Children's Museum to close for week before resuming full fall schedule

DOVER - The Children's Museum of New Hampshire is returning to an annual tradition of closing for a week of deep cleaning and maintenance after Labor Day. The museum will be closed beginning Monday through Sept. 13, and will reopen on Sept. 14 with the same hours it has had over the summer.

This closing week allows museum staff the time for exhibit maintenance and touch ups that can't take place during normal hours. "We use this time for all sorts of things like dusting high and low, floor maintenance, painting and repairing exhibits, and deep cleaning from top to bottom," said Neva Cole CMNH Communications Director.

After reopening museum hours will continue to be two three-hour play sessions Tuesdays through Saturdays from 9 a.m.-Noon and 1-4 p.m., as well as 9 a.m.-Noon on Sundays. The Museum's annual Toddlerfest will return with drop-in activities for the museum's young visitors now that their older siblings are back in school. Toddlerfest will take place Sept. 14-26, and a score of free-with-admission activities are already being planned such as family yoga, science experiments, wacky art projects, bubble dance parties, and even bug investigation in the museum's Learning Garden.

The 9^th annual NH Maker Fest will happen Sept. 18 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m., and since Makers will take over the inside and outside of the museum, regular museum exhibits may not be completely accessible that day. However, visitors will be able to enjoy the Fest and the Museum by a donation of any amount that day. No tickets or online reservations are necessary.

"It's a really fun day full of hands-on activities both inside and outside the museum," added Cole. "Families won't want to miss it!"

On all other days, museum visitors are asked to reserve and/or pre-pay admission online prior to visiting. Everyone over the age of 24 months is required to wear a mask while inside the museum, or outside on the Play Patio, regardless of vaccination status.

Also returning this year is the Museum's Not-So-Spooky Spectacular in October. "Details about that are secret for now, but suffice it to say, our Educators are very happy to be planning this fun event again!" said Cole.

To learn more about the museum, or to reserve spots/pre-pay admission, visit www.childrens-museum.org.