DERRY, N.H. — Pizzastock, one of Derry’s signature community events, will celebrate its 10th anniversary on Saturday, Aug. 1, from noon to 6 p.m. next to the football field at Pinkerton Academy.
This year marks a milestone for the festival that serves as the largest annual fundraiser for the Jason R. Flood Memorial, promoting suicide prevention and mental health awareness among local youth.
As always, the heart of the festival will be the 12 live bands performing non-stop across two stages, featuring local acts like Punching Pedestrians, Spectrum, Paradox, The Hand Me Downs, and Rite of Passage. Food includes pizza slices from Kendall Pond Pizza, refreshments from Just Chill’n Cool Treats, and food options from Heaven’s Kitchen.
Karthasville Gameland, a dedicated, backyard-style recreational game zone set up specifically for the festival will feature classic lawn and backyard sports, most notably wiffleball and cornhole, alongside the Taylor Library Kids Play Space.
A “Community Service Row” with tables from roughly 20 local organizations, including NAMI NH and New Futures, will provide local mental health and wellness resources. Large merchandise tables and raffle baskets will help raise funds for local groups like the Sonshine Soup Kitchen and the Boys and Girls Club.
Managed by the Jason R. Flood Memorial Fund, the event serves as a major fundraiser, with all proceeds from raffles and merchandise funneled back into local community programs like the Sonshine Soup Kitchen and the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Derry.
Pizzastock honors the memory of Jason Flood, a Derry teen and Pinkerton Academy graduate who tragically died by suicide in 2016. Created by his parents, Doug and Danielle Flood, alongside his friends, the festival channels personal tragedy into community healing, youth mental health support, and suicide prevention.
The festival is designed to be a high-energy, fun environment with live music and pizza. This comfortable atmosphere makes it easier for youth and young adults to start difficult conversations about depression and mental illness. By bringing in dozens of local mental health organizations, the event ensures that teens and “tweens” know exactly where to turn for help and recognize that they are not alone.