Boulder Family Events: August 9 to August 15, 2013

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Boulder Family Events is a weekly listing of what is happening in Boulder that will be of interest to families. Please feel free to submit your unique, low cost or free events or ones you have heard about. This listing is a resource for all families, so please get involved! 

Friday, August 9

  • Boulder County Fair. Head to the Boulder County Fair to see animals, watch a rodeo,  enjoy some rides, and eat some fair food. Gate admission and parking is Screen Shot 2013-08-01 at 7.19.37 PMfree. More details on daily events and tickets here. Through August 11, 2013
  • Noon Tunes on Pearl Street Mall. Head down to Pearl Street for some free, grooving good tunes. Let the kids play in the pop fountain and dance the afternoon away. Noon to 1:30pm.
  • Friday Storytime at the Main Boulder Library. Come listen to stories. Free. 10:15am.

Saturday, August 10

  • Salida Circus: Digging Into Books! Colorado’s favorite circus sisters will be digging to books and need your help! On a search to find the “moral of the story,” the Scarlets meet Curious George, Runaway Bunny, Babar the Elephant, Frog and Toad, and other classic storybook characters! With circus acts, songs, and lots of audience participation, Salida Circus makes “Digging into Books!” 50 minutes of educational circus fun for everyone. George Reynolds Branch Library @ 11:00am. Meadows Branch Library @ 3:00pm.
  • Boulder County Fair. Head to the Boulder County Fair to see animals, watch a rodeo,  enjoy some rides, and eat some fair food. Gate admission and parking is free. More details on daily events and tickets here. Through August 11, 2013
  • Boulder Market at University Hill Elementary School. The 12th annual Boulder Market is an Open Air Marketplace that features high quality art, hand crafted goods, amazing finds, great fashions, local merchants, delicious food, unique treasures, live music, kids activities and a whole lot more!
  • Boulder Asian Festival. Live events, food, and a community tent with great activities for kids. This has been a family-friendly event. #PearlStreetMall near the Courthouse. Open 11 to 5pm 8/10 and 11
  • Boulder Outdoor Cinema presents Wayne’s World. Find this fun outdoor theater experience happening in the parking lot behind the Tea House just off of 13th street. Gates open at 7pm, a band starts at 7:30pm and the movie starts at dusk. This is a fun, family-friendly Boulder event.
  • Boulder Farmer’s Market. Meet your farmers, do some artwork, get some lunch. There is always so much going on at the market! 8:00am to 2:00pm.
  • FREE Day at BMoCA. Join them all day to delight in their exhibits or stop by during the Farmer’s Market for a fun kids craft.
  • Twenty Ninth Street Live! Live musical performances Saturday nights throughout the summer. Food trucks, drinks, music. All outside at the Twenty Ninth Street Mall. 7:00 to 10:00pm. 
  • FREE Day at the Longmont Museum. Don’t forget to check out their LEGO exhibit!

Sunday, August 11

Monday, August 12

Tuesday, August 13

Wednesday, August 14

  • Bands on the Bricks. Get down and enjoy great live music playing on the Pearl Street Mall. Check out the line up here. Free. 7:00 to 9:00pm [libations starting at 5:30pm]
  • Boulder Farmer’s Market. Meet your farmers, buy some veggies, get some dinner, listen to live music and even have a beer. There is always so much going on at the market and it’s not as crowded as Saturdays, so it’s great for families! 4:00 to 8:00pm.
  • FREE Night at BMoCA. Join them all day to delight in their exhibits. 4 to 8pm.
  • TEBO Train on Pearl Street Mall. Free. 10:00am to 11:15am. More details in the June 10 listing.
  • Kids Eat FREE tonight at Wahoo’s!

Thursday, August 15

#getoutside #free #parenting #boulder #colorado

Boulder Family Events: August 2 to August 8, 2013

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Boulder Family Events is a weekly listing of what is happening in Boulder that will be of interest to families. Please feel free to submit your unique, low cost or free events or ones you have heard about. This listing is a resource for all families, so please get involved! 

Friday, August 2

Saturday, August 3

Sunday, August 4

Monday, August 5

Tuesday, August 6

Wednesday, August 7

Thursday, August 8

#getoutside #free #parenting #boulder #colorado

Boulder Family Events: July 26 to August 1, 2013

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Boulder Family Events is a weekly listing of what is happening in Boulder that will be of interest to families. Please feel free to submit your unique, low cost or free events or ones you have heard about. This listing is a resource for all families, so please get involved! 

Friday, July 26

Saturday, July 27

  • Boulder Folders–Learn Origami. Informal origami workshops for people aged 10 and older or experienced younger folders accompanied by an adult. Please bring your own paper if you have it. Main Boulder Library. 10:15am to Noon.
  • Boulder Outdoor Cinema presents Moonrise Kingdom. Commonsense Media says it’s a show good for 14 and over. Find this fun outdoor theater experience happening in the parking lot behind the Tea House just off of 13th street. Gates open at 7pm, a band starts at 7:30pm and the movie starts at dusk. This is a fun, family-friendly Boulder event.IMG_1550
  • Strong Kids Triathlon with the YMCA of Boulder Valley. Children are able to experience an introduction to the sport of triathlon in a safe, friendly and welcoming environment…and make great memories at the Y! Children will race in heats determined by age groups. Each heat will cater to the skill level of the child and will include lap(s) in the pool, lap(s) on tricycles or bicycles and finish with lap(s) around the turf field. Each child will go home with a medal, t-shirt and a great memory. 9:00am at the Arapahoe Y. You need to pre-register.
  • Boulder Farmer’s Market. Meet your farmers, do some artwork, get some lunch. There is always so much going on at the market! 8:00am to 2:00pm.
  • FREE Day at BMoCA. Join them all day to delight in their exhibits or stop by during the Farmer’s Market for a fun kids craft.
  • Twenty Ninth Street Live! Live musical performances Saturday nights throughout the summer. Food trucks, drinks, music. All outside at the Twenty Ninth Street Mall. 7:00 to 10:00pm. 

Sunday, July 28

  • Magicians of the Mountain ParksA nature magic show for the whole family! Take an exciting glimpse into the spectacular lives of the wild ones. Professional Magician Paul Norton and Naturalist Lynne Sullivan will reveal the amazing survival strategies of the plants and animals we see here in the mountains surrounding Boulder. Head up to the Flagstaff Summit Amphitheater for this stationary nature magic show. 5 years of age and up. 9:30am to 10:30am.
  • Junior Ranger Adventures: Emergency Shelter Building. Rangers know that fast moving storms can hit at any time in Colorado. Being caught in lightning, rain, snow or wind is a dangerous situation. Building an emergency shelter is a survival skill that all rangers must know how to do. Learn how to build an emergency shelter so that you can stay dry, warm and safe. This event is part of the Junior Ranger Adventures Summer Challenge, a program for kids, ages 6-13. Meet at Heil Ranch from 10:00am to Noon. http://www.bouldercountyopenspace.org/jr

Monday, July 29

Tuesday, July 30

Wednesday, July 31

  • Waneka Lake July Concert Series.Tonight is the Chain Station
    Chain Station is a 4-piece, high-energy, get ‘em out on the dance floor stringband from the Front Range. 
    Good fun for the whole family. Starts at 7pm at the Waneka Lake Park.
  • Bands on the Bricks. Get down and enjoy great live music playing on the Pearl Street Mall. Check out the line up here. Free. 7:00 to 9:00pm [libations starting at 5:30pm]
  • Boulder Farmer’s Market. Meet your farmers, buy some veggies, get some dinner, listen to live music and even have a beer. There is always so much going on at the market and it’s not as crowded as Saturdays, so it’s great for families! 4:00 to 8:00pm.
  • FREE Night at BMoCA. Join them all day to delight in their exhibits. 4 to 8pm.
  • TEBO Train on Pearl Street Mall. Free. 10:00am to 11:15am. More details in the June 10 listing.
  • Kids Eat FREE tonight at Wahoo’s!

Thursday, August 1

Boulder Family Events: July 19 to July 25, 2013

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Friday, July 19

  • Boulder Rural Fire Station Kids Day. Do you have young kids who love fire trucks? Join the Boulder Rural Fire Station for a great story time and exploration. Following an age appropriate fire safety story, children will be given a tour of our station and the apparatus by our firefighters. [They will do it again August 16 if you miss this one] Located at 6230 Lookout Rd, Bldr. Join them at 10:30am. Free for children 3 to 5.
  • Noon Tunes on Pearl Street Mall. Head down to Pearl Street for some free, grooving good tunes. Let the kids play in the pop fountain and dance the afternoon away. Noon to 1:30pm.
  • Friday Storytime at the Main Boulder Library. Come listen to stories. Free. 10:15am.

Saturday, July 20

  • Nature Hikes for Kids and Parents: Wildflowers. Experience wildflowers and the roles they play on the land and for wildlife. Learn about pollination and how insects are attracted by color, fragrance, and shape.  Hike beautiful Chautauqua Meadow with Debora Martin, Early Childhood Educator/Volunteer Naturalist.  Meet at the Chautauqua Ranger Cottage for an easy hike on Bluebell-Baird. Bring a nature journal and camera. (optional)   Ages 6-8
  • Boulder Farmer’s Market. Meet your farmers, do some artwork, get some lunch. There is always so much going on at the market! 8:00am to 2:00pm.
  • FREE Day at BMoCA. Join them all day to delight in their exhibits or stop by during the Farmer’s Market for a fun kids craft.
  • Twenty Ninth Street Live! Live musical performances Saturday nights throughout the summer. Food trucks, drinks, music. All outside at the Twenty Ninth Street Mall. 7:00 to 10:00pm. IMG_1292

Sunday, July 21

Monday, July 22

Tuesday, July 23

Wednesday, July 24

  • Waneka Lake July Concert Series.Tonight is the Chain Station
    Chain Station is a 4-piece, high-energy, get ‘em out on the dance floor stringband from the Front Range. 
    Good fun for the whole family. Starts at 7pm at the Waneka Lake Park.
  • FREE Day at the North Boulder Recreation Center. Swim. Workout. This is a great indoor kid friendly pool!
  • Bands on the Bricks. Get down and enjoy great live music playing on the Pearl Street Mall. Check out the line up here. Free. 7:00 to 9:00pm [libations starting at 5:30pm]
  • Boulder Farmer’s Market. Meet your farmers, buy some veggies, get some dinner, listen to live music and even have a beer. There is always so much going on at the market and it’s not as crowded as Saturdays, so it’s great for families! 4:00 to 8:00pm.
  • FREE Night at BMoCA. Join them all day to delight in their exhibits. 4 to 8pm.
  • TEBO Train on Pearl Street Mall. Free. 10:00am to 11:15am. More details in the June 10 listing.
  • Kids Eat FREE tonight at Wahoo’s!

Thursday, July 25

Boulder Family Events: July 12 to July 18, 2013

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Friday, July 12

Saturday, July 13

Sunday, July 14

Monday, July 15

Tuesday, July 16

Wednesday, July 17

  • Waneka Lake Concert Series. Good fun for the whole family. Starts at 7pm at the Waneka Lake Park.
  • Bands on the Bricks. Get down and enjoy great live music playing on the Pearl Street Mall. Check out the line up here. Free. 7:00 to 9:00pm [libations starting at 5:30pm]
  • Boulder Farmer’s Market. Meet your farmers, buy some veggies, get some dinner, listen to live music and even have a beer. There is always so much going on at the market and it’s not as crowded as Saturdays, so it’s great for families! 4:00 to 8:00pm.
  • FREE Night at BMoCA. Join them all day to delight in their exhibits. 4 to 8pm.
  • TEBO Train on Pearl Street Mall. Free. 10:00am to 11:15am. More details in the June 10 listing.
  • Kids Eat FREE tonight at Wahoo’s!

Thursday, July 18

Boulder Family Events: July 5 to July 11, 2013

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Friday, July 5

Saturday, July 6

Sunday, July 7

Monday, July 8

Tuesday, July 9

Wednesday, July 10

  • Pearl Street Mile Race. The Pearl Street Mile is the “signature event” of the Downtown Boulder Race Series. The event includes a ½ mile race just for the kids. After crossing the finish line head over to Bands on the Bricks to relax, enjoy some music, and bask in your accomplishment. Fun for the whole family! 5:30pm. Register ahead of time here.
  • Bands on the Bricks. Get down and enjoy great live music playing on the Pearl Street Mall. Check out the line up here. Free. 7:00 to 9:00pm [libations starting at 5:30pm]
  • Boulder Farmer’s Market. Meet your farmers, buy some veggies, get some dinner, listen to live music and even have a beer. There is always so much going on at the market and it’s not as crowded as Saturdays, so it’s great for families! 4:00 to 8:00pm.
  • FREE Night at BMoCA. Join them all day to delight in their exhibits. 4 to 8pm.
  • TEBO Train on Pearl Street Mall. Free. 10:00am to 11:15am. More details in the June 10 listing.
  • Kids Eat FREE tonight at Wahoo’s!

Thursday, July 11

Family Movie Nights [Not the ones in the movie theater!]

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My family loves a good movie night! We often have a tough time finding a movie we agree upon. Recently we have tried to find some good oldies and it’s worked. The kids actually like them. And they tend to be free or cheap to watch.

home-aloneYou don’t have to pay [or pay much] to watch some wonderful movies! To get them free or almost free you have to stick to the older movies. Most kids won’t jump up and down for joy when you tell them you are going to play Princess Bride, but they usually end up loving them despite themselves. Head to the library, use Amazon Prime Instant Video [if you’ve got it already], or check your cable company’s free On Demand movie section. Babble has an interesting Top 10 List of free or almost free movies: 10 Picks for Cheap [or free!] Family Movie Nights.

In Boulder you can check out the Boulder Outdoor Cinema’s showings too. Some are better for the family than others! For 2013 it looks like Despicable Me & Princess Bride are the family-friendly winners in the line up.

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You cannot always count on movie ratings, especially with older movies, to tell you all you want to know about the movie you are considering watching with your family. To check out the appropriateness of a movie you can head to Common Sense Media where you can look into the movie themes and appropriateness for your kids’ age group. This is a fantastic resource since it really is tough to know what is appropriate for your family!

Enjoy family movie night without the huge expense of taking the family to the movie theater! The oldies really are goodies when it comes to watching movies with your kids!

Any other movie recommendations? What are your family’s favorite movies?

Origami Is An Amazing Art Form!

Origami is a beautiful, meditative practice that is great for kids and adults alike! If you love origami, or you don’t know anything about it, you will love this video of the unfolding of a complicate origami rhino!

Or watch the making of an origami koi fish:

If you are inspired to create origami consider taking a look online for some great tutorials. I would start with YouTube. There is also a group of origami folders in Boulder: Boulder Folders. They offer origami training and practice at the Boulder Public Library from time to time. The next Boulder Folders is June 11, 2013 from 6:30 to 8:30pm. For more information on that event click here.

Origami is a beautiful, meditative practice that is great for kids and adults alike!

DIG INTO READING with the Boulder Public Library’s Summer Reading Program!

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The kids are out of school and summer if finally here in Boulder! Want to keep them motivated to read? I highly recommend kids being a part of the Boulder Public Library’s Dig Into Reading summer reading program. My kids have done it for years! They run a great program every summer and this year is no exception. Registration is open! Here is what you do to get involved:

  1. Stop into ANY Boulder Public Library and sign your child up. It’s free and easy to sign up. Pick out a book at that time.
  2. Read! Your child/you complete the tracking form.
  3. Head into your library each week to show your tracking form and get a prize
  4. It is really easy and motivating to the kids!

To keep things interesting there are a lot of programs happening throughout the summer. Attend a wide variety of programs. Including:

Get more information on Dig Into Reading here. Or Call 303-441-3099 for more information!

Boulder Family Events: April 19 to April 25, 2013

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Friday, April 19

  • Kids 4 Kids Charity Event. Kids 4 Kids is a committee of middle school students dedicated to supporting organizations who help kids. This is the 2nd year the group has organized a music event featuring middle and high school musicians. The group’s purpose is to empower kids! This event raises money for the Children’s Hospital Colorado. eTown Hall, Boulder. Doors open at 5:30pm.
  • Friday Children’s Storytime at the Main Library. 10:15 to 11:00am. Free. Ongoing activity.

Saturday, April 20

Sunday, April 21

  • Marsh Songs Earth Day Celebration. Visit a local marsh with naturalist Dave Sutherland to listen for our local birds, and get a sneak preview of the orchestral work. Meet at Sawhill Ponds, on 75th Street about 0.6 miles north of Valmont Road, for this easy hike. Beginning bird watchers strongly encouraged! Bring binoculars if you have them. Please do not bring dogs. Free. 8am to 10:30am.
  • Magicians of the Mountain Parks – a magic show for the whole family. In celebration of Earth Day, come meet some of the astonishing magicians who live in our wild backyard – the rabbit, the skunk, the weasel and more. Magician Paul Norton and Naturalist Lynne Sullivan will reveal the amazing survival strategies of our wild neighbors. Meet at the Bluebell Shelter for this stationary nature magic show. In the case of very cold or snowy weather, it will be held in the Ranger Cottage at Chautauqua. Call 720 564-2058 the day of the program for the location. Click on this link for a map to the Shelter; there is a 0.8 mile walk from the Ranger Cottage at Chautauqua to the shelter along a dirt road, so give yourself and your family plenty of time to get there and enjoy the stroll along the way. 11am to 11:45am [arrive by 10:30 to walk to the shelter]
  • Comic Book Release Party Concert! A live performance by Paige and Jeff and the usual frivolity. Be the first on your block to get the NEW Coyote Bob & Ranger Paula Comic Book- Return to the Flatirons. In this issue, Coyote Bob moves away from his Boulder home. Plus- games, and tips on having nature fun. Meet at Settlers’ Park trailhead in Boulder. Free. 3:00 to 5:00pm.
  • Giddyup Kitty Bluegrass Band. This is a four-piece, high-energy, all-female bluegrass band. The Denver Post says they are “the finest bluegrass you’ll find anywhere.” Weaving fine melodies with rich harmony, these award winning musicians create a show that leaves an audience joyful, and asking for more! Classy, sweet, and smooth, you’ll be a believer, once you catch Giddyup Kitty fever! Free. All ages. 3:00pm at the Meadows Branch Library.
  • Go Club for Kids & Teens at the Main Boulder Library. 2:00 to 5:30pm. Ages 5 and up. Free. “Learn to play the ancient and mysterious game of Go.”

Monday, April 22

Tuesday, April 23

Wednesday, April 24

Thursday, April 25

Please let me know of any upcoming events that should be listed here. I am happy to include your free, low cost or unusual event in Boulder Family listing of weekly events. You can reach Boulder Families here or visit us on Facebook.

#families #free #Boulder #events #boulderfamilies #getoutside #April