Get outdoors this summer! There are plenty activities in and around town that the whole family can enjoy. Spend some quality time with your child and do an art project at a museum such as The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens or MOCA Jacksonville. Grab a picnic blanket and snacks and take in a movie under the stars with Moonlight Movies presented by the City of Jacksonville Beach. Blast off and visit a brand new exhibit at Ripley’s Believe It or Not St. Augustine or go back in time and walk among the dinosaurs with Jacksonville Zoo & Gardens’ Destination: DINO exhibit. Whatever you choose to do, have a roaring good summer!
The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens
The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens’ Art for Two children’s workshop is offered on select dates from 10:30 a.m.to noon. Art for Two is for children ages 3 through 5 and their favorite adult. Each month features a different art project based on The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens’ permanent collection or an exhibition. The cost is $15 per pair for members; $20 per pair for non-members.
Upcoming Art for Two classes:
April 16 – Florida Landscapes
May 14 – Animal Hunt
June 11 – Summertime Fun
July 9 – Storms Coming
Aug. 13 – Moonlight Cityscape
Art Adventures is offered the third Saturday of every month from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Art Adventures is for children ages 6-12. Each month features a different theme and focus on different art techniques such as painting, printmaking, collage or construction. The cost is $10 for members; $15 for non-members.
Upcoming Art Adventures classes:
April 16 – Archipenko
May 21 – Tactile Tactics
June 18 – Jacksonville Parks
July 16 – Printmaking
Aug. 20 – Still Life
Class size is limited. For more information, call (904) 355-0630 or email education@cummermuseum.org. The museum is located at 829 Riverside Ave. in Jacksonville.
ArtFusion at MOCA and Hemming Park
The Museum of Contemporary Art Jacksonville in downtown Jacksonville offers classes for children and their parents or adult caretaker during the Downtown Art Walk held the first Wednesday of every month from 5 to 8 p.m. The classes are held in the classroom on the fifth floor of the museum.
In addition, ArtFusion at Hemming Park takes place the first Sunday of the month from noon to 4 p.m. at the park (located directly across the street from the museum.)
ArtFusion is taught by one of MOCA Jacksonville’s professional art educators and features an art project inspired by the museum’s permanent collection or featured exhibition. Children who take part in Art Fusion in Hemming Park receive free gallery admission.
MOCA is located at 333 N. Laura St. in Jacksonville. For more information, call (904) 366-6911, email education@mocajacksonville.org or visit www.mocajacksonville.unf.edu.
City of Jacksonville Beach Moonlight Movies
Catch a movie under the stars. The Jacksonville Beach Moonlight Movie series kicks off April 22. The movies are free and are shown on a large screen on stage at the Seawalk Pavilion. Movies start at 9 p.m. Bring a lawn chair or a blanket and picnic before the movie. A vendor will be on site selling popcorn, candy and beverages.
April 22: “Finding Nemo”
May 13: “Inside Out”
May 20: “Max”
For more information, including restrictions, visit www.jacksonvillebeach.org.
Ripley’s Believe it Or Not
If you’re looking for something out of the ordinary, make plans to visit Ripley’s Believe it or Not this summer to see its brand new Space Oddities gallery which opened March 12 with an “Out of this World” grand opening party.
The Space Oddities gallery is a two-story exhibit featuring a giant replica of the International Space Station made entirely from matchsticks, the rover featured in the movie “Armageddon,” an erector set model of the lunar landing pad and more.
“Star Wars” fans will want to check out the cast of the film carved into the heads of crayons, some of Chewbacca’s fur from the original movie and a female Boba Fett replica.
Ripley’s is open 365 days a year from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. with adjusted hours for Thanksgiving and Christmas days.
Ripley’s Believe it Or Not is located at 19 San Marco Ave., St. Augustine. For more information, call (904) 824-1606 or visit www.ripleys.com/staugustine.
Destination: DINO at the Jacksonville Zoo & Gardens
Like the “Land of the Lost,” the dinosaurs made their triumphant return to Jacksonville on March 5.
Twenty-five species of life size and life-like animatronic dinosaurs will be on display at the Jacksonville Zoo & Gardens through July 4.
The cost is $4 per person for non-members; $3 per person for members. Zoo admission is not included. Zoo admission or membership must be purchased to enter Destination: DINO. Once inside the zoo, a shuttle will transport you to the iconic gates of the dinosaur animal exhibit.
The zoo is located at 370 Zoo Parkway, Jacksonville. For more information, visit www.jaxzoodinos.org.
