Fun and Free Things to Do with Kids in Boston This Weekend: Arabian Nights, Ski Show, Rock 'n' Romp and More

11/14/13 - By Audrey Trieschman

Our roundup of weekend events features lots of family shows and concerts including the opening of Arabian Nights, The Trolls and Trees puppet show, and Body Music for All Ages, the Boston Globe Ski and Sports Expo, and a Family Works event with Ben Rudnick and Friends. Read on for details, and remember that our calendar is filled with many more activities.

Also on Mommy Poppins Boston this week:

Plus:

Enjoy!

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Boston Globe Ski and Sports Expo - Seaport World Trade Center, Boston
Opens Thu 11/14 through Sun 11/17
Adults $12; Children (12 & under) free $2 discount coupon is available via the website

Kick off the ski season with a visit to the Ski Expo, where you can buy skis and snowboarding equipment; talk to representatives from resorts around the globe and take advantage of pre-season savings on winter vacation packages, lift tickets and season passes; and enjoy a variety of live acts, interactive exhibits, and fun giveaways.


Arabian Nights - Central Square Theater, Cambridge
Through 12/29
Tickets $20-$54

Based on One Thousand and One Nights, a collection of folk tales from the Middle East and Asia, Arabian Nights is rich with suspense, romance and hilarity – stories irresistible for all ages. [Details]


Ben Rudnick and Friends Concert and Family Works - TICO, Boston
Sat 11/16
Free concert and Family Works event; Brunch available for a fee

Join Ben Rudnick and Friends for a concert and Family Works event to benefit the Greater Boston Food Bank. Admission to the concert and Family Works event is free; free coffee, tea and juice. Stay for brunch, available for a fee.

Starting at 10am, children can take part in a Thanksgiving craft and bring their donations of healthy canned foods (veggies, tomatoes, spaghetti sauce and fruit.); boxed, non-perishable grains (pasta, oatmeal, whole grain crackers, and low sugar/high fiber cereal); canned lean meats (tuna, salmon, beans, chicken or chili); milk products either dry, evaporated or boxed/shelf-stable for the Greater Boston Food Bank.

Music with Ben Rudnick and Friends - a favorite among kids and parents - starts at 11am. [Details]


Nerissa & Katryna Nields Family Show - Club Passim, Cambridge
Sat 11/16
Tickets $12        

Folk-rock sister act Nerissa and Katryna Nields grew up singing folk songs in the kitchen and in the back seat of the family car and now delight audiences of all ages with their originals as well as their reinterpretations. [Details]


The Trolls and the Tree, by Galapagos Puppets - Arlington Center for the Arts, Arlington
Sat 11/16
Tickets: $7, 3 tickets for $20

The Trolls and the Tree is an original hand puppet show with a green theme. When trolls come to take care of the fairies’ garden, they bring their car, toaster, television and more. It’s a good thing the feisty squirrel and fleet-winged birds are paying attention to what the trolls do. Come for the show; stay for coffee and puppet-play afterwards. [Details]


Rock n Romp - Family Friendly Rock Show - The Sinclair, Cambridge
Sat 11/16
Adults $10; Children $5        

Bowery Boston and Girl Friday present: Rock n Romp Boston w/ Spirit Kid, The Luxury. The family friendly concert series showcasing fantastic local-area musicians and bands. The volume might be low, but the music is designed for parents and kids both in mind. Kids enjoy the music, dance, or just enjoy the other activities available to them in a safe, friendly environment, and parents get the opportunity to listen to great live music and enjoy a beer with other parents. [Details]


The Enchanted Village - Jordan's Furniture, Avon
Opens Sat 11/16
FREE

The tradition lives on. Once called the Enchanted Village of St. Nicholas, the holiday display was created in 1958 for Jordan Marsh Downtown Crossing. It has passed through City Hall Plaza (late 90s) and the Hynes Convention Center (2006-2009), and now is at Jordan’s Furniture, where it has been restored and on display. The surviving collection includes 59 mechanical figurines and 18 vignettes. [Details]


Big Woods Hike - Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary, Topsfield
Sun 11/17
Adults $7-$8; Children $6-$7

Family and friends can take a two-hour naturalist-guided walk to discover the natural and cultural history of the sanctuary. The walk meanders along the edges of marshes and ponds, through deciduous forest and the old growth forest of Averill’s Island, featuring towering hemlocks and red pines. Warm up by the woodstove back in the Barn, where hot drinks, homemade soup, and desserts are available for purchase. Reserve in advance. [Details]


ARTfull Explorations - deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum, Lincoln
Sun 11/17
Free with admission

Drop in to explore Orly Genger’s monumental sculpture Red, Yellow and Blue. Close looking questions guide participants through the colorful rope installation winding through the Sculpture Park and then participate in a project that explores line and space through a hands-on exploration of rope and string. [Details]


Body Music for All Ages - Wellesley College, Wellesley
Sun 11/17
FREE; $3-$5 donations appreciated        

Enjoy a lively hour of music you can "see" and dance you can "hear", with cross-cultural repertoire, geared for the whole family and all generations. Part of Body Music Week. [Details]


Photo: Central Square Theatre’s Arabian Nights