Hampton Beach: Big events returning in 2022. Here's the lineup
HAMPTON — A number of events are returning to the beach this summer, including the Hampton Beach Master Sand Sculpting Classic and the Hampton Beach Seafood Festival.
The event kicking off the season is the New Hampshire Tow Truck Show, which took place May 20-22 at Hampton Beach State Park. The Master Sand Sculpting Competition returns June 16-18 followed by the Beach and Brew Fest on June 24.
Here's a look at what you need to know about the events at the beach in summer 2022:
Tow trucks return to Hampton Beach
The tow trucks are coming back to Hampton Beach.
After a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the New Hampshire Towing Association will be returning May 20-22 for its 50th anniversary.
Organizers said it will "be bigger and better than all others," and the "only reason we would not have it would be if the state shut us down."
The two-day event features vendors, a rodeo competition, food raffles, family activities and what the organization is calling its largest tow truck parade ever.
The parade starts at 9 a.m. Sunday, horns blaring, and will head north along the beach, east on High Street, south on Route 1 to Winnacunnet Road, then east and south, returning to the state park.
The 'Greatest Show in Sand'
The Hampton Beach Sand Sculpting Classic returns June 16-18 with this year's theme being the "Greatest Show in Sand."
"We have a great lineup of sculptors this year," said Greg Grady, organizer of the event put on by the Hampton Beach Village District.
Last year's winner Abe Waterman, of Prince Edward Island, is returning to defend his title.
He wowed beachgoers in 2021 with his piece titled "empty." The double-sided sculpture showed a face with connecting tears spilling from the eyes on either side. On each side there was a figure; on one side, a male with his head in his hands and on the other, a female laying in a fetal position.
Mélineige Beauregard, of Montreal, also will be back. She won the contest in 2019 and 2020 and earned the "People's Choice" award in 2021.
New this year is Bruce Phillips from San Diego. He, along with world champion sculptor Karen Fralich, who is also competing this year at Hampton Beach, recently appeared on the TV show "Race Against the Tide." The show features sculptors from around the world who build works of art in just six hours — the amount of time it takes for the tide to come in.
Grady said work on the 100-tons-of-sand sponsor site starts June 13, with sand sculptors playing off the circus theme for their sand creations.
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Beach and Brew Fest: The sequel
The Beach and Brew Fest is returning to Hampton Beach on June 24.
The event will take place from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Hampton Beach State Park Campground. Put on by the Hampton Area Chamber of Commerce and Smuttynose Brewing Co., the one-day 21-plus festival features nearly 20 breweries, food trucks, cornhole and live music.
VIP admission from 1 to 2:30 p.m. is $45 while general admission from 1 to 4 p.m. is $35.
VIPs receive early access to the event, exclusive tastings and parking.
Sponsors of the event are Smuttynose Brewery and Kennebunk Savings.
Maddie & Tae to headline Hampton Beach Country Fest
The winners of the 2022 best duo/group Video of the Year at this year's CMT Music Awards will be headlining Country Fest at Hampton Beach.
Maddie & Tae will take to the Seashell Stage Thursday, July 7.
Hampton Beach Country Fest: Here's the lineup. Shows are free.
"We have tried to secure Maddie & Tae in years past, but unfortunately the dates did not align," said Amanda Morneault, the new entertainment director for the Hampton Beach Village District. "So, when I heard they were available for this year we jumped on it. It's time for a bit of female energy for Country Fest."
Maddie & Tae rose to national fame in 2014 with their No. 1 platinum debut single "Girl in a Country Song," which mocked the "bro-country" trend in music and how young women are typically portrayed in songs.
The three nights of country music that "brings country stars to the beach" kicks off Tuesday, July 5 with Kevin White and his Garth Live - The Ultimate Tribute Band followed by Portland's 12/OC, on Wednesday, July 6.
On Thursday, singer-songwriter Isaiah Bennett, a former "American Idol" contestant, will open for Maddie & Tae at 7 p.m.
Before each concert, free line dancing classes taught by Michelle Jackson-White, the owner of Nashville Line Dance, will be offered to get everyone ready for the shows.
Country Fest, like all the other nightly music shows on the Seashell Stage, is free and paid for by the taxpayers of the Hampton Beach Village District.
Who will be crowned Miss Hampton Beach?
It's been a tradition for more than 75 years. And on Sunday, July 30, contestants will vie to be crowned Miss Hampton Beach 2022.
"What we are looking for is a nice girl to represent Hampton Beach," Stephanie Lussier, pageant organizer and Miss Hampton Beach 1995, explained in a previous interview. "I'm not looking for a Miss America that's got to have a $3,500 gown and perfect hair. I want a nice girl who wants to spend time here at the beach and promote what a great vacation spot it really is."
Judging is based on appearance, poise and personality and the winner receives $500.
Contestants between the ages of 16 to 24 compete in swimsuit and evening gown competitions. The top five finalists selected will move on to the on-stage interview.
Interested contestants should contact Stephanie Lussier at 603-512-5257 or Princess50@yahoo.com.
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Five days of fun for kids at Hampton Beach
The Hampton Beach Children’s Festival is back this summer with five days of free activities and entertainment for kids.
Beginning Monday, Aug. 15 and running through Friday, Aug. 19, the festival put on by the Hampton Area Chamber of Commerce is designed for children ages 12 and under.
Special children’s activities are planned each day, beginning at 10 a.m. and on most days running until 3 p.m. On Friday, Aug. 19, the Grand Finale costume parade starts at the Seashell Stage at noon – when every child gets a prize.
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Hampton Beach got talent
The Hampton Beach Talent Contest is looking for the best junior and senior singers on the beach.
The contest kicks off Aug. 26 at 7 p.m. at the Seashell Stage with juniors (under 18) performing and will continue Aug. 27 when the seniors (over 18) take the stage.
The top finalist in each division, as selected by the judges, will return Aug. 28 to perform again for cash prizes with $1,000 going to the winners. Winners will be selected based on vocal ability, stage presence and entertainment value.
Vocalists can either come to the open auditions on Aug. 7 from 12-3 p.m. on the Seashell Stage or mail an audition tape, photograph and a brief biography and shirt size, postmarked by Aug. 1 to: Amanda Morneault; The Harbor Agency; PO Box 1628; Portsmouth, NH 03802.
The competition began in 2005, a fresh take on the old talent shows once held at the Seashell Stage each Monday night. It was first promoted by the late Jack Knox, who frequently performed at the beach with the Continentals, and its success led organizers to expand from two nights to three after its inaugural year.
Originally, it was called Hampton Beach Idol, but producers of “American Idol” in 2010 put the kibosh on using the registered trademark, leading to a name change.
Hampton Beach Seafood Festival
The 33rd Hampton Beach Seafood Festival kicks off Friday, Sept. 9 and runs through Sunday, Sept. 11 along Ocean Boulevard in Hampton Beach.
More than 50 of the top restaurants in the Seacoast area of New Hampshire will participate in the festival, in addition to 80 craft vendors and over a dozen bands and orchestras performing live. Additionally, event-goers will be treated to culinary demonstrations from the "Wicked Bites" TV show.
The Skull-It Cornhole Competition takes place Saturday, Sept. 10 while the Lobster Roll Eating Contest is on Sunday, Sept. 11.
The annual event is the state’s largest seafood festival and has drawn crowds of more than 100,000 in previous years.
Hampton Beach circus and fire show
It's two shows that promise to bring the fun and the heat.
The Boston Circus Guild performers bring "Cirque du Hampton Beach" to the Seashell Stage at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 3 (rain date Sept. 4).
See jugglers, musicians, acrobats, and some mind-blowing, body-bending unimaginable feats.
The group will return to Hampton Beach on Saturday, Sept. 17 for their annual Fire Show. The show features flame-wielding, fire-eating performers who spin, juggle and dance with blazing props.
The Boston Circus Guild is a collaborative membership-based organization of over 50 musicians, artists, circus performers, dancers, and event producers from the New England area.
This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Hampton Beach NH: Big events returning in 2022. Here's the lineup
