North Pole - various times
North Pole - various times
North Pole - various times
North Pole - various times
North Pole - various times
North Pole - various times
Fun and Free Things to Do in Boston with Kids: Horses, the Ocean, the Moon and More Aug 10-11
Families can savor this mid-August weekend in and around Boston with films (try the Free Friday Flicks or Family Ocean Movie Night), performances (Cavalia Odysseo and Wicked opened this week), festivals (Chinatown’s August Moon Festival) and creatures of the sea at the New England Aquarium. Read on for our weekend highlights, and remember you can find additional options in our Event Calendar.
it’s getting harder to ignore the fact that September and the start of school is just around the corner, but at least we can take advantage of ways to save on back to school shopping, from the upcoming tax-free holiday weekend to back to school shopping on a budget. Plus, it’s time to plan for fall classes - Rachel has found some amazing parent-toddler classes, from music to art to yoga.
And if you’re looking for ways to create just one more summer memory, we have more than 15 summer day trips to consider, plus a special kid-lit itinerary that takes you to Springfield, Northampton and Amherst to discover favorite writers and illustrators like Dr. Seuss, Mo Willems, Eric Carle, and Emily Dickinson. Finally, we have some tips on viewing outdoor art with kids from Fruitlands Museum Director Wyona Lynch-McWhite, and some places to find the outdoor art.
Enjoy!
OUR LATEST VIDEOS
Free Friday Flicks: Rise of the Guardians - Hatch Shell, Boston
Fri 8/9
FREE
Free Friday Flicks is a summertime tradition, attracting thousands of movie-goers to the Esplanade to enjoy classic, family-oriented feature length movies under the stars all summer long. This year, in HD!
Bring a blanket or lawn chair, pack a picnic and watch tonight's feature: Rise of the Guardians. Movies begin at sundown, but arrive early to grab your spot on the lawn and enjoy free food samples, games and giveaways with WBZ NewsRadio 1030.
Alice in Wonderland - North Shore Music Theatre, Beverly
Fri 8/9
$10-$12
Kaleidoscope Children's Theatre presents its own version of the classic tale. Performances at 10am & 1pm.
Cavalia Odysseo - White Big Top, Somerville
Through 8/18
$35 and up
Cavalia Odysseo is a theatrical experience, an ode to horse and man that marries the equestrian arts, awe inspiring acrobatics and high-tech theatrical effects. Audiences are transported around the world as more than 50 horses and an international cast play and demonstrate their intimate bond. Set under a 38-meter tall White Big Top, Odysseo features a 1,393 square meter stage with a real carousel and a magically appearing 302,000-litre lake in front of a stunning video backdrop the size of three IMAX screens. Read a review of the show from our Mommy Poppins LA editor.
Wicked - Boston Opera House, Boston
Through 9/15
$50 and up
The magical Broadway production Wicked returns to Boston. Long before that girl from Kansas arrives in Munchkinland, two girls meet in the land of Oz. One, born with emerald green skin, is smart, fiery and misunderstood. The other is beautiful, ambitious and very popular. Wicked is the story of how these two grow to become the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good.
Family Ocean Movie Night - Harvard Square, Cambridge
Sat 8/10
FREE
Ocean River Institute screens Part I of Ocean Frontiers, the Dawn of a New Era in Ocean Stewardship. The film shows communities coming together to save right whales from the boat traffic in Boston Harbor and saving reef fish in the Florida Keys. Immediately following is a beloved film about the bond between a boy and an orca whale. Part II takes place on August 24.
Ruby's Baby Brother Book Launch Party - Barefoot Books, Concord
Sat 8/10
Many activities free
Ruby’s getting a baby brother! Help Barefoot Books celebrate the launch of Ruby’s Baby Brother with a full day of sibling activities and fun!
- Ruby Story Time with Miss Ellie (10:30am; all ages; free): Grab a seat at the Story Throne with Studio favorite Miss Ellie to hear all of the Ruby books.
- Sibling Cards Craft (11am; ages 2+; $4/craft): It takes two to do this craft where siblings will make keepsake handprint cards for one another.
- New Sibling Picnic and Games (11:30am; ages 2-5; free): Is your little one about to become a big brother or sister? Then stop by for a picnic filled with games focused on being a big brother or sister.
- New Sibling Clay Keepsakes (12pm; all ages $40/project): Capture your children’s handprints on a clay plaque that they can later paint to perfection.
- Ruby Story Time (3pm; all ages; free): Grab a seat at the Story Throne to hear all of the Ruby books.
August Moon Festival - Chinatown, Boston
Sun 8/11
FREE
The annual festival features lion dancing, martial arts, Chinese traditional dancing, and other cultural performances as well as vendor booths.
Sunday Parkland Games - Weeks Footbridge, Cambridge
Sun 8/11
FREE
The Sunday Parkland Games include fun and healthy activities like badminton, bocce, croquet, Frisbee, horseshoes, hula hoops, lawn toss, and paddleball, along with team activities such as potato sack races and tug-o-war. Free yoga classes, too.
Blue Discoveries Family Day: Sensational and Sustainable Seafood - New England Aquarium, Boston
Sun 8/11
Free with admission
Families can learn more about the blue planet through art, science and storytelling. The program highlights Aquarium favorites as well as Aquarium hidden treasures.
Photo: David Caird, in Melbourne, Victoria
