Things to Do

I playbook VIST DFWC H I LD. COM FOR DAILY EVEN T S

WORDS ELIZABETH SMITH

VICTORIAN EGGSTRAVAGANZA & SPRING FESTIVAL April 9

DALLAS BLOOMS: BIRDS IN PARADISE Now through April 10 DALLAS ARBORETUM

The Arboretum’s spring exhibit features four larger-than-life peacock topiaries and half a million flowers at the peak of their bloom. Don’t miss the bird-themed entertainment on select days, such as birdbath making, live parrot shows and, on April 10, two performances by the Emmy Award-winning children’s entertainer David Chicken. $20 adults; $12 children; under 2 free. Additional $3 for children’s adventure garden admission. 214/5156615; dallasarboretum.org

APRIL & MAY

➽ 30 FAMILY FUN EVENTS THIS SPRING

TOWERS OF TOMORROW WITH LEGO BRICKS Now through April 24

PEROT MUSEUM OF NATURE & SCIENCE, DALLAS

This month is your last chance to see the 20 iconic skyscrapers built with half a million LEGO blocks and build your own towers in the kids’ construction area. Stay tuned meet-and-greets to art studio crafts and aerial acrobatics. One must-watch stage show is Paint Me a Fairytale starring Mother Goose painting scenes from other storybook favorites. Prices vary by activity. 817/778-1000; gaylordtexan.com

for more info as the Perot is expected to announce its new special exhibit. $28 adults; $19 children; under 2 free. 214/4285555; perotmuseum.org

ONCE UPON A SPRING Now through May 8

GAYLORD TEXAN RESORT, GRAPEVINE

Available as add-ons during your overnight stay or for daytime guests, these family-focused entertainment offerings range from animal encounters and Easter Bunny

DAVID ROGERS’ BIG BUGS Now through June 12

FORT WORTH BOTANIC GARDEN

You won’t need a magnifying glass to see the larger-thanlife ladybug, dragonfly, daddy longlegs (well, they all have long legs in this exhibit) and more insect sculptures built on a massive scale using a combination of cut green saplings, dry branches and whole trees. $12 adults; $6 children; under 5 free. 817/463-4160; brit.org

DINO SAFARI Now through September 5 DALLAS ZOO

The dinosaurs are back at Dallas Zoo, but this time in an all-new guided shuttle tour.

➽ EARTHX2022 EXPO

Step on board for a drive through a “research camp” with more than 30 life-size animatronic dinosaurs, like the fierce T. rex and lots of babies newly hatched from their egg shells. Regular zoo admission and Dino Safari tickets required: $6; under 3 free; plus regular admission: from $15; $8 on the first Tuesday monthly. 469/5547500; dallaszoo.com

THE LION, THE WITCH & THE WARDROBE April 3–May 15

DALLAS CHILDREN’S THEATER

Guided by Aslan the Lion, siblings Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy battle the White Witch to end her deadly, eternal winter. Introduce your kids to this epic tale from C.S. Lewis’ most famous work of children’s literature, The Chronicles of Narnia. Tickets from $15. 214/740-0051; dct.org

DANIEL TIGER’S NEIGHBORHOOD LIVE! April 5

BASS PERFORMANCE HALL, FORT WORTH April 12 WINSPEAR OPERA HOUSE, DALLAS

Show biz has come full circle for Daniel Tiger since his days as an original hand puppet on Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. Now Daniel brings his own PBS Kids show to the stage for a live musical, singing songs like “Kindness is Everywhere.” Go online to book tickets for your preschoolers and to download the free activity book for pre-show fun at home. Tickets from $25. 817/212-4280; 214/8800202; danieltigerlive.com

DISNEY ON ICE: LET’S CELEBRATE April 7–10

DICKIES ARENA, FORT WORTH

This ice-skating showstopper is a who’s who of Disney’s most loved characters— Anna and Olaf, Timon and rides around the farmstead, then sit down to a lunch of chicken and noodles. FREE admission. Purchase coupons for some activities. 817/4103185; nashfarm.org

Pumbaa, Buzz Lightyear and Woody—all led out on the ice by the original dynamic duo, Mickey and Minnie. Tickets from $20. 817/402-9801; disneyonice.com

ENNIS BLUEBONNET TRAILS & FESTIVAL April 8–10

DOWNTOWN ENNIS

Yes, you’ll find pockets of bluebonnets growing around Dallas-Fort Worth—but not like they do in Ennis, the official Bluebonnet City of Texas, where our state flower absolutely blankets the countryside. Take a day trip south to explore the Ennis trails anytime during the month of April, and stop by this festival for bluebonnet souvenirs, live music and kids’ activities. FREE 972/8784748; bluebonnettrail.org

VICTORIAN EGGSTRAVAGANZA & SPRING FESTIVAL April 9

HERITAGE FARMSTEAD MUSEUM, PLANO

Of the many egg hunts happening around Easter this year, we love this one especially because of the hayrides and farmstead demonstrations, like sheep shearing. Egg hunts are open to kids 10 and younger and divided by age groups. $8 adults; $6 children ($2 discount online), plus $2 for egg hunts. 972/881-0140; heritagefarmstead.org

SPRING INTO NASH April 9

NASH FARM, GRAPEVINE

There’s nothing like springtime at a working farm—and a historic farmstead, at that. Come visit the 1869 Nash Farm for an afternoon of skilled demonstrations, pony rides and horse-drawn wagon houses and games, followed by an evening circus (tickets are $25) featuring the “oldest clowns in the world,” a magician and LED hoop performer. People on the spectrum will also be performing, and funds raised from the day benefit AAA’s new resale shop that provides job training for its members. 214/405-7563; austensautisticadventures.squarespace.com

SOUNDS OF THE PAST April 9 and May 14 LOG CABIN VILLAGE, FORT WORTH

Award-winning entertainer Sheran Goodspeed Keyton, whom you may recognize from her Mrs. Dipsworth’s Storytime curriculum, shares the stories and songs of our ancestors and leads kids in making their own shekere, a West African percussion instrument, during this program for kids 5–12. Register online in advance. $10. 817/3925881; logcabinvillage.org

DOG MAN: THE MUSICAL April 9

STRAUSS SQUARE, DALLAS

Part dog, part policeman, all hero. Got it? This one-person K9 unit fights crime and chews up furniture in this new production based on the Dog Man book series by Dav Pilkey, author of the equally wacky Captain Underpants. Tickets from $12. 214/8800202; attpac.org

THE LOST CIRCUS TROUPE OF 1877 April 16

RUSSELL FARM, BURLESON

Austen’s Autistic Adventures (AAA), a social skills group for people 16 and up, hosts this free festival with hayrides, train rides, bounce

EARTHX2022 EXPO April 22–24

KAY BAILEY HUTCHISON CONVENTION CENTER, DALLAS

“Harnessing the power of the sun” has a certain ring to it, no? Take part in solar-powered printmaking and more make-and-take art activities at this year’s EarthX event, designed to renew your kids’ interest in using renewable resources and saving the planet. FREE 214/310-1200; earthx.org

DISNEY’S DESCENDANTS THE MUSICAL April 23–May 8

CASA MAÑANA, FORT WORTH

The poisoned apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, or does it? The children of villains Maleficent, the Evil Queen, Cruella De Vil, and Jafar— named Mal, Evie, Carlos and Jay—enroll in high school with the kids of Disney heroes in this musical based on the live- action Disney Channel original movies. Tickets from $19. 817/332-2272; casamanana.org

SPRING JAPANESE FESTIVAL April 23–24

FORT WORTH BOTANIC GARDEN

The blooming cherry trees, koi ponds and winding paths of the traditional Japanese garden feel even more magical during this springtime cultural festival when volunteers with the Fort Worth Japanese Society offer taiko drumming performances and kidfriendly activities like origami and calligraphy. $12 adults, $6 children; under 6 free. 817/463-4160; fwbg.org

HOW I BECAME A PIRATE April 29–May 28

ARTISAN CENTER THEATER, HURST

“See what had happened was…” as the meme goes— Find out the backstory when the Artisan Children’s Theater stages this swashbuckling tale about how a little boy building sandcastles winds up on a quest to bury treasure. $15 adults; $10 children 12 and younger. 817/284-1200; artisanct.com

THE MUSIC OF HARRY POTTER April 30

BASS PERFORMANCE HALL, FORT WORTH

Wizards and witches are encouraged to wear their robes and bring their wands (or should we say, conducting batons?) to this Fort Worth Symphony family series concert featuring tunes from the hit movies. It’ll all come flooding back to you when you hear “Hedwig’s Theme” and “Nimbus 2000.” Tickets from $12. 817/665-6000; fwsymphony.org

WYLIE 500 PEDAL CAR RACE May 1

HISTORIC DOWNTOWN WYLIE

Imagine a starting lineup of Fred Flintstone-style pedal cars, but loads cuter because they’re driven by

2- to 5-year-olds. Sign up your preschooler to select the car of their choice (provided and decorated by local merchants) and gear up for the annual race 500 inches down Ballard Avenue and a shot at the trophy. The $15 entry fee includes a T-shirt. Proceeds benefit the Wylie Area Special Olympics and historic downtown Wylie beautification. 972/516-6016; discoverwylie.com

MAY THE 4TH DAY May 4

HISTORIC DOWNTOWN CARROLLTON

It’s every “Star Wars” fan’s favorite pun and a great excuse to dress up your kid as Baby Yoda (or should we say, Grogu) for a chance to win the costume contest. This year’s celebration includes crafts, laser tag (we’ll just call them light sabers, though), a 360-degree photo booth and virtual reality experiences. FREE 972/466-9135; cityofcarrollton.com/downtown

A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM May 6–8

WINSPEAR OPERA HOUSE, DALLAS May 20–22 BASS PERFORMANCE HALL, FORT WORTH

It’s off to fairyland in this gorgeous new adaptation of Shakespeare’s famous comedy by Texas Ballet Theater, now happily on stage after two years of delays. “The course of true love never did run smooth.” Tickets from $20. 877/828-9200; texasballettheater.org

FREE FIRST SATURDAYS May 7

NASHER SCULPTURE CENTER, DALLAS

After many, many months of virtual programming, the Nasher has restarted its inperson kids’ events. Come revisit the downtown museum on this Saturday with free admission all day and a special focus on kid fun throughout, like art-making activities led by local artists, sketching in the galleries, garden walks and art chats to better acquaint your kids with the beauty and craft of sculpture. FREE 214/242-5100; nashersculpturecenter.org

CARTIER & ISLAMIC ART Opens May 14

DALLAS MUSEUM OF ART

Now that is a tiara fit for a princess. (See the elegant headpiece made of turquoise, platinum and diamonds.) This major exhibition of more than 400 objects traces the influence of Islamic art, architecture and jewelry on objects created by Louis-Francois Cartier (1819–1904). To attend, all visitors must first reserve a free general admission ticket, then add on a special exhibition ticket for the same day and time: $20 adults; under 11 free. 214/922-1200; dma.org

BLIPPI THE MUSICAL May 14

WILL ROGERS AUDITORIUM, FORT WORTH

Is it the orange suspenders, or the exciting places he visits in his YouTube videos? Whatever the reason your kids love Blippi, don’t miss the children’s entertainer during this live touring show (best for kids 2–6). Super fans will notice that Blippi creator Stevin John has been temporarily recast for the tour but for good reason. He’s a new dad after welcoming his first child born in March! Tickets from $27.50. Additional $50 for postshow photo experience. blippithemusical.com

SPRING ARTS FESTIVALS

THIS SEASON MARKS THE RETURN OF

SEVERAL OUTDOOR ARTS FESTIVALS after a

two-year hiatus, and we could not be more excited to enjoy the sunshine and admire beautiful artworks from local artists while the kids enjoy crafts designed for their own little hands.

MAIN ST. FORT WORTH ARTS FESTIVAL April 7–10

DOWNTOWN FORT WORTH

This mega-size festival spans a whopping 18 city blocks, so let us recommend the best starting point for you. Head toward the northern end by the Tarrant County Courthouse where you’ll find the TCC Makers Zone, an area for all ages with crafts, like sand art, and interactive tech displays. Free general festival admission. Fees required for some kids’ activities. 817/336-2787; mainstreetartsfest.org

ART IN THE SQUARE April 22–24

SOUTHLAKE TOWN SQUARE

Let your littles exercise their creativity muscles with colored hair spray, sugar art and even oil coloring inside the Kids Korner, then exercise their actual muscles on the rock climbing wall and obstacle course inside The Zone. Free festival admission, but tickets required for kids’ activities. 817/829-6472; artinthesquare.com

ARTSGOGGLE April 23

NEAR SOUTHSIDE, FORT WORTH

Get better acquainted with this revitalized urban neighborhood during ArtsGoggle (that’s goggle, not Google), an outdoor, nonjuried art festival of more than 1,000 local artists. New this year is Magnolia Make Believe, a one-block play area for kids to make crafts and take part in performance art. There you’ll also find a space for parents to take a seat, a nearby kid-friendly food court and live performances throughout the day. Free admission, but some kids’ activities may come with a fee. 817/923-1649; artsgoggle.org

MAYFEST May 5–8 TRINITY PARK, FORT WORTH

While this one’s not technically an arts festival, you’ll absolutely want to come for the free children’s art activities including the “chalk houses” and the giant coloring tarp; kiddos can and join in the May Day tradition of dancing around the Maypole, too. But the most important thing to know—Twiggy, the amazing water-skiing squirrel, is back for the 2022 festival. Free admission for everyone on Thursday. Tickets are required Friday–Sunday: $12 adults; $7 children; under 3 free. 817/332-1055; mayfest.org

MAIN STREET FEST May 20–22

HISTORIC DOWNTOWN GRAPEVINE

Look for the larger-than-life paint cans at the entrance of Pint-Sized Craft Alley, a children’s play area stuffed with craft projects and fun from Legoland Discovery

Center and Peppa Pig’s World of Play. One other must-do activity at this year’s fair: tower tours up to the observation deck of Grapevine Main Station. $9 adults; $5 children; under 6 free. 817/410-3185; grapevinetexasusa.com