Located on the site of a former dairy barn, the Franklin Park Arts Center in Purcellville, VA, is Western Loudoun County’s premier venue for the performing and visual arts!
The center features a 260-seat theater with stadium-style seating and state-of-the-art audio. Below are a few select opportunities perfect for kids and families:
Jun 3, 2026
Jack & the Beanstalk, Presented by Beech Tree Puppets
Fee-Fi-Fo-Fum! Join young Jack as he climbs an enormous beanstalk to a castle in the sky. Discover a hen that lays golden eggs, a gilded harp that sings on its own, and a giant with a hearty appetite. Don’t miss this classic English folktale, brought to life with beautifully hand-crafted puppets and sets, along with heart-warming music.
Jun 21, 2026
Play All Day VA
Families are invited to get creative during this hands-on art experience. After exploring the gallery exhibit, visitors can create their own bright and colorful masterpiece using provided materials, making it a fun and inspiring activity for artists of all ages.
Jun 21, 2026
Movie Sing-Along: The Little Mermaid
Get ready to sing along under the sea at this special screening of Disney’s live-action The Little Mermaid! Families are encouraged to dress as their favorite characters and join Ariel on her adventure beyond the ocean as she dreams of life in the human world and makes a daring deal with the sea witch Ursula, with loyal friends Flounder and Sebastian by her side.
Jun 30, 2026
Summer Showstopper Laser Light Show
Get ready for a dazzling family experience as vibrant laser lights, music, and animation come together in this exciting show celebrating the American spirit of innovation, exploration, discovery, and determination. Featuring colorful laser effects synchronized to patriotic favorites and popular sing-along tunes, this high-energy presentation brings history to life.
Jul 8, 2026
Out of Orbit, Presented by Beale Street Puppets
Beale Street Puppets invites young audiences on an out-of-this-world adventure featuring musical marionettes, friendly aliens, astronauts, spaceships, and planets. Filled with imagination and larger-than-life characters, this family-friendly puppet show ends with a fun astronomical rock-and-robot finale.
Jul 15, 2026
Movie Sing-Along: Frozen
Cool off with a sing-along screening of Frozen! Families are encouraged to dress as their favorite characters and join Anna, Kristoff, Sven, and Elsa on a magical adventure to save Arendelle. With beloved songs and plenty of audience participation, it’s a fun experience for young Frozen fans.
Jul 28, 2026
Summer Showstoppers: The Enchanted Mermaid
Step into a magical world of adventure and puppetry in The Enchanted Mermaid. When a young hero discovers a hidden castle and a maiden transformed into a mermaid, he must outsmart the wicked Lord Fish to break the spell. This enchanting production features beautifully crafted Bunraku-style puppets and detailed miniature sets.
Aug 2, 2026
Planetarium Program: The Story of Tanabata
Discover the story behind Tanabata, Japan’s Star Festival, during this unique planetarium experience. Based on the legend of two stars reunited across the Milky Way, this interactive program invites guests inside an inflatable dome for an immersive journey through the night sky.
Aug 5, 2026
Musical Barnyard, Presented by Big Barn Puppets
Young audiences are invited to visit a musical farm in this charming puppet show from Kidsinger Jim. Featuring friendly animal puppets and a realistic barnyard setting, this engaging production introduces little ones to the magic of live theater through music, storytelling, and farmyard fun.
May 6, 2026
Bananas!, Presented by Blue Sky Puppets
Little Red’s banana puppet helps teach him the difference between healthy and unhealthy food with plenty of hilarity along the way and lots of audience sing-alongs. This monthly puppet show offers family-friendly entertainment and serves as a great introduction to live theater for younger children.
Apr 19, 2026
Planetarium: Sky Stories
Inside an inflatable planetarium, families explore the night sky through ancient legends and constellations. This interactive program brings starry myths to life, connecting bright points of light with the stories and characters behind them.
Apr 1, 2026
The Fairy Circus, Presented by Tanglewood Marionettes
More than twenty beautifully hand-crafted marionettes leap, twirl, juggle, and soar in this enchanting circus-inspired performance. Set to beloved classical music, this visually dazzling show is especially well-suited for younger children and families.
Mar 29, 2026
Planetarium Program: Gassy Giants
Families journey through the outer solar system inside an inflatable planetarium, exploring Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. This immersive program highlights fascinating facts, mysterious moons, and the icy worlds of our gas giant neighbors.
Mar 4, 2026
The Hungry, Hungry Bookworm, Presented by River City Puppets
A mischievous Bookworm is on the loose, gobbling up stories straight from the shelves. Giant puppets, music, and playful storytelling come together in this lively adventure that introduces young audiences to the magic of live theater.
Feb 28, 2026
Lunar New Year Celebration
This cultural celebration invites families to enjoy drumming, musical performances, and traditions honoring the Year of the Horse. After the show, guests can create a themed craft, enjoy warm tea, and explore the featured art exhibit, “Freedom.”
Feb 4, 2026
The Hollow Stump, Presented by Beech Tree Puppets
Seven unique woodland animals search for warmth in a cozy hollow stump, discovering friendship and community along the way. With hand-crafted puppets, gentle poetry, and interwoven songs, this sweet retelling of The Mitten offers a heartwarming winter story for children.
Jan 18, 2026
Planetarium: Rocky Worlds
Step inside an inflatable dome planetarium for a live, interactive journey through space, where you’ll tour the four rocky planets of the solar system. From fiery Venus to stormy Mars, learn about the volcanoes, canyons, and polar ice caps on these four small but mighty planets.
Jan 7, 2026
Little Red & the Gingerbread Man, Presented by Barefoot Puppets
Little Red chases a playful Gingerbread cookie through snowy woods in this charming mash-up of two classic tales. With original music, whimsical wintry scenery, and a lighthearted appearance by the Big Bad Wolf, this performance delights the youngest theatergoers.
Dec 30, 2025
Laser Light Show: Winter Holiday Adventure
Families are invited to embark on a dazzling, 40-minute musical journey where lasers, vibrant animations, and beloved holiday tunes come together to create a bright celebration. Guests will meet Squeaky the laser penguin and kick off New Year’s festivities in a high-energy, sing-along experience.
Dec 22, 2025
I Want a Hippopotamus For Christmas
The Barter Players return with a new holiday musical filled with heart and hope. At the Ypsilanti Zoo, everyone awaits the arrival of Bella, the first baby hippo, and young Lois Jean believes her birth will bring the family together for Christmas. But when the unexpected happens, only one person can save Bella — and the holiday.
Dec 10, 2025
Pigs at the Pole, Presented by Blue Sky Puppets
Santa’s workshop is in a bind, and only three not-so-little pigs can help save the day. This lively puppet show takes young audiences on a holiday adventure filled with remote-controlled surprises, playful comedy, and a gentle reminder about teamwork and cooperation — all brought to life by Blue Sky Puppets.
Nov 5, 2025
Sleeping Beauty, Presented by Tanglewood Marionettes
This beloved tale begins in King Felix’s great hall, where a wicked witch curses newborn Princess Aurora. The story unfolds as a painted storybook, with each scene brought to life by hand-crafted marionettes and a master puppeteer.
Oct 8, 2025
Halloween Hijinx, Presented by Beale Street Puppets
Join a spooktacular lineup featuring Ghostly Girls, Vinnie Vampire and his All Bats Trio, Napoleon Bone-A-Part, and the Tap Dancing Pumpkin Man. Filled with treats, not tricks, this playful show offers nothing scary — just silly fun.
Sept 14, 2025
Planetarium Program: Sky Stories
Step inside an inflatable dome planetarium for an interactive journey through space, where you’ll explore the constellations visible at this time of year, learn how to identify them, and discover other celestial objects and phenomena. Space is limited to 25 participants, and while the program is “pay-what-you-can,” each attendee must have a ticket.
Sept 10, 2025
Can’t Catch Me!, Presented by Barefoot Puppets
In this lively retelling of “The Gingerbread Boy,” even the potholders come to life in a heartwarming tale of caretaking, sharing, and cookies, brought to life with rod-and-object puppets. Audience members can join the fun by making animal sounds and naming the cookies.
Aug 13, 2025
Discover Your Planetarium
Step inside an inflatable dome planetarium for an interactive journey through space, where you’ll explore the constellations visible at this time of year, learn how to identify them, and discover other celestial objects and phenomena. Space is limited to 25 participants, and while the program is “pay-what-you-can,” each attendee must have a ticket.
Disclaimer: Event details are curated from public sources and subject to change. Verify all information via the provided links before attending.
#Laser
