Concord Restaurant’s Burgerfest Turns 20, 14 Burgers In 2025, Raises $10K+ For CHaD

CONCORD, NH — The Barley House in Downtown Concord reached two milestones this year: Its 25th anniversary, a few months ago, and the 20th anniversary of Burgerfest, the one-week event raising money for CHaD, the Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth Health.

Opening day for Burgerfest is Monday. The event runs through Saturday.

Brian and Deb Shea, the restaurant owners, have made the event their unofficial summer kickoff. What started as a small effort to raise money for CHaD, along with Fred’s Fund (see prior stories below for a complete history), has led to raising thousands of dollars for CHaD each year, with area businesses donating money, too.

“We wanted to help kids, that’s the bottom line,” Brian Shea said. “My dad went to Dartmouth and spent his life giving back in time and service as an orthopedic surgeon, so it felt right. I always loved burgers as a kid, and obviously I still do, so we launched Burgerfest in 2005, and it took off from there.”

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Brian Shea added the event was also an opportunity to push the staff to create and work with local ingredients.

This year, the menu features 14 burgers. Some includes the Chipolte Ranch Crash — two patties with dried ranch-ancho dust, cheddar cheese, bacon, lettuce, and tomato on a potato bun; the Barbacoa Dip Burger — a patty with shredded barbacoa beer, Monterey jack cheese, pickled red onion, and au jus on a brioche bun; the Blueberry Hill Turkey Burger — a turkey patty with blueberry chutney, gouda cheese, lettuce, and tomato on a brioche; and the Chimichurri Roja Butter Burger — a beef patty with chimichurri butter, Monterey jack cheese, roja chimichurri sauce, on a brioche.

Restaurant Manager Kristine Yuskis said she was “really excited about the Philly-Smash Cheeseburger,” which she called “a fun twist on an old standby that I helped to create.”

Chef Nate agreed it would be a top contender in 2025.

“People (come) in again and again for that special smash,” he said.

There is also a scallop and shrimp patty, a hot honey chicken barn burger, a garbanzo bean burger, and a poutine chili and egg combo, as well as a bison burger and a few other beef patty offerings.

“Burgerfest is a chance to come together in a big way for all those children and families that need it,” Deb Shea added. “What I have learned is that giving to others makes us better, makes us stronger, and makes us happier. We challenge our employees every day to Make Someone’s Day Better.”

A signature drink has been created for the 20th — the chocolate-covered raspberry. A gas grill is being raffled off — everyone who purchases a burger will be entered into the raffle.

Sponsors this year include NH Distributors, Mason & Rich P.A., S & W Sports, Merrimack County Savings Bank, Rumford Stone, Grappone Auto Group, Baroff and Craven, Attorneys at Law, Fraser Insurance Services, Sanel NAPA Automotive Supply, CoolBitts, Cole Gardens, American Barber Studios, NH Strategic Marketing, and Feathered Friend Brewing Co.

The Barley House opens at 11:30 a.m. every day of the week. For more information, visit the restaurant’s website.

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