Your guide to activities and fun things to do with your preschoolers, toddlers and kids in portland, OR

What's Happening in PDX 7/18-7/19

July 16, 2009

The heat might have some of us wishing for Fall, but Portland knows how to stay cool! Check out these very "Portland" family-friendly activities all around town this weekend:

Sand in the City   Friday 7/17 & Saturday 7/18: 10:00am-9:00pm, Sunday 7/19: 10:00am-4:00pm

Pioneer Courthouse Square is transformed into a sandy wonderland as Sand in the City takes over for three days. In just six hours, sand teams and architects transform over 450 tons of sand and 4,500 gallons of water into magnificent sand sculptures! Teams compete to create out of this world sculptures that are judged in three categories: Theme/Story/Message, Design/Use of Plot, and Carving/Structural Risk. Judging begins at 4pm. All ages welcome, $3 per person/$10 per family suggested donation. Kid's inspiration center has a variety of info/activities, face painting is additional fee. Event benefits Kids on the Block, an organization that uses puppetry to  educate and empower children.

Yoshida's Sand in the City    Pioneer Courthouse Square, 701 SW 6th St.

Family ride plus bike safety tips. Helmets required, wear bright clothes. All ages. 5:30 pm every third Friday. Two locations: Downtown: North Park Blocks by the playground at NW Park and Davis. SE Portland: At the Sunnyside School Park, SE 34th and Yamhill.

Woodstock Festival and Parade  Saturday 7/18 10:00am-5:00pm
Starting at 11 a.m. at the intersection of SE 52nd Avenue and Woodstock Boulevard, the parade will be followed by festivities throughout the day, including live music featured on three separate stages, a beer garden in the parking lot behind Mickey Finn’s, kids’ activities, t-shirts, and several chances to win prizes by visiting participating merchants. Burgerville train rides, climbing wall, vintage Oregon City trolley rides, pony rides, face painting, and free pedi cab rides.

Woodstock Boulevard, between 41st and 52nd Avenue


Portland By Cycle Ride: Family Puppet Show Ride  Saturday 7/18 10:30am-12:30pm
A family-paced ride with a puppet show as a reward.  Bring the kids by trailer or bakfiets, on tag-a-longs, or on their own bikes.  Special thanks to Mudeye Puppet Company. Meet at McKenna Park, N Princeton and Westanna. Helmets are required, water suggested.

Journey to the Center of the Earth in 3-D @ Dickinson Park Saturday 7/18 dusk
Pack a picnic summer and then enjoy a family-friendly movie. All ages. Entertainment (The Working Stiffs) at 6:30 pm, movie at dusk. Bring a blanket but no alcohol. Free. A Portland Parks and Recreation event.

Dickinson Park SW 55th Ave & Alfred Ct, Portland

What's Happening in PDX 7/11-7/12

July 09, 2009

The sun might actually make a return this weekend, so celebrate the end of grey skies! See how long you can stay outside and enjoy the sights and sounds of the city this weekend! Go by bike, foot, scooter, or public transportation to cut down on cars on the road and really enjoy your surroundings. Smell that? It's summer in the Northwest!



Saturday, July 11th


Ladybug Nature Walk   10am
Toddlers will love this nature discovery walk! They get to borrow special plush ladybug packs full of all sorts of nature detective gear. Walk host engages child and parent on a fact-filled morning out. This week's walk meets at Mt. Tabor park (not stroller friendly)
$3/per child
Portland Parks & Recreation    503-823-3601


Pirate Maps  11:00am-1:00pm
Yaaaaarrrrrrrr! Artist Sarah Ferguson shows you how to create a pirate map.
North Portland library     512 N. Killingsworth St.  503-988-5394

Can't Sit Still Storytime 2:00-2:30pm
"Is your child always on the go? The pitter-patter of little feet just won't stop? Quiet listening not an option? Some children just can't stop moving and making noise. Our noisy and interactive program is designed just for them. For children ages 3 years and older with adult."
Central Library  801 SW 10th Ave   503-988-5123


Mississippi Street Fair  10:00am-9:00pm
Bring your tall bike, your dogs, and kids down for the Mississippi Street Fair! Arts & crafts, food, drink, people watching!

From the Street Fair website:

Fun Activities for all, all day:

10-7pm Local Market - featuring interesting arts & crafts vendors plus community service displays & food vendors
Tupello Alley Reusable Art Fair & Water Features
Kids Area - Boise Eliot Eliot Elementary features bouncy castles and kids games for all sizes at Beech
Bingo - lots of prizes
Sustainability Fair at the Mississippi Avenue Lofts (4138 N. Miss Ave)
Salted Ice Cream outside at The Meadow (3731 N. Mississippi Ave)
Rose wine tasting inside at The Meadow

12:00 Children's Parade - starts at Beech

Four stages - featuring a multi-cultural roster of entertainment

10am-9pm MAIN STAGE at Shaver (middle)
1pm Norman Sylvester
2pm Freak Mountain Ramblers
3pm The Dimes
4pm Linda Hornbuckle band
5pm
6pm The SEI Sounds of Soul Gospel Ensemble
6:40 Matt Sheehy Band
7:30 pm Weinland

11am-10pm SIDE LOT STAGE (Mississippi Station)
1pm Nathaniel Talbot
2pm Sneakin Out
3pm James Low
4pm
5pm Bridgetown Saints
6pm Swing Papillon

11am-7pm DANCE STAGE at Fremont (south end)
Celilo
Tezeta Band
Samba Sol
Taylor Newville
Sudden Anthem
The Beauty
Funk Plastic
Cloaked Characters and Mosely Wotta

11am-7pm ACOUSTIC STAGE at Skidmore (north end)

Businesses and eateries along Mississippi will be open on the street for patio dining & summertime refreshments:

Por Que No? Floating Margarita Garden
Mississippi Pizza & Pub Beer Tent
Amnesia Brewing Patio
Lorenzo's Patio
Mississippi Station Patio
Crow Bar Bar
Casa Naranja Patio
Pastaworks Wine Tasting Patio

11am–9pm CRAFT BEER TASTING - Local Organic Beer Tasting at Shaver (by the Main Stage)

Featuring:
Roots OG Brewing
Hopworks Urban Brewery
Lucky Labrador Brewing Company
Deschutes Brewery
McMenamins Breweries

All activities take place on Mississippi Avenue (between N Fremont and N Skidmore) 


Family Habitat Hikes   9:30-11:30am
"Join a naturalist from the Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation District on a guided hike through one of the many different habitats of Cooper Mountain. Strollers discouraged. All ages welcome; children must be accompanied by an adult. $8 per person. Up to two children (ages 10 and younger) may accompany each registered adult for free. Advance registration required; call 503-629-6350."
Cooper Mountain Nature Park  18892 SW Kemmer Road, Beaverton

Bastille Day Celebration  noon-8:00pm
Kids will want to spend all day in Le Jardin Des Enfants with crafts, the tombola, face painting, hacky sack, horse shoes.  Ballet dancers, cooking demos, live music, and roaming mimes!
Jamison Square Park  NW Johnson St & NW 10th Ave



Sunday, July 12th
11321 SW Terwilliger Blvd
Portland

Sunday for Families  12:30pm-3:00pm
In July, visitors of all ages can learn about Indian art in the Brantley Gallery, including the statue of Ganesha, a Hindu god with the head of an elephant.

Family Tours: 12:30 p.m.
Outdoor Art Making: 1 - 3 p.m.
Story Time: 2:30 - 3 p.m.

Free for children age 17 and under. Free for Museum Members and with Museum admission.

Portland Art Museum 1219 SW Park Avenue  503-226-2811

Tryon Creek Junior Ranger Program 1:00-2:00pm

Fun for ages 6-12! Join a park ranger and learn how you can help protect our natural resources, plants and animals. Participating in nature games, nature crafts and park explorations will help junior rangers earn their badge.This week's topic is "Tracking"

Parents must sign a permission slip before children participate. We strongly encourage parent participation with children.Free, no registration needed.

Car camping with the kids in comfort!

June 22, 2009

As more and more people stick closer to home this summer, car camping is becoming an attractive getaway. We’ve done plenty of camping at sites within an hour or two drive from home, and with a little preparation, you can be as comfortable in the woods as you can be at a hotel.

-Ziploc bags are your friends! Utilize plastic bags (or cloth grocery totes) to store everything for your trip (and then reuse after your trip!) Package like supplies together for easy organization when you set-up or break down your campsite.

-Green your camping trip by packing either compostable paper plates or washable melamine dishes. (If you need to wash dishes, make sure you bring dishpan, sponge, and scrubby with dish soap reserve). Bring along a clothesline and you can hang your damp clothes or dishtowels to dry in the sun while you’re out having fun.

-Follow the cardinal rules of camping: Leave the campsite/campground as you found it. Enjoy nature while you’re there, but leave everything you come across for others to enjoy. Make sure your campsite is clean and ready for the next onslaught of campers. When it’s dark, you are quiet. Nothing ruins a camping trip like being stuck next to a campsite of screaming frat boys (or children). Same rules apply for the am hours; keep it down until at least 7:00am. Your neighbors will thank you for it.

-Bring a broom and dustpan to sweep out your tent every morning/evening to cut down on the junk that winds up in your sleeping area. Keep a mat outside and institute a strict no shoes policy.

-Try to keep bedtime routines as close to home-style as possible. Bring a battery powered or wind up lantern for story time. (After a good session of charades and s’mores by the campfire, of course.) Bring your child’s favorite stuffed animal and books so they feel secure about sleeping in a strange place. (Sleeping on a camping trip, what’s that?)

-Take advantage of the in-park talks or evening programs. We had so much fun around the campfire with fellow campers and the ranger who gave a talk on wildfires and really involved the kids in the safety discussion.) Research your campground before you make reservations, you may want to plan your trip around a site that has a playground or special wildlife talks. Or, you may want to find a different campground if you discover that road construction may disturb your stay (This happened to us!)

-Your children will be easily entertained by the nature and wildlife around them so you probably won’t have to pack much to entertain them. (Especially when you camp with multiple families). I suggest bringing a bug box to capture specimens (release at the end of your stay) and a magnifying glass from the dollar store. (Finding eggs on the underside of a leaf can be captivating to even the littlest of children). If you’ll be staying at a campground with paved areas, consider bringing trikes or bicycles. Bring plastic binoculars for "bird watching" too.

-Food can be as easy or as complicated as you make it. Pancake mix that you combine with water and shake, along with scrambled eggs makes an easy breakfast. You can pack standard fair like trail mix and sandwiches, or get fancy with baked potatoes, corn on the cob, and grilled meat.

Don’t forget to pack the first aid kit, lots of hand sanitizer or wipes, and plenty of energy. Then you’ll need a good day or two to recover from your days in the “wild” with your family. (And if you’re like me, you will do hardcore research on the bathroom facilities that the campground offers, to make sure there are FLUSHING toilets). I’m no primitive camper, and I will be the first to admit it!

What's Happening in PDX 6/20-6/21

June 18, 2009

Summer is upon us! If you're not too busy picking strawberries or lazing about in your backyard enjoying the break from school, Portland is packed full of fun family activities this weekend. The Sunday Parkways event returns and looks to be an amazing community building celebration. Look for two subsequent Sunday Parkways events in Northeast/Southeast Portland later this summer!

Saturday, June 20th

Contact leader for announcement of location and directions.

For more information, contact Jean Rystrom at (503) 282-2905 or rydick@toast.net.

Berry Jam-11:00am-4:00pm

Head to Kruger's this Father's Day weekend to celebrate Papa and Oregon Strawberries! There will be hayrides, music from Trashcan Joe and New Iberians, Jam-making Demonstrations, Farm Animals, and fun. Face Painting, U-Pick berries, Strawberry Shortcake, Food (Fresh Roasted Corn!) & Drink available for fee. 

Kruger's 17100 NW Sauvie Island Road, Portland 503-621-3489

Meet Biscuit the Dog! 11:00am

Bring your camera and tell all your friends! Come meet a familiar pooch from some of your child's favorite stories.  We'll also read Biscuit stories and have fun with Biscuit activities, too. Join us!

Barnes & Noble-Clackamas Center 12000 SE 82nd Avenue, Portland 503-786-3464

Ladybug Nature Walk 10:00am

Bring a snack and enjoy a guided hike! Learn about our local parks and the wild critters that live there!

Walks take place regardless of rain/shine. $3/child, adults free.

Laurelhurst Park- SE 39th Ave & Stark

Sunday, June 21st

Sunday Parkways  9:00am-4:00pm

A 2-way route of city streets open to walk, bike, roll, run, jump & skip - without having to watch out for cars! The 7.5-mile North Portland Sunday Parkways route will have two loops.  A 3.2-mile loop through Kenton and Arbor Lodge neighborhoods. And a 4.5-mile loop connecting Arbor Lodge and Piedmont neighborhoods via the Bryant Pedestrian Bridge and North Ainsworth.  The scenic Willamette Bluff will once again be enjoyed. Featured parks/activity areas: Arbor Lodge, Kenton, and Peninsula Parks.

Peninsula Park

Berry Jam-11:00am-4:00pm

Spend the day with us celebrating the father figures in your life.

Oregon Historical Society: Family Day Celebrating - The Amazing World of Claymation. noon-5:00pm

Meet award winning film maker, Will Vinton and learn more about Claymation at 1pm.  Family activities, include the opportunity to help make a pixelation, or better known as a stop-motion film and creating clay figures offered from, 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Free admission for all. 

Oregon Historical Society 1200 SW Park Avenue, Portland 503-238-7433

Best little kid playgrounds in Portland-Eastside Edition

June 16, 2009

• SE 39th Ave & Stark St

What's Happening in PDX 6/6-6/7

June 04, 2009

Free Summer Fun!

June 01, 2009

There are seven days of kindergarten left and counting for my daughter! She's already staying up later (it's hard to fall asleep until the sun goes down and the house cools off) and I'm already wondering exactly how I am going to fill our summer days with the delicate formula of fun activities and lounging around. I am dreading hearing the cry of "I am so bored, there's nothing to do.........." so I am arming myself with a binder of free or cheap Portland summer activities to keep us just busy enough, but still allow for the flexibility of doing...nothing (hunting for flying beetles or sending dolls on extremely exotic vacations to the wading pool in the backyard sound good to me). Our family has down-sized to one car and we're going to be striving for a lot of activities close to home or that are Tri-Met accessible. In Portland, that is easy to do.

Here are five activities to keep your kiddos occupied during the next three months--have fun!

1) Free bowling! Did you know that your children can bowl two free games every day this summer? Two local bowling alleys are offering an amazing program to keep kids cool and active:AMF 20th Century Lanes on SE 92nd Ave (3550 SE 92nd Ave), and AMF Pro 300 Lanes, also in Southeast (3031 SE Powell Blvd) Head to Kids Bowl Free and sign the kids in your life up for a special pass that is good for two free games daily all summer long (excludes shoe rental). Parents/relatives can also purchase a special pass for $23.95, which is good for up to four adults to enjoy bowling all summer as well. (two games daily). I am looking forward to having a cool place to hang out and hide from the sun. (an quick picnic or popsicle break afterward at Powell Park might be nice)

2) The Summer Reading Program through Multnomah County Library is a great way to keep your children interested in books and helps them build/maintain their literacy skills. Beginning June 12, kids and teens can visit anyMultnomah County library to sign up for the Summer Reading game. Participation is free! The program runs June 12, 2009 through August 31, 2009 and your child can earn fun prizes (ice cream, swim passes, books, the prizes change throughout the summer). There is even a reading program for adults! Collect stamps as you read and enter to win a family trip to Disneyland!!

3) For older siblings, Barnes and Noble also offers a similar reading program for children in first grade and up. Read any eight books and choose a free book (from list of specified titles). Combine a trip to redeem your Summer Reading Journal with one of B & N's entertaining in-store events and make an afternoon of it! Check out a list of upcoming events here!

4) Portland Parks offers a huge variety of free activities for youth during the summertime. Wading pools and fountains open, many locations offer free arts/crafts as well as a free lunch, and there will be free movies/concerts in many local parks. Visit their website for details regarding swim lessons, classes, and camps at very affordable prices. We are so lucky to have these resources in our neighborhoods for safe and free/low-cost fun!

5) Free gardening classes are available for children (ages six through twelve) through Portland Parks this summer.

Woodlawn Community Garden

What's happening in PDX 5/30-5/31

May 28, 2009

The school year is winding down and the temperature is heating up! It's going to be a warm weekend and there are plenty of activities going on. We're going to be sure to check out the kid's clothing swap at the Central Library for some summer outfits, (we've got a lot of gently used clothes to exchange!) hooray for the library for facilitating this cool event!

Saturday, May 30

Monkey Rolls and Rhyming Time  10:30am-11:30am
Join Heather Pearl as she brings animal stories to life, and involves the audience in acting out the stories. The program also includes classic nursery rhymes, and new ones of her own invention. Seating limited and available on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Holgate Library 7905 S.E. Holgate Blvd. Portland 503-988-5389

PDX Kids Swap 1:00pm-3:00pm
Join us at the library for a free kid's clothing swap. Round up unwanted clean children's clothing, accessories, and other wearables your kids don't  use or love anymore and bring them to the swap! Bring clean clothes in reasonable condition, no rips, tears, visible stains, etc. There are no minimum requirements for how many items you have to bring or how many you can take, but please be courteous and generous.

Don't forget to bring a bag to carry your treasures home in. Items that do not get swapped will be donated to low income and high needs families in our Pdx community.

• 1:00pm – 1:30pm Size 7 to 14+ (Kid Sizes)


• 1:30pm – 2:15pm Size 2T to 6x (Child Sizes)


• 2:15pm – 3:00pm Preemie to 24 months and maternity clothing (Baby and Mommy-to-be sizes)

The Starlight Parade begins at NW Burnside and 9th Ave. It then travels through downtown Portland and ends at Lincoln High School. Use public transportation for your convenience!

From OMSI's website: "Join OMSI on May 31 at 11:00 a.m. to view and test drive (or ride) fuel cell vehicles from leading automakers. Meet the members of the California Fuel Cell Partnership and talk to the engineers who work on the vehicles and provide hydrogen fuel. Fuel cell vehicles have the potential to provide the range, high efficiency, rapid refueling and performance consumers expect with zero tailpipe emissions and dramatically reduced greenhouse gas emissions. Come and see how close these vehicles are to commercialization, how to fill a fuel cell vehicle with hydrogen and learn how fuel cells fit into a clear air future." 

OMSI 1945 SE Water Ave. Portland 503-797-4000

Think Parks & Rec for the summer ahead

May 12, 2009

 In Portland, there are a huge variety of reasonably priced classes for children through Portland Parks. Every summer, I look forward to the schedule of classes coming out and the activities for June/July/August do not disappoint! Portland Parks' programs meet the needs of the community and keep  children happy and busy! For the younger preschool set, classes are usually Mommy & Me type classes, and as your child grows, there are even more options (parent remains in the building, but is free to read or surf the 'net!). Here are few classes that stand out for the upcoming Summer session (descriptions from PP catalogs):

Growing Up PDX style

May 05, 2009

Two Urban walks to take this Spring with children

April 28, 2009

Things You Must Do in Portland Before Your Child Grows Up

by Sarah Gilbert

November 04, 2008

I've lived in Portland most of my life, and though I've traveled and lived in many vibrant, wonderful cities I can't imagine raising my children anywhere else. I can't let my kids grow up until I:
 Read more...

Room to Run: Where to go to get the wiggles out

by Sarah Gilbert

November 03, 2008

This family loves to run; my husband and I are both veterans of the Hood-to-Coast (10 for him, three for me, but I have the distinction of running six-and-a-half weeks postpartum!) and high school track team. So we're biased toward actually running and are regular visitors to the track (where I try to teach the kids proper long jump technique to great hilarity from my husband). Here are five  Read more...

Splash: On mud puddles

by Sarah Gilbert

January 07, 2008

It is raining. Oh, it is raining . And in any other city that might mean many posts exploring the wonders of inside play. Not in Portland. At least, not in my Portland, the city where I grew up to understand that people don't melt , the city where I am a mama to boys who love to splash and who do not consider winter a bad time to play in the sand box. Reflecting with another mama that no time  Read more...