Was that a hint of sunlight peeping out over the last two days or was I just squinting too hard? Spring hasn’t exactly sprung but we’ve found some fabulous events to put some pep in your step.
Here’s what’s happening for London kids and their grown-ups this weekend. Have fun!
BABES CHOICE
Sat-Sun: Barbican Weekender: Brain Waves at Barbican Centre, Silk St, EC2 (Barbican tube)
Head to the Barbican for another brilliant family weekend of free cultural activities, all around our grey matter. You can Knit a Neuron, Build a Brain, explore a Sonic Tour of the brain, play Ping Pong Plus, hear live music/poetry and more throughout the weekend. Plus it’s your LAST CHANCE to catch the spectacular Rain Room exhibition — come extra early to beat the queues! From 11am-5pm, FREE (Mar 2-3)
MORE WEEKEND FUN
Fri-Sun: Madagascar Live at Wembley Arena, Arena Square, Engineers Way, HA9 (Wembley Park tube)
Catch Alex, Gloria, Melman and Marty in their live incarnations as the stage show comes to north London this weekend. Enjoy hit songs from the popular animated films, loads of laughs and a spectacular production. 6.30pm (Fri), 11am, 3pm & 6.30pm (Sat), 12pm & 4pm (Sun); £20-£50 (Mar 1-3)
Sat: Family Fun Day: The Modern Alchemist at Royal Institution, Albermarle St, W1 (Piccadilly tube)
Get hands on with the elements that make up the world around us, even try out some of the RI’s famous Christmas Lecture demos for yourself! Best for ages 6+, younger kids and siblings very welcome. 11am-4pm, adult £10/child £5/under 3s FREE (Mar 2)
Sat-Sun: Ben & Holly’s Little Kingdom at Richmond Theatre, the Green, TW9 (Richmond overground)
From the makers of Peppa Pig, the popular BAFTA award-winning animated show takes to the stage in a story about a young princess, an elf and their adventures in a magical world. 1pm & 4pm (Sat), 10am & 1pm (Sun); £12.50-£16.50 (Mar 2-3)
Sat-Sun: Make for Mother’s Day at Royal Airforce Museum, Grahame Park Way, N9 (Colindale tube)
Enjoy an afternoon of make and take activities to craft a paper flower and card for your mum, inspired by the display of tokens from RAF personnel to their mothers over the years. For ages 5+, younger kids welcome, 11am-1pm & 2-4pm, FREE (Mar 2-3)
Sun: John Hicks: Curiodity at Jacksons Lane, 269a Archway Rd, N6 (Highgate tube)
Prepare to be amazed and entertained by the weird and wonderful collection of contraptions, oddities, magical chalk drawings, Frank the Dog, toy elephants and more presented by the eccentric cabaret act John Hicks. For ages 3+. 3pm, £8.95 (Mar 3)
Sun: Disco Loco at Bethnal Green Working Men’s Club, E2 (Bethnal Green tube)
We love to boogie and we love the Loco, so you can bet we recommend the last party of the season at BGWMC. Come along for funky tunes spun by DJs The Lovely Emily, Reverend Milo Speedwagon and others on the decks, tasty and healthy food, live acts and baby chill out. 3-6pm, £3 (Mar 3)
LOCAL PICK
Sat: Town Hall Tales at Shoreditch Town Hall, 380 Old St, EC1 (Old St tube)
Come along for a special celebration of stories at this Children’s Reading Festival featuring poet Michael Rosen, Mrs H & the Singalong Band (aka singalong with Harriet of Exmouth Market fame), Gina Southgate art workshops, drama workshops with Half Moon Theatre, Bollywood myths and dance and more. 10.30am-4.30pm, FREE (Mar 2)
We also like
Celebrate St. David’s Day & Concert (Fri-Sat), Spring Festival launches at British Library (Fri thru Sun), see Tiger Tracks at St Pancras International (ongoing), Artplay with BFI at Dulwich Picture Gallery (Sun), Banglafest at Rich Mix (Sun, ongoing)