Category: Family Fun

Family fun for the weekend

Indoor adventures

• Learn all about Japan at the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire (6 Washington St. in Dover; childrens-museum.org) with this month’s World Traveler Thursday: Cherry Blossom Festival. The first day will be Thursday, March 9. The activity will be included in the regular playtime sessions at 10:30 a.m. or 2:30 p.m. Admission to the museum is $12.50 per visitor, $10.50 for guests older than 65, and free for children under a year old.

• The Children’s Museum of New Hampshire is also continuing its Science Friday program with more hands-on education with its STEAM lab on Friday, March 10, with activities at 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. (to accommodate both morning and afternoon play sessions). Science Friday programs are included with regular session admission.

• This week’s storytime and craft at Bookery (844 Elm St. in Manchester; bookerymht.com) will feature a reading of Celia Planted a Garden with a floral-themed craft to go along with it on Saturday, March 11, at 11:30 a.m. The event is free; advance registration online is recommended.

• Join the Canvas Roadshow (25 S. River Road, Bedford) for a family resin workshop on Sunday, March 12, at 2 p.m. Families will choose what shape to make their poured resin artwork out of and decorate it together. Each shape costs $35 and registration can be done at thecanvasroadshow.com.

Showtime!

• The Palace Theatre’s production of Little Women continues this weekend with shows Friday, March 10, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, March 11, at 2 and 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, March 12, at 2 p.m. The show continues through next Sunday, March 19. Tickets cost $39 to $46, depending on location ($25 for children ages 6 to 12). On March 7, the website said the purchase of an BOGO Special – Purchase 1 Adult ticket and bring your Young Adult (age 12-18) for FREE! Use code: B1G1LW at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester). The show follows the March sisters (Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy) as they follow their dreams and learn to become strong, independent women. The show will run Friday, March 10, through Sunday, March 12, and Friday, March 17, through Sunday, March 19, with times at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $25 and can be bought at palacetheatre.org.

• Mr. Aaron is having an album release party at the Bank of NH Stage (16 S. Main St., Concord) to celebrate the release of his new children’s music album. The show starts at 10 a.m. and tickets cost $13.75 each. Visit ccanh.com for more information.

• Get “jellicle” with Cats for Young Actorsat the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester) on Tuesday, March 14, and Wednesday, March 15, at 7 p.m. The Tony award-winning musical features classic hit songs like “Memory” and fun dance sequences. Tickets are $12 to $15 and can be purchased at palacetheatre.org.

Take a break

• The Peacock Players (14 Court St., Nashua) is offering a parents’ night out on Friday, March 10, from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Kids ages 6 to 13 will be entertained by the Players staff of performing artists and educators and will play different games and have a movie night or karaoke contest. Registration for each child is $25 and can be done at peacockplayears.org.

Outdoor adventures

• Head to the McIntyre Ski Area (50 Chalet Court, Manchester) for the Little Macs jamboree on Saturday, March 11, at 10 a.m. The competition is open to kids ages 4 to 6 and of all levels. Prizes will be awarded to kids with the best costume and the best-decorated helmet. Registration costs $40 and day-of registration ends a half hour before the competition begins. Visit mcintyreskiarea.com for more information.

• Beaver Brook will have Forest Tales on Monday, March 13, at 10 a.m. at Maple Hill Farm (117 Ridge Road, Hollis). The hour-long story time is for kids and their caregivers alike to spend time in nature and learn more about the great outdoors. Visit beaverbrook.org to register.

Save the date

• Join the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire (6 Washington St., Dover) for a St. Patrick’s Day Celebration on Friday, March 17, from 9 a.m. to noon or from 1 to 4 p.m. Kids will participate in a leprechaun-themed scavenger hunt, an Irish-themed craft and a special science experiment. The party is included in registration for playtime. Visit childrens-museum.org for more information or to register.

• Calling all kids who love comic books: Kids Con New England is coming to the Everett Arena (15 Loudon Road, Concord) on May 13 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The con promotes literacy through the use of comic books, graphic novels and children’s stories. There will be workshops, family-friendly comics, artwork and more. Tickets cost $12. For more information visit kidsconne.com.

Family fun for the weekend

Library happenings

• The Nashua River Watershed Association will be leading a hands-on Nashua River junior scientist program on Thursday, March 2, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Nashua Public Library (2 Court St.). Kids will use the Nashua River as their “outdoor laboratory,” to explore river issues and do activities related to river ecology, watershed protection, and look at this important resource through the lens of climate change, according to the library. Visit nashualibrary.org.

• Join the Manchester City Library (405 Pine St.) for a day filled with retro games and pixel art on Thursday, March 2, from 1 to 4 p.m. Families can play live-action versions of their favorite retro games, do game-inspired crafts, and create pixel art that’s used in older video games. The program is geared toward kids in grades 1 through 6 and their families. Visit manchester.lib.nh.us for more information.

Girl Scout fun

• Girl Scouts are hosting a unicorn party and sign-up event on Monday, March 6, from 6 to 7 p.m. at the Hampstead Central School (21 Emerson Ave.) in the art room. Girls in kindergarten through grade 12, along with a caregiver, are invited to do a hands-on craft while learning more about the Scouts and how to sign up. The event is also virtual and can be accessed at girlscoutsgwm.org.

• And save the date: Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains are looking for girls to join their competitive rowing team for the upcoming General Clinton Regatta in New York. Girls don’t have to be a member of the Scouts to join the swift paddlers team, but will become an honorary member for the purpose of the competition. Practices will take place at Camp Kettleford in Bedford and the competition will be in September. To sign up or to get more information, contact [email protected] or call 888-474-9686.

Get active

• The City Wide Community Center (14 Canterbury Road, Concord) is hosting family drop-in basketball for families in and around the capital city on Thursday, March 2. Games start at 6 p.m. and will be led by the recreation center’s staff. Children participating must be supervised by a teen or adult older than 16. Fee to participate is $2 for Concord residents, $3 for non-residents. For more information about this event, call 225-8690.

• The last race in the Snow or No We Go series is on Saturday, March 4, at 10 a.m. There are two races to choose from, a 2- or 4-mile run/walk. This race will be at the Prospect Acres Obstacle Course (4 Beaumier Drive, Franklin). Proceeds from the signup will benefit the Canterbury Shaker Village, Boys and Girls Club of Central NH, and Prospect Acres Obstacle Course. Registration costs $25 per runner and can be completed at runsignup.com.

Shows!

• Come to the Capitol Center for the Arts’ Chubb Theatre (44 S. Main St., Concord) to see the Omnium Circus on Thursday, March 2, at 7 p.m. The circus’s new show “I’m Possible” follows the story of Johnny, who goes on a journey of courage and strength in a madcap circus adventure. Doors open at 6 p.m. Tickets are free, but reservations are required. Visit ccanh.com to reserve a spot.

• If you’re at the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire (6 Washington St. in Dover; childrens-museum.org) on Sunday, March 5, check out the theGallery 6 art exhibition: Step into a Story – Art by New England Illustrators, which closes March 6 (the museum is closed on Mondays). The project looks at the artwork and the creative process of storybook writers and artists from New Hampshire and neighboring states. Entrance to Gallery 6 is free and it is open during museum hours, which vary day to day. For more information, visit childrens-museum.org.

Save the Date

• Get a jump start on Maple Weekend with the Beaver Brook Association (117 Ridge Road, Hollis) at the Maple Sugar Magic Family Event on Sunday, March 12, at 1 p.m. The free event will look at the history of the maple sugar season and the process of tapping and collecting the sweet stuff, through crafts, puppet shows and more. Advance registration is required and can be done at beaverbrook.org/education.

• Join the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester) for Fancy Nancy and the Mermaid Ballet on Sunday, April 2, at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. The show follows Nancy and her best friend Bree as they audition for the fanciest of ballets, the Deep-Sea Dances. The production is put on by the Southern NH Youth Ballet. In addition to Nancy’s story, they will also perform The Ugly Duckling. Tickets start at $20 and can be purchased at palacetheatre.org.

Family fun for the weekend

Vacation at the museum

• The McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center (2 Institute Drive in Concord; starhop.com, 271-7827) will be open daily through Sunday, March 5, from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., with planetarium shows every hour from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tickets cost $12 for adults, $9 for children ages 3 to 12, $11 for seniors ages 62 and older and for students ages 13 through college. Planetarium shows cost an additional $6 for everyone older than 3.

• The Children’s Museum of New Hampshire (6 Washington St. in Dover; childrens-museum.org, 742-2002) recommends purchasing tickets in advance during winter vacation, when the museum will be open Tuesdays through Saturdays, with sessions from 9 a.m. to noon or 1 to 4 p.m., and Sundays 9 a.m. to noon. There will be additional drop-in activities focusing on arts, STEM and stories included in the play session, according to a press release. Admission costs $12.50 for everyone over 12 months, $10.50 for 65+.

• The SEE Science Center (200 Bedford St. in Manchester; see-sciencecenter.org, 669-0400) has updated its hours for school vacation. The center will be open Monday, Feb. 27, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in addition to being open Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Last admission on weekdays is at 3 p.m., on weekends is at 4 p.m. Tickets cost $12 for visitors ages 3 and older. SEE’s website also recommends making advance reservations.

• Spend more time at the Aviation Museum of New Hampshire (27 Navigator Road in Londonderry; aviationmuseumofnh.org, 669-4820) with its extended vacation hours. On Tuesday, Feb. 28; Wednesday, March 1, and Thursday March 2, the museum will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in addition to its usual hours of Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Sundays from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. In addition to the extended hours, the museum will have activities including a story time on Wednesday, March 1, at 10 a.m. and a flight simulator for kids 12 and up on Tuesday, Feb. 28, and Thursday, March 2, from 1 to 4 p.m. Admission for children under the age of 6 is free, kids ages 6 to 12 and veterans and their families are $5. Standard admission for visitors age 13 and older is $10.

Movie theater fun

• Sugar up at Theater Candy Bingo at Chunky’s Nashua location (151 Coliseum Ave.) on Thursday, Feb. 23, at 6 p.m. The live hosted bingo night will have candy and a few Chunky’s giveaways as well as prizes at the end of each round. It costs $10 to reserve a seat (with an included $5 food voucher) and a box of candy to go into the pot. Only one bingo per customer. Visit chunkys.com to reserve a spot.

• Get dazzled by Ben Pratt at his family-friendly magic show at Chunky’s in Manchester (707 Huse Road) on Tuesday, Feb. 28, at 6:30 p.m. Pratt, who has won many awards for his illusions, is a Granite State native who has performed across New England and in Las Vegas. Tickets for his high-energy magic-meets-standup comedy show cost $15 and can be bought at chunkys.com.

Winter festivities

The 31st annual Winter Carnival is on Saturday, Feb. 25, at Wasserman Park in Merrimack. The carnival will have a special appearance by Mack, the Police Department’s comfort dog, as well as the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile. The event will get the family out frolicking in the cold winter air (and hopefully snow) to celebrate the season. There will be warm food and drinks to keep the chill away. The event starts at noon. For more information visit merrimackparksandrec.org/winter-carnival.