June 18, with artists working on their solo creations leading up to voting for the People’s Choice Award on Saturday, June 18, from 1 to 3 p.m. and the awards ceremony at 8 p.m. (a fireworks display will follow at 9:30 p.m.). The sculptures will then be lighted for nightly viewing through June 26. See hamptonbeach.org.

Friday, June 17

Grab a burger at The Barley House (132 N. Main St. in Concord; thebarleyhouse.com), which is holding its annual Burgerfest to raise money for Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth-Hitchcock. See the menu of burgers (which includes options such as Brie and Chutney Bison Burger, Beef Wellington Burger, Stuffed Portabello Burger, Bourbon Steakhouse Burger and Bali Lamb Burger) at thebarleyhouse.com/burgerfest-2022. The Burgerfest started June 13 and runs through Saturday, June 18.

Saturday, June 18

The Palace Theatre will hold its 3rd annual Queen City Gardens self-guided tour today from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tickets cost $25 in advance and $30 on the day (register at Demers Garden Center, 656 Mammoth Road in Manchester, from 9:30 a.m. to noon on Saturday or purchase tickets via palacetheatre.org/calendar/queen-city-gardens-garden-tour).

Saturday, June 18

Get 20 acts on three stages at today’s Pizzastock 6, the annual tribute concert held by the Jason R. Flood Memorial. The event runs from noon to 8:30 p.m. at the Boys & Girls Club in Derry (40 E. Derry Road) and will feature family activities, community service tables, food trucks, pizza and musical acts including More Than Jake, The Nostalgics, The Hasbeens, Cozy Throne (the Pizzastock 4.5 winner) and Second To Last Minute (the Pizzastock 5.5 winner; pictured), according to pizzastock.org. Admission is free.

Saturday, June 18

The Nashua Parks and Recreation department kicks off its SummerFun schedule with Celebrating DPW Day today from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Greeley Park (100 Concord St. in Nashua), featuring live music (including Joe Birch at 10:15 a.m.), BJ Hickman Magic Show at 11:15 a.m., local stage acts, a bounce house, vendors and more. See nashuanh.gov for more on today’s event and the summer line-up of entertainment and activities. For more family fun, check out this week’s cover story (starting on page 10).

Sunday, June 19

Treat Dad to some strawbereries (today is Father’s Day). Beaver Brook Association is hosting Strawberry Station: A Family Event at Brown Lane Barn (52 Brown Lane in Hollis) today from 1 to 3 p.m. Learn about wild strawberries and make strawberry shortcake, according to beaverbrook.org where you must register for the event in advance. The cost is $45 per family.

Monday, June 20

The SEE Science Center (200 Bedford St. in Manchester; 669-0400, see-sciencecenter.org) will hold its Kickoff to Summer today through Sunday, June 26, with special activities, raffles and “Spinning Science into Fun” performances by Brett “Ooch” Outchcunis featuring yo-yos, spin tops, frisbees and more, according to a press release. The center is open daily at 10 a.m. (through 4 p.m. on weekdays and 5 p.m. on weekends) and admission costs $10 per person ages 3 and up. Advance registration is recommended, the website said.

Featured photo. Second to Last Minute will perform at Pizzastock 6. Courtesy photo.

Big Events June 9, 2022 and beyond

Saturday, June 11

The Concord Arts Market, an outdoor artisan and fine art market, kicks off its season (it will run one Saturday a month from June through October) today from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Rollins Park (33 Bow St. in Concord). See concordartsmarket.net.

Saturday, June 11

Get ideas for your garden by touring the public gardens maintained by the Milford Garden Club today from 10 a.m. to noon. See milfordnhgardenclub.org/gardentour.html for a map of the 11 spots where club members maintain gardens.

Saturday, June 11

A week of celebration begins today for 2022 Pride Week in Manchester. Queen City Pride will host an event honoring Mona’s 440 Club with a ladies night drag show at Strange Brew (88 Market St. in Manchester) featuring live music, a DJ and pole dancer Andrew Alvarado starting at 7:30 p.m. Tickets to this 21+ show cost $15. A Pride brunch will be held Sunday, June 12, starting at noon at Gauchos; the cost is $25, no preregistration required. George Cox hosts Pride karaoke at Stark Brewery on Wednesday, June 15. Find the complete Pride Week schedule at queencitypridenh.org.

Saturday, June 11

Laconia Motorcycle Week returns for its 99th year and is slated to run through June 19 with a variety of motorcycle tours, vendors, daily scenic rides, live entertainment and more, all centered around Weirs Beach in Laconia. See laconiamcweek.com. Today, after the Peter Markis Memorial Ride, you can catch the Kan-Tu Blues Band and the Brassholes from 1:30 to 5:30 p.m. at the Naswa in Laconia, followed by Blue Matter from 6 to 10 p.m. For more live music this weekend and beyond, see the Music This Week listings on page 34.

Sunday, June 12

New Hampshire Audubon McLane Center (84 Silk Farm Road in Concord) will hold a native plant sale today from noon to 4 p.m. Native perennial farm Bagley Pond will sell a wide selection of native plants and shrubs, according to a press release. NH Audubon staff and Pollinator Garden volunteers will be on site to answer questions about gardening, pollinators, native wildlife and native plants (such as the bee balm pictured above), the release said. See nhaudubon.org.

Sunday, June 12

The Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire will hold a walking tour in Milford called “Not a Slave, Yet Not Free: Harriet Wilson and the Abolition Movement.” The tour will meet in the Milford Oval at 2 p.m. Registration costs $20 per person, $15 for seniors and military and $10 for students. An author (the first African American to publish a novel in North America) and lecturer, Wilson was born in Milford, where a sculpture of her is in Bicentennial Park. See blackheritagetrailnh.org.

Sunday, June 12

Get some classic cinema today when What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962) screens in celebration of its 60th anniversary at Cinemark Rockingham Park in Salem and Regal Fox Run in Newington at 1 p.m. The Bette Davis/Joan Crawford-fronted film (the subject of the first season of Feud) will also screen Wednesday, June 15, at 7 p.m. at Cinemark Rockingham Park and O’Neil Cinemas at Brickyard Square in Epping. See fathomevents.com for tickets.

Save the Date! Thursday, June 16
WineNot Boutique (25 Main St. in Nashua; winenotboutique.com, 204-5569) will hold a tasting of rosé wines on Thursday, June 16, with times at 5, 6 and 7 p.m. Tickets cost $20 (plus a fee) and get you samples of more than a dozen wines from around the globe, the website said.

Featured photo. Bee Balm. Courtesy photo.

Big Events June 2, 2022 and beyond

Thursday, June 2

Catch the third of six games between the New Hampshire Fisher Cats and the Portland Sea Dogs at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium in downtown Manchester tonight at 6:35 p.m. Tonight’s game (as well as the game on Saturday, June 4) will feature post-game fireworks. Tomorrow’s game starts at 6:03 p.m. as part of “603 night” honoring the 603 (Friday will also feature a foam NH State giveaway). The team will also play a game Sunday, June 5, at 1:35 p.m. Saturday’s game will also feature an appreciation for Manchester’s culinary history when the team rebrands for one night as the Manchester Chicken Tenders, according to milb.com/new-hampshire.

Thursday, June 2

The Nashua Silver Knights will play the second of four consecutive home games at Holman Stadium (67 Amherst St. in Nashua) tonight at 6 p.m. against the Brockton Rox. Like the F-Cats, tomorrow’s Silver Knights game will also start at 6:03 p.m. (they will face off against the New Britain Bees and the game will feature post-game fireworks). The game on Saturday, June 4, against the Westfield Starfires starts at 6 p.m. See nashuasilverknights.com.

Friday, June 3

The Palace Theatre presents Legally Blonde, the, like, totally Tony-nominated musical based on the 2001 film, starting tonight at 7:30 p.m. The comedy musical, which tells the story of sorority girl Elle Woods, who heads to law school at Harvard after being dumped by her boyfriend, runs through Sunday, June 26, at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St. in Manchester; palacetheatre.org). The show runs on Fridays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays at 2 and 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at noon.

Saturday, June 4

Today is Free Fishing Day in New Hampshire. Fish in freshwater or saltwater without a license and see if angling is for you. Season rules and bag limits still apply, according to the New Hampshire Fish and Game Website (wildlife.state.nh.us), where you can find a listing of fish stocking locations and the current fish seasons.

Saturday, June 4

It’s another Saturday in plant sale season!

Today, head to the Derry Garden Club’s sale starting at 9 a.m. at Robert Frost Farm (Route 28 in Derry). Pick up some annuals, perennials, used tools, raffles and advice from two master gardeners, according to a press release, which discussed the methods the club has used to “eliminate any chance of ‘jumping worms’ being transferred.”

The Hooksett Garden Club is also holding its plant sale from 9 a.m. to noon at R&R Public Wholesalers (1371 Hooksett Road in Hooksett). In addition to annuals, perennials, vegetables, herbs and houseplants there will be a garden-themed yard sale, raffle items, master gardeners available to answer questions and a children’s table, according to an email from the club.

Mt Kearsarge Indian Museum (18 Highlawn Road in Warner; indianmuseum.org) is holding its plant sale to correspond with Herb & Garden Day from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Herb & Garden Day (see nhherbalnetwork.wordpress.com/herbday) will feature workshops, vendors and more. All-access admission to Herb and Garden Day costs $35; admission to the market only costs $5.

Admission to the museum’s plant sale is free to attend.

Save the Date! Saturday, June 18
The Brooks Young Band will play the Bank of NH Stage (16 S. Main St. in Concord; ccanh.com) on Saturday, June 18, at 8 p.m. Doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets in advance cost $15 general admission, $25 for reserved balcony (plus fees); tickets are $2 extra at the door. Valerie Barretto opens.

Featured photo. Legally Blonde. Courtesy photo.

Big Events May 26, 2022 and beyond

Thursday, May 26

Start the weekend off with some music: Ali McGuirk, described on her website as “blending classic soul power with a folk songwriter lyricism,” will perform tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the Bank of NH Stage (16 S. Main St. in Concord; ccanh.com). Tickets cost $25 (plus fees). Hear her at alimcguirk.com. Find more concerts this weekend and beyond in our concert listings on page 58. Find laughs in our Comedy This Week listings on page 56 and places to get in some friendly competition at area trivia nights on page 58.

Looking for some live music along with a cool beverage or some eats? Find live music at area bars, restaurants and breweries — such as Brad Aiken and Friends’ Friday, May 27, performance at the Millyard Brewery in Nashua from 6 to 8 p.m. — in our Music This Week listings, which start on page 53.

Thursday, May 26

It’s the first home game of the season for the Nashua Silver Knights, described on their website as a “wood-bat baseball team competing in the Futures Collegiate Baseball League of New England.” The Silver Knights will play the Pittsfield Suns tonight at 6 p.m. at Holman Stadium (67 Amherst St. in Nashua). The team will also play at Holman against the Worcester Bravehearts on Saturday, May 28, at 6 p.m. and they’ll face the Westfield Starfires on Monday, May 30, at 1 p.m. See nashuasilverknights.com.

Saturday, May 28

The Jaffrey Woman’s Club will hold its “Everybody Loves a Plant” sale today, 8 a.m. to noon, at the Cutler Memorial Building (33 Main St. in Jaffrey), according to jaffreywomansclub.org. Know of a plant sale? Let us know at [email protected].

Sunday, May 29

The Memorial Day parade returns to Bedford today, stepping off at 1 p.m. from the Bedford High School and proceeding down County Road to Liberty Hill Road and McKelvie Intermediate School, where there will be vendors, according to bedfordnh.myrec.com.

Tuesday, May 31

Keep the baseball fun going when the New Hampshire Fisher Cats return to Northeast Delta Dental Stadium in downtown Manchester for a string of games against the Portland Sea Dogs starting tonight at 6:35 p.m. Games continue through Sunday, June 5. See milb.com/new-hampshire.

Save the Date! Friday, June 3 — and maybe for two days after that
The Granite State Children’s Alliance, a nonprofit that responds to child abuse investigations and supports children who are victims of abuse, is holding a Jet Gala on Friday, June 3, from 6 to 10 p.m. at the Pro Star Aviation Hangar (8 Kelly Ave. in Londonderry). Well, maybe until 10 p.m. For one winner of the event’s raffle, the night will end with a limo ride to a Boston hotel. The second-place winner will ride a helicopter to a luxury hotel at a resort, and the grand prize winner will board a private jet for a weekend at a surprise city destination, according to a press release. All three winners will receive round-trip transportation, lodging and more and return to Manchester on Sunday afternoon, the release said. Gala-goers are expected to come with a suitcase packed. Even the people who don’t end up on a surprise weekend getaway will get an evening of music, cocktails, appetizers and more, the release said. Tickets cost $200 per person (plus fees). See jetgalanh.org.

Featured photo. Ali McGuirk. Courtesy photo.

Big Events May 19, 2022 and beyond

Friday, May 20

Beaver Brook Nature Center (117 Ridge Road in Hollis; beaverbrook.org) will hold a Lilac Walk today from 1 to 3 p.m. (for adults). Walk around Beaver Brook’s Shoen Meadow to learn about the area’s lilacs, according to the website, where you can register for $20 per person.

Saturday, May 21

Inventor Ralph Baer, father of the video game console, has a statue in his honor in Arms Park in Manchester (he was born in Germany and he moved to the Queen City in 1955; he died in 2014). A celebration of the centennial of his birth will be held today in Arms Park starting at noon (with a food truck social hour). At 1 p.m., speakers and presentations will discuss Baer and his legacy in video games and local innovation and there will be an unveiling of a new plaque for his sculpture, according to see-sciencecenter.org/baer-100-celebration, which also lists the schedule of events at SEE Science Center in downtown Manchester (where entry will be free starting at 2 p.m.) celebrating Baer.

Saturday, May 21

Another plant sale Saturday: The Bedford Garden Club will hold its May Plant Sale today from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Bedford Village Common (15 Bell Hill Road in Bedford). The sale will feature perennials, annual, herbs and ground cover as well as the presence of master gardeners who can answer questions, according to bedfordgardenclubnh.org.

The Goffstown Community Garden Club will start its Plant Sale on the Common today at 8 a.m. Find more about the club on their Facebook page.

Saturday, May 21

The Manchester Choral Society and Orchestra will put the cap on their 61st season with a performance tonight at 7 p.m. at Ste. Marie’s Parish (378 Notre Dame Ave. in Manchester). The presentation will include a performance of “Lobgeang” (Song of Praise) by Felix Mendelssohn and will feature the Queen City Youth Choir, a choir featuring kids in grades 3 through 6, according to a press release. Tickets cost $30 for adults, $25 for seniors and admission is free to all students from kindergarten through undergraduate, the release said. Call 472-6627 or go to mcsnh.org to purchase tickets in advance; they may also be purchased at the door.

Saturday, May 21

The New Hampshire Renaissance Faire begins its second weekend today. The fair is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. today and tomorrow (Sunday, May 22) at 80 Martin Road in Fremont. In last week’s (May 12) issue of the Hippo, Meghan Siegler talked to some of the performers and organizers about getting ready for the Faire and what attendees can expect. Find the e-edition of the issue at hippopress.com; the story is on page 10. Or go to nhrenfaire.com.

Sunday, May 22

The James Montgomery Band will perform at the Rex Theatre (23 Amherst St. in Manchester; palacetheatre.org) today at 6 p.m. Tickets cost $29. Find more concerts this weekend and beyond in our concert listings on page 42.

Save the Date! Thursday, May 26
Next Thursday is the first home game of the season for the Nashua Silver Knights, described on their website as a “wood-bat baseball team competing in the Futures Collegiate Baseball League of New England.” The Silver Knights will play the Pittsfield Suns on Thursday, May 26, at 6 p.m. See nashuasilverknights.com for tickets and the season schedule and the promotion schedule (Thursday’s game will feature a magnet giveaway).

Featured photo from Brian Caton of the Brotherhood of the Arrow and Sword. New Hampshire Renaissance Faire. Courtesy photo.

Big Events May 12, 2022 and beyond

Thursday, May 12

It’s “Bark in the Park” this afternoon when the New Hampshire Fisher Cats take on the Binghamton Rumble Ponies at 6:35 p.m. at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium in downtown Manchester and your dog is welcome (there are dog-designated seats and tickets for a dog/human pair cost $22). See milb.com/new-hampshire and search “Bark in the Park” to find all the dog-related information. Tomorrow (May 13) Benny the Bat Dog will make his first visit, with Saturday’s game featuring post-game fireworks (both games start at 6:35 p.m.; Sunday’s game starts at 1:35 p.m.).

Friday, May 13

Catch Ted Solovicos performing tonight at 6 p.m. at the Millyard Brewery in Nashua. For more live music for your weekend and beyond, see our Music This Week listing, which starts on page 37.

Saturday, May 14

The Nashua Garden Club will hold its annual plant sale today from 8 a.m. to noon (rain or shine; cash or checks only) at the Nashua Historical Society (5 Abbott St. in Nashua). The event features a raffle of themed gift baskets and a yard sale of garden-themed items.

Also today, the Friends of the Plaistow Public Library has a plant sale from 8:30 a.m. to noon at the library (85 Main St. in Plaistow). The sale, officially called the Maryan Sullivan Memorial Sale, will feature annuals, perennials and raffles. Plaistow Recreation is also holding the town-wide yard sale today from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Find information about maps to yard sales in the town at plaistownh.myrec.com.

Saturday, May 14

The New Hampshire Audubon’s McLane Center (84 Silk Farm Road in Concord; 224-9909, nhaudubon.org) will hold its Big Day in May beginner bird walk today starting at 8 a.m. at the McLane Center. Head out for a one-to-two hour informal birding walk on the Turkey Pond trails, according to the website, which says all ages and skill levels of birders are welcome. The event is free but registration is required; go online to register.

Saturday, May 14

The Canterbury Shaker Village (288 Shaker Road in Canterbury; shakers.org) opens for the season today, with guided tours and, in partnership with Capital Area Race Series and Millennium Running, the annual 5K Cross Country Race at 10 a.m. Walk or run the unpaved course, which wraps around the Village’s trails, fields, ponds and pastures, according to the press release. Register for the race by Friday, May 13, at noon at shakers.org/cars-xc-5k-2022; the cost is $25.

Tuesday, May 17

Ernie & Joe: Crisis Cops(2019), a film about two Texas police officers who respond to mental health crisis calls, will screen this evening at Red River Theatres (11 S. Main St. in Concord;224-4600, redrivertheatres.org). The event starts at 6 p.m. with dessert and networking, and the screening will be followed by a panel discussion featuring Joe Smarro, from the film, as well as Concord Chief of Police Bradley Osgood, Susan Steans (executive director of NAMI-NH), Sarah Gagnon (VP of Clinical Operations at Riverbend) and more. Tickets are free but reservations are required.

Save the Date! Saturday, May 21
Kids Con New England returns in person to New Hampshire on Saturday, May 21, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Everett Arena (15 Loudon Road in Concord). Tickets in advance cost $12 for kids ages 5 and up; $15 at the door (kids under 5 get in for free; admission for seniors, military and veterans costs $10). The event will feature more than 80 family-friendly artists, authors, creators and special guests, according to the press release, in addition to an art contest, kids and family costume contests, various workshops and more. See kidsconne.com for tickets and a full schedule.

Featured photo. Kids Con New England. Courtesy photo.