Cocheecho Arts Festival, bands back in business this summer

Wayne From Maine plays for a crowd at a Children's Series show at the Cochecho Arts Festival in 2019. (Lydia Williams photo)

DOVER - The Greater Dover Chamber of Commerce announced on Thursday that the Cochecho Arts Festival will return to Henry Law Park for a summer of music and arts in July and August.

The 35th Annual Cochecho Arts Festival will feature a Children's Series, Headliner Series, Community Band, Shark in the Park, Family Movie Night and a Visual Arts Showcase.

The Headliner Series, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Dover, will run on Friday nights from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. July 9 to August 13 and it will feature The Rockingham Groove, Amanda Dane Band, New Legacy Swing Band, Acoustic Radio, Soggy Po' Boys, and Moon Boot Lover as live musical performances.

Back this year will be a lineup of the Seacoast's best classic rock bands as part of 'Shark in the Park' put on by 102.1 & 105.3 The Shark. Shark in the Park will run on Wednesdays, July 7 to August 11 from 6 to 8 p.m. The bands performing will be Rosie, Grenon, Tapedeck Heroez, Dancing Madly Backwards, Aunt Peg, and Wellfleet.

The Children's Series will run on Tuesdays, July 6 to August 10 from 10:30 to 11:15 a.m. The performers include Juggler Bryson Lang, Magician BJ Hickman, Rockin' Ron the Friendly Pirate, Aaron Risi, Wildlife Encounters, and Wayne from Maine. At each Children's Series, a local artist will be on site to work with children on an arts project that may include sculpting, painting, mono-printing, and more.

Family Movie Night, sponsored by Newburyport Bank, will be on Saturday, August 14. The featured movie will be 'Onward', a Disney Pixar film.

The Dover Community Band, a New England community band made up of volunteer musicians from around the Dover area, will have Thursday night performances July 1, 15, 29 and August 12 from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.

Returning this year will be the Acoustic Series, sponsored by First Seacoast Bank, at the Seacoast Growers Farmers Markets on Wednesday afternoons at the Chamber. The Farmers Markets offer a wide variety of fresh and local foods.

Local artists will showcase their work in the park during The Visual Arts Showcase, sponsored by UnitedHealthcare on Saturday, July 31 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The Cochecho Arts Festival is collaborating with the Maker & Food Fest this year. The NH Maker & Food Fest is a gathering of fascinating, curious people who enjoy learning and who love sharing what they can do.

Orpheum Cowork & Apartments will serve as the festival's underwriting sponsor for the first time.

"Orpheum Cowork & Apartments is located at the heart of downtown Dover and we're proud to sponsor a community-based festival right around the corner from us at Henry Law Park," said Jackie Huber, Senior Asset Manager at Orpheum. "It is important to us to give back to our community and to celebrate local arts. It's going to be great having the community get back outside this summer to have some fun and enjoy live performances by seacoast talent."

Visit dovernh.org/CAF for more information.