Best Exhibits & Events For Kids In DFW

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Exploring the city with a child can be an enlightening experience for the child as well as the adult that accompanies them. Here are a few interesting places that feature exhibits and events that can be fun for children and adults.

Children can dress up as firefighters and climb aboard different equipment (this is a great photo opportunity). One of only three remaining horse-drawn pumpers in the U.S., "Old Tige" is on display at the Dallas Firefighters Museum. Named for Dallas Mayor W.L. Cabell in 1884, this 600-gallon-per-minute pumper served the downtown Dallas area. The "Dallas Pike" looks like a very long arrow, but it was a very important tool developed by Dallas firefighters to rip through ceilings of buildings in older cities. These and many other artifacts are on display along with interesting adventure games designed for kids to help them improve their knowledge about fire safety. Admission is $4 for adults and $2 for children.

The Rory Meyers Children's Adventure Garden isn't just a walk amongst the flowers; it is where nature comes alive. Education is the main focus of the Garden with a state-of-the-art garden exploration laboratory. With hands-on activities like seeing the DNA breakdown of milk or strawberries to learning how energy is produced through water and wind, there is so much to do and learn. Advance reservations to the Rory Meyers Children's Adventure Garden are strongly suggested and can be bundled with general garden admission. If you are looking for fun and education, this is one of the best places in Dallas to experience it.

On the first Tuesday of every month at The LEGO Store in NorthPark Center, your child can learn how to build a mini model to take home for free. Each month, a new model is featured and quantities are limited. The model kits cannot be purchased. This event is for children ages 6-14 only.

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Dates: Sept. 19 – Oct. 26; Sensory-friendly performance Sat. Oct. 11 at 4:30 p.m.

Exposing your child to theater arts can be a great way to inspire creativity. The Dallas Children's Theater has been part of the Dallas theater scene for over 30 years. This season includes a sensory-friendly performance of "Rapunzel! Rapunzel! A Very Hairy Fairy Tale" which is great for children with autism or other sensory challenges.

Remember how much fun painting was when you were a child? Pinot's Palette has recreated that fun by offering classes for adults (BYOB). But more than just a fun place for adults to paint and relax, Pinot's Palette offers parent-and-child painting classes where you get to pick out a design and an instructor guides you through making your very own masterpiece. This is extremely popular during the major holidays and is a great bonding event that extends to aunts, uncles and grandparents, too.

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