Best Weekend Fun Events!

So much to do this weekend! Here are just a FEW of my favorites. Make sure to check the Family Penny Pincher calendar for event details and for additional events happening this weekend! 

Saturday, July 30th 

• Gloucester County 4-H and Peach Festival (Mullica Hill, NJ): Visitors can watch our equestrians lead their horses in exercises in precision, place an auction bid on a hog, lamb or goat raised by a 4-Her, watch the judging of our rabbit or goat shows, learn all about cows from dairy and beef club members, cheer for their favorite in the dog obedience class, learn how to raise a pet bird from members of the exotic bird club, slither around to the reptile club exhibit, and enjoy the hog costume contest. FREE Admission.  $10 parking/per carload (Click on link for $1 off coupon) Runs Saturday and Sunday.

• Mercer County 4-H Fair (Howell Living History Farm, Lambertville, NJ) The fair includes 4-H animal shows and exhibits; food and homemade ice cream; hay rides; pony rides; music; farm tours and demonstrations; milking demonstrations; spinning, felting, and fiber demonstrations; egg grading demonstrations; children’s crafts and activities; and displays by the Master Gardeners of Mercer County and the Mercer County Equestrian Center. FREE Admission/FREE Parking (Please bring a canned good donation in support of Rutgers Against Hunger.  Runs Saturday and Sunday.

• Wildwood Surf Fest (Wildwood, NJ): FREE surf lessons ~ surf vendors and artists ~ bbq and luau ~ after hours admissions to Raging Waters Waterpark ~ FREE concert featuring The Following, The Dan Brown Duo and more!

• Cooper River Fine Arts Festival (Cooper River Park, Cherry Hill, NJ):  New Jersey's Premier Fine Arts Festival is sponsored by the Philadelphia Inquirer and will take place along the scenic Cooper River. Cooper River Park (346.55 acres) runs through Pennsauken, Cherry Hill, Collingswood and Haddon Township. Runs Saturday 10am to 6pm and Sunday 10am to 5pm.

• Philadelphia Dance Day 2011: All dance enthusiasts–regardless of experience or even coordination–are invited to take part in this citywide celebration of dance. There will be something for everyone, from creative movement for preschoolers to absolute beginner adult ballet to hip-hop for all ages. Participants can pick and choose as many workshops as they like. All the venues are located within three miles of each other; several within walking distance. ALL FREE

• Kids in Center City Playdate: Come to the Comcast Center for some family-friendly fun. Join Music Monkey Jungle, a live interactive musical and movement educational class for little music monkeys and their parents who love them. Don't forget to bring sturdy shoes for participation as well as a camera to capture the fun.Market merchants will offer kid-friendly treats and crafts, including fun and educational activities from the Pennsylvania Ballet. FREE from 11:30am to 1:30pm

 

 

• ART/GAGE by Magic Gardens (South Street, Philadelphia): The 1000 block of South Street will be closed off to traffic, with the festival spilling into the streets featuring more 30 art and food vendors. From noon to 6pm.  To attend the performances within Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens, the cost is $15 for an all-day pass, $10 for a day (1:00-5:30) or evening (5:30-10:00) pass. Visitors can purchase a Family Pass that accommodates two adults and up to three children for $25, or tickets for kids are $5. Click here for more information:

Sunday, July 31st

• Franklin Square's Birthday Party (Philadelphia): Celebrate five seasons of fun at Franklin Square this Sunday, July 31, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., at a special birthday celebration. Bring the whole family to sign a giant birthday card, eat Birthday Bonanza Sundaes at SquareBurger, enjoy face painting, birthday “craftivities” and more. The first 55 children get free rides on the carousel and free sundaes!

•  2nd Street Festival (Northern Liberties, Philadelphia): The neighborhood is closing off N. 2nd Street between Germantown and Fairmount for a (free!) supersized block party filled with six blocks of beer gardens, workshops, art, food, music and other merchandise vendors. Noon to 10pm

  Have a great weekend!

Lakeshore Learning Crafts

Lakeshore Learning Free Crafts

Every Saturday at 11am to 3pm at participating stores

http://www.lakeshorelearning.com/general_content/store_locations/storeCrafts.jsp 

I nearly had a heart attack when I pulled up to the Lakeshore Learning store in Cherry Hill and saw that the craft that we had come to create was located right in the middle of the store just as you enter. You are probably asking yourself why this was of such concern...let me put it to you this way.  I had images of my three year old son repeating an event at a book store's storytime...pulling everything off the shelves, distracted by all the store toys, running around and destroying sale merchandise while the eyes of every mother were on me while their children sat like little angels at storytime.  Yes, it wasn't pretty and we have not gone to a storytime at that book store since. 

If you have never set foot into a Lakeshore Learning store, let me tell you it is a child's dream place! There are toys, books, crafts, a giant computer interactive screen, balls, trucks, pull baskets, and did I mention balls...my son's favorite toy? All of which are for sale, and all of which could be destroyed by my "energetic" three year old son. You can now see why I was very reluctant to get out of the car.  If it wasn't for my crafty daughter and her pure excitement to work with glue, sparkly things, and googly eyes, I would have probably just left.

However, what actually occurred was nothing I had imagined at all. In fact, when my kids saw the really cool jellyfish craft that was being created by the other kids, they instantly went to the table to start their craft.  My son didn't even notice the basketballs.....at first.  

Kids exited to get started on their craft receive their instructions

The woman in charge of the table showed us a sample of the jellyfish craft and what materials we were going to need and directed us to the supplies at the child sized tables and chairs and the kids got to work.  All the supplies were readily available, in great abundance, and already pre-cut!!!!  YEAH!!!  You can tell these people know kids!  The jellyfish craft was very age appropriate for preschoolers and early elementary students.  They had easy to use glue sticks which my three year old used with ease and FAST DRYING thick glue for other parts of the project...do they know parents or what?  Someone really thought about this crafting project!

My son proud to use the glue stick all by himself and working hard!

What I really liked about this particular craft was that it was a simple project suitable to my 3 and 4 year old, the pieces were provided for them and all pre-cut, but there was still tons of room for creativity! It wasn't just a template to cut and put together, they got to choose how their jellyfish would look.  My daughter of course added sparkles to hers, while my son argued that jellyfish don't sparkle.  My daughter chose tentacles that were pink and purple and green, while my son chose orange and blue. They both made the same craft but their jellyfishes were unique to them.  I also think my daughter was so involved in the project and it kept the attention of my son because they could do the project on their own with little assistance from me. It was totally age appropriate, kid centered, very impressive and eye catching! LOVE IT!

So the jellyfishes are hanging in our playroom and we will be going back to Lakeshore Learning. It just might be my new favorite place to make a craft.  

Did my son notice the toys in the store...absolutely! But my son was not the only one playing with the merchandise.  The folks at Lakeshore Learning didn't cast disapproving looks but seemed to be okay with it.  But, I guess that is what you get from a friendly child centered store like Lakeshore Learning....and the fact that we wound up purchasing the ball in the picture.  Just couldn't leave without it:)

My son showing his craft and new toy!

 Have a great day:)

 

Michael's Passport to Fun Free Crafts

 Michael's Craft Supply Stores
(http://www.michaels.com/ )

Summer Passport to Fun Free Crafts
Time: 11am to 2pm

Part of The Knack
 

My kids and I have been enjoying attending the free craft sessions at our local Michael's Craft Store this summer.  I love this year's theme of "Passport to Fun" where the crafts are based on the culture of countries from around the world.  It fits so nicely with the library's summer reading program of "One World, Many Stories"    So, we are listening to stories, music, and now creating crafts with a cultural spin. As a teacher, I always loved themed based learning!

 They even have a really nice website (http://www.michaels.com/Passport-to-Fun/PTF,default,pg.html)  dedicated to these free crafts this summer. You can click on the map for "all the destinations on our craft adventure around the world."  However, I don't see a place for a simple list of the countries and the dates that they are being offered.  I just clicked on Sweden, and saw that this craft was offered on June 21. Too late for that one. So, I went through it for you and added them to the Family Penny Pincher's Calendar and below:

July 9:India

July 12: Russia

July 14: France

July 16: United Kingdom

July 19: Japan

July 21: Greece

July 23: Mexico

July 26: China

July 28: South Africa

July 30: Brazil

The kids made a bead flag and a Native American shield when we visited the United States and when the theme was India, the kids made henna hands and decorated a felt elephant.

Some of our crafts made

Showing off her glitter glue elephant

 We are hoping to attend the Russian craft where they will make a jeweled egg and Nesting doll puppets and my daughter looked ahead and saw foam crowns being offered on July 16 for the United Kingdom. My little princess can't wait to make a crown!

Tips:

Working hard!

• The crafts are offered from 11am to 2pm while supplies last. So get there early. Some events have only a handful of people while other crafts will draw a large crowd.
• The crafts are self-directed.  There is a Michael's facilitator there to help you, but the supplies and materials with directions are put on the table for you to make the craft with your kids
• I think the crafts are appropriate for ages 3 and up. My 4 year old works pretty well independently while my 3 year old has some trouble with the crafts. If that happens, there is plenty of paper and markers or crayons for him to make pictures or cut.
• You can plan on spending at least one hour at this event depending on the attention span of your children and whether you decide to complete all of the crafts offered.

Have you attended any of the free crafts? Do you have any tips to share? Please share on the comment section below:)

Happy Crafting!

Burlington County Earth Fair 2011

When: SUNDAY JUNE 18

Time: 10:30-4pm

Where: Smithville Park in Eastampton NJ

For more information: 

The Burlington County Earth Fair is a great family event! Most of the entertainment is free (except for food, canoe rides, and mansion tours) . There are nature activities, workshops, and crafts.  My family loves to simply walk the trails, visit the many animals at the petting zoos, see the puppet show, create tons of crafts,  and make our own music with the recycled items available.  Also, many of the vendors give out lots of freebies which the kids enjoy.  This event does get very busy so prepare to come early.  You could definitely spend at least several hours at this educational event.