Happenings for ghosts and ghouls of all ages
Compiled by Renee Merchant
[email protected]
Check out these Halloween events that anyone can enjoy, no matter their age.
The Allenstown Economic Development (EDC) Committee presents a Halloween lighting contest. From Wednesday, Oct. 18 through Friday, Oct. 27, the Allenstown EDC, Fire Department and Police Department will choose the winners. On Saturday, Oct. 28 at 4 p.m., there will be a Halloween lighting awards ceremony at Town Hall (16 School St.) where the winners will be announced. See allenstownnh.gov.
The Rochester Opera House (31 Wakefield St.) presents the musical comedy The Addams Family now through Sunday, Nov. 5, with showtimes on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays at 2 p.m. and Sundays at 5 p.m. Tickets range from $18 to $30. Visit rochesteroperahouse.com to purchase tickets.
J&F Farms (124 Chester Road in Derry; jandffarmsnh.com) has a Halloween-themed corn maze through October. The farm is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., according to the farm’s website; on Saturdays and Sundays, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. the farm will also feature a food truck and cider doughnuts, according to the farm’s Facebook page. The cost is $10 per person.
Concord Parks and Recreation will show 1993’s A Nightmare Before Christmas (PG) on Friday, Oct. 20, at 6 p.m. in Keach Park (2 Newton Ave. in Concord). See concordnh.gov.
Hocus Pocus (PG, 1993) The original Hocus Pocus will screen at all three area Chunky’s Cinema Pubs (707 Huse Road, Manchester; 151 Coliseum Ave., Nashua; 150 Bridge St., Pelham, chunkys.com) Friday, Oct. 20, through Thursday, Nov. 2, with at least one screening per day and three screenings Fridays through Sundays.
The Strand (20 Third St., Dover) presents live performances of Dracula for some “Halloween fun for the whole family.” Shows on Friday, Oct. 20, Saturday, Oct. 21; Friday, Oct. 27, and Saturday, Oct. 28, are at 8 p.m. and tickets cost $20. On Saturday, Oct. 21; Sunday, Oct. 22; Saturday, Oct. 28, and Sunday, Oct. 29, shows are at 2 p.m. and tickets cost $18. Visit breakaleglegally.com to purchase tickets.
The Players’ Ring Theatre (105 Marcy St., Portsmouth, playersring.org) presents Gay Bride of Frankenstein Friday, Oct. 20 through Sunday, Nov. 5. Shows are from Friday to Sunday — 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 2:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday — and tickets are $28.
Devriendt Farm (178 S Mast St. in Goffstown; devriendtfarm.com) opens its corn maze (and its pumpkin patch) on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at its 47 Story Road in Goffstown location. The cost is $8 for ages 13 and up, $4 for ages 4 to 12; kids 3 and under get in free, according to the website.
Coppal House Farm (118 N. River Road, Lee; nhcornmaze.com) has a Flashlight Night Corn Maze on Saturday, Oct. 21, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Tickets must be purchased ahead of time and are $15. Flashlights will not be provided. Additionally, there is a daytime maze that is open on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays from noon to 5 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Daytime admission can be purchased at the farm stand and costs $10 for adults and $8 for children, students, seniors, and military. For both events, children under age 4 get in free. On Sunday, Oct. 22, the farm will feature Wildlife Encounters from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., according to the website.
The Portsmouth Farmers Market (1 Junkins Ave.) will host a Pumpkin Smash on Saturday, Oct. 21, from 8 a.m. to noon. For $5, participants can choose a pumpkin to smash with a mallet, a two-by-four or “the trusty ol’ Louisville Slugger.” All pumpkins will be fed to pigs after the smash, and the proceeds will go to the Portsmouth Halloween Parade. Visit facebook.com/Market03801.
The Exeter Parks and Recreation department is hosting a Halloween Parade and Costume Contest on Saturday, Oct. 21, at Swasey Parkway. The costume contest will be judged at 10:30 a.m., and the parade will begin at 11 a.m. From noon to 3 p.m. there will be trick-or-treating downtown. Visit exeternh.gov.
Join Applecrest Farm (133 Exeter Road, Hampton Falls) for their Fall Harvest Festival on Saturday, Oct. 21, and Sunday, Oct. 22, from 1 to 5 p.m. featuring live music, a corn maze, barnyard animals and more. The following weekend, on Saturday, Oct. 28, and Sunday, Oct. 29, the farm will host a Hunter’s Moon Fall Harvest Festival from 1 to 5 p.m., which will feature the Viking reenactor group Straumfjordr and the carving of an 800-pound pumpkin. Admission and parking are free for both events. Visit applecrest.com.
The Wilton Main Street Association will host The Haunting of Wilton on Saturday, Oct. 21, with various events throughout the day. At 1 p.m. there will be a costume parade down Main Street, followed by trick-or-treating with Main Street merchants until 2:30 p.m. From 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., enjoy burgers, cider, s’mores and live music at the police station parking lot (7 Burns Hill Road) followed by a $5 haunted trail from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Visit visitwilton.com.
Prayers of Nature (33 Howard St., Wilton) will host a Bizarre Bazaar during the Haunt of Wilton on Saturday, Oct. 21, from noon to 7 p.m. Visitors will receive a free gemstone or wire wrap gemstone (while supplies last) and be entered in a raffle for a free tarot reading. From noon to 6 p.m. there will be 20-minute tarot readings by Victoria of Eye of Ethereal for $25, which can be booked at prayersofnature.com/tarotbazaar. Additionally, local jeweler Earthly Elan will host a pop-up shop and there will be spooky displays created by artist Little un Miniatures. From 3 to 6 p.m., there will be a meet-and-greet with Brittany Batchelder, author of Avian Tarot.
The American Independence Museum (1 Governer’s Lane in Exeter; independencemuseum.org, 772-2622) will host Ghosts of Winter Street Cemetery, featuring a tour through Winter Street Cemetery in Exeter led by a colonial tour guide on Saturday, Oct. 21, with start times every 30 minutes from 4 to 5:30 p.m. with a family tour at 3 p.m. Tours are about 45 minutes long and guests are encouraged to bring flashlights, according to a press release. Children in costume receive a special colonial treat, the release said. Tickets cost $10 ($7 for ages 6 to 8; children under 6 get in free), family-tour tickets (the 3 p.m. event) cost $15 for a family of four — tickets include a return pass to visit the museum, the release said.
Back to the Future (1985) will screen on Saturday, Oct. 21, 7 p.m. at Cinemark Salem, O’neil Cinemas in Epping, AMC Londonderry and Regal Fox Run in Newington (as well as at 4 p.m. at Cinemark). See fanthomevents.com.
The Birds (1963) from director Alfred Hitchcock will get a 60th anniversary screening on Sunday, Oct. 22, at 1 p.m. and Monday, Oct. 23, at 7 p.m. at O’neil Cinemas in Epping, AMC Londonderry, Cinemark in Salem and Regal Fox Run in Newington. See fathomevents.com.
The Seacoast Repertory Theatre (125 Bow St., Portsmouth) presents Bat Boy on Sunday, Oct. 22, at 2 and 7:30 p.m.; Thursday, Oct. 26, at 7:30 p.m.; Friday, Oct. 27, at 8 p.m.; Saturday, Oct. 28, at 2 and 8 p.m., and Sunday, Oct. 29, at 2 p.m. Ticket prices vary from $35 to $60 based on seating. Visit seacoastrep.org to purchase tickets.
The 17th Annual Celebrate Samhain Festival will be held on Sunday, Oct. 22, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the DoubleTree Hilton in Nashua (2 Somerset Pkwy.). The Samhain Festival is a celebration of the final harvest and of those who have passed and will feature vendors, artisans, psychic readings and a ritual led by Serenity Coven to honor the dead. Admission is $12 or $10 with the donation of a nonperishable food item. Visit facebook.com/NHSamhain.
Join Golden Dog Adventure Co. for their 3rd Annual Corn Maze & Halloween Pawty at Beech Hill Farm (107 Beech Hill Road, Hopkinton) on Saturday, Oct. 22, from 10 a.m. to noon (rain date Oct. 29). Tickets are $35 for members and $50 for non-members for one dog and one human. Tickets are $10 for additional humans, but children under age 3 are free. There will be various activities, including a costume contest, visiting farm animals, a custom illustration of your dog (an additional $15) and a peanut butter licking contest for your dog. Visitors must pre-register at goldendognh.com.
Nosferatu (1922), the classic vampire tale from director F.W. Murnau and starring Max Schreck, will screen at Wilton Town Hall Theatre (40 Main St., Wilton, wiltontownhalltheatre.com, 654-3456) on Sunday, Oct. 22, at 2 p.m. with live musical accompaniment by Jeff Rapsis.
Root Up & More (Concord, rootupconcord. com) is holding Guided Haunt Tours in downtown Concord on Sunday, Oct. 22; Monday, Oct. 23; Sunday, Oct. 29, and Monday, Oct. 30, beginning at 7 p.m. Sign up for a specific date via Root Up’s Facebook page.
Beetlejuice (1988) will have multiple screenings at area Chunky’s Cinema Pubs (707 Huse Road, Manchester; 151 Coliseum Ave., Nashua; 150 Bridge St., Pelham, chunkys.com). On Sunday, Oct. 22, at 7 p.m. the movie will screen with a five-course dinner from The Farmers Dinner; the cost is $75 or $110 with wine. The movie will also screen on Oct. 22 at 7 p.m. in Nashua. The movie will screen at all three locations on Monday, Oct. 23, and Tuesday, Oct. 24, at 7 p.m. A 21+ screening will be held Wednesday, Oct. 25, at 7:30 p.m.
The Rex Theatre (Amherst St., Manchester) presents a silent film with live music on Wednesday, Oct. 25, at 7:30 p.m. Jeff Rapsis will provide musical accompaniment for the silent film The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1923) starring Lon Chaney. Tickets are $10. Visit palacetheatre.org.
Join the town of Canterbury for a theatrical presentation titled Canterbury Tales: Famous and Infamous, which is a 35-minute tour, running every 10 minutes. On Thursday, Oct. 26, and Friday, Oct. 27, the event will run from 6 to 7 p.m. and on Saturday, Oct. 28, it will run from 1 to 2 p.m. at Center Cemetery (5 Center Road). Admission is $10 and all proceeds will benefit the Canterbury Cemetery Association. Tickets are available on eventbrite.com and are limited, so preregistration is recommended. Strollers, costumes and pets will not be permitted.
On Friday, Oct. 27, Saturday, Oct. 28, and Sunday, Oct. 29, Shaker Village (288 Shaker Road, Canterbury) will host Ghost Encounter Tours at 5, 6 and 7 p.m. The 45-minute tours will explore the evolution of spiritualism in Shaker faith and will include “firsthand accounts of otherworldly encounters,” according to the website. Tickets purchased in advance are $20 for adults and $10 for children 12 and under. Tickets cost $25 day of. Register at shakers.org.
On Friday, Oct. 27, there will be a Downtown Trick-or-Treat and Zombie Walk on Main Street in Rochester. Businesses downtown will be handing out candy from 4 to 6 p.m. The Zombie Walk will feature “dozens of dancers from several local dance studios,” according to the website. The walk will begin at the Citizens Bank parking lot (90 N. Main St.) and proceed down Bridge Street to River Street and back to North Main Street.
The Majestic Theatre (880 Page St. in Manchester; majestictheatre.net, 669-7649) presents Vintage Hitchcock: A Live Radio Play Friday, Oct. 27, through Sunday Oct. 29, with showtimes at 7 p.m. on Friday, 2 and 7 p.m. on Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets cost $20 for adults, $15 for 65+ and 17 and under.
Catch the Murder Mystery Dinner: Best Laid Plans at the Bank of NH Stage (S. 16 Main St. in Concord; ccanh.com) on Friday, Oct. 27, at 6:30 p.m. Or check out Murder Mystery Dinner: Midnight Masquerade on Saturday, Oct. 28, at 6:30 p.m.
Join the town of Merrimack for their 31st Annual Halloween Party on Saturday, Oct. 28, from noon to 3 p.m. at Wasserman Park (116 Naticook Road). There will be a costume contest and a Pumpkin Race Car Derby along with free games, crafts and face painting. Nonprofit organizations Merrimack Friends & Families and Less Leg More Heart will have food for sale. Visit merrimackparksandrec.org.
The Park Theatre in Jaffrey (19 Main St.) is hosting a Halloweenie Weekend featuring some scary movies. Tickets are $10 for adults and $9 for children, seniors, students, military and teachers. On Friday, Oct. 27, there will be a showing of the 1973 film The Exorcist (R) at 7 p.m. On Saturday, Oct. 28, Ghostbusters (PG, 1984) will play at 1 p.m., followed by a showing of the 1982 American slasher film Friday the 13th Part III (R) at 7 p.m. On Sunday, Oct. 29, at 4 p.m. the theater will show What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962). On Monday, Oct. 30, at 7 p.m., Jeff Rapsis will perform a live music score to accompany a screening of Dracula (1931). Visit theparktheatre.org/halloweenie for event details and to purchase tickets.
Intown Concord will host a Halloween Howl on Friday, Oct. 27, on Main Street. At 5 p.m. there will be a free kids’ fun run in Bicentennial Square, followed by activities including trick-or-treating, witch hat ring toss, Trunk or Treat and a Pumpkin Photo Op from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. At 5:45 p.m. there will be a “not so scary” costume parade, and participants will gather at City Plaza in front of the Statehouse arch. Additionally, there will be a costume contest at 6 p.m. on Capitol Street. Pre-registration is required for the costume contest. Visit members.intownconcord.org.
Fritzy’s Fright Fest is a free haunted attraction located at 37 Maple Ave. in Newton. The event will run on Friday, Oct. 27, and Saturday, Oct. 28, from 6 to 9 p.m. Visit facebook.com/Fitzysfrightfest.
The Witch of Weston Tower will haunt McIntyre Ski Area (50 Chalet Court, Manchester) from Friday, Oct. 27, through Sunday, Oct. 29. Activities will run on Friday from 4 to 8 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. For a scenic chairlift to Weston Tower, tickets are $22 for adults, $15 for children and seniors, and $5 for children 5 and under. Those who do not wish to ride the chairlift to Weston Tower may purchase a witch ticket, which is a $10 donation per family. For an additional cost there will be food trucks, face painting and pumpkin painting. The proceeds from the event will benefit the Manchester Historical Association. Additionally, on Saturday there will be a touch-a-truck and a trunk-or-treat event that are free to attend. See mcintyreskiarea.com for a detailed schedule of events.
The Park Theatre (19 Main St., Jaffrey; theparktheatre.org) will host a free costume contest for adults, kids and pets on Saturday, Oct. 28,, at 2:45 p.m. The contest will be judged on stage, and participants are asked to arrive by 2:30 p.m. in the lobby, according to the website.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (PG, 2001) will screen at all three area Chunky’s Cinema Pubs (707 Huse Road, Manchester; 151 Coliseum Ave., Nashua; 150 Bridge St., Pelham, chunkys.com) Saturday, Oct. 28, through Monday, Oct. 30, at 6 p.m.
CAKE Theatre (12 Veterans Square, Laconia, 677-6360) will host a Spook N’ Groove hangout and dance party with mixed drinks, root beer floats, doughnut ice cream sundaes and more on Friday, Oct. 27, at 7 p.m.. The theater level dance party has a DJ and laser lights. Kids 12 and under free with a paid adult. Teens and adults 13+ are $10 per person. Costumes welcome but not required.
The 17th Annual Dover Zombie Walk will take place on Saturday, Oct. 28, at 2 p.m. The walk will begin at the Greater Dover Chamber of Commerce (550 Central Ave.) and activities include eating Jell-O brains and a costume contest. Dress in a zombie costume or another Halloween costume. Visit facebook.com/doverzombiewalk.
• The City of Nashua will host its Halloween Boo Bash on Saturday, Oct. 28, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Greeley Park (100 Concord St.). Activities include hay rides, pumpkin decorating, a haunted house and a bonfire. Costumes are encouraged and admission is free. Visit nashuanh.gov.
The Amherst Orthodontics Trick or Trot 3K will be held at Arms Park (10 Arms St., Manchester) on Saturday, Oct. 28, at 11 a.m. Participants ages 9 and up are welcome to participate in the race and preregistration is encouraged. 21+ adult tickets cost $25 in advance and $30 on race day. Youth (ages 12 to 20) tickets cost $20 in advance and $25 on race day. Kids (ages 9 to 11) cost $15 in advance and on race day. Admission includes a T-shirt for the first 850 registered participants, refreshments, free race photos and a finish line video. For participants over the age of 21, registration includes a beer ticket. Additionally, at 9:30 a.m. there will be a Kids Halloween Festival featuring vendors, magic and animals. At 10:15 a.m. children ages 8 and under can participate in the 100-meter dash Stonyfield Lil’ Pumpkin Fun Runs for $10. Visit millenniumrunning.com/trick-or-trot to register. Bibs can be picked up on race day from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. at Race Day HQ in Arms Park or on Friday, Oct. 27, from 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Millennium Running Retail Store (138 Bedford Center Road, Bedford).
The 2nd Annual Halloween Howl Hustle for Housing is a 5K that will benefit Fellowship Housing Opportunities. The adult 5K costs $30 and will take place from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Oct. 28, at Masonic Lodge (53 Iron Works Road, Concord). Registration will end on Thursday, Oct. 26, at 11:59 p.m. To register, visit runsignup.com/halloweenhowlhustle5k.
The Groovy Witch is hosting Dover’s Second Annual Witches Market (288 Central Ave.) on Sunday, Oct. 29, from noon to 5 p.m. The market will feature more than 50 local vendors who specialize in witchcraft, spiritual readings and handmade goods. There is no admission fee. Visit groovywitch.com.
On Monday, Oct. 30, at 6 p.m., Lane Memorial Library (2 Academy Ave., Hampton) will host presenter Margo Burns for a presentation titled “The Capital Crime of Witchcraft: What the Primary Sources Tell Us,” which focuses on the colonial witch trials in New England. The event is free to attend and registration is available via hampton.lib.nh.us/calendar.
The Portsmouth Halloween Parade will take place on Halloween, Tuesday, Oct. 31, at 7 p.m. Visit portsmouthhalloweenparade.org for the parade route and details.
More pumpkins, more patches
Still looking for that perfect pumpkin to turn into a jack-o’-lantern?
Check out the story about pumpkins in the Oct. 12 issue of the Hippo for a list of area pumpkin patches. See hippopress.com for the e-edition; the story is on page 21. Brookdale Fruit Farm (41 Broad St., Hollis, 465-2240, brookdalefruitfarm.com) — whose expert Rick Hardy spoke about pumpkins for last week’s story — offers its picked pumpkins daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the farm stand, where you can grab a photo with the large “pumpkin man” (and on weekends, check out Brookdale’s corn maze, open from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays). Here are some farms where you can go into the patch to choose your gourd. Know of any not mentioned here or in our story? Let me know at [email protected].
Devriendt Farm (178 S. Mast Road in Goffstown; devriendtfarm.com, 497-2793) offers pumpkin picking and a corn maze at its 47 Story Road location in Goffstown on Saturday and Sundays, starting at 10 a.m. with the last entry into the maze at 4:30 p.m. Take a free hay ride to the pumpkin patch; admission to the maze costs $8 for adults (13 and up), $4 for ages 4 to 12 and kids under 3 get in free.
Elwood Orchards (54 Elwood Road in Londonderry; 434-6017, ElwoodOrchards.com) is open daily from 9 to 6 p.m. and offers a pumpkin patch as well as a 15-acre corn maze
McQuesten Farm (330 Charles Bancroft Hwy. in Litchfield, 424-9268) offers free hay rides to its pumpkin patches on weekends — 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., according to a Facebook post.
Featured Photo: Courtesy photo.