2008 Thurston County Fair

The 2008 Thurston County Fair runs July 30 through August 3. Thursday, July 31st is Kids Day and Buddy Day. Kids Day means half off admission for children 6-14 years (5 and under are free). Buddy Day means buy one get one free ride wristbands. Free parking is available at the North Thurston School District bus barn with a complimentary shuttle to and from the fairgrounds. All entertainment is free with admission.

Circus Gatti in town

The circus is in town for a night show at 7 this evening and then tomorrow 7/19 at 2 and then at 7pm.
The are performing at the Trials End Arena in Tumwater.
The website also has a coupon for a free kids admission.

Skyline Drive-In Movie Shelton

Last weekend we visited the Skyline Drive-In movie right outside of Shelton. We went to see Kung-Fu Panda. It was so much fun! We had to choose from the back four rows because we have a mini-van, that was perfect because we parked right by the concession stand to enjoy the convenience of popcorn and snow cones. I recommend this theater hands down, Its really cheap for a family night out. Children are 5-10 cost $.50. We payed 12.50 for all of us, excluding the popcorn and snow cones. Although you can bring your own (not suppose to!). This week's feature is Kung-Fu panda and then Indiana Jones. Our hope was that the kids would fall asleep and that we would watch the second feature, fat chance!

Tips: Bring a ball or a book to read to the kids while you wait for dusk a little after 9:15

Outdoor portable chairs was very comfortable

Pillows and blankets for cozy-ness

Summer Fun -- for Free!

June

• Super Saturday. Held at Evergreen every June. Entertainment, arts & crafts vendors, children's activities, community groups, native arts, etc. Free parking is available in the campus parking lots.
• Children's Entertainment Series. Runs June through August at Huntamer Park in Lacey. Shows are Tuesday evenings at 6:30pm. Performers change each year. There are usually a couple of food vendors and someone doing a free craft for the kids before the show.
• Summer Concerts in the Park Series. Runs June through August at Huntamer Park in Lacey. Concerts are Wednesdays from noon to 1pm and there are several food vendors.
• Outdoor Cinema Series. Also runs June through August at Huntamer Park in Lacey. Shows are on Saturday nights at dusk.
• Free Family Film Festival at Regal Cinema. Selected G & PG movies start at 10AM each Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday during the festival (Jun-Aug). First-come, first-served seating is limited to theater capacity so arrive early!
  

July

• Music in the Park Summer Concert Series. Held on Wednesdays in July and August from 7p-8p at Sylvester Park in Olympia. The entertainment line-up varies each year.
• July 3rd South Sound Fireworks Display. This is always a great show because the fireworks display is done by the same people that do the July 4th show at the Space Needle in Seattle. Our show on July 3rd is their practice session!
• July 4th Tumwater Artesian Festival. This includes a mid-morning parade, and evening festival and an awesome nighttime fireworks display at the Tumwater Valley Golf Course.
  
• Lakefair Kids Day, Parade and Fireworks. Lakefair is a big carnival-type event complete with rides*, live entertainment, food vendors, arts & crafts vendors, etc. It usually runs Thursday through Sunday. Saturday is Kids Day is at Sylvester Park with free activities like face painting, crafts, bounce house and puppet shows. Saturday night is the Grand Parade. Lakefair ends Sunday night at dusk with the fireworks display over Captial Lake.

  (*Ride wristbands are available for the kids on the Thursday for $20-25. Obviously not free, but good to know!)

• Concert at the Capitol. Listen to classical favorites performed by the Olympia Symphony Orchestra on the front lawn of the capitol. Bring a blanket and a picnic dinner!
  

August

• Pet Parade. This is an annual event sponsored by The Olympian and held in downtown Olympia. Children and their families enter the parade and show off their pets. Many of the pets and children are in costume, often tied to that year's parade theme. Some children enter the parade in costume without pets. It's great fun for everyone.
  
• Sand in the City. Put on by the Hand's On Children's Museum each year on the waterfront near Anthony's. Bring the kids to play in the big sandbox and view the sand sculptures. There are food vendors, live entertainment and hands-on activities.
• Harbor Days at Percival Landing & Port Plaza. This is an annual festival where tugboats return to the southernmost tip of Puget Sound for three days of entertainment, food, art, history, and a last farewell to the summer. Vintage, working and retired tugboats are moored at Olympia's Percival Landing. Many of them are open for tour on Saturday of the festival. Be on hand at noon Sunday as the tugs leave shore to participate in the Annual Harbor Days Tugboat Races, out in the deep channel of the bay. Extra attractions include a children's area, model tugboats, and the Hawaiian Chieftain, Lady Washington (star of the Pirates of the Caribbean) & her crew.

If you'd like to see something added to this list, feel free to contact me.

Meridian Park in NE Lacey

Meridian Park is a new city park in northeast Lacey just off Willamette. I believe it's the only city park in that area of Lacey so families north of I-5 and east of Marvin Rd no longer have to trek so far just to play at a park!

This park has a decent number of parking spaces, sun and shade, restrooms, a toddler playground and a big kid playground, 2 regular swings and 2 baby swings, a basketball court and a covered picnic area.

There is also plenty of open space to run around, kick a ball, fly a kite, etc. It's a nice park, but there's nothing particularly unique about it. So unless you live nearby, you may not want to make a special trip.

Picking Strawberries

Picking strawberries is such a great activity. It gets your kids outdoors for a healthy activity AND a healthy snack!

We got an early start as we're early risers in the Gilday household (not by mommy and daddy's choice of course).  I believe we started shortly after 9 am - and by the time we were leaving at 10, the cars were piling in.  

At the Spooners on Yelm Highway, you just pull to the back covered building. They set you up with the basket and send you on your way to an area that is waiting to be picked!  We probably picked strawberries for 30 minutes or so. The perfect amount of time to snap a few pictures, get plenty of berries, have fun and even get muddy.  For less than $10, we picked more than we'll probably be able to eat before they go bad. And after 30 minutes of bending and squatting, I'm reminded why picking strawberries is the perfect summer job for a teenager - not someone in their 30's! 

Helpful hints on berry care:

*always refrigerate immediately (berries will continue to ripen if not refrigerated)

*don't wash berries until ready to use

*rinse berries lightly and let dry on paper towels

*rinse strawberries with the stems on

Happy picking!!

Holy Smokito!

Picture courtesy of Britt Watkins

Today in Thurston county was a whopping 93 degrees and nasty hot. Some like it hot and some not so much.

Here are a few places to cool off with your kids for free oh with the exception of a must have cold one (Iced Coffee, that is!)

1. Millersylvannia Park- Located off Tilley Rd in Tumwater. Has a nice lake to take the kids to. A small beach from area with picnic tables and BBQ pits. The best part enjoy a cold latte while you take the kids for a dip. There is a small snack bar. This is my sister in laws favorites spots and our boys love it.

Bummer: Can be a tiny bit crowded

Bonus: Fun lake with a snack bar

2. Kenney Dell Park in Tumwater. Nice and cool Black Lake a great summer spot. Although recently I have noticed its very popular, but what lake is not during this time.

Bummer: Can also be crowded

Bonus: Awesome jumping dock

3. Pioneer Park off Henderson in Tumwater. Its a three minute walk to the Deschutes River so I recommend a great terrain strollers with packed with all your goods, you wont want to go back to the car for a while :) Only bummer the bathrooms are far from the River which is okay for boys but girls may not like squatting behind a bush! Its wonderful however lots of fun for kids. Finding a spot with shallow water is easy just need to watch out for the small rapids.

Bummer: Far bathrooms and far walk

Bonus: Lots of shade from the sun great trails

4. Heritage Fountain Park down town Olympia. This is fun and for the most part unless you have brave children who like to put there eye in a fountain hole its very safe fun. I recommend aqua shoes for running (even when you tell them not to, you and I know they will!)

Bummer: Bathrooms are a ways away

Bonus: Bayview is not to far to get snacks and a cold latte!

5. Tangelwild Pool located in Lacey.

I have not been here can anyone attest for this one??

6. Priest Point Park Olympia also Burfoot Park If you are up for an adventure then this is the one for you. Beautiful trails that lead to the Puget Sound. I love this hike with another helping hand such as daddyo! So much to explore and see.

Bummer: The hike

Bonus: The Hike!

I would love to add to this list if you have suggestions Please comment or authors write in anytime.

I have two suggestions for a far away splash off.

1. Stewart Heights In Tacoma its a small fee to get in but worth it. Oh I love to take my kids to this mini park adventure.

Bummer: The drive

Bonus: The awesome water slides for the big kids and the small structures for babies!

2. Tacoma Metro Spray Ground Parks and Wading Pools

Bummer: The drive and the silliness of Olympia not having them.

Bonus: New playground :)