Summer events for kids
These are highlights of family events throughout the summer. Please see the Kids & Family area on the Attractions page for current events, or check the KidBeat section in each week's Guide.
ADOLPHUS CHILDCAREGROUP TEA Artist and storyteller David Kirk, creator of the Miss Spider book series and Nova's Ark, will be on hand. Entertainment will include local celebrities reading their favorite children's stories, arts and crafts, jugglers and balloon artists. Tea, finger sandwiches and dessert will be served. May 15, with seatings at 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Registration deadline May 4. Adolphus Hotel, 1321 Commerce St. $35 adults, $20 for children over 1. 214-905-2445. www.childcaregroup.org.
ART INSTITUTE OF MCKINNEY KENTUCKY DERBY Wear your fanciest headgear for the hat contest, create horse art and sample refreshments in the gallery. May 7 at 2 p.m. 113 S. Kentucky St., McKinney. Free. 972-548-7830. www.artinstituteofmckinney.com.
Ringling Bros.
An open animal house is one of the attractions at the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey cricus.
BEDFORD MASTERWORKS Old Bedford School south lawn, 2400 School Lane, Bedford. Free. 817-283-3406. www.artsnetc.org.
• David Carr Jr.'s jazz band performs. May 26 from 7 to 8:30 p.m.
• Me and My Monkey, a Beatles tribute band, performs. June 2 from 7 to 8:30 p.m.
CONCERTS IN THE GARDEN SUMMER MUSIC FESTIVAL This Fort Worth Symphony outdoor concert series will feature music ranging from Beethoven to Big Band to bluegrass. There will be fireworks each evening and an Old-Fashioned Family Fireworks Picnic July 2-4. Includes 17 concerts on weekends June 3-July 4, all starting at 8 p.m. $10-$45, with children 12 and under admitted free for lawn seating. Tickets go on sale May 1. Fort Worth Botanic Garden, 3220 Botanic Garden Blvd., Fort Worth. 817-665-6000.
www.fwsymphony.org.
DALLAS AQUARIUM The aquarium will present scuba-diving demonstrations, touchable sea creatures, fish feedings and aquarist talks. June 18 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. 1462 First Ave. in Fair Park. $3 adults, $1.50 children 3-11, free for children under 3. 214-670-8443.
www.dallaszoo.com.
DALLAS ARBORETUM'S COOL THURSDAY CONCERT SERIES Area bands will take the arboretum's outdoor stage and perform swing, jazz, oldies and rock 'n' roll. Each Thursday, May 5-July 28, from 7 to 9 p.m. 8525 Garland Road. $12-$14 for an adult ticket, $130 for an adult season pass. $5-7 per ticket for ages 3-12, $65 for a season pass for ages 3-12. 214-515-6594. www.dallasarboretum.org.
DALLAS ZOO Summer Fun Weekend features the grand opening of Tamarin Treehouse (a new exhibit that will feature tamarin monkeys), crafts, bounce houses and live entertainment. June 4 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., June 5 from 1 to 5 p.m. 650 S. R.L. Thornton Freeway. $8 adults, $4 seniors 65 and older, $5 ages 3-11. Parking $5. 214-670-6826. www.dallaszoo.com.
HALTOM CITY MASTERWORKS The Texas Trailhands, a Western swing band, performs. June 16 from 7 to 8 p.m. Haltom Road Park, 3113 Haltom Road, Haltom City. Free. 817-283-3406. www.artsnetc.org.
HURST MASTERWORKS Hurst Public Library, 901 Precinct Line Road, Hurst. All concerts run from 7 to 8 p.m., except for the mariachi concert noted below. Free. 817-283-3406. www.artsnetc.org.
• Polynesian revue Ke Anuenue. May 26 (in the gazebo).
• Philharmonic Winds. June 23.
• Jazz band John Adams Group. July 28.
• Mariachi group Mariachi Alteno. Aug. 12 from 12:15 to 1:15 p.m.
• Singer-songwriter Brian Burns. Aug. 25.
IRVING ARTS CENTER The Tweaksters, a group that mixes acrobatic dance and artistic juggling, will perform. July 12 at 1:30 p.m. $6. 3333 N. MacArthur Blvd., Irving. 972-252-2787. www.irvingartscenter.com.
KELLER MASTERWORKS Keller Town Hall patio, 1100 Bear Creek Parkway. Free. 817-283-3406. www.artsnetc.org.
• Jazz group Fingerprints. June 22 at 7.
• Crawfish plays a variety of music. July 27 at 7.
LONE STAR PARK AT GRAND PRAIRIE Lone Stars & Stripes Fireworks Celebration will feature fireworks, clowns, games, live entertainment, vendors and horse racing. July 3. Gates open at 5 p.m., the first live race will begin at 6:35 p.m. and fireworks will start after the last live race. $3. 972-263-7223.
www.lonestarpark.com.
NRH2O 9001 Grapevine Highway, North Richland Hills. 817-427-6500. Activities free with park admission, which is TBA for the season.
• NRH2O's Birthday Celebration with crafts and entertainment, as well as a reduced price for admission. June 1 from 2 to 4 p.m.
• Tarrant County's Top Pop Singing Sensation Contest will let contestants sing their hearts out in front of judges. June 10-11, evenings (times TBA).
• Keeping Kids Safe Day will include information on water safety and other children's safety topics. Fire engine in the parking lot from noon to 2 p.m. June 16 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Dive-In Movie screenings let viewers float in the wave pool or relain lounge chairs while they watch a movie. June 17: Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over. June 24: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. July 1: Shrek 2. July 8: Jaws. July 15: Shark Tale. July 22: Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas. July 29: The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie. Films start at dusk.
PETER PAN ON ICE This ice-skating show about the boy who refused to grow up will feature local skaters. July 22 at 10 a.m., 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. Americas Ice Garden, 700 N. Pearl St. $5. 214-720-8088. www.icesk8aig.com.
RICHARDSON PUBLIC LIBRARY Zooniversity, a traveling wildlife education company, will give kids and adults the chance to meet exotic animals. June 4 at 11 a.m. at the Richardson Public Library, 900 Civic Center Drive, Richardson. Free. 972-744-4358.
RINGLING BROS. AND BARNUM & BAILEY CIRCUS Three-ring show will include acts from around the world, as well as animals. At American Airlines Center, 2500 Victory, July 6-17. At the Fort Worth Convention Center, 1201 Houston, July 20-24. Call for times. $12-$55. Ticketmaster: 214-373-8000, 972-647-5700, www.ticketmaster.com.
SOUTHLAKE MASTERWORKS The pavilion at Southlake Town Square, Main Street and Southlake Boulevard. Free. All concerts run from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. 817-283-3406. www.artsnetc.org.
• Crawfish plays a variety of music. May 28.
• Country band Empty Pockets. June 4.
• Bearclaw Drum Group with American-Indian drumming and dancing. June 11.
• Singer-songwriter Sara Hickman. June 18.
• Celtic group Brothers 3. June 25.
• Jazz group John Adams Band. July 2.
• Salsa ensemble Havana NRG. July 9.
• Kobushi, a taiko drumming group. July 16.
• Zack King, rock 'n' roll band. July 23.
• Singer-songwriter Brian Burns. July 30.
TEXAS DISCOVERY GARDENS 3601 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. $3 adults, $2 seniors 60 and older, $1.50 ages 3-11, free for children under 3 (free admission for people in costume for the Pixie Parade event). 214-428-7476.
www.texasdiscoverygardens.org.
• Fairy Tale Festival, a monthlong celebration, will feature clues to riddles hidden among the flowers. A free exploration kit will help solve the riddles and guide you through the garden. May 1-31, each Monday-Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and each Sunday noon to 5 p.m.
• Mother Goose Day with readings of nursery rhymes by Mother Goose. May 1 from noon to 5 p.m.
• Peter Rabbit Day with Farmer McGregor and bunnies from the North Texas Rabbit Sanctuary. May 15 from noon to 5 p.m.
• Dress up as your favorite fairy tale characters for the Pixie Parade, with a guided stroll through the garden. Visitors in costume will get free admission. May 21 at 10 a.m.
• Backyard Pond Celebration with chances to see wetland animals and learn how to build a backyard water habitat. June 18 from 10 a.m. to noon.
• Caterpillar Crawl, led by butterfly expert Dale Clark, with fun facts about caterpillars. Aug. 20 at 10 a.m.
WATAUGA MASTERWORKS Children's entertainer Eddie Coker performs. June 6 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Watauga Public Library, 7109 Whitley Road, Watauga. Free. 817-283-3406. www.artsnetc.org.
Published in The Dallas Morning News: 04.08.05
