14 things to do with kids in Philly this week

It’s a mixed bag for kids this week. Please Touch has an exhibit that aims to make medical visits a little more pleasant. Eastern State empowers children to seek justice. Penn’s Landing involves families in Latino culture. Camden fetes a hippo’s birthday. And South Jersey has all the blueberries you can pick.

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(Outdoors) Just as fun as eating blueberries is going out to gather them. This is the time to do it, and, unless you grew a bush and protected it from birds in your backyard, NJ is the place. Expect to pay $2.50-$3 a pint, while they last. All ages. (DiMeo’s Farm, by appointment, organic blueberries, 3101 Nesco Rd., Hammonton, dimeofarms.com; Haines Berry Farm, daily, 7 a.m.-5 p.m., 98 Sheep Pen Hill Rd., Pemberton, hainesberryfarm.com; Mood’s Farm Market, Mon.-Sat., 8 a.m.-7 p.m., 901 Bridgeton Pk., Mullica Hill, moodsfarmmarket.com)

(Science) Disney Jr. brings toy versions of its cartoon ER, OR, nursery, and vet office to inspire kids to build a little play-based agency when it comes to medical venues and procedures. Heck. Maybe the exhibit will also build a career path toward medicine. Ages 2-8. ($22, $2 ACCESS cardholder, through Sept. 18, 4231 Avenue of the Republic, pleasetouchmuseum.org)

(Science) Hippos love watermelon, and this riverfront museum is adding melon carving, a pageant-winner, and watermelon desserts to its offerings in honor of a Nile hippopotamus’ b-day. All ages. ($27-$45 adult, $25-$43 senior, $19-$35, ages 2-12, July 9-10, 1 Riverside Dr., Camden, NJ, adventureaquarium.com)

(Culture) Concilio puts on an annual, two-day, rain-or-shine celebration of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Dominican and more Latin American cultures. Go for the local artists, vendors, and foods; stay for salsa from Charlie Aponte and merengue from Oro Solído. All ages, (Free, July 9-10, 2-8 p.m., 101 S. Columbus Blvd., elconcilio.net)

(Social justice) Life may not be fair, but everyone can work to make it fairer. That’s the point of a 45-minute lesson for slightly older children at a historic site that fights for modern justice. Ages 8-13. ($17 adult, $15 senior, $13 student and ages 7-12, $2 ACCESS cardholder, free under age 7, July 10, 11:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m., 2027 Fairmount Ave., easternstate.org)

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(Circus / multiday) Joined by eight circus performers from Troup Bingo of Kyiv, Ukraine (mostly women, since their male counterparts had to stay behind to fight the war), this proudly Mexican group of clowns, jugglers, aerialists, acrobats, and dancers sets up their pink big top outside our region’s biggest mall. Ages 3+. ($40-$60 adult, $35-$55 senior, $25 child, through July 11, 160 N. Gulph Rd., King of Prussia, circusvazquez.com)

(Seasonal / in-person / multiday / outdoors) With a roof of inflated beach balls, the warm weather version of City Hall’s ice rink is back, inaugurated by the local rollers of Great on Skates. The outdoor roller skating rink promises activations through the spring and summer — and an adjacent beer garden. Reservations recommended. Ages 3+. ($10 adult, $8 child, $5 skate rental, opening: 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and 6-8 p.m., through July 17, 1 S. 15th St., centercityphila.org)

(Science / in-person / multiday) The Academy continues a year focused on water with an exhibit co-created by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Things that live and happen on the ocean floor — five-foot-long tubeworms, thermal vents, giant clams, iconic shipwrecks — could inspire kids to become the next Cousteau (and likely inspire grown-ups to rewatch “The Life Aquatic” with Steve Zissou). Ages 5+. ($22 ages 13 and up, $19 senior, student, military, $18 ages 2-12, $2 ACCESS cardholder, free under age 2, through July 24, 1900 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy., ansp.org)

(Seasonal / outdoors / multiday) Chinatown could use an extra dose of post-pandemic joy (and business), and the few dozen brightly colored silk lantern sculptures that light up the night aim to do just that. Best time to visit: Dusk. All ages. ($20-$23 adult, $18-$21 senior, active military, and ages 13-17, $12, ages 3-12, free under age 3, through Aug. 7, 6-11 p.m., 200 N. Sixth St., historicphiladelphia.org)

(Museum / free) The art museum has eased into an expanded summer menu of children’s programming, including family art-making every Friday night in July and August, extra studio time in the South Vaulted Walkway and in the outdoor sculpture garden, pop-up studios with local artists, and pay-what-you-wish admission for grown-ups on July 3. Guests up to age 18 are always admitted free. Ages 2-12. (Free, through Aug. 28, 2600 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy., philamuseum.org)

(Seasonal / in-person / free) Those of us tired of waiting for a beach day can swing by these outdoor shops to watch four pro sand-sculpting teams build whimsical, gritty art. In a few weeks, the castles and such will be complete to wander among, and, sandboxes will be open to play in. Ages 2+. (Free, through Aug. 31, 400 State Rd., New Hope, peddlersvillage.com)

(Museum / in-person / multiday) The museum version of J.K. Rowling’s juggernaut lets visitors choose their Hogwarts houses, explore Gringotts, Hogwarts, and the Forbidden Forest — but not record video. Timed tickets are good for museum admission up to two hours early. Ages 5 and up. ($43 ages 12-64, $41 senior and military, $39 ages 3-11; free ages 2 & under, evening tickets: $30, through Sept. 18, 222 N. 20th St., harrypotterexhibition.com)

(Seasonal / in-person / multiday / free / outdoors) The carnival atmosphere returns to the riverfront, with a Ferris wheel, outdoor roller rink, barge-turned bar, games for prizes, games just to play, and crab fries. Strolling is free. Most activities are not. All ages. (Free with pay-as-you-go activities, May 6-Sept. 25, 101-301 S. Columbus Blvd., delawareriverwaterfront.com)

(Seasonal / in-person) You have to weigh at least 35 pounds to board a row, or swan- or dragon-shaped paddle boat docked on a manmade basin on the Delaware. (Keep in mind: A rowboat goes faster.) Lifejackets are required — as is an adult, for boaters not yet 18-years-old. ($12 per half hour, $4 per ACCESS cardholder, through Oct. 22, 211 S. Columbus Blvd., phillyseaport.org)

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