The world comes alive in so many ways during the summer, from the verdant grass regaining its natural hue to the many people shopping, dining and hanging around Main Street while the sun shines down on the golden State House dome.
I love nothing more than sitting under a tree with a book, soaking up the warmth as everything bustles around me. Last summer, I also discovered the joy of outdoor music. Our State House reporter, Charlotte Matherly, and I ventured to Prescott Park in Portsmouth for their summer concert series. And closer to home, I’ve been delighted to find that there’s no shortage of opportunities to picnic on the grass while a band plays or mill around in a barn applauding performers on stage.
The Avaloch Chamber Music Festival kicks off on Thursday and runs through Saturday at the Avaloch Farm Music Institute in Boscawen. This second annual iteration of the festival “uses music as a point of departure for exploration across multiple disciplines, ranging from visual art to philosophy, religion and sciences,” according to the institute’s website.
This year’s festival celebrates “chiaroscuro,” the contrast of light and dark.
“Join us for various lectures with guest artists, whose fields of expertise parallel the themes of each concert program; delight in delectable farm-to-table meals in between seminars; and take part in the daily Cocktails and Conversations pre-concert talks,” the site states. “Led by our Art Historian-in-Residence Susana Puente-Matos, these daily interactive pre-concert lectures provide an in-depth discussion about the cultural context and artistic movements surrounding all of the programmed works at the festival. Last but not least, experience world-class chamber music performances with internationally acclaimed chamber musicians, hailing from some of the world’s most innovative and celebrated ensembles.”
Visit https://www.avalochfarmmusic.org/home to learn more.
In the spirit of the arts, the Concord Public Library will host its monthly matinee of Theatre Thursday this week. The film, released in 1996, is “That Thing You Do!”, starring Tom Hanks, Steve Zahn and Liv Tyler.
“A local Pennsylvania band scores a one-hit wonder in 1964 and rides the star-making machinery as long as they can, with lots of help from their manager. Rated PG with a running time of 1h 48m,” the description reads.
The screening starts at 2 p.m. on Thursday and is free to attend.
Join Black Forest Nursery in Boscawen on Saturday for a free event called Buzz & Bloom: Celebrating Nature’s Pollinators. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., you can explore the nursery “while enjoying live music, local artists painting throughout the grounds, educational exhibits, hands-on activities and a wide variety of local vendors and organizations dedicated to gardening, conservation and creativity,” according to the description.
It sounds like a good time all around, perfect for families with young kids, couples or groups of friends! Plus, there will be representatives from UNH Extension, Proven Winners, Pride’s Corner, Vermont Natural Ag, the Capital Area Beekeepers Association and more. Learn about supporting pollinators, creating wildlife-friendly gardens, native plants and sustainable growing practices from passionate local experts.
On Sunday morning, head to Merrimack Lodge at White Park for the latest installation of the Summer of Music Series. This time, Katie Dobbins will be playing. The event, which starts at 10 a.m., will take place outdoors, but if there’s inclement weather, it will move inside. Dobbins’ performance is among three dozen happening throughout the city in the warmer months, so definitely try to catch as many as you can this season.
Last announcement for today: Roller skating opened at the Everett Arena this week. If you’re searching for a fun summer activity, you’ve found one! Wednesday through Friday, then on Sundays, through July 26, you can skate from 6-9 p.m. Admission costs $6 and so do rentals.
Enjoy the (hopefully sunny) weekend!
