Category: Family Fun

Family fun for whenever

Mega-storytime

• “Storytime! Small Business Saturday Edition” at Gibson’s Bookstore (45 S. Main St., Concord, 224-0562, gibsonsbookstore.com) on Saturday, Nov. 25, at 11 a.m. will feature multiple authors reading from their new children’s books: Deborah Buss with Where Is Little Stripe’s Daddy?, Matt Forrest Esenwine with The Thing to Remember About Stargazing and Kari Allen with Maddie and Mabel Make a Plan.

Make a day of it

• Charmingfare Farm (774 High St. in Candia; visitthefarm.com) is holding its Christmas Tree Spree from Friday, Nov. 24, through Sunday, Nov. 26, with times starting at 10 a.m. For $22 per person or $159 for four people, plus a tree, visit the farm to pick a balsam or Fraser fir, take a horse-drawn wagon ride, meet Santa’s reindeer, warm up at the campfire and more. Reserve admissions online.

Day at the museum

Museums are closed on Thanksgiving, but here’s what’s happening the rest of the weekend.

• The Aviation Museum of New Hampshire (27 Navigator Road in Londonderry; nhahs.org, 669-4820) 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 above, $5 for 65+, veterans/military and kids ages 6 to 12, and is free for ages 5 and under.

• The Children’s Museum of New Hampshire (6 Washington St. in Dover; childrens-museum.org, 742-2002) has play sessions from 9 a.m. to noon on Tuesday, Nov. 21; from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 22, and Friday, Nov. 24, and Saturday, Nov. 25; and 9 a.m. to noon on Sunday, Nov. 26. Catch Wacky Art Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. and Science Fridays at 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Buy admissions for a time slot online in advance; admission costs $12.50 for adults and children over 12 months, $10.50 for 65+. Check out images of the museum’s past 40 years in the “40 Years of Play” exhibit in Gallery 6.

• The Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St. in Manchester; currier.org, 669-6144) will be open Wednesday, Nov. 22, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. as well as Friday, Nov. 24, through Sunday, Nov. 26, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission costs $20 for adults, $15 for ages 65+, $15 for students and $5 for ages 13 to 17 (children under 13 get in for free). Current exhibits include “Fabricating Modernism: Prints from the School of Paris,” “Heart of a Museum: Saya Woolfalk” and “Sanaa Gateja: Selected Works.”

• The Manchester Millyard Museum (200 Bedford St. in Manchester; manchesterhistoric.org, 622-7531) is open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (closed Thanksgiving). Admission costs $10 for adults, $8 for 65+ and college students, $5 for ages 12 to 18 and free for kids under 12. Print out the “Gallery Games” sheets (or grab some from the front desk) to do a scavenger hunt.

• The McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center (2 Institute Dr. in Concord; starhop.com, 271-7827) is open Wednesday, Nov. 22, as well as Friday, Nov. 24, through Sunday, Nov. 26, from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission costs $12 for adults, $9 for ages 3 to 12, $11 for 65+ and free for ages 2 and under, with planetarium shows an additional $6 per person ages 3 and up. Current planetarium shows include 3-2-1 Liftoff, Totality!, The Great Spirit Bear Chase and the Hunt by the Bird People, Tonight’s Sky and Big Astronomy. See the website for the show schedule.

• The New Hampshire Historical Society (30 Park St. in Concord; 228-6688, nhhistory.org) is open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. (except for Thanksgiving). The Society, which is currently celebrating its 200th anniversary, features the exhibit “Discovering New Hampshire” with objects, photographs, documents and more from New Hampshire’s history. Admission costs $7 for adults, children age 18 and under get in free.

• SEE Science Center (200 Bedford St. in Manchester; see-sciencecenter.org, 669-0400) is open Tuesdays through Fridays (closed Thanksgiving) from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets cost $12 for ages 3 and up. Exhibits include the Lego Millyard, “Sun, Earth, Universe,” Physics Fun, Cooking & Chemistry, Dinosaurs, BiologYou and Bubbles, The Ocean and You.

Family fun for whenever

Celebrating an astronaut

• The McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center (2 Institute Dr. in Concord; starhop.com, 271-7827) will hold a “100 Years of Alan B. Shepard Celebration” on Saturday, Nov. 18, from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. with demonstrations, educational activities, special content and archival displays about Shepard, who was born in East Derry on Nov. 18, 1923, according to the website. Admission to the center costs $12 for adults, $11 for 62+ and ages 13 through college, $9 for ages 3 through 12 (kids 2 and under get in for free). Planetarium show tickets cost an additional $6 per person.

• Keep the party going with cake. The Aviation Museum of New Hampshire (27 Navigator Road in Londonderry; 669-4820, nhahs.org) will serve cake, while slices last, in honor of Alan Shepard to visitors Friday, Nov. 17, through Sunday, Nov. 19. 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 adults, $5 for ages 6 to 12 and 65+ and veterans/active military, and is free for ages 5 and under, according to the website.

Storytime

• Bookery Manchester (844 Elm St. in Manchester; bookerymht.com) will hold a “Giving Thanks Storytime” with the Kiwanis Club on Saturday, Nov. 18, at 11:30 a.m. The event will also include a craft, according to the website, where you can go to reserve a spot for this free event.

Showtime!

• The Capitol Center for the Arts presents Ndlovu Youth Choir as part of the Gile Series of events on Thursday, Nov. 16, at 7 p.m. in the Chubb Theatre (44 S. Main St. in Concord; ccanh.com). The group, which has a run on Season 14 of America’s Got Talent, is described as having “unique musical arrangements, powerhouse vocals, irresistibly combined with mesmerizing choreography and infectious energy,” according to ccanh.com, where you can see videos including their cover of Dolly Parton’s “Jolene” and “Shallow” from A Star Is Born. Tickets are free but go online to reserve seats.

• The Kids Coop Theatre presents The SpongeBob Musical Friday, Nov. 17, through Sunday, Nov. 19, at the Derry Opera House (29 W. Broadway, Derry). More information and ticket sales are TBA. Visit kids-coop-theatre.org.

• The Peacock Players (14 Court St., Nashua, peacockplayers.org) youth theater company presents Beauty and the Beast through Sunday, Nov. 19. Showtimes are on Friday at 7 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 7 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m.

Family fun for whenever

Animal entertainment

• Catch the animated movie Free Birds(PG, 2013) on Friday, Nov. 10, at 3:30 p.m. at all three Chunky’s Cinema Pubs (707 Huse Road, Manchester; 151 Coliseum Ave., Nashua; 150 Bridge St., Pelham, chunkys.com) as part of a “Little Lunch Date” screening. Admission is free but reserve a seat with a $5 food voucher.

• At the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire (6 Washington St. in Dover; childrens-museum.com) the “Visiting Mexican Artists Program: The Dancing Chickens of Ventura Fabian” will take place Friday, Nov. 10, at 10:30 a.m. (during the morning 9 a.m. to noon session) and feature Oaxacan wood carver Norberto Fabian, son of the late master carver Ventura Fabian, according to a press release. Norberto Fabian will share his wood pieces that celebrate Mexican folk art and culture, conduct a demonstration and answer questions, the release said. Admission costs $12.50 per person ($10.50 for 65+); purchase reservations online.

In other animal news at the museum, the Service Credit Union Money Mammals’ Joe the Monkey will visit on Saturday, Nov. 11, at 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. The program will include the reading of a book that promotes financial literacy alongside a costumed Joe the Monkey, according to the museum’s website.

And save the date for some fish-ertainment. As part of the museum’s Family Literacy Month programing, the Pout Pout Fish will be on hand to meet fans on Friday, Nov. 17, at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 18, at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Showtime!

• See the tale as old as time when the Peacock Players (14 Court St., Nashua, peacockplayers.org) youth theater company presents Beauty and the Beast Friday, Nov. 10, through Sunday, Nov. 19, at their home theater, the Janice B. Street Theatre. Showtimes are on Friday at 7 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 7 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $15 to $18 for adults, $12 to $15 for seniors and students.

• The Palace Youth Theatre presents The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, The Musical featuring student actors in grades 2 through 12 on Wednesday, Nov. 15, and Thursday, Nov. 16, at 7 p.m. at the Rex Theatre (23 Amherst St. in Manchester; palacetheatre.org, 668-5588). Tickets cost $12 for ages 6 to 12 and $15 for adults.

• The curtain rises on the Seacoast Repertory Theatre’s (125 Bow St. in Portsmouth; 433-4472, seacoastrep.org) presentation of Matilda, the musical based on the Roald Dahl book, Thursday, Nov. 9, through Saturday, Dec. 23, with showtimes most Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 2 & 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. plus Wednesday, Nov. 15, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $35 to $60.

Family fun for whenever

Shows!

• The Riverbend Youth Company will present High School MusicalFriday, Nov. 3, at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, Nov. 4, at 2:30 and 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, Nov. 5, at 2:30 p.m. at the Amato Center for the Performing Arts (56 Mont Vernon St. in Milford, amatocenter.org/riverbend-youth-company). Tickets cost $12 for adults, $8 for seniors and kids.

• Teach the children about their jam-band forebears at Rock and Roll Playhouse — Music of the Grateful Dead for Kids on Sunday, Nov. 5, at noon at Bank of NH Stage (16 S. Main St. in COncord; ccanh.com). Tickets cost $18.75 in advance, or $5 more at the door.

Museum happenings

• At the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center (2 Institute Drive in Concord; starhop.com, 271-7827), this Friday’s Super Stellar Friday program (program starts at 7 p.m.; doors open at 6:30 p.m.) will focus on “Breaking Barriers: A Woman’s Journey in Aviation” with Debbora Losch, education director at the Aviation Museum of New Hampshire. Losch served as an AH-64D Apache helicopter mechanic while in the U.S. Army, according to a press release, and will discuss the challenges and triumphs of women in aviation. Tickets cost $12 for adults, $9 for ages 3 to 12, $11 for 62+. A webinar version of the presentation is free to view but registration is required.

• At the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire (6 Washington St. in Dover; childrens-museum.org, 742-2002), the Thursday Cultural Crafts for November will focus on Bonfire Night in the United Kingdom. The program is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. during the 9 a.m. to noon session and 2:30 p.m. during the 1 to 4 p.m. session and is included with admission on all Thursdays in November except Nov. 23 (Thanksgiving). On Saturday, Nov. 4, Quint-Essential Winds will perform at 10:30 a.m., offering three classic stories presented with music and interactive elements. Tickets cost $12.50 for everyone over 12 months, $10.50 for 65+.

Storytime

• New England author and illustrator Matt Tavares will read his new picture book Dasher Can’t Wait For Christmas, a follow-up to his book Dasher!, on Saturday, Nov. 4, at 11 a.m. at Gibson’s Bookstore (45 S. Main St. in Concord; gibsonsbookstore.com, 224-0562).

Save the date

• Have kids interested in music lessons? Get a look at what they could learn when more than 100 students show off their guitar, piano, ukulele, violin, saxophone, trumpet, drums and vocal skills at North Main Music’s student concert on Sunday, Nov. 12, at Nashua High School North (8 Titan Way) presented in 90-minute segments from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. See northmainmusic.com for more information on the music school and northmainmusic.com/contact for more on the concert.

Family fun for whenever

City trick-or-treat

• The Spooktacular Downtown Trick-or-Treating Extravaganza in Manchester will take place Friday, Oct. 27, from 3 to 6:30 p.m. The afternoon will feature family-friendly activities, treats and more, according to a press release from Mayor Joyce Craig’s office. Craig will hand out books to kids, who are encouraged to dress up and visit participating businesses. Stanton Plaza will feature children’s activities, a live DJ and more, the release said.

• Intown Concord will host a Halloween Howl on Friday, Oct. 27, on Main Street. At 5 p.m. there will be a free kids’ fun run in Bicentennial Square, followed by activities including trick-or-treating, witch hat ring toss, Trunk or Treat and a Pumpkin Photo Op from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. At 5:45 p.m. there will be a “not so scary” costume parade, and participants will gather at City Plaza in front of the Statehouse arch. Additionally, there will be a costume contest at 6 p.m. on Capitol Street. Pre-registration is required for the costume contest. Visit members.intownconcord.org.

Halloween in the park

• The City of Nashua will host its Halloween Boo Bash on Saturday, Oct. 28, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Greeley Park (100 Concord St.). Activities include hay rides, pumpkin decorating, a haunted house and a bonfire. Costumes are encouraged at this free event. See nashuanh.gov.

• Join the town of Merrimack for its 31st Annual Halloween Party on Saturday, Oct. 28, from noon to 3 p.m. at Wasserman Park (116 Naticook Road). There will be a costume contest and a Pumpkin Race Car Derby along with free games, crafts and face painting. Nonprofit organizations Merrimack Friends & Families and Less Leg More Heart will have food for sale. Visit merrimackparksandrec.org.

Spooktacular tunes

• CAKE Theatre (12 Veterans Square, Laconia, 677-6360) will host a Spook N’ Groove hangout and dance party with mixed drinks, root beer floats, doughnut ice cream sundaes and more on Friday, Oct. 27, at 7 p.m. The theater level dance party has a DJ and laser lights. Kids 12 and under admitted free with a paid adult. Admission for teens and adults 13+ is $10 per person. Costumes are welcome but not required.

• Join kids’ musician Laurie Berkner for a Halloween show at the Capitol Center for the Arts (44 S. Main St., Concord) on Saturday, Oct. 28, 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 cost $31.75 to $86.75 at ccanh.com/show/laurie-berkner.

Trunk or treat

Find our list of area trunk-or-treats and trick-or-treat times in our roundup of Halloween happenings in the Oct. 19 issue, available at hippopress.com. Here are a few places to trick-or-treat this weekend.

• Milford: Trick-or-treat at the Oval on Friday, Oct. 27, from 3 to 4:30 p.m. downtown. Visit milford.nh.gov.

• Concord Farmers Market: Wear costumes and trick-or-treat at vendors at the Saturday, Oct. 28, market, which runs from 8:30 a.m. to noon on Capitol Street (next to the Statehouse).

• Manchester: Trick-or-treat on Saturday, Oct. 28, from noon to 2 p.m. at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium (1 Line Drive). Visit trick-or-treat-at-the-ballpark.

• Derry: Trick-or-treat on Saturday, Oct. 28, from noon to 3 p.m. downtown. Visit derrynh.org.

• Amherst: Trunk-or-treat on Saturday, Oct. 28, at 4 p.m. in the Clark-Wilkins School parking lot (80 Boston Post Road). Visit amherstnh.gov.

• Hudson: Trunk-Or-Treat on Sunday, Oct. 29, from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Hudson Mall (77 Derry Road in Hudson; thehudsonmall.com).

• Bedford: Trunk-or-treat on Sunday, Oct. 29, from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Murphy’s Tap Room parking lot at 393 Route 101. See bedfordnh.myrec.com.