Community Calendar

The Seacoast chamber chorus Amare Cantare will perform its winter concert series, “While All Things Were in Quiet Silence,” on Friday, December 12 at 7:30 p.m. in Exeter, NH; Sunday, December 14 at 3:00 p.m. in Dover, NH; and Wednesday, December 17 at 7:30 p.m. in Portsmouth, NH under the direction of the group’s new Music Director, Dr. Kyle Nielsen.

The concert of unaccompanied choral music will highlight how the sacred and special are often found in silent moments during the “Most Wonderful Time of the Year.” Perspectives from a variety of eras, nations, and life experiences are juxtaposed with both timeless and timely texts, introducing audiences to new authors, new composers, and new experiences at the start of Amare Cantare’s next chapter.

The performances will be the first under the direction of Dr. Nielsen, who assumed the role of Music Director following the retirement of Dr. Catherine Beller McKenna this past June. In addition to his new role with Amare Cantare, Dr. Nielsen is the Director of the Osher School of Music and Head of Choral Activities at the University of Southern Maine. A full bio for Dr. Nielsen can be found at amarecantare.org.

Since 1977, Amare Cantare’s auditioned members from across the Seacoast have performed masterworks and choral music from six centuries. They have also produced several digital albums of their performances.

“While All Things Were in Quiet Silence” will be performed on December 12 at Christ Church, 43 Pine Street in Exeter; on December 14 at Dover City Hall at 288 Central Avenue in Dover; and on December 17 at Middle Street Baptist Church, 18 Court Street in Portsmouth.

General admission is $20. Attendees age 25 and under may purchase tickets for $10. Tickets will be sold online at amarecantare.org beginning after Thanksgiving and at the door.

More information about Amare Cantare and the upcoming concerts can be found at amarecantare.org.

About Amare Cantare
An auditioned chamber chorus that strives for musical excellence in the performance of challenging and diverse repertoire, Amare Cantare seeks to foster a vital arts community, collaborate with other organizations, provide opportunities for artistic fulfillment for our singers, and share our love of music with our audiences. Since 1977, Amare Cantare (which means “to love to sing” in Italian) has performed masterworks and choral music from six centuries. Their newest digital album, En Vivo! Choral Music of Spain and the Americas, draws from live performance recordings from 2018 and 2019. The 17-track album was released in September 2020 and features a compilation of works sung in Spanish and English.

The registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Durham, New Hampshire also has a smaller outreach ensemble—Poco Amare—made up of 4 to 12 singers available for shorter, on-site performances. Amare Cantare typically offers two sets of concerts each year in winter and spring. For more information, please visit amarecantare.org.

Jeffrey Augustine Songco
Society of 23’s Conservatory
January 2 – March 7, 2025

Society of 23’s Conservatory is an immersive, site-specific installation that combines photography, video, and sculpture in a multisensory experience. Jeffrey Augustine Songco captures the look and feel of a conservatory meets greenhouse during the sun-drenched days of summer, as he invites visitors to explore themes such as friendship, perfection, non-native, and exoticism. The greenhouse becomes a backdrop to Songco's camp exploration of a complicated relationship between his identity as an American of Filipino ethnicity and the colonial American behavior of conspicuously collecting “exotic” plants during the US rule over the Philippines from 1898-1946. Through the scope of florals and bouquet arrangements, Songco "plants" visual clues and non-verbal messages throughout the space, inviting viewers to reflect on their own personal and cultural origin stories and consider the constructs we create and dismantle for ourselves.

For the last fifteen years, Songco has continued to make artwork based on the Society of 23 — a fictional brotherhood of 23 mysterious gentlemen all portrayed by the artist himself. His artwork examines the construction of his personal identities and their relationships to the actual society in which he exists.

Gallery Hours: Tue-Fri: 9-5, Sat: 10-4. Reservations required

BETHLEHEM, N.H. (July 30, 2024)— Join the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests for their new series, Thursday Walks at The Rocks. Nigel Manley, senior outreach manager at Forest Society North at The Rocks, will lead weekly educational walking program will allow participants to traverse the property, learn about its rich history, explore the Christmas Tree Farm, understand the maple sugaring process, learn about New Hamsphire’s wildlife, and more.

Thursday Walks at The Rocks will be held weekly from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Forest Society North at The Rocks, 113 Glessner Road in Bethlehem. Walks last approximately 2 hours; some will have an introductory 15-to-30-minute presentation. The cost is $5 for members and $15 for not-yet-members. Register here.

The educational walk schedule:

August 1: Maple Sugaring at The Rocks
August 8: NH Wildlife
August 15: Christmas Trees & Wildlife
August 22: Maple Sugaring at The Rocks
August 29: NH Wildlife
September 5: Christmas Trees & Wildlife
September 12: Maple Sugaring at The Rocks
September 19: NH Wildlife
September 26: Christmas Trees & Wildlife
October 3: History of The Rocks
October 10: NH Wildlife
October 17: Christmas Trees & Wildlife
October 24: History of The Rocks

ABOUT THE ROCKS
The Rocks is a 1,400-acre property, owned and managed by the Forest Society. Built as a working farm in the 1880s by John Jacob Glessner, a cofounder of International Harvester, The Rocks retains much of the grandeur of White Mountain retreats – exceptional period architecture, an Olmsted-designed Garden, and a network of woodland trails open to the public year-round. In 1978 descendants of the Glessner family donated The Rocks to the Forest Society, which has operated it since as a vibrant Christmas tree farm, conservation and nature education center, and working forest. Learn more about The Rocks at forestsociety.org/the-rocks.

ABOUT THE FOREST SOCIETY
The Forest Society is a private, non-profit land trust and forestry organization established in 1901. The Forest Society also owns over 195 forest reservations constituting over 60,000 acres in 100 New Hampshire communities It currently holds more than 750 conservation easements statewide, thus together permanently protects more than 190,000 acres of New Hampshire’s landscapes for the benefit of nature and people.

Kimball Jenkins will be hosting its first annual Holidays at the Estate - A Celebration of the Season, November 29-December 19, 2025. The event will feature a variety of free holiday inspired immersive experiences for all ages celebrating the magic of the season.

ALL ages are welcome to enjoy a variety of free and ticketed holiday inspired programs including:
‣ Self-guided tours of your illuminated grounds and first floor of our historic Mansion
‣ "Winter Wonderland" featured art exhibition
‣ Seasonal entertainment by local performers and organizations on Tuesdays, 4pm--8pm
‣ Visits from Santa
‣ Seasonal beverages and sweets
‣ Hanukkah celebration
‣ Shopping for unique, hand-made gifts at "The Artisan's Nook"
‣ ... and more!

Experience the magic of Christmas in New Hampshire at Santa’s Christmas—an enchanting, family-friendly holiday adventure at Charmingfare Farm. Ride the Christmas Trail to the North Pole, meet Santa and his live reindeer, and enjoy festive treats, campfires, and holiday cheer. It’s a cozy, authentic farm experience that captures the true spirit of Christmas.

Event Highlights & Activities:

• Ride to the North Pole: Choose a Horse-Drawn Wagon (up to 10 guests) or a private Vis-A-Vis Sleigh (up to 4 guests) through the decorated Christmas Trail.
• Express Ticket Option: Tractor Train directly to the North Pole for a shorter, budget-friendly visit.
• Meet Santa: Visit Santa in the Reindeer Barn and drop letters into the North Pole Mailbox.
• Mrs. Claus’ Bakery: Complimentary sugar cookies and hot cocoa.
• Live Reindeer & Barnyard Animals: Animal encounters; feed available for purchase.
• Campfires & S’mores: Warm up by the fire; s’mores kits available on site.
• Holiday Gift Barn: Seasonal gifts, plush toys, maple and honey products, and more.
• Festive Photo Ops: Capture your family’s perfect Christmas photo around the farm.
• Weather-Ready Rides: Runs snow or shine; wheeled vehicles used when sled runners aren’t suitable.

Event Dates & Times
• November 29 & 30, 2025
• December 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, 21 & 24 (Christmas Eve), 2025
• Various Departures – Day or Evening

Important Notes

• Event runs snow or shine.
• Dress warmly and bring a camera to capture the beautiful moments.
• Advance reservations are required; popular time slots sell out.

Join us on the beautiful John Paul Jones House lawn for afternoon yoga! Certified yoga instructors will guide you through exercises for all skill levels as you enjoy the summer sunshine. Please bring your own yoga mat, reusable water bottle, and yoga block if you’d like to use one.

All sessions start at 12 pm.

New England's largest walk through light show. 1 mile trail, over 2 million lights, trees wrapped to over 90' in height

Join us at the brewery every Thursday at 6PM for trivia hosted by Raise The Bar Trivia! Winning team receives 25% off their tab, plus an additional 5% for subsequent week wins!

Student recitals are part of the Concord Community Music School’s multi-level curriculum for private lesson students. These frequent performance opportunities help our students perform more easily, broaden their musical skills, and help them make new musical friends. This performance features the students of CCMS flute faculty members Erin Dubois and Natalie Talbot.

This event will be held in our Community Room. It is free of charge and open to the public. Donations are appreciated.

See website for performance times as they differ by day

“You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.”- Mae West.

Love is in the air when two passionate Mae West fans meet at their idol’s gravesite. As their relationship blooms, they swap stories of the uniquely American icon who defiantly rejected polite society, theatrical norms, and constant censorship by being unapologetically authentic, rising from obscurity to sex symbol. “Too much of a good thing can be wonderful” in this funny and bawdy Tony-nominated musical.

Contains adult themes and language. Recommended for ages 12+.