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The Monadnock Region is full of things to do!

Looking for different ways to Discover Monadnock? Here you can read about things to do in the small towns and villages of the Monadnock Region, check out venues for art, annual festivals, best places for food or shopping or seeing live music. There are things to do here throughout the seasons! Take a look – we know you’ll find something you like.

For a quick look at what’s going on visit our calendar or check out our Arts News page to catch the latest cultural happenings. And to make more than a day trip of it, check out our great campgrounds, bed & breakfasts, and hotels!

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5 Fall Festivals in the Monadnock Region

September 12, 2023

As the summer draws to a close, the days remain warm but nights grow colder. Fresh green summer produce makes way for squash, apples, and of course…pumpkins! New England is well-known for its full experience of the four seasons. As locals know especially well, autumn draws in scores of leaf-peepers, Halloween enthusiasts, and festival-goers. The

Read the complete 5 Fall Festivals in the Monadnock Region blog post.
cabaret cast poses on stage in dark blue light

Arts Spotlight: Peterborough Players

September 6, 2023

NICOLE S. COLSON The pandemic gave many arts organizations the time and opportunity to think deeply about their mission and the future. In the case of Peterborough Players, it was a chance to determine the best ways to reach the largest number of theater patrons. Above all, increased access ensures its longevity far past the

Read the complete Arts Spotlight: Peterborough Players blog post.
a circle of kids play a game in a blackbox theater

Arts Spotlight: Andy’s Summer Playhouse

September 1, 2023

NICOLE S. COLSON Andy’s Summer Playhouse board and staff provide full access to programming—but it’s the kids who are running the show. “They are running tech boards during the performance, they are building the set and gathering costumes,” said artistic director Jared Mezzocchi.  As its website explains, Andy’s is a youth theater in Wilton that

Read the complete Arts Spotlight: Andy’s Summer Playhouse blog post.
stage full of kids of all ages in costume

Arts Spotlight: MoCo Arts

August 27, 2023

NICOLE S. COLSON MoCo Arts is empowering the youth of Keene by helping them find themselves through arts education. MoCo Arts is a family-centered nonprofit arts education organization in downtown Keene. They offer classes in dance and theater for students ages 6 months to 18+ years (select classes for adults). During the summer, MoCo runs

Read the complete Arts Spotlight: MoCo Arts blog post.
a stage full of kids dancing in different colored costumes under blue lighting

Arts Spotlight: New Hampshire Dance Institute

August 22, 2023

NICOLE S. COLSON No matter where they come from, their family background or skill level, when NHDI students take the stage at the end of the week and show what they’ve learned to an audience—they are all dancers. The non-profit arts and education organization known as New Hampshire Dance Institute offers year-long, summer and residency

Read the complete Arts Spotlight: New Hampshire Dance Institute blog post.

Free Events on the Arts & Culture Calendar

August 17, 2023

The Discover Monadnock arts and cultural calendar has several broad arts categories. These make your favorite types of events easier to find! Search for dance, music, comedy, theatre, spoken & written word, nature, film, and more. For those who enjoy all the arts but prefer to stay close to home, filtering by town is also

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Friends of Public Art/17ROX: Arts Spotlight

August 11, 2023

NICOLE S. COLSON Georgia Cassimatis saw the city of Keene as a blank canvas, the creatives who work here as artistic media, and her organization as the connecting bridge to everyone. Creating access to art for all was her goal when she founded the nonprofit group, Friends of Public Art. Similarly, removing barriers for artists

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Electric Earth Concerts: Arts Spotlight

August 1, 2023

NICOLE S. COLSON Ludwig von Beethoven was the inspiration for Electric Earth Concerts. In fact, his words are in the name of the series. “Music is the electric earth in which the spirit lives, thinks, invents,” is a direct quote from the composer himself on the website. “Our name honors his idea that music is

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Arts Spotlight: Peterborough Folk Music Society

January 17, 2023

NICOLE S. COLSON By definition, folk is the people’s music—and Deb McWethy gives the people what they want, helping to make the art form accessible to everyone. As the founder of the Peterborough Folk Music Society (PFMS), McWethy has planned an annual performance series in Peterborough for the past 25 years. It’s been her mission

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Artist Spotlight: Taryn Fisher Fine Art

January 3, 2023

In a highly unpredictable time, Taryn Fisher has learned valuable skills in how to engage her arts community. “More than ever we need art,” said Fisher. “I see it as something that can bring us not only together, but forward. I think a lot about the role of art in terms of who we are

Read the complete Artist Spotlight: Taryn Fisher Fine Art blog post.

Advocate for Your Local Parks with These Strategies

December 20, 2022

by Luke Murray Public parks are invaluable additions to many communities across the U.S., but unfortunately, they are often underfunded or aren’t maintained the way they should be due to a lack of city or state employees. That’s why so many citizens have become public park advocates, ensuring that their local spaces are safe spots

Read the complete Advocate for Your Local Parks with These Strategies blog post.

3 Outdoor Creepy Places to Explore in the Monadnock Region

December 6, 2022

Autumn explosions of red, orange, and yellow from trees once green fade into cold wintery grey. Seasons of death, decay, and early darkness spark interest in metaphysical objects and phenomena . Do you like the supernatural? Want to hear about spirits and abandoned places? Here are three outdoor sites to explore. Haunted Residence in Converse

Read the complete 3 Outdoor Creepy Places to Explore in the Monadnock Region blog post.