Ready or not, holiday season and winter draw nigh. Several events coming up this weekend will help get you in the spirit. Here are some highlights.
Portsmouth Holiday Arts Tour
Eighteen local artists will open up their home studios and show their work, along with their invited guest artists, during the 19th annual Portsmouth Holiday Arts Tour, which takes place every year during the weekend before Thanksgiving. Highlights of the free, self-guided tour include a raffle, demonstrations, and holiday shopping opportunities. The event begins on Friday, Nov. 22, from 5-8 p.m., and continues on Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 23 and 24, from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Learn more here.
‘Room for Memory’ at 3S Artspace
Artist Heather Morgan will unveil her new exhibit at 3S Artspace in Portsmouth with a reception featuring a live performance by her band, Lovesick. Her show, “Room for Memory,” features oil paintings that depict vivid and theatrical figures, mostly women. Her band features an all-star lineup of local musicians, including David Goolkasian, Nick Phaneuf, Eric Ott, Dean Ludington, and Terry Palmer. The event takes place Friday, Nov. 22, from 5-8 p.m. For more information, click here.
Fire on the Mountain 30th Anniversary
Fire on the Mountain in Dover has been selling skis, snowboards, and other winter sports supplies for three decades now. The shop will celebrate its 30th anniversary with a party at 3S Artspace in Portsmouth on Friday, Nov. 22, from 7-11 p.m. The event will include live music from local band Truffle, along with a raffle featuring many winter-related prizes. Tickets are $12-$15; proceeds benefit WinterKids, which provides winter activities and outdoor education for kids. Learn more here.
‘A Patriot’s Dream’ in Portsmouth & Rochester
The Granite State Choral Society will celebrate the nation’s veterans with two special concerts at Seacoast locations this weekend. The local chorus, which has now been active for 25 years, presents “A Patriot’s Dream” at the New Frontiers Church in Portsmouth on Saturday, Nov. 23, from 7:30-9:30 p.m., and at the First Church Congregational in Rochester on Sunday, Nov. 24, from 3-4:30 p.m. Dan Roihl serves as director of the performances. Tickets to both shows are $10-$15.
Lenny Clarke at The Strand
Legendary Boston comic Lenny Clarke brings his latest stand-up routine to The Strand in Dover on Saturday, Nov. 23, from 8-10 p.m. Clarke emerged from the bustling Boston comedy scene of the 1980s alongside Denis Leary, Steven Wright, Janeane Garofalo, Bobcat Goldthwait, Paula Poundstone, and others. Clarke has appeared in numerous films and TV shows, including a role opposite Leary in the FX series “Rescue Me.” Tickets to his Dover show are $35-$40. Learn more here. This event is likely to sell out!
For a complete calendar of local events, click here.