Category: Family Fun

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.

Family fun for the weekend

Getting crafty

• Make your own cocoa mug at Voices of Clay (16 Meetinghouse Hill Road, Brookline) on Saturday, Dec. 17, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Kids will get to build a mug out of slab-rolled clay and decorate it with underglaze paint to make it uniquely their own. The mugs will be ready for pickup one month after the class. The price of the class is $35. A space can be reserved at voiceofclay.squarespace.com.

• Drop kids off at AR Workshop (875 Elm St., Manchester) for a mini Santa and friends wood block workshop on Saturday, Dec. 17, from 3 to 5 p.m. This program is recommended for kids ages 6 and older. Choose a reindeer, a snowman, Santa, an elf or a gingerbread man. A set of three costs $29; all five cost $45. Visit arworkshop.com for more information and to register.

Meet Santa

• Santa is coming to the Educational Farm at Joppa Hill (174 Joppa Hill Road, Bedford) for a Christmas Festival on Saturday, Dec. 17, at 5 p.m. The festival will include a tree lighting, a bonfire, s’mores kits, food trucks and face painting. Visit theeducationalfarm.org for more information.

• Join the New Boston Parks and Recreation department for s’mores with Santa on Saturday, Dec. 17, from 4 to 6 p.m. at the town’s gazebo. The tree lighting ceremony will be at 5 p.m. and kids can visit with Santa afterward. There will be cocoa and hot cider in addition to the s’mores. Visit newbostonnh.gov for more information.

Museums and libraries

• The Children’s Museum of New Hampshire (6 Washington St., Dover) is having two free admission days for Service Credit Union Members on Thursday, Dec. 15, and Saturday, Dec. 17, for the 9 a.m. to noon or 1 to 4 p.m. sessions. For more information on how to use the discount for a playtime session or to register for a play session, visit childrens-museum.org.

• Friday, Dec. 16, is the last chance kids will have to visit the Concord Public Library (45 Green St.) to write a letter to Santa. The library has all the materials needed for kids to write their list and check it twice. The event runs all day, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the children’s section. Visit concordnh.gov for more information.

• The McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center (2 Institute Drive, Concord) is premiering a new planetarium show called “The Great Spirit Bear Chase” on Wednesday, Dec. 21, at 7 p.m. The show was made to tell the story of the night sky from the perspective and cultural traditions of indigenous people. Admission is free and there will be hors d’oeuvres served. Visit starhop.com for more information.

Showtime

• Find out who did it at the free family mystery show A Merry Little Crime Scene at Emmanuel Church (14 Mammoth Road, Hooksett) on Sunday, Dec. 18. The comedy mystery show follows people searching for who stole a missing piece of the nativity scene. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and the show starts at 6 p.m. Visit emmanuelhooksett.com for more information.

• Join Chunky’s Cinema in Pelham (150 Bridge St., Pelham) for a family-friendly showing of Elf (2003 PG) on Wednesday, Dec. 21, at 6:30 p.m. The show follows Buddy, a human adopted by one of Santa’s elves, as he goes on an adventure to find his biological family.

YMCA holiday

• The theme for the teen night at the Y is Yankee swap at the Westwood Park YMCA (90 Northwest Blvd., Nashua) on Saturday, Dec. 17, from 3 to 6 p.m. Teen ages 13 to 16 can participate by bringing a gift to exchange with others. There will also be other activities and snacks and refreshments. The cost of the event is $5 for YMCA members, $10 for nonmembers. Tickets can be bought in advance or at the door. Visit nmymca.org for more information.

Family fun for the weekend

The big guy

• It’s a bird, it’s a plane … it’s Santa Claus in a helicopter: Santa Claus will helicopter in to the Aviation Museum of New Hampshire (27 Navigator Road in Londonderry; aviationmuseumofnh.org, 669-4820) on Saturday, Dec. 10, at 11 a.m. Plan to get to the museum by 10:45 a.m. to park and see the landing, according to a press release. Santa will talk to kids (who will receive goodie bags) until 1 p.m., when he will depart by fire truck, the release said. The museum will be open and free to visitors on Saturday, Dec. 10, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The museum’s holiday exhibit, “Holiday Festival of Toy Planes and Model Aircraft,” which features more than 2,000 aviation-related toys, games and other items, will also open on Dec. 10. The exhibit will feature a “12 Planes of Christmas” scavenger hunt, the release said. 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 for ages 13 and up, $5 for ages 6 to 12, and is free for ages 5 and under, seniors and veterans/active military.

Find more places where kids can talk to Santa and enjoy other holiday amusements in our Holiday Guide issue (Nov. 24); the e-edition is available at hippopress.com (toward the bottom of the homepage). This weekend you can also find the big guy at breakfast at the Milford Town Hall (1 Union Sq.) on Saturday, Dec. 10, from 8:30 to 10 a.m. Breakfast will be pancakes and sausages. Price is $9 per person; children ages 2 and younger eat free. Visit milfordnh.recdesk.com and to reserve a spot.

Relax while they play

• Leave your kids with the child care staff at the YMCA of Greater Londonderry (206 Rockingham Road in Londonderry) for Kids Night at the Y on Saturday, Dec. 10, from 3 to 8 p.m. The event, open to kids ages 4 to 12, will feature holiday-themed crafts and games for the kids as well as a pizza dinner, according to the YMCA. The program costs $45 for one child and $40 for each additional sibling. Visit bit.ly/ygl-kids-nights to register in advance.

Nutcrackers

• Turning Pointe Center of Dance presents The Nutcracker on Saturday, Dec. 10, at 2 p.m. at the Concord City Auditorium (2 Prince St. in Concord). Tickets cost $20. Visit turningpointecenterofdance.com.

• Dance Visions Network presents The Nutcracker Suite Acts I & II on Sunday, Dec. 11, at 12:30 and 5 p.m. at the Dana Center (Saint Anselm College, 100 Saint Anselm Drive, Manchester). Tickets cost $22 plus a $4 surcharge. Visit anselm.edu/dana-center-humanities.

Special screenings

• Chunky’s Cinema Pubs (707 Huse Road, Manchester; 151 Coliseum Ave., Nashua; 150 Bridge St., Pelham, chunkys. com) will screen The Polar Express (G, 2004) at all three locations Friday, Dec. 9, through Thursday, Dec. 15, with multiple daily screenings Friday through Sunday and one 5:30 p.m. screening Monday through Thursday. Kids get a golden ticket when entering the theater and there is a surprise during the hot chocolate scene, according to the website. On Friday, Dec. 9, the 4 p.m. screening is a sensory-friendly screening with house lights slightly brighter and the movie volume turned down, the website said.