New Hampshire summer. What does that look like to you? For me, it looks like sunset walks on the beach, flowers blooming as far as the eye can see, and local events galore. With so many event options in our beautiful area, I'd like to highlight my top ten summer activities and events for 2024.
1) Go see an event at Prescott Park in Portsmouth. With this year being the Prescott Park Arts Festival's fiftieth anniversary, it's sure to be a special year! The showings of their annual theater production start on June 21st, which is always a favorite of mine! I'm especially excited for this year's choice, Legally Blonde the Musical. They also have concerts throughout the summer, showcasing artists like the power couple The War and Treaty, GRAMMY® Award winner Patty Griffin, and up-and-coming country singer Brittney Spencer, who has performed with the likes of Willie Nelson, Reba, and Maren Morris. Quite the lineup! Oh, and did I mention movies? That's right; you can watch classics under the stars on evenings throughout the summer.
2) Check out Dover's 38th Annual Cochecho Arts Festival. Every Friday night from July 12 to August 16, the Cochecho Arts Festival will be hosting a free concert at Henry Law Park. And if you have young ones in the family you'd like to take for an outing, there is also a Children's Series on Tuesdays at 10:30am, which will run from July 9 to August thirteenth. It features acts like Rockin' Ron the Friendly Pirate, Wildlife Encounters, and juggler Bryson Lang. Something for everyone!
3) Support local businesses by shopping at farmers' markets. Many towns run their farmers' markets throughout the summer, providing farmers the opportunity to sell their produce. Food just tastes better when you know where it came from, and that it's helping a family right here in your community. Plus, some markets also have days where crafters are welcome to sell their handmade items. For a full list of farmers' markets near you, check out the Seacoast Harvest Local Food Guide.
4) Take a narrated tour on a Portsmouth Harbor Cruise. This has been on my must-do list for awhile! You can take the tour in the daytime, or even at sunset! Expect views of lighthouses, mansions, historical military forts, and more. Reviewers have described it as relaxing, informative, and "a must do". You can check out their pricing and tour schedule on their website.
5) Go hiking at any number of local trails. If you want to keep it close to home, consider the waterfront Willand Pond Trail or the longer Dover Community Trail. If you can go on a little adventure, check out the beautiful and popular Diana's Baths in Bartlett, or take a hike up Mount Major in Alton for a gorgeous view of the Lakes Region. You can find local hikes, as well as reviews for them, on websites like AllTrails.
6) Be transported back in time at the Strawberry Banke Museum. Right around the corner from Prescott Park in Portsmouth, the Strawberry Banke Museum highlights the past 350 years of local history. It has showrooms designed to look just like they would in that time period, beautiful heirloom gardens to explore, historical homes in their original location, and costumed role-players to bring history to life. The Museum especially pays homage to the Abenaki people, who have a rich and enduring history in the area. Their site is full of images that capture the essence of the Museum, much better than I can!
7) Pop over to Short Sands in York, Maine. Just a few miles down the turnpike, the beach town of York has much to offer. Short Sands in particular has a full schedule for this summer! There is a full line-up of concerts at the Ellis Park gazebo, an updated playground for the kids, plenty of fun businesses to check out, and the weeklong York Days celebration. That kicks off with a 5k on July 28. There'll be a large craft fair with over 50 vendors on August 3, and fireworks on August 4. I'll be catching those fireworks for sure! You can learn more at York's Parks and Rec website.
8) Support your local library. Libraries often have summer reading programs for kids and adults alike, incentivizing reading with the allure of prizes when you meet a goal. Plus, they offer special events and classes. For example, the Dover Public Library offers numerous events for all different interests, from Lego building to teen craft events to a class for all ages, an introduction to basic coding. You can find all of these and more on their event calendar! And did you know that you can also get museum passes for free or for a reduced price? Some pass options Dover offers are the Children's Museum of New Hampshire, the Strawberry Banke Museum, the Museum of Science, the New England Aquarium, and more!
9) Spend a rainy day inside in a local museum. Right in Dover, we have multiple museums to offer. The Woodman Museum, for example, offers a vast range of displays, from colonial artifacts to a shell and fossil gallery to fine art and furniture. On the other hand, the young ones in your life may lean more toward the Children's Museum of New Hampshire. Perfect for ages 0-12, this museum is full of hands-on learning opportunities about art, STEM, world cultures, and more. You can also sign up for special workshops for your little ones on their website.
10) Enjoy a blast from the past at antique car shows. All you have to do is search "car shows near me", and you'll have options galore. One that came up for me was the Historic Auto Show at the Woodman Museum, featuring classic cars to take you back in time.
Well, that's my lineup! Personally, I want to take advantage of Prescott Park's events, visit the Strawberry Banke Museum, and catch the fireworks at Short Sands -- and, of course, go swimming and kayaking, have a barbeque, sit around a bonfire, get a tan, attend a concert... Whatever you do this summer, I hope you have a blast!