Annual Events
FEBRUARY
Dover Reads
Dover, NH
603-516-6726
A community wide reading program sponsored by the Dover School District Community Involvement Committee. Encourages everyone to read the same book to promote a sense of community and advocate the joy of reading. Begins with a kick-off event, includes several book-related events over the following weeks, and culminates with a final community celebration.
Winter Carnival
Children’s Museum of Portsmouth
280 Marcy Street, Portsmouth, NH
603-436-3852
Featuring a host of live performances, face painting, and hands-on activities throughout the day, the carnival takes place from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
MARCH
Fashion Show and Auction
St. Thomas Aquinas High School
197 Dover Point Road, Dover, NH
603-742-3206
Featuring apparel from many area clothing shops.
Fat Tuesday and Mardi Gras Celebrations
Crescent City Bistro and Rum Bar
83 Washington Street, Dover, NH
603-742-1611
This authentic New Orleans-style bistro and rum bar hosts a series of special Mardi Gras events that feature free crawfish, live New Orleans funk music, and food and drink specials.
APRIL
Seacoast Flower, Home, Garden Show
Whittemore Center Arena
128 Main Street, Durham, NH
603-862-1199
Popular annual event features landscapers, realtors, and remodelers offering valuable home tips, demonstrations, and displays.
University of New Hampshire Cycling Race
Downtown Dover, NH
603-433-9075
A popular annual bicycle race that runs through several streets downtown before noon.
MAY
Antiques Appraisal Day
Woodman Institute Museum
182 Central Avenue, Dover, NH
603-742-1038
Experts are available to evaluate your family heirlooms.
Dover Clean-Up Day
Dover, NH
603-740-6435
This is an event hosted by Dover Main Street in which community members lend a helping hand for a few hours in an effort to keep the city of Dover looking beautiful and well maintained.
JUNE
Farmer’s Market
Henry Law Park, Dover, NH
603-778-6003
Seacoast Growers’ Association sells 100-percent locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables, eggs, herbs, breads, plants and flowers, home-baked goods, and more. Runs from mid-June through early October.
Great Cochecho Boat Race
Salmon Falls River and Cochecho River
Dover, NH
603-868-1494
Sponsored by Strafford Rivers Conservancy, the race starts on the Salmon Falls River at the Route 101 bridge in South Berwick, Maine, at 10:30 a.m. It continues up the river past historic Dover Landing to Henry Law Park in Downtown Dover.
Walk-A-Doggie-Thon
Henry Law Park, Dover
603-749-5322
Hosted by the Cocheco Valley Humane Society. A morning filled with animal contests, a memorial walk, and informational displays and activities. Benefits the lives of homeless animals.
Somersworth International
Children’s Festival
Downtown Somersworth, NH
603-692-5869
Featuring a mix of multicultural and children’s entertainment, exotic and traditional foods, crafts and activities, a petting zoo, pony rides, and excitement for all ages.
New Hampshire Soap Box Derby
Central Avenue
Downtown Dover, NH
603-743-4547
A coasting race for small, gravity-powered cars built by their drivers and assembled within guidelines on size, weight, and cost.
JULY
Declaration of Independence Reading
City Hall steps
Downtown Dover, NH
Members of the Garrison Players gather in period costumes and in character to recite a reading of the complete Declaration of Independence.
Fourth of July Fireworks
Dover, NH
603-743-6058
Annual fireworks display begins at sunset. Location alternates each year between Dover High School and Garrison Hill.
Dover Night Out
Henry Law Park, Dover, NH
A family-oriented event affiliated with National Night Out. Fun, food, games, informational displays, and more in a drug, alcohol, and tobacco-free environment. Concludes with fireworks display.
JULY– AUGUST
Cochecho Arts Festival
Downtown Dover, NH
603-742-2218 (Chamber)
603-742-6769 (Events hotline)
Summer-long concert series featuring nationally recognized and top Seacoast entertainers performing Friday nights at 7:00 p.m. Also, the Tuesday Children’s Series begins at 10:30 a.m.
Somersworth Kids Koncerts
Festival Pavilion
Somersworth, NH
603-692-5869
Live musical entertainment for children starting at 6:00 p.m.
AUGUST
Greek Festival
Hellenic Center
Longhill Road, Dover, NH
603-742-7667
Featuring authentic Greek food, music, and children’s activities.
Seacoast Irish Festival
Dover Lodge of Elks
Route 108, Dover, NH
603-516-6100
Featuring live performances by a variety of Irish bands, food, beer, and fun for all ages.
SEPTEMBER
Antique Auto Show
Woodman Institute Museum
182 Central Avenue, Dover, NH
603-742-1038
View and vote for your favorite antique autos featured on the grounds of the Woodman Institute. Visitors are welcome to talk to the car owners and take photos.
Day of Caring
Different locations throughout the Seacoast
603-436-5554
Organized annually by United Way of the Greater Seacoast, the Day of Caring is a one-day event that mobilizes more than 1,600 community volunteers. Individuals and groups, largely from area businesses, participate in service projects at nonprofit agencies throughout the region.
Rochester Fair
Rochester Fairgrounds
72 Lafayette Street
Rochester, NH
603-332-6585
Featuring animals, children’s activities and events, food, crafts, and more.
OCTOBER
Apple Harvest Day
Central Avenue
Downtown Dover, NH
603-742-2218
Anyone looking for a slice of traditional Yankee life should reserve the first Saturday of October for Dover’s annual Apple Harvest Day. The popular craft fair draws more than 20,000 people to downtown Dover and features produce from local apple orchards, an apple pie baking contest, artists and handcrafters (from throughout New England), delectable foods, live entertainment, a variety of activities for children, and much more.
Library Book Sale
Dover Public Library
73 Locust Street
Dover, NH
603-516-5701
Annual book sale sponsored by the Dover Public Library.
NOVEMBER
Live and Silent Auction and Taste of Dover
Downtown Dover, NH
603-740-6435
A fun-filled and thrilling night of food and treats provided by local restaurants and
caterers and a live and silent auction with
fantastic items of all values. Follows a different theme each year.
Holiday Parade
Central Avenue
Downtown Dover, NH
603-742-2218
Dover rings in the holiday season each year with its traditional holiday parade held at 3:15 p.m. on the Sunday following Thanksgiving. Local bands and marching units join floats from area organizations and businesses to help celebrate the holiday season. Special guest Santa Claus is always on hand to greet the thousands who line the Central Avenue parade route.
DECEMBER
Holiday Home Tour
Dover, NH
603-740-2818
Self-guided tour of elegant homes decorated for the holidays.
Annual Holiday Stroll and Treelighting Ceremony
Downtown Dover
603-740-6435
Organized by Dover Main Street, this event gives visitors and residents alike the opportunity to explore downtown Dover storefronts (decorated with wreaths, garlands and lovely window displays). Merchant Open Houses take place all day with holiday specials, refreshments, and a festive atmosphere that includes strolling carolers and a living nativity.
Ongoing Events and Area Attractions
Bell Center for Music and the Arts
47 Fourth Street
Dover, NH 03820
603-742-2355
The Center is a not-for-profit organization and a member of the National Guild of Community Schools of the Arts that specializes in music, art, and theatre training for all ages. Features many performances.
Children’s Museum of Portsmouth
280 Marcy Street
Portsmouth, NH
603-436-3853
Arts and science museum for children of all ages and their families. Visitors enjoy the hands-on exhibits and activities—like digging up dinosaur fossils, playing music, taking the controls of a space shuttle, or navigating a submarine—as well as special programs and performances, including the ongoing family music series held on Sunday afternoons and the monthly seniors series.
Dover Public Library
73 Locust Street
Dover, NH
603-743-6050
The library features exhibits showcasing the work of local artists. Adults and teens are welcome to attend one of the library’s monthly lectures, slide shows, travelogues, or other presentations featuring an author, local speaker, historian, or other expert.
From June through August, the library offers a Children’s Summer Reading Program for ages 5 through 12 years and a Teen Summer Reading program for ages 12 through 18 years. During the school year, teens are also welcome to attend the Teen Film Series, which is held monthly after school.
Garrison Players Arts Center
Route 4
Rollinsford, NH
603-740-0069
Garrison Players is a nonprofit, year-round community theater group that performs plays, musicals, and revues geared for family audiences. Some of the group’s recent performances include 1776 and Pippin. The Garrison Players restored the historic Hiram Roberts Grange Hall in Rollinsford as an active community arts center and home for theatrical productions.
Sights Unscene
5A Broadway
Dover, NH 03820
603-750-0075
Art and framing gallery that displays art of local artists.
Spinelli Cinema
The Strand Theater
20 Third Street
Dover, NH
603-749-4123
Downtown Dover movie theater with three screens, offering current feature films.
Village Goldsmith Gallery
453 Central Avenue
Dover, NH 03820
603-742-5230
Features the work of artists in the New Hampshire League of Craftsmen as well as exquisite originally designed, handcrafted jewelry by gallery owner and artist Jim Livermore.
Whittemore Center Arena
128 Main Street
Durham, NH
603-862-1199
The Whittemore Center Arena is a 6,000-seat multipurpose sports and entertainment facility located in Durham, New Hampshire, on the University of New Hampshire campus. The “Whit” annually hosts more than 130 events, including sporting events, concerts, and trade shows. The arena’s event schedule includes everything from rock concerts to WWE meets and Champions on Ice to Bill Cosby.
