LIFE

Some artsy things to do with your kids

From babies to teens: 7 things to do as a family

Siobhan McAndrew
smcandrew@rgj.com

Cinderella

Sierra School for Performing Arts presents this musical Friday through Sunday and Sept. 11-13 at 7:30 p.m. at the Robert Z Hawkins Outdoor Amphitheater at Bartley Ranch in Reno.

Why I suggest: The production promised a carriage, glass slipper and a grand ball.

Interesting fact: Local personality and performer Cami Thompson plays the Fairy Godmother.

Tickets: $18 to $40; www.sierraschoolofperformingarts.org

Annie

This musical about an orphan in a red dress is playing Oct. 9-11 at the Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts.

Why I suggest:  Who doesn’t want “It’s a hard knock life,” sung to you every time you ask your kids to clean up.

Interesting fact:  In a typical production of the musical “Annie,” the word tomorrow is sung 47 times.

Tickets: Start at $50, www.pioneercenter.com

'Cinderella' by Sierra School of Performing Arts

Pumpkin Walk

This 4th annual Halloween event with more than 500 hand carved pumpkins is from 4 to 8 p.m. Oct. 24 at the May Center and through the outdoor paths at Rancho San Rafael Park.

Why I suggest: It’s festive to walk along a path with pumpkins to trick or treat.

Interesting fact: Pumpkins are carved by local volunteers including 100 children.

Details:  Last year tickets were $5. Prices for the 2015 event haven’t been announced yet.  www.facebook.com/WilburMayCenter

Music

The University of Nevada, Reno Contemporary Music Ensemble will be performing great works by 20th and 21st century composers at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 20 at the Nightingale Concert Hall on campus.

Why I suggest: UNR wants the community to embrace, support and enjoy its campus art scene.

Interesting fact: This is just one of 35 public art events at UNR this fall. I picked one for this list but you need to check out more than just this performance.

Details: Free, www.unr.edu/NVArts365

Baby painting

This Nov. 8 morning class is a chance for your baby or toddler to smush and smear paint everywhere at the Nevada Museum of Art.

Why I suggest: Your child will create the perfect masterpiece (think grandparent Christmas gift) and someone else has to clean up.

Interesting fact: This is just one of the many classes the art museum has for children.

Details: $12, www.nevadaart.org

Monster Fish exhibit

UNR researcher and Nat Geo Wild TV star Zeb Hogan is bringing his big fish exhibit to the Terry Lee Wells Nevada Discovery Museum for a six month run starting Nov. 14.

Why I suggest: This exhibit’s last stop was the National Geographic Museum in Washington, D.C

Interesting fact:  This researcher with a doctoral degree in ecology and part of the UNR faculty since 2006 was once named one of the 50 sexiest environmentalist by Rodale, a publishing giant of magazines. He joined the list with likes of George Clooney and Brad Pitt.

Details: www.nvdm.org

The Polar Express

It seems way too early to suggest you start thinking about Christmas but this V&T Railroad experience in Carson City sells out long before the first snow. Tickets actually went on sale last month for this train ride to Northern Nevada’s version of the North Pole that starts welcoming aboard passengers Nov. 19 through Dec. 22 on select nights.

Why I suggest: On the ride, they play a reading of The Polar Express read by Liam Neeson.

Interesting fact:  Every rider gets a silver sleigh bell. Hopefully, you can hear yours ring.

Details: Tickets start at $36, www.vtrailway.com/polarexpress/

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