Category: Family Fun

Family fun for whenever

Santa at the farm

• Charmingfare Farm (774 High St., Candia, visitthefarm.com) will hold Santa’s Christmas runs Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Dec. 22, plus Christmas Eve, Tuesday, Dec. 24. Pick a time when you buy tickets for either a four-person or a 10-person sleigh ride or an express option. The event includes a stop at the North Pole, Mrs. Claus’ Bakery, a visit to the barnyard, an opportunity to shop for Christmas trees, a campfire, a special mailbox for letters to Santa and the big man himself, according to the website.

Santa on the air

• Londonderry Access Center TV (281 Mammoth Road) will host Santa Live 2024 on Saturday, Dec. 14, from 1 to 3 p.m. Santa and Mrs. Claus will be present in the studio and the event will be broadcast live on television. The event is free of charge and operates on a first come, first served basis. Refreshments and coloring activities are provided for children while they wait to meet the magical elf. Each child will receive a gift and candy cane. Parents are allowed to take pictures during the visit. Visit facebook.com/LondonderryAccessTV.

Santa in the air

• Santa Claus will helicopter in to make a stop at the Aviation Museum of New Hampshire (27 Navigator Road, Londonderry, aviationmuseumofnh.org) on Saturday, Dec. 14, according to the Museum’s website. Santa is slated for touchdown at 11 a.m. and is scheduled to stay for two hours and leave by fire truck at 1 p.m. The event will feature hot chocolate, coffee, doughnuts and other fun holiday treats. Those coming by to catch Santa at the Aviation Museum are asked to arrive at the museum by 10:45 a.m. The museum will be open and free to visitors from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. although admission will be charged from 1 to 4 p.m.

Santa from space

• Meet and get a photo with Astronaut Santa at the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center (2 Institute Drive in Concord; starhop.com) on Sunday, Dec. 15, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The center is open that day from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission costs $13 for adults, $12 for ages 13 through college and 62+, $10 for ages 3 to 12 (general admission tickets do not include planetarium shows).

Holiday shows

• Get ready for the Mr. Aaron Holiday special. A holiday party from the local family entertainer will take place on Saturday, Dec. 14, at 11 a.m. at the BNH stage (16 S. Main St., Concord). This will be an interactive family concert great for kids ages 1 through 10. Songs will include holiday classics and Mr. Aaron originals, and participants will be able to “dance off some of that December-candy-canes-and-presents energy,” according to the event’s website. Tickets are $16 online, including fees. Visit mraaronmusic.com or ccanh.com.

• Safe Haven Ballet presents The Grinch as a ballet, choreographed by Miranda Bailey, at the Chubb Theatre (44 S. Main St., Concord, ccanh.com) on Sunday, Dec. 15, at 4:30 p.m. Ticket prices range from $31 to $44. The Grinch is a unique interactive experience for audience members of all ages. In addition to the performance component of the production, according to the event’s website, audiences can look forward to a demonstration on different dance forms and theater etiquette. Visit ccanh.com or call 225-1111.

Meet the dancers

• Kimball Jenkins (266 N. Main St., Concord; kimballjenkins.com) will hold two Holiday Tea Meet and Greet events on Saturday, Dec. 14, and Sunday, Dec. 15, at 2 p.m. featuring a light lunch and tea, holiday crafts and dancers from Safe Haven Ballet holiday productions. On Dec. 14, meet The Nutcracker’s Sugar Plum Fairy and friends. And on Dec. 15, meet The Grinch, as well as Cindy Lou Who and friends. Tickets cost $40 for ages 13+ and $30 for ages 2 to 12, and can be purchased via the Kimball Jenkins website under “events.”

Save the date for princesses

• The Derryfield Restaurant (625 Mammoth Road in Manchester; thederryfield.com) will hold a Royal Princess Breakfast on Saturday, March 1, at 9 a.m. Tickets cost $55 for adults and $40 for children; a $65 VIP ticket for kids will get early admission, a group photo opportunity with all of the princesses and their own tiara. See the website for a link to tickets.

Family fun for whenever

Holiday happenings

• Zach Umperovitch, builder of contraptions of all shapes and sizes, is inviting everyone to join him at SEE Science Center in Manchester (200 Bedford St., 669-0400, see-sciencecenter.org) on Thursday, Dec. 5, from 5 to 7 p.m. for a free public event to celebrate the launch of his new book. Zach worked for three and a half years with Rube Goldberg’s granddaughter Jennifer Goerge and illustrator Ed Steckly to create a fun book that anyone can use to build 25 machines. Zach will have several machines on display from the book for visitors to try, and attendees will be able to purchase a book and get it autographed as they enjoy the Science Center’s exhibits, according to their website. The “Special The Big BOX of Building,” a materials kit that includes all the necessary items to build the machines from the book, will be available for purchase as well. Advanced signup is required for this free event. A News Q & A with Zach Umperovitch can be found in the June 13 issue of the Hippo at hippopress.com. Check out @ZachsContraptions on YouTube and @zachscontraptions on Instagram.

• The Millyard Museum’s (200 Bedford St., Manchester) Holiday Open House is on Saturday, Dec. 7, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event will include children’s holiday crafts, cookies and cider, old-fashioned board games, and a special visit with Santa Claus from noon to 1 p.m. Admission is free. Visit manchesterhistoric.org.

• Millyard Museum (200 Bedford St., Manchester) will also host “Home for the Holiday: An American Girl Tea Party” Saturday, Dec. 7, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Participants are invited to bring their dolls and join in a tea party. Tickets are $20 per person. Visit manchesterhistoric.org.

• Hooksett’s Light Up the Village celebration will take place from 4 to 7 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 7, featuring a Santa Parade, photos with Santa, food and drink from The Robie Store, musical performances, a craft fair, a holiday storytime, caroling and more. The goal is to raise $20,000 to light up key buildings in Hooksett. These include Congregational Church of Hooksett, Holy Rosary Catholic Church & Parsonage, Hooksett Town Hall, Hooksett Village Fire Department, American Legion, NH State Grange, The Robie Store, and the Hooksett Village Water Precinct. Visit lightupthevillage.wordpress.com.

• The second annual Breakfast with Santa will take place at the Bedford Event Center (379 S. River Road, Bedford) Sunday, Dec. 8, from 9 to 11 a.m. featuring a breakfast buffet, coloring and craft activities, a Mail Your Letter to Santa station, photos with Santa, story time with Santa, and more. According to their website, parents can relax and enjoy cocktails during the event for an additional fee. Children 12 months and younger can be seated on a parent’s lap at no charge. Also, if participants require a baby carrier or stroller at the table, a $49 ticket must be purchased and stroller storage space will be available, according to the website. Call 997-7741 or visit bedfordeventcenter.com.

Family fun for whenever

Trip to the museum

Looking for an out-of-the-house thing to do this long weekend?

• The Children’s Museum of New Hampshire (6 Washington St. in Dover; 742-2002, childrens-museum.org) is open Tuesday, Nov. 26, for its morning session (9 a.m. to noon); Wednesday, Nov. 27, for morning and afternoon (1 to 4 p.m.) sessions; Friday, Nov. 29, and Saturday, Nov. 30, for morning and afternoon sessions, and Sunday, Dec. 1, for the morning session. Reserve a spot online in advance; admission costs $12.50 for everyone over 12 months and $10.50 for 65+.

• SEE Science Center (200 Bedford St. in Manchester; see-sciencecenter.org, 669-0400) is open Tuesdays through Friday (closed Thanksgiving) from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (last admission at 3 p.m.) and and Saturdays and Sundays 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (last admission at 4 p.m.). Admission costs $14 per person for ages 3 and up.

• The Aviation Museum of N.H. (27 Navigator Road in Londonderry; aviationmuseumofnh.org) will be open Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m. Admission costs $10 for ages 13; $5 for ages 6 to 12 and 65+ and veterans and military, and is free for kid 5 and under.

• McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center (2 Institute Drive in Concord; starhop) is open Wednesdays through Sundays from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission costs $13 for adults, $12 for 62+ and ages 13 through college, and $10 for kids ages 3 to 12 (kids 2 and under get in free).

Save the date

• Zach Umperovitch, builder of contraptions of all shapes and sizes, is inviting everyone to join him at SEE Science Center on Thursday, Dec. 5, from 5 to 7 p.m. for a free public event to celebrate the launch of his new book. Zach worked for three and a half years with Rube Goldberg’s granddaughter Jennifer Geoge and illustrator Ed Steckly to create a book that anyone can use to build 25 machines. Zach will have several machines on display and attendees can purchase a book and get it autographed, according to their website. Advance signup is required for this free event. A News Q & A with Zach Umperovitch can be found in the June 13 issue of the Hippo at hippopress.com. Visit see-sciencecenter.org or call 669-0400 for more info on the event, and check out @ZachsContraptions on YouTube and @zachscontraptions on Instagram.

Family fun for whenever

Stories

• Local authors David J. Preece and Jim Webber will hold a special Saturday storytime at Bookery Manchester (844 Elm St.) on Saturday, Nov 23, at 11:30 a.m. featuring their picture books A Home for Mr. Higgins and Mr. Higgins Takes a Stand. Spoiler: Mr. Higgins is an adorable dog.
• In honor of her new picture book, Alice in a Winter Wonderland, which goes on sale Nov. 26, New York Times bestselling author and artist Jan Brett is on a bus tour that will make a stop at Oyster River High School (55 Coe Drive, Durham) in partnership with Durham Public Library and Gibson’s Bookstore on Friday, Nov. 29, at 5 p.m. Her new story is set in the shimmering Alaskan tundra and reimagines classic characters as animals native to Alaska. At the event, Jan Brett will do a drawing demonstration, talk, and book signing, according to the release. Visit durhampubliclibrary.org and gibsonsbookstore.com/event/jan-brett-alice-winter
• Disney’s Descendants The Musical is presented by Kids Coop Theatre Friday, Nov. 22, through Sunday, Nov. 24, at the Derry Opera House (29 West Broadway, Derry). In the story, Belle and Beast have married and become king and queen of the United States of Auradon, where they have created a prosperous new nation from the surrounding kingdoms and banished the villains to the Isle of the Lost, where magic is suspended, which traps the villains on the island. Performances are on Thursday, Nov. 22, and Friday, Nov. 23, at 7 p.m. and on Sunday, Nov. 24, at 2 p.m. See kctnh.org for updates.
• The Nutcracker is presented by Safe Haven Ballet at the Nashua Center for the Arts (201 Main St., nashuacenterforthearts.com) Saturday, Nov. 23, at 4:30 p.m. This full-length ballet of The Nutcracker is a dynamic performance including everyone from strong-minded Clara to the eccentric Drosselmeyer, the spooky Rats, and the beloved Sugarplum Fairy danced by artistic director Lissa Curtis, according to their website. In the Land of Sweets you will be introduced to a variation unique to Safe Haven Ballet called The Brave American, according to their website, where the audience is encouraged to sing and clap along to the spirited, patriotic piece. Adult tickets cost $45; tickets for seniors and students cost $40. See safehavenballet.org.
• Disney’s Frozen is presented by Ogunquit Playhouse at the Music Hall (28 Chestnut St., Portsmouth, themusichall.org)Wednesday, Nov. 27, through Sunday, Dec. 22, with shows Wednesdays through Thursdays (except for Thanksgiving).The production is from the renowned producer of The Lion King and Aladdin and audiences should be prepared to be captivated by a thrilling and genuinely moving performance that The New Yorker describes as “simply magical!” according to the website. The show promises sensational special effects, stunning sets, costumes, and powerhouse performances, according to the same website. See specific days and times for ticket prices on their website.

Outdoors

Join the New Hampshire Audubon for a birding outing along the trails at the Massabesic Center (26 Audubon Way, Auburn) on Saturday, Nov. 23, from 8:30 to 10 a.m. Participants will meet at the front doors of the main building, according to their website. This is an informal birding outing that begins at Massabesic Center trailhead and explores the trails with local birder and Massabesic Center Advisory Committee member Joe Mahoney, inviting all ages and skill levels of birders, according to their website, even those who are new to birding. The Massabesic Wildlife Refuge is home to many species that prefer open space and lakeshore habitats such as eastern bluebirds, red-shouldered hawks, common loons and bald eagles in the fields and on the lake, according to their website. Binoculars rental is provided and they ask that participants dress for the weather with sturdy shoes and expect to walk 1-2 miles over mostly flat but uneven trails through grassy and wooded terrain, according to their website. Trails may be soggy or muddy in the rainy season and dogs are not allowed on this walk, according to the same website. Free admission. Visit nhaudubon.org.