AKWAABA DRUM ENSEMBLE PERFORMA at the Newmarket HERITAGE FESTIVAL,
SEPTEMBER 19, 20, 21
Join Theo Martey and his friends for a drumming workshop Sunday,
September 21, at the Newmarket Heritage Festival. The ensemble has
been drumming and dancing together for many years in Ghana and the
United States. Today Theo is a master of West African drumming and
dance, a heritage that has many subtle variations in rhythmic
patterns, dance styles and clothing, all specific to a wide variety
of tribal groups from the region. For more info: www.heritage-festival.org.
MURRAY IRISH DANCE ACADEMY DANCERS KICK UP THEIR HEELS AT HERITAGE
FESTIVAL, SEPTEMBER 19, 20, 21
Dancers from the Murray Irish Dance Academy perform on the main
stage and offer an Irish dance workshop on Saturday, Sept. 20 at the
11th annual Heritage Festival. For more info: www.heritage-festival.org.
TRADITIONAL WEAVER FEATURED at THE NEWMARKET HERITAGE FESTIVAL:
SEPTEMBER 19, 20, 21
Craig Evans has been weaving for over 30 years, specializing in
spinning, dying and traditional weaves of the late 1700s to early
1800s. A traditional artisan listed with the New Hampshire State
Council on the Arts, Evans works in wool, cotton and flax and uses
historic looms and patterns for a large bed coverings, garments and
other textile products. Photo: Lynn Martin Graton, courtesy NHSCA)
For more info: www.heritage-festival.org.
2008 CALENDAR LISTING:
11th ANNUAL NEWMARKET HERITAGE FESTIVAL: September 19, 20, 21
www.heritage-festival.org
It’s the Seacoast’s favorite international block party—and you’re
invited! This year’s 11th annual celebration features not one but
two great dance parties: on Saturday night the hugely popular
Reminisants take the stage and on Sunday, the Latin band
Grupo Fantasia closes down the festival with a
family-friendly afternoon of Caribbean music.
Other headliners: the Fantastic Flying Fiddler
Brendan Carey Block, high-energy juggling brothers
Matthew and Jason Tardy, King Ludwig’s Bavarian Band, the
Akwaaba Drum and Dance Ensemble, and the Chinese Folk Art
Workshop troupe with their spinning diabolos and traditional
dragon dance.
Returning favorites: the Murray Irish Dancers,
the soul-inspiring Voices from the Heart, Accordion
Warrior Gary Sredzienski, and the award-winning Extreme Air
Jump Rope Team.
Great meals include the Friday Best-of-the-Seacoast
Dessert Buffet and the Saturday Soup and Chowder Fest,
the Extreme Air Saturday Brunch, the Sunday Firefighters
Breakfast, and the Community Church Harvest Supper.
(All meals are fundraisers and require separate tickets for
admission.)
Other highlights: artisans at work, boat tours,
kayaking on the river, a model railway, a festival barnyard, casting
and fishing workshops, juggling workshops, history walks, dozens of
vendors, great activities for kids—and more.
Admission: $7 for the weekend (excluding meals);
children under 12 are free.
Where: Newmarket
center (beside the library), Schanda Park on the waterfront, and
other downtown venues. More info:
www.heritage-festival.org or 603.659.5588 or
newmarketfest@yahoo.com.
2008 Press Release:
GREAT LINE-UP PLANNED
FOR 11th ANNUAL NEWMARKET HERITAGE FESTIVAL
The Seacoast's Favorite International Block Party: September 19, 20,
21
NEWMARKET, NH—The
Seacoast’s favorite international block party takes place September
19-21—and you’re invited! Don’t miss this annual celebration of the
arts, culture, history, and community spirit—right in downtown
Newmarket.
HIGHLIGHTS
This year’s 11th annual
celebration kicks off Friday night with the Best of the Seacoast
Dessert Bake-Off and the return of King Ludwig’s Bavarian
Band, complete with Alpine horns, cowbells and yodeling.
New this year: The Grupo Fantasia Latin Band
hosts a high-energy, family-friendly, Caribbean dance party.
Award-winning fiddler Brendan Carey Block brings his Cape
Breton-style to the festival stage. Brothers Matthew and Jason Tardy
of TWO: High-Energy Juggling defy the laws of gravity. And
there’s more: A Family Sing-Along and Rhythm Workshop, Mr.
YooWho and the Art of Clowning, and improv comedy with
Stranger than Fiction.
Returning favorites: The
Reminisants, “Boston’s best oldies and requests” band, hosts the
Saturday night dance party—along with the ever-popular Soup and
Chowder Fest. The Chinese Folk Art Workshop astounds with
spinning diabolos and the traditional dragon dance. The Akwaaba
Drum and Dance Ensemble fills the stage with the rhythms of
Africa. Also back by popular demand: the Murray Irish Dancers,
Voices from the Heart, Gary Sredzienski, the accordion
warrior, and the Blue Hill Brass Quintet
Activities &
Exhibits: artisans at work, boat tours, kayaking on the
river, a model railway, climbing wall, casting and fishing
workshops, barnyard animals, history walks, delicious food, dozens
of vendors offering hand-crafted specialty items, and great
activities for kids under the Children’s Tent.
MAIN TENT LINE-UP
The Heritage Festival welcomes a host of
great performers to the stage this year. The weekend gets off to a
rollicking start on Fri., Sept. 19, with the delicious
Best Dessert of the Seacoast Bake-Off, a fundraiser for Project
Graduation (Fri., 7:00-9:00) and the long-awaited return of King
Ludwig’s Bavarian Band, complete with Alpine horns, cowbells and
yodeling. At the 8:45 p.m. intermission, the Newmarket Main Street
Corporation, producers of the Heritage Festival, will conduct brief
opening ceremonies and announce this year’s Keeper of the
Heritage award. Dessert winners will be announced at 9:00 p.m.
On Sat., Sept. 20,
the day kicks off with the ever-popular Extreme Air Brunch
(Sat., 10:00-12:00) and a performance and workshop by the
award-winning Extreme Air Jump Rope Team (Sat., 10:15-11:00).
Award-winning fiddler Brendan Carey Block shares his
fast-paced Cape Breton-style fiddling (Sat., 11:00-11:45) and Neha
Parikh’s Indian Dancers perform classical dances of India
(12:15-12:45). Accordion Warrior Gary Sredzienski returns to
the festival with his many accordions, stories, and great music
(Sat., 1:30-2:30). The Murray Irish Dancers kick up their
heels (Sat., 3:00-3:45). The Chinese Folk Art Workshop troupe
astonishes with their spinning diabolos, dragon dance, and more
(Sat., 4:30-5:45). R.P. Hale offers his Harpsichord Demonstration
and Concert (Sat., 5:30-6:15). Saturday evening kicks off with the
annual Soup and Chowder Fest (Sat, 5:30-7:30), and the
Reminisants play classic dance music for all generations at the
Saturday night Dance Party (Saturday, 6:15-9:00).
On Sun., Sept. 21,
the festival opens with a Firefighters Breakfast (Sun., 10:00-12:00)
and Voices from the Heart (Sun., 10:30-11:30) singing
African-American spirituals, Korean songs of unity, South African
anti-apartheid songs, Macedonian love songs—and more. The
Children’s Musical Medley features students from the Newmarket
Elementary School Chorus and Band (Sun., 12:15-1:00). The Akwaaba
Drum and Dance Ensemble (Sun., 1:45-2:30) in full traditional
dress, brings the rhythms of Africa to the festival stage. Brothers
Matthew and Jason Tardy defy gravity in their TWO: High-Energy
Juggling performance (Sun., 3:00-4:00). The festival closes with
Grupo Fantasia hosting a family-friendly Caribbean dance
party featuring salsa, merengue and Cuban music (Sun., 4:30-6:00)
and the delicious Community Church Harvest Supper (Sun.,
5:00-7:00).
WORKSHOP TENT LINE-UP
Saturday:
The History and Art of the Decoy with carver Fred Dolan
(Sat., 11:45-12:15); Music with The Thomsons (Sat.,
12:45-1:30), Accordion Workshop with Gary Sredzienski
(2:30-3:00), and Mr. YooWho & the Art of Clowning (Sat.,
3:45-4:30).
Sunday:
an African Drumming Workshop (Sun., 11:30-12:15), a Family
Sing-Along and Rhythm Workshop (Sun., 1:00-1:45), the Blue
Hill Brass Quintet (Sun. 2:30-3:00), a Barn Raising
(3:00-4:00), and Improv Comedy with Stranger than Fiction
(4:00-4:30).
STROLLING MUSICIANS AND PERFORMERS
Saturday:
BrandyLeif Duo (Sat. 11:00-2:00), Fiddler Bruce Cobb
(11:00-3:00), Juggling with Brett and Jenny (11:00-4:00),
Accordion and Fiddle Minstrel Ryan Thomson (1:30-4:30),
Fiddler Molly Traynor (11:00-5:00).
Sunday:
Dick Kaplan’s Excellent Jazz Band (Sun., 11:00-2:00),
Juggling with Brett and Jenny (Sun., 11:00-4:00), Blue Hill
Brass Quintet (12:00-5:00), Stranger than Fiction Improv
Comedy (1:00-3:00), Washboard Minstrel Leif Gerjuoy (Sun.
2:00-5:00).
ACTIVITIES AND EXHIBITS
Main Venue: Veterans Exhibit
(Sat. 10-5, Sun. 10-5, Library); Book Sale (Sat., 10-5, Library),
Firefighting Exhibit (Sun., 12-5, adjacent to Artisan Tent)
Waterfront Venue: (Activities
are open 10-5, unless otherwise noted.) Climbing Wall (opens at 12
on Sun.), Festival Barnyard, Juggling Workshop, Kayaking and Rowing,
Casting Workshop, Fishing Workshops (Sat. & Sun., 11, 1, and 3),
Boat Tours (times depend on tides).
Downtown Venue: Model Trains
(American Legion, Sat. 10-5; Sun., 10-5), Historic Newmarket Exhibit
(Ampers& Studio, Sat. 12-3; Sun., 12-3), Historic Engine House
(Sat., 10-3). Historic Walking Tours: Mill Tour (Sat. & Sun.,
10-11:30), Downtown Village Tour (Sat. & Sun., 12-1:30), Cheswell
Burial Ground Tour (Sat., 3:30-5; Sun., 3-4:30)
CHILDREN'S ACTIVITIES
The Children’s Tent is
busy all weekend with hands-on fun for kids: Whirlygigs, a Community
Mural, Wooden Top Turning, Pottery, a Teddy Bear Clinic, Face
Painting, Spinning & Felting, Rock Painting, Magnet-Making, and
more!
great food
Don’t miss the great
community meals throughout the weekend: the Friday night Project
Graduation Best Dessert of the Seacoast Bake-Off; the Saturday
Extreme Air Brunch and the Soup and Chowder Fest; the Sunday
Firefighters Breakfast and the Community Church Harvest Supper.
Please note: These meals are fundraising events. Tickets are
available on site (on a first-come, first-served basis), and all
proceeds support local organizations. Plus, visit the festival’s
great food vendors, selling Thai food, Polish food, French Canadian
food, Italian sausage, pizza, tofu dogs, chili, popcorn, baked
goods, ice cream—and more.
HOURS AND ADMISSION
Hours:
Fri., Sept. 19: 6 pm - 9 pm; Sat. Sept. 20: 10 am – 9 pm; Sun. Sept.
21: 10 am – 7 pm.
Admission:
$7 for the entire weekend (excluding meals); children under 12 are
free.
LOCATION
The festival has
three venues:
I) The Main Venue
is located at the corner of Main Street (Route 108) and Elm St. in a
large paved area adjacent to the Newmarket Public Library. The Main
Tent, Workshop Tent, Artisan Tent, Children’s Tent, Book Sale
(Library), Veterans Exhibit (Library), and vendor booths are located
here.
II) The Waterfront
Venue is located at the end of Water Street in Schanda Park and
along the Lamprey River. The kayaking, boat rides, climbing wall,
juggling workshop, casting and fishing workshops and festival
barnyard are all located here.
III) The Downtown
Venue includes several activities and locations: Model Trains
(American Legion), Historic Newmarket Exhibit (Ampers& Studio),
Harvest Supper (Community Church), Newmarket Engine House & Tiger #1
Historic Handtub, and the Stone School Museum.
Handicap Access:
The festival site is handicap-accessible except for the second floor
of the Stone School Museum, parts of the mill building, and the
trolley.
PARKING& TROLLEY
Limited parking is
available at the festival site, with overflow parking at the
Newmarket Junior/Senior High School (Route 152). Please note: The
Newmarket Main Street Corp. accepts no responsibility for illegally
parked vehicles, which may be towed at the owner’s expense. A
free festival trolley runs continuously on Saturday (9:30–9:30)
and Sunday (9:30–7:30) among all the festival venues and the parking
areas.
SPONSORS
Produced by the Newmarket Main Street
Corporation, the Heritage Festival is made possible thanks to the
generous support of our sponsors, including: Festival Leaders
(Silver): New Hampshire Charitable Foundation-Piscataqua Region,
New Hampshire State Council on the Arts, Town of Newmarket;
Festival Leaders (Bronze): TD BankNorth. Festival Partners
(Silver): American Legion, Ampers& Studio, Lamprey Arts &
Culture Alliance, Liberty Mutual, Newmarket Public Library;
Festival Partners (Bronze): Bottomline Technologies, Churchill’s
Gardens, Delta Dental, Newmarket Businesss Association, Newmarket
Polish Club, Proulx Oil, PSNH, Russound, 98.7FM-The Bay. Thanks also
to our Festival Supporters, Festival Friends, and Community
Partners, including local businesses, organizations, and
individuals. For more information: www.heritage-festival.org
or 603.659.5588.
About the festival: WRITE-UPS FOUND ON-LINE
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