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Busy August for NH Heritage Museum Trail

Featuring 17 member institutions from Portsmouth to Plymouth and several points west and north, the NH Heritage Museum Trail features numerous events for all ages in early August.

On Saturday, August 3 in Exeter, American Independence Museum will express its appreciation for residents in SAU 16 with Free Admission Day. Sponsored by Kennebunk Savings, the day will provide free admission to residents who live in the towns of Exeter, Brentwood, Kingston, Newfields, and Stratham as well as town employees, including teachers, with valid ID.

“We are so grateful for the support of Kennebunk Savings,” said Museum Executive Director Emma Bray. “This is a wonderful opportunity for people of all ages to visit us and see all the new enhancements in our museum.”

For individuals who may live closer to the state’s center, Saturday August 3 features Changemakers, a dance performance that concludes Arts Week at Canterbury Shaker Village in Canterbury. Arts Week is a two-week long event that engages visitors of all ages in the creative process.

“We will have dance, art, sculpture, even a performance by aerialists,” noted Maggie Stier of Canterbury Shaker Village, “and children get free admission from 10 – 4 on August 3rd for Shaker Saturday activities.”

A dance collaboration between Ballet Misha and Nsquared, Changemakers takes place at Canterbury Shaker Village’s Education Center at 5:30 p.m. Advance ticket purchases are strongly recommended.

On Wednesday, August 7, The Libby Museum in Wolfeboro will hold its final Live Animal Show.

According to Executive Director Alana Albee, Live Animal Shows are one of the “most popular” events at the museum.”

“It’s a chance to learn and get up close to exotic and local animals,” she said. “Our first event this summer included a 6 foot Australian Python, an African Frog and a distant relative to the raccoon, a Guatamuny.”

Held in partnership with Wildlife Encounters, the free event begins at 2 p.m.

For more information about these events or the many others on the NH Heritage Museum Trail, visit the website.

Comprised of 17 museums, the NH Heritage Museum Trail is divided into the Seacoast, Merrimack Valley and Lakes Regions with stops in Canterbury, Concord, Dover, Exeter, Laconia, Manchester, Moultonborough, Plymouth, Portsmouth, Tamworth, and Wolfeboro.

Busy July for Merrimack Valley Region on NH Heritage Museum Trail

In July, the NH Heritage Museum Trail will feature numerous family-friendly events in its Merrimack Valley branch.

On Saturday, July 20, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., the Currier Museum of Art in Manchester will hold Twilight at the Currier 3rd annual summer block party. The entire museum will be open at no charge.

The free, family-friendly event, open to all ages, will include both indoor and outdoor activities related to the exhibition, Medieval to Metal: The Art and Evolution of the Guitar. There will be a community art project based on guitars, face-painting, an LED hoop performer, many food trucks, and a beer and wine tent.

Music will be provided by Way Up South, whose sound weaves together southern, blues, country, jazz, and Americana rock.

“Block parties are a great excuse for neighbors to get together and have some fun,” said Alan Chong, director, Currier Museum of Art. “We invite all of our neighbors – from across the whole state – to stop by to see our art and our exhibitions, listen to some great music, and get their families involved in some creative activities.”

On Tuesday, July 23, Canterbury Shaker Village in Canterbury will kick off its Arts Week, which will conclude on Saturday, August 3.

During the two-week-long event, visitors may experience everything from art workshops to dance, music performances, and more.

“Creativity thrives here,” said Canterbury Shaker Village Interim Executive Director Maggie Stier. “Innovation was so important to the Shakers, and the setting seems to encourage that today, too – whether it’s observing, interacting, or making something yourself.”

For more information on the many activities offered during Arts Week visit shakers.org.

On Saturday, July 27 in Manchester, Millyard Museum will offer an educational tour of Manchester Hebrew Cemetery.

Through an in-depth tour presented by local historians Richard Duckoff and Matt Labbe, visitors will learn about Jewish history and Manchester heritage.

In speaking on these and various other events in the Merrimack Valley portion of The Trail in July, President Jeff Barraclough said they combine the “perfect amount of education and fun.”

“Visitors will gain historical knowledge without even feeling like they are learning,” he said. “These experiences are fun and educational for the whole family.”