Category: Family Fun

Family fun for whenever

Outdoor adventure

• If this week’s cover story has you looking for even more spots to enjoy the outdoors, particularly ones with kid-friendly elements, Joppa Hill Educational Farm (174 Joppa Hill Road in Bedford; theeducationalfarm.org) is open daily from dawn to dusk. Leashed dogs are welcome, according to the website, where you can find a hiking trail map or, if you’re looking for something more farm-centered, an animal scavenger hunt of the horses, cows and ducks you might find during a visit. Visits are free; grain cups are available for purchase for $5 and the farm stand is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends, self-serve, according to the farm’s Facebook page.

• Enjoy a scenic horse-drawn wagon ride at Charmingfare Farm on Saturday, Nov. 9, and Sunday, Nov. 10, at various times throughout the day.Participants get a classic horse-drawn hayride experience with added comfortable seating on horse-drawn hayride wagons, making this adventure enjoyable for everyone, according to their website. Afterwards participants can warm up by a cozy bonfire, enjoy refreshments and roast s’mores with kits available, according to the same website. Visitors can also see the friendly farm animals, with animal feed for purchase. Tickets are $29. Visit visitthefarm.com or call 483-5623.

Art project

• Twiggs Gallery (254 King St. in Boscawen; 975-0015; twiggsgallery.org) will offer a Make & Take activity for all on Saturday, Nov. 9, from 1 to 3 p.m. Learn to make “Pretty Little Birds” — paper birds that can be used as a Thanksgiving place card or a fall decorations, according to a press release. The gallery will provide all materials, the release said.

Storytime

• The SEE Science Center will be hosting a story time on Wednesday, Nov. 13, “Who Sank the Boat?,” where little scientists will try a float and sink boat experiment at the Manchester City Library. This is a part of their once-a-month story time program during the school year where kids between the ages of 2 and 6 years old are invited to enjoy a STEM/STEAM-themed story followed by hands-on activities, according to their website. They ask that participants sign up with the library for this free program. Storytime Science is a program of the SEE Science Center’s First Steps in Science Initiative. Visit see-sciencecenter.org.

• Enchantment Theatre Company will present My Father’s Dragon, based on the book series by Ruth Stiles Gannett and illustrated by Ruth Chrisman Gannett, at Chubb Theatre at the Capitol Center for the Arts (44 S. Main St., Concord, ccanh.com) Wednesday, Nov. 13, at 10:30 a.m. Tickets cost $8. See a video trailer for the production at ccanh.com. See enchantmenttheatre.org for more on the company

• Actorsingers will bring the tale as old as time to the stage with this weekend’s Disney’s Beauty and the Beastfrom Friday, Nov. 8, through Sunday, Nov. 10, at the Keefe Center for the Arts (117 Elm St., Nashua). Shows are at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets cost $25 for adults and $23 for students and seniors. See actorsingers.org.

• Safe Haven Ballet(safehavenballet. org) will kick off the season of dancing mice with a production of The Nutcrackerat The Music Hall (28 Chestnut St., Portsmouth, the musichall.org) on Saturday, Nov. 9, at 4:30 p.m. Tickets cost $48.50 to $53.50.

• Kids can watch kids tell the story of BeetlejuiceJr., performed by student actors 12 through 18 in the Palace Teen Company, on Wednesday, Nov. 13, and Thursday, Nov. 14, at 7 p.m. at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St. in Manchester; palacetheatre.org). Tickets cost $12 to $15.

Early Santa visit

• Bass Pro Shops (2 Commerce Drive in Hooksett) has opened its Santa’s Wonderland for the season. Visitors get can a photo with Santa as well as weekly activities such as a tea light tree craft through Nov. 15, a wood ornament craft Nov. 18 through Dec. 6 and more. You can reserve a spot up to seven days in advance at basspro.com/santa. On Tuesdays through Dec. 17, at 5 p.m. Santa or Mrs. Claus will read Christmas stories, and on Saturdays, Nov. 16, Nov. 23 and Dec. 7, at 9 a.m. families can have a breakfast with Santa; separate reservations are required for these events, according to a press release.

Meet the Girl Scouts

The Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains will hold “explore Girl Scouts” events for girls in grades kindergarten through third and a caregiver. On Tuesday, Nov. 12, from 6 to 7 p.m., head to Center Woods Elementary in the music room (14 Center Road in Weare). On Wednesday, Nov. 13, from 6 to 7 p.m., drop in at Beaver Meadow Elementary School (Sewalls Falls Road in Concord). See girlscoutsgwm.org.

Family fun for whenever

Trick-or-treat time!

• If you’re hitting the streets with kids searching for full size candy bars and Nerds Gummy Clusters or handing out candy, check out the Oct. 17 issue of the Hippo for our listing of trick-or-treat times (and other spooky events). Find the Halloween guide on page 10; find the issue in our digital library at hippopress.com.

Story time!

• Pajama Storytime at Gibson’s Bookstore (45 S. Main St., Concord)will take place on Friday, Nov. 1, at 5:30 p.m. Local children’s author Tabatha Jean D’Agata will lead an interactive storytime filled with crafts, giveaways and more, according to their website. Attendees should wear their favorite pajamas and bring along their coziest stuffed animal friend. D’Agata’s new picture book is called More Magic. Gibson’s will be open late for First Friday, so plan an evening of entertainment downtown for the family. Visit gibsonsbookstore.com or call 224-0562.

• Join Beaver Brook educator and master storyteller Rachael for the last Forest Tales of the season on Monday, Nov. 4, from 10 to 11 a.m., an hour of outside story time with your little ones. This program is free and is offered to grown-ups and their children. The event takes place at their Maple Hill Farm (117 Ridge Road, Hollis) location on beautiful grounds with lots of room for children to play and meet new friends after the program. Visit beaverbrook.org.

Stories on stage

• The Riverbend Youth Company will present Beetlejuice Friday, Nov. 1, at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, Nov. 2, at 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 3, at 2:30 p.m.at the Amato Center for the Arts (56 Mont Vernon St., Milford, amatocenter.org/riverbend-youth-company). Tickets cost $15 for adults, $10 for seniors and children.

• Enchantment Theatre Company will present My Father’s Dragon, based on the book series by Ruth Stiles Gannett and illustrated by Ruth Chrisman Gannett, on Wednesday, Nov. 6, at 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. at the Music Hall (28 Chestnut St., Portsmouth, themusichall.org). The show will then come to the Capitol Center for the Arts (Chubb Theatre, 44 S. Main St. in Concord; ccanh.com) on Wednesday, Nov. 13, at 10:30 a.m. where tickets are $8. See a video trailer for the production at ccanh.com. See enchantmenttheatre.org for more on the company.

• The Wizard of Oz will be presented by the Rochester Opera House (31 Wakefield St., Rochester, 335-1992, rochesteroperahouse.com) through Sunday, Nov. 3, with shows on Thursdays and Fridays at 7:30 p.m.; Saturdays at 2 and 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 5 p.m. Tickets range from $26 to $32. Visit rochesteroperahouse.com to purchase tickets.

Stories on screen

• Coraline (PG, 2009) will screen via Fathom Events in celebration of its 15th anniversary with shows on Thursday, Oct. 31, and Friday, Nov. 1, at Cinemark Rockingham Park in Salem (4 and 7 p.m.) and Regal Fox Run in Newington (1 and 7 p.m.). See FathomEvents.com.

• Catch Wes Anderson’s stop motion Fantastic Mr. Fox (PG, 2009), based on the Roald Dahl book, as part of the Little Lunch Date series at Chunky’s (707 Huse Road in Manchester; chunkys.com) on Tuesday, Nov. 5, at 11:30 a.m. (Election Day, when some area schools are closed). Reserve seats for $5 per person (plus fees), which includes a $5 food voucher.

And, speaking of Chunky’s, save the date: tickets to Friday, Dec. 6, through Thursday, Dec. 19, screenings of The Polar Express(G, 2004) are on sale now, including regular admission tickets and a ticket that comes with a bell and a Santa cookie. Special screenings include the Monday, Dec. 9, and Monday, Dec. 16 5:30 p.m. which include a visit from Santa Claus, and the Wednesday, Dec. 11, screening at 11:30 a.m., which is sensory friendly.

Family fun for whenever

Spooky Season

Find lots of haunted happenings in the Halloween guide in the Oct. 17 issue of the Hippo. Go to hippopress.com to find the issue in the digital library; the stories start on page 10. Here are some of the highlights:

• Charmingfare Farm (774 High St., Candia) will offer its Children’s Trick-or-Treat Experience on Saturday, Oct. 26, and Sunday, Oct. 27, with start times available on the hour between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. In addition to trick-or-treating, families can meet a friendly witch, see wildlife exhibits and barnyard animals, take a horse-drawn wagon ride, decorate pumpkins, ride a pony and watch a juggling show. Tickets cost $29 per person — admission is free for children under age 2 — and must be purchased online in advance. Visit visitthefarm.com.

• The New Hampshire Audubon’s McLane Center (84 Silk Farm Road, Comcord, nhaudubon.org, 224-9909) will hold its annual Enchanted Forest on Friday, Oct. 25, and Saturday, Oct. 26. Follow a trail in the forest illuminated by jack-o’-lanterns, watch skits, hear stories by the campfire and more, according to the website, where you can purchase tickets for $15 per person. Reservations are required.

• The Children’s Museum of New Hampshire hosts its Not-So-Spooky Spectacular on Friday, Oct. 25, and Saturday, Oct. 26, with sessions each day from 9 a.m. to noon and from 1 to 4 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to wear costumes. The event will feature interactive science experiments, crafting in the STEAM Lab and a pumpkin scavenger hunt. The afternoon session includes a concert and dance party with kids’ musician Mr. Aaron at 2 p.m. Admission costs $12.50 for adults and children over age 1; $10.50 for 65+. Register in advance online.

• Join kids’ musician Laurie Berkner for a Halloween show at the Capitol Center for the Arts (44 S. Main St., Concord) on Saturday, Oct. 26, with performances at 11 a.m.and 3 p.m. Laurie will blend her hits with Halloween tunes. Attendees are encouraged to wear dancing shoes and bring a stuffed animal. Tickets start at $31.75 on the CCA website.

• Family Fright Fest will be haunting the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center (2 Institute Drive, Concord) on Sunday, Oct. 27, from 10:30 to 4 p.m. Participants can engage in hands-on activities, endure “Seven Minutes of Terror” ahead of the Tonight’s Sky planetarium shows at noon and 2 p.m., and even go on a code-cracking scavenger hunt, according to their website. Participants are encouraged to dress up in their favorite Halloween costume. Regular admission costs apply, but general admission tickets are buy one, get one free when you come in costume and the discount is only applicable for tickets purchased at the front desk, according to the website. “Hands-On Spooky Science Demonstrations” will occur throughout the day as well as activities for the whole family like pumpkin constellation painting, the bat paper airplane target challenge and more, according to the website. Visit starhop.com.