THE TOP 5 THINGS TO DO WITH YOUR KIDS IN THE VALLEY THIS WEEK by Laura Nickerson, host of “The Buzz”: (photo by Thomas Hawk via Flickr.com) If your kids are like mine, staying indoors for “relaxing family time” on the weekends sends them into a Tasmanian Devil level of hyper overdrive, so I’m always motivated to find something cool to do that the kids can run off some of their energy. Here are my top 5 family activities for this weekend: 1) Up for a big adventure? If you are a Strawberry lover it’s totally worth it to take the drive up that pesky 101 to Oxnard for the California Strawberry Festival www.strawberry-fest.org Saturday and Sunday the 17th and 18th from 10-6:30. Every possible combination of food with strawberries will be present and accounted for, plus fun activities like a Pie Eating Contest, Strawberry Relay Race, and even Berry Hat and Berry Baby Costume Contests. Seriously, no berry is left unturned. A little insider info on the driving: the freeway can get a little crowded so make allowances (and bring snacks) for time. Also, they have a park and ride shuttle service that will save you the 10 bucks on parking. Take that and your day will go a little smoothie...I mean smoother. You’ll be jammin. Sorry about the puns, to me they are berry funny. 2) Staying with a fruity theme, how about combining some outdoor fun with a little community give back? Then teach those kiddies how to do for others by taking them to a fruit pick over the weekend and feel good knowing that the “fruits” of your labor will go directly to local agencies that serve those in need. There are several times over the weekend in different locations throughout West Hills, Granada Hills, and Northridge, so visit foodforward.org/2014/05/citrus-sunday/ for times and places, plus a chance to sign up. It’s important to show your kids-and remind yourself-how great you have it and how great it feels to put in a little time helping those who are not so lucky. 3) WorldFest 2014 is an eco-conscious, vegan-friendly, solar-powered, and family friendly festival at Woodley Park in Van Nuys on Sunday the 18th from 10:30-7:00 and bills itself as “Cochella” that you can bring the kids to. I think that’s because of the music lineup which is impressive, but it also has empowering speakers, environmental, humanitarian and animal welfare non-profits, and kids activities. So, not really Cochella-ish, but still sounds refreshing and fun and the tickets are totally reasonable. Check the website for details: www.worldfestevents.com. You will feel like a better human just for going. 4) Speaking of being a better human, there is a SUPER cool event happening at A.E. Wright Middle School in Calabasas called the Relay for Life. It’s a 24 hour continuous walk starting at 9 am on Saturday May 17th that fundraises for the American Cancer Society and it’s really breathtaking to see the tents pitched all across the football field as families, cancer survivors, and those honoring family and friends who have lost their battle with the disease. Even with it’s deeper purpose, the event is a total blast with music and fun, plus a ton of kids all camping out together while team members switch off walking the track. It’s not too late to get involved so visit www.relayforlife.org/calabasasca for info. 5) This weekend is so full of great choices, and it wouldn’t be complete without a mention of the Topanga Banjo-Fiddle Contest and Folk Festival at Paramount Ranch on Sunday, May 18th. The contest starts at 9:30 and there is a ton of fun music and dancing throughout the day. Kids will love the Wild West feel of the ranch and you will love the family fun and community spirit. Go to www.topangabanjofiddle.org for more details. Steve Martin loves the banjo, you should too! Just as a reminder, you Mommies need to get out of the house and have some fun! So tonight head out to the M Bar at 7:30 for MOMMY TONK. Thanks to the gals at Expressing Motherhood for the heads-up! You can always get more LA Kids Activities by following me on Twitter @nickerberger and checking out the hashtag #buzzLA. Also check out my show “The Buzz” at www.cityofcalabasas.com or on Channel 3 in the West Valley. Here’s this week’s episode with all these events and more: http://youtu.be/tSMXZfjeBdU. I’ll be back next Thursday with more fun family activities!
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THE TOP 5 THINGS TO DO WITH YOUR KIDS IN THE VALLEY THIS WEEK by guest blogger Laura Nickerson, host of “The Buzz”:
1) You can’t miss out on celebrating Cinco De Mayo with your family this weekend, and the Cinco de Mayo at Olvera Street in Downtown LA is the real deal: mariachis, pinatas, folklorico dancers, food, and tons of live music. The party is noon-10pm on Sat the 3rd and continues through Sun the 4th from 12-8pm. I know my Valley peeps, we hate going that far. However, if you take the red line metro from Universal City to Union Station you won’t need to deal with parking. Or driving. Or other people driving. It’s a win-win-win. 2)May 4th is “Parents of Preemies” day and the Providence Tarzana Hospital is holding an event to celebrate and recognize the courage and commitment of parents of premature babies. It’s from 10am to noon at Providence Tarzana Medical Center, 18321 Clark St in Tarzana. Head over to the free event for food, entertainment for kids, and a chance to connect with other parents of preemies. 3) If your kids love art, or just love making enough drawings to fill up your refrigerator door, take them to another great free event in the Valley, the Calabasas Fine Arts Festival. It’s 10am-5pm May 3 & 4 the at the Commons at Calabasas 4799 Commons Way, Calabasas. I went last year to this really well done event, so I can attest that it’s fun for you and has tons or kid activities for the budding artist. Plus, your significant other can find some great gifts for Mother’s Day. Hint, hint. Because those “Love Coupons” just won’t cut it this year, know what I’m sayin??? 4) If your kids are into baseball (or you are), there’s a cool new exhibit at the Ronald Reagan Library at 40 Presidential Drive in Simi Valley called “Baseball! The Exhibition” that features iconic baseball memorabilia including artifacts from Babe Ruth, Joe DiMaggio, the LA Dodgers, and more. It’s open 10-5 all weekend and is a lot of fun for baseball lovers. If that’s not you, send your kids and spouse and take the day for yourself! You are allowed to do that, you know. Visit reaganfoundation.org for info and tickets. 5) Ok Dog People (you know who you are), you are not alone. There’s a whole bunch of you getting together at the 2nd annual Pawsapalooza Dog Walk and Festival on Sunday the 4th from 9-2pm at Woodley Park in Van Nuys. It’s Dogtastic, Dogalicious, and bound to be a little DogDrooly too. Visit www.pawsla.org for info. Admission is only $10 and kids under 10 are free so it’s a fantastic thing to do with your family! Just watch where you step... You can always get more LA Kids Activities by following me on Twitter @nickerberger and checking out the hashtag #buzzLA. Also check out my show “The Buzz” at www.cityofcalabasas.com or on Channel 3 in the West Valley. Here’s this week’s episode with all these events and more: http:// youtu.be/b7EbtC-_PVg. I’ll be back next Thursday with more fun family activities! What to-do this weekend? Help is here! Meet your family's new social planner..
Meet my friend Laura Nickerson who you've seen on your TV all over SoCal hosting, reporting, interviewing & entertaining (She is one of the funniest ladies I know.) Laura is the fun behind The Buzz which finds the best of what's happening in Calabasas each week. Being a fellow mommy, I asked her if she would expand her list to include the whole valley, and if she'd give us a cool hit-list of great family idea each Thursday. Here it is! Please add to the list by leaving a comment below & add what you may have heard of, or an event from your organization. We always love hearing from you. And have fun! THE TOP 5 THINGS TO DO WITH YOUR KIDS IN THE VALLEY THIS WEEK by guest blogger Laura Nickerson, host of “The Buzz”: Turn off your phones/tablets/televisions/googleglasses and take your kids someplace fun this weekend around the Valley! Here’s my top 5 Free or Cheap family activities to try this week: 1) Celebrate Shakespeare’s 450th Birthday with “A Noise Within” Theatre Company Thursday April 24th from 5:30-7pm at 3352 E. Foothill in Pasadena. It’s a free event where your kids can see sword fight demonstrations and take a lesson, leave an insult on the Shakespearean Insult wall, try on period costumes, and meet the Bard himself. This will make you and your kids instantly more cultured, guaranteed. Visit www.anoisewithin.org 2) All you dog lovers will go bonkers for the Canine Classic in Calabasas on Sunday April 27th 9-2:30 at the Juan Batista De Anza Park. You can bring your dogs and kids for the 2 mile Walk-a-thon, then visit dog adoptions, watch pet shows and entertainment with celebrity judges, play in the kidz zone, and check out tons of vendors. Go to canineclassic.org Make sure to leash your dogs, leashing your kids is optional. 3) As part of National Parks week the Science Festival is being held on Saturday April 26th from 10 am to 4 pm at the Paramount Ranch in Agoura Hills. It’s free and will have hands on activities for all ages, animal displays, and even the chance to chat with real scientists! www.nps.gov/samo/sciencefestival.htm has the scoop. A Scientifically Proven good time! 4) The Leonis Adobe Museum in Old Town Calabasas is having a Folk Music Festival Sunday the 27th 10:30-6:30 and your kids and you can groove out to some amazing folk bands in the old ranch setting of the museum. All proceeds benefit the Jennifer Diamond Cancer Foundation, visit www.jeniferdiamondfoundation.org 5) Last but not least head to the tropics of the LA Zoo! The Rainforest of the Americas Exhibit is opening on April 29th and is free with paid admission to the Zoo. Your kids will get immersed in the theme... “Everything has a Home” while they wind their way through each layer of the forest, meeting all sorts of critters on the way. Go to www.lazoo.org I’ll be back next Thursday with more fun family activities! You can always get more LA Kids Activities by following me on Twitter @nickerberger and checking out the hashtag #buzzLA. Also check out my show “The Buzz” at www.cityofcalabasas.com or on Channel 3. Here is this week’s episode featuring these events and more, plus some great Summer Camp ideas: http://youtu.be/V9LWvj0OO-A Read more: http://www.kost1035.com/onair/i-heart-moms-kristins-mommy-blog-42002/what-todo-this-weekend-help-is-12287711/#ixzz30LJh0CiX |
AuthorLaura Nickerson, Queen of cheap and local family activities, Momblogger of 2, Host of CTV's The Buzz and KHTS AM 1220's SCV Buzz, visit #buzzLA for daily tips. Archives
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