Philly Fall Arts Guide: Local family fun events
By summer's end, the family budget's as tapped out as the kids' attention spans. Luckily, this fall's roster of family-friendly cultural activities is heavy on stimulation and (mostly) low in price.
Reptiles: The Beautiful and the Deadly
Academy of Natural Sciences, Sept. 30-Jan. 10
Fans of the Outside In room's blue-tongue skink will get a beady eyeful when 20 such live, cold-blooded
creatures (snakes, turtles, crocodilians) travel from Allenwood, Union County, to the Parkway.
215-299-1000, ansp.orgcq
Philly SportsZone
Franklin Institute, opens Oct. 24
Coolest thing about this new, permanent $3.1 million exhibition, once you realize it's not an ESPN show or batting cage birthday party venue? Many of the 21 hands-and-feet-on displays star Philly favorites. Compete and compare your skills to those of Jordan Matthews, Chase Utley (sigh), Nerlens Noel, and the Phanatic while learning the science behind sports.
215-448-1200, fi.edu
Drawn to Dinosaurs
Academy of Natural Sciences, opens Nov. 1
Those who've wondered how scientists figure out what dinosaurs really looked like will get questions answered in the Art of Science Gallery's new exhibition about the collaboration between fossil finders and illustrators. Full, circa-1868 cast of Haddonfield's own duck-billed Hadrosaurus foulkii stars.
215-299-1000, ansp.org
Hans Brinker and the Silver Skates
Arden Theatre Company, Nov. 24-Jan. 31
Multitalented Laura Eason adapted Mary Mapes Dodge's children's classic for the stage after taking on a new job as a parent. Her world premiere work — three years in the making (her "House of Cards" writing gig intervened) — is set in 19th-century Holland and features canal ice skating, turning windmills, live harp and violin. Adults play all roles, including siblings Hans and Gretel. Best for ages 6 and up.
215-922-1122, ardentheatre.org
Disney on Ice: 100 Years of Magic
Wells Fargo Center, Dec. 24-Jan. 3
So it's not exactly fall, but now is the time to snatch up tickets if last year's frenzy for ice-top "Frozen" is any indication. Now a winter vacation tradition, the character spectacular energetically celebrates a century of Walt's world, from mice to princesses, in a whopping 24 South Philly performances.
800-298-4200, comcasttix.com
_______