The River Valley is virtually bursting at the seams with music, art work, plays and dance as summer begins.

The arts community will perform more than a dozen programs, and the town of Rumford will witness the opening of its first art gallery in the downtown area.

The Pennacook Art Center opens at 9 a.m. on Saturday with oils, water colors, acrylics, sculptures and other works from artists throughout the area as its featured display. Although all works are for sale, anyone is invited to stroll through the town’s first revolving door to view the professionally displayed art work.

The project has links to the River Valley Arts Initiative, and is being made possible by Lem Cissel, a newcomer to the area who opened Scrappers Domaine a few months ago. Local artist Betsy Bell is managing the site. Becky Welsh is expected to release a directory of the names of River Valley artists, musicians, writers and other creative folks by the end of the month.

A wide variety of music, some of it free, is also being performed in many sites throughout the River Valley area this month. A series of Picnics in the Park, sponsored by the River Valley Healthy Communities Coalition, began on June 10 at the gazebo in Morency Park, located along the Androscoggin River in downtown Rumford.

More than 40 people brought lunches, spread out blankets, then listened to the classical sounds of Boris Popovich playing flute.

Next Thursday, at noon, people can do it all again, this time while listening to folk guitarist Glen Gordon and his two daughters. A third in the series is planned for June 24, although the musician has yet to be announced.

Patricia Duguay of the RVHCC, said she hopes other towns with gazebos, such as Dixfield, and Mexico, which plans to have its own gazebo up within the next few weeks, will follow suit.

“There’s a lot of talent in the area, and having these concerts brings music and culture to the area,” she said. Anyone interested in performing may contact Kim Sequoia at the RVHCC at 364-7408.

Larry Bisbee of East Dixfield has already kicked off his annual summer Country-folk Music Theatre each Sunday through Labor Day weekend from noon to 6 p.m. at the site along Route 2 just west of the village of East Dixfield. The free jam sessions include bluegrass, traditional country, gospel, blues, Celtic, and Franco-American/Acadian music.

On Saturdays from 6 to 10 p.m., about a dozen acoustic musicians perform.

For those who like choral music mixed with one-act plays, and a full dinner, the Rumford Association for the Advancement of the Performing Arts will present two one-act plays, and a choral revue by the RAAPA Chorus on June 19, 20, 25 and 26 at Park Place on the River Road in Rumford. Tickets may be purchased through Naomi Robertson at 369-9422.

Humor is in the air at the Dixfield Coffee House when Wingnuts!, a group of local comedians led by Nancy O. DeMilner, present their improv comedy at 7 p.m. Saturday, June 12. The coffee house is located in the Dixfield Congregational Church, otherwise known as the Church on the Hill. Tickets available at the door.

Dance instructor and performer Debbie Murphy, owner of Expressive Movement Dance Studio, will present the studio’s annual dance recital and dramatic production Friday and Saturday nights, June 11 and 12, at 6 p.m. at Muskie Auditorium at Mountain Valley High School.

Townwide festivals in the area include two bicentennial celebrations – Andover on June 19 and Gilead, on June 26. Canton will also hold its annual Summerfest on Saturday, June 12.

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