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
Miss Hampton Beach Pageant
- History of the Miss Hampton Beach Pageant
- A 50th Anniversary booklet published in 1995
- “Miss Hampton Beach” Pageant Winners
- 1946-2008
- Tales From A Pathway To Stardom
- Hampton Union , July 29, 2005
- Hampton Teen Takes Beach Pageant as ‘Girl Next Door’
- Hampton Union , July 31, 2007
- Hometown Girl Takes The Crown
- Atlantic News , August 3, 2007
- Preparing for Miss Teen New Hampshire
- Hampton Union , September 25, 2007
- Pageant has Launched More than just a Pretty Face
- Hampton Union , July 27, 2008
- Miss Hampton Beach Pageant, 2008
- Hampton Union , July 29, 2008
- Miss Hampton Beach Pageant, 2009
- Hampton Union , July 28, 2009
- Miss Hampton Beach Pageant, 2010
- Hampton Union , July 31, 2011
- Miss Hampton Beach Pageant, 2011
- Hampton Union , July 31, 2011
- Miss Hampton Beach Pageant, 2012
- Hampton Union , July 31, 2012
Hampton Beach Tow Truck Parade
- Trucks Tow Away a World Record?
- Hampton Union , May 20, 2008
- Tow Operators Keep on Truckin’. ,
- Hampton Union , May 22, 2009
- 38th Annual Tow Truck Parade Rolls onto Hampton Beach
- Hampton Union , May 16, 2010
- Tow Truck Show Rolls Through Hampton Beach
- Hampton Union , May 17, 2011
Hampton Beach Talent Competitions
- Exeter Teen Will Compete At Hampton Beach Talent Show
- Hampton Union , August 25, 2006
- Hampton’s Idol — Contest Draws 500
- Hampton Union , August 29, 2006
- ‘American Idol’ Puts Ki-bosh on Beach Idol Name
- Hampton Union , June 18, 2010
Harvest Moon Fall Festival
- Harvest Moon Fall Festival at Beach
- Hampton Union , October 6, 2009
- Harvest Moon Festival Shines Brightly
- Hampton Union , October 12, 2010
- Future of Harvest Fest in Jeopardy: Precinct Searching for new Venue or Alternatives
- Hampton Union , July 26, 2011
Road Races in Hampton
- Half at the Hamptons, 2011
- Smuttynose Rockfest Marathon & Half marathon, 2012
- Smuttynose Rockfest Marathon & Half marathon, 2013
- Half at the Hamptons, 2014
- Traffic concerns could bring changes to road races The Hampton Union , March 7, 2014
- Smuttynose Rockfest Half Marathon, 2014
Related Sections of the Library’s Website