Tillotson Center Presents Guitarist Hiroya Tsukamoto in Concert

Eclectic, immersive and mesmerizing. International acclaimed guitarist and songwriter Hiroya Tsukamoto takes us on an innovative, impressionistic journey filled with earthy, organic soundscapes that impart a mood of peace and tranquility. Admission $5/Students $3.

ICONS Exhibition at WREN Gallery

The ICONS exhibition, featuring the work of Marcia Wood Mertinooke and Kristine Lingle,  explores the various meanings and roles the word can represent; each artist has her own way of interpreting and expressing the meaning of an icon.

Marcia Wood Mertinooke is an artist living and working in Goffstown, NH. She received her BA in Studio Art from the University of New Hampshire and was a student at the Chautauqua Institution in Chautauqua, NY. She was a founding member of the Monastery Artist Collective in Manchester, NH and is a member of the New Hampshire Women’s Caucus for Art. For Marcia, icons honor and elevate what is important to us. By combining the senses of realism with emotional expressionism, each of Marcia’s works are a version of reality interpreted and invented.

Kristine Lingle is a painter, collage artist and art teacher currently working for a fine craft gallery in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. She creates her work in a sunny studio inside a cottage she shares with her husband and two tabby cats. For Kristine, icon paintings strike us because they represent the frontal view of a figure, which show a direct relationship with the viewer and the icon being depicted.

This exhibit opens on Friday, March 6, with a wine and cheese reception, and runs through Tuesday, March 31. The Gallery at WREN is open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and weekends 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, please call Local Works Marketplace, WREN’s retail market, at (603) 869-3100.

GoNorth SnoFest

The North Country Chamber of Commerce and four local snowmobile clubs; Swift Diamond Riders, the Canaan Border Riders, Colebrook Ski-Bees and Pittsburg Ridge Runners will host the 2nd Annual GoNorth Snofest, formerly known as the SnoDeo.  The event will be on March 6th and 7th from 9am to 4pm. The event will feature indoor and outdoor vendors.

The event will be held at three locations; Coleman State Park, Coleman Estates and the Swift Diamond Riders clubhouse.  Again, the event will have free admission and features several new exciting events.

Free Admission; Demo Rides – $10

Info: 603-237-8939 or

http://www.chamberofthenorthcountry.com

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Coleman State Park will host the motorized segment of the event.  Snowmobile manufacturers will have their newest sleds on display. With the purchase of a $10.00 demo pass, attendees will able to test drive as many machines as they would like each day.  There will also be an antique snowmobile show where the public can vote for their favorite snowmobile. The “People’s Choice Award” will be given out on Saturday afternoon.

The Swift Diamond Riders in conjunction with the New Hampshire Bureau of Trails will host a groomer rodeo, sponsored by Kevin Lassonde Construction, at their club house. The groomer rodeo will allow club members and visitors to check out the newest grooming equipment that is available.

The Coleman Estates property will host non-motorized events.  Activities planned are snowshoeing and fat bikes; with more to be added.

Food will be available at all three locations, including at the SDR clubhouse.  Local food vendors will also be on site.

Admission to the event will be free and demo passes will be on sale for $10 that allows riders to take as many test drives as they’d like each day. A shuttle service will be available to attendees and allow for travel between locations.  

Irish Band Réalta Coming at Rialto Theatre

The hot Irish group Réalta is coming in from Belfast, Ireland to perform at the Rialto Theatre in Lancaster on March 4. The concert is hosted by the Great North Woods Committee for the Arts and is a great way to get into the mood for St. Patrick’s Day month.

Réalta take a lively, exciting and respectful approach to Irish traditional music. This award winning multi-instrumentalist group has traveled extensively bringing their unique take on Irish traditional music to international audiences with an enchanting program of dance music interspersed with the occasional air and song.

While Conor Lamb and Loïc Bléjean pursue the melody on uilleann pipes and whistles, guitarist and vocalist Deirdre Galway explores the harmony and rhythms within the tunes. All-Ireland champions Dermot Mulholland and Dermot Moynagh complete the line-up with dynamic accompaniments on double bass, bouzouki, banjo, bodhrán and voice, making this one of the most exciting acts on the Irish music scene today.

Conor Lamb fell in love with the uilleann pipes and Irish traditional music when he first heard Liam O’Flynn perform at the Lorient Interceltic Festival. Now regarded as one of the leading exponents of uilleann piping, Conor is a founding member of several traditional groups including Réalta, Madagán and Music in the Glen.

Loïc Bléjean is a virtuoso uilleann piper and low whistle player from Brittany, that ancient land in the north-west of modern France. He started playing the pipes in 1989, under the tuition of Alain Le Hégarat and then traveled extensively in Ireland, where he met many wonderful musicians.

Deirdre Galway began her musical life studying and competing on piano and clarinet. After achieving distinction at Grade 8, she began experimenting with jazz, rock and Irish traditional music. Accompanying on DADGAD guitar and researching old songs, Irish music is now her passion. Deirdre is also an Irish speaker, with a first-class honors degree in Irish Language and Literature.

Multi-instrumentalist Dermot Mulholland adds his talents to Réalta on banjo, bouzouki, double bass and vocals. He is a winner of several All-Ireland titles and is a founding member of the BBC Folk Award winning band Ioscaid. Beyond Réalta, Dermot is highly sought after for various performing, teaching and recording roles.

Dermot Moynagh is one of the most influential and leading bodhrán players of his generation. His talents were highlighted when he won the prestigious All Ireland Fleadh-Cheoil championship at a young age and since then he has been in high demand as a live performer and recording artist.

The release of their second album, “Clear Skies,” has brought Réalta widespread critical acclaim, with the Irish Music Magazine summing things up by writing, “Réalta have grown bigger, bolder and braver and this is one of the best CDs to have come out of Ireland this year.”

The show on March 4 will begin at 7 p.m., admission is $18 per person. Visit the Rialto Theatre to purchase tickets in advance, or online at www.gnwca.org. For more information about this and other GNWCA shows, visit the website, find the Great North Woods Committee for the Arts on Facebook or call (603) 246-8998.

Tillotson Center Present Ball in the House

Ball in the House is an R&B/Soul/Pop a Capella group based out of Boston, whose high energy shows have audiences singing, dancing, even beat boxing along. Join us for a concert with Ball in the House and local students joining the group on stage. Sponsored by Tillotson North Country Foundation. Admission $5.

Pittsburg’s Wizard of Oz Poker Run

Snowmobilers will want to suit up for the Pittsburg Ridge Rider’s Wizard of Oz Poker Run on Saturday, February 29. Registration at Young’s Store is from 8 to 11 a.m., and all cards must be returned by 3 p.m. at the Pittsburg Ridge Runners Club.

The Poker Run is an approximate 50-mile loop. $5 per hand. The winner will be announced at the annual Steak Feed Dinner that evening; the dinner runs from 4:30 to 7 p.m.

2020 Bill Koch League Festival at Great Glen Trails

Great Glen Trails Outdoor Center is thrilled to host the 2020 New England Bill Koch League Festival, presented by the Valley Originals.

This festival is the marquee event of the Bill Koch League, the largest cross country ski program for children in the United States. Whether a child loves the adventure of cross-country skiing, enjoys playing with friends on skis, or wants to grow up to be a ski racer, the New England Bill Koch League has something for them.

The weekend will feature relay and individual races by age group, as well as a healthy mix of non-racing activities that all can enjoy.

The theme of 2020’s Festival will be “Superheroes” which will be a celebration of the inherent superpowers that exist in all of us—skiers, coaches, and parents alike!

More info & to register here.

Porcupine Facts and Myths at Bretzfelder Park

Join Nigel Manley, director of The Rocks, to learn about all things porcupines, including fun facts about their quills and why they have a knack for eating wood structures. You will learn about the species of porcupines that inhabit the world as well as the ones here in North America. Manley has tracked porcupines for several years at The Rocks, learning where they den and what they eat during winter months.

The program takes place at Bretzfelder Park in Bethlehem. Learn more at www.therocks.org.

Candle Making Workshop at WREN

Join Helen and Sarah of Country Farm Candles for a fun and informative class that will take you all the way from wick to wax. Over the course of this two-hour workshop, participants will gain hands-on experience in melting wax, selecting fragrances and colors, pouring candles, and more. At the end, you’ll have two 4 oz. mason jar soy candles to take home, as well as a new appreciation for the art and science of candle making, courtesy of one truly dynamic mother/daughter duo.

$35 per person. All materials included. Space is limited to 10 participants.

To register for this workshop, please visit Country Farm Candles’ website at: https://www.countryfarmcandles.com/classes

Nansen Ski Club’s 2020 Annual Winter Carnival

An annual tradition, the Nansen Ski Club’s Winter Carnival is a family-friendly event with lots of activities for everyone!

FRIDAY, Feb 21 – BURNING OF THE GREENS BONFIRE & ICE SKATING
6:30p – 8:30p @
 MILAN ICE RINK (across from the Milan Village School)
Enjoy the stars by a blazing bonfire.  Bring along some skates if you want to glide to the music just steps away from the blaze.

SATURDAY, Feb 22 – 12 Noon: Bump Jumping! We’re building small, safe ski jumps out of snow for kids of all ages to get some air! Bring your own skis, XC or downhill.

1p – 3p @ THE BIG NANSEN SKI JUMP  ARTSLED RALLY! Nansen’s 2nd Annual artsled event!  Watch wild sled creations attempt to survive their run down the lower portion of the Big Nansen landing hill.  Or make your own sled and register for your shot to win a prize.  A bonfire and hot cocoa will be on hand to ensure everyone is toasty warm.

After the Art Sled Rally, there will be more Bump Jumping!

SUNDAY, Feb 23 – 10a – 1p @ MILAN HILL STATE PARK
COCOA, SKIING, SLEDDING AND SNOWSHOEING!
Come on out and visit the Warming Hut at Milan Hill. Check out all of the cool outdoor recreation available to folks in the North Country! Kids can enjoy activities with folks from the Tin Mountain Conservation Center and we’ll have warm drinks and good food to share!