Fri, July 23rd - Sun, July 25th

1. Enjoy an enchanting night of dancing and fireworks at THE STRAUSS FESTIVAL of Elk Grove.
2.Sit under the stars to see ALIENS IN THE ATTIC at Gibson Ranch.
3.Watch THE PRINCESS AND THE PEA at the 24th Street Theatre.
4. Examine a 14 foot CROCODILE skin at the Discovery Museum.
5. Laugh along with the PIRATES OF PENZANCE at Civic Theatre West.
6. Last chance to see MONKEY KING: Bollywood Superstar at Fairytale Town.
7. Play games, dance and win prizes at the Central Library’s BACK TO THE BEACH PARTY.
8. Giggle at THE FROG PRINCE by The Fair Oaks Theatre Festival.
9. Picnic at Carmichael’s CONCERT IN THE PARK.
10.Dig for dinosaur fossils and pet jungle creatures at the CALIFORNIA STATE FAIR.

Fri, June 25th - Sun, June 27th

1. Watch CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF MEATBALLS under the stars at Laguna Community Park.
2. Laugh with a singing and juggling VENTROLOQUIST at the Courtland Library.
3. Learn all about bats at the TrailMix.net Store’s GOING BATTY!
4. Build a MONSTER TRUCK at Lowe’s Grow and Build Clinic.
5. Get ready for the 4th and create a STAR SPANGLED WAVER at the Discovery Museum.
6. Last chance to see RILEY THE WILEY RABBIT puppet show in Fairytale Town.
7. Picnic at the POPS IN THE PARK concert in McKinley Park.
8. Enjoy TOY STORY 3 in 3-D at the IMAX Theatre.
9. Splash and play at one of the AQUATIC CENTERS’ pool playgrounds.
10.Eat, ride and be entertained at the PLACER COUNTY FAIR.

Fri, June 18th - Sun, June 20th

1. Listen to Native American stories under the stars at Maidu’s FAMILY CAMPFIRE.
2. Jump, eat pizza & ice cream at Bounce Spot’s FAMILY BOUNCE NIGHT.
3. See YOU’RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN! at Civic Theatre West.
4. Enjoy Curious George STORY TIME at the Arden Faire Barnes & Noble.
5. Create a WOOLY MAMMOTH banner at the Discovery Museum.
6. Laugh at the RILEY THE WILEY RABBIT puppet show in Fairytale Town.
7. Picnic at the POPS IN THE PARK concert in Bertha Henschel Park.
8. Sing and Dance with Elmo in SESAME STREET LIVE at the Arco Arena.
9. Celebrate World Juggling Day and LEARN TO JUGGLE at the McKinley Library.
10. Treat Dad to Free admission at Cal Auto Museum for FATHER’S DAY.

There is something for everyone this Thursday at our local libraries!  These three events look like they will be really entertaining.  Fun and FREE!

Wild Animals…

Wild Things

When: Thursday, June 10th; 3:00 pm to 3:45 pm

Where: Del Paso Heights Library, 920 Grand Ave., Sacramento

Wild Things brings living wildlife to children of all ages.  The animals will visit Del Paso Heights Library as wildlife ambassadors.  They could not survive on their own in the wild.  Meet animals from five continents and hear their personal stories.

A Puppet Show…

The Three Billy Goats Gruff Puppet Show

When: Thursday, June 10th; 3:30 pm to 4:30 pm

Where: Franklin Community Library, 10055 Franklin High Rd., Elk Grove

Three Billy Goats must find a way to outwit the Troll and get across the bridge so they can enjoy the field of green, green grass.

OR Magic…

Mimo the Magician

When: Thursday, June 10th; 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm

Where: South Natomas Library, 2901 Truxel Rd., Sacramento

Join Mimo for a beach bash as she rides the imagination waves with magic, storytelling, and puppets.  While reading her favorite book, Professor Mimo fell asleep and dreamed a wonderful adventure beginning with a band of pirates and a lost treasure.

For more information, call (916) 264-2700 or visit Saclibrary.org.

A few weeks ago, I wrote about a weekly event called Art Safari that is held at the Valley-Hi North Laguna Library.  It’s presented by the Crocker Art Museum and geared for school-age kids.  You can see the post with the details here.

Last Tuesday we checked it out for ourselves and had a great time!  The theme for the day was animation.  Employees of the Crocker read a story and led two art projects that helped the kids to better understand how animation is created.  The kids were serious about their projects and pleased with their results.   This new library branch is very cute and updated.  I am looking forward to attending Art Safari when the weather is better because the kids are dying to try out the new park in front of the library.  We’ll head over there right after school, play on the playground and then go inside for the activity.  Fun and free!

Art Safari is held every Tuesday at the Valley-Hi North Laguna Library.  Click here for all the details and the bonus is each participant receives a FREE family admission pass to the Crocker Art Museum!

1. Spend hours exploring your creativity at ARTBEAST STUDIO.

2. Get your wiggles out at FUNTASTIC’s indoor playground.

3. Relax and enjoy entertaining activities or storytime at the LIBRARY.

4. Meet up with friends to jump and play at BOUNCETOWN or LAGUNA’S AWESOME PARTY PALACE.

5. Explore the RAILROAD MUSEUM or the DISCOVERY SCIENCE MUSEUM and learn something new.

For more ideas visit my INDOOR page or go to the Indoor Activities category.    Stay Dry!

All month long, the Sacramento Public Library offers fun, educational, and cultural experiences for our kids.  To top it off, they are completely FREE!  I love to take advantage of these events and take my kids to as many as I can.  Instead of sticking to your local library, check out some of the events at other libraries in Sacramento.  I have always thought that it is worth it to make the trip to a library outside of my neighborhood.  It is also fun to see what different locations have to offer.  In our experiences, many of them have a park right outside which makes for an extra fun outing.

We have seen Magic Shows, sung with Francie Dillon, watched movies, met Star Wars Characters, had our books signed by Laura Numeroff, played on African drums and much more!

Here are the Library’s Kids Events for this week:

(more…)

My kids and I are big fans of  the books If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, If You Give a Moose a Muffin, If you Give a Pig a Party, and If You Give a Cat a Cupcake.  So I was super excited to find out that Laura Numeroff, the author of these fun favorites will be visiting our Central Library this Friday night!  She’ll be discussing her work and reading her newest book, The Jellybeans and the Big Book Bonanza. The program will include a kids’ question-and-answer segment and copies of Numeroff’s books will be available for purchase and signing.  Hope to see you there!

When: Friday, March 12;  6:00 - 8:00 pm  (Seating is limited and doors open at 5:30 p.m.)

Where: Central Library, 828 I Street, Sacramento

Cost: FREE

Info: (916) 264-2700 or www.saclibrary.org

Close

The kids and I love Library activities!  We have been to some of the most fun, most cultural and most educational events at libraries in Sacramento.  The added bonus…and it is a big one…is that they are FREE!  Each month I add the library activities happening around the county into the Upcoming Events Calendar, but I thought it would be fun to highlight some of the really neat ones.

Tomorrow, the South Natomas Library is hosting a special music event.

Music from Around the World with Don O’Brien

Celebrate the cultural diversity of musical instruments around the world with musician Don O’Brien. Listen to music from diverse corners of the world, including Africa (double flute from Ghana), Ireland (Irish tin whistle), Native American (Navajo Indian flute), Australia (didgeridoo), Tibet (singing bowls and tingsha), and Italy (baroque recorder). The audience will have the opportunity to play some instruments. All ages are welcome.

When: Wednesday, February 10th, 4:00 pm
Where: South Natomas Library, 2901 Truxel Rd., Sacramento
Info: 916-264-2919 or  www.SacLibrary.org
Cost: FREE

Hope to see you there!

Whether your child is a toddler or school-age, they probably love storytime just like mine do!  Not only is it a fun outing, but it plays an important role in introducing kids to the magic of books.   Another plus is that storytimes are FREE!  We are lucky in Sacramento to have so many storytimes offered all week, every week!  Here’s a quick roundup of storytimes in the area you may want to check out.  Be sure to verify before you go as times may change.  Enjoy!

Barnes & Noble Storytime

Arden Faire
Tuesday 11:00 am, Saturdays 2:00 pm
Citrus Heights
Tuesdays 10:30 am
Natomas
Tuesdays11:00 am, Saturdays, 11:00am
Roseville
Wednesdays 11:00 am, Saturdays 11:00 am

Big Spoon Yogurt Storytime

Elk Grove, Rocklin, Land Park, Natomas, Fair Oaks, Jackson, Dixon, Folsom, East Sac
Every 3rd Thursday 1 - 2:00 pm
Kids 6 and under receive a free yogurt!

Pottery Barn Kids Storytime

Roseville Galleria Mall & Arden Fair Mall
Tuesdays 11 - 11:30 am

Learning Express Storytime

Roseville Galleria Mall (next to Nordstroms)
Wednesdays & Fridays 11:00 am

Sacramento Public Library

Preschool Storytime (3-5 years old):
Arcade Library
Thursdays 10:00 am

Arden-Dimick Library
Thursdays 10:00 am

Belle Cooledge Library
Tuesdays 4:30 pm
(Sing along for 3-7 years old)

Colonial Heights Library
Thursdays 4:30 pm

Courtland Library
Wednesdays 11:00 am

E.K. McClatchy Library
Tuesdays 10:30 am

Elk Grove Library
Thursdays 11:00 am

Franklin Community Library
Thursdays 11:00 am

Galt-Marian O. Lawrence Library
Thursdays 11:00 am

McKinley Library
Wednesdays 11:00 am

Rio Linda Library
Tuesdays 6:30 pm

Southgate Community Library
Wednesdays 11:00  am

South Natomas Library
Thursdays 11:00 am

Sylvan Oaks Library
Thursdays 11:00 am

Toddler Storytime (1.5-3 years old):

Central Library
Thursdays 10:05 am

Elk Grove Library
Wednesdays 10:00 am

McKinley Library
Tuesdays 11:15am

North Sacramento-Hagginwood Library
Tuesdays 11:15am

South Natomas Library
Thursdays 10:00am

Sylvan oaks Library
Wednesdays 11:00 am

Baby Storytime (6-18mos old):

Belle Cooledge Library
Thursdays 9:30 am

Elk Grove Library
Tuesdays 11:30 am

Galt-Marian O. Lawrence Library
Saturdays 10:00 am
(Baby/Toddler - birth to 2 1/2 years old)

Folsom Public Library

Toddler & Preschool Storytime (2-6 years old):

Georgia Murray Building
Tuesdays 10:00 am & 11:00 am, Fridays 10:30am, Saturdays 10:30am
Norman R. Siefkin Library
Wednesdays 9:30 am

Baby Storytime (birth - 18 mos):

Norman R. Siefkin Library
Wednesdays at 9:30 am

Family Time (2 year olds and up):

Norman R. Siefkin Library
Thursdays 6:30 pm