Play, play music, keep running International Children's Festival

PHILADELPHIA April 29-May 5

If your kids say they're bored at this international event, give them that look that says: "DON'T." Your challenge will be deciding which activities to go to. Here's a taste: Zoppe Family Circus from the United States, Los Folkloristas music ensemble from Mexico, Circus Incognitus from Ontario, Axis Theatre Company from British Columbia, bluesman Guy Davis from the United States, and Tamara and the Shadow Theatre of Java from Indonesia. Many events and activities are free. Tickets: $12 for the first show ($10 for ages 17 and under), $9 for each additional show ($7 for 17 and under) .

Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts and the Annenberg Plaza, 3680 Walnut St. 215-898-3900. pennpresents.org.

The focus of this year's festival will be traditional and contemporary music from the Alps. We're not sure how Dixieland music fits in, but the Steamboat Switzerland trio plays it, and the group has been described as somewhere between avant-garde and hardcore. The Stimmhorn duo plays the alp-horn (remember the cough drop commercial?) in a variety of styles and throws in some theatrics and vocals. Organist Hermann Nitsch has said that his music "has its roots in the scream, in noise." Sounds interesting, huh? Tickets are $7-$20.

Most events take place at Haus der Berliner Festspiele . maerzmusik.de.

If you're thinking that this concert is non stop music, you would be incorrect. There is a marathon and there is music, but the former involves putting one foot in front of the other. More than 25,000 runners (and an estimated 100,000 spectators) will be rewarded with a post race concert at 7 p.m. featuring platinum-selling recording artist (and "Dancing With the Stars" dropout) Sara Evans . The headliner remarked: "It's amazing that the runners will have the energy to do anything after a marathon, let alone attend a concert. I imagine I'll see a lot of sore folks trying to dance." Tickets are $25 (on sale March 19).

Gaylord Entertainment Center, 501 Broadway. 615-255-9600. ticketmaster.com.

Walt Disney was born in 1901 and spent his early years in Marceline, Mo., where he saw his first movie . ( What else would you do in Marceline?) This sparked young Walt's interest in drawing, painting, and comedy. In 1923, he and his brother Roy rented an office in Los Angeles and started the Disney Bros. Studio. They started working on a series of updated fairy tales, hired animators, and the rest is history. The exhibit focuses on animated films from 1937 to 1967 and includes original studio works, film clips, photos, drawings, and other rarely seen items. You can visit Tuesday-Sunday. Admission is $13; $6 students, seniors; free for children under 12; $26 for families.

The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, Jean-Noël Desmarais Pavilion, 1380 Sherbrooke St. West. 514-285-2000, 800-899-MUSE (6873). mmfa.qc.ca.

This festival should really be called the New Orleans Jazz, Blues, R & B, Gospel, Cajun, Zydeco, Rock, Country, Bluegrass, Rap, and Latin Heritage Festival because it's a celebration of the music and culture of New Orleans and Louisiana. The complete lineup covers all these musical bases and here's a very incomplete list: Harry Connick Jr. (closes the festival on May 6), Rod Stewart, Steely Dan, Norah Jones, ZZ Top, John Legend, Dr. John, Ludacris, Irma Thomas, Bonnie Raitt, and Terence Blanchard. Music, food, and artist markets are ready to go each day from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tickets are $35, $45 (after April 26 for the first week; after May 4 for the second week) , and $5 for ages 2-11.

Fair Grounds Race Course , 1751 Gentilly Blvd. 800-488-5252. nojazzfest.com.

Events sometimes are canceled, rescheduled, or sold out; call or check online to confirm.