■The United Church of Penacook Food Pantry, serving Penacook residents only, is open every Tuesday from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. year-round. (If Penacook Elementary/Merrimack Valley School District is closed due to weather, the pantry will also be closed.) Visitors coming to the pantry are allowed two bags of groceries and one bag of personal care items every two weeks unless extra food is available or an emergency situation comes up.
■The Penacook Village Association will host the 17th Annual Penacook Tree Lighting ceremony on Wednesday, Nov. 30, at Boudreau Square on Village Street. Attendees can assemble around 5:30 p.m. to hear carols and singing, featuring the Penacook Elementary School Chorus and Blanchard Family Singers, and watch Santa arrive courtesy of the Concord Fire Department.
■The Penacook Winter Farmers Market is open every Wednesday from 3 to 6 p.m. at Riverhill Grange, 32 Horse Hill Road.
CHERYL STINSON
news03303@aol.com
■From Nov. 28 to Dec. 16, stop by the Concord Public Library library (45 Green S.) between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. and write a letter to Santa! The library has all the materials you need to write a letter and they will make sure that it gets mailed. For more information, call (603) 225-8670.
■The Concord Parks and Recreation Department is offering Adult (18+) Drop-in Pickleball on Wednesday from 9 a.m. to noon at the Green Street Community Center (39 Green St). The cost to participate is $3 for residents (with ID) and $4 for non-residents. Please bring your own paddle. For more information, call (603) 225-8690.
■Visit downtown Concord’s holiday for shopping in style with Concord’s Annual Midnight Merriment on Dec. 2 starting at 5 p.m. Downtown businesses will remain open until midnight so join thousands of your neighbors, friends and community members! You will enjoy shopping, s’mores, cocoa, Nazzy’s holiday dance party, a visit from Santa (5 to 8 p.m.), and so much more! This is an event for all ages which is presented by Intown Concord with many sponsors. For more information, call (603) 226-2150 or visit intownconcord.org.
■Enjoy a Greek Meal from the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church (68 North State St.) with pick up on Dec. 11 from noon to 1 p.m. The December meal to-go is a Greek vegetable medley and cheese pita (triropita). You can order your meal by email ordermygreekfood@gmail.com, by phone (603) 953-3051 or online at holytrinitynh.org. The cost of the meal is $20 and the ordering deadline is Dec. 7.
■Save the date for the Pope Memorial SPCA Concord-Merrimack County’s Holiday Open House (94 Silk Farm Rd.) on Dec. 10 from noon to 2 p.m. Visit adoptable pets while listening to live music and seeing Santa. Bring an item from the wish list to help out the SPCA. For more information call (603) 856-8756.
LYNDA PLANTE
717-1632
soxpatscats@gmail.com
■Get in the Christmas mood at Red River Theatres. It’s National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation on Saturday at 11 a.m. The Griswold family’s plans for a big family Christmas predictably turn into a big disaster. You can also catch Elf on Dec. 10 and 11 at 11 a.m. Learn more and get tickets at redrivertheatres.org.
■There’s a photography exhibit at Red River Theater Gallery: Still Moments by Larry Levinson, extends throughout the month of December. For a preview of the exhibit, go to lslevinson.jalbum.net/6×9/.
■Visit NH Audubon’s McLane Center in Concord on Dec. 10 for a special holiday shopping experience from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Holiday Craft Fair features a variety of quality, handmade crafts by local artisans. There will also be a raffle featuring items from vendors, and new for this year: a food truck! The McLane Center is located at 84 Silk Farm Road. For more information visit nhaudubon.org.
■Junior members of American Legion Auxiliary Unit 21 are participating in the Bektash Shriner Feztival of Trees. Donate decorated artificial trees to be auctioned off to support the Shriners Hospitals for Children. This year the Junior members themed tree is, “POW/MIA Never Forgotten.” The event runs through Nov. 27 at the Bektash Shrine Center, 189 Pembroke Road. Admission is $5 for ages 12 and older.
■ Midnight Merriment sale of books, games, puzzles, gently used household items, framed photos, and so much more will be Dec. 2 from 6 to 9 p.m. at South Congregational Church Fellowship Hall, 27 Pleasant St. All proceeds benefit the Church’s mission and ministries. For questions, call the Church at (603) 224-2521.
■Also on Dec. 2 at 6 p.m. at 7 Eagle Square, support your favorite Concord Arts Market artists and shop handmade at Intown Concord’s Midnight Merriment in the atrium.
■Spread Joy, Shop Concord, is an initiative that highlights local businesses and shares their stories. Do you own a store in Concord or love to shop locally? Submit a holiday gift idea for the Spread Joy, Shop Concord holiday campaign! Each gift idea submitted will be put on an ornament or snowflake to be displayed in the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce’s Visit Center window. For more information, please visit concordnhchamber.com.
■Welcome Makers on Main! After falling in love with Concord, Idaho natives, James and Maraya opened their new shop in the former Simply Birkenstock, 8 South Main St. Makers on Main features 40 New England craft vendors selling their handmade wares and products.
■Want to give back this season? 5 & 2 (5 Loaves & 2 Fish) ministry volunteers needed! Contact Armand and Connie Soucy: acsoucy@yahoo.com or (603) 860-8835.
■On Saturday it’s Cookies and Cocoa, stories with the Gingerbread Man! Get into the holiday spirit with this fun free family event at 10:30 a.m., at the Concord Community Center, 14 Canterbury Road.
■It’s Game Time Trivia at Cheers Bar & Grille, 17 Depot St. Join them every Friday night at 8 p.m., plus there are themed trivia at 7 p.m. on Thursday nights, too!
■It’s an LGC alumni night of networking! Catch up with your LGC classmates and meet the LGC Class of 2023. Alumni admission is complimentary and includes delicious hors d’oeuvres to enjoy. Beverages will be available. In addition to door prizes, a special prize will be given to the class with the most in attendance. Go on Dec. 6 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at The Hotel Concord, 11 South Main St., third floor.
■“Don’t be a Karen; be a C.A.R.E.N!” This presentation featuring Marissa Cohen will be held in Sweeney Hall 122 at NHTI on Tuesday from 1 to 1:50 p.m. She will talk about how to communicate, advocate, respect, empathize, and nourish.
■All donors who come to give blood on Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 90 Clinton Street will receive a $10 Amazon gift card by email! There’s more information at redcrossblood.org.
■On Friday at 6:30 p.m. at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 21 Centre St., is a quiet service of music and readings to reset yourself during this holy (but busy) season of Advent.
■Join Kimball Jenkins School of Art, 266 N Main St., for a holiday arts market on Saturday at 10 a.m.
■This month Gibson’s Book Club is reading The Words in My Hands, by Asphyxia. Part coming of age, part call to action, this fast-paced #ownvoices novel about a deaf teenager is a unique and inspiring exploration of what it means to belong. Their book club is free and open to the public, newcomers are encouraged to try us out! This meeting is on Dec. 5 at 5:30 p.m. at Gibson’s Bookstore.
■Join NV Dance Productions, 134 Hall St., Unit 2 on Saturday at 9 a.m. for their first annual “Mommy and Me Nutcracker Tea!” It will be a morning of tea and light refreshments, as well as storytelling and beautiful performances to help get you and your little one into the Christmas Spirit. The cost is $20 for one parent and child, $5 per extra parent and $2 per extra child. Call (603) 228-1012 to reserve your spot!
■At Home Depot, 42 D’Amante Drive, stop in to build your own kid’s project, which is different every month! You get to bring home your project, Home Depot apron, pin, and certificate. It’s free for ages five to 12 years old, and you just have to show up at 9 a.m. For more information, call (603) 227-0580.
■There are street closures for the Concord Christmas Tree Lighting Celebration on Friday from 3 to 7:30 p.m. The following streets will be closed: Main Street, from Centre Street to School Street; North State Street, from Park Street to Capitol Street; Park Street from Main Street to North State Street; and Capitol Street from Main Street to North State Street.
JEAN VER HOEVEN
856-304-5830
jeanann@voicenet.com