Fun & Free Things to Do This Weekend with Boston Kids: Monsters, Model Ships, Mastodons and More February 4-5

Poor Punxsutawney Phil. Whether he or Mrs. G, Drumlin Farm's resident groundhog, see their shadows on Groundhog Day (Feb 2), or not, it feels like we are on the path to an early spring. While this means that some wintry events have been canceled, like the Franklin Park Winter Snow Festival (for obvious reasons), we’ve found great activities for the weekend - and they don’t even interfere with game time!

Also this week on Boston Mommy Poppins:

• With February vacation just around the corner, we’ve highlighted a variety of programs that take place during the break (note that most require advance sign up).
• We continued our summer camp series with a focus on camps that are geared for girls.
• We also got some fabulous tips for choosing the right camp from Samantha Razook Murphy, founder of Curious Jane, coming to the Winsor School in Brookline this summer.
• We've highlighted some awesome places for kids’ arts and crafts.
• Our monthly book corner features Al Pha’s Bet, by Amy K, Rosenthal. Thanks to HugoBookstores for the recommendation.
• And there are still a few hours left to enter to win tickets to Calvin's Monster - just send me an email.

Read on for our weekend picks, and enjoy!

Calvin’s Monster - Boston Center for the Arts, Boston
Sat-Sun, 2/4, 2/5, 2/11, 2/12

Boston Children’s Theatre presents a musical based on the book Fairy Tale Moments by Marcia Trimble, in which eight-year-old Calvin learns how to overcome his fears - with a little help from his fairy tale friends. $20-$30

Little Groove - with Sara Wheeler and Friends - Regent Theatre, Arlington
Saturday, 2/4

Young children have fun using real instruments such as drums, shakers, and tambourines and interact with puppets, bubbles, balls, pompoms, and parachutes. They become part of the musical experience, using their bodies and voices to sing along to catchy songs that help them build important motor and social skills. Parents and caregivers are encouraged to join in the musical experience with their children. Adults $10; Children $8

Winter Concert and Festival with Wayne Potash - Newton Cultural Center, Newton
Saturday, 2/4

The Burr Co-op presents its annual festival, where kids can enjoy games and activities, arts & crafts, face painting, and a bake sale, plus a performance of kid favorites by Wayne Potash. In advance $8; at the door $10

33rd Annual Model Show - USS Constitution Museum, Charlestown
Opens Saturday (through March 23)

Opens today: Over 50 different ships created by modelers from across New England are on display, presenting a variety of reproductions from World War II destroyers to fishing dories, ships-in-bottles to sailing vessels. A panel of Guild members judges qualifying entries on scale, detail and artistic excellence to award the top craftsmen in respective categories. Visitors can vote for their favorite model as well. Free with admission

Lunar New Year - Peabody Essex Museum, Salem
Saturday, 2/4

Welcome the Year of the Dragon with a lion dance, a dragon dance, drumming and folk dance performances, art activities, storytelling, a family gallery tour, and films throughout the day. Free with admission

Saturday Afternoon Puppet Series: Cow and Mouse and Mathilda’s Bath - Arlington Center for the Arts, Arlington
Saturday, 2/4

Margaret Moody of Galapagos Puppets performs two short shows especially for younger children. $5 at the door

Digging for Mastodons: Discovering an Ice Age - Harvard Museum of Natural History, Cambridge
Sunday, 2/5

Paleontologist Dr. Kirk Johnson of the Denver Museum of Nature & Science shares the latest news about Snowmass Village, the massive site in the Colorado Rockies where he’s leading a team that has recently unearthed a treasure trove of over 5,000 fossils of Ice Age animals. Free with admission

Dan Zanes and Friends - Somerville Theatre, Somerville
Sunday, 2/5

Grammy Award–winners Dan Zanes and Friends create a fun-filled, rocking’ dance party, performing exuberant, handmade 21st-century music that transcends language, genre and age. Kids bounce to the catchy and playful tunes, and adults appreciate the hip musicality of the songs. Cost: $25

As always, there are more activities listed on our daily events calendar.

Go team (whichever one you root for)!