Category: Family Fun

Family fun for the weekend

On ice!

“Find Your Hero” is the theme of this weekend’s Disney On Ice show at the SNHU Arena (555 Elm St. in Manchester; snhuarena.com, 644-500). Princesses, Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Olaf the snowman and other Disney characters will take to the ice on Thursday, Jan. 5, at 7 p.m.; Friday, Jan. 6, at 7 p.m.; Saturday, Jan. 7, at 10:30 a.m., 2:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., and Sunday, Jan. 8, at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Tickets start at $18.

On the seas!

The Super Stellar Friday program on Friday, Jan. 6, at 7 p.m. at the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center (2 Institute Drive in Concord; starhop.com, 271-7827) is about “New Hampshire’s Rye Riptide STEM Miniboats.” Learn about the unmanned mini sailboats gathering wind and currents information, according to the website. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the event will be followed by planetarium and telescope viewing. The cost (which includes admission to the exhibits and a planetarium show as well as the Super Stellar programming) is $12 for adults, $9 for kids ages 3 to 12, $11 for seniors and students. The program can also be viewed virtually; see the website for information.

In the skies! (Well, imagine they’re in the skies)

The “Holiday Festival of Toy Planes and Model Aircraft” exhibit continues at the Aviation Museum of New Hampshire (27 Navigator Road in Londonderry; nhahs.org, 669-4820) and features more than 2,000 aviation toys and models, according to a press release. The exhibit will be on display through Sunday, Jan. 22; the museum is open Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m. Admission costs $10 per person ages 13 and up, $5 for ages 6 to 12 and ages 65 and up; ages 5 and under and veterans and active military get in free, the release said.

In nature!

Squam Lakes Natural Science Center (23 Science Center Road in Holderness; 968- 7194, nhnature.org) will hold the first of its Wild Winter Walk events for 2023 on Saturday, Jan. 7, at 10 a.m. The program runs through 11:30 a.m. and includes a naturalist-guided walk through the live animal exhibit trail to see how native animals adapt to winter, according to the website. The program will be all outside and is recommended for kids ages 7 and up (kids must be accompanied by adults). An afternoon program at 1 p.m. may be offered if the morning program fills up, the website said. The cost is $13 per person; register online.

For the littlest littles

The Children’s Museum of New Hampshire (6 Washington St. in Dover; childrens-museum.org, 742-2002) begins its series of baby storytimes on Thursday, Jan. 5. The storytimes run every Thursday from 9:30 to 10 a.m. and are geared to ages 6 months to 2 years, according to the website, where you can reserve spots for the morning play session (9 a.m. to noon). Admission costs $12.50 for adults and children over 12 months old; $10.50 for ages 65+.

Family fun for the weekend

Out of the house

Looking to get your family out of the house during the holiday break? Check out the Kiddie Pool column in last week’s (Dec. 22) issue, which features a list of some of the area museums open extra days or hours for the vacation. The e-edition is available at hippopress.com and the story is on page 17.

While you’re there, also check out our listing of places offering light attractions and holiday light tours, on page 16 of last week’s issue.

Getting crafty

The last chance to sign up for Drawn to the Music is Saturday, Dec. 31. The program, put on by the New Hampshire Philharmonic Orchestra, invites elementary school kids to listen to classical music and draw what they experience while listening. Winners of the competition have their artwork displayed at a concert by the Phil, and win free tickets to see the performance. To sign up, visit nhphil.org.

Library fun

• Tweens can travel the world on their plate at an international taste test at the Nashua Public Library (2 Court St.) on Thursday, Dec. 29, at 3 p.m. Kids in grades 4 through 6 will try a variety of food from around the world. The food will contain some allergens, and the librarians can provide more information if contacted at [email protected]. Registration is required for this event and can be done at nashualibrary.org.

• Visit Pelham Public Library (24 Village Green, Derry) for a chance to read to a dog on Tuesday, Jan. 3, from 5 to 6 p.m. The therapy dog, named Blondie, will be a safe, judgment-free listener as kids practice reading out loud. Registration is required for this session and can be completed at pelhampubliclibrary.com.

• Take on a reading challenge at the Manchester City Library (405 Pine St.). Teens can participate in the winter reading challenge starting on Tuesday, Jan. 3, and running through March. Teens who participate by reading library books and attending events will gain points that can be used to earn prizes and a free young-adult book of their choice. Teens can sign up at manchesternh.readsquared.com and pick up their challenge packet at the library.

• Another reading challenge at the Manchester City Library (405 Pine St.) is 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten, designed for children and their caregivers to encourage literacy for kids 1 to 4 years old. Once entered in the program, kids can earn little prizes upon completing different goals. To sign up, visit the library’s website at manchester.lib.nh.us. After signing up, parents should pick up the reading packets at the library.

Save the date

Watch the magic come to life at Disney on Ice Find Your Heroes at the SNHU Arena (555 Elm St., Manchester). Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck and Goofy will take the audience on an adventure that includes scenes from beloved Disney movies, including Moana, Frozen, Tangled and The Little Mermaid. The ice show opens on Thursday, Jan. 5, at 7 p.m. and will have shows on Friday, Jan. 6, at 7 p.m.; Saturday, Jan. 7, at 10:30 a.m., 2:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., and Sunday, Jan. 8, at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Ticket prices start at $18 and tickets can be purchased at snhuarena.com.

Family fun for the weekend

Library activities

• The Nashua Public Library (2 Court St.) is hosting a seasonal craft time for kids in grades 6 through 12 on Tuesday, Dec. 27, from 1 to 3 p.m. The project will teach them how to ink up their own set of dice for tabletop games like Dungeons & Dragons. Materials will be provided by the library. Register online in advance at nashualibrary.org.

• There will be a family-friendly movie at Nashua Public Library (2 Court St.) on Tuesday, Dec. 27, at 2 p.m. The library will show Smallfoot (PG, 2018) and provide snacks and drinks. The movie follows the friendly yeti Migo, whose life changes after he discovers humans. Visit nashualibrary.org for more information.

• Join the Manchester City Library (405 Pine St., Manchester) for a Gingerbread Earthquake activity on Wednesday, Dec. 28, from 1 to 4 p.m. Kids in grades 1 through 6 can come by and build a gingerbread house and see if it withstands the library’s earthquake simulator platform. This is the last gingerbread event of the season at the library. For more information, visit manchester.lib.nh.us.

Museum fun

• Join the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire (6 Washington St., Dover) during their holiday hours Wednesday to Saturday, 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m., and Tuesday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to noon. The museum will have active play time, holiday themed activities, story times, and craft projects. Tickets cost $12.50 per child, $10.50 for seniors ages 65 and older, and are free for children under 1 year old. Visit childrens-museum.org to reserve a spot in advance.

• The Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St., Manchester) is open regular hours over the holiday break, Wednesday and Friday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. The museum will be closed on Christmas Day but will be open on Christmas Eve from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tickets cost $15 for adults, $13 for seniors ages 65 and older, $10 for students, $5 for teens ages 13 to 17, and are free for children under 13 years old or members. Visit currier.org for more information or to reserve tickets online.

• The Aviation Museum of New Hampshire (27 Navigator Road, Londonderry) will be open Friday, Dec. 23, and Tuesday, Dec. 27, through Friday, Dec. 30, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The museum will have the annual “Holiday Festival of Toy Planes and Model Aircraft” exhibit open during those hours. This year’s exhibit features more than 2,000 toy planes and model aircraft on display. Younger kids can participate in the 12 Planes of Christmas scavenger hunt, where they look for specific planes in the mobiles of the exhibits. Admission costs $10 for adults 13 and older, $5 for kids ages 6 to 12, seniors 65 and above, and veterans/active military. Kids 5 and younger are free. Visit aviationmuseumofnh.org for more information.

• SEE Science Center (200 Bedford Road, Manchester) is hosting a slew of hands-on, interactive activities during winter break. In addition to being open on Monday, Dec. 26, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the museum’s hours will be updated to 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday through Friday. There will be different activities each day, including a chance to try a machine learning game, make a science craft to take home, or touch a fossil. For more information about the museum or to reserve tickets, visit see-sciencecenter.org.

• The McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center (2 Institute Drive in Concord; starhop.com, 271-7827) will be open Friday, Dec. 23, from 10:30 to 4 p.m. and then daily from Monday, Dec. 26, through Saturday, Dec. 31, from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission costs $12 for adults, $11 for students and seniors and $9 for children ages 3 to 12, according to the website. Planetarium shows cost an additional $6 per person (children ages 2 and under get in free); see times and descriptions for the different shows online. Purchase admission online to reserve a morning or afternoon visit spot.

Ice is nice

• The Douglas N. Everett Arena (15 Loudon Road, Concord) will be open on Christmas Eve from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. for ice skating. Admission is $6, with children 3 and younger being free. Ice skate rentals are $6 a pair and there are refreshments at the snack bar. Visit concordnh.gov for more information.