Do you have an upcoming family-friendly event that you want to be included in our listings? Maximize the reach of your event and promote it on beijingkids’ social platforms!

Let us know by leaving your message in the comments section below or by emailing us at webeditor@beijing-kids.com. Follow us on WeChat (ID: beijing-kids) or join our family events WeChat group by sending us your WeChat QR code. Please note that readers should confirm with each organizer if events are canceled or scheduled as planned. For more events that may not be included in this list, please check our Events page. 

Puppets & Object Theatre: “Si Lion, Si Haut!”, May 23-Jun 9
This Chinese and French language performance for kids and families will delight young audiences. Join Coppernickel the bird, and Tungsten the dog on their short, simple and hilarious adventures. “Si Lion, Si Haut” runs from May 23-Jun 9, please check their ticketing website here for more details. All ages. 7.30pm. RMB 280. Beijing Tianqiao Performing Arts Center

WAB Fun Fair, May 25
Western Academy of Beijing (WAB) will be hosting a series of community events with endless amounts of entertainment and activities going on. Tiger Field turns into a wild theme park of inflatable play areas, water games, and activities. Sponsored by the Parent Link community, this is the perfect time for younger children and families to enjoy some fun in the sun while staying cool. Make sure that children are wearing water-friendly clothes and shoes, and a hat and sunglasses might be a good idea, too! For a complete list of activities, check out this link. All ages. 3-6pm. Western Academy of Beijing.

Art Workshop at Song Art Museum, May 25
Atelier will present an English-language art workshops along with the exhibition of Louise Bourgeois at the Song Art Museum. It is a full-day art workshop designed for students aged 8 and above. The class will focus on the theme of sewing in Louise Bourgeois’ corpus. The Eternal Thread, which is the theme of the exhibition, will be taken as a metaphor for the students to develop their own story thread from the imagery suggested by the artworks. The teacher will show 6 artworks, of various scale and materials but all revolving around this theme. Ages 8+. RMB 675 (Atelier students), RMB 750 (regular price). See the workshop agenda here. 10am-3pm. Song Art Museum.

Iftar with Parwaaz: A Date With a Plate, May 26
Break fast at sunset this Ramadan Mubarak with Parwaaz, a spice route concept, creating a traditional spread of traditional Indian Iftar dishes to nourish your body and soul at The Orchid Lounge. All food will be halal, and scan the QR code above to reserve your spot today. All ages. 6.45-9am. The Orchid Lodge.

Kids Will Be Kids- Children’s Day at Kerry, May 26
Celebrate Children’s Day at Kerry Hotel Beijing with a wide variety of kid and family-friendly activities that are not only fun but also completely free! There will be face painting, trampolines, paddle boating, a giant play castle, family games, performances, and gift bags for the kiddies. Also, entry to the Adventure Zone will be offered at a steep discount (RMB 200) for non-members all day! All ages. Free. 9.30am-2.30pm. Kerry Hotel Beijing

The Masterclass for a Cause: The Mille Feuille, May 26
This is the perfect experience for baking aficionados, young and old. Chef Aurore’s second Class for a Cause is now open for reservations. Learn the art of making a Napoleon cake the traditional way with a master patissier. Class is in English and Chinese. All proceeds will go to help rescued animals in Beijing. All ages. RMB 550. 2-5pm. JMT pâtisserie

Piyesta Kultura: The Kusina ni Kabayan Philippine Culture Festival, Jun 1
Celebrate the bright colors of Philippine culture… in Beijing! Filipino community group Kusina ni Kabayan, together with Pan Pacific Beijing, invite everyone to Piyesta Kultura 2019, a festival where everything is more fun. Indulge in native and tropical treats, revel in the festivities that include a karaoke sing-off challenge and a cultural pageant, and join the Filipino community in Beijing in celebrating their 121st Independence Day! All ages. RMB 178 (includes 4 hrs of selected free-flow drinks from 11am to 3pm and a food voucher worth RMB 20), free for kids below 6. 10am-6pm. Pan Pacific Beijing. (WeChat ID: Kusina-ni-Kabayan)

Reoccurring Events for Kids

Mr. Rommel’s Cooking Classes at Ivy Academy Sanlitun, Every Sat
Mr. Rommel’s Cooking Class aims to make your kids have fun in the kitchen, help them to build positive memories, good vibes and of course great food. Your kids will learn the basics of cooking, including cutting, smelling, pouring, kneading and most of all, how to have fun and learn without being aware of it! The classes run until June 22. All ages. RMB 2,860 (for 13 classes), RMB 260 (individual classes). 10-11am. Ivy Academy Sanlitun Campus. (187 1004 6911, rommel.penullar@ivyschools.com)

Stories and Songs Toddler Playgroup at Hello Future Kindergarten, Tuesday Mornings
Join Shelby and the folks at Hello Future Kindergarten for a fun morning of stories, songs, and seasonal crafts every Tuesday morning. Connect with other moms and dads and enjoy the beautiful outdoor environment. For little ones aged 6 months to 3 years old; this playgroup is for parents and grandparents only. Kids ages 6 months to 3 years. RMB 70. 9.15-10.15am. Hello Future Kindergarten.

BSB Baby and Toddler Group, Every Friday
The British School of Beijing holds a baby and toddler group every week at their Shunyi campus. Families with little ones ages 0-18 months can come to this group to meet other families, enjoy playing with age-appropriate toys, creat seasonal crafts, sing songs, and more. This event will provide drinks and snacks and is open to foreign passport holders only. The baby must also be accompanied by his mother. Age 0-18 months. Free. 9-10.30am. The British School of Beijing Shunyi campus. For more information, please visit this page. (8532 5320)

Safari Time Songs at The Bookworm, Every Saturday
Young ones love singing and rhymes! It stimulates their brains and development, and it’s also great fun for mamas, papas and other care givers to see them so happy! If you’ve got a 3-18 months old child, bring them to The Bookworm every Saturday to take them on a fun safari as he/she learns songs and rhymes from around the world, that you can also practice at home. Ages 3-18 months. RMB 80 per child. 10.30-11.30am. The Bookworm. (6503 2050, order@beijingbookworm.com)

Reoccurring Events for Adults

Beijing Guild: Knitting and Crochet Meet-ups, Tuesdays and Thursdays
Are you a knitting and crochet enthusiast looking to meet others in the community that are equally obsessed with the fibre arts? Look no further than the Beijing Guild, who are now hosting bi-weekly sessions on Tuesday afternoons and Thursday mornings and afternoons. Scan their QR code in the poster above for more info on times and location, and where in town you can pick up the necessary supplies. Adults

Yoga in the Park, Every Sunday
The Yoga in the Park crew gathers for about an hour and fifteen minutes in a grassy nook under the avatar tree to practice yoga. Yoga is essentially breathing deeply with mindful movements to help stretch the body, spine, and the mind in healthy and interesting ways. All levels are welcome. If you are a total beginner don’t worry about it as the Yoga in the Park team has helpful and happy Taozi teachers ready to assist you and keep you safe. After class, attendees can choose to join the team for a stroll to Moka Bros Solana to enjoy lunch for 15 percent off. Adults. RMB 50 per yogi. 9.30-11am. Moka Bros Solana.

School Open Days

La Maison Montessori de Pékin Open Day, May 25
Get to know La Maison Montessori de Pékin and their bilingual (French-Chinese) approach to the Montessori Pedagogy for children aged 1.5-6 years old, at their upcoming open house. Scan their QR code to schedule an appointment. They kindly ask that if parents want to come with their child, either both parents come or one parent with a caregiver. One classroom will be arranged by their teachers with Montessori activities for children, and they will also receive parents for a school and new campus presentation in another classroom. Adults and kids aged 1.5-6. Free. All day. La Maison Montessori de Pékin

Montessori Nights: “Montessori Elementary Curriculum in a Nutshell” Workshop, May 31
Blossom Montessori is conducting four late afternoon workshops to introduce their elementary Montessori program to prospective parents and families. On May 31 they will be focusing on movements and learning, and why this is such a critical part of the Montessori Curriculum. Adults. Free but reservation required. 5.30-7pm. Blossom Montessori. (135 8188 7792, admissions@blossom-edu.com)

Photos: Courtesy of organizers

WeChat groups are a vital resource for Beijing’s international community, not only providing information but bringing together people with shared interests. Each week we’ll be highlighting a thriving group chat, so whether you’re new to town or just looking to expand your networks, you can find your people.

It’s not always possible to describe Beijing’s international community as “close-knit”, but here’s a group that definitely measures up! Beijing Guild is a group for people who love a good yarn. We asked Sharee Hebert, who is a teacher at Yew Chung International School Beijing (YCIS Beijing), to tell us more.

Sharee Hebert

Tell us about yourself, and how you became admin of this group.
I learned how to knit in 2010, shortly before moving back to China. I saw an ad on theBeijinger for a knitting group, so I contacted the woman in charge and started attending meetings. I have made so many great friends through this group, and also learned how to make beautiful projects with yarn! Now I run my own knitting club at school and am sharing the craft with as many students as I can.

We’ve had more than 100 women come and go over the years. I’m not the official admin, but am sort of the “assistant admin,” as I take over when it’s time for a clean-up. It sort of happened by default, since I’m one of the longest running members. There are about three of us left from the original meetings way back in 2010.

Who’s in the group and what do you talk about?
The group consists of mostly women, with the occasional man, who knit, crochet, sew, or embroider. At our regular gatherings, we chat about everything, but the WeChat group mostly talks about knitting projects, yarn questions, our upcoming meetings, and daily life in Beijing. We are from all over the world.

Do you meet up in real life?
We meet regularly in various locations in Chaoyang, Tuesday afternoons from 1.30-3.30pm, and Thursday evenings from 5.30-8.30pm. There’s also a Shunyi group that meets on Fridays during the school year. Sometimes we do special workshops for specialized projects. Last year we knitted and crocheted hats and socks to donate to the babies at Dew Drops. The location changes weekly, and an email is sent out on Sunday with the address and details. We welcome any kind of crafter to come join us, and don’t require any sort of commitment.

If you’d like to join Beijing Guild, contact WeChat ID Shareehebert to be added to the group. You can request to be on the mailing list at www.beijingguild.com.