DOVER — Summer looks like it’ll be packed with fun activities in the Garrison City. With a Porchfest neighborhood music festival, a new city park slated to open, fireworks, a celebration of the “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,” a concert series and fun events for kids, there will be no shortage of things to do.
Here’s what to know about events in Dover in summer 2026:
Porchfest Dover
Looking for an afternoon of free music? Porchfest has got you covered. The city’s first Porchfest Sunday, June 14, will feature local performances outside people’s homes and downtown, bringing the community together. There are more than 30 bands to perform, according to organizer Steve Sulewski, and 14 stages.
Sulewski said he recently moved to Dover and is from Massachusetts. He previously hosted Porchfest events for multiple years and had a great experience, and said he was reminiscing on that, and thought “maybe we could start our own Porchfest.”
So, with a community effort, Porchfest will come to Dover. He said they thought to have the effort start out small with only a few houses for the event. However, there was a huge interest, with many bands asking to perform, and Matt Freeman stepped in and helped get the word out. Sulewski said there’s a “wide variety of talent,” such as rock, alternative, hip hop, jazz and blues. The performers list and with locations and times are posted at porchfestdover.com.
Nebi Park to open
The more than 3-acre public park, called Nebi Park, in the Waterfront District has been coming along. Mayor Dennis Shanahan said an opening ceremony open to the public is currently in the works, and the week of July 13 is being considered for the event.
Water access, a gathering space, public restrooms and a walkway along the Cocheco River will be featured at the park, according to Chris Parker, deputy city manager.
The park will feature a public pavilion, and Cochecho River Recreation was recently approved for a lease to operate at the pavilion. CRR will offer kayak rentals for river use on weekends and provide opportunities for residents to keep personal kayaks at the waterfront. Rentals may extend to weekdays in the future.
Parker noted the operator also hopes “to work with the Recreation Department to offer youth education and group tours of the River and educational programming about the ecosystem.”
Dover Public Library to reopen, ribbon cutting
The Dover Public Library at 73 Locust St. has undergone major renovations over more than a year, and is scheduled to reopen Friday, June 26 at 9 a.m. with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The public is invited to attend and explore the renovated library during an open house from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, June 26, and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, June 27.
The renovation is adding approximately 3,000 square feet, library director Denise LaFrance previously said. The children’s room on the ground level is also expanded, LaFrance has said.
40th annual Cochecho Arts Festival
The summer long 40th annual Cochecho Arts Festival presented by the Greater Dover Chamber of Commerce is set to bring music and arts to the city. Starting July 10, weekly Friday night concerts featuring many local artists are free to the public, located at the Rotary Arts Pavilion Stage at Henry Law Park from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Here’s the schedule:
- July 10: Jon Nolan & Good Co.
- July 17: Lightheaded Collective & Diaspora Radio plays “Let it Be” by The Beatles
- July 24: Coyote Smoke & Sneaky Miles
- July 31: Wheel of Awesome
- August 7: Foxglove & Caitlin Piper
- August 14: The Speed of Sound
Weekly children’s shows begin July 14 on Tuesdays from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., also on the Rotary Arts Pavilion Stage. Here’s the schedule:
- July 14: Seacoast Science Center presents Coastal Critters
- July 21: Bryson Lang, comedian and juggler
- July 28: Wildlife Encounters
- August 4: BJ Hickman, magician
Children’s Museum of New Hampshire
The Children’s Museum of New Hampshire has many events this summer.
The 14th annual NH Maker Fest is Saturday, June 6, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., for all ages to celebrate innovation and creativity, hosted and organized by the museum. There will be more than 35 local makers, including lightsaber Jedi cosplayers, a gelato truck, robotics and more.
“The Kids Cafe” at the museum is being turned into a neighborhood pizzeria, and the exhibit will be unveiled in June. A “Calling All Superheroes!” exhibit will be revealed later this summer featuring capes and green-screen superpowers, according to Neva Cole, the museum’s communications director. Through the summer at the museum will be Wacky Art Wednesdays and Science Fridays.
Other offerings this summer include:
- Sensory Friendly Playtime: Tuesday, June 2, 1–3 p.m.
- Blue Star Museum Free Admission Summer for Active Military Personnel and Families Saturday, May 16 – Sunday, Aug. 30
- Ancient Greek Discovery Summer Camp: Tuesday, July 28 through Thursday, July 30
Firework display
On July 2, the city will have its firework display, according to Mayor Dennis Shanahan, with fireworks set off from Garrison Hill. The 39th Army Band will perform at the Rotary Arts Pavilion from 6 to 8 p.m., and fireworks will begin around 9 or 9:15 p.m.
CowabungaFest to celebrate Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
A three-day Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles-themed event called CowabungaFest will offer fun events this August honoring Dover’s history as the birthplace of Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird’s iconic comic book series, according to the event description. Nichols said several organizations and the museum are teaming up for the Aug. 21-23 event. There will be a family movie night Friday, Aug. 21 at Henry Law Park with “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II”, a Saturday, Aug. 22 pizza fest at Cocheco Courtyard and skate jam at Dover Skate Park on Sunday, Aug. 23.
More: Kevin Eastman recalls early Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle days in Dover
The Woodman Museum has several events happening this summer, executive director Jonathan Nichols said. This includes ‘Nature Day,’ July 18 with free admission and a donation drive for the museum’s natural history galleries from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Jenny Thompson Outdoor Pool reopening
The Jenny Thompson Outdoor Pool is scheduled to reopen July 1, said Ricky Conway, assistant recreation director, after a renovation. The repairs included a “complete reconstruction” of part of the wall and the pool deck and diving boards, and new tile and plaster on the inside, Conway said. The project also included two new pumps in the pump room, he said.
The outdoor pool closed early for the season last August for the major repair work. Conway said they’re looking to extend recreation swimming hours.
