Family fun for whenever
Hands-on fun
• The Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains will hold The Expo on Saturday, Oct. 3, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the NH Sportsplex, 68 Technology Drive in Bedford, according to a press release. The day will feature performances, workshops, exhibitors with hands-on activities and more, many with a focus on STEM, the arts or the outdoors. “Take advantage of over 75 family-oriented exhibits with hands-on activities. See amazing stage shows, investigate new technology in our STEM Zone, fire an arrow at a target, meet a superhero, and so much more,” according to girlscoutsgwm.org. Admission costs $10.
Fall excitement
• Charmingfare Farm in Candia will hold its annual Pumpkin Festival Saturday, Oct. 3, and Sunday, Oct. 4, and Saturday, Oct. 10, through Monday, Oct. 12. Pick a pumpkin from the pumpkin patch, take a tractor- or horse-drawn wagon ride, meet costumed characters, enjoy a children’s corn maze, watch a juggling and comedy show and listen to live music, according to visitthefarm.com, where you can purchase tickets to a specific time during the two weekends.
• Rochester Main Street will hold its Spooktacular & Pumpkin Patch on Saturday, Oct. 3, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Central Square in downtown Rochester, according to rochestermainstreet.org. Kids can pick and decorate a pumpkin, participate in a trunk-or-treat, listen to live music (with performer Sean Fell), play games and more, the website said.
• Squam Lakes Natural Science Center, 23 Science Center Road in Holderness, will hold Grandparents Day on Saturday, Oct. 3, when “grandchildren ages 16 and younger will receive free admission when accompanied by a grandparent,” according to a press release. In addition to the Live Animal Exhibit trail, the center will feature Up Close to Animals presentations at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., the release said. “Grandparents Day will also feature a special offer in the Howling Coyote Gift Shop. Grandparents accompanied by a grandchild can buy one and get one free of a featured stuffed animal, while supplies last,” the release said. See nhnature.org for admission information.
Movie time
• Merrimack Parks and Recreation will screen Toy Story 5(2026) on Saturday, Oct. 3, at 7 p.m. in Wasserman Park, 116 Naticook Road in Merrimack, according to merrimackparksandrec.org