Happy Tuesday, Manchester. In today’s edition: Holiday lights roundup, Santa’s Christmas, Christmas classics, and more.

Let’s get to it — Cait Baker

📰 In the news

Spotlight local holiday lights: Patch is collecting street names for Manchester’s most vibrant Christmas light displays in the comments and will publish a roundup on Dec. 21 so everyone has time to explore — share your street in comments.

Granite State heritage boost: Goffstown Public Library received a $19,272 LCHIP grant to restore its original 1909 windows, part of more than $3.5 million awarded statewide this year for conservation and historic preservation projects — get all the details.

Spread goodwill close to home: Looking to give back this holiday season in Bedford? Five local groups, including food pantries, the public library, town committees, and Bedford Cares, offer meaningful volunteer opportunities — see where to volunteer.

Protect your nest egg: Savvy investors are turning to gold amidst today’s inflation, national debt, and market uncertainty for a reason. It holds its value when everything else feels shaky. Case in point: it’s up ~62% since January. If you’re curious about adding it and other precious metals to your portfolio, American Hartford has a super helpful guide that covers everything you need to know. It’s free, and definitely worth a read — check it out here.

Compare rates for free: The national average for car insurance is around $175 per month. Paying more than that? Same, so I did some shopping around and ended up cutting my premium in half. If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too — here’s the comparison tool I used.

Highlights this week

• Experience Dickens’ A Christmas Carol live
• Join Derryfield’s ugly sweater takeover
• Shop the Mill Falls Winter Craft Fair
• Enjoy A Piano Christmas with Robert Dionne
• Dance salsa-bachata at Winter Wonderland social
• This pet insurance plan reimburses up to 90%
• A home warranty that actually pays is 30% off

🫶 We got your back

Old law office reborn: Central Suds, a new laundromat from friends Tina Moulis and Jordan Tsiaras, is now open at Central and Chestnut in downtown Manchester. The fully attended spot offers multiple machine sizes, WiFi, a lounge and kids’ room, plus drop-off, delivery, and E&R dry cleaning. The city marked its opening with a ceremony led by Mayor Jay Ruais. Read the full story.

Emergency step to keep warm: To keep homes and businesses warm amid a deep freeze, New Hampshire’s Department of Safety has temporarily lifted hours-of-service limits for propane and heating oil deliveries. Drivers may work longer shifts if not fatigued and carrying a printed declaration. Other safety rules remain. The order runs through Jan. 4, 2026. Read the full story.

Upgrade movie night: Skip the multiplex and hop to Concord for Red River Theatres, a three-screen arthouse curating new indies, classics, and special series. Expect cozy seats, crisp sound, and the Indie Cafe pouring beer and wine…perfect for a midweek reset or an easy date.

Hear me out: My mom’s been asking people to repeat themselves 5,281 times too many for years. She always avoided hearing aids like the plague — they’re clunky, obvious, expensive, not really worth it. I always thought “she’s not wrong” until I saw these new invisible hearing aids going viral. In the same boat? Now’s a great time to check them out before unused health benefits expire on the 31st.

Thinning hair? Same: I’ve been shedding a lot, and recently noticed my ponytail feeling thinner. After way too much panic-Googling, I discovered Keranique’s hair regrowth system. Everything with them is surprisingly easy: no quizzes, no pills, no choosing between dozens of products. Just grab the kit and follow the instructions. The best part? It’s $75 off right now + you’ll get your money back if you don’t love the results.

📆 Around town this week

All events are subject to change without notice. This is entirely outside our control. Please check official event pages and social media for the most up to date information.

This week

🧩 Puzzle Ornament Painting @ Manchester City Library | Tuesday (12/16) at 3:30pm – Whether your little Picasso is K through 3 or you just want the glitter contained somewhere that isn’t your dining room, this holiday ornament workshop delivers. Acrylic, puffy paint, and puzzle-piece flair, all supervised. Register ahead, supplies are counted, sanity preserved.

🕯 Christmas Classics @ The Rex Theatre | Wednesday (12/17) at 6:00pm – Ready to upgrade from mall speakers to a string quartet? The Rex is going full candlelit for Christmas classics, from Tchaikovsky to Mariah, all wrapped in that warm glow we pretend is ambience. One hour, real musicians, zero inflatable reindeer.

🕯 Christmas Candle-Making Workshop @ To Share Brewing Company | Wednesday (12/17) at 6:00pm – To Share Brewing is hosting a Christmas candle-making workshop, basically adult arts and crafts with beer. Choose evergreen pine, peppermint mocha, or cozy fireside, and customize away. Make two candles or one dough bowl, then call it holiday shopping, guilt-free.

🎨 Painting @ William B. Cashin Senior Activity Center | Friday (12/19) at 10:00am – Trade doomscrolling for a 90-minute acrylics class at the Cashin Senior Center, led step-by-step by seasoned New England artist Steve Pascucci. Twenty-two bucks covers all supplies, and you leave with a finished piece, not homework. Members only, all abilities welcome.

🎅 Santa’s Christmas @ Charmingfare Farm | Friday (12/19) at 5:00pm – Nothing beats a horse-drawn ride through the woods when you’d really rather skip the mall. Charmingfare’s ride to the North Pole has Santa, actual reindeer, cocoa, campfires, and s’mores, plus a tractor shortcut if patience runs low. Book ahead, locals, it sells out.

This weekend

🧶 Winter Craft Fair @ Mill Falls Charter School | Saturday (12/20) at 11:00am – Whether you’re dodging mall chaos or finally admitting the holidays snuck up, Mill Falls is rolling out a Winter Craft Fair with legit makers, local vendors, and raffle baskets you actually want. Shop small, stroll the booths, and feel smug knowing proceeds support Mill Falls.

💚 Family Trivia @ Chunky’s Cinema Pub | Saturday (12/20) at 6:00pm – Think you know The Grinch after 200 holiday rewatches? Bring the crew to a family trivia throwdown with Heather. Full bar and a creative pub menu keep the grown-ups content, everyone gets a free future movie ticket, and yes, bragging rights count as stocking stuffers.

🎹 The Music of Billy Joel @ The Rex Theatre | Saturday (12/20) at 7:30pm – Whether you know all the words to Vienna or just want to belt out Piano Man with people who get it, David Clark brings a nerdy, spot-on Billy Joel tribute to town. Intimate, request friendly, and eerily Piano Man-ish, minus arena prices, plus hometown charm.

🧥 Ugly Sweater Party @ Derryfield Country Club | Saturday (12/20) at 8:00pm – Holiday sweater season calls for poor choices in knit, so the Derryfield Function Room is going full ugly with live tunes from D-Comp, a photo booth, festive decorations, and prizes. Wear the sweater your aunt knit, and prepare for photographic evidence.

🎤 Rich DiMare @ The Rex Theatre | Sunday (12/21) at 1:00pm – Rich DiMare is serving a Sinatra Christmas, crooning White Christmas, Jingle Bells, and I’ll Be Home for Christmas. Expect My Way, New York, New York, and a smooth pour of nostalgia. Because not every holiday outing needs an ugly sweater.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

🎶 Live music & entertainment

• 12/17 Adult Student Recital @ Concord Community Music School – 7 pm
• 12/18 Improv Show @ Derry Opera House – 7:30 pm
• 12/18 Dueling Pianos @ Tupelo Music Hall – 8 pm
• 12/19 90s Night @ The Shaskeen Pub – 8 pm
• 12/20 Noetika and more @ Jewel – 8 pm
• 12/27 Angry Hill and more @ Angel City Music Hall – 7 pm

🏠️ This house is wild

Listed by: Cathy Walsh (Coldwell Banker Realty Haverhill MA)

This 3-bed, 1.5-bath Colonial dishes up 1,632 square feet of crisp, move-in-ready style. Fresh paint, new LVP on the main level, and brand new carpet upstairs keep things light and easy. A tiled foyer sets the tone, the open kitchen and dining area bring the party, with a peninsula for casual bites and shiny stainless appliances, and a separate dining room keeps dinners private.

An enclosed sun porch surveys a fenced backyard with a handy shed, perfect for gear. Quiet street, close to schools, everyday amenities, and major routes for smooth commutes.

Take a peek inside →