Category: This Week

Friday, Sept. 5

The 36th Annual Hampton Beach Seafood Festival will kick off today from noon to 9 p.m. and continue Saturday, Sept. 6, from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday, Sept. 7, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Ocean Boulevard (Center Beach) in Hampton Beach. The weekend will feature an extensive line-up of live music, kicking off with Mica’s Groove Train today at 1:30 p.m., a lobster roll eating competition on Sunday, fireworks Saturday evening, a 5K on Sunday, culinary demonstrations, a cornhole competition on Saturday, crafters and, of course, seafood, according to seafoodfestivalnh.com, where you can see the planned menus for the festival’s food vendors. Find multiple lobster roll and chowder vendors, as well as items such as a lobster slider from Charlie’s Tap House, Scallops wrapped in bacon from the Purple Urchin, fried lobster tails from Ray’s Seafood Restaurant and oysters from Swell Oysters, according to the website which also lists lots of non-seafood and dessert food options.

Friday, Sept. 5

The theme for September’s First Friday in downtown Concord is “‘Fall’ in Love with Concord.” The event takes place ,along Main Street from 4 to 8 p.m. Food trucks will be on site from Batulo’s Kitchen, Kona Ice, and Teenie Wienies. There will be free yoga on the Statehouse lawn, live music from Tyler Levs, and a children’s entrepreneur market. Visit firstfridayconcord.com/september.

Saturday, Sept. 6

The 20th annual Pedaling for Payson, a bicycle-centered fundraising event to benefit Nurse Navigation at the Payson Center for Cancer Care, takes place today starting in the morning at Elm Brook Park in Contoocook. There will be 16-, 30- and 50-mile road rides, 22- and 45-mile gravel rides, a mountain bike loop, a 2-mile short course, and a stationary spin ride. Visit runsignup.com/Race/NH/Contoocook/PedalingforPayson.

Saturday, Sept. 6

Saint Peter’s Episcopal Church (3 Peabody Row, Londonderry, 437-8333, stpeterslondonderry.org) is holding its 38th Fall Artisan Craft Fair today from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and tomorrow, Sunday, Sept. 7, from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 6

The Humane Society for Greater Nashua hosts Wags to Whiskers Festival today from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the fields of Anheuser-Busch Brewery (221 DW Highway, Merrimack, 595-1202, anheuser-busch.com/breweries/merrimack-nh). This dog-friendly event will feature K9 demonstrations by the Merrimack and Nashua Police Departments, performances by Granite State Disc Dogs and adoption opportunities. Visit hsfn.org/wags-2025.

Sunday, Sept. 7

Guitarist Shaun Hague leads Journeyman,a tribute to Eric Clapton. Catch them today at 4 p.m., BNH Stage, 16 S. Main St, Concord, $35 and up at ccanh.com.

Save the Date! Monday, Sept. 15
The 2025 VoxPop Poetry Slam Finals will erupt onto the Bank of NH Stage (16 S. Main St., Concord, 225-1111, ccanh.com) Monday, Sept. 15, starting at noon. Prepare to be captivated as the city’s sharpest wordsmiths, fiercest spoken word artists and most captivating storytellers go head to head. Tickets are $20 each in advance through the Capitol Center’s website, or $23 at the door.

Thursday, Aug. 28

The Hopkinton State Fair starts today and runs through Monday, Sept. 1, at the fairgrounds, 392 Kearsarge Ave. in Contoocook. In addition to the midway with a selection of rides (see the list at hsfair.org), the fair will feature the Demolition Derby (Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 6:30 p.m), Dialed Action Sports (Thursday at 6:30 p.m.), the New England Lawn Mower Racing Association (Friday 6 p.m.) and Dialed Action Sports BMX (various times Friday through Monday). The fair will also feature dog events such as Disc-Connected K9s (shows Thursday through Monday) and Dockdogs (daily) as well as live stock shows, pulling competitions, home arts and NH 4-H show and auction, the website said. Get juggling and magic performances daily on the Country Porch Stage and find live music on The Ag Stage including Linda Nelson (Thursday, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m), Dan Morgan (times Friday through Monday), April Cushman (Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.) and Brad Myrick (Sunday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.), the website said. Fair hours are 5 to 10 p.m. today; 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday. Buy admission passes, admission and ride mega passes and special show tickets through the website.

Thursday, Aug. 28

The New Hampshire Fisher Cats will play Game 3 of a six-game home series against the Erie SeaWolves tonight at 6:35 p.m. at Delta Dental Stadium (1 Line Drive, Manchester, 641-2005, milb.com/new-hampshire). Come early for a Space Potatoes Koozie Giveaway. Tickets start at $17. Games continue Friday and Saturday (when the team plays at the Space Potatoes and there is a Space Potato socks giveaway) nights at 6:35 p.m. and Sunday at 1:35 p.m.

Thursday, Aug. 28

Post-grunge rock band Creed takes the stage at the SNHU Arena (555 Elm St., Manchester, 644-5000, snhuarena.com) tonight at 7 p.m. with special guests Daughtry and Mammoth will open. Tickets start at $49.

Saturday, Aug. 30

Cruising Downtown returns to downtown Manchester today from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., organized by the Rotary Club of Manchester. The day will feature cars on display, along with food, local vendors and live music with Off Duty Angels, Linda Lane Band, Speed Trap and Permanent Vacation, according to the club’s Facebook page. See cruisingdowntownmanchester.com.

Saturday, Aug. 30

Today is the Clear the Shelter Finale at Pope Memorial SPCA of Concord Merrimack County (94 Silk Farm Road, Concord, 856-8756, pmspca.org) from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. with a 50 percent off pet adoption fees for adult pets.

Sunday, Aug. 31

Temple Mountain plays an afternoon solo set today at 3 p.m. at Contoocook Cider Co. in Contoocook. The Peterborough-based singer-guitarist mixes originals with fun covers. Sunday, Aug. 31, 3 p.m., Contoocook Cider Co., 656 Gould Hill Road, Contoocook, templemountainmusic.com.

Save the Date! Friday, Sept. 19
The annual celebration of Scottish culture, music, food and sports returns to Loon Mountain Resort in Lincoln. The annual New Hampshire Highland Games & Festival will take place Friday, Sept. 19, through Sunday, Sept. 21, according to nhscot.org. See events such as stone lifting and caber toss, historical reenactments of life in the Highlands, “Try It” classes, kids’ events and more. Purchase tickets for a single day or the weekend on the website along with tickets for special musical performances and food events, such as the Cape Breton dinner and whisky master classes.

Friday, Aug. 22

Classic heavy metal band Queensryche performs at the Tupelo Music Hall (10 A St., Derry, 437-5100, tupelomusichall.com) tonight at 8 p.m. as part of their All Sinners Open tour. Tickets start at $70.

Friday, Aug. 22

As part of its Locally Sourced concert series, the Capitol Center for the Arts hosts hard-rocking bands Doug, the Worst, and Grub Lord tonight at 7 p.m. at the BNH Stage (16 S. Main St., Concord, 225-1111, ccanh.com). Tickets are $18 , $21 at the door.

Friday, Aug. 22

Join a 120-minute DIY watch-making workshop at Skyrim Watch Studio (427 Amherst St., Nashua, 810-9528, skyrimwrist.com). Learn to assemble your own timepiece step by step, with all parts provided, and take your dream watch home. Workshops are tonight as well as Saturday, Aug. 23, and Sunday, Aug. 24, from 6 to 8 p.m. The cost starts at $46 per person; tickets are available through eventbrite.com.

Saturday, Aug. 23

The 13th Annual New Hampshire Monarch Festival takes place today from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at its new location, Canterbury Shaker Village, 288 Shaker Road in Canterbury. The day will feature exhibits and presentations about butterflies and other pollinators as well as children’s activities and walking trails, according to the event’s Facebook page. Visitors can take home free milkweed and flower seeds, according to a press release. Admission is free for children under 2 years old (and for kids ages 2 to 12 years old if wearing an appropriate costume); admission is $4 for ages 2 to 12 is $4 and $7 for ages 13+, the release said.

Saturday, Aug. 23

The Nashua Center for the Arts (201 Main St, Nashua, 800-657-8774, nashuacenterforthearts.com) hosts a night of soul-stirring music at the Devon Allman Blues Summit tonight beginning at 8 p.m. Joining blues great Devon Allman will be the legendary Jimmy Hall of Wet Willie and Jeff Beck fame, blues icon Larry McCray, and New Orleans singer Sierra Green. Tickets start at $43.

Sunday, Aug. 24

Merrimack High Schools FIRST Robotics Team hosts its second annual Cars, Robots and Coffee event this morning from 8 a.m. to noon. The event is a blend of a traditional Cars and Coffee event mixed with demonstrations from local FIRST Robotics teams. The event will take place at Merrimack High School (38 McElwain St., Merrimack).

Sunday, Aug. 24

The Summer Silent Boxing Film Series concludes with a screening of Buster Keaton’s Battling Butler (1926) today at 2 p.m. at the Town Hall Theatre, 40 Main St., Wilton. Admission is free; a donation of $10 per person is suggested. There will be live musical accompaniment by organist Jeff Rapsis.

Save the Date! Thursday, Aug. 28
Post-grunge rock band Creed will take the stage at the SNHU Arena (555 Elm St., Manchester, 644-5000, snhuarena.com) Thursday, Aug. 28, at 7 p.m. as part of their Return of the Summer of ’99 tour. Special guests Daughtry and Mammoth will open for them. Tickets start at $49.

Friday, Aug. 15

The Aviation Museum of New Hampshire will host the traveling exhibit “Rise Above” today through Sunday, Aug. 17, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, featuring “an iconic P-51C Mustang fighter aircraft painted in the Tuskegee Squadron’s ‘Red Tail’ design — one of the few still flying today. Also included are a mobile theater featuring films and displays about the Tuskegee Airmen and the Women’s Airforce Service Pilots — two groups that overcame adversity to make crucial contributions to the Allied effort during World War II,” according to a museum newsletter. The exhibit and admission to the museum are free during the weekend, the newsletter said. The museum’s annual Planefest takes place Saturday, Aug. 16, when a “1943 Grumman Widgeon amphibious aircraft” will be on display and the day will feature family activities and food trucks. See aviationmuseumofnh.org.

Friday, Aug. 15

Osborne’s Farm & Garden Center of Hooksett will hold Dock Dogs,a family-friendly event where dogs compete to see who can jump the farthest and the highest. Try it out today from 4 to 8 p.m. The actual competition will be tomorrow, Saturday Aug. 16, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday, Aug. 17, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Register dogs at dockdogs.com.

Saturday, Aug. 16

Media Power Youth will host its second annual Summer Youth Film Festival today from 9 to 11 a.m. at Red River Theatres (11 S. Main St., Concord, 224-4600, redrivertheatres.org). The festival features short films and other media creations made during Media Power Youth’s programs over the past year. Purchase tickets at mediapoweryouth.org.

Saturday, Aug. 16

A mural unveiling at Sheehan-Basquil Park, 297 Maple St in Manchester, is slated for today from noon to 4 p.m. The afternoon will feature a pop-up gallery as well as the unveiling of “Thoughts Projected,” according to posts on Positive Street Art’s Facebook page.

Saturday, Aug. 16

The Bank of NH Stage (16 S. Main St., Concord, 225-1111, ccanh.com) is hosting an Uncruel Summer Dance Party tonight at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $21.

Saturday, Aug. 16

Granite State Generosity (gsgnh.org) is hosting its 2nd Annual Shhhake It Off Silent/Headphone Dance Party tonight at Auburn Pitts (167 Rockingham Road, Auburn, 622-6564, auburnpitts.com) from 7 to 11:30 p.m. Attendees will be given a pair of three-channel headphones to pick between three playlists playing simultaneously. Tickets cost $20 in advance, $25 at the door. Visit gsgnh.org/shhake-it-off-silent-headphone-dance-party.

Sunday, Aug. 17

The Folksoul Festival returns today, kicking off at 10:30 a.m. The performers include Peter and Linda Simoneaux’s Cajun-flavored Back O’ Town, old-time gospel group Long Journey, Ivychum Trio, roots music favorites Low Lily, and the host Folksoul Band — plus a second line parade. Outdoor Stage, Driscoll & Mountain Road, Greenfield, $20, under 12 free, folksoul.com.

Save the Date! Saturday, Aug. 23
The New Hampshire Irish Festival will take place Saturday, Aug. 23, starting at 5 p.m. at the Palace Theatre in Manchester, palacetheatre.org. The line-up on stage includes The Spain Brothers, Ronan Tynan, Screaming Orphans, Mick McAuley and Eileen Ivers, the website said. Tickets start at $43.

Thursday, Aug. 7

The New Hampshire Antiques Show, hosted by the New Hampshire Antique Dealers Association, returns to the DoubleTree by Hilton Manchester Downtown (700 Elm St., Manchester) today through Saturday, Aug. 9. Nearly 60 professional antiques dealers will exhibit their collections of antique furniture, art, jewelry and more. Show hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. Tickets are $15 on Thursday, and $10 on Friday and Saturday; return visits are free. Visit nhada.org.

Saturday, Aug. 9

The Friends of the Library of Hudson, New Hampshire will hold an “Everything Must Go” Second Hand Prose book sale today, and tomorrow, Sunday, Aug.10, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the Hills Library Building (18 Library St, Hudson). There will be books for all ages, from 25 cents to $2, as well as CDs and DVDs for $1. Cash or checks only. Find them on Facebook.

Saturday, Aug. 9

It’s the Second Saturday, which means free admission at the Currier Museum of Art in Manchester for New Hampshire residents today 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. See currier.org.

Sunday, Aug. 10

Today is the final day of the League of NH’s Craftsmen’s annual fair at Mount Sunapee Resort in Newbury. The fair is open daily through today, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. See nhcrafts.org/annual-craftsmens-fair or see our story on the fair in last week’s (July 31) issue of the Hippo. Digital issues of the paper are at hippopress.com; the story is on page 10.

Sunday, Aug. 10

Check out Studio Two, a tribute to the Beatles’ early career, when this quartet plays the Stark Park bandstand (550 River Road, Manchester) today at 2 p.m. Admission is free and open to the public.

Monday, Aug. 11

There will be an information night this evening from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. for anyone interested in auditioning for an upcoming production of The Addams Family Musicalby the Community Players of Concord (435 Josiah Bartlett Road, Concord, 224-4905, communityplayersofconcord.org). Auditions will be held on Aug. 17 and Aug. 18. Visit the Community Players’ website.

Tuesday, Aug. 12

Iconic rock foursome Stryper will take the stage at the Tupelo Music Hall (10 A St., Derry, 437-5100, tupelomusichall.com) tonight at 8 p.m., on their 40th Anniversary Tour, celebrating the release of the band’s 16th studio project, When We Were Kings. Tickets are $55.

Wednesday, Aug. 13

Londonderry’s Old Home Days kick off today and run through Saturday, Aug. 16. Tonight’s happenings include Senior Night Bingo & Barbecue at Lions Hall Pavilion and, fresh from Sunday, a performance by Studio Two at 7 p.m. at the Town Commons. See londonderrynh.gov for a full schedule

Save the Date! Sept. 19
The Granite State Comic Con is just a little more than a month away but you can get tickets (as well as merch, such as a Back to the Future-style Back to Granitecon shirt) now for the event, which kicks off Friday, Sept. 19, with a preview night and an 8-Bit Karaoke Bash at Strange Brew followed by the convention itself Saturday, Sept. 20, and Sunday, Sept. 21, at DoubleTree by Hilton Manchester Downtown and the nearby SNHU Arena. Guests for the event include actors, comic creators, game creators, cosplayers and more. Find vendors and exhibitors covering all things comic book and pop culture. Advance tickets include single day admission for Saturday or Sunday, weekend admission, Friday preview only and a VIP that comes with a swag bag. See granitecon.com to purchase tickets, see the line-up of guests and to see a layout of the convention.

Friday, Aug. 1

The theme of August’s First Friday in downtown Concord from 4 to 8 p.m. is “Dog Days of Summer.” There will be music: a dance party with DJ Nazzy from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at City Plaza and the Wandering Souls in Bicentennial Square from 6 to 8 p.m. Scheduled food trucks are Wicked Tasty, Batulo’s Kitchen and The Frozen Flamingo. Red River Theatres will screen Goonies in Eagle Square at 8 p.m. Darbster Rescue, For the Love of Dog and the Pope Memorial SPCA will be on hand with information. See firstfridayconcord.com/august.

Friday, Aug. 1

The 43nd Suncook Valley Rotary Hot Air Balloon Rally is today through Sunday, Aug. 3, at Drake Field (17 Fayette St., Pittsfield) featuring helicopter rides, live music, midway carnival rides and of course hot-air balloons. For a schedule visit nhballoonrally.org.

Saturday, Aug. 2

The 17th Annual Uncommon Art on the Common will run on Main Street in Goffstown on today from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and feature more than 55 artists and makers displaying their works. The festival will feature painters, jewelry makers, ceramics makers, woodworkers, photographers, local authors and more, according to a press release. This year will also feature Uncommon Bling — collect beads and other small items from booths and “string them onto a keepsake necklace at the Goffstown Main Street Booth,” according to a press release. The event will also feature a raffle to support “the arts at the Goffstown High School,” the release said. The event will also feature a kids’ craft tent and a showcase of works from Goffstown High School students, the release said. See goffstownuncommonarts.org.

Saturday, Aug. 2

The Granite State Blues Festival happens today from 11:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. in Veterans Memorial Park on Elm Street in downtown Manchester. Tickets cost $35 in advance, $40 on the day. The line-up includes TJ Wheeler, Craig Thomas and Bluetopia, All Night Boogie Band, Danielle Miraglia, Misty Blues and Chris O’Leary, according to granitestateblues.org.

Sunday, Aug. 3

New Hampshire Antiques Week kicks off today with the Granite State Antique Shows at Granite Town Plaza, 185 Elm St. in Milford, 8:30 to 11 a.m., according to antiquesweeknh.com. Find details there on this and other shows leading up to The 68th annual New Hampshire Antiques Show at the DoubleTree by Hilton Downtown Manchester, which runs Thursday, Aug. 7, through Saturday, Aug. 9

Sunday, Aug. 3

The Nashua Silver Knights host the Worcester Bravehearts at Holman Stadium (67 Amherst St., Nashua, 718-8883, nashuasilverknights.com) today at 3 p.m. Tickets are $12 ($10 for children); $28 will buy you all the snacks you can eat in any section.

Save the Date! Saturday, Aug. 9
The city of Salem will celebrate its 275th birthday Saturday, Aug. 9, from noon to 5 p.m. The event will feature food trucks, craft vendors and more, according to salemnh.gov/1096/ salembration, and take place in conjunction with Field of Dreams’ annual Family Fun Day.

Featured photo: Tattoo Expo.