Weekend Planner: What's New at Children's Museums

Kid Olympics in Philadelphia

The lighting of the torch on the morning of Fri., Sept. 16 during an opening ceremony launches the 2011 ABC Games, back at the Please Touch Museum in Fairmount Park, Phila. through Oct. 10. The exhibit encourages kids to get fit while promoting positive sportsmanship. Kids can climb a rock wall, navigate obstacle courses and enjoy other athletic activities.

Speedway Days in Wilmington

The race is on at The Delaware Children's Museum in Wilmington, DE! Starting Sat., Sept. 17, kids can ride Roller Racers in the galleries at designated times during Speedway Days, through Oct. 2. Kids will explore basic physics principles while they ride, as the Racers propel forward using a combination of friction and force. Other physics concepts, like aerodynamics and simple machines, are explored in special age-appropriate programs all month. Even preschoolers can start studying this advanced science, by playing with ramps in the Training Wheels Gallery.

Dinosaurium in Cherry Hill

A new permanent Dinosaurium opens Sat., Sept. 17 at the Garden State Discovery Museum in Cherry Hill, NJ. Prehistoric adventures in the 2,000-sq.-ft. exhibit include a three-story Climb-a-saurus, a dig site, a fossil lab and even a Roaring Room where kids can let out their best dinosaur roar.

All events are free with museum admission: Delaware Children's Museum, $12; Please Touch Museum, $15; Discovery Museum, $10.95.

For more weekend events, search hundreds of activities on our calendar. Receive weekend event highlights directly in your inbox each week! Sign up for MetroKids' e-newsletter today.

Stephanie Halinski is calendar editor of MetroKids.