One Stop, Endless Adventures: Clark’s Bears
By Mike Moore
One-of-a-kind experiences can be found anywhere you look around the White Mountains and Lakes Region. Few places, however, provide such an entertaining spectacle as Clark’s Bears (formerly known for decades as Clark’s Trading Post) in Lincoln, just off Route 3. Bears wowing visitors with their magnificent tricks have been the main attraction all along, but today, guests to the park can also experience climbing walls, train rides, a territorial wolfman, and even take a Segway for a spin through the Segway Safari.
Nearly 100 years ago, the Clark family opened a small trading post that doubled as a roadside attraction for those making their way through the mountain roads in Lincoln. The spot was known as Ed Clark’s Eskimo Sled Dog Ranch. At first, the Clarks would offer visitors to the trading post a guided tour of their sled dog farm or encourage them to explore their collection of historical artifacts on display. By 1931, they brought in their first bear, and their little roadside attraction added quite the wow factor to their unique little trading post. Bears officially became the Clark family business when both of their sons had such an interest in the intelligent, beautiful creatures that they spent countless hours training them to do tricks and eventually started to formulate a full-length show for audiences.
Today, Maureen and Murray Clark continue the family tradition among the head trainers for the half-hourlong bear show. Darla and Hildie are the latest stars of the show, delighting audiences with a series of tricks and silly antics at each show. Over the decades that the Clarks have shared
their wondrous animals with audiences, the thrill doesn’t subside, as many of their patrons have come back year after year, bringing their kids and grandkids to appreciate the experience. It didn’t take long for the success of the Bear Show to allow the Clarks to explore other ideas for entertaining guests at the park. The trading post started to expand during the 1950s, where passersby could see a collection of old-fashioned trains that the Clark family salvaged. The idea started as a way to save the historic artifacts from destruction, but instead, giving others the chance to see their beauty. The popularity of the trains inspired their next big addition to the park, when they designed the White Mountain Central Railroad. This leisurely train ride takes passengers through the surrounding woods, providing wonderful views of the scenery. In recent decades, the Clarks introduced their grumpy pros-
pector character, the Wolfman, who is famous for protecting his mine with curmudgeonly rants as the train passengers invade his territory. Today, there are several additional attractions that guests of Clark’s Bears can enjoy while at the park. Portions of the summer schedule include circus act performances by the Yandong Chinese Acrobats, the Red Harlequin Juggler, and Elena, the Dazzling Quick Change Artist. At Merlin’s Mansion, guests can experience the magical wonder of the building while taking a tour of the grounds. Tuttle’s Rustic House gives patrons the chance to test their shooting skills with its expansive laser shooting gallery. During those particularly hot days, the Blaster Boats are a
great way to cool off while getting the chance to soak friends and family in the blast zone. The Anaconda Escape is a massive, 300-foot water flume ride, with thrilling drops and amazing views of the surrounding mountain range along the track at the top. Paying homage to the Old Man of the Mountain, Clark’s climbing tower reaches 30 feet high and has three different climbing stations for climbers of all experience levels. For guests wanting to feel like Marty McFly in Back to the Future II, the Segway Park was among the first of its kind and lets guests take a short ride throughout the park after a brief training. For those folks who can’t get enough of gliding around on these futuristic scooters, the Segway Safari takes riders off-road, down near the Wolfman’s mine territory, where the raggedy old prospector always pays a visit.
The Main Gift Shop has everything available from souvenirs and Native-inspired artifacts to clothing and fudge. Visitors can dip their own candles at the Candle Shop, dress up in old-time costumes at the Kilburn’s Photo Parlor, pan for gold at River City Mining, and grab an old-fashioned soda and some maple candy at the Maple Cabin. There are also five different museums to explore. The 1884 Pemigewasset Hook and Ladder Fire Station has a full-sized, horse-drawn fire engine on display, while visitors can check out a wide variety of histori• Clark’s continued on page 4
Beat the Heat at Meredith Public Library’s Ice Cream Social
All ages are invited to celebrate the conclusion of the “Plant A Seed of Democracy” Adult Summer Reading Program on Saturday, August 1, from 11 am to 1 pm, in the library Function Room. About 350 people have participated in the various America 250 theme programs, and over 500 people have participated by taking out books, audiobooks, and DVDs since the promotion started in early April.
There will be drawings for prizes in the Adult Summer Reading Raffle, drawings for prizes just for attending
this event, opportunities for all attendees to spin the library prize wheel, and an ice cream buffet! Ice cream will be provided by our local Ben & Jerry’s located at Mill Falls Marketplace in downtown Meredith.
The ice cream buffet will consist of assorted flavors, whipped cream, cherries, toppings (sauces and candies), and even brownies. Tables will be set up throughout the room so people can sit down with their ice cream and socialize. Attendees are encouraged to invite friends and meet new ones there
as they discuss their favorite ice cream sundae creations.
In addition to Ben & Jerry’s donating the ice cream, the Friends of the Meredith Public Library are sponsoring this
• Clark’s continued from page 3
cal artifacts at the Americana Museum, Florence Murray Museum, or Avery’s Garage, a full-sized replica of an early 20th-century gas station. The Clark History Museum is a great place for visitors to learn the history of the Clark family, that has owned and operated this treasured New Hampshire destination since the roaring 20s.
One of the best aspects of Clark’s Bears is how well their bears are treated, especially during the wintertime offseason. The furry entertainers can enjoy a secluded winter nap in their woodland habitat, specifically designed for them to have the spacious woodland experience.
event, so there will be no charge to the public for enjoying the ice cream or for chances at any of the prizes.
The Meredith Public Library is located at 91 Main Street, Meredith.
shop are open seven days a week and offer bear shows, train rides, and circus acts multiple times throughout the day. The adventures typically begin each day at 9 am, while the park has different closing times throughout the season, depending on the time of year. Visit their website to check out their season’s calendar and pricing information.
Today, the fifth generation of the Clark family is still hard at work bringing their special brand of entertainment to audiences of all ages. Clark’s opens each spring and autumn for weekends only, but the gift shop is open to the public throughout the week. During the summer months, the park and gift
The White Mountains Region has just as many things to do and places to explore during the summer months as it does when the crowds hit the slopes each winter. For nearly 100 years, Clark’s Bears has been a mainstay on the list of popular summertime attractions in New England, even earning the award of “Best Attraction in the Region” by Yankee Magazine. From the train ride through the scenic mountain views to the unbelievable talents of the bears and trainers performing in multiple shows a day, the whole family will take away lifelong memories of the unique and captivating experience at Clark’s Bears.
The Adventure Is Open Daily • Both
The Shopkeeper of Alsace Lecture and Book
Signing by Author
Laura Knoy
On Tuesday, August 11, the Wright Museum will welcome Laura Knoy. This is the twelfth program of the Wright Museum’s 2026 Education Series.
When WWII comes for her family, Sarah thinks she is ready. She has had training, after all, coming of Age during World War I.
The Shopkeeper of Alsace is an uplifting tale of family, love, resilience, and an unstoppable woman.
Laura Knoy is an award-winning journalist. She founded New Hampshire’s most widely respected and rec-
ognized public radio program, “The Exchange,” which she hosted for 25 years. Laura also worked at the national level, newscasting, hosting, and reporting for NPR.
Doors open at 6 pm, the program begins at 7 pm on Tuesday, August 11, at the Wright Museum’s DuQuoin Education Center, 77 Center Street in Wolfeboro. Admission is $8 for members and $12 for non-members. Reservations are strongly encouraged and can be made online at https://wrightmuseum.org/lecture-series or by calling 603-569-1212.
Bluegrass Comes to the Bandstand on Saturday Night
The Saturday night free concert series in the Wolfeboro Community Bandstand opens the month of August on Saturday, August 1, with High Range bringing their bluegrass sound to the shores of Lake Winnipesaukee.
High Range is a New Hampshire-based band playing both original and cover songs featuring fiddle, guitar, mandolin, banjo, upright bass, and drums together since 1999. The band features Todd Jones on guitar, banjo, and vocals, Rob Kneeland on mandolin, drums, and vocals, Ellen Carson on fiddle and vocals, Steve Roy on mandolin and bass, and Brendan Dowd and Zac Francis on bass.
The band has opened for numerous acts including Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys, Tim O’Brien and Cornbread Nation, The Waybacks, Carol Noonan, Lori McKenna, Bill Morrissey and Tommy Makem at venues around New Hampshire,
including the Stone Church in Newmarket, Prescott Park Folk Festival in Portsmouth, Great Waters and the New Hampshire Folk Festival as well as numerous venues outside of the state including the Bluebird Café in Nashville, the Thomas Point Beach Festival in Brunswick, Maine, Hickory Fest in Stony Fork, Pa. and Down Home in
Johnson City, Tenn.
The band has also earned great reviews for its performances. “High Range has forged a tight, compelling ensemble sound that is highly musical and thoroughly entertaining,” said David McCarty of Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine. Dave Higgs of Bluegrass Breakdown on Nashville Public Radio
said, “High Range has a sound all its own, full of surprises, instrumental excellence, some fine vocals, and some absolutely killer originals.”
The Friend of the Wolfeboro Community Bandstand concerts run from 7 to 9 pm in Cate Park in downtown Wolfeboro each Saturday in July and August. Though there is no charge for the concert, a pass-the-hat offering is taken at intermission to help support the Friends of the Wolfeboro Community Bandstand’s mission to bring quality acts to Wolfeboro every summer.
High Range will play at 7 pm on Saturday, August 1, weather permitting. The concerts are subject to weather conditions. If bad weather is threatening and the concert has to be postponed, there will be a sign posted at the park entrance near the town docks, and it will be posted online at wolfeborobandstand.org and on the group’s Facebook page.
Celebrate the End of Summer Reading with a Community Tie-Dye Party at the Gafney Library
The Gafney Library invites the community to come and help celebrate the grand finale of its Summer Reading Program with a colorful Community Tie-Dye Party on Saturday, August 1, from 10 am to 12 pm, on the library’s front lawn.
This fun, family-friendly event is open to everyone, regardless of age or participation in the Summer Reading Program.
The library will provide everything needed to create a unique tie-dye masterpiece, including T-shirts, dyes,
gloves, and other materials— completely free of charge while supplies last. Participants are also welcome to bring their own item to tie-dye instead of a shirt. Cotton items such as T-shirts, tote bags, pillowcases, socks, or bandanas work the best.
ilies, friends, and neighbors will join us to make our second Community Tie Dye event memorable and help us wrap up an incredible summer.”
“This is a wonderful way to conclude another fantastic Summer Reading Program and bring our community together for a fun and creative activity,” said Library Director Amy Swanson. “We hope fam-
The Community Tie-Dye Party will be held outdoors on the front lawn of the Gafney Library. In the event of inclement weather, updates will be posted on the library’s Facebook page and website. For more information, please contact the Gafney Library at 603-5223401 or visit the library’s website.
High Range will play in the Wolfeboro Community Bandstand on Saturday, Aug. 1, at 7 p.m.
Discover Local Biodiversity During Bioblitz at Squam Lakes Natural Science Center
Squam Lakes Natural Science Center invites the community to take part in a month-long BioBlitz this August, a collaborative community science effort to document the incredible diversity of life found across the Science Center’s conserved campus.
With more than 200 acres of forests, fields, wetlands, and gardens to explore, the Science Center is home to a variety of plants, animals, fungi, and insects. Throughout August, visitors of all ages are encouraged to help discover and record the species they encounter using the free iNaturalist app.
Every observation made throughout the month helps document the plants, animals, fungi, and insects that call the Science Center home while contributing valuable data to the global iNaturalist database. These discoveries help scientists and land managers better understand and protect the ecosystems that make this landscape thrive.
Whether you photograph a butterfly, identify a native wildflower, spot a fungus, or observe a bird along the trail, each observation adds to our understanding of New Hampshire’s biodiversity.
New to iNaturalist? The Science Center will offer introductory sessions every Monday and Wednesday at 11:30 am throughout August. These short programs will introduce participants to the app, demonstrate how to make observations, and provide tips for documenting wildlife
before heading out to explore the trails.
Participants can also join Walks with an Expert, a series of guided programs led by scientists and naturalists. These walks will focus on topics including moths, invasive plants, birds, flowers, and shrubs, offering participants the opportunity to learn identification skills while exploring the Science Center’s diverse habitats.
The August BioBlitz is open to visitors of all ages and experience levels. For more information about the BioBlitz, the schedule of Walks with an Expert, and registration details, visit nhnature.org.
Founded in 1966, the Squam Lakes Natural Science Center in Holderness, NH, is dedicated to advancing understanding of ecology by exploring New Hampshire’s natural world. The Center engages visitors through live animal exhibits, lake cruises, interactive programs, and nature-based learning experiences that inspire appreciation and stewardship of the environment. Located on Route 113 in Holderness, it’s an easy drive from exit 24 off I-93. The Live Animal Trail is open daily through November 1 and weekends through November 23. For more information, call 603968-7194 or visit www.nhnature. org.
Experience lakeside living at its finest at Langley Cove, a new residential community on Weirs Boulevard in Laconia, New Hampshire. Choose from charming single-family homes at The Cottages at Langley Cove, stylish apartments at The Residence at Langley Cove, or spacious townhomes at The Estates at Langley Cove. Here, you’ll discover a lifestyle centered around comfort, luxury, and community. Enjoy resort-style amenities and a prime location just minutes from Weirs Beach and downtown Laconia.
Property Amenities
Central Air Conditioning
In-Unit Washer/Dryer
Stainless Steel Appliances
Designer Flooring & Finishes
Electronic Thermostat
Fireplace *Select homes
Patio/Balcony *Select homes
Garage *Select homes
Fitness Center
Theatre Room
Community Room
Game Room
or
Podcast Room
Pickleball Court
BBQ & Picnic Area
Fire Pit
Animal Spa
Dog Parks &
Classic Broadway Musical She Loves Me coming to The Barnstormers Theatre
The Barnstormers Theatre is thrilled to present the third production of their 96th season, She Loves Me. The feelgood musical runs until August 1. Inspired by the love story that also gave us the film You’ve Got Mail, She Loves Me features a delightful score by the award-winning team Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick.
The Barnstormers’ production is directed and choreographed by Ilyse Robbins with music direction by Michael Ursua. Andrew O’Shanick and Selene Klasner star as love-struck pen pals Georg Nowak and Amalia Balish.
Robbins notes She Loves Me is a beloved classic musical, and points out the authentic, deeply human characters at the heart of the show that make it timeless. “Each person has a full and rich life story—there are no caricatures on this little street in Hungary.”
“It’s such a privilege to work with this standout ensemble of artists,” Barnstormers first-timer O’Shanick said. About the script and music itself, he is equally delighted. “This show is as charming today as it was 60 years ago.”
Will McGarrahan, also in his debut production for The Barnstormers, agrees. “There’s a reason why She Loves Me continues to enchant audiences, generation after generation,” McGarrahan, who portrays Mr. Maraczek, said. “You love the characters, you love the story, and you love the songs.”
Included in the She Loves Me cast are four 2026 New Hampshire Theatre Alliance Outstanding Performance winners from last season’s productions of Something Rotten and Front Row to Murder: Lee Hollis Busse (Steven Kodaly), Scott Cote (Ladislav Sipos), Ja-
cob Erdody (Arpad Laszlo), and Doug Shapiro (Keller/Ensemble).
Rounding out the cast of performers are Aimee Doherty (Ilona Ritter) and ensemble members Sophie Pankhurst, Alex Jorth, Hannah Nye, Michael Jennings Mahoney, and Jordan Eagle.
Known for exquisite sets, lighting, sound, and costumes, The Barnstormers production team boasts talented designers and builders who will transport audiences to 1930s Hungary. Among the crew are Janie Howland (Scenic Designer), Karen Perlow (Lighting Designer), Clara Jean Kelly (Costume Designer), Zoey Gromadzin (Sound Designer), Shannon Sturgis (Resident Stage Manager), Meredith Beck (Assistant Stage Manager), and Camden Hornor (Intern Assistant Stage Manager).
Tickets for She Loves Me and all of the summer productions are available at barnstormerstheatre.org or by calling 603-323-8500.
Located in the scenic village of Tam-
worth, N.H., The Barnstormers Theatre is one of the oldest professional summer theatres in the country. Founded in 1931 by Francis Cleveland, the youngest son of President Grover Cleveland, his wife Alice, and their friend Ed Goodnow, all veterans of the Broadway stage, The Barnstormers continue their legacy more than 90 years later. Today, it remains one of only four Equity theatres in New Hampshire, producing professional, high-caliber theatre each summer. Like many arts organizations, The Barnstormers relies on contributions, as ticket sales cover only about half of its operating costs. Every gift helps sustain its mission and programs.
Once Upon a Time Entertainment: Drive-In
By Kathi Caldwell-Hopper
Once upon a time, drive-in movie theatres were extremely popular. The Lakes Region had a few, with the Weirs Drive-In Theatre being the best known. The Weirs Drive-In opened in July of 1949 and was the second to do so in New Hampshire. (The first was on the New Hampshire/Massachusetts border, built in 1948.)
The first owners of the Weirs DriveIn were Harry and Yvonne Gaudet. At its start, the drive-in had a capacity of 500 cars on a 15-acre tract of land. The single 36- by 52-foot screen was made of flex-board, affixed to a 50 ft. long and 60 ft. wide high tower. The cement block projection room was located 250 feet back from the screen tower. The projection room also had a concession area where moviegoers could get soda and snacks.
The popular Sky-Hi Drive-In in Bos-
cawen, not far from Franklin, operated from 1954 to 1998. The theatre had parking for over 380 cars and a onescreen viewing experience. It was built in the early 1950s and opened in 1954 with Randolph Scott in “The Stranger Wore a Gun” and Johnny Weissmuller in “Valley of Head Hunters.”
The drive-in was located off the Daniel Webster Highway. Popular with locals looking for something fun and different to do on a summer’s evening, the drive-in was a great way to watch the latest film, but eventually it closed when times changed.
Around the Lakes Region, various towns had an indoor movie theatre, whether a large place like the Colonial Theatre in downtown Laconia or a modest movie house in nearby towns like Plymouth or Bristol.
The city of Laconia had an offshoot area known as Lakeport. The Lakeport
Opera House was in the center of the community and served the people of the area. It was built in 1882 and still stands to this day. It was a large building with a stage and movie house that played silent films, much to the enjoyment of children who saw Saturday afternoon movies there.
The Lakeport building was first called Moore’s Opera House with a second floor movie and seating for 350 people. It was also used for local plays, musicals and traveling shows. It is said it was even a speakeasy during the Prohibition years. After renovations, the theatre once again features live entertainment, with concerts well attended by the public.
According to information at www. flyingmonkeynh.com, the Plymouth Theater, located on Main Street in the town, has been at the heart of historic Plymouth’s cultural and social life, harkening back to its start in the 1920s. At the height of its popularity, the “New Plymouth Theater” attracted sold-out audiences for some of Hollywood’s movies from silent films into the era of the talkies.
The movie theatre was a state-ofthe-art facility with modern amenities, such as being the only Western Electric
Movies
Mirrophonic Sound System in the area. It also had “air-cooling”, an inclined floor and luxuries like upholstered seats for up to 700 people…all at a 25cent admission price!
Popular movies featured such stars as the Marx Brothers, among many others. If you wanted the news, you could depend on the Fox Movie Tone News before the main movie began.
The theater offered extras to lure moviegoers, such as Saturday night events, Western movies for kids, and a unique (at the time) event on Halloween. The theatre offered horror movies after the annual Halloween parade in downtown Plymouth…and the movies were free on that occasion.
In 2010 it underwent extensive renovations and was renamed the Flying Monkey Movie House and Performance Center.
Bristol, a small Newfound Lake area town, was as quiet as any other community in the 1920s. However, some excitement came to town when a small rural theater was built during that decade. The movie house, named the Bristol Theatre, was modest in size, but • Yesteryear continued on page 13
Amenities included a large screen and a mono sound system in use for many years. In the early 1960s, the movie house had a 2:35 screen and 2-channel stereo installed.
Moviegoers could choose from seats on the main floor or in the raised balcony section, with the refreshment stand and manager’s office located under and accessible from the lobby.
In the early 1960s, during a winter of heavy snow, the movie house collapsed. In the Bristol Enterprise it was reported, “Damage caused by the collapse of the Bristol Theatre roof and sidewalls last Friday and Saturday has been estimated at more than $60,000.00 by the resident manager, Malcolm Kenniston, of Plymouth. Mr. Kenniston told the Enterprise that its owner, Allard Graves, would have to make the final decision to rebuild the unit. Mr. Graves is in Arizona and is expected to inspect the damage early next week.”
The Enterprise went on to report, “It has been theorized by most that the heavy weight of the snow on the theatre roof caused it to collapse on Friday, [March 24, 1960] followed by the bucking of the sidewalls the next day [Saturday, March 25, 1960]. Over the past few years, the theatre has been used only during the summer months and was unoccupied and unheated at the time of the disaster.”
In Bristol, interested and curious spectators could look through the theatre’s front door and see blue sky in-
side instead of a viewing screen. Unfortunately, most of the projection and sound equipment was a loss. During that time, other buildings in the Newfound area also collapsed due to the snow and elements.
The Key Theatre in Meredith opened before 1941. The modest movie house was located on the second floor of a downtown building and remained in operation until the 1950s. It opened around 1938, offering MGM films, and had 270 seats.
In Franklin, the Regal Theatre on Central Street in the downtown was a big entertainment venue. It opened in 1935 and offered over 800 seats. The Regal played MGM movies and was very popular in its day. A 1950s advertisement told the reader that the theatre was 20 degrees cooler in the summer and had a Wide Vision Screen.
On July 7 to 9, 1950, the Regal advertised stars Ingrid Bergman and Gary Cooper in “For Whom the Bell Tolls.” Movies at the Regal had Sunday matinees with continuous viewing from 3 pm, and weekly continuous evening shows from 7 pm.
Elsewhere, the Pineland Theatre occupied part of a large barn-like building in the Mountainview section of Center Ossipee. The building was also used for other entertainments and contained a dance hall and a snack bar/coffee shop. The theatre was also known as Pineland Hall and as Pineland Mountainview Theatre.
If you drive around the Lakes Region today, there are still traces of the once-popular small-town movie theatres, and in some places such as Plymouth, the entertainment houses have found new life.
Contact us today to learn more about the market
Contact: 620 Tenney Mountain Highway Plymouth, NH 03264
603-238-6990
We’re Local, We’re Global®
Through Oct. 31, From Sails to Atoms: The Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, exhibit about the history and impact of the shipyard, Wright Museum of WWII, 77 Center St., Wolfeboro, 603-569-1212, www.wrightmuseum.org
July 27, Discovery Walk with a Naturalist, 10 - 11 am, Grey Rocks Conservation Center, 178 North Shore Rd., Hebron, info.: 603-744-8689, www.newfoundlake.org.
July 27, Loon Cruise, 3 – 4:30 pm, observe common loons, on canopied pontoon boats, Squam Lakes Natural Science Center, Rt. 113 Holderness, 603-9687194, advance reservation required: www.nhnature.org.
July 27, Monarch Monitoring Mondays, 9 - 10:30 am, on Mondays, held at Pemi Oxbow Preserve, Holderness, program of Squam Lakes Natural Science Center, 23 Science Center Rd., Holderness, pre-registration: 603-968-7194, www.nhnature.org.
July 27, Music Night, Jeff Lines performing, 5:30 pm, Carriage House Restaurant, Castle in the Clouds, Rte. 171, Moultonborough, reservations encouraged: 603-476-5410, www.castleintheclouds.org
July 27, Story Time and Craft Hour, 11 am – noon, free, Castle in the Clouds (Lucknow), held near Shannon Pond, Rte. 171, Moultonborough, pre-registration: 603-476-5410, www.castleintheclouds.org. (In partnership with Moultonborough Public Library)
July 27, Yoga on the Lawns of Lucknow, 6 – 7 pm, Castle in the Clouds (Lucknow), pre-registration required: 603-476-5900, www.castleintheclouds.org
July 27 & 31, Loon Cruise, 3 – 4:30 pm, observe common loons, on canopied pontoon boats, Squam Lakes Natural Science Center, Rt. 113 Holderness, 603968-7194, advance reservation required: www.nhnature.org
July 28, Beading with Rubber Tubing Class, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. Create colorful jewelry, pre-register for details at ArtWorks CCAC, 132 Rt. 16, Chocorua, 603323-8041, www.chocoruaartworks.com
June 28, Lecture Series: Alex Kershaw – Escape the Deep, 7 – 8 p.m., Wright Museum of WWII, 77 Center St., Wolfeboro, admission/reservations: 603-5691212, www.wrightmuseum.org
July 28, Music Night, Cindy Duchin & Steve Hayden performing, 5:30 pm, Carriage House Restaurant, Castle in the Clouds, Rte. 171, Moultonborough, reservations encouraged: 603-476-5410, www.castleintheclouds.org
July 29, Book Club: Revenge of the Tipping Point, 10 – 11 am, Effingham Public Library, 30 Town House Rd., Effingham, 603-539-1537.
July 29, Kids in the Park, 10 am – noon, free admission, Safety Day with Lakes Region Search & Rescue and Laconia Police & Fire Depts., Belknap Mill, 25 Beacon St., East, Laconia, 603-524-8813, www.belknapmill.org.
July 29, Music Night, Charles A Music performing, 5:30 pm, Carriage House Restaurant, Castle in the Clouds, Rte. 171, Moultonborough, reservations encouraged: 603-476-5410, www.castleintheclouds.org
July 29, Music on the Lawn, Starlight Honeys, 6:30 – 7:30 pm, on the lawn of Cook Memorial Library, Cook Memorial Library, 93 Main St., Tamworth, 603323-8510, www.tamworthlibrary.org.
July 29, New Horizons Band concert, 6:30 pm, Taylor Community Pavilion, Union Ave., Laconia, www.newhorizons-lakesregion.org.
July 29, Open House - Grand Opening of Sandy Martin Gallery, 4 – 6 pm, 3 Grove St., Wolfeboro, with live music by Carolyn Ramsay and Chuck Farrell, 603-569-9890, 603-556-2456, www.SandyMartinArt.com
July 30, Archways: Recovery is Possible, Community Makes it Last, 6 pm, Flying Monkey Moviehouse and Performance Center, 39 S. Main St., Plymouth, 603-536-2551, www.flyingmonkeynh.com.
July 30, Eaglemania – The World’s Greatest Eagles Tribute Band, 8 pm, The Colonial Theatre, 609 Main St., Laconia, 800-657-8774, www.coloniallaconia.com.
July 30, Freese Brothers Big Band, Bristol Summer Concert Series, 6:30 pm, Kelley Park, 41 North Main St., Bristol, free, public welcome, bristolevents@ bristolnh.gov
July 30, Kids Nature Exploration, 10:30 – 11:30 am, Grey Rocks Conservation Center, 178 North Shore Rd., Hebron, info.: 603-744-8689, www.newfoundlake.org.
July 30, North River Music, outdoor concert, concessions, free, 19 Mile Beach, Rt. 28, Tuftonboro, 603-569-4539, ext. 125.
July 30, The Sweetbloods, 5 – 6 pm, free, Marceau Park, Central St., downtown Franklin, 603-934-1901, www.franklinoperahouse.org
July 30, Volcanoes and Cellar Holes: the History of Ossipee Park, 10 am – noon, Castle in the Clouds, Rte. 171, Moultonborough, pre-registration required: 603-476-5410, www.castleintheclouds.org
July 30-Aug. 9, Cabaret, Interlakes Theatre, 1 Laker Lane, Meredith, 603-7076035, www.interlakestheatre.com
July 30-Aug. 30, 86th Annual Members Exhibit, Thurs.-Sunday, 10 am, free, Lakes Region Art Association, exhibits and classes, Suite 300, Tanger Outlet, Rte. 3, Tilton, 603-998-0029, www.lraanh.org
July 31, Artist Reception & Awards Evening, 6 – 8 pm, free, meet the artists, light refreshments, award winners announced, Lakes Region Art Association, Suite 300, Tanger Outlet, Rte. 3, Tilton, 603-998-0029, www.lraanh.org
July 31, Band Concert, Center Harbor Town Band, 7 pm, free, downtown Center Harbor, 603-785-2921.
July 31, Blue Collar Men – The Music of Styx, 7:30 pm, Flying Monkey Moviehouse and Performance Center, 39 S. Main St., Plymouth, 603-5362551, www.flyingmonkeynh.com.
July 31, Concerts on Canal, Michael Vincent Band, 5 – 9 pm, Canal St., Laconia, all ages welcome, held rain or shine, 603-527-8124.
July 31, Garden to Table Series, Making Homemade Pasta, 10 am – noon, ages 6 – 14, Prescott Farm Environmental Education Center, 928 White Oaks Rd., Laconia, pre-register: 603-366-5695, www.prescottfarm.org.
July 31, Loon Cruise, 3 – 4:30 pm, observe common loons, on canopied pontoon boats, Squam Lakes Natural Science Center, Rt. 113 Holderness, 603968-7194, advance reservation required: www.nhnature.org
July 31, Lucas Zelnick, 8 – 10 pm, Colonial Theatre of Laconia, 609 Main St., Laconia, 800-657-8774, www.coloniallaconia.com.
July 31, Music in the Marketplace, featuring Tammy and John, 5 – 8 pm, Mill Falls Marketplace, 312 Daniel Webster Highway, Meredith, free, marketplacecoord@gmail.com.
July 31, Super Groups of the 70s, 7:30 pm, Lakeport Opera House, 781 Union Ave., Laconia, 603-519-7506, www.lakeportopera.com
July 31-Aug. 9, Romeo & Juliet, at Quimby Park, Sandwich & Castle in the Clouds, Moultonborough, by Advice to the Players, www.advicetotheplayers. org., contact@advicetotheplayers.org. (Takes place in Quimby Park: 7/31, 8/1, 8/8 & 8/9 at 5 pm; at Castle in the Clouds: 8/2, 8/5 – 8/7 at 4:45 pm.)
July 31-Aug. 8, Wait Until Dark, Winnipesaukee Playhouse, 33 Footlight Circle, Meredith, 603-279-0333, www.winnipesaukeeplayhouse.com
Aug. 1, Beat the Heat Ice Cream Social, 11 am – 1 pm, for all ages, Meredith Public Library, 91 Main St., Meredith, 603-279-4303, www.meredithlibrary. org
Aug. 1, Fireworks, 9:30 pm, over Weirs Beach, shot from a barge, Weirs Action Committee, www.weirsbeachfireworks.com.
Aug. 1, Friends Book Sale, 2 – 5 pm, Cook Memorial Library, Cook Memorial Library, 93 Main St., Tamworth, 603-323-8510, www.tamworthlibrary.org.
Aug. 1, High Range, 7 – 9 pm, Cate Park, South Main St., Wolfeboro, www. wolfeborobandstand.org
Aug. 1, Homemade Pasta Making, 10 am – 1 pm, ages 16 – adult, Prescott Farm Environmental Education Center, 928 White Oaks Rd., Laconia, pre-register: 603-366-5695, www.prescottfarm.org
Aug. 1, Making Your Own Watercolor Paint, 10 am – noon, ages 6 – 14, Prescott Farm Environmental Education Center, 928 White Oaks Rd., Laconia, pre-register: 603-366-5695, www.prescottfarm.org.
Aug. 1, Sterling Layered Pendant Class with Deb Ryan, 10 am – noon, League of NH Craftsmen, Meredith Fine Craft Gallery, 279 Daniel Webster Highway, Meredith, 603-279-7920, www.meredith.nhcrafts.org. (Pre-registration by July 29 required.)
Aug. 1, Summer Concert Series, 7 – 9 pm, Quint E. Sential Band, country and classic rock, Alton Bay Bandstand, Alton Bay, 603-875-0109.
Aug. 1, The Beautiful Losers – A Tribute to Bob Seeger & the Silver Bullet Band, 8 pm, Lakeport Opera House, 781 Union Ave., Laconia, 603-519-7506, www.lakeportopera.com.
Aug. 1, Sandwich Children’s Center Annual Open House, 4 – 7 pm, live music, woodfired pizza, children’s activities, and tours of the historic center. Open to current and former families, and all community members. Sandwich Children’s Center, 54 Maple St., Sandwich, 603-284-7015, www.sandwichchildrenscenter.org
Aug. 2, Animal Encounters Series: Critter Communities, 10 – 11 am, free, Lower Level of Town Square, Waterville Valley, 1-800-993-3149.www.waterville.com
Aug. 2, Music on the Green with Hometown Eulogy, 4 -5 pm, pay what you can, takes place at Meetinghouse lawn, Canterbury Shaker Village, Shaker Rd., Canterbury, 603-783-9511, www.shakers.org
Aug. 2, The Beautiful Losers – A Tribute to Bob Seeger & the Silver Bullet Band, 4 pm, Lakeport Opera House, 781 Union Ave., Laconia, 603-519-7506, www.lakeportopera.com.
Aug. 2, Weirs Beach Jazz Series, 6 – 9 pm, free, Weirs Beach Boardwalk, Lakeside Ave., Laconia, www.weirsbeach.com.
Aug. 2, 5, 6, 7, Romeo & Juliet, 4:45 pm, Castle in the Clouds, Moultonborough, by Advice to the Players, www.advicetotheplayers.org., contact@ advicetotheplayers.org
Aug. 3, Discovery Walk with a Naturalist, 10 - 11 am, Grey Rocks Conservation Center, 178 North Shore Rd., Hebron, info.: 603-744-8689, www.newfoundlake.org.
Aug. 3, IMPACT Fairytale Theatre – The Little Mermaid, 10 am – noon, free admission, Belknap Mill, 25 Beacon St., East, Laconia, 603-524-8813, www.belknapmill.org.
Aug. 3, Loon Cruise, 3 – 4:30 pm, observe common loons, on canopied pontoon boats, Squam Lakes Natural Science Center, Rt. 113 Holderness, 603-9687194, advance reservation required: www.nhnature.org.
Aug. 3, Monarch Monitoring Mondays, 9 - 10:30 am, on Mondays, held at Pemi Oxbow Preserve, Holderness, program of Squam Lakes Natural Science Center, 23 Science Center Rd., Holderness, pre-registration: 603-968-7194, www.nhnature.org.
Aug. 3, Music Night, Sweetbloods performing, 5:30 pm, Carriage House Restaurant, Castle in the Clouds, Rte. 171, Moultonborough, reservations encouraged: 603-476-5410, www.castleintheclouds.org
Aug. 3, Story Time and Craft Hour, 11 am – noon, free, Castle in the Clouds (Lucknow), held near Shannon Pond, Rte. 171, Moultonborough, pre-registration: 603-476-5410, www.castleintheclouds.org. (In partnership with Moultonborough Public Library)
Aug. 3, Yoga on the Lawns of Lucknow, 6 – 7 pm, Castle in the Clouds (Lucknow), pre-registration required: 603-476-5900, www.castleintheclouds.org
Aug. 4, Bioblitz – Walks With an Expert, Flowers and Shrubs with Emma Erler, Lead Horticulturist, 10 am – noon, ages 12 & up, Squam Lakes Natural Science Center, 23 Science Center Rd., Holderness, pre-registration: 603-968-7194, www.nhnature.org.
Aug. 4, Cyanotype on Fabric Class, 10 am – 3 pm, design a scarf, preregister at ArtWorks CCAC, 132 Rt. 16, Chocorua, 603-323-8041, www. chocoruaartworks.com
Aug. 4, Lecture Series: Beth Forrest – WWII & Society – a History of Food During WWII and its influence on our Society, 7 – 8 p.m., Wright Museum of WWII, 77 Center St., Wolfeboro, admission/reservations: 603-569-1212, www. wrightmuseum.org
Aug. 4, Music Night, Katie Dobbins performing, 5:30 pm, Carriage House Restaurant, Castle in the Clouds, Rte. 171, Moultonborough, reservations encouraged: 603-476-5410, www.castleintheclouds.org
Aug. 5, NH Bomb Squad by Neil Chapdeline, lecture series event, 7 pm, Lake Winnipesaukee Museum, 503 Endicott St., North, Laconia, 603-366-5950, www.lwhs.us.
Aug. 5, Robots with Lakerbots, 10 am – noon, free admission, Belknap Mill, 25 Beacon St., East, Laconia, 603-524-8813, www.belknapmill.org.
Aug. 5, Summer Lecture Series – Rooted in Research: Two Centuries of Change in NH Forests, by Matt Vadeboncoeur, Research Assistant Professor, Earth Systems Research Center, University of NH, 6 – 7 pm, adult program, Squam Lakes Natural Science Center, Rt. 113 Holderness, 603-968-7194, advance reservation required: www.nhnature.org.
Aug. 6, Bioblitz – Walks With an Expert, Trees with Gabe Horton, Forester, Excel Forestry LLC, 10 am – noon, ages 12 & up, Squam Lakes Natural Science Center, 23 Science Center Rd., Holderness, pre-registration: 603-9687194, www.nhnature.org.
Aug. 6, Emmanuel Casablanca with special guest Lee & Dr. G, 7:30 pm, Flying Monkey Moviehouse and Performance Center, 39 S. Main St., Plymouth, 603-536-2551, www.flyingmonkeynh.com.
Aug. 6, Guided Hike, 10 am – noon, Brook Walk via Old Auto Road, Castle in the Clouds (Lucknow), Rte. 171, Moultonborough, pre-registration: 603-4765410, www.castleintheclouds.org
Aug. 6, Kids Nature Exploration, 10:30 – 11:30 am, Grey Rocks Conservation Center, 178 North Shore Rd., Hebron, info.: 603-744-8689, www.newfoundlake.org.
Aug. 6, North River Music, Bristol Summer Concert Series, 6:30 pm, Kelley Park, 41 North Main St., Bristol, free, public welcome, bristolevents@bristolnh. gov
Aug. 6, Second Time Around, 5 – 6 pm, free, Marceau Park, Central St., downtown Franklin, 603-934-1901, www.franklinoperahouse.org
Aug. 6, Skyroad, outdoor concert, concessions, free, 19 Mile Beach, Rt. 28, Tuftonboro, 603-569-4539, ext. 125.
Aug. 7, Band Concert, Center Harbor Town Band, 7 pm, free, downtown Center Harbor, 603-785-2921.
Aug. 7, Being Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers Experience, 7:30 pm, Lakeport Opera House, 781 Union Ave., Laconia, 603-519-7506, www.lakeportopera.com
Aug. 7, First Friday at ArtWorks, 5 – 7 pm, apps, conversation and art. ArtWorks Chocorua Creative Arts Center, 132 Rt. 16, Chocorua, 603-3238041, www.chocoruaartworks.com
Aug. 7, Live Animal Presentation, Home Sweet Habitat, 10:30 am, with Squam Lakes Natural Science Center Naturalist, at Lost River Gorge & Boulder Caves, free with Gorge ticket, 1712 Lost River Rd., Woodstock, 603-7458031, www.lostrivergorge.com.
ONGOING
Ashland Railroad Museum, 69 Depot St., Rt. 132, Ashland, 603-707-2683, www.ashlandnhhistory.org
Belknap Mill, 25 Beacon St. East, Laconia, gallery and textile museum, events and programs, 603-524-8813, www.belknapmill.org.
Bingo, doors open at 5 pm, game begins at 6:30 pm, presented by Lion’s Club, held at Moultonborough Function Hall on Tues. evenings, 139 Old Rt. 109, Moultonborough, 603-477-8868.
Canterbury Shaker Village, 288 Shaker Rd., Canterbury, tours, programs, 603-783-9511, www.shakers.org
Castle in the Clouds, Rte. 171, Moultonborough, 603-476-5900, www.castleintheclouds.org
Day & Evening Cruises, M/S Mount Washington, Weirs Beach, 603-366BOAT, www.cruisenh.com
Discover Squam Cruises, guided 90-minute cruises, Squam Lakes Natural Science Center, Holderness, 603-968-7194, www.nhnature.org
Kirkwood Gardens, free, open to public year-round, Rt. 3, Holderness, tour the gardens, www.nhnature.org, 603-968-7194.
Lake Winnipesaukee Museum, historic Lakes Region artifacts and information, souvenir postcards, plates, paperweights, memorabilia, summer camp historical information and more, 503 Endicott St., North, Laconia, 603-366-5950, www.lwhs.us
Lakes Region Art Association, exhibits and classes, Suite 300, Tanger Outlet, Rte. 3, Tilton, 603-998-0029, www.lraanh.org
Loon Center, walking trails, 183 Lees Mill Rd., Moultonborough, 603-4765666, www.loon.org
Makers Mill, variety of workshops, arts and crafts classes and more, 23 Bay St., Wolfeboro, 603-569-1500, www.makersmill.org
Millie B., cruise on Millie B., a replica of a 1928 Hacker-Craft, 45-minute tour, info/tours: NH Boat Museum, Wolfeboro, www.nhbm.org, 603-569-4554.
M/S Mount Washington, day and evening cruises, Weirs Beach, 603-366BOAT, www.cruisenh.com.
Newfound Lake Association, programs, classes, discovery walks, exhibits, Eco Tours, lake activities, Grey Rocks Conservation Area, 178 North Shore Rd., Hebron, 603-744-8689, www.newfoundlake.org
New Hampshire Boat Museum, 130 Whittier Highway, Moultonborough, 603-569-4554. Second location: 399 Center St., Wolfeboro, 603-569-4554, www.nhbm.org.
New Hampshire Farm Museum, 1305 White Mt. Highway, Milton, 603-6527840, www.nhfarmmuseum.org
Newfound Lake Association, programs, classes, discovery walks, exhibits, Eco Tours, lake activities, Grey Rocks Conservation Area, 178 North Shore Rd., Hebron, 603-744-8689, www.newfoundlake.org
Newfound Lake Eco-Tours, informative/scientific tours of Newfound Lake, through mid-Sept., Newfound Lake Association, www.newfoundlake.org, call for hours/dates of operation: 603-744-8689.
Ossipee Historical Society, 10 am – noon, Tues., Thurs. & Sat. in July & Aug., 52 Rt. 16B, Center Ossipee, www.historicalsocietyofossipee.org
Prescott Farm Environmental Education Center, programs for adults and children, 928 White Oaks Road, Laconia, www.prescottfarm.org. Call ahead for event information and to inquire if program pre-registration is necessary: 603-366-5695.
Remick Country Doctor Museum & Farm, 58 Cleveland Hill Rd., Tamworth, 603-323-7591, www.remickmuseum.org.
Sculpture Walk, tours of outdoor sculptures around downtown/lakeside areas of Meredith, free, Greater Meredith Program, maps: 603-279-9015. Squam Lakes Association, 534 US Rt. 3, Holderness, 603-968-7336, www. squamlakes.org
Squam Lake Cruises, family/educational cruises to look for loons, & wildlife, Squam Lakes Natural Science Center, Holderness, www.nhnature.org, call for hours/dates of operation: 603-968-7194.
Squam Lakes Natural Science Center, live animal trail & events, Rt. 113 Holderness, 603-968-7194, www.nhnature.org.
Wright Museum of WWII, exhibits and lectures of life on the home front during WWII, 77 Center St., Wolfeboro, 603-569-1212, www.wrightmuseum. org
Lake Winnipesaukee Boat Tours
New Hampshire Day Spring 5/9, Fall 11/1
Member Solstice 6/24
Movie Night 7/22
Nature for Everyone Barn Bash 7/16
Animal Birthday Bash 8/12
Annual Meeting & Summer Social 8/6
Raptor Migration Celebration 9/19
Grandparents Day 10/3
Howl O Ween 10/24
New August BioBlitz events weekly!
Science Lecture Series
Live
Guided
Hermit Woods Winery & Eatery Introduces
At Hermit Woods Winery & Eatery, hospitality has always extended to every guest. Now, it officially includes those with four legs and wagging tails.
Beginning this summer, guests who bring their dogs to dine on the winery’s pet-friendly patio or deck will receive a complimentary Barkcuterie Board—a thoughtfully prepared assortment of dog treats served on a custom wooden board, just for their canine companions.
And because no dining experience is complete without something to drink, every furry guest is also offered a refreshing bowl of Chateau Waukewan—Hermit Woods’ tongue-in-cheek name for fresh water, inspired by Lake Waukewan, the pristine source of Mer-
edith’s drinking water and served with the same care as one of the winery’s award-winning wines.
“We’ve always welcomed dogs to our outdoor spaces,” said Bob Manley, Co-Founder of Hermit Woods Winery & Eatery. “Many of our guests consider their dogs part of the family, so we thought it was time they had their own tasting experience while their humans enjoyed ours.”
The complimentary Barkcuterie Boards are available to every dog accompanying guests dining outdoors. Each board features a playful assortment of dog treats, including gourmet biscuits from Bubba Rose Biscuit Co., a whimsical dog fortune cookie, and a few familiar favorites. Together, they
for its handcrafted fruit wines, meads, ciders, locally sourced cuisine, and genuine hospitality. The addition of Barkcuterie Boards is another reflection of the winery’s philosophy of creating memorable experiences that go beyond the ordinary.
Whether you’re visiting for a wine tasting, lunch on the patio, live music, or simply relaxing with friends, your best friend is welcome to join you.
About Hermit Woods Winery & Eatery:
create a memorable experience, a fun photo opportunity, and a warm welcome for every member of the family.
Hermit Woods has long been known
Located in the heart of Meredith, New Hampshire, Hermit Woods Winery & Eatery produces nationally recognized fruit wines, meads, and ciders crafted from locally sourced ingredients. Guests enjoy award-winning wines, farm-to-table dining, guided tours, tastings, and live music at The Loft at Hermit Woods, one of New England’s premier listening rooms.
1938
WWII & Society: A History of Food During WWII and its
On Tuesday, August 4, the Wright Museum will welcome Beth Forrest for a presentation on food during WWII and its influence on our society. This is the eleventh program of the Wright Museum’s 2026 Education Series.
Join us to learn the history of how the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) began in 1946 in New Haven, Connecticut, where it was founded as a vocational institute for returning veterans of World War II. The lecture will also illustrate how WWII changed the way
Americans (and the rest of the world) eat.
Beth Forrest, PhD, is professor of Liberal Arts and Applied Food Studies at The Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY. She is the former president of the Association of the Study of Food and Society and a principal investigator of an Andrew F. Mellon Foundation grant for the project “Food Studies, Race, and the Humanities.” She is co-editor of Food in Memory and Imagination: Place,
Register Now for August and September Hunter Education Courses
Sign up now to take your Hunter Education class and be ready for all of this fall’s hunting seasons. Register today at https://www.wildlife.nh.gov/hunting-nh/hunter-education. Select “Find a class,” to locate traditional in-person courses. You must attend the entire course to receive your certification. Another option is the online course with an in-person field day. To begin, click “Start online course.” A list of available field days will be provided upon completion of the online course. Walkins are accepted at in-person trainings on a space-available basis, but seats are never guaranteed. Pre-registration is highly recommended.
If you are planning to take the online Hunter Education course, you can get started now. There are currently numerous spots available for the field days, which is required after completion of either course in order to receive certification. These spots will become more difficult to find as the hunting seasons get closer.
Hunter Education is required in New Hampshire before a new hunter can purchase his or her first hunting license. If you are age 16 or older, you need a license to hunt in New Hampshire.
To meet this requirement, the Fish and Game Department offers classes around the state. Participants must be at least 12 years old to achieve certification in basic Hunter Education. New Hampshire’s Hunter Education course provides firearms and archery certification. Children under 16 are permitted to hunt with a properly licensed adult hunter who is at least 18 years old.
Hunters who purchased an apprentice hunting license last year must take Hunter Education before they can purchase a hunting license. The apprentice hunting license allows people to hunt under the guidance of an experienced hunter, without first taking Hunter Education, but it can be purchased only once in a lifetime. Learn more at www. huntnh.com/hunting/apprentice.html.
For more information on Hunter Education in New Hampshire, visit www.wildlife.nh.gov/hunting-nh/ hunter-education or call (603) 2713214.
Hunter Education in New Hampshire is funded with Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration by an excise tax on firearms, ammunition, and archery equipment. To learn more, visit www. huntnh.com/funding/wsfr.html.
Space and Taste (Bloomsbury, 2022) and a forthcoming book on sauce and identity (Oxford UP, 2023) and has published on a range of topics, from how Americans have imagined eating in hell, to how Americans have framed Spanish identity through “rancid” olive oil, to how eating chocolate in early modern Spain was tied to Catholic theology and sin. Forrest has been quoted widely in the media, including The Wall Street Journal, Better Homes & Gardens, CNN.com, Forbes.com, Chicago Tribune, and The Boston Globe, among others.
Doors open at 6 pm, the program begins at 7 pm on Tuesday, August 4, at
the Wright Museum’s DuQuoin Education Center, 77 Center Street in Wolfeboro. Admission is $8 for members and $12 for non-members. Reservations are strongly encouraged and can be made online at https://wrightmuseum. org/lecture-series or by calling 603569-1212.
The region’s leading resource for educators and learners of all ages on World War II, the Wright Museum features more than 14,000 items in its collection that are representative of both the home front and battlefield. For more information about the 2026 Lecture Series, or museum, visit wrightmuseum.org.
Ken Burns: New Hampshire Filmmaker
By Joel Bocko
What makes a “New Hampshire film”? A production shot on location in the White Mountains, Lakes Region, Seacoast, or other area of the state, even if it takes place elsewhere? Or, vice versa, a story set around here but shot on a soundstage or on location in another state - even across the border in Canada? Do creators rooted by birth, rearing, or current residence qualify the movie for local pride? And if we’re getting desperate (or merely pragmatic), can a film temporarily “belong” to New Hampshire by popping up for the rare retro screening at a local arthouse or multiplex, where state residents can step into the theater and travel without
traveling? For our purposes here, the answer is yes to all of the above - and then some.
Welcome to “New Hampshire Scene & Heard”, an ongoing column focused on a different cinematic subject every time (often but not always related to New Hampshire in location, subject, or filmmaker), accompanied by listings of upcoming retro screenings around the state in the coming days, weeks, or months. I’ll also occasionally cover notable stage plays, school productions, and other arts and entertainment happenings in our area. This summer, the column will be biweekly, so listings will cover a two-week period.
The renowned documentarian Ken Burns, whose televised miniseries like The Civil War, Baseball, and Jazz are PBS staples, offers a perfect starting point for “New Hampshire Scene & Heard”. Residing in Walpole since 1979 and operating his company, Florentine Films, from there, Burns has woven the charm of his quiet New Hampshire surroundings into his persona and cultivated these roots as a seal of authenticity on the work itself. “It has provided me with the beauty of nature that offers a kind of perfection to the imperfections of our own humanness,” he told the Concord Monitor recently, calling his home “my sanctuary and salvation.”
In older profiles of Burns and his collaborators, the unsuspecting nature of Florentine headquarters provides a constant theme. “An old New England-style house that you would drive by and never give a second thought,” as New Hampshire Magazine once described it, “...an ordinary-looking house, in the corner of the town common, in a town that feels far away from everywhere, mak[ing] films that help shape the consciousness of a nation.” Cinemontage chimes in by marveling at the “Norman Rockwell-like landscape ... unobtrusive and unmarked because Walpole frowns upon signage.”
Though the promotion of Burns’ work takes him all over the country, he also makes plenty of time for local stops - including, most recently, a screening at Dartmouth on July 23 of The American Revolution, his latest project with co-directors Sarah Botstein and David Schmidt. A sweeping survey of the nation’s founding conflict, timed perfectly (if accidentally) with the onset of 250th anniversary commemorations, this grand, ambitious subject is both an entirely logical next step for Burns’ career and a surprising change of pace - or rather, of style.
The events portrayed in Burns’ work span centuries, with earlier-set projects like The American Revolution (or Benjamin Franklin four years ago) relying on paintings, sketches, and original documents to illuminate its pre-photography subjects, while more modern topics like World War II, Vietnam, and major league baseball allow him to dip into copious found footage, creating movies out of movies. Each set of circumstances brings challenges - forced creativity with scant resources in the former case, the need to navigate overwhelming options in the latter.
For all the variety and range of his filmography, The Civil War is still widely considered the Ken Burns masterpiece (including by myself). Located right in the middle of American history’s long journey from extremely limited visual representation to the glut of audiovisual media available today, the vivid still photographs of the • Scene & Heard continued on page 21
mid-nineteenth century strike a perfect balance between familiar and foreign, distant yet immediate.
Intercut with eerily empty modern-day battlefield sites, images of haunted faces and weary gatherings are delivered via Burns’ trademark slow pans across their rugged but crisp textures and accompanied by plangent music and richly delivered voiceover. This combination of elements evokes our primal longing for a distant past, more mythic than actual, alongside the fresh, contradictory sensation that history really happened in a way we can relate to and recognize.
The American Revolution can’t quite reach those heights, very much reliant
not just on technique but on the resonance of when The Civil War takes place (at a time when modernity was just barely emerging into view amidst very old traditions) and when it was made (when the survivors of that period had only just disappeared from the world, but many watching would be old enough to remember their presence). Nonetheless, the new series is quite engaging and imaginative, knowing its limits and allowing them to spur experimentation.
Burns has been particularly vocal about overcoming his reluctance to stage re-enactments (staples of more rushed affairs in venues like The History Channel). His concession to necessity is delivered with a flair for abstraction - we don’t see faces but rather lovingly blurred close-ups of details
and bracingly sharp overhead drone shots of troop movements. Even many of the digitally-rendered maps pop with texture, color, and movement. The result is, unsurprisingly, a sense that our full immersion in the period may be out-of-reach but also, more paradoxically, a feeling of unusual immediacy and relevance. Both The American Revolution’s particular style and its decision to emphasize raw violence and social turmoil make this project easier to connect to the mood of the present, and more myth-busting than most depictions of the Revolutionary War - or, arguably, than The Civil War’s air of romanticization (a sensibility most dramatically powerful and historically questionable when indulging those nuggets of Lost Cause nostalgia delivered in Shelby Foote’s
Scene & Heard Around New Hampshire
Here’s what’s playing in retrospective (or otherwise notably unique) screenings around the state between July 27 and August 10, 2026.
Highlight: Parasite at The Flying Monkey – 6 pm on August 7
Bong Joon Ho’s South Korean horror/thriller/black comedy captured public imagination in the months before the pandemic, even becoming the rare foreign-language film to win an Academy Award for Best Picture. Is its fiercely class-conscious (if unflinchingly cynical) sensibility already a relic of the recent past, given the cascade of distracting culture wars since then? Or is its domesticized yet apocalyptic vision of inequality more relevant than ever?
Also playing (check theaters for showtimes)... Lakes Region
The Flying Monkey (in addition to Parasite) - 39 Main St in Plymouth:
National Treasure on July 29
Fury (2014) on August 1
Zootopia 2 on August 5
Transforming the Beautiful Game on August 8
Movies in the Park at Hall Memorial Library - 18 Park St in Northfield:
Lilo & Stitch (live action version) on July 31
Scene One Gilford - 9 Old Lake
Shore Rd in Gilford:
Sing on July 27
Trolls on August 5
Movies on the Hill - Abenaki Ski Area – 390 Pine Hill Road, Wolfeboro:
The Goonies on August 7
Elsewhere in New Hampshire
Also by Ken Burns... Jackie Robinson on August 9 at The Park - 19 Main St in Jaffrey
Chunky’s - 707 Huse Rd in Manchester:
Jaws through July 29
The Colonial Bethlehem - 2050 Main St in Bethlehem:
I Love Boosters through July 29
Next Stop Greenwich Village on
August 6
The Colonial Keene - 95 Main St in Keene:
The Dark Crystal on August 7
Fathom at Regal (45 Gosling Rd in Newington), Cinemark (15 Mall Rd in Salem) & Apple (38 Cinemagic Wy in Hooksett & 11 Executive Park Dr in Merrimack):
The Fifth Element July 27
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory on August 2 & 5
Tales from the Earthsea on August 6 & 10
Only Yesterday on August 9
The Hop - 4 E Wheelock St in Hanover:
Turner & Constable on July 29
Sundance Shorts on July 30
The Matrix on July 31
Movies Under the Stars:
The Wild Robot on July 30 (Fuller Park - 312 Washington St in Keene)
The Park (in addition to Jackie Robinson) - 19 Main St in Jaffrey: Gandhi on July 31
Tootsie on August 5
unforgettable Mississippi drawl).
For those of us in New Hampshire, there is another layer to that immediacy and relevance. As opposed to the Civil War’s more southern geography, much of this earlier war unfolded in our figurative (maybe literal) backyards. If Massachusetts obviously gets the lion’s share of attention, the Granite State is in the mix too, with generals like John Sullivan emerging from the most fully northern colony and expeditions like Benedict Arnold’s Quebec invasion force passing through.
With a few days left in this month of sesquicentennial (I much prefer quarter-millennial!) celebration, you could do worse than spending some time with The American Revolution if you haven’t yet... or maybe even if you already have.
Saturday Night Fever on August 8
Prescott Park - 105 Marcy St in Portsmouth:
Pride and Prejudice (2005) on August 10
Red River Cinema - 11 S Main St in Concord: Jurassic Park on July 29
Creative Guts Short Film Fest on July 30
CatVideoFest on August 7 - 10
Wilton Town Hall - 40 Main St in Wilton:
Son of the Sheik on August 9
The Music Hall - 28 Chestnut St in Portsmouth:
Boyhood (with 12th anniversary onscreen reunion afterwards) on July 31 & August 1
Silents Synced - A Woman of the World w/ Pearl Jam’s Vs. & Vitalogy on August 1
Wild Inside on August 4
CatVideoFest on August 7 - 11
August Craft Classes at the Meredith League of NH Craftsmen
On Saturday, August 1, from 10 am12 pm, Deb Ryan will teach a Sterling Layered Pendant class.
In this 2-hour class, students will have fun hammering and stamping metal to make their own custom sterling silver pendant. Choose from a variety of metal stamps and hammers, add a message, a pattern, or a spiral you decide! Copper and brass will also be available for a bi-metal look if desired. Chains not included but will be available for purchase. This class is great for beginners looking to make a unique piece of jewelry to wear or give as a one-of-a-kind gift! Tuition is $30 per student with a $20 materials fee.
Join us on Wednesday, August 12, from 12 pm – 2 pm for Verne Orlosk’s Fused Glass Autumnal Trees class.
In this class, students will learn the basics of fused glass to create their own fall tree landscape panel. Fall colors are a specialty in New England, and juried artist Verne Orlosk will help students create a fused glass piece that represents those warm colors. Verne will begin with a brief lesson on the elements used in fused glass as an art
form, then students will use professional tools provided by Verne to create a vibrant autumn scene. A favorite place, a photo, and/or just color and line will inspire your art. The students’ panels will be fired in a kiln off-site after the class, and will be returned to the gallery for pickup when complete. Tuition is $55 per student with a $15 materials fee.
Join us on Saturday, August 15, from 1 to 4 pm for a Felted Pet Coaster class with juried fiber artist Patsy Frasier.
Learn the art of needle felting and create your own pet-themed coasters in this fun one-day workshop! Students will join juried artist Patsy Fraiser in making a body/coaster shape from a template and then fashion a 3D felted head of their pets on top. This class is made with all experience levels in mind, so anyone from beginners to experts can have fun felting! Tuition is $50 with a $20 materials fee.
On Saturday, August 22, from 10:30 am – 4:30 pm, juried artist Joy Raskin will teach a Silver Ring with a Bezel class.
In this one-day workshop, students
will make a silver ring band out of wire or sheet metal, and then they will make a bezel to set a cabochon stone. The bezel will then be soldered to the ring, a cabochon stone will be set, and the finished ring will be polished and ready for you to wear and enjoy. Materials are not required, but students can bring in a favorite stone or any silver they may have. The instructor will supply silver wire and sheet, plus cabochon stones of assorted sizes for students to purchase. The estimated cost of materials ranges from $40 to $90, depending on the cost of materials you use. Tuition is $75. Materials fee is between $40-$90 depending on the stones and amount of silver the student uses.
On Saturday, August 29, from 2 pm – 4 pm, juried felt artist Hannah Gage will teach a Felted Birch Landscape class.
In this beginner-friendly class, fiber artist Hannah Gage will guide students through the process of creating a small (approximately 4x6 inch), simple, birch tree scene using needle felting techniques. The focus will be on layering wool to create clean lines and natural texture, capturing the distinctive look of birch trunks and forest elements. All materials, including wool and felting tools, will be provided for use during the workshop. Students will complete a finished felted piece that can be framed later. No prior experience is necessary—just an interest in learning a new fiber art technique. Students should bring water and a snack if desired. Tuition is $40 with a $25 materials fee.
For each of these classes, space is limited, and pre-registration is required.
To register for a class, call the League of NH Craftsmen – Meredith Fine Craft Gallery at 603-279-7920 or visit the Gallery at 279 Daniel Webster Highway in Meredith.
Join us on Friday, August 28, from 10:30 am – 3:30 pm for Bill Mitchell’s Introduction to Screen Printing class. Are you interested in learning more about screen printing or wanting to further develop your screen printing ideas and techniques? Dover printmaker William Mitchell will guide students in exploring the history of the process and basic techniques to get you started. In this workshop, you will learn how to paint directly on the screen with Speedball drawing fluid and screen filler to create a permanent silkscreen stencil that can be utilized to print ink directly on paper or fabric. Students are welcome to bring a simple sketch idea no larger than 5x7 to help prepare their screen. The class will provide all materials to use, but wearing an apron or old clothes is recommended. The workshop is suitable for all levels of experience. Tuition is $55 with a $10 materials fee
For more details, visit our website at http://meredith.nhcrafts.org/classes/ and our Facebook page at http://www. facebook.com/nhcraft/
The League of NH Craftsmen Meredith Fine Craft Gallery is located at 279 DW Hwy, Meredith, and is dedicated to the education and support of NH’s fine craft tradition since 1932.
