Weekend Guide: Elephants Invade Manchester

Looking for something to do this weekend? Here are some options: 

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey, proclaimed worldwide as the Greatest Show on Earth, has arrived in the Granite State for its annual appearance in Manchester. 

This year's theme is DRAGONS, yet it was another type of giant beast that was on display Wednesday morning, as the Ringling Bros. train pulled into the Queen City.

Five of the show's talented elephants stepped off the train and made their way, trunk-to-tail, up Elm Street toward the Verizon Wireless Arena where they'll perform – along with many of their wild counterparts, including lions, tigers and horses – during seven shows scheduled from Oct. 3-6.

Watch the attached video for a better look at the impressive sight.

Other stuff going on

• The Greater Derry Track Club is hosting a free "couch to 5K" eight-week training with the first class starting at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday in Windham at the rail trail (another meeting is at 6 p.m. on Tuesdays). 

• It's a Walktoberfest humane society fundraiser at the Anheuser Busch brewery in Merrimack from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday. 

• Also at 9 a.m. on Saturday, the Bedford Girl Scouts are hosting a Halloween Costume Exchange event at the library. Bring by a costume or buy one for $5. Until 2 p.m. 

• In Nashua, you can walk a mile with the mayor. Meet at City Hall at 11:30 a.m. and then walk to Veterans Memorial Park. At the park, there will be all kinds of fun activities, nutrition tips, snacks, and prizes. 
• Also, opening night for Symphony NH, which will "Dare to Begin" this new season at Keefe Auditorium 8 p.m. with the sounds of Beethoven's grand Symphony No. 7 and Haydn's Te Deum for the Empress Maria Therese (featuring the Symphony NH Chorus) and Tchaikovsky‘s epic Violin Concerto Choose your seats now!    

• The Greater Londonderry CROP Hunger Walk will be held at 12:30 p.m. at the Londonderry Town Common on Sunday. The walk has raised more than $1,000 in donations, so far. Join in and help those in need. 

• Also on Sunday in Concord, stop by the Red River Theatres at 2 p.m. and enjoy the classic musical, "Grease," as well as a sing-a-long, treats, and all kinds of fun. Proceeds the showing will go to the Zonta Club of Concord, which is funding scholarships for women. 

• Also at 2 p.m. on Sunday, in Milford, the Church of Our Saviour will hold a blessing for the animals in the Oval. Area pets and their owners are encouraged to take part in the ceremony 

Ryan O'Connor of Bedford NH Patch contributed to this report.