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Best Festival in the State
The Newmarket Heritage Festival was recognized by the editors of
New Hampshire magazine as
the best festival in the Granite State.

MEMBERS OF THE MEDIA

Thanks for your interest in the Newmarket Heritage Festival, the Seacoast’s favorite
international block party -— a celebration of the arts, culture, history, and community spirit. We appreciate your help in getting the word out about this year’s 12th annual event. As the festival draws near, this page will be updated with new information. Questions? Call 603.659.5588.

captioned photos | calendar listing | press release | in the news

DOWNLOAD PHOTO #1

THE SEACOAST’S FAVORITE INTERNATIONAL BLOCK PARTY IS COMING UP: SEPTEMBER 25,26, 27

The Newmarket Heritage Festival program is rich in music and dance, arts and history, food and fun! West African drumming, New England fiddling, and Polish accordion tunes; Irish, Indian, and Greek dancing; a Chinese yo-yo demonstration, a Klezmer band, and a Bollywood dance workshop—it’s all on the festival stage! Also featured: artisans at work, kayak tours, a model railway, farm animals, history tours, fine arts and crafts vendors, a ride-on train for kids, a climbing wall and bungee bounce, and a classic Studebaker car exhibit. Plus great community meals: a soup and chowder fest on Friday, a pancake breakfast and giant dessert buffet on Saturday, a brunch and harvest supper on Sunday. Weekend admission: $7 (excluding meals and select activities); children under 12 are free. www.heritage-festival.org

DOWNLOAD PHOTO #2

CHINESE YO-YO DEMONSTRATION FEATURED AT HERITAGE FESTIVAL: SEPTEMBER 25,26, 27

The Chinese Folk Art Workshop, a Boston-based non-profit youth organization that performs throughout New England, returns to the Newmarket Heritage Festival this year. Their performance includes traditional folk dances, giant lion drums, a Chinese dragon, and an amazing yo-yo demonstration. For more info: www.heritage-festival.org.

DOWNLOAD PHOTO #3:

AKWAABA DRUM ENSEMBLE PERFORMS AT THE HERITAGE FESTIVAL, SEPTEMBER 25, 26, 27
Join Theo Martey and his friends for a drumming workshop Saturday, September 25, at the Newmarket Heritage Festival. The ensemble has been drumming and dancing together for many years in Ghana and the United States. Today Theo is a master of West African drumming and dance, a heritage that has many subtle variations in rhythmic patterns, dance styles and clothing, all specific to a wide variety of tribal groups from the region. Their performance is funded in part by a grant from the New Hampshire State Council on the Arts. For more info: www.heritage-festival.org.

DOWNLOAD PHOTO #4:

WEAVER CRAIG EVANS DEMONSTRATES AT HERITAGE FESTIVAL, SEPTEMBER 25, 26, 27
Craig Evans has been weaving for over 30 years, specializing in spinning, dying and traditional weaves of the late 1700s to early 1800s. A traditional artisan listed with the New Hampshire State Council on the Arts, Evans works in wool, cotton and flax and uses historic looms and patterns for a large bed coverings, garments and other textile products. Evans and many of the other artisans at work under the Heritage Festival artisan tent are funded in part by a grant from the New Hampshire State Council on the Arts. Photo: Lynn Martin Graton, courtesy NHSCA) For more info: www.heritage-festival.org.

For Immediate Release

August 1, 2009

September 25, 26, 27
12th ANNUAL NEWMARKET HERITAGE FESTIVAL
The Seacoast’s Favorite International Block Party
It’s the Seacoast’s favorite international block party—and you’re invited! Visit the historic mill town of Newmarket, NH, for a weekend of music and dance, arts and history, food and fun. West African drumming, New England fiddling, and Polish accordion tunes; Irish, Indian, and Greek dancing; a Chinese yo-yo demonstration, a Klezmer band, and a Bollywood dance workshop—it’s all on the festival stage! Also featured: artisans at work, kayak tours, a model railway, farm animals, history tours, fine arts and crafts vendors, a ride-on train for kids, a climbing wall and bungee bounce, and a classic Studebaker car exhibit. Plus great community meals: a soup and chowder fest on Friday, a pancake breakfast and giant dessert buffet on Saturday, a brunch and harvest supper on Sunday. Weekend admission: $7 (excluding meals and select activities); children under 12 are free. www.heritage-festival.org

For Immediate Release

September 15, 2009

GREAT LINE-UP PLANNED FOR
12^th ANNUAL NEWMARKET HERITAGE FESTIVAL

The Seacoast’s Favorite International Block Party: September 25, 26, 27

NEWMARKET, NH—The Newmarket Heritage Festival, the Seacoast’s favorite international block party, takes place September 25-27—and you’re invited! Don’t miss this 12th annual celebration of the arts, culture, history, and community spirit—right in downtown Newmarket. Read on to learn more about the festival—and for a sneak preview of this year’s schedule. For details and updates, visit the festival web site: www.heritage-festival.org and become a fan on Facebook.

HISTORY: The Newmarket Heritage Festival honors the rich diversity of tradition, past and present, that defines this small New England mill town and the surrounding Seacoast region. Through the years, the traditional art forms of many cultures have been featured at the festival, including Polish, French, Irish, German, Laotian, African-American, Chinese, Indian, and traditional American cultures. The event has grown from a one-tent festival to a full weekend of multi-cultural music and dance performances, artisans at work, participatory workshops and demonstrations, hands-on children’s activities, a busy waterfront venue, fine arts and craft vendors, delicious food, and lots more.

Organized by a small group of volunteers who spend all year planning, the festival has gained a reputation for its eclectic mix of entertainment and activities, as well as for its friendly atmosphere. We hope you enjoy this lively celebration, which takes place in the shadow of Newmarket’s historic mills, where so many once labored so hard–-and where a sense of community continues to thrive.

MAIN TENT
The Heritage Festival’s Main Tent showcases outstanding local and regional performers, sharing the sounds of the past and multicultural traditions that have been passed on through the generations. The weekend gets off to a rollicking start with food, music, and opening ceremonies at 5:30 Friday night and continues throughout the weekend until Sunday at 7 pm.

Friday, Sept. 25: Soup and Chowder Fest (5:30-7:00) * Not Too Sharp: Ten Cool Guys Sing A Cappella (6:45-8:00) * Keeper of the Heritage (7:15-7:30)

Saturday, Sept. 26: Firefighters Brunch (10:00-12:00) * Greek Dancers (11:15-12:00) * Akwaaba Drum and Dance Ensemble (12:45-1:30)  * Raymond Street Klezmer Band (2:15-3:00) * Chinese Folk Art Workshop (3:45-5:00) * HepCat Swing Dancers (5:45-6:15) * Best Dessert Judges at Work (6:15-7:00) * Jumbo Circus Peanuts Dance Party (7:00-9:00) * Best Dessert Bake-Off Buffet (7:00-9:00) * Best Dessert Winners Announced (7:45)

Sunday, Sept. 27: Extreme Air Brunch (10:00-12:00) * Chinese Classical Dance (10:15-10:45) * Voices from the Heart (11:30-12:30) * Newmarket Children’s Musical Medley (1:15-2:00) * Murray Irish Dancers (2:30-3:15) * Accordion Warrior Gary Sredzienski  (3:45-5:00) * Community Church Harvest Supper (5:30-7:00)

WORKSHOP TENT
The festival Workshop Tent, adjacent to the Main Tent, functions as a second stage and is a place where festival goers are encouraged to participate—to sing, dance, drum, cook, create, and more! This direct experience is one of the hallmarks of the Heritage Festival: these are participatory traditions that can be demonstrated, learned, and enjoyed.

Saturday: African Drumming (10:30-11:15)  * Greek Dance (12:00-12:45) * Greek Cooking (1:30-2:15) * Apprentice Duo: Fiddlers Carolyn Parrott & Fiona Shea (3:00-3:45) * Bollywood Dancing (5:00-5:45)  Sunday: Extreme Air Jump Rope Team Demo and Workshop (10:45-11:30) * Patriot Fife and Drum (12:30-1:15) * Children’s Indian Folk Dance (2:00-2:30) * ChangeUp Barbershop Sing-Along (3:15-3:45)

ACTIVITIES
The festival is packed with activities in each of its three venues. Activities are open Saturday and Sunday, 10-5, unless otherwise noted.

Waterfront Venue: Classic Cars * Climbing Wall & Bungee Bounce * Fencing Demo (Sun. 3-3:45) * Juggling with Brett and Jenny (11-4) * Kayaking & Rowing on the River * Roaming Raceway * Scenic Boat Tours (Sat. 9-12 and 5-7; Sun. 9-12 and 5-6:30) * Travelin’ Barnyard *

Downtown Venue: Newmarket Landmarks: Community Art Exhibit (Ampers& Gallery; 12-5) * Engine House (Sun. 10-1) * Handtub Procession (Main St; Sat. 10-10:15) * Historic Tours: Downtown Village (Sat. & Sun. 11:30-1:00) and Newmarket Mills (Sat. & Sun. 1:30-3:00) * Model Trains (American Legion) * Plein Air Painters (Main Street) * Stone School Museum (Sat. 9-4) * Veterans Exhibit (Bandstand; Sat. 10-5)

Main Venue: Artisan Tent * Children’s Tent (Sat. & Sun. 10-4) * Craft Vendors * Handtub Muster (Sat. 12-3) * Library Book Sale (Sat. 8-4) * Roaming Railroad

ARTISANS
For artisans in the festival Artisan Tent, the past is very much alive and they are eager to share their love of tradition with festival-goers. Artisans this year include wildfowl carver Fred Dolan, blacksmith Garry Kalajian, weaver Craig Evans, windsor chair maker Peter Scheffer, timber framer Tom DeBlauw, and violinmaker Jim Robinson. Printer R.P. Hale will produce the fifth in a series of prints of historic Newmarket buildings on his 18th-century printing press. Other craftsmen are featured in the children’s tent offering hands-on learning: Chinese knot-tying with Kung-Tai Tsay, letterpress printing with Tom Johnson, woodworking with Alan Mitchell, top turning with Marcel Durette, and traditional tools to try with David Emerson.

WATERFRONT STAGE
& STROLLING MUSIC
New this year will be music featured year-round at the festival waterfront, as well as along Main Street and on the festival trolley.

Waterfront Stage: Saturday: BrandyLeif Duo (10:30-1:30) * The Fiddling Thomsons (2:00-5:00) * Sunday: Codfish Aristocracy (10:30-11:30 and 12:30-1:30) * Newmarket Community Church Choir (12:00-12:30) * Dick Kaplan’s Excellent Jazz Band (1:30-3:00)  * Sound Investment (3:00-4:30)

Strolling Music: Saturday: Fiddler Bruce Cobb (10:30-1:30) * Washboard Minstrel Leif Gerjuoy (2:00-5:00) * Sunday: ChangeUp Barbershop Quartet (10:30-1:30) * Patriot Fife & Drum (1:30-4:30) * Dick Kaplan’s Excellent Jazz Band (3:00-4:30) * Sound Investment (4:30-6:00)

CHILDREN’S TENT
Open 10-4 Saturday and Sunday, the Children’s Tent is full of hands-on activities: Tools for Kids * Top Turning * Pottery * Teddy Bear Clinic * Woodworking * Chinese Knots * Rock Painting * Magnets * Spinning * Letterpress Printing

GREAT FOOD & CRAFT VENDORS
The festival features great community meals throughout the weekend: Friday night Soup and Chowder Fest * Saturday Firefighters Brunch * Saturday night Project Graduation Best Dessert of the Seacoast Bake-Off * Sunday Extreme Air Brunch * Sunday night Community Church Harvest Supper. These meals are fundraising events. Tickets are available on site (on a first-come, first-served basis), and all proceeds support local organizations.

Plus, visit the festival’s food vendors, selling Polish food, French-Canadian food, Italian sausage and pizza, French crepes, Indian food,  Laotian food, chili and nachos, tofu dogs, popcorn, baked goods, homemade ice cream and fudge—and more. The festival also features dozens of high-quality vendors selling fine arts, crafts, gifts, and more.

HOURS AND ADMISSION
Hours: Friday, September 25, 5:30 pm  – 8 pm; Saturday, September 26, 10 am  – 9 pm; Sunday, September 27, 10 am  – 7 pm. Admission: It’s the best deal you’ll find anywhere: $7 for a weekend full of music and dance, arts and culture, history and community spirit (excluding meals and select activities); children under 12 are free.

LOCATION
The festival has three venues:

I) The Main Venue is located next to the Newmarket Library at the corner of Main Street (Route 108) and Elm St. The Main Tent, Workshop Tent, Artisan Tent, Children’s Tent, Craft Vendors, Book Sale (Library), Handtub Muster, and Roaming Railroad are located here.

II) The Waterfront Venue is located at the end of Water Street in Schanda Park and along the Lamprey River. The waterfront stage, kayaking and rowing, scenic boat tours, climbing wall and bungee bounce, juggling workshop, fencing wokshop Travelin’ Barnyard, Roaming Raceway, and Classic Studebaker Cars are all located here.

III) The Downtown Venue includes several activities and locations: Model Trains (American Legion), Community Art Exhibit (Ampers& Studio), Harvest Supper (Community Church), Plein Air Painters (Main Street), Veterans Exhibit (Bandstand), Newmarket Engine House, Historic Handtub Procession, and the Stone School Museum.

Handicap Access: The festival site is handicap-accessible except for the second floor of the Stone School Museum, parts of the mill building, and the trolley.

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.

SPONSORS
Produced by the Newmarket Main Street Corporation, the Heritage Festival is made possible thanks to the generous support of our sponsors: STARS: New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, New Hampshire State Council on the Arts. LEADERS: Maple Suites, TD Banknorth, Town of Newmarket. PARNTERS: American Legion, Delta Dental, England Family Foundation, Liberty Mutual, Newmarket Business Association, Proulx, PSNH, Sea Solar Store, WTSN 1270 & 98.7 The Bay. Thanks also to our many SUPPORTERS, FRIENDS, and COMMUNITY PARTNERS.

Rooted in the diversity of Newmarket’s past and present, the mission of the Newmarket Heritage Festival is to bring people together for an enriching celebration of the arts, culture, history, and community spirit. The festival is produced by the Newmarket Main Street Corporation (NMSC), a nonprofit group dedicated to strengthening and revitalizing the historic and cultural characteristics of the community and to preserving the legacy of Newmarket for future generations.

For more information: www.heritage-festival.org or 603.659.5588.

Thanks to our friends in the media for supporting the festival through the years with great stories and photos. Here is a small sampling of the coverage we’ve received. If you have stories to add to our archives, please let us know. Thanks.

Photo Gallery (frames 8-22) [Seacoast Media] Sept. 09
Culture Explored at Newmarket Heritage Festival [Seacoast Media] 9.29.09
Festival Moves Indoors on Final Day [Fosters] 9.28.09
Art, history on display [Fosters] 9.27.09
Big Line-Up Planned for 12th Annual Heritage Festival [Fosters] 9.22.09
Newmarket Heritage Festival Names Honoree [Seacoast Media] 9.27.07
Heritage Festival Celebrates New England Roots [Seacoast Media] 9.25.09
The World Over at Newmarket Heritage Fest [Fosters] 9.20.08
Thousands Flock to Heritage Festival [Fosters] 9.24.07
Sun Shines on Festival [Seacoast Media] 9.23.07
Festival Starts Today [Seacoast Media] 9.22.07
Celebrating Diversity: Festival Enters 10th Year [The Wire] 9.19.07