Recreation & Entertainment

Manchester’s residents have access to an array of sports and entertainment venues without leaving the City. Drawing minor league baseball fans from across the region, the Fisher Cats play over 70 home games each season at the Northeast Delta Dental Stadium, which is also used for concerts. Not far from the stadium is the Palace Theater and its companion venues, The Rex and the Spotlight Room, which host events featuring live music, operas, ballets, plays, comedy shows, and other performances. The SNHU Arena is located in downtown Manchester and hosts many events such as basketball games and concerts. The City offers plenty of outdoor activities at its many parks and natural areas, including those along the Merrimack River, at nearby Lake Massabesic, and within the 640-acre Manchester Cedar Swamp Preserve. Owned by the City, McIntyre Ski Area offers nine trails and ten lanes of tubing. McIntyre is known for its familyfriendly and affordable ski and snowboard lessons. In addition, the City owns Derryfield Country Club, which has an eighteen-hole regulation public golf course that was renovated in 2015. Manchester also offers cultural and educational opportunities via its highly ranked museums, including the Millyard Museum, which celebrates and preserves the City’s history; the SEE Science Center, which offers hands-on activities for kids and adults alike; and the Currier Museum of Art, which houses an impressive collection of American and European art. The Merrimack River draws paddlers to its calm waters during the warmer months. A boat launch, by the ball park, can be the start of a 30-mile trip south to Lowell, MA.

Northeast Delta Dental Stadium is located in South Downtown and seats 7,500. Sports fans can watch the Fisher Cats, a minor league baseball team affiliated with the Toronto Blue Jays.

MILLYARD MUSEUM The Millyard Museum, housed in the Mill #3 in the historic Amoskeag Millyard, features exhibits that tell the stories of Manchester’s evolution over more than 11,000 years.

The Palace Theater, a 1915 architectural gem that the City has preserved and restored over the decades, is home to the New Hampshire Symphony Orchestra and the Opera League of New Hampshire. The trail to Dorr’s Pond in Livingston Park is just one of many features residents enjoy.

The Currier Museum of Art opened its doors over 100 years ago. It boasts a permanent collection of “about 13,000 American and European works of art, representing nearly every medium.”

Derryfield Country Club is a 115.5 acre, eighteen-hole golf course located in the heart of the Queen City. Established in 1932, Derryfield is one of three municipally-owned golf courses in the state of NH. Golf memberships, greens fees, lessons and tournaments are offered. The area also offers a restaurant with deck overlooking the golf course, and Pro Shop.

Photo: Derry Field Golf

In October of 2019, The Rex Theatre, reopened brining music and laughter back to the nearly 100 year old building. With extensive renovations, The Rex returned to something akin to its movie house days — a versatile 300-seat venue for music, comedy, meetings and much more. A nice complement to the much larger 800-seat Palace and its adjacent intimate Spotlight Room, giving organizers more options from entertainment to providing a welcoming gathering space for the community.

Photo: John W. Hession

The Hollows North is a Disc Golf Course in Manchester, New Hampshire designed by 2010 PDGA World Champion, Eric McCabe.The course is located behind Brown and Mitchell Softball Field, at 178 W. Mitchell Street. Two sets of tees and pin placements on most holes, championship level course from longs to longs, and beginner friendly from shorts to shorts. Great course for ALL skill levels! In 2018 The Hollows South was open. It is another 18 hole course designed by Eric McCabe. The course is in the same general area of the North Course except access and parking is located off of Crescent Road

Photo: Dynamic Course Design

Rock Rimmon is the largest park in the City at almost 140 acres. Located on Mason Street, this park is popular with the locals for its numerous amenities: DuPont Pool, playground, pickle ball courts, basketball court all against the backdrop of a granite cliff. Visitors can take a short, relaxing hike to the 150ft summit, and take in the great southeasterly views of the entire city. To the west, hikers can catch a glimpse of the Uncannonacs and their foothills. The flat areas at the top of the cliff make for an excellent picnic spot for families.