5 kid-friendly arts and cultural events in San Diego this spring

“Octavia E. Butler: Seeding Futures”

The New Children’s Museum (NCM) recently opened a special installation on the work and imagined future of legendary speculative fiction writer Octavia E. Butler. The exhibit fills an entire room in the museum with interactive art and play spaces. Including a climbing tree, mini library and other items inspired by Butler’s own childhood.

Butler information murals by artist Mitsuka Berry adorn the exhibit and lobby of the museum.

Dr. Ayana Jamieson, curatorial advisor for the exhibit, said in a recent interview with KPBS that because of the NCM’s practice of allowing young people to interact with contemporary art in meaningful ways, the museum is in a unique position to present an exhibition about Butler.

“It’s a completely unique place that’s really fertile ground for the kinds of imaginations that we need to thrive together as a community in the future,” Jamieson said.

Courtesy of the New Children’s Museum

Sonia De Los Santos: “Music”

The new children’s museum will host a special concert by bilingual Mexican folk singer Sonia De Los Santos, who will perform some of her family albums. De Los Santos sings in English and Spanish and uses a variety of musical styles including cumbia, son jarocho, folk and more. Her music tells stories about things kids will understand and relate to: animals, friendship and big dreams.

The event is not just for sitting and listening. An outdoor maraca making activity starts at 5pm, then at 5.30pm ticket holders can explore the museum (don’t miss the new Octavia Butler exhibition!) or even join a singing workshop – and that will all be ready before bed.

WOW Festival Without Walls | La Jolla Playhouse

This free, open, immersive, interactive and imaginative festival of theater and performance is perfect for children. If you want to show young people that art can be absolutely fascinating and captivating, the WOW Festival will probably have something for you. The outdoor entry/exit environment is also a great buffer for insecure children and caregivers alike: if your child gets bored or overwhelmed, there will be plenty of other things nearby to visit as a break, or an open space to get some exercise .

The festival has organized its family offerings in a special calendar here.

Beto Soto

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The Old Globe

AXIS: “Happy Birthday Mr. Shakespeare”

The Old Globe’s AXIS program offers a series of free, family-friendly performances and community engagement activities throughout the year. And given that the theater is named after Shakespeare’s professional home, The Globe Theater in London, it goes to show that they celebrate the Bard’s birthday every year.

In previous years, they’ve had puppetry, live music, sword fighting workshops, dance performances, and of course some Shakespearean stage performances, all held in the outdoor Copley Plaza.

City Ballet: “The Bastard and the Toymaker”

This kid-friendly event is an ideal introduction to ballet for children of all ages, featuring a full-length “story ballet” about a lonely toymaker who creates a toy to be his daughter. There is mystery, jealousy and all sorts of secret identities. In addition, City Ballet will kick things off before the show with crafts for kids and an opportunity to meet and take pictures with some of the professional ballet dancers in costume.