In pursuit of the perfect sand castle, we’ve been known to scout real estate the night before a beach day.

But a prime location isn’t worth much without a well-equipped contractor.

Set your little architect on a path to success with Haba’s new collapsible water bucket. The lightweight nylon bag has a valve that lets you control the flow of water. When your sand seems too dry, give the nozzle a turn to release only what you need — no worries about washing away your building materials or turning a tunnel into a moat.

The bucket also packs flat, taking up less space in your beach tote than a traditional plastic bucket. And with sunblock, towels, sippies, and snacks, we know how valuable that real estate is.

Available online at maukilo.com, $22.

SLICE
International Mango Festival
What: Listen to music, make crafts, and taste tons of the exotic fruit.
Why: Cruise over on a bike for discounted admission.
When: Sat. & Sun., 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Where: Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, 10901 Old Cutler Rd., Coral Gables (305-667-1651). Adults, $20; children 6-17, $10; under 6, free. With bike discount, adults, $15; children, $8.

WHOOSH
Hurricane Essentials
What: Chefs Kathleen Duran and Bonita Whitehead show how to whip up meals even when the electricity’s out.
Why: Learn a bit of history about the ferocious gusts.
When: Sat., noon-5 p.m.
Where: HistoryMiami, 101 W. Flagler St. (305-375-1492). Admission is free.

BUILD
Lego Store Opens
What: Check out the new digs and stock up on colorful blocks.
Why: Good luck dragging him out of the interactive play space.
When: Mon.-Sat., 10 a.m.-9:30 p.m.; Sun., noon-8 p.m.
Where: Aventura Mall, 19501 Biscayne Blvd., lvl. 1, Aventura (305-935-1110).

Photo: Courtesy of Haba