Free Admission to Over 100 National Parks (April 19/20)

Over 100 National Parks are offering free admission this weekend in celebration of National Parks Week.  There is only one participating Parks in Indiana, but perhaps you are traveling for the Easter weekend?  I would love to be visiting one in a warmer area!  Here's the link to find a park.

Snow Day Boredom Buster

Kids bored with school being cancelled?

We spread out beach towels (wishful thinking, I know) on the kitchen floor.  I brought in huge popcorn bowls full of snow.  The girls used all sorts of kitchen utensils to play with the snow on cookie sheets.  Don't forget the gloves/mittens...and maybe even a sweatshirt!  Put a few drops of food coloring in the snow if you want to be super adventurous!

Opportunity to Trick or Treat With Johnny Tin Cap

Do you have a Johnny Tin Cap lover in your house?  We do (several of them).  Well, if your child has dreamed of Trick or Treating with Johnny, now is his/her chance! 

Johnny will trick or treat with one lucky kiddo who will also win a Tin Caps prize pack.  Ony Tin Caps Kids Club members are allowed to enter.  You can go to Tincaps.com to sign up, for free.  Then, you need to design a Tin Cap themed pumpkin.

Entry essays can be sent to Johnny@tincaps.com or mailed to: Fort Wayne TinCaps, 1301 Ewing Street, Fort Wayne, IN 46802, Attn: Johnny TinCap. Essays can also be dropped off at the TinCaps Administrative offices at Parkview Field during regular business hours. All entries must be received by October 26 at 5pm. 

Only kids ages 12 and under will be eligible and Johnny himself will be doing the judging.  Good Luck!

Military Families: Free Admission to Amusement Parks Across USA

All active duty, activated or drilling reservist, or National Guardsmen can get FREE Admission to Sea World, Sesame Place, or Busch Gardens in the year 2012.  Please see the site for complete details.  It says military personel and three dependants are eligible for the free admission. 

Thank you for all of your service and your family's sacrifice. 

Winterval 2012

While this isn't what winter in Fort Wayne looks like right now, there is some winter fun going on in the Fort this weekend.  It's called Winterval and it's brought to you by the Fort Wayne Parks and Rec and many other sponsors.  You can go here to see all of the times and participating locations. 

I think the ice carving looks especially cool.  It looks like they carve it with a chain saw...apparently my boys are rubbing off on me!  Enjoy, if you go!

Christmas on the Farm at Salomon Farms

Salomon Farms does not disappoint.  Head over to Salomon Farms this Saturday, December 3 from 6 to 9 pm for a live nativity scene, horse and tractor drawn wagon rides, stories from St. Nicholas and refreshments.

There is no admission charge.  For additional information, please call Tony Acosta at 427-6008.  Kate has gone to this before and really enjoyed.  Dress warmly!

Thursday, December 1 is Dollar Night at The Botanical Conservatory

On the first Thursday of every month, the Botanical Conservatory offers $1 admission.  From 5 to 8 pm, adults and children can enter the Conservatory for the low price of just $1.  Babies up to age two are still free.  This would be a great way to see the Conservatory on a budget.  This Thursday, December 1, is your chance!

Free Holiday Concert: Today, November 23

Artist, David Cook, will perform a FREE Holiday Concert today (Nov. 23) at Jefferson Pointe.  I guess David Cook was an American Idol winner, so he's a nationally know artist!  Enjoy, if you go!

Frugal Fun: Carrot Peels

After removing the outsides of the carrots for dinner, my 5 year old gremlin asked if she could play with the peels.  Of course I let her and was proud of her creativity.  She made a person (pictured above) and built letters.  Try this with your little ones next time you are trying to get dinner on the table.

Georgetown Drive-In Cruise-In

Tonight, from 5:30pm to dusk, in Georgetown Square, you can participate in what they are calling a Drive-In and Cruise-In event. 

The first 100 participating cars will receive dash plaques.  The movie, American Graffiti, will play at dusk.  According to the St. Joe Times, music and food are also a part of this event. 

Pumpkin Farm Finder Website

If you are wanting the entire experience of finding your fall decorations this year, you might be looking for a local pumpkin farm to visit.  Lucky for you, I have a website that can direct you where to go. 

Head on over to pumpkinpatchesandmore.org/INpnorth.php to find a location near you.  My source for this link (the Journal Gazette on Sunday morning) recommends calling first or visiting the farm's website to make sure they are still in operation.  You don't want a bunch of disappointed kids on your hands, not to mention wasted gas. 

This site has a ton of information about local fall festivities and more. 

Allen County Public Library Events

The Allen County Public Library is such a great source of frugal family entertainment.  You tax dollars are funding this, so why not take advantage of it? 

There is a complete monthly listing available on their website.  You can view it here.  You can search by branch, event type and age group. 

If you want a hard copy, pick up a booklet next time you are at the library.  They print them bimonthly and can be found near the entrance with the other fliers and such. 

Frugal Fun in the Fort: Fort Wayne Museum of Art

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Did you know that the Fort Wayne Museum of Art has FREE admission every Sunday and Thursday?  That's right.  You can find complete information about art collections, hours and events by heading over here to their website.  

North Manchester Harvest Festival

North Manchester will host it's Harvest Festival on Saturday, October 1, 2011.  Festivities will be held downtown.  Complete information can be found at www.northmanchesterchamber.com. 

There is certainly no shortage of fun festivals this weekend! 

Kendallville's Apple Festival This Weekend

This Saturday and Sunday (October 1st and 2nd), the Noble County Fairgrounds will host the Apple Festival.  Festivities include, but aren't limited to, pioneer festival, demonstrators, primitive village, games and contests.  Oh yeah, and all of the yummy apple related food. 

There is a charge for parking at the Fairgrounds.  You can find out complete event information at www.kendallvilleapplefestival.org. 

Fort Wayne Regional Maker Faire This Weekend

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October 1st and 2nd, Headwaters Park East will host the Fort Wayne Regional Maker Faire.  This is described as, "A family festival to make, create, learn, invent, craft, recycle, build, think, play and be inspired by celebrating arts, crafts, engineering, food, music science and technology." 

To learn more about the festival, you can check out TekVenture.org.  One hundred (plus) makers are going to be featured including rockets and robots, DIY science and technology, arts and crafts, bicycles, artisan foods, urban farming, sustainable living, woodworking, circuit boards, maker shed, live music and more! 

I can just imagine all of the creative and intelligent minds gathering at this festival.  I don't know if our family will be able to make it, but this is definitely something that I would want to check out.  Let us know if you go!

Dekalb County Free Fall Fair

The Dekalb County Fair is scheduled to take place from Monday September 26 through Saturday October 1, 2011.  You can find a full schedule of events here. 

Salomon Farmers' Market Gardens Tour

In addition to the Salomon Farm's Farmer's Market this week, you can also take part in a Gardens Tour this week.

According to Fort Wayne Parks and Rec, participants will be able to tour the gardens of Salomon Farm and hear about all of the plants being grown.  The tour will last about 20 minutes and will be as interactive or as hands-off as the participants wish.  Children and adults are welcome and the tour guide will tailor the experience to suit the group. 

Some of the Frugal Fort Wayne sisters' kids are doing a free gardening class at the farm on Thursdays and I have been soooo impressed with the staff and the program.  If the tour is anything like this class, you won't be disappointed. 

If you can't make it this week, you might mark your calendars for September 28 (hay wagon rides) and October 5 (hot air balloon launch -- tentatively).

 

Johnny Appleseed Festival This Weekend

The annual Johnny Appleseed Festival is this weekend (September 17 and September 18).  Come see the sites, smells and tastes of the Civil War era when Johnny roamed the US. 

Admission is FREE, but you will be charged for parking in the Coliseum lot.  You can view times and event schedules by going here.  New this year is a blog on Facebook that can be followed to watch the set up leading up to the big festival.

Be A Tourist In Your Hometown

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Sunday, September 11, 2011 will be the annual 'Be a Tourist In Your Own Hometown' day.  Pick up a Passport at any Scott's or Kroger location.  You can also download one here. 

With this Passport, from 12 to 5 pm on the 11th, your entire party can visit any one of the twelve participating locations with the passport.  The participating locations include:

African/African-American History Museum

Allen County Courthouse

Artlink

Embassy Theatre

Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory

History Center

Historic Fort Wayne

Historic Swinney Homestead

Fort Wayne Museum of Art

Parkview Field

Science Central

The Lincoln Tower

For complete information, visit the Visit Fort Wayne webpage.