Family events in Rockingham County, NH

Spend a welcoming morning connecting through play, simple crafts, and stories, with a light snack included. This ongoing group meets at The Family Center at Families First in Portsmouth.

An adoption event at PetSmart in Epping, NH features dogs looking for new homes. Visitors can meet adoptable dogs and see if one might be the right match for their family.

Explore Portsmouth’s oldest neighborhood during a Halloween celebration made for families. Trick-or-treat alongside figures from America’s founding and discover spooky scenes drawn from 250 years of history. Meet wandering pirates, visit a mysterious fortune teller, and hear ghost stories drifting through the night. Creative activities include building giant spider webs, moving to haunting music, and trying games for prizes. Those feeling bold can knock on the witch’s door for a treat. Tickets are available for members and nonmembers. Member pricing lists adults ages 1 and up at $8.50 or free, with children under 1 free with a ticket. Nonmember pricing lists adults ages 1 and up at $17, with children under 1 free with a ticket.

Head to Diversions Puzzles & Games in Portsmouth for a Disney Lorcana Hyperia City Collection Quest designed as a welcoming group activity. Participants open three Hyperia City packs, trade with fellow players, and work toward collecting the specific cards shown on a Quest Card. Finishing the quest earns a Nick Wilde - Providing Backup promo card. An account on the Ravensburger Play Hub through Carde.io is required to take part, and registering on that platform in advance is recommended to secure a spot. Check-in takes place in-store one hour before the start. The entry fee is $18, and capacity is limited to 18 players. Metered parking is available at the Worth Lot behind the store, the Bridge Street Lot, Foundry Garage, and Hanover Garage. For questions, contact the store at (603) 766-6220 or portsmouth@diversionsgames.com.

Alan Mearns brings a free classical guitar concert to Portsmouth as part of Guitar Sundays, featuring his bold arrangements of works by Bach, Chopin, and Albeniz alongside his own original pieces. He plays with an emphasis on beauty and emotional connection, approaching music as a spiritual art. Guitar Sundays is a monthly series welcoming all ages that spotlights classical guitarists from the Seacoast, the greater Boston area, and across the country, with no admission fee. The series collaborates with the Portsmouth Public Library, which hosts half of the concerts each year, and is supported by the Boston Classical Guitar Society and The Augustine Foundation, whose grants help PMAC present performers from beyond New England.

Settle in for Dungeons & Dragons at Diversions every Monday night, welcoming both newcomers and seasoned players to join an ongoing adventure. Games are hosted by private groups rather than store staff, and most weeks feature two tables, one for adults and one for pre-teens. The adult table requires a free reservation in advance, space is limited, and registration secures a seat for that week’s session. The kids table is walk-in only on a first come, first served basis, with limited seating and no guarantee of availability for all walk-ins. Nearby parking options include free parking at the Masonic Temple Lot about a five minute walk away, the Foundry Garage about a six minute walk for $1 per hour, and the Worth Lot directly behind the store at $2 per hour for the first three hours, then $5 per hour for each additional hour.

An upcoming Trunk or Treat welcomes goblins and ghouls to take part in the fun. Those interested can register to host a trunk, and any vehicle used for hosting must remain parked for the entire event to keep pedestrians safe. Attendance is open to everyone, and hosting a trunk is not required. Questions are welcome.