I hiked the Welch-Dickey Loop last weekend. From every viewpoint, I craned my neck upwards, mesmerized by the silhouettes of birds soaring in the sky, the contours of their bodies blacked out by the bright sun.
I’m not the type of person who can look at a bird and easily identify it — although I wish I could. (My mom is really good at this, though!) There are a few common birds I can recognize, however, namely cardinals, blue jays and hawks.
My fascination also extends to flight. How magical to be able to spread one’s wings and let the air carry you away. If I had a superpower, I think it would be exactly that.
If you, like me, are interested at all in birds, the Allenstown Public Library has the perfect event for you. On Thursday morning at 11 a.m., naturalist Shelby Morelli of NH Audubon will be giving a presentation about birds in the Granite State, as well as the relationship between birds and dinosaurs. The talk is part of the 2026 Summer Reading Series and is geared towards an audience of all ages. Morelli will even be accompanied by a red-tailed hawk. Attendance is free, so head on over and delve into all things bird-related!
Then, Thursday evening, head to Red River Theatres in Concord for the Creative Guts Short Film Festival. Over the course of three hours, viewers will get to immerse themselves in films created by New Hampshire locals and beyond.
“The spirit of this festival is to celebrate the creativity, voice and collaboration of filmmakers, and it will feature creatives of all backgrounds and at various stages in their filmmaking journey,” the description reads.
Tickets cost $20. Attendees will get to see 17 short films across a variety of genres.
That same evening, the Bow Rotary Summer Concert Series is hitting the stage at the town gazebo from 6:30 – 8 p.m. This week, attendees will enjoy music by the Jordan Tirrell-Wysocki Trio. The rest of the season’s lineup includes Knock on Wood next Thursday and No Copay on Thursday, August 13.
The concert series raises money to support projects in Bow through 50/50 raffles and snacks sold at the events.
To kick off the start of August on Saturday, join Concord Parks and Recreation for its Pollinator Festival at Rollins Park. The family-friendly event will take place at the Monarch Waystation and the pollinator garden. There will be representatives from different organizations to offer education around native plants and other related areas, pollinator crafts, a parade at 11 a.m. and other fun activities. Participants in the parade are encouraged to wear a costume or make a sign. The whole event runs from 10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Have a blast!
