I can't believe it's December! Somehow, yesterday morning's air was colder, more biting than the day before. I can feel the breeze through to my bones and I can smell the snow to come.

My Thanksgiving leftovers are depleted. The winter holidays are just weeks away. 2011, I hardly knew ye. Lets make the best of the final days!

Lots of holiday plays are open this weekend. Check out productions of The Nutcracker Ballet all over the state! Holiday craft fairs are also in abundance and are a lovely way to warm an icy December morning! Don't miss the Spirit of New Hampshire Christmas Parade in Manchester on Saturday. And, if the floats and music inspire your holiday spirit, check out our recently updated Pick-Your-Own Farms page for a tree-farm location near you!

Have a cup of cocoa and a great weekend!

Merrimack Region
Theatre
Saturday
A Christmas Carol

Sunday
NH Gay Men's Chorus: "PEACE" holiday concert

All Weekend
Elegies For Angels Punks and Raging Queens

The Nutcracker

Community
Manchester Spirit of New Hampshire Christmas Parade
Saturday, December 3
Manchester, NH
Each year, nearly 30,000 people descend on downtown to see festive floats, world class marching bands and of course, Santa Claus! Elm St. Join Granite State Credit Union and Intown Manchester for the largest float parade in the state of New Hampshire.

Christmas Craft Fair
Saturday, December 3
Nashua, NH
Some of the exhibits will include seasonal decor, floral arrangements, various jewelry styles, functional pottery, glassware, wooden crafts, Americana folk art, tole painting on wood & metal, gourmet foods, & lots more!

Annual Alpaca Holiday Tour
Through Sun, December 4
Canterbury, NH
Enjoy some Holiday shopping in our festive heated Barn Store-The Barn will be decorated in the Holiday spirit as well! Feed Dwarf Goats, visit the Alpacas; the beautiful creatures that provide this wonderful fiber.
Peruvian-Handmade Hats, Socks, Gloves, Fleece & Yarns and more... Also, our own NH- Made, Home-made on our farm, products and gifts.

Christmas in the Village
Saturday, December 3
Chester, NH
Featuring quality handmade crafts, unique holiday gifts, delicious bakeshop, Tiffany's of Chester, live music and wassail for all to enjoy.

Southern New Hampshire Festival of Trees
Fri-Sat, December 3
Pelham, NH
The Pelham Community Spirit group has once again generously given their support to the third annual Southern New Hampshire Festival of Trees. Come by Pelham Town Hall starting Friday, Nov. 25, 2011, for a fun filled community event. We have had a tremendous response from individuals, families and businesses in our community. This year promises to be a record-breaking event!

Starry Starry Weekend
Through December 4
Hopkinton, NH
More than 20 local businesses & organizations have planned special events throughout the weekend including artisan and church fairs, craft workshops, wine tastings, tree lightings & caroling, candle factory tours, art show, and health & fitness opportunities. All locations will be accepting food pantry contributions.

Hopkinton Village Tree Lighting
Saturday, December 3
Hopkinton, NH
Watch the tree lighting, listen to the town band and carol sing.

Pictures With Santa
Saturday, December 3
Hudson, NH
Kids can enjoy a treat, make a craft and get their picture taken with Santa.

Get Your Pet's Photo with Santa at The Mall at Rockingham Park
Sunday, December 4
Salem, NH
The four-legged members of the family are invited to join the holiday fun at The Mall at Rockingham Park in Salem, NH and have their own turn on Santa's lap. This is the purrr-fect chance to capture a moment of your furry friend celebrating the holidays. Photo package prices start at $21.99. Alls pets must be restrained by leash, cage or crate.

Merrimack's Holiday Parade and Tree Lighting Ceremony
Sunday, December 4
Merrimack, NH
The parade route will begin at The Commons Shopping Plaza. Traveling down Daniel Webster Hwy we will continue south finishing at Abbie Griffin Park where Santa and Mrs. Claus will meet with the children to hear their wishes and the Tree Lighting Ceremony will begin! We encourage all families to join us as we sing festive holiday carols around the tree! We are accepting donations of non-perishable food items for anyone wishing to donate to the local food pantry.

GFWC Hudson Junior Woman's Club 35th Annual Craft Fair
Saturday, December 3
Hudson, NH
The Fair offers crafts from more than one hundred artisans from the New England Region and also features lunch and a penny raffle. Admission is free. Follow the mouse signs to the fair! With over 1,000 fairgoers in attendance, this has been the place to be in Hudson on the first Saturday in December for thirty-five years! Proceeds from the Fair benefit the many projects of GFWC Hudson Juniors--from the new Butterfly Garden at Benson's Park to scholarships, to support of victims of domestic violence. Whether you want to purchase special holiday gifts, buy something unique for yourself, support craftspeople and artists in your community, or participate in the fair by selling your own crafts, the GFWC Hudson Juniors welcome you to our fair.

Holiday House Tour
Sat-Sun, December 3-4
Nashua, NH
A peek into the area's finest homes decorated with a holiday flare.

Party Against Parkinson's in America
Sunday, December 4
Salem, NH
This is a holiday season themed event in December whose goal is to raise awareness, bring people together to have fun and do so for a good cause. Taking on the challenge of this fundraising endeavor is both exciting and inspiring. I am committed to raising funds to end the suffering caused by Parkinson's disease (PD) because like many others, my Dad lost his battle against this disease. I am dedicating my efforts to The Michael J. Fox Foundation because I believe that my work as a Team Fox member will ultimately shorten the road to a cure.

Providence Bruins vs Manchester Monarchs
Saturday, December 3
Manchester, NH
Hockey game at 7pm.

Worcester Sharks vs Manchester Monarchs
Sunday, December 4
Manchester, NH
Bring your favorite kind of stuffing to donate to New Horizons! *A limited number of kids, 12 and under, will receive Color-Me

Women's Tackle Football Tryouts
Sunday, December 4
Manchester, NH
Tryouts will be in a football combine format. No experience is needed. We will teach you everything you need to know.

Seacoast Region
Theatre
Saturday
Spoon River Anthology

All Weekend
The Nutcracker

Spoon River Anthology

Not on this Night

Leahy Family Christmas

Amahl and the Night Visitors" and O. Henry's "The Gift of the Magi"

Community
A Night of Lights Holiday Parade
Saturday, December 3
Exeter, NH
The parade begins at the Osram plant on Portsmouth Avenue. The route heads south on Portsmouth Avenue then turns right onto Water Street. The procession continues past the Bandstand where the parade participants and award winners are introduced. The parade route continues past the Swasey Parkway on to Main Street. Participants are encouraged to continue along the route towards Lincoln Street where parents and chaperones are waiting in warm cars!

32nd Annual Candlelight Stroll
Saturdays & Sundays through December 18
Portsmouth, NH
An anchor event for the city's annual Vintage Christmas in Portsmouth, Candlelight Stroll at Strawbery Banke Museum is a cherished tradition for just about everyone who has ever attended and one of the special events that makes Portsmouth such an unforgettable holiday destination.

Hampton Christmas Parade
Saturday, December 3
Hampton Falls, NH
The Christmas Parade is on! Floats, bands, and entertainers will be marching through Downtown Hampton. "Hampton...One Beautiful Town", was selected as this year's theme.

Annual Illuminated Holiday Parade and Tree Lighting
Saturday, December 3
Portsmouth, NH
This year's theme is "A Caring Christmas" celebrating the work of non-profits. Parade participants and attendees are encouraged to bring food items for a Food Drive benefiting local organizations.

Maple Movements
Fri-Sat, December 2-3
Durham, NH
he evening will showcase the talents of dancers from the Seacoast area, as well as UNH dance students and organizations. Guests will taste a hint of maple syrup throughout every course, as the common ingredient is New Hampshire's own maple. Local food and products will be supplied by area farmers and artisans.

Dartmouth / Sunapee Region
Theatre
Saturday
The Christmas Revels

Rodelinda

Monadnock Region
Theatre
Saturday
The Nutcracker

The Met: Live in HD: Rodelinda (Handel)

The 35th Parallel: Music of Central Asia

Sunday
The Nutcracker

The Selfish Giant

All Weekend
Frost Heaves presents Noel Nonsense

Great North Woods Region
Theatre
Saturday
The Nutcracker Ballet

Lakes Region
Theatre
The Nutcracker

GRAMMY Award-winner Ed Gerhard's 20th Annual Holiday Concert

The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe

Rochester Follies Holiday Hijinks
Sunday
A Joyful Noise

Strafford Wind Symphony Annual Community Holiday Concert

All Weekend
The Hound of the Baskervilles

Community
Plymouth's Hometown Holiday Celebration
Fri-Sun, December 2-4
Plymouth, NH
The centerpiece of the Celebration is The Parade at 5 PM Saturday on December 3rd. It's a great family outing. Folks come early to meet their neighbors, enjoy a Christmas music sing-a-long, look at the lights, and decorate cookies with the PSU. Elves on the Common, check out your favorite stores and enjoy a free hot chocolate at Main Street banks. The parade always bustles with brightly lit floats, high school bands, a color guard, business entries, decorated walking groups, decked out animals, dance troupes and, of course, Santa.

White Mountains Region
Community
Jingle Bell Chocolate Tour
December 3, 4, 10 & 17
Jackson, NH
Board your Austrian Drawn Sleigh at Nestlenook Estate where you will be greeted by Carolers, presented with your Jingle Bell and first Chocolate Treasure. All this and more at one of New England's most charming winter wonderland settings.

15th Annual Holiday Tree Festival at Settlers' Green Outlet Village
Saturday, December 3
North Conway, NH
Live caroling music, festive trees decorated by locals competing for cash awards, free hot chocolate & candy canes, free horse drawn wagon rides with Santa, Cranmore miniature snow-tubing park and much more!

Santa At The Rocks
Through December 17
Bethlehem, NH
The Green (Eco) Santa will be at the farm giving seedlings to children and posing for photographs.

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