We hope you all had a wonderful and safe 4th of July weekend. Hopefully some of you are going to be off on Monday and be able to enjoy your family time just a little more! This week enjoy a free LEGO mini build and Cow Appreciation Day! Dress up like a cow and Chick Fil A will give you a free meal! Make sure to check out our Summer Flicks Guide to find out where to go for free and discounted movies around town. We update the calendar as we learn of new events so stop back by throughout the week to see what’s new!
It’s not our fault if your kids are bored!
Sunday July 4th
Trussville Freedom Celebration – On the Mall in Trussville
Inflatables, Music, Food and Fireworks
6:00pm – Fireworks at 9:00pm
4th of July Celebration – Downtown Homewood
The annual July 4th Celebration. Fun family atmosphere with rides, inflatables and an interactive DJ creates a festive atmosphere as we close down the streets in Downtown Homewood to celebrate our nation’s birthday.
5:30pm
Fireworks Extravaganza at Alabama Adventure
8:00pm – 9:00pm
Jazz in Park – Caldwell Park
Smooth jazz artists are set to perform in a variety of styles.
3:00pm- 6:00pm
UAB Music’s 4th Annual 4th of July Concert
The 75-member UAB Summer Band will perform patriotic songs, traditional band music, pop tunes, Disney favorites, movie and Broadway themes and more. Bring lawn chairs, blankets and picnics for the concert then watch the fireworks show atop Red Mountain
7:30pm
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Monday July 5th
Storytime – Ruffner Mountain
Is your child a budding naturalist? Bring them to Storytime to encourage their excitement about the outdoors. We will read a story with a nature theme. Following the story, there will be a short activity. Suited for children 3 – 5. All children must be accompanied by an adult during the program. We encourage all participants to donate $2 per person for Visitor Center admission and program.
10am
Tuesday July 6th
The McWane Science Center: 3 Ring Science- North Shelby Library
Step right up for a science circus assembly show! Explore the wonders of liquid nitrogen, the power of explosions and the shocking world of electricity. All Ages Welcome. No Registration Required.
All Ages
10:30am
10 Cent Cookie Tuesday – Whole Foods
Barring any cookie monster attacks we’ll have our silver dollar-size chocolate chip cookies, baked fresh in the Bakery, for just 10 cents each. Buy a whole bushel and freeze them for later!
While Supplies Last
LEGO Minibuild – Riverchase Galleria LEGO Store
LEGO Watermelon
5:00pm until supplies last – Ages 6 – 14
Activated Storytellers- Hoover Library
A theatrical production full on nonstop action, American Sign Language, acrobatic tricks, slapstick, audience participation, imaginative props and a gigantic oversized book.
10:30am, 1:30pm, 6:30pm
Pottery Barn Kids Book Club at the Summit
Children and a caregiver are invited to share in this weekly story time. Make sure to get your Book Club Passport on your initial visit and receive a free gift at your 5th story time.
10:00am
Barnes and Noble – Summit – Terrific Tuesday StorytimePlease join us as we read Mama, Is It Summer Yet? by Nikki McClure. See how a mother teaches her son to see the changes and signs in nature to recognize that the summer season has arrived.
11:00am
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Wednesday July 7th
Activated Storytellers- Hoover Library
A theatrical production full on nonstop action, American Sign Language, acrobatic tricks, slapstick, audience participation, imaginative props and a gigantic oversized book.
10:30am, 1:30pm,
Family Story Time with Mr Mac – North Shelby Library
Storyteller Extraordinaire – Come join Mr Mac and his musical storytime complete with puppets! All Ages, no registration required.
10:45am
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Thursday July 8th
Color Splash Storytime – Hoover Library
Splash of Brown – Summer storytime for children under four.
10:30
Craft: Paper Plate Porthole – North Shelby Library
All Ages, Registration Required
Drop in anytime between 2:00 – 3:30.
Popcorn and Movie – Emmett O Neal
“Old Dogs”
Grades 2 – 6
10:30am – 12:00pm
Tattoos from Under the Sea – Emmett O Neal
with Starshine Faces
Grades 2-6
3:30 – 4:30
Free Kindermusik Class – Cherubs Clubhouse
0-18 months at 9:30am
18 months and up – 10:00am
Mark Seymour – Vestavia Hills Library
Be At Your Best – Drum/music show for all ages.
3:00pm
Kickin’ it with Kat Storytime at Whole Foods –
Great curriculum, live music, plus our famous crafts and snacks. Invite your play group, friends, and neighbors!
10:00am
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Friday July 9th
Cow Appreciation Day – Chick Fil A
Stop by any Chick Fil A fully dressed like a cow and you eat for free! If you bring along the kids, they eat free too. The question is, are you too chicken to dress like a cow?
Wild about Books Story Time – Birmingham Zoo
Come join us for story and craft time with Books-A-Million at the Birmingham Zoo! Every Friday through summer on Grandma’s Front Porch in the Children’s Zoo area
10:00am
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Saturday July 10th
12th Birthday Bash – McWane Science Center
Can we build it? Yes, we can! Join McWane Science Center for our 12th Birthday Bash on Saturday, July 10. Bob the Builder will be live on stage for sing-a-long shows outside on the plaza! Bring the family for building activities throughout the day!
The first 1,000 kids get a FREE construction hat! Check their site for event schedule!
10am – 4pm
Brews Blues and Barbeque – Alabama Adventure
A day of barbeque and Blues Music – Stop by McDonalds for $10 off a general admission ticket.
Frogs for Families – Ruffner Mountain Nature Center
Let’s go to the wetlands and hear the frog symphony. We will look at some of these creatures up-close and learn more about them, their importance, and how to identify them. $7 ($5 member). Reservations required. We will meet at the Tree Top Visitor Center at 7:15 PM and caravan to the wetlands. (205) 833-8264
7:15pm – 9:00pm
Helena Market Days/Farmers Market – Helena Amphitheater
8:00am – 12:00pm
Urban Cookhouse Farmers Market – Downtown Homewood
7am – Noon
Pepper Place Saturday Market
We spread out of the parking lot to include 29th Street as we accommodate local farmers, artisans, music, art and food!
7:00am – Noon
Valleydale Farmers Market –
Valleydale Farmers Market is dedicated to bringing fresh, local produce to communities around Alabama and the Southeast.
Music, cooking demos and storytimes along with fresh produce a great way to spend a day!
Saturday Storytime at Barnes and Noble Summit
Please join us as we celebrate classic children’s stories with a reading of Corduroy by Don Freeman. Revisit this tale of the department-store Bear who longed to have a friend and a home. A fun activity to follow.
2:00pm
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Open Daily
McWane Science Center
Mr Potato Head Exhibit – Families won’t want to miss The Adventures of MR. POTATO HEAD, a new interactive traveling exhibit that features the much-loved MR. POTATO HEAD character will lead young visitors and parents on a number of fun and educational adventures. From trips to outer space to jungle safaris and archeological digs, each activity will provide children with engaging learning experiences. Through Sept. 26
Itty Bitty Magic City – NOTE: ITTY BITTY IS AN ITTY BIT SMALLER THIS SUMMER!
The Itty Bitty Magic City will be on display this summer in addition to The Adventures of Mr. Potato Head exhibit. The Itty Bitty City is a little bit smaller than usual, but favorite areas including the grocery store, Tot Spot area, crane, and factory are still in the city. The Itty Bitty Golf Course and a few other items were removed temporarily to make room for the new exhibit “The Adventures of Mr. Potato Head” that is also designed for an early childhood audience and they will return in the Fall.
NatureScope – Explore the great outdoors from inside the museum. McWane Science Center and the Birmingham Audubon Society are partnering to create a new exhibit called NatureScope. Explore the science of the birds and the bugs in this new area! Get up close and personal with some resident creepy crawlies! Learn what role insects play in our ecosystem with the decomposition chamber. Meet large bugs including emperor scorpions, a tarantula, and even a giant African millipede!
Molecules to the Max – Catch a ride to NanoSpace with Oxy and her crew to boldly go where only atoms have gone before! This animated adventure brings audiences into amazingly small places and fascinates them with incredibly big ideas. Through May 31, 2010
Birmingham Zoo
Lorikeet Aviary – Our Lorikeet Aviary has more birds than ever! Zoo guests can feed these exotic birds every day. You and your family will see these birds’ behavior as they eat nectar out of your hand.
Weekends 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
PELICAN FEEDING – A great way to see our pelicans in action is to witness them eating their favorite treats near the pelican boardwalk.
RHINO ENCOUNTER – Embark on an African adventure and experience one of the world’s most extraordinary animals, the Southern White Rhino. Watch from only feet away as our zookeepers engage in hands-on interaction with the animals inside their African-themed exhibit. Don’t miss this exciting encounter with one of the largest mammals on the planet!
Weekdays: 3pm – 3:30pm
Weekends: 11:30am – Noon & 3pm – 3:30 pm
GIRAFFE FEEDING – This up close and personal animal encounter is a memory you and your family will have for a lifetime.
Weekday: 11am – Noon
Weekends: 10am – 11am & 2pm – 3pm
Do you have or know of an event you would like to have added to our weekly calendar? Please email us at contact@birminghammommy.com, subject line “Events Calendar” – We would love to hear from you!
On McWane’s website, it says Big Machines Day is Saturday, Feb. 20th. Which date is correct? My munchkin would love it!!
Sorry Amber — My bad, it is Saturday the 20th, I’ve just had it in my head for Monday for some reason…
No, just wanted to make sure…I’ve been talking to Nathan about it and I didn’t want to miss it, then endure the wrath of a disappointed 3 year old…. 🙂
It initially was Monday!! They changed it b/c of President’s Day. I called… we’re not missing it!!
Thanks for including our shows in the listing. We are enjoying our stay in the B’ham area – just had fried green tomatoes at the historic Irondale Cafe!
On the 16th we’ll be “act!vating” the story of “The Ice Cream Cone Was Invented” and the legendary “Paul Bunyan” in the morning; and a story from Japan about following your dreams along with a story from Poland about a pesky dragon in the afternoon. Both shows feature physical comedy, American Sign Language and audience participation. Kids age 6 and up are invited to come a half hour early to attend an acting workshop where they will learn a part to perform in the show. (limited to 12 participants) Hope to see you at the Emmett O’Neal Library!
Act!vatedly Yours,
Dennis and Kimberly – The Activated Storytellers
Thanks for all of the details! I’ve got munchkin at work with me today! We are going to need things to do later in the week!
The 10cent cookie day at Whole Foods is ONLY the FIRST TUESDAY of each month. NOT every tuesday. Please change this for future reference.
Heads up on the Mcwane Potato Head exhibit. Along with the traveling exhibit, they will have a huge collection of vintage Mr. Potato Heads on display from a local collector. Might be something the parents will enjoy as much or more than the kids!
Thanks Dennis! That’s really cool and I’m sure plenty of people will love to see that!
I so wish somethings were not at 10 AM on a week days so my kids could come..but I will try to make it to the 6:30 thing at the Hoover library! Thanks for compiling all of this in one spot!
FYI- You calendar for the week lists Whole Foods story time on Thursday. Tried to go today. They are not doing it again until August, apparently.
Oh No!! Sorry about that! We’ll take that down and double check before putting it back up!! Thanks for letting us know!