Activities for the week of July 15, 2013

Okay, I'm starting to get the hang of this blogging thing!  Thanks for your patience! :)

Here is my list of fun & fairly low-cost family activities in the Ames area for the week of July 15:

The library theme for the week is "Tops and Bottoms" - vegetables everywhere!  Test your knowledge and your taste buds with a variety of veggie activities.  Once again, I have denoted these with ** meaning that they are all the same so you may just want to pick one of the four different times to attend.

**Monday, July 15 - 2:00PM - "Tops and Bottoms" at Brookside Park, Maple Shelter, free - all sorts of fun activities for kids including crafts, stories, games, songs, pillowcase/potato sack races and three-legged races.  Take note, when we did the paint craft/activites a few weeks ago, the paints were NOT washable so may want to plan accordingly.

Monday, July 15 - 6:30PM - Bookmobile Storytime - featuring books, music, and more, followed by a related craft activity, free, Abbie Sawyer Elementary

Tuesday, July 16 - 10:00AM - $1 movie "Happy Feet" at North Grand Theater (at the mall) in Ames

**Tuesday, July 16 - 10:00AM - "Tops and Bottoms" at Inis Grove Park, Walnut Shelter, free - same as July 15, just different location

Tuesday, July 16 - 7:00PM - "Bug Out at the Garden" - come meet Entomologist Joe and learn all about what bugs are good and bad for a garden and make some buggy crafts, free.  Squaw Creek Community Garden, plot #1, 2 blocks south of the S 4th St & S Maple intersection in Ames.

Wednesday, July 17 - 1:00PM - Art in the Park, Story City Park, cost is $3 per child.  Antique Carousel is also in the park and rides are $1 each, 6 for $5 or 20 for $12.  Also, popcorn is 50 cents and there is a vending machine with soda and water on the north side of the Carousel building.

Here is a picture from Art in the Park a few weeks ago - the kids made rolling stamps using part of a water noodle and foam stickers.

Wednesday, July 17 - 2:00PM - "Chasing 4Life" - free, sponsored by the library.  Learn all about the people who help clean up after a weather phenomenon and about how you can be perpared for severe weather in your area.  At Bandshell Park in Ames, 6th St & Duff Ave

Wednesday, July 17 - 6:30PM - Bookmobile Storytime - featuring books, music, and more, followed by a related craft activity, free, Fareway on Stange Rd

**Thursday, July 18 - 10:00AM - "Tops and Bottoms" at Daley Park, including the bookmobile.  Same as July 15, just different location.

Thursday, July 18 - 1:30PM & 2:30PM - Dan Wardell from IPTV will be a the Nevada library.  He had a wonderful, interactive show a few weeks ago in Huxley and talked about healthy snacks and foods.  The kids really got into the show and at the end, everyone got a cool LED flashlight.  The show was about 45 minutes and of course, it was free.  If you can't make it to Nevada, Dan Wardell will be coming to Ames next week, too.

Here is a picture of my boys with Dan Wardell when he was in Huxley a few weeks ago:

 

The kiddos playing with their cool new "superhero" flashlights after the show...



 

We even took our picture with Dan's "sweet ride!" :)

 

 

Thursday, July 18 - 5:30-7:30PM - Tune Into Main Street, "Brewer Project" is playing (pop & jazz).  This is a free event but Valentino's will be selling pizza by the slice in the parking lot.  There are also some activities for kids, including a water balloon dunk tank and when I spoke with one of the sponsors last month, she said kids are welcome to wear their swimsuits and sit on the seat.  They don't really get dunked, but if someone hits the target then a small water balloon falls on their head.  And, more importantly, Becca Wemhoff, the local balloon artist, will be there making free balloon animals and things from 6:00-7:30PM.

Here is my oldest with all of his balloon loot after last month's Tune Into Main Street...

**Friday, July 19 - 10:00AM - "Tops and Bottoms" at Bandshell Park.  Same as July 15, just different location.

Friday, July 19 - 11:30AM-1:30PM - Bookends at Bandshell, free.  "Trigger Fish" and "Stranger than Fiction" (Indie rock, rock/folk/blues) will be playing at Bandshell Park in Ames.  Come bring your lunch and enjoy!

Friday, July 19 - 2:00PM - movie, "The Goonies" (rated PG) at Ames City Auditorium, free (and air-conditioned)

Friday, July 19 - 5:00-8:00PM - Ames on the Half Shell - live music at Bandshell Park in Ames, free if you just play on playground and don't go in beer garden.  Box Brothers is playing.

Friday, July 19 - 6:30PM - Bookmobile Storytime - featuring books, music, and more, followed by a related craft activity (free), University Village

Saturday, July 20 - 8:00AM - noon - Farmer's Market on Main Street Ames

Saturday, July 20 - 10:30AM - Watermelon Days Parade, Stanhope.  All sorts of fun afterward at the Stanhope park including food, bingo, entertainment, ballgames, rides, games and all the free watermelon you can eat! 

Sunday, July 21 - 3:00-6:00PM - Prairie Moon Winery, $3 per adult, kids are free.  Come see Abby Normal Band (classic rock coverband), website is www.abbynormalrockband.com.
Outside food is allowed so we bring all sorts of snacks when we go but can't bring drinks in.  $3 entry includes one drink ticket that can be used for sangria or soda.  They also have a big cooler of water and cups (free) so people can help themselves and food is available for purchase.

Sunday, July 21 - 7:00PM until about 8:30PM - The Blue Moon Players (folk) and The Colt Walkers (roots, folk) are playing at the old Roosevelt school in Ames, 9th St & Roosevelt Ave

Also, Brookside Wading Pool is open every day, weather permitting, from 11AM-4PM.  Cost is $1 per wader (no charge for parents)

Tot Time at Furman Aquatic Center is every day from 11AM-1PM, please check their Facebook page for updates and have a wonderful week!!