Category: This Week

Thursday, Jan. 1

Make-A-Wish New Hampshire (wish.org/nh) will hold its 5th Annual Polar Plunge today at 11 a.m. at Sawyer’s Beach in Rye. Participants will swim in icy water to raise money to help grant wishes for New Hampshire kids with critical illnesses. All proceeds go directly to Make-A-Wish New Hampshire. Sign up through the organization’s Facebook page at facebook.com/makeawishnh.

Saturday, Jan. 3

There will be two Looking Together tours at the Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St., Manchester, 669-6144, currier.org) today and tomorrow, Sunday, Jan. 4, at 11 a.m. and noon. Spend 15 minutes looking closely at a single work of art with a museum guide and other visitors. Featured works will include Josef Scharl’s “Black Man Praying” (1943) and an untitled work by George Woodman (c.1966-68). Visit the Currier website.

Saturday, Jan. 3

Motley Crüe tribute band Notley Crüe will perform at Jewel Music Venue (61 Canal St., Manchester, 819-9336, jewelmusicvenue.com) tonight at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $20.98 through eventbrite.com.

Sunday, Jan. 4

To Share Brewing (720 Union St., Manchester, 836-6947, tosharebrewing.com) will host an Open Mic event today, hosted by James and Molly, from 4 to 6 p.m. Sign up on arrival.

Sunday, Jan. 4

The Tupelo Music Hall (10 A St., Derry, 437-5100, tupelomusichall.com) will host PizzaStock Showcase 2026 today, beginning at noon. A fundraiser for the Jason R Flood Memorial, this show will feature four bands: Rite of Passage, Punching Pedestrians, Spectrum, and one mystery guest band. Tickets are $23 through Tupelo’s website

Monday, Jan. 5

There will be an Open House Night at Manchester Maker Space (36 Old Granite St., Manchester, manchestermakerspace.org) from 6 to 8 p.m. this evening. Guests can explore the Makerspace and learn about Manchester’s maker community. No registration or ticket required.

Tuesday, Jan. 6

Learn a new skill for the new year tonight at 6 p.m. at the Stark Brewing Co. (500 N. Commercial St., Manchester, 625-4444, starkbrewingcompany.com). The Massachusetts-based Hand The Light holds a Soap Making Workshop where participants can create two goat milk soaps, according to the Stark Brewing website, where you can find a QR code to buy tickets.

Wednesday, Jan. 7

There will be a free Wood Shop Orientation and Safety class tonight at 6:30 p.m.,at MakeIt Labs (25 Crown St., Nashua, 487-6218, makeitlabs.com). This class provides essential information and required procedures to ensure safe operation of various power tools in the MakeIt Labs wood shop and is limited to 10 participants. Check availability at eventbrite.com.

Save the Date! Thursday, Jan 8
Disney’s Frozen and Encanto on Icewill be at the SNHU Arena (555 Elm St., Manchester, 644-5000, snhuarena.com) beginning Thursday, Jan. 8, at 7 p.m. Find ticket information via the SNHU Arena website. “This adventure on ice transports fans into two of the most popular Disney films as audiences can sing along to their favorite songs while embracing world-class ice skating, aerial acrobatics and more,” according to a press release. See disneyonice.com.

Featured photo: Encanto On Ice

Thursday, Dec. 18

The Nature Conservancy (nature.org) will celebrate the longest night of the year with a Winter Solstice Soirée this evening from 5 to 9 p.m. at the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center (2 Institute Drive, Concord, 271-7827, starhop.com). Celebrate the season and mingle with other nature lovers with drinks, light appetizers and holiday cheer. Register at preserve.nature.org/page/180114/event/1.

Thursday, Dec. 18

Pop-rock band the Jonas Brothers perform at the SNHU Arena (555 Elm St., Manchester, 644-5000, snhuarena.com) tonight beginning at 7:30 p.m. as part of their Greetings From Your Hometown tour. Tickets start at $196 through ticketmaster.com.

Friday, Dec. 19

The Canadian Brass will perform at the Nashua Center for the Arts (201 Main St., Nashua, (800) 657-8774, nashuacenterforthearts.com) tonight at 7:30 p.m. as part of their Making Spirits Bright tour, which includes original arrangements and signature takes on beloved holiday classics. Tickets start at $54.

Friday, Dec. 19

Etz Hayim Synagogue (1 1/2 Hood Road, Derry, 432-0004, etzhayim.org) continues its annual tradition of lighting its giant outdoor electric menorah tonight from 7:15 to 8:30 p.m. to celebrate the sixth night of Hanukkah. Jelly doughnuts will be served.

Saturday, Dec. 20

Red River Theatres, 11 S. Main St. in Concord, redrivertheatres.org, has fam-ily-friendly holiday screenings on the schedule this weekend. Catch Elf (PG, 2003) on Saturday, Dec. 20, at 10 a.m. andThe Grinch (PG, 2018), the animated movie, on Sunday, Dec. 21, at 10 a.m. Both screenings feature complimentary hot cocoa. Tickets can be purchased on the website.

Saturday, Dec. 20

Enjoy a festive holiday tradition at The Stockbridge Theatre (22-98 Bypass 28, Derry, 437-5210, pinkertonacademy.org/stockbridge-theatre) at 7 p.m. with the Safe Haven Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker. Tickets start at $33 through the Theatre’s website.

Saturday, Dec. 20

New Hampshire Philharmonic Orchestra (647-6476. nhphil.org) will perform its Annual Holiday Pops concert this afternoon and tomorrow, Sunday, Dec. 21, at 2 p.m. at the Seifert Performing Arts Center (Salem High School, 44 Geremonty Drive, Salem, 893-7069, ext. 5601, sau57.org/pac). An audience favorite returns with seasonal classics, sing-alongs and more. General admission tickets are $35.

Saturday, Dec. 20

’80s glam metal band Warrant will take the stage at the Tupelo Music Hall (10 A St., Derry, 437-5100, tupelomusichall.com) at 8 p.m. tonight as part of its Let The Good Times Rock tour. Tickets start at $84.

Save the Date! Sunday, Dec. 28
Experience the thrills of slam dunks, trick shots and moments you’ll never forget as The Harlem Globetrotters dazzle, dunk and hype the stands as part of their 100 Year Tour. They will take on their long-time rivals the Washington Generals, who are due for a win. Performances will take place at 2 and 7 p.m. Tickets start at $90 through ticketmaster.com.

Featured Photo: The Harlem Globetrotters. Courtesy photo.

Thursday, Dec. 11

Beatles vs. Stones – A Musical Showdown attempts to answer the perennial question of which British band was the greatest ever. Two renowned tribute bands, Abbey Road and Satisfaction – The International Rolling Stones Show, face off at the Chubb Theatre (Chubb Theatre at CCA, 44 S. Main St., Concord, 225-1111, ccanh.com) tonight at 7:30 p.m. to find out, with special guest musicians, the Concord High School String Quartet. Tickets start at $54.

Thursday, Dec. 11

The Nashua Center for the Arts (201 Main St., Nashua, 800-657-8774, nashuacenterforthearts.com) presents David Benoit’s Charlie Brown Christmas tonight at 7:30 p.m., featuring contemporary jazz piano legend David Benoit along with distinguished vocalist Courtney Fortune. Tickets start at $25.

Friday, Dec. 12

Majestic Theatre, 669-7469, majestictheatre.net, will present a musical production of It’s a Wonderful Life this weekend at the Derry Opera House, 29 W Broadway in Derry. See the show tonight, Friday, Dec. 12, at 7 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 13, at 2 and 7 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 14, at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $22 for adults, $20 for seniors and $15 for ages 17 and under.

Friday, Dec. 12

Forty of the top professional bull riders in the world will come together at the SNHU Arena (555 Elm St., Manchester, 644-5000, snhuarena.com) tonight, and tomorrow, Saturday, Dec. 13, at 7:45 p.m. as part of Professional Bull Riding’’s “Unleash the Beast” season. This marks the sixth consecutive year Manchester will host a stop on PBR’s elite individual tour. Tickets start at $40.

Friday, Dec. 12

There are 200 veterans buried in Concord’s Old North Cemetery (141 N. State St., Concord). On Saturday morning at 10 a.m. representatives from the eight branches of the U.S. military will place commonwealth wreaths at the entrance to the cemetery as part of the Wreaths Across America program. Volunteers wishing to assist in the placement of wreaths on veteran graves in advance can join the Pierce Brigade this morning at 10 a.m. Visit piercemanse.org/events.

Saturday, Dec. 13

It’s Christmas Market weekend. The Amherst German Christmas Market runs today in the Amherst Village Green (amherstchristmasmarket.org) and the New Hampshire World Christmas Market runs today and tomorrow at Anheuser-Busch in Merrimacknhworldchristmasmarket.com). Find our stories about these events in last week’s issue of the Hippo at hippopress.com in the digital library (the stories start on page 20).

Saturday, Dec. 13

Classic 1980s band Loverboy will perform at the Tupelo Music Hall (10 A St., Derry, 437-5100, tupelomusichall.com) tonight at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $132 through the Tupelo’s website.

Save the Date! Saturday, Dec. 20
There’s still time to get in some Nutcracker. Ballet Misha will present The Nutcracker 2025 at the Dana Center at Saint Anselm College, Manchester, on Saturday, Dec. 20, at 1 and 6 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 21, at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., according to tickets.anselm.edu.

Featured Photo: (L to R) Jonathan Kaplan, Dan Arlen. Courtesy photo.

Friday, Dec. 5

Manchester Community Theatre Players will present Tastes Like Christmas— “written by award-winning playwright and screenwriter Tom Anastasi in the style of a Hallmark Christmas movie” — this weekend at the MCTP Theatre at the North End Montessori School, 698 Beech St. in Manchester, according to a press release. “It is the story of Josh, a Jackson, New Hampshire maple syrup farmer and volunteer fireman, whose business is struggling because he knows nothing about marketing. A week before Christmas, Natale, a driven marketing executive from Los Angeles, comes to New Hampshire for a wedding and she discovers small town life and the true meaning of the season,”
the release said. The show will run tonight and tomorrow, Saturday, Dec. 6, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 7, at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $20 for adults, $18 for seniors and $10 for students ages 18 and under, the release said. See mctp.info.

Friday, Dec. 5

Downtown Concord will celebrate the season with Midnight Merriment, the Intown Concord event that runs tonight starting at 5 p.m. and featuring family events including photos with Santa, live music, food trucks and more, according to intownconcord.org. See our story about the evening in the Nov. 27 issue (which you can find in the digital library at hippopress.com) of the Hippo on page 18.

Saturday, Dec. 6

Manchester will hold its annual Holiday Parade — this year’s theme is Candy Cane Lane — today on Elm Street. The Santa Shuffle three-mile race starts at 3 p.m. and the parade is at 4 p.m. See our story on page 20 of the Nov. 27 issue.

Sunday, Dec. 7

The New Hampshire Philharmonic Orchestra (647-6476. nhphil.org) will perform a preview of its Holiday Pops concert for brass and strings at LaBelle Winery Derry (14 Route 111, Derry, 672-9898, labellewinery.com/labelle-winery-derry) this afternoon at 1 p.m. Tickets are $30.

Sunday, Dec. 7

There will be food, live music, local vendors, family activities and more at this year’s Merrymaking on West Merrimack today from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on West Merrimack Street, between Elm and Canal streets, in downtown Manchester. Visit merrymakingmht.com/event-info for details and to register for this free event.

Tuesday, Dec. 9

The Nashua Historical Society (5 Abbott St., Nashua, 883-0015, nashuahistoricalsociety.org) will host a presentation from 7 to 8:30 p.m.: A Woman in the Ranks – Deborah Sampson’s Revolution and Revelation. Speaker Hailee Attorri, appearing in period costume, will share the remarkable true account of Deborah Sampson, who disguised herself as a man to fight for American independence and ultimately became one of the nation’s earliest recognized female veterans. This event is free and open to the public. Visit nashuahistoricalsociety.org.

Save the Date! Friday, Dec. 12
Roomful of Blues, the world-renowned horn-powered, house-rocking blues band, will play the BNH Stage (16 S. Main St., Concord, 225-1111, ccanh.com) Friday, Dec. 12, at 8 p.m. Tickets cost $49 through the Capitol Center’s website, or $54 at the door.

Featured Photo: Roomful of Blues

Thursday, Nov. 20

“Roses are Red, Violets are Pink, Yellow, Purple” is the topic for the Manchester Garden Club’s November meeting, to be held at noon today at St. Hedwig Parish Hall (147 Walnut St., Manchester). Guests are welcome to attend to learn about the club (a small donation would be appreciated). Visit manchesternhgardenclub.weebly.com.

Thursday, Nov. 20

There will be a live recording of th podcast Granite Goodness tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the Rex Theatre in Manchester. Co-hosts Andy DeMeo and Corinne Benfield will lead a discussion with guests Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander; Steve Turner, founder of Bring Back the Trades; and Shana Brunye, COO of Bring Back the Trades. See palacetheatre.org for tickets.

Thursday, Nov. 20

Gibson’s Bookstore (45 S. Main St., Concord, 224-0562, gibsonsbookstore.com) host Holiday Recs with Publisher Reps tonight at 6:30 p.m.. Representatives of book publishers will be on hand to share the titles they are most excited about.

Friday, Nov. 21

The Community Players of Concord will perform The Addams Family Musicaltonight at the Concord City Auditorium (2 Prince St., Concord, 228-2793, theaudi.org) at 7 p.m., with additional performances tomorrow, Saturday, Nov. 22, at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, Nov. 23, at 2 pm. Tickets are $22 for adults, and $20 for juniors to age 17 and seniors 65+, online at communityplayersofconcord.org. Community Players pictured; Danielle Martin (Grandma), Nora McBurnett (Morticia), Bennett Schriver (Lurch), Christopher Graham (Gomez), Emmett Smith (Pugsley) and Annie Lelio (Wednesday). Courtesy photo by Michael von Redlich.

Friday, Nov. 21

Country music star Randy Travis will perform this evening at 7:30 p.m. at the Chubb Theatre (Chubb Theatre at CCA, 44 S. Main St., Concord, 225-1111, ccanh.com). Tickets start at $58 .

Saturday, Nov. 22

The Picker Artists, 3 Pine St. in Nashua, will host their annual holiday open house on Saturday, Nov. 22, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. , according to pickerartists.com.

Saturday, Nov. 22

The New Hampshire Master Chorale (nhmasterchorale.org) presents a concert of spiritual music for a secular age tonight at 7:30 p.m. in Saint Paul’s Church (21 Centre St., Concord, 224-2523, stpaulsconcord.org). General admission tickets are $33.

Saturday, Nov. 22

The Nashua Chamber Orchestra (809-7245, nco-music.org) opens its 2025-’26 season tonight at 7:30 p.m. at Nashua Community College (505 Amherst St., Nashua, 578-8900, nashuacc.edu), with an additional performance tomorrow, Sunday, Nov. 23, at 3 p.m. on the Milford Oval. See nco-music.org for tickets.

Save the Date! Wednesday, Dec. 10
One of the greatest rock bands of the ’70s, Heart, will perform at SNHU Arena (555 Elm St., Manchester, 644-5000, snhuarena.com) at 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 10, as part of their Royal Flush 2025 Tour, with special guest Starship. Tickets start at $76 through ticketmaster.com.

Featured Photo: Heart