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Mike Barnicle wannabe
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Date Posted: 20:32:54 06/05/05 Sun
In reply to:
Mike Barnicle wannabe
's message, "Summer '05 fun events set for Nashua area" on 20:23:07 06/05/05 Sun
(published in, the Hippo, June 2-8, 2005)
The Scoop on Summer
by Amy Diaz
Your guide to three months of big fun
Summer is three months of Sundays.
Sure, most of those are actually workdays and likely to be spent indoors. But the lush green outdoors provide not just a cherry on top but a big scoop of refreshing goodness for nearly every day of this wonderfully decadent time of year. And while that week at the beach, hike through the mountains or trip to the lake may be the highlight of your summer 2005, Nashua offers lots of things to do and see that can fill your day with the unique joys of the season anytime. So grab a spoon and dive in to summer.
Festivals
Summer turns every park and city street into a possible concert or party venue.
New England is full of regional festivals that bring in the fans from the jazz festival in Newport, R.I., to the renaissance fair in Brattleboro, VT. Lucky for us in the Nashua area, we have plenty of festivals in our neighborhood to keep us partying all summer long.
• Third Annual Rock N Ribfest, Merrimack: The Rotary Club of Nashua West will hold its third annual Ribfest Friday, June 10 through Sunday, June 12 at Anheuser Busch, 221 DW Highway, Merrimack. Tickets are $5 per person; children under 5 are admitted free. The event features music, activities for kids, assorted street performers and, of course, all the ribs you could ever want. Ribbers compete to see who is the biggest, baddest BBQ king. For more information, go to www.rotaryribfest.org.
• Fifth Annual Talarico Downtown Jazz & Blues Fest, Manchester: More than a dozen musicians show up to play at stages on Hanover Street in Manchester’s downtown for this two-day event, which will run Friday, June 10 and Saturday, June 11. Tickets are $10 per day. The event also features local artists and food vendors. For more information, go to www.palacetheatre.org.
• High Hopes 19th Annual Balloon Festival, Milford: Raising money for High Hopes (which grants wishes for kids suffering from chronic or life-threatening diseases), this events is three days of kid-friendly events (such as bungee jumping, a climbing wall and face-painting) plus dawn-to-dusk hot air balloon rides. The Festival runs Friday, June 24 to Sunday, June 26 at Chappell’s Grandview Farms, the intersection of Route 101 and 13 in Milford. For information, go to www.milfordnh.com/highhopes/festival.htm.
• Nashua Garden Tour 2005, Nashua: Garden nuts and flower fans get a peek at some of the city’s nicest gardens on Saturday, July 16 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The event begins with breakfast and a lecture and includes shopping at the vendor fair. For more, go to www.nashuagardenclub.org.
• Annual Lowell Folk Fest, Lowell: It’s one of the biggest music festivals in the area — three days, July 29 through 31, of musical performances, activities for kids and community groups offering a variety of ethnic foods. Best yet? This event is free. For more information, go to www.lowellfolkfest.org.
• 48th New Hampshire Antiques Dealers Association Show, Manchester: It’s three days of wall-to-wall antiques at the Center of New Hampshire, 700 Elm St., Manchester. Tickets are $10 and offer access on all three days — Thursday, Aug. 11 through Saturday, Aug. 13. For more information, go to www.nhada.org.
• 52 Annual Greeley Park Arts Show, Nashua: The city’s biggest arts event will run Aug. 20 and 21 this year. More than 100 area artists show off their works at an event that brings out some of the most talented painters sculptors, photographers and more. For more information, go to www.greeleyparkartshow.com.
• 8th Annual Lowell Southeast Asian Water Festival, Lowell: Based on Southeast Asian traditions, this festival runs Friday, August 20 and Saturday, August 21 and includes parades, boat tours and a post-festival film series. The event also includes crafts and foods from Southeast Asia. For more information, go to www.lowellwaterfestival.org.
Theater
Many local theater companies don’t take the summer off, they just move outdoors.
What will be entertaining you in the great outdoors this season?
• Grease (New Thalian Players, Manchester): That’s right, “Summer Nights” performed live! The New Thalians will present their play for free in Veterans Park, Manchester, July 8 and 9 and July 15 and 16. For more information, go to www.newtalianplayers.org.
• The Drawer Boy (A Yellow Taxi Production, Nashua): It’s 1972 and a city slicker actor goes to live on a farm to study for an upcoming part. What starts out as a fish out of water turns deeper as the actor learns about the pasts of the old farmers with whom he lives. The play runs July 9 and 10, 16 and 17 at Greeley Park in Nashua. For more information, go to www.yellowtaxiproductions.com.
• Henry IV (Nashua Theatre Guild, Nashua): The boy prince must become a king and you can see it for free in Greeley Park, Nashua, July 23 and 24 and July 30 and 31 at 2 p.m. For more information, go to www.nashuatheatreguild.com.
• Taming of the Shrew (New England Shakespeare Festival, Lowell): For $10 per ticket, this play gives you the Elizabethan costumed tale of a difficult girl and her very insistent husband at Boarding House Park, 40 French St., Lowell on August 4, 7:30 p.m. For more information, go to www.lowellsummermusic.com.
Eats
Sure, you ate your fill at the Taste of Downtown Nashua and you plan to make room in your stomach for the Ribfest, but where else is on the menu this summer?
• Farmers’ Markets: Nashua kicks off its gathering of fresh produce vendors on Tuesday, July 5 from 3 to 6 p.m. at St. Louis de Gonzague Church, 48 West Hollis St. The market runs through October. Can’t make it to Nashua’s? Try Amherst Farmers’ Market, Village Common, Amherst, June through October, Thursdays 3 to 6:30 p.m.; Bedford Farmers’ Market, Riley Field near the corner of Country and Nashua roads, Bedford, mid-June through October, Tuesdays 3 to 6 p.m.; Derry Main Street Farmers’ Market, Broadway, Derry, spring through fall, Tuesdays 4 to 7 p.m.; Lowell Farmers Market, City Hall Plaza, Arland Drive, Lowell, MA, July through October, Fridays 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.; Manchester Downtown Farmers Market, Concord Street between Pine and Chestnut streets, June 23 through October, Thursdays 3 to 6 p.m.; Milford Farmers’ Markets, Bank of New Hampshire, South Street, Route 13 S, late June through Early October, Saturdays 9 a.m. to noon; New Boston Farmers’ Market, Route 13 Hillsboro Country 4H Fairgrounds, New Boston, late June through October, Mondays 3:30 to 6:30 p.m.
• Cooking classes: Learn how to make a host of new dishes. Impressive Chef (8 Spit Brook Road, Nashua, 891-3520, www.impressivechef.com), The Creative Feast (5 Broad St., Hollis, 465-6929, www.thecreativefeast.com) and Patisserie Bleu (215 Main St., Nashua, 881-3480, www.patisseriebleu.com) all offer one-night classes to teach you about new cuisines and cooking techniques. Go to their websites for more information.
• Wine Society: The Les Chevaliers Du Grana Vin, as it’s properly known, features a variety of tasting classes and events for wine, beer and cheese. For more information, go to the stores (440 Middlesex Road, Tynsborough, MA, 978-649-8993/650 Amherst St., Nashua, 883-4114) or website, www.winecellarnh.com.
• Latino Festival, Manchester: Enjoy some of the very best empanadas, tamales, tacos and other delicious dishes at this day-long festival in Veterans Park, Elm Street in Manchester (exit 5 off I-293) on August 20.
Sports
Peanuts, Cracker Jack — yeah, we all saw Field of Dreams.
While the Red Sox may hold the center place in many a fan’s heart, there are closer, less expensive ways to catch a few innings.
• Nashua Pride, Nashua: Don’t want to fight the crowds to Fenway? Go to Holman Stadium and enjoy your hot dog and cheering on your hometown team in your very own neighborhood. See the schedule below or www.nashuapride.com for ticket and game information.
• Lowell Spinners, Lowell: Not the Red Sox but this minor-league affiliate can be a closer, cheaper way to join in all the world-champion fun. The season begins on June 27 at the Edward A. LeLacheur Park, 450 Aiken St., Lowell, 978-459-2255. Tickets start at $4.50. For more information, visit them online at www.lowellspinners.com.
• New Hampshire Fisher Cats, Manchester: Or you can head north for your minor-league needs. Playing at the brand-new stadium on Commercial Street, Manchester (exit 5 off I-293; 641-2005), the Fisher Cats (a farm team for the Toronto Blue Jays) offer regular home games and tickets starting at $4. For more information, check out their webstie at www.nhfishercats.com.
Kids
Summer shouldn’t mean hours in front of the television.
The city offers a variety of activities for academically or athletically inclined kids as well as events that appeal to the whole family.
• SummerFun, Nashua: The city’s Parks and Recreation Department hosts a summer-long schedule of events that include music, carnivals, theater productions and movies. SummerFun kicks off on Saturday, June 4 from noon to 3 p.m. in Greeley Park with clowns, performances and face painting. Favorites include the Fairytale Festival in Greeley Park on Saturday, July 16 from noon to 4 p.m. and fireworks on July 4 at Holman Stadium. For a complete list of the summer fun events, go to the Parks and Recreation Department, 100 Concord St., Nashua, or go to www.gonashua.com.
• YMCA of Nashua, Nashua: Nashua offers sports day camps for kids in first through sixth grade in June, July and August. The Y also offers volleyball camps for girls in 7th through 10th grades. The YMCA also has sports classes on site. Registration is going on now. For more information, go to www.nmymca.org.
• Nashua Public Library, Nashua: In addition to year-round story times, the Nashua Public Library, 2 Court St., Nashua, 589-4600, also offers a summer reading program as well as other activities aimed at young readers. Some require preregistration. For the latest classes and more information, go to www.nashua.lib.nh.us.
• Peacock Players, Nashua: The Peacock Players offer two sessions of acting camps, with classes for budding performers ages 7 through 18. The camps run July 11 through 29 and August 1 through 19. Each session ends with a production performed in Greeley Park. The camps are $450 for each three-week session with discounts for siblings. For more information, go to www.peacockplayers.org.
• Yellow Taxi Productions, Nashua: Along with the Parks and Recreation department, Yellow Taxi is offering two theater camps. The class on July 11 through 15 will focus on comedy and improv, the class on August 1-12 will explore the Scottish play. The weeklong class costs $85 for Nashua residents; the two-week class is $150 for Nashua residents. Prices are slightly higher for non-residents. For more information, go to www.yellowtaxiproductions.com or to register call Parks and Rec at 589-3370.
• Nashua Pride, Nashua: The Pride offer your future Johnny Damon a chance to learn from the pros. Camps are available for kids 6 to 9 years old and 10 to13 years old. Camps run in late July and early to mid August and are $125 per kid per week. For information, go to www.nashuapride.com.
• Beaver Brook Association, Hollis: Have a budding scientist or naturalist on your hands? Check out the summer programs at Beaver Brook, 117 Ridge Road, Hollis, 465-7787. Classes are available for preschool and elementary school children and feature experiments, activities, hikes, crafts and presentations focusing on the natural world. For more information, go to www.beaverbrook.org.
• Amoskeag Fishways, Manchester: Amoskeag offers events most Friday nights that allow families to get up close to animals and plants and learn more about the nature in their own back yards. In addition, the Fishways, 6 Fletcher St., Manchester, 626-3474, features weekend programs. All require registration. What doesn’t require registration or any of your hard-earned cash? The 7th Annual Lamprey Appreciation Day, this Saturday, June 4, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Among other activities designed to inspire kid glee, lamprey fans get to hold a three-foot-long version of the sea lamprey, which , for the uninitiated, is a kind of eel. For more information, go to www.amoskeagfishways.org.
Music
Music, like most other entertainment, moves outdoors for the summer.
Many of your favorite bars and clubs will open their decks and patios and sidewalk-front seating areas, which means that music will be spilling from all directions on places like Main Street in Nashua and you can soak up the sun while enjoying your favorite umbrella-wearing drink.
Several area cities also help to foster outdoor performances in the warmer months. As part of Nashua’s SummerFun lineup, any given night in Greeley Park (usually at 7 p.m.) is likely to feature some sort of live music for free. Acts scheduled include:
• Dylan Luers Jazz Quartet, Thurs., June 9.
• Windham Swing Bank, Sat., June 18.
• Shannachie Irish Music, Wed., June 22.
• Judy Pancoast Children’s Concert, Wed., June 29.
• Spartan Drum & Bugle Corps, Sat., July 2
• Amoskeag Strummers banjo, Fri., July 8
• Bach Lunch Series, Wed., noon, July 13
• Bedford Big Band, Fri., August 26
Lowell also features a summer music series, which is $5 in advance, $10 at the door (children 12 and under free), at Boarding House Park, 20 French St., Lowell.
Acts scheduled for the series include Melissa Ferrick (July 1), Buckwheat Zydeco (July 16) and Little Feat (Sept. 1). For information, go to www.lowellsummermusic.com.
In Manchester, the civic organization Intown Manchester presents free performances daily at noon at either City Hall Place or Hampshire Plaza (both on Elm St. in Manchester, exit 5 off I-293, turn north on Elm St.). Scheduled performers include Amoskeag Strummers (June 13), Kevin Scanlon (June 15), Brian Morse (June 27) and Pezz Junkie (July 11). Intown also will present five free concerts Thursday nights in July and the first Thursday in August. Shows begin at 7 p.m. in Veterans Park. Performers include folk singer Laurel Braun (July 21) and Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers (July 7). For more information, go to www.intownmanchester.com.
—Amy Diaz
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The Scoop on Summer -- the Hippo, by Amy Diaz