Midnight Merriment returns to downtown
Midnight Merriment returns to downtown Concord on Friday, Dec. 6, from 5 p.m. to midnight. This beloved annual tradition features a festive evening of shopping, entertainment, and holiday cheer. The event begins at 5:30 p.m. with the debut of the Parade of Lights, which will light up Main Street. Main Street will be closed from Hills Avenue to Loudon Road from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. to accommodate the parade. After the parade, families...
Turning Pointe dancers present ‘The Nutcracker’
Holiday performance now in its 42nd season Celebrate the holiday season with a family friendly performance of The Nutcracker, a timeless tradition filled with magic and wonder. The Turning Pointe Center of Dance will present the full length ballet on Saturday, Dec. 14, at 2 p.m. at the Concord City Auditorium, 2 Prince St., Concord. Now in its 42nd season, the Turning Pointe Center of Dance has become a staple in the greater Concord...
Reed Cullen named next Young Professional
25-year-old works remotely while building community in Concord Concord Young Professionals Network (CYPN) introduces you to the “Young Professional of the Month,” Reed Cullen, CPA. Each month, the CYPN Steering Committee recommends an individual in the community it thinks readers would enjoy getting to know better. How old are you? 25 Where do you live? Washington, NH — the first town to be named after George Washington himself. Where...
Art on display: ‘Where Do We Go From Here?’
The Highly Seasoned Artists are presenting their mixed media exhibition, Where Do We Go From Here, at the Epsom Public Library Gallery until Jan. 11– opening was Nov. 23. The show features works by Jan Wittmer, Teresa Taylor, Mary Straub, Ann Saunderson, Mary Nichols, Grace Mattern, Kathy Hanson, and Donna Catanzaro. The exhibition centers on maps as a metaphor for personal and collective journeys, addressing the question,...
Le Vent du Nord to Perform
Quebec’s celebrated folk band, Le Vent du Nord, will perform at the Park Theatre in Jaffrey, on Saturday, Nov. 23 at 7 p.m. Known for their dynamic blend of traditional and original compositions, Le Vent du Nord is a major influence in Quebec’s progressive francophone folk movement, integrating Celtic and global sounds into their music. Since forming in 2002, the group has played over 2,000 shows worldwide and received...
Brookford Farm to host ‘Christmas with the Cows’
Brookford Farm invites families to celebrate the season with “Christmas with the Cows” over two weekends: Saturday, Nov. 30, and Sunday, Dec. 1, and again on Saturday, Dec. 7, and Sunday, Dec. 8, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. This German-inspired holiday event will include festive activities, food, and family-friendly fun on the farm. Visitors can browse a traditional German Christmas market with local vendors and...
Monthly humanities speakers announced
The Pembroke Town Library, in partnership with the Historical Society and the Friends of the Library, has announced a new series of speakers. The program is arranged in collaboration with New Hampshire Humanities, a Concord-based organization promoting culture, history, and community connections through free public events. On Monday, Dec. 2, Damien Costello will present “Maple, New Hampshire’s Medicine of Connection,” exploring how...
Kimball Jenkins to host Holiday Tea event
Kimball Jenkins and Safe Haven Ballet will host a Holiday Tea event on Saturday, Dec. 14, and Sunday, Dec. 15 at the historic Kimball Jenkins Mansion, 266 North Main St., Concord. The event will feature themed meet-and-greets with dancers from Safe Haven Ballet’s holiday productions, offering families a festive afternoon filled with entertainment, refreshments, and holiday spirit. On Dec. 14, guests will enjoy visits from The...
Children’s Auction returns
The 43rd annual Greater Lakes Region Children’s Auction, presented by Hannaford Supermarkets, will take place from Tuesday, Dec. 10 through Friday, Dec. 13 at Belknap Marketplace in Belmont. The event, which raises funds to support local children and families, will feature live bidding, special activities, and volunteer efforts from across the Lakes Region community. The auction runs daily from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., with bidding...
Shabazz wins music award
Nashua native Ruby Shabazz has been awarded the 2024 New England Music Award in the Soul/R&B category, marking her first nomination and win. Known for her unique blend of neo-soul and classic R&B sounds, Shabazz has been praised by NH Magazine as “New Hampshire’s queen of R&B and Hip Hop” and by Wave Radio Boston’s Joe Beauregard as “an updated version of neo-soul mixed with the throwback...
Gift of Lights returns for the holiday season
The annual Gift of Lights drive-thru display returns to New Hampshire Motor Speedway (NHMS) from Thursday, Nov. 28 (Thanksgiving), through Sunday, Jan. 5. This holiday tradition, presented by Ambetter from NH Healthy Families, features a 2.5-mile route adorned with over 3.5 million LED lights, promising festive fun for the whole family. Highlights this year include a 150-foot RGB Tunnel of Lights, various holiday scenes like the “12...
The Wailin’ Jennys to perform
Folk trio The Wailin’ Jennys will bring their celebrated harmonies and diverse musical background to the Capitol Center for the Arts in Concord, on Friday, Nov. 22. Comprised of Nicky Mehta, Ruth Moody, and Heather Masse, The Wailin’ Jennys are known for their tight vocal blend and emotive, folk-rooted sound that has made them one of today’s leading folk acts. The group began as a spontaneous collaboration of solo singer-songwriters...
An interactive mystery ‘Murder’s in the Heir’
The Majestic Theatre will stage Murder’s in the Heir, a comedic murder mystery by Billy St. John, in which the audience decides the killer’s identity. Often likened to Clue, the play centers on the dysfunctional heirs of billionaire Simon Starkweather, each with the motive and means to commit murder. Unique to this production, the audience votes via secret ballot at intermission to choose the murderer, resulting in a new ending each...
‘Poetry in Concert’
The Arts Council of Tamworth will host a performance by “bard band” Los Lorcas on Friday, Nov. 15 at 7 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of the Eastern Slopes in downtown Tamworth. Los Lorcas combines the talents of poets Partridge Boswell and Peter Money with guitarist Nat Williams, creating a unique fusion of poetry and music inspired by the spirit of Federico Garcia Lorca, the Spanish poet and musician known for his...
Mentorship and optimism
The League of New Hampshire Craftsmen will showcase two exhibitions, Mentors & Apprentices: Work from Maine + New Hampshire’s 2024 Craft Apprentice Program and Crafting Joy: The Art of Optimism, at its Headquarters Exhibition Gallery in Concord. These displays run through Dec. 6. Mentors & Apprentices highlights the creative output of seven pairs of mentor craft artists and apprentices from the 2024 Craft Apprentice Program...
Book of the Week
“The Wedding People,” by Alison Espach (2024, 363 pages, Genre: Fiction/Romance) Phoebe Stone arrives at the Cornwall Inn in Newport, RI. Spiraling two years after an unexpected divorce from her professor husband, she booked the nicest, most expensive suite there, and flew from St. Louis with no luggage, wearing the fanciest dress in her closet. At check-in, she is immediately assumed to be part of the wedding party who has booked the...
Anya Hinkle to perform
Anya Hinkle, a singer and guitarist rooted in Appalachian folk and bluegrass, will perform at the Andover Community Coffeehouse on Friday, Nov. 15. The monthly Coffeehouse takes place at the Highland Lake Grange Hall in East Andover, with doors opening at 6 p.m. and music beginning at 7 p.m. Hinkle, described by PopMatters as “a burgeoning force behind the Appalachian roots revival,” will perform with violinist Minnie Jordan....
Barbershop quartet concert
The Unitarian Universalist Society will present a Barbershop Concert featuring the quartet Feelin’ Fine! on Sunday, Nov. 17 at 3 p.m. at 172 Pleasant St., Laconia. The group, formed by Rob, Rick, Andy, and Lee, began after meeting at the 2022 New England Harmony Brigade, where they discovered a shared repertoire and complementary voices. Since then, the quartet has worked together to achieve a high level of harmony, recently...
Community Players present “Bye Bye Birdie”
The Community Players of Concord will stage the classic musical Bye Bye Birdie on Nov. 22 and 23 at 7:30 p.m. and Nov. 24 at 2 p.m. at the Concord City Auditorium, 2 Prince St. This Tony Award-winning musical comedy, inspired by Elvis Presley’s induction into the Army, follows songwriter and talent manager Albert Peterson, whose star client, rock ‘n’ roll idol Conrad Birdie, is drafted into the military. Peterson’s fiancée, Rosie...
David Francey to perform
David Francey, a Scottish-born Canadian folk singer and songwriter, will perform an intimate concert at Peterborough’s Unitarian Universalist Church at 25 Main St., Peterborough at 7 p.m. Nov. 19. Known for his authentic storytelling through song, Francey presents the working person’s life, drawing on his own experiences as a former carpenter and laborer across Canada. Francey moved from Scotland to Canada at age twelve, and for...
Annual Holiday Open House
New Hampshire Antique Co-op (NHAC) invites visitors to its annual Holiday Open House, held Fri., Nov. 29 through Sun., Dec. 1 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 323 Elm St., Milford. This family-friendly event features refreshments, a gift card contest, a scavenger hunt with prizes, and exclusive savings throughout the shop. Festively decorated for the season, NHAC’s dealers will showcase antique gifts and nostalgic items from years past. The...
N.H. Philharmonic Orchestra annual concert
The New Hampshire Philharmonic Orchestra invites the public to its annual Holiday Pops Concert, celebrating the season with a mix of festive music and community spirit. The concert will feature a diverse lineup, including Ron Goldstein’s “Hanukkah Medley,” Tchaikovsky’s “Valses des Fleurs” (Waltz of the Flowers), and Jerry Brubaker’s arrangement of The Polar Express, creating a joyful musical experience for all ages. Each piece in...
Sunday Jam Socials are back
The Southern NH Ukulele Group (SNHUG) is reintroducing its popular Sunday Jam Socials, last held at the Earcraft Music in Dover before the pandemic. With the recent closure of Earcraft, there was a call for a new venue, and Milk Street Studios, newly opened at 6 Milk St., Dover, has stepped up to host these open mic sessions. The first event is set for Sun., Nov. 10, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Interested performers can sign up on SNHUG’s...
Ringling Bros. return to NH
The reimagined Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® The Greatest Show On Earth returns to North America with six performances in Manchester at the SNHU Arena from Nov. 15-17. Produced by Feld Entertainment, this immersive live experience features an array of thrilling acts that bring a modern twist to the classic circus. Audience favorites Aria, Stix, and Nick Nack—played by Lauren Irving, Alex Stickels, and Jan Damm—guide...
Library Events
Belmont Library is hosting a variety of free programs this November for all ages, including special events, holiday activities, and regular weekly programs. Here’s a look at what’s happening throughout the month. Families can enjoy the Deck the Village holiday event, sponsored by the Belmont Recreation Department, on Nov. 30, from 2 to 4 p.m. This festive gathering will feature holiday crafts and a special guest, offering an excellent...
‘Tis the season!
The Capital City Fine Holiday Craft & Artisan Show will be held on Saturday, Nov. 9, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 10, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Capital City Sports & Fitness Club, located at 10 Garvins Falls Road in Concord, NH. This new show features over 100 exhibitors, many of whom are presenting their handmade work in Concord for the first time. Event highlights include a visit from Santa, door prizes, lunch...
A Players musical
The Pittsfield Players will bring Stephen Sondheim’s beloved musical Into the Woods to The Scenic Theater, located at 6 Depot St. in Pittsfield, beginning with opening night on Saturday, Nov. 16, at 7:30 p.m. This production, known for its unique storytelling and memorable characters, will intertwine several Brothers Grimm fairy tales, including Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Jack (of beanstalk fame), and Rapunzel, taking...
Book of the Week
“Close Knit,” by Jenny Colgan (2024, 318 pages, Genre: Fiction) Gertie Moonie is a shy young woman who lives on a tiny, remote island, one in a string of islands in the North Sea of Scotland. Gertie is surrounded by women. She lives in a small cottage with her mother Jean, her grandmother Elspeth. The cottage is stuffed full with many packages of wool. The women are all knitters, and their Knitting Circle meets regularly...
History of Meredith Bay talk at Historical Society
John Hopper, president of the Meredith Historical Society, will lead the final presentation of the society’s 2024 Speaker Series with a discussion titled “The History of Meredith Bay.” The event, sponsored by Becky Fuller of Maxfield Real Estate, is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 12, at the Meredith Community Center, located at 1 Circle Drive. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for refreshments, with the program beginning at 7 p.m. Hopper’s talk...
Kearsarge Chorale opens 16th season
The Kearsarge Chorale will present its fall concert, “Mass in Blue and Holidays Too,” on Saturday, Nov. 23, at 3 p.m. at Kearsarge Regional High School. The concert program will combine Will Todd’s Mass in Blue with a selection of seasonal songs performed by small groups, including a guest appearance by the Sunapee Singers. For the first half, audiences will enjoy an assortment of seasonal songs, including Autumn...
