No matter what your kids’ ages and interests, I guarantee you’ll find something they’ll love to do this weekend. There’s a ton of variety and fun to be had –  go get ‘em!

All Weekend

At Sawyer Point, the Midwest Regional Black Family Reunion will include themed pavilions, health screenings, youth and young adult activities, food and merchandise vendors and more.

If you’re up for a good old-fashioned church festival, this is a good weekend to head out to one. Lots of family fun can be had at St. Francis de Sales Family Fun Fest in Lebanon (513-932-2601 for info), St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish Festival in Milford (513-575-0119 for info), St. Mary Family Funfest in Hyde Park, and St. Ignatius Festival on North Bend Road (513-661-6565 for info).

On the Lebanon Mason Monroe Railroad, take a Train Ride with Clifford the Big Red Dog and Emily Elizabeth. Play on the LM&M play set, enjoy story reading of classic Clifford favorites and create a fun craft. Visit the LM&M website for tickets and ride times.

Want a little Family ARTventure? Head to the Cincinnati Art Museum (Saturday at 1 pm or Sunday at 3 pm) and meet in the front lobby for a tour featuring touchable objects and hands-on art stops led by specially trained docents.

When the heat is one this weekend, cool off at Sharon Woods’ Sharon Centre for Ice, Ice, Baby: Ice Age-themed activites indoors and naturalist-led hike in the Gorge to see how glaciers shaped Sharon Woods. Saturday and Sunday at 2 pm.

Friday

Late summer is the perfect time for Sleeping Under the Stars: An Overnight Adventure at Cincinnati Nature Center at Rowe Woods. Camp out in a field, and enjoy a night hike with activities, crafts, campfire to cook dinner and more. Bring your tent and dinner to cook. Light breakfast provided. Ages 6 and up.

Saturday

Starting on Saturday at 8:30 a.m., the Fremont Paddling Festival highlights the efforts of Adopt-A-Stream clean-ups and realizes the recreational potential of Great Miami River. Enjoy paddling races, a recreational float, entertainment, camping, boat rentals, vendors, expo, and more.

If you’re deathly afraid of snakes, you might want to ask someone else to take your kids to this one: Goodness Snakes is a (you guessed it!) snake-themed program at the new Fernald Preserve in Harrison. Stop in from 9 to 4 to check out live snakes and get a wiggly wooden snake with realistic slithering motion to take home.

For the wee ones, there’s ManaTots at Blue Manatee Children’s Bookstore in Oakley, stories and songs for children up to age 4, starting at 9:30. (Tip: Mom and Dad can get a good cuppa joe at the Manatee Decafe while the kids enjoy storytime!) Later in the day, at 1 p.m., Snoopy will be stopping by the store for stories and pictures.

Any budding chefs in the kitchen? Get ‘em cooking at Kids Can Cook Too, 10 am at Whole Foods Market — it’s free, but registration is required.

Kids ages 6-12 can try their hand at Acting and Storytelling for Kids, 11:30 am to 1 pm at Bi-Okoto Drum and Dance Theatre. During this workshop, they’ll play theater games, acting exercises, act out African parables and learn professional techniques for TV and stage.

Your young crafter might enjoy Kids Club Krafts at the Clubhouse,  1 to 3 pm at Scrap-Ink on Bridgetown Road. Children ages 4-12 learn the basic elements of art, design and style.

Are your kids all pumped about tennis after the Western & Southern masters tournament? Tennis KidsFest at Mercy HealthPlex Fairfield and Anderson (1 to 3 pm) is geared to ages 5-11 and is designed to teach tennis quickly in fun environment. Parents are encouraged to stay and participate.

Everyone put on their dancing shoes for the Street Dance & Family Fest in Madeira from 6 to 11 pm. Listen to music by Leroy Ellington and the E-Funk Band and a DJ on deck playing hits, along with food and drink booths.

Sunday

Did somebody say free ice cream? Yep, if you stop by Joseph-Beth Booksellers around noon. The Wimpy Kid Ice Treat Truck Tour will be there, and you and the kids can get a free frozen treat to celebrate the upcoming release of “Diary of a Wimpy Kid Book 5.”

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As usual, folks, Cincinnati is overflowing with family-friendly fun this weekend. I don’t know about you, but we’re getting a little stir-crazy after all this heat. (OK, I admit, we’re wimps when it comes to humidity.) It’s time to get out and enjoy some of this great city’s summertime happenings! So without further ado, here’s what we found:

Friday

Bring your balloon-loving kiddos (ages 5 and up) over to Joseph-Beth Booksellers in Norwood at 2 p.m. for Balloon-a-palooza. While you shop for a hot summer read, they can enjoy balloon stories, balloon games and relay races, balloon animals and more.

The libraries are doing some entertaining events for tweens and teens (perhaps lure them away from the Wii for a bit?) At Covedale Branch Library (6:30–8:30 p.m.), 6th through 12th graders can team up to play Clue as characters from the classic game. Prizes and snacks are included. Over at Green Township Branch Library (7 p.m.), your 4th through 6th graders get to solve a mystery at Tween Mystery Night (they’ll love the theme: My Grandma’s Going to Kill Me!).  And the Erlanger Branch Library (7 p.m.) is putting on what sounds like a terrific concert, featuring the Mt. Pleasant String Band, a five-piece bluegrass/old-time band with a unique, high-energy sound.

Friday afternoon from 4 to 8 p.m., the Cincinnati Museum Center is opening its doors to all, with free admission to all of its museums, including The Art of Caring America I AM exhibits.

Looking for some family-friendly theater? The Tri-County Players summer campers (ages 6-14) will perform Fairly Odd Tales, a collection of fun fables and fairy tales with some musical interludes. The entire show has been conceived, developed and performed by TCP youth–pretty cool! Shows are at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. at the Sharonville Fine Arts Center ($5, free lap sitters ages 3 and under).

Ready to rock out under the stars? Bring your blankets and chairs to Blue Ash Towne Square for the Forever Diamond show. Tributes to Neil!!! Get your kids hooked on all the goodies, from “Coming to America” to “Cracklin’ Rosie”!!! This free concert starts at 8 p.m. — but I’d suggest you get there early for a good spot in the square.

Saturday

More fun stuff at the libraries! At the Deer Park Branch Library, kids are cordially invited to Deer Park’s swanky Walk of Fame Star Party (noon), where they can decorate their very own stars. The Mary Ann Mongan Library in Covington will host Terry Francis, Magic Man, (2 p.m.) for some slight of hand, rabbits out of hats and who knows what other mayhem? Meanwhile, the Clifton Branch Library will be overrun with pirates at Pirate Island Madness (2 p.m.) — complete with limbo contest and conga line!

Do your kids enjoy DreamWorks movies? Saturday night Fountain Square Movie Night feature’s the adorable animated film, Over the Hedge (followed by King Kong for parents of older kiddos). Movies are FREE so grab a cooler & some lawn chairs and head down to fountain square!

Sunday

What’s more fun than free ice cream and comedy? The Erlanger Branch Library’s having both at its Ice Cream Social (3 p.m.), with comedian/juggler/ventriloquist Mike Hemmelgarn for some funny, family comedy and ice cream from the Trauth Dairy Taste Team.

Dogs are important members of the family, too! Treat your pup to a little R&R at the Kenton Paw Park Pool Party (noon to 4 p.m.) Fido can splash around and cool off in baby pools located throughout park. Water and food will be available. There are even raffles to benefit Friends of Kenton Paw Park, the non-profit organization responsible for maintaining paw parks in Kenton County, Ky.

All Weekend

Friday and Saturday (8 a.m. to 11 p.m.) are the last two days of the Butler County Fair in Hamilton. Take a look at FFC’s local fair roundup for details about this and other upcoming fairs.

Make some magic with the kids this weekend on Lebanon Mason Monroe Railroad’s “Magic Train,” a day of magic and fun with Brett Sears, professional magician. Your ticket includes a ride to LM&M Junction, a 30-minute magic show, and one-on-one magic with Brett. See the LM&M website for ticket prices and show times.

Put on your dancing shoes, kick up your heels and get ready to salsa at the Cincinnati Salsa Festival. Held on Saturday and Sunday at Sawyer point, the festival features cultural crafts, food and drink vendors, Children’s World, professional dance performances and dance workshops, and Tri-State Salsa Open Championship.

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Saturday

Is there an early riser in your family who likes birds? Hike along with a guide at Cincinnati Nature Center’s Rowe Woods for a two-hour Bird Walk, starting at 8 a.m. ($5, free for members). Don’t forget the binoculars!

Catch a flick with the fam at Sharonville Fine Arts Center, which is showing Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince at 6 p.m. for its family cinema night. Tickets are only $2, and free for ages 2 and under (purchase at Sharonville Community Center front desk). Downtown, you can watch two movies FREE on Fountain Square, Fantastic Mr. Fox and Bend It Like Beckham, starting at 7 p.m.

Bring your music lovers and lawn chairs for a free concert at Keehner Park in West Chester. From 7 to 9 p.m., the Cincinnati Brass Band will be swinging big band classics that’ll get the kids (and maybe even you!) up on their feet to dance the night away.

And we can’t forget MONSTER JAM (which seems to call for all caps, doesn’t it?) at Paul Brown Stadium. Monster Jam is a massive truck show, featuring 12-foot tall, 10,000-pound trucks racing around a track. Unlike a regular truck show, the Monster Jam track is full of obstacles that the trucks must roll over…. or crash through! Get the full scoop from Shannan’s giveaway post (sorry, the giveaway is closed, but you’ll get all the details).

Sunday

The end is near folks!  Well, the end of World Cup anyways…the final day of the tournament is Sunday.  Come celebrate with a…uh…FOOSBALL TOURNEY?  Well, why not?  Head downtown to Fountain Square for all the foos-action before and after the final game.  The game will be broadcast live on the jumbo screen – so bring your pom-poms, comfy chairs and cheer whomever is left on to victory!  Fun starts at 11am – find all the details at the Fountain Square website.

I really didn’t see a whole lot of special events or cool family stuff going on this Sunday. If you know of something that I missed, please add a comment to this post. Thanks!

All Weekend

There are church festivals, and then there’s St. Rita Fest. This is one of the big ones in terms of Cincinnati’s summer festivals. This Friday, Saturday and Sunday, go for rides, raffles, live music, games for all ages, spaghetti, turtle soup and fish dinners. There’s also free parking, shuttles and a special ride pass for children. Admission is $2; ages 18 and under must come with an adult after 9 p.m.

GUESS how many Farmers Markets are going on in the greater Cincinnati area this weekend? 46 (at least)! Find one in your part of town (or a different one, if you’re feeling adventurous) and shop for fresh, local treats.

Discover what frontier life was like for early American settlers at Ohio Pioneer Days, held this Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., at Sharon Woods’ Heritage Village Museum ($5 ages 12 and up, $3 ages 5-11, free ages 4 and under). View demonstrations on butter-churning, open hearth cooking, and candle-dipping. Listen to re-enactors tell stories, plus hammered-dulcimer and banjo music.

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Tis the weekend to celebrate our favorite dads, so don’t miss Kristin’s awesome Father’s Day Fun in Cincinnati post. It’s chock-full of cool ideas for how to spend some quality time with Dad. (Plus there are some cute pics of FFC’s favorite fathers, including mine!) Otherwise, there are plenty more fun things to do with the fam this weekend. Stay cool and have a great time!

All Weekend

If your kids spend way too much time hanging around the monkey bars, maybe you should enroll them in Children’s Flying Trapeze School. With the help of The Amazing Portable Circus, they’ll learn to fly circus-style at Newport on the Levee. Ages 6-12, must be accompanied by adult. $7, registration required. Call 513-921-5454 or visit www.amazingportablecircus.com for information. Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Help teach your children about an important part of American history at Juneteenth Festival, an annual celebration of the end of slavery in 1865. This festival is held at Seasongood Pavilion and Mirror Lake in Eden Park. Enjoy music, informational displays, health screenings, childrens’ activities, job seminars, food vendors and more. Free. For more information, call 513-631-7289  or visit www.juneteenthcincinnati.org. Saturday, noon to 9 p.m.; Sunday, 3 to 7 p.m.

Friday

Think you have the next LeBron James in your house? Give your budding basketball star (ages 4 to 7) a leg up at Chris Mack Little Dribblers Basketball Camp, held at the Cintas Center, Auxiliary Gym, Schmidt Fieldhouse and O’Conner Sports Center. Participants will learn fundamentals of the game, teamwork and sportsmanship. $55 per camper, per session, registration required. Call 513-745-3417 or visit the camp’s Facebook page for details. First session is Friday, 9 a.m. to noon.

Saturday

Whether you have fond memories of the good ol’ camp days or just want to check it out for the kiddos, the YMCA Camp Kern 100th Celebration sounds like a lot of fun. You can enjoy all the camp classics: Horseback riding, climbing walls, arts and crafts, archery and air rifles. Plus listen to tunes by the Banana Slugs String Band and Jim McCutcheon. Free. Call 513-932-3756 or visit the camp website for details. 8 a.m. – 10 p.m.

Football fans young and old will dig the All Pro Dad Father and Kids Experience at Paul Brown Stadium. Dads and kids ages 5 and up can play sports and activities, including tips on being a better father. The experience is hosted by Anthony Munoz, pro football hall of famer. For more information, call 813-222-8300. Registration is only $15 per family, which includes admission for one adult and up to four children. Advanced registration is required and early registration is encouraged.

Encourage healthy eating and maybe even get some extra help with cooking — take your 5- to 12-year-olds to Kids in the Kitchen at Whole Foods Market Mason. This is a free summer Saturday series of cooking classes, starting this Saturday with fruit burritos (yum!). Registration is required, so call 513-398-9358 to get on the list.
As the sun goes down, head to Fountain Square for a free “drive in” movie night — without the cars. At Toyota’s Movie Night, you can watch Astro Boy and Steamboy on the big screen from 7 to 11 p.m. Families bring their own blankets, chairs, and pillows. Adult beverages, soft drinks, and movie snacks are available for purchase. Concessions will include Skyline coneys, soft pretzels, nachos, candy bars, and kettle corn!

Feeling more in the mood for music? Bring your seats and picnic to the free West Chester Concert Series at Keehner Park. This Saturday, Ooh La La will be performing classic rock from 7 to 9 p.m. Call 513-777-5900 or visit
www.westchesteroh.org for details.

Sunday

This weekend marks the official start of summer, the Summer Solstice. Celebrate with a Yogic Takeover of Fountain Square – this event is free and open to all. Enjoy fun events for the whole family, including yoga-asana practices, live music, an eco-boutique and delicious vegan treats.  Connect with the greater community, practice peace in action and learn about what we can do to honor the earth and all of her creatures, living sustainably and in harmony with all of life all while in the middle of the city at Fountain Square. Noon to 4 p.m.

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If you’ll be staying in town this weekend, there are p-l-e-n-t-y of family-friendly activities and events to choose from in the greater Cincinnati area. Have a happy, safe Memorial Day weekend, everyone!

Taste of Cincinnati

It’s a crazy, crowded, chaotic mix of food, music and fun. When you’re at Taste, you could go for an afternoon or the whole day (or multiple days, since it goes all weekend long). Eat like a king or queen! For all the scoop, check out this Taste of Cincinnati guide from Metromix. Also, don’t forget to check out the Boy Scouts Adventure Base 100. We wrote about it earlier this week –> http://bit.ly/9Qoszw

Cincinnati Rollergirls!

Join all the Cincinnati Women Bloggers for the coolest show on four wheels, for real: The Cincinnati Rollergirls!  All are welcome to this family-friendly event. The ladies of CWB will be throwing a tailgate before hand for the complete CRG experience. The game is May 29,  7:00pm – 10:00pm, Cincinnati Rollergirls Black Sheep vs. Minneapolis, MN & Silent Lambs vs. Dayton, OH. Curious as to what it’s all about? Check out this post http://ow.ly/1R71H we wrote earlier in the month.

Old Fashioned Memorial Day Party Weekend at Totter’s Otterville

Enjoy old-fashioned prices on brats, metts, hot dogs and medium fountain drinks (each for 50 cents). The Stars & Stripes Express (trolley) to U.S.A Station will be available to children, $1. The party includes patriotic crafts held in art studio. $7.95

Butterfly Fashion Show at Sharon Woods

At Sharon Centre, kids of all ages can learn about the basics of butterflies and make some fun butterfly crafts. Free, vehicle permit required. Sunday at 2 pm.

Holiday Kids’ Fishing Tournament at Lake Isabella

You bring a line and I’ll bring a pole, honey! Registration starts at 9 a.m, fishing starts at 10. Trophies will be awarded. Ages 12 and under can participate with an adult. Space is limited. Free. Monday, 10 am-noon.

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Win a 4-pack of tickets to Lazer Kraze

If you didn’t win the first Lazer Kraze giveaway earlier this month, here’s your second chance to get a 4-pack of tickets! Lazer Kraze, one of the largest laser tag arenas in the country, offers three distinct playing levels and can accommodate up to 40 players at one time. Near Kings Island, this attraction proudly boasts a clean and family-friendly environment for the ultimate laser tag experience.

**Don’t forget to enter our grand prize giveaway, an overnight stay at Great Wolf Lodge! Click here to enter.

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Win a $30 Gift Certificate from J.D. Legends (2 Winners)

J.D. Legends and Strike Zone Lanes are a state-of-the-art award-winning Restaurant and Family Fun Center focused on providing greater Cincinnati with a fun entertainment option for the whole family. Fabulous food and drinks, bowling, beach volleyball, a great tiki bar, live music and events, a huge arcade and accommodating staff make J.D. Legends one of a kind for Cincinnati families. Enter today’s giveaway for a chance to win one of two $30 gift certificates to sample the food and fun at J.D. Legends.

**Don’t forget to enter our grand prize giveaway, an overnight stay at Great Wolf Lodge! Click here to enter.

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