Tag: 210527

Gardening with kids

Aim for more fun, less weeding

OK, all you parents and grandparents, it’s time to garden with your beloved little ones. That’s right, start them young, make it fun, and they will garden forever. The key part is fun. Never make a child pull weeds. Digging in the dirt is fun. Playing with a hose or a watering can is fun. Picking flowers and eating cherry tomatoes warm from the sun is lots of fun.

When my grandchildren were small, I created little gardens at my house for them. I used boards to create distinct little beds, one for each. What size? I made them their height by their wingspan — the span of their arms — about 3 1/2 feet square. I actually had them lie on the lawn with their arms out to set the dimensions. That’s good for a giggle.

The boards were just 6 inches wide and were made of ordinary lumber — definitely not of pressure-treated boards, which even now are full of chemicals, albeit not as toxic as those produced when pressure-treated lumber first came out. But remember, they will not be that size long, so you don’t need the beds to last forever.

The simplest way to build a sturdy bed is to cut pieces of two-by-four as long as your boards are wide. Put one in each corner, and use a cordless drill to screw the boards on to them in the corners. Screws that are 2 inches long are fine, and much easier to work with than nails if you are not accustomed to building things. Two screws are needed on each end of the boards to make it sturdy. Work on a flat surface such as your driveway or inside the garage to make work easier. Metal brackets are also available to help make sturdy garden boxes.

Pick a spot for the garden in full sun. That means six hours of sunshine at a minimum, but preferably all-day sun, from morning to late afternoon. Choose a site that is flat, or nearly so. If you are giving the kids garden beds in your garden, be prepared for it to be weedy and messy at times — unless you intend to weed it yourself. Some kids will want to weed, but most won’t. So you may want to place the little gardens somewhere on the back lawn.

If you choose to place the garden box on the lawn, you don’t need to remove the sod. Just cut the grass as short as you can, then cover it with six pages of this newspaper, and fill it up. The soil will kill the lawn. The first year carrots may stop or bend when they hit the bottom of the bed, but after that the soil will loosen up with the action of the microorganisms, and you can grow deep-rooted things without a problem.

What should you use for soil? I like to mix plenty of compost with ordinary garden soil, roughly a 50-50 mix. You can buy bags of compost and topsoil, or raid your compost pile and your garden for soil — you don’t need but a couple of wheelbarrows of soil.

When the bed is first built, your kids may want to just play in the fresh earth. Soil smells good, is pleasant to touch, and is ideal for making little roads for trucks or mounds for castles, just as it’s fun to make sand castles at the beach. I suggest you don’t be too goal-oriented, telling the kids they need to stop now and plant their carrot seeds. Let them see you planting things, both seeds and plants, and they will want to, too.

Ask your children about their favorite vegetables. Have they ever seen a purple or red carrot? Would they like to try growing some? Where do french fries come from? In my experience, planting potatoes is great for all kids — the seed potatoes are a size even the littlest ones can handle, and later on the harvesting is like going fishing and knowing they’ll catch fish. Very exciting.

Maybe take them with you to a garden center. Look at the marigolds, which are already blooming. Encourage them to smell flowers, and if they find something they like? Buy it. I like the idea of kids growing flowers with their veggies, and my grandkids did, too.

Remember, success is important. That means you will have to be attentive to their gardens. Weeding and watering will be your responsibility unless they live nearby and want to do these tasks.

By the way, it’s important to have a few child-sized tools and especially watering cans. Our watering cans are too heavy for them, and a hose can easily blast a tomato seedling from here to Milwaukee.

What if your grandchildren want to grow pumpkins or watermelons? Those vines will quickly exit the mini-garden you have lovingly prepared. Are you willing to let the vines run, making it impossible to mow the lawn there? Perhaps you can convince them to grow something else, and together plant the pumpkins in your vegetable garden.

My maternal grandmother died when I was 7, and my parents sent me to stay with my grandfather that summer to keep him company. Grampy and I had a lot of fun so I went every summer until he died when I was 21. I learned to garden by observing. He never lectured. That’s probably a good recipe for success.

Featured photo: A child’s garden can accomodate planting and playing with toys. Courtesy photo.

The Art Roundup 21/05/27

The latest from NH’s theater, arts and literary communities

“The Haze of July Flowers” by Jess Barnett. Courtesy photo.

• Call for summer art: Concord artist and gallery owner Jess Barnett is seeking artwork entries now through June 30 for her gallery’s first group art exhibition. New England artists are invited to submit one or two works that interpret the exhibit’s theme, “Summer Haze.” Eligible media include paintings, drawings, collage, encaustic, fiber art, digital art, book and paper art, textiles, mixed media, photography, printmaking and 3D art. The exhibition will be on view at the gallery (located in the Patriot Investment building at 4 Park St., Suite 216, Concord) from Aug. 6 through Sept. 3, with an opening reception on Friday, Aug. 13 (TBD if it will be virtual or in person). Barnett, who does primarily abstract art, opened the gallery in December 2019 to provide a venue for herself and other local and regional abstract artists to show their work. Call 393-1340 or visit jessbarnett.com.

• Film festival continues: The New Hampshire Jewish Film Festival continues virtually now through Thursday, June 10. The festival features 11 independent foreign films — all New Hampshire premieres — as well as a series of food-themed shorts, from the United States, Israel, Ethiopia, Germany, Italy, Norway, Poland and Switzerland. This week’s titles include Golda (documentary, 2019, Israel and Germany) on Thursday, May 27; Here We Are (drama, 2020, Israel) on Friday, May 29; Queen of Hearts: Audrey Flack (documentary/biography, 2019, United States) on Sunday, May 30; Thou Shalt Not Hate (drama, 2020, Italy and Poland) on Wednesday, June 2; and A Lullaby for the Valley (documentary, 2020, Israel) on Thursday, June 3. Each film has a 72-hour watch window. Additionally there will be Q&A events with the filmmakers held over Zoom for Golda on Sunday, May 30, at 3 p.m., and for Queen of Hearts on Tuesday, June 1, at 7 p.m. Tickets are per household and cost $12 per film or $43 for a four-pack film pass. The shorts series, which includes five short films, is free and available to watch at any point during the festival. Visit nhjewishfilmfestival.com.

• Theater in the park: Powerhouse Theatre Collaborative, a new theater program at the Belknap Mill and the resident theater company of the Colonial Theater in Laconia, partners with the Community Players of Concord to present the Park Play Festival at Rotary Riverside Park (30 Beacon St. E., Laconia) on Saturday, May 29, and Sunday, May 30, at 3 p.m. The festival will feature short original plays written by eight New Hampshire playwrights who participated in a 10-week playwriting workshop hosted by the two theater companies last fall. “With the weather warming up and vaccination rates increasing, we are happy to be able to step outside and bring people together to perform some live theater in a safe manner,” Powerhouse manager and festival producer Bryan Halperin said in a press release. The festival is free, with donations appreciated. Attendees should bring their own chairs or blankets to sit on the grass in designated socially distanced areas. Visit communityplayersofconcord.org and belknapmill.org

• A look at Juneteenth: The Music Hall in Portsmouth presents a virtual event over Zoom with Pulitzer Prize-winning historian and author Annette Gordon-Reed on Thursday, June 3, at 7 p.m., as part of its Innovation and Leadership series. Gordon-Reed will discuss her new book On Juneteenth, an exploration of Juneteenth and its importance to American history and the ongoing fight for equality. The discussion, to be moderated by Dr. Reginald A. Wilburn, an associate professor of English at the University of New Hampshire, will be followed by an audience Q&A. Tickets cost $5. Visit themusichall.org or call 436-2400.

Turtle power

New children’s book helps kids cope with pandemic life

Most people who are stuck at the mechanic’s for three and a half hours wouldn’t use the time to write an entire children’s book. But Kathy Brodsky of Manchester is not most people; when the words “Talula Turtle” popped into her head as she was waiting for her car last November, she took out her iPhone and started writing. The result is How Talula Turned Her Day Around, a newly published children’s book about coping with some of the challenges of Covid-19.

“She’s the cutest little thing who doesn’t like to wear a mask,” Brodsky said of Talula.

Though the waiting room location was unusual, writing stories in a short amount of time based on ideas that just come to her is Brodsky’s style.

“Even though I have no idea where any one of my poems will go, once I get the first four lines, I’m up and running,” she said.

Like all of Brodsky’s books — this is her 16th — How Talula Turned Her Day Around offers life lessons meant to comfort or inspire young kids.

“I’ve been a therapist for 51 years,” said Brodsky, who still sees clients three days a week. “I think being a therapist shows up in my books. … [Or] the books show up because I’m a therapist.”

Talula was born from the emotional impact that Covid has had on the world — a heavy topic made relatable to kids by showing how hard it’s been for Talula to adjust to wearing a mask and being away from her friends.

Discussion questions at the end of her books give kids the chance to talk more about their feelings; in Talula, one of the questions is “How has Covid-19 changed your life?”

“What’s happened with Covid is a huge loss for everybody,” Brodsky said. “It’s a loss of life as we knew it before. … Whenever there’s a loss we go through a grieving process. We’re shocked, then we deny it, we get angry. … Everybody’s just been trying to deal with this loss.”

Knowing she had to get Talula published quickly because of the immediacy of the topic, Brodsky couldn’t use her usual illustrator, Cameron Bennett, who was working on another project. Instead, she turned to her niece, Sarah Zeogas. While Bennett has hand-painted Brodsky’s previous books, Zeogas digitally illustrated Talula.

She and Zeogas worked together to get both the book and a corresponding coloring and activity book published by March. Since then, it’s been used in schools and read aloud during public library story times.

“[My books] have very simple words … but they can be much more than that,” Brodsky said.

The words for the first picture book that Brodsky wrote, My Bent Tree, came to her during a walk, when she noticed that a tree she’d walked past many times before was bent. She started repeating rhyming words to herself on her way home, and the book became a story of a tree that got struck by lightning and is now different from all the other trees.

“It’s for anyone dealing with any kind of difference,” Brodsky said, who didn’t fully realize her own connection to the book until it was done. “My Bent Tree was my story — when I was born I had polio.”

Brodsky never planned to become an author — “I had no idea I could write,” she said — but positive feedback from a poem she wrote in an invitation to her mom’s birthday party prompted her to enroll in an adult education writing class.

Brodsky self-published her first book, Moments in Our Lives, in 2004. It’s her only adult book, a collection of poems, and she’s planning to add on to it and re-release it in the near future. She also has another kids’ book in the works called Stover Learns to Swim, her third book featuring Stover the pig, who learned all about fitness and healthy eating in Stover, and then overcame his fear of staying away from home in Stover Goes to Camp. This time, Stover is afraid of swimming. The story stems from Brodsky’s time as a swimming instructor.

“When I first came to Manchester in 1970, I was the only swim instructor at the YMCA,” she said. “I had a 14-year-old boy [who was afraid to swim], but all of his friends were swimming.”

Though Brodsky has finished writing Stover Learns to Swim, she’s waiting on Bennett to return from abroad so he can hand-paint the illustrations. She hopes to publish it this year.

How Talula Turned Her Day Around
How Talula Turned Her Day Around and all Kathy Brodsky’s books are available for purchase on Amazon or at kathybrodsky.com.

Featured photo: How Talula Turned Her Day Around

2021 Summer Guide

With the return of many live and in-person events, Summer 2021 is already looking more action-packed than last year, as many venues are reopening with a full slate of concerts, theater, art exhibits and more. Use this guide to help you fill your summer with fun, from now through Labor Day.

Fairs & Festivals

Check out this list of expos, town fairs, old home day festivals and more scheduled to return across the Granite State now through Labor Day weekend. For the most up-to-date details on the status of these events, be sure to visit their websites or social media channels directly.

• Join the Manchester Firing Line (2540 Brown Ave.) for a free vintage car show every Monday night from 5 to 8 p.m. now through Labor Day. Bring a car you want to show off or just come to see the vintage displays. Visit gunsnh.com.

• The Meredith Memorial Day Weekend Craft Festival is happening Saturday, May 29, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sunday, May 30, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Monday, May 31, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Mill Falls Marketplace (Route 3, Meredith). More than 100 juried craftsmen and artisans will sell handmade jewelry, pottery, wall art, textiles, woodwork, leatherwork and more. Admission is free. Visit castleberryfairs.com.

• Goffstown Main Street is planning an Old Home Weekend for Saturday, June 5, and Sunday, June 6, in Goffstown Village, featuring games, a kids’ fishing derby, a charity auction and more. Visit goffstownmainstreet.org/old-home-day.

• The Queen City Pride Festival will return to Arms Park (10 Arms St., Manchester) on Saturday, June 19, from noon to 6 p.m., and will feature local vendor booths, live entertainment and more. Visit queencitypridenh.org.

• The New Hampshire Farm Museum (1305 White Mountain Hwy., Milton) has a children’s day event tentatively scheduled for Saturday, June 19, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Kids can get their pictures taken with the farm’s animals and try their hand at horseshoes, bean bags, hoops of grace and more. Museum admission is $10 for adults, $7.50 for seniors over 64, $5 for kids and teens ages 4 and up, and free for kids under 4 and for members and active military service men and women. Visit nhfarmmuseum.org.

• The next New England Reptile Expo is scheduled for Sunday, June 27, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the DoubleTree by Hilton Manchester Downtown (700 Elm St.). Pre-purchased admission tickets will go on sale beginning June 12 — the cost is $10 for adults, $5 for kids ages 7 to 12 and free for kids under 6. Visit reptileexpo.com.

• Fourth on the Farm, an annual Fourth of July celebration at the New Hampshire Farm Museum (1305 White Mountain Hwy., Milton) is set for Sunday, July 4, from noon to 3 p.m. Guides in period dress will be serving strawberry shortcake with homemade whipped cream on the porch, while local musicians will be performing and tractor rides will be available throughout the farm. Museum admission is $10 for adults, $7.50 for seniors over 64, $5 for kids and teens ages 4 and up, and free for kids under 4 and for members and active military servicemen and women. Visit nhfarmmuseum.org.

• Don’t miss the Hillsborough Summerfest, set for Thursday, July 8, through Sunday, July 11, at Grimes Field (29 Preston St., Hillsborough). The event features carnival rides, a beer tent, live music and a town parade on Sunday. Festival hours are 6 to 10 p.m. on Thursday, 5 to 11 p.m. on Friday, noon to 11 p.m. on Saturday and noon to 5:30 p.m. on Sunday. Visit hillsborosummerfest.com.

• The Raymond Town Fair, a multi-day event on the town common featuring contests, parades, live entertainment, children’s activities and more, is tentatively scheduled to return from Friday, July 9, through Sunday, July 11. Find them on Facebook @raymondtownfair for updates.

• The American Independence Museum (1 Governors Lane, Exeter) is presenting a modified version of its annual American Independence Festival, offering a series of in-person and virtual events, like a family camp out on the night of Saturday, July 24, in which participants can play colonial-era games, sing 18th-century songs by the fire and more. Visit independencemuseum.org.

• This year’s Weare Rally, presented by the Merrimack Valley Military Vehicle Collectors Club, is tentatively scheduled from Thursday, July 29, through Saturday, July 31. Visit mvmvc.org for updates.

• The Belknap County Fair is due to return on Saturday, Aug. 7, and Sunday, Aug. 8, at 174 Mile Hill Road in Belmont. Visit bcfairnh.org for updates.

• The 64th annual New Hampshire Antiques Show is tentatively scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 12, through Saturday, Aug. 14, at the DoubleTree by Hilton Manchester Downtown (700 Elm St.). The event features antique dealers from all over the region selling their various wares. Show hours are from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. The cost is $15 admission on Thursday and $10 admission on Friday and Saturday. Visit nhada.org.

• Londonderry’s Old Home Days return from Wednesday, Aug. 18, through Saturday, Aug. 21, and will feature town parades, games, local vendors and more. Find them on Facebook @townoflondonderryoldhomeday.

• Intown Concord’s annual Market Days Festival, a three-day free street festival, is set to return to Main Street in downtown Concord from Thursday, Aug. 19, through Saturday, Aug. 21. Visit marketdaysfestival.com for the list of ongoing happenings, which have included tastings, live entertainment, a kids zone and more.

• History Alive returns to the town of Hillsborough on Saturday, Aug. 21, and Sunday, Aug. 22, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and will feature live historical re-enactors, live music, presentations, demonstrations and more. Visit historyalivenh.org.

• Plaistow’s Old Home Day will be held on Saturday, Aug. 28, at 51 Old County Road in Plaistow. Visit plaistowohd.com.

• Candia’s Old Home Day is set for Saturday, Aug. 28, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Candia Moore Park, next to the town hall (74 High St.), and will likely feature wildlife exhibitors, local vendor booths, a parade and more. Visit candiaoldhomeday.com.

• The Manchester Rotary Club will present the 20th annual Cruising Downtown classic car show event on Saturday, Sept. 4, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Around 1,000 unique vehicles will be on display along Elm Street and nearby areas. Visit manchesterrotary.org.

What about this event?
Looking for these big summer events? Here are a few that have been pushed back a bit later in the year than normal.
• Intown Manchester’s Taco Tour is tentatively set to return sometime in mid-September, according to executive director Sara Beaudry. Find them on Facebook @intownmanch.

• The New Hampshire Bacon & Beer Festival, normally held in May, has a new date of Saturday, Sept. 11, in Merrimack. Visit nhbaconbeer.com.

• The Children’s Museum of New Hampshire (6 Washington St., Dover) has rescheduled its annual NH Maker & Food Fest to Saturday, Sept. 18. Visit childrens-museum.org.

• Portsmouth’s Market Square Day has been rescheduled from mid-June to Saturday, Sept. 18, in downtown Portsmouth. Visit proportsmouth.org.

Food

Enjoy some of the tastiest of what New Hampshire has to offer this summer, from both in-person and drive-thru festivals to cooking workshops, tastings and more.

• The Grazing Room at The Colby Hill Inn (33 The Oaks, Henniker) continues its Sunday Night Out event series every Sunday through Aug. 29, when the eatery features a local seafood raw bar, a special barbecue-themed a la carte menu, and flight trios of beer, wine and sake, in addition to hosting a different live music act each week courtesy of the New Hampshire Music Collective. Seatings are outdoors from 4 to 7 p.m. each evening, with reservations required. Visit colbyhillinn.com.

• Join the New Hampshire Farm Museum (1305 White Mountain Hwy., Milton) for Dairy Day on Saturday, May 29, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Kids can learn how to make butter, ice cream and cheese, play farm games, go on a tractor-drawn ride and partake in a barn scavenger hunt with prizes. Admission is $10 for adults, $7.50 for seniors over 65, $5 for kids and teens ages 4 and up, and free for children under 4, museum members and active military service members. Visit nhfarmmuseum.org.

• As with last year, Temple B’Nai Israel (210 Court St., Laconia) will hold its New Hampshire Jewish Food Festival virtually, with online ordering open from June 1 to June 27. Visit tbinh.org to order from the temple’s menu of traditional Jewish-style foods — curbside pickups will be by appointment between Friday, July 30, and Sunday, Aug. 1.

• Concord Hospital Trust will present The Beat Goes on Block Party, an evening of spirit, beer and wine tasting, on Friday, June 4, at the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center (2 Institute Drive, Concord). Guests will sample local restaurants’ and food trucks’ offerings, which will be thoughtfully paired with quality wines, craft beers, spirits and creative mocktails from local and regional breweries, vineyards and distilleries. The block party-style event will be held in the front parking entryway of the center. General admission is $65, with access to the event from 7 to 9 p.m., while VIP admission is $100 (guests receive admittance to the event an hour early). Visit ch-trust.org or call Concord Hospital Trust at 227-7162 to purchase tickets.

• The New Hampshire Herbal Network will present its Herb & Garden Day on Saturday, June 5, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on the grounds of the Mt. Kearsarge Indian Museum (18 Highlawn Road, Warner). The annual event brings together herbal educators and seasonal growers for a day of multi-interest level workshops, plus a large vendor fair featuring plants and herbs from local farmers. The event is open to the public. Visit nhherbalnetwork.wordpress.com/herbalday.

• The Friends of the Library of Windham are hosting a drive-thru strawberry festival on Saturday, June 5, with curbside pickup from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the parking lot of Shaw’s (43 Indian Rock Road, Windham). Strawberry shortcake family fun packs are available to pre-order now, which will include handmade biscuits, ice cream, strawberries and whipped cream. Visit flowwindham.org.

• Hampstead Congregational Church (61 Main St.) has its annual strawberry festival scheduled for Saturday, June 5, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., featuring strawberry shortcake, baked goods, raffles, a plant sale and more. Admission is free. See “Hampstead Congregational Church, UCC” on Facebook for more details.

• LaBelle Winery’s new Derry location (14 Route 111) will host its next cooking with wine class on Wednesday, June 9, at 6 p.m., which will dabble in healthy, homemade Chinese food recipes. Participants will learn how to make items like chicken and scallion dumplings, edamame and mushroom fried rice, and each item will be paired with wine. General admission is $32.70, including taxes. LaBelle’s flagship location at 345 Route 101 in Amherst will also host a cooking with wine class specializing in outdoor cocktail party recipes, scheduled for Thursday, June 24, at 6 p.m. Visit labellewinery.com.

• The Culinary Playground (16 Manning St., Derry) has several upcoming cooking classes for both kids and adults on its schedule, including a seafood supper class for couples on Friday, June 11, and Saturday, June 12, and a Dad’s day cinnamon rolls class for kids on Sunday, June 20. Visit culinary-playground.com to view the full schedule.

• Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church (68 N. State St., Concord) has its next boxed Greek dinner to go event scheduled for Sunday, June 13, when fresh gyro sandwiches will be available. The event is drive-thru and takeout only — email [email protected] or call 953-3051 to place your order.

• Join The Cozy Tea Cart of Brookline for garden afternoon tea on Sunday, June 13, from 1 to 3 p.m., at the Gatherings at The Colonel Shepard House (29 Mont Vernon St., Milford). Tickets are $39.95 per person and reservations are required. Visit thecozyteacart.com.

• Derry’s Taste of the Region event is due to return to the parking lot of the Tupelo Music Hall (10 A St., Derry) on Wednesday, June 16, from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Organized by the Greater Derry Londonderry Chamber of Commerce, Taste of the Region brings together more than 30 area food and beverage vendors that compete for fan favorites in three categories: savory, sips and sweets. Admission is $35 per person. Visit gdlchamber.org.

• The Cozy Tea Cart of Brookline has several virtual tea tastings on its schedule, the next of which is set for Saturday, June 19, from 4 to 5:30 p.m., dabbling in green and white teas. Reservations are required by June 5 — participants will be mailed a tea tasting kit prior to this event. Visit thecozyteacart.com.

• Join LaBelle Winery (14 Route 111, Derry) for a wine and cheese pairing on Wednesday, June 16, at 6 p.m. LaBelle’s wine educator Marie King and culinary director Peter Agostinelli will guide participants through the how and why of wine and cheese pairing, tasting five types of fine cheeses paired with five different wines. Tickets are $38.15 general admission per person (including taxes). Visit labellewinery.com.

• Learn how grapes are harvested at LaBelle Winery (345 Route 101, Amherst) during the next event in its Walks in the Vineyard series, scheduled for Sunday, July 11, from 11 a.m. to noon. Wine educator Marie King and vineyard manager Josh Boisvert will lead participants through a fun and educational walk through the vineyards. You’ll also get a chance to taste four LaBelle wines throughout the session.Tickets are $27.25 general admission per person (including taxes). Visit labellewinery.com.

• The next wine dinners at the Colby Hill Inn (33 The Oaks, Henniker), set for Friday, July 16, and Saturday, July 17, will feature an a la carte barbecue lunch, McPrice Myers wines and live music. Visit colbyhillinn.com.

• Monadnock Music is presenting a Progressive Garden Party with multiple tastings and performances across the town of Peterborough on Sunday, July 18, from 1 to 4 p.m. Your ticket to this botanical tour will include three different drinks, food tastings and musical performances. Tickets are $75. Visit monadnockmusic.org for a full list of event locations.

• The Great New England BBQ & Food Truck Festival will return to the Hampshire Dome (34 Emerson Road, Milford) on Saturday, Aug. 14, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., featuring food trucks, live music, eating contests, craft beer, a kids zone and more. Tickets are $5 in advance and $10 at the gate (free for kids ages 14 and under). Visit gnecraftartisanshows.com.

• Mahrajan, an annual Middle Eastern food festival held on the grounds of Our Lady of the Cedars Church (140 Mitchell St., Manchester), is due to return this year with tentative dates of Friday, Aug. 20, through Sunday, Aug. 22. Visit bestfestnh.com for updates.

• Windham High School (64 London Bridge Road) has scheduled a food truck festival for Sunday, Aug. 22, at noon. Visit windhamnh.gov.

• In lieu of its traditional beer festival and wing competition format, this year’s Gate City Brewfest will be pivoting to a live concert to be held at Holman Stadium (67 Amherst St., Nashua) on Friday, Aug. 27. The live concert being planned in its place will offer both stadium and pod-style lawn seating on the field, plus an assortment of beer, non-alcoholic beverages and food options available. Visit gatecitybrewfestnh.com.

• Assumption Greet Orthodox Church (111 Island Pond Road in Manchester; assumptionnh.org) will hold its Greekfest Express on Saturday, Aug. 28. As with their celebrations of Greek food throughout the last year, this event will be drive-through with food available for order in advance. See foodfest.assumptionnh.org.

Theater

With warmer weather and loosened restrictions on public events, many local theater companies are coming out of hiatus this summer, offering outdoor, in-theater and virtual performances.

•​ The Seacoast Repertory Theatre (125 Bow St., Portsmouth) presents Fun Home on Thursday, May 27, at 7:30 p.m., and Friday, May 28, at 8 p.m. Tickets cost $32 to $46. Visit seacoastrep.org.

• The Capitol Center for the Arts in Concord presentsRhapsody in Black, a one-man show byLeLand Gantt, virtually, on demand, free of charge, now through June 30. Visit ccanh.com.

•​ The Rotary Park Play Festival takes place on Saturday, May 29, and Sunday, May 30, from 3 to 5 p.m. at Rotary Park (30 Beacon St. E., Laconia). The festival, presented by Powerhouse Theatre Collaborative and Community Players of Concord, features short original plays by New Hampshire playwrights. Admission is free; donations are welcome. Visit belknapmill.org.

•​ The Kids Coop Theatre performs You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown on Saturday, May 29, at 1 and 7 p.m. at the Derry Opera House (29 W. Broadway, Derry). Tickets cost $15. Visit kids-coop-theatre.org.

•​ The Seacoast Repertory Theatre (125 Bow St., Portsmouth) presents Godspell on Saturday, May 29, at 2 and 8 p.m., and Sunday, May 30, at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $32 to $44. The show is also available to livestream. Visit seacoastrep.org.

• The Palace Youth Theatre will perform James and the Giant Peach Jr. at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester) June 4 through June 12, with showtimes on Friday, Saturday, Monday and Tuesday at 7 p.m., except for Sunday, June 12, which is at noon. Tickets cost $12 for children and $15 for adults. Visit palacetheatre.org.

• The Capitol Center for the Arts in Concord presents a livestream of Concord Dance Academy’s annual recital on Saturday, June 5, at 1 p.m. Tickets cost $20. Visit ccanh.com.

• The New Hampshire Theatre Project (959 Islington St., Portsmouth) presents The Uncertainty Principle virtually on Thursday, June 10, through Saturday, June 12, at 8 p.m., and Sunday, June 13, at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $20. Visit nhtheatreproject.org.

•​ Pippin will be at the Seacoast Repertory Theatre (125 Bow St., Portsmouth) June 10 through July 17, with showtimes on Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 8 p.m., and Sunday at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $32 to $50. The show is also available to livestream. Visit seacoastrep.org.

• Phylloxera Productions brings Holmes and Watson to the Hatbox Theatre (Steeplegate Mall, 270 Loudon Road, Concord) June 11 through June 27, with showtimes on Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $22 for adults, $19 for members, seniors and students, and $16 for senior members. Visit hatboxnh.com.

• Seacoast Civic Dance Co. will perform its 64th Annual Dance Showcase at The Music Hall Historic Theater (28 Chestnut St., Portsmouth) on Saturday, June 12, at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $20 to $30. Visit themusichall.org.

•​ The Winnipesaukee Playhouse (33 Footlight Circle, Meredith) presents Betrayal outdoors June 16 through July 3, with showtimes Tuesday through Saturday, at 4 p.m. Tickets cost $27 to $37. Visit winnipesaukeeplayhouse.org.

• The Hatbox Theatre (Steeplegate Mall, 270 Loudon Road, Concord) presents Discovering Magic with Andrew Pinard on Wednesdays, June 16, July 14 and Aug. 11, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $22 for adults, $19 for members, seniors and students, and $16 for senior members. Visit hatboxnh.com.

• The Palace Teen Apprentice Company will perform Xanadu Jr. at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester) on Thursday, June 17, and Friday, June 18, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $12 for children and $15 for adults. Visit palacetheatre.org.

• Queen City Improv comes to the Hatbox Theatre (Steeplegate Mall, 270 Loudon Road, Concord) on Thursdays, June 17, July 15 and Aug. 12, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $22 for adults, $19 for members, seniors and students, and $16 for senior members. Visit hatboxnh.com.

•​ The Majestic Theatre presents Steel Magnoliasat the Majestic Studio Theatre (880 Page St., Manchester) June 18 through June 27, with showtimes on Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $20 for adults and $15 for youth and seniors. Visit majestictheatre.net.

• The Hatbox Theatre (Steeplegate Mall, 270 Loudon Road, Concord) presents Comedy Out of the ’Box on Thursdays, June 24, July 29 and Aug. 26, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $22 for adults, $19 for members, seniors and students, and $16 for senior members. Visit hatboxnh.com.

• The Palace Teen Company will perform Pippin on Friday, June 25, and Saturday, June 26, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $12 for children and $15 for adults. Visit palacetheatre.org.

• The Kids Coop Theatre performs Bring It On on Friday, June 25, and Saturday, June 26. More info is TBA. Visit kids-coop-theatre.org.

• The Movement Box Dance Studio performs its recital “Movement in Motion” at the Capitol Center for the Arts (44 S. Main St., Concord) on Saturday, June 26, at 1 p.m. Tickets cost $30. Visit ccanh.com.

•​ The Winnipesaukee Playhouse (33 Footlight Circle, Meredith) presents Sleuth June 30 through July 17, with showtimes Tuesday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m., plus matinees on Tuesday, July 6, and Thursday, July 8, at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $20 to $37. Visit winnipesaukeeplayhouse.org.

•​ The Seacoast Repertory Theatre (125 Bow St., Portsmouth) presents its Mad Haus series on Wednesdays, June 30 and Aug. 18, at 8 p.m. Tickets cost $15. The show is also available to livestream. Visit seacoastrep.org.

•​ The Seacoast Repertory Theatre (125 Bow St., Portsmouth) presents its Rep Company Cabaret on Sunday, July 4, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $15. The show is also available to livestream. Visit seacoastrep.org.

• The 2021 Bank of New Hampshire Children’s Summer Series presents Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester) Tuesday, July 6, through Thursday, July 8, at 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Tickets cost $10. Visit palacetheatre.org.

• You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown will be at the Prescott Park Arts Festival (105 Marcy St., Portsmouth) July 9 through Aug. 15, with shows daily at 7 p.m. More information is TBA. Visit prescottpark.org.

• The 2021 Bank of New Hampshire Children’s Summer Series presents Peter Pan at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester) Tuesday, July 13, through Thursday, July 15, at 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Tickets cost $10. Visit palacetheatre.org.

•​ The Winnipesaukee Playhouse (33 Footlight Circle, Meredith) presents Dani Girl outdoors July 14 through July 31, with showtimes Tuesday through Saturday, at 4 p.m. Tickets cost $29 to $39. Visit winnipesaukeeplayhouse.org.

•​ The Majestic Theatre presents’Til Beth Do Us Part at the Majestic Studio Theatre (880 Page St., Manchester) July 16 through July 25, with showtimes on Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. The show is also available to livestream. Visit majestictheatre.net

• The 2021 Bank of New Hampshire Children’s Summer Series presents Wizard of Oz at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester) Tuesday, July 20, through Thursday, July 22, at 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Tickets cost $10. Visit palacetheatre.org.

•​ Cabaret will be at the Seacoast Repertory Theatre (125 Bow St., Portsmouth) July 22 through Sept. 5, with showtimes on Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 8 p.m., and Sunday at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $32 to $50. Visit seacoastrep.org.

• Tap dancer, teacher and choreographer Aaron Tolson presents an evening of music and dance at the Dana Center (Saint Anselm College, 100 Saint Anselm Drive, Manchester) on Friday, July 23, at 7:30 p.m., and Saturday, July 24, at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $40. Visit anselm.edu/dana-center-humanities.

• New World Theatre’s series of readings and workshop productions “Putting It Together” presents A Series of Inelastic Collisionsby Eugenie Carabatsosat the Hatbox Theatre (Steeplegate Mall, 270 Loudon Road, Concord) on Sunday, July 25, at 6:30 p.m. Tickets cost $22 for adults, $19 for members, seniors and students, and $16 for senior members. Visit hatboxnh.com.

• The 2021 Bank of New Hampshire Children’s Summer Series presents The Little Mermaid at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester) Tuesday, July 27, through Thursday, July 29, at 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Tickets cost $10. Visit palacetheatre.org.

•​ The Winnipesaukee Playhouse (33 Footlight Circle, Meredith) presents Tell Me On a Sunday July 28 through Aug. 14, with showtimes Tuesday through Saturday, at 7:30 p.m., plus matinees on Tuesday, Aug. 3, and Thursday, Aug. 5, at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $20 to $39. Visit winnipesaukeeplayhouse.org.

• The 2021 Bank of New Hampshire Children’s Summer Series presents Beauty and the Beast at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester) Tuesday, Aug. 3, through Thursday, Aug. 5, at 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Tickets cost $10. Visit palacetheatre.org.

• The Peterborough Players (55 Hadley Road, Peterborough) perform Our Town Aug. 4 through Aug. 15outdoors in downtown Peterborough. Tickets go on sale July 16. Visit peterboroughplayers.org.

• The 2021 Bank of New Hampshire Children’s Summer Series presents Rapunzel at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester) Tuesday, Aug. 10, through Thursday, Aug. 12, at 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Tickets cost $10. Visit palacetheatre.org.

• The 2021 Bank of New Hampshire Children’s Summer Series presents Cinderella at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester) Tuesday, Aug. 17, through Thursday, Aug. 19, at 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Tickets cost $10. Visit palacetheatre.org.

• The Peterborough Players (55 Hadley Road, Peterborough) perform Beehive: The 60s Musical at the new outdoor Elsewhere Stage at the Players Aug. 18 through Aug. 29. Tickets go on sale July 16. Visit peterboroughplayers.org.

•​ The Winnipesaukee Playhouse (33 Footlight Circle, Meredith) presents Hooligans and Convicts Aug. 18 through Sept. 4, with showtimes Tuesday through Saturday, at 7:30 p.m., plus matinees on Tuesday, Aug. 24, and Thursday, Aug. 26, at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $20 to $39. Visit winnipesaukeeplayhouse.org.

• The 2021 Bank of New Hampshire Children’s Summer Series presents Sleeping Beauty at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester) Tuesday, Aug. 24, through Thursday, Aug. 26, at 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Tickets cost $10. Visit palacetheatre.org.

• The Peterborough Players (55 Hadley Road, Peterborough) perform Where You Are at the new outdoor Elsewhere Stage at the Players Sept. 1 through Sept. 12. Tickets go on sale July 16. Visit peterboroughplayers.org.

•​ The Winnipesaukee Playhouse (33 Footlight Circle, Meredith) presents It Had To Be Yououtdoors Sept. 1 through Sept. 18, with showtimes Tuesday through Saturday at 4 p.m., plus matinees on Saturdays, Sept. 11 and Sept. 18, at 11 a.m. Tickets cost $20 to $37. Visit winnipesaukeeplayhouse.org.

•​ Jekyll & Hyde – The Musical will be at the Seacoast Repertory Theatre (125 Bow St., Portsmouth) Sept. 16 through Nov. 6, with showtimes on Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 8 p.m., and Sunday at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $32 to $50. The show is also available to livestream. Visit seacoastrep.org.

•​ The Seacoast Repertory Theatre (125 Bow St., Portsmouth) presents Honey Punch ‘n’ Pals on Saturday, Sept. 18, at 11 a.m. Tickets cost $10. The show is also available to livestream. Visit seacoastrep.org.

•​ The Winnipesaukee Playhouse (33 Footlight Circle, Meredith) presents Glorious Sept. 22 through Oct. 9, with showtimes Tuesday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m., plus matinees on Tuesday, Sept. 28, and Thursday, Sept. 30, at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $20 to $37. Visit winnipesaukeeplayhouse.org.

Arts

Get reconnected with the New Hampshire arts scene at these exhibitions and special events, where you can talk with local artists and browse and buy all kinds of art.

Exhibits

•​ “Alnôbak Moskijik Maahlakwsikok: Abenaki People Emerging from Ashes,” an art show and sale presented by Two Villages Art Society, Abenaki Trails Project and Vermont Abenaki Artists Association, is on view now through Friday, May 28, at the Two Villages gallery (846 Main St., Contoocook). It features traditional and contemporary art created by tribal members of the Abenaki people and their community partners, including beading, pottery, birch bark building, fabric art, basketry, printmaking, painting, jewelry, painted gourds and leather work. Gallery hours are 1 to 5 p.m. Visit twovillagesart.org.

• The New Hampshire Art Association presents its 35th annual Omer T. Lassonde exhibition now through May 30 at the NHAA’s Robert Lincoln Levy Gallery (136 State St., Portsmouth) and online, featuring works in a variety of media by NHAA members and non-members centered around this year’s theme, “Beyond the Boundaries.” Gallery hours are Monday by appointment; Tuesday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Visit nhartassociation.org.

• The Seacoast Artist Association (130 Water St., Exeter) has an exhibit featuring oils by Jim Ryan and watercolors by Lorraine Makhoul on view through May. Visit seacoastartist.org.

• Twiggs Gallery (254 King St., Boscawen) presents an exhibit, “Retablos Reconsidered,” now through June 6, featuring works by 12 artists inspired by retablos, the honorific art form of devotional paintings that relate to miraculous events. Gallery hours are Thursday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. Visit twiggsgallery.wordpress.com.

• “Geometric Abstraction through Cut and Paste,” featuring the works of Meri Goyette, is on display in the windows and lobby of the Nashua Telegraph offices (110 Main St., Suite 1, Nashua) now through June 11. Goyette, 95, has been a longtime supporter and patron of the local arts, but has never publicly shown her own work until now. The exhibition will include statement collages and collectible greeting cards that she crafted from paper, fabric and glue during the pandemic. Visit cityartsnashua.org.

• The New Hampshire Art Association has an exhibition, “Transformations: Nature and Beyond,” featuring the work of digital artist William Townsend, on view at the gallery in the Concord Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center (49 S. Main St.) now through June 17. Townsend uses digital tools and techniques to alter line, form and color in photographs of natural objects, such as trees in a forest or seaweed on a beach. Gallery hours are Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visit nhartassociation.org.

• The New Hampshire Antique Co-op (323 Elm St., Milford) has an exhibit “Fresh Perspectives: Works by New Hampshire artists Peter Milton, ​Varujan Boghosian, Robert Hughes & More,” on view in the Co-op’s Tower Gallery now through Aug. 31. Visit nhantiquecoop.com.

• The Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St., Manchester) has an exhibition, “The Body in Art: From the Spiritual to the Sensual,” on view now through Sept. 1, that provides a look at how artists through the ages have used the human body as a means of creative expression. Tickets cost $15, $13 for seniors age 65 and up, and must be booked online. Museum hours are Thursday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. (free after 5 p.m.); and Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with the hour of 10 to 11 a.m. currently reserved for seniors and museum members. Call 669-6144 or visit currier.org.

• The Seacoast African American Cultural Center (located inside the Portsmouth Historical Society, 10 Middle St., Portsmouth) has an exhibit, “Fashion Forward: Africana Style,” on view now through Sept. 1, showcasing Black fashion and exploring connections between African American and African design aesthetics from past to present. Gallery hours are Monday through Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; visitors must reserve a 45-minute time slot in advance. Walk-in guests will be accommodated as space permits. Tickets cost $10 for the general public and $5 for Historical Society members and are available through eventbrite.com. Visit saacc-nh.org.

• The Portsmouth Historical Society (10 Middle St., Portsmouth) has an exhibit, “Don Gorvett: Working Waterfronts,” on view now through Sept. 12, featuring more than 60 works by the contemporary Seacoast printmaker. Gallery hours are daily, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission costs $7.50 for adults and is free for kids under age 18, seniors age 70 and older and active and retired military. Admission is free for all on the first Friday of every month. Visit portsmouthhistory.org.

• “Twilight of American Impressionism” is on view now through Sept. 12 at the Portsmouth Historical Society (10 Middle St., Portsmouth). The exhibit showcases New England painters and masters of impressionism Alice Ruggles Sohier and Frederick A. Bosley. Gallery hours are daily, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission costs $7.50 for adults and is free for kids under age 18, seniors age 70 and older and active and retired military. Admission is free for all on the first Friday of every month. Visit portsmouthhistory.org.

• The Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St., Manchester) has an exhibition, “Critical Cartography: Larissa Fassler in Manchester,” on view now through the fall, featuring immersive large-scale drawings that reflect the Berlin-based artist’s observations of downtown Manchester while she was an artist-in-residence at the Currier Museum in 2019. Museum hours are Thursday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. (free after 5 p.m.); and Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with the hour of 10 to 11 a.m. currently reserved for seniors and museum members. Call 669-6144 or visit currier.org.

• An exhibit celebrating the life and legacy of illustrator Tomie dePaola is on view now at the Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St., Manchester). It features a collection of dePaola’s original drawings. Tickets cost $15, $13 for seniors age 65 and up, and must be booked online. Museum hours are Thursday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. (free after 5 p.m.); and Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with the hour of 10 to 11 a.m. currently reserved for seniors and museum members. Call 669-6144 or visit currier.org.

• The Seacoast Artist Association (130 Water St., Exeter) will have an exhibit featuring works by painter Janice Leahy and photographer Dave Saums on view during June. Visit seacoastartist.org.

• The New Hampshire Society of Photographic Artists’ 21st annual exhibit will be on display at the Kimball Jenkins Estate (266 N. Main St., Concord) during June. Gallery hours are Monday through Thursday, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Visit kimballjenkins.com.

• The City of Concord and the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce host the fourth annual Art on Main, a year-round outdoor public art exhibit set up in Concord’s downtown opening. It will be installed in June. Visit concordnhchamber.com/creativeconcord.

• The New Hampshire Art Association presents “Transformations,” featuring the work of painters Barbara Stevens Adams and Catherine DiPentima, June 3 through June 27, at the NHAA’s Robert Lincoln Levy Gallery (136 State St., Portsmouth) and online. Gallery hours are Monday by appointment; Tuesday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Sunday, noon to 5 p.m. Visit nhartassociation.org.

• The Surface Design Association’s (SDA) New Hampshire Group brings an exhibit, “Tension: Process in the Making,” to Twiggs Gallery (254 King St., Boscawen) July 24 through Sept. 4. It features fiber art and textiles by New Hampshire artists. Visit twiggsgallery.wordpress.com.

• Concord artist and gallery owner Jess Barnet will host her first group art exhibit, “Summer Haze,” at her gallery (located in the Patriot Investment building, 4 Park St., Suite 216, Concord) Aug. 6 through Sept. 3. Visit jessbarnett.com.

Events

• The 14th annual Nashua International Sculpture Symposium is going on now through Saturday, June 12. The public is invited to watch three sculptors as they create outdoor sculptures for permanent installation in the city. The sculptors are working outside The Picker Artists studios (3 Pine St., Nashua) Monday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., now through Friday, June 4. They will relocate to the sculpture installation site on Saturday, June 5, where they will continue their work until the closing ceremony on Saturday, June 12. Visit nashuasculpturesymposium.org.

• The ​Concord Arts Market, an outdoor artisan and fine art market, is on Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., June through September, at Rollins Park (33 Bow St., Concord). Visit concordartsmarket.net.

• Kelley Stelling Contemporary in Manchester hosts “Fired Up! Outdoor Ceramics Show and Kiln Opening” on Saturday, June 19, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the studio of NH Potters Guild artist Al Jaeger (12 Perry Road, Deerfield). Visit kelleystellingcontemporary.com.

• The Craftsmen’s Fair, a nine-day craft fair featuring work by hundreds of juried League of NH Craftsmen members, takes place Saturday, Aug. 7, through Sunday, Aug. 15, at Mount Sunapee Resort (1398 Route 103, Newbury). More information is TBA. Visit nhcrafts.org.

• The Greeley Park Art Show (100 Concord St., Nashua) will be held on Saturday, Aug. 21, and Sunday, Aug. 22, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The annual outdoor juried art show hosted by Nashua Area Artists Association features a variety of artwork for sale. Visit nashuaareaartistsassoc.org.

Nature

Experience New Hampshire’s natural side with these hikes, educational programs and more.

• Beaver Brook Association (117 Ridge Road, Hollis) is offering a session of guided morning hikes every Friday at 9 a.m., now through July 9. The hikes are 3 to 4 miles long. The cost is $50 for the rest of the session. Visit beaverbrook.org.

• Join NH Audubon president Doug Bechtel for a casual one-hour bird walk every Saturday at 8 a.m. The location alternates each week between the Massabesic Audubon Center (26 Deerneck Road, Auburn) and McLane Audubon Center (84 Silk Farm Road, Concord); the next walk, on Saturday, May 29, is at the Massabesic Audubon Center. The walks are free, and no registration is required. Visit nhaudubon.org.

• Wildflower Walks continue at Beaver Brook Association (117 Ridge Road, Hollis) on Wednesdays at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., now through June 16. Learn about the natural history and various uses of wildflowers as they bloom. Visit beaverbrook.org.

• Join Seacoast Science Center (570 Ocean Blvd., Rye) for a weeklong celebration of World Ocean Day from Tuesday, June, 1, through Tuesday, June 8. There will be a variety of virtual and in-person events, including beach cleanup days, educational programs about marine life, a recycled arts contest, a virtual 5K run, tide pool explorations, trivia challenges and more. Visit seacoastsciencecenter.org/events/world-ocean-day-weeklong-virtual-celebration for the full schedule and to register for events.

• Saturday, June 5, is New Hampshire Fish and Game’s Free Fishing Day, when state residents and nonresidents are allowed to fish any inland water or saltwater in New Hampshire without a fishing license. Visit wildlife.state.nh.us.

• The New Hampshire Herbal Network will host its annual Herb & Garden Day on Saturday, June 5, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Mt. Kearsarge Indian Museum (18 Highlawn Road, Warner). The event will include workshops, plant and tree identification walks, grid work demonstrations, children’s activities, an herbal market and plant sale, local food vendors, raffles and more. Admission costs $25. Visit nhherbalnetwork.wordpress.com/herbday.

• Squam Lakes Natural Science Center (534 Route 3, Holderness) has its annual Breeding Bird Census on Saturday, June 5. The public is invited to listen for and document the territorial songs of male birds, which indicate probable nesting. The early session, from 5:30 to 8 a.m., will cover two forested zones including Mt. Fayal while the later session, from 8 to 9:30 a.m., will cover fields, exhibit areas and Kirkwood Gardens. There is no cost to participate, but registration is required. Visit nhnature.org.

• Unwind in nature with Yoga in the Gardens at the Beaver Brook Association’s Maple Hill Gardens (117 Ridge Road, Hollis) on Tuesdays, June 8 through June 29, at 4 p.m., and on Fridays, June 25, July 30 and Aug. 27, at 6 p.m. The cost is $15. Visit beaverbrook.org.

• Prescott Farm Environmental Education Center (928 White Oaks Road, Laconia) hosts a series of guided hikes this summer, including a naturalist-led wildlife hike on Saturday, June 12, at 10 a.m., for $12, and Saturday, Aug. 7, at 5 a.m., for $15; a summer solstice sunrise hike on Sunday, June 20, at 5 a.m., for $15; a woods walk with a herbalist on Saturdays, June 26 and Sept. 4, at 9 a.m., for $27; a wild mushroom walk on Saturdays, Aug. 21 and Sept. 18, at 10 a.m., for $30; and a full moon hike on Monday, Sept. 20, at 6:30 p.m., for $15. Visit prescottfarm.org.

• Beaver Brook Association (117 Ridge Road, Hollis) hosts a fern walk through the woods on Tuesday, June 15, at 10 a.m. See more than a dozen different species of ferns within a half-mile walk and learn how to tell them apart. The cost is $15. Visit beaverbrook.org.

• The 9th annual Monarch Festival at Petals in the Pines Nature Explore Outdoor Classroom (126 Baptist Road, Canterbury) will be held on Saturday, Sept. 11. The event is focused on educating the public on what they can do in their own backyards to help monarchs thrive. There will be butterfly-themed activities for kids and adults. More information is TBA. Visit petalsinthepines.com.

Free Concerts

Bring a blanket or lawn chair and enjoy free live music at these outdoor summer concert series, featuring local and regional acts of all genres.

• The Family Concerts in the Park series in Bedford will be held Wednesdays at 6 p.m., from July 7 through Aug. 11, at the Village Common Park Gazebo (Bell Hill Road). Visit bedfordreconline.com.

• The Smyth Public Library Summer Music Series is held at the Candia Pond Park gazebo (behind the library, 55 High St.) every Wednesday, June 30 through Aug. 11, at 6:30 p.m. Visit smythpl.org/music-series.

• Concord Public Library presents its Live Music with the Library series, with shows on Wednesdays, June 16 at 6:30 p.m., at Keach Park (off Loudon Road), July 21 at 6 p.m., at Eagle Square, and Aug. 18 at 6 p.m., at the library (45 Green St.). Visit concordpubliclibrary.net.

• Exeter’s Summer Concert in the Park Series will feature music every Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m., at Swasey Parkway (316 Water St.). Visit exeternh.gov.

• The Hampstead Cable Television Summer Concert Series presents live music in Hampstead on Tuesdays, July 6 through Aug. 24, at 6 p.m. at Meetinghouse Park (11 Main St.), and on Wednesdays, July 7 through July 28, at 6 p.m. at Ordway Park (Main Street). Visit hampsteadconcerts.com/concert-series.

• Hampton Beach Sea Shell Stage Series brings music to Ocean Boulevard nightly, June 11 through Sept. 6, starting at 7 p.m. Visit hamptonbeach.org/events/seashell-stage-nightly-shows.

• The Henniker Summer Concert Series presents live music every Tuesday, June 15 through Aug. 31, at 6:30 p.m. at the Angela Robinson Bandstand in Community Park (57 Main St.). Visit henniker.org.

• The Londonderry Arts Council hosts Concerts on the Common in Londonderry (265 Mammoth Road) on Wednesdays, Aug. 4 through Aug. 25, at 7 p.m., and Saturdays, Sept. 4 and Sept. 11, at 5 p.m. Visit londonderryartscouncil.org/cotc-schedule.

• The Summer Concert Series at Stark Park in Manchester (89 Park Ave.) returns, with music on Sundays, July 11 through Aug. 8, and Aug. 29, at 2 p.m., and on Thursday, July 29, at 6 p.m. Visit friendsofstarkpark.org.

• Merrimack’s Summer Concert Series returns to Abbie Griffin Park (6 Baboosic Lake Road), with live music every Wednesday, June 23 through Aug. 11, at 6 p.m. Visit merrimackparksandrec.org/summer-concert-series.

• Milford hosts a Summer Concert Series in Emerson Park (off Route 13) on Wednesdays, June 30 through July 21, at 7 p.m. Visit milford.nh.gov.

• The Nashua SummerFun series hosts live music on Tuesdays, June 8 through Sept. 7, at 7 p.m. at the Greeley Park Bandshell (100 Concord St.). Visit nashuanh.gov/546/summer-fun.

• New Boston’s Concerts on the Common (7 Meetinghouse Hill Road) will return with live music on select Tuesdays evenings, June through August. A schedule is TBA. Visit newbostonnh.gov/recreation/pages/concert-common.

• Newmarket’s Summer Concert Series will return this summer, with a schedule TBA. Visit newmarketrec.org/summer-concert-series.

• Pelham’s Concerts on the Village Green (in front of the Pelham Public Library, 24 Village Green) will take place every other Wednesday, June 23 through Aug. 18, at 6 p.m. Visit pelhamcommunityspirit.org/sponsored-events/concerts-on-the-village-green.

• Plaistow’s Summer Concert Series will present live music every Wednesday, June 23 through Aug. 25, at 6 p.m. at the PARC (51 Old Country Road). Visit plaistow.com/recreation.

• Pro Portsmouth’s Summer in the Street brings live music and performances to Pleasant Street in downtown Portsmouth on Saturday evenings, July 10 through July 31. More information is TBA. Visit proportsmouth.org.

• The Summer Concert Series at Field of Dreams Community Park in Salem (48 Geremonty Drive) will return this summer, with a schedule TBA on its website. Visit fieldofdreamsnh.org.

Live Music

May

• Country singer-songwriter Jake Owen will take the stage at Northlands Live on Friday, May 28, at 6:30 p.m. Tickets start at $139 for a pod of up to five seats.

• See Elton John tribute act Captain Fantastic at the Tupelo Drive-In on Friday, May 28, at 6 p.m. Tickets are $75 per vehicle (one ticket per vehicle).

• The Tupelo Drive-In will host The Jon Butcher Axis on Saturday, May 29, at 4 p.m. Tickets are $75 per vehicle (one ticket per vehicle).

• Aaron Lewis of Staind will perform at Northlands Live on Saturday, May 29, at 6:30 p.m. Tickets start at $129 for a pod of up to five seats.

• Jake Owen will also perform at The Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion on Saturday, May 29, at 6 p.m. Tickets start at $65.

• See Kate Redgate outdoors at the Historic Music Hall on Saturday, May 29, at either 6 p.m. or 8 p.m. Tickets start at $60 per table (two-person limit).

• The Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion will host Titans of ’80s Rock, a tribute festival to storied rock bands of the 1980s, on Sunday, May 30, at noon. Tickets start at $22.50.

• The Tupelo Drive-In will present Gary Hoey on Sunday, May 30, at 1 p.m. Tickets are $75 per vehicle (one ticket per vehicle).

June

• Erin McKeown will hold two performances outdoors at the Historic Music Hall on Friday, June 4, at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Tickets start at $60 per table (two-person limit).

• Six-piece group Fortune will hold a performance at the Tupelo Drive-In on Friday, June 4, at 6 p.m. Tickets are $75 per vehicle (one ticket per vehicle).

• Pink Floyd tribute act The Machine will be at Northlands Live on Friday, June 4, at 6:30 p.m. Tickets start at $99 for a pod of up to five seats.

• See Badfish: A Tribute to Sublime at Northlands Live on Saturday, June 5, at 6:30 p.m. Tickets start at $99 for a pod of up to five seats.

• Grace Potter will take the stage at the Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion on Saturday, June 5, at 6:30 p.m. Tickets start at $29.

• The Tupelo Drive-In will present Classic Stones Live on Saturday, June 5, for two shows at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Tickets are $75 per vehicle (one ticket per vehicle).

• Joe Sabourin will perform at Fletcher-Murphy Park on Sunday, June 6, at 3 p.m. Tickets are $12, plus a $3 fee.

• Marble Eyes will perform two shows outdoors at the Historic Music Hall on Sunday, June 6, at 3:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. Tickets start at $70 per table (two-person limit).

• Blues rocker Popa Chubby will take the stage at the Tupelo Drive-In on Friday, June 11, at 6 p.m. Tickets are $75 per vehicle (one ticket per vehicle).

• See Son Little at the Historic Music Hall for two shows on Friday, June 11, at 5:30 p.m. or 8 p.m. Tickets range from $25 to $60.

• Jay Psaros and Jason Spooner will perform at The Flying Monkey Movie House & Performance Center on Saturday, June 12, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $25.

• See the Indigo Girls at Northlands Live on Saturday, June 12, at 6:30 p.m. Tickets start at $149 for a pod of up to five seats.

• The British Invasion Years will be at the Tupelo Drive-In for two shows on Saturday, June 12, at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Tickets are $75 per vehicle (one ticket per vehicle).

• See the No Shoes Nation Band, a tribute to country legend Kenny Chesney, at the Rex Theatre on Saturday, June 12, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 at the door.

• Jason Spooner will be at Fletcher-Murphy Park on Sunday, June 13, at 3 p.m. Tickets are $12, plus a $3 fee.

• Johnny A. will perform two shows at the Tupelo Drive-In on Sunday, June 13, at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Tickets are $75 per vehicle (one ticket per vehicle).

• See singer-guitarist Dwayne Higgins outdoors at the Historic Music Hall on Thursday, June 17, for two shows at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Tickets start at $60 per table (two-person limit).

• Don’t miss A Joyful Juneteenth Celebration with N’Kenge at the Historic Music Hall on Friday, June 18, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $35.

• Captain Fantastic returns to the Tupelo Drive-In on Friday, June 18, at 6 p.m. Tickets are $75 per vehicle (one ticket per vehicle).

• The Allman Betts Band will be at Northlands Live on Friday, June 18, at 6:30 p.m. Tickets start at $119 for a pod of up to five seats.

• The Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion will host two shows featuring Greensky Bluegrass on Friday, June 18, and Saturday, June 19, with doors opening at 6 p.m. on both days. Tickets start at $39.

• See Billy Joel tribute act The Uptown Boys at the Palace Theatre on either Saturday, June 19, or Sunday, June 20, with doors opening at 2 p.m. on both days. Tickets range from $39 to $49.

• American Elton, a tribute to rock legend Elton John, will be at the Rex Theatre on Saturday, June 19, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $25.

• See Kip Moore with special guest Ayla Brown at Northlands Live on Saturday, June 19, at 6:30 p.m. Tickets start at $129 for a pod of up to five seats.

• See the Laurel Canyon Band at the Tupelo Drive-In on Saturday, June 19, at 4 p.m. Tickets are $75 per vehicle (one ticket per vehicle).

• Boat House Row will perform two shows at the Tupelo Drive-In on Sunday, June 20, at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Tickets are $75 per vehicle (one ticket per vehicle).

• Ms. Yamica Peterson will perform at Fletcher-Murphy Park on Sunday, June 20, at 3 p.m. Tickets are $12, plus a $3 fee.

• See Midnight North outdoors at the Historic Music Hall on Sunday, June 20, at either 5 p.m. or 7 p.m. Tickets start at $60 for a small table (two-person limit).

• Crys Matthews will perform outdoors at the Historic Music Hall on Tuesday, June 22, at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Tickets start at $60 for a small table (two-person limit).

• Country singer Brantley Gilbert will perform two shows at the Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion on Friday, June 25, and Saturday, June 26, with doors opening at 5 p.m. on both days. Tickets start at $29.

• Classic Stones Live will be at The Flying Monkey Movie House & Performance Center on Friday, June 25, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $29.

• The Tupelo Drive-In will present the James Montgomery Band on Friday, June 25, at 6 p.m. Tickets are $75 per vehicle (one ticket per vehicle).

• Pop sensation Tiffany will perform two shows at the Tupelo Drive-In on Saturday, June 26, at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. Tickets are $75 per vehicle (one ticket per vehicle).

• Panorama: A Tribute to The Cars, will be at the Rex Theatre on Saturday, June 26, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $25 in advance and $29 at the door.

• Recycled Percussion will take the stage at Northlands Live on Saturday, June 26, at 6:30 p.m. Tickets start at $99 for a pod of up to five seats.

• Mullett will perform two shows at the Tupelo Drive-In on Sunday, June 27, at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. Tickets are $75 per vehicle (one ticket per vehicle).

• See local group Bitter Pill outdoors at the Historic Music Hall on Sunday, June 27, at 5 p.m. or 7 p.m. Tickets start at $60 for a small table (two-person limit).

July

• Foreigners Journey will perform at The Flying Monkey Movie House & Performance Center on Friday, July 2, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $29.

• Badfish: A Tribute to Sublime will take the stage at the Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom on Friday, July 2, at 8 p.m. Tickets are $25 in advance or $30 at the door.

• See New York City-based quartet Howard outdoors at the Historic Music Hall on Friday, July 2, at 6 p.m. or 8 p.m. Tickets start at $60 for a small table (two-person limit).

• The Tupelo Drive-In will present Don White on Friday, July 2, at 6 p.m. Tickets are $75 per vehicle (one ticket per vehicle).

• Eaglemania, a nationally touring tribute to rock legends the Eagles, will perform two shows at the Tupelo Drive-In on Saturday, July 3, at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. Tickets are $75 per vehicle (one ticket per vehicle).

• See Moe at Northlands Live on Saturday, July 3, at 6:30 p.m. Tickets start at $139 for a pod of up to five seats.

• The Soul Rebel Project will perform two shows outdoors at the Historic Music Hall on Saturday, July 3, at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Tickets start at $60 for a small table (two-person limit).

• Old Dominion will take the stage at the Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion for two shows, on Sunday, July 4, and Monday, July 5, with doors opening at 5 p.m. Tickets start at $35.

• Maine-based indie duo the Oshima Brothers will perform two outdoor shows at the Historic Music Hall on Thursday, July 8, at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Tickets start at $70 for a small table (two-person limit).

• Chris Janson is set to perform at the Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom on Thursday, July 8, at 8 p.m. Tickets are $36 in advance and $41 at the door.

• See the Old Crow Medicine Show at the Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom on Friday, July 9, at 8 p.m. Tickets are $40 in advance or $45 at the door.

• The Adam Ezra Group will be at the Tupelo Drive-In for two shows on Saturday, July 10, at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. Tickets are $75 per vehicle (one ticket per vehicle).

• Liz & Dan Faiella will be at Fletcher-Murphy Park on Saturday, July 10, at 6 p.m. Tickets are $12, plus a $3 fee.
• Eagles tribute act Dark Desert Eagles will be at the Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom on Saturday, July 10, at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $21.

• The Rex Theatre will host An Evening with The Spain Brothers on Saturday, July 10, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $20.

• See The Marshall Tucker Band at Northlands Live on Saturday, July 10, at 6:30 p.m. Tickets start at $99 for a pod of up to two seats.

• The nine-piece Scott Spradling Band will perform at the Palace Theatre on Saturday, July 10, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $20.

• The Tupelo Drive-In will present The Weight Band for two shows on Sunday, July 11, at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. Tickets are $75 per vehicle (one ticket per vehicle).

• The Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom will host the Little River Band on Thursday, July 15, at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $25.

• Toronto-based rock group Enter the Haggis will take the stage at the Tupelo Drive-In on Thursday, July 15, at 6 p.m. Tickets are $75 per vehicle (one ticket per vehicle).

• The Breakers, a tribute act to rock legend Tom Petty, will be at the Tupelo Drive-In on Friday, July 16, at 6 p.m. Tickets are $75 per vehicle (one ticket per vehicle).

• Scott Solsky will hold an album release party at the Bank of New Hampshire Stage on Friday, July 16, at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15 ($10 tickets are available for a livestream).

• The Tedeschi Trucks band will perform two shows at the Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion on Friday, July 16, and Saturday, July 17, with doors opening at 5:30 p.m. on both days. Tickets start at $35.

• Grammy Award-winning act Asleep at the Wheel will perform at The Flying Monkey on Friday, July 16, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $39.

• Pigeons Playing Ping Pong will be at Northlands Live on Friday, July 16, at 6:30 p.m. Tickets start at $119 for a pod of up to five seats.

• Internationally touring singer-songwriter Matt Nakoa will be outdoors at the Historic Music Hall on Friday, July 16, at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Tickets start at $70 for a small table (two-person limit).

• Seth Glier will be at Fletcher-Murphy Park on Saturday, July 17, at 6 p.m. Tickets are $12, plus a $3 fee.

• See David Clark at the Rex Theatre on Saturday, July 17, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $29.

• Singer-songwriter Kasim Sulton will be at the Tupelo Drive-In on Saturday, July 17, at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. Tickets are $75 per vehicle (one ticket per vehicle).

• Beatles tribute act The Weeklings will perform at the Tupelo Drive-In on Sunday, July 18, at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. Tickets are $75 per vehicle (one ticket per vehicle).

• Buddy Guy will take the stage at the Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom on Sunday, July 18, at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $31.

• See David Wilcox outdoors at the Historic Music Hall on Tuesday, July 20, at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Tickets start at $70 for a small table (two-person limit).

• Brooklyn-based five-piece group The Rad Trads will be outdoors at the Historic Music Hall on Thursday, July 22, at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Tickets start at $60 for a small table (two-person limit).

• Aaron Lewis of Staind will play two shows at the Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom on Thursday, July 22, and Friday, July 23, with doors opening at 7 p.m. on both days. Tickets are $39 in advance or $44 at the door.

• James Taylor tribute act JT Express will perform at the Tupelo Drive-In on Friday, July 23, at 6 p.m. Tickets are $75 per vehicle (one ticket per vehicle).

• The Bank of New Hampshire Stage will host Into the Mystic: The Van Morrison Experience on Saturday, July 24, at 8 p.m. Tickets are $30.

• Damn the Torpedoes, a tribute to Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, will be at The Flying Monkey Movie House & Performance Center on Saturday, July 24, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $19.

• The Black Crowes will play their acclaimed 1990 debut album Shake Your Money Maker front to back at the Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion on Saturday, July 24, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $29.

• The Tupelo Drive-In presents Saving Abel on Saturday, July 24, at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. Tickets are $75 per vehicle (one ticket per vehicle).

• Voyage, a Journey tribute band, will be at the Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom on Saturday, July 24, at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $19.

• Pink Talking Fish, a hybrid act paying tribute to rock bands Pink Floyd, Talking Heads and Phish, will be at The Flying Monkey Movie House & Performance Center on Sunday, July 25, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $26.

• See Michael Ray at the Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom on Sunday, July 25, at 8 p.m. Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door.

• The Kenny Brothers Band will be outdoors at the Historic Music Hall on Wednesday, July 28, at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Tickets start at $60 for a small table (two-person limit).

• Chris Stapleton has a show at the Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion on Wednesday, July 28, at 7 p.m. with tickets still available, starting at $99.75.

• The Fab Four: The Ultimate Beatles Tribute will be at the Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom on Friday, July 30, at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $21.

• Tapestry: The Carole King Songbook will be at The Flying Monkey Movie House & Performance Center on Friday, July 30, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $29.

• The Tupelo Drive-In presents Jonathan Edwards on Friday, July 30, at 6 p.m. Tickets are $75 per vehicle (one ticket per vehicle).

• See Led Zeppelin tribute act Get the Led Out at Northlands Live on Saturday, July 31, at 6:30 p.m. Tickets start at $89.30 for a pod of up to two seats.

• Lucas Gallo will be at Fletcher-Murphy Park on Saturday, July 31, at 6 p.m. Tickets are $12, plus a $3 fee.

• L.A.-based singer-songwriter Brad Byrd will be outdoors at the Historic Music Hall on Saturday, July 31, at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Tickets start at $60 for a small table (two-person limit).

August

• Colorado singer-songwriter Daniel Rodriguez will be outdoors at the Historic Music Hall on Sunday, Aug. 1, at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. Tickets start at $70 for a small table (two-person limit).

• Justin Moore will be at the Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom on Friday, Aug. 6, at 8 p.m. Tickets are $47 in advance and $52 at the door.

• Country juggernaut Luke Bryan will perform two shows at the Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion on Friday, Aug. 6, and Saturday, Aug. 7, with doors opening at 5:30 p.m. both days. Tickets start at $88.75.

• See Katie Dobbins at Fletcher-Murphy Park on Saturday, Aug. 7, at 6 p.m. Tickets are $12, plus a $3 fee.

• Alice Howe with Freebo will be outdoors at the Historic Music Hall on Saturday, Aug. 7, at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Tickets start at $70 for a small table (two person limit).

• Heart tribute act Crazy on You will be at the Tupelo Drive-In on Saturday, Aug. 7, at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. Tickets are $75 per vehicle (one ticket per vehicle).

• See KT Tunstall at the Tupelo Drive-In on Sunday, Aug. 8, at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. Tickets are $75 per vehicle (one ticket per vehicle).

• See Darryl Hall & John Oates at the Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion on Monday, Aug. 9, at 7 p.m. Tickets start at $31.50.

• TEOA will be outdoors at the Historic Music Hall on Wednesday, Aug. 11, at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Tickets start at $60 for a small table (two-person limit).

• Pay tribute to rock icon Freddie Mercury with One Night of Queen, which will be at the Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom on Wednesday, Aug. 11, and Thursday, Aug. 12, at 8 p.m. both nights. Tickets start at $21.

• Tower of Power will be at the Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom on Friday, Aug. 13, at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $21.

• See Greg Hawkes of The Cars, with Eddie Japan at the Tupelo Drive-In on Friday, Aug. 13, at 6 p.m. Tickets are $75 per vehicle (one ticket per vehicle).

• Blues Traveler will take the stage at the Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom on Saturday, Aug. 14, at 8 p.m. Tickets are $37 in advance and $42 at the door.

• See Bill Wylder outdoors at the Historic Music Hall on Saturday, Aug. 14, at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Tickets start at $60 for a small table (two-person limit).

• America is making a stop at Northlands Live on Saturday, Aug. 14, at 6:30 p.m. as part of its 50th anniversary tour. Tickets start at $55.50 for general admission.

• Herman’s Hermits will be at The Flying Monkey on Sunday, Aug. 15, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $69.

• Deb Talan of The Weepies will be outdoors at the Historic Music Hall on Sunday, Aug. 15, at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. Tickets start at $70 for a small table (two-person limit).

• See Cherry Cherry, a tribute to Neil Diamond, at the Tupelo Drive-In on Sunday, Aug. 15, at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Tickets are $75 per vehicle (one ticket per vehicle).

• The Miguel Zenon Quartet will be outdoors at the Historic Music Hall on Tuesday, Aug. 17, at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Tickets start at $80 for a small table (two person limit).

• Chris Lane takes the stage at the Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom on Thursday, Aug. 19, at 8 p.m. Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door.

• AJ Lee and Blue Summit will be outdoors at the Historic Music Hall on Thursday, Aug. 19, at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Tickets are $60 for a small table (two-person limit).

• Three Dog Night will be at the Tupelo Music Hall on Friday, Aug. 20, at 8 p.m., the first Tupelo show back indoors at full capacity. Tickets start at $70.

• See the Mt. Pleasant Band at Fletcher-Murphy Park on Saturday, Aug. 21, at 6 p.m. Tickets are $12, plus a $3 fee.

• Little Big Town will be at the Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion on Saturday, Aug. 21, at 7 p.m. Tickets start at $29.

• Kenny Wayne Shepherd will be at the Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom on Saturday, Aug. 21, at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $25.

• See Elektric Voodoo at the Tupelo Music Hall on Sunday, Aug. 22, at 7 p.m. Tickets start at $85.

• The Dave Matthews Band will perform two shows at the Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion on Tuesday, Aug. 24, and Wednesday, Aug. 25, with doors opening at 5:30 p.m. Tickets start at $45.50.

• See River Sister outdoors at the Historic Music Hall on Friday, Aug. 27, at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Tickets start at $60 for a small table (two-person limit).

• Country star Darius Rucker will be at the Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion on Friday, Aug. 27, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $29.

• Eaglemania, a tribute to the Eagles, will be at The Flying Monkey Movie House & Performance Center on Saturday, Aug. 28, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $29.

• Get the Led Out, a tribute to rock icons Led Zeppelin, will be at the Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom on Saturday, Aug. 28, at 8 p.m. Tickets are $29 in advance and $34 at the door.

• High Noon, a tribute to Lynyrd Skynyrd, will take the stage at the Rex Theatre on Saturday, Aug. 28, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $29.

• See The Honey Bees at Fletcher-Murphy Park on Sunday, Aug. 29, at 3 p.m. Tickets are $12, plus a $3 fee.

• 1990s rockers Collective Soul will perform with Tonic and Better Than Ezra at the Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom on Sunday, Aug. 29, at 8 p.m. Tickets are $65 in advance and $70 at the door.

• See Lee Brice at Northlands Live on Sunday, Aug. 29, at 6:30 p.m. Tickets start at $149 for a pod of up to five seats.

September

• Melissa Etheridge will be at the Historic Music Hall on Wednesday, Sept. 1, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $55.

• Alanis Morrissette performs with Garbage and Liz Phair at the Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion on Friday, Sept. 3, at 7 p.m. Tickets start at $66.

• See 33⅓ Live’s Killer Queen Experience at the Tupelo Music Hall on Friday, Sept. 3, at 8 p.m. Tickets are $35.

• Toby Keith will be at the Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion on Saturday, Sept. 4, at 7 p.m. Tickets start at $36.25.

Live Music Venues

  • Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion, 72 Meadowbrook Lane, Gilford, 293-4700, meadowbrook.net
  • Bank of New Hampshire Stage, 16 S. Main St., Concord, 225-1111, ccanh.com
  • Capitol Center for the Arts, 44 S. Main St., Concord, 225-1111, ccanh.com
  • Fletcher-Murphy Park, 28 Fayette St., Concord, 225-1111, ccanh.com
  • The Flying Monkey Movie House & Performance Center, 39 S. Main St., Plymouth, 536-2551, flyingmonkeynh.com
  • Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom, 169 Ocean Boulevard, Hampton Beach, 929-4100, casinoballroom.com
  • Historic Music Hall, 28 Chestnut St., Portsmouth, 436-2400, themusichall.org
  • Music Hall Loft, 131 Congress St., Portsmouth, 436-2400, themusichall.org
  • Northlands Live, Cheshire Fairground, 247 Monadnock Hwy., Swanzey, northlandslive.com
  • Palace Theatre, 80 Hanover St., Manchester, 668-5588, palacetheatre.org
  • Rex Theatre, 23 Amherst St., Manchester, 668-5588, palacetheatre.org/rex-theatre
  • Tupelo Music Hall/Tupelo Drive-In, 10 A St., Derry, 437-5100, tupelohall.com (on Aug. 20, the Tupelo Music Hall will move all shows indoors at 100 percent capacity)

Featured photo:

Quality of Life 21/05/27

Coming to you live

The NH Live Venues and Theaters coalition held a press conference via Zoom on May 18 announcing the return of live in-person events throughout the state. The coalition is made up of 45 performing arts and independent cinema venues that have been meeting since March 2020 to help the performing arts community stay alive during the pandemic. “Every venue here today is on a journey to increase the number of performances and build back to full capacity attendance,” coalition spokesperson Nicki Clarke of Concord’s Capitol Center for the Arts said during the press conference. “We want to invite all New Hampshire residents and visitors to come out and enjoy concerts, musicals, opera, plays, dance, comedy and film again in our venues.”

Score: +1

Comment: QOL already has tickets to see Mamma Mia! at the Palace Theatre in October but definitely will be looking out for more live shows to see this summer.

Stepping up safety

The New Hampshire Department of Safety is reminding people that seat belts save lives with the “Join the New Hampshire Clique” campaign, which will have state troopers and local police officers increasing their enforcement efforts, according to a press release. New Hampshire law requires that any child under the age of 18 must wear a seat belt or be in a child safety seat, the release said, and this campaign, which runs through June 6, is intended to spread awareness that wearing a seat belt is the most effective thing you can do to protect yourself in a crash. Twenty people in New Hampshire died after being ejected from their vehicles in 2020, the release said.

Score: 0 (+1 for the campaign, -1 that it’s needed)

Comment: In 2020 the seat belt use rate in the state of New Hampshire was 72.4 percent, according to the release.

Good save

Bedford police helped an 85-pound German Shepherd last week after it fell about 6 feet down into an open 500-gallon septic tank. According to a press release, on May 17 Animal Control Officer Steven Paul and Officer Michael Heikkila responded to a call on Country Road, where they and the homeowner used a catch pole to pull the dog to safety.

Score: +1 (for the dog’s sake)

Comment:The tank was being serviced at the time, and Bedford police determined that the incident was an accident and no fault of the owners, the release said.

Tenth best state for military retirees

New Hampshire’s higher number of veteran job opportunities and veterans per capita helped the state make the Top 10 in the 2021 Best & Worst States for Military Retirees report, released May 24 by the personal finance website WalletHub. The study used 30 metrics to determine each state’s retirement-friendliness toward veterans, from job opportunities for veterans to housing affordability. According to the study, New Hampshire ranked 13th for percentage of veteran-owned businesses, 15th for both veterans per capita and veteran job opportunities, and 22nd for number of VA facilities per number of veterans.

Score: +1

Comment: New Hampshire was the only New England state to make the Top 10; next up was Connecticut at No. 22. Vermont ranked 50th.

QOL score: 71

Net change: +3

QOL this week: 74

What’s affecting your Quality of Life here in New Hampshire? Let us know at [email protected].

Baseball off to a great start

With six no-hitters already, the Mets’ Jacob DeGrom off to a historic start before going on the DL, Shohei Ohtani beautifully pulling off the pitcher-DH thing with 14 homers and a 2.37 ERA, and the surprising Giants, Red Sox and White Sox around the top of their divisions all year, baseball 2021 is off to an interesting start. But, as is usually the case for the sport that outsmarts itself more than all the others combined, it got its panties in a bunch over a story that takes away from all the good news.

That would be in Chicago, where with a few notable exceptions like 1959 and the Frank Thomas era, the White Sox have largely been a joke since throwing the 1919 World Series. So it makes sense that instead of just enjoying having baseball’s best record, the big story in Chi-Town was their 76-year-old manager calling his 28-year-old rookie catcher Yermin Mercedes “clueless” for hitting an eighth-inning homer with his team up double digits because it came on a 3-0 count. It immediately sparked an old-school vs. new-school debate that said after not managing for nine years Tony La Russa was out of touch with modern players who are not wedded to baseball’s ancient code of conduct.

I am no fan of La Russa, whose La Russification of managing pitching put baseball on the path to the endless game of today. But he is right about one thing. Mercedes was given the take sign and he either missed it or, worse, ignored it, which does make him clueless. On the other hand, his sportsmanship argument is stupid for two reasons. First, while they are rare, 13-run innings have happened, so follow Yogi Berra’s advice – because “it ain’t over till it’s over.” Second, Yermin didn’t put a 45-mile-an-hour non-pitching stiff into the game. That was Twins manager Rocco (head) Baldelli so as to not waste real pitchers in a lost cause. So, Rocco, your fault, because you reap what you sow. Then by having his pitcher throw behind Yermin’s head the next day as payback he’s the real villain because that leads to more beanballs, fights and maybe serious injury or worse. So boo Rocco.

In the meantime, as we wait for the real clueless people in Chicago to focus on what actually matters, here are a few other thoughts on baseball’s start.

Baseball 101: Yankees players have won the MVP award two times, but it was done only once by a pitcher. Name him.

Mentioned last week how good Matt Barnes has been so far, but how about Aroldis Chapman? As of Monday morning, the Yankees closer had 37 strikeouts in just 19 innings with an ERA of 0.47.

If you missed it, by hitting .335 with 13 bombs and 35 RBI F-Cat alum Vlad Guerrero Jr. is tearing it up in Toronto. With nine homers and 27 RBI, his Manchester teammate Bo Bichette is not far behind.

Alex Verdugo vs. Mookie Betts Update:While the Mookster is up one World Series win to none, the trade of Betts to L.A. was always a long-term move for the Sox and at the moment you’ve got to like the progress. Here’s what it looks like in Year 2, with Verdugo’s numbers listed first. Avg .297-.258. R 30-25. Doubles 8-15, Triples 1-0, HR 6-5 and RBI 20-16. Paycheck $450,000-$22 million (2021) and $400 million until 2032.

David Price, incidentally, hasbecome a very pricey bullpen pitcher. He’s made just one start in 10 appearances and that was as a two-inning opener on May 20. After opting out last year the start was rocky, but the ERA is down to 3.95.

That was quite a messy ending to the Albert Pujols era with the Angels, who said they had no room to play him. Of course then Mike Trout goes down for two months after he joined the Dodgers.

The question after that news was, is he the best first baseman ever? Well, he’s fifth all-time in total bases (5,963) and homers (668), third best RBI (2,117), which dwarves competitors like Lou Gehrig and Jimmie Foxx, so it’s hard to say no. But it’s been so long since he was the astonishing hitter he was in St. Louis, it’s hard to wrap my head around saying yes too.

Here is my “only I would care about it” weird old-time baseball stat of day. The all-time winning percentage leader (100 wins or more) is the 1930s-40s Yankee Spud Chandler at 71.1 percent. What’s weird is he did it only after getting to the majors at 29, because he was just 46-53 the previous five years in the minors!

Sports 101 Answer: Good old Spud is also our answer. He was MVP in 1943 when he was 20-3 with an ERA of 1.64, the lowest of anyone between 1920 and 1967.

Stumbled on that after being asked if Jon Lester will be a Hall of Famer. He’s 37 and has 191 wins, so if he can hang on until 40 while averaging 12 wins per, he’ll be close to 230 wins with a terrific 62.9 winning percentage. That’s more than Curt Schilling (216) without the baggage. But unlike Clayton Kershaw (a lock), who has a truckload, he’s got no big awards. Plus, the not in so far Andy Pettitte has 256 wins and a record 19 postseason victories. So probably not, but he’ll get votes from the stat geeks, er, newer voting members with less traditional reasons for saying yes.

Two other interesting stats found during the search. (1) At 69.6 Kershaw’ is now on target to pass Whitey Ford for the highest winning percentage of anyone with 200 wins, though he is still 19 short. (2) Lester’s winning percentage for the Red Sox and Cubs was an identical 63.6 percent.

One of these days, I’ve got to start paying closer attention to the NL again.

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