Annual State of the City Forum

Wednesday, April 15, 8 to 10 a.m.

Cochecho Country Club, 145 Gulf Road, Dover

The Greater Dover Chamber of Commerce's State of the City forum is underwritten by Eversource, with additional sponsorship from Wentworth-Douglass Hospital and Kennebunk Savings. This year's event will focus on the Transportation Chapter of the city’s Master Plan.

City of Dover Director of Planning and Community Development Donna Benton will provide an overview of the city’s Master Plan process along with an update on the Vision and Land Use chapters. Following that, Benton will discuss the upcoming Transportation Chapter.

After her presentation, Benton will be joined by panelists Patricia Quinn of the Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority (NNEPRA) and Rad Nichols from the Cooperative Alliance for Seacoast Transportation (COAST). They will provide information about two of the region’s major public transportation providers: the Amtrak Downeaster and COAST Bus. The event will conclude with a question-and-answer session with the audience.

Attendees are encouraged to arrive at 8 a.m. for check-in and breakfast. The program will begin promptly at 8:30 a.m. The fee to attend the State of the City forum is $30 ($25 for Greater Dover Chamber of Commerce members) and includes breakfast. Visit dovernh.org/sotc for more information or to register.

GDCC Annual Raffle and Auction

Thursday, May 7, 5:30 to 8 p.m.

Revo Casino and Social House

887b Central Ave., Dover

Proceeds from the Annual Raffle & Auction help support the Chamber's large-scale community events such as Cochecho Arts Festival, Apple Harvest Day, and Festival of Trees.

Only 300 tickets are sold ($50 each) and the winner receives $10,000! The drawing will be held Thursday, May 7, at Revo Casino and Social House. You do not have to be present to win.

Purchase your lucky ticket Purchase your ticket(s) and join us for an evening of food, fun, friendship, games, and the drawing for our $10,000 raffle prize winner!

Dover Area Woman's Club Noche Mexicana Fundraiser

Thursday, April 9, 3 to 9 p.m.

Margarita's Mexican Restaurant, 23 Members Way, Dover

Invite your family and friends to dine at Margarita's in Dover on April 9 between 3 and 9 p.m. and the restaurant will donate 20% of your bill to Dover Area Woman's Club!

Click here to learn more about Dover Area Woman's Club.

20th Annual Art of Great Bay Show and Sale

April 10-12, 2026

The Barn at Great Bay Discovery Center, 91 Depot Road, Greenland

Chamber member SEH Studios Art & Dover Art Supply will be part of this annual show at the Hugh Gregg Coastal Conservation Center. The show raises funds for the Great Bay Stewards and features painting, photography, jewelry, sculpture, and fabric art. Join artist Susan Hanna at the opening reception, Friday, April 10, from 5-8 p.m.

For more information click here.

Girls and Boys: A One-Woman Tour de Force

April 10 - 19: Thursdays at 7 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays at 2:30 p.m.

Players' Ring Theatre, 105 Marcy St., Portsmouth

From airport flirtation to family tragedy, this searing solo performance unravels a woman’s journey through charm, ambition, and a harrowing act of violence. With blistering humor and brutal honesty, Dennis Kelly’s Girls & Boys is a tour de force of storytelling and emotional depth.

General Admission: $32. Seniors (65+); /Students/Veterans/First Responders are $29. This play is included in the Ring’s subscription packages. Visit playersring.org for more information and to purchase tickets.

DHS Interact Club Shredding Event

Saturday, April 11, 9 a.m. to noon

St. John's Church, 26 Cataract Ave., Dover

The Dover High School Interact Club will host a community shredding event in partnership with the Dover Rotary Club. They invite residents to bring paper documents for secure and environmentally responsible disposal. Suggested donations are $5 per bag and $20 per box.

All proceeds will benefit Action Against Hunger, supporting global efforts to combat hunger.

For more information click here.

Red's Race for a Better Community

Saturday, April 11, 9 a.m.

The 43rd Annual Red's Race for a Better Community is a five-mile road race and, new this year, a 5K race course. Originally conceived in 1981 as Red's Shoe Barn 5 Mile Road Race, the event was organized and sponsored by Red's Shoe Barn. After 25 years, Red's Shoe Barn reimagined the race as a vehicle for community fundraising, passing leadership to several Strafford County non-profit organizations. When you take part in this historic community event, you are also helping to raise much needed funds for two local non-profit organizations that provide important services in Strafford County.

For more information and to register, click here.

Dover Children's Home 18th Annual Bowl-a-Thon Fundraiser

Sunday, April 12

Bowl-O-Rama, 599 Lafayette Rd., Portsmouth

Dover Children’s Home invites community members, businesses, and families to come together for a day of candlepin bowling, friendly competition, and fundraising in support of local youth!

Participants may register teams to bowl during one of four 90-minute sessions offered throughout the day at 10 a.m., noon, 2 p.m., or 4 p.m. Prizes will be awarded during each session for Most Money Raised, Highest Team Score, and Most Creative Team Costume or Theme.

Thanks to the generous support of Summit Land Development, all lane fees and shoe rentals are provided at no cost! Bowlers are encouraged to raise a suggested minimum of $100 per participant in tax-deductible pledges to support Dover Children’s Home’s mission of helping youth heal and become the best versions of themselves.

Community members may also support the event by pledging a bowler or team!

For registration and additional information, click here.

American Cross Blood Drive at Bill Dube

Tuesday, April 14, 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

40 Dover Point Road, Dover

Bill Dube Ford Toyota Kia will host American Cross Blood Drives at its 40 Dover Point Road, Dover, location on the following dates: April 14, May 15, June 10, and July 2. For more information about donating blood or to sign up, click here.

Learn Excel at GBCC

Next sessions start April 14 or April 21 at 9 a.m.

Great Bay Community College

320 Corporate Drive, Portsmouth

Whether you are new to Microsoft Excel, a casual spreadsheet user, or experienced with the platform, Great Bay Community College has a course for everyone. Each of these courses offers useful information on how to use Excel based on your experience level. Computers are provided for training.

Click here for more information or to register.

Archaeological Finds From the Wentworth House Site

Wednesday, April 15, 7 p.m.

Rollinsford Public Library Community Room

3 Front Street, Rollinsford

Archaeologists Alix Martin and Tad Baker will present a talk on the preliminary findings from last year’s archaeological excavation at the original site of Rollinsford’s historic Colonel Paul Wentworth House.

Constructed circa 1701, the Colonel Paul Wentworth House witnessed the development of the town of Rollinsford from Colonel Wentworth’s sawmills to a bustling industrial mill town. Last year, a partnership among the Association for Rollinsford Culture and History (ARCH), Strawbery Banke Museum, and the property owner resulted in a successful archaeological excavation of the original site of the house.

To follow up on last year’s dig, a second archaeological field school will take place at the site this June. Plans are in the works to offer tours of the dig site while the field school is in progress.

This lecture is free and open to the public although donations will be gratefully accepted. For more information about the lecture or the field school, email paulwentworthhouse@gmail.com.

Protect What Matters Most: Free Estate Planning Seminar

Thursday, April 16, 5 to 6 p.m.

Harmony Homes by the Bay, 40 Briggs Way, Durham

Join GSD Communities for a free, informative seminar on Estate Planning hosted in partnership with Edward Jones and Attorney Valerie McCormack. Learn simple, important steps to protect your assets, reduce stress for your family, and make sure your wishes are clearly documented. The seminar will cover:

• Wills vs. trusts — what’s the difference?
• How to protect your assets
• Planning for long-term care
• How to avoid common estate planning mistakes
• How to make things easier for your family

RSVP at Creating Your Estate Plan.

Garrison Player's Showstoppers Presents Seasons of Song Revue

Friday, April 17 at 7:30 p.m., and Saturday, April 18 at 3 p.m.

Garrison Players Art Center

Corner of Roberts Rd. and Portland Ave., Rollinsford

From the irresistible energy of Grease's "Summer Nights" to the fierce promise of Gypsy's "Everything's Coming Up Roses," Seasons of Song draws on more than six decades of musical theater from The Fantasticks and Camelot to contemporary hits like Hadestown and Rent.

Showstoppers is a musical theater troupe known for performances that balance heart, humor, and expressive storytelling. Seasons of Song highlights the troupe's range, moving from playful moments to intimate, emotionally rich pieces and joyful, full-company numbers.

Tickets are $22 for adults, $18 for seniors (65+), and $15 for students (under 18). Tickets can be purchased here or at the door. To see the show for FREE sign up here to volunteer!

SMA 5K Run/Walk

Saturday, April 18, 9 a.m.

Saint Mary Academy, 220 Central Ave., Dover

Do you love fun, food, and prizes so fantastic? Lace up your shoes-don't stay static! Run, don't walk, come join the day. SMA 5K is the only way!

Proceeds from this event provide enrichment opportunities for the students of Saint Mary Academy. Be there and bring a friend! Come run with us! For more information and to register, click here.

Garden Tenders Needed for Joe B. Parks Riverwalk

Public Gardens

Want to join a community project this year? Volunteer with the garden team at the Joe B. Parks Riverwalk Public Gardens!

With spring here, we're looking for volunteers to maintain garden beds weekly based on your schedule. Check out the garden map to the right. Tools are provided in the on-site shed. 

We also need Common Area Tenders for general cleanup of common areas, website support, historical research, database management, steering committee leadership, and other tasks. 

Interested? Email contact@joeparksgarden.org.

Swim Lessons for All Ages

A Compass for Home is now offering one-on-one swim instruction in Portsmouth through its Safe Harbor Swim School. Swimmers of all ages, from six months through adults, participate in lessons focusing on building water safety, confidence, and strong foundational skills.

With a calm, supportive approach, Safe Harbor helps swimmers overcome fear and develop lifelong comfort in the water. Lessons are tailored to each individual, ensuring progress at a pace that encourages success.

To learn more or to book a session, visit acompassforhome.com or contact Heidi Martin directly at 978-378-0219.

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