Family-friendly things to do July 23-26
THURSDAY, JULY 23
Operation Pedro Pan Exhibition: The Cuban Children’s Exodus
From 1960 to 1962, more than 14,000 unaccompanied Cuban children left their homeland in what became the largest recorded child refugee exodus in the Western Hemisphere. This new exhibit displays testimonies, photographs, letters and other items from the children, now adults.
Details: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, and noon-5 p.m. Sunday, at HistoryMiami in the Miami Art Museum, 101 W. Flagler St., Miami; www.historymiami.org; free with museum admission ($8 adults, $5 kids 6-12, under 6 free).
A True Wonderland: Lookingglass Alice
Take the plunge down the rabbit hole with this gravity-defying, modern retelling of Lewis Carroll’s literary classic “Alice in Wonderland,” featuring all the characters — the Mad Hatter, the White Rabbit, the Cheshire Cat, the Queen of Hearts and more — performing spectacular circus stunts.
Details: 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, and 2 and 7 p.m. Sunday, running through Aug. 16, at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, Ziff Ballet Opera House, 1300 Biscayne Blvd., Miami; 305-949-6722 or www.arshtcenter.org; $55-$85.
FRIDAY, JULY 24
Sesame Street Presents: The Body
Kids will have a blast learning about the head and shoulders, knees and toes, and everything in between, at this new interactive exhibit featuring all the fave “Sesame Street” friends teaching them about “Your Outsides,” “Your Insides” and “Staying Healthy,” which promotes hygiene, exercise and nutrition. The little ones will be having so much fun they won’t even realize how much they’re learning.
Details: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and noon-6 p.m. Sunday, at the Museum of Discovery and Science, 401 SW Second St., Fort Lauderdale; 954-467-6637 or www.mods.org; $14, $12 kids 2-12.
Explore The River: Amazon Voyage - Vicious Fishes And Other Riches
Learn while you have fun as this spectacular exhibition about the most biologically diverse river in the world returns to Miami for the first time in nine years, after visiting 19 cities in three countries.
Details: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday-Sunday at Miami Science Museum, 3280 S. Miami Ave., Miami; 305-646-4200 or www.miamisci.org; $14.95, $10.95 seniors, students and kids 3-12; free under 3.
Kids’ Happy Hour: Funtastic Fridays
Enjoy a DJ, face-painting, games and bounce houses and see why Local 10 (WPLG) viewers recently ranked this event No. 8 on their “Top 10 Places to Take the Kids in South Florida” list. Bring a blanket and stick around for the original “Toy Story,” the Pixar classic about the adventures of Woody, Buzz Lightyear and the rest of the gang that still seems fresh after 20 years. Film is from 8-10 p.m., weather permitting.
Details: 5-8 p.m. Friday at Arts Park at Young Circle, Hollywood Boulevard and US 1, Hollywood; 954-921-3500 or www.visithollywoodfl.org; free.
Dive-In Movies: Big Hero 6
Every last Friday of the summer, enjoy a family feature film after a day of pool fun. At 7:30 p.m., the slides close down and everyone moves to the recreation pool (Captain’s Lagoon) to grab a float tube or lounge chair for movie time. This month’s selection is the engaging Disney superhero comedy “Big Hero 6,” featuring the lovable healthcare companion robot Baymax.
Details: Park opens for swimming at 5:30 p.m. Friday; movie begins at 8 p.m.; at Grapeland Water Park, 1550 NW 37th Ave., Coral Gables; 305-960-2950; $5, under 2 free.
Arts Ballet Theatre Of Florida: Future Stars Of The Ballet
More than 80 young, talented dancers will take the stage to show off what they’ve learned from partaking in the four-week Summer Intensive Program at Arts Ballet Theatre of Florida. (Not recommended for children under 4).
Details: 7 p.m. Friday at Parker Playhouse, 707 NE Eighth St., Fort Lauderdale; www.parkerplayhouse.com; $20.
Classic Musical: Mary Poppins
Everyone’s favorite magical nanny flies into town to help the dysfunctional Banks family reconnect with one another in this beloved production featuring the tunes “Spoonful of Sugar,” “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious,” “Let’s Go Fly a Kite,” “Step in Time,” “Feed the Birds,” and “Chim Chim Cher-ee.”
Details: 8 p.m. Friday, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, and 2 p.m. Sunday, running through Aug. 9, at the Susan B Katz Theatre at the River of Grass ArtsPark, 17195 Sheridan St., Pembroke Pines; 954-437-4884 or www.pptopa.com; $24, $18 students and seniors, $14 kids 6 and under.
SATURDAY, JULY 25
Sing It Loud: Overtown Music & Arts Festival
The whole family will enjoy this “gospel explosion” of a show, featuring live performances by Raheem DeVaughn, Melanie Fiona, Carl Thomas, The Deep Fried Funk Band and many more, plus an interactive Youth Zone for the kids.
Details: 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday at the Overtown Business District, Northwest Third Avenue between Eighth and 11th streets, Miami; www.overtownmusicartsfestival.com; free.
Cocowalk: Family Fun Day
Enjoy face-painting, live music, exotic animals and other exciting kids’ entertainment every last Saturday of the month.
Details: 2-6 p.m. Saturday at Cocowalk, 3015 Grand Ave., Coconut Grove; www.cocowalk.net; free.
Fairy Tale Theater: Hansel & Gretel
Last chance to enjoy this enchanting production based on the classic story by the Brothers Grimm about a brother and sister’s journey into a mysterious forest and their encounter with a witch and her delicious gingerbread cottage.
Details: 2 p.m. Saturday at Actor’s Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre, 280 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables; 305-444-9293 or www.actorsplayhouse.org; $13-$20.
SUNDAY, JULY 26
Miami Children’s Museum: Beatrix Potter Birthday Celebration
If your kids like Peter Rabbit, they’ll love this event, which honors the mischievous bunny’s creator and illustrator, English writer Beatrix Potter. Enjoy a Peter Rabbit puppet show, create a watercolor picture of farm animals and many more fun activities .
Details: Noon-4 p.m. Sunday at the Miami Children’s Museum, 980 MacArthur Cswy., Watson Island, Miami; www.miamichildrensmuseum.org; free with admission to the museum — $18, $14 for Florida residents, free for kids under 12 months.
Finale Show: Miami Girls Rock Camp
The coolest summer camp around uses music and performance as a platform to promote self-esteem, community and creative expression for young women and girls aged 8 to 17. Come cheer on the MGRC bands, plus The State Of and Sharlyn Evertsz.
Details: 6 p.m. Sunday at Grand Central, 697 N. Miami Ave., Miami; 305-377-2277 or www.grandcentralmiami.com; $5; all ages.
‘Frozen’ In History: Idina Menzel
The voice of Elsa in “Frozen” — and thus the voice that powers “Let It Go,” the signature song from the animated Disney phenomenon that has taken over your children’s lives — has so much more to offer: She originated the role of Maureen Johnson in the Broadway smash “Rent,” then won a Tony Award for portraying the witch Elphaba in “Wicked.” You’ll hear a bit of everything in her performance, part of her World Tour.
Details: 8 p.m. Sunday at Mizner Park Amphitheatre, 590 Plaza Real, Boca Raton; Ticketmaster; $51.50-$121.
FREE FOR ALL
Free Theater In The Garden: Ground Up & Rising
Nonprofit theater company performs “The Recommendation” by Jonathan Caren, which explores the meaning of friendship and the limits of loyalty.
Details: 5-7:30 p.m. Friday at Miami Beach Botanical Gardens, 2000 Convention Center Dr., Miami Beach; 305-673-7256 or www.mbgarden.org.
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This story was originally published July 21, 2015 at 10:23 AM with the headline "Family-friendly things to do July 23-26."