Activities
My pick of the week-end:
The sky’s not the limit – rather, just a starting point — Oct. 14 and 15, 2011, when UNH hosts the first-ever New England Fall Astronomy Festival (NEFAF). The free, family-friendly event boasts a multitude of telescopes for sky-watching, talks by amateur astronomers and professional scientists, and several events with NASA astronaut (and UNH alumnus) Lee Morin.
UNH observatory
“This festival is about passing along the passion for astronomy to our neighbors in New Hampshire and beyond,” says UNH Observatory manager Ian Cohen, who is also a doctoral student in the UNH physics department. The NEFAF is hosted by the physics department and its observatory, in conjunction with the New Hampshire Astronomical Society (NHAS) and amateur astronomers from Maine to New York. Tom Cocchiaro of NHAS and John Gianforte, both Seacoast residents, are organizing and coordinating the activities with local astronomers and organizations that wanted to share the wonders of the universe with students of all ages and their families.
The festival, at the UNH Observatory on Spinney Lane in Durham, begins Friday evening at 6 p.m..
Saturday’s events begin at 10 a.m. and include hands-on activities for kids, astronomy talks for all ages, safe solar observing, rocket launches and a balloon payload demonstration as well as a telescope clinic and telescope demonstrations. Concessions will be available for purchase on both Friday and Saturday.
Astronomers of all ages will enjoy a multitude of telescopes for sky-watching, talks by amateur astronomers and professional scientists, and several events with NASA astronaut (and UNH alumnus) Lee Morin at the first-ever New England Fall Astronomy Festival Oct. 14 – 15, 2011.
For more information, including directions, parking, accessibility, and weather updates, go to physics.unh.edu/observatory/NEFAF.
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Sunday, October 16, 2 p.m.
Museum of Art University of New Hampshire
FAMILY PROGRAM:LIONS, TIGERS AND ANIMALS GALORE!
This special family program for children and adults features a look at the animals and their environments found in the works of Maine artist Dahlov Ipcar. Guest Michael Palace, Research Assistant Professor, Institute of Earth, Oceans, and Space, UNH joins Catherine A. Mazur, Education Coordinator, Museum of Art, UNH for this fun discussion. As art of the program Shannon Poulin will read one of Dahlov Ipcar’s best loved children’s books,The Calico Jungle. Offered in conjunction with the current exhibition, Full Circle: Dahlov Ipcar’s Circle Paintings, with a Round of Marguerite and William Zorach. Presented in collaboration with the Durham Public Library.
For information on educational programming, guided tours, Lending Library materials, visitors’ accessibility needs, and media requests. Catherine A. Mazur, Education and Publicity Coordinator 603/862-3713
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Old Ways Days
Saturday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Sunday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
It’s time for Old Ways Days at Old Ways Traditions in Canterbury this weekend. This event is fun for the whole family. You’ll be able to try your hand at blacksmithing, hold on to traditional hand woodworking tools, learn to rebuild stone walls, and help drive oxen. Watch antique engines running vintage machinery, enjoy bluegrass music, make cornhusk dolls, and more. Bring the kids and help them learn about the way it was done in the “old days.” Admission is a suggested $5 donation.
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Redhook on the Hook
Saturday, 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. (Session I)
Saturday, 6-9 p.m. (Session II)
Taste a variety of fine craft brews at the New Hampshire Brew Fest, which takes place this weekend at Redhook Brewery in Portsmouth. This is a special fundraiser for the Prescott Park Arts Festival. Come listen to some great tunes and sample more than 90 brews from 28 breweries. This is event sold out last year. Pick one of three sessions and head to the Hook! Call 603-430-8600 for more information.
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Giant Gourds
Saturday, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Sunday, 12-4 p.m.
The Giant Pumpkin Weigh-off and Regatta is fast becoming a Goffstown tradition. Join the Goffstown Main Street Program and the New Hampshire Giant Pumpkin Growers Association and enjoy a pumpkin cook-off, pumpkin catapults, the giant pumpkin weigh-off, a giant pumpkin drop, talent contest, food, games and so much more! In addition, watch as the pumpkin regatta races down the Piscataquog River. Participants create floating hollowed out pumpkins and race down the river. It’s always a treat to see what the “sailors” come up with and fun to watch them try to stay afloat. Last year there was a fire-breathing dragon and a Noah’s Ark among the racing gourds. Come see this special event for yourself! Admission is free.
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UNH Fall Orchestra Festival
On Saturday, October 15th, the UNH Orchestra will host over 80 high school string players in the 2011 UNH Fall Orchestra Festival. The event is also co-sponsored by NHASTA, the New Hampshire chapter of the American String Teachers Association. The festival will provide the high school musicians the opportunity to rehearse and perform with UNH woodwind, brass, and percussion sections, under the leadership of Dr. David Upham and Dr. Mark Latham. A free public concert will be given that evening at 7pm in the Johnson Theater in the Paul Creative Arts Center.
If you have any questions regarding the UNH Fall Orchestra Festival, please contact Dr. David Upham at David.Upham@unh.edu.