14 of the best family events happening this week

This week is looking pretty colourful with Africa Week kicking off this weekend, Dulwich and Children's House Montessori's splashing events and this weekend's bazaars' creative trinkets and products on offer. There are also new movies out and a fantastical stage performance coming out this week, the latter a mesmerising combination of theatre and animation.

For even more events happening around town, make sure to visit the events page on our website: www.timeoutbeijing.com/family. If we missed your event, know how to add it to our free listing here. And as always, have a great week, Beijing! 

  Open day events   

Jazzy Preschool (Dongzhimen)

Photo: Jazzy Preschool

Jazzy Preschool. Sat 18 9am-noon. Free. 

Located in the heart of Beijing's embassy district within a Chinese Suzhou-styled traditional garden setting, Jazzy preschool's Dongzhimen branch is opening its doors on Saturday 18 to families with children 1 to 6 years old. The trilingual preschool uses an international curriculum accredited by the Chinese government and recognised by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Using English, Mandarin and French as a medium of instruction, Jazzy Preschool invites families to see what a day at the school is like, to meet the preschool's English, French and Chinese education professionals to ask your questions. Activities are also planned for the kids to enjoy.

Jazzy Preschool 杰思中英法三语幼儿园 C101, East Lake Villas, 35 Dongzhimenwai Dajie, Dongcheng district (6417 9960; [e-mail]) 东城区东直门外大街35号东湖别墅C座101

Stay updated on the latest Open House events around town by bookmarking Time Out Family's Open House listings page

   Fairs and markets   

i(COLOUR): colour run at Dulwich

Photo: Dulwich College, Beijing

Dulwich College, Beijing's South Pitch. Fri 17. 4-7pm. 100RMB.  

Run, walk or jog with friends and family, throw colour, listen to music and take part in special mini activities at Dulwich College Beijing (DCB)'s fun run on Friday 17. Tickets cost 100RMB and include a branded event tee (to get colour on), two packets of colour, and event entry. Food, drinks and more colour will be available onsite, and all proceeds go to support student STEM projects at DCB. There will be prizes for the three best photos of the day and two special lucky draws as well. More information here. 

Dulwich College Beijing (北京德威英国国际学校) 89 Shoudu Jichang Lu (Capital Airport Road), Shunyi district (6454 9000; [e-mail]) 顺义区首都机场路89号丽京花园7区

Africa Week 2019

Art Afrik 2018. Photo: EB Photography

Various locations and times. Fri 17-Sun 26. 

Kicking off this Friday with contemporary African art exhibition Art Afrik, Africa Week returns to Beijing after its wildly successful debut last year. Organised by Beijing-based social enterprise Kente & Silk, this year's festival features another fantastic programme of events celebrating and promoting African culture and achievements in China. Watch out for more details, starting off with their kid-friendly Art Afrik Watoto event this Saturday 18 via their WeChat account here. 

The Beijing Flea Market

Tech Temple (Sanlitun). From noon. Sat 18. Free.

The Beijing Flea Market returns just in time to close out spring. This is the city's one-stop shop for all things made in Beijing, with more than 40 vendors featuring some of the best local, independent design and crafts from both established and emerging makers. Shoppers will also find baked goods, dairy-free froyo, wine and more.

Tech Temple (Sanlitun) 3F, Room 80, Courtyard 4, Gongti Bei Lu, Chaoyang district (5822 3328) 朝阳区工体北路4号机电院 80室3层科技寺滚石店

Rumble in the Jumble: Buddha's birthday bazaar

Photo: Artem Bali/Unsplash.com

Modernista. Sun 19 noon-6pm. Free. 

Rumble in the Jumble returns this weekend, celebrating Buddha's birthday at this month's hutong market. Find a variety of knick-knacks and little delights, from craft foods, handcrafted jewellery and second-hand items to works of fine art from this month's line-up of vendors. More information here. 

Modernista. 44 Baochao Hutong, Gulou Dong Dajie, Dongcheng district (136 9142 5744; [e-mail]) 东城区鼓楼东大街宝钞胡同44号

   Talks and workshops   

British Club of Beijing's Morning Cuppa

Photo: British Club of Beijing

The Westin Beijing, Chaoyang. Tue 14. 10am-noon. 150RMB. 

At this month's British Club of Beijing's cuppa meeting, let loose with other expats around town by meeting new people and joining a Fascial stretching workshop by Eris Fitness. Learn its benefits, including how it can energize you and help relieve stiffness and joint pain, all while enjoying your cuppa. 

The Westin Beijing Chaoyang, 7 Dongsanhuan Bei Lu, Chaoyang district (186 1035 7991; AJDonnelly) 朝阳区东三环北路7号

Joy El Speaker series: Read with kids

Photo: Joy El International Academy

Joy El Academy. Wed 15. 9-11am. Free.  

In The Read-Aloud Handbook by Jim Trelease, he said: 'You may have unlimited wealth, jewellery or gold, but you will never be richer than me. Because I have a mother to read with me'. This Wednesday 15, Joy El International Academy invites reading expert Mr Shi Hui to help parents understand the three basic questions of reading: Why read, what should we read and how do we choose what to read? The speaker aims to guide parents on how to choose the best reading materials for their children and how to specifically assist their children's reading.

Joy El International Academy. 8 Laiguangying Dong Lu, Chaoyang district (8881 1966; [e-mail]) 朝阳区来广营东路8号

Children's House Montessori's Art Exhibition 

Photo: Children's House Montessori, Oceanwide Campus

The Children's House International Montessori Kindergarten 巧智博仁国际幼儿园 (Oceanwide branch) Sat 18 9.30-11am. Free. 

This weekend, the Children's House Montessori Oceanwide campus will be showcasing its students' artworks in their very first art exhibit. See how the students have expressed, interpreted, matured and developed as individuals and artists through diligence and the power of unbridled imagination. During the exhibit, guests get to participate in an interactive artwork inspired by Japanese artist Kusama Yayoi to create a collaborative piece of art that will be auctioned for charity.

The Children's House International Montessori Kindergarten 巧智博仁国际幼儿园 (Oceanwide branch) 1 Taojiayuan Bei Lu, Haofeng Tiyu Gongyuannei Chaoyang district ([e-mail]; 8556 4611) 朝阳区姚家园北路豪丰体育公园内

Sugar art workshop 

Photo: Cultural Keys

Culture Yard. Sun 19. 2-5pm. 188RMB for adults; 158RMB for children under 16.

Chinese sugar art – sugar blowing and sugar painting – has been a staple folk art at markets and fairs for hundreds of years. Both can technically be eaten but are usually just bought for fun. Try it for yourself when you come down to join Cultural Keys at Culture Yard this weekend and learn how to use sugar to create beautiful pieces of edible art. The workshop is suitable for the whole family.

Culture Yard (天井越洋) 10 Shique Hutong, Dongcheng district (186 1155 8781; [e-mail]) 东城区石雀胡同10号

   Stage   

The Animals and Children Took to the Streets

Photo: 247tickets

Nine Theatre. Fri 17-Sun 19. 7.30pm. 120-380RMB. 

Multi-award winning company 1927 is bringing its smash-hit performance to Beijing this weekend. First performed in 2010 at the Sydney Opera House, 1927’s gorgeously cinematic and cynical The Animals and Children Took to the Streets is a riotous musical adventure through Bayou Mansions, a tenement tower block in an otherwise pristine modern city. Watching a 1927 production is a bit like being plunged into a live-action graphic novel drawn by a Soviet constructivist. Coloured in black, red, white and yellow, and almost completely lacking 3D props, ‘The Animals...’ nevertheless gives the impression of a deliciously cluttered and chaotic world, thanks to Paul Barritt’s stunning projected animations. A cast of only three (Genevieve Dunne, Rowena Lennon and Felicity Sparks) hop in and out of costumes and characters, exhibiting a hysterical array of accents. Best for kids six and up.

See the rest of the review on our website or scan to book:

Film songs in concert

Rulun Lecture Hall of Renmin University. 7.30pm. Sat 18. 180-580RMB. 

Star Sky Chamber Orchestra, led by conductor Zhengyu Zhu, performs a special night of Hollywood's best film scores. Catch some of your favourite theme tunes, from Game of Thrones and Star Wars to Transformers and Jurassic Park, all in one epic night.

Scan to book

   Films   

Heidi

Photo: Claussen Wöbke Putz Filmproduktion

In cinemas from Wed 15. Swiss-German with Chinese subtitles.

The award-winning Swiss film is based on the classic novel of the same name about a young orphan girl who is sent away by her aunt to her reclusive, goat-herding grandfather. The heartwarming film is the recipient of a number of awards, including a Best German Film Award for Outstanding Children or Youth Film and a Best Children's Film for the Bavarian Film Awards. 

A Dog's Journey

Photo: Dreamworks

In cinemas from Wed 17.

Beloved dog Bailey from A Dog's Purpose returns in this sequel that gives new meaning to the saying that love never dies. Voiced again by Josh Gad, the loyal dog lives on the Michigan farm of his 'boy' Ethan, his wife Hannah and their granddaughter CJ. But CJ's mom decides to leave with her and as Bailey's soul prepares to depart for the next one, he makes a promise to Ethan to protect CJ no matter what. Thus begins this faithful dog's journey through multiple lives and heartwarming experiences in order to keep his promise.

Pokémon Detective Pikachu

Photo: IMDb.com

In cinemas from Fri 10. Rated PG.

When ace detective Harry Goodman mysteriously goes missing, his 21-year-old son decides to go find out what happened. Aiding him is his father's former Pokémon partner, Pikachu, who is somehow able to communicate with him and only him. The two join forces on an adventure through the neon-lit streets of Ryme City, where both humans and Pokémon peacefully co-exist. But the duo soon uncovers a plot that plans to destroy this peaceful co-existence between the two species and threaten the Pokémon universe.

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