Activities for the week of August 12

Okay, so I'm late posting this week but it's much slower than usual and I have to be honest - it takes me about an hour to do this and I'm not sure how many people are getting that much benefit from it so I am not going to spend an hour tonight, I'm going to keep it short & sweet but will still include some fun ideas for the rest of the week.

Of course, the Iowa State Fair is still going strong this week and this is the last week for the Brookside wading pool (last day is August 18).

Thursday, August 15 - 12:00PM - meal, 12:30PM - show - "Hot Dog Dinner Theater" - dig into the world of magic with our favorite magician, Rick Eugene!  The entire family will enjoy this show but the meal beforehand is an added bonus.  Come on in for a hot dog, chips, veggies, dessert, and a drink.  I don't see any mention of price so not sure if this is free so may want to bring some money just in case.  **UPDATE** - this is at BANDSHELL PARK

Thursday, August 15 - 2:00-3:00PM - Balloon Animals Workshop for 9 year-olds and up.  Learn how to make balloon critters during this hour of hands-on activities.  Space is limited so pre-registration is required - call 239-5644 to reserve a spot.  Ames City Auditorium, 520 6th St.

Thursday, August 15 - 5:00PM - meal, 5:30PM - show - "Hot Dog Dinner Theater", see 12:00PM listing.

Thursday, August 15 - 5:30PM-7:30PM - Tune Into Main Street at Tom Evans Park on Main Street Ames.  No balloon animals this week but there is live music and last month there was a bouncy house (free) and kids could wear their swimsuits and get splashed with water balloons.  Also, Valentino's had pizza slices, cookies and drinks for sale.

Thursday, August 15 - 6:30PM - Searching for Shakespeare presents Macbeth.  Free, bring chairs or blankets, show runs about 80 minutes.  Moore Memorial Park (near Northridge).  There is a nice playground here that is exactly like the one at Bandshell Park.

Friday, August 16 - 2:00PM - "The Rescuers Down Under" movie (rated G) showing at Ames City Auditorium, 520 6th St.  No food or drink allowed.

Friday, August 16 - 6:30PM - Searching for Shakespeare presents Macbeth.  See August 15 listing.

Saturday, August 17 - 8AM-noon - Farmer's Market on Main Street, look for fun kids activities and music in Tom Evans Park.

Saturday, August 17 - 1:00PM - Searching for Shakespeare presents Macbeth.  See August 15 listing.

Sunday, August 18 - 2:00-5:00PM - Snus Hill Winery will have live music, thanks to Julie for the tip!  I have never been but she tells me it is free and there is a sandbox for kids to play in so will have to try to make it before the end of their season.  See website for details:  http://snushillwine.com/events/

Sunday, August 18 - 3:00-6:00PM - my ever-favorite place to go - Prairie Moon Winery will have live music, cost is $3 for adults 21 and over, kids are free.  See their website for details:  http://www.prairiemoonwinery.com/events.cfm

Furman Aquatic Center may begin to have shorter hours as summer winds down but I think they're open through Labor Day, weather permitting.  Check their Facebook page for updates.

Also, the Story City Carousel will close after Labor Day so if you haven't made it over there yet or want to squeeze in a few more rides before the end of the season you have a couple of weeks left.

Sorry for the delay but hope you have a great rest of the week and find something fun to do to enjoy this wonderful weather!!

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!!

Activities for the week of July 29, 2013

Well, back-to-school sales, tax-free shopping, ISU students will be back in town soon and I can't believe Thursday is August 1!!  The summer is going so fast!  This is a much slower week than last week but there are still some fun things to do this week (and for the next 4 weeks - yes, I am counting the weeks - before school starts).

Here is my list of fun & fairly low-cost family activities for the week of July 29, 2013:

Monday, July 29 - believe it or not, I can't find a single thing so probably a good day for checking out a park that you haven't been to before.  We went to Daley Park in west Ames last Thursday and I was so impressed!  We also like Brookside, Inis Grove, and also just discovered Hans Peter Christofferson Park just off Oakwood Road a few months ago.

Here are some pictures from Daley Park:

Also, it's a bit of a drive, but the Indianola Hot Air Balloon Festival is happening all this week and runs through August 3.  I have never been before, but we are planning to stop through Indianola on Wednesday and I am looking forward to it!

Tuesday, July 30 - 10:00AM - $1 movie "Rio" at North Grand Theater (at the mall) in Ames

Wednesday, July 31 - 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.

Wednesday, July 31 - 4:00PM - Teen Wednesdays (teens only) - this week it's at City Auditorium, 520 6th St - free movie, "The Hobbit"

Thursday, August 1 - again, I can't find anything going on today so maybe a good day for a park or try out a new area pool.  Or maybe a good day to stay home and just have some backyard fun with some water balloons and a sprinkler.  Here's what we did last week when little sister was sick & napping:

 

Friday, August 2 - all day - not necessarily a family activity but worth mentioning - this is the first day of the tax-free shopping in Iowa, this applies to any clothing item under $100 and any shoes under $100.

Friday, August 2 - 2:00PM free movie, "Wreck it Ralph" at Ames City Auditorium, 520 6th St.  Join Ronald McDonald's McDig'n It as a pre-show before the movie

Saturday, August 3 - all day - this is the second (and final) day of the tax-free shopping in Iowa.  Again, this applies to any item of clothing priced under $100 and any pair of shoes under $100.

Saturday, August 3 - 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 4 - 3:00-6:00PM - Prairie Mooon Winery, $3 per adult (over 21), kids are free.  Trouble No More (blues) 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.  The boys and I walked through the grape vines today and saw beautiful purple and green grapes.  I would bet that they're almost ready to be harvested.  If we go again this week, I will be sure to take some pictures of the grapes and post in next week's blog.

Sunday, August 4 - 7:00PM until about 8:30PM - Roosevelt Summer Sundays Concert, also their Facebook page says this will be another Roosevelt Park Potluck Supper so this may be earlier than 7:00PM, may want to check with someone if you'd like to participate.  The classic Ames band, The Sundogs (reggae), will be performing.  At old Roosevelt school in Ames, 9th St & Roosevelt Ave.

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

Activities for the week of July 22, 2013 (excluding Monday)

I had to share this fun picture of my kiddos from Watermelon Days in Stanhope this past weekend, it was a great time and I highly recommend this to anyone who has not been before - so much fun!  My oldest is hamming it up - being silly biting the rind!

Here is my list of fun & fairly low-cost family activities in the Ames area for the week of July 22 (excluding Monday, July 22 which is on my previous blog):

This is the last week for the library events in the Ames parks.  The library theme for the week is "Diggin' for Treasure" - yo, ho, my hearties!  Come to the park to do Pirate and Treasure themed activities, games, and crafts!  Once again, I have denoted these with ** meaning that they are all the same so you may just want to pick one of the three different times to attend.

**Tuesday, July 23 - 10:00AM - "Diggin' for Treasure" at Inis Grove Park, Walnut 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.

Tuesday, July 23 - 10:00AM - $1 movie "Oceans" at North Grand Theater (at 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.

UPDATE:  Tuesday, July 23 - 6:00PM - Hamilton County Fair Parade, Webster City.  I know this is a bit of a drive from Ames, but some of you may be closer or may be able to make the drive.  The parade marks the beginning of the Hamilton County Fair which begins Wednesday, July 24 and continues through Sunday.  My dad graduated from Webster City so we have been going for many years and there are always lots of fun things for kiddos.  See website for details:  http://www.freemanjournal.net/page/content.detail/id/522205/Hamilton-County-Fair-is-this-week.html?nav=5006

Wednesday, July 24 - Hamilton County Fair, Webster City fairgrounds.  See July 23 listing for details.

Wednesday, July 24 - 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 of two of my kiddos riding the dogs with Grandma:

There are also pigs, roosters, rabbits, and the usual horses, too!

And probably the boys' favorite thing of all, the spinning cup!

Wednesday, July 24 - 2:00PM & 3:00PM - Dan Wardell from IPTV will be at Bandshell Park in Ames, 6th St & Duff Ave.  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.

Here is a picture of my boys with Dan after the show:

Wednesday, July 24 - 4:00PM - Teen Wednesdays at Bandshell Park.  (Teens only)  Hobbit Party - join in a treasure/scavenger hunt while we attempt to retrieve our stolen treasure from Smaug the dragon.  It won't be easy - obstacles will be in our way, including Smaug himself!

Wednesday, July 24 - 6:30PM - Bookmobile Storytime - featuring books, music, and more, followed by a related craft activity, free, Fareway on Stange Rd

Thursday, July 25 - Hamilton County Fair, Webster City fairgrounds. See July 23 listing for details.

**Thursday, July 25 - 10:00AM - "Diggin' for Treasure" at Daley Park, including the bookmobile. Same as July 23, just different location.

UPDATE:  Thursday, July 25 - 4:00-8:00PM - Story City's Carousel will be celebrating National Carousel Day along with its 100th birthday in the North Park. There will be inflatables from 4:00-7:00PM, Sweet Treats ice cream from 5:00-7:00PM and music from Stan Dahl (a fellow South Hamilton graduate) from 6:00-7:30PM.  Free birthday cake will be served during the concert.  Area residents are encouraged to bring their own picnic food or take out from area restaurants to enjoy in the park.  The carousel will be open for rides from noon to 8:00PM.  Thank you to Rachel, Laura's friend, for the reminder!!  Here are the details:  http://storycityherald.com/news/enjoy-music-and-fun-carousel%E2%80%99s-100th-birthday-bash.html

I know it's a bit of a drive, but the Indianola Hot Air Balloon Festival starts on Friday, July 26.  I have never been before, but we are planning a road trip with a stop through town on the 31st.  I think it runs until August 3.

Friday, July 26 - Hamilton County Fair, Webster City fairgrounds. See July 23 listing for details.

**Friday, July 26 - 10:00AM - "Diggin' for Treasure" at Bandshell Park. Same as July 23, just different location.

Friday, July 26 - 11:30AM-1:30PM - Bookends at Bandshell, free. "Peace, Love & Stuff" (rockabilly blues) will be playing at Bandshell Park in Ames. Come bring your lunch and enjoy!

Friday, July 26 - noon - "The Naturalist Lunchbox" sponsored by Story County Conservation, free - at McFarland Park, Ames.  Not sure of details but thank you Jill for the heads up!  Sorry I didn't get this included last week.

Friday, July 26 - 2:00PM - movie, "Muppet Tresure Island" (rated G) at Ames City Auditorium, free (and air-conditioned)

Friday, July 26 - 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. Grand JCT is playing.

Friday, July 26 - 6:30PM - last Bookmobile Storytime of the summer - featuring books, music, and more, followed by a related craft activity (free), University Village

Saturday, July 27 - Hamilton County Fair, Webster City fairgrounds. See July 23 listing for details.

Saturday, July 27 - 8:00AM - noon - Farmer's Market on Main Street Ames.  I have forgotten to mention in previous posts that 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, July 28 - last day of Hamilton County Fair, Webster City fairgrounds. See July 23 listing for details.

Sunday, July 28 - 3:00-6:00PM - Prairie Moon Winery, $3 per adult, kids are free. Come see Planet Passengers (jazz and other favorites).  Jewell area people - this is Ray Burkhart & company's band.  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 28 - 6:00PM - Bookends at Bandshell, special Sunday concert, free.  This is the last Bookends at Bandshell of the summer, "Four Mile Creek Band" (bluegrass) will be playing.

Sunday, July 28 - 7:00PM until about 8:30PM - "The Java Jews" (highly caffeinated klezmer) - I don't make this stuff up and I have no idea what klezmer is, but it sounds interesting - are playing at the old Roosevelt school in Ames, 9th St & Roosevelt Ave

Also, Brookside Wading Pool is still 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 since it seems they've had a high amount of...ahem... "contamination" issues in the Splash Pool lately.  Have an awesome week!!