Recreational Vignettes in the History of Hampton

Below are stories having to do with fun and games, recreation, festivals, beauty contests and more that have taken place over the years in Hampton.

Hampton Beach Seafood Festival, 2001

Hampton's 250th Anniversary Celebration: Read about how Hampton celebrated her anniversary in 1888.
Pleasure Spots for Summer Vacationist: A 1912 tourist brochure advertising Hampton Beach.
First Big Carnival Open At Hampton Beach: News report of the 1915 Hampton Beach Carnival
Crown King and Queen at Hampton Beach Program: Newspaper accounts of the Hampton Beach Carnival pageants of 1926
1930 Carnival Week Program: Program from the event that took place September 1-7, 1930
1938 Tercentenary (300th Anniversary) booklet: Information on the town's 300th anniversary celebrations as well as various historical articles.
Minstrel Show and Dance: Program from a minstrel show held at the Hampton Town Hall on April 29, 1938 (PDF)
The Drama of Winnacunnet (Hampton Tercentenary Pageant): An historical play about Hampton performed for the town's 300th anniversary in 1938.
1940 Hampton Beach Winter Carnival: Program from the first annual Hampton Beach event (PDF)
1942 Victory Week and Festival of Fun: 28th Annual Souvenir Program, August 31, Sept 1-7, 1942
A Brief History of the Hampton's Boy Scouts of America, Troop No. 177 and Troop No. 178: Excerpts from Hampton: A Century of Town and Beach, 1888-1988 ,; by Peter E. Randall
1946 Carnival Week Program: 31st Annual Souvenir Program, Labor Day to September 8, 1946
Report Prospects Good For 1950 Beach Season: Hampton Union , June 1, 1950
The History of the Hampton Youth Association: Hampton Union , October 4, 1962
Driftway was Flying Field: Hampton's Airfield and a history of planes and flying in Hampton (1963)
1963 -- 325th Anniversary Celebration Days booklet: Information on the town's 325th anniversary celebrations as well as various historical articles.
Town Elated Over Prospect of Proposed North Beach Aquarium: Hampton Union , April 12, 1972
Photos from Hampton's Bicentennial Celebration 1976
Yes, It was a Camel Passing By: Hampton Union , July 1, 1981
Some 4th of July Stuff: Seacoast Scene , June 29, 1982
Hampton Beach & The Glorious 4th: Seacoast Scene , June 29, 1982
1988 -- 350th Anniversary booklet: Information on the town's 350th anniversary celebrations as well as various historical articles.
Hampton's 350th Anniversary Parade Program, 1988
Founder's Day Celebration, 2000: The Portsmouth Herald , October 16, 2000
Tuck Field Baseball Diamond Will be Named for Don Butler: Atlantic News , Friday, April 5, 2001
Yearlong Dream Fulfilled: Ralph Fatello's surfing odyssey. The Portsmouth Herald , July 27, 2001
Recreation Director Dyana Lassonde Keeps Her Eye On Goal Of Center: Hampton Union , October 29, 2002
Hampton and its First Church Celebrated at 365th Anniversary: Hampton Union , October 7, 2003.
Museum, Aquarium Supported: Hampton Union , August 29, 2006
Seacoast Boasts Long Aviation History: History of aviation in Hampton, from Hampton Union , January 2, 2007
Surfing at North Beach: Hampton Beach hosts the Eastern Surfing Association's Northeast Surfing Championship, from the Hampton Union , May 15, 2007
Nice Kid On The Block: Atlantic News , May 18, 2007
Baseball in Hampton - The Early Years: Hampton Union , December 11, 2007
The People Who Put on the Fireworks at the Beach: Seacoast Scene , August 12, 2009
Hampton Community Center group off and running: Hampton Union , May 13, 2011
Skateboarders stoked about Hampton skateboard park upgrades: Hampton Union , September 4, 2012
Hampton's Branch Library: Seacoast Scene , September 11, 2013
The Boy Aviator at Hampton Beach: History of the early aviators at Hampton Beach before 1920. Hampton Union , June 2, 2015
Splendid articles of baseball:: The Beach nines in early 20th-century Hampton. Hampton Union , March 19, 2016

Hampton Movie Theaters

Hampton Has A "New" Movie Theatre .... In 1942!;: History of the "Winter Barn Theater" in the American Legion Hall, formerly the Grange Hall.
Focus on Survival: A story on the Hampton Cinemas in 1984
Hampton Goes to the Movies: History of movie theaters in Hampton, from Hampton Union , June 26, 2007
Hampton Cinemas: Stories on the closing of the theaters in 2009
Fade to black: Local movie theaters face 'The End': Herald Sunday , November 29, 2009
Keeping Local Theaters Alive: Hampton Union , December 4, 2009

Bands and other Musical Acts

A Real Band Leader: 1925 newspaper account of the McDonnell Band that played at Hampton Beach for many years.
Bill Elliot, the "Singing Cop"
Community Band Makes Music This Summer: Atlantic News , August 14, 2003
Students, Area Residents Band Together For Concert: Hampton Union , August 15, 2003
Music Comes to Hampton’s Gazebo: Atlantic News , August 21, 2003.
Band Bridges Gap of Generations: Hampton Union , July 17, 2007
Tuning in for Summer Concert Series: Atlantic News , July 25, 2008
Continentals a summertime tradition: Hampton Union, July 16, 2010
Greater Hampton Community Band: 9th Season Program, Summer 2011
Hampton Community Band kicks off a new season: Hampton Union , June 3, 2014
Spectras to Play in Honor of Dick Ray: Hampton Union, June 17, 2014

Annual Hampton Events

Hampton Beach Sand Sculpting contests

U.S. Mint Unveils New N.H. Quarter At Festival: Hampton Union , August 18, 2000
Coins Come To The Sands at Hampton Beach: Atlantic News , August 24, 2000
Beach Is One Big Sand Box: Hampton Union , June 20, 2003
Artists Converge On Beach For Sand-art Contest: Hampton Union , June 24, 2003
Sandy Contest Takes Shape At Hampton Beach: Hampton Beach Chamber of Commerce, Hampton Union , June 26, 2003
Sandy Site Delights All: Atlantic News , June 26, 2003
Sand, Water & Sculpting: Hampton Union , June 15, 2004
Canadian Woman Wins Sand Sculpting: Hampton Union , June 28, 2005
Hampton Beach Arti-sands Amaze Beach-goers: Beach News , June 29, 2006
Transforming Sand Into Art: Atlantic News , June 15, 2007
Sandsculpting Competition Underway: Hampton Union , June 22, 2007
Sand Sculpting Competition Celebrates Beach Centennial: Beach News , June 28, 2007
The Sand People are Coming: Hampton Union , June 18, 2010
Sand Event has Big Impact at Beach: Hampton Union , June 29, 2010
Hampton Beach Sand Sculpture Winners Announced: Hampton Union , June 29, 2010
Shifting Sand: Hampton Union , June 28, 2011

Hampton Beach Seafood Festival

2004 Hampton Beach Seafood Festival: Hampton Union , September 14, 2004
Estimated 120,000 People Attend Seafood Festival: Hampton Union , September 13, 2005
Perfect Weather Sets Scene For Festival: Hampton Union , September 12, 2006
Hampton Beach Seafood Festival: History & Mission: "One of the Top 100 Events in North America", 1988-2007
19th Annual Seafood Festival: Hampton Union , September 9, 2008
The Hampton Beach Seafood Festival... And The Legend Lives On!: Seacoast Scene , September 9, 2009. Includes a good historical review of how it all got started.
Hampton Seafood Festival Draws Crowds: Hampton Union , September 15, 2009
Festival Funds Need Review: Hampton Union , July 29, 2011
Seafood Festival Awash in Cash: Hampton Union , July 29, 2011
'Gentleman Joe' wins lobster-roll eating contest: Hampton Union , September 13, 2011
Seafood Frenzy: 150,000 Attend Three-day Festival: Hampton Union , September 11, 2012

Hampton Christmas Parades

Christmas Parade, 1999: Atlantic News , December 9, 1999
Christmas Parade, 2007: Canceled in Hampton due to new NH law, from Hampton Union , August 24, 2007
Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony: "Hampton Holds First Christmas Carnival" instead of annual Parade.; Hampton Union , December 4, 2007
Christmas Parade Revival Praised: Hampton Union , October 15, 2010
Parade Return Given the Green (and Red) light: Hampton Union , October 22, 2010
Experience Hampton Builds a Holiday Tradition: Hampton Union , November 30, 2010
Hampton Christmas Parade Returns: Hampton Union , December 7, 2010
School Sports Champs March in Hampton Parade: Hampton Union , December 4, 2012

The Penguin Plunge

Penguin Plunge is a splash for Special Olympics: Atlantic News , February 17, 2000
Freezin' for a Reason: Atlantic News , February 7, 2002
Penguin Plunge Packs The Beach: Atlantic News , February 13, 2003
Officers Not Getting Tangled Up In Blue: Hampton Union , January 28, 2003
A Special Arctic Blast: Hampton Union , February 11, 2003
Penguin Plunge Packs The Beach: Atlantic News , February 13, 2003
Plunge Of the Penguins: Hampton Union , February 7, 2006
Chilled To Perfection: Hampton Union , February 6, 2007
More than 800 brave Atlantic Ocean: Hampton Union , February 5, 2008
Penguin Bash to Kick-off SONH Penguin Plunge: Atlantic News , January 23, 2009
Penguin Plunge Raises $528,000 in 2009: Hampton Union , February 3, 2009
Penguin Plunge on February 5, 2010: Hampton Union , February 2, 2010
Penguin Plunge Raises $537,000 in 2011: Hampton Union , February 8, 2011

Lane Memorial Library

Recreational Vignettes in the History of Hampton

Below are stories having to do with fun and games, recreation, festivals, beauty contests and more that have taken place over the years in Hampton.

Hampton Movie Theaters

Bands and other Musical Acts

Annual Hampton Events

Hampton Beach Sand Sculpting contests

Hampton Beach Seafood Festival

Hampton Christmas Parades

The Penguin Plunge

Miss Hampton Beach Pageant

Hampton Beach Tow Truck Parade

Hampton Beach Talent Competitions

Harvest Moon Fall Festival

Road Races in Hampton

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