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The 12th annual Newmarket Heritage Festival is coming up, on
September 25, 26 & 27, 2009.
Check back to learn more about the upcoming festival and
explore this site to learn about the 2008 event.
2008 RECAP: WELCOME to the 11th annual Newmarket Heritage Festival, a lively
celebration of the arts, culture, history, and community spirit.
The Seacoast’s favorite international block party honors the rich
diversity of tradition, past and present, that defines this small
New England mill town. It’s a diversity we share with countless
other communities, as Americans and as world citizens. It’s a
diversity that makes for a proud heritage—
and a great party!
Standing watch over the festivities are the buildings that first
shaped this town. The mills, where so many labored so hard, are
tangible reminders that by working—and celebrating—together it is
possible to achieve
a sense of community, a place of belonging.
We hope you'll join us!
Read press coverage of the 2007
festival.
2008 PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
THIS YEAR'S FESTIVAL FEATURES A RICH MIX OF TALENTED PERFORMERS, ARTISANS,
AND OTHER PARTICIPANTS:
The festival kicks off Friday night with the Best of the Seacoast
Dessert Bake-Off and the long-awaited 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. Juggling brothers
Matthew and Jason Tardy defy the laws of gravity.
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 diabalos 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, and
Gary Sredzienski, the accordion warrior. Other activities
and exhibits: artisans at work, boat tours, kayaking on the
river, a model railway, climbing wall, casting workshops, barnyard
animals, history walks, delicious food, dozens of vendors, and great
activities for kids under the children’s tent.
*Click on these links to read more about the
entertainment,
artisans,
vendors,
children’s activities,
activities & exhibits,
and
food!
2008 FESTIVAL HOURS AND ADMISSION
FESTIVAL HOURS:
Friday, September 19, 6 - 9 pm
Saturday, September 20, 10 -9 pm
Sunday, September 21, 10 - 7 pm
VENUE HOURS:
I) MAIN VENUE
Main Tent & Demo Tent: Sat. 10-9; Sun. 10-6
Artisan Tent (& Library Artisans): Sat. 10-5; Sun. 10-5
Children’s Tent: Sat. 10-4; Sun. 10-4
Vendor Booths: Sat. 10-6; Sun. 10-6
Library Book Sale: Sat. 10-5
Firefighting Exhibit: Sun: 12-3
Veterans Exhibit (Library): Sat: 10-5; Sun
10-5
II) WATERFRONT VENUE
Climbing Wall: Sat. 10-5; Sun. 12-5
Festival Barnyard: Sat. 10-5; Sun. 10-5
Casting Workshop: Sat. 10-5; Sun. 10-5
Fishing Workshops: Sat. 11, 1 & 3; Sun. 11, 1 & 3
Juggling Workshop: Sat. 10-5; Sun. 10-5
Kayaking and Rowing: Sat. 10-5; Sun. 10-5
30-minute Scenic Boat Rides: Sat. 2-6; Sun. 2:30-6
III) DOWNTOWN VENUE
Model Trains (American Legion): Sat: 10-5; Sun. 10-5
Historic Newmarket Exhibit (Ampers& Gallery):
Sat. 12-3; Sun. 12-3
Historic Engine House: Sat. 10-3
Stone School Museum: Sat. 1-4; Sun. 1-4
ADMISSION:
It’s the best deal you’ll find anywhere: $7 for a weekend full of
arts, culture, history and community. Cost includes all
performances, artisans, activities, and exhibits (excluding meals);
children under 12 are free. Please note: Community meals are
fundraising events. Tickets are available on site (on a first-come,
first-served basis) and all proceeds support local organizations.
(See
Food for more details.)
Admission wristbands go on sale in early September and are available
at the Newmarket Public Library and the Newmarket Town Hall, as well
as at the festival. The show goes on, rain or shine—there are lots
of tents!.
LOCATION AND PARKING
LOCATION:
The festival has three venues:
I) 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, library, and vendor booths are located here.
II) 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 workshops and
barnyard animals are all located here.
III) Downtown Venue includes the American Legion (Model
Trains), the gallery at Ampers& Studio (Historic Newmarket Exhibit),
the Newmarket Engine House (Tiger #1 Historic Handtub), the
Community Church (Veterans Exhibit and Harvest Supper), and the
Stone School Museum.
Handicap Access: The festival site is handicap-accessible
except for the second floor of the Stone School Museum and parts of
the mill building.
Reminder: The festival is a No Smoking event. For
safety reasons, the festival is also a “fido-free” environment.
Service dogs only are allowed. Thanks for your understanding.
PARKING & TROLLEY:
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 a.m. - 9:30 p.m.) and Sunday (9:30 a.m.–7:30 p.m.) among all
the festival venues and the parking areas.
History and Mission
HISTORY
The Newmarket Heritage Festival, now in its 11th year, is a
celebration of the arts, culture, history, and community
spirit—rooted in a small New England mill town. The event has grown
from a one-tent festival to a weekend that includes multi-cultural
music and dance, artisan demonstrations, historic walking tours,
narrated boat tours, kayak excursions, a model railway, hands-on
children's activities, fine arts and crafts, strolling performers,
vendor booths, international foods, and more. The festival is
organized by a small group of dedicated volunteers, who spend all
year planning for the weekend. Known as the Seacoast’s favorite
international block party, the festival has gained a reputation for
its eclectic mix of entertainment and activities, as well as its
friendly atmosphere. We hope you enjoy this lively celebration,
which takes place in the shadow of Newmarket’s historic mills, where
laborers once worked so hard, and where a sense of community
continues to thrive.
MISSION
The mission of the Newmarket Heritage Festival, produced by the
Newmarket Main Street Corporation, is three-fold:
-
to
educate residents of the region and visitors about the cultural,
historical, and natural heritage of Newmarket through performances
and demonstrations of traditional arts, educational talks and
tours, and hands-on learning opportunities;
-
to
inspire young people to learn more about Newmarket’s heritage and
the riches of our diverse cultural heritage through hands-on
exposure to the arts, learning experiences, and performance
opportunities;
-
to
foster cooperation and collaboration among town committees,
organization, businesses, and residents in an effort to educate
and strengthen our community and its commitment to the value of
culture and the arts;
In
short, the mission of the festival is to bring people together for
an enriching celebration of the arts, culture, history, and
community spirit.
The mission of the Newmarket Main Street Corporation is “to
promote comprehensive downtown revitalization and to maintain and
strengthen the economic, historic, and cultural characteristics of
Newmarket, preserving the legacy of the town for generations to
come.” Rooted in the diversity of Newmarket's past and present, the
Heritage Festival continues to be a flagship project of the NMSC.
The NMSC is a 501(c)(3) organization.
2008 FESTIVAL SPONSORS
Heartfelt thanks to our major sponsors, whose generosity makes it
possible for the Heritage Festival to provide the Seacoast area with
an annual celebration of traditional arts, cultural diversity, and
community spirit. It’s an international block party—and everyone’s
invited! For a complete list of our sponsors,
click here.
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