Thousand Of Phish Fans Converge In Downtown Manchester For Three Days

MANCHESTER, NH – The legendary jam band Phish brought their unique brand of improvisational rock to Manchester this past weekend, kicking off their highly anticipated Summer Tour 2025 with a three-night residency at the SNHU Arena from Friday to Sunday.

The shows marked the Vermont quartet's long-awaited return to New Hampshire, their first performance in the Granite State in nearly 15 years, much to the delight of a fervent fan base. Manchester welcomed the fans to local hotels, restaurants, bars, and businesses. Elm Street was shut down in front of the SNHU arena to make a safe space for “Shake Down Street,” where vendors who paid permit fees to the city sold their products, including clothing, food, and beverages.

Beyond the music, the Phish community's presence was strongly felt throughout Manchester. The band's non-profit arm, The WaterWheel Foundation, also made an impact, with volunteers assisting the New Hampshire Food Bank during the tour stop, highlighting the philanthropic spirit often associated with the Phish scene.

The Manchester police report only one arrest related to the concert over the three days. Manchester Fire and AMR ambulance provided medical aid to about a dozen people inside and outside the arena.

Jodie Nazaka, the director of Manchester Economic Development, offered her thoughts and feedback about the weekend:

The economic impact on the city was significant. All local hotels were at full capacity throughout the weekend, and reports indicated that hotels north of Concord and south of Nashua were also fully booked. Downtown bars and restaurants in Manchester prepared for the influx of visitors and were ready to welcome Phish fans. Many offered Phish-themed specials, and some hosted pre- and post-show events featuring bands or listening parties.

The downtown street cleaning team put in extra days and longer hours to keep the Downtown and Millyard areas clean and welcoming for visitors. They were on the streets bright and early Monday morning, picking up any remaining debris left after Sunday night's final show.

While Manchester had hosted larger events in the past, the three-day nature of this event, combined with the impact of outside visitors, made it one of the largest, if not the largest, three-day events the city had seen in quite some time.

The Economic Development Office will conduct a visitor spending analysis to understand its total economic impact. It is anticipated that there will be an economic impact of $10 million to $ 15 million over the three-day weekend.

The three-night run at SNHU Arena set a high bar for Phish's Summer Tour 2025, promising an exciting season for fans as the band now heads to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

©Jeffrey Hastings www.frameofmindphoto.com/news