Category: This Week

Big Events November 30, 2023 and beyond

Friday, Dec. 1

The Bedford Women’s Club’s “Festival of Trees & Holiday Market” runs today from 4 to 7 p.m. and tomorrow, Saturday, Dec. 2, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Bedford Old Town Hall (70 Bedford Center Road). Admission is free and the event will feature a guest appearance by Santa Claus on Saturday, live music, more than 25 decorated artificial trees that will be raffled, and vendors, according to bedfordwomensclub.org.

Friday, Dec. 1

It’s Midnight Merriment! Tonight from 5 p.m. to midnight, get holiday cheer and shopping opportunities in downtown Concord. The evening will include an appearance by Santa, strolling carolers, a dance party with DJ Nazzy, the Concord Art Market Winter Giftopolis and more. For details, check out the story on page 18 in the Nov. 23 issue of the Hippo; see hippopress.com for the e-edition.

Friday, Dec. 1

Catch a screening of the holiday “indie dark(ish) comedy”Merry Good Enough, a movie directed by Caroline Keene and Dan Kennedy that was a winner at the 2023 New Hampshire Film Festival for Best NH Feature Narrative, tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the Rex Theatre (23 Amherst St. in Manchester; palacetheatre.org). Tickets cost $10. See the trailer at merrygoodenough.com.

Friday, Dec. 1

Or go even darker with Fright Kingdom’s The Fright Before Christmas haunted attraction (described on the website as being “extremely scary,” where you will encounter “rabid reindeer, crazed carolers, cannibalistic elves”) running today from 7 to 9:30 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 2, from 6 to 9 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 3, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Tickets are $35. Visit frightkingdom.com.

Saturday, Dec. 2

Head to Elm Street today at 3 p.m. to watch oodles of runners in Santa suits run in the 3-mile BASC Santa Claus Shuffle, which features stops with the four Santa food groups — chocolate, cookies and milk, candy, and maple, according to millenniumrunning.com, which will explain how to register if you want to take part yourself. A Stonyfield Organic Lil’ Elf Run (of 100 yards) starts at 2:30 p.m.

Then at 4 p.m. settle in for the annual Manchester Holiday Parade, which will head down Elm Street from Brady Sullivan tower to Victory Park and feature a variety of floats and marchers. For more details on the parade, check out the story on page 19 in the Nov. 23 issue of the Hippo.

Sunday, Dec. 3

The NH Music Collective Sunday Sessions will feature Ryan Williamson & The hArt of Sound today at 6 p.m. at the Cantin Room at the Bank of New Hampshire Stage (16 S. Main St. in Concord, ccanh.com). Tickets cost $18.75. Find more ticketed concerts this weekend and beyond in our Concert listings on page 38.

Save the Date! Saturday, Dec. 28
Looking for entertainment options for that final week of December? The Harlem Globetrotters 2024 will come to the SNHU Arena (555 Elm St., Manchester, 644-5000, snhuarena.com) on Thursday, Dec. 28, at 2 and 7 p.m. Tickets cost $44 through $134, with pre-game VIP options.

Featured photo: The Santa Shuffle. Courtesy photo.

Big Events November 23, 2023 and beyond

Thursday, Nov. 23

Time to celebrate the foodiest of all holidays, Thanksgiving! Still not sure about your plans for the big meal? Check out the listing of restaurants serving turkey and fixings today in the Nov. 9 issue of the Hippo (go to hippopress.com to find the e-edition). Want to start the day with some football? The annual Turkey Bowl between Manchester high school football teams will take place today at 10 a.m. between the Manchester Memorial High School and Manchester Central High School at Gill Stadium (396 Valley St. in Manchester). Tickets cost $3 for adults, $2 for students and seniors.

Friday, Nov. 24

Trans-Siberian Orchestra: The Ghosts of Christmas Eve will perform today at 3 and 7:30 p.m. at SNHU Arena (555 Elm St. in Manchester; snhuarena.com, 644-5000). Tickets start at $49.75, according to the website.

Friday, Nov. 24

Get some “Thanksgiving Leftover Laughs” with comedian Emily Ruskowski tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the Rex Theatre (23 Amherst St. in Manchester; palacetheatre.org, 688-5588). Tickets cost $25. See Michael Witthaus’ interview with Emily on page 48 and find more comedy events on page 53.

Friday, Nov. 24

Catch New England favorites the Souled Out Show Band tonight at 8 p.m. at the Tupelo Music Hall (10 A St. in Derry; tupelomusichall.com, 437-1000). Tickets cost $27. Find more ticketed shows in our Concert listings in this week’s Nite section.

Saturday, Nov. 25

Now that you’ve eaten through your Thanksgiving dinner and your leftovers, shop for some new nosh at the Downtown Concord Winter Farmers Market today from 9 a.m. to noon at 7 Eagle Square. Check out the list of vendors at downtownconcordwinterfarmersmarket.com.

Saturday, Nov. 25

Another in this season’s The Nutcrackerofferings: the Methuen Ballet Ensemble presents The Nutcracker at the Dana Center at Saint Anselm College (100 Saint Anselm Drive in Manchester; tickets.anselm.edu) today at noon and 4 p.m. Tickets cost $35.

Sunday, Nov. 26

The 1925 silent film comedy The Gold Rush, starring Charlie Chaplin, will screen today at 2 p.m. at the Wilton Town Hall Theatre (40 Main St. in Wilton). The movie will feature live musical accompaniment by Jeff Rapsis. Admission is free; a $10 per person donation is suggested.

Save the Date! Saturday, Dec. 2
The Picker Artists (3 Pine St. in Nashua; pickerartists.com) will hold their annual Holiday Open House on Saturday, Dec. 2, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. See the website for a list of the building’s resident artists, who will sell pieces including photography, mixed media, glassware, jewelry and more.

Featured photo: Thanksgiving dinner.

Big Events November 16, 2023 and beyond

Friday, Nov. 17

Consider a few of your favorite things this weekend when the Community Players of Concord present The Sound of Music at the Concord City Auditorium (2 Pine St. in Concord). The show runs tonight at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, Nov. 18, at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, Nov. 19, at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $20 for adults, $17 for ages 17 and under and 65+ and are available at the box office starting 90 minutes before showtime and at communityplayersofconcord.org.

Saturday, Nov. 18

Concord starts the holiday celebrations early with the Concord Christmas Parade today at 9:30 a.m. on Loudon Road between Hazen Drive and Canterbury Road.

Saturday, Nov. 18

Time for “Thanksgrilling” — the Goffstown Ace Hardware (5 Depot St. in Goffstown; goffstownhardware.com, 497-2682) will hold demos and family activities today from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. explaining how to grill a holiday turkey and sides, according to the store’s Facebook page.

Saturday, Nov. 18

The 2023 Feztival of Trees runs today through Sunday, Nov. 26, at the Bektash Shriners of New Hampshire Shrine Center (189 Pembroke Road in Concord; bektashshriners.org, 225-5372). Except for Thanksgiving, the event will be open daily: Saturday, Nov. 18, and Sunday, Nov. 19, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Monday, Nov. 20, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Tuesday, Nov. 21, and Wednesday, Nov. 22, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Friday, Nov. 24, and Saturday, Nov. 25, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday, Nov. 26, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. In addition to enjoying the holiday sights, checking out the Candy Cane Cafe and taking a photo with Santa Claus, attendees can enter raffles for the decorated trees (winners will be picked on Sunday, Nov. 26). Admission costs $5 for ages 12 and over.

Saturday, Nov. 18

Catch Spectacle Live Laughs today at 8 p.m. featuring comedians Chris Zito, Steve Bjork and Mike Koutrobis at the Nashua Center for the Arts (201 Main St. in Nashua; nashuacenterforthearts.com, 657-8874). Tickets cost $29. Find more laughs this weekend and beyond in our Comedy This Week listings on page 42.

Save the Date! Sunday, Dec. 3
LaBelle Winery has some holiday events slated for Sunday, Dec. 3, at its two locations. In Derry (14 Route 111), catch the Holiday Pops Concert at 4 p.m. (doors open at 3:30 p.m.). A Brass Quintet and a String Quartet featuring members of the NH Philharmonic Orchestra will perform classical melodies and holiday hits, according to labellewinery.com, where you can purchase tickets ($30 general admission, $20 ages 4 to 12). At 5:30 p.m. at the Amherst winery (345 Route 101), it’s the Hogwarts Yule Ball, featuring a four-course wine dinner, Harry Potter- and holiday-themed decor and dancing to holiday tunes, according to website, where you can find the full menu and reserve a spot for $95 per person. See labellewinery.com for more on both events or call 672-9898.

Featured photo: Christmas tree

Big Events November 9, 2023 and beyond

Friday, Nov. 10

The Capitol Center for the Arts’ William H. Gile Concert Series has two free shows this weekend. Tonight, catch the NH 39th Army Band Veterans Day Concert at 7 p.m. at the Cap Center’s Chubb Theatre (44 S. Main St. in Concord; ccanh.com). Admission is free but go online for tickets to the event.

Friday, Nov. 10

The curtain rises on the classic whodunit Clue, a play based on a movie based on a board game about who killed Mr. Boddy and presented by the Anselmian Abbey Players at the Dana Center (Saint Anselm College, 100 Saint Anselm Drive in Manchester; tickets.anselm.edu, 641-7700). Shows tonight and Saturday, Nov. 11, are at 7:30 p.m.; the Sunday, Nov. 12, show is at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $20.

Saturday, Nov. 11

The second Gile Concert this weekend is a Deepawali Celebration today at 6 p.m. at the Heights Community Center (14 Canterbury Road in Concord) featuring the band Himalayan Dreams. The event is free and tickets are not required; see ccanh.com for videos of their performances of Nepali music.

Tuesday, Nov. 14

LaBelle Winery in Derry (14 Route 111, labellewinery.com) will hold the grand opening of its LaBelle Lights holiday lights display today from 4:30 to 9:30 p.m. More than a million twinkling lights are part of the path of lights, a map of which can be found at labellewinery.com/lights. The display is open Tuesdays through Sundays from 4:30 to 9:30 p.m. through Sunday, Jan. 7. Each week features a theme; “Holiday Card Week” kicks off the celebration with “Holiday Pajama Week” Nov. 21 through Nov. 26, according to a press release, which says ticket holders are encouraged to bring a new, unwrapped toy for Toys for Tots or a non-perishable food item for End 68 Hours of Hunger. Tickets are on sale now and cost $18 for adults, $12 for ages 65+ and $8 for ages 4 to 12 (kids ages 3 and under get in free and tickets on Tuesdays are half price), according to the press release.

Tuesday, Nov. 14

Chris Isaak comes to the Tupelo Music Hall (10 A St. in Derry; tupelomusichall.com, 437-5100) on the “It’s Almost Christmas” tour tonight at 8 p.m. Tickets cost $95 to $125. Find more ticketed musical happenings in our Concert listings on page 38.

Wednesday, Nov. 15

Start planning your Thanksgiving menu with help from WineNot Boutique (25 Main St. in Nashua; winenotboutique.com), which is holding a “Selecting Wines for Thanksgiving” walk-around event. Tickets cost $20 for a 45-minute tasting session (first session starts at 4 p.m., final session starts at 7 p.m.). Consider 15 wines from three wine companies, according to the website, where you can purchase tickets.

Save the Date! Friday, Nov. 16
The Nutcracker will be presented by Southern New Hampshire Dance Theater, at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St . in Manchester; palacetheatre.org, 668-5588) Thursday, Nov. 16, through Sunday, Nov. 19. The Nutcracker features more than 60 dancers and performers, according to a press release. Tickets cost $28 to $49. Shows are Thursday, Nov. 16, at 7 p.m.; Friday, Nov. 17, at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, Nov. 18, at 11 a.m., 4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; and Sunday, Nov. 19, at noon and 5 p.m.

Featured photo: Labelle Lights.

Big Events November 2, 2023 and beyond

Thursday, Nov. 2

It’s the final weekend to catch the musical Kinky Boots at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St. in Manchester; palacetheatre.org, 668-5588). The show plays tonight at 7:30 p.m.; Friday, Nov. 3, at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, Nov. 4, at 2 and 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, Nov. 5, at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $28 to $49.

Thursday, Nov. 2

At tonight’s Art After Work at the Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St. in Manchester; currier.org, 669-6144) the live entertainment is Trivia Live! With Bill Seney. Art After Work runs from 5 to 8 p.m., when admission is donation-based.

Friday, Nov. 3

Discover the art of presidential impersonation at Playing POTUS, a multi-media show with Peter Funt (who has a book of the same name) featuring clips, interviews and more tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the Dana Center (Saint Anselm College, 100 Saint Anselm Drive in Manchester; tickets.anselm.edu). Tickets cost $45.

Friday, Nov. 3

The curtain rises tonight at 8 p.m. on the first of Bedford Off Broadway’s presentations of The Curious Savage, the story of an elderly widow who plans to give away her multimillion-dollar inheritance to people pursuing “foolish dreams” over the objections of her stepchildren, according to bedfordoffbroadway.com. The show runs through Sunday, Nov. 12, with shows at 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and 2 p.m. on Sundays. Tickets cost $15 general admission, $12 for children, students and seniors.

Saturday, Nov. 4

From Little Richard and Buddy Holly to the stars of MTV, explore Neil Burg’s 50 Years of Rock and Roll tonight at 7 p.m. at the Stockbridge Theatre (44 N. Main St. in Derry; stockbridgetheatre.showare.com). Tickets cost $30 to $35.

Save the Date! Friday, Nov. 10
Symphony NH will perform Wynton Marsalis’ “A Fiddler’s Tale” with guest artist Danny Rivera as narrator at three venues next week starting on Friday, Nov. 10, at 7:30 p.m. at the Stockbridge Theatre (Pinkerton Academy, 5 Pinkerton St. in Derry; stockbridgetheatre.com). The performance will move to the Rex Theatre (23 Amherst St. in Manchester; palacetheatre.org) on Saturday, Nov. 11, at 7:30 p.m. On Sunday, Nov. 12, at 3 p.m., catch the performance at the Bank of NH Stage (16 S. Main St., Concord). The piece is a modern interpretation of Stravinsky’s “The Soldier’s Tale” that integrates blues, jazz, tangos, rags, waltzes and classical music to narrate a contemporary story about love, greed and Faustian deals, according to Symphony NH. See symphonynh.org for ticket information.

Featured photo: Kinky Boots. Photo by AnnMarie Lidman Photography.

Big Events October 26, 2023 and beyond

Tuesday, Oct. 31

Get ready for trick-or-treat! Whether you’re walking the neighborhood with your candy-seekers or handing out treats to little Jedi, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Barbies, tonight is the big night in Concord (from 5 to 7:30 p.m.), Manchester (6 to 8 p.m.) and Nashua (6 to 8 p.m.). A few area towns hold trick-or-treat Sunday or Monday evening. Find our list of area trick-or-treat times in our roundup of Halloween happenings in the Oct. 19 issue, available at hippopress.com.

Friday, Oct. 27

Get classic thrills with The Lodger, Sabotage and The 39 Steps at the Majestic Theatre (880 Page St. in Manchester; majestictheatre.net, 669-7649) presented as part of Vintage Hitchcock: A Live Radio Play today through Sunday Oct. 29, with showtimes at 7 p.m. on Friday, 2 and 7 p.m. on Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets cost $20 for adults, $15 for 65+ and 17 and under.

Friday, Oct. 27

The Witch of Weston Tower will haunt McIntyre Ski Area (50 Chalet Court, Manchester) from tonight through Sunday, Oct. 29. Activities will run on Friday from 4 to 8 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. For a scenic chairlift to Weston Tower, tickets are $22 for adults, $15 for children and seniors, and $5 for children 5 and under. Those who do not wish to ride the chairlift to Weston Tower may purchase a witch ticket, which is a $10 donation per family. For an additional cost there will be food trucks, face painting and pumpkin painting. The proceeds from the event will benefit the Manchester Historical Association. Additionally, on Saturday there will be a touch-a-truck and a trunk-or-treat event that are free to attend. See mcintyreskiarea.com.

Friday, Oct. 27

There will be some zomb-ertunities this weekend. Tonight the downtown trick-or-treat in Rochester will feature a Zombie Walk at 7 p.m.; see rochestermainstreet.org for details. The New Hampshire Pumpkin Festival in Laconia will also feature a zombie walk tonight at 6 p.m.; see the story on page 20 for details. Tomorrow, the 17th Annual Dover Zombie Walk will take place on Saturday, Oct. 28, at 2 p.m. Visit facebook.com/doverzombiewalkd and admission is free.

Saturday, Oct. 28

Halloween runs: The 2nd Annual Halloween Howl Hustle for Housing, a 5K to benefit Fellowship Housing Opportunities, will take place from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Oct. 28, at Masonic Lodge in Concord. Visit runsignup.com/ halloweenhowlhustle5k. The Amherst Orthodontics Trick or Trot 3K will be held at Arms Park in Manchester on Saturday, Oct. 28, at 11 a.m. At 9:30 a.m. there will be a Kids Halloween Festival featuring vendors, magic and animals. Visit millenniumrunning.com/trick-or-trot to register.

Saturday, Oct. 28

It’s a big night for grown-up Halloween parties: Derryfield (625 Mammoth Road, Manchester, 623-2880) will feature cover band Mugsy and D-Comp for the Halloween Monster Bash. Find more nightlife events in the Music This Week in this issue on page 34 and in last week’s issue (Oct. 19) on page 18 (find the e-edition at hippopress.com).

Save the Date! Friday, Nov. 24
The curtain rises on A Christmas Carol at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St. in Manchester; palacetheatre.org, 668-5588) on Friday, Nov. 24, with shows Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m. through Dec. 23. Tickets cost $28 to $49.

Featured photo: Courtesy photo.