The Seacoast of New Hampshire is a fun place to be in the winter, partly because of the variety of events that nudge you out into the cold.

If you want to get the blood pumping and extend a little bit of the goodwill of the holiday season, check out the Cocheco Valley Community Skate Days at the Whittemore Center in Durham.

Today and tomorrow, the skates happen from 6-8 p.m. On New Year’s Eve, you can skate from 5-7 p.m. Bringing along pet food for the Cocheco Valley Humane Society gets you a discount to the already reasonable rate. Bring three or more items for $2 off the family rate of $10, or $1 off the adult rate ($5) and the children younger than 12 rate ($3) with a pet food donation each.

The Cocheco Valley Humane Society seeks donations of canned and dry adult cat food; canned and dry adult dog food; hay for small animals (no straw); rabbit hay racks; small litter boxes for rabbits; cat and small animal toys; and non-clumping clay cat litter.

This weekend promises to be perfect summer weather (and we’ve certainly waited for it). Not much could beat a day of relaxation on the Androscoggin River, which makes the timing of Saturday’s annual River Day Festival in Berlin juuuuust about perfect.

The day is chock full of canoe and kayak races along the Androscoggin River, log rolling, a Flotilla Parade (consisting or boats or anything else that will float down a river), seminars, workshops, a barbecue and plenty of poutine — a French-Canadian staple.

Other event highlights include water-related activities put on by the AMC Pinkham Notch Visitor’s Center. There will be an aquatic station with invertebrates and water olympics. Amazing Highland Farm will have alpacas and the Roy Family Farm will have llamas and goats for an all-ages petting zoo. There will also be a parade, boat tours, games, crafts and face painting.

River Day Festival events kick off at 10 a.m., which is also the starting time of Wingzilla. Chicken lovers should will enjoy wing cook-offs, a chicken dance, a barbecue, horse shoe tournament and all-you-can-eat chicken wings.

Both the River Day Festival and Wingzilla take place at the Northern Forest Hertiage Park. These family-friendly, free events are put on by the Northern Forest Heritage Park and Berlin Fire Department.