| Exciting Heritage Festival Schedule 2010 |
FEATURED EVENT
The Heritage Festival, the Seacoast’s favorite international block party, takes place September 24-26. You’re invited! Don’t miss this 13th annual celebration of the arts, culture, history, and community spirit. It all takes place in downtown
Read on to learn more about the festival—and for a sneak preview of this year’s schedule printed in full below. For details and updates, visit the festival Web site or look for them on Facebook.
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OVERVIEW
The Newmarket Heritage Festival honors the rich diversity of tradition, past and present, that defines this small
Organized by a small group of dedicated volunteers, the festival has gained a reputation for its eclectic mix of entertainment and activities, as well as for its friendly atmosphere. We hope you enjoy this lively celebration, which takes place in the shadow of Newmarket’s historic mills, where so many once labored so hard–-and where a sense of community continues to thrive.
MAIN TENT
The Heritage Festival’s Main Tent showcases outstanding local and regional performers, sharing the sounds of the past and multicultural traditions that have been passed on through the generations. The weekend gets off to a rollicking start with food, music, and opening ceremonies at 5:30 Friday night and continues throughout the weekend until Sunday at 7 pm. Featured new acts this year include Opa’s Oompah Band, which kicks off the festivities during the Friday night Soup and Chowder Fest; a team of Japanese Taiko Drummers, who start the day on Saturday morning; and the Webster Family performing on the Scottish bagpipes. Back at the festival after a hiatus are the extreme juggling duo, Two, and folk favorites Susie Burke and David Surette—joined this year by daughters Isa and Julianna. Returning favorites on Saturday include the Murray Irish Dancers, Accordion Warrior Gary Sredzienski, Chinese Folk Art Workshop and the mighty Jumbo Circus Peanuts, who will rock the main tent during the Best Dessert of the Seacoast Bake-Off on Saturday night. Returning favorites on Sunday include the Extreme Air Jump Ropers, Voices from the Heart, and the Akwaaba African Dance and Drum Ensemble.

WORKSHOP TENT
The festival’s second stage is in the Workshop Tent, where festival goers learn and often participate in traditions that can be demonstrated, learned, and enjoyed. New this year is a fencing demonstration with the Seacoast Fencing Club; an accordion presentation with veteran musician Sylvia Miskoe and her young apprentice Doug Brunson; and a sushi demonstration by
Other featured workshop tent offerings include Newmarket’s own Laotian dancers; the Fiddling Thomsons, Ryan and son Brennish; a Chinese Yo-Yo workshop, the Extreme Air Jump Ropers, the Children’s Indian Folk Dancers; African Drumming Workshop, a Bollywod Dance Workshop, and a Bagpipe Workshop.
WATERFRONT STAGE & STROLLING MUSIC
The festival’s busy waterfront venue includes a Waterfront Stage featuring more great performers. New this year is a Local Artist Showcase spotlighting a rich mix of Seacoast talent, including Peg Chaffee and Cheryl Sager, Clayton Willoughby, Sylvan Roots. Ernest Whaley and Tom Hanlon, The Sidewalk Boys, Erin Robersaw, Sugar Shack Grass, and more! The festival’s Strolling Music can be heard on the festival trolley and along

ARTISAN TENT & CHILDREN’S TENT
This year’s Artisan Tent, funded in part by the New Hampshire State Council on the Arts, includes artisans who love sharing their passion for the past: blacksmith Garry Kalajian, cooper Ron Raiselis, shaker Box Maker Michael French, wildfowl Carver Fred Dolan, windsor chair maker Peter Scheffer, and 18th-century printer R.P. Hale, who will be creating the sixth in a series of prints of historic buildings. Adjacent to the Artisan Tent, the festival Children’s Tent features try-it-yourself traditions for all ages: Chinese brush painting, crafts with yarn, pottery, printing, magnet fun, spinning, wood turning and woodworking, and a host of traditional tools for kids to try. Lamprey Health Care will also offer a Teddy Bear Clinic. A highlight of this year’s Children’s Tent is the 1000 Cranes Origami Project, a community art project that will create a beautiful gift with a message of healing and support for Bella Tucker, a young
ACTIVITIES
The festival is packed with activities in each of its three venues (the main festival venue, the waterfront venue and downtown venue). Some require a small fee. The waterfront will feature the return of the Gundalow, which will be anchored throughout the festival weekend. Built in 1982, the Captain Edward H. Adams is a reproduction of an1880s gundalow. Try the sweeps, take the helm, use the old tools, explore below deck, and learn the lore of the great flat-bottomed vessels that once sailed the waters of the Piscataqua Region. The captain will set the sail hourly on the half hour, weather permitting. EMS will be on hand again this year with dozens of kayaks for short paddles on the
GREAT FOOD & CRAFT VENDORS
The festival features great community meals throughout the weekend: the Friday night Soup and Chowder Fest, the Saturday night Project Graduation Best Dessert of the Seacoast Bake-Off , the Sunday Extreme Air Brunch, and the Sunday night Community Church Harvest Supper. (These meals are fundraising events. Tickets are available on site, on a first-come, first-served basis, and all proceeds support local organizations. The festival also features dozens of high-quality vendors selling fine arts, crafts, gifts, and a smorgasobard of edible goodies.
HOURS AND ADMISSION
Hours: Friday, September 24, 5:30 pm – 8 pm; Saturday, September 25, 10 am – 9 pm; Sunday, September 26, 10 am – 7 pm. Admission: It’s the best deal you’ll find anywhere: $7 for a weekend full of music and dance, arts and culture, history and community spirit (excluding meals and select activities); children under 12 are free.
LOCATION
The festival has three venues:
I) The Main Venue is located next to the Newmarket Library at the corner of
II) The Waterfront Venue is located at the end of
III) The Downtown Venue includes several activities and locations: Model Trains (American Legion), Community Art Exhibit (Ampers& Studio), Harvest Supper (Community Church), Sidewalk Artists (Main Street), Veterans Exhibit (Bandstand), Newmarket Engine House, and the Stone School Museum.
Handicap Access: The festival site is handicap-accessible except for the second floor of the
PARKING & TROLLEY
Parking is available at the festival site, with overflow parking at the Newmarket Junior/Senior High School (
SPONSORS
Produced by the Newmarket Main Street Corporation, the Heritage Festival is made possible thanks to the generous support of our sponsors: STARS: New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, New Hampshire State Council on the Arts. LEADERS: TD Bank, Town of
Rooted in the diversity of
