Category: Family Fun

Family fun for the weekend

Ho ho ho holidays

The holiday happenings — plays, concerts, Santa appearances and more! — continue this weekend. Check out our big listings of holiday events in the Nov. 25 issue, packed full of Christmas/winter/general holiday-themed events happening through the end of the year. You can find the e-edition at hippopress.com.

Holiday fun at the movies

This weekend you’ll find fun for families with kids of all ages at area theaters.

• For the littlest moviegoers: Catch The Polar Express(G, 2004) on Thursday, Dec. 16, at the O’neil Cinemas at Brickyard Square (24 Calef Hwy. in Epping; 679-3529, oneilcinemas.com) at 1:30 and 4:05 p.m.

• The Polar Express (G, 2004) will also screen at the Park Theatre (19 Main St. in Jaffrey; theparktheatre.org) on Saturday, Dec. 18, at 1 p.m. Admission is free but go online to get tickets. Have a photo taken with Santa and Elves in the lobby.

• Elf (PG, 2003) is screening at Christmas Break on a Budget on Saturday, Dec. 18, at noon at The Strand (20 Third St. in Dover; 343-1899, thestranddover.com). The afternoon will include storytime, family activities and the movie. The cost is $20 for a family of four or $8 each.

• Show your ballet-loving dancer how the pros do it with a broadcast presentation of the Bolshoi Ballet — The Nutcracker on Sunday, Dec. 19, at 12:55 p.m. at the Bank of NH Stage (16 S. Main St. in Concord: 225-1111, banknhstage.com). Tickets cost $15.

• For the cinephile kid interested in the classics: It’s a Wonderful Life (1946) will screen at all three Chunky’s Cinema Pub locations (707 Huse Road, Manchester; 151 Coliseum Ave., Nashua; 150 Bridge St., Pelham, chunkys.com) on Sunday, Dec. 19, at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $5.99.

• For the cinephile teen interested in the 1980s version of the classics: National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (PG-13, 1989) will screen at Regal Fox Run (45 Gosling Road in Newington; regmovies.com) on Saturday, Dec. 18, at 1 p.m. Tickets cost $5.

• For watching with the teen who is old enough to argue the merits of the “is it a Christmas movie?” debate: Die Hard (R, 1988) is screening at Red River Theatres (11 S. Main St. in Concord; 224-4600, redrivertheatres.org) on Thursday, Dec. 16, at 7 p.m. The screening is part of the theater’s “Vax & Snax” program, when the concession stand will be open but guests must be vaccinated (see the website for details).

Winter-y fun outdoors

• The Beaver Brook Association (117 Ridge Road in Hollis; beaverbrook.org) will hold its annual Winter Solstice Family Event on Sunday, Dec. 19, with time slots from 2 to 4 p.m. There will be a self-guided trail with a nature story about the origins of the winter solstice, plus facts about New England wildlife and the tradition of the Yule log. The cost is $12.

• Charmingfare Farm (774 High St. in Candia; visitthefarm.com) continues its Santa’s Christmas celebration this weekend (Dec. 17 through Dec. 19) and on Thursday, Dec. 23. Attractions include a horse-drawn wagon, live animal Nativity, visits with Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus and live “reindeer,” s’mores kits available for purchase, and hot cocoa and complimentary sugar cookies provided by Mrs. Claus.

Nutcracker season continues

• New England School of Dance presents The Nutcracker on Saturday, Dec. 18, at 2 and 5:30 p.m. at the Stockbridge Theatre (Pinkerton Academy, 5 Pinkerton St. in Derry). Tickets cost $30. See newenglandschoolofdance.com.

• Ballet Misha presents The Nutcracker on Saturday, Dec. 18, at 1 and 6 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 19, at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., at the Dana Center (Saint Anselm College, 100 Saint Anselm Dr. in Manchester). Tickets cost $26. See dimensionsindance.com.

• The New Hampshire School of Ballet presents The Nutcracker Suite at Concord City Auditorium (2 Prince St. in Concord) on Sunday, Dec. 19, at 2 p.m. (and at the Palace Theatre in Manchester on Sunday, Dec. 26, at 6 p.m.). Tickets cost $22. See nhschoolofballet.com.

Family fun for the weekend

Holiday happenings

The Nov. 25 issue was our big Holiday Guide issue, packed full of Christmas/winter/general holiday-themed events happening through the end of the year. You can find the e-edition at hippopress.com. Here are some of the events that are happening this weekend.

Santa!

• Santa Claus will arrive by helicopter at the Aviation Museum of New Hampshire (27 Navigator Road in Londonderry; aviationmuseumofnh.org) on Saturday, Dec. 11, at 11 a.m., where he’ll greet families and take gift requests until 1 p.m. The outdoor event is free and open to the public. Arrive by 10:45 a.m. to park and get a spot. Hot cocoa and cider will also be provided, courtesy of the Airport Diner in Manchester. Children who talk to Santa will get goodie bags, according to a press release.

• Enjoy S’mores with Santa at the tree lighting at the gazebo in New Boston on Saturday, Dec. 11, from 4 to 6 p.m. The tree lighting will take place at 4 p.m., after which kids can bring an ornament from home to put on the town tree and visit with Santa, according to newbostonnh.gov. The Recreation Department will provide s’mores ingredients along with hot chocolate and cider.

Lights!

• After the S’mores with Santa, New Boston will hold Light Up New Boston from 6 to 8 p.m. on Dec. 11. Find a map of houses that will be decked out via newboston.gov.

• Saturday, Dec. 11, is the first night of the Southern New Hampshire Tour of Lights. Participating town parks and recreation departments include Amherst, Milford, Jaffrey, Antrim, Fitzwilliam, Keene, Merrimack, Peterborough, Rindge and Troy. See the rec department websites for lists of houses on the tour, which runs through Dec. 27.

• Manchester’s Holiday Lights Contest opens for judging on Friday, Dec. 10. See manchesternh.gov for the Manchester Holiday Lights Map and the judging form for Manchester residents to pick their favorites.

Kids night out

• The YMCA of Greater Londonderry (206 Rockingham Road, Londonderry) hosts Kids Night at the Y on Saturday, Dec. 11, from 4 to 9 p.m. The theme will be “Holiday Palooza.” YMCA staff will keep the kids healthy and active with art and STEM projects, and a pizza dinner will be served. All are welcome; no membership required. The cost is $40 per child, and $30 for each additional sibling. Go to bit.ly/3vNi98A.

The Polar Express

• Chunky’s Cinema Pub (707 Huse Road, Manchester; 151 Coliseum Ave., Nashua; 150 Bridge St., Pelham) has added more screenings for its Polar Express viewing party at each of its three locations. In Manchester, while Dec. 11 and Dec. 12 screenings were sold out, as of earlier this week, tickets were still available for Friday, Dec. 10, at 3 and 6:30 p.m. as well as Monday, Dec. 13, through Thursday, Dec. 16, in the evening. In Nashua, available screenings include Friday, Dec. 10, at 5:30 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 12, at noon as well as evening screenings Monday, Dec. 13, through Thursday, Dec. 15. In Pelham, available screenings include Friday, Dec. 10, at 6:50 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 11, at 6:30 p.m. and evening screenings Monday, Dec. 13, through Thursday, Dec. 16. Tickets cost $5.99.

Family fun for the weekend

The most event-y time of the year

Last week’s Hippo (the Nov. 25 issue) was our big Holiday Guide issue, packed full of Christmas/winter/general holiday-themed events happening through the end of the year. You can find the e-edition at hippopress.com. Here are some of the events happening this weekend.

Winter wonderlands

• Charmingfare Farm (774 High St., Candia) has combined its Santa’s Big Party and Lighted Winter Wonderland events into one celebration, Santa’s Christmas. Individual tickets are not being sold; only packages are available, for $249 (one package is good for up to 10 people), with various times available to visit the farm on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, starting Dec. 3 through Dec. 5 (and running through Thursday, Dec. 23). Horse-drawn wagons are divided into two sections of 10 passengers each. Attractions include a live animal Nativity; visits with Santa, Mrs. Claus and live “reindeer,” and hot cocoa and sugar cookies provided by Mrs. Claus. See visitthefarm. com for available times.

• Santa Land returns to the Gilford Youth Center (19 Potter Hill Road in Gilford) on Friday, Dec. 3, and Saturday, Dec. 4. Kids can enjoy games, arts and crafts, cookie decorating and bounce houses. In small groups they’ll also be invited to Santa’s room for photo opportunities. Admission is free. Santa Land hours are from 5 to 7:30 p.m. on Friday and from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday. See gilfordyouthcenter.com.

Everybody loves a parade!

In addition to Manchester’s Christmas parade (see page 9 for details) other parades on the schedule this weekend include these:

• The Town of Nottingham’s Parks & Recreation Department is hosting a holiday parade Saturday, Dec. 4, at 10 a.m. at the community center (Stage Road). See nottingham-nh.gov.

• Experience Hampton will present its annual Hampton Holiday Parade on Saturday, Dec. 4, at 1 p.m., which will kick off at the Hampton-North Hampton town line and end at Winnacunnet Road. See experiencehampton.org.

• Portsmouth’s illuminated holiday parade and tree lighting will be held on Saturday, Dec. 4, at 5 p.m. at Market Square in Portsmouth, with remarks from the mayor and music from the Portsmouth Holiday Ensemble. The parade will then kick off from the Goodwin Park area on Islington Street at 6 p.m. See cityofportsmouth.com.

• The Exeter Holiday Parade returns on Saturday, Dec. 4, beginning on Portsmouth Ave. at 5:30 p.m. and ending at Swasey Parkway. Visit exeterholidayparade.org.

• The Hampstead Christmas Parade returns for its 57th year on Sunday, Dec. 5, at 1 p.m. This year’s parade is Hawaiian-themed. See hampstead.nhlions.org.

• The Merrimack Parks & Recreation Department will present its 28th annual holiday parade and tree lighting on Sunday, Dec. 5, at Abbie Griffin Park (6 Baboosic Lake Road in Merrimack). The parade begins at the Commons Shopping Plaza (515 Daniel Webster Hwy.) at 3 p.m., with the tree lighting at 3:45 p.m. immediately following the parade’s arrival at the park. See merrimackparksandrec.org.

More chances to meet the big guy

• Goffstown’s annual Friday Night Under the Lights will take place on Friday, Dec. 3, from 5 to 8 p.m. in Goffstown Village, featuring the town tree lighting by Santa, caroling, holiday hay rides, cocoa, cookies and more. See goffstownmainstreet.org.

• The Millyard Museum (200 Bedford St. in Manchester; manchesterhistoric.org) will hold its annual holiday open house on Saturday, Dec. 4, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., featuring children’s holiday crafts, raffles, photo opportunities with Santa Claus and more. All are welcome free with museum admission. The museum is also hosting its annual American Girl Doll Tea Party from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; the cost for that is $10 per person (register online).

• St. Joseph Hospital (172 Kinsley St. in Nashua; stjosephhospital.com) will hold its Christmas Around the World event on Saturday, Dec. 4, featuring free photo opportunities with Santa Claus, holiday-themed activities for all ages, sweet treats, live multicultural performances and more. Attendees can sign up for one of two time slots, either from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. or from 1 to 3 p.m. Admission is free.

• Windham’s annual tree lighting is happening on Saturday, Dec. 4, at 5 p.m. on the Windham Town Common. Santa Claus will be in the gazebo for photos; there will be a bonfire and carolers from 4 to 5 p.m. See windhamnh.gov.

• Visit Santa Claus at Greeley Park (100 Concord St. in Nashua) for a socially distanced photo opportunity on Sunday, Dec. 5, from noon to 2 p.m. All kids will also receive a free gift. See nashuanh.gov.

• The Children’s Museum of New Hampshire (6 Washington St. in Dover; childrens-museum.org) will hold its Jingle Bell Extravaganza on Sunday, Dec. 5 (and Sunday, Dec. 12), with time slots available from 1 to 2:30 p.m. or from 3 to 4:30 p.m. The event includes a socially distanced meeting with Santa Claus, readings of The Polar Express, hands-on holiday craft activities, a magical science experiment and more. Pajamas are welcome. Tickets are $20 for non-members (free for ages 12 months and under).