It’s the first weekend of fall, and our thoughts turn to brewfests, apples and food festivals. This weekend has all that and more – fairy houses, folk musicians playing chanties on the streets of Portsmouth, and bands playing on porches all around downtown Rochester. It’s going to be epic.
Last chance to see ‘Imagine That’ exhibit
The Portsmouth Historical Society’s exhibit “Imagine That! The Power of Picture Books,” the first to celebrate the extraordinary heritage of children’s books created in northern New England and featuring original artwork by over 30 illustrators, closes this Sunday at 5 p.m. so make a point to get to Discover Portsmouth Center at 10 Middle St. in Portsmouth this weekend if you haven’t already. Admission is free to children under 18, military, those over 70 and Society members; $10 for adults.
There’s a special celebration of the exhibit on Thursday, Sept. 22 from 6 to 8 p.m. on the lawn of the John Paul Jones House. The exhibit gallery will stay open until 6 p.m. for reception guests. Tickets are $40 for Portsmouth Historical Society members; $65 for non-members and available at portsmouthhistory.org/events.
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Kittery’s 375th Birthday Bash
Kittery’s throwing a 375th Birthday Bash from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., Friday, Sept. 23 at the Kittery Community Center on the Frisbee Lawn. There’ll be carnival games, bounce houses, an obstacle course, dessert walk, pony rides, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard STEM activities, food and tons of fun. A portion of the proceeds will go to the Kittery PTA and the Pam Hoyt Sanborn Scholarship Fund. For information, visit kittery375th.com.
Comedian Eugene Mirman at 3S Artspace
Comedian and actor Eugene Mirman will perform in Portsmouth on Friday, Sept 23 at 8 p.m. at 3S Artspace. A hugely popular stand-up, many fans also know Mirman as the voice of “Gene” on the animated TV show “Bob’s Burgers” and “The Bob’s Burgers Movie” and in the new movie “Confess, Fletch.” Local fans will also know him from the now-infamous time he visited Portsmouth and received a parking ticket, and then turned the experience into one of his best jokes that went viral. Tickets are $30 for members; $35 GA for this all-ages show and available at 3Sarts.org.
See an Elvis impersonator in Newmarket
J.C. & The Elvis Experience will perform at The Rockingham Ballroom on Friday, Sept. 23 at 7 p.m. The show includes Elvis’ bodyguards, known as The Memphis Boys, as well as banter and stories told by the one and only King of Rock and Roll. Tickets are $25 to $30 and available at portsmouthnhtickets.com.
King Kyote at the Press Room
Representing the entire state of Maine, King Kyote competed this year in the live TV show “American Song Contest.” Now you can see him this Friday, Sept. 23 at the Press Room in Portsmouth. Show is at 9 p.m., doors open 8 p.m. Tickets are $15 to $20 at pressroomnh.com.
Portsmouth Maritime Folk Festival this weekend
The 22nd annual Portsmouth Maritime Folk Festival will take to the city’s streets this weekend. The festival features maritime folk musicians and chanty singers at five outdoor locations around Portsmouth during the day from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 24 and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 25. Group events are a Saturday night concert at 7 p.m. and a Chanty Blast sing-along on Sunday at 5 p.m. in Market Square. See who’s playing where when at pmffest.org/2022-schedule. You can also view livestreamed performances virtually. More information about the Portsmouth Maritime Folk Festival can be found at
pmffest.org, on Facebook at PMFF.NH, or by emailing
Fairy House Tour in Portsmouth
The Fairy House Tour will take place Saturday, Sept.24 and Sunday, Sept. 25 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m, rain or shine. There’ll be hundreds of enchanting fairy houses on display on the grounds of Strawbery Banke Museum, Governor John Langdon House, Prescott Park Arts Festival and The Gundalow Company. Presented by Friends of the South End, all proceeds benefit local schools and nonprofits. Southern New Hampshire Dance Theatre will perform a 20-minute excerpt of “Fairy Dance Ballet” on the Prescott Park stage at 11 a.m., noon, 1 and 2 p.m. both days. Tickets are for one-day entry and include admission to each of the historic museums and their grounds: Family (4 people, any combination of children ages 3 to 12), $30 in advance, $35 at gate; Adults, $12 advance, $15 at gate; Seniors, $8 advance, $10 gate; Children 3-12, $5 advance, $7 at gate; kids 3 and under free at FairyHouseTour.com. Ticket entrance gates on day of tour will be located at near Tyco Visitor Center); at Langdon House and at Prescott Park Arts Festival’s Merch Booth.
Oysterfest at Hampton Beach
The second annual Seacoast Oysterfest will take place up on the deck at Bernie’s Beach Bar on Hampton Beach on Saturday, Sept. 24. Along with live music, craft beer and cocktails, at least six different oyster farms will be on hand shucking their tasty mollusks. New this year, seafood samples from Gulf of Maine Conservas out of Rye as well as spicy hot sauce from Pogo’s Peppers in Rye. The fun starts at 1 p.m. and runs until they run out of the Seacoast’s favorite bivalves.
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Taste of Kittery set for Saturday
The 2nd annual Taste of Kittery will take place Saturday, Sept. 23 as part of the town’s 375th Birthday celebration and showcase Kittery’s restaurant-rich culture. There’ll be food, beer, music and fun at the Post Office Square, 10 Shapleigh Road, from 1 to 4 p.m. Tickets in advance are $35 for just food; $45 for food and up to five pours of beer from vendors, ID required. Tickets at the door will be $45 for just food; $50 for food and five pours of beer. Tickets and info available at kittery375th.com/taste-of-kittery.
Brew Fest In The Orchard in Lee
In the sprawling apple orchard at DeMeritt Hill Farm in Lee, Stripe Nine Brewing Co. will present the Brew Fest In The Orchard on Saturday, Sept. 24 from 1 to 5 p.m., or noon to 5 p.m. with a VIP ticket. The fest will feature 38 breweries, live music and food trucks.Tickets are $50 GA, $80 VIP and $15 for designated driver at eventbrite.com.
Great Bay Philharmonic Orchestra concert
The Great Bay Philharmonic Orchestra will perform an evening of uplifting orchestral music featuring French pianist Mathilde Handelsman on Saturday, Sept. 24. The program begins with Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 17 in G major and concludes with Peter Ilych Tchaikovsky’s formidable masterpiece for strings, the Serenade in C Major. The concert will be at 8 p.m. at The Music Hall in Portsmouth. Tickets are $45 to $68 and available at themusichall.org.
New England BIPOC Fest
The New England BIPOC Fest, sponsored by Service Credit Union, will be held outside of Vida Cantina on Route 1 in Portsmouth on Sunday, Sept. 25 from noon to 6 p.m.
Admission to the event is free, though donations can be made upon entry. Restaurants serving food and beverages for purchase will include Rose’s Spring Rolls, Sassy Biscuit, Habibi and Southern Girl Bakery. There’ll be a mariachi band, reggae artists, Zumba by Marienela, DJ Skooch, and the Seacoast West African Dance and Drum group, in addition to other cultural dances and rituals.
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Porchfest ’22 in Rochester
PorchFest is a free outdoor music festival featuring more than 30 bands of all genres on outdoor stages throughout downtown Rochester. There’ll also be food, vendors and dancing in the Union Street parking lot. Participating restaurants and shops will be offering specials and discounts to attendees wearing all-access bracelets, which are $10 and can be purchased online or at the main booth on Union Street. The all-access pass also gets you into the after party at The Garage. Proceeds raised from this event directly support music scholarships for Rochester Performance & Arts Center students. More info, rochesteroperahouse.com/porchfest22.
