Category: This Week

Big Events December 30, 2021 and beyond

Thursday, Dec. 30

Looking to get outside? Check out the Educational Farm at Joppa Hill (174 Joppa Hill Road in Bedford; theeducationalfarm.org, 472-4724), which is open daily from dawn to dusk. Find trail information online. When the weather is cold enough, the farm’s rink will be open for ice skating. The cost is $5.

Or head to one of New Hampshire Audubon’s 39 sanctuaries for hiking (or snowshoeing or cross-country skiing, weather permitting). Find trails for the sanctuaries, which are open from dawn to dusk and located throughout the state, at nhaudubon.org.

Thursday, Dec. 30

The light shows continue through this weekend: The Gift of Lights at New Hampshire Motor Speedway (1122 Route 106 North, Loudon), runs daily through Sunday, Jan. 2. The 2½-mile drive-thru light show features a variety of scenes making up more than 500 different light displays along the track. It’s open from 4:30 to 9 p.m., Sunday through Thursday, and 4:30 to 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, depending on weather conditions. The cost ranges from $30 to $35 per carload, and is $60 per limo or bus. See nhms.com.

LaBelle Lights also continues at LaBelle Winery’s Derry location (14 Route 111) now through Feb. 26. See page 26 for details.

Friday, Dec. 31

Rock in the new year with The Apathetics (playing the Boston Billiard Club in Nashua) or get in a last laugh at 2021 with Bob Marley (who has three shows tonight at the Flying Monkey in Plymouth) or head to the Derryfield in Manchester for the music of Chad LaMarsh and a Champagne toast at midnight. Find a rundown of the live music slated at area restaurants in this week’s Music This Week listing, which starts on page 60; find comedians in the Comedy This Week listing on page 58. For a more detailed rundown of New Year’s Eve events, look for Michael Witthaus’ stories in the Dec. 23 issue about comedy (page 36) and music (page 38). You can find the e-edition of the issue at hippopress.com.

Saturday, Jan. 1

Start 2022 off with some opera. The Metropolitan Opera’s live broadcast of Cinderella will screen at Bank of NH Stage (16 S. Main St., Concord; ccanh.com) today at 12:55 p.m. Tickets cost $26 for adults, $22 for seniors and $15 for students (plus fees).

Sunday, Jan. 2

Keep the New Year’s celebration going with Hogmanay, an event by NHSCOT (presenters of New Hampshire’s annual Highland Games), today from 3 to 7 p.m. at Derryfield Country Club in Manchester. The evening features indoor and outdoor events; tickets are $42 for adults (buffet-style meal included) and $20 for kids (includes chicken and french fries). See nhscot.org and check out Meghan Siegler’s story about the plans, including Scottish country dancing and music by The Rebel Collective on page 10 of the Dec. 23 issue of the Hippo.

Save the date! Jan. 28, 2022

The end of January heats up at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St. in Manchester; 668-5588, palacetheatre.org) with the presentation of The Full Monty, the Broadway musical based on the 1997 film of the same name. The show’s opening night is Jan. 28 and it runs through Sunday, Feb. 20, with shows Fridays through Sundays (as well as on Thursday, Feb. 17, at 7:30 p.m.) Tickets cost $46 for adults.

Featured photo: The Full Monty. Courtesy photo.

Big Events December 23, 2021 and beyond

Thursday, Dec. 23

Need to do a little last-minute shopping? Two Villages Art Society’s (46 Main St. in Contoocook, twovillagesart.org) Holiday Art Show and Sale,featuring handmade gifts by more than 30 local artists, including paintings, pottery, mixed media, photography, fabric art and more, is open today from noon to 4 p.m. The Craftworkers’ Guild’s Holiday Fair 3A Meetinghouse Road, behind the library, in Bedford; thecraftworkersguild.org), open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. through today. The Artisan’s Market at the Cider Mill Gallery (24 Francestown Road, Route 136, in New Boston, 487-5522) is open Friday, Dec. 24, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 24

Looking for some holiday eats? While deadlines for special orders have probably passed, a pie or cookie plate may be available for last-minute pickup and there are restaurants with special meals or limited hours for today and tomorrow. Check out Matt Ingersoll’s listing of food-related gifts, holiday eats to bring home and places to dine out in the Dec. 9 issue of the Hippo at hippopress.com, where you can find the e-edition. The stories start on page 22.

Sunday, Dec. 26

Get in one last dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy when the New Hampshire School of Ballet presents The Nutcracker Suite at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St. in Manchester, palacetheatre.org, 668-5588) today at 6 p.m. Tickets cost $22.

Monday, Dec. 27

New England’s own Recycled Percussion kicks off a string of more than a dozen shows at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St. in Manchester, 668-5588, palacetheatre.org) today with a show at 7:30 p.m. Future dates include Tuesday, Dec. 28, through Saturday, Jan. 1, at 4 and 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, Jan. 2, at 4 p.m., and Saturday, Jan. 8, at 4 and 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $35 through $45.

Tuesday, Dec. 28

See Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye and Rosemary Clooney (aunt of George) in White Christmas (1954) at the Rex Theatre (23 Amherst St. in Manchester, 668-5588, palacetheatre.org) today at 10 a.m., part of the Senior Movie Mornings Series. Tickets cost $10.

Wednesday, Dec. 29

Looking for something interesting to pour at your New Year’s Eve gathering? WineNot Boutique (25 Main St. in Nashua; winenotboutique.com, 204-5569) has some opportunities for trying new beverages this week. Today it’s a sake tasting, starting at 5 p.m. Tomorrow, Dec. 30, it’s a tasting of exotic sparkling wines. Both events are free but online pre-registration for a specific time slot is required.

Save the date: Thursday, Jan. 27

Tickets are on sale now for the 18th annual Winter Wine Spectacular to benefit Easterseals, scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 27, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the DoubleTree by Hilton in downtown Manchester. Tickets cost $65 for the grand tasting (the room featuring wine and restaurant vendors serving hundreds of different bottles for tasting) and $145 for “full access,” which includes access to the Bellman’s Cellar Select Room (which opens at 5:30 p.m. and features a selection of $200 high-end wines). See nhwineweek.com.

Featured photo: Recycled Percussion. Courtesy photo.

Big Events December 16, 2021 and beyond

Thursday, Dec. 16

The Peacock Players present A Christmas Carol: An Original Live Radio Play at the Court Street Theatre (14 Court St. in Nashua; peacockplayers.org) tonight and Friday, Dec. 17, at 7 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 18, at 2 and 7 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 19, at 2 p.m. Tickets range from $15 to $19.

Friday, Dec. 17

Angel City Music Hall (179 Elm St. in Manchester; angelcitymusichall.com) will hold its “Ugly X-Mas Sweater Party” at 7 p.m., featuring contests, giveaways and live music by the Rock Junkies, according to the website.

Saturday, Dec. 18

Another chance to wear that sweater: The sixth annual Ugly Sweater 4 Miler will be held today at 9 a.m. at Backyard Brewery (1211 S. Mammoth Road in Manchester). The cost for this 21+ event is $40 and includes a Tito’s Handmade Vodka ugly sweater for the first 75 registrants. All registrants get a unisex-fit long-sleeve shirt and one Tito’s Handmade Vodka signature cocktail. Proceeds benefit the Humane Society of Greater Nashua, the Animal Rescue League of NH and Pope Memorial SPCA Concord. Visit totalimagerunning.com. Find more charitable runs and discussion of what makes these events a good time in the Nov. 11 cover story on page 10.

Saturday, Dec. 18

It’s the last weekend of pre-Christmas craft fairs!

• Bazaar Craft Fairs will hold a Holiday Crafts and Vendor Fair today from 9 am. to 2:30 p.m. at Eagles Wing Function Hall (10 Spruce St. in Nashua), featuring more than 35 vendors, according to the event’s Facebook page.

• Pipe Dream Brewing (49 Harvey Road in Londonderry; pipedreambrewingnh.com, 404-0751) will host its annual Holiday Craft Fair today from noon to 5 p.m.

Tuesday, Dec. 21

See some classic holiday movies on the big screen this week at the Music Hall (28 Chestnut St. in Portsmouth; themusichall.org, 436-2400). Today, White Christmas(1954) screens at 3 p.m. and Love Actually(R, 2003) screens at 7 p.m. Tomorrow, Wednesday, Dec. 22, catch It’s a Wonderful Life (1946) at 3 and 7 p.m. And on Thursday, Dec. 23, it’s The Grinch (PG, 2018) at 3 p.m. and Last Christmas (PG-13, 2019) at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $15 for adults, $12 for 60+.

Thursday, Dec. 23

Get Christmas with the Spain Brothers, who will be joined by Green Heron, tonight at 7 p.m. at the Rex Theatre (23 Amherst St. in Manchester; palacetheatre.org, 668-5588). Tickets cost $29.

Save (it for later) the date: March 24, 2022

The English Beat will play the Tupelo Music Hall (10 A St. in Derry; 437-5100, tupelomusichall.com) on Thursday, March 24, at 8 p.m. Tickets cost $40.

Featured photo: Courtesy photo.

Big Events December 9, 2021 and beyond

Thursday, Dec. 9

Productions of A Christmas Carol take place on stages throughout the area this weekend. Tonight, the Palace Theatre’s (80 Hanover St. in Manchester; palacetheatre.org, 668-5588) continues its run (shows continue through Dec. 22) with shows at 7:30 p.m. tonight and tomorrow; 2 and 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 11, and noon on Sunday, Dec. 12.

The Hatbox Theatre’s (Steeplegate Mall, 270 Loudon Road in Concord; hatboxnh.com) production (which continues through Dec. 19) has showtimes Friday, Dec. 10, and Saturday, Dec. 11, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 12, at 2 p.m.

For a slightly different take on the main character, the Majestic Theatre presentsScrooge in Loveat the Derry Opera House (29 W. Broadway in Derry) on Friday, Dec. 10, at 7 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 11, at 2 and 7 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 12, at 2 p.m. This continuation of the Christmas Carol story looks at Scrooge a year later when the ghosts return to help Ebenezer find love, according to majestictheatre.net.

Friday, Dec. 10

This week’s craft fairs kick off tonight.

• The Great New England Craft & Artisan Show (gnecraftartisanshows.com) runs today from 5 to 9 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 11, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Hampshire Hills Athletic Club (50 Emerson Road in Milford). Admission is free; Santa will make an appearance on Saturday.

• The Auburn Village School (11 Eaton Hill Road in Auburn) will hold its Holiday Craft and Vendor Fair Saturday, Dec. 11, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. with more than 30 vendors and crafters, kids crafts and games, concessions and a visit from Santa, according to the school’s Facebook page.

• Bishop Brady High School (25 Columbus Ave. in Concord; bishopbrady.edu) will hold its Craft Fair on Saturday, Dec. 11, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

• On Saturday, Dec. 11, the Holly Jolly Craft Fair (joycescraftshows.com/nh-craft-fairs-schedule) will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel (2 Somerset Plaza in Nashua).

• The Canterbury Community Farmers Market Association (canterburyfarmersmarket.com) will hold a special indoor holiday-themed market with food, art and crafts on Saturday, Dec. 11, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. inside the gymnasium of Canterbury Elementary School (15 Baptist Road).

• The NH Audubon McLane Center (84 Silk Farm Road in Concord; nhaudubon.org) will host a Holiday Craft Fair on Saturday, Dec. 11, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Nature Store will also be open.

• The Wrong Brain Holidaze Bizaare (facebook.com/wrongbrain) will take place Saturday, Dec. 11, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Millspace (55 Main St. in Newmarket) featuring artwork and artisan crafted items.

• The Santa’s Workshop Craft Fair will run at the Derry VFW (18 Railroad Ave. in Derry) on Sunday, Dec. 12, from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 10

Celebrate the annual Amherst tree lighting ceremony at 6 p.m. at the Amherst Town Green. Treats will be available for purchase, according to amhersttreelightingfestival.weebly.com. Keep the holiday spirit going in Amherst with a performance by the Souhegan Valley Chorus Saturday, Dec. 11, at 7 p.m. at Souhegan High School (tickets on sale at the door) and a free holiday concert by the Amherst Town Band Sunday, Dec. 12, at 2 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 11

The Canterbury Shaker Village (288 Shaker Road in Canterbury; shakersorg) kicks off two weekends of its “Merry Merry Canterbury” celebration today. The events take place Dec. 11 and Dec. 12 (as well as Dec. 18 and Dec. 19) from 1 to 5 p.m. Reserve a spot in advance for $20 per adult (free for kids). The days will include a seasonal display in the bar, a craft, a 19th-century magic show and carols. (For $50, attend the Candlelight Tours the following weekend.)

Saturday, Dec. 11

Take a drive and see some lights: Light Up New Boston will take place on Saturday, Dec. 11, from 6 to 8 p.m. Find a map to houses with holiday displays at newbostonnh.gov. The event follows the S’mores with Santa event from 4 to 6 p.m. which features a tree-lighting, a chance to meet Santa and s’mores.

Featured photo: Glass art window by Doris massetti. Courtesy photo.

Big Events December 2, 2021 and beyond

Friday, Dec. 3

Need a little naughty mixed into your holiday celebrations? Join Fright Kingdom (12 Simon St., Nashua) for its Krampus-themed holiday event, “The Fright Before Christmas,” tonight through Sunday, Dec. 5, from 7 to 10 p.m. each night, featuring a costume contest, scary winter wonderland and more. Tickets are $29 and must be purchased in advance. Visit frightkingdom.com or call 809-1173.

Saturday, Dec. 4

There are several art gallery shopportunities today (find more details on these and other holiday events in Hippo’s Holiday Guide, starting on page 10 of the Nov. 25 issue; the e-edition is available at hippopress.com).

Studioverne Fine Art Fused Glass and Creative Framing Solutions (81 and 83R Hanover St., Manchester; facebook.com/verneorlosk) host a Holiday Open House from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The Picker Collaborative Artists (3 Pine St., Nashua) host their Holiday Open House from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. See pickerartists.com.

The Concord Arts Market hosts a Mini Holiday Arts Market at the Kimball Jenkins Estate (266 N. Main St., Concord) from noon to 3 p.m. See concordartsmarket.net.

Art Gallery 46, at Remember This Antiques and Collectibles (46 Route 101A, Amherst) has its Holiday Open House from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; see facebook.com/ artgallery46.

Saturday, Dec. 4

More holiday fairs today!

Arlington Street United Methodist Church (63 Arlington St., Nashua; asumc.org, 882-4663) holds its Holly Town Fair from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. featuring vendors with handmade items, baked goods, to-go lunches from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and more.

The GFWC Hudson Women’s Club hosts its fair from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Hudson High School; in addition to crafts, the event features gift baskets, food, a penny raffle and more. See facebook.com/GFWCHWC.

The Amherst Lions Club holds its Craft Fair from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Amherst Middle School (14 Cross Road). See e-clubhouse.org/sites/amherstnh.

Christmas in Strafford, an event featuring 17 stops and pieces from more than 50 artists and craftspeople, runs today; see the map at christmasinstrafford.com.

A Holiday Craft Fair at Somersworth High School (11 Memorial Drive) runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; see nhfestivals.org.

Saturday, Dec. 4

Manchester’s Christmas parade returns! The Manchester Holiday Parade will take place today at 4 p.m. on Elm Street. The event follows the BASC Santa Claus Shuffle, a 3-mile road race presented by Millennium Running. The main race — which features samples of “Santa’s four major food groups,” milk & cookies, maple, chocolate and candy — starts at 3 p.m. A 100-yard Lil Elf run starts at 2:30 p.m. Register by Friday, Dec. 3, at millenniumrunning.com/santa.

Find more information on runs in December, including the Jingle Bell Run scheduled for Sunday, Dec. 5, at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium in Manchester in the Nov. 11 issue of the Hippo, where Meghan Siegler looks at charitable runs in a story that starts on page 10.

Save the Date! Saturday, Dec. 11

Save the date for delicious cookies: on Saturday, Dec. 11, you can find two cookie tours in New Hampshire. The Currier & Ives Cookie Tour will take place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and feature nearly a dozen businesses in the Monadnock region. Tickets cost $15 per person; see currierandivescookietour.com. On Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 12, the Inn to Inn Holiday Cookie and Candy Tour runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day at participating inns in the White Mountains region. Tickets cost $35; see countryinnsinthewhitemountains.com.

Featured photo: The BASC Santa Claus Shuffle. Photo courtesy of Millennium Running.

Big Events November 25, 2021 and beyond

Thursday, Nov. 25

Turkey day! But first, turkey trot. In the Nov. 11 issue of the Hippo (you can find the e-edition at hippopress.com), Meghan Siegler looked at charitable races, such as the many turkey trots scheduled for today. Find info on races today in Bow, Manchester, Derry, Hampstead, Merrimack, Windham and Exeter, among many other towns, in the story, which starts on page 10. Feeling ambitious? The Amherst Junior Women’s Club is also hosting the Trot Off Your Turkey 5K tomorrow (Nov. 26) and Bishop Brady High School in Concord is hosting its Galloping Gobbler 4-Miler on Saturday, Nov. 27.

Thursday, Nov. 25

After your turkey dinner, head for a ride to see the lights: The New Hampshire Motor Speedway’s annual Gift of Lights opens today and runs through Sunday, Jan. 2, 2022, in Loudon (running daily, Sundays through Thursdays from 4:30 to 9 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays from 4:30 to 10 p.m.). The show features 2.5 miles featuring 3.5 million lights with a variety of arches and attractions, according to nhms.com. Tickets cost $30 to $35 per car load ($60 per limo or bus). Upcoming theme nights are Dress Your Pet (Monday, Nov. 29), Crazy PJ Night (Tuesday, Nov. 30) and Crazy Sweater Night (Wednesday, Dec. 1).

Friday, Nov. 26

The Craftworkers’ Guild opens its doors for its Holiday Craft Shop at the Kendall House (behind the Bedford Library, 3A Meetinghouse Road in Bedford) today through Dec. 22. The show is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and online shopping is available at thecraftworkersguild.org.

Friday, Nov. 26

The Canterbury Shaker Village (288 Shaker Road in Canterbury; shakers.org, 783-9511) will hold a Holiday Open House today through Sunday, Nov. 28, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with free hot chocolate and cider at the museum store and Shaker Stories Tours at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 27

The Manchester Holiday Event, put on by New England Premier Events, runs today from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Doubletree by Hilton Manchester Downtown featuring demonstrations, shopping, giveaways, swag bags and more, with proceeds to help the New Hampshire Breast Cancer Coalition, according to myneevent.com/upcoming-events. Tickets cost $5.

Saturday, Nov. 27

Enjoy the sounds of Neighbor at Bank of NH Stage (16 S. Main St. in Concord; ccanh.com) tonight at 8 p.m. Doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $20 general admission (plus fees).

Sunday, Nov. 28

Symphony NH presents Holiday Brass at 3 p.m. at the Dana Center (Saint Anselm College, 100 Saint Anselm Dr., Manchester; anselm.edu, 641-7000). Tickets $32 to $45.

Save the Date! Through Feb. 26, 2022

Get more light show at LaBelle Lights at the LaBelle Winery Derry location (14 Route 111), which opened last week and will run through Feb. 26, 2022. The light display is set up on the LaBelle Links golf course along a paved walking path with coordinated music and 15 light features that will be changed periodically throughout the run of the event, according to a press release. Tickets cost $15 and will be available for purchase onsite or in advance at the website, where you can find days and hours of operation (which are primarily Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings from 4:30 to 9 p.m. with some additional days throughout the run). The LaBelle Links will also have a few special events and some theme weeks. See labellewinery.com.

Featured photo: 2020 Thanksgiving 5K. Courtesy photo.