Hampton Beach fall preview: Fire show, Casino Ballroom concerts, pig roast and more
HAMPTON — Think the fun is over at Hampton Beach now that fall is coming? Event organizers, community leaders and restaurant and bar owners want you to think again.
The 2021 autumn has many events and shows in store as businesses seek to make Hampton Beach a destination beyond the summertime.
Here's a look at some events that might tempt you to keep going to the beach deeper into 2021:
Hampton Beach Fire Show returns
It's a show that promises to bring the heat.
The Boston Circus Guild performers return to Hampton Beach on Saturday, Sept. 25 for their annual Fire Show.
The show features flame-wielding, fire-eating performers who spin, juggle and dance with blazing props.
The event is sponsored by the Hampton Beach Village District and takes place at 8 p.m. right on the beach, across from the playground.
"It's a great show," said Lisa Martineau, marketing co-director of the Hampton Beach Village District. “You have fire jugglers, hula hooping in fire and yes they really do blow fire from their mouths."
The all-ages show, like all entertainment provided by the Village District, is free.
The Boston Circus Guild comprises more than 80 circus performers, musicians, artists, dancers and event producers from the greater Boston area.
Music plays on at Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom
The Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom is kicking off its fall season with George Thorogood and the Destroyers on Friday, Sept. 17.
And the hits, according to Casino Ballroom marketing director Andy Herrick, keep coming throughout the month and into the middle of November.
"Pretty much all home runs are left," said Herrick. "Foreigner (Oct. 28), Brothers Osborne (Oct. 29), David Spade (Oct.14). We have so many shows coming up."
Making his Ballroom debut on Saturday, Sept. 18, is jxdn, who rose to fame on TikTok with 7.2 million followers and has since signed with Travis Barker's DTA Records. He is coming off his recent MTV's VMAs nomination for "Push Performance of the Year."
"This is his first tour ever actually so it’s pretty cool to have him," Herrick said.
Also making their debut is country star Granger Smith on Thursday, Sept. 23, who won the CMT Music Awards Best Quarantine Song in 2020 for "Don't Cough on Me" and has a following known as the "Yee Yee Nation."
Returning to the Ballroom this fall include Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo (Oct. 8), The Struts (Oct. 13), and real best friends, comedians and moms Kristin and Jen of #IMOMSOHARD (Nov. 13).
The season wraps on Nov. 19 with comedian Chelsea Handler and her "Vaccinated and Horny Tour."
Herrick said they are already booking acts for 2022 with several shows already announced including Styx, a sold-out show on March 26, 2022, and Joss Stone on June 24, 2022.
"We will start putting up more and more shows for 2022 closer to November," Herrick said.
For tickets, visit casinoballroom.com.
Halfway to St. Patrick's Day! party at Hampton Beach
McGuirk's Ocean View will be throwing an end-of-summer party at Hampton Beach on Saturday, Sept. 18.
The event kicks off at 3 p.m. at the restaurant at 95 Ocean Blvd., marking the halfway mark to St. Patrick’s Day.
Owner Tom McGuirk said the party has been a tradition at the beach for 30 years. The only year it did not happen was after 9/11 in 2001.
“It's always a good time,” McGuirk said. “I think it’s great to have an event after the season.”
Three bands will be performing, the Pourmen, Pop Farmers and Sean Buckley.
“We will be serving corn beef cabbage, shepherd’s pie, and other Irish favorites that people will enjoy,” McGuirk said.
Beach seasonal restaurants like Sea Ketch stay open later than you think
A number of seasonal restaurants and retail shops will be open this fall, many until Columbus Day and a few even later than that.
"A lot of people think after Seafood Festival, the season is over and it's not," said Lisa Martineau, marketing co-director of the Hampton Beach Village District. "We want to encourage people to come out in September and October and have dinner and take a walk on the beach."
Blink's Fry Doe closes for the season on Sept. 26 while JB's Seafood will be open on weekends through the end of September.
Remaining open to Columbus Day weekend is McGuirk's and Farr's Chicken. Playland Arcade will also be open weekends through Columbus Day.
More: Hampton Beach was booming for much of summer 2021 — but there was a catch
The Boardwalk Cafe & Pub will remain open daily until Columbus Day weekend and will then join the Sea Ketch in staying open on weekends until the end of October. Al Guaron's Luncheonette remains open through December.
On the retail side, Sweet Hannah's candy shop is staying open until November and Mrs. Mitchell's Gift Shop until Christmas. Sand and Santa Gift Shop will also stay open on weekends right up until Dec. 19.
Year-round attractions include Ocean Gaming, Ocean Wok, Ron's Landing, The Goat and Wally's Pub. The Hampton Beach Playground is also open year-round from morning to dusk.
Oyster Week comes to Bernie's Beach Bar
The inaugural New Hampshire Oyster Week celebration is making a stop at Hampton Beach on Saturday, Sept. 25.
Bernie’s Beach Bar will host six local farmers for a ticketed event at the bar at 73 Ocean Blvd. in Hampton.
“It's just going to be a good time,” said Russ Hilliard, who co-owns Swell Oyster Co. on Hampton Beach. “It’s going to be outside at Bernie’s and you’re going to be able to walk around and sample everyone’s oysters.”
More: Oyster stout a very Seacoast beer creation by Stoneface Brewery, Swell Oyster Co.
Bernie’s will host its annual summer sendoff party the next day, Sunday, Sept. 26, with music from Soul Rebel Project and the Fear Nuttin Band.
A perfect time for a tide pooling adventure
Most people think of tide pooling as a summer activity, but Hampton marine biologist Ellen Goethel said she finds the most amazing things after the heat of the summer dissipates and the visitors have gone home.
The owner of Explore the Ocean World says fall is the perfect time to go on a coastal adventure.
All you need is sturdy shoes, a bucket and maybe a dipnet and magnifying glass.
The best time to go tide pooling is at least an hour prior to low tide, in a rocky area (directly across from the Oceanarium and Church Street is perfect, she says).
She recommends finding the deepest pools between the seaweed.
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"Many of the invertebrates will hide immediately when you reach in to touch the seaweed," she says. "With patience, you will notice things in the pool will begin to move. First, you will most likely see the amphipods and isopods, (little animals that look like baby shrimp and swimming pill bugs) these are part of the plankton eaten by everything bigger. Then you may see some tiny snail shells moving. If you are quick, you can pluck them up and you will see that they are tiny hermit crabs."
More: Pricklebacks are just one of the ‘amazing finds’ tide pooling at Hampton Beach
She said turning over rocks is a great way to find crustaceans, sea stars and sea urchins.
"If you do take the animals out of the tide pools make sure to keep the water in your bucket cold," Goethel said. "Even a small change in water temperature can kill the animals."
Smuttynose Rockfest Half Marathon & 5K at Hampton Beach
The 14th annual Smuttynose Rockfest Half Marathon & 5K is returning to Hampton Beach on Sunday, Oct. 3.
The half marathon starts at 8 a.m. with two loops around downtown Hampton Beach. It then heads north on Ocean Boulevard right along the beach and then turns inland for a loop on tree-lined roads before coming back out to the ocean at Mile 10. It finishes with a three-mile stretch along the beach, ending at the Seashell Stage.
The 5K race starts at 8:40 a.m. and is comprised of the first 3.1 miles of the half marathon course.
To register, visit https://bit.ly/3tF8Syt.
One of the things that separate this race from others is the after-party.
The after-party features music on the Seashell Stage, food, including lobster rolls and clam chowder, and of course beer.
Smutynose beer will be served in the Beer Garden and the Hampton Beach Casino, Boardwalk Cafe and Sea Ketch next to the festival.
Wally's Pub: Big shows and even bigger events
Open year-round, Wally's Pub will be home to many events this fall including national music acts, a pig roast and even a chili cook-off.
Owner Al Fleury said they have a number of big music shows planned including Steel Panther (Sept. 19 and 21), Drowning Pool (Oct. 9) and a Halloween party with Prospect Hill (Oct. 29).
Buckcherry will also be playing the venue Oct. 30 as well as Wu-Tang members GZA, Raekwon, and Ghostface Killah on Nov 27.
Tickets are available at wallysnh.com.
The pub will also host its 17th annual Pig Roast on Saturday, Oct. 9 with proceeds to benefit PB Abbate, a nonprofit organization honoring the legacy of Sgt. Matthew Abbate, who was killed in action in Afghanistan in 2010.
The event kicks off with a bike meetup at 7:30 a.m., followed by a motorcycle ride at 10 a.m. and the pig roast at 3 p.m.
PB Abbate provides "warriors a space to recalibrate inside the wire and community to thrive outside the wire.” They do that by sending veterans to free-of-cost retreats to the "Patrol Base" in Big-Sky-Country Montana.
Wally's will also play host to the Hampton Firefighters' Chili Cook-Off on Nov. 16. The annual event is the primary fundraiser for the Hampton Firefighters' Toy Bank, which gives toys to children in need.
Fluery said off-season specials return Oct. 1. Starting Dec. 1 until March 31, bills will be half off for all Hampton residents at Wally's Pub and The Goat.
Surf House offering discounted rates
Who says vacations must be during the summer?
If you are looking for a last-minute getaway one hotel at Hampton Beach is offering deals during September and October.
Surf House resort owner Al Fleury said they are offering a 40% off special “so customers can see what we’ve built.”
Fleury transformed the dilapidated Old Colony Motel at 46 Ashworth Ave. into the brand-new Surf House Resort.
Surf House is up:: Old Colony Motel transformed into new Hampton Beach resort
“We went from the tip of the sign all the way down to the foundation,” said Fleury of the massive overhaul costing over $2 million.
Nestled on Hampton Beach's back strip, the resort offers 40 cozy coastal rooms and a penthouse apartment with two queen beds. It also boasts a large pool and patio area.
Hampton Beach Discovery Center fall hours
The Blue Ocean Discovery Center will be open on weekends from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. during the fall.
Exhibits include Atlantic white-sided skeleton, fin whale vertebra, two 100-gallon observation tanks and a large touch tank featuring crabs and periwinkles.
Starting Sept. 21 and running until Oct. 26, the center will be hosting an “Ocean Discovery Hour” for ages 2 to 5. Every Tuesday at 9:30 a.m., a new ocean animal will be discussed followed by an activity and story.
The cost is $8 per child per session or $30 per child for all 6 weeks. Must reserve in advance, as space is limited. An adult is required to stay with the child(ren) for the duration of the program. All participants will be asked to wear a mask.
This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Hampton Beach Fall 2021: Fire show, concerts, pig roast and more
