Before you head back to school this August, splash out on the final days of summer with family-friendly art activities, poetry workshops, interactive music events, engaging performances, back-to-school events, and other enriching activities for kids and teens.
Back to School Events and Resource Fairs
Sunrise Back to School Splash at Sunrise Athletic Complex
The City of Sunrise holds its “Sunrise Back to School Splash” to celebrate summer’s end and get kids prepped for school. This free event includes kid-friendly activities and refreshments, plus, the first 1,000 Sunrise students (Kindergarten through 12th grade) receive a book and school supplies; students must be accompanied by a guardian with a driver’s license proving Sunrise residency to receive the free supplies. Parents and guardians can also speak with representatives from Sunrise-area schools to learn about the upcoming school year.
IF YOU GO
WHAT: Sunrise Back to School Splash
WHERE: Sunrise Athletic Complex, 11501 NW 44th Street, Sunrise
WHEN: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 1
COST: Free
INFORMATION: (954) 747-4600 or learn more on the event page
BEST FOR: Kids and teens
Back To School Resource Fair at Tamarac Community Center
The City of Tamarac helps families get ready for going back to school with the “Back to School Resource Fair,” offering access to school supplies, wellness services, educational resources, family support programs, and community connections. And later, watch the back-to-school fashion show, “Rip the Hallways: The Re-Mix.” The first 200 kids at the event receive a free backpack with supplies.
IF YOU GO
WHAT: Back To School Resource Fair
WHERE: Tamarac Community Center, 8601 West Commercial Boulevard, Tamarac
WHEN: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 8
COST: Free
INFORMATION: (954) 597-3620 or learn more on the event page
BEST FOR: Kids and teens
Studio 701 Open House at South Side Cultural Arts Center
Studio 701 Open House at South Side Cultural Arts Center gives the community a taste of the upcoming Fall programs and activities happening at Studio 701. Tour the South Side Cultural Arts Center and learn about the Fall programs, then join a series of activities led by current Studio 701 participants:
Black Box Kitchen – culture and cooking with local Chef Taciana McDaniel
DJ the Artiste – art with local muralist Djerlens (DJ) Chery
Swing Out, South Florida – dance school for Lindy Hope/Swing dance forms
Bella Nola Art – arts and crafts with artist Dana Strachan
T’essence Dance Academy – dance academy for ballet, Caribbean dance forms, modern dance, jazz, liturgical dance, and African dance
Yes Baby I Like it Raw, LLC – health and wellness
Over the Top Catering – food and cooking
IF YOU GO
WHAT: Studio 701 Open House – Fall/Winter Season Preview
WHERE: South Side Cultural Arts Center, 701 S. Andrews Ave, Fort Lauderdale
WHEN: 12 p.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 8
COST: Free, register on Eventbrite
INFORMATION: (954) 828-6250 or learn more on the event page
BEST FOR: All ages
Y Weekend: Back to School Bash at YMCA South Florida
YMCA South Florida opens its doors for a day of family games and activities, wellness activities, and fitness class demos on August 8. Visit a local YMCA South Florida location to join a fitness classes demo, check out local vendor booths and sign up for classes and programs offered at your local Y. “Y Weekend: Back to School Bash” takes place at all five Broward locations of YMCA South Florida: Hallandale Beach, Hollywood, L.A. Lee, Pembroke Pines, Weston, and Weston.
IF YOU GO
WHAT: Y Weekend: Back to School Bash
WHERE: (Hallandale Beach YMCA) Hallandale Beach YMCA Family Center, 501 SE 1st Ave, Hallandale Beach (Hollywood YMCA) Greater Hollywood YMCA Family Center, 3161 Taft St, Hollywood (L.A. Lee YMCA) L.A. Lee YMCA / Mizell Community Center, 1409 NW 6th St, Fort Lauderdale (Pembroke Pines YMCA) Pembroke Pines YMCA Family Center, 501 SW 172nd Ave, Pembroke Pines (Weston YMCA) Weston YMCA Family Center, 20201 Saddle Club Rd, Weston
WHEN: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 8
COST: Free, registration encouraged
INFORMATION: (954) 334-9622 or learn more and register on the event page
BEST FOR: All ages
Art
Beneath the Brush Dinosaur Painting Lab at African American Research Library and Cultural Center
Explore paleontology through painting in a hands-on event at African American Research Library and Cultural Center (AARLCC). Learn about how paleontologists decipher the story of the ancient past through fossils, then create your own dinosaur-themed painting with a guided art lesson. Afterward, participants share their work and talk about their painting. The event is open to kids, teens, and adults.
IF YOU GO
WHAT: Beneath the Brush Dinosaur Painting Lab
WHERE: African American Research Library and Cultural Center, 2650 Sistrunk Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale
WHEN: 2 p.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 1
COST: Free
INFORMATION: (954) 357-6282 or learn more and register on the event page
BEST FOR: All ages
Family Day at The Frank
“Family Day at The Frank” brings stories and art together for a day of creativity for kids and families on August 1. The Frank C. Ortis Art Gallery, known as “The Frank,” hosts exhibitions and all-ages programming that inspire curiosity and engagement in the arts. “Family Day at The Frank” begins with a book reading, followed by a self-guided art activity related to the story. Pick up a scavenger hunt activity from the front desk to help guide kids through the gallery exhibitions, or, explore the current exhibitions (“Perseverance” and “Monumentalizing the Trace”) on your own.
IF YOU GO
WHAT: Family Day at The Frank
WHERE: The Charles F. Dodge City Center (The Frank C. Ortis Art Gallery and Exhibit Hall) 601 City Center Way, Pembroke Pines
WHEN: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 1
COST: Free
INFORMATION: (954) 392-9420 or learn more on the event page
BEST FOR: All ages
Performing Arts, Music, and Literacy
Young, Gifted & Brave: Young Artist Showcase with Brévo Theatre at Victory Black Box Theater
Young actors from Brévo Theatre’s “Young, Gifted, and Brave” summer conservatory perform a curated production of Broadway musicals from “Hamilton,” “The Wiz,” “Dreamgirls” and a variety of comedic and dramatic scenes on August 1 at Victory Black Box Theater. The “Young, Gifted, and Brave” conservatory program helps young actors sharpen their acting, dance, and voice skills, develop professional habits and nurture their personal wellness to help them become a well-rounded artist. Music, dance, and theatre professionals serve as teaching artists to the students, providing individualized support to grow and highlight the youth actors’ unique strengths. This year’s cohort includes actors ranging in age from 14 to 22; all of them perform in the “Young, Gifted & Brave: Young Artist Showcase.”
IF YOU GO
WHAT: Young, Gifted & Brave: Young Artist Showcase
WHERE: Victory Black Box Theater at L.A. Lee YMCA / Mizell Community Center, 1409 NW 6th St., 3rd Floor, Fort Lauderdale
WHEN: 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 1
COST: $25
INFORMATION: (305) 542-4841 or learn more and purchase tickets on the event page
BEST FOR: All ages
Summer Finale- Super you! Art & Music Program with South Florida Chamber Ensemble at Northwest Regional Library
The South Florida Chamber Ensemble’s arts integration program, iLUMA, comes to Northwest Regional Library with an interactive music and storytelling event for kids that tests their memory, creativity, and reading comprehension. Kids enjoy a story and have to make guesses about characters based on music and the story narration, which helps grow their listening and reading skills. The South Florida Chamber Ensemble brings classical concert music to South Florida through free concerts and arts programs that teach academic skills through music.
IF YOU GO
WHAT: Summer Finale – Super you!
WHERE: Northwest Regional Library, 3151 North University Drive, Coral Springs
WHEN: 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., Tuesday, Aug. 4
COST: Free
INFORMATION: (954) 357-7990 or learn more on the event page
BEST FOR: Kids
The Lab: Summer Poetry Workshop Series at South Regional/Broward College Library
The Omari Hardwick bluapple Poetry Network hosts a poetry workshop, “The Power of Line Breaks & Form,” for teens at South Regional/Broward College Library on August 5. During this workshop, learn the power and purpose of line breaks and poetic form in crafting an impactful poem; interactive activities teach teens about poetic techniques like enjambment and caesura and learn revision strategies to create stronger poetry. The “The Power of Line Breaks & Form” is the fifth and final session in The Lab: Summer Poetry Workshop Series.
IF YOU GO
WHAT: The Power of Line Breaks & Form – The Lab: Summer Poetry Workshop Series
WHERE: South Regional/Broward College Library, 7300 Pines Boulevard, Pembroke Pines
WHEN: 12 p.m. to 2 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 5
COST: Free
INFORMATION: (954) 201-8825 or learn more on the event page
BEST FOR: Teens
Lyrical Lounge Teen Open Mic Nights at Sunrise Civic Center Art Gallery
Teens express their creativity at “Lyrical Lounge Teen Open Mic Nights” held at the Sunrise Civic Center Art Gallery on August 21. Artists, musicians, poets and aspiring creatives are encouraged to sharpen their work during the writing workshop (led by a bluapple teaching artist), before joining the Open Mic portion of the evening. The Omari Hardwick bluapple Poetry Network, which helps students across South Florida express themselves through the art of poetry, and the Jason Taylor Foundation, which supports youth programming, partner with The City of Sunrise for their monthly “Lyrical Lounge” programs.
IF YOU GO
WHAT: Lyrical Lounge Teen Open Mic Nights
WHERE: Sunrise Civic Center Art Gallery, 10610 West Oakland Park Boulevard, Sunrise
WHEN: 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., Friday, Aug. 21
COST: Free
INFORMATION: (954) 747-4646 or learn more on the event page
BEST FOR: Teens
Read to a Therapy Dog at Broward Libraries
Kids develop their confidence and reading skills with a therapy dog in a series of reading events at Broward libraries:
(Saturday, Aug. 8, 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.) Northwest Regional Library: Read to pet-therapy dog, Zoey, from Bonafide Therapy Dogs. Call (954) 357-7990 and register on the event page.
(Saturday, Aug. 15, 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.) West Regional Library: Kids read to a therapy dog from the Wags & Tales program. Call (954) 765-1560 and register on the event page.
(Monday, Aug. 24, 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.): Weston Branch: Read to therapy dog, Quinn, from Magical Canine Connections. Call (954) 357-5420 and register on the event page.
During the event, each child (ages 5-12) gets an opportunity to read aloud to the therapy dog.
IF YOU GO
WHAT: Read to a Therapy Dog
WHERE: (Northwest Regional Library) 3151 North University Drive, Coral Springs (West Regional Library) 8601 West Broward Boulevard, Plantation (Weston Branch) 4205 Bonaventure Boulevard, Weston
COST: Free, registration strongly encouraged
BEST FOR: Kids aged 5 to 12
