If you would like a list of Free Family Events happening this weekend, you can find us at FamilyFunTwinCities.com.

Do you and your family want to participate in the creation of the MayDay Parade?  During the month of April, the In the Heart of the Beast Puppet Theatre is transformed into a giant studio where staff artists and volunteers create the MayDay Parade. Workshops are free and open to the public.  What a fun way to be creative together and give back to the community.

• An artist will introduce you to the parade theme by showing you the giant storyboard (a visual script).
• You select a section of the parade to work on, find the artist in charge of that section, and set to work!
• Artists will guide you.
• You can either make your own creation which you can keep after the parade, or help with the larger parade floats.
• Typically, you’ll need 3 or 4 sessions to complete a project, but you can come to as many or as few as your schedule allows.

Other Details

• Workshops are free, although donations are graciously accepted, always welcome, and much needed.
• Children under 10 must be accompanied by an adult.
• Wear “painting” clothes.
• Bring recycled items (if you can): small plastic tubs with lids, brown paper bags, newspapers, fabric, sheets, latex paint, bamboo, scissors.
• No reservations required. Just Come! Except, if you are coming with a large group, come! But please let call 612-721-2535, or e-mail llarue@hobt.org.

Sunday, 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Kmart

Hot Wheels latest advertising campaign is “Be The World’s Best Driver”.  Honestly, we watched a lot more toy commercials than usual this weekend, and this was one of the least annoying.  Most of the girl toys are downright objectionable or just seem like something they’ll tire of in a day.  If you read my blog much at all, you probably know I hate all but a few toys.  Hot Wheels are on my short list of acceptable toys (This just applies to the cars themselves and the orange tracks we had 30 years ago.  The accessories still fall under my “makes-kids-dumber” conclusion).

Anyhoo, The Hot Wheels Roadshow is coming to Minnesota this weekend.  If you happen to be near the Maryland Avenue Kmart in St. Paul on Sunday, you can have some Hot Wheels fun, including:

• Check in and get a free “Pit Pass” Souvenir limited Edition Lanyard
• See the life size 2013 Hot Wheels Camaro
• Race your favorite Hot Wheels Car on the 20 foot long Downhill 5-Lane Track
• Show off your Precision Skills by shooting the latest Innovation in Hot Wheels, “Spinshotz”, along Tracks and Targets
• Compete to beat the Hot Wheels Long Jump World Record!
• Enter the “Be The Worlds Best Driver” Sweepstakes for a Chance to win a Trip to Indianapolis 500

I have two little little boys and one big boy who would really enjoy this outing.  Actually, the girls will, too.

The Minneapolis Parks Board invites you to Stop in and enjoy a free movie on the big screen. The indoor movies series is an extension of the Movies in the Parks series. The indoor series is free for the whole family and will be every Tuesday evening throughout April beginning at 7:00 pm. Two of the five April films are family friendly.  Tomorrow is one of the two with Wreck-It Ralph.  The line up is as follows:

 April Films

April 2: Wreck-it Ralph

April 9: Twilight Breaking Dawn Part 2

April 16: Life of Pi

April 23: Alex Cross

April 30: Bully

For more information please visit www.minneapolisparks.org or call 612-230-6479.

Starting in early April Free Family Fun, Twin Cities Family and Tour Moms will be joining together to create a one-stop shop for family fun in the Twin Cities.  I will still be covering mostly Free activities, but there will be so much more, too. 

We are all so very excited about this merger.  We are three moms with 11 kids between us.  We all believe in the power and importance of family and want to make as much of our kid’s short childhoods as possible.  We know you do too and we can’t wait to share this next phase with all of you.

Stay tuned for all the details and the big reveal coming in early April!!!

 Here is an invitation I received in my e-mail: 

In support of the current art exhibit, Electrified Drawings, The Bakken Museum will be hosting a special lecture by artist David Goldes titled “Electricity and Water.” 

Mr Goldes, who is trained as both an artist and a scientist, will share how science has influenced his art. Many of his past projects stem from an investigation of physical phenomena such as water properties, air pressure and electricity. He will describe how early 19th century science experiments inspired him to send high voltage electricity through his drawings, documented in the current exhibition. 

This electrifying event is free and open to the public!

Please send an RSVP to Suzy Piper at piper@thebakken.org if you plan on attending.

Music Under Glass – Dustin Lee Band

A few years ago, we went to the zoo on Easter.  It was a surprisingly busy day.  It wasn’t so busy that I wouldn’t do it again, though.  This year, since Easter falls on March 31st, it is the last day of the winter hours.  The zoo will close at 4:00.  This gives you just enough time to head over to the conservatory to watch the Dustin Lee Band.

We won’t be visiting or having visitors this year for Easter but we would still enjoy the traditional sit down meal.  We probably won’t try to do it all, but if we did, a family afternoon at the zoo, followed by slowcooker Easter dinner is still a pretty laid back way to celebrate Easter. A Year of Slow Cooking has several traditional recipes.

]]> http://www.freefamilyfun.org/?feed=rss2&p=8579 0