Your Guide to April School Vacation Week 2017 in Boston

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The weather has finally warmed up, the Sox are playing, Marathon Monday has arrived: It must be April Vacation Week. Don’t miss these fun events for the whole family around the city.

Fun for all at Blue Man Group

Blue Man Group has added additional weekday matinees for maximum vacation enjoyment. Before select shows, kids can have their faces painted with day glow paint. There will also be opportunities to take pictures with members of Blue Man Group after shows. Guests are also welcome to relax in the “Lounge-U-Lum,” an interactive music and light lounge, which parents may enjoy: It has a bar.

All activities free for ticketholders, $39+, April 15-23, Charles Playhouse, 74 Warrenton St., Boston, blueman.com.

Celebration of Children’s Literacy at Boston Children’s Museum

Discover all the ways to tell a story at the Boston Children’s Museum. In addition to its regular exhibits, the museum will be holding special events, such as movement storytimes with Urbanity Dance Company, word play puppet shows, musical story times with the New England Conservatory featuring Rainbow Fish and Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, and a special Earth Day visiting author.

Admission $16, children under 12 months free, April 17-23, Boston Children’s Museum, 308 Congress St., Boston, BostonChildrensMuseum.org.

Create your own artwork at the ICA

In addition to exploring the art in the ICA’s galleries, visitors are welcome to make their own art in the Bank of America Art Lab. Activities include making your own flying fish creatures, trying mirror symmetry drawing techniques, creating your own sketchbook, and enjoying picture-book readings.

Admission $15, free for children under 17, April 18-20, The Institute of Contemporary Art Boston, 25 Harbor Shore Dr., Boston, icaboston.org.

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Lego Nexo Knights at LEGOLAND Discovery Center Boston

LEGOLAND is calling all lords and ladies to help capture the Lego Nexo Knights that are invading Miniland during April Vacation Week. Guests will complete a scavenger hunt, build a shield mosaic, watch the Lego Nexo Knights movie, and receive the greatest honor in the land: getting knighted by the Queen of LEGOLAND Discovery Center Boston.

$15+, children under 3 free, April 15-23, LEGOLAND Discover Center Boston, 598 Assembly Row, Somerville, boston.legolanddiscoverycenter.com.

Eat and create at the Boston Public Market

Learn, create, and eat at the Boston Public Market during April Vacation Week. Kids are welcome to get hands-on by participating in activities including identifying local fish species with Red’s Best, making (and eating) “dirt” pudding with Taza Chocolate, and learning all about eggs and then making an omelet.

$9-15, April 17-22, Boston Public Market, 100 Hanover St., Boston, bostonpublicmarket.org.

Sounds of Spring at Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum

As part of its exhibit “Listen Hear: The Art of Sound” the Gardner Museum is welcoming children to explore the “Sounds of Spring.” The experience will include both art-making and gallery activities around the museum, as well as music in Calderwood Hall and the Courtyard. Additional activities include sculpture making, listening projects, and a gardening project.

$15, free for children under 18, Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, 25 Evans Way, Boston, gardnermuseum.org. 

Collaborate and Create at the MFA

Head to the MFA to make art with others families with activities focused on teamwork and the inspiration that working together produces. Also, be sure to check out the other drop-in activities such as art walks, dance and music performances, and story hours.

$25, free for kids all week, April 18-21, Museum of Fine Arts, 465 Huntington Ave., Boston, mfa.org.

Wild vacation at Franklin Park Zoo

Head outside and embrace your wild side this vacation. Explore the Aussie Aviary, which is filled with hundreds of brightly colored budgies, chat with zookeepers, and take part in scavenger hunts. You can also celebrate Earth Day at the zoo with the Party for the Planet celebration to raise awareness for the planet , where kids will learn how they can contribute to a healthy planet.

$20, children 2-12 $14, children under 2 free, April 17-21, Franklin Park Zoo, 1 Franklin Park Road, Boston, zoonewengland.org.

Cambridge Science Festival

The Cambridge Science Festival is a celebration of science, technology, engineering, arts, and math not only in Cambridge, but throughout New England. This 10-day exploration of science is fun, interactive, and engaging, with events and activities for all.

Many free events, prices vary, April 14-23, various locations throughout Cambridge, cambridgesciencefestival.org.

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest at Boston Children’s Theatre 

Anyone with slightly older kids might be interested in taking them to see this adaptation of Ken Kesey’s classic novel. The story was also turned into an Academy Award-winning film starring Jack Nicholson, and explores themes of madness, power, confinement, and freedom. The play keeps with the theater’s goal of producing thought-provoking art, and may not be suitable for younger children due to strong language and adult themes. Children age 14 and under will be not admitted without a guardian’s permission.

$10+, April 15-29, The Plaza Theatre, Boston Center for the Arts, 539 Tremont St., Boston, bostonchildrenstheatre.org.

Chefs in the Making at the Boston Harbor Hotel

Any aspiring chefs in the family? Head over to the Boston Harbor Hotel, which is offering two days of cooking classes. Kids will learn how to use a variety of New England-themed ingredients, all with the goal of creating a picnic. Classes will be taught by the hotel’s sous chef, Garrett Welch, and pastry chef, Shawn Dresser.

$60, Tuesday, April 18, Friday, April 21, 3-4:30 p.m., Boston Harbor Hotel 70 Rowes Wharf, Boston, eventbrite.com.