Rock the Cradle®: April 9, 2017
March 07, 2017
Rock the Cradle returns Sunday, April 9!
Presented by The Current and Children's Minnesota, we're excited to offer another free event for kids and their grown-ups at the Minneapolis Institute of Art and Children's Theatre Company, featuring musical performances, hands-on activities, engaging experiences with station hosts and plenty of surprises along the way. Rock the Cradle has something for the whole family!
Plan your day with the guide below while you listen to our Rock the Cradle music stream for kids of all ages and their grown-ups with kid-friendly tunes alongside parenting tips from Dr. Chawla of Children's Minnesota, plus story time read by The Current DJs every night at 7 p.m. CT.
Details
Rock the Cradle 2017
Sunday, April 9
Minneapolis Institute of Art and Children's Theatre Company
2400 3rd Ave. S
Minneapolis, Minn. 55404
11 a.m. to 5 p.m. CT
Recommended for kids ages two to eight (and their grown-ups)
Free
Find additional details and a helpful FAQ below.
Register for Rock the Cradle
Let us know you'll be attending Rock the Cradle 2017 to receive a full, handy rundown of details and updates closer to the event.
Children's Theatre Company
KID'S DISCO
Children's Theatre Company – Cargill Stage, first floor
10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sponsored by Pizza Luce
Let loose in the Kids' Disco with live deejaying from The Current hosts and hip hop dance breaks with House of Dance Twin Cities! Join Twinkle, the Children's Minnesota mascot, on the dance floor or lounge in comfy chairs and play with fun toys. Plus, free Peace Coffee and KIND Snacks!
Schedule
10:30 to 11 a.m. – DJ Jade
11 to 11:30 a.m. – House of Dance
11:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. – DJ Jade
12 to 12:30 p.m. – House of Dance
12:30 to 1 p.m. – DJ Lindsay Kimball
1 to 1:30 p.m. – House of Dance
1:30 to 2:30 p.m. – DJ Andrea Swensson
2:30 to 3:30 p.m. – DJ Jake Rudh
3:30 to 5 p.m. – DJ Mark Wheat
HOUSE OF DANCE TWIN CITIES
Children's Theatre Company – Cargill Stage, first floor
11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
House of Dance Twin Cities is Minnesota's first and only studio dedicated entirely to teaching hip-hop dance and art! House of Dance is back for its third year in a row to showcase live hip hop dance performances and teach cool moves all day.
Note: Please leave strollers in the designated stroller area, to ensure the Kids' Disco dance floor is open for all to enjoy!
THE CURRENT MERCHANDISE AND MEMBERSHIP TABLE
Children's Theatre Company – Cargill rotunda, first floor
11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Stop by The Current® merchandise and membership table by the Kids' Disco to become a member and stock up on special Rock the Cradle® and The Current merch. All purchases support The Current and make events like Rock the Cradle possible. Power great radio!
CHILDREN'S MINNESOTA PRIZE WHEEL
Children's Theatre Company – Cargill rotunda, first floor
10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Give the giant wheel a spin and collect a fantastic prize from Children's Minnesota.
THEATRE ARTS TRAINING
Children's Theatre Company – Target Lobby stage
10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Join teaching artists from Children's Theatre Co. to activate your body, voice and mind. Become characters and act out stories on an adventure into your imagination.
POP UP CLASSICAL
Children's Theatre Company – Target Lobby stage
2 to 5 p.m.
Connecting classical artists with the communities they come from, Pop Up Classical stages live performances in unexpected places. We're excited to share local crossover duo the OK Factor with you. This duo combines their classical training with genre-bending techniques and musical ideas, creating all original music and catching the attention of Minnesota's music community.
MINNESOTA UNITED FC
Children's Theatre Company – Target Lobby
10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Kids will have a chance to meet PK, Minnesota United's loon mascot, and craft their very own MNUFC supporter scarf. #COYL
PARK DENTAL/THE DENTAL SPECIALISTS
Children's Theatre Company – Target Lobby
10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Decorate a Tooth Fairy box for lost teeth and learn best practices in dental hygiene.
Mia Courtyard
Weather permitting
ST. PAUL SAINTS
Minneapolis Institute of Art – Courtyard (backup: Target Lobby)
11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Check out the St. Paul Saints exhibit where children can participate and learn basic motor skills with some inflatable baseball activities. Remember: Fun is good!
Mia First Floor
CHILDREN'S MINNESOTA AMAZING KID ZONE
Minneapolis Institute of Art – Wells Fargo Community Room, first floor
11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Play, read and share your amazing creativity with Children's Minnesota. Join the spring-themed story times with a fun art projects and music activities.
SING, PLAY, LEARN WITH MacPHAIL CENTER FOR MUSIC
Minneapolis Institute of Art – Friends Community Room, first floor
11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Join MacPhail Center for Music's early childhood music specialists and explore the magic of music and play. Through hands-on musical play activities, experience music's impact on learning and reading-readiness skills. Together, we'll sing, play instruments, rhyme, read, move and create!
MIA'S FAMILY DAY
Minneapolis Institute of Art – Studios, first floor
11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Paint a picture-perfect portrait with artists and educators from Mia's free Family Day program. On the second Sunday of every month, the museum is filled with hands-on art activities, live music, dance performances, artist demonstrations, family tours and more – all inspired by Mia's incredible collection.
CHILDREN'S MINNESOTA FAMILY ROOM
Minneapolis Institute of Art – Family Area, first floor
11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Need a quiet space? Step into the Family Room for downtime. Please keep this space quiet for those who need a break.
POP-UP PERFORMANCES
Minneapolis Institute of Art – Main lobby and various locations
11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m
Enjoy surprise live performances throughout Rock the Cradle!
Schedule
11 a.m. – BATO BATO! Breck School's Marimba Band
12 p.m. – BATO BATO! Breck School's Marimba Band
1 p.m. – McNasty Brass Band, Various Locations
2 p.m. – McNasty Brass Band, Various Locations
3 p.m. – McNasty Brass Band, Various Locations
McNASTY BRASS BAND
Listen closely and dance along to this collection of Twin Cities-based horn players and percussionists who fuse the Minneapolis sound with New Orleans spirit.
BATO BATO! BRECK SCHOOL'S MARIMBA BAND
BATO BATO! consists of almost 30 high school students, nine marimbas and a plethora of percussion. Although their style is deeply rooted in Latin rhythms and the Shona music of Zimbabwe, they also love to play marimbafied renditions of their favorite pop, alternative, rock, rap and soul songs.
Mia Second Floor
DJ STORY TIME AND BRAINS ON!®
Minneapolis Institute of Art – Pillsbury Auditorium, second floor
11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The Current DJs will read favorite kids' books, complete with colorful pages projected overhead. Between stories, join the producers of Brains On!, a science podcast for kids and curious adults, to learn all about the science of sound. They'll put your ears to the test with a batch of mystery sounds!
Schedule
11:30 a.m. – Jill Riley
12:15 p.m. – Brains On!
12:45 p.m. – Jade
1:30 p.m. – Brains On!
2 p.m. – Brian Oake
2:45 p.m. – Brains On!
3:15 p.m. – Andrea Swensson
4 p.m. – Brains On!
Note: Strollers are not allowed in the Pillsbury Auditorium. Please leave them in the designated stroller area.
ART CARTS
Minneapolis Institute of Art – Galleries 259 and 377, second floor
12 to 4 p.m.
Explore and handle specially selected art objects from around the world.
Mia Third Floor
BEATS WITH BEAK
Minneapolis Institute of Art – Gallery 373: Dave Muller, Now Where Were We?, third floor
12 to 2 p.m.
Join Doomtree producer Lazerbeak to learn all about beats and how to make them. Plus, check out Now Where Were We? Mia's newly reinstalled contemporary gallery, as envisioned by artist Dave Muller.
LIVE MUSIC
Minneapolis Institute of Arts – Reception Hall, third floor
11:15 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Sponsored by UCare and Parent Aware
Come see favorite bands singing songs that kids and their grownups can enjoy together.
Schedule
11:15 a.m. to 12 p.m. – Ambassadors of Culture
12:15 to 1 p.m. – Holidae
1:15 to 2:15 p.m. – Dosh & Friends
2:30 to 3:15 p.m. – Ambassadors of Culture
3:30 to 4:15 p.m. – Holidae
UCare
Minneapolis Institute of Arts – Reception Hall, third floor
11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Team up with UCare and other Rock the Cradle attendees and get hands-on with a fun art project.
PARENT AWARE
Minneapolis Institute of Arts – Reception Hall, third floor
11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Get a free set of Parent Aware Crayons and take part in two coloring activities! In the first, children will get a blank canvas to color in their interpretation of a shining star. In the second, Rock the Cradle kids will get Parent Aware bookmarks to color in and take home for their favorite books.
Rock the Cradle Program (PDF version)
Thank You, Sponsors
PRESENTED BY
Rock the Cradle Radio – Radio for kids and their grownups
Presented by Children's Minnesota, Rock the Cradle Radio's 24-7 stream offers the best music for kids and their grownups to enjoy together. Rock it wherever you are, from the fort to the playground. Don't miss parenting tips from Gigi Chawla and story time, every night at 7 p.m. CT, for bedtime stories from The Current's hosts and special guests.
Tag us in all your adventures!
Tag us on Twitter @TheCurrent and use the hashtag #RockTheCradle.
The Current works closely with the Minneapolis Institute of Art and the Children's Theatre Company to ensure an enjoyable experience for all of our guests. To help us reach this goal, please note the following items when preparing for your visit.
Parking: Street and ramp parking are available around Children's Theatre Company and Minneapolis Institute of Art sites. Event parking is available in the ramp next door to CTC and nearby surface lots for a fee of $10/day. Additional free parking is available at the nearby Wells Fargo lot with shuttle service that will run 9:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Here is a map of the shuttle service pickup and drop-off sites and Mia parking locations.
Strollers and such: In order to make this event as pleasant as possible for all of our guests, we request leaving strollers behind unless necessary. Some activity areas will have designated stroller parking. Note that strollers cannot go into the Pillsbury Auditorium.
Refrain from carrying backpacks, large bags and umbrellas. There is a limited (and free) coat and bag check available at the museum; please plan accordingly. For safety reasons the museum reserves the right to inspect all items carried into or out of the museum. Small bags and purses are welcome.
Keep a safe distance from artwork. To protect the art, stay at least one foot away and do not touch the art.
Supervise children at all times.
Babies may be worn, but only on the front; no back carriers. Strollers are also allowed, though during busy times and in certain activity areas inside the Minneapolis Institute of Art and Children's Theatre Company, they may be restricted.
Keep food and drink out of galleries. Food and drink may be purchased at the museum cafes and taken into designated areas in the lobby. Food and drink may be enjoyed in the Kids' Disco and in the Snack Bar in the Cargill Theatre and Target Lobby at the Children's Theatre Company.
Be aware of emergency procedures. Should a child become separated from their parent or guardian, please notify the closest Minneapolis Institute of Art, Children's Theatre Company or The Current employee and go directly to the security desk in the Mia's outer lobby. Security procedures will be put into place and all employees will be alerted.
Thank you to all of our sponsors for making this event possible and special thanks to our hosts, Children's Theatre Company and Minneapolis Institute of Art. Enjoy the day!
