Activities for the week of August 5, 2013

What beautiful weather lately, it's still hard for me to believe it's August already & just three weeks until school starts!

Here is my list of fun & fairly low-cost Ames-area acitivies for the week of August 5, 2013:

Monday, August 5 - couldn't really find much of anything happening today so hope you were able to find something fun to do or just enjoy the day at home.  A good day to save up your energy for all of Tuesdays activities!

We also tried out another park we hadn't been to before last week.  We went to Moore Memorial Park, just north of Veenker golf course, although you want to enter on the north side of the park, via Carver/24th St.  It was a little tricky to find, but there are signs once you get close and we were stunned to see that the playground equipment was exactly the same as Bandshell Park, minus the little bumblebee!  One thing that was very different, though, was the cool pond at Moore Park and the little viewing dock and walking/bike trail around the pond.  Here are some of our pictures from Moore Park:

Tuesday, August 6 - 10:00AM - $1 movie "Chimpanzee" at North Grand Theater (in the mall) in Ames.

Tuesday, July 23 - 10:00AM - Reiman Gardens Story Time, $4 for kids ages 4-17, $8 for adults, children under 3 free and free if you have a family membership ($55 annual). When we did this a few years ago, there were usually 2 stories and then a craft related to the stories. Sometimes the crafts were inside and sometimes they were right in the gardens but once you pay you get full access to the gardens, including the butterfly wing.

Tuesday, August 6 - 5:00-8:00PM - 99 cent kids meals at Fazolis in Ames & they usually have a fun activity for kids in addition to the usual crayons and activity sheets.

Tuesday, August 6 - 5:30-7:30PM - free face painting and kids eat free at Valentino's in Ames.  Actually you get one free kids meal for each adult meal so if you have 3 kids and 2 adults then you will have to pay for one of the kids meals.  Valentino's does this every Tuesday and kids get to make their own pizzas but face painting is only the first Tuesday of the month.  The face painter is Pirates Princesses Lucinda, she does a great job and she is so fast, she is my kids' favorite!

Tuesday, August 6 - 7:00PM - Watch What You Eat! - kids will learn all about how to keep the food you eat safe and healthy.  Hands-on learning with produce harvested from our own garden!  Free, located at the Squaw Creek Community Garden, Plot #1, 2 blocks south fo the S. 4th St. and S. Maple intersection in Ames.

Wednesday, August 7 - 1:00PM - as far as I know, Art in the Park is still happening.  It's hard to find any information on this so you may want to try to contact the Story City Parks & REc department if you're driving very far to get there.  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.

Thursday, August 8 - the first day of the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines.  I found a fun website for 101 freebies at the Iowa State Fair: http://www.iowastatefair.org/upl/downloads/library/101-freebies.pdf
and here is the general website:  http://www.iowastatefair.org/

Friday, August 9 - day 2 of the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines, see details on August 8 listing.

Friday, August 9 - 2:00PM free movie, "James and the Giant Peach" (rated PG) at Ames City Auditorium, 520 6th St.

Saturday, August 10 - day 3 of the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines, see details on August 8 listing.

Saturday, August 10 - 8AM-noon - Farmer's Market, Main Street Ames. There are usually activities or crafts for kids and live music at Tom Evans Park. One week there was a little petting zoo and sometimes there are face painters (for a small fee), too.

Sunday, August 10 - day 4 of the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines, see details on August 8 listing.

Sunday, August 10 - 3:00-6:00PM - Prairie Mooon Winery, $3 per adult (over 21), kids are free.  World Port (world view music from Des Moines) will be playing. 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.  I took some pictures of the grapes yesterday and here are some pictures:

 

Here is another picture from Prairie Moon - my mom, my grandma, my grandma's sister & her husband visiting from Oregon:

 

Sunday, August 4 - 7:00PM until about 8:30PM - Roosevelt Summer Sundays Concert, The Parranderos Latin Combo will be performing.  Free, at old Roosevelt school in Ames, 9th St & Roosevelt Ave.  Here is a picture of my mom, my aunt Bonnie, and me with the kiddos listening to the Sundogs last week:

 

 

Brookside Wading Pool is still open every day through August 18, 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 and the entire water park is open until 8PM every day, weather permitting.  Please check their Facebook page for updates. Have a wonderful week!!