It’s the Halloween edition of our weekly roundup! Get in the spirit this weekend as you prepare for trick-or-treating and the Portsmouth Halloween Parade early next week.
Ghosts on the Banke
Spooky Jack-o’-lanterns will light the way between historic houses as trick-or-treaters prowl the grounds of Strawbery Banke Museum in Portsmouth this weekend. Ghosts on the Banke, an annual family-friendly trick-or-treating event, takes place Thursday through Sunday from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Tickets are $6-$12. Learn more here.
Haunted Lighthouses
Learn about the dark and mysterious side of our local lighthouses — including one ghostly keeper — during a special Halloween event at the Kittery Lions Club. Paranormal expert Ron Kolek and lighthouse historian Jeremy D’Entremont join forces to present Haunted Lighthouses on Friday from 7-9 p.m. Tickets are $20. Learn more here.
Standup comedy at the Rio
Boston comic Jack Lynch, who has performed at some of the biggest comedy venues on the East Coast, headlines a standup show at Rio Tequila Cantina in Portsmouth on Friday from 7-8:30 p.m. Presented by McCue’s Comedy Club, the bill also includes Tony Moschetto, MYSTARU, and Casey McNeal. Tickets are $20. Learn more here.
Stone Dead at The Stone Church
The Stone Church will celebrate Halloween with a two-night run from its own house band in Newmarket. Tribute band Stone Dead — a local supergroup featuring members of Percy Hill, Groovechild, Thanks to Gravity, and Trade — will play the music of The Grateful Dead on Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. Tickets are $25. Learn more here.
Live music at The Dance Hall
Local septet Soggy Po’ Boys will pay tribute to jazz great Jelly Roll Morton during a special show titled “Honoring a Tradition” at The Dance Hall in Kittery on Friday from 8-9:30 p.m. ($17-$22). Acoustic Nomads play their blend of South American folk and Northern Americana on Saturday from 8-9:30 p.m. ($17-$22). Learn more here.
Dover Zombie Walk
The annual Dover Zombie Walk offers a new twist this year: The first ever grand marshal of the undead promenade will be Diane Girardin Baringer! The shambling begins on Saturday at 2 p.m. at the Greater Dover Chamber of Commerce and ends at Henry Law Park, where there will be games, prizes, and a costume contest. Learn more here.
Spooky happenings at The Word Barn
The Word Barn’s weekend begins with The Lullafrights, an evening of spooky songs by The Rough & Tumble accompanied by tales from some esteemed local storytellers, on Friday from 7-9 p.m. ($25). The Exeter venue then hosts Halloween bard Doctor Gasp (aka Dan Blakeslee) and author Brian Serven, who will present their new book “The Lore of the Jack-O’-Lantern” on Saturday from 4-6 p.m. AND 7:30-9:30 p.m. ($10-$22). Finally, Tailwinds educators present local raptors at Owloween in the Meadow on Sunday from 1-2 p.m. ($25). Learn more here.
‘Dreaming Again’ at NHTP
Local playwright Genevieve Aichele conducted interviews with more than 40 immigrants and refugees in New Hampshire and turned their shared experiences into “Dreaming Again,” a play on stage at New Hampshire Theatre Project in Portsmouth on Saturday from 4-6 p.m. AND 7-9 p.m. Tickets are $28-$32. Learn more here.
Nightmare on Market Street
The Portsmouth Gas Light Co. claims their annual Halloween bash is the best in town. Find out for yourself when Nightmare on Market Street returns on Saturday at 8 p.m. DJ Koko P will spin tunes in the Third Floor Nightclub, plus there will be a costume contest with $1,000 in cash and prizes. Tickets are $25-$50. Learn more here.
Haunted Ballroom Dance Party
After a lengthy closure and extensive renovations, The Rockingham Ballroom in Newmarket has reopened just in time for Halloween. They’ll host a “Danse Macabre” with tripped-out decorations, live music from two local deejays, a costume contest with prizes, and more on Saturday from 8-11 p.m. Tickets are $20. Learn more here.
See the full calendar for more local events.