CONCORD, NH — The Barley House turns 25 in a few months, and to celebrate, the restaurant, owned by Brian and Deb Shea, has a few surprises planned.
For Christmas, to revel with other businesses downtown for holiday events, including Midnight Merriment next week, the restaurant decided to spruce things up inside by installing thousands of lights. This year, Merriment starts with a parade of lights at 5:30 p.m. on Dec. 7, from the Hotel Concord to the Statehouse. Staffers, Deb Shea said, were working on specials like holiday drink offerings and other things to get into the spirit of the season. Once they started rolling with the lights, themes emerged, and everyone got into the idea.
The lights offer four different themes for each section of the restaurant. Upstairs, there is more traditional Christmas fare with stockings, candy canes, bulbs, and red and white lights. But the downstairs, lit up in blue and white, is stunning. Brian and Deb Shea said they thought holiday party bookings — the downstairs tends to be very busy this time of the year, would enjoy the added lighting.
“Everyone is loving it so far,” Deb Shea said. “We’re having fun with it.”
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The couple readily admits holiday popup lights or similar restaurant displays are nothing new.
Deb Shea said after all the outdoor seating had been rolled up, restaurants had to find another niche or draw to keep customers coming downtown as the colder temperatures arrived.
Brian Shea said the couple was on vacation in Florida and ate at a restaurant, which was lit up entirely with lights. Another restaurant he heard about in Massachusetts on the South Shore is booked solid with reservations because people want to experience dinner with the holiday lighting.
“That may not happen here,” he said. “But if someone starts it, they may look forward to it.”
“When they come in and they all love it,” Deb Shea said, “and it’s a festive holiday experience, it will be something (customers) will want to experience … with winter and everything.”
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The downstairs lights came out so well they might consider permanent light changes. Brian Shea said it would be more subtle at their place if they tried to put together something long-term, but they loved the idea.
The Barley House also plans to offer dinner reservations on New Year’s Eve, so revelers can coordinate their evening. A special menu will also be put together.
The lights will be up through January to expand a bit later into the season. After that, the Black Ice Hockey Tournament is scheduled for early February. However, sometimes, things can slow down downtown. Having customers enjoy their meal and have a good time at the Barley House has always been their goal, she said.
“I think we have to start looking at the downtown past the summer,” she said. “Because we do have a long winter here.”
The Barley House turns 25 on March 6, so more will be planned for the very near future.
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“We’ll be rolling right into that,” Deb Shea said.
Upcoming Events
Holiday Jingle Jam: Karaoke, an ugly sweater contest, pictures with Santa, and more: 8 to 11 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 30.
Free Gift Wrapping with enjoying drinks and dinner: 4 to 7 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 22.
Holiday Lights Popup: Through Jan. 15, 2025.
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Sunflowers are my absolute FAVORITE flowers. I truly feel like they have magical uplifting abilities. Hence, why I’ve always kept fresh sunflowers in my house, brightening up my kitchen table or even my TV stand.
Obviously, it was a dream of mine to have my maternity photos taken in a sunflower field. They reflect sunshine and exude happiness.
Not to mention, one of my favorite quotes is about sunflowers! “Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadow. It’s what sunflowers do.” Helen Keller
A beautiful reminder to keep an optimistic outlook on life and not dwell on the negative.
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So, you can imagine the joy I felt when I learned that New Hampshire had its very own Sunflower Festival at Coppal House Farm in Lee!
Coppal House Farm via FacebookCoppal House Farm via Facebook
About the Sunflower Festival:
During the summer, the farm transforms into a sea of golden blooms, giving visitors the chance to wander through thousands of sunflowers, snap photos, enjoy local food vendors, artisan crafts, listen to live music, and experience one of New Hampshire’s most beautiful summer traditions.
Other unique activities on the itinerary? Sip-n-snip! Guests can enjoy a cocktail or mocktail of their choice and cut their own fresh bouquet of flowers.
Coppal House Farm via FacebookCoppal House Farm via Facebook
Or maybe you’re a yoga fan? You can join a 60-minute sweat session from Lee, New Hampshire yoga instructors right in the heart of the flower field.
And because the farm grows oilseed sunflowers for culinary oil (which they harvest in the fall months), the flowers only stay at their peak for a brief window, making the festival a limited-time experience, according to the festival organizers…
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What makes this event even more special is the reason behind it. The festival started as a way to share the beauty of the sunflower fields, but it has grown into something much bigger. Organizers say the event has raised more than $90,000 for Make-A-Wish New Hampshire over the years and now shares a portion of its proceeds with several local nonprofit organizations serving the Seacoast community.
Anyone who knows me knows that paying it forward is something that’s incredibly important to me. It’s right up there with my love of sunflowers because both fill my cup in the best way. So, when I found out this festival celebrates my favorite flower and gives back to the community, I knew I had to share it.
Sunflower Festival Details:
This festival only runs from Saturday, July 25th until Sunday, August 2nd. You can get the full list of activities and more on the Coppal Farm website.
Daily Field Hours
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10:00 AM – 6:30 PM (last admission at 6PM because fields close at 6:30) Weekend Tickets (prepurchased online – day before) $12 per person ages 13 & older $10 per person ages 5-12 $10 per person Seniors (65+) & Military 4 yrs & under are always free Weekend Tickets (purchased day of – online or at farm): $16 per person ages 13 & older $14 per person ages 5-12 $14 per person Seniors (65+) & Military 4 yrs & under are always free includes: access to sunflower fields, craft fair, food vending area, tented shade area, picnic area, farm animals, & live music
Weekday Tickets (prepurchased online – day before) $8 per person ages 13 & older $6 per person ages 5-12 $6 per person Seniors (65+) & Military 4 yrs & under are always free
Weekday Tickets (purchased day of – online or at farm) $12 per person ages 13 & older $10 per person ages 5-12 $10 per person Seniors (65+) & Military 4 yrs & under are always free
What tickets include: Access to sunflower fields, food vending area, tented shade area, picnic area, and farm animals
READ MORE: A Classic Fairy Tale Comes To Life At Portsmouth’s Prescott Park This Summer
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This festival might just leave you smiling long after you leave the fields!
What Flowers Thrive in New England
See what flowers thrive in New England weather: Maine, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire.
Gallery Credit: Logan
14 of the Best New Hampshire Farms Offering Locally Grown Strawberries
14 of the Best New Hampshire Farms Offering PYO Strawberries
Ed. Note: If this was you and you are interested, please email [email protected] so I can put you in touch with OP.
“Dear PoPville,
I was biking home from a doctor appointment a little before noon on Friday, and stopped at a red light on New Hampshire & L st nw. There was a woman across the street who was looking fine in her dark blue (I think they were) scrubs. I might be crazy, but it felt like we kept checking each other out. By the third time,
if we were in a romcom, one of us would have waved. Sorry I didn’t, but if you are reading this and date men, reach out to the Prince if you are interested in that man on the bike. Have a great weekend!”
Ed. Note: If this is you, please email [email protected] so I can put you in touch with OP. PoPville is not affiliated with either party, please proceed with any potential connection at your own risk using caution as you would any online encounter. For those curious about past missed connections, many have been made and when possible I’ll try to update when/if more are made.
A New Hampshire motorcyclist who had been missing since the Fourth of July was found dead in Shelburne late Thursday night.
State police say they received a request from the Berlin Police Department just after 7:30 p.m. Thursday for help locating 41-year-old Wesley Grondin — the Berlin man was last seen riding his motorcycle on Saturday, July 4, and had been reported missing.
Troopers received a call a couple of hours later, around 10:10 p.m. Thursday, from a concerned resident who had been out looking for Grondin along Route 2 in Shelburne. The person told police they had found Grondin dead, along with his Harley Davidson.
According to state police, a preliminary investigation determined that Grondin was riding his Harley on Route 2 westbound in Shelburne when, for reasons that remain under investigation, he crossed over into the opposing lane, struck a post, and came to a final rest in the wood line.
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The crash is believed to have occurred just before midnight on July 4. At this time, police say there’s no indication that another vehicle or person was involved.
All aspects of the crash remain under investigation, however. Anyone with information that may assist investigators is asked to contact Trooper Hunter Newsham at Hunter.P.Newsham@dos.nh.gov.
