Thongs to do in Boston with kids this weekend

FEB FEST

Join in for a fun-filled week at the MIT Museum, 265 Massachusetts Ave. Building N51, Cambridge, MA 02139 from Monday, February 19, 2018 to Saturday, February 24, 2018 at various times.

Join in for the FEB FEST, an annual celebration during February school vacation, with daily hands-on activities, workshops, and more. Inspired by the exhibition Big Bang Data, this year’s theme is “big data”. On February 20, 2018: Environmental Data Art workshop, learn how data about the environment is collected and analyzed. This workshop will include a field trip to the MIT campus, as well as a visit to the data showcase. On February 21, 2018: Using Data to Build Better Bridges, exchange ideas on the most significant properties of bridges and how they can be measured. Then challenge yourself to build bridge prototypes using basic classroom supplies and using tools such as CAD software and 3D printing. On February 22, 2018 :Building Robots that Use Data, kids will learn how data is used in robotics, and how to program Lego Mindstorms robots. This workshop will include a field trip to the MIT campus. On February 23, 2018 Let's Do Science: Using Crowd-Sourced Data, kids will participate in real science research related to work currently happening at MIT and explore the science behind discoveries such as exoplanets, gravity waves, and protein structure, and try their hand at analyzing real data from these projects. Showcase will include Chain Reaction Construction with Data, Data for Energy and our Environment, Data for Health & Wellness, Data Communication & Visualization and The Internet and Machine Learning. Free with museum admission, admission will cost $10 for adults, $5 for kids under 18 and free for children under 5.

February Vacation Week at the Franklin Park Zoo

This February Vacation Week, join the Franklin Park Zoo, One Franklin Park Road, Boston, MA 02121from Monday,February 19, 2018 to Friday,February 23, 2018 from 10:00am to 2:00pm.

Contact: 617-541-5466

Celebrate the winter games in a wild way!! Leap, climb and roar your way to Franklin Park Zoo for the Animalympics during February school vacation week. In honor of the ongoing winter games, the Zoo’s animals will be getting into the Olympic spirit as they receive themed enrichment items throughout the week.Can you jump farther than a kangaroo or roar louder than a lion? Test your own athletic abilities against different animals to take home the gold.Chat with zookeepers and stop by the education station in the Tropical Forest to learn more fun animal facts.Explore the world of endangered animals. Each day will be filled with fun games and experiments, up close animal encounters, and going behind the scenes at the Zoo while we learn about what we can do to help save animals in the wild! Admission will cost $ 19.95 for adults, $ 16.95 for Senior (62+), $ 13.95 for Child (ages 2-12) and free for Children under 2 and members.

New England Boat Show

New England Boat Show will be taking place at Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, 415 Summer Street, Boston MA 02210-1719 until Sunday, February 18, 2018 at various times.

Contact: 617.472.2076 or

Visitors can see the newest boats from the region’s top dealers, along with a wide selection of marine accessories and special features.There are over 250 exhibits of the latest in marine accessories to stock up on everything from the newest navigational equipment, hardware and galley ware. The show also has seminars, clinics, and giveaways and contests.More than 200 boats will be on display and no limit on the size of bigger vessels; this is the one show that serious boat fans and buyers won’t want to miss. Bring your kids to this show, they can hop inside the boats and even go on a test ride. The boat show ticket will cost $16 for adults (13 and up) and free for children 12 and under (when accompanied by a paid adult).

Magic and Beyond featuring Illusionist David Garrity

Magic andBeyond featuring Illusionist David Garrity will take place at the Coolidge Corner Theatre, 290 Harvard Street, Brookline, Massachusetts 02446 on Sunday, March 05, 2018 at 10:30 am.

Contact: 617-734-2501

Illusionist David Garrity presents “Magic & Beyond,” a one-person illusion show that features unique theatrical and visual magic and comedy to a custom-edited musical soundtrack.Garrity uses visual magic and illusions combined with music, pantomime, situation comedy, and audience participation to entertain audiences of all ages and backgrounds. This magic show is recommended for ages 2+. Tickets will cost $13 for adults and $10 for children.

Puppet Playtime for Toddlers and Tiny Tots

Puppet Playtime for Toddlers and Tiny Tots will be taking place at Puppet Showplace Theater, 32 Station Street, Brookline, MA 02445 on Friday, February 16, 2018 at various times.

Contact:617-731-6400 x 101 or .

Puppet Playtime is a fun, interactive performance experience designed for very young children and their grown-ups. In each hour-long session, a friendly performer guides kids through free play, sing-a-longs, interactive stories, imagination games, and other activities. Puppet pals join in the fun all along the way.Puppet Playtime is a great introduction for toddlers to the experience of live performance. They provide a welcoming, "lights-on," flexible environment for children and caretakers alike.Puppet Playtime is recommended for kids ages 0 to 4. It will cost $25 per adult and child pair and $20 for members.

Monster Jam

Monster trucks smash, crash, and battle their way through DCU Center, 50 Foster Street, Worcester, MA from Friday,February 16, 2018 to Sunday,February 18, 2018 at various times

Contact:508-929-0125 or

Monster Jam is the most action-packed live event on four wheels where world class drivers compete in front of capacity crowds around the globe. Monster Jam features high octane spontaneous entertainment and intense competition, featuring the most recognizable trucks in the worldGrave Digger, Bounty Hunter, and more.Each Monster Jam truck is approximately 10.5 feet tall, 12.5 feet wide, 17 feet long and weighs 12,000 pounds. Monster Jam events start with a pre-show Pit Party, which gives fans the best opportunity to meet the drivers and get autographs or pictures. These Pit Parties require a separate admission ticket, along with a ticket for the Monster Jam show. Obstacle course competition where the fastest to complete the course is the winner, this showcases the driver’s ability and the truck’s agility.Freestyle – Competitors perform tricks and stunts throughout the floor area, Monster Jam fans have the unique opportunity to provide the scores for several competitions using their mobile device. Tickets will cost $ 15 to $ 95.

Disney On Ice: Dare to Dream

Disney on Ice: Dare To Dream is on tour and skates, and now it is heading to TD Garden, 100 Legends Way, Boston, MA 02114from Friday,February 16, 2018 to Thursday,February 22, 2018 at various times

Disney on Ice: Dare To Dream is on tour and skates. A celebration of 75 years of Disney Princesses, Dare to Dream is wholesome Disney fun with a live adventure element thrown in! Dare to Dream, a vibrant, contemporary compilation of princesses, features popular songs and unforgettable scenes from two of Disney's newest fairytales and one of the most cherished stories of all time. Audiences will behold an alluring aerialist act with Rapunzel's golden locks, shimmering gowns that twinkle and twirl during Cinderella's royal ball, a lighting display that illuminates all the fireflies in Tiana's New Orleans bayou and a grand finale with all the Disney princesses.Nobody is too young nor too old to witness the magic unfolding on ice, so it's the perfect family outing, for little ones and grandparents alike. Tickets will cost $ 24+.

Chinese New Year Celebration at the Zoo

Celebrate Chinese New Year Celebration onSaturday,February 17, 2018 from 10:30am to 2:00pm at Franklin Park Zoo, One Franklin Park Road, Boston, MA 02121

Contact:617-541-5466

Celebrate the Chinese New Year with a special performance and zookeeper chats. Watch as the Chiu Mo Kwoon School performs a Hung Gar Kung Fu and Lion Dancein front of the Tropical Forest. The lion dance is a part of traditional Chinese folklore and culture, and is said to ward away evil spirits and summon luck and fortune.The always-balmy Tropical Forest will be festively decorated for the occasion. You'll learn animal fun facts at the education station, and prepare to let your creativity soar at a paper lantern craft table.Take a photo with the God of Fortune, learn more about the Lunar New Year, and celebrate the Year of the Dog with fun activities. In the Zodiac Zookeeper Chat learn more about amazing animals, who also happen to be represented on the Chinese Zodiac calendar. Admission will cost $19.95 for adults, $16.95 for senior (62+), : $13.95 for children (ages 2-12) and free for members and children under 2.

Disney’s FROZEN: Sing-A-Long

A School Vacation Week Exclusive!Disney’s FROZEN: Sing-A-Long is here to enchant kids at The Regent Theater,7 Medford Street, Arlington, MA 02474 from Saturday, February 17, 2018 to Sunday, February 25, 2018 at various times.

Contact: 781-646-4849

Come and Sing-A-Long with the number one all-time favorite animated film with Song Lyrics on the Big-Screen! Your little ones with love to tap their feet to the music and sing along to their favorite songs like “Let it Go”,“Do you want to build a snow man?” and more. Sing-A-Long with the ‘on-screen’ lyrics, March-A-Long in the on-stage costume parade, while wearing your favorite FROZEN inspired costume! General Admission is $ 12.50 for adults and $ 10 for children.

Chinese New Year: Year of the Dog

Chinese New Year: Year of the Dog will be celebrated at Artbeat Creativity Store and Studio, 212A Massachusetts Avenue, Arlington, MA 02474on Saturday,February 17, 2018 andSunday,February 18, 2018 from 10:00am to 6:00pm.

Contact:781-646-2200

Time to celebrate Chinese New Year: Year of the Dog. Families can come here to paint, paint a miniature canvas with the image of a favorite pup and display it on a miniature easel. Come and paint a picture of your furry little friend to take it home. The workshop will cost $ 15 per person.

LEGO Maritime Festival

LEGO Maritime Festival will be taking place at the USS Constitution Museum, Charlestown Navy Yard, Building 22, Charlestown, MA 02129 until Saturday, February 24, 2018 from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.

Contact:617-286-5082 or

Let your imagination set sail this February School Vacation Week!Inspired by the different ship designs on display in Masters of Miniature, head to the USS Constitution Museums to build your own ship with LEGO and DUPLO Bricks.In the hands of a creative kidor kid at heart, a pile of colorful bricks can become an aircraft carrier. The nautical fun continues with a “Float Your Boat” LEGO Challenge, “Picture Yourself” LEGO Selfie Masks, a scavenger hunt through our Masters of Miniature exhibit, and much more. If your family no longer playing with your LEGO and DUPLO Bricks? Donate them to the Museum! Suggested donation.

Matt Heaton andThe Outside Toys

Matt Heaton and The Outside Toys will be taking place atThe Center for Arts in Natick, 14 Summer Street, Natick, MA 01760on Saturday,February 17, 2018 at 11:00am.

Contact:508-647-0097

A Toddlerbilly Bonanza for the whole bunch, led by guitarist/singer Matt Heaton, the Outside Toys bring an infectious sense of fun and stellar, no nonsense musicianship to discerning kids and their parents. It’s a mix of updated traditional folk songs, rockabilly, surf, and country make for a concert the whole family can rock out to. With the striking the guitar, the standup bass slapping and the drums pounding, the show is a high energy celebration. These days kids today have high standards, so do Matt Heaton and the Outside Toys.Matt Heaton performs with well-known Irish music duo Matt and Shannon Heaton. Tickets will cost $ 12 for non-members and $10 for members.

Model Train Show

The Northeast Ntrak Modular Railroad Club will be at the Scottish Rite Masonic Museum and Library, 33 Marrett Road, Lexington, MA 02421 on Saturday, February 17, 2018 from 10:00 am to 4:30 pm and Sunday, February 18, 2018 from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm.

Contact: (781) 861-6559

The Scottish Rite Masonic Museum and Library launches February school vacation week with a weekend filled with model railroading fun. The Ntrak trains are smaller in size than traditional model trains, but are just as much fun. Trains climb mountain passes, shunt freight cars, and use branch lines to pick up and set out cars at the many industries and stations along the way.This year, train enthusiasts of all ages can enjoy a new T-Trak display. Visitors can explore a coal dumper, train turn table, container crane, and truck tipper, as well as a drawbridge, sawmill, functional solar panels, wind turbines and more. The T-Trak layout features many 3D printed models. Tutorials on 3D software and 3D printing will also be presented.Admission to the train show is $ 5 for individual and $ 7 for family.

LEGO Star Wars MINILAND Model Display Launch Event

LEGO Star WarsMINILAND Model Display Launch Event will be held from Monday, February 19, 2018 to Sunday, February 25, 2018 at 10:00 am at LEGOLAND Discovery Center Boston, 598 Assembly Row, Somerville, MA 02145.

Contact: 866-228-6439

LEGOLAND Discovery Center Boston will offer a full year of galactic fun with a new LEGO Star Wars MINILAND Model Display. The exhibit will depict the First Battle of Geonosis in Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones.Each display will recreate favorite scenes in Star Wars. Episode II: Attack of the Clones. Fans will marvel at the replicas of a Gladiator-style battle between Jedi and Geonosians on Geonosis, JangoFett Clones lining up on Kamino, JangoFett battling Anakin Skywalker featuring Slave Ship 1 and BobaFett, plus many more.Activities Include, Build a Star Wars themed model in our LEGO Master Builder Academy, Find LEGO Star Wars characters in our MINILAND Scavenger Hunt, Great photo opportunities in the new MINILAND Model Display and win prizes and giveaways, while supplies last. Ticket price ranges from $18.50 to $29.95 and free for children 2 and under.

Lunar New Year Celebration at Boston Children's Museum

Lunar New Year Celebration will be taking place at Boston Children's Museum, 308 Congress Street, Boston, MA 02210 from Monday,February 19, 2018 to Friday,February 23, 2018 from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm.

Contact: (617) 426-6500

Welcome the Year of the Dog. Join the museum to welcome the Year of the Dog as part of the Lunar New Year Celebration. Throughout the week, they will share stories about how communities in Boston celebrate the New Year through dance, games, and art with a focus on Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese traditions. They will be hosting a variety of performances during the week including Lion and Dragon Dance, traditional Korean Dance and more. Visitors can also participate in artist workshops like Korean paper art, slime making, collaborative art project, special story time and more. Free with general museum admission, museum admission will cost $ 16 for adults, $16 for children (1-15) and free for children (Under 12 months) and members.

Celebrating Year of the Dog with Colorful Dog Drawings

Celebrating Year of the Dog with Colorful Dog Drawings at Boston Children's Museum, 308 Congress Street, Boston, MA 02210 on Monday, February 19, 2018 from 11:10 pm to 3:30 pm.

Contact: (617) 426-6500

The Studio is a dynamic, hands-on activity space designed to encourage children to explore ideas, artists and art from around the world. During busy times, the Studio doors open for about 20 visitors at a time. In celebration of the Lunar New Year create colorful dog drawings! Color, trace, or draw a dog and add to our collaborative dog mural.Free with general museum admission, museum admission will cost $ 16 for adults, $16 for children (1-15) and free for children (Under 12 months) and members.

Guard Up Winter Break: The Balkan Winds

Adventure starts atGuard Up Winter Break: The Balkan Winds that will be held from Monday,February 19, 2018 to Friday,February 23, 2018 from 9:00am to 3:00pm at Guard Up! Family Swordmanship, 103 Terrace Hall Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803

Contact:(781) 270-4800.

The winds blow cold in Sidleterra as the influence of the Balkans are felt. Join in for this adventure based on the culture and stories of Bulgaria. Mysteries, magic, and the undead await. This adventure is set up for both the Zombie Campers and Wizards and Warriors campers to enjoy together no matter which themed hero they choose. Groups may be separated by theme based on the number of participants. Please indicate your preference in case of split programs when you register.Full Day Adventures from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm with extended Day option available from 8:30am to 5:00 pm. Price TBA.