Junior Service League of Concord presents annual Fall Festivus
After its cancellation in 2020, Fall Festivus returns in a new location to showcase an array of craft beers, appetizers and desserts from local breweries and restaurants.
The event, a fundraiser for the Junior Service League of Concord, is coming back for its fourth year on Thursday, Nov. 4, this time at The Barn at Bull Meadow. Originally planned as a much smaller gala, the Fall Festivus has consistently grown over its short lifespan, first taking place at the warehouse of Lakes Region Tent & Event for two years before moving to the Eagle Square Atrium in downtown Concord in 2019.
The Barn at Bull Meadow is only a year old — the 7,000-square-foot wedding and event center was built from the ground up and completed last fall. Attendees of this year’s Fall Festivus are encouraged to wear their favorite flannel to go with the center’s rustic barn setting.
“The venue itself is gorgeous,” JSL special events co-chair Sarah Vaida said. “I think it provides us with a lot of room. … Nobody will have to leave one section to go to another. They’ll be able to hear the bands and be near the food all at the same time.”
Both sweet and savory items will be on the menu to try. Georgia’s Northside of Concord, for instance, will have macaroni and cheese, brisket burnt ends and chicken, while the Washington Street Cafe will offer a hummus and pita tray. The Common Man will have assorted dips and crackers, and Live Juice is expected to bring a few types of salads.
Great Events Catering of NH, the parent company of Fratello’s Italian Grille and The Homestead Restaurant & Tavern, is serving Buffalo chicken bites and mini cannolis. Other offerings will include fresh apple cider doughnuts from the New Hampshire Doughnut Co., a sampler tray of desserts from The Cannoli Stop at The Candy Shop, and hot mulled cider from The Works Cafe.
As for the beers, Vaida said nearly a dozen Granite State beverage purveyors will pour samples during the event, like Lithermans Limited Brewery of Concord, Out.Haus Ales of Northwood, Rockingham Brewing Co. of Derry and others.
“They typically will bring a bestseller from the brewery and then maybe one other [beer] that they are trying to advertise,” Vaida said. “We will have a cash bar as well, so if people aren’t finding something they like, they can get whatever they want to drink there.”
Flag Hill Distillery & Winery of Lee will be there too, as well as Cathedral Ledge Distillery, an organic distillery and tasting room that opened in North Conway last year.
Local bands Sunday Ave and David Shore’s Trunk of Funk will each perform sets. A silent auction is also planned, featuring a chance to win a variety of items from gift certificates to day passes and tickets for all types of venues across New Hampshire.
Proceeds benefit the Junior Service League of Concord, a women-run volunteer organization now in its 91st year supporting women and children in the community in crisis.
Participating local food and beverage vendors
• Aissa Sweets (Concord, aissasweets.com) • Backyard Brewery & Kitchen (Manchester, backyardbrewerynh.com) • The Cannoli Stop at The Candy Shop (Concord, thecannolistop.com) • Cathedral Ledge Distillery (North Conway, cathedralledgedistillery.com) • The Common Man (Concord, thecman.com) • Concord Craft Brewing Co. (Concord, find them on Facebook @concordcraftbrewing) • Flag Hill Distillery & Winery (Lee, flaghill.com) • From the Barrel Brewing Co. (Derry, drinkftb.com) • Georgia’s Northside (Concord, georgiasnorthside.com) • Great Events Catering of NH (greateventsnh.com) • Lithermans Limited Brewery (Concord, lithermans.beer) • Live Juice (Concord, livejuicenh.com) • New Hampshire Doughnut Co. (Concord, nhdoughnutco.com) • Out.Haus Ales (Northwood, outhausales.com) • Rockingham Brewing Co. (Derry, rockinghambrewing.com) • Spyglass Brewing Co. (Nashua, spyglassbrewing.com) • Washington Street Cafe & Catering (Concord, washingtonstreetcatering.com) • White Birch Brewing (Nashua, whitebirchbrewing.com) • The Works Cafe (Concord, workscafe.com)
4th annual Fall Festivus When: Thursday, Nov. 4, 6:30 to 10 p.m. Where: The Barn at Bull Meadow, 63 Bog Road, Concord Cost: Early-bird rates are $25 per person or $80 per four. Tickets are $35 per person at the door. Visit: jslconcord.org/events-cfvg Event is 21+ only. Flannel attire is encouraged.
• Riverside brews: There’s still time to get your ticket to the Manchester Brewfest, happening on Sunday, Oct. 31, at Arms Park (10 Arms St., Manchester), with general admittance from 1 to 4 p.m. and VIP admittance beginning at noon. The seventh annual festival will feature more than 100 craft beer options to sample from, in addition to some ciders and hard seltzers. Several local restaurants are expected to attend, and other activities will include live music, face painting and a petting zoo from Candia’s Charmingfare Farm. Tickets are $40 general admission, $50 VIP admission and $15 for designated drivers (prices do not include food). Proceeds benefit Value of Sport, a new nonprofit dedicated to giving Manchester students in fourth grade and up equal access to programs in sports, art and music. Visit manchesterbrewfest.com or, for more details on the event, check out our story on page 26 of the Hippo’s Oct. 14 issue.
• Tucker’s coming to Bedford: Local diner chain Tucker’s will open its new location in Bedford on Oct. 25, in the former Outback Steakhouse at 95 S. River Road, according to its website and social media channels. This will be the sixth Tucker’s restaurant and also its largest — the other five locations are in Hooksett, Dover, New London, Concord and Merrimack. Tucker’s features a menu of breakfast items like omelets and scramblers, and lunch items like sandwiches and bowls, plus a rotating selection of specials. Meghann Clifford, executive vice president of business development and marketing for Tucker’s, told the Hippo earlier this year that the Bedford location will also introduce new menu concepts for the brand, like fresh juices, smoothie bowls and brunch-based cocktails. Visit tuckersnh.com.
• Lakes Region Uncorked postponed: For the second consecutive year, Lakes Region Uncorked will not be taking place during its normal early November time frame. “In 2020 it was a foregone conclusion to cancel,” a message from Lakes Region Community Services, the event’s organizers, read in part. “This year looks to be just as frustrating and results in once again announcing the postponement.” In a statement, LRCS President and CEO Rebecca Bryant said that she is cautiously optimistic about finally bringing the signature event back in 2022. “As Lakes Region Uncorked was to near its 10th anniversary soon, even before the pandemic hit, we had turned to question how we could possibly make this terrific event even better,” she said. “With indoor tightly spaced evenings feeling like a thing of the past, we are excitedly looking into bringing Uncorked outside and into the spring.” Visit lakesregionuncorked.com.
• Farewell to Mile Away: Mile Away Restaurant (52 Federal Hill Road, Milford) will be permanently closing its kitchen space on Jan. 1, 2022, according to a recent announcement on its website. “The owner … has decided to close the restaurant and become an event center,” it reads in part. “We will host indoor and outdoor events, weddings, functions and other gatherings year-round.” The message goes on to request that all gift certificates and gift cards to the restaurant be used by the end of the year. Mile Away is in a historic spot in town, the site of one of the earliest settlements in the 18th century. Visit mileawayrestaurantnh.com.
Andrea Grelle is a licensed esthetician specializing in body waxing. She owns her own waxing studio, Windham Wax, which is temporarily located in Salem but will soon return to Windham.
Explain your job.
I do full body waxing and spray tans for men, women and youth, with parental consent. My day mainly [consists of] doing brows.
How long have you had this job?
I’ve been waxing for six years, and I opened Windham Wax about four years ago.
What led you to this career field and your current job?
I went to Berklee [College of Music], then moved to Nashville to pursue music. … Then, I hit [age] 30 and thought, ‘I should probably get an actual career.’ I became a freelance makeup artist and did a lot of makeup for music videos, and I loved it. … Then, life started leading me toward hair removal. I started working as a receptionist at a wax salon, and I got some hands-on training there. I fell in love with helping people get the brows they wanted, or helping them get their brows back if they had a bad experience at [another salon].
What kind of education or training did you need?
I went to Tennessee College of Applied Technology, where I got 860 hours of [studying] theory and doing hands-on training, working with actual clients, and I got my esthetician’s license. … I’m always continuing my education by going to classes and conferences to keep up with new techniques, products, styles and trends.
What is your typical at-work uniform or attire?
Casual, but professional and fashion-forward. I wear a lot of funny T-shirts, since I work with high schoolers a lot.
How has your job changed over the course of the pandemic?
I’ve always been pretty obsessive when it comes to sanitation and hygiene — I have, like, 15 different kinds of disinfectants, like one for cosmetics, one for metal implements, one for the counters — so my [sanitation] steps didn’t really change. I did add [air purifying] filters to my work space, and I started extending my time [between clients] so that I have enough time to diligently clean everything, and so that I only have one person in at a time.
What do you wish you’d known at the beginning of your career?
I wish I had gotten into it sooner. … In high school I felt like there was this stigma about going to a vocational school … so I went to college and was never exposed to the option of aesthetics as a career.
What do you wish other people knew about your job?
I wish people knew that [getting waxed] isn’t as bad as it’s [portrayed to be] in the movies. … I try to make the whole experience as painless as possible. It’s never going to be completely pain-free, but it’s kind of like going to the dentist — you don’t want to do it, but afterward, you’re glad that you did. … There’s also this idea that waxing is a luxury thing; I think it used to be, but now it’s available to anyone. I think it’s just another [form] of self-care for people.
What was the first job you ever had?
I worked in the drive-thru at Wendy’s in Salem.
What’s the best piece of work-related advice you’ve ever received?
When I was just [starting out] and was really nervous about doing brows, my old boss at the salon … said, ‘Trust yourself. You know what you’re doing, and you know how to listen.’ That really helped me [realize] that I just have to have confidence in my ability and trust what I know.
Five favorites Favorite book:Harry Potter series Favorite movie:Arsenic and Old Lace Favorite music: Chris Stapleton and Shinedown Favorite food: Greek and Italian Favorite thing about NH: The seasons
I was given this many years ago. I love it but have never been able to figure out what it actually is or what it was originally used for! There are no markings on it, but I think it’s brass. It’s 9 inches long, 6 1/2 inches high and 3 1/2 inches wide. I’d really appreciate your thoughts on my little catch-all.
Diane
Dear Diane,
At first glance from the photo I thought maybe it was a gravy boat, but after looking more it really couldn’t be. It is definitely silver-plated (silver over a mixed metal). You can see wear inside the dish, down to base metal (possibly brass).
It’s Victorian style (mid to late 1800s) with the north wind face on the side, goose, bird footed and design work. It may have even had a beautiful glass bowl insert at one time.
It is a very sweet catch-all. I think the original with or without a glass insert was a decorative basket. The value would be in the range of $40.
Without marks it is tough to tell when it was made and by whom. So we just have to look at the piece for what it is now to evaluate it.
Those big yellow school buses have been lumbering along for well over a month now, so you know it is time to start getting your gardens ready for winter. This is a good time to work outside; the bugs are fewer and it’s not so cold that you’ll be miserable in an hour.
I recently did some pruning on my Japanese red maple trees. We all know that sugar maples pump sweet sap up from the ground in spring, but did you know that all maples send lots of liquid up in spring, even if not the sweet stuff? Because of that, spring is not a good time to prune. Now is a much better time.
I attended a pruning workshop in 2019 at Shin Boku Nursery in Wentworth. Palmer Koelb has been growing, pruning and selling trees trained in the Japanese tradition for over 50 years. Some of his nursery stock is several decades old, and all of it is beautiful.
One of the things I learned at that workshop is that Japanese red maples are best trained over time. It is better to do a little pruning every year or two than to wait 10 years and need to cut big branches. I was told that I should never use a saw on a Japanese red maple; apparently they don’t react well to removing big branches. Hand pruners are best.
So what did I do? I reined in the height of my trees. I like them to top out at around 8 feet, so I looked for skyward-growing branches and cut each back to a lower fork, one hidden in the foliage. I also removed extraneous foliage and small branches in the interior of the trees, opening up the center of the tree so that the interesting branch shapes are visible. These trees, by their very nature, are not dominated by a single straight trunk, and I want to see the structure of a tree. I remove clutter and rubbing branches.
‘Pink Diamond’ hydrangea blooms each year in the fall. Courtesy photo.
This is also a good time to shape all your hydrangeas and prune them to keep them to the size you like. If you want to develop a new hydrangea to be upright, this is a good time to prune out downward-growing branches, and even to stake up a central branch to be the “leader” growing upward.
I like to collect some flowers for drying indoors. Most of us cannot afford to buy flowers from a florist for the table each week, so picking blossoms now that look good in a dry vase is a good alternative. All the hydrangeas will provide lovely blossoms now, so long as you pick them before frost, which causes them to turn brown.
My favorite hydrangea is one called Pink Diamond. It produces lots of big pointy flower panicles that start out white and turn to pink. In a dry vase the pink will fade a little but stay quite pink all winter, as will other hydrangeas. The stems on Pink Diamond are stiff and upright on the bush and don’t flop the way some others like Annabelle do when rained on.
Unlike lilacs and forsythia, hydrangeas are late-season bloomers so you do not lose any blossoms next year if you prune now. They bloom on stems that grow in the spring. I like to leave some blossoms on all winter to remind me that summer will get here eventually.
Grasses and grains are blooming now and can look good in a dry vase too. I grew an annual grain this year called black millet and I recently picked some stems and put them in a dry vase. Millet produces small seeds on narrow “cobs” much like corn, but without the outer leaves. It is found in bird seed mixes, and I ate it as a gruel when serving in the Peace Corps in West Africa. This year I bought some plants at a nursery, but I will start plenty from seed next year. Purple Majesty is probably the name of the variety I planted.
Black millet works well in a dry vase. Courtesy photo.
I’ve been potting up annual plants I want to bring in before winter, rather than waiting until the afternoon before the first hard frost. I potted up some Diamond Frost euphorbia that I bought in small pots last spring and planted in the ground. This is a delightful plant that has tiny white blossoms all summer. As a “Proven Winner” plant, it is trademarked and is not sold by seed.
Diamond Frost makes a nice house plant that continues to bloom indoors all winter. It prefers a bright windowsill but will survive most anywhere so long as you remember to water it regularly. Then in the spring it can go outdoors again — and at no expense.
Each fall I dig up at least one rosemary plant and bring it indoors. I like to do this early in the fall so that it can get used to being in a pot while sitting in the garden in just the same place it was in the ground. This lets it have fewer changes in its environment at a time. Later I will wash it well with a hose in order to get rid of any aphids or other pests before bringing it indoors.
Don’t use any fertilizer now for any houseplants coming inside. A plastic pot or an enameled one will keep moisture in better than an unglazed clay pot, so if you are a lazy waterer, select them.
Raking the leaves can wait till later, after all the leaves have fallen. But go outside and start chipping away at the chores on nice days, even if it means playing hooky from work.
Featured photo:This Japanese red maple was full of clutter before pruning. Courtesy photo.
The latest from NH’s theater, arts and literary communities
• ArtWeek continues: City Arts Nashua’s virtual ArtWeek is going on now through Sunday, Oct. 24, highlighting local artists and their works through professionally filmed segments, aired each day on Access Nashua Community Television (Comcast Channel 96) and the City Arts Nashua website (accessnashua.org/stream.php) and posts on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter and LinkedIn. Coinciding with KidsWeek Nashua, ArtWeek also features a kids scavenger hunt with 50 mini art kits, filled with supplies for painting, sewing and sculpture projects, hidden around Nashua’s public sculptures. See the full story at hippopress.com; you’ll find it in the Oct. 14 issue. Or visit cityartsnashua.org for social media links.
• The art of carpet: A new special exhibition, “As Precious as Gold, Carpets from the Islamic World,” opens at the Currier Museum of Art(150 Ash St., Manchester) on Saturday, Oct. 23. It features 32 carpets with various geographical origins, dating from the 15th century to the 19th century, including a Spanish rug, three Egyptian rugs, Lotto and Holbein patterned carpets, a 16th-century Ushak Medallion and a late 17th-century Small Medallion carpet. The exhibit, on loan from the Saint Louis Art Museum, will be at the Currier until Feb. 27, 2022. Museum admission costs $15 for adults, $13 for seniors age 65 and up, $10 for students, $5 for youth ages 13 through 17, and is free for members and children under age 13. Museum hours are Thursday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Friday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call 669-6144 or visit currier.org.
• ’90s on stage: It’s the final week for The Seacoast Repertory Theatre’s (125 Bow St., Portsmouth) production of Cruel Intentions: The ’90s Musical. Based on the 1999 teen movie, the musical follows Sebastian and Kathryn, a pair of manipulative step-siblings who place a bet on whether or not Sebastian can seduce the school headmaster’s daughter Annette, who had published an essay advocating for abstinence until marriage. Showtimes are Thursday, Oct. 21, at 7:30 p.m.; Friday, Oct. 22, at 8 p.m., and Saturday, Oct. 23, at 2 and 8 p.m. Ticket costs range from $32 to $46. The show will also be available to watch livestreamed on Friday and Saturday, with tickets priced at $25 for one viewer, $40 for two viewers and $60 for three or more viewers. Visit seacoastrep.org or call 433-4472.
“Truth” by Valerie Hall, featured in “Truth Be Told” exhibition. Courtesy photo.
• Women explore race: Two Villages Art Society presents a new exhibit, “Truth Be Told: An Artful Gathering of Women,” at the Bates Building (846 Main St., Contoocook) from Oct. 23 through Nov. 13. The exhibit is a collaboration of 14 women artists — seven who identify as Black and seven who identify as white — from across the country who have been meeting bi-weekly over Zoom to discuss race. “This is a unique group of outstanding artists who share a fervent desire to understand and eradicate racial injustice in our country and are motivated to pursue this goal through their art,” Alyssa McKeon, president of Two Villages Art Society, said in a press release. Gallery hours are Wednesday through Friday, from 1 to 5 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. An opening reception with two of the artists will be held on Saturday, Oct. 23, from noon to 5 p.m. Visit twovillagesart.org.
• A musical message: The Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra will perform its fall concert at The Music Hall Historic Theater (28 Chestnut St., Portsmouth) on Sunday, Oct. 24, at 3 p.m. The concert will feature Tchaikovsky’s Tempest, Julius Eastman’s “Gay Guerilla” and Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony. Together these pieces create “a complex musical metaphor of weathering and coming out of a storm; … a powerful message of the invincible human spirit; and a moving transition from darkness to light,” according to the orchestra website. Tickets cost $25 to $35 for adults, $25 to $30 for seniors age 60 and up and $20 for students. Visit themusichall.org or call 436-2400.
Lively art
The New Hampshire Art Association has two shows showcasing work by NHAA artists at Creative Framing Solutions (89 Hanover St., Manchester) through October. “The Joy of Life” features oil paintings on canvas by Sally Newman. The paintings depict cityscapes, still life and landscapes with bold and saturated colors that highlight the vitality of life. “I am excited to show people my paintings as they will get a different perspective of day-to-day living as I imagine it,” Newman said in a press release. “A Little of This, A Little of That” features photography by Jean Chase Farnum. Taken mostly in New England, the photographs capture scenes of daily life in different kinds of light. “I have come to appreciate all aspects of natural light that is available on a 24 hours basis from the sun, moon and stars,” Farnum said in the release. “Witnessing fundamental nature and nature’s simplicity within the world around me forms the basis for the presentation of my work.” Gallery hours are Tuesday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Call 320-5988 or visit nhartassociation.org.
ART
Exhibits
• “KICK-START!” Also known as “the shoe show,” this themed art exhibition from the Women’s Caucus for Art’s New Hampshire Chapter opens at Twiggs Gallery, 254 King St., Boscawen. The exhibit runs through Oct. 31. The shoe theme is expressed in a wide variety of works that include paintings, sculptures, artist books, drawings and mixed media pieces. Gallery hours are Thursday and Friday, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturday, from noon to 4 p.m. Visit twiggsgallery.wordpress.com.
• JOAN L. DUNFEY EXHIBITION Features artwork in a variety of media by regional NHAA members and non-members that follows the theme “Portals.” On display at the New Hampshire Art Association’s Robert Lincoln Levy Gallery, 136 State St., Portsmouth. Now through Nov. 28. Visit nhartassociation.org or call 431-4230.
• “AROUND NEW HAMPSHIRE” On exhibit at the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce’s Visitor Center, 49 S. Main St., Concord, on view now through Dec. 16. Featuring the work of New Hampshire Art Association member Elaine Farmer, the exhibit features her oil paintings embodying New Hampshire’s iconic views and ideals, ranging from mountain lakes and birch tree woods to historic landmarks. Visit concordnhchamber.com or nhartassociation.org.
• “AS PRECIOUS AS GOLD: CARPETS FROM THE ISLAMIC WORLD” Exhibit features 32 carpets dating from the 15th century to the 19th century. The Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St., Manchester). Opens Oct. 23. Museum admission tickets cost $15, $13 for seniors age 65 and up, and must be booked online. Call 669-6144 or visit currier.org.
• “TRUTH BE TOLD: AN ARTFUL GATHERING OF WOMEN” Two Villages Art Society presents a collaborative exhibit of works by 14 women artists — seven who identify as Black and seven who identify as white — from across the country who have been meeting bi-weekly over Zoom to discuss race. On view Oct. 23 through Nov. 13. Bates Building (846 Main St., Contoocook). Gallery hours are Wednesday through Friday, from 1 to 5 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. An opening reception with two of the artists will be held on Saturday, Oct. 23, from noon to 5 p.m. Visit twovillagesart.org.
• “1,000 CRANES FOR NASHUA” Featuring more than 1,000 origami paper cranes created by hundreds of Nashua-area kids, adults and families since April. On display now at The Atrium at St. Joseph Hospital, 172 Kinsley St., Nashua. Visit nashuasculpturesymposium.org.
• “NEW HAMPSHIRE NOW” A collaborative photography project presented by the New Hampshire Historical Society and the New Hampshire Society of Photographic Artists, on display in eight exhibitions at museums and historical societies across the state. Nearly 50 photographers participated in the project, taking more than 5,000 photos of New Hampshire people, places, culture and events from 2018 to 2020 to create a 21st-century portrait of life in the Granite State. Exhibition locations are Belknap Mill in Laconia; Colby-Sawyer College in New London; Portsmouth Historical Society; Historical Society of Cheshire County in Keene; the Manchester Historic Association; Museum of the White Mountains at Plymouth State University; and the Tillotson Center in Colebrook; with the flagship exhibition at the New Hampshire Historical Society in Concord. Visit newhampshirenow.org and nhhistory.org.
• GALLERY ART A new collection of art by more than 20 area artists on display now in-person and online. Creative Ventures Gallery (411 Nashua St., Milford). Call 672-2500 or visit creativeventuresfineart.com.
• “TOMIE DEPAOLA AT THE CURRIER” Exhibition celebrates the illustrator’s life and legacy through a collection of his original drawings. On view now. Currier Museum of Art, 150 Ash St., Manchester. Museum admission tickets cost $15, $13 for seniors age 65 and up, and must be booked online. Call 669-6144 or visit currier.org.
• ART ON MAIN The City of Concord and the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce present a year-round outdoor public art exhibit in Concord’s downtown featuring works by professional sculptors. All sculptures will be for sale. Visit concordnhchamber.com, call 224-2508 or email tsink@concordnhchamber.com.
THEATER
Shows
• CRUEL INTENTIONS THE ’90s MUSICAL The Seacoast Repertory Theatre (125 Bow St., Portsmouth) presents. Now through Oct. 23, 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.
• SPONGEBOB THE MUSICAL The Manchester Community Theatre Players present. In-person performance at MCTP Theatre at The North End Montessori School (698 Beech St., Manchester), and live streamed performance. Now through Oct. 23, with showtimes on Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $20 per person for the in-person show and $20 per streaming device for the live streamed show. In-person attendees must purchase tickets in advance and show proof of Covid-19 vaccination. Visit mctp.info or call 327-6777.
• AMERICAN SON The Hatbox Theatre (Steeplegate Mall, 270 Loudon Road, Concord). Now through Oct. 24, with showtimes on Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $22 for adults, $19 for students, seniors and members and $16 for senior members. Visit hatboxnh.com.
• MAMMA MIA The Palace Theatre presents. 80 Hanover St., Manchester. Now through Nov. 14, with showtimes on Thursday and Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at noon and 5 p.m. Tickets cost $39 to $46 for adults and $25 for children. Visit palacetheatre.org or call 668-5588.
• HEATHERS THE MUSICAL Presented by Cue Zero Theatre Company. Oct. 22 through Oct. 24. Derry Opera House, 29 W. Broadway, Derry. Visit cztheatre.com.
• WONDERS Phylloxera Productions presents. The Hatbox Theatre (Steeplegate Mall, 270 Loudon Road, Concord). Oct. 29 through Nov. 7, with showtimes on Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $22 for adults, $19 for students, seniors and members and $16 for senior members. Visit hatboxnh.com.
Classical
• “SUITES AND SCHUBERT” Symphony New Hampshire presents music by Bach, Schubert and Florence Price, the first African American female composer to have her music performed by a major symphony orchestra in 1933. Notable pieces will include Price’s Suite of Dances, Bach’s Orchestral Suite No. 3, “Air on a G String,” and Schubert’s Symphony No. 5. St. Mary and Archangel Michael Coptic Orthodox Church (39 Chandler St., Nashua). Fri., Nov. 5. Visit symphonynh.org.
Heathers the Musical brings dark high school drama to the stage
Gritty, shocking, vulgar, an emotional roller coaster — those are some of the words that come up when Director Dan Pelletier and cast members talk about Heathers the Musical, on stage Friday, Oct. 22, through Sunday, Oct. 24, at the Derry Opera House.
Photography by Paula T. Trout.
When Pelletier explains Heathers to younger generations, he describes it as “Mean Girls if Lindsay Lohan murdered Rachel McAdams.”
Heathers is based on the 1988 movie, about a girl in high school named Veronica who is trying to survive her senior year and sells out to the popular clique, all of whom are named Heather. Veronica also starts to pursue the mysterious new kid, JD, which upsets the lead Heather, Heather Chandler. When Veronica and JD accidentally kill Heather Chandler, they cover it up by making it look like a suicide.
“It’s a dark comedy,” Pelletier said. “It doesn’t cut corners. It’s very gritty. … There are moments in the show where … you laugh and then you’re upset with yourself for laughing. [But] you have to laugh at these awful things. It’s a coping mechanism.”
He said it would be the equivalent of an R-rated movie.
“There are explosives and drugs and very creative swearing,” Pelletier said. “We didn’t let anyone under 18 audition [because of] the sexual nature of some scenes, drugs, violence.”
Despite the over-the-top drama, Pelletier calls the show a “very human piece.”
“It’s about [transitioning] from adolescence to reality and learning that the world isn’t black and white and how complicated things can get,” he said. “You think every day of your life is the most important day of your life and you’re really unsure of who you are.”
Brooke Wolz, 21, of Bedford, plays Veronica.
“She has a good head [and] a big heart,” Wolz said. “When she gets thrown into this crazy world of … the popular girls, she just doesn’t know what to do.”
Wolz calls Veronica a “very naive lovesick teenager.”
“When JD comes around, she’s just very taken back by the fact that this guy is showing her attention,” she said. “She falls very quickly for him.”
JD is played by Joel Michael King, 23, of Tamworth.
“He’s definitely a very complex character with a lot of deep-rooted issues,” King said.
Both Wolz and King said these are their dream roles. Wolz said she throws a lot of herself into Veronica, and the experience has been emotionally draining but worth it.
“It’s such an emotional roller coaster that it’s difficult every time we do the run,” Wolz said. “She’s on stage the entire show and it just goes from this cute innocent naive [teen] to a murderer in a toxic relationship.”
The fact that the stage version of Heathers is a musical simplifies some things, Pelletier said — and gives it a very ’80s rock ’n’ roll vibe.
“Our pit is legitimately a rock band that plays musical theater,” he said.
The show has been a long time coming for Cue Zero Theatre Co. It was originally supposed to be the 2020 season-ender. The show had been cast and they were about to start working when the pandemic postponed it for a year. Only six of the 16 cast members were able to stay on — including Wolz and King — so they held auditions again in July.
“It’s been an adventure,” Pelletier said. “This is our first real production since February 2020.”
He said it’s been a bit of a challenge working around safety precautions, but the cast and crew are excited to be back.
“This is our big return to the main stage, to real theater,” he said. “The arts need support to come back, and we’re trying to come back with a vengeance.”
If that means bringing the unexpected to the stage, mission accomplished.
“It’s shocking, honestly,” King said. “You go to kind of have your views reexamined.”
Heathers the Musical
Where: Derry Opera House, 29 W. Broadway, Derry When: Friday, Oct. 22, and Saturday, Oct. 23, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 24, at 2 p.m. Cost: Tickets must be purchased online. Every audience member must present either proof of a Covid-19 vaccination or a negative Covid test from the past 72 hours to enter the building. Masks are required. There’s also a virtual livestream option. All tickets, for in-person or livestream, are $15 plus a $1.25 fee. Visit cztheatre.com to buy tickets.
Featured photo: Photography by Paula T. Trout. Courtesy photo.
If worrying about the real world has you frazzled, take some time out to enjoy the intentional spookiness, the costumes, the jack-o’-lanterns and of course the candy of Halloween. Though some events are still on hold or modified for the year, a lot of the seasonal fun is back. Find events geared toward kids (including, of course, trick or treating), plus movie screenings, music and costume parties for the older crowd and haunted houses and attractions for those who dare.
More treats than tricks
Halloween events for kids and families
Compiled by Angie Sykeny
Bring the kids for some Halloween fun at these family-friendly events, where they can trick-or-treat at downtown business, do spooky (and not-so-spooky) activities at the museum, show off their costumes in a parade and more.
• There’s a Halloween Dance Party with a DJ at George B. White Basketball Court (8 Raymond Road, Deerfield) on Friday, Oct. 22, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., open to kids in grades 3 through 5. Prizes will be awarded for the most creative, scariest and best-overall costumes. Admission costs $5. Visit deerfield.recdesk.com.
• Join the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire (6 Washington St., Dover) for its Not So Spooky Weekend, happening Friday, Oct. 22, through Sunday, Oct. 24. There will be Halloween-themed educator-led programs and self-led drop-in activities each day. Costumes are welcome, but regular masks are still required. The Halloween festivities are included with regular admission to the museum, which costs $11 for adults and kids over age 1, and $9 for seniors. Register online in advance. Visit childrens-museum.org.
• Chunky’s Cinema Pubs (chunkys.com) has some screenings on the schedule geared at younger movie goers. On Saturday, Oct. 23, at 6:30 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 24, at 6 p.m., the theaters in Nashua (151 Coliseum Ave.) and Manchestser (707 Huse Road) will offer an all-ages friendly screening of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (PG, 2001), with costumes encouraged. Tickets cost $5.99. Take the kids for a “Little” Lunch Date to see the 2019 animated movie The Addams Family (PG) at Chunky’s Cinema Pubs in Manchester, Nashua and Pelham (150 Bridge St.) on Friday, Oct. 29, at 11:30 a.m. Tickets are free but reserve a spot with a $5 food voucher.
• Paint a Halloween owl at The Canvas Roadshow (25 S. River Road, Bedford) on Saturday, Oct. 23, at 10 a.m. The cost is $25 for the step-by-step workshop and 11”x14” canvas painting. Registration is required by Aug. 21. Then, on Sunday, Oct. 31, at 1 p.m., there’s a Halloween candy charcuterie tray and pumpkin painting workshop, recommended for kids ages 5 through 10. Tickets, which include admission for one adult and two children, one charcuterie and two small pumpkins, cost $75. Register by Oct. 28. Visit thecanvasroadshow.com.
• DeMeritt Hill Farm (20 Orchard Way, Lee) presents its Storybook Halloween Hayride on Saturdays, Oct. 23 and Oct. 30, and Sundays, Oct. 24 and Oct. 31. The event is designed for elementary school-aged children, featuring storytelling with characters like Snow White, Cinderella, Superman, Belle and others along the hayride. Each child will receive Halloween goodies and a pumpkin. The hayride lasts about 30 to 45 minutes and departs every half-hour. The cost is $14 per child and $5 per adult. Reservations are recommended. Visit demeritthillfarm.com.
• The YMCA’s Trunk-or-Treat will be held at Camp Sargent (141 Camp Sargent Road, Merrimack) on Saturday, Oct. 23, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The free outdoor event will feature crafts, games and snacks. Tickets must be purchased in advance. Visit bit.ly/3EtsieG for the EventBrite page.
• Derry will have its Halloween festivities on Saturday, Oct. 23, including the Spooktacular Costume Parade and Contest at Hood Park (4 Rollins St.) from 11:30 a.m. to noon, with categories for kids ages 12 and under and families; and the Downtown Trick-or-Treat from noon to 3 p.m. Visit derrynh.org.
• Hopkinton’s Halloween Holler is on Saturday, Oct. 23, at Harold Martin School (271 Main St.). A kids costume parade will take off from the parking lot at 11 a.m. and proceed down Main Street to Hopkinton Village Store, then back to the school. Following the parade there will be games, crafts, s’mores over the campfire, hot cocoa and cider and more. Admission is free. Visit hopkintonrec.com.
• The Aviation Museum of New Hampshire (27 Navigator Road, Londonderry) is issuing free “Broomstick Pilot Licenses” to kids age 12 and under on Saturday, Oct. 23, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The experience lasts about 20 minutes and includes a “ground school” where the ghosts of aviation pioneers from history will talk about their achievements and teach about the basic principles of flight. Then, applicants will then have their headshots taken and receive their license, as well as some Halloween treats. The regular museum admission charge of $10 will still apply for visitors age 13 and up. Visit aviationmuseumofnh.org or call 669-4820.
• Charmingfare Farm (774 High St., Candia) continues its Children’s Trick-or-Treat experience on Saturdays, Oct. 23 and Oct. 30, and Sundays, Oct. 24 and Oct. 31. The experience includes costumed characters handing out candy in the barnyard; a tractor train or horse-drawn wagon pumpkin patch ride; a cow milking contest; pumpkin decorating; and pony rides. The cost is $22 per person and free for children under age 2. Visit visitthefarm.com to register for a timeslot.
• With its mix of candy and fear, Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (G, 1971) captures the Halloween spirit. The movie will screen on Sunday, Oct. 24, at 3 p.m. at the Rex Theatre (23 Amherst St. in Manchester; 668-5588, palacetheatre.org). Tickets cost $12; a portion of the proceeds goes to the Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth.
• Milford’s Trick-or-Treat on the Oval is on Friday, Oct. 29, from 3 to 4:30 p.m. The town Recreation Department and businesses on the Oval will be handing out candy and small toys to kids in costume. Visit milfordrec.com.
• Canterbury hosts its Wicked Weekend on Friday, Oct. 29, and Saturday, Oct. 30. The Canterbury Woods Trick-or-Treat will take place on Friday from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Then, on Saturday, there’s the Sherwood Forest Trick-or-Treat from 2 to 5 p.m.; the Town Center Trick-or-Treat from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.; and a Haunted Trail at 224 Baptist Road at 6:30 p.m. See the “Canterbury, NH” group on Facebook.
• Wear your costumes and trick-or-treat at Manchester City Hall (1 City Hall Plaza) on Friday, Oct. 29, from 3 to 5 p.m. Meet Mayor Craig, pick up a book from the library’s Bookmobile, then do some trick-or-treating at the businesses on Elm Street. Visit manchesternh.gov.
• The CHaD Storybook Tablescape Tour comes to the Bedford Event Center (379 S. River Road, Bedford) on Saturday, Oct. 30, with tours starting at 11:30 a.m. Guests will receive a red carpet welcome by costumed characters who will guide them through a storybook experience, ending with sweet treats. Tickets cost $10 per person, free for kids age 2 and under, and must be purchased in advance. Masks are required. Visit getinvolved.dartmouth-hitchcock.org.
• Come in costume and get ready to sing and dance at the Mr. Aaron Band Halloween Bash, happening at the Kimball Jenkins Estate (266 N. Main St., Concord) on Sunday, Oct. 31, with shows at 10 a.m. and noon. The outdoor shows will include some Mr. Aaron favorites as well as some Halloween songs. Bring a blanket or lawn chairs. Tickets $10. Visit mraaronmusic.com.
• Deerfield’s Tailgate Trick-or-Treat and Costume Parade returns to the Deerfield Fairgrounds (34 Stage Road) on Sunday, Oct. 31, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Visit deerfield.recdesk.com.
• Tilton’s Downtown Trunk-or-Treat and Children’s Costume Parade will take place on Saturday, Oct. 31, from 4 to 6:30 p.m. on Main Street. There will be a costume contest, music, family activities and more. See the “Tilton Downtown Trunk or Treat 2021” event on Facebook.
• Bow’s Trunk-or-Treat will take place on Sunday, Oct. 31, from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at Bow High School (55 Falcon Way). Visit bownh.gov.
• Head to the Village Green in Amherst for the Halloween Doors trick-or-treating event on Saturday, Oct. 31. Register online in advance for a time slot between 1 and 4 p.m. Visit amherstnh.myrec.com.
Trick or Treat
When do adults need to stock up on mini Snickers and Reese’s (or full-size bars, if you want to be a hero) so costumed kids can hit the streets to look for candy? According to town websites, social media pages and/or town officials, the following are the scheduled trick-or-treat times. In case of the odd Halloween snow storm or other strange weather, check with your town on the day to make sure trick-or-treat is still on.
Saturday, Oct. 30
Barrington: 5 to 7 p.m. Boscawen: 5 to 8 p.m. (The Boscawen Police Dept. is slated to hold a Trunk or Treat event from 5 to 8 p.m. at Boscawen Elementary School.) Canterbury: Canterbury does a trunk-or-treat/Halloween celebration in the Town Center from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., according to the police department. Dover: 5 to 8 p.m. Durham: 5 to 7:30 p.m. Greenland: 5 to 7 p.m. Hampton Falls: 5 to 7 p.m. New Castle: 5 to 7 p.m. Newmarket: 5 to 7 p.m. North Hampton: 4 to 7 p.m. Portsmouth: 3 to 6 p.m. (The police department is giving away free bright yellow Halloween bags to Portsmouth residents.) Rollinsford: 5 to 7 p.m. Seabrook: 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Strafford: 5 to 8 p.m. Stratham: 5 to 7:30 p.m. Tilton: 6:30 to 8 p.m. (The Trunk or Treat and children’s costume parade will run from 4 to 6:30 p.m.)
Sunday, Oct. 31
Allenstown: 5 to 7 p.m. Amherst: 6 to 8 p.m. (Halloween Doors on the Green will also offer trick-or-treating from 1 to 4 p.m.; register for a specific time slot at amherstnh.myrec.com.) Antrim: 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Atkinson: 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Auburn: 1 to 4 p.m. Bedford: 6 to 8 p.m. Belmont: 4 to 8 p.m. Bennington: 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Bow: 5 to 8 p.m. (Bow Parks & Recreation will hold Trunk or Treat at Bow High School from 2 to 3:30 p.m.) Bradford: 5 to 8 p.m. (Main Street will be closed during this time.) Brentwood: 6 to 8 p.m. Brookline: 6 to 8 p.m. Candia: 5 to 8 p.m. Chichester: (The PTO is holding a trunk-or-treat event on Sunday, Oct. 24, from 4 to 6 p.m. at Carpenter Park.) Concord: 5 to 7:30 p.m. Danville: 6 to 8 p.m. (The Danville Police Department is handing out free glow bracelets to anyone who plans to trick-or-treat. The Recreation Department will host a trunk-or-treat at the Community Center from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.) Deerfield: 4 to 7 p.m. (The Parks & Rec department is holding a tailgate trick-or-treat and costume parade for town residents at the Deerfield Fairgrounds from 1 to 2:30 p.m. with parking beginning at noon. See deerfield.recdesk.com for ticket info.) Deering: 5 to 8 p.m. Derry: 6 to 7:30 p.m. Dunbarton: 4 to 7 p.m. Epping: 5 to 7 p.m. Epsom: 4 to 8 p.m. Exeter: 4 to 7 p.m. Francestown: (Main Street trick-or-treating and Horse Sheds Trunk or Treat will run from 6 to 7:30 p.m.) Franklin: 4 to 7 p.m. Goffstown: 6 to 8 p.m. Hampstead: 6 to 8 p.m. Hampton: 5:30 to 8 p.m. Henniker: 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Hillsborough: 5 to 8 p.m. Hollis: 6 to 8 p.m. Hooksett: 6 to 8 p.m. Hudson: 6 to 8 p.m. Kingston: 5 to 8 p.m. Laconia: 5 to 8 p.m. (Laconia Parks & Rec will host trick-or-treating in Opechee Park from 5 to 8 p.m.) Lee: 5 to 7 p.m. (Lee’s Fireman’s Association will hold drive-thru Trunk or Treat at the Lee Safety Complex Oct. 31 from 5 to 7 p.m.) Litchfield: 6 to 8 p.m. Londonderry: 5 to 7:30 p.m. (Starting Oct. 27, trick-or-treaters can pick up a glow necklace at the police department lobby. Lyndeborough: 6 to 8 p.m. Manchester: 6 to 8 p.m. (Halloween at City Hall/Downtown Trick or Treat is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 29, from 3 to 5 p.m. Visit City Hall Plaza for a free book and then participating downtown businesses for treats.) Milford: 6 to 8 p.m. Mont Vernon: 5 to 8 p.m. (Trick or Treat in the Village will run from 6 to 8 p.m.) Merrimack: 6 to 8 p.m. Nashua: 6 to 8 p.m. New Boston: 6 to 8 p.m. (A trunk-or-treat event will start at 5:30 p.m. at New Boston Town Hall.) New Ipswich: 5 to 7 p.m. New London: 4 to 6 p.m. Northfield: 5 to 8 p.m. Nottingham: 5 to 7 p.m. Pelham: 5 to 8 p.m. Pembroke: 5 to 8 p.m. Pittsfield: 5 to 7 p.m. Plaistow: 5 to 7 p.m. Raymond: 5 to 7 p.m. Salisbury: 5 to 8 p.m. Sanbornton: 4 to 7 p.m. (Trunk or Treat will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. at Sanbornton Central School.) Sandown: 6 to 8 p.m. Warner: 5 to 8 p.m. Washington: 5 to 8 p.m. at the town commons Weare: 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wilton: 6 to 8 p.m. Windham: 5 to 8 p.m.
Enter if you dare
Haunted houses, barns and dark woods to explore
By Matt Ingersoll
Chad Zingales remembers his brother and father presenting “The Haunted Barn,” a Halloween-themed attraction that was attached to his childhood colonial home in Hollis.
“That’s what kind of started my love for it all,” he said. “I’m a very right-brained individual, so I’ve always enjoyed the entertainment side of Halloween and entertaining people.”
For 14 years Zingales ran The Dark Crop over several weeks in October, a “haunted” corn maze at Lavoie’s Farm featuring a cast of scary costumed characters. Now he has a new annual haunt — The Dark Woods, a dimly lit trail behind the farm stand at Trombly Gardens in Milford.
The self-guided tour is decked out with all kinds of unique sets as you make your way through. Costumed characters, each with their own names, voices and props, will be lurking in the shadows, and you’ll never know what types of people you’ll be meeting. For Zingales it’s that theatrical aspect of Halloween attractions that makes putting them on so much fun. Actors — he fondly refers to them as “creeps” — aim for at least two to four scares per group.
“You could build this beautiful haunted house, but if you don’t have any good actors it’s a hard sell,” he said. “We’ve taught our actors how to be creepy and how to scare people, and that timing is everything. … We also strive to have everybody have a backstory. There’s a reason why this character is out in the woods, and why you encounter this particular person.”
Courtesy of Fright Kingdom in Nashua.
Haunted houses have also been a lifelong love for Tim Dunne, owner of Fright Kingdom in Nashua. Now in its 17th year of serving up scares, Fright Kingdom features five uniquely themed attractions for each visitor to go through. He described “Apocalypse Z,” for example, as a scenario straight out of The Walking Dead, while “Bloodmare Manor” is inspired by an old 19th-century Victorian mansion, with family mysteries and secrets to discover.
“It’s definitely an immersive experience. We try to start scaring people as soon as they get into the parking lot,” Dunne said. “The people on our team could be bagging your groceries or handling your finances. … The one thing they all have in common is that they love Halloween.”
Each year Dunne and his team try to think of new ways to scare people, through the inclusion of new rooms or hallways, soundtracks, or costumes or makeup artistry. Fright Kingdom is also unique because the haunts don’t stop after Halloween is over.
“We do a Krampus-themed event during Christmas, and then we do a catered dinner inside the haunted house for Valentine’s Day that always sells out,” Dunne said.
You’ll also encounter spooky sets and costumed characters at The Salisbury Woods, a haunted barn and trail staffed entirely by volunteers on the Salisbury property of Brett Walker.
“On a normal night we can have anywhere from 60 to 70 actors out there in various spots, and there are quite a few animatronics out there as well,” Walker said. “The animatronics kind of act as a distraction for the actors to come out and get another good scare.”
The Salisbury Woods first launched eight years ago as a short walk through the barn. But over the years, Walker said, more and more sets have been added. The production is a fundraiser for several Salisbury-area organizations, like the town’s parent-teacher group and the Fire Explorers.
In Litchfield, Spooky World Presents Nightmare New England is celebrating its 30th year in business. It’s been at Mel’s Funway Park for just over a decade, according to co-owner Mike Accomando, but originally opened in Berlin, Mass., back in 1991.
“It’s a massive show that you can spend the entire night coming out to enjoy,” he said. “We tell people to definitely plan on staying for at least a couple of hours.”
Like at Fright Kingdom, new features are always being added to Spooky World’s repertoire. A haunted hayride spanning more than 80 acres of the property was introduced a few years ago. New to this year’s Spooky World experience is a haunt called “Asylum 47.”
“It’s an entirely new medical scene that we’ve designed,” Accomando said. “As you’re leaving one room and going into another, everything is changing, from the sounds to the lights to the smells, and so everything is constantly working in your head. … We’re also constantly changing scare zones, so you may know what’s going to happen if you were there before but we make sure it’s something different that you see each time you’re there.”
A host of haunts
There are plenty of opportunities for a frightful Halloween in New Hampshire this year. Check out this list of local haunted houses, barns and outdoor trails through the woods.
The Dark Woods at Trombly Gardens
150 N. River Road, Milford, 465-DARK (3275), thedarkwoodsnh.com
Hours: Fridays and Saturdays, Oct. 22 and 23, and Oct. 29 and 30, and Sunday, Oct. 31; gate opens at 7 p.m., with the last ticket sold at 10:30 p.m.
Cost: $21 general admission; advance ticket purchasing online is encouraged
During this self-guided tour through the woods behind the farm stand at Trombly Gardens in Milford, you’ll find a cast of creepy characters and misfits, each with their own props, stories and reasons for being there.
Fright Kingdom
12 Simon St., Nashua, 809-1173, frightkingdom.com
Hours: Fridays and Saturdays, 7 to 11 p.m., and Sundays, 7 to 10 p.m., now through Nov. 6 (haunts close after the last ticket holder goes through)
Cost: $29 general admission; purchase advance tickets online
Now in its 17th year of serving up scares, Fright Kingdom features five haunted house attractions, each with their own unique themes, from “Psycho Circus” to “Bloodmare Manor.” Special “In the Dark” experiences are set for Friday, Nov. 5, and Saturday, Nov. 6, when attendees will be given a single light source per group as they attempt to navigate their way out.
Haunted Overload
DeMerritt Hill Farm, 20 Orchard Way, Lee, 868-2111, hauntedoverload.com
Hours: Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, now through Oct. 31, beginning at 7 p.m. and ending at 8:30 or 9:30 p.m., depending on the night. Day walks are also available on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Cost: Main event admission is $28 and day walk admission is $8. Other rates apply for special themed events, including a Fright Night Lite on Thursday, Oct. 28 ($14.50 per person; no scares), a Glow Stick Night on Saturday, Oct. 30 ($18 per person), and a Black Out Night on Sunday, Oct. 31 ($17 per person). All tickets must be purchased in advance.
Located on DeMerritt Hill Farm in Lee, Haunted Overload has multiple types of shows to choose from. Its main event features a full cast of actors, complete with theatrical lighting and special events, as attendees traverse through a spooky wooded trail. You can also enjoy the lighting and effects without the scares during Fright Night Lite, or visit the trails and see the props during any of the day haunts.
The Salisbury Woods
19 Franklin Road, Salisbury, 496-2334, facebook.com/thesalisburywoods
Hours: Fridays and Saturdays, Oct. 22 and 23, and Oct. 29 and 30; 7 to 10 p.m. each night
Cost: $10 admission; advance ticketing online is strongly recommended (choose your own timed ticket slots), but cash tickets will be sold at the gate if they are available.
The Salisbury Woods is a haunted barn and trail, staffed entirely by volunteers and featuring dozens of costumed actors and animatronic setups. It’s also a fundraiser for several local organizations, including the Salisbury Parent Teacher Group and the Salisbury Fire Explorers.
Screeemfest
Canobie Lake Park, 85 N. Policy St., Salem, 893-3506, canobie.com/screeemfest
Hours: Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, now through Oct. 30; hours are 6 to 11 p.m. on Fridays, 3 to 11 p.m. on Saturdays and 1 to 8 p.m. on Sundays
Cost: General admission rates are $46 on Fridays and Sundays, and $55 on Saturdays. Admission is $32 all three days for kids under 48 inches tall and seniors over 60, and free for kids ages 3 and under. Group rates are also available. Advance reservations are required.
For six weeks, Canobie Lake Park transforms into Screeemfest, a Halloween-themed destination featuring five themed haunted houses, plus a full schedule of live shows, games, rides and more. Indoor haunts open at 6 p.m. on Fridays and 5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, while outdoor haunts open as soon as it gets dark (typically around 6:45 p.m.).
Spooky World Presents Nightmare New England
Mel’s Funway Park, 454 Charles Bancroft Hwy., Litchfield, 424-7999, spookyworld.com
Hours: Regular season now runs Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, through Oct. 31. Shows begin at 7 p.m. each night and end around 9:35 p.m. on Thursdays and Sundays, and 11:05 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Two special events will close out the season, including a TikTok Meet & Greet on Friday, Nov. 5, and a Lights Out event on Saturday, Nov. 6.
Cost: Rates vary; general admission starts at $41.49 on Thursdays and Sundays, $46.49 on Fridays and $51.49 on Saturdays. VIP rates are also available (varies before or after 9:30 p.m.)
Spooky World is celebrating its 30th anniversary in business this year — the haunted attraction originated in Berlin, Mass., in 1991 before briefly moving to Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, eventually landing at its current spot at Mel’s Funway Park in 2009 when it joined forces with Nightmare New England. In 2015, Spooky World added a 1-mile-long haunted hayride, and it has a new attraction for 2021 called “Asylum 47.”
Haunted happenings
All-ages Halloween fun
Compiled by Angie Sykeny
From costume contests to hikes and parades, these all-ages Halloween events have something for everyone.
• Join the NH Audubon (84 Silk Farm Road, Concord) for an Enchanted Forest experience on Friday, Oct. 22, or Saturday, Oct. 23, with tours offered between 5 and 7:45 p.m. Follow a forest trail, illuminated by jack-o-lanterns, and encounter creatures, plants and characters along the way, who will perform skits. The walk ends with a storytime at a campfire. This family-friendly experience is open to kids ages 4 and up and adults. The cost is $15 per person, and pre-registration is required. Visit nhaudubon.org.
• The Haunting of Wilton will take place on Saturday, Oct. 23, with downtown merchants trick-or-treating from 2 to 4 p.m., a costume parade down Main Street at 4:30 p.m., and a costume dance in the park with a DJ from 6 to 9 p.m. Visit visitwilton.com.
• Deerfield hosts its 5th annual Haunted Stables on Saturday, Oct. 23, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Deerfield Fairgrounds (34 Stage Road). Residents of Deerfield and surrounding towns are invited for a night of spooky fun and tasty refreshments. Visit facebook.com/deerfieldpolicenh.
• Intown Concord’s Halloween Howl returns to Main Street in the Capital City on Friday, Oct. 29, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Come in costume and enjoy trick-or-treating, Halloween decor, and games and activities for all ages in downtown. Admission is free. Visit intownconcord.org.
• There’s an all-ages Zombie Walk in Dover on Saturday, Oct. 30. The walk starts at 2 p.m. at the Dover Chamber of Commerce parking lot (550 Central Ave.) and will proceed down Central Avenue, ending at Rotary Arts Pavilion. Participants will receive goodie bags and raffle tickets to win gift cards for downtown Dover businesses and other prizes. Non-zombie costumes are also welcome. Visit dovermainstreet.org.
• Deering’s Trunk-or-Treat will be held on Saturday, Oct. 30, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Deering Fish and Game (Fish and Game Road). In addition to the trunk-or-treat, there will be games, hay rides, a campfire, snacks and a jack-o’-lantern contest (bring your own, pre-carved). The event is BYOB for adults. Visit deering.nh.us.
• Meet at Keach Park in Concord for an all-ages Halloween Hike on Saturday, Oct. 30, starting at 1 p.m. There will be games, songs, books, crafts and more. Costumes are welcome. Visit concordnh.gov.
• Merrimack will have its 29th annual Halloween Party, Sparkly Spooktacular, on Saturday, Oct. 30, from 2 to 7 p.m. at Wasserman Park (116 Naticook Road). Festivities will include free games, crafts, entertainment and food vendors from 2 to 5 p.m.; a concert by the Whiskey Business Band from 5 to 6:30 p.m.; and fireworks at 6:30 p.m. Visit merrimackparksandrec.org/halloween-party.
• Allenstown’s Townwide Halloween Lighting Contest is going on now, with winners to be announced at an awards ceremony at Blueberry Express Park (16 School St.) on Saturday, Oct. 30, at 4 p.m. First-, second- and third-place prizes will be awarded for the houses with the best Halloween decorations. Visit allenstownnh.gov for a list of participating residences.
• The Exeter Halloween Parade and Costume Contest will be held on Saturday, Oct. 30, with the parade starting at 10:30 a.m. at the Water Street end of Swasey Parkway and proceeding to the center pavilion, where there will be refreshments and awards for the best costumes. Additionally the Downtown Trick-or-Treat will be going on from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Visit exeternh.gov.
• Head to the Brown Lane Barn at Beaver Brook Nature Center (52 Brown Lane, Hollis) for a Halloween Enchanted Forest Walk on Saturday, Oct. 30, with time slots from 3 to 5 p.m. The non-scary self-guided walk will include educational stations along the way where participants can learn about New England wildlife, and will end at a campsite with cider and s’mores over a campfire. The cost is $12 per person. Visit beaverbrook.org.
• Head to the JFK Coliseum (303 Beech St., Manchester) for a Halloween Skate Party on Saturday, Oct. 30, from 2 to 4 p.m. Enjoy ice skating, a costume contest and a photo booth. Wear your costume and get a goodie bag at the door. Tickets cost $5 for adults and $3 for children and seniors (cash only). Skate rentals will be available for $5. Visit manchesternh.gov.
• The Amherst Orthodontics Trick or Trot 3k takes place on Sunday, Oct. 31, at 11 a.m., in Arms Park (10 Arms St., Manchester). The course goes up to the Notre Dame Bridge, crosses the bridge, then returns back across the bridge to Arms Park. The Stonyfield Lil’ Pumpkin Fun Runs for kids age 8 and under will proceed the race at 10 a.m. Registration costs $25 for adults age 21 and older, $20 for youth ages 12 through 20 and $15 for kids ages 9 through 11 for the 3k, and $10 for the Lil’ Pumpkin Runs. The registration deadline is Oct. 29, at 9 a.m., and race-day registration will not be available. Visit millenniumrunning.com/trick-or-trot.
• Don’t miss the Portsmouth Halloween Parade on Sunday, Oct. 31. All are welcome to come in costume and march in the parade; meet at Peirce Island by Prescott Park at 6 p.m. No sign-up is required. The parade will begin at 7 p.m. and march through downtown. Visit portsmouthhalloweenparade.org.
• Head to McIntyre Ski Area (50 Chalet Way, Manchester) for its Witch of Weston Tower experience, happening every weekend in October on Fridays, from 4 to 8 p.m., Saturdays from noon to 8 p.m., and Sundays from noon to 6 p.m. (last ride is at 30 minutes before closing). The experience includes transportation up the mountain and a hayride to the tower, where participants can meet the witch, play games and more. The cost is $15 for kids and adults age 9 and up, and free for kids under age 9. Visit manchesternh.gov.
• The Harvest Festival at Applecrest Farm (133 Exeter Road, Hampton Falls) is going on every Saturday and Sunday in October, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., with pick-your-own opportunities, a corn maze, live music, tractor rides, barnyard animals and more. Admission is free. Stop by on Sunday, Oct. 24, to see the Great Pumpkin Carve, where a master carver will take on an 800-pound jack-o-lantern. Visit applecrest.com.
• The corn maze at Coppal House Farm (118 N. River Road, Lee) is open through October. Farm hours are Monday, Thursday and Friday, from noon to 5 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with the last admission at 4:30 p.m. The cost is $9 per person; $7 for kids ages 5 through 12, seniors age 65 and up, and military; and free for kids age 4 and under. A flashlight night maze will be open on Saturday, Oct. 23, from 6:30 to 9 p.m., (BYO flashlight), with tickets priced at $12 per person, ages 5 and up. Tickets for the flashlight maze must be purchased online in advance. Visit nhcornmaze.com.
Also check out the corn maze at Riverview Farm (141 River Road, Plainfield), open through October, Tuesday through Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The cost is $5 per person and free for kids age 4 and under. Visit riverviewnh.com.
• O’neil Cinemas at Brickyard Square (24 Calef Hwy. in Epping; 679-3529, oneilcinemas.com) continues its Film Frenzy $5 series of classic films with some Halloween appropriate titles: The Shining (R, 1980) which screens through Thursday, Oct. 21; Beetlejuice (PG, 1988) which screens Monday, Oct. 25, through Thursday, Oct. 28, and A Nightmare on Elm Street (R, 1984), Monday, Nov. 1, through Thursday, Nov. 4. The films are screened multiple times each day.
• Jeff Rapsis will present The Phantom of the Opera (1925), the silent film starring Lon Chaney, with live musical accompaniment on Thursday, Oct. 21, at 6:30 p.m. at the Flying Monkey (39 Main St. in Plymouth; 536-2551, flyingmonkeynh.com). Tickets start at $10. He will also perform live music to accompany the film on Wednesday, Oct. 27, at Park Theatre at 7 p.m. (19 Main St. in Jaffrey; theparktheatre.org). Admission costs $12 per person and tickets are available online or at the door.
Nosferatu (1922)
• The Rex Theatre (23 Amherst St. in Manchester; 668-5588, palacetheatre.org) will offer a classic 1980s horror film and a classic silent era horror. On Thursday, Oct. 21, at 7 p.m., see A Nightmare on Elm Street (R, 1984). Tickets cost $10 ($8 with student ID). On Thursday, Oct. 28, see Nosferatu (1922), the silent film directed by F.W. Murnau, at 7:30 p.m. The presentation features live musical accompaniment by Jeff Rapsis. Admission costs $10.
• Red River Theatres (11 S. Main St. in Concord; 224-4600, redrivertheatres.org) continues its series of horror films screened on Thursdays in October at 7 p.m. On Oct. 21, catch 1972’s Frenzy and on Oct. 28, see 1982’s The Thing.
• Chunky’s Cinema Pub in Manchester (707 Huse Road), Nashua (151 Coliseum Ave.) and Pelham (150 Bridge St.) will screen Psycho (1960), starring Anthony Perkins and Janet Leigh) on Friday, Oct. 29, at noon, as part of a senior showing. Admission is free; secure a seat by purchasing a $5 food voucher at chunkys.com
Boootiful music
Costume parties & more for the grown-up Halloween fan
Compiled by Amy Diaz
For the older crowd, several area breweries, restaurants and other venues have parties, often with costume contests planned this Halloween season. Because the holiday itself falls on a Sunday, some parties are happening Saturday or even earlier in the week, giving you more opportunities to dress up and head out. (Note: Some events are 21+. Information here comes from the venues’ websites and social media.) Know of a party not listed here? Let us know at music@hippopress.com.
In the days before Halloween…
• Jewel Music Venue (61 Canal St. in Manchester; 819-9336) will host a Pop Punk Halloween on Thursday, Oct. 21, at 6:30 p.m. featuring Big Smile, Driveways, Rematch, Promise Game, 20 Something and Day Trip. Tickets cost $12 in advance, $15 at the door, for this 18+ event.
• Twin Barns Brewing (194 Daniel Webster Hwy. in Meredith; 279-0876) will host a pumpkin painting party on Friday, Oct. 22, at 5 p.m.
• Averill House Winery (21 Averill Road in Brookline; 371-2296, averillhousevineyard.com) will hold a Spooktacular Halloween Comedy Show with headliner Mike Koutrobis on Saturday, Oct. 23, from 7 to 8 p.m. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Costumes are encouraged. Tickets cost $15 in advance.
• Head back to Jewel Music Venue (61 Canal St. in Manchester; 819-9336) on Saturday, Oct. 23, at 7 p.m. for the Halloween Bash featuring tribute sets with bands performing the music of Slipknot, Deftones, Vanna and Hawthorne Heights, free candy, a costume contest with prizes and more. Tickets cost $12 in advance, $20 the day of (or $15 day of with a costume) to this 18+ show.
• Monique Toosoon will co-host a Halloween-themed “Life’s a Drag” show at Chunky’s Cinema Pub in Manchester (707 Huse Road) on Saturday, Oct. 23 at 9 p.m. (doors open at 8 p.m.). Tickets cost $25 and are available at chunkys.com. “The shows are high energy, funny, diverse and interactive. Performers dance, lip-sync and some even sing live,” Monique said in an email.
• Copper Door restaurants in Bedford (15 Leavy Dr.; 488-2677, copperdoor.com) and Salem (41 S. Broadway; 458-2033) will hold Wicked Scary Week Oct. 24 through Oct. 31, with special lunch and dinner menus, drinks, games and live music on Oct. 24 (11 a.m. to 2 p.m.), Oct. 28 (7 to 10 p.m.) and Oct. 31 (11 a.m. to 2 p.m.).
• Sea Dog Brewing Co. (5 Water St. in Exeter; 793-5116, seadogbrewing.com) will hold a Mug Club Social Halloween Bash on Monday, Oct. 25, from 5 to 8 p.m. RSVP and find out more about joining the brewery’s Mug Club at ecox@seadogbrewing.com. The night will feature live music, food, raffles and more.
• Last in Linewill play The Big House (322 Lakeside Ave. in Laconia; bighousenightclub.com) on Friday, Oct. 29, at 6 p.m. for a Halloween Party, costumes encouraged. Tickets cost $25 in advance, $30 at the door.
• Chop Shop Pub (920 Lafayette Road in Seabrook; 760-7706, chopshoppub.com) will hold a Halloween Extravaganza Costume Party with music by FastTimes (playing 1980s music) on Friday, Oct. 29, at 6:30 p.m.
• Chunky’s Cinema Pub in Pelham (150 Bridge St.; chunkys.com) will hold a live, 21+ Ghouling Pianos Halloween Bash on Friday, Oct. 29, at 8:30 p.m. featuring the Dueling Pianos. Costumes are encouraged; tickets cost $20.
• Wally’s Pub (144 Ashworth Ave. in Hampton; 926-2801) will host Prospect Hill’s 12th annual Halloween Bash, featuring special guests Lansdowne, Sleepspirit and Psycle, on Friday, Oct. 29, starting at 7:30 p.m. Tickets for this 21+ event cost $20.
• Lynn’s 102 Tavern (76 Derry Road in Hudson; 943-7832, lynns102.com) will hold a karaoke costume party on Friday, Oct. 29, starting at 8 p.m. with gift certificates for the best costume.
Saturday, Oct. 30
• Millyard Brewery (25 E. Otterson St. in Nashua; 722-0104, millyardbrewery.com) will host Bradley Copper Kettle and Friends at 3 p.m.
• Chunky’s Cinema Pub in Nashua (151 Coliseum Ave.) and Manchester (707 Huse Road; chunkys.com) will hold a live, 21+ Ghouling Pianos Halloween Bash on Saturday, Oct. 30, at 8:30 p.m. featuring the Dueling Pianos. Costumes are encouraged; tickets cost $20.
• Cercle National Club (550 Rockland Ave. in Manchester; 623-8243) will start its Halloween party at 5 p.m. with Off Duty Angels.
• The Polish American Club (15 School St. in Nashua; 821-7535) will hold a karaoke Halloween Party starting at 6 p.m., with prizes for best costumes, food and more.
• Shane’s BBQ (61 High St. in Hampton; 601-7091, shanes-texas-pit.com) will hold a costume contest starting at 6 p.m, with prizes for first and second place.
• Head back to Chop Shop Pub (920 Lafayette Road in Seabrook; 760-7706, chopshoppub.com) at 6:30 p.m. for a second night of celebrations with Halloween Bash with a costume party with prizes and bands including Notley Crue (a Motley Crue tribute band), Band Inc. and Casual Gravity.
• Area 23 (254 N. State St. in Concord; 881-9060, thearea23.com) will hold a Halloween party with a costume contest and the band Holy Fool from 7 to 11:47 p.m.
• The Purple Pit Coffee Lounge (28 Central Sq. in Bristol; 744-7800, thepurplepit.com) will feature The Krimson Krewe from 7 to 9 p.m., with a Mardi Gras costume contest. Doors open at 6 p.m.; admission costs $15 per person.
• High Octane Saloon (1072 Watson Road in Laconia; 527-8116, highoctane603.com) will kick off its Halloween party at 7 p.m. with music by EXP Band, a costume party with prizes and an entry fee of $5.
• Long Blue Cat Brewing Co. (298 Rockingham Road in Londonderry; 818-8068, longbluecat.com) will hold a Halloween party at 7 p.m., with costumes encouraged (and prizes for the best costumes) and beer and drink specials and a DJ and dancing.
• Boston BilliardsClub & Casino (55 Northeastern Blvd. In Nashua; 943-5630, bostonbilliardclubcasino.com) will hold its annual Halloween Bash starting at 8 p.m. featuring the band Plan B and a costume party with prizes.
• The Gas Light (64 Market St. in Portsmouth; 430-9122, portsmouthgaslight.com) will host Nightmare on Market Street Halloween Party, which starts at 8 p.m. with a DJ, dancing, drink specials, costume contest with prizes and more. Tickets in advance cost $12 (plus fees) for general admission and $30 (plus fees) for VIP tickets.
• Head back to Lynn’s 102 Tavern (76 Derry Road in Hudson; 943-7832, lynns102.com) today for a Halloween Bash at 8 p.m. featuring Sindicate and a cash prize for best costume.
• ThePeddler’s Daughter (48 Main St. in Nashua; 821-7535, thepeddlersdaughter.com) will kick off its party at 8 p.m. Check with social media closer to the date for updates.
• Saddle Up Saloon (92 Route 125 in Kingston; 369-6962, saddleupsaloonnh.com) will hold its Halloween party starting at 8 p.m. with Bite the Bullet, drink specials, giveaways and a costume contest.
• Tower Hill Tavern (264 Lakeside Ave. in Laconia; 366-9100, towerhilltavern.com) will hold a karaoke costume party with DJ Tim starting at 8 p.m.
• The Big House (322 Lakeside Ave. in Laconia; bighousenightclub.com) will hold a costume party featuring DJ Kadence starting at 9 p.m. with a $5 entry fee and a costume contest featuring prizes.
Halloween, Oct. 31
• The Big House (322 Lakeside Ave. in Laconia; bighousenightclub.com) will host the Weirs Drag Brunch on Halloween morning starting at 9:30 a.m. Tickets cost $25.
• Smuttynose Brewing (105 Towle Farm Road in Hampton; smuttynose.com, 436-4026) will hold a Mutt-ster Mash from 1 to 4 p.m. The afternoon will include a dog costume contest with prize, treats for humans and pups and Smuttynose Beer, with proceeds to go to Pope Memorial Humane Society.
• The Village Trestle (25 Main St. in Goffstown; 497-8230, villagetrestle.com) will hold a Halloween Party, costumes encouraged, featuring music from Bob Pratte and Steve Roberge on sax and harp starting at 3:30 p.m.
• The Alamo Texas Barbecue & Tequila Bar (99 Route 13 in Brookline; alamobarbecue.com, 721-5000) will celebrate its three-year anniversary and Halloween with live music starting at 4:30 p.m. by Ralph Allen, raffles and giveaways and more.
• Fody’s Tavern (9 Clinton St. in Nashua; 577-9015, fodystavern.com) will have a Halloween party featuring DJ Mark Allen starting at 8 p.m.
And beyond…
• On Saturday, Nov. 6, Liquid Therapy (14 Court St. in Nashua; 402-9391, liquidtherapynh.com) will hold a Halloween Trivia ExtravaganzaSaturday, Nov. 6, from 1 to 4 p.m.
Magnifico! Catch Almost Queen today at 7:30 p.m. at the Capitol Center for the Arts (44 S. Main St. in Concord; 225-1111, ccanh.com). Tickets
Saturday, Oct. 23
The town of Raymond is holding a Fall Family Festival today from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Lamprey River Elementary School (33 Old Manchester Road in Raymond). The day will include a 1K and 3K run/walk (registration starts at 9 a.m.), the Girls Scouts STEM dinosaur van, pumpkin painting, concessions available for purchase, family rail bike tours and more, according to raymondnh.gov/fallfamilyfunfestival.
Saturday, Oct. 23
The McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center (2 Institute Dr. in Concord; starhop.com, 271-7827) will hold a James Webb Space Telescope Pre-Launch party, all about the telescope scheduled to launch later this year, today at 1:30 p.m. The celebration will include information about the Webb telescope and its mission and STEM activities, according to the Center’s website. The center is open Fridays through Sundays and visitors can purchase tickets for a morning (10 a.m. to 1 p.m.) or afternoon (1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.) time slot. Admission costs $11.50 for adults, $10.50 for students and seniors, $8.50 for children ages 3 to 12 and free for children two and under, and tickets can be purchased in advance on the website.
Saturday, Oct. 23
Chunky’s Cinema Pubs in Nashua (151 Coliseum Ave.) and Manchester (707 Huse Road) are each offering two screenings of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, the PG 2001 movie that kicked off the franchise. The first screening is today at 6:30 p.m. and the second is tomorrow, Oct. 24, at 6 p.m. Tickets cost $5.99 per person and dressing up in Hogwarts fashion is encouraged, according to chunkys.com.
Saturday, Oct. 23
Catch BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet today at 7:30 p.m. at the Dana Center for the Humanities at Saint Anselm College (100 Saint Anselm Drive in Manchester; anselm.edu/dana-events, 641-7000). The Dana Center’s website describes them as “making some of the most popular Cajun music on the planet with their distinctive sound distilled from the spirits of New Orleans jazz, blues, rock, folk, swamp pop, Zydeco, country and bluegrass.” Tickets cost $45.
Save the Date! Oct. 31
Think of it as grown-up trick-or-treating: the Manchester Brewfest will run from 1 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 31, (with VIP admission at noon) in Arms Park in Manchester. Tickets cost $40 for general admission, $50 for VIP admission and $15 for designated drivers (and bring money for the restaurants that will set up stations to sell food). Around 20 breweries will be on hand to offer tastes of their beers, according to Matt Ingersoll’s story about the event on page 26 of the Oct. 14 issue of the Hippo (find the e-edition at hippopress.com).
