Believe it or not, we’re almost done the month of July. So far this summer has blessed us with a series of great events from exquisite shows at all of the area’s different venues to great town events like Jaffrey’s Riverhouse. Luckily, these last few weeks of summer are packed with even more outstanding upcoming events that we wanted to make sure you knew about.
So here’s our list of 6 exciting things to do in the second half of the summer in Monadnock:
1.Charley’s Aunt put on by The Peterborough Players
The Peterborough Players is one of our area’s greatest treasures, showcasing some of New England’s most talented performers and directors for 7 main stage shows during the summer. From July 29th to August 9th, the group will be performing Charley’s Aunt by Brandon Thomas. The engaging and funny farce tells the story of two Oxford undergraduates without an appropriate chaperon for a visit from their girlfriends. Hilarity ensues as one of the boys’ friend masquerades as Charley’s Aunt from Brazil without knowing that Charley’s real aunt is on her way. Make sure you make some time to get to this great show.
2. Medal Day at The MacDowell Colony
The MacDowell Colony is a renown artists’ colony in Peterborough, NH that since its founding has hosted over 6,000 artists in residence including at least 61 Pulitzer Prize winners. We’ve written about the MacDowell Colony’s various extraordinary guests like Thornton Wilder, Leonard Bernstein, and Jonathan Franzen, before. On August 9th, the colony will presenting its 56th Edward MacDowell Medal posthumously to composer Gunther Schuller. The event is free and sure to be well worth attending as Yehudi Wyner, a Pulitzer Prize winning composer, and Terrance McKnight, a public radio host, are set to speak about Schuller’s influence. A great day for all, the ceremony starts at 12:15, is followed by a picnic on the grounds. Finally, guests are invited to tour the studios and cabins, where seminal works have been penned. Surely a great a event for any of culture or art lovers out there.
3. Living History Event in Hillsoborough, NH
On August 15th and 16th, Hillsoborough, NHHillsoborough, NH will be hosting a two day Living History Event in their Scenic and Historical District. This year will be the 7th year the town puts on the event. All weekend, the town will be bustling with a huge range of fun and classic activities like panning for gold, churning ice cream, making soap, assisting a blacksmith and so much more. While all of that is going, actors portraying Thomas Jefferson, Louisa May Alcott and Daniel Webster will be walking around and engaging the visitors. Add to all of this, that there will battle reenactments, a sit in class taught in a one-room 1840 school house and afternoon tea and you have an event you simply can’t miss. Make sure to buy your tickets in advance here!
4. Electric Earth Concerts presents Horszowski Trio & Friends
On August 29th, Electric Earth Concerts will be hosting Horszowski Trio & Friends, pictured above, at the First Church in Jaffrey, NH. Horszowski Trio & Friends have received rave reviews from some of the country’s top news outlets like The New Yorker which described them as ““ Destined for great things” and the New York Times which said they were simply “Impressive.” The group is made up two time Grammy-nominated violisinst, Jesse Mills, cellist Raman Ramakrishnan, and pianist Rieko Aizawa. Since the group’s formal launch in 2011, they have booked over 130 concerts in America and as far away as Japan. With such an accomplished company, Horswowski Trio & Friends is guaranteed to put on a show you won’t want to miss.
5. Art in the Park
On September 5th and 6th, the Monadnock Area Artist Association will be hosting its 57th annual outdoor art event, Art in the Park in Keene, NH. The annual outdoor event will be featuring over 80 fine artists exhibiting and selling their work. The event will also feature live music and a raffle supporting an art scholarship. Art in the Park is a great way to experience the wide range of creativity that comes out of the Monadnock Area. If you don’t already have plans for labour day weekend, make sure to pencil in Art in the Park for Saturday or Sunday.
6. Brattleboro Dawn Dance
Also, on September 6th, the Brattleboro Dawn Dance will be taking place at the the Gibson-Aiken Center in downtown Brattleboro, Vermont. Each dance features contra dancing with three bands and three callers from 8pm Sunday evening to 7am Monday morning. The Brattleboro Dawn Dance is great chance to join hundreds of other dancers from all around New England to dance from dusk till dawn. Make sure to get your tickets here. Just a short drive from Keene, the dance is the perfect way to round out your Labor Day weekend after Art in the Park.
