Best Family Friendly Events in Boston: April 2011

Baby Friendly Movie Screening: Win Win
Friday, April 1 11am
Coolidge Corner Theatre, 290 Harvard St., Brookline, 02446
617'"734'"2500
Parents/$6.75, Kids under 12 months/Free

As part of the Box Office Babies program, the Coolidge Corner Theatre presents a special screening of Win Win where parents can bring their baby along without having to worry about angering other moviegoers in the case of any disruption. Box Office Babies movies are set in a baby-friendly movie theatre environment, with the feature film played in a slightly lower volume and the lights dimmed in such a way that allows for parents to get up and walk around with baby, if need be. Get Tickets

Watertown Children's Theatre presents Singin' in the Rain
Friday, April 1 7pm
Saturday, April 2 2pm & 7pm
Sunday, April 3 2pm
Arsenal Center for the Arts, Charles Mosesian Theater, 321 Arsenal St., Watertown, 02472
617-926-2787
$12

Singin' in the Rain will be performed by actors in grades 4-8, along with 1st and 2nd grade Junior Players from the Watertown Children's Theatre. Note that the event owners do not recommend this event for kids under the age of 3, due to the length of the performance. Get Tickets

Families Connect Workshop
Saturday, April 2 1-2:30pm or 2-4:30pm
Boston Center for the Arts, Mills Gallery, 1551 Tremont St., Boston 02116
617.426.5000
Free

This Families Connect Workshop will explore the themes used in the current BCA exhibit, "Contained". Kids and parents will take part in hands-on activities such as creating their own viewfinders, under the guidance of artist, Carolyn Muskat. Workshops are free but prior registration is required, as space is limited. Please RSVP by contacting Cynthia Woo at cwoo@bcaonline.org or 617.426.1119. Be prepared to leave a message with your name, the name and ages of participating children and your contact information.

Boston Pillow Fight Day 2011
Saturday, April 2 3pm
Location to be announced April 1st

World Pillow Fight Day takes place in over 140 cities around the world and will once again occur in Boston. If you want to participate in a huge public pillow fight, check this page on April 1st to find out where the event will occur. Arrive at the scene by 2:55pm and wait for the loud signal. Once alerted, join hundreds of others in a giant fluffy pillow fight. This is a family friendly event.

Alphabet Rockers, Live! @ The Regent
Saturday, April 2 10:30am
The Regent Theatre, 7 Medford Ave., Arlington, 02474
(781) 643-4488
$8/Kids and Seniors, $10/Adults

The Regent Theatre's Family Fun Series presents a live performance by the Alphabet Rockers. The Alphabet Rockers perform a repertoire of educational songs for kids of all ages that were inspired by requests from early elementary school teachers throughout the country. The group will appear at The Regent Theatre on April 2nd and at the Coolidge Corner Theatre in Brookline on April 3rd. Get Tickets

Big Apple Circus presents Dance On!
Saturday, April 2 through Sunday, May 15 (times vary)
Boston City Hall Plaza, 1 City Hall Plaza, Boston 02201
888-541-3750
$15-$100

The Big Apple Circus Dance On! show features acrobats, jugglers, contortionists, lasso twirlers, and more, who come from all over the world to perform under the artistic direction of Guillaume Dufresnoy. For more information, go to bigapplecircus.org or to buy tickets for the circus, call 1-800-922-3772 or visit this page.

The Alphabet Rockers, Live! @ the Coolidge
Sunday, April 3 10:30am
Coolidge Corner Theatre, 290 Harvard St., Brookline, 02446
617'"734'"2500
$9.75/adults, $7.75/kids

The Alphabet Rockers present a live hip hop show with educational songs, performed by a hip hop DJ, beat boxer and a soul vocalist. The family friendly musicians will also be performing at The Regent Theatre in Arlington on April 2nd. Get Tickets

Family Folk Chorale featuring Bill Staines
Sunday, April 3 3pm
The Regent Theatre, 7 Medford Ave., Arlington, 02474
(781) 643-4488
$12

The Family Folk Chorale consists of 60 singers, encompassing the ages of 4 to 85, led by Artistic Director Christopher Eastburn and accompanied by a band. For the April 3rd performance, the Family Folk Chorale will be joined by singer-songwriter, Bill Staines.
Get Tickets

The Fife is Right: Boston History Trivia Challenge
Wednesday, April 6 6:30pm-8:30pm
Old South Meeting House, 310 Washington St., Boston, 02108
617-482-6439
All Ages
$20

The 6th Annual history challenge known as The Fife is Right will take place on April 6th at the Old South Meeting House. Come test your knowledge and watch as two teams of experts compete to see who knows Boston's unique traditions best. Get Tickets

The Ugly Duckling
Saturday, April 9 & Sunday, April 10 10:30am
The Regent Theatre, 7 Medford Ave., Arlington, 02474
(781) 643-4488
$10

The Makeshift Theater Company presents The Ugly Duckling, which will be performed live at The Regent Theatre on April 9th and 10th. More info and tickets

Hoy Lari Children's Concert
Sunday, April 10 2:30pm
The Regent Theatre, , 7 Medford Ave., Arlington, 02474
617-484-6233 or 201-265-2607
$20/adults, $10/kids

The Armenian Children's Milk Fund presents Hoy Lari, children's musicians, at The Regent Theatre for a live concert. Get tickets

Toe Jam Puppet Band
Sunday, April 10, 2011 10:30am
Coolidge Corner Theatre, 290 Harvard St., Brookline, 02446
617'"734'"2500
$9.75/adults, $7.75/kids

Tom and Vinny of the Toe Jam Puppet Band present their GREEN SHOW, a live performance featuring educational and fun songs about maintaining friendly relations with the planet. Get Tickets

New England Folk Festival
Friday, April 15 '"Sunday, April 17 times vary
Mansfield Jr./Sr. High Schools, 250 East St., Mansfield, 02048
617-299-1590
All Ages
Ticket Prices Vary

Folk music lovers from all over New England gather in Mansfield each year to attend the New England Folk Festival. The 67th Annual New England Folk Festival will feature:
*Workshops for musicians
*Jam Sessions
*Participatory dancing in over 5 different styles
*Folk song sing-a-longs
*Family activities
*Crafts and Bazaar marketplace and demonstrations
*Live performances
*Ethnic and American food vendors
*and more
Click here for details and here for tickets.

Sara Wheeler's Little Groove
Saturday, April 16 10:30am
The Regent Theatre, 7 Medford Ave., Arlington, 02474
781-643-4488
$10/Adults, $8/Kids & Seniors

Internationally known children's musician, Sara Wheeler and the Little Groove band, will be at the Regent Theatre to perform live as part of The Regent's Family Fun program series. Little Groove's most recent releases include the fun and educational music album for kids titled Bid Hello/Hello World in 2010 and a lullaby CD in 2008.

Tanglewood Marionettes: The Fairy Circus
Saturday, April 16 10:30am
Coolidge Corner Theatre, 290 Harvard St., Brookline, 02446
617'"734'"2500
$9.75/adults, $7.75/kids

Tanglewood Marionettes, a New England based nationally touring marionette theatre present The Fairy Circus, a performance of puppetry in which 20+ hand-crafted marionettes dance, play instruments, contort, juggle, and more to a soundtrack of popular music. Get Tickets

Old North Church Annual Lantern Ceremony
Sunday, April 17 8-9pm
Old North Church, 193 Salem St., Boston, 02113
617-523-6676
All Ages

The annual Lantern Ceremony at the Old North Church occurs on the eve of Patriot's Day to celebrate and honor Paul Revere's famous ride and the historical events that took place in Lexington and Concord; his journey began with the lighting of two lanterns on the night of April 18, 1775.

Judy Pancoast Presents Weird Things are Everywhere
Saturday, April 23 10:30am
The Regent Theatre, 7 Medford Ave., Arlington, 02474
781-643-4488
$10/Adults, $8/Kids & Seniors

Judy Pancoast'sWeird Things are Everywhere is a live theatrical performance that uses live dancing, costumed characters, award-winning music, and audience interaction to teach kids about US Geography, History and Social Studies. Get Tickets

Harvard University Arts First Festival
Friday, April 29- Sunday, May 1 times vary
Harvard Yard and surrounding areas at Harvard University, Cambridge
617-495-8699
All Ages
Free

The 13th Annual Harvard University Arts First Festival will feature over 225 family-friendly arts events, including music, theater, dance, film and visual arts. The activities will take place at various locations in and around the Harvard Yard; most are free to attend or participate in.

Yo Yo People @ The Regent
Saturday, April 30 10:30am
The Regent Theatre, , 7 Medford Ave., Arlington, 02474
781-643-4488
$10/Adults, $8/Kids & Seniors

The Regent Theatre presents the Yo Yo People, live on stage, as part of the Family Fun program series. The Yo Yo People hold a Guinness World Record, are internationally known, and have appeared on the David Letterman Show. Get Tickets

24th Annual Sheepshearing Festival
Saturday, April 30 10am-5pm
Gore Place, 52 Gore St., Waltham, 02453
781-594-2798
All Ages
$15/Adults, Free/Kids 12 & Under

The annual Sheepshearing Festival at Gore Place is a family friendly outdoor farm event featuring a craft fair, sheepshearing demonstrations, historic re-enactments, live music, food vendors, wagon rides, traditional performances, hands-on activities for kids and more. The event will occur rain or shine. Parking is free.

Ben Rudrick & Friends
Saturday, April 30 10:30am
Coolidge Corner Theatre, 290 Harvard St., Brookline 02446
617'"734'"2500
$9.75/adults, $7.75/kids

5-time winners of the Parent's Choice Awards, Ben Rudrick & Friends, will be at the Coolidge Corner Theatre on April 30th to perform their upbeat repertoire of family friendly songs, using a mix of various musical styles. Get Tickets

Cambridge Science Festival
Sat., April 30- Sun. May 8 times vary
Various locations around Cambridge
All Ages

The Cambridge Science Festival offers 9 full days of lectures, debates, exhibitions, concerts, plays, workshops, and more, related to science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). The mission of the festival is to provide fun, interactive and accessible STEM activities to the public while also showcasing the city of Cambridge as an international leader in these fields. See the full schedule of events.