Children’s Museum – Salem Happenings

Friday Fun: Fireworks and Mysteries

The fireworks may be over but that doesn’t mean that the fun has to be. In fact, if you missed out on the 4th of July festivities, you may be in luck as there are still some places that are having fireworks tonight and tomorrow. As a result, if you’re looking for something to do now that the 4th of July has come and gone, you may want to look into some of the fireworks displays and other events that are happening this weekend.

First, if your kids love arts and crafts and are really into fireworks, you may want to think about taking them to the Boston Children’s Museum this weekend. The Boston Children’s Museum is holding a special event entitled Kitchen Science: Fireworks in a Glass on Saturday, July 6, 2013 from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm. This event will allow your children ages 5 and up to use oil, food coloring, and other items found around the kitchen to make colorful firework-like designs in a glass. For more information, please visit the Boston Children’s Museum website.

Secondly, if you’re looking for an activity that you can do without the kids and/or you’ve always been a fan of murder mysteries, the Museum of Fine Arts may have exactly what you’re looking for this weekend. The Museum of Fine Arts and Watson Adventures is hosting a Murder at the Art Museum Scavenger Hunt at 1:00 pm on Saturday, July 6, 2013. This event, which is only open to adults, will feature a series of clues related to the art in the museum that will help you to determine why the museum curator was killed and, most importantly, who killed the curator. To find out more about the event or to register for it, please visit the Watson Adventures website.

Finally, if you were hoping to catch another fireworks display or you missed all of the displays earlier in the week, Falmouth, Hudson, Lowell, and Waltham are all having fireworks displays that begin somewhere between 9:00 and 9:30 pm tonight (July 5, 2013.) If you can’t make it to any of the displays tonight, however, don’t worry. Ayer, Brockton, Hudson, Salisbury, and Wilmington are also having fireworks displays this weekend, but each of these displays will begin somewhere between 9:00 and 10:15 pm tomorrow (July 6, 2013.) For more information, please check your local paper.

Friday Fun: Father’s Day Weekend

A couple of months ago, the United States had some really dry weather, and if you had asked people what they wanted for weather at the time, a lot of people would have said rain. In fact, some areas of the country received two to three inches of rain less than they typically get, and there were a lot of people concerned about the possibility of a serious drought. However, if you were to ask the same question about the weather now, most people would probably tell you that they would really like to see the sun again sometime during their lifetime. For, as you might guess, it has now been raining pretty much nonstop for the last month and, as the old saying goes, “when it rains, it pours.” Fortunately, if you are one of the people who would really like to see the sun again, it may make your day to know that the weather is beginning to look a lot more promising just in time for Father’s Day Weekend. And, if you’re looking for something interesting to do with your father this weekend, there are a number of events in the Boston area that you should definitely check out.

The first event that you may want to check out if you’re looking for something to do with your father this Father’s Day weekend is the Father’s Day Weekend Vintage Baseball Triple Header. The Vintage Baseball Triple Header is the perfect way to celebrate Father’s Day for any father that is a big fan of baseball and/or a big fan of history as it will actually give you the opportunity to watch two teams go head to head in a game of baseball using the actual rules from the 1860’s. This means that you will only see underhand pitches, catches that count as outs even though the ball bounced once, and players that are a lot more hardcore than some of the professional players you may have seen because the players in this game have to catch the ball without a glove. The Vintage Baseball Triple Header will also feature demonstrations that show you how bats and balls are made, activities for kids, food, drinks, and a bunch of different souvenirs. For more information on the Vintage Baseball Triple Header, which takes place at Spencer-Peirce-Little Farm in Newbury, MA, please visit the Vintage Baseball Triple Header’s website or call 978-462-2634.

Another place that you may want to consider if you’re father isn’t a big fan of baseball or you just think your father belongs in a zoo is Zoo New England. This is because both of Zoo New England’s locations, including the Stone Zoo and the Franklin park Zoo, are offering free admission to the zoo for fathers on Father’s Day. In fact, if you and your father can make it to the Franklin Park Zoo around noon on Sunday, there will also be music, games, and prizes courtesy of Magic 106.7. For more information on the Father’s Day events at the zoos, please visit the special events page for The Stone Zoo and/or the Franklin Park Zoo.

Finally, if your father really isn’t into the zoo, you can always take him to a museum. The Children’s Museum of New Hampshire, the deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum, the Museum of Fine Arts, and a number of other museums in the Boston area are offering free or discounted admission for fathers on Father’s Day.

Friday Fun: Mother’s Day

This weekend, as you may already know, is Mother’s Day weekend, which means that it is a time to celebrate all of the things that your mother has done for you and a time to apologize for all of the trouble that you have caused over the past year. Unfortunately, you’ve probably already realized that it’s not always easy to come up with a way to honor the incredible amount of time, effort, and money that your mother put into raising you. In fact, finding a way to atone for all of the mischief you may have caused when were younger (or are still causing) can be even more difficult, and if you’re one of the fine, upstanding individuals who totally forgot about the holiday, you may be desperately seeking a way to demonstrate your respect for your mother this weekend. Fortunately, if you’re at a loss as to what to do for your mother this Mother’s Day, you’ll be happy to know that there a number of events specifically designed to honor your mother occurring throughout the weekend.

First, if your mother has a favorite museum or a favorite hobby that is related to one of the museums in your local area, you may want to look into taking her there. Many museums have special events and/or discounts this weekend specifically for mothers, and your mother may be able to get into the museum for free or at a large discount, view special exhibits, have brunch with other mothers, and/or take part in a bunch of activities specifically geared towards mothers and their children. Some of the museums in the Northeast offering special exhibits, brunches, and/or free admission to mothers this weekend include the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire, the Discovery Museums, the Providence Children’s Museum, and the Museum of Fine Arts.

Secondly, if your mother isn’t really a big fan of museums, but she likes animals, you may want to check out your local zoo or aquarium. A large number of zoos and aquariums offer free admission, discounts on food and gifts, and other special offers for mothers this weekend. In fact, mothers living in the Boston area can get into the Franklin Park Zoo, the Stone Zoo, and the New England Aquarium for free on Sunday (although your mother will have to go with someone purchasing a full-priced ticket to take advantage of the Aquarium offer.)

Finally, if all else fails, you can always take your mother to her favorite restaurant. A lot of restaurants offer a special brunch or other special meals for mothers this weekend, and these meals can be a excellent way to celebrate the holiday and get some great food. However, it is important to remember that these brunches can be pretty pricey, and they tend to fill up fast. As a result, it is always a good idea to call ahead and make a reservation before you head over to the restaurant.