Market Square Day returns in full, 'Come Together' in Dover: 10 things to do this weekend

Market Square Day will return to its traditional glory this Saturday, June 11 with all the events and entertainment you expect of the festival that transforms downtown Portsmouth into a pedestrian-friendly, free, family fair celebrating summer's start on the Seacoast.

This is the 45th festival and Barbara Massar, Pro Portsmouth executive director, said the idea of Market Square Day was born in meetings in 1977 as a way to celebrate the city's downtown revitalization efforts which created the present-day Market Square. The first Market Square Day was held in June 1978.

More: Market Square Day turns 45 in Portsmouth. Here is what to expect at 2022 event.

Market Square Day will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The MSD 10K begins at 9 a.m. in front of North Church. Dozens of booths will line Congress Street, Daniel Street, Market Street and Pleasant Street in downtown Portsmouth.

Parking in the Foundry Place garage, located at 100 Foundry Place, is a $3 flat rate from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. on June 11. Regular hourly rates will be in effect at the High-Hanover garage. Metered parking will be enforced at city meters from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m..

Visit proportsmouth.org/events/market-square-day for information and to see and download a map.

Celebrate with BonAire in Ogunquit

Also this weekend is BonAire: A Celebration of Ogunquit, an all-day street festival in the heart of downtown Ogunquit, Maine. The day will feature food trucks, a huge craft fair with over 60 vendors, an art walk, fireworks, live entertainment headlined by the Mallett Brothers Band, family and kid's activities, Pride events and much, much more. Visit ogunquit.org

More: Ogunquit to celebrate LGBTQ+ Pride, 40th anniversary in June: Here's what's planned

Catch 'Soul' in Prescott Park

To start off the city's celebration of Juneteenth, the Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire has partnered with the Prescott Park Arts Festival to present the Disney Pixar film "Soul," on Friday, June 10. The movie will begin at dusk in Prescott Park in Portsmouth, and is free and open to the public. Expanded Juneteenth events will take place in the city the weekend of June 17 to 20.

'Come Together' exhibit in Dover

A new exhibit in Dover celebrates the partnership of The Art Center in Dover with the New Hampshire Art Association, with headquarters in Portsmouth at the Robert Lincoln Levy Gallery, which began in January of this year. The work of members of both organizations will be shown through the month of June in "Come Together" at The Art Center.

An artists' reception will be held on Saturday, June 11 from 6 to 9 p.m. at The Art Center. Artwork is available for purchase in person at The Art Center and online. The Art Center is located in the Washington Street Mills, 1 Washington St., Dover. Visit theartcenterdover.com or call (603) 978-6702 for more information.

'A Midsummer Night's Dream' opens at Players' Ring

The Players’ Ring will close out the celebration of its 30th season with one of Shakespeare’s most-loved comedies, "A Midsummer Night’s Dream." Produced in partnership with Seven Stages Shakespeare Company, the show will run June 10 to 19 at the charming venue in Portsmouth, and will offer 20 “FREE FOR ALL, Or Pay What You Will” tickets to each performance prior to every show on standby line at the Players’ Ring in Portsmouth. Tickets are $25 general admission, and $22 for seniors (65-plus) and students. All guests attending will be asked to show proof of COVID vaccination or a negative COVID test within the last 48 hours. Masks are encouraged, but not required. Reserve a ticket at playersring.org.

More: The Players’ Ring presents ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’

Rigor Mortis at The Dance Hall

Rigor Mortis plays the music of New Orleans legends The Meters, a funk/soul instrumental music with a minimalist bent. Rigor Mortis is Mike Effenberger on organ, Greg Glasson on bass, Rick Habib on drums and Stu Dias on guitar. They'll play at the Dance Hall in Kittery on Friday, June 10 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 at the door and available at portsmouthnhtickets.com. The Dance Hall is located at 7 Walker St. Visit thedancehallkittery.org.

WailOn at the Rochester Opera House

WailOn, A Tribute to Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash, and the Outlaws of Music, will take the stage at the Rochester Opera House on Friday, June 10 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $18 to $22, and are available at rochesteroperahouse.com/

Matchlocks to Flintlocks at the Wentworth House

The summer season of living history events at Rollinsford’s historic Colonel Paul Wentworth House will start off with a bang on Saturday June 11 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with “Matchlocks to Flintlocks,” featuring colonial-era musket drills and firings. Historical re-enactors in period attire will conduct drills and firings of muskets ranging from early 1600s matchlocks through the flintlocks of the American Revolution, along with other demonstrations of military equipment and camp life. Guided tours of the circa 1701 Wentworth House will also be available from 1 to 4 pm. The house tour includes “Wheels of Industry: New England Spinning Wheels,” a new exhibit of early spinning wheels, along with an additional display of historic sewing tools and accessories. Admission is $5 for adults; free for children and ARCH members. The Wentworth House is located on Water Street in Rollinsford. For more information, visit paulwentworthhouse.org.

Stone Dead at The Stone Church

Stone Dead, Night 1 and Night 2, will take place at The Stone Church on Friday and Saturday, June 10 and 11 at 9 p.m. each night. It's back-to-back nights of Grateful Dead tribute bands. Stone Dead is a collaboration of veteran New Hampshire Seacoast musicians with roots and associations going back to the '80s performing the music of the Grateful Dead. They touch on every aspect of the legendary group’s catalogue. Tickets are $20 per night at portsmouthnhtickets.com. The Stone Church is located at 5 Granite St. in Newmarket.

Midnight BBQ for Sunday dinner

Stu Dias’ Midnight BBQ plays New Orleans swing with fervor. Modeled after Legendary groups like the New Orleans Jazz vipers, and the Palmetto Bug Stompers, this minimalist swinging group is as comfortable playing Fats Waller as it is playing Django Reinhardt. It'll be a swinging good time on Sunday, June 12 at 6 p.m. at the Press Room on Daniel Street in Portsmouth. Doors open upstairs at 5:30 p.m. Show is 21-plus and tickets are $10 at eventbrite.com.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Events at Market Square Day, Portsmouth NH, Bonaire, Prescott Park