D.C. community calendar, July 5 to 12, 2012

Thursday, July 5

“Galapagos George” puppet show, for ages 4-8, about a giant tortoise. 10:15 and 11:30 a.m. Thursday-Friday, S. Dillon Ripley Center, Discovery Theater, 1100 Jefferson Dr. SW. $8; ages 2-16, $6; 1 and younger, $3. 202-633-8700 or www.discoverytheater.org.

Behind the scenes cathedral tour, for age 11 and older, see gargoyles and stained-glass windows, and climb a lot of stairs to view the city from high, take a camera. 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. most weekdays, Washington National Cathedral, 3101 Wisconsin Ave. NW. $15. 202-537-6200, www.nationalcathedral.org or specialtours@cathedral.org.

Juggling for children, for ages 4-9, Nicolo Whimsey presents juggling, music, poetry and storytelling. 10:30 a.m., Woodridge Library, 1801 Hamlin St. NE, 202-541-6226, and 1:30 p.m., Deanwood Library, 1350 49th St. NE, 202-698-1175. Free.

Smithsonian Heirloom Garden tour, a horticulturist discusses some of the plants in the collection. 1 p.m., National Museum of American History, Mall Terrace, southwest corner, 14th Street and Constitution Avenue NW. Free. 202-633-1000.

Cathedral tour and Civil War history, for age 10 and older, a docent leads a tour of the statues, stained-glass windows, stone and wood carvings and tapestries that depict people involved in the war; pick up a tour sticker at the welcome desk at the main entrance. 3 p.m., Washington National Cathedral, 3101 Wisconsin Ave. NW. $10, reservations suggested. 202-537-6200 or www.nationalcathedral.org.

“Abe Lincoln: The Boy Who Loved Books,” children’s author Kay Winters reads from her book and leads a discussion of it. 4:30 p.m., Ford’s Theatre, 511 10th St. NW. Free. 202-347-4833 or www.fordstheatre.org.

La Sardina de Naiguata in concert, the 13-piece band led by Ricardo Diaz fuses traditional Venezuelan music with diverse and progressive instrumentation. 6 p.m., Kennedy Center, Millennium Stage, 2700 F St. NW. Free. 202-467-4600.

“The Music Man,” performance of Meredith Willson’s musical about a con man who poses as a children’s band leader and who sells instruments and uniforms to naive townsfolk, starring Burke Moses and Kate Baldwin. 8 p.m. Thursdays-Fridays, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Sundays, 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays-Wednesdays, through July 22, Arena Stage, Fichandler, 1101 Sixth St. SW. $46-$91, subject to change and based on availability. 202-488-3300 or www.arenastage.org.

“The Normal Heart,” performance of Larry Kramer’s drama about the AIDS crisis. 8 p.m. Thursdays-Fridays, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Sundays, 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays-Wednesdays, noon July 11 and 18, through July 29, Arena Stage, Kreeger, 1101 Sixth St. SW. $40-$94, subject to change and based on availability. 202-488-3300 or www.arenastage.org.

“City Slickers II: The Legend of Curly’s Gold,” Paul Weiland’s 1994 comedy western film about friends who try to follow a treasure map, starring Billy Crystal, Jack Palance and Daniel Stern; take a blanket or lawn chair; food vendors on site. 8:35 p.m., Capitol Riverfront, New Jersey Avenue and Tingey Street SE. Free. 202-465-7093 or www.capitolriverfront.org.