Your guide to activities and fun things to do with your preschoolers, toddlers and kids in milwaukee, WI

Best Spots for a Picnic

by Amy Jo Jones

June 30, 2009

Pack up lemonade in your sippy cups, a couple of PBJ's and a blanket and you have all the makings of a fun afternoon or evening picnic.

No matter which side of town you live by, there are plenty of county parks and picnic spots available. All of the parks listed below are free and have picnic tables or designated picnic areas.

Here are some of the most popular:

Doctor's Park  1870 E Fox Ln, Milwaukee

Grant Park  100 Hawthorne Ave, South Milwaukee grantparkbeach.com

Mukwanago Park  W325 S9945 Beulah Road, County Hwy LO (Park Entrance), Mukwanago

Mequon Nature Preserve 8200 W County Line Rd, Mequon mequonnaturepreserve.org

Boerner Botanical Gardens 9400 Boerner Dr, Hales Corners boernerbotanicalgardens.org/

For more picnic picks visit either the Milwaukee County Parks Website or the Waukesha County Parks systems website.

Children's Fest Day

by Amy Jo Jones

June 29, 2009

TIME WARNER CABLE CHILDREN'S FEST DAY WITH TODAY'S TMJ4 - Monday, June 29 - Noon - 3:00 pm

Don't miss your chance to partake in all the Summerfest fun for zero dollars!

All patrons arriving between Noon and 3:00 pm will be admitted FREE!

You can have a fun-filled day with the family enjoying activities such as:

Annual Mascot Welcome at the Mid-Gate
Children's Hospital Family Helmet Program
Map of Fun
Family Fun Bags
A stop at the "Splash Pad."

Dates and times of all Family Activities are subject to change so check the Summerfest website here.

Family Friday Fun June 26, 2009

by Amy Jo Jones

June 25, 2009

With all that is happening during the summer months, there is no way that your children can possibly say to you "I'm bored!" I hope you saved some time for fun this weekend because it's a good one. Check out the happenings in Milwaukee this weekend:

DOWNER AVENUE BICYCLE RACE
The racing kicks of at 1 p.m. and continues until 6:30 p.m. Visit to partake in the childrens' scavenger hunt, the St. Mark's Kids' Cycling Sprint and free samples at the "moo mobile." www.internationalcycling.com/venue/downer.shtml

CEDARBURG STRAWBERRY FEST
Fresh home-grown strawberries are the reason Cedarburg will celebrate the most luscious fruit of the season during the annual Strawberry Festival. Over 100,000 people visited the festival last year for this free, family-oriented event.
www.cedarburgfestivals.org/strawberryfestival.html

KETTLE MORAINE DAYS FESTIVAL
The 47th annual Kettle Moraine Days Festival happens this weekend with music, rides, food and free entertainment. There's a children's magic show, face painting, fireworks and a parade on Sunday. www.eagle-wi.gov/node/531

GREEK FEST
Greek food, dancing and live music all weekend. Go! It's free! www.annunciationwi.com/greek_fest.php

2009 WISCONSIN HORSE SHOW

The 2009 Wisconsin Horse Show. Located in the Horse Complex of the Waukesha County Expo Center. Happening from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. each day. Free parking. www.waukeshacountyexpo.com/

The Best of the Fest July 2009

by Amy Jo Jones

June 23, 2009

Even if you are new to Milwaukee, you must know that Festival Season is in full swing. Here are some of the most Family Friendly Festivals that you just don't want to miss:

7/3/09 Fireworks Kite Festival: This event will feature Giant Kites of Yves LaForest. US Bank Fireworks will begin at 9:25 p.m. and this is a free event. http://www.usbank.com/cgi_w/cfm/about/community_relations/fest.cfm
 
7/8 - 11 Great Circus Parade Festival: Live performances, food vendors, a petting zoo, animal rides, circus wagon displays, a kiddy circus train ride plus much more.  Admission is free but some performances cost extra. http://circusworld.wisconsinhistory.org/Parade/EventOverview.aspx

7/10 - 12 South Shore Frolics Free family event. Don't miss the Idol Karaoke competition on Saturday. Fun games and a parade for children of all ages. bayviewcompass.com/archives/1014

7/11 - 13 Greek Fest Free event including fun family rides, Greek dancing and delicious foods. The kids won't want to miss the ring tossing and games. www.annunciationwi.com/greek_fest.php

7/12 Great Circus Parade Kids will love the high wheel bikes, antique firefighting equipment, antique automobiles, horses, circus wagons, exotic animals, clowns and performers on the streets of downtown Milwaukee. Free. http://circusworld.wisconsinhistory.org/Parade/EventOverview.aspx

7/9 - 12 Bastille Days Enjoy impromptu street performers, roaming minstrels, chalk artists, a graffiti wall, pooch parade plus much more. Free. www.easttown.com/categories/4-bastilledays
 
7/16 - 19 Festa Italiana Free admission to everyone July 17 from 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. Able the Dancing Chihuahua will be at the Children's Stage each day from 2 - 3 p.m, a face painter will be there from 1 - 8 p.m., the Italian Children's Dance Group will be performing Thursday, Friday and Sunday from 5 - 6 p.m. www.festaitaliana.com/

7/23 - 26 German Fest The Pretzel Park (children’s area) will have a supervised arts and crafts tent, T-shirt stamping and German Language tent. On Sunday at 3 p.m. there will be a Children’s Fairy Tale parade featuring “Rapunzel.” Children under 12 get in free with an adult www.germanfest.com/

Fox Brook Park Anniversary Party

by Amy Jo Jones

June 22, 2009