MacDowell Downtown series concludes with composer Jane Lui on Nov. 6
Recording artist, producer, and composer Jane Lui will close the 2026 MacDowell Downtown series on Friday, Nov. 6, at 7:30 p.m. at the Monadnock Center for History & Culture in Peterborough.
During the presentation, “Conversations Through Time: An Evening with Jane Lui,” she will introduce her project SURRIJA, discuss the production process behind songs inspired by paintings of four women who were lovers of Picasso, and perform selections from her catalog. The performance includes an a cappella rendition of “It’s Been A Long Time Since I’ve Been Here,” featured in “Everything Everywhere All At Once.”
The event is free and open to the public, with advance registration encouraged.
Music on Norway Pond opens season with Juniper Trio in Hancock Nov. 8
Music on Norway Pond opens its season with a performance by the Juniper Trio on Sunday, Nov. 8, at 4 p.m., at the First Congregational Church in Hancock.
The trio – comprising violinist Geneva Lewis, violist Emma Wernig, and cellist Jay Campbell – will perform Dmitry Sitkovetsky’s string transcription of Bach’s “Goldberg Variations.”
Admission is free for children and students. Tickets and additional details are available online at musiconnorwaypond.org.
Author Howard Mansfield to discuss ‘Invisible Monuments’ Nov. 6
The Harris Center for Conservation Education and the Hancock Town Library will co-sponsor a presentation with Hancock author Howard Mansfield at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6, at the Harris Center in Hancock.
Radio host Laura Knoy will interview Mansfield about his latest book, “Invisible Monuments: Tribute, Memory, and the Summoning of the Past,” exploring overlooked, forgotten, and erased historical monuments, including the site of a railroad riot, a rediscovered African burial ground, and a wartime family tribute.
The event is free and open to the public. Space is limited, and registration is encouraged at harriscenter.org. For more information or accessibility questions, contact Susie Spikol at 525-3394.
NOVA Arts to host midterm election forum Nov. 5, rock concert Nov. 7
NOVA Arts will host a community discussion on Nov. 5 followed by a multi-band rock concert on Nov. 7.
Cooperative Action Monadnock returns on Thursday, Nov. 5, from 5 to 7 p.m. for a free, all-ages public forum titled “The Fall Elections, Our Community & You!” The discussion will focus on the midterm elections alongside shared social, political, environmental, and economic concerns.
On Saturday, Nov. 7, NOVA Arts will present live rock performances featuring Brattleboro, Vermont-based punk group Slob Drop, Massachusetts rock band Young Other, and local group Deadweight. Doors open at 7 p.m., with music beginning at 7:30 p.m. Seating is first come, first served. Pay-what-you-can admission is available, supported by Savings Bank of Walpole.
For tickets and details, visit novaarts.org/events.
Cherven Traktor to host Bulgarian folk dance party Nov. 7
Bulgarian folk ensemble Cherven Traktor will host a Bulgarian Folk Dance Party on Saturday, Nov. 7, at 7 p.m. at the Mariposa Museum, 26 Main St. in Peterborough.
Formed in 2009, the group performs traditional and contemporary Bulgarian and Macedonian folk music on authentic instruments. Members include Nikolay Kolev on gadulka, vocalist Donka Koleva, Belle Birchfield on tambura, and Michael Ginsburg on tapan and vocals.
Tickets are $20. For tickets and additional details, visit mariposamuseum.org.
FemLink-Art to present ‘MAGIC’ video composition Nov. 15
The Blue Fern Gallery and The Mariposa Museum will co-host the second presentation in their “ART MATTERS” series on Sunday, Nov. 15, at 4 p.m. at the Mariposa Museum, 26 Main St. in Peterborough.
FemLink-Art co-founder and co-curator C. M. Judge will present the video composition “MAGIC,” featuring works by 25 artists from 25 countries exploring the question “What is magical?” The event marks the 20th anniversary of FemLink-Art, an international women’s video art collective. Following the presentation, refreshments will be served at The Blue Fern Gallery at 40B Main St.
Admission is free, but preregistration is required.
Finnish Mama to host fourth annual Fall Finnish Coffee Table Nov. 14
Finnish Mama will host the fourth annual Fall Finnish Coffee Table on Saturday, Nov. 14, from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. at Union Congregational Church, 33 Concord St. in Peterborough.
The Finnish-style coffee social features coffee and sweet treats, along with live entertainment including a special appearance by the Revontulet Finnish Folk Dancers and live Finnish music by Oiven IIO.
The family-friendly community event is free and open to all, with donations accepted at the door.
Monadnock Area Artists Association to host annual fall meeting Nov. 14 in Keene
The Monadnock Area Artists Association will hold its annual fall meeting on Saturday, Nov. 14, from 10 a.m. to noon at the Hannah Grimes Business Center, 25 Roxbury St. in Keene.
The program includes a brief business update followed by a hands-on gel plate demonstration by award-winning watercolorist Sue Ann Hum of Hancock, showing how to create paper images for multimedia artwork. Attendees can also participate in an art supply swap table and share recent artwork.
The event is free, handicap accessible, and open to the public. Refreshments will be served. For more information, visit MonadnockAreaArtists.org.
The Park Theatre to screen award-winning drama ‘GIANT’ starring John Lithgow
The Park Theatre will present cinema screenings of the stage drama “GIANT,” starring John Lithgow as author Roald Dahl, on Thursday, Nov. 19, at 6:30 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 22, at 2 p.m. at 19 Main St. in Jaffrey.
Filmed live at London’s Harold Pinter Theatre, the production was written by Mark Rosenblatt and directed by Nicholas Hytner. The drama is set in the summer of 1983 as Dahl prepares to publish “The Witches” while confronting fallout from an antisemitic article he wrote. The cast also features Elliot Levey, Aya Cash, Rachael Stirling, Tessa Bonham Jones, and Richard Hope.
Both screenings will be held in the theatre’s Eppes Auditorium as part of its Stage2Screen series. Tickets are $18. For tickets and more information, visit theparktheatre.org or call 603-532-8888.
Small Pond Productions Presents “A Classic Christmas Jubilee 2026” in Marlborough
Small Pond Productions will present “A Classic Christmas Jubilee 2026” alongside a series of comedy skits titled “A Merry Spoofmas!” at the Community House of Marlborough, 160 Main St.
Performances are scheduled for Dec. 3 through Dec. 5 at 7:30 p.m., with 2 p.m. matinees on Dec. 5 and Dec. 6. Traci Booth directs the production, with music direction by Walt Sayre; the show features a holiday music program, comedic sketches, and an appearance by Santa Claus.
Tickets are $20 for general admission and $15 for seniors and students; cash or check accepted at the door. Call (603) 242-2314 to make reservations and special seating requests. More information is available at smallpondpresents.org.
Downtown Peterborough merchants to host community shopping, arts evening Nov. 6
Merchants and venues throughout downtown Peterborough and Depot Square will host a community shopping and arts evening on Friday, Nov. 6, from 5 to 7 p.m.
The event features extended hours at local shops and galleries, dining specials, and family activities. Highlights include live music by Lisa Jane Lipkin at the Mariposa Museum from 5 to 7 p.m., an open house with musician Jack Hickey at Blue Fern Gallery, and an open house with collaborative mural painting at the MAXT Makerspace in Noone Falls. The Peterborough Town Library will host both a community meet-and-greet with the Peterborough Welcome Team and the MacDowell Downtown presentation featuring Jane Lui at 7:30 p.m. Additional activities include card readings at Joseph’s Coat and a pay-what-you-can yoga flow at Tria Yoga.
Parking is free throughout downtown. For more information, contact Pelagia Vincent at 603-203-4356.