Hundreds of thousands of blooms: Sunflower festivals start this weekend

By CATHERINE MCLAUGHLIN

Concord swimmers reflect on physical, mental benefits of being in the water: ‘It’s magical’

By ABBY DISALVO

Arts Ahead: Your tip to what to look forward to this weekend

By Kiera McLaughlin

If you prefer classic instrumental music or lean more toward emo rock or just enjoy supporting local musicians, the Concord area has you covered this weekend. Along with some outdoorsy and crafty activities, this week is pulled together by a shared love of music.

Arts Alley brings a jolt of new restaurants, bars to downtown: ‘Towards the younger crowd’

By JANE MILLER and CATHERINE McLAUGHLIN

SunCookin’: Pembroke City Limits

By ROB AZEVEDO

We weren’t sure if the space we bought on Main Street was a storage unit or an actual operating business. And we certainly didn’t care. We wanted it. All of it. Every inch of it. And we got just that. Seemingly 20-miles worth of rock and roll everything — books, cassettes, DVDs, CDs, VHS, records and records and some more records.

Bow Rotary holds summer concerts

Bow Rotary continues to hold free concerts from now into August. The concerts are held at 6:30 p.m. the gazebo at Rotary Park, across from the Community Center. In the event of inclement weather, the concerts are held inside the Community Center.

Shana Stack Band coming to Henniker

The town of Henniker is excited for the return of the six-piece, award-winning country Shana Stack Band to the Angela Robinson Bandstand for their second Henniker performance on Tuesday, August 5. The list of awards the Shana Stack Band has won over the last few years includes Country Band of the Year and the Fans Choice Award by the Independent Country Music Association, Wiles Magazine’s World’s Best Indie Artist, Country Act of the Year by the New England Music Awards and Country Artist of the Year by Limelight Magazine. They perform throughout New England at a variety of large venues including Turning Stone Casino in NY, Tupelo Music Hall, Bank of NH Pavilion, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Toby Keith’s Bar & Grill, Dartmouth College, The Colonial Theater, The Showroom, Tunbridge World’s Fair, the Big E and more.

Arts Ahead: Your ticket to the weekend’s events

By KIERA McLAUGHLIN

Are you an extrovert painter looking to make more friends or an introvert reader bookworm looking for an outdoorsy activity? Look no further! Here’s a list of five fantastic events taking place for you and your friends or family to join.

League of NH Craftsmen 92nd annual fair coming to Newbury

The League of New Hampshire Craftsmen will hold its 92nd annual Craftsmen’s Fair from Saturday, August 2 to Sunday, August 10. The fair will take place at Mount Sunapee in Newbury.

‘No one tells you how to be an adult’: Concord father-son duo debuts disability and adulthood film on PBS

By JANE MILLER

Concord father-and-son duo Dan and Sam Habib will debut their feature film “The Ride Ahead” next week, which is an extension of their Emmy award winning short film “My Disability Roadmap.”

Community Players of Concord celebrate 97th season, prepare for 98th

To celebrate the conclusion of their 97th season, the Community Players of Concord came together for an annual meeting including a pot-luck dinner and the presentation of a number of theatrical awards.

Arts Ahead: Your guide to fun upcoming community events

By KIERA McLAUGHLIN

In the Concord area, there’s no limit to the creative community events taking place around us. Whether music, theatre, crafting or more, there’s something for everyone.

Henniker Blues, Brews & BBQ Fest returns for fourth year

Feeling the summer spirit, Henniker will host its fourth annual BB&B Fest — Blues, Brews & BBQ — on the green in the shade of the Angela Robinson Bandstand, located at Community Park. The festival, sponsored by Pats Peak, will take place on Tuesday, July 22 at 6:00 p.m.

Artist Spotlight: Holly Emrick

This week’s artist spotlight, brought to you through a collaboration with the Concord Insider and the Concord Arts Market, focuses on Holly Emrick, who lives in Boscawen. A 58-year-old mother of two and grandmother of two and a wife of 40 years, Emrick discovered jewelry-making during her 16 years as a stay-at-home mom.

Concert on the lawn coming to Pierce Manse

The Pierce Brigade, the membership organization dedicated to preserving the home and legacy of President Franklin Pierce is hosting a concert on the lawn at the Pierce Manse on Thursday, July 17 at 7:00 p.m. The concert will be preceded by an ice cream social and open house from 5:30-6:30 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. Rain date is July 18.

Nate Lavallee, July Young Professional of the Month: Stretching toward strength, self-care and Southern NH wellness

Meet Nate Lavallee, owner of FlexABLE Assisted Stretching and Wellness and a passionate advocate for movement, mindset and meaningful change. With a mission to build stronger bodies and stronger communities, Lavallee helps clients unlock their potential—one stretch at a time. Whether he’s in downtown Concord on a date night, going Over The Edge for a cause, or inspiring others through recovery and wellness, 40-year-old Lavallee, who lives in Manchester, is leading a self-care revolution across southern New Hampshire, where he works in both Manchester and Concord.

Lavender haze: Purple fields bloom at Warner farm

By YAA BAME

The lavender fields at Pumpkin Blossom Farm in Warner are open for Harvest Days.

Arts in the Park returns for July

By KIERA McLAUGHLIN

Concord Arts Market will host their second monthly Arts in the Park event on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Rollins Park. 

Hopkinton art gallery showcases “Creativity Beyond Convention”

The next exhibition at Two Villages Art Society in Hopkinton is a solo show of the work of Sandy Steen Bartholomew, an artist who celebrates the imaginative, neurodivergent mind through whimsical creatures, playful stories, and unconventional materials.