Category: Family Fun

Family fun for the weekend

Try-Athlon

The Friends of Aine’s 9th annual Try-Athlon is scheduled for Sunday, Aug. 15, starting at 8 a.m. The event will take place at the Bedford town pool (on County Road) and the nearby Bedford High School and will feature swimming, biking and running events specially designed for kids of all abilities in the 4 to 10 age group and the 11 to 15 age group, according to friendsofaine.com, where you can register for $40 per kid in advance (registration on the day costs $45). There will be a post-race family festival with food, games, vendors, face painting and more, according to the website.

Old Home Days

As mentioned in This Week on page 9, there are several Old Home Days coming up on the calendar. For families looking for some fun, here are some of the events they can expect.

Hudson’s Old Home Days runs Thursday, Aug. 12, through Sunday, Aug. 15, at Hills House (211 Derry Road in Hudson). Events with special interest for kids include a fairgrounds trick-or-treat from 5 to 6:30 p.m. on Thursday with costumes encouraged so kids can join the Parade of Horribles at 6:30 p.m. and then kids games starting at 7 p.m.; kids cornhole during the adult tournament (which starts at 7 p.m. on Friday), and kids games from noon to 4 p.m. and a haystack hunt at 5 p.m. on Saturday. Rides and food vendors will be available throughout the event, which runs 5 to 10 p.m. on Thursday, 5 to 11 p.m. on Friday, noon to 11 p.m. on Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday. See hudsonoldhomedays.com for details.

Epsom’s Old Home Weekend begins Friday, Aug. 13, and runs through Sunday, Aug. 15, with events happening at Webster Park in Epsom. Friday’s events from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. include a cookout, s’mores and popcorn and storytime for the kids, according to the town’s website. Saturday’s schedule of events runs from 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. and includes a parade, kids games, a pony ride, a petting zoo, food and other vendors, a 3-on-3 basketball tournament (including for youth sixth grade and up) at 2 p.m., a climbing wall, a bouncy slide and fireworks at dusk. On Sunday, events run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and include a road race (running or walking; starting time for that is 8:30 a.m.) and a resident yard sale, according to epsomnh.org.

Londonderry’s Old Home Days starts the evening of Wednesday, Aug. 18, and runs through Saturday, Aug. 21. According to the event’s schedule, Wednesday is senior night with bingo at 4 p.m., a barbecue dinner from the Lions at 5 p.m. and a 7 p.m. concert with Neurotic Gumbo (a classic rock band) at the Londonderry Town Common. Find the event on Facebook for more information.

Take a drive for family fun

Head to the meadow at Castle in the Clouds (455 Old Mountain Road in Moultonborough; 476-5900, castleintheclouds.org) for a free family fun day on Saturday, Aug. 14, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The day will include lawn games, kite flying, a scavenger hunt, balloon animals, a gaga pit, disc golf, crafts, live music and an opportunity to feed the rainbow trout in Shannon Pond, according to a press release. Lunch, ice cream and beverages will be available for purchase at the Cafe in the Clouds, the release said. Castle in the Cloud is partnering with the Lakes Region Conservation Trust and the Moultonborough Recreation Department, the release said.

The annual Hampton Beach Children’s Festival kicks off Monday, Aug. 16, and runs through Friday, Aug. 20, with programing on Hampton Beach, according to the Hampton Beach Village District website (hamptonbeach.org) and Facebook pages. Monday’s programming includes a BJ Hickman magic show (10 a.m.), rainbow sand art (11 a.m.) and movie night featuring Moana (PG, 2016) at dusk. Tuesday find magician juggler Robert Clarke (10 a.m.) and a touch-a-truck with Hampton Fire and Police (2 p.m). On Wednesday, DrumatiX performs tap dance and percussion (10 a.m.), there will be games on the beach (11 a.m. with OfftheWallKidz), a hula hoop performance with Little Legume (3:30 p.m.) and fireworks (9:30 p.m.). On all three days face painting is available from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. — all according to a schedule posted on the group’s Facebook page. The week is capped off with a children’s costume parade on Friday (11 a.m.) and pictures with Santa and Mrs. Claus (1 p.m.), according to the schedule.

Live performances

The Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St. in Manchester; palacetheatre.org, 668-5588) continues its 2021 Bank of New Hampshire Children’s Summer Series. Finishing up this week’s run is Rapunzel on Thursday, Aug. 12. Next week, the production is Cinderella, Tuesday, Aug. 17, through Thursday, Aug. 19. Showtimes are at 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. and tickets cost $10 per person.

The Prescott Park Arts Festival wraps up this year’s musical, You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, with shows Thursday, Aug. 12, through Sunday, Aug. 15. Thursday and Sunday shows start at 7 p.m. and Friday and Saturday shows start at 8 p.m. Go online to prescottpark.org to see the reservation options. Prescott Park is at 105 Marcy St. in Portsmouth.

Movie night

See the tale as old as time, Beauty and the Beast, on Friday, Aug. 13, in Wasserman Park (116 Naticook Road in Merrimack) as part of the town’s summer movies in the park. The screening starts at dusk and the films are free and open to residents and nonresidents, according to the town’s Parks and Recreation website.

This Friday’s “Pics in the Park” film at Greeley Park in Nashua is Jumanji: The Next Level (PG-13, 2019), which will start screening at dusk on Friday, Aug. 13, at the park’s Bandshell, 100 Concord St. The screening is part of the city’s SummerFun lineup; see nashuanh.gov.

The Rex Theatre (23 Amherst St. in Manchester; palacetheatre.org, 668-5588) will be screening some films to raise money for the Ballet Misha. On Tuesday, Aug. 17, at 7 p.m., catch Disney’s animated Tangled (PG, 2010). On Wednesday, Aug. 18, at 7 p.m., the theater will screen Frozen (PG, 2013). Tickets to either show cost $12.

Save the date

The Manchester Millyard Museum (200 Bedford St. in Manchester; manchesterhistoric.org) will hold an American Girl Doll Tea Party on Saturday, Aug. 21, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tickets cost $10 per person and include tea party and a craft, according to the website. Advance reservations are required.

Family fun for the weekend

Family outings

• Get kids in the entrepreneurial spirit by seeing other kids sell items they designed and made at the Acton Children’s Business Fair, held at 45 Beacon St. E in Laconia. Up to 36 kid-run businesses will be featured at the fair, which will run from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 7, according to childrensbusinessfair.org/laconia.

• New England Vendor Events will hold a Summertime Family Fun Day on Sunday, Aug. 8, from noon to 5 p.m. at the White Birch Catering & Banquet Hall (222 Central St. in Hudson). A $5 ticket allows access to games and activities; free tickets that just allow access into the event are also available, according to the Eventbrite page. A portion of the ticket will benefit the Hudson Food Pantry, the page said. The day will feature food, music, vendors, children’s sack races, a bounce house, a cornhole tournament and more, according to the group’s Facebook page. Email [email protected].

Live performances

• The Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St. in Manchester; palacetheatre.org, 668-5588) continues its 2021 Bank of New Hampshire Children’s Summer Series. Finishing up this week’s run, catch Beauty and the Beast on Thursday, Aug. 5. Next week, the production is Rapunzel, Tuesday, Aug. 10, through Thursday, Aug. 12. Showtimes are at 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. and tickets cost $10 per person.

• Student performers from the Palace’s summer camp program will have a production of their own this weekend: Frozen Jr. will be performed Friday, Aug. 6, at 7 p.m. and Saturday, Aug. 7, at 11 a.m. Tickets cost $12 to $15.

• Rockin’ Ron the Friendly Pirate will perform a free show of pirate-themed kids music at Abbie Griffin Park (6 Baboosic Lake Road, Merrimack) on Wednesday, Aug. 11, at 6 p.m. See merrimackparksandrec.org/summer-concert-series.

Summer movie fun

• The summer kids movie series concludes with Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (PG, 2001) at O’neil Cinemas at Brickyard Square in Epping (24 Calef Highway; 679-3529, oneilcinemas.com) on Monday, Aug. 9, and Wednesday, Aug. 11, at 10 a.m. Tickets to the screening cost $2 for kids ages 11 and under and $3 for ages 13 and up. A $5 popcorn-and-drink combo is also for sale.

• The Rex Theatre (23 Amherst St. in Manchester; palacetheatre.org, 668-5588) will be screening some films to raise money for the SEE Science Center. On Tuesday, Aug. 10, at 7 p.m. catch Matilda (PG, 1996). On Wednesday, Aug. 11, at 7 p.m., the theater will screen Back to the Future (PG, 1985). Tickets to either show cost $12.

• The Goonies (PG, 1985) will screen Wednesday, Aug. 11, at area Chunky’s Cinema Pubs (707 Huse Road in Manchester; 151 Coliseum Ave. in Nashua; 150 Bridge St. in Pelham, chunkys.com) at 7 p.m. including a treasure hunt. Doors open one hour before showtime for a hunt for boxes of goodies in the theater. Tickets cost $4.99.

Family fun for the weekend

National Night Out

Several towns are celebrating the National Night Out, a community event featuring law enforcement, civic groups and others, on Tuesday, Aug. 3 (see natw.org). Here are some of the highlights:

• In Bedford, the celebration features a police department versus fire department softball game, according to the town’s parks and recreation website (bedfordreconline.com). The game starts at 6 p.m. at Selvoski Field on County Road.

• In Concord, the event will be held at Rollins Park (33 Bow St.) from 5 to 8 p.m., according to concordnh.gov. The evening will feature music, police and fire equipment, K-9 demonstrations, touch-a-truck and food for sale, the website said. Call 225-8600, ext. 3738, with questions.

• In Goffstown, the event will run from 5 to 8 p.m. at Goffstown High School (27 Wallace Road) and feature food, a car show (antique and muscle cars according to a video on the police department’s Facebook page), a dunk tank, a bounce house, a climbing wall, a petting zoo, tractor rides and live music, according to a July 13 post.

• In Hollis, the police, library and recreation commission will hold the event starting at 6 p.m. on Nichols Field behind Lawrence Barn (28 Depot St.) and will offer bounce houses, music, a cookout and a screening of Finding Nemo (G, 2003), according to hollisnh.org.

• Hooksett celebrates its fourth annual National Night Out from 5 to 7 p.m. in Donati Park (51 Main St.), according to hooksett.org. The evening will feature food, music, a bounce house, touch-a-truck, a K-9 demonstration and more, the website said.

• In Hudson, the police department and the Rodgers Memorial Library are partnering for the event, which will take place in the parking lot of the library (194 Derry Road) from 4:30 to 8 p.m., according to the library website. The evening will feature Frisbee dogs, a climbing wall, giant games, live music, touch-a-truck, food trucks and more, according to rodgerslibrary.org.

• Manchester’s event will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. in Arms Park (10 Arms St.) with demonstrations, activities, food, a DJ, representatives from local nonprofits and more, according to a July 13 post on the police department’s Facebook page. There will be a display of emergency service vehicles, the Drone Unit, a K-9 unit demonstration and the Mounted Unit, the post said.

• In Merrimack at Abbie Griffin Park (6 Baboosic Lake Road in Merrimack; merrimackparksandrec.org, 882-1046) the event runs from 5:30 to 8 p.m. with games, crafts, music (DJ Mike Kelly), food (including hot dogs, popcorn, ice cream and more) and booths from local groups, including the Merrimack Police Department. At 8 p.m. the movie The Croods: A New Age (PG, 2020) will screen.

• In Nashua, the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Nashua (1 Positive Place) will host the event from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The evening will feature raffles, free food, a meet and greet with local agencies, demonstrations from the Nashua Police Department and more, according to a July 17 post on the Boys & Girls Club Facebook page.

More movie fun

• This Friday’s “Pics in the Park” at Greeley Park in Nashua is Tom and Jerry (PG, 2021), which will start screening at dusk on Friday, July 30, at the park’s bandshell, 100 Concord St. The screening is part of the city’s SummerFun lineup; see nashuanh.gov. (See page 9 in this issue for information about Saturday’s FairyTale Concert.)

• Follow the Yellow Brick Road to a screening of The Wizard of Oz(G, 1939) at O’neil Cinemas at Brickyard Square in Epping (24 Calef Highway; 679-3529, oneilcinemas.com) as part of the summer kids movies series on Monday, Aug. 2, and Wednesday, Aug. 4, at 10 a.m. Tickets to the screening cost $2 for kids ages 11 and under and $3 for ages 13 and up. A $5 popcorn and drink combo is also for sale.

• A movie for the retro-loving teen in your life: 1987’s Adventures in Babysitting (PG-13) starring Elisabeth Shue. It will screen Monday, Aug. 2, at 8:30 p.m. as part of the Prescott Arts Festival’s Monday Night Movie Series. Reserve a spot for this movie in Portsmouth’s Prescott Park at prescottpark.org (reservations start at a $5 general admission with other options for tables or blanket seating).

• The Rex Theatre (23 Amherst St. in Manchester; palacetheatre.org, 668-5588) will be screening some films to raise money for the Manchester Police Athletic League. On Tuesday, Aug. 3, at 7 p.m. catch Disney’s Raya and the Last Dragon(PG, 2021). On Wednesday, Aug. 4, at 7 p.m. the theater will screen Rock of Ages (PG-13, 2007). Tickets to either show cost $12.

• Another movie for the teens with a taste for retro blockbusters: Jaws (1975, PG-13) will begin a run of screenings at Chunky’s Cinema Pubs in Manchester (707 Huse Road), Nashua (151 Coliseum Ave.) and Pelham (150 Bridge St.) on Wednesday, Aug 4, with shows through Saturday, Aug. 7, at 7 p.m. plus screenings at 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Tickets cost $4.99 and can be purchased in advance on chunkys.com.

Showtime!

• The Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St. in Manchester; palacetheatre.org, 668-5588) continues its 2021 Bank of New Hampshire Children’s Summer Series. Finishing up this week’s run isThe Little Mermaid on Thursday, July 29. Next week the production is Beauty and the Beast, Tuesday, Aug. 3, through Thursday, Aug. 5. Showtimes are at 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. and tickets cost $10 per person.

• RB Productions presents The Wizard of Oz (Young Performers Edition) at the Capitol Center for the Arts’ Chubb Theatre (44 S. Main St. in Concord; ccanh.com, 225-1111) on Friday, July 30, and Saturday, July 31, at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $15 for adults, $12 for seniors and students. RB Productions is a nonprofit community theater organization founded to provide theater opportunities for youth and young theater professionals, according to the website.

• The Prescott Park Arts Festival’s production of You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, this year’s musical in its annual outdoor musical series, continues with shows this weekend on Thursday, July 29, at 7 p.m. and Saturday, July 31, at 3 and 8 p.m. (the final matinee of the show this season, according to the group’s website). Also, on Saturday, July 31, and Sunday, Aug. 1, at 10 a.m., the kids in the festival’s camp program will present Frozen Jr. For all Prescott Park shows, go online to prescottpark.org to see the reservation options, which start at $5 per person. Prescott Park is at 105 Marcy St. in Portsmouth.

• Kids get in for free at a Shakespeare on the Green production of A Midsummer Nights Dream which will be presented on the green outside the Dana Center (Saint Anselm College, 100 Saint Anselm Drive in Manchester). The production will run Friday, July 30, and Saturday, July 31, at 7 p.m. Tickets for adults cost $25. Attendees are invited to bring a lawn chair or picnic blanket, according to anselm.edu/dana-center-humanities.

Monsters and comics

If you’re looking for an indoor activity for one of these rainy days, there’s still time to enter the Summer Monster Comic Contest being held by Studio 550 (550 Elm St. in Manchester; 550arts.com, 232-5597). Create a one-sheet comic of at least four frames with an original monster and submit it to Studio 550 by 8 p.m. on Aug. 21 (which is the day of the studio’s Monster Hunt event), according to the website, where you can find all the details and guidelines.

Game time

• The next run of New Hampshire Fisher Cats home games at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium (1 Line Drive in downtown Manchester; nhfishercats.com) starts on Tuesday, Aug. 3, with games against the Hartford Yard Goats through Sunday, Aug. 8 (when the stadium will hold a Princesses at the Park brunch, tickets to which are $24). Tuesday and Thursday’s games start at 7:05 p.m.; Wednesday’s game starts at 12:05 p.m. (For some baseball this weekend, see page 9 for information on upcoming Nashua Silver Knights games).