Free and Fun Things to Do for Kids and Families in Boston: Chinese New Year, Climate Week, Birds of Prey and More Jan 21-22

1/18/12 - By Audrey Trieschman

it’s all about animals this weekend!

Dragons put in an appearance, as celebrations of the Chinese New Year begin. Events like The Monkey KIng puppet show at the Peabody Museum, a Chinese New Year celebration at the Harvard Museum of Natural History, and a book launch of Dumpling Days at Porter Square Books help welcome in the Year of the Dragon. Clifford, the Big Red Dog (in costume character form) visits the Harvard Coop for Kids, Rainforest Reptiles slither and crawl to the Children’s Museum, and birds of prey swoop in on the Ipswich River Sanctuary. Read on for our weekend picks, and check our Events Calendar for more options.

We also continue our Summer Camp series with a focus on summer camps in Boston, Brookline and Cambridge. We’d love include your favorite camps in future posts - please let us know about them!

Enjoy!

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The Mickey Spain Musical Jamboree Family Show - Club Passim, Cambridge
Saturday, 1/21

Mickey Spain plays American folk music for children. His original songs feature imaginative lyrics and infectious melodies the whole family can enjoy. $10


A Visit with Clifford, the Big Red Dog - Harvard Coop for Kids, Cambridge
Saturday, 1/21

Clifford the big red dog (in costume character form) visits, and children listen to animal stories and do an animal craft. Free


The Monkey KIng - Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, Cambridge
Saturday, 1/21

Ring in the Year of the Dragon with a special collaborative performance with Behind the Mask Theatre and puppeteer Margaret Moody of Galapagos Puppets. Members $2; Non-members $5. Purchase tickets online. Get $2 off Museum admissions the same day with your tickets before or after the show.

Chinese New Year of the Dragon - Harvard Museum of Natural History, Cambridge
Saturday, 1/21

Kids can touch fossil dinosaur bones, once thought in ancient China to be the bones of “dragons”; explore the zoological galleries for the animals that make up the Chinese dragon; and make a dragon puppet or mask to take home. A story reading about the Chinese zodiac animals takes place during Nature Storytime (11am & 1pm). Free with museum admission.

Note that the HMNH is adjacent to the Peabody Museum, and admission to one museum admits you to both during regular hours.


Dumpling Days Book Launch with Grace Lin - Porter Square Books, Cambridge
Saturday, 1/21

Celebrate Chinese New Year and the book launch of Grace Lin’s new novel, Dumpling Days, in which she brings back her beloved heroine of The Year of the Dog and The Year of the Rat. (Note: tickets for goodie bags are sold out, but the event is still open to anyone.) Free


Critter Days: Rainforest Reptiles - Boston Children’s Museum, Boston
Saturday, 1/21

Do turtles have ears? Are snakes really slimy? Kids find out during a presentation with Rainforest Reptiles. Free with museum admission


Climate Week 2012 - Brookline

The annual event features over 40 events and displays across town beginning on Saturday. Visit the website to download a printable map of all the events, activities, times and locations. Some of the more family friendly events on Saturday include:

  • Live music, skating, nature tours, and giveaways at Larz Anderson Park Kirrane Skating Rink (12n-5pm)
  • Free admission, hot chocolate, and a kids’ scavenger hunt, Larz Anderson Park Auto Museum (12n-5pm)
  • Use the solar telescope at the Dexter School Clay Center Observatory (12n-2pm)

Wingmasters: North American Birds of Prey - Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary, Topsfield
Sunday, 1/22

Wingmasters introduces participants to different types of raptors, including hawks, owls, eagles, and falcons. See live birds of prey up close and learn how they hunt, what they eat, and all about their amazing vision, hearing, and feathers. Adults $12; Children $10. Call to reserve your place.

Photo: Julie Anne Collier of Wingmasters with Peregrine