From a brand-new mini bowling alley (so cool!) to a bunch of dino-themed fun, keep cool with these family-friendly events taking place the weekend of August 10-12.
Debut of “Newsies” by Valley Youth Theatre
As the first show of their 30th season, Valley Youth Theatre presents the musical, Newsies, from August 10 through August 26, on Center Stage at the Herberger Theater Center. Tickets for Newsies range from $16.50 to $35.50 and can be purchased via telephone at 602.252.8497 or online, for an additional fee, at HerbergerTheater.org.
DEEP TIME: Imagining the Ancient Inland Sea
DEEP TIME: Imagining the Ancient Inland Sea is an immersive, family-friendly experience running through August 24 at the Gallery @ The Library, Scottsdale Civic Center. Presented by Scottsdale Arts, DEEP TIME takes visitors on a journey to the prehistoric ocean that once covered the Sonoran Desert, as imagined through the eyes of Tucson-based artists Lex Gjurasic and Rachel Slick. This sculpted environment uses color, pattern, light, texture and experimental materials to create an ocean-bottom experience of being surrounded by fanciful sea life, including kelp towers, coral reefs, an underwater garden, a bioluminescent tunnel and a large sea beast.
Dino Explorer at the Legoland Discovery Center Arizona
Do you have a dino-loving dude or dudette in the house? Well, treat them to a day they will never forget at the Legoland Discovery Center Arizona. This exhibit features a wide variety of dino-themed activities and hands-on learning. You will also have the chance to build your own Tyrannosaurus Rex--or any other dinosaur. And before you leave, you will have the opportunity to take a photo with the huge lego T-Rex.
“The Meg” Premieres
Take the teens out for the mega-thrilling “The Meg” movie which follows a deep-sea submersible after it is attached by a massive creature attacks a deep-sea submersible. For movie times and theaters, click here.
Saturday:
Mini Bowling at Jake's Unlimited
Saturday, August 11, is National Bowling Day, and Jake’s Unlimited is celebrating with free bowling at its just-opened mini bowling attraction. Any guest who mentions the cheat code "free bowl" at the door receives a free mini-bowling experience added to any admissions package. Mini-bowling takes the fun and excitement of regular bowling and delivers it in a compact size featuring shorter lanes, mini-pins and smaller, lighter bowling balls suitable for both kids and adults.
Flashlight Tours at Desert Botanical Garden
From 7 to 9:30 p.m., guests are invited to shine their own flashlights along the self-paced trails to capture the night-blooming plants and animals that chirp, whirr and whisper in the desert after dark. The nocturnal garden explorers can experience a different adventure every night through activities promoting play, learning and adventure. Admission is $12.95 to $24.95.
Summer Escapes
Need a little fun in the sun to make it through back-to-school time? Check out AZFoothills.com’s Summer Escapes for the best seasonal deals and activities around the Valley and beyond.
Sunday:
Game on Expo Special at Dave and Buster’s Tempe Marketplace
In honor of Game on Expo taking place this week, Dave and Buster’s Tempe Marketplace is offering unlimited game play to guests who bring in their ticket or badge.
Pangea Land of the Dinos at OdySea in the Desert not only offers plenty for kids of all ages to see and do, but it provides an educational look at prehistoric times in a way kids have likely only seen in books and movies. Time at Land of the Dinos starts with a walk through the colorful, lifelike habitats that are filled with 50 robotic dinosaurs, as well as bugs, birds and more, which move and make noise. A helpful tour guide teaches guests about each dinosaur along the way. (Kids adore the giant T-Rex!)
Book-Inspired Kid’s Menus at Southern Rail
Southern Rail offers a one-of-a-kind kid's menu incorporating the dishes into some of the most beloved children's books (it is located next-door to Changing Hands Bookstore in Phoenix, after all). The restaurant rotates 15 to 20 different books so that each kid will have something new to read each time. The unique kids menu is also available at Southern Rail’s sister restaurant, Beckett’s Table.
