Category: Family Fun

Kiddie Pool 25/10/30

Family fun for whenever

More spooky fun

In the Oct. 16 issue of the Hippo, we presented a guide to Halloween happenings for all ages, from the extra-scary haunted houses for the 18+ crowd to kid-friendly not-so-scary events. Some events, such as corn mazes and haunted attractions, continue through Sunday, Nov. 2. Find the issue in the digital library at hippopress.com. Here are some of the happenings this weekend:

• Trick or Treat at Concord Community Music School, 23 Wall St. in Concord, ccmusicschool.org, on Friday, Oct. 31, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., according to the website.

• Downtown Trick or Treat on Main Street in Goffstown on Friday, Oct, 31, from 6 to 8 p.m., according to goffstownmainstreet.org.

• Spookville, 1 Cheshire St. in Nashua, is put together by S.C.A.R.E. NH, a nonprofit organization providing Halloween costumes to kids in need and offering free admission to its haunted house, according to scarenh.org. The Spookville attraction features volunteer actors and new themes every year, the website said. Spookville operates Friday, Oct. 31, 6 to 9 p.m. There is also a United Way Collab Saturday, Nov. 1, from 6 to 9 p.m, “Spookville: A Decade of Darkness,” with tickets for $10. At all Spookville sessions, donations are accepted.

• The Corpse Bride (PG, 2005) the stop-motion animation feature co-directed by Tim Burton, will screen at the Park Theatre, 19 Main St. in Jaffrey, theparktheatre.org, on Saturday, Nov. 1, at 2 and 6:30 p.m.

On stage

• Seussical The Musical presented by RGC Theatre of Portsmouth, facebook.com/RGCTheatre, Friday, Oct. 31 through Sunday, Nov. 2, at Derry Opera House, 29 W. Broadway, Derry. Tickets $28 and up at eventbrite.com.

• The Addams Family young@part presented by the Palace Teen Apprentice Company, with a cast of performers ages 12 to 18, will be on stage at the Palace Theatre, 80 Hanover St. in Manchester, palacetheatre.org, on Wednesday, Nov. 5, and Thursday, Nov. 6, at 7 p.m.

Treasure Hunt 25/10/30

Dear Donna,

I came across this bank of the Capitol in Washington, D.C. I believe it’s copper and is in great shape. Can you provide me with a possible value? I purchased it at a local consignment store for $7. I thought this might be valuable.

Derek

Dear Derek,

Your bank is one of many; they were made for many years. Most are of different historical sites in the United States. They were very popular and I bet even today you can find more modern versions. The banks are made from pot metal. This means a mix of metals with a copper, bronze or brass wash.

The banks are great souvenirs of visits to places. You can also find themed ones like banks, presidents, cars, etc.

Finding one for $7 is a tiny treasure. The value on them varies with the subject of each one. Yours is in the range of $30. So, Derek, you did well. I hope this is the beginning of a collection for you. Thanks for sharing with us.

Note: If you find these banks and the wash/plating is chipping off, don’t buy them! Not many have value if they are damaged and worn.

Kiddie Pool 25/10/23

Family fun for whenever

Spooky season fun

In the Oct. 16 issue of the Hippo, we presented a guide to Halloween happenings for all ages, from the extra-scary haunted houses for the 18+ crowd to kid-friendly not-so-scary events. Find the issue in the digital library at hippopress.com. Here are some of the family fun happenings this weekend:

• Downtown Trick or Treat in downtown Manchester will run Friday, Oct. 24, from 3 to 6 p.m. with businesses along Elm Street and in Stanton Plaza handing out candy to trick-or-treaters as well as other activities, according to the Manchester Economic Development Office’s Facebook page and manchesterproud.org.

• The 2025 Halloween Howl in downtown Concord will take place Friday, Oct. 24, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. and feature trick-or-treating, a trunk-or-treat, a costume contest, games and more, according to intownconcord.org. Main Street will be closed to traffic from Centre Street and Loudon Road to Hills Avenue for the event, the website said.

• Kids can trick-or-treat the Concord Farmers Market on Capitol Street next to the Statehouse in downtown Concord during its final market of the season on Saturday, Oct. 25, from 8:30 a.m. to noon. See concordfarmersmarket.com.

• The Nashua Public Library, 2 Court St. in Nashua, nashualibrary.org, will hold a Costume Parade on Saturday, Oct. 25, from 11 a.m. to noon. Kids can parade through the library in costumes, collecting surprises at each department, according to the library website.

• Children’s Trick or Treat will take place at Charmingfare Farm, 774 High St. in Candia, visitthefarm.com, on Saturday, Oct. 25, and Sunday, Oct. 26, with entry times starting at 10 a.m. Take a horse-drawn wagon or tractor ride throughout the farm along a Halloween-themed trail to meet with characters, visit farm animals and receive candy, according to the website. Admission costs $29 per person, with add-ons for pumpkin art and pony rides. The Halloween Juggling Spectacular show featuring Jason Tardy will take place throughout the day; see the website for times.

• Main Street Monster Mash Howl-o-Ween will take place Saturday, Oct. 25, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Main Street in downtown Nashua. Kids can trick-or-treat at downtown businesses and take part in costume contests — as can pets, according to a post on the Great American Downtown Facebook page. There will be a Pearl Streets Howl-o-ween Puppy Parade at 11:30 a.m. and a performance by the ActorSingers at noon, the post said.

• The Town of Merrimack Halloween Party will take place Saturday, Oct. 25, from noon to 2 p.m. in Wasserman Park. The day will feature games, crafts, face painting, food vendors, a costume contest, community organizations and more, according to merrimackparksandrec.org.

• Pumpkinpalooza will take place Saturday, Oct. 25, from 1 to 4 p.m. at Kimball Jenkins, 266 N. Main St. in Concord, kimballjenkins.com. This family-friendly all-ages celebration invites you to bring your own pumpkin to decorate before taking part in a candy scavenger hunt and a costume parade and listening to “‘A Spooky Serenade,’ a live performance by Melissa Elsman, Contralto,” according to the website, where you can register to attend (advance registration required).

• The McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center in Concord, starhop.com, will present the Family Fright Fest celebration on Sunday, Oct. 26, from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The day will feature hands-on Halloween science, live demonstrations, a special Halloween-themed planetarium show, a trick-or-treat scavenger hunt and more, according to a press release. The event is described as all-ages and costume-friendly, the release said. Activities are included with general admission, the release said.

Treasure Hunt 25/10/23

Dear Donna,

I am hoping you can provide me with some advice. I am looking to purchase a three-strand pearl necklace. My son is getting married in May and I would like to give his wife pearls. My question is how do you know if buying an antique or older set, what to look for. Or should I look for a new set?

Thank you, Donna, for any advice you can share.

Linda

Dear Linda,

Great idea buying an antique set of pearls. I also think you have a bit of time for your search. Either way you go you want to get the best quality for your investment.

I think I might start off by researching what you want to look for in pearls. Remember educating yourself is the best way before any purchases. Then I might connect with a couple local jewelers. They have experience with older pearls and new ones as well. They could keep an eye out and let you know if an old set comes in. And even provide newer ones as well.

My history with real pearls is limited but I can share a couple signs with you. You want to make sure they are all individually strung in between each pearl. You want them, if older, not to be scratched or tarnished, and if strung on chain, that it be real 14KT or 18KT gold.

Linda, I think it’s a great wedding gift either old or new. I wish you luck on your journey finding the right set. Thanks for sharing.

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 25/10/16

Hi, Donna.

I have a full-size antique brass bed that I would like to sell. I was hoping you would have some suggestions on who may be interested in buying it and if you had any idea of its value. Attached are some photos.

Michael

Dear Michael,

Even though your brass bed is at least 100 years old it is not a very desirable item these days. First of all, double beds are a tough sell. Then being brass makes it a constant clean and polish project. Most people, if they like brass, they want it treated to not tarnish. It seems like modern brass is coated to slow down the tarnishing process.

I think, Michael, if it were me selling it I would try like a local marketplace. This way you would get the most of the value for it. You can also send some photos to a local antique shop. Keep in mind that if — and that’s an if — they want it, the value would be at the most half to you and most likely less than that.

Now for a realistic value today, I would say in the $100 range. It’s worth that and to me more but that’s not I’m afraid what the market will bring for it. I wish I had better news for you Michael. I do hope you find the bed a new home. Thanks for sharing with us.

Donna

Kiddie Pool 25/10/09

Family fun for whenever

Some spookiness

• Haunted Overload at DeMeritt Hill Farm, 20 Orchard Way in Lee, hauntedoverload.com, offers some less scary options for families looking for haunted houses for brave but still young Halloween fans. Day Haunt sessions are described as “a great opportunity to walk the haunted trails in the reassuring light of day. See the amazing props and sets without any scares…. This is an actor-free event,” the website said. Tickets for Day Haunt are $14 per person and the Day Haunt hours are Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. There is also a Frite Nite Lite on the evenings of Thursdays, Oct. 9, Oct. 16, and Oct. 23, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. featuring “[a]ll the lights, sounds, and effects without the scares!” according to the website. Tickets cost $25. See the website for dates and details.

• Hellwood’s Cursed Forest atElwood Orchards, 54 Elwood Road in Londonderry, 434-6017, elwoodorchards.com, is separate from the orchard’s corn maze and an also offers a Frite Lite experience, which is described as “child-friendly/sensory-safe daytime experience,” on Saturday, Oct. 11, and Sunday, Oct. 12, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tickets cost $8 per person; ages 5 and under get in for free, according to the website, where you can find details about tickets and scare levels.

Fall fun

• The Warner Fall Festival, which runs Friday, Oct. 10, through Sunday, Oct. 12, in downtown Warner will hold its children’s parade on Saturday, Oct. 11, at 1 p.m. No prior registration is required; line up next to the post office at 12:45 p.m., according to the festival’s Facebook page and wfff.org, .

• Visitors to the Monarch & Chrysalis Corn Maze at Coppal House Farm (118 N. River Road, Lee, nhcornmaze.com) on Monday, Oct. 13, can check out the raptors from Tailwinds: Raptor Education and Conservation from 2 to 3:30 p.m. The human Tailwinds team and their non-releaseable raptors will be on site, the website said. The corn maze is open Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays from noon to 5 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Saturday, Nov. 1. Admission costs $10 for ages 13+ and $8 for ages 5 to 12, 65+, military and college students with ID.

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