Colonial Theatre awarded Best Live Music Venue in Best of the Lakes Region 2026

LACONIA — The Colonial Theatre is honored to be recognized as Best Live Music Venue – Midsize in this year’s installment of the Best of the Lakes Region 2026 awards. This is the fifth year in a row the Colonial Theatre has won top honors in The Laconia Daily Sun’s annual program.

“We are delighted to be acknowledged as the Best Live Music Venue – Midsize and are deeply grateful to the Lakes Region residents who nominated and voted for us,” Nicole Ferland-Kemper, manager of theater operations, said.

In 2025, over 72% of all Colonial Theatre guests originated from Lakes Region counties, a testament to the connection local residents have with the Colonial Theatre and its programming.

“We love this community and the people within it,” Ferland-Kemper said. “The support we receive in return is extremely meaningful, it’s wonderful to feel the reciprocity.”

The Powerhouse Theatre Collaborative, the Colonial Theatre’s resident community theater program, was also recognized in the Best of the Lakes Region 2026 honors. The Powerhouse Theatre Collaborative took home gold in the Best Community Theatre/Live Performance Group category. This is the Powerhouse Theatre Collaborative’s first win.

The Best of the Lakes Region, in its eighth year, seeks to recognize the businesses and people that make the lakes region of New Hampshire a vibrant, thriving community. With 196 categories spanning health and beauty, home and garden, services, motors, marine, shopping, eat and drink, and things to do, the contest ran from Feb. 24, when nominations opened, to April 10, when voting closed. According to BestoftheLakesRegion.com over 1,300 businesses, organizations, and individuals were nominated and the final vote tally totaled over 310,000 votes.

The original owner, Benjamin Piscopo, was from Italy, and the theater featured a fire curtain depicting Venice as seen from the water. In August of 2002, the theater closed after 87 years of operation. On June 15, 2015, the City of Laconia announced a partnership with the Belknap Economic Development Council to purchase, renovate, and reopen the Colonial. The newly reopened Colonial Theatre has a seating capacity of 750 and plays host to various performances, including music, theater, comedy, and civic events. Spectacle Management manages the Colonial Theatre and is home to the Powerhouse Theatre Collaborative.

The Colonial Theatre is located at 609 Main Street, Laconia, NH 03246. Tickets for all events are available now at ColonialLaconia.com or by calling 1-800-657-8774.