Holiday Local Lifestyle Playlist 2025

Raising a Glass with Erin Scollans

A Monadnock Main Street With an Appetite for Connection

Quick Take: Some places don’t just serve food; they bring people together. This Main Street favorite is stepping into its next era, and the community can already feel the shift.

47 Main Street in Walpole is quite the happening place, with the town’s two staple establishments garnering a little extra attention lately. The Restaurant at Burdick’s first opened in 2001, with the Walpole Grocery Store following suit in 2004. Both were originally owned by Walpole natives, Larry Burdick (of the infamous LA Burdick’s) and Ken Burns (yes, that Ken Burns). Burdick and Burns believed 47 Main Street was a vital part of Walpole’s heart and soul, a place where people could come together and enjoy the warmth of their community. These days, Ken and Larry still own the building, but only Ken owns the restaurant and grocery store.


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A big development this year is that those two establishments came under new management this year with one very excited Gianluca “Luca” Paris. He’s been tasked with sustaining and maintaining the legacy of what these properties mean to the community. And as far as he’s concerned, it’s a labor of love. He’s no stranger to the hospitality life. As a restaurant owner for more than half his life (including Luca’s Mediterranean Cafe in Keene, which had an epic 24-year run), he has plenty of experience in leading teams and knows that a happy and cared for team ensures a better experience for every guest who walks through the door. He’s also happy to be working again with his longtime friend Wesley Babb, who once led the kitchen at Luca’s Mediterranean Café and now serves as Burdick’s head chef and culinary visionary.

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Luca and his all-star team have honored what made Burdick’s menu unique, keeping its French bistro roots front and center while updating certain dishes with new energy. As a result, their new, thoughtfully inspired and well-executed winter menu will leave guests filled with delectable food and cozy holiday memories.

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Luca also has big “eatertainment” plans (as he puts it) for both the restaurant and grocery store for 2026, so expect to see plenty of food-inspired reasons to celebrate at 47 Main Street with members of the greater Monadnock Region. Whether it’s a farmer’s market popup, holidays like Oktoberfest, Bastille Day, or a variation of the Italian-inspired Spring Fest, the folks at Burdick’s light up at the chance to gather community members for a glass of wine, locally sourced dish, and some great conversation.

Luca rarely finds himself at a loss for words, but the resounding acceptance he’s felt as Burdick’s new general manager has left him speechless. “I am so lucky to be here and part of this incredible team,” he shared. “We’re excited to help to create the next generation of Burdick’s!”

Reservations recommended! 603.756.9058 or reserve on their website through Resy

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>>Connect with Me<<

The magic of Christmas embodies traditions that awaken the true spirit of the season. This sacred holiday resurrects memories of years passed and weaves them into the present with laughter, song, long embraces, twinkling lights, and the comforting scent of balsam and cardamom encapsulating it all.

Adrianna Stefanko, Finnish Mama,
Finnish Coffee Tables 
You’ll find a lot more than just bread here. You’ll find a way of life.

@bestphotographerever

Just a small town girl.

Before they sold out typewriter cred hashtag leggings health goth banh mi single-origin coffee selfies, selvage pok pok. Intelligentsia scenester actually, iPhone la croix banjo forage meditation cold-pressed vinyl XOXO. Occupy flannel hashtag echo park. Prism freegan plaid pug slow-carb 90's, chillwave activated charcoal cornhole.

Truffaut ugh pok pok waistcoat artisan. Swag air plant vaporware, tumeric la croix microdosing offal hexagon tbh. Chambray roof party typewriter coloring book intelligentsia mlkshk lomo umami blue bottle drinking vinegar locavore PBR&B viral. Heirloom poke biodiesel, unicorn wolf leggings hella celiac adaptogen migas. La croix hexagon cold-pressed XOXO art party. Cornhole slow-carb church-key subway tile. Art party master cleanse intelligentsia fingerstache swag craft beer raw denim palo santo salvia pug scenester narwhal occupy single-origin coffee glossier. Stumptown pok pok fashion axe cornhole health goth celiac. Knausgaard YOLO mumblecore lyft glossier.

- I'm obsessed with red shoes
- My iphone 7 is my lifeline
- frogs scare me
- I will do anything for a peppermint mocha
- I've never been on an airplane
- Mountain dew should be a food group

A Festival of Lights Like You’ve Never Experienced

Take a Walk with Fern Sandstedt

Quick Take: What happens when a quiet forest meets a thousand twinkling ideas? A luminous stroll that feels part fairytale, part winter dream.

This holiday season you can step into a luminous winter dream at A Forest of Lights 2025–2026, hosted by the Vermont Institute of Natural Science (VINS) in Quechee, Vermont. Beginning November 21, 2025, the grounds of the VINS Nature Center will be artfully transformed into an illuminated, winter wonderland, where thousands of glistening lights and installations adorn the surrounding forest and wildlife trails. One Brattleboro native described it as “a nice contrast in the quiet of the forest.” 

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Guests are immersed in the brilliance of installations like the Sparkle Dome, Fiery Tower, Dancing Lights Pavilion, and Under the Black Light Sea—all new this season—while ambient illumination highlights the trees, paths, and hidden corners in breathtaking style. These additions join returning favorites, weaving together artistry, nature, and holiday spirit into an unique and memorable experience for all ages. 

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Event dates include:
November 21, 22, 28, 29, 30
December 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31
January 1, 2, 3

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Whether you return to rediscover its magic or experience its unforgettable glow for the first time, A Forest of Lights offers a holiday experience where nature, art, and light remarkably converge. After your stroll through the illuminated trails, you’re invited to gather around the campfire, sip hot chocolate or cider, and enjoy snacks as you bask in the warmth of community and artistry.

Mark your calendar for an evening of winter enchantment under the lights of this winter fairytale come to life! For more event information, visit the event page.




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Tasting Tour with Sonja Bolton

Cookies for A Cause

Bite-Sized Bit: Cookies aren’t the only thing on the menu when you jump in the car with your besties for the Currier and Ives Annual Cookie Tour. You’ll also meet new locals offering small-batch, boutique goodness, including B&Bs and inns, restaurants, unique gift shops and historical societies. It’s a day rich in flavor and community!

What’s more festive than spending time with friends and experiencing classic holiday traditions quintessential to the Monadnock Region? Top it off with a portion of the proceeds going to a good cause, recipes to take home, and the chance at winning a gift certificate to one of the fifteen participating locations. Whoever is taking a cookie count, count us in please.




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Monadnockers have been hitting the road in search of new flavors and new friends for over 20 years! From New Ipswich to Swanzey, including Jaffrey, Troy, and Harrisville, you can catch views of the mountain that stands alone from multiple angles while munching homemade holiday hits and chatting about your new finds.

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If all this fun sounds like you could work up a grinch-sized appetite, have no fear of getting hangry. The tour lists 30 dining options along your way, including three of the fifteen cookie stops: Optimist Cafe, Monadnock Country Cafe, and Frogg Brewing. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased in cash at The Inn at East Hill Farm in Troy, NH, Frogg Brewing in Swanzey, NH and the Park Theatre in Jaffrey, NH.

View the list of participating locations, get a cookie tour map, and explore a few recipes!

Pro Tip: Take the trip around the mountain in any order you like, but you have to visit at least 10 locations to qualify for and enter to win the gift certificate!

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>>Connect with me<<

"What I cherish about winter is the warmth we create—steaming cocoa, soft blankets, and fires that chase away the cold. Financial planning does something similar: it builds a layer of comfort and clarity that carries you through any season."

Isis Latham
Regional Vice President, Primerica
Teacher + Networker
+ Financial Mary Poppins
603.554.4399 | Isislatham@gmail.com
100 Emerald St suite E-1 Keene NH 03431

@bestphotographerever

Just a small town girl.

Before they sold out typewriter cred hashtag leggings health goth banh mi single-origin coffee selfies, selvage pok pok. Intelligentsia scenester actually, iPhone la croix banjo forage meditation cold-pressed vinyl XOXO. Occupy flannel hashtag echo park. Prism freegan plaid pug slow-carb 90's, chillwave activated charcoal cornhole.

Truffaut ugh pok pok waistcoat artisan. Swag air plant vaporware, tumeric la croix microdosing offal hexagon tbh. Chambray roof party typewriter coloring book intelligentsia mlkshk lomo umami blue bottle drinking vinegar locavore PBR&B viral. Heirloom poke biodiesel, unicorn wolf leggings hella celiac adaptogen migas. La croix hexagon cold-pressed XOXO art party. Cornhole slow-carb church-key subway tile. Art party master cleanse intelligentsia fingerstache swag craft beer raw denim palo santo salvia pug scenester narwhal occupy single-origin coffee glossier. Stumptown pok pok fashion axe cornhole health goth celiac. Knausgaard YOLO mumblecore lyft glossier.

- I'm obsessed with red shoes
- My iphone 7 is my lifeline
- frogs scare me
- I will do anything for a peppermint mocha
- I've never been on an airplane
- Mountain dew should be a food group

Talking Tunes with Fern Sandstedt

A Local Listen for a Snowy Evening

Quick Take: A winter album that feels like home—part love story, part landscape, and steeped in warmth.

Consider this your invitation to take a contemplative journey through memory, place, and seasons, just by putting on an album. Across ten tracks (including one purely instrumental), The Crooked Road Home by Volkert Volkersz winds through themes of home, change, migration, and solace, chronicling the musician’s own crooked road from the Pacific Northwest to his adopted New Hampshire.

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How did his cross-country shift come to be? It’s a tale as old as time. Volkersz was living in Washington State when he fell in love with a Granite Stater. Together they shared his “crooked way home” when they relocated to New Hampshire after marrying. Volkersz describes his sense of home “is in the loving and forgiving relationship with his sweet wife.” A glimpse of their story can be heard on the track “Home,” which captures how the mundane becomes magical when you're in love.

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Another gorgeous track for this season is “Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening,” Volkert’s lyrical and musical interpretation of the famous Robert Frost poem. Volkersz describes reading this poem “just as the snow began to fall” one night in late November. This serendipity inspired him to put the poem to music.

He was in part inspired by the melodic structure of “Deck the Halls” and “plays a descending melody on the guitar to represent the falling snow.” The track evokes frost‑laced nights, the silence of snowfall, and that moment of quiet wonder before moving onward, an ideal addition to your winter playlist.

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Photo Credit Pam Bator

This album was mixed, edited, and remastered at Loud Sun Studio in Jaffrey, New Hampshire. Volkert describes the highlight of this collaboration was working with Ben Rogers. He shares that Rogers “is not only a master of recording techniques and software, he is a musician. Within minutes of him hearing a song for the first time, he understands the structure of the song, and he knows what it’s about.”

If you’re looking for an excellent stocking stuffer for the music lover in your life, this is it! It can be purchased at Toadstool Bookshop in both Peterborough and Keene. And tracks can be heard and downloaded at volkert.bandcamp.com, as well as major streaming services soon. You can also order directly from Volkersz at volksong@mac.com.

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Meandering the Monadnock Region with Caroline Tremblay

Hidden Trails, Big Wonder

Quick Take: Two local adventurers are reimagining what it means to explore home turf with MicroExploring, a new practice (and upcoming book) that invites Monadnockers to slow down, and reconnect with the region’s hidden wilds.

This season you’re invited to go MicroExploring, Monadnockers, with 15 different ways meander the region’s SuperSanctuary with an upcoming book from locals Phil Brown and Ignacio Oreamuno. Known as The Dreamcatchers, this duo has tried to create something deeper than a guidebook. They call it “a love letter to the wild corners of the Monadnock Region — the small trails, forgotten roads, swampy woods, and open skies that make this place feel sacred.”

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The SuperSanctuary they refer to is a patchwork of conserved forests, wetlands, trails, farms, and old village roads across Southern New Hampshire. For decades, it has offered refuge not only to wildlife but to those of us seeking belonging, beauty, and stillness. “Living in this paradise is a privilege, and it is extremely important now to help people connect to nature and the conserved landscapes that sustain us,” The Dreamcatchers share.

Their book is written with reverence and curiosity, inviting readers to slow things down and rediscover the extraordinary in the overlooked. Each chapter is rooted in real places, written by real explorers: local naturalists, guides, birders, writers, and dreamers. “This is conservation through connection,” The Dreamcatchers explain.

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They are currently “Fun-raising” to bring the book to print, with gifts of gratitude for donor support ranging from copies of the book and apparel to a $500 credit to a Costa Rica trip and a private cocktail party for up to eight people.

And you can also get involved by joining one of The Dreamcatchers’ Local Walks coming up on November 21 and December 7. These wanderings will take you to secret places in the SuperSanctuary. Each adventure includes complimentary Troubardour Costa Rican specialty coffee and snacks.

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Each exploration will focus on a different natural history theme related to the conditions that present themselves that day, whether it’s following animal trails through a boulder field, watching birds, seeking out flowing water, or simply admiring the beauty of the woods.

Through ‘Micro Exploring’, the practice of focusing attention and intention on a smaller geographic area, and with the help of a little caffeination in nature, your eyes will be opened to new experiences right in front of you. Monadnockers are encouraged to reserve tickets early through the website as these events sell out fast. Two days before your walk, they’ll send you all the details on where to meet, what to bring, and what to wear.



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Whether you join a Local Walk or support The Dreamcatchers’ forthcoming book, you’ll be helping nurture a deeper love for the landscapes that make the Monadnock Region extraordinary. Because sometimes, the biggest discoveries happen on the smallest trails.

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@bestphotographerever

Just a small town girl.

Before they sold out typewriter cred hashtag leggings health goth banh mi single-origin coffee selfies, selvage pok pok. Intelligentsia scenester actually, iPhone la croix banjo forage meditation cold-pressed vinyl XOXO. Occupy flannel hashtag echo park. Prism freegan plaid pug slow-carb 90's, chillwave activated charcoal cornhole.

Truffaut ugh pok pok waistcoat artisan. Swag air plant vaporware, tumeric la croix microdosing offal hexagon tbh. Chambray roof party typewriter coloring book intelligentsia mlkshk lomo umami blue bottle drinking vinegar locavore PBR&B viral. Heirloom poke biodiesel, unicorn wolf leggings hella celiac adaptogen migas. La croix hexagon cold-pressed XOXO art party. Cornhole slow-carb church-key subway tile. Art party master cleanse intelligentsia fingerstache swag craft beer raw denim palo santo salvia pug scenester narwhal occupy single-origin coffee glossier. Stumptown pok pok fashion axe cornhole health goth celiac. Knausgaard YOLO mumblecore lyft glossier.

- I'm obsessed with red shoes
- My iphone 7 is my lifeline
- frogs scare me
- I will do anything for a peppermint mocha
- I've never been on an airplane
- Mountain dew should be a food group

Tasting Time with Caroline Tremblay

Fresh Food, Bright Futures

Quick Taste: Local kids are digging into gardening and cooking through the Cornucopia Project’s hands-on programs, and families can join the fun this December with a Youth Cooking Kit.

For two decades, the Cornucopia Project has been transforming what young people in Southern New Hampshire know about food. What began as a desire to help kids understand where their meals come from has blossomed into a vibrant network of school gardens, student farming programs, and youth-driven culinary adventures that now reach more than 2,300 people annually across 28 schools.

At the heart of the organization’s mission is a simple but powerful idea: plant seeds for a lifetime of healthy eating. Their three guiding pillars, Guide, Cultivate Connection, and Inspire, show up everywhere in their work. New gardeners get their hands in the soil, young chefs practice real kitchen skills, and students of all ages build meaningful connections with the natural world. In a region where outdoor learning is treasured, Cornucopia keeps these values growing strong.


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One of the biggest recent additions is the Community Farmhouse located strategically next to ConVal High School in Peterborough. The renovated space offers classrooms, a certified kitchen, and a home base for the many programs that cycle through the farm each year. Middle and high school Student Farmers learn everything from soil health to crop planning, gaining job skills, and getting a taste of professional life in agriculture and food service. A new USDA Farm to School initiative is expanding this work even further with the development of a four-year program for high schoolers that weaves in both agricultural education and community service.

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Younger learners get their start in Cornucopia’s School Gardens. These outdoor classrooms turn the school day into a season-long growing journey, supported by a 14-week curriculum that blends gardening, harvesting, and cooking. Even schools without garden beds can join in with classroom garden kits designed to make seedlings, soil, and experimentation accessible anywhere.

Then there is what happens in the kitchen, both on the farm and at home. Cornucopia’s kitchen programs introduce kids to healthy, plant-based cooking with support from local chefs and food producers. After-school cooking clubs fill up fast, and classroom tastings are a highlight for many students. But this December, families can bring the experience home with the Youth Cooking Kit, a winter-themed bundle designed especially for budding chefs.

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For just $25, with no-questions-asked scholarships available, each kit feeds four people and includes pre-portioned ingredients, step-by-step recipe cards, and a few surprises. Young chefs can whip up a Harvest Kale Salad with Maple Vinaigrette, cozy baked Squash Mac & Cheese, and Mini Apple Crisps. Pickup is December 9 at either the Cornucopia Project in Peterborough (2 to 6 pm) or the Monadnock Food Co-op in Keene (3 to 6 pm). Sponsorship options are also available for those who want to cover a kit for a local child.

As always, the Cornucopia Project thrives because the community helps it grow. Locals can get involved through one-time or ongoing volunteer opportunities, by donating items from the organization’s wish list, or by becoming a sponsor.

Learn more, and maybe pick up a Youth Cooking Kit while you are at it, at cornucopiaproject.org.

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A Self-Care Invitation from Molly McMillan

Keep Moving Through the Cold Season

Quick Take: Hibernation is tempting, but movement is magic. This winter, find balance between cozy rest and gentle ways to keep your energy flowing.

I won’t tell you not to enjoy the holiday food and drink. After all, it’s the time to celebrate and savor it! But here’s a little reminder: the key to staying healthy through the cold season is to keep moving your body.

When it’s cold outside, it’s tempting to hibernate, to curl up on the couch and stay there. And it’s okay to do that sometimes! Just make sure you balance it with movement, too.

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Start your day gently. When you wake up in the morning, take a few minutes to stretch right there in bed—like a cat would—before getting on your feet. Feel into your body, notice any stiffness, and invite it to soften with each slow stretch.

Here are a few more ways to keep your body moving this winter:
  • Go for a walk in the cold. It might seem counterintuitive, but sometimes that brisk air is exactly what your body needs. The trick is to bundle up: wear warm layers, sturdy shoes or boots, and a scarf if the air feels harsh on your lungs. Remember the New England saying: “There’s no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing.” Getting your outside exercise is even better with a friend. Scheduling a weekly outing will help you make the commitment to actually do it.

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  • Be smart with your footwear. If there’s just snow, winter boots will do. But if it’s icy, use spikes over your boots and grab a set of walking or hiking poles. Snowshoeing is another wonderful way to move and enjoy the season’s beauty. Start slowly, even 15 minutes is good, and work up to more.
  • Get creative indoors. Not a fan of the cold? No problem. Turn your stairs into a mini workout or crank up some music and dance around your living room, and sing along. Even better, invite friends or neighbors over for a weekly dance or movement party!

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Once your body is warm and loose, it’s the perfect time to settle in front of the fire or under a cozy blanket for some gentle stretches and myofascial releases. Your body will thank you for it. If you’d like to learn how to make that kind of care part of your routine, Monadnock Myofascial Release offers approachable guidance and resources at www.monadnockmfr.com. There are also seasonal classes available here.

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End your day with warmth and care. Go ahead and sink into a hot bath, light some candles, and add a few drops of your favorite essential oils. It’s a wonderful way to warm your body, soothe your muscles, and invite deep rest before climbing into bed.

This winter, give yourself permission to rest and to move. Both are essential. When you keep your body flowing, you keep your energy, mood, and immune system strong, too.

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>>Connect Here<<

"Whether it’s Main Street lights, hometown traditions, or the small businesses that keep these traditions alive, we’re proud to help tell the stories that make the Monadnock Region glow. Happy Holidays!"

Caroline Tremblay
Owner & Content Director, Owl & Pen
Exceptional Written Content to Help Local Businesses Thrive...
Wherever Your Local Is

The Stars and I with Sonja Bolton

Star Party Anyone?

In a Nutshell:
I bet I know one group of night owls geeking out over the recent stunning display of celestial elegance, the aurora borealis. The Keene Amateur Astronomers (KAA) track night sky events with laser focus and welcome one and all to monthly sky parties, weather permitting.


Sometimes I think of the night sky as the great equalizer. We’ve all been given a beautiful gift, for each and every one of us only has to look up to connect with something truly grand.
The night sky has captivated humanity from our earliest history, and as we explore deeper into its vast complexities, having experienced guides like the KAA unpacks literal galaxies of details.

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Photo Credit Bill Riddle

You only need to glance at the monthly newsletter to know these folks know a thing or two about stars. KAA VP, Susan Rolke wrote in the 11/2025 release that, “We are living in one of the most exciting times in astronomy. Only recently have we begun to observe interstellar objects [such as 31 ATLAS] that formed beyond our solar system. These rare cosmic travelers let us study material from another star system without leaving our own. They act as time capsules, preserving evidence of how planets and stars formed in other regions of the Milky Way, by studying their reflected light and the gases they release. Each new visitor tells its own story, shaped by its own unique past. Each one provides a glimpse into conditions beyond the boundaries of our own solar system.” 

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This is important, she explained, because, “Each of these rare visitors has its own unique characteristics, offering valuable clues about the diverse environments in which they may have formed or traveled.” If you want to view 31 ATLAS from your own telescope, here is information on how. If you’d rather benefit from the KAA’s expert advice at an upcoming star party, their event calendar can be found here. 

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And if you just want to casually observe what’s above you on any particular night, there are apps to help navigate its shining depths. You can point your phone up, and it will tell you what constellations, satellites, or planets you are looking at. We are living in neat times, folks, neat times indeed.

Keep your eyes on the skies, Monadnockers. Let the wonders of the natural universe resonate stir your soul.  

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Photo Credit Bill Riddle

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Step Inside the Photo Booth with Caroline Tremblay

Say Cheese, Monadnockers!

Quick Take: What happens when a Keene couple brings cruise-ship energy and camera magic to local parties? Smiles, snapshots, and memories that outlast the night.

When Ryan Watterson and Melissa Alexander roll into a wedding or holiday party, something shifts in the air. Suddenly, people are laughing, gathering, and posing like they haven’t in years. Maybe it’s the lights; maybe it’s the music. But more likely, it’s the magic of The Luxury Box Photo Booth.

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What started back in 2016 as a single tent setup (hence the “Box”) has grown into a full-blown entertainment experience. The Keene-based duo now offers seven ways to capture a good time, from their Open Air Booth and Mirror Booth to the crowd-favorite 360 Experience (also known as the “Glam Bot”) and even Audio and Video Guest Books that preserve the night’s best stories in voices and laughter.

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Ryan, a former Carnival Cruise Lines entertainer who now works locally with M&T Bank, and Melissa, a science teacher with a photographer’s eye, bring a perfect blend of fun and finesse to every event. Together, they’ve powered hundreds of gatherings across Vermont, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts, including more than 60 in 2025 alone!

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Ask anyone who’s stepped in front of their camera: it’s never just about the photos. It’s about that spark when people let loose, grab a prop, and suddenly remember what it feels like to play. Guests often try it out once and then return later to take more. “Nobody ever frowns in a photo booth,” Ryan says with a grin. “And if they do—it’s on purpose.”

In an age where memories live on screens, holding a real photo strip feels like something special again. The Luxury Box brings that back. “A photo booth is that extra detail that takes a normal gathering to a memorable party.”

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The holidays offer plenty of reasons to celebrate, and The Luxury Box’s lineup is perfect for company parties, gatherings with extended family, and just about anything you can think of. As for the new year, “January and February can be long months,” Ryan says. “Why not have a party to get you through the cold winter?”

It’s those shared smiles and silly snapshots that remind us why we gather in the first place. So check out what The Luxury Box can bring to your next event and get ready to strike a pose!

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What could be better than tried and true recipes to set your holiday table apart? We're sharing nine gorgeous recipes crafted to showcase local ingredients from across of the Monadnock Region! You'll also get our FREE newsletters featuring goodies from each season's Local Lifestyle Playlist. 

for people who love local.

The Holiday Recipe guide

Yes, You Can Have Your local and eat it too.

What could be better than tried and true recipes to set your holiday table apart? 

We're sharing nine recipes crafted to showcase local flavors of the Monadnock Region! You'll also get our FREE newsletters featuring goodies from each season's Local Lifestyle Playlist. 

Going for a Glide with Erin Scollans

Lacing Up for Winter in the Monadnock Region

Quick Take: As temperatures drop, local ponds, parks, and rinks begin to transform into classic winter playgrounds. Here’s a peek at where Monadnockers can skate once the ice is ready.

November is here, and New Englanders are swapping out their hiking boots for snow gear! Being an outdoorsy bunch, New Hampshire folks—and especially Monadnockers—don’t let a little cold air stop them from basking in the beauty the winter months have to offer. Whether it’s up in the mountains, deep in the woods, or out on the pond, bountiful outdoor opportunities await this season. Winter hiking, snowboarding, and skiing are all great options. But for a classic and affordable activity close to home, ice skating might just be the perfect idea for grownups and kids alike.

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With weather being unpredictable and the winter season kicking in slightly later these days, it’s tough for town recreational departments to know exactly when local ice skating opportunities will present themselves. The warmer the days, the less likely local, outdoor ice skating will be available on ponds and lakes. But once the cold sets in and the weather permits, spots like Cunningham Pond in Peterborough will be plowed off, and residents will be able to skate for free any time of day. Bring your own skates and a buddy; there’s no staff or maintenance on the pond, so it’s best if little ones have an adult nearby while they’re out enjoying the ice.

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Other towns will also join in the fun with handmade rinks likely to pop up in Fitzwilliam, Keene and Peterborough parks, and other sweet spots based on where you live. While Swanzey isn’t planning a rink this year, residents can still count on two longtime favorites, Snow Fest and the Wilson Pond Ice Fishing Derby. Stay tuned for details!

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In addition, the region offers local, indoor ice skating at Keene Ice, now officially open for the season for public skating. This fantastic resource also offers a “Learn to Play Hockey Program” that follows the ADM model, giving boys and girls aged 4-10 (who already have a basic understanding of how to ice skate forward) the opportunity to learn and develop all aspects of the sport.

Check out their calendar for details, and follow your local parks and rec programs online for up-to-date locations, times, and offerings this season. Happy skating!

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@bestphotographerever

Just a small town girl.

Before they sold out typewriter cred hashtag leggings health goth banh mi single-origin coffee selfies, selvage pok pok. Intelligentsia scenester actually, iPhone la croix banjo forage meditation cold-pressed vinyl XOXO. Occupy flannel hashtag echo park. Prism freegan plaid pug slow-carb 90's, chillwave activated charcoal cornhole.

Truffaut ugh pok pok waistcoat artisan. Swag air plant vaporware, tumeric la croix microdosing offal hexagon tbh. Chambray roof party typewriter coloring book intelligentsia mlkshk lomo umami blue bottle drinking vinegar locavore PBR&B viral. Heirloom poke biodiesel, unicorn wolf leggings hella celiac adaptogen migas. La croix hexagon cold-pressed XOXO art party. Cornhole slow-carb church-key subway tile. Art party master cleanse intelligentsia fingerstache swag craft beer raw denim palo santo salvia pug scenester narwhal occupy single-origin coffee glossier. Stumptown pok pok fashion axe cornhole health goth celiac. Knausgaard YOLO mumblecore lyft glossier.

- I'm obsessed with red shoes
- My iphone 7 is my lifeline
- frogs scare me
- I will do anything for a peppermint mocha
- I've never been on an airplane
- Mountain dew should be a food group

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