Back to school thoughts may be looming on the horizon but there are still a couple weekends left to enjoy the summer vacation. Here’s our pick of family-friendly events that will be fun for all this Saturday and Sunday (Aug 13-14).

Lost Puppies Adoption Day 

The slogan is “Eat, Drink, Adopt” and that’s what you can aim to do at the Lost Puppies’ Adoption Day, Charity Raffle and Vegan Market this Saturday from 12pm to 8pm at the pup-friendly Chez Soi in the Sanlitun neighborhood. Entry is free and raffle tickets are RMB 50 per piece, or RMB 200 for 5. It’s all for a good cause for our furry friends so dig into your wallets!

When: Aug 13, 12pm-8pm
Where: Chez Soi
Price: Free!
Register: Scan the QR code in the poster.

Kids Club Hike: Stone Flowers Cave Visit 

This was a last-minute addition to the Beijing Hikers’ calendar due to some flooding in an area of another hike that then had to be canceled, so, lucky us! In this level 2 hike suitable for kids aged 5-12, visit Fangshan District for a short hike up to a lookout, enjoy a big lunch at a country restaurant, and a 1.5-hour tour underground at Stone Flowers Cave. Down in the caves where there’s colourful lighting and good walking paths, we’ll see a whole lot of speleothems: stalactites, stalagmites, columns, flowstone, “stone flowers,” “crystal flowers,” shields, rimstone pools, and cave popcorn.

When: Aug 13, all day
Price: RMB 450/RMB 405 for members/RMB 220 for under-18s/free for 3-to-4-year-old kids
Register: Scan the QR code below to register on their website.

SCOBY-DOO: Kombucha Brewing Workshop With Isilay

Okay, maybe this event itself isn’t strictly for families, but the gut-boosting kombucha that you’ll learn to brew in the class will certainly be a benefit to the whole family so it counts!

Known as the “superfood of beverages,” kombucha provides a number of health benefits that are attributed to the drink’s fermentation process and its fundamental ingredient: “cha” or “tea.” This probiotic drink is made by fermenting tea and sugar with kombucha culture (SCOBY), which turns the sweet tea into a beverage full of vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and health-promoting organic acids. (Eric Childs, “Kombucha!”)

In this workshop at The Hutong you will:

• Taste two types of homemade kombuchas
• Find out about the science and history behind kombucha making
• Carry out the first and second fermentations and take home your first kombucha brew and SCOBY
• Learn how to take care of your SCOBY and discover tips for successful brewing

When: Aug 13, 2.30pm-4.30pm
Where: The Hutong
Price: RMB 350/RMB 300 for members
Register: Scan the QR code in the poster.

Sustainable Living Festival 

Join an EcoFlow Yoga class conducted by Taozi Tree Yoga yogi Yinai as she guides you on a reflection of what you want out of life. You may discover you actually need very little, making it easier for you to adopt earth-friendly sustainable life habits. After the yoga class, there will be a “free market” for secondhand goods where you can bring any sports equipment or workout clothes that you no longer need and swap them with others’. After all, one person’s trash is another’s treasure. You are welcome to join just the yoga class, or the swap, or both!

When: Aug 14, 12.15pm-2.15pm
Where: Taozi Tree Yoga Studio
Price: Free!
Register: Scan the QR code in the poster.

The Playful World of Eric Carle

And if you have not paid a visit to the playful world of Eric Carle exhibition yet, there’s still time for that! But before going, check out editor Mina Yan’s take on it in this article.

KEEP READING: The Cheapest Indoor Playground In Beijing? All Day for Just RMB 79!

Images: Courtesy of the vendors

I can’t remember the last time I was this excited for an art exhibition! The latest Playful World of Eric Carle exhibition at UCCA Lab is, without a doubt, the most highly anticipated art exhibition for parents and kids alike in Beijing.

Following a successful show in Shanghai, the Playful World of Eric Carle has finally come to Beijing.

What you can expect is hours of fun for kids of all ages. My 21-month-old daughter played side by side with kids around 9 or 10, all falling in love with the activities and fully immersing themselves in the books that they love.

What you don’t expect, but will be pleasantly surprised by, is how this exhibition is just as fun for the parents as it is for the kids.

Not only do you get to find a place to entertain your kids for far cheaper than your average play place, it’s also designed with a play-based learning aspect to it. Each station is one of Eric Carle’s books, brought to life.

What you’ll come to be surprised by is just how much the exhibition will bring back memories of your own childhood. Unlike my daughter’s other favorite series, Bizzy Bear, all the Eric Carle books are what I also grew up reading. I remember sitting in Barnes & Noble and flipping through the pages, trying to decide which one I would take home with me since mom told me I could only have one. They’re memories of love, fun, and seriously tough kid decisions. And, walking through the door and coming face to face with Brown Bear brought back all those fond childhood memories.

As the docent read Brown Bear and ushered the children into the Playful World of Eric Carle with games, I couldn’t help gushing over my love for the same books with my daughter.

It might sound like a bit of an exaggeration, but the exhibition brings generations together in shared cherished memories.

For older kids and grown-ups, getting an insight into the life of Eric Carle and how he created his art is an interesting aspect that I, for one, never paid attention to as a child.

For the kids, walking through the days of the week just like The Hungry Caterpillar, helping The Very Busy Spider build his web, discovering sounds with The Very Quiet Cricket, getting creative in their arts and crafts station, and finally, ending the exhibition mesmerized by the 10 Little Rubber Ducks is an incredibly fun and unforgettable experience that brings their favorite books to life.

The Playful World of Eric Carle exhibition officially opens today and will be at UCCA Lab until Oct 16.

To get your tickets, either scan the QR code in advance to purchase your virtual tickets and redeem them in person at the door, or purchase them at the door. We highly recommend purchasing tickets at least 24 hours in advance since Covid restrictions limit the capacity and it would be a shame to get turned away when you’ve got your hopes up for a fun day at the museum.

Price:
RMB 89 for 1 person
RMB 99 for 2 people
RMB 139 for 3 people
*Free for kids under 80cm

Hours:
Open daily from 10am to 7pm. Latest time to enter is 6.30pm.
*No food and no professional recording equipment are allowed inside. Phones and everyday cameras for the cutest pics of you and your kids are definitely allowed and encouraged!

Find it:
UCCA Lab 北京艺术空间
798 Art District, 4 Jiuxianqiao Road, Chaoyang District
朝阳区酒仙桥路4号798艺术区
Duration: Jul 21-Oct 16

Images: Mina Yan, Kiddy Art Museum