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Portsmouth Herald

BHTNH unveils new Juneteenth 2025 events following Amistad postponement

PORTSMOUTH – The Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire is unveiling an exciting lineup of Juneteenth 2025 events under the theme “A Reckoning: Reclaiming the Past, Remembering Black Voices, Reshaping the Future.” This announcement follows the postponement of the anticipated visit of the Freedom Schooner Amistad, which will now set sail for Portsmouth in 2026 due to unexpected restoration work.

While the Amistad’s absence is disappointing, BHTNH remains committed to honoring the spirit of Juneteenth with a thought provoking series of programs that explore the intersections of history, identity, and justice. This Juneteenth program will weave together three powerful narratives—stories that disrupt the illusion of separate racial histories and identities in America. Through the voices of descendants, cutting-edge technology, and Ona Marie Judge Staines’s courageous journey, we underscore that Black and white histories have always been intertwined, making it harder to uphold a rigid “us vs. them” mindset.The expanded celebration will include:

  • Film Screening & Discussion – June 8: A free viewing of Jefferson in Paris, followed by a conversation about how historical narratives are shaped and whose stories are centered.
  • Guided History Tours – June 10-11: School tours focused on Ona Marie Judge Staines, an enslaved woman who escaped from George Washington’s household to Portsmouth.
  • Panel Discussion – June 13: A groundbreaking conversation on historical erasure featuring Black descendants of the “Founding Fathers” and their enslaved servants.
  • AI & AR in Black History – June 14: A look at how artificial intelligence and augmented reality are being used to restore lost Black narratives.
  •  Black Lives Matter New Hampshire Freedom Dinner – June 14: A storytelling and culinary experience celebrating the resilience of Ona Judge and Hercules Posey, two individuals who liberated themselves from enslavement under George Washington.
  • Gospel Choir Concert – June 15: A performance by the Howard Gospel Choir presented by The Music Hall, honoring the role of spirituals in Black resilience and resistance.
  • African Drumming Ceremony – June 19: A commemorative event marking the 10th anniversary of the Portsmouth African Burying Ground’s unveiling.

Juneteenth, the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the end of slavery in the United States, is an opportunity to reflect on the unfinished work of justice. This year’s programs are designed to challenge historical myths, amplify Black voices, and foster deeper conversations about America’s racial history and collective future. BHTNH invites the community to participate in these events as we reclaim and honor the stories that have too often been erased from our nation’s history. For more information and a full schedule of events, visit www.blackheritagetrailnh.org.

Sole City Dance & Rochester Opera House present: The Moon-Spinners Mystery 

ROCHESTER — Enjoy an adventure set on a modern-day Greek island with Sole City Dance’s newest production, The Moon-Spinners Mystery. The ballet follows Nikki, a young detective grieving the loss of her mother. To escape her sorrow, she travels to Greece where she makes friends, searches for a missing person, runs up against a group of nefarious smugglers, and meets a Greek school teacher with the most resourceful young students. All these lives weave in and out of each other in a story replete with love, loyalty, grief, and joy. Behind the scenes, another group of characters is continually weaving – the three ancient fates, the moon-spinners, with their power to cut the cord of life.

Performances take place at the Rochester Opera House on Friday, April 25, at 7 p.m., and Saturday, April 26, at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. Tickets are $17 and on sale now through the Rochester Opera House rochesteroperahouse.com.

Strawbery Banke launches March Match Challenge with generous pledge from Puddle Dock Restaurant and TOUR Golf & Grill

PORTSMOUTH – Strawbery Banke Museum announced that Ryan Lent, owner of Puddle Dock Restaurant and TOUR Golf & Grill, has renewed his commitment as the lead donor for this year’s March Match Challenge. Through March 31, all donations to the Strawbery Banke Fund (Annual Fund) will be matched dollar for dollar, up to $25,000, effectively doubling the impact of each contribution. To make a gift, visit StrawberyBanke.org/strawbery-banke-fund.

Lent has been a dedicated partner of Strawbery Banke Museum since 2021 when he opened The Puddle Dock Restaurant.

Funds raised through the March Match Challenge are essential in supporting the Museum’s mission to preserve its nearly 10-acre campus of historic structures and landscapes, offer hands-on educational programming, and host events such as Springfest: A Celebration of Gardens and Baby Animals, Ghosts on the Banke, and Candlelight Stroll. This initiative plays a crucial role in meeting the Museum’s fiscal year-end fundraising goals and sustaining its programs.

For more information about the matching fundraising challenge or to donate, visit StrawberyBanke.org/strawbery-banke-fund.