Apr
07

Welcome!

By chris Posted in Blog, The Calendar | No Comments »
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Thanks for coming to FreeFamilyFun.org.  We are a resource of free family-friendly activities in the Twin Cities.  If you are with an organization that provides free entertainment to families and would like to get listed, please email us at freefamilyfunsite@gmail.com.

If you would like to support our site, support our Amazon store.  We add inexpensive, family friendly items that we would purchase for our own household.  Also, we would love to hear from you on Facebook.  Come on over and chat with us.

We have children of our own and work real jobs besides this site.  A lot of time and research is required to keep up the calendar and blog and we would appreciate a link back if you are going to use our research on your own site.  We realize this is public information, but we are happy to extend you the same courtesy if you link to us.  Thank you.

May
18

Sianet Radio » Guest Post from Free Family Fun: Rock With Kids

By JP Posted in Blog | No Comments »
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I’m going to start a semi-regular guest post on SiaNetRadio.Com.  I’ll be listing the best  local music events that you can take your kids to.

This is a great weekend to start guest posting on SiaNet Radio.  FreeFamilyFun.Org is a website dedicated to helping parents find cultural family activities in the Twin Cities on a budget.  For these guest posts, I will do a quick run-down of the best local music events available to the budget-minded family.

Find the rest on Sianet Radio » Blog Archive » Guest Post from Free Family Fun: Rock With Kids.

May
18

Sunday – Lyn Lake Street Festival – Koo Koo Kangaroo and Some Of The Best Grown-Up Bands In Town

By JP Posted in Blog | 1 Comment »
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I’m not quite sure how I am going to keep three small children at this festival for six hours, but I’m sure it will involve a lot of pre-packed food and actually bringing a diaper bag for once.  I just really want to see all of these bands.

        STAGE 1

  • KOO KOO KANGA ROO – 12:00
  • BLOODNSTUFF – 1:30
  • OMAR BLISS – 3:00
  • KID DAKOTA – 4:30
  • NIGHT MOVES – 6:00

 STAGE 2

  • KILL-ME KARE BARE – 12:45
  • MAYDA – 2:15
  • COMMUNIST DAUGHTER – 3:45
  • HALLOWEEN, ALASKA – 5:15

I’ve been searching, with no luck, for this recipe I saw in Family Fun Magazine at a doctor’s appointment several years ago.  Basically, though, you put a candy bar in a plastic container in your backpack and then put frozen fruit in another plastic container.  By the time you are ready for a snack, the fruit has unfrozen and the candy bar has melted into a chocolaty dip.

Our favorite take-along picnic food is The B.O.S.S. Sandwich from Rainbow.  On Saturdays, it is $5.99 and $6.99 on other days.  It stuffs in a backpack nicely, but don’t forget a bread knife and if you will be carrying it for awhile you will want to opt for the no-mayo option.  For now one sandwich can feed our family of five for a lunch and a snack.  However, our kids are small; I foresee the day that this will no longer be true.

May
17

Pan Asian Arts Festival at the Landmark Center – Sunday

By JP Posted in Blog | No Comments »
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On Sunday from Noon to 5:00 p.m., your family can participate in the Pan Asian Arts Festival at the Landmark Center.  This is a Free Family Fun Celebration of Pan Asian Heritages with on-going Pan Asian Dance and Music performances; and Asian arts/crafts activities which may include the making of traditional hats, masks, and other cultural activities, such as: Asian Dance Costume Try-on; Chinese Calligraphy; Face Painting with Asian traditional patterns; and Japanese Origami, etc.  Additional costs for food and carnival games.

If you want to bring it home, Ten-Dollar Dinners offers a Pan-Asian menu with pork chops, sesame and peanut noodles, and cucumber carrot salad.

May
17

Please Touch – An Interactive Art Exhibit at the Landmark Center

By JP Posted in Blog | No Comments »
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Now through May 30th, the Landmark Center is displaying Please Touch – An interactive art exhibit of handmade wooden automata by Cecilia Schiller in the Musser Cortile.  This free exhibit is open to the public during regular building hours.  Cecilia Schiller is a sculptor who combines her love of woodcarving and theater to create whimsical interactive mechanical sculptures, also called automata. If you like her work, she is also part of the Art-A-Whirl tour this weekend.  Maybe your kids can get the chance to meet her and get inspired.

 

May
16

LEGO® Mania! at Linden Hills Library — Saturday

By JP Posted in Blog | No Comments »
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Linden Hills Library will again host LEGO Mania on Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to noon.  This is an opportunity for your children — preschool to grade 5 — to get together with their friends and build wild creations. If you want to bring the fun home to share, check out the official Lego Website and, if you haven’t already, sign your kids up for Lego Club or Lego Club, Jr. They will get a free periodic magazines with games and ideas for creating with their Legos.

As I’ve mentioned before, we have a basic LEGO® starter set in our Family Fun Store.   I’ve also linked to the  Tofu Lego Bites, but I think they are worth re-serving.

May
16

Leonardo’s Basement Free Family Open House on Sunday

By JP Posted in Blog | No Comments »
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Leonardo’s Basement offers free family open house events periodically. This Sunday, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., the Minneapolis Workshop will host one.   No need to register, just bring your family and your curiosity and be ready to imagine, create, invent and build.

If you want to bring the fun home, there is a lot of great information on the internet for kids about Leonardo Da Vinci and his creative spirit.  I like this site called, Diary of 1.  I wasn’t able to find a Da Vinci dinner theme, however, I found this cute story called Leonardo Da Vinci’s Kitchen Nightmare.  Maybe we could read this story with our kids as a reminder that it is okay to try something that seems hard and to fail.  Then pick a daunting recipe and try it together.  Just keep your favorite pizza place on the ready.

May
16

Oxford/Jimmy Lee Fields Grand Re-Opening!

By JP Posted in Blog | No Comments »
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Oxford/Jimmy Lee Fields Grand Re-Opening Celebration

When: May 19
Time: 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
What: Free swimming (begins at 11:45 a.m.), Cook-out, Alumnigames, climbing wall, drill team & more!

The Jimmy Lee Rec. Center Fields at Oxford have been under-construction for some time, and after taking care of all the environmental and site concerns – the facility now has a premium synthetic athletic field ready for use!  Bring your family to the free community celebration on May 19!  After more than 2 years of design and construction, and several delays due to environmental clean-up work, the synthetic athletic fields at Jimmy Lee/Oxford will re-open to the public. The event will kick-off with a brief speaking program and ribbon cutting hosted by Saint Paul Deputy Mayor Paul Williams, Ward 1 City Councilmember Melvin Carter III, and members of the community. Included in the program will be a special announcement in honor of the recently deceased NFL great and former Jimmy Lee Rec. Center alum Stacy Robinson. Following the brief program, the field will be opened up for alumni football games, youth activities, and a free community cookout (first come-first served). In addition to the field activities, the indoor Great River Water Park will host free swimming from noon – 2 p.m. 

For more information visit St. Paul Parks or their Facebook page.

May
16

Tamarack Nature Play Area Free in 2012

By JP Posted in Blog | No Comments »
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If you were not able to get to the Tamarack Nature Center Nature Play Area and Discovery Garden during the Grand Opening Weekend, there is good news:

The Ramsey County Board of Commissioners has waived admission fees for 2012. Donations are gladly accepted and support the programming and operation for the Nature Play Area and Children’s Garden.

Features include:

  • Logs & Hollows nature play area
  • Water Ways play stream
  • Tamarack Overlook
  • Children’s Orchard
  • Garden House featuring unique solar-powered petals

Nature Play Hours

10 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.   Monday-Friday
10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.   Saturday
Noon - 4:30 p.m.      Sunday

Wrist Bands Required for Nature Play Area and available from the Front Desk at the Main Building.

via Ramsey County Parks.

May
15

The Very Hungry Caterpillar Celebration and Activity at The Red Balloon Bookshop – Saturday

By JP Posted in Blog | No Comments »
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On Saturday at 10:30 a.m., The Red Balloon Bookshop will host The Very Hungry Caterpillar Celebration and Activity. Aki Shibata from the Minnesota Center for Book Arts (MCBA) will show children how to make their own Very Hungry Caterpillar book.

 Eric Carle also offers several ideas for activities you could do at home together to incorporate The Very Hungry Caterpillar.  And for family dinner time, how about this Very Tasty Caterpillar Pizza recipe from Family Fun.

 

May
15

A Short Family Guide to Art A Whirl 2012 — May 18th through 20th

By JP Posted in Blog | 1 Comment »
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Art A Whirl is another thing on my very short list this weekend.  The trolley ride alone would make it worth it for your younger kids — just keep the studio visits an age-appropriate length and skip stops if your child needs a rest.  Two stops you should make a point to make are:

  • The California Building, 2205 California Street NE, #305, Minneapolis for the Kaleidoscopia Coloring Book Signing.  Artist Kendall Bohn is releasing his latest book “Winged Adventure” and will be signing copies all weekend. Perfect for kids of all ages!
  • CO Exhibitions: 1101 Stinson Blvd, Minneapolis 55413 (Corner of Stinson & Broadway) for CO-lamity!  Play old fashioned carnival games for your chance to win works of art and other prizes, then let your kids  get arty at the bracelet making station or at our outdoor sidewalk chalk party. Enjoy live DJ sets throughout the weekend by the BRLSQ crew and special guests. Refreshments will also be available for purchase from the CO Lemonade Stand AND the Chef Shack Food Truck from 3pm-10pm on Saturday.

 

May
15

Bird Banding Saturday at Lowry Nature Center

By JP Posted in Blog | No Comments »
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Saturday is another Bird Banding day at Lowry Nature Center.  If your family is interested in some close encounters with wild birds, you can see wild songbirds being safely trapped, studied, and tagged with numbered rings. You may get a chance to hear a bird’s heartbeat and help release it.  Bird banding is from 9 a.m. to noon.  If you want to see a video about the bird banding project, you can get it here.

While you are at Lowry Nature Center, take some time to visit the play areas.  There are two unique play and exploration areas. ”Habitats” is a play area where children can interact with giant flowers and a “beaver lodge” while learning about animals that would live in those habitats. The Nature Exploration Area was created specifically to encourage free play in the outdoors. Children can explore, dig and build while adults play along or observe nearby.

We’re getting to picnic season.  Here is a nice PDF from the USDA with suggestions for packing a picnic and some take-along picnic recipes from She Knows.


May
14

MIA Gone Fishin’ – Saturday at Logan Park – Pre-Registration Required

By JP Posted in Blog | No Comments »
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On Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., Join the Minneapolis Institute of Arts at Logan Park for Gone Fishin‘.  This event requires registration (612) 370-4927.

Join artists to create art inspired by fish from around the world, and play a fishing game. This event is part of a family-friendly day at Logan Park, and coincides with Art-A-Whirl.

May
14

Okee Dokee Brothers Album Release Party

By JP Posted in Blog | No Comments »
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This is one of those weekends where I have to decide what I can’t do, instead of what I will do.  This is on my very short list of things I want to get to.  The Okee Dokee Brothers are throwing an Album Release Party on Saturday at 11:00 a.m. at Father Hennepin Bluffs Park and Creative Kidstuff will be on hand to offer crafts.  There are even free refreshments.

If you want to study ahead for this date, go to the Okee Dokee Brother’s Facebook Page.  They have been releasing videos over the last couple weeks.

 

May
12

Summer Walking Tours With The Landmark Center – Registration Required

By JP Posted in Blog | No Comments »
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 The Landmark Center is offering some summer walking tours.  What a great way to learn a little local history and get some exercise at the same time.  All walking tours are on Wednesdays at 10:00 a.m. and run May through September.  They are free, but space is limited, so call ahead to reserve a spot.  Call 651-292-3276 to register.  Tours are as follows:

Great River Tours | 2nd Wednesday of the Month

Landmark Center introduces the Great River Tour, our newest summer walking tour. On this tour you will learn about St. Paul’s start and its relationship with the Mississippi River. On this walking tour you will learn some great information while observing the beautiful view of the river and its surrounding areas. The walking tours will be given the second Wednesday during the months of May through September and departs from Upper Landing Park in St. Paul at Shepard Rd. & Chestnut St. at 10 am (click here for directions). The first tour will take place on May 9, 2012.

Rice Park Tours | 3rd Wednesday of the Month

The ever so popular Rice Park Tours returns again. Enjoy a historic and architectural tour that takes you back in time to learn the hidden secrets of the unique buildings that surround one of the city’s most beloved parks. The walking tours will be given the third Wednesday during the months of May through September and departs from Landmark Center’s Information Center at 10 am. The first tour will take place May 16, 2012.

Heart of the City Tours | 4th Wednesday of the Month

Heart of the City Tours return for a second year! Enjoy some of St. Paul’s most historic landmarks on this tour that takes you into the heart of the city. The tour will cover popular spots like Mickey’s Dinner, Candyland, the Hamm Building and more!  The tour will take place the fourth Wednesday during the months of May through September and will depart from Landmark Center’s 6th street entrance at 10 am.  The first tour will take place May 23, 2012.

via Landmark Center – Visit Us – Walking Tours.

May
11

40 Free (Or Nearly Free) Summer Activities for Kids from Centsible Life

By JP Posted in Blog | No Comments »
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Here is a nice article from Centsible Life on free summer activities.

Today I realized that my kids only have 12 more days left in the school year. In realizing that my children get out of school in mid-May, which is NOT summer, I am finally forced to start thinking about how to entertain my kids in other ways than my lovely chore chart that I bring out every time I hear the words, “I’m bored.” But more importantly I am thinking about how to entertain my kids this summer without breaking, smashing, or destroying my budget. In doing my research I have created a list of 40 free or nearly free summer activities for kids (other than the chore chart which you could easily make #41). I hope that you can use this list of activities as well.   Go here for the rest of the article.

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