It’s a testament to the resilience of the Seacoast community that there are so many great events coming up, despite the difficulties of the times. Thus, we have once again boosted our usual top-five roundup to a top 10!
‘Always…Patsy Cline’ at the Rep
The Seacoast Repertory Theatre in Portsmouth kicks off a series of fall main-stage shows with the beloved musical “Always…Patsy Cline” from Oct. 1-23. The true story is based on the life of the legendary country singer who died in a plane crash at age 30. It can be viewed in the theater or live-streamed from home. Show times this weekend are Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 8 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets are $30-$48. Learn more here.
Lula Wiles at The Word Barn Meadow
Lula Wiles — a trio consisting of Isa Burke, Eleanor Buckland, and Mali Obomsawin — plays a blend of contemporary and traditional bluegrass, classic country, and indie folk-rock. They’ll bring their three-part harmonies to The Word Barn Meadow in Exeter for two outdoor performances on Friday. The early show is 5-7 p.m. and the late show is 8-10 p.m. Tickets are $25 — and you can order Ohana Kitchen poke bowls from the ticketing page.
‘The Color Of…’ at the Kennedy Gallery
Art ‘Round Town is back in Portsmouth, with a limited number of locations participating in the monthly downtown gallery walk. Among the highlights on Friday is an opening reception for a new exhibit at the Kennedy Gallery. “The Color Of…” features paintings by Holly Lombardo that feature the vibrant colors of summer and fall. The reception is from 5-7 p.m.; masks are required and social distancing will be practiced. Learn more here.
Concerts at The Stone Church
The Stone Church in Newmarket presents two outdoor concerts on its cozy patio this weekend. Local singer-songwriter Cormac McCarthy plays on Friday from 6-9 p.m. (table of four: $60; table of six: $75). Cover band The Phosphorescent Rats, which specializes in the acoustic music of Hot Tuna but also plays psychedelic rock songs by many other bands of the 1970s, performs on Saturday from 6-9:30 p.m. (table of four: $40; table of six: $50).
‘Mary and Me’ at The Players’ Ring
After going black for upwards of six months due to the pandemic, The Players’ Ring in Portsmouth finally reopens with the U.S. premiere of “Mary and Me.” The play by Irene Kelleher follows a pregnant Irish 15-year-old who engages in a series of conversations with a statue of the Virgin Mary. The show runs Oct. 2-18; showtimes are Fridays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays at 2:30 and 7:30 p.m., and Sundays at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $18-$24. Learn more here.
Chris Trapper at The Music Hall
Acoustic troubadour Chris Trapper will play a socially-distanced set at The Music Hall in Portsmouth on Friday from 8-10 p.m. Raised on the music of John Prine and Kris Kristofferson, the former Push Stars front man performs more than 150 dates a year as a headliner and has shared stages with Prine, Martin Sexton, and Chris Isaac, among others. Limited seating is available in the historic theater; tickets are $26. Learn more here.
Virtual Fairy House Tour
Normally held on the grounds of Strawbery Banke Museum and Prescott Park, the Portsmouth Fairy House Tour goes virtual this weekend. Builders have created fairy houses at their own homes and taken videos or photographs to share in the virtual tour on Saturday and Sunday. Produced by Friends of the South End, the annual event is a benefit for participating organizations, schools, and community groups. Learn more here.
Oktoberfest at PopUp NH
PopUp NH in Portsmouth is celebrating Oktoberfest all weekend long. In addition to German-style beer and food, there will be a Stein Hoisting Competition on Saturday from 1-3 p.m., and a special performance by The Serfs on Sunday from 1-3 p.m. Also on the docket at PopUp NH this weekend are Truffle on Friday from 7-9 p.m. and PopUpJazz with the PMAC Jazz Faculty on Sunday from 5-7 p.m. Concert tickets are sold by the table.
Bucket List Jazz Band
As part of its Concerts by the Bridge series, The Dance Hall presents the Bucket List Jazz Band at John Paul Jones Park in Kittery on Saturday from 3-4 p.m. Founded by saxophonist Stefan Vittori, the local group consists of musicians who studied and played together at the Portsmouth Music and Arts Center. They play an energetic mix of traditional standards, ’70s fusion, and works by contemporary jazz artists. Tickets are $15. Learn more here.
Harvest Bounty Celebration
Unity of the Seacoast is bringing a spiritual Harvest Bounty Celebration to the Rotary Arts Pavilion Stage at Henry Law Park in Dover on Sunday from 12:30-2:30 p.m. The free event will feature live music from local hip-hop act Kingdom and covers by ukelele-and-bass duo Double Take, along with spoken word from Seth Waleryszak, guest speaker Thomas Scheinler, host Lin Richard, and others. For more information, click here.
View our complete calendar for more local events.