Calendar

EVENTS FOR MARCH & APRIL

Editor’sChoice

March 26

St. Patrick’s Parade > This longstanding Manchester tradition may be the granddaddy of all St. Patrick’s Day events in the Granite State. Organizations from around the state hoist the tricolor, don their green and march down Elm Street for the parade (which is held on a late-March Sunday every year to avoid competition). Park your lawn chair along the route, wave to the annually nominated Grand Marshal and scout out more guys in kilts than you’ll see all year. Manchester; saintpatsnh.com

March 26

Great Bay Half Marathon & 5K > The Great Bay Half Marathon and 5K is returning to Newmarket for its 16th year of scenic New England running by the Great Bay estuary. Half-marathoners traverse beautiful winding roads, the Great Bay estuary and historic downtown Newmarket. Runners receive apparel, beer from Smuttynose Brewing Co. and healthy snacks. $39-$89. 11 a.m., Downtown Newmarket; greatbayhalf.com

March 11

On Tap for CASA > At this fundraiser for CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) of New Hampshire, participants aim to keep their teams’ barstools occupied for 10 hours without abandoning the post while competing in a variety of fun competitions to gain points, including trivia, stein hoisting and more. Come for the cause, stay for the friendly competition. All participant spots will likely be filled by early March, but interested persons can donate and drop by the event for music, raffles and libations offered throughout the 10-hour event. All proceeds go toward recruitment and training of CASA volunteer advocates — ordinary men and women advocating for abused or neglected children in New Hampshire’s court system.

12 to 10 p.m., New England’s Tap House Grille, 1292 Hooksett Rd., Hooksett. casanh.org/ontap

March 4

Yung Gravy > Southern New Hampshire University’s organization CAPE (Coordinators of Activities and Programming Events) presents Yung Gravy. A humorously groovy and trending rapper, Yung Gravy made his debut in 2017 with the hit song “Mr. Clean.” $35. 7 p.m., SNHU Arena, 555 Elm St., Manchester. (603) 644-5000; snhuarena.com

March 4-5

56th Annual New Hampshire State Home Show > During the two-day expo, visitors can attend seminars on topics like remodeling and energy efficiency and browse a show floor full of displays from home pros and more. $10-$15. Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., DoubleTree by Hilton, 700 Elm St., Manchester. (603) 228-0351; nhstatehomeshow.com

March 11

St. Patty’s 5k & 10K > With a common start and finish for both the 5K and 10K distances, this Irish-themed course is flat and fast. The 5K follows one clockwise lap within the Pease Development

Authority while the 10K races two laps with a quick out-and-back on Rye Street during the second loop. $10-$40. 10 a.m., Pease Development Authority, 200 International Dr., Portsmouth; runreg.com

March 24

Waypoint SleepOut > Spend a night out in the cold in solidarity with youth enduring homelessness in New Hampshire. This year is the 9th annual SleepOut, and will be a hybrid event, which means participants can sleep out (as a “Sleeper”) in their own backyard or a place of their choosing, or at one of the designated group sites in Manchester (464 Chestnut St.) and Rochester (3 Wallace St.). Participants can even choose to sleep in (as a “Daydreamer”). However participants choose to get involved, their objective is to raise as much money and awareness as they can. SleepOut 2023 will help Waypoint quell the suffering of youth, advocate for change at the legislative level and support Waypoint’s expanded services, including an emergency overnight shelter, to help transform thousands of young lives. Register or donate on Waypoint’s website. (603) 518-4000; waypointnh.org

March 31-April 2

Exeter LitFest > Calling all bibliophiles, this event is for you. Start the weekend with a kick-off party, followed by a daylong schedule of events on Saturday, including keynote speakers like author Rabia Chaudry, book launches, author talks, children’s programming, art exhibits and more all around downtown. LitFest concludes with a gala poetry reading at the Word Barn. Free. Downtown Exeter; exeterlitfest.com

Throughout March

New Hampshire Maple Month > March is Maple Month in New Hampshire, marking peak maple syrup production season when over 90 Granite State sugarhouses boil down sap to the beloved delicacy. As part of Maple Month, an abundance of the state’s sugarhouses open their doors each weekend for free tours and samples, as well as horse-drawn rides, sugar on snow, pancake breakfasts and more.

Visit New Hampshire’s Maple Producers Association Inc.’s website for an up-to-date directory of participating sugarhouses. (603) 833-2347; nhmapleproducers.com

April 1

’80s Day > Your favorite day at Loon Mountain is back. ‘80s Day is a complete all-mountain throwback party. Drum up your best outfit, bump springtime moguls, carve plush corduroy and cap off the day with an outdoor concert featuring ’80s tribute band Rubix Kube. If you have a valid season pass, ticket pack or day ticket (excluding uphill access tickets), admission to the concert venue is free (ages 21+). Your RFID media will be scanned at the

Presenting Sponsor: venue entrance to validate admission. If your pass or ticket is not valid for lift access on April 1, it is not valid for admission to the concert venue. If you do not have a valid season pass, day ticket or ticket product, a limited number of concert tickets will be available for purchase online starting March 22 at noon. Concert tickets must be purchased online and picked up at a PUB. Loon will be operating shuttles for ’80s Day, operating on a loop around town stopping at locations listed on their website. Prices vary. All day, Loon Mountain, 60 Loon Mountain Rd., Lincoln. (800) 229-5666; loonmtn.com

April 6-8

Comedian Bob Marley > Bob loves being a comedian. He’s wicked good at it! He lives in Maine, which is the (second) best state in the world, maybe even the universe (although New Hampshire is pretty awesome, too). He’s featured regularly on Sirius XM radio and he even won their Superbowl of Comedy. He has put out over 20 comedy CDs and DVDs. He was inducted into “The Guinness Book of World Records” for “the longest stand-up comedy show by an individual” at 40 hours of straight stand-up. He’s been on over 100 TV shows including “Leno,” “Letterman,” “Conan,” “Jimmy Fallon,” “Craig Ferguson” and “Comedy Central,” to name just a few. He co-starred in “Boondock Saints” and “All Saints Day” playing Detective Greenly. He has toured the U.S., Europe, Canada, Kuwait and Iraq. That’s about it. See him at the Palace Theatre. $39.50. Thursday 7:30 p.m., Friday 8:30 p.m. and Saturday 5:30 and 8:30 p.m., The Palace Theatre, 80 Hanover St., Manchester. (603) 668-5588; palacetheatre.org

April 15

Discover WILD New Hampshire Day > This annual educational event from the state Fish and Game Department is jam-packed with lectures and presentations, wild animal meet and greets and opportunities to try out archery and other sports. Best of all? It’s free. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., New Hampshire Fish and Game Department, 11 Hazen Dr., Concord. (603) 721-3421; wildlife.state.nh.us

April 29

Motor Booty Affair > Motor Booty Affair has been lighting up stages across America with their ’70s extravaganza for several years, continually improving on the show that has been dubbed “The Ultimate Disco Party Band.” The show is spectacular — from the afros, bell-bottoms, platform shoes, polyester and dance moves, to the highest quality sound and light show this side of 1975. $20. 8 p.m., Rochester Opera House, 31 Wakefield St., Rochester. (603) 335-1992; rochesteroperahouse.com

Find additional events at nhmagazine.com/ calendar. Submit events eight weeks in advance to Caleb Jagoda at cjagoda@nhmagazine.com or enter your own at nhmagazine.com/calendar. Not all events are guaranteed to be published either online or in the print calendar. Event submissions will be reviewed and, if deemed appropriate, approved by a New Hampshire Magazine editor.