Weekend Scoop for London Families (May 11-13, 2012)

Family concerts, pets on show, nonsense rhymes and puppets with Punch in Covent Garden create a knock-out weekend for kids and families in London.

Fri: Giraffes Can’t Dance Family Concert at Jerwood Hall, LSO St Luke’s, EC1 (Old St tube)
Tango, waltz and jig your way through the musical retelling of the popular story, in this special concert for under 5s. 12.30-1.15pm, £3/babies under 12 months FREE (May 11)

Sat: What on Earth? Family Activity Day at Grant Museum of Zoology, University St, WC1 (Euston tube)
Explore strange specimens and bizarre bones on this epic odyssey of the museum’s treasures, part of Silly Season. 11am-4pm, FREE (May 12)

Sat: Family Day: The Factory of Confessions at Whitechapel Gallery, Shoreditch, E1 (Aldgate East tube)
Share your family confessions in typed, edible, written or spoken format, with a family trail of Gillian Wearing exhibition and a chance to dress up and get snappy in the photo booth. 12-4pm, FREE (May 12)

Sat-Sun: Mr Punch’s Big Grin Birthday Party & Covent Garden May Fayre, Covent Garden Piazza and St. Paul’s Church Gardens, WC2 (Covent Garden tube)
A special celebration of Mr Punch’s 350th birthday, with Punch professors and puppeteers from around the world appearing in the Piazza (Sat) for birthday cake, photocells and free shows; plus the annual May Fayre (Sun) in St. Paul’s churchyard with puppet shows, workshops, stalls and folk music. 11am-5pm (Sat), 11am-5.30pm (Sun), FREE (May 12-13)

Sat-Sun: London Pet Show at Earl’s Court Two, SW5 (Earl’s Court)
Find a furry, scaly or slimy friend at the largest exhibition of pets with hundreds of breeds on show. Plus special family activities throughout the day. 9.30am-5pm, adult £13 adv/£16 door; under 16s £9 adv/£10.50 door; under 5s FREE (May 12-13)

Sun: Nonsense! The Wonderful World of Edward Lear at British Library, 96 Euston Rd, NW1 (King’s Cross tube)
Come and celebrate the mad lyrics of Lear in popular rhymes like Owl & the Pussycat and The Jumblies, with top poets Michael Rosen, Roger McGough and special guests. 2.30-4pm, £7/£5 concs. (May 13)

Sun: Planet of the Beetlebuns at Jacksons Lane, 269a Archway Rd, N6 (Highgate tube)
Kids ages 0-5 are invited to hop onto a magical, interactive carpet filled with spinning objects, glowing moons and colourful plant life. Fabulous show for babies, toddlers and bigger kids. 10am, 11am, 12pm, 2pm, 3pm & 4pm (cafe open until 4pm); £8.95. Booking essential, limited spaces per show, call 0208 341 4421 (May 13)

Local Pick
Fri-Sun: Remember the Umbrella at Little Angel Theatre, 14 Dagmar Passage, N1 (Angel tube)
An enchanting tale of shadow puppetry, music and audience participation as we follow the adventures of the Umbrella-seller storyteller. For ages 4-7, baby-friendly performance on Sun am. 5pm (Fri), 11am & 2pm (Sat-Sun); £8/£6 concs. (May 11-13)

We also like
Sunshine on a Rainy Day at Chickenshed Theatre, Southgate (Sat), May in a Day at Cecil Sharp House, NW1 (Sat), Not So Silent Movies at King’s Place, N1 (Sun), Kid Carpet and the Noisy Animals at Arts Depot, N12 (Sun), LPO Funharmonics Family Concert at Southbank Centre, SE1, Town Mouse and the Country Mouse at Puppet Theatre Barge, Little Venice (ongoing)

Don’t miss our action-packed May Family Events Calendar