Holiday Lights, Festivals And Celebrations Fill The Concord And Penacook Calendar

CONCORD, NH — With Hanukkah, Christmas, and Kwanzaa festivities filling the December calendar, the problem may be deciding which events in Concord to attend.

Outside these religious and cultural celebrations, there are plenty of holiday light shows, parades, fairs, and festivals to attend in Concord and Penacook.

Here are some to consider:

Penacook will host its tree lighting at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 3.

The Canterbury Singers perform a holiday recital during the latest Bach’s Lunch at the Concord Community Music School.

Midnight Merriment will be held in Downtown Concord on Friday night, featuring a variety of activities.

The High Street Coffeehouse hosts a holiday-themed open mic in Boscawen on Friday night at 7 p.m.

There will be a Holiday Pop-up Makers' Market in Warner at 2 p.m. on Saturday.

The 33rd Annual Holiday Craft Fair will be held at Beaver Meadow Elementary School at 9 a.m. on Saturday.

The St. Nicholas Fair will be held at the Grace Episcopal Church in East Concord at 9 a.m. on Saturday.

At 10 a.m. on Saturday, the Immaculate Conception Church in Penacook hosts a Christmas Fair and Cookie Walk.

The Concord Arts Market and the Kimball Jenkins' Holidays at the Estate will host a Gingerbread Marketplace at noon on Saturday.

The Concord Dance Academy hosts its Holiday Spectacular event at 1 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday at the Audi.

At 7 p.m. on Sunday, St. Paul's Episcopal Church will host a traditional service of lessons and carols.

As you plan your calendar, here are some key dates to consider:

• Hanukkah, the eight-day Jewish “festival of lights,” celebrated with a nightly menorah lighting, special prayers and fried foods, begins at sundown on Dec. 14 and continues until sundown on Dec. 22. The dates vary every year.

• Christmas, of course, is always Dec. 25.

• Kwanzaa, a weeklong celebration primarily held in the United States to honor African heritage and African-American culture, is observed from Dec. 26-Jan. 1, culminating with gift-giving and a lavish feast. The dates of this holiday do not change.

Also Read

• 2025 Concord Christmas Tree Lighting Highlights: Video
• 2025 Feztival Of Trees, At Bektash Temple In Concord, Runs Through Sunday: Video
• Large, Festive Turnout For 74th Annual Concord Christmas Parade On The Heights: Video

Editor's note: This post was scripted by another Patch staffer, not New Hampshire's editor, for publication on New Hampshire sites.