It’s Friday the 13th coming up, are you feeling lucky? Put your game face on for the Ice Sculpting fest in Canary Wharf, play African board games and funky sounds at Rich Mix or sing your heart out at King’s Place.
Fri-Sat: London Ice Sculpting Festival at Montgomery Square + Canada Square Park, E14 (Canary Wharf tube)
The chill season returns to three spaces in Canary Wharf with 8 teams competing for ice sculpture glory, with wintry food and drinks at the Frost Fayre, masterclasses to learn to make your own snow husky, and a Snow Pit filled with real snow for sculpting. Opens from 9am-7pm (varying times and venues); FREE (Jan 13-14)
Sat-Sun: The Flight of Babuscha Baboon at Puppet Theatre Barge, Little Venice, opposite 35 Blomfield Rd, W9 (Warwick Ave tube)
Spoken word, marionettes, shadows and music tell the story of a baboon who wants to fly to the moon in a hot air balloon, but gets diverted by an elephant on the run from ivory hunters. For ages 3+. 11am & 3pm (Sat), 3pm (Sun); adult £10/child £8.50 (until Mar 18)
Sat-Mon: Baccala Clowns at Purcell Room, Southbank Centre, SE1 (Waterloo tube)
Enjoy 60 minutes of acrobatics, theatre and clowning around from some of today’s leading young circus stars, part of London International Mime Festival. 7.45pm (Sat & Mon), 4pm (Sun); £15/concs half-price (limited availability). (Jan 14-16)
Sun: A Bag Full of Art at Saatchi Gallery, Duke of York Sq, King’s Rd, SW3 (Sloane Sq tube)
Take kids ages 4 to 12 on a family-friendly exploration of the gallery, with an opportunity to draw and do activities based on the current exhibition. 10.30am, 12pm, 3pm & 4.30pm; £3 per child (first 3 Sundays monthly, until Apr 29)
Sun: Mwalimu Express at Rich Mix, Bethnal Green Rd, E1 (Shoreditch High St overground)
All aboard for London’s only Pan-African adventure for all the family. This weekend it’s Destination Lagos, with live Afrobeat and Nigerian DJ sessions, parent & toddler dance, crafts stalls, African board games (Oware). Plus a Q&A with filmmaker Jeremy Marre and screening of his film Konkombie featuring Fela Kuti, King Sunny Ade, IK Dairo and more music legends. 2-6pm, FREE (Jan 15)
Local Pick
Thu-Sat: London A Cappella Festival at King’s Place, York Way, N1 (King’s Cross tube)
Bringing together the best in choral, jazz, Scandinavian rock choirs, beatbox and British Barbershop, this vocal festival sweeps over King’s Place for one weekend. Includes Schools on Stage (Fri, 4pm) plus free foyer performances daily – audience participation mandatory! Varying times from 11am; tickets from £9.50, foyer shows FREE (Jan 12-14)
Find more great family events in our January Calendar
Pic via London Ice Sculpting Festival web site
