Category: Family Fun

Family fun for whenever

Extra aviation

Check out the Aviation Museum of New Hampshire (27 Navigator Road in Londonderry; aviationmuseumofnh.org) on Thursday, April 25, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. — one of the extra days the museum is open for April vacation week. From 1 to 4 p.m., operators will be on duty for kids ages 12 and up to try the Elite Flight Simulator, according to a press release. Admission costs $10 for ages 13 and up, $5 for ages 6 to 12 (and for veterans) and free for kids under 6. The museum’s regular hours are Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m.

A quieter storytime

Nashua Public Library (2 Court St., Nashua) will host Sensory Story Time on Thursday, April 25, from 1:30 to 2 p.m. This is designed for kids in grades K-5 who have sensory processing challenges or autism, according to the website. The program will include a set schedule for kids to follow along, quieter music, and dimmed lights. Participants are encouraged to bring their own sensory seating and fidgets, according to the website. Visit nashualibrary.org.

A senatorial storytime

U.S. Sen. Maggie Hassan is scheduled to attend the storytime on Friday, April 26, at 1:30 p.m. at Bookery (844 Elm St. in Manchester; bookerymht.com). The event is free; register online.

Movie night

Need some family entertainment? Shrek 2 (PG, 2004) is screening at the Chunky’s Cinema Pub in Manchester (707 Huse Road; chunkys.com). See it Thursday, April 25, at 2:30 p.m.

Science Playground

Weather permitting, the Science Playground at the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center (2 Institute Way in Concord; starhop.com) will open for the season on Wednesday, May 1. The center itself is open daily from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Sunday, April 28 (and then reverts to regular school year hours of Wednesdays through Sundays from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.). The playground is part of the regular admission to the center, which costs $13 for adults, $12 for ages 13 through college or 62+ and $10 for ages 3 to 12. Planetarium shows cost an additional $7 per person; see the website for a schedule.

Family fun for whenever

Earth Day at the Museum

• The Children’s Museum of New Hampshire (6 Washington St. in Dover; 742-2002, childrens-museum.org) will hold an Earth Day Celebration on Saturday, April 20, with sessions from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m. The planned activities include Earth-friendly crafts, planting, a scavenger hunt and more. Reserve spots online for a session in advance; admission costs $12.50, $10.50 for seniors.

Art camp!

• The Currier Museum of Art’s (150 Ash St., Manchester) April Vacation Art Camp: Sailors and Sea Monsters runs Monday, April 22, through Friday, April 26, from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Currier’s exhibit “Stories of the Sea” is the impetus behind this camp, which will include a variety of exciting multi-media art-making experiences, guided museum tours and gallery activities, according to their website. Three cohorts will be composed of kids ages 6 and 7, ages 8 to 10 and ages 11 to 14. An exhibition of their artwork will be held Thursday, April 25, at 3:45 p.m. Registration is $375 for non-members, $337.50 for members, with tuition discounts available, and all art materials will be provided, according to the website. Visit currier.org or call 518-4922.

Teddy bears!

• Manchester City Library (405 Pine St., Manchester) is hosting its annual Teddy Bear Picnic on Tuesday, April 23, at 11:30 a.m. Participants will gather with their teddy bears in the children’s room and then, when everyone is ready, parade through the library and out to the side lawn for a picnic, according to the website. Participants should bring their own bag lunch and beverage to enjoy at the picnic. At noon Mr. Aaron will be on the south lawn for a foot-stomping concert, according to the same site. Registration is not required. Call 624-6550, ext. 7628.

Experiment!

• Later that same day, Tuesday, April 23, from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Manchester City Library will host Elementary Experiments. This activity is for anyone in grades 1 through 6 and includes activities and crafts with a STEAM focus (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math). Participants can join in at the library or watch the video online; this week’s theme is food science. If you want to attend in person, register in advance so there are enough supplies. Elementary Experiments takes place in the Winchell Room. To register, visit manchester.lib.nh.us or call 624-6550, ext. 7628.

No small parts!

• Shakespeare for Youth, a nonprofit homeschool theater group that rehearses in Nashua and Milford, has four performances of A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Amato Center (56 Mount Vernon St., Milford), on Friday, April 26, and Saturday, April 27, at 2 and 7 p.m. on both days, according to their website. This is the group’s third year of performing Shakespeare’s works with a cast made up of kids approximately ages 6 to 18 from all over New Hampshire and Massachusetts, according to a press release. Tickets online are $6 for individuals, $5 for seniors, and $25 for family tickets for parents and up to four kids. Call 399-9609 or visit bit.ly/sfytix.

Family fun for whenever

Boogie!

• Musical play group is held at the Arlington Street Community Center (36 Arlington St., Nashua) every Friday at 10 a.m., where you can make music with your little one, meet new friends and learn new songs. Attendance is free. Visit nashuacms.org or call 881-7030.

Bounce!

• Fun City Trampoline Park (533 Mast Road, Goffstown) has all the jumping your kids need, with a special toddler time on Fridays from noon to 3 p.m., in their 60,000-square-foot facility, according to their website. There is a 250-pound weight limit. Fun City also offers laser tag and bumper cars. For kids age 6 and under prices range from $14 to $20 for a 90- to 120-minute jump, and for those over the age of 6 prices range from $23 to $32 for a 90- to 120-minute jump. Jump socks are required for those over age 6 and are $3. Fun City Trampoline Park is open Monday through Thursday from 3 to 8 p.m., Friday from noon to 10 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Visit funcitytrampolinepark.com or call 606-8807.

Bend!

• Vibe Yoga & Aerial Moon (85 W. Pearl St., Nashua, 759-8432) will host a four-week family yoga series with Lauren Young on Saturdays, starting June 1, from 10:15 to 11 a.m. You’ll learn yoga poses, breathwork and mindfulness through books, songs and games together as a family, according to their website. The class will end with snuggly relaxation in this series that’s ideal for adults and children between the ages of 3 and 8 but younger and older siblings are welcome, according to the site. The cost is $80 for one adult plus one child and $20 for each additional person up to four people total. The class series is limited to six families. See vibeyoga603.com.

• Slightly older yogis can join Lauren Young for kids’ yoga for children between ages 5 to 12, according to the same website, right after family yoga on the same Saturdays, from 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. This is a drop-off program where kids will learn and practice yoga postures, breath work and mindfulness through games, songs and art; once your child is dropped off you can enjoy an hour at the coffee shops and stores in downtown Nashua. Registration is $80 per child. Visit vibeyoga603.com.

Boil and bake!

• The Culinary Playground (16 Manning St., Derry) is offering cooking classes for mini-chefs from 3 to 6 years old, with a Pasta Primavera course on Friday, April 19, and Sunday, April 21, at 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m., according to their website. These classes are designed for kids to work independently or with their caregiver close by if needed. They will prepare a recipe or two, usually with two servings, and read a book while it cooks, according to the website. Registration is $20 per child. Visit culinary-playground.com or mail cooking@culinary-playground.com or call 339-1664 for details or to register.

Be entertained

• The Lorax (PG), the 2021 animated movie based on the Dr. Seuss book and featuring the voices of Zac Efron, Danny DeVito, Taylor Swif tand Ed Helms, will screen Chunky’s in Manchester (707 Huse Road), Nashua (151 Coliseum Ave.) and Pelham (150 Bridge St.) on Friday, April 12, at 3:45 p.m. Reserve seats at chunkys.com.

Be artistic

• The Creative Studio at the Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St. in Manchester; currier.org) will celebrate Slow Art Day on Saturday, April 13, “ described as “a global event that aims to help more people discover the joy of looking at — and falling in love with — art,” according to a museum newsletter. The day will feature slow-looking activities and more, the newsletter said. As the second Saturday, this Saturday also features free admission to New Hampshire residents. The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Family fun for whenever

See a show

• Southern NH Youth Ballet will perform “Fancy Nancy: Bonjour Butterfly” along with “The Princess & The Pea,” the Hans Christian Andersen classic, at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St in Manchester) on Sunday, April 7, at 1 and 4 p.m., and guests can enjoy tea time with Fancy Nancy and her friends 45 minutes before each show, according to a press release. This performance is appropriate for children and young ballerinas of all ages and lasts approximately 90 minutes. Each special pre-performance Tea with Fancy Nancy is $20 per person, must be purchased separately, and is limited to only 50 guests, according to the release. Tickets range from $20 to $25. Visit palacetheatre.org or call 669-5588.

• Hear New Hampshire’s own Adam Sandler in his role as protective-dad Dracula in a screening of Hotel Transylvania (PG, 2012) on Sunday, April 7, at 3 p.m. at the Jewish Federation of New Hampshire in Bedford. The event is part of the New Hampshire Jewish Film Fest, which is slated to start Thursday, April 4, and is free. Register to attend at nhjewishfilmfestival.com/2024-films.

• The Capitol Center for the Arts’ Chubb Theatre (44 S. Main St., Concord) presents Pete the Cat in “Pete’s Big Hollywood Adventure” on Wednesday, April 10, at 10 a.m. as part of their education series, according to a press release. Pete the Cat and his buddy Callie get lost in the world of movies when they sneak into the Hollywood Studios with Ethel the Apatosaurus and Robo-Pete in this new musical adventure that features “Cavecat Pete,” “Pete the Cat and the Treasure Map”and“The Cool Cat Boogie,” according to the release. The show is 60 minutes long and recommended for children in pre-K or kindergarten. Doors open at 9 a.m. and tickets are $8. Visit www.ccanh.com.

Story time

• Meet Pete the Cat at the Books Alive! event at the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire (6 Washington St. in Dover; childrens-museum.org) on Friday, April 5, at either 10 a.m. or 2 p.m. and Saturday, April 6, at either 10 a.m. or 2 p.m. On both days, play sessions are from 9 a.m. to noon or 1 to 4 p.m. (the Friday also features “First Friday” play time from 4:15 to 7 p.m.).Admission costs $12.50 for adults and kids over 12 months old, $10.50 for 65+

• Derry Public Library hosts a recurring story program for children ages 3 to 5 and their caregiver, for sharing books, songs, puppets and a preschool craft, according to the library’s website. The next one is Monday, April 8, from 10 to 10:45 a.m. A second session is held from 1 to 1:45 p.m. every Monday as well. Since space is limited, registration is required for each storytime, but only children need to be registered, not adults, and registration opens two weeks before each storytime. Visit derrypl.org or call 432-6140.

Totality!

• The big eclipse is finally here — Monday, April 8, with the highlights roughly between 2 p.m.-ish and 4 p.m.-ish. See our story on page 33 of the March 28 issue of the Hippo (find the e-edition at hippopress.com) for more on local happenings including the happenings at McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center in Concord (2 Institute Dr., 271-7827) which will have eclipse activities included with general admission from noon to 5 p.m., such as making a pinhole camera, eclipse puzzles and lunar phases wheels. In Manchester, SEE Science Center will host an eclipse viewing event at Arms Park from 2 to 4:30 p.m. with music from WZID and activities to explain eclipse science. Visit see-sciencecenter.org for eclipse simulation videos and more. Both location’s gift shops sell eclipse glasses (including, at SEE, Thursday, April 4, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Friday, April 5, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Monday, April 8, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., when the center is closed for its annual fundraiser).

Horses and health

• The new Girls Rule program at UpReach Therapeutic Equestrian Center (153 Paige Hill Road in Goffstown) offers a unique opportunity to specifically address mental health and wellness for girls, according to a press release. This curriculum-based program helps girls learn self-advocacy, build confidence, feel empowered, learn how to establish and assert healthy boundaries, develop a body-positive image and make empowered choices, according to the press release. The release stated that this unmounted program happens in a fun, safe, supportive environment with horses and ponies and is designed for girls ages 11 to 14. The program runs from Monday, May 6, through Monday, June 17. Tuition is $200, and financial aid is available. Visit upreachtec.org or email allison@upreachtec.org or call 497-2343.

Family fun for whenever

Egg hunt updates & more

• The Easter Bunny’s visit to the Aviation Museum by student-built airplane has been postponed to Saturday, March 30, at 9 a.m. due to inclement weather. Visit aviationmuseumofnh.org or call 669-4820.

• The Well Church’s annual free Easter egg hunt at Greeley Park in Nashua(near the bandstand, 100 Concord St.) will be Saturday, March 30, at 10 a.m. Visit thewellnh.org/egghunt or call 978-419-1756.

• The Salem Community Easter Egg Hunt hosted by Rockingham Christian Church at Hedgehog Pond in Salem will now take place on Saturday, March 30, from 11 a.m to 2 p.m. Visit rccsalem.com or call 894-5228.

• The Joppa Hill Educational Farm (174 Joppa Hill Road in Bedford) now has two ticketed time slots for their Egg-citing Egg Hunt at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 30. Each ticket is $20. Visit theeducationalfarm.org.

• The Egg-Citing Egg Hunt continues at Charmingfare Farm in Candia (774 High St.) on Saturday, March 30, and Easter Sunday, March 31, with various times between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. See visitthefarm.com.

• Hudson’s Best Easter Egg Hunt is also Saturday, March 30, at Inner DragonMartial Arts (77 Derry Road in Hudson) with times at 10 a.m., 11 a.m. and noon. See funnels.hudsonmartialart.com/egghunt-2024

• The Easter Bunny Party at Carriage Shack Farm in Londonderry (5 Dan Hill Road) is on Saturday, March 30, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets cost $12.95 for ages 16 and over, $10.95 for ages 15 and under. See carriageshackfarmllc.org