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

Cedarburg Wine and Harvest Festival

by Amy Jo Jones

September 14, 2009

Cedarburg is getting ready to offer another fine and family friendly festival.

Saturday September 19th will have plenty of food, a farmers' market, three fine art shows, juried craft and art show, shearing and weaving demonstrations, a scarecrow contest, 5K run / walk, sheep and llamas, hay rides, apple bobbing, grape stomping (and a grape spitting) contest. (Also, wine tasting for the moms and dads).

Where: Cedar Creek Settlement, N70W6340 Bridge Rd., downtown Cedarburg.

Hours: Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Admission: Free.

Family Friday Fun August 14, 2009

by Amy Jo Jones

August 13, 2009

This is the last weekend of the Wisconsin State Fair, in case you missed it. But if you've been then you must be ready for some alternative fun. No worries. You are good to go! Read on!

Big Shebang
A variety show like no other, the "Big Shebang" features marching bands, choral singers, acrobats, surprise international guests, local heroes, a world-famous cowboy and many more exciting attractions and activities. All activities are held in the Stefanie H. Weill Center for the Performing Arts in Sheboygan. http://www.sheboyganpress.com/article/20090813/SHE04/908130333/1097/-Big-Sheboygan-Shebang-

Last Call for Brewers Block Party
The Milwaukee Brewers host the third and final Brewers Block Party of 2009 this Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday's free Block Party takes place at Hart Park, 7300 Chestnut St., in Wauwatosa. Players and coaches scheduled to attend include Ryan Braun, Mike Burns, Todd Coffey, Craig Counsell, Brad Fischer, Bill Hall, Trevor Hoffman, Jason Kendall, Felipe Lopez, Ken Macha, Willie Randolph and Mitch Stetter. In addition, Bernie Brewer and the World Famous Klement's Racing Sausages will appear at the event. http://mlb.mlb.com/mil/fan_forum/blockparty.jsp

Cinderlla Times Two
This show called "Cinderella! Cinderella!," swaps fairytale ideas of a Cinderella with a new twist! All tickets are $3 and the show runs all weekend long at the Lunt-Fontanne Theater in Waukesha. http://www.waukesha.uwc.edu/com/

See you next week!

Top Five Things to Do at Irish Fest

by Amy Jo Jones

August 11, 2009

If you've been to Irish Fest before, you will know they do a great job of setting up the Children's area. Here are some of the opportunities for learning and play at Irish Fest 2009. Visit the Irish Fest website here for all the details: http://www.irishfest.com/festival/

1. Discovery World will be in the Children’s Activity Area with their traveling Touch Tank. Children can learn about the sea animals and fish that can be found in the ocean and seas surrounding Ireland. They will be able to ask questions and even touch the creatures in the tank.

2. There will be hands on crafts that will compliment our Discovery World addition.

3. Around the world with a Family Passport. Families can collect stamps for their passports, make crafts and get prizes at stops throughout the grounds.

4. Puppeteer Wayne Francis and Great Big Faces Paul Merklein will be appearing on the stage. Also featured on our stage will be Tommy Sands, Mairtine De Cogan and Milwaukee Irish Fest’s own School of Music.

5. Irish Dancers. One of the highlights of the weekend. With multiple groups performing and lots of performances, you are sure to be dazzled.

Family Friday Fun August 7, 2009

by Amy Jo Jones

August 07, 2009

In case you need another festival... 

THE WISCONSIN STATE FAIR: Aug. 6-16; The annual “Grand Champion of Summer” has it all– agriculture, food, shopping, national headliners, free stages of entertainment, and much more. Building Hours at the fairgrounds, 640 S. 84th St.: daily 9 a.m. -10 p.m., 8/16 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Fair hours: 8 a.m.-11 p.m. Sun.-Thurs., 8 a.m.-midnight Fri. & Sat., 8/16 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Adults/$9, Seniors 60 years and older and disabled persons/$6, Youth 7-11/$4, Children 6 and under/FREE. 800-884-3247 or www.WiStateFair.com.

But that's not all. If you prefer something on the smaller scale you could visit: 

ARAB WORLD FEST, Aug. 7-9; Fun includes camel rides at the Summerfest Grounds, cultural exhibits, food and shopping.

See you next week!

Ready, Set, Go! 99 Things to do in Milwaukee!

by Amy Jo Jones

February 23, 2009

01. Visit the animals at the Milwaukee County Zoo
02, Take in a movie at the IMAX Theater
03. Look (but don't touch!) at the Milwaukee Art Museum
04. Walk the plank at Discovery World's indoor boar
05. Wear yourself out at the Betty Brinn Children's Museum
06. Enjoy the tropics at the Mitchell Park Domes
07. Dip your toes in Lake Michigan
08. Ice Skate at Red Arrow
09. See a hockey game at the Pettit National Ice Center
10. Climb the wall at the Urban Ecology Center 
11. Walk the streets of Old Milwaukee at the Milwaukee Public Museum
12. Go to story time at a public library
13. Ride the Downtown trolley
14. Pig out at Kopp's Frozen Custard
15. Hang out at the Westown Farmers Market
16. See a play at First Stage Milwaukee
17. Swim at Cool Waters
18. Watch the planes take off & land at the airport (park in the lot on Layton) 
19. Watch a Wave game at the Bradley Center
20. Cheer on the Bucks!
21. Eat Cream Puffs at the State Fair
22. Tailgate at Miller Park
23. Swim at a County Parks pool
24. Ride a (pretend) motorcycle at Harley-Davidson 
25. Watch the lights at Organ Piper Pizza
26. Drink hot chocolate by the fire at Stone Creek Coffee
27. Sample a root beer at Sprecher Brewery
28. Attend Kids Fest at the Summerfest grounds
29. Do a scenic tour of Holy Hill
30. Go camping in the Kettle Moraine
31. Have a smoothie at Beans and Barley
32. Take a cooking class at Whole Foods
33. Shoot hoops at the local playgrounds
34. Dance at the Lakefront Brewery on Friday nights (with your fish fry) 
35. Bounce around at Monkey Joes
36. Step with the Irish Dancers at Irish Fest
37. Ride the train at the Zoo
38. Build-A-Bear at Mayfair Mall
39. Rock the Rock N Roll McDonalds
40. Watch the River Flicks
41. Build a castle at Bradford Beach
42. Sled down St Mary's Hill
43. Tour the Dennis Sullivan
44. Collect rocks at the Lakeshore
45. Boogie down at the Pius Family SKate night
46. Hike the River Bend Nature Center trails
47. Learn about astronauts at the Planetarium
48. Watch the dancers at the Winter Pow Wow
49. Catch a performance by Ko-Thi
50. Play at the Big Backyard
51. Work it out with a Stroller Fitness class
52. Run through the Bayshore Fountains
53. Take the stage at the Barnes and Noble kids section
54. Break a board at JK Lee
55. Listen to the Milwaukee Childrens Choir
56. See the Milwaukee Ballet perform
57. Bounce at the bounce house at Wisconsin Skate University
58. Tip the Ship at Blue Harbor Resort Water Park
59. Learn about plants at the Schlitz Audubon Nature Center
60. Take a class at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music
71. Serve up a strike at Koz's mini-bowl or Landmark Lanes
72. Give Leon's a Fonzie Thumbs-up
73. Be comfy at the Spring Pajama Jamboree Concert at the Marcus Center
74. Drive to the Dells for summer fun
75. Sing at Generations at Play
76. Listen to a Concert at the Domes (Thursday nights)
77. Crash the bumper cars at StoneFire Pizza
78. Drool over the candy counter at the Milwaukee Public Market
79. Fly kites at Veterans Park
80. See a First Stage Milwaukee Play
81. Throw pennies in the fountains at La Fuente
82. Crash the water park at the Country Spring Hotel
83. Slide down the slide at the State Fair
84. Jump with Pop-in Playtimes at Pump It Up
85. Sample a Shirley Temple at Brady Street Pharmacy Cafe
86. Get a haircut (and a prize) at Just Kidding
87. Take a swimming lesson at the Y
88. Take a step back in time at the Renaissance Fair
89. Drop in for an art class at the Walkers Point Center for the Arts
90. See the Wave score a goal
91. Take a hayride at Apple Holler
92. Smell the flowers at Boerners Botanical Park
93. Take a field trip to Old World Wisconsin
94. Play at a workshop at Freckle Face
95. Eat a grilled cheese at the counter at Benji's
96. Rack your brain at the Logic Puzzle Museum
97. Tour the Jelly Belly Center (and eat a few)
98. Board the East Troy Electric Railroad 
99. Grab a Cone from Baskin Robbins 31 Flavors  Read more...

Top Five Things to do in Milwaukee on a rainy (or more likely, snowy) day.

by Amy Jo Jones

November 06, 2008

Is it just me, or is every parent watching the clock? It's the time of year when you realize that the days are getting shorter and the temperature is dipping lower. With that in mind, it's time to start stockpiling ideas for those days when an afternoon at the park or even going for a walk is out of the question. 1. The slam dunk: The Betty Brinn Children's Museum , providing  Read more...