Weekend Fun for Boston Kids: Trains, Science, Magic and More Trains, Feb 15-16

2/13/14 - By Audrey Trieschman

February school vacation kicks off this weekend, and Boston offers plenty of ways to keep kids busy throughout the break. Options this weekend range from interactive readings of Kadir Nelson’s I Have a Dream picture book at Faneuil Hall to a model train show at the Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation in Waltham.

National Engineers Week begins this week; check out the special events that will keep kids interested in the STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) disciplines. We’ve also highlighted over 30 museum events and special activities taking place throughout February School Vacation Week. And if you’re thinking about visiting Southie this weekend, take a look at Kristin's new post. Read on for things to do this weekend, and be sure to visit our events calendar for more ideas.

Our Wee Works projects continue to receive rave reviews - you can see the entire series here. If you’ve enjoyed the projects, why not sign up to get WeeWork activities delivered to your inbox?

Enjoy!

OUR LATEST VIDEOS

Great Backyard Bird Count
Fri 2/14 - Mon 2/17
FREE

The Great Backyard Bird Count is an annual four-day event that engages bird watchers of all ages in counting birds to create a real-time snapshot of where the birds are. Everyone is welcome, from beginning bird watchers to experts. It takes as little as 15 minutes on one day, or you can count for as long as you like each day of the event. It’s free, fun, and easy—and it helps the birds.

Participants tally the number of individual birds of each species they see during their count period. They enter these numbers on the GBBC website.


Black History Month: I Have a Dream - Various Locations
Sat 2/15 - Sat 2/22
FREE

Citi Performing Arts Center presents an interactive reading of Kadir Nelson’s I Have A Dream picture book, which is inspired by the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as performed by Citi Center Teaching Artist, Toni "Bee" Brooks. All ages are welcome and attendees receive take-home activities. Schedule is as follows (check website for location nearest you):

  • Sat 2/15: Faneuil Hall (11am)
  • Tue 2/18: Boys & Girls Club, Dorchester at Denney Center (10am); Boys & Girls Club, Dorchester at Marr Clubhouse (12n); BCYF Holland (2pm); BCYF Nazzaro (4pm)
  • Wed 2/19: Community Arts Center (10am); Margaret Fuller House (11am); Cambridge Public Library (2pm); BCYF Jackson/Mann in Allston (4pm)
  • Thu 2/20: BCYF Paris Street (11am); Jordan Boys & Girls Club (1pm); BCYF Charlestown (3pm)
  • Fri 2/21: Boston Public Library, Dudley Branch (10am); BCYF Tobin (11:30am); Boston Public Library, Central at Copley Square (2pm); BCYF Quincy (4pm)
  • Sat 2/22: Faneuil Hall Marketplace (11am; Boston Public Library, Lower Mills Branch (1:30pm)

Mister G's Family Show - Coolidge Corner Theatre, Brookline
Sat 2/15
Adults $10; Children $8        

Join Mister G for songs from his brand new bilingual (English/Spanish) CD, ABC Fiesta, plus a whole host of fun, interactive songs.


Stacey Peasley in Concert - TCAN, Natick
Sat 2/15
Tickets $10 adults, $8 kids

Children can dance, sing and help Stacey Peasley celebrate the release of her newest CD, Lucky Day.


Decorate a Mache Horse - Artbeat, Arlington
Sat 2/15 - Sun 2/16
$18

Paint or decoupage a paper mache horse in celebration of the Year of the Horse. Paint with colorful acrylics or decoupage with vibrant French tissue paper, and adorn it with jewels, buttons, and more. Perfect for adults, teens, youth, and children as young as 3 with an adult.


Free Family Fun - Arsenal Center for the Arts, Watertown
Sat 2/15
FREE

Kids can experiment with paint, paper and collage to create works of art, and use their creativity while exploring and playing with theater games.


The Magic of Bonaparte - Regent Theatre, Arlington
Sat 2/15
Adults $10; Children $8        

Bonaparté captivates his audience's imagination as he takes them on a fun-filled journey into his whimsical world of magic and his unique blend of magic, comedy, origami, balloon sculpture and more.


Wenham Museum's LEGO Train - Wenham Museum
Sat 2/15 - Sun 2/16
Included with admission

See a rainbow colored L-gauge model train speeding along a brick-track as it races by soaring skyscrapers, country cottages, mountainside ski slopes, and a crazy carnival, all designed with the highest degree of precision by the New England Lego Users Group.


N-Scale Model Train Show - National Heritage Museum, Lexington
Sat 2/15
Admission $7/family

Kids who love trains will be fascinated by the model scale railroad displays set up by Northeast NTRAK Modular Railroad Club during a train-filled weekend of fun.


New England Model Engineers Show - Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation, Waltham
Sat 2/15
Adults $7; Children (6-12) $5

The festival features model engineers showcasing their working creations – steam engines, gasoline engines, aircraft engines, Stirling cycle engines, clocks, locomotives, moving puzzles, mini machines, pinhole cameras, wooden vehicle modes, model boats, and much more. There are 100+ working machines on display, as well as hands-on experiments to learn from.


National Engineers Week - Museum of Science, Boston
Sun 2/16 - Sat 2/22
Most activities included with admission

During National Engineers Week (February 16 – 22), the Museum of Science offers an array of fun, hands-on engineering-themed programming throughout its Exhibit Halls.