Concerts, chili festivals, a bounty of new art, and other fall celebrations are among the top happenings coming up this weekend. We’ve crammed a sampling of the highlights into the top-five list below.
Galleries galore
“Lady Slippers” by Shaina Gates, on display at Foundation Art Space.
A dizzying number of art openings take place on Friday, Oct. 6. In addition to monthly downtown strolls like Portsmouth’s Art ’Round Town and the Dover Art Walk (both 5-8 p.m.), Exeter’s First Friday festivities will feature an opening reception for “Eye Level,” an exhibit of work by Shaina Gates, at Foundation Art Space from 5-9 p.m. Meanwhile, Wrong Brain will host an opening for “Individuation,” featuring mixed-media work by Phoenix Mayet, at its Dover headquarters from 4-8 p.m.
Django by the Sea
The third annual Django by the Sea Gypsy Jazz Festival continues through the weekend at The Dance Hall in Kittery. Coming up on Friday at 7 p.m. is the Rhythm Future Quartet with special guests. The Daisy Castro Quartet and Stephane Wrembel follow on Saturday at 7 p.m. The Scott Tixier Trio performs on Sunday at 3 p.m., followed by an All Star Jam Session. Tickets are $25-$30 per night or $55-$65 for a weekend pass. Learn more here.
Pile on the rock
Pile
Indie rockers Pile recently put out their fifth album, “A Hairshirt of Purpose,” a collection of 13 progressive and aggressive rock songs. The Boston-based band will wrap up its latest national tour with a gig at 3S Artspace in Portsmouth on Friday, Oct. 6. The all-ages show begins at 8 p.m. and also features performances by local favorites Rick Rude and Greed Island. Tickets are $10 in advance or $12 at the door; for more information, click here.
Apple Harvest Day
The Greater Dover Chamber of Commerce’s 33rd annual Apple Harvest Day celebration features upwards of 400 crafters, all kinds of food, live entertainment, family activities, and a 5k road race. This year’s event takes place Saturday, Oct. 7, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., throughout downtown Dover. First held in 1985, Apple Harvest Day typically draws more than 50,000 people to the Garrison City, making it one of the region’s biggest festivals. For more information, click here.
Chili festivals
If you plan ahead, you could spend most of the weekend devouring chili served up by area chefs. The feast begins on Saturday, Oct. 7, at 11 a.m. with the sixth annual Powder Keg Beer & Chili Festival at Swasey Parkway in Exeter ($30). It continues on Sunday, Oct. 8, at 11:30 a.m. with the Prescott Park Arts Festival’s 28th annual WHEB Chili Cook-Off on the grounds of Strawbery Banke Museum in Portsmouth ($14, plus a $1 spoon deposit).
For a full calendar of events, click here.