New Hampshire has 5 Christmas events for kids we could confirm for the 2026 season, from Midnight Merriment 2026 in Concord on December 4 to Kids Holiday Tea Party in Manchester, on December 18. 3 of them are free, and every listing links straight to the host. It is one stop on our guide to Christmas events for kids in every state.
The short version
- 5 kids’ Christmas events confirmed in New Hampshire for 2026, in Manchester and Concord
- First: Midnight Merriment 2026, Concord, December 4. Runs latest: Kids Holiday Tea Party, Manchester, through December 18
- Free: Storytime at the Mall, Family Polar Express Party and Kids Holiday Tea Party
- Checked on each host’s own page; each listing links straight to it
Below is every event we could confirm, grouped by city, with the date, time, cost and the small things parents ask about (sign-ups, ages, what is included). Looking for a Santa train instead? Those are on our New Hampshire Christmas train rides page.
New Hampshire Christmas events for kids at a glance
- Kids’ Christmas events
- 5 confirmed for 2026
- Cities
- Manchester and Concord
- Season
- December 4 to December 18, 2026
- Free events
- 3
- Kinds of events
- Santa visit, holiday story time and story time with Santa
- Last checked
Plan your December
When each New Hampshire Christmas event for kids happens
The first is Midnight Merriment 2026 in Concord on December 4; the last runs to December 18. Each bar spans an event’s dates, not every hour in them, so check the host’s page for times.
- Midnight Merriment 2026Concord · Dec 4
- Storytime at the MallManchester · Dec 8
- Family Polar Express PartyManchester · Dec 11 to Dec 12
- Astronaut Santa DayConcord · Dec 13
- Kids Holiday Tea PartyManchester · Dec 18
Look inside the book
Story time with Santa in New Hampshire? Bring Rally home.
Rally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi’s first train ride, hand-painted in real watercolor. It makes a cozy bedtime story after a big day with Santa. Turn a few pages here.
Rally Takes the Train
Eight pages from the book
Turn the page
That's 8 of 25 pages
See who’s waiting at the station
Grandmommy and Papa are at the last stop. Get the full hand-painted book, $16.99 on Amazon.
See the full bookPage 1 of 8
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25 hand-painted pages, paperback, $16.99 with fast shipping from Amazon.
Every page is real watercolor on paper, painted by hand by Leslie Dunn. Nothing in this book was made with AI.
Christmas events for kids in Manchester
3 confirmed events for kids in Manchester, soonest first.
Manchester: Storytime at the Mall
Story time with SantaFreeManchester City Library · Manchester
- Host
- Manchester City Library (opens in a new tab)
- Where
- Mall of New Hampshire, in front of JC Penney near Santa, 1500 South Willow Street, Manchester, NH 03103
- When
- Tuesday, December 8, 2026, 11:30 am to 12:30 pm
- Cost
- Free
- Ages
- Recommended for all ages
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
The Manchester City Library Children's Room and the Mall of New Hampshire team up for Storytime at the Mall. The December session is a holiday edition held in front of JC Penney, near Santa's spot in the mall. Librarians will share holiday stories, and a special guest will join the story time.
Afterward, children can make a cute craft to take home. The program is recommended for all ages, no registration is required, and it is free. Because it is held near Santa inside the mall, families can plan a Santa visit before or after the stories. The mall is on South Willow Street, so the program fits easily into a December shopping trip. For more information, call the library's children's room at 603-624-6550 ext. 7628.
Parent tip: No registration needed. Meet in front of JC Penney inside the mall.
See dates and details from Manchester City Library (opens in a new tab)Manchester: Family Polar Express Party
Holiday story timeFreeManchester City Library · Manchester
- Host
- Manchester City Library (opens in a new tab)
- Where
- Manchester City Library, Auditorium and Winchell Room, 405 Pine Street, Manchester, NH 03104
- When
- Fri December 11 and Sat December 12, 2026, 10 to 11 am
- Cost
- Free, registration required
- Ages
- Families; Friday session for babies up to age 5 with their adults
- Sign-up
- Required ahead of time
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
Manchester City Library invites families aboard for a pretend trip to the North Pole, for those who truly believe. The party is built around the story of The Polar Express, with a reading, holiday crafts and snacks, and Aroma Joe's joins in to serve hot chocolate to everyone.
The Saturday, December 12 party is for the whole family. A version for the youngest children, babies up to age 5 with their adults, runs the day before, on Friday, December 11, also from 10 to 11 am. Both take place in the library's auditorium and Winchell Room. Registration is required for each and opens two weeks before the program date, so mark your calendar for late November. For more information, call the children's room at 603-624-6550 ext. 7628.
Parent tip: Registration opens two weeks before each date, around November 27 and 28, and space fills. Choose the Friday session for children 5 and under.
See dates and details from Manchester City Library (opens in a new tab)Manchester: Kids Holiday Tea Party
Holiday story timeFreeManchester City Library · Manchester
- Host
- Manchester City Library (opens in a new tab)
- Where
- Manchester City Library, Winchell Room, 405 Pine Street, Manchester, NH 03104
- When
- Friday, December 18, 2026, 10 to 11 am
- Cost
- Free, registration required
- Ages
- Ages 1 to 6 with parents or grandparents
- Sign-up
- Required ahead of time
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
Manchester City Library hosts a holiday tea party for young children to celebrate the upcoming holidays, including Christmas, Kwanzaa and Hanukkah. Kids ages 1 to 6 come with their parents or grandparents to enjoy tea, which is really juice, along with cookies, holiday songs and stories.
Children are invited to wear their best or craziest holiday outfit. The party meets in the library's Winchell Room at the main library on Pine Street on a Friday morning and lasts one hour. Registration is required and opens two weeks before the event, around December 4. For more information, call the children's room at 603-624-6550 ext. 7628. It pairs well with the library's Polar Express parties the week before.
Parent tip: Register when sign up opens two weeks ahead. Dress kids in their fanciest or silliest holiday outfit.
See dates and details from Manchester City Library (opens in a new tab)Christmas events for kids in Concord
2 confirmed events for kids in Concord, soonest first.
Concord: Midnight Merriment 2026
Santa visitIntown Concord · Concord
- Host
- Intown Concord (opens in a new tab)
- Where
- Downtown Concord (Santa photos at Arts Alley), 20 S. Main Street, Concord, NH
- When
- Friday, December 4, 2026, 5 to 11:59 pm
- Cost
- Check the host's page
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
Midnight Merriment fills downtown Concord with holiday music, shopping and family activities from 5 pm until midnight. The sample schedule includes Santa photos and a holiday dance party at Arts Alley from 5:30 to 7:30 pm, make-and-take ornaments at the League of NH Craftsmen, strolling carolers on South Main Street, and the Jubilate Singers performing as the Dickens Carolers, singing carols and telling holiday stories in period dress.
Families with young kids will get the most from the early evening, when the Santa photos, free hot chocolate and s'mores at City Plaza are running. About 500 s'mores are provided and usually run out around 7:30 pm, sometimes sooner. A heated warming station and a food truck alley are also on site. Much of the event happens outdoors, so dress warmly. The schedule is labeled a sample, so check the page for final times.
Parent tip: Come early for s'mores and hot chocolate, which run out by about 7:30 pm. Parking is available at the Storrs St., School St. and State St. garages.
See dates and details from Intown Concord (opens in a new tab)Concord: Astronaut Santa Day
Santa visitMcAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center · Concord
- Host
- McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center (opens in a new tab)
- Where
- McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center, 2 Institute Drive, Concord, NH 03301
- When
- Sunday, December 13, 2026, 11 am to 4 pm
- Cost
- Included with general admission ($11 kids 3 to 12, $14 adults, free for ages 2 and under)
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
The McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center in Concord welcomes Astronaut Santa for one Sunday in December. Families can visit with Santa upstairs next to the museum's space-flown shuttle tire, and the visit is included with general admission. Afterward you can explore the exhibits, browse the Science Store, or add a planetarium show for $7 a ticket.
This is a good pick for kids who love rockets and space, and it pairs a Santa visit with a full museum outing indoors. General admission is listed at $11 for children 3 to 12, $14 for adults and $13 for students and seniors, with members and children 2 and under free. The museum offers free parking in its lot, and many New Hampshire libraries lend passes that cover general admission for up to four guests.
Parent tip: Parking in the Discovery Center lot is free. Check with your local New Hampshire library about a museum pass, and buy planetarium tickets separately if you want a show.
See dates and details from McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center (opens in a new tab)Near a state line? Our guides to Christmas events for kids in Massachusetts, Christmas events for kids in Rhode Island and Christmas events for kids in Vermont list more confirmed events, and the national search sorts every event by distance from your town.
A story for the drive home
A morning with Santa or an evening of holiday stories tends to end the same way: tired kids, a long drive and one more book before bed. Our picture book follows Rally the corgi on his first train ride to see his grand-paw-rents, and every page is painted by hand. If your family is spending December missing someone, it was written for that too. For the car, print our free corgi and train coloring pages.
A bedtime story after seeing SantaRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi’s first train ride, hand-painted in real watercolor by Leslie Dunn. $16.99 on Amazon, ages 0 to 8.
Buy on AmazonNew Hampshire Christmas events for kids: questions parents ask
What Christmas events for kids are in New Hampshire in 2026?
We confirmed 5 Christmas events for kids in New Hampshire for 2026 on each host’s own page: Midnight Merriment 2026 in Concord (December 4), Storytime at the Mall in Manchester (December 8), Family Polar Express Party in Manchester (December 11), Astronaut Santa Day in Concord (December 13) and Kids Holiday Tea Party in Manchester (December 18). Every one is listed below with times, cost and a link to the host.
What Christmas events for kids are in Manchester, New Hampshire?
For families in and around Manchester, the confirmed Christmas events for kids this season are: Storytime at the Mall (Tue, Dec 8, 11:30 am to 12:30 pm, free); Family Polar Express Party (Sat, Dec 12, 10 to 11 am (little kids' version Fri, Dec 11, 10 am), free, registration required); Kids Holiday Tea Party (Fri, Dec 18, 10 to 11 am, free, registration required). Details and the host’s link for each are in the Manchester section of this page.
What Christmas events for kids are in Concord, New Hampshire?
For families in and around Concord, the confirmed Christmas events for kids this season are: Midnight Merriment 2026 (Fri, Dec 4, 5 pm to midnight (Santa photos 5:30 to 7:30 pm), see the host for cost); Astronaut Santa Day (Sun, Dec 13, 11 am to 4 pm, included with general admission ($11 kids 3 to 12, $14 adults, free for ages 2 and under)). Details and the host’s link for each are in the Concord section of this page.
Are there free Christmas events for kids in New Hampshire?
Yes. 3 of the 5 events here are free: Storytime at the Mall in Manchester, Family Polar Express Party in Manchester and Kids Holiday Tea Party in Manchester. Some free events still ask you to register, so check each listing.
Where can kids see Santa in New Hampshire this December?
Santa appears at Midnight Merriment 2026 in Concord (December 4), Storytime at the Mall in Manchester (December 8) and Astronaut Santa Day in Concord (December 13). Times and booking rules are in each event’s listing above.
Where are there Christmas story times for kids in New Hampshire?
Holiday story times on this page: Storytime at the Mall in Manchester, Family Polar Express Party in Manchester and Kids Holiday Tea Party in Manchester. Library story times are usually free; story times with a meal or show are ticketed.
Which New Hampshire Christmas events are best for toddlers?
These are aimed at babies, toddlers and preschoolers: Storytime at the Mall in Manchester (Recommended for all ages) and Kids Holiday Tea Party in Manchester (Ages 1 to 6 with parents or grandparents).
When is Midnight Merriment 2026 in Concord in 2026?
Friday, December 4, 2026, 5 to 11:59 pm, at Downtown Concord (Santa photos at Arts Alley). The host has not posted a price on its page, so check there before you go.
How much is Storytime at the Mall in Manchester?
Free. Storytime at the Mall is on Tuesday, December 8, 2026, 11:30 am to 12:30 pm at Mall of New Hampshire, in front of JC Penney near Santa. Confirm on the host’s page before you go.
How much is Family Polar Express Party in Manchester?
Free, registration required. Family Polar Express Party is on Fri December 11 and Sat December 12, 2026, 10 to 11 am at Manchester City Library, Auditorium and Winchell Room. Confirm on the host’s page before you go.
How much is Astronaut Santa Day in Concord?
Included with general admission ($11 kids 3 to 12, $14 adults, free for ages 2 and under). Astronaut Santa Day is on Sunday, December 13, 2026, 11 am to 4 pm at McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center. Confirm on the host’s page before you go.
How much is Kids Holiday Tea Party in Manchester?
Free, registration required. Kids Holiday Tea Party is on Friday, December 18, 2026, 10 to 11 am at Manchester City Library, Winchell Room. Confirm on the host’s page before you go.
Are there Christmas train rides for kids in New Hampshire?
Yes, but they have their own guide. Santa trains and holiday train rides are listed in our New Hampshire Christmas train rides guide, so this page sticks to story times, Santa visits and other events off the rails.
How do you confirm these events?
We list an event only after we find this season’s date on the host’s own website or an official city or tourism calendar. We last checked every listing on November 2, 2026. Hosts change details, so always confirm on the host’s page before you go.
Event names belong to their hosts. Rally Takes the Train is a family picture book and is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by any host listed here. Confirm dates, times and prices on each host’s own site before you go.
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