6 events in New Hampshire to take your kids to before summer ends
There’s still time to schedule last-minute summer adventures for your kids. Check out these six events in New Hampshire.
Sylvia Plath, famed writer, poet, and New England native, once referred to August as “the odd uneven time.” She wrote that the best of summer was over by August, and with fall still on the horizon, the month leaves everyone in a limbo of sorts. If you’ve been similarly feeling the odd unevenness of August and have been looking for ways to recapture some of early summer’s excitement, we have a few events that might just do the trick.
Before you worry about school shopping and class assignments, take your kids out for one or two more days of adventure. These six events in New Hampshire are either free to attend or require an admittance fee of $15 or less, and they encompass a variety of hobbies and interests. From musical entertainment to arts & crafts, these final summer festivities will bring you and your family a sense of joy and community.
1. Tuesdays on the Terrace – Kids’ Night feat. The Clemenzi Crusaders & Sages Entertainment, Portsmouth
Date: Tuesday, August 19
Price: $8 per person. Children under the age of three are admitted for free.
Time: 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Every Tuesday, local musicians take to the stage at the Kennebunk Savings Terrace located at 14 Hancock Street in Portsmouth. The open-air patio is part of the Strawbery Banke Museum and offers some picnic tables and seating on-site, though it tends to be limited. The Museum suggests bringing your own blankets or lawn chairs for the event.
On August 19, families will be treated to a performance by the Clemenzi Crusaders and Sages Entertainment. According to the Strawbery Banke website, the event will feature “a vibrant fusion of magic, balloons, bubbles, foam, and STEAM education, creating an unforgettable experience for families.” Tickets are available to purchase in advance or at the door. If you’d like to be notified of any changes to the evening’s programming, buy your tickets in advance here, and Strawbery Banke will notify you as needed.
2. “Spread Your Wings” at Petals in the Pines, Canterbury
Date: Thursday, August 21, and Thursday, August 28
Price: $12 per adult and one child, $7 for each additional child. Infants are admitted for free.
Time: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Canterbury’s Petals in the Pines is hosting a Nature Explore Outdoor Classroom on August 21 and 28 that is creatively titled, “Spread Your Wings.” Reservations are required to attend the event, as there’s limited space available to ensure everyone is comfortable. Click here to pay the required fee and reserve your family’s spot. You’re encouraged to bring your own snacks, lunch, sunscreen, and bug spray. Pets are not permitted.
“Spread Your Wings” is designed to entertain children of all ages and includes “discovery time and unstructured play.” Fort building will take place in the Mossy Messy Area, vegetable watering and worm gathering will be held at the Peter Rabbit Garden, and nature crafts will be available at the Indian Paintbrush Nature Art Area. There will also be Fairy House building in the Fairy Village, and general Arbor-Day certified play areas as well.
3. Woodland Fairy House Building, Waterville Valley
Date: Thursday, August 21
Price: $5 per person.
Time: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Waterville Valley hosts a variety of exciting “Summer Unplugged” activities, including Woodland Fairy House Building, which is scheduled for August 21. Admittance is $5 per person, but it’s free for anyone who already has a Freedom Pass. Payment via Venmo, PayPal, and Eventbrite is accepted, but cash payments are not.
Materials are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, so be sure to get there on time or else you might miss out! Children will construct their own “tiny woodland dwellings in a shaded forest” during this two-hour event. Waterville Valley’s website says that “natural materials, gentle guidance, and magical vibes” are included.
4. Twilight S’mores, Waterville Valley
Date: Friday, August 22
Price: Free
Time: 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
If you’re interested in attending Waterville Valley’s “Summer Unplugged,” but arts & crafts aren’t really your kid’s thing, check out Twilight S’mores on August 22 instead. The evening is free to attend, though you’ll need to purchase a s’mores kit in Town Square if you’re not a Freedom Pass holder. If you do have a Freedom Pass, s’mores supplies will be provided free of additional charge on a first-come, first-served basis.
Taking place at the Corcoran Pond Beach, Twilight S’mores is a great way to gather your family to roast marshmallows, swap stories, and enjoy the surrounding stars and wildlife. Click here to learn more.
5. Monarch Monitoring Mondays, Holderness
Date: Monday, August 25
Price: Free, but advanced registration is requested.
Time: 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Squam Lakes Conservation Society is holding one of its Monarch Monitoring Mondays on August 25. It’s free to attend, though registration is requested in advance to ensure the Society has an idea of how many kids will be there, as space is limited. Reserve your family’s spot here. All ages are permitted, and you’ll be meeting up with the rest of the group at the Pemi Oxbow Preserve parking lot by 9:30 a.m. that day.
According to the Squam Lakes Conservation Society website, “This summer we are monitoring for monarch caterpillars as part of the national citizen science initiative the Monarch Larva Monitoring Project.” The group meets every Monday to count monarch eggs and caterpillars around the Pemi Oxbow Preserve, and the data you and your family help collect will assist the Society’s scientists in learning crucial information about monarchs and their migration patterns. Pretty amazing!
6. Gunstock’s Labor Day Weekend Craft Fair, Gilford
Date: Saturday, August 30, and Sunday, August 31
Price: Admission and parking are free.
Time: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Gunstock Mountain’s Labor Day Weekend Craft Fair is free to attend and will be held rain or shine on August 30 and 31. Nearly 110 exhibitors selling handcrafted items like wooden tables and mirrors, hand-painted wood/glass/metal mushrooms, custom leather belts, pressed floral art, tote bags, fine art, pottery, folk art, soy candles, jewelry, and more can be found throughout the day. Chainsaw wood carving demos and live music are also scheduled.
As if all that wasn’t enough, New Hampshire maple syrup, macrame furniture, wildlife photography, and baked goods will be available for purchase as well. You’re welcome to bring leashed, friendly dogs with you. For more information, click here.
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