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The Backyardigans Live!: Tale of the Mighty Knights Any parent of a preschooler knows how addictive these roly-poly CGI animals on Nick Jr. can be. And in the pantheon of small kids' music, this stuff isn't bad. Now, watch live-action Backyardigans re-create their movie "Tale of the Mighty Knights," a Renaissance-ish tale of a runaway egg that becomes (spoiler alert) a baby dragon. May 31, 5 p.m.; June 1, 11 a.m., the Colonial Theatre, 106 Boylston St. 617-880-2460, broadwayacrossamerica.com
Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival of Boston North America's longest-running dragon boat festival commemorates a 2,000-year-old tradition, honoring the life of ancient Chinese poet Qu Yuan. Here it includes colorful activities on either side of the Charles. The Boston side hosts a dance and a parade, beginning at noon. In a tent on the Cambridge side, watch performances of Chinese, Japanese, and Korean music and dance. And watch the dragon boat races on the river all day, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 8. For information go to bostondragon boat.org or e-mail dragonboat @BostonChildrensMuseum.org.
New England Sand Sculpting Festival Artists from around the world descend on Revere Beach to show off their impressive - and impressively tall - sand sculptures in this weeklong annual festival. And you're guaranteed to see more than just castles. The sculptures are bolstered by plywood forms, weigh 12 tons apiece, and are made using extra-silty sand shipped in from Hudson, N.H. It's hard to re-create, but certain to fuel some beachside inspiration. July 14-20, Revere Beach. 866-920-SAND, reverebeachpartnership.com/nessf07
Walking With Dinosaurs: The Live Experience It's going to be big: Life-size dinosaurs, controlled by master puppeteers, will roam the TD Banknorth Garden floor and even react to the audience. It's not violent, but it's loud: sounds simulate earthquakes, comets, volcanoes, and of course, those classic dinosaur roars. July 16-20, TD Banknorth Garden, tdbanknorthgarden.com
Kiddies' Carnival Started in 1973 by Trinidadians living in Boston, the annual Caribbean-style carnival, hosted by the Caribbean American Association of Boston, takes up a week of festivities in late August and features costumes, bands, and a parade through the streets of Roxbury. Kicking it off is the Kiddies' Carnival in Franklin Park's White Stadium, where costumes and sequins rule the day and young Bostonians celebrate their native traditions. Aug. 17, White Stadium, Franklin Park. 617-282-2811, franklinparkcoalition.org
JOANNA WEISS 