Friday, April 26
FREE PAINTED POTS WEEK
Help create beautiful artwork to display for trees in the park. Decorate a clay pot to display through the end of May- or purchase yours and take it home for a small fee. Farbach-Werner Nature Preserve, 3455 Poole Road, Cincinnati; 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.; A valid motor vehicle permit is required to enter the park.; 513-521-7275 or greatparks.org.
SPRING CELEBRATION AT ENTERTRAINMENT JUNCTION
Head to EnterTRAINment Junction for a spring themed scavenger hunt throughout the world’s largest train display; then explore the A-Maze-N Fun House for lots of laughs. Purchase a Do-It-All ticket and receive a Do-It-All ticket good for another day, Free. EnterTRAINment Junction, 7379 Squire Court, ; 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Do-It-All admission $16.95.; 513-898-8000 or entertrainmentjunction.com.
Saturday, April 27
FREE AUTISM FAMILY EXPLORATION AT THE CAM
Come explore the CAM in a comfortable setting. Families will be given a map indicating multi-sensory learning centers, led by specially trained docents. Be sure to stop by the Rosenthal Education Center to participate in an all-ability art making activity. Cincinnati Art Museum, 953 Eden Park Drive, Cincinnati; 9 a.m. – 11 a.m.; 513-721-2787 or cincinnatiartmuseum.org.
BUTTERFLIES OF ECUADOR
10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Krohn Conservatory, 1501 Eden Park Drive
The most whimsical family tradition has fluttered it’s way back to the Queen City. Head to the Krohn Conservatory with the whole family to experience thousands of beautiful butterflies happily flying overhead; a butterfly might even land ON your head if you are lucky! Be sure to look within the pages of Cincinnati Family Magazine for a $1 off admission coupon.
$10 adult, $7 children 5 to 17 years old.
Call 513-421-4086 or visit cincinnatiparks.com/krohn for more information.
FAMILIES CREATE! ABOUT FACE
Examine ways to look at the art of Rachel Rampleman; then face the strange by creating a unique mask. Families Create! is a popular series of workshops designed to introduce art techniques and concepts to children ages 5–12 years along with their families. Participants meet the artists and explore the world of art through gallery talks, tours and hands-on activities with take-home art projects. Weston Art Gallery , 650 Walnut St., Cincinnati; 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.; $5 per child. ; 513-977-4165 or cincinnatiarts.org/weston-art-gallery/learn/families-create-workshops.
FREE FAMILY FESTIVAL: TAKE ACTION!
Families, drop by and create something unique together. Guest artists and teachers will be onsite to guide guests though hands-on art techniques using unusual materials and processes. Contemporary Arts Center, 44 East 6th St., Cincinnati; 12 – 3 p.m.; 513-345-8400 or contemporaryartscenter.org/programs/family-programs/family-festival.
FREE FLIGHT OF THE BLUE BALLOONS
April is child abuse prevention month and there will be a blue balloon release to honor survivors and victims of child abuse. Local Author Cindy L. Smith and mother Jessica Ossenbeck will be co-hosting the event. 2885 Diehl Road, Cincinnati; 4 p.m.; 513-383-5627 or livinghopefortoday.org/.
FREE GREATER CINCINNATI EARTH DAY AT SUMMIT PARK
Celebrate Earth Day with over 100 exhibitors, live music, vegetarian food options and environmental education sessions. Kids will love the inflatables, games, crafts and animals! Summit Park, 4335 Glendale Milford Road, Blue Ash; 12 – 5 p.m.; cincinnatiearthday.com.
FREE YMCA HEALTHY KIDS DAY
Kids, get moving and feeling healthy with a great day full of activities! Children can challenge themselves on a climbing wall, jump in bounce houses, participate in relay and obstacle courses, check out fitness classes (including soccer lessons from FC Cincinnati players!), get their faces painted, visit with farm animals, go on a tractor ride and even more! 10073 Daly Road, Cincinnati; 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.; myy.org.
Sunday, April 28
FREE EARTHSTOCK: EARTH DAY FESTIVAL
Become one with nature and celebrate Earth Day with a variety of activities at the park. There will be educational lectures, art exhibitions, demonstrations, vendors, service projects around the park and so much more. Voice of America MetroPark Lake and Surrounding Area, 7850 VOA Park Drive, ; 12 – 5 p.m.; A valid MetroParks vehicle permit is required to enter the park, see website for more information.; 513-867-5835 or yourmetroparks.net.
FREE FOSSIL QUEST
Love dinosaurs? Cincinnati is famous for it’s ancient geology; join a nature interpreter to look for fossils in the Sharon Woods Gorge! Sharon Woods, 11450 Lebanon Road, Sharonville; 2 p.m.; A valid motor vehicle permit is required to enter the park.; 513-521-7275 or greatparks.org.
FREE SPRING FEST IN THE WOODS
Find out more about the wonderful natural resources offered in Cincinnati’s city parks; wildflowers, diverse habitats, native plants and trees are all a spectacle to behold. Enjoy wild edible cooking demonstrations, live music, crafts, animal encounters and so much more during this family friendly event. Burnet Woods, 3251 Brookline Avenue, Cincinnati; 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.; 513-321-6070 or cincinnatiparks.com/explore-nature.
TCT PRESENTS SLEEPING BEAUTY
Enjoy a classic fairy tale with a rockin’ twist. This humorous story follows Aurora (who prefers to go by “Rory”) as she explores everything her kingdom has to offer. Rory finds her strength during her encounters with a frog prince, her evil Fairy Godmother, her princess classmates and even a 20 foot dragon! Taft Theatre, 317 East 5th St., Cincinnati; 2 p.m., 5 p.m.; Tickets starting at $10.; 18007453000 or ticketmaster.com or thechildrenstheatre.com.
YOU’RE A GOOD MAN CHARLIE BROWN
Can’t get enough of Charlie Brown? Well, good grief! Get to the Marx Theatre and watch as the beloved Peanuts Gang comes to life on stage during this playful musical. Charlie Brown and his classmates go through the joys and frustrations of childhood together while playing their own musical instruments- very impressive! Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, 962 Mount Adams Circle, Cincinnati; 2 p.m., 7 p.m.; Individual tickets starting at $35.; 513-421-3888 or cincyplay.com/productions/you-re-a-good-man-charlie-brown.