Category: This Week

Big Events September 9, 2021 and beyond

Thursday, Sept. 9

The Concord Historical Society will hold the lecture “The Concord Gas Holder: Its history and its future” today at 7 p.m. at the Carriage House at the Kimball-Jenkins Estate (266 N. State St. in Concord).

Friday, Sept. 10

Find agricultural exhibits and shows, live music, games, rides and more at the Hillsborough County Agricultural Fair, which will start today and run through Sunday, Sept. 12, at 17 Hilldale Lane in New Boston. Gates open at noon today and at 9 a.m. Saturday and Sunday. The midway rides at 3 p.m. on Friday and noon on Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday, the fair will close out the day with fireworks at 9 p.m. The live music lineup includes Dan Morgan (Friday at 7 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday at noon), The Bob Pratte Band (with shows at 2 and 4 p.m. on Saturday) and Johnnie Bubar (at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday), according to hcafair.org, where you can find a complete schedule of all the happenings.

Friday, Sept. 10

Queen of the Night, a show in tribute to Whitney Houston, begins its run at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St. in Manchester; palacetheatre.org, 668-5588) tonight with a show at 7:30 p.m. Shows continue this weekend: 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 11, and noon and 5 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 12. Tickets cost $39 to $46 ($25 for children). The show runs Fridays through Sundays through Sept. 26.

Saturday, Sept. 11

The 9th annual NH Monarch Festival runs today from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Petals in the Pines (126 Baptist Road in Canterbury; petalsinthepines.com, 783-0220). Admission is free for kids with a suggested donation of $5 per adult. The event will feature games, activities and displays offering education about monarch butterflies and their migration.

Tuesday, Sept. 14

The New Hampshire Fisher Cats begin their final regular season run of home games at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium (1 Line Drive in downtown Manchester; nhfishercats.com) for this season today with a game at 6:35 p.m. against the Harrisburg Senators. The Fisher Cats have games nightly at 6:35 p.m. through Saturday, Sept. 18, and then a game at 1:35 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 19.

Save the Date! Saturday, Sept. 25

The Dana Center (Saint Anselm College, 100 Saint Anselm Drive in Manchester; anselm.edu/dana-center-humanities) will present Cirque-tacular, a production featuring aerialists, acrobats, jugglers, illusionists, trapeze artists and fire performers, on Saturday, Sept. 25, with shows at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. according to the website. Tickets cost $45.

Featured photo: Cirque-tacular. Courtesy photo.

Big Events September 2-8, 2021 and beyond

Thursday, Sept. 2

The New Hampshire Fisher Cats continue their run of home games at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium (1 Line Drive in downtown Manchester; nhfishercats.com) against the Portland Sea Dogs with games through Sunday, Sept. 5. Games Thursday and Saturday are at 7:05 p.m.; Sunday’s game starts at 1:35 p.m. Look for post-game fireworks after Thursday’s and Saturday’s games. Friday’s game is a doubleheader (two seven-inning games) starting at 5:35 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 4

Check out classic cars and music from bands such as Speed Trap, Permanent Vacation and Stuck in Time at this year’s Cruising Downtown, when the Manchester Rotary Club celebrates the 20th anniversary of the event. The car show runs today on Elm Street in downtown Manchester from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. There is a $5 suggested donation for adult attendees, according to the event’s website, cruisingdowntownmanchester.com.

Saturday, Sept. 4

If you’re heading beachward this weekend, there are some events to check out at Hampton Beach. Today at 7 p.m., Cirque du Hampton Beach will feature a performance by Boston Circus Guild musicians, artists, dancers and more, according to hamptonbeach.org. On Sunday, Sept. 5, catch a special Labor Day fireworks show at 9:30 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 4

Find big laughs at the Tupelo Music Hall (10 A St. in Derry; tupelomusichall.com, 437-5100) tonight during their Night of Comedy featuring Jim Colliton, Jason Merrill and Jeff Koen. The show starts at 8 p.m. Tickets cost $22.

Sunday, Sept. 5

Catch some music out in the fresh air at the Canterbury Shaker Village (288 Shaker Road in Canterbury; 783-9511, shakers.org). Peabody’s Coal Train, described on the website as “a six-piece acoustic band playing a wide-ranging mix of folk, Appalachian mountain music, classic country, swinging blues, old-time gospel, and toe-tapping bluegrass tunes [plus] a little rock and roll!” will play today at 4 p.m. as part of the Village’s Music on the Meetinghouse Green series. Seating is first-come first-served and attendees are welcome to bring a chair and a picnic, the website said.

Monday, Sept. 6

Spend your Labor Day doing a little plant shopping. Today is the final day of a Native Plant Sale hosted by Bagley Pond Perennials to support the New Hampshire Audubon’s McLane Center Pollinator Garden, according to nhaudubon.org/event/native-plant-sale, where you can place your orders. Plants will be ready for pickup Sunday, Sept. 12, from noon to 4 p.m. so you can do some fun pre-fall planting next weekend.

Save the Date! Sunday, Sept. 12

The Capitol Center for the Arts has two remaining shows in its Music in the Park series at Fletcher-Murphy Park in Concord. On Sunday, Sept. 12, catch Cold Chocolate in concert at 3 p.m. On Sunday, Sept. 19, Kimayo performs at 3 p.m. Gates open at 2 p.m. in both cases. Tickets to either show cost $12 plus a fee. See ccanh.com.

Featured photo: Cold Chocolate. Courtesy photo.

Big Events August 26, 2021, and beyond

Thursday, Aug. 26

New Hampshire Fisher Cats continue their run of home games at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium (1 Line Drive in downtown Manchester; nhfishercats.com) against the Binghamton Rumble Ponies with games through Sunday, Aug. 29. Games today through Saturday, Aug. 28, are all at 7:05 p.m.; Sunday’s game starts at 1:35 p.m. Special theme days include Alex Trebek Tribute Night on Aug. 26, Wrestling Night (with a Sumo Bobble Belly giveaway) on Aug. 27, post-game fireworks on Aug. 28 and a youth jersey giveaway on Aug. 29. The F-Cats begin another run of home games on Tuesday, Aug. 31, when the Portland Sea Dogs return (that game will feature post-game fireworks).

Friday, Aug. 27

Comedian Juston McKinney begins a four-show run at the Capitol Center for the Arts in Concord tonight with a show at 8 p.m. Subsequent shows are Saturday, Aug. 28, at 5:30 and 8 p.m., and Sunday, Aug. 29, at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $29.50 (plus fees). See ccanh.com.

Friday, Aug. 27

Get in your classic red Ferrari (but don’t try to roll back the odometer) to head to Wasserman Park (116 Naticook Road in Merrimack) to see Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (PG-13, 1986) tonight at 7:30 p.m., part of the Merrimack Parks and Recreation’s Summer Movies in the Park series. The screening is free and is open to the public. See merrimackparksandrec.org/movies-in-the-park. Looking for more nostalgia-filled screenings? The Prescott Park Arts Festival’s outdoor movie on Monday, Aug. 30, is Big (PG, 1988). It starts at dusk; see prescottpark.org.

Friday, Aug. 27

Watch hopefuls compete in the Hampton Beach Talent Competition, running today through Sunday, Aug. 29, at 7 p.m. at the Seashell Stage on Hampton Beach. Today, the juniors (under 18) compete; tomorrow, Aug. 28, it’s the over 18s, and Sunday is the finals, according to hamptonbeach.org, where you can find more about this and other beach events.

Saturday, Aug 28

It’s another day of Old Home Days.

Plaistow’s Old Home Day today will include a 5K road race (registration starts at 7:30 a.m.), fireworks, food vendors and more, according to plaistowohd.com.

Candia’s Old Home Day will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Moore Park (74 High St.), according to candiaoldhomeday.com. The day will kick off with a parade, followed by crafters, artisans, food, music and exhibits in the park as well as Michael’s Awesome Juggling and Variety Show at 12:30 p.m., the site said.

Gilford’s Old Home Day will kick off with a 5K road race and a free kids fun race (check-in starts at 6:30 a.m.) and a pancake breakfast hosted by the Gilford Rotary (7 a.m.), according to gilfordrec.com. The library will serve pie and ice cream starting at 9 a.m. as long as it lasts or until noon, and a book sale will run from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., the site said. Crafts people and food vendors will open for business at 9 a.m. on the Village Green and a parade steps off at 10 a.m., the site said. The day will also feature kids games and events, demonstrations, live music and fireworks at 9 p.m.; see the website for details.

Save the Date! Tuesday, Sept. 21

The fall season of art classes for children and teens begin on Tuesday, Sept. 21, at the Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St. in Manchester; currier.org). Classes in comics, drawing and painting including offerings that are online and classes in person. Adult art classes kick off earlier in September with classes that have one- or two-day sessions as well as weekly classes. Offerings include figure drawing, painting, and an art sampler. See the website for details and to register.

Featured photo: Justin McKinney. Courtesy photo.

Big Events August 19, 2021, and beyond

Thursday, Aug. 19

Catch Alli Beaudry & Nick as the live music performance at tonight’s Art After Work at the Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St. in Manchester; currier.org, 669-6144). Admission is free on Thursdays from 5 to 8 p.m. and you can enjoy live music, free tours and food and drink for sale in the Winter Garden Cafe. Today’s tours are of “Critical Cartography: Larissa Fassler in Manchester” (at 5:30 p.m.) and “The Body in Art: From the Spiritual to the Sensual” (6:30 p.m.) Advance online registration is recommended, according to the website.

Friday, Aug. 20

Team Fire will face off against Team Police during the friendly competition known as the Battle of the Badges Baseball Classic atNortheast Delta Dental Stadium (1 Line Drive in downtown Manchester) tonight. The game starts at 6:30 p.m. and benefits programs at Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth-Hitchcock (CHaD). Tickets cost $10 and are available at chadbaseball.org.

Saturday, Aug. 21

History Alive returns to the town of Hillsborough today and tomorrow, Sunday, Aug. 22, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sponsored by the Hillsborough Historical Society and held at locations on Jones Road and at the Historic Center, History

Alive features presentations about Abenaki music and drums (at noon), a talk on the use of native plants (1 p.m.) and Abenaki stories at 3 p.m., all on Saturday, and a discussion of the Abenaki Trail Project on Sunday at noon, as well as ongoing displays and demonstrations of Abenaki crafts, military reenactors, other historic crafts and on Sunday, a cake walk at 11 a.m. and a children’s parade at 3 p.m. See historyalivenh.org.

Tuesday, Aug. 24

New Hampshire Fisher Cats kick off a run of home games at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium (1 Line Drive in downtown Manchester; nhfishercats.com) against the Binghamton Rumble Ponies tonight with a game at 7:05 p.m. Tonight is Weather Night, part of the SNHU STEM Series. Games continue through Sunday, Aug. 29. Games tonight through Saturday, Aug. 28, are all at 7:05 p.m.; Sunday’s game starts at 1:35 p.m. Other special theme days include Alex Trebek Tribute Night on Aug. 26, Wrestling Night (with a Sumo Bobble Belly giveaway) on Aug. 27, post-game fireworks on Aug. 28 and a youth jersey giveaway on Aug. 29.

Tuesday, Aug. 24

Tonight it’s our time, down here, when The Goonies(PG, 1985) screens at the Rex Theatre (23 Amherst St. in Manchester; palacetheatre.org, 668-5588) at 7 p.m. Head back tomorrow for another ’80s classic, Gremlins (PG, 1984), on Wednesday, Aug. 25, at 7 p.m. Tickets to either show cost $12 with part of the proceeds benefiting Motley Mutts Rescue.

Save the Date! Thursday, Sept. 2

Get two performances in one show on Thursday, Sept. 2, when Bella White and OldHat Stringband co-bill at the Word Barn (66 Newfields Road in Exeter; thewordbarn.com). The show starts at 7 p.m.; general admission costs $25 plus fees.

Featured photo: Ali Beaudry. Courtesy photo.

Big Events August 12, 2021, and beyond

Thursday, Aug. 12

The Nashua Silver Knights wrap up their regular season of home games at Holman Stadium (67 Amherst St. in Nashua) tonight with a doubleheader starting at 3 p.m. against the Brockton Rox. Tickets to games start at $8 for adults, $6 for kids. See nashuasilverknights.com.

Thursday, Aug. 12

The 64th annual New Hampshire Antiques Show runs today through Saturday, Aug. 14, at the DoubleTree by Hilton Manchester Downtown (700 Elm St.). Sixty-seven antiques dealers will exhibit their merchandise, according to nhada.org. Show hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. Admission costs $15 on Thursday and $10 on Friday and Saturday, and is free to anyone under 30. See nhada.org.

Thursday, Aug. 12

It’s a weekend of Old Home Days! Hudson’s Old Home Days at Hills House Field (211 Derry Road, Hudson) kicks off today with rides and carnival games, food vendors, live music, fireworks on Saturday, competitions (including pie eating and cornhole) and more. The event is open from 5 to 10 p.m. tonight and continues through Sunday, Aug. 15. See hudsonoldhomedays.com.

Epsom’s Old Home Weekend runs Friday, Aug. 13, through Sunday, Aug. 15, at Webster Park in Epsom. Friday’s events from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. include a cookout, live music from Fuzz Box, cornhole, s’mores and more. Saturday includes more kids events and a 3-on-3 basketball tournament. See epsomnh.org.

Londonderry’s Old Home Days starts the evening of Wednesday, Aug. 18, and runs through Saturday, Aug. 21, and will feature town parades, games, local vendors and more. Find them on Facebook.

Friday, Aug. 13

Watch a story about space flight under the stars at the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center (2 Institute Drive in Concord; starhop.com, 271-7827) tonight with a screening of Mercury 13 (TV-PG, 2018) at 8 p.m. This documentary from Netflix looks at the group of women who trained for space flight but didn’t become part of NASA’s astronaut program and didn’t go to space (until this year when Wally Funk, one of the Mercury 13, joined Jeff Bezos on the July 21 Blue Origins New Shepard flight, according to Wikipedia). The screening is free and snacks and drinks will be available for purchase, according to the website, which encouraged attendees to bring camping chairs and picnic blankets.

Saturday, Aug. 14

See the Currier Museum of Art’s (150 Ash St., Manchester; currier.org, 669-6144) current exhibits including “Tomie dePaola at the Currier,” “Roberto Lugo: Te traigo mi le lo lai — I bring you my joy, ” “Critical Cartography: Larissa Fassler in Manchester” and “The Body in Art: From the Spiritual to the Sensual.” Today, admission is free to New Hampshire residents as part of the museum’s free second Saturdays. Museum hours today are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Saturday, Aug. 14

Enjoy music in the gardens with Symphony NH at Beaver Brook Association (117 Ridge Road, Hollis) today at 3 p.m. Americana Brass Quintet will perform, and the gardens will be open before the concert. Tickets cost $18 for adults and $5 for children under 12 at beaverbrook.org, which recommends bringing chairs, blankets and a picnic dinner.

Save the Date! Friday, Aug. 27

Comedian Juston McKinney begins a three-day run at the Bank of NH Stage (44 S. Main St. in Concord; ccanh.com) on Friday, Aug. 27, with a show at 8 p.m. McKinney will also perform Saturday, Aug. 28, at 5:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. and Sunday, Aug. 29, at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $29.50.

Featured photo, Mercury 13. Courtesy photo.

Big Events August 5, 2021, and beyond

Thursday, Aug. 5

The Sunflower Festival at the Coppal House Farm (118 N. River Road in Lee; 659-3572) continues today and through the weekend, wrapping up on Sunday, Aug. 8. The field is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission for weekdays costs $8 per person ($6 for kids ages 5 to 12 and for seniors and military and free for kids ages 4 and under). On the weekends, admission costs $12 per person ($10 for kids ages 5 to 12 and for seniors and military and free for kids ages 4 and under). Tickets are available at nhsunflower.com and at the farm stand. The festival also features an artisan craft fair on Saturday and Sunday, food vendors (including Flag Hill Distillery and Winery, Coppa Magica, El Camino and Fabian’s European Pastries on Saturday) and souvenir photo shoots for sale, according to the website.

On the weekend, find live music including, on Saturday, Artty Francoeur (10 a.m.), Green Heron (at noon), Borscht (2 p.m.) and Chris Reagan (4 p.m.), and on Sunday, Long Journey (10 a.m.), Decatur Creek (noon), Grim Brothers (2 p.m.) and Cedar Mountain (4 p.m.).

Other special events planned for the rest of the festival run. Today is Fairytale Day with visits from special characters and fairy house building starting at 2:30 p.m., according to the website. Friday, Aug. 6, from 3 to 5 p.m. is Old Truck Day when you can see old trucks and talk to restorers. Children’s story times will run from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 7, and Sunday, Aug. 8.

Thursday, Aug. 5

New Hampshire Fisher Cats continue their run of home games at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium (1 Line Drive in downtown Manchester; nhfishercats.com) with games against the Hartford Yard Goats through Sunday, Aug. 8. Games Thursday through Saturday start at 7:05 p.m.; Sunday’s game starts at 1:35 p.m. Before Sunday’s game, the Fisher Cats will host a Princesses at the Park brunch (tickets cost $24) featuring a pancake breakfast and appearances by princesses. Sunday will also feature a Gatos Feroces hat giveaway and kids run the bases, according to the promotions schedule. Post-game fireworks are scheduled for Thursday and Saturday.

Thursday, Aug. 5

The Nashua Silver Knights have three games on the schedule for the next seven days at Holman Stadium (67 Amherst St. in Nashua). Tonight at 6 p.m. they play the Westfield Starfires. On Friday, Aug. 6, they play the Vermont Lake Monsters, also at 6 p.m., with post-game fireworks. On Tuesday, Aug. 10, a doubleheader against the New Britain Bees starts at 3 p.m. Tickets to games start at $8 for adults, $6 for kids. See nashuasilverknights.com.

Friday, Aug. 6

Catch comedian Frank Santorelli tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the Rex Theatre (23 Amherst St. in Manchester; palacetheatre.org, 668-5588). Tickets cost $25.

Saturday, Aug. 7

The Belknap County 4-H Fair runs today from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and tomorrow, Aug. 8, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., at 174 Mile Hill Road in Belmont. Events include 4-H agricultural events (a horse show at 9 a.m. on Saturday, a poultry hall at 1 p.m.) and live entertainment such as magic (Sunday at 10 a.m. and noon) and music (including Cedar Mountain Bluegrass Band at 2 p.m. on Saturday and the Blue Monsters at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday). Admission costs $8 ($7 for seniors and free for kids under 10 and for military with ID). See bcfairnh.org.

Save the Date! Saturday, Aug. 28

Order today to get the gyro plate, rice pudding, loukoumades, kourambiedes, feta or spinach peta, pastichio and of course baklava during the Greekfest Express at Assumption Greek Orthodox Church (111 Island Pond Road in Manchester; 623-2045, assumptionnh.org). As with other foodie events at Assumption over the last year, this event is pre-order and drive-thru pick-up only. Go to foodfest.assumptionnh.org to order your Greekfest favorites by Sunday, Aug. 22, and select a time on Saturday, Aug. 28, for pick-up.

Featured photo, Sunflower. Courtesy photo.