Pontine Theatre, Ripe at Cisco and Rochester Pride: 14 things to do this weekend
Jamaican Appreciation Day
On Thursday, Aug. 25, the sixth annual Jamaican Appreciation Day will be celebrated by the town of Hampton Falls from 6:15 to 8 p.m. at the Hampton Falls Bandstand. The event honors the contributions of Jamaicans who work at Applecrest Farm to the town.
The event features the reggae band Redemption and is organized by the Friends of the Hampton Falls in partnership with Applecrest Farm. There'll be a Jamaican food truck available and donations for ice cream provided by Applecrest Farms will be collected for the nonprofit Heart to Hearts Jamaican Children's Fund.
The bandstand is located on the corner of routes 1 and 88, across from Lincoln Akerman School. This free event is made possible by a grant from the N.H. State Council on the Arts in cooperation with the National Endowment for the Arts.
'The Empire Strikes Back’ at Prescott Park
There'll be a screening of "The Empire Strikes Back" in Prescott Park on Thursday, Aug. 25 at 8:30 p.m. This film was rescheduled from the Prescott Park Arts Festival's Monday Night Movie Series because of inclement weather. Movie is rated PG. Suggested donation is $10. Information: prescottpark.org.
Pontine to present 'Migraciones'
Pontine Theatre kicks off its 45th season Aug. 26 to 28 with performances of "Migraciones" by Paradox Teatro. Performances are scheduled for Friday, Aug. 26 at 7 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 27 at 3 p.m. and Sunday, Aug. 28 at 2 p.m. at the 1845 Plains Schoolhouse, 1 Plains Ave., Portsmouth.
"Migraciones" is a poignant meditation on the global migration situation, which inspires compassion for the global refugee crisis. Sofia Padila, a resident of Mexico, and Davey Steinman, a resident of the US, created "Migraciones" out of their shared fear of the increasingly harsh US-Mexico border restrictions and the potential loss of a future together.
The Sunday performance is followed by a workshop presented by the company members. Tickets for both the live and online events are available at pontine.org.
SeaCHANGE conference in Eliot
"SeaCHANGE | Reshaping Tomorrow through Creativity & Community" will take place Friday, Aug. 26 through Sunday, Aug. 28 at Green Acre: A Baha’i Center of Learning in Eliot. The conference will center BIPOC thought, expression, and creative practice to explore how the arts can be a tool for authentic healing and social change in Seacoast communities. Activities will include performances, presentations, and workshops. Register at https://portsmouthnhtickets.com.
An Evening with Portsmouth poet laureate Diannely Antigua
As part of the SeaCHANGE conference, Green Acre and Theater for the People will present an evening of award-winning poetry with Portsmouth poet laureate Diannely Antigua at the Green Acre Baha'i Center of Learning on Friday, Aug. 26 at 7:30 p.m.
Antigua's debut collection "Ugly Music" was the winner of the Pamet River Prize and a 2020 Whiting Award. She received her bachelor of arts in English from the University of Massachusetts Lowell, where she won the Jack Kerouac Creative Writing Scholarship; and received her master's in fine arts at New York University, where she was awarded a Global Research Initiative Fellowship to Florence, Italy.
The event is open to the public. Tickets are available on a sliding scale at portsmouthnhtickets.com.
LILA Dance Festival
The LILA Dance Festival returns to Rochester Commons for a weekend of free outdoor performances and activities Friday, Aug. 26 and Saturday, Aug. 27. The festival showcases local and regional professional dancers and artists, studios, and guest choreographers. This year’s lineup features two evening performances by dance companies and choreographers from New Hampshire, Maine, Boston, and New York, including Annex Contemporary Dance Company, Anthony Bounphankhom, Ballet Misha, Demeo Dance, Fukudance, North Atlantic Ballet, Northeastern Ballet Theatre, NSquared Dance, and Susan Endrizzi. The festival will feature local vendors and food trucks on both days, as well as special performances and activities designed especially for families on Saturday afternoon. For the youngest of dance enthusiasts, the “Fairytales & Tutus” performance at 2 p.m. will offer the chance to dance along with the Lilac Fairy from the ballet Sleeping Beauty and meet their favorite fairytale princesses and characters. Afterward, Portsmouth’s Block Collaborative will be presenting a special breakdancing workshop. The Student Showcase, featuring dancers from local studios begins at 4 p.m., and will be followed by an aerial presentation at 5:30 p.m. Company performances each evening begin at 7 p.m. Bring a chair or blanket. Festival is free and open to the public. Information: liladancefestival.com.
Granny's Treasures Indoor Sale in Somersworth
St. Ignatius of Loyola Parish Holy Trinity Church Hall will hold Granny's Treasures Indoor Sale on Saturday, Aug. 27 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The church is located at 404 High St., Somersworth. Featured items include yard, garden, home décor, beach, books, dishes, knick knacks, fall and winter holiday items.
Rochester Pride this Saturday
Rochester Pride 2022 will take place in Rochester's Central Square on Saturday, Aug. 27 from 1 to 4 p.m. Speeches start at 1:30 p.m., live music from Pink Blazer at 2 p.m., and dancing will follow. The event is free and open to the public.
Ripe at Cisco Brewers
The Press Room and Cisco Brewers present Ripe on Saturday, Aug. 27 at 7 p.m. at the Cisco Brewers Portsmouth on the Pease International Tradeport. Tickets are $35 in advance; $40 on the day of the show. Doors open at 6 p.m. for the 21-plus that will take place rain or shine. Cisco Brewers is located at 35 Corporate Drive in Portsmouth. Tickets available at portsmouthnhtickets.com.
Beaks and Brews benefits Center for Wildlife
Join the Center for Wildlife and some of the area's favorite local brewers for its inaugural Beaks and Brews tasting event on Saturday, Aug. 27 from noon to 4 p.m. It's the perfect opportunity for members of the public to learn about Center for Wildlife and get to meet some of Center for Wildlife's live ambassador animals, all while enjoying samples from local brewers including SoMe Brewing Co., York Beach Beer Co., Portsmouth Brewery, Urban Farm Fermentary, Northwoods Brewing Co. and Corner Point Brewing Co.
Attendees 21 years and up will receive vouchers for free tasting samples from brewers and all admission tickets (Adult, 21 and under and Designated Driver) will have access to the Nature Center and outdoor enclosures. The Center for Wildlife is located at 375 Mountain Road, Cape Neddick, Maine 03902
Tickets required for all attendees 12 months and older can be purchased at thecenterforwildlife.org/events.
39th Tommy Gallant Jazz Festival
The 39th annual Tommy Gallant Jazz Festival will take place on Sunday, Aug. 28, from 12:30 to 8 p.m. on the main stage in Prescott Park in Portsmouth. The event is presented in partnership with Seacoast Jazz Society and the Prescott Park Arts Festival's summer concert series.
The Jazz Festival will feature a host of local, regional, and national talent, amplifying the different styles of the genre. This year’s line-up features acclaimed guest vocalist Carmen Bradford performing with the Seacoast Big Band, plus five other dynamic bands including, Gray Sargent and Friends, Soggy Po Boys, Greg Hopkins Quintet, Rebecca Cline Trio and Quartet Assante. The festival is free to all, but there is a suggested donation of $10 per person. Instead of giving at the gate, you may also make an online General Admission Donation prior to coming to the park at prescottpark.org.
Family Karaoke at the Strand
The Strand in Dover will host Family Karaoke on Sunday, Aug. 28 at 2 p.m. Bring the family for a no cover charge, Family Karaoke memory-creating event with Darlene. All ages welcome. Just drop in and sing. More info at thestranddover.com.
Garrison Players to present Impersonators of Romance
"Impersonators of Romance" will feature many legends of radio, stage, and television. See your favorite singers and performers come to life for an evening filled with entertainment. A great line-up of “celebrities” reenacted by a talented cast of impressionists which includes singing, dancing, and bits of humor.
The show is Sunday, Aug. 28, at 5 p.m., at the Garrison Players, 449 Roberts Road, Rollinsford. Cost is $15. Bring your own chair and blanket for your seat. Performance will move indoors if it rains. Contact: BoxOffice@GarrisonPlayers.org for more information.
Knock on Wood to perform free concert
Howie Newman and Joe Kessler, also known as Knock on Wood, are anything but a typical folk combo, performing well-known rock covers and funny original songs (suitable for all ages). Their varied repertoire includes everything from Tom Petty to the Eagles to the Rolling Stones, and a few children’s songs.
Knock on Wood will play a free outdoor concert at the Ellis Park gazebo, Ocean and Railroad avenues, in York on Sunday, Aug. 28, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
For more information about Knock on Wood, visit howienewman.com/knockonwood.
This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Pontine Theatre, Ripe at Cisco, Rochester NH Pride: Things to do
