Category: Family Fun

Kiddie Pool 26/01/08

Family fun for whenever

On ice

  • Disney on Ice presents Frozen & Encanto on Thursday, Jan. 8, and Friday, Jan. 9, at 7 p.m. and Saturday, Jan. 10, at 10:30 a.m., 2:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. at SNHU Arena, 555 Elm St. in Manchester, according to snhuarena.com, where you can find tickets. “Audiences will see Anna, Elsa, Mirabel, and the Madrigal family live, as well as fan favorites Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald, Goofy, and many more,” according to a press release.
  • Get out on the ice yourself. In Concord, outdoor ice skating at White Park Pond (skate rentals are available at The Merrimack Lodge Saturdays and Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m.), the pond at Beaver Meadow Golf Course and Rollins Park are open, weather permitting, according to the city’s Parks and Rec Department Facebook page, where you can find updates.
  • Outdoor ice skating has also begun for the season at Dorrs Pond in Manchester, according to Manchester’s Parks and Recreation Department Facebook page. The warming hut is open Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and on weekends during hours announced each week, according to the post. “All hours are weather permitting” and skaters must provide their own skates, the post said.

Speaking of Concord

  • SPARC — Sports, Play, Arts & Recreation Club — returns for Concord and Penacook residents Saturdays and Sundays, Jan. 10 through March 29, at the City-Wide Community Center, 14 Canterbury Road in Concord, according to the winter Parks and Recreation Department brochure at concordparksandrec.com. Sessions for families and kids 10+ are 2 to 3:30 p.m and for kids ages 10 to 16 from 3:30 to 5 p.m., according to the flyer about the event, which you can also find on the city’s Facebook page.

Speaking of Bruno (or not)

• See Encanto on the big screen on Sunday, Jan. 11, at 2 p.m. The 2021 animated musical screens in Sing-Along format at BNH Stage, 16 S. Main St. in Concord, according to ccanh.com where you can purchase tickets. Doors open at 1 p.m.

Treasure Hunt 26/01/08

Dear Donna,
Can you give me any information on this old wafer box? It has a glass top and is in good condition. It’s got some printing on the side as you can see.
Any help would be appreciated.
Tami

I have to say, Tami, I have seen many antique boxes of this style with the glass lids. This particular one was an education for me too.
Your antique Polish starch wafer box was originally for Christmas Eve wafers. The story starts in Poland and other countries. The wafers were like sheets of the same ingredients in the communion host. They had religious imprints on them. It was a Christmas tradition to share with family. I believe it still could be today as well. The story is a very interesting one.
The value on a box like yours is in the range of $80+. Depending on graphics and size, values fluctuate. The story behind it is priceless and humbling.
The contents were called Oplatki Polish wafers. They can still be found for purchase today.
Tami, I want to thank you for sharing with us a nice story.

Donna Welch has spent more than 35 years in the antiques and collectibles field, appraising and instructing. Her new location is an Antique Art Studio located in Dunbarton, NH where she is still buying and selling. If you have questions about an antique or collectible send a clear photo and information to Donna at footwdw@aol.com, or call her at 391-6550.

Treasure Hunt 26/01/01

Hi, Donna.

I have attached some photos of antique furniture (with a grape leaf design) that belonged to my mother which I inherited. From my search on the internet, these pieces of furniture don’t appear to be very valuable, but I don’t know who would want them. Are there antique dealers who would quote me a price and come and pick these items up?

Thanks.

Doug

Dear Doug,

Your pieces are from the Victorian era (late 1800s) and a couple from the early 1900s. They all look to be in good clean condition.

The problem you’re facing is it’s a tough market! When Victorian collectors purchase furniture they prefer heavily carved ornate pieces and pieces with highly unusual designs.

Even though I would say the sofa and chairs you have look solid and clean, I think the value total for all would be under $300. As I said, tough market for resale, so for you to sell it to a furniture dealer the value would be low.

Doug, I might try a local marketplace online to get the most you can. Or try reaching out to an antique shop in your area to see what they might offer.

I hope you find a new home for them Doug. I hope this helps.

Kiddie Pool 25/12/25

Family fun for whenever

Escape to the museum

Some area museums offer special hours and events during the between-holidays week of Dec. 25 through Jan. 1.

• SEE Science Center, 200 Bedford St. in Manchester, see-sciencecenter.org, will be closed the Thursdays of Christmas and New Year’s Day but open Monday, Dec. 29, as well as its usual Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission costs $14 per person ages 3 and up, the website said.

• The Currier Museum of Art, 150 Ash St. in Manchester, currier.org, will hold its fourth annual December Days on Friday, Dec. 26, and Saturday, Dec. 27, with family-friendly activities running from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. included with admission (kids 12 and under get in for free). The museum’s regular hours are Wednesdays through Sundays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., according to the website. Admission costs $20 for adults, $15 for 65+ and students with ID cards, and $5 for ages 13 to 17, the website said.

• The Aviation Museum of New Hampshire, 27 Navigator Road in Londonderry, aviationmuseumofnh.org, is currently featuring the exhibit “Holiday Festival of Toy Planes and Model Aircraft,” which will be on display through Sunday, Jan. 4, according to a press release. The museum is open Wednesdays through Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sundays, 1 to 4 p.m. (closed Christmas Eve and Christmas and New Year’s Day). The museum will be open extra days — Monday, Dec. 29, and Tuesday, Dec. 30. Admission costs $10 for ages 13 and up, and $5 for ages 6 to 12, 65+, veterans and active military; kids age 5 and under get in free.

• The McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center, 2 Institute Drive in Concord, starhop.com, is closed on Christmas and Christmas Eve and on New Year’s Day but will be open daily, 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Friday, Dec. 26, through Wednesday, Dec. 31, and then Friday, Jan. 2, through Sunday, Jan. 4, according to the website. Admission costs $14 for adults, $13 for students and seniors, $11 for children ages 3 to 12 and free for ages 2 and under, the website said. Planetarium shows cost an additional $7 per person (free for children under 3) and run at 11 a.m., noon, 1 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m., the website said.

Treasure Hunt 25/12/25

inside/outside treasure hunt

Hi Donna,

This piece of pottery was found in the mid 1900s when the grounds of a Boston tavern were being dug up near the seaport. The inside is glazed. The outside is rough. The lid has two larger chips on its surface, and the main piece has a chip at its base. My mother-in-law says not to clean it as that can remove value. Might this be worth anything?

Thank you!

Lisa

Dear Lisa,

What you have is an early American redware bean pot. Most of the ones found in the Boston area were marked with names and Boston Mass.

Your pot is from the early 1800s and would have been heavily used in its time for cooking beans mostly. Being chipped does weigh in on the value. In general redware bean pots are in the $100+ range to collectors.

Thanks for sharing, Lisa.

Kiddie Pool 25/12/18

Family fun for whenever

Santa visit

• Charmingfare Farm, 774 High St. in Candia, continues its Santa’s Christmas with times Friday, Dec. 19, through Sunday, Dec. 21, as well as on Christmas Eve, Wednesday, Dec. 24, according to visitthefarm.com. This event will feature a visit to Charmingfare’s North Pole, including an opportunity to see Santa Claus, get cookies from Mrs. Claus, see Santa’s reindeer and more as well as visits with farm animals, camp fires, and more, the website said. See visitthefarm.com for entry times for and ticket options (some include a horse-drawn ride through a Christmas Trail) and to purchase admissions.

Still some Nutcracker

• The Nutcracker 2025 will be presented by Ballet Misha at the Dana Center at Saint Anselm College, Manchester, on Saturday, Dec. 20, at 1 and 6 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 21, at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., according to tickets.anselm.edu.

• The Nutcracker will be presented by the Safe Haven Ballet on Saturday, Dec. 20, at 7 p.m. at Stockbridge Theatre, 44 N. Main St. in Derry. Tickets are for sale at pinkertonacademy.org/stockbridge-theatre.

• The NH School of Ballet will present The Nutcracker on Sunday, Dec. 21, at 2 p.m. at the Concord City Auditorium, 2 Prince St. in Concord, according to theaudi.org/events.

• The Royal Ballet’s The Nutcracker will screen on Sunday, Dec. 21, at 3 p.m. and Monday, Dec. 22, at 3 and 7 p.m at the O’Neil Cinemas in Londonderry (16 Orchard View) and Epping (Brickyard Square, 24 Calef Highway) via Fathom Entertainment; see fathomentertainment.com, where you can find times and locations. Get a look at the filmed production at rbo.org.uk/ballet-essentials-the-nutcracker.

Still some Pops

• The New Hampshire Philharmonic Orchestra will present Holiday Pops with singalong and a Special Jolly Guest on Saturday, Dec. 20, and Sunday, Dec. 21, at 2 p.m. at Seifert Performing Arts Center, 44 Germonty Drive in Salem, according to nhphil.org.

Stay in the loop!

Get FREE weekly briefs on local food, music,

arts, and more across southern New Hampshire!