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Mad Mike’s “Meteorite or Meteor-Wrong”
3-2-1 Blast off into space! Family fun activities, demonstrations and more when you visit the Roger Williams Museum of Natural History & Planetarium during April school vacation. Each day during the afternoon, bring your kids for some hands-on adventure at “Mad Mike’s.” Kids can hold a space rock in their hands, learn all about meteorites, and compare the characteristics of space rocks and Earth rocks. Admission: Free with museum admission ($2). From April 17 through April 21; 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. everyday.
Take a walk on the wild side
See where scoundrels lived, pirates profited and criminals were punished on an engaging stroll through historic streets with Newport History Walking Tours. These family-friendly excursions work for those with little ones in strollers as well as older kids curious about dastardly deeds of the city’s early residents. Discover why this colony was known as “Rogue’s Island” during the engaging Rogues & Scoundrels tour. Admission: $15 per person; $10 for Newport Historical Society members. Space is limited; call 401-841-8770 for reservations. For more, see the descriptions of walking tours that take place each week. To check out the 2017 NHT walking tour calendar, click here.
Family Movie Night: The Wizard of Oz
Follow the yellow brick road to the Children’s Library at the Providence Anthenaeum, and take your family on an adventure with Dorothy, Toto, and the rest of the gang in this technicolor classic! Enjoy pizza, juice boxes, and an ice cream treat! $5 snack fee (adults are free). Film rating [G], running time 102 min. Ages 5+ with parent or caregiver. Registration is required. Contact Lindsay at 401-421-6970 or by email, lshaw@provath.org.
Plants and animals, oh my!
More than 5,000 tulips are in bloom at Green Animals Topiary Garden, which will open for the season two weeks ahead of schedule! See the early spring garden with its explosion of color, discover all kinds of animals, and see the gardeners at work crafting huge sculptures from trees! Think: elephants, bears, and giraffes. Garden open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Brayton Estate opens May 20. Admission: Purchase tickets via Newport Mansions website (link below).
Get messy in the museum
The John Brown House Museum is offering a free “Family Fun Morning” once a month on Saturdays, May-August, from 9 to 10am. Perfect for your younger kids (ages 5-10), the kid-friendly program encourages kids to use their “green thumb” to cultivate “live results”. The program includes a story time and seed-planting activities, and kids can even take home the plantings to watch them grow! In addition, children will also be exposed to history, learning about 18-century families (like the Browns) and what they might have planted in their kitchen garden 200 years ago. Let your kids guess if you have the same plants in your home! Admission: Free with registration.
Spend the day at the farms!
Re-discover the joy of Rhode Island farmer’s markets and get ready to look forward to a summer chock-full of them! Nestled in Sounderstown, R.I., Casey Farm is a picturesque spot and local farmers are ready to banish our winter blues with their delightful goods and wares. Items for sale include Vermont maple syrup, coffee, and fresh baked goods. Also, for serious gardeners and hobbyists alike (and kids!), start your culinary garden this spring with Rhode Island Certified Organic vegetable, fruit, and herb seedlings at Casey Farm’s Spring Seedling Sale, happening at the same time. While there, tour the historic farmhouse and grounds and bring the kids for special children’s activities. Admission: Free! Rain or shine. (Watson Farm is just 8 minutes away, and they are hosting a sheep sheering event and you can also visit their baby lambs!)
Plant sale at Green Animals Topiary Garden
This annual plant sale is the perfect place to see a garden explode with color and the imaginative gardeners of Green Animals Topiary at work crafting huge creatures from trees! Admission to the garden will be free on the day of the plant sale and there’s no better place to get flowers and vegetables for your home garden (or a Mother’s Day seedling bouquet!)
Where exercise meets history (for kids!)
Looking for a way to explore the city with kids? Slater Mill is taking innovation to the next level with fantastic walking tours of Pawtucket to make the past come alive for young learners. Pack your imaginations and take your kids on a one-mile walk through the artisan settlement of historic downtown Pawtucket on a narrated journey with an excellent guide! Look at the old with fresh eyes and see where the first forge and Jenks’ homesteads were established in Rhode Island, and where waterpower was harnessed long before the big mills were founded. Meets in Slater Mill gift shop at 11 a.m. Program is approximately 1 hour. Admission: $5.00 per person. Light rain or shine.
Enchanted Fairy Fun
Find whimsical fairies and imaginative fun in the intricate fairy house creations on display at Blithewold Mansion. Explore the garden and find fairy houses made from natural materials like leaves, moss, stone. On Saturday, see performances by Fairy Queen, Mary King, and Ladies of the Rolling Pin, and make fairy crafts. On Sunday, make a special fairy flower crown with Mom and enjoy a special appearance by The Bubble Guy! On both days, visitors can enjoy yummy treats from Castaway Gourmet Food Truck. Admission: Included with regular admission
Sheep Shearing at Watson Farm
Watson Farm is a priceless location on the Rhode Island coastline and a gem of a spot with it’s breathtaking view of the Newport Bridge. Celebrate spring at their annual family-friendly program where kids can watch the farm flock be shorn by local shearers and visit with the baby lambs. View the farm’s herd of Heritage Red Devon Cattle and enjoy a scenic hike around the farm located on Narragansett Bay. No dogs, please. Rain or shine. Admission: $10/car (cash preferred), free to Historic New England members. Cost per vehicle, not per person. Please call 401-423-0005 ext. 3 for more information. (Casey Farm is located just 8 minutes away and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. is hosting a farmer’s market and seedling sale, check it out too!)