I like to check out what Westerville and Powell have to offer. I am sure some of the other cities in the area have fun things as well, but as of now these are the areas I focus on.
Both of these cities offer something called Touch a Truck. Basically what it is, is a park/parking lot area that is set up with every sort of vehicle you can imagine---dump trucks, garbage trucks, fire trucks, police cars, those girly pink limo things, a boat, mobile homes, a bus, and on and on. You walk around and the kids get to climb in the truck, pretend to drive the vehicle, honk the horn and just have a blast. Lots of things are passed out as well. The library passes out cups with a bookmark in it. The event table passes out re-usable bags and plastic construction worker hats. The Schwann's man was passing out popsicles. The girly pink limo was spraying sparkles in the girls hair and putting glitter stars on cheeks. Lots of coupons and stickers were also being handed out.
Little Man was in a garbage truck phase and was in heaven!
Cement mixer!!!
These pictures were from this year's Powell event. Don't worry if you missed it! Westerville's Touch a Truck will be Friday, July 31st from 10 to12. You can also check out Homestead Park's Touch a Truck in Hilliard on Saturday, August 14th from 10 to 12.
Another fun program that the Powell Parks and Rec does is a summer children's concert series called Lolli-Pops. It's been on Friday's in the past, but this year it is one Monday a month throughout the summer. It is at the Village Green Amphitheater from 10:30 to 11:30. Bring a blanket or chairs to sit on. Yesterday was the first concert, but you can still catch the ones on July 12th and August 9th.
There's no shade, so you'll want to take that into consideration. Bring drinks!
Most of the kids stand and dance around. Little Man was sitting this one out. :)
It's always packed, so you'll want to try to get there early so you have a place to A) park and B) sit.
Kids always end up on the steps to the stage dancing and singing along.
Some kids draw with side walk chalk, some people blow bubbles. It's sort of a free for all.
There are different entertainers each time. Some do better than others relating to the kids, but hey--it's free!
oh my word Ryan would go crazy!!! He loves all things trucks (his favorite toys, a garbage truck, street sweeper and many bulldozers)He watches "Mighty Machines" all the time. This would be something he would love! I wish they had things like that around here! Little Man is a lucky Little Man!
ReplyDeleteEr, you can come visit us when one of the other cities are having it! I know Ryan would love it! This is the second year we've done it and we do it two times a summer and Little Man never tires of it. Our science museum also has a week each summer called "Big Machines" and they have a back patio area that they cover with backhoes, excavators, tractors, etc. It's the same basic thing. Kids wait in line and can climb on them, "drive" them, etc. That's coming up in a few weeks. (Although, that's not free--you have to pay to get in. We have a membership, but you guys wouldn't. Plus, Touch a Truck has more variety.) Something to think about.... :) Michael won't have school on Friday's and also our weekends are always free now.
ReplyDeleteIf they have these on Friday's, I think we might come for a weekend (if that's ok. I get 1/2 day Friday's, so I might just take a Friday off and we can leave in the morning or come Thursday evening. Then we can spend the weekend doing that. Would your employers mind us tagging along? I guess just let us know the dates. Ryan would be in Heaven!!! Plus it would be nice to come to your area :) I do love Columbus!
ReplyDeleteWell, one is on a Friday (July 31st from 10 to 12) and one is on a Saturday (August 14th from 10 to 12). Either one would work for us. If you did the Friday one and I still worked that day, Michael could take you to it and I could meet you there with Little Man. Then we could play at the park and do lunch or whatever. If K doesn't have a job by then, I've been getting off on Friday's around 3. If you want to do the Saturday one, then it wouldn't really matter. We have one of the best Zoo's in the country (Jack Hanna is from here) and lots of other fun kid things too. We could make it a kids weekend! :) Of course, we don't have a bedroom for you, but you can always camp out in our basement!!! Just by knowing the locations and such, I might suggest the Saturday one. You could still come on Friday, or Thursday night even. It's not a huge deal, it's just at a nicer park. We're game for whatever.
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