The best arts & culture spots in Rockingham County

Todd Bonita Art Gallery keeps things lively with a curated roster of artists like Donald Jurney, Amy Brnger, and Tom Hughes, plus approachable art classes and occasional events, all split between its Portsmouth and Perkins Cove spots. Swing by when you want inspiration without the pretense.

From the Portsmouth newsletter, October 21, 2026

Whether you’re a lighthouse nerd or curious about the island at the mouth of the Piscataqua, New Castle, NH Historical Society packs a museum full of fishing-village beginnings and the event at Fort William and Mary described as the first overt act of the Revolutionary War, plus online exhibits and a walking and…

From the Kittery newsletter, October 17, 2026

Don Gorvett Gallery has been championing contemporary woodcuts, drawings, and paintings since 2006, with a focus on Gorvett’s bold reduction woodcuts and work by other standout New England printmakers.

From the Portsmouth newsletter, October 13, 2026

Dog Art Gallery turns pet love into legit fine art, showcasing Kimberly Sarah’s striking portraits of dogs, cats, and the humans who adore them in a spacious Customs House gallery. It’s local, heartfelt, and often supports rescue work, so swing by to get inspired or plot your own commission.

From the Portsmouth newsletter, October 5, 2026

Whether you're hunting for an original piece that actually sparks joy or need that slightly awkward family photo custom framed like a masterpiece, Thornhill Art Gallery delivers with rotating exhibits, hands-on workshops, and open calls for entry that keep Portsmouth-area creatives buzzing.

From the Portsmouth newsletter, September 29, 2026

Skip the tourist crush and let Wentworth-Gardner Historic House Association show you the South End you walk past every day, with seasonal guided tours through adjacent 18th-century homes and a historic warehouse.

From the Portsmouth newsletter, September 21, 2026

New Hampshire Art Association keeps things lively with rotating member and open-juried exhibitions, First Friday Art 'Round Town receptions, and a Second Saturday Speaker Series. There's even a Dinner Club that pairs a meal with a gallery visit, plus regular calls for art if you've got work ready to hang.

From the Portsmouth newsletter, September 27, 2026

If you want real-deal grappling and striking under one roof, New England Top Team, RMNU NH Brazilian Jiu Jitsu blends Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, mixed martial arts, power kickboxing, plus youth and women’s-only programs, all under the RMNU banner. It’s a straightforward spot to roll, sweat, and steadily sharpen your game.

From the Methuen newsletter, September 8, 2026

For a quick nostalgia trip that actually teaches you something, Derry Museum of History pulls together artifacts and tales from Nutfield days in 1719 to Alan Shepard’s liftoff, all under the historic Adams Memorial Opera House roof. Perfect for curious townies and budding history nerds.

From the Derry newsletter, September 25, 2026

Looking for a legit boxing workout that actually builds grit and cardio? Thrive Boxing & Martial Arts Center brings an authentic boxing gym vibe with Coach Peña’s 30+ years of experience, from pad work and bag rounds to strength and core, training kids, teens, adults, fitness folks and competitors.

From the Derry newsletter, September 8, 2026

4,000-year-old astronomical calendar featuring multiple manmade chambers, a gift shop & alpacas.

Skip the usual routine and wander the passageways at Albacore Park, a National Historic Landmark site, aboard the USS Albacore, a research sub once celebrated as the world’s fastest and a blueprint for modern design. Peek through the periscope, poke around the control room, then hit the museum and memorial garden.

From the Portsmouth newsletter, August 4, 2026

When you want theater that feels close enough to touch, Players Ring has a 75-seat black box that pulls you right into the story... no binoculars required. Expect bold direction, sharp acting, and a mix of new voices and reimagined classics that keep Portsmouth’s South End buzzing long after curtain.

From the Portsmouth newsletter, September 11, 2026

Whether you're craving thoughtful stage work or ready to jump into learning, West End Studio Theatre brings New Hampshire Theatre Project’s "theatre that matters" to town with the Elephant in the Room Series, youth education, and Theatre for Life. Consider this your midweek creative recharge.

From the Portsmouth newsletter, August 15, 2026

Portsmouth Historical Society keeps things lively with smart exhibits like Contemporary Currents with NHAA and the delightfully weird, deeply local Betty & Barney show, plus historical walking tours that trace over 400 years of stories, and the John Paul Jones House. Even diehard Seacoast lifers learn something new.

From the Portsmouth newsletter, September 1, 2026

Stroll the historic houses, heirloom gardens, and exhibitions at Strawbery Banke Museum, where costumed roleplayers bring the neighborhood’s 350-plus years to life.

From the Portsmouth newsletter, August 30, 2026

Step into Warner House on a guided tour of a 1716 brick beauty with early-Georgian bones, old-growth paneling, and four colonial wall murals considered the oldest in the country. It’s local history with character, six generations of stories packed into rooms you’ll actually want to linger in.

From the Portsmouth newsletter, August 19, 2026

Portsmouth Historical Society's John Paul Jones House turns 1758-era walls into living history with rotating exhibits and smartly curated shows like Contemporary Currents and the Betty & Barney story, plus guided walking tours that make you see familiar streets differently. A solid excuse to play hooky from errands.

From the Portsmouth newsletter, September 15, 2026

Mill Pond Music Studio is the low-key Portsmouth spot to lay down that song that's been living in your head, with a calm, musician-first approach that keeps takes honest and the vibe relaxed. Great for locals chasing clean demos or polished singles without leaving town.

From the Portsmouth newsletter, September 20, 2026

Need a little time travel this week? Taylor Mill State Historic Site preserves a 200-year-old, water-powered up-and-down sawmill in Derry’s Ballard State Forest, a pocket of New England ingenuity where the mill once pumped at about 60 strokes a minute, perfect for a quick, nerdy unplug.

From the Haverhill newsletter, August 21, 2026

Nonprofit theater showing plays, musicals & films with special programs for kids & senior citizens.

Whether you’ve walked past it a thousand times or not, Moffatt-Ladd House & Garden is the Georgian mansion John Adams called the grandest house in Portsmouth, with gardens, original family artifacts, and tours that weave five generations of stories, including those of free and enslaved residents.

From the Portsmouth newsletter, August 11, 2026