Dover, New Hampshire is a vibrant small city on the Seacoast. Its downtown is packed with local shops, restaurants, an ice arena and outdoor and indoor pools. Dover is also near Boston, Portland, the White Mountains and Lake Winnipesaukee, making it a great base for day trips.
Things to Do in Dover, NH
- Children’s Museum of New Hampshire – This hands‑on museum in Henry Law Park has exhibits that let kids dig for fossils, steer a space shuttle, make music and more. It hosts special events such as a family New Year’s Eve celebration and Mardi Gras parade.
- Woodman Museum – A history, science and art museum housed in historic buildings showcasing local artifacts and Civil War relics.
- Cochecho Arts Festival – Free summer concerts at the Rotary Arts Pavilion in Henry Law Park. There are also kids’ summer concerts.
- Apple Harvest Day & Farmers’ Market – In early October Dover’s biggest festival takes over downtown with over 300 vendors, six stages and food. From June through October the Dover Farmers’ Market offers local produce and crafts on Wednesday afternoons.
- Garrison Hill Tower – Climb this 76‑foot observatory (rebuilt 1993) for panoramic views of the White Mountains, downtown Dover and the Isles of Shoals.
- Parks, Pools and Trails – Take a stroll on the Riverwalk or Community Trail, skate at Dover Ice Arena or swim at the Jenny Thompson Outdoor Pool and indoor pool. Henry Law Park has a splash park, playground and hosts events. There are many other city parks, ballfields and the Rotary Arts Pavilion.
- Water Activities – Canoe or kayak on the Cochecho and Bellamy Rivers, Willand Pond and Little Bay. The historic Gundalow offers seasonal sails on the Cochecho River.
- Other events – Dover hosts year‑round activities including an Irish Festival, Pet‑A‑Palooza and Fourth of July fireworks. Destination shopping includes New Hampshire Coffee Roasting Co., Red’s Shoe Barn and other downtown boutiques.
Utility Providers
Electric: Eversource is New Hampshire’s largest electric utility, serving more than half a million customers and providing reliable power throughout Dover.
Natural Gas: Unitil supplies natural gas to homes and businesses in Dover.
Water & Sewer: The City of Dover Water & Sewer Department provides water and wastewater service. Accounts are billed quarterly.
Internet & Telephone Providers: Several companies serve Dover:
- Consolidated Communications – DSL and fiber internet, telephone and business services.
- Breezeline – Fiber internet with local customer support.
- Xfinity (Comcast) – Cable internet up to 2 Gbps with nearly city‑wide coverage; Comcast Business offers internet, phone and TV packages for businesses.
- EarthLink, T‑Mobile, Verizon and AT&T – 5G home internet services with varying speeds.
- Viasat, HughesNet and Starlink – Satellite internet options, available almost everywhere.
- XNET WiFi – Fixed wireless service in parts of the city.
Propane & Heating Oil: D.F. Richard Energy and Palmer Gas & Oil deliver propane, bioheat oil and offer heating/cooling installation and service for Dover and the Seacoast.
Waste & Recycling: Waste Management of New Hampshire provides solid‑waste removal and recycling services. WIN Waste Innovations offers sustainable waste and recycling solutions.
Public Wi‑Fi: DoverNet is a free public wireless network funded by a state grant. Hotspots are available at many city buildings including City Hall, the Police Station, Fire Stations, Public Library, Dover Arena, indoor pool, McConnell Center, Public Works building, Henry Law Park, the Transportation Center and other parks.
Dover Trash Bags and Pay‑As‑You‑Throw Program
Dover uses a “Bag & Tag” pay‑as‑you‑throw system for residential trash. All household garbage placed for curbside collection must be in official Dover trash bags. The program encourages recycling and reduces landfill costs.
- Bag sizes & weight limits: 15‑gallon bags (20 lb max) and 30‑gallon bags (35 lb max). Do not overfill.
- Prices: About $2.34 per 15‑gallon bag and $3.91 per 30‑gallon bag. Bulky item tags cost $10 and must be attached to non‑metal items that are too large for a bag. Metal appliances require a metal tag from Public Works.
- Where to buy: Bags and tags are sold at City Hall (City Clerk and Public Works), Dover Recycling Center and many local retailers such as Aubuchon Hardware, Dover Paint & Varnish, DiCicco’s Market, Hannaford (Dover and Rochester), Janetos Market, Market Basket (Somersworth and Portsmouth), Middleton Building Supply, Rocky’s Ace Hardware, Shaw’s, Smiley’s Beverage, Downtown Discount Market and Tendercrop Farm.
- Collection guidelines: Place trash and recycling at the curb by 7 a.m. on collection day (no earlier than 4 p.m. the prior day). Recycling should be loose in a bin. Items left loose or in non‑approved bags will not be collected. Detailed information and calendars are available on the City of Dover’s website.