Category: Family Fun

Family fun for whenever

Museum fun

• If you’re looking for something to do this Friday, the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire (6 Washington St. in Dover; childrens-museum.org) offers Science Friday programming, with special drop-in programs and activities at 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. (to accommodate both the morning session from 9 a.m. to noon and the afternoon session from 1 to 4 p.m.). Reserve a spot online in advance; admission for everyone over 12 months is $14.50 per person, $12.50 for 65+.

• The Seacoast Science Center (570 Ocean Blvd. in Rye, seacoastsciencecenter.org) will hold a free nature program about the “Giants of the Sea” on Friday, Jan. 17, from 4 to 6 p.m. Learn about what makes whales special and sign up (at the event; signup starts at 4 p.m.) for a 5 p.m. guide program with Katahdin, the inflatable North Atlantic Right Whale, according to an email from the center.

• Normally closed on Mondays during the winter, the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center (2 Institute Drive in Concord; starhop.com) will be open to the public on Monday, Jan. 20, from 10:30 to 4 p.m. Admission costs $13 for adults, $12 for 62+ and students age 13-college, and $10 for kids ages 3 to 12. Planetarium shows are an additional $7; see the website for the current offerings and times.

More day-off offerings

• Cowabunga’s (725 Huse Road in Manchester; cowabungas.com) is offering vacation day bouncing on Monday, Jan. 20, with hour blocks for $15 starting at 10 a.m. On Friday, Jan. 17, Cowbunga’s offers its Friday Night Fun, with two-hour jump blocks offered for $20 between 5 and 8 p.m. (adults and infants get in free with paying child) and visits by costumed characters.

• Krazy Kids (60 Sheep Davis Road in Pembroke; krazykids.com) is also open special hours for Monday, Jan. 20 — 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Two-hour admission costs $15 for kids, $5 for adults (required jump socks cost $4 per pair).

Save the date

• The New Hampshire Historical Society (30 Park St. in Concord; nhhistory.org) will offer a family program called “Kids Do Family History” on Saturday, Jan. 25, from 2 to 4 p.m. “This workshop … will introduce kids to genealogy basics, such as creating a family tree, researching family records, and preserving family memories. This program is geared for kids ages 10-13, but all ages are welcome. Children must be accompanied by an adult,” the release said. The event is free but register in advance via the website.

• Kimball Jenkins (266 N. Main St. in Concord; kimballjenkins.com) has half-day February break week classes for ages 7 to 14. For $198, ages 7 to 10 (9 a.m. to noon) and ages 11 to 14 (1 to 4 p.m.) will “rotate through a diverse array of artistic mediums with each class featuring an art activity that aligns with our arctic theme,” according to the website, where you can find more information and enroll.

Family fun for whenever

Museum fun

It’s the Second Saturday at the Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St. in Manchester; currier.org) when admission is free for New Hampshire residents. The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Current exhibits include “The Legend of the Poinsettia: Paintings from Tomie DePaola’s Holiday Classic,” “Jean-Michel Basquiat and Ouattara Watts: A Distant Conversation,” “Dan Dailey: Impressions of the Human Spirit” and “Olga De Amaral: Everything Is Construction and Color.”

The Children’s Museum of New Hampshire (6 Washington St. in Dover; childrens-museum.org) will present “Ocean Adventures” performance with the Portsmouth Symphony Principal Winds on Saturday, Jan. 11, at 2 p.m. The performance is part of admission for the 1 to 4 p.m. playtime, which costs $14.50 for everyone over 12 months (children under 12 months get in for free; admission for 65+ costs $12.50). Go online to reserve tickets.

Storytime

Gibson’s Bookstore (45 S. Main St. in Concord; gibsonsbookstore.com) will host a storytime with authors David Preece and Jim Webber with their two Mr. Higgins picture books on Saturday, Jan. 11, at 11 a.m. Mr. Higgins, a black Scottish terrier the authors adopted in 2014, is the star of two books: A Home for Mr. Higgins and Mr. Higgins Takes A Stand, according to the website.

S’mores and sparks

Joppa Hill Educational Farm (174 Joppa Hill in Bedford; theeducationalfarm.org) will hold a Burning of the Greens on Saturday, Jan. 11, from 5 to 8 p.m. The Bedford Fire Department will be on hand for the bonfire, where you can dispose of your Christmas tree, according to the website. Drop off trees (undecorated) by 10 a.m. on Saturday at the farm’s parking lot “between the silo and the dumpster,” the website said. The farm will sell hot cocoa and s’mores from 5 to 7 p.m. and the farmstand will be open for its final day until Easter, the website said. No registration is required.

On the ice

The SNHU Arena (555 Elm St., Manchester, snhuarena. com)will present Disney on Ice Presents Mickey’s Search Party with seven shows Thursday, Jan. 9, through Sunday, Jan. 12. Tickets start at $15.

Looking for some hockey? See two hometown teams face off when the Saint Anselm Hawks men’s ice hockey team takes on the Southern New Hampshire University Penmen at Sullivan Arena (100 Saint Anselm Drive, Manchester), on both Friday, Jan. 10, at 7 p.m. and Saturday, Jan. 11, at 4 p.m. The Hawks women’s ice hockey team takes the ice on Friday at 4 p.m. and Saturday at 1 p.m., both games versus Sacred Heart University. See saintanselmhawks.com.

The Rivier University Raiders men’s ice hockey team will play at Conway Arena (5 Stadium Drive, Nashua) on Saturday, Jan. 11, at 6:40 p.m. versus Westfield State University. See rivierathletics.com.

On the court

Saint Anselm College Hawks basketball teams will hit the court on Saturday, Jan. 11, against Pace University with the women’s team playing at 1:30 p.m. and the men’s team playing at 2:30 p.m. All Saint Anselm home games are played at Stoutenburgh Gymnasium on campus and admission costs $10 (see saintanselmhawks.com).

Rivier University Raiders basketball teams will hit the court on Saturday, Jan. 11, at the Muldoon Center in Nashua when they take on the New England College Pilgrims. The men’s team plays at noon and the women’s team plays at 2 p.m. See rivierathletics.com.

At NHTI, the men’s basketball team will play on Saturday, Jan. 11, at 1 p.m., with the Lynx taking on Massbay Community College. See nhtiathletics.com.

Save the date

Reserve a spot now for Bedford Winterfest, hosted by The Bedford Mom. Day 1, Saturday, Jan. 25, will take place on the sledding hill behind Ann DeNicola Memorial Playground and feature sledding, activities for kids, face painting and more from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; see thebedfordmom.com. Admission is free but reservations are required.Day 2 will take place at Joppa Hill Educational Farm (174 Joppa Hill in Bedford; theeducationalfarm.org) on Sunday, Jan. 26, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Admission is free but reservations are required. Activities will include sledding, crafters, farm animals, s’mores, hot cocoa, arts and crafts, scavenger hunts and more, according to the website.

Family fun for whenever

Skates of all kinds

• Remix Skate Center (725 Huse Road, Manchester, 912-7661) has a Little Kids Scoot & Skate roller skating event on the calendar for Saturday, Jan. 4, at 9 p.m. Remix has three-wheeled scooters available, and skate rental sizes starting at little kids size 10, for this beginners’ event. Non-skaters are welcome on the rink. Bring your own safety gear. See skateremix.com for ticket information.

• The ice arena at JFK Coliseum in Manchester (303 Beech St.) has public skate in January on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., and Saturdays and Sundays from 2 to 4 p.m. See manchesternh.recdesk.com for more activities and events at the Coliseum.

• Everett Arena in Concord (15 Loudon Road) has public ice skating Sundays from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. and Monday through Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., $6 admission (free for age 3 and younger), $6 skate rentals and $5 helmet rentals. See concordnh.gov for details and info on other activities at the arena.

Movie day

• Chunky’s Cinema Pub (707 Huse Road, Manchester) will host Little Lunch Dates for Children on Tuesday, Jan. 7, at 11:30 a.m. for parents (or grandparents or guardians) and their preschool children. The screening will be of Little Giants (PG, 107 minutes), which stars Rick Moranis and Ed O’Neill. The movie will be shown with the lights slightly dimmed and admission is $5. Chunky’s says “this is a worry-free lunch without the fear of disturbing others. So come, relax, and enjoy a movie with your little one.” No passes are allowed and there is reserved seating. Visit chunkys.com for more information

Save the date!

• The Majestic Academy of Dramatic Arts will presentDisney’s Beauty and the Beast Jr.at the Derry Opera House (29 W. Broadway, Derry) on Friday, Jan. 24, at 7 p.m.; Saturday, Jan. 25, at 2 and 7 p.m.; and Sunday, Jan. 26, at 2 p.m. The classic story tells of Belle, a young woman in a provincial town, and the Beast, who is really a young prince under the spell of an enchantress. Majestic’s production stars children and teens of The Majestic Academy of Dramatic Arts under the direction of Becca Antonakos-Belanger with musical direction by Emily Benjamin. Tickets range from $12 to $16. Call 669-7469 or visit majestictheatre.net.

• The Concord Community Players Children’s Theatre Project’s Winter Vacation Theatre Camp for young actors ages of 8 through 14 of all experience levels is open for registration with half of the slots already filled, according to their website. The day camp runs from Sunday, Feb. 23, through Friday, Feb. 28, and registration is only possible by mail, according to the same website. The play will be The Story of Hansel and Gretel. The performance on Friday, Feb. 28, will be at 6:30 p.m.at the Concord City Auditorium with the day for camp attendees involving tech and dress rehearsals as well as a pizza party for cast and crew. Registration is $215. Visit communityplayersofconcord.org for more information.