Category: Family Fun

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).

Family fun for the weekend

Take the family to the museum

Or send the family to the museum — whichever works for your long holiday weekend with people of various ages at home and in need of amusement.

• The Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St. in Manchester; currier.org, 669-6144) is open Friday through Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (normally Thursdays as well, but not on Thanksgiving. Admission costs $15, $13 for 65+, $10 for students and $5 for ages 13 to 17 (children under 13 get in free). On Sundays, the Winter Garden Cafe offers a special brunch menu starting at 10 a.m. featuring mimosa flights, according to the website. Current exhibits include “As Precious As Gold: Carpets from the Islamic World,” “WPA in NH: Philip Guston and Musa McKim” and “Tomie dePaola at the Currier,” featuring the works of dePaola, writer and illustrator of 270 children’s books.

• 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 Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Current displays and exhibits with hands-on examinations of science include BiologYou. Purchase reservations in advance via the website; admission costs $10 per person ages 3 and up. Or …

• On Saturdays, $13 admission price will get you admission to both the SEE Science Center and the Millyard Museum (200 Bedford St. in Manchester; 622-7531, manchesterhistoric.org/millyard-museum). Admission to just the Millyard Museum costs $8 for adults, $6 for 62+ and college students, $4 for children 12 to 18 and free for children under 12. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. In addition to the permanent exhibits about Manchester’s history, the museum currently features the “New Hampshire Now” photography exhibit.

• The Aviation Museum of New Hampshire (27 Navigator Road in Londonderry; nhahs.org, 669-4820), featuring exhibits about the people and events of New Hampshire’s aviation history, is open Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m.

• Find hands-on science and space-related exhibits at McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center (2 Institute Dr. in Concord; starhop.com, 271-7827), which is open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays with sessions from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 1:30 to 4 p.m. The center recommends purchasing timed tickets in advance; admission costs $11.50 for adults, $10.50 for students and seniors and $8.50 for kids ages 3 to 12 (admission is free for children 2 and under). Planetarium show tickets are also available and cost $5 per person (free for children 2 and under); see the website for the schedule of planetarium shows.

• The Children’s Museum of New Hampshire (2 Washington St. in Dover; childrens-museum.org, 742-2002) requires pre-purchased admission (which costs $11 per person, $9 for 65+ and no charge for children under 1). The museum will be closed Thanksgiving and Friday, Nov. 26, but will be open Saturday (from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m.) and Sunday (from 9 a.m. to noon). In addition to weekends, the museum is normally also open Tuesday through Friday with timed admission from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m.

• And perhaps for the teen whose face is stuck to their phone: The New Hampshire Telephone Museum (1 Depot St. in Warner; nhtelephonemuseum.org, 456-2234) is open Fridays and Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission costs $7 for adults, $6 for 60+ and $3 for students (1st through 12th grade).

Movies for the family

Another means of getting out of the house: go to the movies.

Playing in theaters starting Tuesday, Nov. 23, is Encanto, a Disney animated movie that is rated PG and features songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda.

Encanto joins other family-friendly offerings in theaters including Clifford the Big Red Dog (PG), which is also screening on Paramount+; Ron’s Gone Wrong (PG) and The Addams Family 2 (PG), which is also available for rent via VOD.

Story, craft & shopping

For you, Saturday, Nov. 27, is Small Business Saturday. For the kids, Saturday is also storytime at Bookery Manchester (844 Elm St.; 836-6600, bookerymht.com). The event is free and starts at 11:30 a.m. The book is Hershel and the Holiday Goblins by Eric A. Kimmel and the storytime will also include a wreath-making craft.