Community events over the holidays
Santa’s Castle continues Dec. 23
DOVER — Dover Youth to Youth is hosting its 15th annual Santa’s Castle at the McConnell Center in downtown Dover for three days during the Christmas season. Each night children and their families will be able to walk through several rooms in Santa’s Castle and meet Santa and many of his elves.
Youth to Youth students acting as elves will guide visitors through Rudolph’s stable, Santa’s toy room, Mrs. Claus’ Kitchen and other parts of the Castle. The tour culminates with a visit with Santa. Along the tour, children will be entertained by the elves and will collect small gifts in each room. Families are welcome to bring a camera and take pictures or video during the tour, and with Santa.
The Castle will conclude on Friday, Dec. 23, from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. In order to attend, pre-registration is required. Groups making a reservation must be no larger than six and include family members only. To increase everyone’s safety, groups attending will be spaced out more than in past years. To make a reservation visit: http://dovery2y.org/newsevents/santas-castle/
Santa’s Castle is designed for children ages 8 and under, but the whole family is invited. The cost is a flat fee of $25 per reservation. Proceeds support the drug and alcohol prevention activities of Dover Youth to Youth. Entrance to Santa’s Castle will be from the Saint Thomas Street side of the McConnell Center (Door #7). Parking is available in the parking lot located behind the Dover Public Library and on the street by the Dover District Court.
For additional information, go to the Dover Santa’s Castle Facebook page, Youth to Youth’s web site at www.DoverY2Y.org or call the Dover Police Department’s Community Outreach Bureau at 603-516-1501.
Lindsay and Her Puppet Pals visit Newmarket Library
NEWMARKET — The Newmarket Public Library will host Lindsay and Her Puppet Pals on Thursday, Dec. 29, at 10:30 a.m. This dynamic program will take place at the library, 1 Elm St., Newmarket, and is free and open to the public. All are welcome to attend. To register, visit the Newmarket Public Library at newmarketlibrary.org or call 603-659-5311 for more information.
Celebrate New Year's at the Children's Museum
DOVER - Ring in the New Year before bedtime at the annual daytime New Year's Eve Celebration at the Children's Museum. Parents, children and extended families can participate in one of two "countdowns to midnight" at 10:30 a.m. during the morning play session (9 a.m. to noon), and at 2 p.m. during the afternoon play session (12:30 to 3:30 p.m.) that will make you feel like you're in Times Square. Everyone receives a noisemaker and gets to create their own sparkly party hat and enjoy a New Year photo booth. As "midnight" draws closer, guests gather in the center of the Children's Museum of New Hampshire beneath a glitter ball hung 30 feet up. The crowd counts backwards from 20 as the ball begins its descent, then New Year wishes are launched from our Build-It-Fly-It towers when the clock strikes 12. The Museum closes early at 3:30 p.m. on New Year's Eve. Visit childrensmuseum.org for more information.
First Night Portsmouth
PORTSMOUTH - Pro Portsmouth will once again present First Night Portsmouth. The fun begins on Saturday, Dec. 31 at 2 p.m. in Market Square where the setup and carving of the ice sculpture will begin. Fireworks will take place at 7:30 p.m. and are set off near the South Mill Pond. For more information, visit proportsmouth.org. Event is free, but donations are welcome online at the Pro Portsmouth website.
New Year’s Eve Champagne Pops
PORTSMOUTH — The Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra will ring in 2023 with a New Year’s Eve Champagne Pops concert on Saturday, Dec. 31, at 8 p.m. at The Music Hall in Portsmouth, N.H. The concert features special guest conductor Dr. Dirk Hillyer and guest vocalist Ben DiScipio. Individual tickets for the New Year’s Eve concert are $38. For more information and tickets, visit www.portsmouthsymphony.org.
Sound Meditation on New Year's Day
KITTERY, Maine — Sound Meditation to sound our intentions for the New Year will be held Jan. 1, from 1 to 2 p.m. at the Dance Hall Kittery, 7 Walker St., Kittery, Maine. Cost is $15 or by donation. For more information or to register: Vibrantvoice @gmail.com. There are chairs available. If you prefer lying down, bring a yoga mat, blanket, and pillow to be warm and cozy.
Learn about moose at Somersworth library
SOMERSWORTH - New Hampshire Fish & Wildlife Stewards will be at the Somersworth Public Library to present "The Survival of Moose in New Hampshire" on Saturday, Jan. 21. The talk will begin at 11 a.m. and run to 12:30 p.m. Learn about the natural history of the moose, where they are most likely to be found, and how climate change is impacting their survival. You'll learn that moose are skilled swimmers, how parasites decrease moose survival, what their current population status is within New Hampshire, and how you can help the largest member of the deer family. New Hampshire Fish and Game is working hard to better understand the issues facing moose, and to develop strategies to save this large icon of the New Hampshire north. Program is free and open to the public. The library is located at 25 Main St., Somersworth. Visit somersworthnh.gov/library.
Celebrate New Year's at the Children's Museum
DOVER - Ring in the New Year before bedtime at the annual daytime New Year's Eve Celebration at the Children's Museum. Parents, children and extended families can participate in one of two "countdowns to midnight" at 10:30 a.m. during the morning play session (9 a.m. to noon), and at 2 p.m. during the afternoon play session (12:30 to 3:30 p.m.) that will make you feel like you're in Times Square. Everyone receives a noisemaker and gets to create their own sparkly party hat and enjoy a New Year photo booth. As "midnight" draws closer, guests gather in the center of the Children's Museum of New Hampshire beneath a glitter ball hung 30 feet up. The crowd counts backwards from 20 as the ball begins its descent, then New Year wishes are launched from our Build-It-Fly-It towers when the clock strikes 12. The Museum closes early at 3:30 p.m. on New Year's Eve. Visit childrensmuseum.org for more information.
This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Community events over the holidays
