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Barbecue and beyond

Great American Ribfest & Food Truck Festival returns

After the Rock’n Ribfest ended its 16-year run offering ribs, other barbecue favorites, craft beer and live music, new organizers continued the tradition in 2019 under a new name. Pandemic woes then shelved the event for two consecutive years, but the Great American Ribfest & Food Truck Festival — now a fundraiser for the Merrimack Rotary Club — is back.

The event is scheduled for Friday, July 15, through Sunday, July 17, at Anheuser-Busch Brewery in Merrimack, featuring a diverse mix of longtime “ribbers” and new food and beverage vendors.

It was traditionally held over Father’s Day weekend; a collective decision among Ribfest vendors and organizers was made to push this year’s event back a few weeks to the middle of July.

people standing lines in front of food booths at food truck festival. — Scenes from the 2019 Great American Ribfest & Food Truck Festival. Photos by Gary Reynolds.

“When we had to take two years off due to Covid, we did lots and lots of introspection on what worked and what didn’t work … because we had plenty of time to figure those things out,” organizer Jeremy Garrett of the event management company J2L Events said. “The top suggestion was to move the date, and hopefully get out of the wetter spring weather. … Being the same weekend as [Laconia] Bike Week was also thought to impact attendance negatively.”

As in previous years, attendees can expect to find barbecue options from local and nationally renowned eateries. Some of this year’s participating vendors — like Armadillo’s BBQ and Austin’s Texas Lightning BBQ — are coming from as far away as Illinois and Texas, respectively. They’ll be offering half and whole racks of ribs, in addition to pulled pork sandwiches, burgers and an array of house-made sauces and rubs. A few local barbecue favorites — like Up In Your Grill, a food trailer based in Merrimack — also join in on the fun.

But there’s also lots more to discover at Ribfest beyond just barbecue — in fact, Garrett said that was a chief focus for organizers when the event changed hands three years ago.

“We’ve got some of the carnival-type foods, the french fries and the fried doughs … and we’ve also got a whole diverse selection of food trucks that are coming in,” he said. “All in all, it’s around 25 food and dessert vendors … so hopefully everyone can find something that they like.”

Donali Food Truck, for instance, is a newcomer to Ribfest. The Nashua-based food truck features lobster rolls and Italian sausage subs as its cornerstone offerings, cooked with fresh ingredients alongside additional menu items like barbecue chicken sandwiches and smash burgers.

This is also the debut event for Carla’s Coffee, which is in the process of rebranding from Jayrard’s Java Cafe. New owner Carla Reardon recently purchased the trailer from founder Jared Turgeon. Carla’s Coffee will be offering a variety of coffees and espresso-based drinks at Ribfest using Cafe Britt coffee from Costa Rica, in addition to some smoothies and lemonades.

Other trucks will include Friends 4 OBA, brought to you by the owners of OBA Noodle Bar in downtown Exeter — they’re known for their authentic Asian fusion street food options. The Seacoast Pretzel Co. truck will also be there with its fresh Bavarian-style soft pretzels, while Cheese Louise, based in Conway, will offer creative takes on gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches.

A full schedule of live music is planned throughout all three days, with a total of 11 acts each performing roughly 90-minute sets. Garrett said music styles will run the gamut from hard rock and blues to indie, pop, country and reggae, and nearly all are songs original to the artist.

Attendees are welcome to bring folding lawn or camp chairs and blankets to the festival to enjoy the music. While there isn’t a children’s area in the traditional sense as in previous Ribfest events, a few participating local organizations are providing family-friendly activities of their own. The Daniel Webster BSA Council’s Mobile Base Camp, for instance, will feature an inflatable archery range, Spikeball, soccer darts and a backyard bass fishing activity. The Rugged Axe, a Manchester-based ax throwing venue, is also expected to bring its mobile trailer.

The 5-mile race that was normally held on Sunday during Ribfest weekend is also returning, and there will be face painting courtesy of Trading Faces and free demonstrations from Bedford Martial Arts Academy. A limited number of VIP tickets, sold on all three event days, grant attendees access inside Anheuser-Busch’s Biergarten with a greater variety of beverage options.

Participating food and beverage vendors
• Armadillo’s BBQ (Illinois, find them on Facebook)
• Austin’s Texas Lightning BBQ (Texas, austintexaslightning.com)
• Butch’s Smack Your Lips BBQ (New Jersey, smackyourlipsbbq.com)
• Canterbury Kettle Corn (Connecticut, find them on Facebook)
• Carla’s Coffee (Nashua, carlascoffeenh.com)
• Cheese Louise (Conway, eatcheeselouise.com)
• Dandido Sauce (Manchester, dandidosauce.com)
• Donali Food Truck (Nashua, donalifoodtruck.com)
• Friends 4 OBA (Exeter, friends4oba.com)
• Holly’s Kona Ice (Pelham, hollyskonaice.com)
• Jeannette’s Concessions (Hudson, find them on Facebook)
• Phily’s Good Eats (Candia, find them on Facebook)
• Saucehound BBQ (Watertown, Mass., saucehoundbbq.com)
• Seacoast Pretzel Co. (Rollinsford, seacoastpretzelcompany.com)
• Sillie Puffs (Manchester, silliepuffs.com)
• Simply Cannoli (Douglas, Mass., simplycannoli.com)
• Sub Zero Nitrogen Ice Cream (Nashua, find them on Facebook)
• Thee Taco Dude (Sterling, Mass., theetacodude.com)
• The Travelling Foodie (Nashua, jrmcateringllc.com)
• Trolley Dogs (Framingham, Mass., find them on Facebook)
• Up In Your Grill (Merrimack, upinyourgrill.com)
• Wild Bill’s Soda (Waterford, N.Y., drinkwildbills.com)

Live music schedule
Friday, July 15
• James McCarthy: 4:30 to 6 p.m.
• Chris Fits Band and Ken Clark: 6:30 to 8 p.m.

Saturday, July 16
• Gadabout: 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.
• Best Not Broken: noon to 1:30 p.m.
• Ben Cote Band: 2 to 3:30 p.m.
• Nick Drouin: 4 to 5:30 p.m.
• The Gravel Project: 6 to 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, July 17
• Supernothing: 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
• Lexi James: 1 to 2:30 p.m.
• Feverslip: 3 to 4:30 p.m.
• Southern Yankee: 5 to 6:30 p.m.

Great American Ribfest & Food Truck Festival
When: Friday, July 15, 4:30 to 8 p.m.; Saturday, July 16, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sunday, July 17, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Where: Anheuser-Busch Brewery, 221 Daniel Webster Hwy., Merrimack
Cost: Online tickets purchased in advance are $12 for adults, $10 for veterans and seniors over 60, and $5 for kids ages 6 to 12. At the gate, tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for veterans and seniors over 60, and $6 for kids ages 6 to 12. Kids ages 5 and under are free. VIP tickets are also available this year, for $27.50 in advance and $35 at the gate (if available) — that grants you access to the air-conditioned Biergarten lounge with an increased beverage variety.
Visit: greatamericanribfest.com
Event is rain or shine. No pets, weapons or outside food or beverages are allowed, except for one sealed bottle of water. Premier parking is available onsite at $20 per day. Parking is also available across the street at Elbit Systems (220 Daniel Webster Hwy.) for $10 per day. There will be no shuttle services this year.

Featured photo: Scenes from the 2019 Great American Ribfest & Food Truck Festival. Photos by Gary Reynolds.

The Weekly Dish 22/07/14

News from the local food scene

• World of wines: Five New Hampshire eateries were named among the more than 3,000 establishments worldwide in Wine Spectator’s annual Restaurant Awards, which honor the world’s best restaurants for wine, according to a press release. A total of 3,169 dining destinations from all 50 U.S. states and more than 70 countries internationally were selected for this year’s list — in New Hampshire, Hanover Street Chophouse in Manchester, Copper Door Restaurant in Bedford, CR’s The Restaurant in Hampton, The Manor on Golden Pond in Holderness, and Granita Enoteca in Keene were all among the honorees. “These awards not only guide our readers to dining establishments with impressive wine lists and outstanding service, but also serve to honor restaurants for their achievements and commitment to maintaining pristine cellars,” Marvin R. Shanken, editor and publisher of Wine Spectator, said in a statement. The publication’s Restaurants Awards issue became available to readers on July 12, the release said.

• Cured cravings: Local chef Keith Sarasin of The Farmers Dinner as well as a new Indian-themed pop-up dinner series called Aatma is about to release his fourth cookbook since 2018. Jerky: The Essential Cookbook is due out July 26, according to Amazon — the book features more than 70 recipes and easy-to-follow instructions for making all kinds of flavors of jerky from various types of animal protein. Sarasin also covers jerky’s origins and history as well as its place in the modern artisanal food movement. The new cookbook comes just over a year after Sarasin’s previous release, Meat: The Ultimate Cookbook, in May 2021 — that book is a whopping 800 pages filled with recipes using all kinds of meats, from beef, pork and poultry to lamb, goat and several species of wild game. Pre-order a copy now at keithsarasin.com.

• Whiskey business: The New Hampshire Liquor Commission will award a prize package of some of the world’s most hard-to-find whiskeys in a raffle to raise money for Best Buddies NH. According to a press release, a total of 2,500 tickets are being sold in the “Buddy Up!” raffle, which is running now through Sept. 15. Tickets are $100 each — the package includes more than $40,000 worth of rare spirits, including a collection of Pappy Van Winkle and E.H. Taylor bourbons, as well as the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection. According to the release, the winner will also receive an all-expenses-paid trip to experience New Hampshire Distiller’s Week, including two tickets to a Buffalo Trace tasting dinner at the Crown Tavern in Manchester on Nov. 1, and two VIP tickets to the Distiller’s Showcase of Premium Spirits on Nov. 3. Visit liquorandwineoutlets.com.

• Nashua company gets national certification: Nashua artisan food company Mola Foods recently received certification from the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council, according to a press release. “I am so excited to now be able to access a vast network of support with new growth opportunities and increased visibility in corporate and government supply chains, education and development programs,” LaFortune Jeannette Djabea, who founded Mola Foods in 2016, said in a statement. According to the release, the WBENC standard of certification is a meticulous process that includes an in-depth review of the business and site inspection. A native of Cameroon, Djabea expanded her brand of globally inspired spice blends and chili relishes in the form of a retail store front, tasting room and commercial kitchen, which opened in Nashua in February 2021. Visit molafoods.com.

On The Job – Robert Wezwick and Margit Eder-Wezwick

Bed and breakfast owners

Robert Wezwick and Margit Eder-Wezwick are the owners of Ash Street Inn, a bed and breakfast in Manchester. Rob also works as the chef, while Margit handles the innkeeping.

Explain your job and what it entails.

As the chef, Robert is responsible for keeping the kitchen stocked for the cooked-to-order breakfasts, which are prepared from scratch. Being a real bed and breakfast, we take the breakfast part as seriously as the bed part. Margit keeps the inn running — everything from cleaning to decorating — and she’s the one greeting guests and making sure everything is in order.

How long have you had this job?

We bought the Ash Street Inn over seven years ago as a running operation. Robert has been cooking professionally for more than 20 years.

What led you to this career field and your current job?

Margit grew up in Germany, where her family owned and operated a Gasthaus — guest house — but decided to go to university instead to study natural sciences. She came to New England to do her post-doctoral research at Boston University and ended up staying. Rob has a technical background and went to culinary school in Dallas, Texas, when the tech bubble burst in the early 2000s and started a second career. We always thought about owning a bed and breakfast and finally found the one meant for us when we saw the Ash Street Inn.

What kind of education or training did you need?

A formal education isn’t needed, but hospitality and customer service experience is certainly a plus. If you’re also serving cooked-to-order breakfast and baked snacks, either a love of cooking or a culinary background is required.

What is your typical at-work uniform or attire?

During breakfast, Rob wears chef attire, and Margit dresses business casual.

How has your job changed over the course of the pandemic?

We were always cleaning our rooms and the inn very thoroughly. This led to an easy transition once Covid hit with more stringent cleaning and disinfecting requirements. During the pandemic, we also participated online in a lot of workshops and seminars to keep up with the latest information and suggestions for how to handle the new travel situation.

What do you wish you’d known at the beginning of your career?

You need to be prepared for anything and be ready to reinvent yourself if needed.

What do you wish other people knew about your job?

It is wonderful to meet all the interesting folks from around the world and to learn their own stories. However, there is more to being an innkeeper than the entertaining part; you have to be a chef, a housekeeper, a handyman, a concierge, a marketing person, a business manager and the occasional shoulder to cry on.

What was the first job you ever had?

Rob’s first job was a paper route, then his family deli in Queens, New York. Margit’s, of course, was being a waitress in the family-owned Gasthaus.

What’s the best piece of work-related advice you’ve ever received?

Run a business the way you would like to see it run. For us, that means setting the inn up the way we like to travel.

Five favorites

Favorite book: Margit loves anything from Michael Crichton. Rob loves The Stand by Stephen King.
Favorite movie: Robert loves Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Margit loves anything Star Trek.
Favorite music: Billy Joel, Bob Dylan and, more locally, Paul Nelson.
Favorite food: Margit won’t ever say no to sushi. Rob loves Southwestern cooking and eating.
Favorite thing about NH: We love the fact that it has so many different things to do and how Manchester is so centrally located.

Featured photo: Robert Wezwick and Margit Eder-Wezwick. Courtesy photo.

Kiddie Pool 22/07/14

Family fun for the weekend

Pics in the park

• The movie being shown on Friday, July 15, for Greeley Park’s (100 Concord St., Nashua) pics in the park is Jurassic Park (PG-13). Explore the world that captivated audiences in 1993 and launched a series of sequels still going strong today. The movie follows paleontologists Alan Grant (Sam Neill) and Ellie Sattler (Laura Dern) and mathematician Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum) as they explore an island that has brought dinosaurs back to life. The movie will start at dusk and is free to attend. Visit nashuanh.gov/546/SummerFun for more information.

Truck time

• The Hollis Social Library is hosting its annual Touch-A-Truck with the local fire, police and public works departments on Tuesday, July 19, at 3 p.m. at the Lawrence Barn Community Center (28 Depot Road, Hollis). There will be a local popcorn vendor, as well as trucks that drive around Hollis to keep the town safe and running. Registration is recommended for the event so that if there is inclement weather, the library can contact attendees. Visit hollislibrary.libcal.com for more information or to register.

Mini camps

• The American Independence Museum (1 Governors Lane, Exeter) is holding three “Reflective Patriot” mini camp sessions on Thursdays, July 14, July 21 and July 28, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Kids ages 6 to 10 will be immersed in 18th-century life, learning how the people who built America lived. Each day of the camp will follow one of the following themes: freedom, compromise, and we the people. Kids will get to look into historical figures, dress up in revolutionary-period clothing, try some colonial crafts, and make their own printing presses. Price for members is $45 per one day, $120 for all three. Price for non-members is $55 per day, $150 for all three. For more information and to register for the camp, visit independencemuseum.org.

• Science never was so fun at The Children’s Museum of New Hampshire (6 Washington St. in Dover; 742-2002, childrens-museum.org) as with their Science Fun mini camp from Tuesday, July 19, to Thursday, July 21. Kids ages 4 and 5 will take part in messy experiments, fun crafts, art projects and more. The half-day program starts with playtime in the museum and includes indoor and outdoor (weather permitting) activities. Cost is $110 for Museum members, $125 for non-members. Online registration and pre-payment are required. Register online at childrens-museum.org.

Museum fun

• The SEE Science Center’s (200 Bedford St. in Manchester; see-sciencecenter.org, 669-0400) Tuesday Storytime Science program is geared toward a broader age group in the summer, according to the website. The storytimes, which include a craft and feature a STEM topic, are geared toward families with children ages 2 to 8, the website said. Storytimes take place Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m.; pre-registration for the storytimes (which cost $3 in addition to the general admission) are recommended, the website said. Go online to register for the storytime and for an admission timeslot (general admission costs $10 per person, free for kids under 3).

• Learn about how bubbles are made at the Science of Bubbles with Sages Entertainment hosted at The Children’s Museum of New Hampshire (6 Washington St. in Dover; 742-2002, childrens-museum.org) on Sunday, July 17, at 11 a.m. Young learners will watch Sages Entertainment, a husband-and-wife performance team, known for their bubble performance that incorporates elements of STEAM and magic. The performance will teach kids all about the science behind bubbles. Cost for the show is included in tickets for entrance to the museum; preregistration is required. Tickets for the museum are $12.50 for adults and children; children younger than 1 are free. For more information and to register for a visit, go to childrens-museum.org.

• The last chance to build your own boat this summer at the New Hampshire Boat Museum (399 Center St., Wolfeboro) is on Sunday, July 17. The program helps families learn how to use regular and power tools to build a real boat that can be taken out onto the lake. Families will get to choose to build a two-person canoe, a one-person kayak, a paddleboard, Bevin’s Skiff, or the Optimist sailboat dinghy. Another session is coming for teens and adults ages 12 and older in August. Scholarships are available for those who meet the requirements. Each boat has a different cost attached, ranging from $895 to $1,630. Registration costs $55 for members and $75 for non-members. For more information or to register, visit nhbm.org/boat-building.

–Katelyn Sahagian

Treasure Hunt 22/07/14

Dear Donna,

I purchased this small cow painting, 3 inches by 2 inches. It’s done on canvas. There is no signature but it does look old. Any information would be appreciated.

Candice in Manchester

Dear Candice,

What a sweet miniature painting. The subject (a cow) is a collectible one.

Miniature paintings are always fun to collect. The older the better, but subject and artist and quality of the work always are in play.

The value of this one, unsigned, would be in the $40+ range, just for size and subject. Sweet little treasure, Candice. I hope this was helpful and you enjoy your purchase.

The battle between the mower and the grower

How the caretakers of lawn and garden can help each other

In most households, one person is the gardener, and another takes care of the lawn. Or perhaps a hired service or teenager does the mowing and string trimming. But it is common that there is conflict between the two parties. There are ways to minimize the problems if both parties are willing to compromise — and perhaps do a little extra work.

The mower generally wants to get the job done quickly. There are other things to do in summer — other lawns to mow, ponds to swim in, or hammocks to doze in. What can the gardener do to help the mower?

tree trunk in the middle of a circle of mulch, separating it from the lawn — Keep mulch from touching the tree. This ring will keep mowers and trimmers away from the trunk. Photo by Henry Homeyer.

First, create a nice mulch ring around trees and shrubs. This will accomplish a couple of things: It will protect the bark of a tree from damage by a string trimmer, and it will hold in moisture and keep down weeds, benefitting the tree. For the mower, it will speed up the process of mowing around the tree and may even obviate the need to use the string trimmer. But never let the mulch touch the tree — it can cause it to rot, eventually killing it.

What else can the gardener do to help the mower? Remove low hanging branches. Apple trees, among others, often have low branches that reach out way beyond the circumference of the mulch ring. And yes, it is nice to be able to pick apples of those low branches, but do you really need them at the 3 or 5-foot level?

Quite frankly, I think trees look better if the lower branches are removed and the bark of the trunk is on display. Many trees have nice-looking trunks with interesting bark. I like to see the “legs” of a shrub or tree.

And what can the mower do to help the gardener? Blow the grass away from the flower or vegetable beds. There are few things more annoying than weeding and mulching a flower bed, only to have a person with a mower blow grass and perhaps dandelion seeds into the bed. And yes, I have seen professionals then blow the grass off the bed, but it is so much easier (and quieter) to just point the mower so that it blows the grass away from the beds.

Then there is the issue of hoses. Mowers generally do not want to be bothered disconnecting hoses that cross the lawn. They say that a mower with blades set at 3 inches should clear the hose, running right over it safely. But sometimes the front wheels of the mower will somehow push the hose up. And then the hose can be damaged.

clover growing in the grass — Clover in the lawn is good for bees and pollinators. Photo by Henry Homeyer.

So what can you do? If you are depending on a hose for regular watering of new trees or perennials, you probably need the hose to cross the lawn so it can be used every day or two. Think about burying the hose. If you are crossing a section of lawn that is heavily traveled, you may wish to dig a 6-inch-deep trench and slide the hose inside a section of plastic pipe.

To avoid having to re-seed the trench, use an edging tool to slice through the grass and lift strips if sod out carefully and set them aside. Dig a shallow trench and after pushing the hose through the pipe and placing it in the ground, cover the pipe with some good top soil. Then take the sod and fit it back where it was before.

The advantage of the pipe system is that you can pull the hose out of the pipe if it develops a leak, or if you want to put it in the barn for the winter. Quite frankly, I don’t think you need to bother with a pipe — or even burying it completely. Just take your edging tool or a straight-bladed shovel and slice into the lawn. Pull the handle back and forth, creating a “V” in the grass. Push the hose into the “V” and step on it. Push hard enough so that the top of the hose is not sticking up into the grass, but is right on the soil line. As the grass grows, you will not see the hose. I have done this, and left hoses in the ground for years with no ill effects.

People who mow, generally, also like to string trim the edges of beds and around trees. A common mistake is to trim the edges too close to the ground, “scalping” the grass near the flower beds. I have no suggestions on how to avoid this, except to politely ask the mower not to trim so darn close. Maybe growl a little.

Then there is the question of how often to mow. People who mow commercially like to have a regular schedule, and as often as possible. But if your spouse or child is the mower, point out to them that you want to let the grass get a little taller before mowing. Explain that the Dutch white clover that only blooms when the lawn is a little long is much loved by the bees and pollinators. Get them to think of the lawn as the lunch buffet for bees.

If you set the mower at 3 or 4 inches, your lawn will thank you. Yes, I know that the infield of Fenway Park is cut at less than an inch, but your half acre of lawn need not be. Grass plants need to feed their roots so they can grow deep into the soil — where the moisture is in dry times. The longer each blade of grass, the more food it can make by the miracle of photosynthesis.

If you keep your lawn longer, it will compete better with crabgrass and weeds. And you will get used to seeing it longer, and like it — or at least I do. You should not think it is a sign of indolence to have a lawn that doesn’t look like a green buzz cut.

Featured photo: Keep hoses off the lawn where you can. Photo by Henry Homeyer.

A rocking fundraising celebration

Two to Lou raises money for collegiate football and music industry hopefuls

By Katelyn Sahagian

ksahagian@hipppopress.com

Live music for a good cause and to remember a good man; that’s the mission of Two to Lou, an all-day music festival in Sandown on Saturday, July 16.

The festival, which honors Louis “Lou” Festo, who died from liver cancer in 2012, is put on every year, rain or shine, by his fiancée, Karen Jortberg, and his former bandmates. Proceeds from the concert are given as scholarships to students from Newburyport High School and Timberlane Regional High School.

Festo was a professional musician, Jortberg said. He played in many cover and original bands across New Hampshire. The last band he played with, Perciphist, even cut an album. When he was diagnosed with cancer, Jortberg said, he continued playing music — his final show in 2012 was a fundraiser to help pay his medical bills.

“He got up and performed,” Jortberg said. “The place was packed because he knows so many people. He was an influence on so many.”

When the bills were paid, Jortberg said that she still had a lot of money left over from the first fundraiser that she didn’t know what to do with. Festo told her to take the money and go to Hawaii. Jortberg said she told him it wasn’t her money to spend.

“I said what should be done is we should make it into a scholarship for Newburyport High School, where he graduated from,” Jortberg said.

The festival has awarded more than $24,000 in scholarships since its creation in 2014, she added. Jortberg would soon expand the scholarship to Timberlane students after the first few years, saying that New Hampshire was just as much a part of Festo’s home as Newburyport was.

Students applying for the scholarship must either be pursuing a college degree in the music industry or planning on playing college-level football. This year, the two recipients from Timberlane will pursue a music degree and the two from Newburyport High will go on to play collegiate football.

The scholarships are usually given out in $1,000 increments to two graduating seniors from both high schools, but Jortberg admitted to giving smaller scholarship awards to applicants who didn’t fully meet the requirements. She said if they took the time to apply even without meeting all the qualifications, she felt that the students deserved something for their effort.

“Every little bit helps,” she said. “We know we’re doing the right thing. We get thank you notes from these kids; they are so appreciative.”

The show will be headlined by Whammer Jammer, a J. Geils Band tribute band from Massachusetts. All of the artists playing will be from northern Massachusetts or New Hampshire.

Recent scholarship recipient Galen Walton is coming back to Two to Lou to play the drums in his band, Whoever’s Around.

Jortberg said that there will be food trucks and beer and wine for sale. ReMax is going to be having tethered hot air balloon rides, and lawn games like cornhole will be set up.

Jortberg said that the festival is more than just a celebration of Festo’s life now. It’s a celebration of local musicians, new musicians, sports, and everything Festo had held dear. She said that encouraging people to play music professionally is one of the best ways to honor Festo’s life.

“Music is a big part of everyone’s life,” Jortberg said. “You always have to have music in the background. It helps along whatever mood you’re in.”

Two to Lou Music Festival
When: Saturday, July 16, noon to 10 p.m., doors open at 11 a.m.
Where: Sandlot Sports and Entertainment, 8 Sandlot Way, Sandown
Tickets: $20 in advance, $25 at the door; $12 for seniors between 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
Visit eventbrite.com/e/two-to-lou-music-festival-tickets-261402500917.
More info: twotolou.com

Local bands playing:
Baby Girl Aden
Diamond Edge
Quills
Souled Out Showband
Stumpy Joe Band
deep
Damaged Goods
The Experiment
The Moonlighters
Hot Pasta
Dave Amato
Casey Clark
Whoever’s Around featuring last year’s scholarship winner, Galen Walton
Preciphist, Louis Festo’s last band
Whammer Jammer
Shot of Poison

Featured photo: Lou Festo’s band, Preciphist. Courtesy of Karen Jortberg.

The Art Roundup 22/07/14

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

• Sondheim at Hatbox: The Hatbox Theatre in Concord hosts Ro Gavin Collaborative Theatre’s production of Into the Woodson Friday, July 15, at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, July 16, at 2 and 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, July 17, at 2 p.m. The classic Steven Soundheim musical features a cast of fairy tale characters whose stories don’t go quite as planned. The theater is in the Steeplegate Mall, 170 Louden Road in Concord. Tickets are $25, $22 for members, seniors and students, and $19 for senior members, and can be purchased online at www.hatboxnh.com or by calling 715-2315, or at the door.

Shakespeare on the green
See two plays by William Shakespeare presented outside on the Founders Green in front of the Dana Center at Saint Anselm College (100 Saint Anselm Drive in Manchester; tickets.anselm.edu). Catch the tale of star-crossed lovers Romeo and Juliet on Thursday, July 21; Saturday, July 23, and Friday, July 29, at 7:30 p.m. And see the tale of romance, trickery and fairyland A Midsummer Night’s Dream on Friday, July 22; Thursday, July 28, and Saturday, July 30, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $25, kids are free, according to the website.

• Art at the winery: LaBelle Winery’s Derry location (14 Route 111 in Derry; labellewinery.com, 672-9898) will feature the works of three New Hampshire Arts Association artists in its first show in its 75-foot space, according to a press release. Laura Cassinari King, John LeCours and Barbara Mata will have pieces on display Friday, July 15, through Oct. 16, the release said. Cassinari King’s show at LaBelle is called “Field – Ocean – Forest” and features oil paintings, as does John LeCours’ show “Harbors at Twilight.” Barbara Mata is described as a mixed media abstract painter and her show is called “Subconscious Visuals,” the release said.

• More theater for the young: “And the young at heart,” according to a press release from the Peterborough Players which will present The Emperor’s New Clothes starting Friday, July 15, at 10:30 a.m. The Player’s Second Company will present this musical on the outdoor Elsewhere Stage at 10:30 a.m. through the middle of August on Saturdays, July 16 through Aug. 13; Fridays, July 15, through Aug. 12, and Wednesdays, July 27, and Aug. 10. Tickets cost $15 for adults and $10 for children, the release said. See peterboroughplayers.org.

• Needle felting: Fiber artist Rachel Montroy hosts a felting demonstration at the Twiggs Gallery (254 King St. in Boscawen) on Saturday, July 16, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Montroy, an adjunct professor at the New Hampshire Technical Institute and faculty member at the Currier Museum Art Center, will show her process and techniques for felting 3D forms and combining wool with other materials. Montroy’s artwork is currently on display at the Twiggs Gallery in the “Wool: A Contemporary Fiber Art” exhibition, among a myriad of other fiber artworks. Admission ito the demonstration is free. For more information, visit twiggsgallery.wordpress.com.

Mixed media exhibition
The Art Center in Dover presents its annual summer exhibition now through Aug. 31 at 1 Washington St., Suite 1177. The exhibition features the work of local artists from across the New England area who work in various media including 3D work and sculpture. The artists’ works contend with various issues, including artificial intelligence and constitutional freedoms. The gallery is open Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., according to the website. For more information, visit www.theartcenterdover.com, call 978-6702 or email theartcenterdover@gmail.com.

• Beach Boys tribute: The Concerts on the Common series presents All Summer Long, a Beach Boys tribute band, on Wednesday, July 20, at 7 p.m. at the Londonderry Town Common (265 Mammoth Road, Londonderry). The band plays all of the Beach Boys’ hits while clad in Hawaiian shirts, as the audience is encouraged to do as well. This event is free and is part of a series of 11 performances put on by Concerts on the Common. In the case of bad weather, the concert will move to the Londonderry High School cafeteria. Visit www.concertsonthecommon.org.

• Audition for Murder: The Community Players of Concord are holding auditions for their production of Murder on the Orient Express on Sunday, Aug. 7, and Monday, Aug. 8, at 6:30 p.m. at the Players Studion (435 Josiah Bartlet Road in Concord). The show itself, a production of the Agatha Christie mystery featuring detective Hercule Poirot, will run Nov. 18 through Nov. 20 at the Concord City Auditorium. Find details about the audition at communityplayersofconcord.org/auditions/ or my emailing Betty Lent at bettylent54@gmail.com.

• Are you the young Ebenezer? The Merrimack Repertory Theatre is holding young actor auditions for A Christmas Carol on Monday, Aug 1, in Lowell, Mass. and Saturday, Aug. 6, in Nashua (at 14 Court St.). The group is looking for students ages 8 to 16 to audition for the two casts of young actors who will share the 28 public performances and four student matinees that run Nov. 30 through Dec. 24 at Liberty Hall (50 E. Merrimack St. in Lowell, Mass.). Tech days are Nov. 26 through Nov. 29 and rehearsals begin Nov. 3, according to a press release. Find the details and register at mrt.org/accauditions.

Poetry open mic
ibson’s Bookstore (45 S. Main St. in Concord) will host a poetry open mic event on Wednesday, July 20, from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Presented by the Poetry Society of New Hampshire, the event will begin with a reading from poet Sam DeFlitch, a National Poetry Series finalist and author of Confluence. Following her reading, the open mic will begin. For more information, visit www.gibsonsbookstore.com or call 224-0562.

– Hannah Turtle

ART

Exhibits

• “WARHOL SCREEN TESTS” In the mid-1960s, American multimedia artist Andy Warhol had shot more than 400 short, silent, black-and-white films of his friends at his studio in New York City. Warhol referred to the films, which were unscripted and played in slow motion, as “film portraits” or “stillies.” The exhibition will feature 20 of those films, provided by the Andy Warhol Museum, in loops across four large-scale projections. The Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St., Manchester). On display now through July 24. 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 children age 12 and under and museum members. Current museum hours are Thursday, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday through Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed Monday through Wednesday. Call 669-6144 or visit currier.org for more information.

• “ARGHAVAN KHOSRAVI” Artist’s surrealist paintings explore themes of exile, freedom and empowerment; center female protagonists; and allude to human rights issues, particularly those affecting women and immigrants. The Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St., Manchester). On display now through Sept. 5. 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 children age 12 and under and museum members. Current museum hours are Thursday, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday through Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed Monday through Wednesday. Call 669-6144 or visit currier.org for more information.

• “THE PEOPLE’S SCULPTOR: THE LIFE AND WORKS OF JOHN ROGERS” Exhibit celebrates the art of American sculptor John Rogers, who came to Manchester in 1850, and explores the influence that Manchester had on Rogers’ life and work. Presented by the Manchester Historic Association. On view now through September. Millyard Museum (200 Bedford St., Manchester). Gallery hours are Tuesday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission costs $8 for adults, $6 for seniors age 62 and up and college students, $4 for youth ages 12 through 18, and is free for kids under age 12. Call 622-7531 or visit manchesterhistoric.org/millyard-museum.

• “WOOL: CONTEMPORARY FIBER ART EXHIBITION Twiggs Gallery (254 King St., Boscawen) through Sept. 2. 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 or call 975-0015.

• ROBIN CORNWELL The New Hampshire Boat Museum will feature local artist Robin Cornwell in the museum’s gallery (399 Center St. in Wolfeboro; nhbm.org) in July. Cornwell produces art quilts as well as bark paper paintings and woven placemats and rugs. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. To learn more about Cornwell, visit robincornwellembellishments.com.

• “PIXELS, WOOD, CLAY” Two Villages Art Society presents an exhibition of work by artists Tony Gilmore, Rick Manganello and Caren Helm. The Bates Building (846 Main St., Contoocook). Aug. 12 through Sept. 9. Gallery hours are Thursday through Sunday, from noon to 4 p.m. There will be an opening reception on Sat., Aug. 13, from noon to 2 p.m. Visit twovillagesart.org or call 413-210-4372.

• ART ON MAIN The City of Concord and the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce present a year-round outdoor public art exhibition in Concord’s downtown featuring works by professional sculptors. All sculptures will be for sale. Visit concordnhchamber.com/creativeconcord, call 224-2508 or email tsink@concordnhchamber.com for more information.

• SUMMER MEMBERS SHOW Two Villages Art Society presents a mixed media art show at the Bates Building (846 Main St., Contoocook) from July 1 through July 30.Visit twovillagesart.org or call 413-210-4372.

Fairs and markets

• CRAFT FAIR AT THE BAY More than 75 juried artisans from all over New England will feature their work. Sat., July 16, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sun., July 17, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Community House and Waterfront (24 Mount Major Highway, Alton Bay). Visit castleberryfairs.com.

• CONCORD ARTS MARKET The juried outdoor artisan and fine art market runs one Saturday a month, June through October, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Market dates are July 30, Aug. 20, Sept. 17 and Oct. 15. Rollins Park, 33 Bow St., Concord. concordartsmarket.net. The first market will be held on Saturday, June 11. Visit concordartsmarket.net/summer-arts-market.html for more information.

• CRAFTSMEN’S FAIR The annual nine-day outdoor craft fair hosted by the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen features hundreds of craftspeople with vendor booths, plus special craft exhibitions, demonstrations, hands-on workshops and more. Sat., Aug. 6, through Sun., Aug. 14. Mount Sunapee Resort, 1398 Route 103, Newbury. Call 224-3375 or visit nhcrafts.org for more information.

• GREELEY PARK ART SHOW The annual outdoor juried art show hosted by Nashua Area Artists Association features a variety of artwork for sale. Greeley Park, 100 Concord St., Nashua. Sat., Aug. 20, and Sun., Aug. 21, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visit nashuaarts.org/greeleyparkartshow.

Tours

• NASHUA PUBLIC ART AUDIO TOUR Self-guided audio tours of the sculptures and murals in downtown Nashua, offered via the Distrx app, which uses Bluetooth iBeacon technology to automatically display photos and text and provides audio descriptions at each stop on the tour as tourists approach the works of art. Each tour has 10 to 15 stops. Free and accessible on Android and iOS on demand. Available in English and Spanish. Visit downtownnashua.org/nashua-art-tour for more information.

Workshops and classes

• ART CLASSES Art classes for teens and adults, including Pottery, Stained Glass, Intermediate Watercolor and Clay Hand Building. Studio 550 Art Center (550 Elm St., Manchester). Five-week sessions. Classes met for two hours a week. Call 232-5597 or visit 550arts.com for the full schedule and cost details.

• DRAWING & PAINTING CLASSES Art House Studios, 66 Hanover St., Suite 202, Manchester. Classes include Drawing Fundamentals, Painting in Acrylic, Drawing: Observation to Abstraction, Exploring Mixed Media, and Figure Drawing. Class sizes are limited to six students. Visit arthousestudios.org or email arthousejb@gmail.comfor more information.

• GENERAL ART CLASSES Weekly art classes offered for both kids and adults of all skill levels and cover a variety of two-dimensional media, including drawing and painting with pastel, acrylic, watercolor and oils. Classes are held with small groups of three to eight to five students. Diane Crespo Fine Art Gallery (32 Hanover St., Manchester). Kids classes, open to ages 10 and up, are held on Thursdays and Fridays, from 4:15 to 5:45 p.m. Adult classes are held on Thursdays, from 6:30 to 8:15 p.m., and Saturdays from 10:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Tuition is pay-as-you-go at $20 per student per class, due upon arrival. Call 493-1677 or visit dianecrespofineart.com for availability.

THEATRE

Classes/workshops

• STORYTELLING WORKSHOPS Monthly workshop series hosted by True Tales Live storytelling showcase. First Tuesday (except November), from 7 to 8:30 p.m., virtual, via Zoom. Registration is required. Visit truetaleslivenh.org for more information.

Shows

• WIZARD OF OZ presented by the 2022 Bank of New Hampshire Children’s Summer Seriesat the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester; palacetheatre.org, 668-5588) Thursday, July 14, at 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m., and Friday, July 15, at 10 a.m. Tickets cost $10.

• BIG — THE MUSICAL presented by the Majestic Theatres Friday, July 15, and Saturday, July 16, at 7 p.m. and Sunday, July 17, at 2 p.m. at the Derry Opera House (29 West Broadway in Derry). Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for seniors 65 and up and $15 for youth 17 and younger. Tickets can be purchased by calling the box office at 669-7469 or visiting majestictheatre.net, or at the door.

• INTO THE WOODS RGC Theatre presents this musical at Hatbox Theatre (inside the Steeplegate Mall, 270 Loudon Road, Concord; hatboxnh.com, 715-2315) through July 17, with showtimes on Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $25 for adults, $22 for students, seniors and members and $19 for senior members.

• ANYTHING GOES The Seacoast Repertory Theatre (125 Bow St., Portsmouth; seacoastrep.org, 433-4472) presents the musical through July 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 p.m. Tickets cost $32 to $52.

• FOOTLOOSE Prescott Park Arts Festival (105 Marcy St., Portsmouth; prescottpark.org , 436-2848) presents this outdoor musical through Aug. 14, with showtimes on most Thursdays and Sundays at 7 p.m., and most Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., with some matinee showtimes TBA. General admission costs $5, and reserved seating tickets cost $55 to $150.

• RAPUNZEL presented by the 2022 Bank of New Hampshire Children’s Summer Seriesat the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester; palacetheatre.org, 668-5588) Tuesday, July 19, through Thursday, July 21, at 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m., and Friday, July 22, at 10 a.m. Tickets cost $10.

• GUTENBERG! THE MUSICAL produced by the Community Players of Concord at the Hatbox Theatre (inside the Steeplegate Mall, 270 Loudon Road, Concord; hatboxnh.com, 715-2315) Friday, July 22, and Saturday, July 23, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, July 24, at 2 p.m. TIckets cost $22 for adults, $19 for seniors and students.

• PETER PAN presented by the 2022 Bank of New Hampshire Children’s Summer Seriesat the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester; palacetheatre.org, 668-5588) Tuesday, July 26, through Thursday, July 28, at 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m., and Friday, July 29, at 10 a.m. Tickets cost $10.

• CINDERELLA presented by the 2022 Bank of New Hampshire Children’s Summer Seriesat the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester; palacetheatre.org, 668-5588) Tuesday, Aug. 2, through Thursday, Aug. 4, at 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m., and Friday, Aug. 5, at 10 a.m. Tickets cost $10.

• BEAUTY & THE BEAST presented by the 2022 Bank of New Hampshire Children’s Summer Seriesat the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester; palacetheatre.org, 668-5588) Tuesday, Aug. 9, through Thursday, Aug. 11, at 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m., and Friday, Aug. 12, at 10 a.m. Tickets cost $10.

• SNOW WHITE & THE SEVEN DWARFS presented by the 2022 Bank of New Hampshire Children’s Summer Seriesat the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester; palacetheatre.org, 668-5588) Tuesday, Aug. 16, through Thursday, Aug. 18, at 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m., and Friday, Aug. 19, at 10 a.m. Tickets cost $10.

•THE GREAT ATLANTIC AND PACIFIC SHAKESPEARE COMPANY presented by Granite Playwrights at the Hatbox Theatre (inside the Steeplegate Mall, 270 Loudon Road, Concord; hatboxnh.com, 715-2315) from Aug. 19 through Aug. 28, 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.

• DISNEY’S FROZEN KIDS presented by the 2022 Bank of New Hampshire Children’s Summer Seriesat the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester; palacetheatre.org, 668-5588) Tuesday, Aug. 23, through Thursday, Aug. 25, at 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m., and Friday, Aug. 26, at 10 a.m. Tickets cost $10.

• LES MISERABLES presented by the Seacoast Repertory Theatre (125 Bow St., Portsmouth; seacoastrep.org, 433-4472) teen company from Aug. 25 through Sept. 4, 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 p.m. Tickets cost $25 for students and $30 for adults.

• CRUEL INTENTIONS: THE ’90s MUSICAL presented by the Actorsingers at the Court Street Theatre (14 Court St., Nashua; actorsingers.org) Friday, Aug. 26, through Sunday, Aug. 28.

• SHREK THE MUSICAL presented by the Riverbend Youth Company at the Amato Center for the Performing Arts (56 Mont Vernon St., Milford; svbgc.org/amato-center) from Friday, Aug. 26, through Sunday, Aug. 28.

• TITANIC THE MUSICAL Presented by the Manchester Community Theatre Players. Manchester Community Theatre Players Theatre, located at the North End Montessori School (698 Beech St., Manchester; manchestercommunitytheatre.com, 327-6777). Showtimes on Fri., Oct. 14 and Oct. 21, and Sat., Oct. 15 and Oct. 22.

• TRUE TALES LIVE Portsmouth-based storytelling showcase. Monthly, last Tuesday (no shows in July and August), from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Shows will be held in person (Portsmouth Public Media TV Studio, 280 Marcy St., Portsmouth) starting in April, and returning to the Zoom format for the winter, starting in November. Each month’s showcase is centered around a different theme. The series is free and open to all who want to watch or participate as a storyteller. Pre-registration for attendees is required for Zoom shows but not required for in-person shows. Visit truetaleslivenh.org and email info@truetaleslive.org if you’re interested in being a storyteller.

• THROUGH THE FIRE The Village Players present Oscar-winner Estelle Parsons’ and Victor Almanzar’s newest production, Through The Fire, on Friday, July 8, at 7:30 p.m. at the Village Players Theater in Wolfeboro. The show follows Almanzar’s own life, including his immigration from the Dominican Republic to New York City, and his time serving in the U.S. Marine Corps in Kosovo and Iraq. Tickets $25 each, on sale at www.village-players.com and at the door.

CLASSICAL

Events

• SERGEI NOVIKOV PIANO RECITAL The NH Philharmonic’s Summer Concert Series will host accomplished pianist Sergei Novikov for two concerts this month, first on Friday July 15 at 7pm at the Kingswood Art Center, 21 McManus Rd, in Wolfeboro, then on Friday July 22 at 7pm at the Seifert Performing Art Center, 44 Geremonty Drive, in Salem. Part of ticket sales will go to the International Rescue Committee (IRC) to help assist Ukraine. Tickets are available online at speakingmusic.com or by calling (800) 595-4849.

• TOWN HOUSE EXTRAVAGANZA presented by Monadnock Music’s summer festival features a program of Weber and Schubert at Peterborough Town House, 1 Grove St, on Sunday, July 17, 3 p.m. Tickets: $35, Seniors- $25 Students and Under 18- $10. See monadnockmusic.org.

• PROGRESSIVE GARDEN PARTY Monadnock Music’s summer festival presents a botanical tour of Jaffrey set to classical music, performed live by soloists in 3 separate gardens, and featuring unique food and drink at each location, Saturday, July 23, noon to 5 p.m., location TBA. Tickets cost $100. Visit monadnockmusic.org.

• FAMILY CONCERTS Monadnock Music Summer Festival hosts three family concerts on July 27, titled “Moonstrike: Tellings of American Indian Legends.” The program features a string quartet with a narrator. The first is at noon at George Holmes Bixby Memorial Library, Francestown Old Meeting House, the second at 2 p.m. at Peterborough Library, 1833 Room, Peterborough, and the third at 4 p.m. at Olivia Rodham Memorial Library, Nelson Town Hall. Performances are free and open to the public. For more info, visit monadnockmusic.org.

• WYNTON MARSALIS @ JIMMY’S JAZZ AND BLUES CLUB presented by Jimmy’s, 135 Congress St. Portsmouth, on Saturday, July 9, 7 p.m., 9:30 p.m. Jazz legend Wynton Marsalis, nine-time Grammy winner and 32-time Grammy nominee, performs with the Wynton Marsalis Septet. Tickets $125 to $195. For more info, visit jimmysoncongress.com.

Open calls

• THE RHYTHM OF NEW HAMPSHIRE SHOW CHORUS Women’s a cappella chorus is looking for female singers in the region to join. The group, an affiliate of the North American singing organization Harmony, Inc., performs a wide variety of music, including Broadway musical songs, patriotic songs, pop, jazz and seasonal pieces, for community and veterans’ events and private functions. Rehearsals are held weekly on Thursdays from 6:45 to 8:30 p.m. at the Marion Gerrish Community Center, 39 W. Broadway, Derry. Masks are required for singing, but both vaccinated and unvaccinated singers are welcome. Visit rnhchorus.org or email info@rnhchorus.org for more information.

Art party for all

Currier Museum’s summer event returns

By Hannah Turtle

hturtle@hippopress.com

For the first time since the pandemic began, the Currier Museum will host its Summer Block Party on Saturday, July 16. From 4 to 9 p.m. the museum will host a slew of free entertainment for the public, including live music, food trucks, a beer and wine tent and art activities. The museum will also open its doors to allow visitors to view the exhibitions for free.

Organizers of the event, which is historically the biggest of the year for the Currier, hope to bring in fresh faces this time around.

“It’s our big no-barriers event that welcomes the community into our doors,” said Corrine Benfield, the Director of Community Partnerships for the museum. Performers will include The Jessye DeSilva Band, Emperor T-Jiga and the Akwaaba Ensemble, and Ruby Shabazz featuring Ken Clark and Fee the Evolutionist, all hosted by Laura Boyce from iHeartRadio’s Rock 101 station.

In addition to the food and music, the art activities are a big draw. The previously popular face painting station takes on a new identity this year as local tattoo artists join to perform (temporary) tattoo-inspired face painting. In addition, there will be hands-on art activities inspired by the current exhibition at the museum, works by Arghavan Khosravi.

Khosravi’s work combines many influences, including Persian miniatures, Iranian printed textiles, ancient Western sculpture and contemporary fashion. Her paintings often appear on three-dimensional canvases and center around ideas of freedom, exile and empowerment. During the block party event, the exhibit will be free to the public to see.

Other exhibits available to view for free inside the museum include Alexandria Smith’s “Memoirs of a Ghost Girlhood: A Black Girl’s Window,”and a last chance to see “Andy Warhol’s Screen Tests” before the exhibit ends on July 24.

“Memoirs”invites museum-goers to participate in the exhibit themselves, asking them to submit a voicemail responding to the prompt, “Where do you see reflections of your wholeness here?”

The block party also invites visitors to participate in another major art activity: the making of a mural. Artist Colby Goon, formerly of Manchester, returns to the city to create a mural with the help of block party attendees.

“Everyone is invited to take part,” Benfield said.

The mural will combine the ideas and drawings from everyone, and will be completed by Goon, whose murals appear in Manchester, Boston and California, where he currently resides.

“It’ll have a lot of different voices and mirror the community we have at the event,” Benfield said.

The event is part of a commitment by the museum to provide “family-friendly programming” to engage the community.

The Currier offers a myriad of additional art and educational programs through the rest of the summer, including drawing classes, jewelry making classes for teens, and online educational programming. Additionally, the museum offers free admission and tours on Thursdays from 5 to 8 p.m. as a part of their Art After Work program.

Currier Museum Summer Block Party
Where: The Currier Museum of Art, 150 Ash St., Manchester
When: Saturday, July 16, 4 to 9 p.m.
Tickets: Free
More info: www.currier.org

Featured photo: Photos courtesy of the Currier Museum of Art.

Getting the most from our state parks

Explore camping, hiking and puzzle-solving at New Hampshire’s outdoor gems

New Hampshire has 93 state parks offering recreation for outdoor-lovers (or just the outdoor curious) of all interests. And not all the action is up north — there are several parks in and close to the southern part of the state providing you a place to camp, hike and have other adventures out in the fresh air. Looking for something new to do this summer? Here are some ideas to help you get the most out of our state parks.

Camp it up

Get away at a local state park

By Matt Ingersoll

mingersoll@hippopress.com

You don’t need to go far to find a campsite within New Hampshire’s state park system — there are 23 campgrounds statewide with a total of 1,419 campsites, offering a wide variety of opportunities from tents and cabins to some RV sites with water, sewer and electric hookups.

New Hampshire has experienced a steadily large increase in outdoor recreational activity across the board, including camping in state parks and private campgrounds. According to Shawn Hamilton, deputy supervisor of state park operations, the 2021 calendar year saw a record-breaking number of campers — more than 135,000 — within the state park system. Two years earlier, in 2019, a total of 118,000 campers utilized the parks, also a record at the time.

“We have campers who have been coming to the state parks every summer for 50 to 60 years, and that’s not an exaggeration,” Hamilton said. “It’s almost like a badge of honor for them, something that they take pride in. … It’s such a nostalgic experience for people to go back every summer and experience what they have with their parents, and now they share it with their kids.”

Campgrounds within the New Hampshire state park system are operationally self-funded, and there are all kinds of ongoing projects to improve their quality and accessibility. Bear Brook State Park in Allenstown, for instance, has 110 sites with recently renovated cabins, Hamilton said. Five dishwashing stations were also recently installed at Greenfield State Park’s campsites.

A majority of the state park campgrounds offer traditional tent camping or cabins, but there are three — Hampton Beach State Park, Franconia Notch State Park and Ellacoya State Park in Gilford — that have full-service RV parks with hookup sites.

“We just recently upgraded the amperage at Hampton Beach State Park to better accommodate some of the newer RVs that are coming on to the market,” Hamilton said. “We’re planning to do the same at Ellacoya in the near future.”

Other sites, like Pawtuckaway State Park in Nottingham, offer multiple activities to campers.

“You can go to the beach one day, rent some boats and go out on the water … but then at the same time, the next day you can go out on the hiking trails,” Hamilton said, “so I think that type of versatility in terms of what we offer is really what people respond to. … At most of the parks we offer playgrounds as well. We make a concerted effort to add and upgrade the playgrounds so that the kids are fully occupied and having fun for the whole day.”

While July and August are two busiest months of the year for camping in the state parks system, Hamilton said the season runs from April through October. Campsite reservations can be made on the state park’s website up to 11 months in advance of your arrival date.

“Some of the campgrounds offer a couple hundred sites just in and of themselves … so there’s a lot of opportunity within each park as well,” Hamilton said.

Where to camp at some of New Hampshire’s state parks

Here’s a list of southern- and central-area campgrounds and RV parks within New Hampshire’s state parks system. Campsite reservations can be made online 24 hours a day and up to 11 months in advance. Visit nhstateparks.org or call 1-877-nhparks (647-2757) to reserve your spot. Rates cover two adults and up to four children on the site (maximum number of adults per site is four, with a maximum of six people total). A fee of $6.50 applies for all reservations, with $10 per night for each additional adult and $5 per night for each additional child.

Bear Brook State Park
61 Deerfield Road, Allenstown, 485-9869
Cost: Ranges from $25 to $55 per night, depending on the site (no hookups)
At more than 10,000 acres, this is the largest developed state park in New Hampshire. Campers have two options within the park — Beaver Pond Campground (600 Lower Road, Deerfield), as well as the cabins at Bear Hill Pond (15 Bear Hill Pond Road, Deerfield), featuring two sizes occupying up to four or six people. The cabins are furnished but do not have electricity. There is also an Adirondack-style lean-to shelter overlooking Smith Pond. Renters have access to two wide wooden bunks, a stone cook place and two outhouses inside.

Ellacoya RV State Park
266 Scenic Road, Gilford, 293-7821
Cost: $47 per rig per night (includes water, electric and sewer hookups)
Located on the southwest shore of Lake Winnipesaukee, Ellacoya State Park features an RV campground with 37 available sites by reservation only. Each offers three-way hookups. All of the sites are open daily to reserve now through Columbus Day weekend (no tents or pets are allowed inside the RV park).

Greenfield State Park
52 Campground Road, Greenfield, 547-3497
Cost: $25 per night (no hookups)
This 400-acre park features 256 campsites that are available by reservation only, including family group campsites with two Adirondack-style shelters. RVs are welcome in sites where they fit, but no hookups are available. Leashed pets are permitted in the campground but are prohibited in the park’s day-use and beach areas.

Hampton Beach RV State Park
160 Ocean Blvd., Hampton, 926-8990
Cost: $50 per rig per night (includes water, electric and sewer hookups)
According to the New Hampshire state parks website, this is the only RV park directly on the coast, at the mouth of the Hampton River. The park is located south of the main part of Hampton Beach on Route 1A, at the Seabrook town line. There are 28 sites that are open for reservations now through Columbus Day weekend. Camping units must be able to hook up all three services (water, electric and sewer) and be self-contained — no pop-ups or tents are allowed.

Monadnock State Park
169 Poole Road, Jaffrey, 532-8862
Cost: $25 per night (no hookups)
Gilson Pond Campground became the first new camping area in the New Hampshire state parks system in more than 40 years when it opened in July 2010. Located just down the road from the headquarters area of Monadnock State Park, Gilson Pond Campground has 35 sites that can accommodate tents and pop-ups, as well as five remote hike-to sites. There are several trails leaving the area that lead to the summit of Mount Monadnock.

Mount Sunapee State Park
86 Beach Access Road, Newbury, 763-5561
Cost: Ranges from $23 to $29 per night, depending on the site (no hookups)
Mount Sunapee State Park has a campground with 11 sites that offer either lean-tos or tent platforms. The sites are wooded and are for tent camping. One campsite is non-reservable and available for walk-in campers.

Pawtuckaway State Park
7 Pawtuckaway Road, Nottingham, 895-3031
Cost: Ranges from $25 to $30 per night, depending on the site (no hookups); cabin reservations are $65 per night or $360 per week
This state park’s campground includes nearly 200 wooded sites, providing many views of Pawtuckaway Lake. Each campsite has an open fire ring, a picnic table, flat areas for a tent, and a parking space. There are no hookups at any of the sites, but the bathhouses are equipped with running water, flush toilets and 24-hour-access coin-operated showers. There’s also a camp store where canoe and kayak rentals are available, as well as a public canoe and kayak launch. Pets are not allowed in the campground or beach area of the park.

Pillsbury State Park
100 Pillsbury State Park Road, Washington, 863-2860
Cost: $23 per night (no hookups)
Pillsbury State Park’s campground is open for reservable stays now through Columbus Day weekend. Amenities include handicap-accessible pit toilets, a playground, a kayak and canoe rentals, firewood and a boat launch for non-motorized boats. Eleven of the 41 campsites are remote and accessible by foot or canoe only.

Parks and treks

Hike the day away in a local state park

By Katelyn Sahagian

ksahagian@hippopress.com

New Hampshire is home to a variety of state parks with trails carving through them, showing off the state’s beauty to new and experienced hikers alike.

“Science has proven that a lot of the healthy chemicals in our bodies rise when we are in green space, so just being [in nature] is really important for people,” said Jake King, a co-founder of Thrive Outdoors, a team-building and leadership organization based in Manchester.

State parks are popular places to take a hike, and many are home to everything from beginners’ nature walks to advanced mountain passes. King said that it’s important to differentiate the two.

group of young people posing on rocks at top of mountain after hike — Pleasant Mountain hike with Gear Up. Photo courtesy of Thrive Outdoors.

It’s important for people who are new to getting into nature and walking to do something on the easier side, like going up to New Hampshire Audubon’s McLane Center in Concord.

“There are nature walks, and they shouldn’t be considered hikes,” King said. “People who are going to start hiking are going into more remote areas and [taking] on more of a challenge.”

Hiking has always been a popular pastime in the Granite State, said Kimball Rexford, the creator of TrailsNH.com. But during the height of the pandemic, he said, it has exploded in popularity.

“Since Covid, like everything, all popular hikes are more than double than what they used to be, maybe even triple,” Rexford said. “It’s starting to come down and people are less nervous being around others, but during Covid, hiking was through the roof.”

Across the board, the most recommended trail on both the Hike NH and Girls Hike NH Facebook groups was Pawtuckaway State Park’s South Loop. Many group members suggested that people take the hike up to the fire tower for a beautiful view.

Rexford suggested a more challenging trail within Pawtuckaway State Park.

“I usually do the North Loop,” he said. “It has a long bony ridge, meaning it’s rocky. It’s a lot of bang for your buck.”

King’s favorite trail, the Cardigan Loop, is for hikers who feel comfortable with the activity, but the trail isn’t extremely challenging by any means.

“It’s got beautiful views and it’s not super remote,” he said. “People walk their dogs and run on the trail. It’s not [as] if you were to go up the [White Mountains] where you won’t see someone for days.”

While Rexford’s website is a good place to find what’s currently popular and trending for hiking, people who are members of hiking Facebook groups, like Hike NH, will help and offer suggestions for their favorite paths.

“Pawtuckaway is unbeatable for what it is,” commented Randall Schanck, a member of Hike NH, in response to the Hippo asking for state park hiking recommendations. “[It is] big enough to explore for a long day and [there is] so much to see if you know where to look. It might as well be Jurassic Park.”

Terra Anna Merry, a member of Girls Hike NH, also said that she enjoys hiking in Pawtuckaway, but added that there were beautiful hikes in Northwood Meadows State Park in Northwood, Odiorne Point State Park in Rye, and Bear Brook State Park in Allenstown.

Rexford said that the Granite State has a seemingly endless number of trails, peaks and loops for avid hikers to explore.

“There’s a lot of everything,” he said. “You could spend a lifetime hiking in New Hampshire and not do it all.”

Where to go hiking in New Hampshire’s state parks

The Hippo reached out to the local Facebook groups Hike NH and Girls Hike NH for suggestions from members on the best trails to hike within New Hampshire’s state parks. Here’s a list of what we received for responses. Visit nhstateparks.org for more details on each trail.

Bear Brook State Park
157 Deerfield Road, Allenstown, 485-9869
Trail: Catamount Loop
Difficulty: Strenuous

Cardigan Mountain State Forest
658 Cardigan Mountain Road, Orange, 227-8745
Trail: Mount Cardigan Loop
Difficulty: Moderate

Miller State Park
13 Miller Park Road, Peterborough, 924-3672
Trail: Wapack Trail
Difficulty: Moderately strenuous

Monadnock State Park
169 Poole Road, Jaffrey, 532-8862
Trail: Wantastiquet-Monadnock trail
Difficulty: Moderately strenuous

Northwood Meadows State Park
755 First New Hampshire Turnpike, Northwood
Trail: NALMC Trail
Difficulty: Moderate

Odiorne Point State Park
570 Ocean Blvd., Rye, 436-7406
Trail: Odiorne Point Trail
Difficulty: Easy

Pawtuckaway State Park
7 Pawtuckaway Road, Nottingham, 895-3031
Trail: South Mountain Tower Trail
Difficulty: Moderate

Rhododendron State Park
424 Rockwood Pond Road, Fitzwilliam, 532-8862
Trail: Wildflower Trail
Difficulty: Easy

Wellington State Park
614 W. Shore Road, Bristol, 744-2197
Trail: Peninsula Nature Trail
Difficulty: Easy

Winslow State Park
475 Kearsarge Mountain Road, Wilmot, 526-6168
Trail: Rollins Trail
Difficulty: Moderate

Hiking difficulties source: National Park Service, nps.gov

Essential hiking gear
Visit hikesafe.com for more details.
• Pocket knife
• Rain jacket and pants
• Fire starter
• First aid kit
• Whistle
• Headlamp or flashlight
• Water and food
• Warm clothing
• Compass
• Map

The non-hiker’s guide

State park fun for the hiking-averse

By Hannah Turtle

hturtle@hippopress.com

Maybe hiking isn’t your thing. Maybe you don’t look forward to a trudge among the flora and fauna amid the summer heat. Luckily, this does not exempt you from enjoying the many state parks in southern New Hampshire.

Outside of hiking, there are a plethora of activities available for park-goers, including educational and beautiful historic sites, boating activities and the exciting hunt for geocaches.

Historic sites

For those interested in learning some local history, or for museum-frequenters who want to get outside this summer, here are some great options:

Fort Constitution Historic Site
25 Wentworth Road, New Castle, 271-3556
Located on a peninsula on the northeast corner of New Castle island, the ruins of Fort Constitution provide a great picnic spot for those interested in American history. First used during the War of 1812, the Fort also served as a training site during the Civil War, and was updated in 1897 to be used during the Spanish-American War, as well as World Wars I and II. Returned to the state in 1961, it now sits as a historic landmark with gorgeous views of the water. Source: nhstateparks.org

Fort Stark State Historic Site
211 Wildrose Lane, New Castle, 271-3556
Historically known as Jerry’s Point, Fort Stark sits on the southeastern peninsula of New Castle Island. Built following the Spanish-American War, the fort helps preserve the history of the island as an important military operation used during World War II. Of note is the Ordnance Machine Shop Museum, which displays military artifacts as well as a detailed history of the fort. Source: nhstateparks.org

Robert Frost Farm Historic Site
122 Rockingham Road, Derry, 432-3091
See the farmhouse of the late renowned poet Robert Frost, where he lived with his family from 1900 to 1911. In addition to being the setting for some of Frost’s most acclaimed poems, the site offers a variety of activities for visitors, including poetry readings and a self-guided tour of the property. Source: nhstateparks.org

Wentworth-Coolidge Mansion
375 Little Harbor Road, Portsmouth, 436-2233
Home to New Hampshire’s first royal governor, Benning Wentworth, the Wentworth-Coolidge mansion is a feat of 18th-century architecture. With tours of the sprawling mansion available every day this summer (which include a spy closet), and a gorgeous waterside walking path, the site is a must-see for fans of local history. Additionally, the grounds are covered in purple lilacs, descendents of the first European stock imported by Wentworth. Source: nhstateparks.org

White Island Historic Site
Rye, 271-3556
Visit New Hampshire’s only off-shore lighthouse on White Island for a whole day’s worth of historic sights. Originally built in 1820 and rebuilt in 1859, the lighthouse has seen many influential visitors and residents. Acclaimed poet Celia Thaxter was the daughter of the lighthouse’s keeper and wrote many of her works about that period. White Island itself is nestled in the Isles of Shoals, originally known as the Smith Islands (named after Jamestown settler Capt. John Smith). Source: lighthousefriends.com

Geocaching

Originating in 2000 in Oregon, geocaching has had a recent resurgence in popularity amid Covid. By downloading the free “Geocaching” app available for any smartphone, users can hunt for hundreds of hidden treasures called “caches” all over various area parks. The app gives mysterious clues as to the exact location of each cache, and turns any regular hike into an interactive scavenger hunt. It’s perfect for families with curious children, and for anyone who enjoys solving a mystery. When a cache is found, simply sign your name in the log book and leave it for the next person to find.

There are geocache locations hidden in every local state park, and the larger walking trails provide opportunities for finding upwards of 10 caches. For a geocaching challenge that doesn’t require the app download, we’ve hid our own geocache in one of New Hampshire’s state parks — test your mettle and see if you can solve the riddle and find our cache:

Whose cache this is I think I know
His box is rather hidden, though
He will not see me crossing here
Beneath my feet the water flows.

My little phone seems sure it’s near
I’ll wait until the coast is clear
The gurgle of my much-loved brook
Is all that I do long to hear.

I’ll give my weary legs a break
For coming here was no mistake
The only other sound’s the croak
Of that which is my spot’s namesake

These woods are lovely dark and deep
But I have promises to keep
And caches to find before I sleep
And caches to find before I sleep

Canoeing and kayaking

According to nhstateparks.org, canoe and kayak rentals at applicable state parks are $15 per hour, $30 for four hours, $50 for a full day, or $150 for a full week. Oars and life vests are provided. Boaters must have a driver’s license to rent within the state parks system.

Bear Brook State Park
61 Deerfield Road, Allenstown, 485-9874
Admission cost: $4 ($2 for kids ages 6 to 11)

Clough State Park
455 Clough Park Road, Weare, 529-7112
Admission cost: $4 ($2 for kids ages 6 to 11)

Ellacoya State Park
266 Scenic Road, Gilford, 293-7821
Admission cost: $5 ($2 for kids ages 6 to 11); no rentals available but visitors can bring their own boats

Greenfield State Park
52 Campground Road, Greenfield, 547-3497
Admission cost: $4 ($2 for kids ages 6 to 11)

Livermore Falls Recreational Area
86 Livermore Road, Holderness, 238-9284
Admission cost: $5 per car; no rentals available but visitors can bring their own boats

Odiorne Point State Park
570 Ocean Blvd., Rye, 436-7406
Admission cost: $4 ($2 for kids ages 6 to 11); no rentals available but visitors can bring their own boats

Pawtuckaway State Park
7 Pawtuckaway Road, Nottingham, 895-3031
Admission cost: $5 ($2 for kids ages 6 to 11)

Pillsbury State Park
100 Pillsbury State Park Road, Washington, 863-2860
Admission cost: $4 ($2 for kids ages 6 to 11)

Silver Lake State Park
138 Silver Lake Road, Hollis, 465-2342
Admission cost: $4 ($2 for kids ages 6 to 11); kayak rentals available only

Wentworth State Park
297 Governor Wentworth Hwy., Wolfeboro, 569-3699
Admission cost: $4 ($2 for kids ages 6 to 11); no rentals available but visitors can bring their own boats

Featured photo: Camping at Pawtuckaway State Park in Allenstown in Nottingham. Photo courtesy of New Hampshire State Parks.

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