Get Ready For Midnight Merriment In Downtown Concord Friday

CONCORD, NH — Midnight Merriment, one of the most celebrated holiday events, returns to Downtown Concord on Friday.

For the 28th time, the event will be held from 5 p.m. and midnight. Intown Concord’s event will include holiday music, strolling carolers, s’mores and cocoa stations, and more. A number of stores and eateries will be open until midnight, offering special discounts and promotions.

North Main Street will be closed from Pleasant to School streets from 4:30 to 9 p.m.

For 2021, the Concord Arts Market Winter Giftopolis Art Walk will be held throughout the downtown area (a map is linked here with all of the arts and craft vendor locations).

Santa Claus is expected to make an appearance at the New Hampshire Federal Credit Union on North Main Street and will be offering socially-distanced photos from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Santa’s helpers will also be collecting homemade holiday cards as part of the Santa for Seniors donation drive.

All activities are free.

Masks are being encouraged whenever social distancing is not possible.

Parking is available on Storrs, State, and School streets garages.

For more information, visit the Intown Concord site, linked here.

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Vaccinated-Only Moviegoing On Thursdays

Beginning Thursday, Red River Theatres will be offering screenings for only customers who have taken COVID-19 shots.

The new Vax & Snax program seeks to serve only the vaccinated on Thursdays and allow them to partake in concessions — something not offered at the theatre since reopening during the pandemic.

Guests will be required to show proof of vaccination and a photo identification at all screenings and events on Thursdays. Children under 5 may attend with a vaccinated adult.

Masks will be required all days but on Thursdays, they can be taken off when customers enjoy their concessions and when seated in the theatres. Seating is still limited.

Unvaccinated patrons can only attend showings Friday through Sunday and must always wear a mask. Concessions are not being offered Friday through Sunday. Vaccinated customers can also attend showings those days, too.

Vax & Snax, while innovative, since theatres tend to make most of their money on concessions, smacks of segregationism since it only allows customers to attend movies and enjoy concessions based on their health care choices. It also goes against “the science” everyone is consistently being told to follow. Vaccinated people can be carriers just as much as unvaccinated people. They can spread the virus and catch the virus, too, as has been shown with the large number of "breakthrough cases" being tracked across the country.

Angie Lane, the executive director of the theatres, was asked about whether the board had worked with health care officials on this decision. She said she and members of the theatre’s board, including a medical doctor, have been meeting throughout the pandemic about issues at the nonprofit.

“Our focus has always been on the health and safety of our staff and guests balanced with the needs and desires of our RRT community,” she said. “The expansion of our operations and the Vax & Snax Thursday program have been done through thoughtful consideration of the current conditions, data, and CDC recommendations.”

Lane was also asked whether the theatres had any issues with prior rates of infections by attendees, whether a “No Vax & Snax” day would be offered to moviegoers ever or who might sign an immunity waiver so they can enjoy popcorn and a beer while enjoying a film, and whether the theatres had policies about other viruses and communicable diseases of customers. She chose not to respond to those questions.

Granite VNA’s ‘Lights, Life, And Memories’

A virtual community memorial service will be held on Dec. 11 to remember people who have died.

Granite VNA, the largest home health and hospice provider in the state, will be hosting an online remembrance at 11 a.m. on Dec. 11, via Zoom, linked here. It will feature music, readings, and reflection. Names will be read at the event from a list of honor roll members who died recently.

A porcelain dove will be added to evergreen trees in Concord, Meredith, Wakefield, and Wolfeboro.

Visit the link to add a name to the list to be read and to make a donation to the organizations.

Previously done live downtown during Midnight Merriment, this is the second year the event is being held remotely.

“We recognize the meaning that the Hospice Lights of Life and Tree of Memories events hold for hundreds of community members who participate to honor and remember loved ones each year, and we are honored to continue the legacy by combining these traditions under a new name: Granite VNA Lights, Life and Memories,” Beth Slepian, the president and CEO, Granite VNA, said. “In addition to the remembrance traditions, Lights, Life and Memories raises awareness of hospice services, and serves as an important fundraiser to support hospice care across the 82 communities we serve."

This year, the org will be installing purple lights, too.

More than 450 clinicians and staff members offer a number of services by the organization including home care, hospice, maternal, and personal home services.

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