Category: Outdoors

Kiddie Pool 24/10/17

Family fun for whenever

Season of fun

Windham Recreation Department will hold its annual Harvest Fest on Saturday, Oct. 19, from 1 to 4 p.m. in Griffin Park. A Doggie Costume Parade will take place at 11 a.m. (check in at 10 a.m.) with judging in several categories, according to sarlnh.org, where you can register your pup in advance. The Fest itself will feature DJ Greg; Wildlife Encounters from 1 to 3 p.m.; a bubble performer from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.; a Kids’ Horrible Costume Parade with a 2:45 p.m. line-up, and Mr. Aaron’s Halloween show at 3:30 p.m. as well as games, crafts, pumpkin decorating and Halloween treats, according to windhamnh.gov.

It’s Touch A Tractor day at the Coppal House Farm (118 N. River Road in Lee; nhcornmaze.com) on Saturday, Oct. 19, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Get photo ops with large farm implements before exploring the corn maze, which is open on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., according to the website. (The maze is also open Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays from noon to 5 p.m. — last admission is 4:30 p.m.) On Sunday, Oct. 20, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., catch Wildlife Encounters, which will bring their animals to the farm (see weecocenter.com), the website said. Admission to the corn maze costs $10 per person for ages 13+ and $8 for ages 5 to 12; kids age 4 and under get in for free, the website said.

On stage

Alice in Wonderland Jr. will be presented by the Peacock Players at Janice B. Streeter Theatre (14 Court St., Nashua) Friday, Oct. 18, through Sunday, Oct. 27. Shows are 7 p.m. on Fridays, 2 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. TIckets cost $15 and $18 for adults; $12 and $15 for students and seniors.

Disney’s The Little Mermaid will be performed by the Manchester Community Theatre Players at The MCTP Theatre at North End Montessori School (698 Beech St., Manchester) Friday, Oct. 18, through Sunday, Oct. 27. Showtimes are at 7 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. on Sundays. According to a press release from the Players, The Little Mermaid is musically directed by Christie Conticcio and directed by Trysran Stoffel who said, “Our production of The Little Mermaid is full of life, color and laughter.” Tickets to this family musical comedy cost $20 for adults, $18 for seniors and $10 for ages 18 and under. See mcpt.info.

Pumpkins of the Piscataquag

The Giant Pumpkin Weigh-Off & Regatta returns

By Zachary Lewis
[email protected]

Saturday, Oct. 19, and Sunday, Oct. 20, is the weekend of Goffstown’s Giant Pumpkin Weigh-Off & Regatta.

Tina Lawton is a volunteer of the organization and is currently the president of the board of directors. “It’s a two-day event. It’s been around for a long time. This will be the 23rd year,” Lawton said.

How did it get started? “We had some giant pumpkin growers and one of them had a great idea: ‘What if we turn it into a boat and race it down the river?’ And so that’s what they did. It was very popular so it’s kept on year after year,” Lawton said. This year’s theme is Pirates of the Piscataquag River. The length of the race when scaled to pumpkins is quite the journey for these nautical gourds.

“They go from where the dam starts to the bridge. They’re going up the river and there are a bit of escapades that happen where we have, you know, somebody coming out to challenge them, shoot them with water, try and get them off course. So it stretches the race out a little bit so it’s more entertaining for the people that are just all over the place trying to see this race,” Lawton said.

“This year we’ll have six boats, and that’s plenty because there’s not a lot of room. One time we had nine and it was very challenging,” Lawton said.

These pumpkin vessels are large, weighing in at “close to, if not over, 1,000 pounds,” she said, usually hailing from New Hampshire or Vermont.

“We have a tremendous amount of vendors throughout the village of Goffstown from Elm to Depot street and all the businesses are open and it’s a great time to highlight the charm of the village and to highlight the businesses and help people understand that it’s important to support the small-business owners for what they get to the community,” Lawton said.

Other competitions include a pumpkin cook-off, a dog costume contest and a pie eating contest, Lawton said.

“Then we have a pumpkin decorating contest this year,” she added. “There is a scavenger hunt that we have in the village, and that’s again to sort of get people to explore and discover some of the businesses.”

Apples do make a brief cameo. “We have ‘apple slingshots,’ which is very popular. So there’s these giant slingshots that we set up and there’s usually a very long line for usually kids and sometimes dads to slingshot apples into the river and try and hit targets.”

Especially for the kids there will also be bounce houses and some vendors will offer face painting, Lawton said.

Attendees will see a first this year. “One of my board members wants to do a parade, they want to parade the final pumpkin. So the pumpkins come down, the very early part of the first day, the giant pumpkins arrive, it’s sort of like a whole thing, they sort of arrive, unload, they weigh them, and that’s a contest in itself. Once that’s all over they take pumpkins all the way down to the other end of Main Street where they’re going to be placed to turn into pumpkin boats. People like to see the giant pumpkins moving up the street.”

What happens to all the pumpkin insides that are taken out? “That’s a big DPW sort of thing. They have a big truck. We have lots of trash cans and flat loaders. As soon as the pumpkin drops and it’s safe, the kids will run out and try and get some of the big seeds that are from that pumpkin that dropped. And then one thing is important, when they are carving the big pumpkins at the boat, those seeds from that particular pumpkin, they go back to the grower so that they can grow them next year.”

Spellbound
When: Saturday, Oct. 19, and Sunday, Oct. 20
Where: Goffstown
Info: goffstownmainstreet.org/pumpkin-regatta

Schedule
Saturday, Oct. 19
8 a.m. to 1 p.m. – Rummage Sale and Bake Sale St. Matthew’s (5 N. Mast St.)
8 a.m. to 2 p.m. – Goffstown Congregational Church Yard Sale (10 Main St.)
9 a.m. – giant pumpkins arrive at the Common
9 a.m. to 1 p.m. – Touch a Truck (Depot Street behind Citizens Bank)
9 a.m. to 2 p.m. – Friends Of GPL Library Book Sale at the Library (2 High St.)
9 a.m. to 3 p.m. – Apple Slingshots (Mill Street)
9 a.m. to 4 p.m. – vendor booths, concessions, bounce house, GMSP Scavenger Hunt (start at 4 Main St.), live music at Rotary Park
10 a.m. – giant pumpkin carving begins
10 a.m. to 2 p.m. – Art Show Off at Town Hall (16 Main St.)
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. – Annual Quilt Challenge voting at Night Owl Quilting (4 Main St.)
11 a.m. – Giant Pumpkin Weigh-Off at the Common
11 a.m. – Pet Costume Contest at Glen Lake Animal Hospital (15 Elm St.)
11:30 a.m. – Parading of the Pumpkin (starts at Elm & Main, ends at Main & Mill)
2:30 p.m. – Giant Pumpkin Boat Building on Mill Street; Pumpkin Cook-Off Contest (5 N. Mast St.)

Sunday, Oct. 20
9 a.m. to 1 p.m. – pumpkin painting at Goffstown Ace Hardware
9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. – vendor booths, concessions, bounce house
10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Art Show Off at Town Hall; Cars on Main (7 Main St.)
10:30 a.m. – Apple Slingshot on Mill Street (while supplies last); Pumpkin Decorating Contest judging (4 Main St.)
Noon – Giant Pumpkin Drop (Depot Street across from the USPS)
1 p.m. – Pie Eating Contest on Mill Street
2 p.m. – Mini Pumpkin Race for the 50/50 Raffle on the River
3 p.m. – Finale: Giant Pumpkin Regatta at the River

Featured image: Courtesy photo.

Kiddie Pool 24/10/10

Family fun for whenever

Fun in the dark

• The Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live Glow Party comes to SNHU Arena (555 Elm St. in Manchester; snhuarena.com) on Saturday, Oct. 12, with shows at 12:30 and 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 13, at 2:30 p.m. “Fans of all ages will experience the thrill of watching their favorite Hot Wheels Monster Trucks in the dark!” according to the arena website. Tickets cost $35.50 to $57.

• The Coppal House Farm (118 N. River Road, Route 155, in Lee; nhcornmaze.com) will hold one of its two remaining Flashlight Night Mazes this weekend on Saturday, Oct. 12, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. (The final Flashlight Night Maze is slated for Saturday, Oct. 26.) Tickets cost $15 each for ages 5+ (free for ages 4 and under), according to the website, where you can buy tickets in advance. Kids age 15 and under must be accompanied by an adult, the website said. BYO flashlight.

Movie time

• Chunky’s (707 Huse Road in Manchester; chunkys.com) will offer a sensory-friendly screening of The Wild Robot (PG, 2024) on Tuesday, Oct. 15, at 11:30 a.m. For these screenings, “Chunky’s will keep the theater lights up, the sound of the film turned down,” according to the website. Tickets cost $6.99 plus service charge.

Kids in the Carol

• The Palace Theatre will hold auditions for grades 2 to 12 for the Youth Ensemble of its Professional Production of A Christmas Carol on Sunday, Oct. 13, at 5, 6 or 7 p.m. The show will run Nov. 29 through Dec. 29 at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St. in Manchester; palacetheatre.org). Auditions will take place at the Forever Emma Studios (516 Pine St. in Manchester). To schedule an audition time and find out more of the audition requirements, contact [email protected] with performer’s name, age and preferred time, the email said.

Autumn colors and a parade

Warner celebrates with its annual Fall Foliage Festival

By Zachary Lewis
[email protected]

Celebrate fall in Warner Friday, Oct. 11, through Sunday, Oct. 13, for the 77th Warner Fall Foliage Festival.

“The historical part of the festival, this is the 77th year that it’s been going on. It’s a festival to celebrate the fall, number one. It’s always on Columbus Day weekend on just Friday night, Saturday night and Sunday,” said Ray Martin, a former Festival president and trove of knowledge on the Festival and how it operates. “It’s historically always been volunteer-run, volunteer-staffed with townspeople, and it raises money every year for various organizations within the town …”

Besides the beautiful scenery, what is there for visitors to do?

“It is a festival with amusement rides, a lot, I think we have almost 100 craftspeople, various sorts. It has food, a lobster and chicken barbecue and other sorts of food. It has a grand parade, a road race, a children’s race…,” Martin said.

The Warner Fall Foliage Festival is also free. “There’s no admission charge, but we do charge for parking if you go out to one of the outlying parking areas. So it’s really just a celebration of fall with the typical festival type things of food, crafts, people, amusement rides, and an oxen pull and a woodsman’s contest. The oxen pull is all day Saturday. The woodsman’s contest is all Sunday, all day. And there’s a grand parade on Sunday…,” Martin said.

The parade will celebrate Warner’s founding with leafy floats. “Every year it has a different theme. And this year people put in floats involving foliage. And the main thing is how much foliage you can use or how you use it creatively. This year is Warner’s 250th anniversary of the founding or the chartering of the town in 1774.”

Martin expects 10 to 15 floats as well as “some old cars and tractors and marching band and the Highland Scotsman bagpiping group.”

Music is a major component in celebrating the harvest season in Warner.

“There’s music at a tent right beside the Reed’s North bar and restaurant that has music … and then they’ve got a stage behind, more of a main street stage, that has an outdoor amphitheater that has the same scheduled music on Friday, Saturday and Sunday,” Martin said.

And then there’s the food.

“And then the other thing is the lobster or chicken barbecue that’s been going on for a long time and that drives a lot of people in. So those two things are great and consistent. It’s just one family that’s been doing [the barbecue] for 50 years, They’re on about the third generation,” Martin said.

The kids get involved too. “There’s a children’s parade, a children’s short run walk, and the activities for the kids are all the rides.”

How did Martin come to be involved with the festival in the first place? “If you live in town, you eventually will be asked to help. Most people always step up. It’s a very community-oriented event that does raise anywhere from $10,000 to $20,000 a year to distribute.”

Since “foliage” is in the name, what types of tree leaves will visitors be able to view? “Oh, we have all the hardwood trees. It’s maple trees, then oak trees, maybe a few ash trees if they’re left, but all the hardwood trees will be most of it. There could be peak right, probably right about the time.”

“We usually get three or four thousand [visitors] a day. And the event is held, it’s right in downtown Warner, so it encompasses the village, the very downtown part of Warner,” he said “If you want to come enjoy a real community festival down to earth, small-ish, no admission charge, and very well-rounded in many different kinds of events that are happening,” Martin said.

Spellbound
When: Begins Monday, Oct. 7, with opening reception Saturday, Oct. 12, at 4 p.m.
Where: Mosaic Art Collective, 66 Hanover St., Suite 201 (second floor), Manchester
More: mosaicartcollective.com

Featured image: Music performance at a previous festival. Courtesy photo.

Kiddie Pool 24/10/03

Family fun for whenever

Fall fun

• Joppa Hill Educational Farm (174 Joppa Hill Road, Bedford, 472-4724, theeducationalfarm.org) will hold a Fall Fair on Saturday, Oct. 5, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The day will feature artisan booths, food trucks, vendors, tractor rides, apples, pumpkin decorating, live music, kids’ activities and farm fun. Tickets cost $15 (plus fees) per person or $30 (plus fees) per family.

• Charmingfare Farm (774 High St., Candia, visitthefarm.com, 483-5623) holds its Pumpkin Festival Saturday, Oct. 5, and Sunday, Oct. 6, as well as Saturday, Oct. 14, through Monday, Oct. 16. Admission costs $29 per person (23 months and younger get in free). Pick a pumpkin from the pumpkin patch, take a tractor- or horse-drawn wagon ride, enjoy live music and more. The festival also features a cow milking contest (not involving a real cow), pumpkin art, costumed characters and a visit with the farm’s animals. Charmingfare’s Halloween events include children’s trick-or-treat (the last three weekends in October) for families and younger kids and Harvest of Haunts (Oct. 19, Oct. 20, Oct. 26 and Oct. 27 in the early evening) for families and ages 12 and under (but who are old enough for some spookiness).

• Applecrest Farm Orchards (133 Exeter Road, Hampton Falls, 926-3721, applecrest. com) continue their weekend celebrations with the Fall Festival this week, which will feature live music from Reunion Hill Band on Saturday, Oct. 5, and Unsung Heroes on Sunday, Oct. 6, from 1 to 5 p.m. Look for activities including the corn maze, tractor rides, visits with barnyard animals, lawn games and a traditional corn roast, according to the website.

Science Fiesta!

SEE Science Center (200 Bedford St., Manchester, see-sciencecenter.org) is holding a Science Fiesta on Friday, Oct. 4, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. to celebrate the Latino contributions to STEM, according to the website. This family event will feature food from Don Quijote, science demonstrations, music and more and is sponsored by SEE, Centro Latino de New Hampshire and Nashua Family Network, the website said. Entry is free with registration on the website, where you can also find information on bus transportation to the event for those living in Manchester.

For the little guys

• The Children’s Museum of New Hampshire (6 Washington St., Dover, childrens-museum.org) wraps up its annual celebration of the youngest museumgoers — Toddlerfest continues through Sunday, Oct. 6, with daily activities for little kids. Some of the events planned for this week include princess storytime on Saturday, Oct. 5, at 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.; parachute play at 10 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 4; Hispanic Heritage Month crafts on Thursday, Oct. 3, at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.; Science Friday experiment at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., and more. Admission costs $12.50 for everyone over 12 months; $10.50 for 65+. The museum has sessions Wednesday through Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon or 1 to 4 p.m. and Tuesdays and Sundays from 9 a.m. to noon.

Kiddie Pool 24/09/26

Family fun for whenever

Deerfield Fair

• “147 years of agricultural family fun!” is how the Deerfield Fair describes itself at deerfieldfair.com. The fair kicks off Thursday, Sept. 26, at 8 a.m. and offers a full day of live music, performances including puppets and magic and agricultural shoes and competitions. The fair runs through Sunday, Sept. 29, and is open 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, and 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets cost $12 for ages 13 and older, kids ages 12 and younger and all military get in for free. Senior days are Thursday and Friday when tickets for $65+ purchased at the gate cost $9. See the website for early ticket purchases. Ride Special Wristband Days are sold Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. for unlimited rides until 6 p.m. for $35 and on Sunday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. with unlimited rides until 7 p.m. for $35. Ride ticket singles cost $1.50 with discounts for bulk purchases.

Some of the highlights from the fair entertainment and events schedule include (see the website for a full schedule):

• Thursday: BJ Hickman Magician at 10:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. at the Relaxation Stage (also appearing through the weekend); Lindsay and her Puppet Pals at 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. at the Bandstand Stage (also appearing Friday); Bryson Lang Juggling & Comedy Show at 1 p.m. at the Bandstand Stage (also appearing through the weekend); Pig scramble for ages 8 to 10 at 2 p.m. at the Swine Area

Friday: The Flying Wallendas at noon and 3 p.m. at the Main Stage (also on Saturday and Sunday); Pig scramble for ages 11 to 13 at 2 p.m.; The Incidentals at 7 p.m. at the Relaxation Stage

Saturday: 4-H Dairy Goat show at 9 a.m. at the Sheep Barn Area; Pig scramble for ages 8 to 10 at 2 p.m. at the Swine Area; Sheep shearing at the Sheep Barn 2 p.m.; Aim High Canines at the Swine Ring 3 p.m.; Truck Pull at the Tractor Pull Area 5 p.m.: Shakerz Band at 7 p.m. Relaxation Stage

Sunday: The Bel Airs (doowop and vintage rock ’n’ roll) at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. at the Relaxation stage; Dog demonstration, sheep dog herding at the Special Events Area at noon; Pig scramble for ages 11 to 13 at 2 p.m. at the Swine Ring; Pig scramble for adults at 2:15 p.m. at the Swine Ring; Fry Pan Toss for women 18+ at the Tractor Pull Area at 4 p.m.; Double Take at 5 p.m. Relaxation Stage

Strolling performers throughout the weekend include Pirate Man Dan, Seacoast NH Ukulele, Wicked Witches of the Lakes Region and Mixtape A Cappella Group, according to the website.

Fall family fun

• The Harvest Moon Festival at the Mt. Kearsarge Indian Museum (18 Highlawn Road, Warner, indianmuseum.org, 456-2600) is Sunday, Sept. 29, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and offers something for the whole family. According to the website, the Harvest Moon Festival celebrates the traditional harvest season; it is a family-friendly event featuring craft demonstrations, activities for kids, and educational exhibits. Food for sale, prepared using Native American recipes, includes bison stew, chicken wild rice stew, several varieties of cornbread, and sweets. Tickets cost $13 for adults, $7 for children, and are available online.

Les Enfants

• The Franco-American Centre is offering Children’s Beginner French classes for ages 6 to 11 via Zoom. The classes will run Tuesday, Oct. 1, through Dec. 3, from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. The kids will learn “through various fun activities and games” and no French knowledge is required, according to a Franco-American Centre newsletter. The cost is $150, with discounts for multiple children. See facnh.com/product-page/children-s-beginner-french.

Save the date

• The Joppa Hill Educational Farm (174 Joppa Hill Road, Bedford, 472-4724, theeducationalfarm.org) will hold a Fall Fair on Saturday, Oct. 5, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The day will feature artisan booths, food trucks, vendors, tractor rides, apples, pumpkin decorating, live music, kids’ activities and farm fun. Tickets cost $15 (plus fees) per person or $30 (plus fees) per family.

• Tickets are on sale now for the Community Players of Concord’s Children’s Theatre Project production of Charlotte’s Web featuring 42 young actors ages 6 to 16, according to a press release. Catch the production on Friday, Oct. 18, at 7 p.m. or Saturday, Oct. 19, at 2 p.m. at the Concord City Auditorium, 2 Prince St. in Concord. Tickets cost $15 and are available at CommunityPlayersofConcord.org or at the box office 90 minutes before each show, the release said.

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