Get a head start on your long holiday weekend with an early edition of our local events roundup. Happy Thanksgiving!
“Frozen: The Broadway Musical” at The Music Hall
The Music Hall is again teaming up with the Ogunquit Playhouse to bring a seasonal Broadway musical to Portsmouth. Disney’s “Frozen” runs Nov. 27-Dec. 22; upcoming showtimes are Wednesday at 1:30 and 7 p.m., Friday at 1:30 and 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 1:30 and 7 p.m., and Sunday at 12 and 5 p.m. Prices fluctuate. Learn more here.
Thanksgiving Eve Dance Party at the Gas Light
The Portsmouth Gas Light Co.’s Third Floor Nightclub is the place to be the night before Thanksgiving. The dynamic duo of DJ Koko and DJ Bounce will spin a mix of top-40 hits, club classics, dancehall reggae, party anthems, and more during a Thanksgiving Eve Dance Party on Wednesday at 9 p.m. VIP tickets are $35. Learn more here.
Seacoast Rotary 5K Turkey Trot in Portsmouth
Work up an appetite on Thanksgiving morning — or just watch other people work up an appetite — with the Seacoast Rotary 5K Turkey Trot. The 16th annual race sets off from the grounds of Strawbery Banke Museum in Portsmouth on Thursday at 8:30 a.m. Registration is $15-$35, with proceeds supporting local charities. Learn more here.
The Dance Annex’s “The Nutcracker” at STAR Theatre
Join Clara on her enchanting journey to the Land of the Sweets when The Dance Annex presents its eighth annual performance of “The Nutcracker” at STAR Theatre in Kittery. The show runs Nov. 29-Dec. 8; upcoming showtimes are Friday at 6 p.m., Saturday at 1 and 6 p.m., and Sunday at 1 p.m. Tickets are $26-$34. Learn more here.
“A New England Christmas” at Pontine Theatre
Pontine Theatre’s “A New England Christmas” features two whimsical holiday tales by late regional authors. Pontine’s Greg Gathers and Marguerite Mathews will perform original adaptations of William Dean Howell’s “Christmas Everyday” and Alice Van Leer Carrick’s “Christmas in Our Town” in Portsmouth from Nov. 29-Dec. 15. Show times are Fridays at 7 p.m., Saturdays at 3 p.m., and Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets are $29-$32. Learn more here.
Truffle’s Annual Turkey Jam at The Stone Church
The night after Thanksgiving it’s time for local band Truffle’s Annual Turkey Jam at The Stone Church in Newmarket on Friday from 7-11 p.m. ($15-$20). The following night, the Gavin Marengi Band headlines an evening of country, roots, and Americana with local guest Coyote Smoke on Saturday from 8-11 p.m. ($10-$15). Learn more here.
12 Nights of Christmas at The Orchard Chapel
Following Canadian icon Jane Siberry‘s performance at The Word Barn in Exeter on Friday from 7-9 p.m. ($38), the venue shifts to its 12 Nights of Christmas series at The Orchard Chapel in Hampton Falls. First up, Halley Neal & Sam Robbins bring their Christmas album to the cozy, candlelit chapel on Saturday from 7-9 p.m. ($25). The Rock My Soul gospel choir follows with its annual Holiday Concert on Sunday from 7-9 p.m. ($25). Learn more here.
JJ Slater on the Button Factory Stage
NOTE: This event has been canceled.
Fresh off the release of a new song about quitting your job, “Bye (Forever),” New England artist JJ Slater is on his way to WSCA Radio in Portsmouth for a live show on the Button Factory Stage. The regional singer and guitarist will perform his futuristic roots rock on Saturday from 7-9 p.m. Tickets are $10-$15. Learn more here.
Thanksgiving Dance at The Rockingham Ballroom
Burn off some of those calories during a Thanksgiving Dance at The Rockingham Ballroom in Newmarket on Saturday from 7-11 pm. The 17-piece New Legacy Swing Band will provide the music, playing jazz, big band, rock, Latin, and holiday songs. Tickets are $20 and include an optional pre-show dance lesson. Learn more here.
A Very Soulful Christmas at Jimmy’s
Jimmy’s Jazz & Blues Club kicks off a full slate of holiday concerts this weekend with A Very Soulful Christmas with Morgan James. The acclaimed soul singer and Broadway star, a frequent collaborator with Postmodern Jukebox, will celebrate the season during her show on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $22.50-$82.50. Learn more here.
Jim Bishop at McCue’s Comedy Club
North Shore native Jim Bishop, champion of the 2023 Merrimack Valley Funniest Person contest, will headline a night of standup at McCue’s Comedy Club in Portsmouth on Saturday from 8-9:30 p.m. Also on the bill are Boston-area comics Cher Lynn, Colleen McCauley, and Anthony Eugenio. Tickets are $25. Learn more here.
Messiah Sing at The Dance Hall
Lend your own voice to Handel’s “Messiah” at The Dance Hall in Kittery this weekend. Portsmouth Pro Musica director Priscilla French will lead guests through Messiah Sing, while professional soloists and instrumentalists accompany the chorus. Pick up your score at the door on Sunday from 4-5:30 p.m. Tickets are $20-$25. Learn more here.
The Great Mystery at St. John’s Church
St. John’s Episcopal Church in Portsmouth launches its new St. John’s Selects series with The Great Mystery: Old Music for a New Advent. The inaugural concert in Roberts Recital Hall will feature musician Joel Spears playing Advent pieces and Noels for lute, theorbo, and electric guitar on Sunday from 6-7 p.m. Tickets are $30. Learn more here.
See the full calendar for more local events.