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2017 Birmingham Area Summer Festivals And Concerts

Posted on by Angie

Festivals and Concerts are a great way to get outside and enjoy some family time this summer, if music and festivals are your thing, here’s a list of what’s coming up this summer around Birmingham!

Birmingham Summer Festivals and Concerts

Birmingham Area Summer Festivals and Concerts

 

Steel City Jazz Festival at Linn Park:

Today’s Premier Jazz Artists Sprinkled With A Few Legendary R&B Performers & A-List MC, Tops Off Your Overall Experience During The Course Of Two-Days In Historic Paved Linn Park.

You Can Bring Your Own Seating Or Lay On The Manicured Lawn. You Can Bring Your Own Eats Or Partake in the International Food & Drink Court!

Friday, June 2nd : Gates 4pm | Show 5pm
Saturday, June 3rd: Gates 10am | Show 11am

SliceFest at Slice Pizza and Brewhouse:

Birmingham’s largest food & music block party hosted by Slice Pizza & Brewhouse. If you love music, great food and brews, giving back and Birmingham then you don’t want to miss this festival.  Slice Pizza & Brewhouse hosts the event to celebrate the restaurant’s anniversary and thank the Birmingham community for their continuous support. Over the past 5 years the event has grown to a full-blown festival bringing in local and regional music talent paired with local craft beer and specialty pizzas.

  • A general admission ticket grants you access to the SliceFest site for duration of the event.
  • General admission guests will be given a wristband which will allow you to come and go as needed.
  • Children 12 and under are admitted for free.

For more information or to purchase tickets visit their website.

Symphony in the Summer at Railroad Park:

Kick off the summer in musical style with three days of FREE concerts. Bring out your lawn chairs and blankets to be serenaded under the stars with the beautiful music of your Alabama Symphony Orchestra.
Free Admission

Friday, June 5 | 8 pm
Appalachian Spring

Saturday, June 6 | 8 pm
Dvorak’s New World Symphony

Sunday, June 7 | 6 pm
Family Fun Sunday

Sounds of Summer at The Summit:

Meet your friends and neighbors for an afternoon of music, food and fun! The Summit is hosting its outdoor concert series in Saks Plaza on consecutive Thursday’s in June at 6:30PM. Kicking off on June 8th, come listen to Raquel Lilly performing original songs that can be described as indie-pop with a retro flair!

Thursday, June 8th | 6:30pm
Thursday, June 15th | 6:30pm Eats & Treats from: Taco Mama, Steel City Pops, Piper & Leaf Tea, and Naughty But Nice Popcorn Co.
Thursday, June 22nd | 6:30pm Eats and Treat from: Taco Mama, Steel City Pops, and Piper & Leaf Tea
Thursday, June 20th | 6:30pm Eats & Treats from: Taco Mama, Steel City Pops, and Piper & Leaf Tea

* Concerts are weather dependent

Tie One On, Funky Food Truck Festival at Trim Tab Brewing:

Tasty food from these top Birmingham food trucks: Eugene’s Hot Chicken, NOLA Ice Birmingham, Shindigs Catering, Steel City Pops, and Wicked Haute Dogs. We’ll even have treats from Fetch – A Treat Truck for Dogs for your four-legged friend(s) PLUS the Greater Birmingham Humane Society will be there with adoptable dogs. Purchase an event t-shirt to tie-dye while sipping on refreshing Trim Tab brews.

Saturday, June 24th | 1pm – 6pm

Float Your Boat Festival at Turkey Creek Nature Preserve:

The Friends of Turkey Creek Nature Preserve are pleased to announce that the eighth annual Float Your Boat Festival will be held on Saturday, July 15, 2017. Float Your Boat offers a fun-filled day at the Preserve that features balsa wood boat races with prizes, the City of Pinson’s “Beat the Heat” ice cream give-away, food, swimming and a fun zone for kids. Last year more than 2,000 people attended the event, and this year promises to be even more successful and fun for the entire family. The festivities will kick off with the family fun zone opening at 10:00 am and boat races starting at noon.

Sloss Music and Arts Festival at Sloss Furnaces:

Sloss Music & Arts Festival is a two-day music and lifestyle event that takes place at Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark in Birmingham, Alabama. Sloss Fest is 40 bands on 4 stages plus craft beer & creative cocktails, arts & crafts, live iron pouring demonstrations, and much more.

Sloss Fest is a celebration of the unique, creative culture that makes life in Birmingham so unique, It’s a family friendly event and welcomes guests of all ages – Children ages 6 and under will be admitted free when accompanied by an adult admission.

Saturday, July 15th | 1:30 pm – 11:30 pm
Sunday, July 16 |: 1:30 pm – 11:30 pm

Visit their site for more information or to purchase tickets

The Friday Five: Top Picks for Weekend Activities for May 19th-21st

Posted on by Angie

  • McWane After Dark, Science of Sound:

Gear up for McWane After Dark: The Science of Sound. Enjoy hands on science activities focused on sound while listening to some incredible acts brought to you by Secret Stages and Birmingham Mountain Radio.

Admission includes three musical acts, access to four levels of McWane Adventure Halls, beer tastings from local breweries, light snacks, awesome activities, and parking.
*parking subject to availability | deck closes at midnight

Friday May 19, 2017 | 7 PM- 11 PM
$20 advance | $25 at the door | 21+ only

  • Birmingham Barons V. Tennessee Smokies

The Birmingham Barons are home this weekend! Head out to catch a game and have some family fun!
May 19th, Friday Night Fireworks – game time 7:05pm
May 20th, Kids Tshirt Giveaway – game time 6:30pm
May 21st, Salute to Armed Forces Sunday, Bark in the Park – game time 3:00pm

  • Day Out with Thomas:

Take a ride with everybody’s favorite #1 engine, Thomas the Tank Engine, and enjoy Thomas-themed activities at the Imagination Station, including temporary tattoos and hands-on arts and crafts.  Have your photo taken with Sir Topham Hatt and enjoy Storytelling, Inflatable Bounce House, Carpet Golf, Bubble Station, Sandbox, Railroad Signal Yard, and Live Music!

Find exclusive (not available in any store!) Thomas merchandise in the Gift Tent!  Delicious food vendors will be on site.

A fun-filled family experience not to be missed so be sure and bring your camera!

Advance purchase recommended.

Tickets include one train ride with Thomas and all attractions for $22 plus processing fee for ages 2 and up. Processing fee $3.65 for tickets purchased online and $4.25 for for tickets purchased by phone. Children 0-24 months ride free of charge though required to sit in an adult’s lap at all times. For your safety, strollers and infant car seat carriers are not allowed on the train.

Ride Times for Sat May 20: 9:00 am, 9:45 am, 10:30 am, 11:15 am, noon, 12:45 pm, 1:30 pm, 2:15 pm, 3:00 pm, 3:45 pm, 4:30 pm

Ride Times for Sun May 21: 9:45 am, 10:30 am, 11:15 am, noon, 12:45 pm, 1:30 pm, 2:15 pm, 3:00 pm, 3:45 pm

  • Do Dah Day:

Do Dah Day grew out of an idea in 1979 and has raised almost $1.5 million since! The South’s craziest parade kicks off at 11:01 a.m. on the streets of Highland Avenue in Birmingham’s Southside. Then, spend the day in Caldwell and Rhodes Parks with friends, pets, arts & crafts, kid’s activities, and a lineup of great bands. Oh yes, we have plenty of food and beverages, and collectible Do Dah Day t-shirts.

All proceeds benefit local animal charities.

Saturday, May 20th 11am – 7pm- Caldwell and Rhodes Park

  • 8th Annual Bob Sykes Blues and BBQ:

The event will take place at the beautiful DeBardeleben Park located in historic downtown Bessemer, Alabama from 12-8pm on Saturday, May 20th. Gates open at 11am. You can expect to hear talented award winning national and local blues musicians. Be sure to bring a chair or blanket and set-up your spot for the day. There is something to do for the entire family including a large kids corner with activities and games. Children twelve and under are free with a ticketed adult. The festival offers a variety of booths including arts and crafts, outdoor exhibits, legendary Bob Sykes Bbq, and a diverse selection of food vendors offering tempting bites.

For more events happening in Birmingham this weekend, make sure to visit our Events Calendar

Summer Tips for Children to Recharge and Relax

Posted on by Angie

It’s important that your summer plans work well with your schedule and your children’s routine.  A full summer schedule defeats the purpose of children who are rested, academically engaged, physically moving, and happy. Dr. Paula Rainer says “planning out a schedule will help you to have a relaxed and recharged summer as a parent.”  Dr. Rainer is an assistant professor in the School of the College of Counseling, Psychology, and Social Sciences at Argosy University, Northern Virginia. She recommends that every child have 30% family time, 30% developmental goals, 30% recreation, and 10% free time during the summer.

Here are some tips on creating the perfect mix of activities and down time:

1. Time:  Your children’s schedule has to match your availability during the summer.  Do you have to schedule them from 9 to 5 or just a few hours per week?  Do you have family vacations planned that must be included in your children’s schedule? Create a realistic schedule that fits into your time commitments.

2. Goals: When planning activities you might have different goals for each child. One child might need to improve in math; another might need to join a summer league sports team,  go to social development camp; or catch up on health checkups.  Remember to include some of these developmental goals for your child during the summer so they can be better prepared when the school year begins.

3. Personality:  Consider your child’s personality when selecting activities.  If the goal is to have a recharged and relaxed summer for your child you need to know how much family time, developmental goals, recreation, or free time each child needs to feel relaxed and recharged.

4. Family Time: The summer is a great time with a more relaxed schedule to create bonding time with each child with individual parent-child outings.  This is a good time to develop a closeness to your child by just being together without any pressure or agenda.  Choose activities that match your child’s interest (i.e. shopping, hiking, cooking, museums, spirituality, movies, concerts, video games).  Let your child take the lead in choosing the activity and just have pure fun. Include this activity at least 30% of the time in your family schedule.

5. Development:  Developmental goals are important but you have to make sure that your child does not feel like this is a punishment over the summer. If your child needs improvement in reading choose a tutoring method that is effective but not intense for your child’s development.  Select online, live tutoring, or camps that will motivate your child to understand the information without stress.  Sports training and summer leagues should build skills but not become draining or too intense.  Remember that this goal should not exceed 30% of your child’s schedule. Health checkups are also included in the developmental category of summer activities.

6. Recreation: Include recreation activities that help your child to stay fit physically while socializing with family and friends.  These activities should include walking the family pet, hikes, swimming, bike rides, dancing, walking tours of museums, gardening, and household projects.  All activities that keep the body moving are included in this activity.  This goal should be at least 30% of your child’s schedule

7. Free Time: Use free time for your child to learn how to relax and recharge.  Free unstructured time should include taking naps, reading books, crafts, watching a favorite movie, art, and writing. Free time teaches your child that it is important to schedule a time to recharge and relax.  Free time should be included at least 10% of the summer.

The percentages of family time (30%), development (30%), recreation (30%), and free time (10%) are recommendations and should be adjusted to fit your needs as a family unit.

About Paula Rainer:

Paula Rainer holds a Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision and M.Ed. in Counselor Education from Virginia Tech. Dr. Rainer currently is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Virginia in private practice where she serves couples, individuals, and teenagers. Her specialty includes autism spectrum, ADHD, anxiety, depression, couples, and school refusal.  She has served as both a director of counseling and middle school counselor in Prince William County, VA. Her current research agenda includes the incidence of depression and suicidal ideation in middle school and teenage youth.

McWane Science Center Becomes a Sensory Inclusive Organization

Posted on by Angie

McWane Science Center has partnered with KultureCity to become a Sensory Inclusive organization to better serve our visitors with sensory processing needs. With this partnership, McWane Science Center will foster an inclusive environment for visitors with sensory processing needs by providing tools for a better experience in our center.

KultureCity is a transformative movement to ensure a better future for children with autism. The nonprofit organization believes all children should be accepted and treated equally, and the future of these children should not be limited by their medical diagnoses. McWane Science Center shares this belief and has partnered with KultureCity to be a Sensory Inclusive organization. Through training with KultureCity, our staff has been equipped with tools to help visitors with sensory processing disorders enjoy McWane Science Center.

For more information on KultureCity please visit www.kulturecity.org.

Sensory Bags

Sensory bags and headphones will be available for check-out at the Ticketing Counter. Sensory bags include weighted lap-pads, fidget toys and headphones. Sensory bags will also be available in the Cool Stuff Store when there’s a long line at the Ticketing Counter. Headphones will also be available in the Lunchrooms on the Lower Level for field trips and other groups.

Quiet Areas

McWane has designated “quiet areas” throughout the Adventure Halls where there is less noise and activity. These areas are ideal for visitors who are overstimulated and need a quiet place to sit. These areas are identified with signage and in the following locations:

Lower Level: Aquascape Theater
Level 2: City Gallery
Level 3: Art and Tech

Sensory Room

The Sensory Room, located on Level One under the interior staircase, is designed to provide a safe, calming, sensory-supportive environment to facilitate self-regulation and relaxation for visitors who are feeling overwhelmed or overstimulated at the museum. Visitors will ask the security guard for access to the room.

McWane Science Center joins the Birmingham Zoo and the Birmingham Botanical Gardens in offering this inclusive environment for those with Sensory Processing Needs.

2017 Indoor Summer Fun in Birmingham

Posted on by Angie

Let’s face it.. It gets downright hot here in the summer months and finding a place to cool off and still keep the kids busy becomes a must.. Here are some ideas for beating the heat with some indoor fun.

Indoor Summer Fun in Birmingham

Jump!

We all love our trampoline parks and Birmingham has plenty to choose from:

Surge Trampoline Park and Urban Air are both conveniently located in Homewood. Steel City Jump Park is located inside the Phoenix Movie theater, meaning you can combine a free movie with some jump time!

Also check out, Air Walk and Sky Zone

If indoor bounce houses are more your speed, check out Pump It up in Pelham or Trussville.

Climb!

My kids love to climb and we always try to work that on to our Summer Bucket List: Birmingham Boulders and First Avenue Rocks are great for that!

Skate!

Skates 280
Roller Skating – check their site for Summer hours.

Cool off with some Ice Skating at the Pelham Civic Complex. Times for public skate sessions vary by day, check their schedule before you go!

Play!

McWane Science Center is always a great source for year round indoor fun, from Camps to special summer programming and traveling Exhibits, there’s something there for all ages!

Let’s Play Birmingham is an indoor play gym located down 280 and perfect for the littles. Don’t forget your socks!

Ultra Blast Laser Combat Center and Game Zone are great options for some Laser Tag Fun!

Kids Bowl Free is a great program to take advantage of during the summer. Registered kids receive 2 free games each day all summer long at participating locations. *Shoe Rental not included. Vestavia Bowl isn’t included in the Free Bowling, but have some pretty great specials you should definitely check out.

Other indoor play centers around Birmingham are Trussville Playstation and Treetop Adventure.

Learn!

The libraries have amazing programs throughout the year but during the summer they all kick it up a notch to help promote Summer Reading. Most all local libraries participate so if you’re looking to mix things up, pick a new library to try, you never know what you might find!

Birmingham Museum of Art isn’t usually what we think of first when we start thinking about fun for young kids, but you might be surprised at the fun programming they offer through Bart’s Art Cart and Bart’s Books. If you’re unsure about taking your child to the museum they have a useful guide on their site for navigating the art and even offer a downloadable Scavenger Hunt to print off before you go.

Don’t forget to keep on eye on our Events Calendar for even more fun happening around Birmingham.

What are some of your favorite places to visit and keep cool while keeping the kiddos busy during the summer?

5 Quickie Recipes For Busy Moms

Posted on by Angie

It’s almost summer!  The last place I want to be in the afternoon is slaving away in the kitchen, but the fam’s gotta eat, right? We’ve collected 5 snappy recipes to get you out of the kitchen and back to whatever it is you do

5-minute Pesto Pizza

Ingredients:

Baby spinach
Pesto sauce
roasted chicken
pre-made pizza crust
fontina or other cheese
(feel free to throw any other old thing you’ve got on it – I went with what was in the fridgy!)

Cover the pizza crust in pesto, add the chicken and spinach, coat with lots and lots (that’s a technical term) of your desired cheese and bake on 400 for about 20 minutes or until bubbly and gooey.

Quickie Fish Tacos

Ingredients:

Tilapia or other mild whitefish filets
Taco Seasoning
Bread Crumbs
Bagged Cabbage
Avocado
Whole Wheat Flour Tortillas
Salsa and any other desired taco condiment

Combine bread crumbs and taco seasoning.  Bread fish and bake in oven at 350° until flaky.  Assemble tacos.  Doesn’t get much quicker than that, folks!

Veggie Wraps for the Soul

Ingredients:

Whole Wheat Flour Tortillas
Low-fat cream cheese
Green & red Bell Pepper
Zucchini – sliced into spears
Sliced Mushrooms
Tomato
Bagged Lettuce

Cut Bell Peppers into strips and roast in oven with mushrooms and zucchini with light coating of oil.  Remove and place on napkin-covered plate.  Lay out tortillas and spread a thin layer of cream cheese, along with a bit of lettuce and tomato.  Place some of roasted veggie mix inside and wrap up.

If my kids will eat it, surely yours will try it – seriously folks, these can be customized to your tastes and are GOOD.

My Favorite Salmon

Ingredients

Salmon Filets
Parchment Paper
1 Tbsp Dijon Mustard
1 Tbsp Honey
1 tsp Soy Sauce
Salt & Pepper
Asparagus (trimmed, then cut into half-spears)

Mix together mustard, honey and soy sauce.  Lay out parchment and place a small bunch of asparagus on sheet, sprinkle with salt and pepper.  Place salmon filet on top of asparagus and top with sauce mixture, salt and pepper.  Wrap up the paper into a little “package” (it’s like a little package of love!) and bake in oven at 350° for 15-20 minutes until fish flakes easily.

Garlic Mushroom Pasta with Spinach and Pine Nuts

Ingredients

1 pound whole wheat linguine
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
3 tablespoons minced garlic
2 cups cleaned and sliced mushrooms
4 cups washed baby spinach
1/2 cup pine nuts*, lightly toasted
3/4 cup fresh grated Parmesan cheese

Directions

Cook pasta according to package instructions. Sauté garlic in olive oil a few minutes, then add mushrooms. Cook until mushrooms are just tender. Set aside. Place spinach into a colander. When pasta is cooked, pour it with its cooking water over the spinach in the colander. As the pasta drains, its heat will cook the spinach. Transfer pasta and spinach to a large serving bowl. Add mushroom mixture and toss. Top with pine nuts, cheese and pepper. (From Whole Foods Recipes)
What’s your favorite go-to quickie recipe?

Birmingham Area Splash Pads and Waterparks

Posted on by Angie

Splash Pads and Waterparks are the best way to cool off during the hot summer months. Lucky for you Birmingham has lots of options! Here’s a list of water fun in and around our area!

Birmingham Splash Pads and Waterparks

Birmingham Area Splash Pads and Waterparks

Alabama Splash Adventure
Water and Amusement Park
For more information on attractions, park hours and admission, visit their website.

Ashville Splash Pad
Open Memorial Day thru Labor Day daily 10 am – 6 pm. If you would like to reserve a pavilion, please contact City Hall at 594-4151.
211 8th Street, Ashville, Al 35953
Cost is Free

Splash Pad at the Birmingham Zoo
Inside the Children’s Zoo
Open 10am – 4pm
Cost included in the price of admission

Finley Center Splash Pad

Open May 15th – September 15th, 10am – 7pm
Closed on Mondays for Maintenance
Cost is free
100 Ben Chapman Dr. Hoover, AL 35244

Gardendale Splash Pad
Open Tuesday thru Sunday 10:00 A.M. until dusk from May 1st through September 30th
Closed Mondays for Maintenance
Located at 2191 Fieldstown Road
Cost is free.

Leeds Splash Pad
Free for Leeds Residents and their guests. Must show proof of residency at check-in gate. Opens May 25th. Hours of operation are Tuesday through Saturday, 9-7, and Sunday 1-6.
804 Park Drive

Moody Splash Pad
Open Tuesday through Sunday and closed every Monday. $2 per person and children 2 & under are free. No outside food or drinks allowed – concessions are available to purchase at the pad. Opens for the 2019 season, Tuesday, May 28th – August 11th.
100 Civic Center Drive. Moody, Alabama, AL 35004

Oak Mountain State Park, Inflatable Aqua Park

Grand Opening, May 25th 10am – 7pm
Participants must be at least 7 years old and at
least 45 inches tall. Participants must be able to swim

$15 per person for 45 minutes, each additional 45 minute session $10
Cost of admission to Oak Mountain is not included

Sicard Hollow Athletic Complex Splash Pad and Park
4851 Sicard Hollow Road
Open to the public, free
9am – sunset
May 1st – September 30th

Springville Splash Pad
Monday – Closed
Tuesday – Saturday 3:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Sunday – 1:00pm -5:00pm
Opens May 1st
Cost $2 per person
75 Old Talladega Rd, Springville AL 35146

Trussville Splash Pad

Cost: Must be a resident of Trussville and their guests only
Non-Park Members is $5.00 per person (3 & under Free)
Members of the Trussville Parks: FREE

Day Trip Locations:


Cullman Aquatic Center and Water Park
Season is Memorial Day – Labor Day
Outdoor Water Park featuring three large water slides, lazy river, & child’s play area
Outdoor Competition Pool with high and low diving boards

Cost: Single day passes are $10 per person. Children 2 and under are free!
1636 Field of Miracles Drive, Cullman, Alabama, AL 35055

 

Point Mallard, Decatur
Open Daily May 25th through August 10th
10am – 6pm | Tuesdays and Thursdays 10am – 8pm
The park features America’s First Wave Pool, Pro Bowl Slide, Towering Sky Pond and Speed Slide, Three Flume Tube Rides, Olympic Pool, Sandy Beach with complimentary beach loungers, Kids area featuring the Squirt Factory & Duck Pond, Concessions & Gift Shop, Scenic Lagoon.

GENERAL ADMISSION:
Children (Ages 5 – 11) $15.00
Adults ( 12 and 61) $20.00
Seniors (62+) $15.00
Military (with ID) – $15.00
Children 4 and under FREE

Pratt Pool and Splash Pad
Pool Opening Day: Monday, May 27th

Hours: Friday, Noon – 5 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Sunday, 1-5 p.m.
Admission: $3 per person (under age 3 is free)
(Days and hours subject to change)

Splash Pad Opening Day: May 1st
Hours: Monday through Sunday, 8am – 8pm
The 2019 Splash Pad season will end on September 30th.
Cost is free to the public
256 Doster St., Prattville, Al 36067

Spring Valley Beach
Water park with slides, large pool & a kiddie area, plus picnic pavilions & grills.
Open 7 Days a week, beginning Memorial Day
For specific daily hours, visit their website

Single Day Ticket Prices

General Admission: Over 4ft and adults is $26
Junior Admission: Age 3 up to 4ft tall is $21
Senior Admission: (62 years or older with ID) $21
Toddlers (2 years old or under) Free with paid adult
Prices include tax.  Daily admission passes are non-transferable and non-refundable. Pricing subject to change. No refunds, rain checks or exchanges, including for loss or theft.
Pool Area Parking (Single Day) — $10.00 per vehicle

Pool area parking is available until it is filled each day.

General Admission Parking Lot is Free

Tuscaloosa Barnyard (Splash Pad and Pool)
Opens May 1st
Friday & Saturday 10-2 (pool open to 4pm)
Cost of admission $10. Includes Barnyard, Pool and Splash pad
11453 Turner Bridge Rd. Tuscaloosa AL 35406 US

Tuscaloosa Splash Pad at Palmore Park
Opens for the Season, May 24th
11a – 7p Monday – Thursday
11a-6p Friday & Saturday (through Labor Day weekend)
1p-5p Sunday (through Labor Day weekend)

Cost:$5 per person, under 2 years old is free
3701 Fosters Ferry Road, Tuscaloosa, AL

*As with all of our lists, this information is subject to change without notice to us. If you’re ever uncertain about days/times/weather, it’s always best to call or check them out on Social Media for updates!

*Updated 5/19

Day Out with Thomas, The Friendship Tour

Posted on by Angie

Day out with ThomasAll aboard! Thomas the Tank Engine invites little engineers to join him for a day of friendship and family fun at Day Out with Thomas: The Friendship Tour 2017. Children everywhere can spend a day with their friend Thomas when the #1 Engine pulls into Calera, Alabama on May 20-21, 2017. Day Out with Thomas: The Friendship Tour 2017 is presented by Mattel.

Day Out with Thomas is a fun-filled event that provides children of all ages the opportunity to climb aboard and take a ride with Thomas as well as participate in Thomas & Friends™ themed activities.  The tour, now in its 22nd year, will make 42 stops across the U.S. and Canada, and is expected to welcome nearly one million passengers in 2017.  For two back-to-back weekends, little engineers and their families are invited to take a 25-minute ride on their favorite engine, meet Sir Topham Hatt, Controller of the Railway and enjoy a day of Thomas & Friends fun.

In celebration of this year’s theme, Day Out With Thomas: The Friendship Tour 2017 will feature an array of friendship-inspired activities. Attendees will be able to participate in events that encourage and celebrate friendship including photo opportunities and a fun activity that invites kids to collect passport stamps throughout the day to receive a trio of Day Out With Thomas friendship bracelets. The 2017 tour theme is in line with this year’s Thomas & Friends global brand campaign, ‘Set Friendship in Motion’ – a campaign that ties together content, social integrations, and event activations across the entire Thomas & Friends franchise to highlight the importance of first friendships and the development of key friendship skills in toddlers.

Thomas the Tank Engine rides depart every 45 minutes, rain or shine. Departure times begin at 9:45 AM through 3:45 PM on Friday and Sundays, and at 9:00 AM through 4:30 PM on Saturdays.  Tickets for Day Out with Thomas are $22, including tax, (plus processing fee when applicable) for ages two and up.

Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at www.ticketweb.com/dowt or by calling toll-free 866.468.7630.  For more information and directions, contact The Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum at 205-668-3435 or visit http://www.hodrrm.org/.

Review: Surge Trampoline Park

Posted on by Kristen Berthiaume

While kids (and teachers) are counting down to end of the school year, we parents are starting to panic as summer gets ever closer. If you haven’t yet gotten together your list of indoor places for burning off energy so the sun doesn’t burn us to death – NOW IS THE TIME!

A great addition is the newest Trampoline Park in Homewood: Surge. Located in the Wildwood Shopping Center, Surge has a wide open floor plan so parents can sit in one spot and see what their kids are doing – a huge advantage over some other trampoline places I’ve visited. Parents can gather at tables to observe, work, or socialize – no need to follow your kids from area to area. The place just looks fun and your kids will be sold as soon as they enter the building.

Surge’s bright purple and orange color scheme matches Birmingham Mommy’s – so we’re a little partial. I took my just-turned- four-year- old to Surge on her birthday and she had a blast! The check-in process was smooth and easy, with prices ranging from $12.95 – $27.95, depending on how long you jump. They give group discounts and regularly offer special pricing. The staff was very attentive and actually played with my daughter – something we haven’t experienced at other Trampoline parks. Her favorite activities were jumping and dodge ball (which gets a little boring with only two people…) but there is a lot at Surge to occupy bigger kids. They have trampoline basketball, foam pits you can jump/fall/knock someone into, and a runway trampoline, which are pretty standard at these places. But, they also have some options you don’t often see. My favorite two were a trapeze you swing off into a foam pit and these giant revolving arms you have to jump over or duck under to avoid being knocked down (but gently and on to a bouncy floor). We didn’t try the climbing wall but I’m sure it’s a big hit on busy nights.

Surge is closed on Mondays but open 11:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 11:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m. Fridays, 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m. Saturdays, and 12:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Sundays.

Check their website for pricing and Facebook page for special discounts. Kids under 2 are free with adult ticket purchase. Book ahead online to jump during busier times. They also offer birthday parties, overnight slumber parties (can you imagine!?!), field trips, and fundraiser nights.

You can check Surge out online at www.surgebirmingham.com , by phone at 205-943- 7090, or in person at: 120 Wildwood Parkway in Homewood.

Dream Big Family Sleepover at McWane

Posted on by Angie

Dream Big Family Sleepover McWaneHow about a night inside of your favorite science museum? The McWane Science Center is hosting a family sleepover this summer and you’re invited!

This family sleepover will make you Dream Big as you design, build, and test out feats of engineering genius. Create towers, catapults, and anything else you can imagine before heading to the IMAX Dome for a screening of Dream Big: Engineering Our World. Advanced reservations are required. To reserve your family’s spot, please call 205-714-8414.

June 10 @ 6:00 pm – June 11 @ 8:00 am

Prices

$40 kids/ $35 Adults
Members receive $5 off
*This event is for ages 6 and older.

Admission Includes

-Dinner and continental breakfast
-Museum admission
-Viewing of Dream Big in IMAX
-Engineering Challenges

For more events like this, make sure to visit our events calendar!

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