The Knack at Michael's

I've been looking, like we all have, for fun ways to keep my kids busy this summer. Here is one thing I found rather cute. We really enjoy doing crafts, so this site was perfect. It is The Knack at Michael's craft stores. They have loads on online craft ideas, and once a month there is a free (usually) craft workshop for kids.

Centennial Olympic Park - Family Fun Day

The fourth Saturday of every month, Centennial Olympic Park hosts a free family fun day. We've yet to attend one, but it's on our summer list of things to do. Below are the details for June:

Fourth Saturday Family Fun Day.
Centennial Olympic Park.

This month’s theme is The Great Outdoors. Free family fun, including street performers, music, demonstrations, crafts, a life-size chess game and more.

June 26. Noon- 4 p.m. 265 Park Ave. West, Atlanta. 404-233-4412. Free.

DQ Blizzard Party tour

The BIGGEST party in Blizzard® treat history is coming to Atlanta. RSVP Now and come celebrate 25 years of the World’s Favorite Frozen Treat! Here are the location details:

Party Stop #1:
World Of Coke
121 Baker Street NW
Atlanta, GA 30313
June 9, 2010 12pm-2pm

**Check out the one of a kind Blizzard®mobile and get your Blizz’d-Out photo taken, all while enjoying an exclusive FREE sample of the all-new Mini Blizzard® treat!

Party Stop #2: (Fan-Voted)
DQ of Buford, GA
2295 Buford Hwy
Buford, GA 30518
June 9, 2010 4pm-5pm

Regal Cinema's Free Family Film Festival

Regal Cinema’s Free Family Film Festival June 8-Aug. 5, Tues.-Wed., 10 a.m. Spend weekday mornings at the movies this summer. Every Tuesday and Wednesday through August, kids’ movies rated G or PG will be shown for free at Regal Cinemas around Atlanta. The lineup includes Charlotte’s Web, Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, March of the Penguins and others.

For a list of participating theaters, click here.

A Couple Outdoor Summer Movie Options...

Screen on the Green.
Movies begin at dusk.
Piedmont Park, 10th Street, Atlanta. 404-875-7275.
Free.

Bring a picnic and blanket and watch movies on the big screen.
June 3, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
June 10, Dreamgirls, June 10
June 17, Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
June 24, Jurassic Park


Movies Under the Stars.
Mall of Georgia.
Every Saturday through July, listen to local bands then watch movies featured on the 42-foot screen in the Village Amphitheater.

June 5, Planet 51;
June 12, Field of Dreams;
June 19, The Tooth Fairy;
June 26, Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs.

Movies begin at dusk, music at 6:30 p.m. 3333 Buford Dr., Buford. 678-482-8788. Free.

Library Story Time

We have been going Tuesday mornings to the Toco Hills Library for story time and my kids are loving it. We go each week and it starts at 10:30am and goes to 11:00am. They read stories and sing songs. It is for kids aged 3-5, but younger siblings are welcome too. Just thought I'd invite anyone interested in going.
You can check out other libraries events here.

Tucker Days

For those of you living in or near Tucker, every May they have an annual festival with a parade on Main Street. Our boys love parades and this is a fun, traditional, very kid friendly parade and festival. After the parade, Main Street remains closed and there are lots of different booths to explore and activities to do.

Last year, the fire department brought their big ladder truck and let the kids explore it. We also were able to explore the fire safety house and an ambulance. So if you are looking for a kid-friendly environment, this definitely tops the list!

Click here for all the details.

Saturday, May 8, 2010

2010 DeKalb Peachtree Airport Good Neighbor Day

Mark your calendars...

The annual PDK Good Neighbor Day and Air Show is June 5 from 12 Noon-5 PM. We attended this event last year and really enjoyed it. The airshow is awesome - we had front 'fence' seats - just remember to bring a good pair of sunglasses and hats for the little ones. I'll post more details as we get closer to the date.

Here's a link to their flyer.

Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center

Rich discovered this place through his involvement with scouting and I thought I'd pass it along to you. It's a great place to camp, but if you are not a camping lover there are plenty of other activities that you can participate in without having to 'rough it'. Plus, since it is only 50 miles away (I20 East) a day trip is feasible. Camping is free as are most of the activities. The website can provide you with all the details.

Here's a link to the website. Be sure to check out the calendar which gives you pages of activities. This weekend (September 26) is free fishing day and there are a few other activities planned for kids. We're planning on signing up for one of the upcoming night hikes which includes a kids craft, a guided night hike and a live owl show. I'll let you know what we think!

Decatur Book Festival

I found this info on Decatur Mom:

Decatur Book Festival and Children’s Activities

It’s nearly time for the 2009 Decatur Book Festival! One of the best family and community events of the year, and the country’s largest independent book festival. The festivities kick off on Labor Day weekend, September 4th and go through September 6th. Most of the events take place on or around the Courthouse Square in downtown Decatur, GA.

The Decatur Book Festival is one of my family’s favorite events because there is so much for everyone to enjoy. With hundreds of authors, book signings, poetry readings, and children’s events we usually have to pace ourselves so as to not pass out in the middle of the square. Just a few of the MUST SEES for us this year include:

The Tractors at the Fidelity Bank Parking Lot

Saturday, 9am – 9:30am

Visit the tractors and then march in the Otis the Tracker parade with parade marshal and author Loren Long…more details

Skippyjon Jones at El Tesoro

Sunday, 10:30 – 12:00

You can have brunch with Skippyjon Jones with proceeds going to build libraries in Oaxaca, Mexico – sponsors Little Shop of Stories and Mingei World Arts…more details

Mariachi band and promenade from El Tesoro to the Target Children’s Stage, 12:00 – 12:30, following the Skippyjon Jones brunch

Pete The Cat: I Love My White Shoes

Sunday, 5:30 – 6:00

Reading and updates on Pete’s latest adventures…I love my white shoes, I love my white shoes, I love my white shoes…sorry, couldn’t resist.

If you have teens, you will want to be sure to check out all of the events for teenagers this year, especially the Teen Literary Salon. Click here to find out more about events for teens.

To plan your activities for the Decatur Book Festival weekend you can click here for a full schedule of events. Or, you can visit the Decatur Book Festival web site.

See you there!

Maddio's Pizza Joint

Nate has been working on some ads for Maddio's and I just wanted to pass a few things along. If you go to their website: http://maddiospizzajoint.com/ You can sign up to receive their emails. They have coupons in their emails for buy one get one free, as well as other deals. This week's ad is :

Buy any 9" pizza and 2 drinks at regular price,get a second pizza of equal or lesser value free.*Plus, kids eat for $2.99 everyday!Expires Tuesday, August 18. *(Maximum value is $6.49. Bring in this coupon to redeem. Not valid with any other offer.)

Also, starting this Tuesday they are starting Kids Eat Free Every Tuesday Night.

The address is:

Maddio's Pizza Joint · 3027 North Druid Hills Road · Toco Hills Shopping Center ·

Kids Eat Free - IKEA

This will make Kai sooo happy! For some reason he LOVES eating at IKEA. Meatballs and red soda are his favorite and when I tell him we get to go this week - the smile will stretch for miles!

Anyway, now through August 16, kids under 12 can choose 3 items from the kids menu for free. No adult purchase necessary. This is a deal people!

Decatur Book Festival

Decatur Book Festival. Decatur Square.

We've never been to this before, but from the info on their website, it looks like a great place for the entire family to spend the day. Browse books, meet and greet more than 150 authors, listen to live music, play in the interactive children’s area, watch parades and cooking demonstrations, and more.

LABOR DAY WEEKEND - Sept. 4-6.

Decatur Book Festival

Free Fishing Derby

Youth Fishing Derby.
Brookside Office Park Lake.

Test your fishing skills in this youth event. Bring fishing gear and bait.

Ages 4-12.

July 25. 8-11 a.m.
3625 Brookside Pkwy., Alpharetta. 678-297-6140.
Pre-register.

Free Bowling

Stephanie posted this when I first started the blog, but now that it is getting warmer outside I thought it might be more interesting.

The alley participating is in Decatur. All you pay for is the shoes. You can find all the details by clicking on this link.

Kids Bowl Free

Centennial Olympic Park

The Fourth Saturday of each month, the Park hosts an afternoon of free family activities. This Saturday's theme is It's About Sports. The festivities start at Noon and last until 4 PM. So, if you are brave enough to play in the heat this may interest you!

For more details as well as the 2009 schedule use this link:

http://www.centennialpark.com/events/fsffd.html

Mayfield Dairy Farm

Mayfield has a farm in Braselton, GA, which is about 45 minutes from Atlanta. They offer a behind the scenes tour of the dairy plant and of course ice cream from their old fashioned ice cream parlor.

Little Shop of Stories

We went to an event tonight at the Little Shop of Stories on the square in Decatur and it was really fun. I had never heard of the Pete the Cat book, but the author and illustrator were there. The author also creates children's music and teaches music lessons at the store. They sang songs about the book as the illustrator drew pictures that went along with the songs. It was fun and their website has a list of future events. You can see them here.

Free Swimming?

So, my neighbor said that Piedmont Park's swimming pool had free swimming hours from 10-11:30am. I can't find any mention of it on their webpage, which is too bad because they just finished a lovely multi-million dollar renovation. While searching, I did find a link that said that the Grant Park Pool has free swimming hours each afternoon, and that certain area hotels will open their pools to the public on certain days, but I'm not finding a lot of details. Apparently my free sniffer is a little out of practice.
Can anyone help with the details? Anyone want to try it out? The Grant Park Pool is a hike, but the Piedmont Pool would be lovely.

Free Chocolate Anyone?

Apparently, some of the candy making companies are swapping ingredients in their chocolate recipes to help keep their costs down. Mars, however, plans to stick with the real thing. To prove their resolve, Mars started a Real Chocolate Relief Act promotion in May. What does that mean for you? The free chocolate giveaway will continue every Friday through September 25, 2009, Mars is giving away 250,000 certificates for free Mars chocolate products. The certificates become available on Friday morning at 9:00 a.m., and they’re available until they’re gone, so you’ll need to act fast. There’s a limit of one coupon per email address per Friday & four coupons per household during the offer period. Must be a resident of the U.S. & age 13 or older to get a certificate.