Pirates and Pachyderms: Plan your week ahead with WNC Parent – July 14

At the halfway point in the month, there is still much to do in WNC! Take a look at WNC Parent’s full July calendar of events at wncparent.com. And plan a full year of birthdays by bookmarking our annual birthday guide, which includes listings for venues, entertainment, food and more.

Does your organization or business offer family-friendly events? Let us know! Stay in touch on social media @wncparent and get your events on our calendar by emailing [email protected].

We “ARRGH" Hands On! Explorers – A Pirate's Life For Me is 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. July 14 at Hands On! Children’s Museum. Create pirate-themed crafts, play pirate-themed games, navigate to a hidden treasure and learn the ways of pirate life. Visit handsonwnc.org.

“Aanika’s Elephants” is performed at 1 p.m. July 14 and at 1 and 6 p.m. July 15 at Tryon Fine Arts Center. The play is in development and making tour stops in Tryon, Atlanta and Maryland on its way to New York City for performances at the New Victory Theater, an off-Broadway children's theater next spring. The show features puppeteers who perform on “Sesame Street” and/or with Jim Henson puppeteers. The play was written by Annie Evans, who has won more than a dozen Emmy Awards for “Sesame Street,” and produced by Pam Arciero, a puppeteer with “Sesame Street” and the Muppets for more than 35 years. For tickets and details, visit tryonarts.org.

Asheville Museum of Science: CIRCUIT WORKSHOP is at 1:30 p.m. July 14 at the Leicester Library. Best for ages 7 and older. Call 828-250-6480 or email [email protected].

Summer Animal Encounters are at 2 p.m. weekdays in July at Chimney Rock State Park. Included with park admission. Join a Park naturalist and meet live animal ambassadors. Learn about the types of wildlife in the area and their jobs. chimneyrockpark.com/event/summer-animal-encounters-3.

Watch a movie in the park at 8 p.m. July 14 at Pack Square Park. This event is free. For details, visit avlrec.com.

A public viewing event is at 9:30 p.m. July 14 and 15 at PARI – Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute. Tickets are required. For details, visit pari.edu.

Summer Twilight in the Treetops night climbs are Saturday nights through Sept. 2 at Adventure Center of Asheville. Five of the park’s aerial trails are illuminated. (The Black Trail is not available for night climbs.) Ages 4 and older. Reservations are suggested. Call 877-247-5539 or visit ashevilletreetopsadventurepark.com/asheville-treetops-adventure-park.

Whimsical Woods Family Adventure is 6:30 – 9:30 p.m. July 15 at Chimney Rock State Park. Registration is required. Experience the park after the gates have closed as Street Creature Puppets leads a workshop on building lanterns from recycled materials. Enjoy a catered cookout from the Old Rock Cafe, then use the lantern you created to join in a puppet parade. The cost (includes park admission and dinner) is $35 each for adults, $25 each for adult annual passholders, $20 each for youth, $14 each for youth annual passholder. For details, visit chimneyrockpark.com/event/whimsical-woods-family-adventure.

Shindig On the Green is at 7 p.m. July 15 in Pack Square Park. The event includes music, dancing, storytelling and more. Visit folkheritage.org/asheville-events/shindig-on-the-green-2023.

Ready, Set, Game is 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. July 17 – 21 at Hands On! Children’s Museum. Play indoor games: parachute, Hula Hoops, freeze dance and more. Inside the Star Theatre enjoy puzzles, crafts and crosswords throughout the day. Visit handsonwnc.org.

Porkchop Productions presents “Imperfect Strangers: The Ant and the Grasshopper” – Fletcher Library at 11 a.m. and Etowah Library at 2 p.m. July 17. This reimagined adaptation of a classic tale encourages teamwork. Free, sponsored by the Friends of the Library. Visit hendersoncountync.gov/library.

Summer movies – “The Bad Guys” and “Playing with Fire” are shown July 18 and 19 at select Regal theaters. See details at regmovies.com/static/en/us/smx.

Nature Center Night: Folklore & Explore is 9 – 10 p.m. July 18 and 19 at Highlands Nature Center. Curious about folk tales, superstitions and Sasquatch? Explore the natural, night-time beauty of the Botanical Garden while unearthing fascinating tales of Appalachian lore. Bring a flashlight for this adventure. This program is weather-dependent. Registration is required.Visit highlandsbiological.org.

Looking ahead:

Register now for Asheville Parks and Recreation youth sports – Register for fall baseball (practices begin Aug. 7) and fall T-ball (practices begin Aug. 21). Visit avlrec.com.

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Pirates and Pachyderms: Plan your week ahead with WNC Parent – July 14