Though April has felt like an extension of winter, many of this weekend’s top events are themed around spring and the outdoors. Learn about some of the highlights below.
Bring in the Spring!
The title of this new exhibit at Emporium Framing and Gallery in South Berwick captures a strong sentiment on the Seacoast. The show features the “vibrant, warm artwork” of Maine-based painter Edward V. Sabatini. The opening reception on Friday, April 20, from 5-7 p.m., also serves as the official kick-off event for the Emporium’s new owners, Lisa Bedell Cheever and Elizabeth Woodbury. There will be complimentary snacks and beverages. The show runs through June 9. Learn more here.
Wild & Scenic Film Festival
Films that explore and celebrate the environment and tell stories of the human-nature connection will be on screen at The Music Hall in Portsmouth on Friday, April 20, from 7-9:30 p.m. That’s when SELT (the Southeast Land Trust of New Hampshire) hosts the eighth annual Wild & Scenic Film Festival. Tickets are $20 to $25, with proceeds benefiting the conservation programs of SELT, a local nonprofit dedicated to preserving the outdoors. For more information, click here.
Duppy Conquerors
There is one April holiday that doesn’t show up on most official calendars, and yet it is widely celebrated by certain demographics on the Seacoast and across the country. Guests at The Stone Church in Newmarket will celebrate April 20 with a performance by Boston-based reggae band the Duppy Conquerors, a Bob Marley tribute act. The show starts at 9 p.m.; tickets are $10 in advance or $12 at the door. For more information, click here.
Rescue Run for Marine Mammals
The 10th annual Rescue Run: Race for Marine Mammals features a 5k chip-timed trail race and an untimed walk through Odiorne Point State Park in Rye, all to benefit the Seacoast Science Center’s Marine Mammal Rescue Program. The 5k cross-country trail route takes runners through the forest, by the shore, and across a sandy beach. There are also Fun Run races for kids under 12. It all takes place Saturday, April 21, beginning at 9 a.m. Learn more here.
Earth Day African Dance Party
Ahead of Earth Day, Imagine Studios is presenting an African Dance Party to benefit renewable energy projects. The event features music from Mamadou, an ensemble led by Senegalese artist Mamadou Diop, as well as local band Red Tail Hawk. There will be African food, crafts, a community drum circle, and more. It takes place Saturday, April 21, from 6-11 p.m., at Gabriel’s Rainbow Coffeehouse at People’s United Methodist Church in Newburyport. There’s a $15 suggested donation; learn more here.
BONUS EVENTS: Zeppelin Overload
In what is either a coordinated show of unity or a bizarre scheduling coincidence, both the Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom and Wally’s Pub — located mere blocks from each other by Hampton Beach — are hosting Led Zeppelin tribute bands on Saturday, April 21. At the Ballroom, the band is Get the Led Out, billed as “The American Led Zeppelin” (8 p.m., $27-$32). At Wally’s, it’s Zoso, billed as “The Ultimate Led Zeppelin Experience” (8 p.m., $15). Choose wisely.
For a full calendar of local events, click here.