Category: Special Events

Renaissance Faire

The Bristol Renaissance Faire started this weekend, and you have a couple months to make your plans to attend. For each weekend until Labor Day you can enjoy this amazing event.

From their website:

Every Faire day recreates a time when knights were noble, maids were merry, and turkey legs, titanic. Once you enter the portal gates, you travel back in time to the year 1574, and you’ve walked right into an exciting village festival day. And what are we celebrating? Queen Elizabeth, Herself, is visiting Bristol! It’s time to eat, drink and be merry! Revelry is the order of the day!

For 9 glorious weekends starting in early July, each Saturday and Sunday, plus Labor Day Monday, visitors take a rollicking romp through Elizabethan England, complete with 16th Century games, rides, arts, crafts, food, music and one-of-a-kind encounters with a spectacular cast of characters. The Faire boasts a beautiful 30-acre site with open-air stages featuring Swordfighters, Minstrels and Jesters. Meet Robin Hood or Queen Elizabeth, in person! All entertainment is included in the price of admission.

Nearly 200 artisans display their wares in the Bristol Faire Marketplace. Potters, glass blowers, jewelers and forgers busily go about their work, as shoppers discover rare finds around every corner. Offerings range from sterling silver jewelry, hand-thrown pottery and fine crafted leather works to hickory walking sticks, rich tapestries to hammered pewter.

When: Saturdays, Sundays & Labor Day
Jul. 10 thru Sep. 6, 2010
Where: Off I-94 at the IL/WI Border • 10am – 7pm rain or shine
More info, phone: 847-395-7773

This 90 second video will give you an up close look at the Faire:

There are coupons available for this coming weekend and a smaller coupon for the other weekends. So, if you do plan on attending be sure to take advantage of those savings.

The ultimate field trip

Did you know Disneyworld has special homeschool days?

Well, they do. I know we are a long way from Florida here in Chicagoland, but I also know lots of people make trips down to Disney on a regular basis. So, if you are planning a trip, or looking for an idea for your family vacation this year, you will want to consider this offer.

Check their website for all the prices and scheduling info. I found their prices for these days quite competitive compared to regular ticket prices.

Disney Homeschool Days Experiential Learning With a Touch of Magic
Information - Tickets
Discover the Magic of the Arts
September 7-9, 2010 Have you ever dreamed of being a stage performer? How about commercial artist or a designer? When it comes to careers in the Arts, you're only limited by your imagination. This summer, the Arts come to life for Homeschoolers
Click Here to Learn More ©Disney Entertainment and event components subject to change without notice.
This is a promotional e-mail from Disney Destinations at the following locations:
Walt Disney World® Resort
Attn: E-mail Marketing
1375 Buena Vista Drive
P.O. Box 10000
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32930

And, even if you can’t make the trip to Disney, your child can get a phone call to bring the magic home. Check out more free stuff in Chicago for this free phone call.

Free movie tickets

American Family, Marcus Theatres team up to send kids to the movies

Kids Rule … especially when it comes to summertime fun!merican Family, Marcus Theatres team up to send kids to the movies

With this in mind, American Family and Marcus Theatres are continuing their popular Kids Rule summer film series for the fifth straight year.

To get in on the fun, pick up your free admission passes from a participating American Family agent. (See links below.) Without a pass, these shows cost $2.75 per person.

Then, for designated movies throughout summer, just sit back and enjoy the show. We’ll even throw in some complimentary popcorn.

What’s playing?

Kids Rule films show every Wednesday and Thursday at 10 a.m. from June 23 through Aug. 12 at participating Marcus Theatres.

There are a number of participating agents that will offer these free tickets to kids while supplies last. Check out all the details and locations of the agents at the American Family Insurance Kids Rule website. (scroll down on that page to find the nearest agent)

Father’s Day ideas

Need some last minute Father’s Day ideas for the kids to make or put together? Here are some from Lapbook Lessons. I know my crafty daughters will have a blast with these:

Hey Everyone!
Just some helpful links if you’re planning on a Father’s Day Lapbook……
or if you need something for you’re little ones to present Dad with this Sunday…..

Father’s Day Treat Tags (for gifts)
Dad’s Tool Belt
Father’s Day Coupon Cards/ Bookmark Coupons
Me & My Dad Printable Card
Father’s Day Coloring Pages
Father’s Day Poem


Father’s Day Lapbooks:
Father’s Day Lapbook (free membership)
Father’s Day Freebies:
Lapbook Examples:
please visit our forum and leave it in the comments section!
Don’t forget to post what you make!
Blessings,
Valerie
Also, through today you can get a free 8×10 collage at Walgreen’s
Any other fun ideas for Father’s Day? Homeschool dads deserve special recognition.

$1 movies!

$1 Kids Summer Movies Start on June 14 and runs 9 Weeks!

A Different Fun Film Each Week!

$1 per ticket, all ages!  Each week, Monday through Friday at 10:00am we offer an entertaining PG movie for only $1.

Playing at the following theaters:  Bay City 8, Canton Cinema, Capital 8, Forum 8, Grand Haven 9, Hamilton 16 IMAX, Holland 7, Jackson 10, Kalamazoo 10, Kendall 10, Krafft 8, Lafayette 7, Lansing Mall Cinema, Oxford 7, Portage 16 IMAX, Quality 16, Randall 15 IMAX, Saginaw 12, Savoy 16, W. Columbia 7, Wabash Landing 9, Willow Knolls 14

Click here for movie lineup

Bass Pro Shop family camp

Came across this info at The Happy Housewife‘s blog:

Bass Pro Family Summer Camp

From June 5- July 11, every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday there are free activities at Bass Pro Shops from noon to 6 pm. Activities include: pet safety, fishing basics, archery, shooting basics, animal identification, making s’mores, plants & insects, hiking and much more.

Looks like a lot of fun activities for the family. Check out the Bass Pro website for more information, and be sure to call ahead to confirm what you will find in the store that you plan to visit.  It does say the Chicago location does not have a shooting gallery, but it seems the other activities should be there.
You could enjoy:
  • making s’mores
  • casting pond
  • crafts
  • workshops
  • a free download of you on a Field and Stream cover
Looks like a great time for families and kids of all ages.

Volleyball camps

The following information is from Coach Lum at Westminster Christian School in Elgin. Feel free to contact him for more information about these opportunities for various ages to improve their volleyball skills and have some fun in the process.

I am the head varsity girls’ volleyball coach at Westminster Christian School (WCS) and wanted to share with you information about my Summer volleyball camps.  I am coaching various camps for girls and boys from grades 1 through high school at WCS (http://www.athletics2000.com/westminster/registration, scroll to the bottom) and the Top Flight Volleyball Club for outdoor (http://www.topflightvbc.com/campsclinics/docs/0910summer.pdf) and indoor (http://www.topflightvbc.com/campsclinics/jindoorcampsclinics.php).  Both facilities are in Elgin.

Of special interest though are the camps for volleytots and junior beach volleyball.  Volleytots start as early as the first week of June with my WCS Little Warrior camp.  If you know any friends with little girls or boys (grades 1-4) interested in playing volleyball, let them know it’s available.  We use a lighter ball, lower net, and smaller court to help the kids be as successful as possible.  Drills are shortened to hold the interest of the kids better also.

Top Flight junior beach camps start the second week of June and the last one starts the beginning of August.  You play either 2’s or 4’s, your choice.

Check out these unique opportunities for kids to improve their volleyball skills and IQ.  Thanks for your time.

~ Coach Guy

Guy Lum
– Head girls varsity coach at Westminster Christian School (IHSA ASEP certified)
– Team coach at Top Flight Volleyball Club (USAV IMPACT, CAP I, & CAP II certified)
– A Site Clinician for the US Youth Volleyball League’s Elgin location

Adler Planetarium free days

Free days at Adler Planetarium coming up next week. These are the free dates for the rest of the year:

Charter One
Charter One Discount Days at the Adler are made possible by the generous support of the Charter One Foundation.
June
September
October
November
December
7-11
7, 13-17, 21, & 28
5, 12, 19, & 26
2, 9, 16, 23, & 30
7, 14, & 21

Check out the Planetarium’s website for all the rest of the details and to plan your trip.

Free museum days this week!

More free field trips! Info from Free things in Chicago . . .

Looking for things to do in Chicago with the kids? Here are some of the museums in Chicago that have free days this week.  Found another? — leave a comment for the community!

The Chicago History Museum is free to the public every Monday, 9:30am-4:30pm.

The Museum of Science and Industry has free general admission (basic entry) to the public on Monday May 3

The Adler Planetarium is free on May 4th with hours being 9:30am – 6pm during the summer; 10:00am – 4:00pm otherwise; Charter One Discount Days at the Adler are made possible by the generous support of the Charter One Foundation.

The National Museum of Mexican Art is free every day but closed on Mondays.

Museum of Contemporary Photography. Free every day and open Mon.-Sat. 10am-5pm (Thurs. until 8pm), Sun. 12-5pm. 600 S. Michigan Ave. at Columbia College, Chicago.

The Notebaert Chicago Nature Museum has “Free Days” every Thursday.

The Oriental Institute. Free every day (suggested donation of $7 adults, $4 children). Open Tues.-Sat. 10am-6pm (Wed. until 8:30pm), Sun. 12-6pm, closed Mondays. 1155 East 58th Street at University of Chicago.

The Art Institute of Chicago is free to the public every Thursday evening (May 6) from 5pm-8pm.

The Chicago Children’s Museum is free for everyone – every Thursday evening (may 6 this week) from 5-8pm

The Lincoln Park Zoo is free and open to the public 365 days per year. Generally open 10am-5pm.