Category: Family Fun

Family fun for whenever

STEM fun

• Family STEM Day, presented by Brian S. McCarthy Memorial Foundation, will showcase more than 25 local science, technology, engineering and math programs and organizations on Saturday, May 17, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at World Academy, 138 Spit Brook Road in Nashua, according to a press release. The day will feature hands-on exhibits, interactive demonstrations and more, the release said. The event is free to attend and also will also feature food trucks, the release said.

Fish fun

• The Amoskeag Fishways Learning & Visitor Center (4 Fletcher St. in Manchester; find them on Facebook) was slated to open for the season on May 12. See fish on the move Mondays through Fridays, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission is free.

Theater fun

• The Mo Willems book comes alive when Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus hits the stage at Stockbridge Theatre in Derry on Friday, May 16, at 10 a.m. Tickets cost $12. See stockbridgetheatre.showare.com

• The Emperor’s New Clothes is presented by the Majestic Academy Youth/Teens at the Majestic Theatre, 880 Page St., Manchester, majestictheatre.net, on Friday, May 16, at 7 p.m.; Saturday, May 17, at 2 and 7 p.m., and Sunday, May 18, at 2 p.m. at the Majestic Theatre (880 Page St. in Manchester; majestictheatre.net). Tickets cost $10 to $15.

• Disney’s Moana Jr. is presented by Bedford Youth Performing Company at the Goffstown High School Theatre on Saturday, May 17, at 7 p.m. and Sunday, May 18, at 1 p.m. Find the link to purchase tickets via BYPC’s Facebook page.

• The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical will be presented by Kids Coop Theatre (kctnh.org) at Derry Opera House (29 W. Broadway in Derry) on Friday, May 16, at 7 p.m.; Saturday, May 17, at 7 p.m., and Sunday, May 18, at 2 p.m. See derryoperahouse.org for links to tickets.

Book fun

• Calista Brill will discuss her new graphic novel Creaky Acres(written with and illustrated by Nilah Magruder)at the Barnes & Noble in Manchester (1741 S. Willow St., bn.com) on Saturday, May 17, from noon to 3 p.m. An excerpt of the novel was one of the books you might have picked up on Free Comic Book Day a few weeks ago. On to the Barnes & Noble website Creaky Acres is described as “[a] heartwarming graphic novel about being the new kid in middle school, making new friends, and learning to trust yourself through the power of horseback riding.”

• Children’s authors Kari Allen (whose latest book is Maddie and Mabel Make a Friend) and Carrie Kruck (whose latest book is Alfred Blooms) will attend a storytime on Sunday, May 18, at 1 p.m. at Gibson’s Bookstore (45 S. Main St. in Concord; gibsonsbookstore.com). They will sign copies of their books after storytime.

Family fun for whenever

Faire time

• The New Hampshire Renaissance Faire, which bills itself as a “family-friendly, educational, visual, theatrical and fantastical event,” will run two weekends in Fremont — this weekend Saturday, May 10, and Sunday, May 11, as well as the weekend of May 17 and May 18. Tickets, which can be purchased at nhrenfaire.com, cost $20 for adults and $15 for ages 6 to 12 and for military and veterans, the website said. Kids ages 5 and under get in for free. The event includes performers across several stages, as well as archery, craft demonstrations, tea with the queen, knights and pirates and theme days — May 10 is “Pirates Vs. Ninja” and May 11 is “Celtic Vs. Norse,” according to the website, where you can also find a list of participating vendors, food vendors, games and more.

Outdoor time

• Petals in the Pines (126 Baptist Road in Canterbury; petalsinthepines.com) officially opens for the season on Saturday, May 10. Featuring 7 acres of native plants and natural features as well as garden beds, Petals in the Pines will be open Wednesdays through Sundays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. See the website for a look at the trails, gardens and labyrinths.

• Charmingfare Farm (774 High St. in Candia; visitthefarm.com) will offer moms free admission on Mother’s Day (Sunday, May 11) when accompanied by children.

Storytime

• Authors David J. Preece and Jim Webber will celebrate their book Mr. Higgins to the Rescue, the latest in their series about the Scottish terrier Mr. Higgins, on Saturday, May 10, at 11:30 a.m. atBookery Manchester (844 Elm St. in Manchester; bookerymht.com). RSVP online to reserve a spot.

Movie time

• The recently releasedMinecraft(PG, 2025) starring Jack Black and Dwayne Johnson will screen on Tuesday, May 13, at Chunky’s Cinema Pub (707 Huse Road in Manchester; chunkys.com) in two sensory-friendly screenings — 11:30 a.m. and 4:45 p.m. For both of these screenings the sound will be turned down and the lights will be up, according to the website.

Game time

• The Fisher Cats continue a series of games at Delta Dental Stadium in downtown Manchester against the Hartford Yard Goats with games Thursday, May 8, at 6:35 p.m. (with a koozie giveaway); Friday, May 9, at 6:35 p.m.; Saturday, May 10, at 4:05 p.m. and Sunday, May 11, at 1:35 p.m. with a Mother’s Day celebration and a visor giveaway, the website said. See milb.com/new-hampshire.

Library time

• The Derry Public Library (64 E. Broadway in Derry; derry.org) will host a puzzle swap on Wednesday, May 14, at 6 p.m. Donate a puzzle, take a puzzle or both, according to the website, where you can register for the event (or call 432-6140).

The Friends of the Derry Libraries are also holding a book sale on Saturday, May 10, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

• The Manchester City Library (405 Pine St. in Manchester; manchester.lib.nh.us) will hold a Bug Hunt for ages 1 to 5 on Tuesday, May 13, at 10 a.m. Kids can listen to bug stories, play games, make a bug craft and then head outside for bug hunt-related activities, according to the website. Register online or by calling 624-6550, ext. 7628.

The library will also hold a Family Game Night featuring different board games and puzzles on Tuesday, May 13, from 4 to 7:30 p.m.

And on Wednesday, May 14, from 10 to 11 a.m. the library will host Storytime Science for ages 2 to 6 featuring Ms. Yvonne and Ms. Amanda from the SEE Science Center, according to the library’s website. The storytime will have a STEM/STEAM theme and include a hands-on activity, according to the website, where you can register for the event (registration required). Or register by calling 624-6550, ext. 7628.

Family fun for whenever

Spring carnival

• The Manchester Spring Carnival runs Wednesday, April 30, through Sunday, May 4, opening at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, 2 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, and 1 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, according to fiestashows.com/fs/manchester. The carnival takes place in the JFK Coliseum parking lot at 303 Beech St. in Manchester. The carnival features more than 15 rides, game concessions and food concessions, the website said. Admission costs $5 per person (free for ages 12 and under), with additional prices for wristbands or megapasses for games. See the website for hours, rules and ride passes.

Pup performers

• Catch the talented dog performers of Mutts Gone Nuts! at the Dana Center at Saint Anselm College in Manchester on Saturday, May 3, at 4 p.m. Tickets cost $45 at tickets.anselm.edu. Get a sense of the show, where dogs do flips, leaps and tricks and even appear to dance, at muttsgonenuts.com.

Library fun

• Check out the all-ages Escape Room at the Nashua Public Library (2 Court St. in Nashua; nashualibrary.org) running Wednesday, April 30, and Thursday, May 1, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. each day, according to the website. “Your trip to the library to play board games goes awry when you become a pawn in the game. Can you find all the clues, discover the secrets, and escape the board game before the room needs to be cleaned by the librarians?” the website said. The game takes about 15 minutes, the website said.

• The Manchester City Library (405 Pine St. in Manchester; manchester.lib.nh.us) will hold a May the Fourth Eve Star Wars Party on Saturday, May 3, from 10 a.m. to noon, according to the website. This all-ages drop-in event will feature Star Wars-themed crafts and activities, lightsaber training and Star Wars trivia, according to the website.

• Meet a box turtle and learn about wildlife conservation from a field biologist at Zoo New England on Saturday, May 3, at 2 p.m. at the Nashua Public Library (2 Court St. in Nashua; nashualibrary.org). The event is for all ages, according to the library website.