News

The Rochester Museum of Fine Arts is pleased to announce East Coast Skateboarding, an art exhibition featuring works by Michael Cirelli in the Bernier Room at the James W. Foley Memorial Community Center. Michael Cirelli began skateboarding at the age of 8 and picked up a film camera at 16 to document and photograph his […]

The Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce announces the launch of its 2025 Small Business Season, a community-wide initiative sponsored by Rochester Economic Development to champion the importance of supporting local businesses throughout the holiday season. Beginning November 1 and continuing through the end of the year, Small Business Season aims to reacquaint residents with the […]

Would you like some extra cash just in time for your holiday shopping this year? The Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce that tickets are now on sale for its annual “Christmas Cash Dash 50/50” Holiday Raffle, underwritten by Meredith Village Savings Bank. Tickets are $25 each, and every ticket is a […]

The Age of Railroads transformed America—connecting coasts, driving industry, and reshaping communities from coast to coast. But what did that revolution look like here in Rochester, New Hampshire? In this episode, we trace the arrival of the Great Falls and Conway Railroad in 1849, when the first trains rolled into town and forever changed its […]

The Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce is pleased to light up the season with its annual Holiday Tree Lighting. The Tree Lighting Ceremony will be held on Friday, December 5, 2025, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Central Square in downtown Rochester. This event, underwritten by Xfinity, will include the ceremony and lighting of Rochester’s […]

Sole City Dance proudly presents its 20th anniversary production of The Nutcracker at the historic Rochester Opera House. This beloved holiday tradition, set to Tchaikovsky’s legendary score, has become a regional favorite, capturing the wonder and excitement of the night before Christmas when a mysterious gift sparks an extraordinary journey. Audiences are invited to follow […]

The City of Rochester has issued Request for Proposals (RFP 26-07) seeking qualified developers to redevelop 6.6 acres of City-owned property, located at 161 South Main Street and 7–17 Sawyer Avenue, in the downtown commercial zoning district. The RFP seeks redevelopment concepts for a new multi-use development encompassing all six adjoining parcels, which are being […]

The City of Rochester proudly announces the grand opening of Nancy Loud Park, a revitalized community green space on the site of the former Nancy Loud School. A ribbon-cutting ceremony, held in partnership with the Rochester Chamber of Commerce, took place on Thursday, October 30, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. at the park. The park commemorates […]

The Monarch School of New England and Great Bay Services recently hosted Trucks & Tastes, the first event in their new Connections that Count collaborative initiative. Designed to bring together individuals of all abilities in a spirit of community and inclusion, Trucks & Tastes celebrated connection, joy, and partnership. The morning brought together members, staff, […]

The Rochester Public Library Teen Room invites teens to enjoy a variety of events and activities throughout November. Upcoming Events:Wednesday Maker Sessions, 2:30–4:00 p.m. 11/5: Vision Boards 11/19: Beads Movie Monday, November 3 at 5:00 p.m. – The Truman ShowNeedle Felting, Wednesday, November 12 at 6:00 p.m. – Teen Room. Registration is required.Book Group, November […]

Beginning Wednesday, October 29, Community Action Partnership of Strafford County (CAPSC), will offer extended hours on Wednesday evenings (until 7pm) and Saturday mornings (9am to 12pm) at its Dover Outreach Office, located at 577 Central Avenue. These extended hours are made in anticipation of a lapse in funding for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and […]

Due to the forecast on Thursday evening, the City of Rochester will reschedule citywide Trick-or-Treat to Friday, October 31, 2025, from 4:00 to 7:00 pm. According to WMUR, heavy rain is expected on Thursday afternoon and evening. Downpours could lead to some road ponding, and winds may gust 30–35 mph. While a few showers are […]

The Music Doesn’t Stop at The Rochester Opera House! It’s that time of year again… Monster Bash is back, presented by The Rochester Opera House and hosted at The Castle on Charles! Our second annual Monster Bash will take place on October 31, from 7–11 p.m., at 19 Charles Street in Rochester, New Hampshire. One […]

Join the Rochester Mental Health Alliance and the Strafford County Public Health Network for a free community screening of Screenagers: Growing Up in the Digital Age on Wednesday, November 19, 2025, from 6:00–8:00 p.m. at the Rochester Opera House, 31 Wakefield Street. For additional details, contact [email protected].

The Rochester Public Library is reminding residents about its innovative “Library of Things” collection, a program that allows cardholders to borrow non-traditional items, encouraging sustainability, creativity, and exploration. The Library of Things gives patrons the opportunity to “try before you buy,” helping reduce waste and promote reuse within the community. The collection includes a wide […]

On behalf of the Board of Directors and staff of the Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce, we extend our sincerest thanks to Chamber members for their continued support of the organization and its activities throughout the year. On October 15, 2025, the Chamber celebrated its 37th annual Operation Thank You, sponsored by Newburyport Bank and […]

The General Federation of Women’s Clubs New Hampshire (GFWC-NH) will host an Open House and Information Night to share details about forming a new GFWC-NH Women’s Club in Rochester. The event will take place on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Rochester City Hall Annex, 33 Wakefield Street, Rochester, in […]

Community Action Partnership of Strafford County (CAPSC), the Community Action Agency (CAA) of Strafford County, is excited to announce its partnership with D.F. Richard Energy for its upcoming Thanksgiving and Holiday Food Basket Program. Taking full sponsorship of the program, D.F. Richard Energy has pledged $15,000 to support CAPSC as it creates and distributes holiday […]

The Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of the new Nancy Loud Park on Cocheco Avenue in East Rochester. Shaped by community feedback provided at two community engagement sessions in 2023 and 2024, the redesigned park will feature gravel walking paths, a new playground, a basketball court, […]

Local author and visual artist Ross Alan Bachelder will give an informal talk about his most recent book, Growing Up Blue-Collar: An Uncertain Beginning, on Thursday, October 23, from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. The event will take place at RiverStones Custom Framing, located at 33 N. Main Street in downtown Rochester. A selection of Bachelder’s […]

The Rochester Museum of Fine Arts (RMFA) was honored with the Governor’s Arts Award for Creative Communities on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, during a ceremony in the Executive Council Chambers at the State House in Concord, NH. The Governor’s Arts Awards, presented biennially by the New Hampshire State Council on the Arts since 1980, recognize […]

The City of Rochester Economic Development Department is pleased to announce that Seacoast Gymnastics Center has relocated to 104 Milton Road in the Market Basket Plaza. Owner Sharon Bove said the new location offers double the space of their previous facility and features 130 feet of glass, creating a much brighter environment. The expansion also […]

The Granite State Choral Society invites the community to its annual Fall Craft Fair on Saturday, November 8, from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the James W. Foley Memorial Community Center, 150 Wakefield Street, Rochester, NH 03867. The craft fair will feature a variety of handcrafted items from local artisans, including jewelry, art, seasonal […]

The Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce will be hitting the streets to thank its members during its annual Operation Thank You. Sponsored by Newburyport Bank and Waste Management, Operation Thank You is the Chamber’s membership appreciation day, during which all Chamber members are recognized for their contributions and support. Local members will receive personal visits […]

Cooperative Alliance for Seacoast Transportation, more commonly known as COAST, is partnering with Cross Insurance on Saturday, October 25 to offer a “Fare Free Saturday” on both its fixed and demand response services. “October is Community Transportation Month in New Hampshire, and we’re thrilled that Cross Insurance has partnered with us to provide a  ‘Fare […]

Several hundred handmade Project Linus blankets will be dedicated during the Sunday morning service at the Rochester First United Methodist Church on November 9, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. The church is located at 34 South Main Street in downtown Rochester. All are welcome and encouraged to attend. The Rochester First United Methodist Church’s involvement in […]

Young and old came out on Saturday, October 4th, to participate in a river clean-up effort in downtown Rochester. The Rochester Conservation Commission partnered with Great Bay Trout Unlimited to host the event. Members of both groups, along with a Spaulding High School student, worked together to remove a variety of items from the riverbank […]

On Monday, October 6, 2025, the Rochester Country Club Ladies Invitational Committee presented End 68 Hours of Hunger with a financial contribution of $4,475 to help feed children in need in Rochester. End 68 Hours of Hunger is a public, not-for-profit organization committed to addressing the approximately 68-hour period of hunger some schoolchildren face between […]

Get ready for music, madness, and mayhem with the Broadway hit Young Frankenstein! Based on the classic 1974 film, the original Young Frankenstein was directed by Mel Brooks with his co-writer and star, Gene Wilder. The film is a loving parody of classic horror films, especially the 1930s Frankenstein series. Uniquely shot in black and […]

The Department of Public Works will temporarily shut off water service on Dodge Street on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, between 7:00 AM and 5:00 PM, to complete a gate valve replacement. During this time, Dodge Street will be closed from Rochester Hill Road to Preston Street. Emergency vehicles and residents will have access throughout the […]

The Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce plans for its annual holiday parade, themed “Christmas in Candyland.” Generously underwritten by First Seacoast Bank, Rochester’s holiday parade is scheduled for Sunday, December 7, 2025, beginning at 4:00 p.m. The parade will feature an array of floats, high school marching bands, marching units, mobile […]

In collaboration with the Department of Public Works (DPW), the Children’s Room at the Rochester Public Library invites children and families to StoryTime and Touch-a-Truck on Wednesday, October 9, 2025, from 10:00 to 11:00 am, at the Department of Public Works. A truck-themed StoryTime will kick off in the DPW conference room, followed by an […]

A budding sense of community and a touch of nature have taken root at the Gafney Home, a senior living facility in Rochester, thanks to the leadership and dedication of Alex Farr, a senior at Dover High School and Life Scout with Scouting America. As part of his Eagle Scout Leadership Project, Farr led the […]