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Looking for a family friendly event during the Three Rivers Festival (TRF) that won’t cost you and arm and a leg?

Look no further than Family Fun Day at the Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory on Tuesday, July 17^th from 10 am-3 pm.

Paddle boat races in a parking lot? How fun!

Included in your regular admission (only $5 for adults, $3 for kids 3-17 and under 2 is free) you can enjoy the Soothing Summer Gardens Exhibit while the kids…

• Make crafts
• Get a balloon animal
• Have their faces painted
• Win prizes at games of skill and chance
• The kids will also have a blast with a bubble dance party, moonwalks, giant slides and inflatable paddle ponds

The Botanical Conservatory even has you covered for lunch with hot dogs and other items for just 50¢! Or stop by the Bagel Station Uptown (located inside the Conservatory).

*Insider Tip* Wear your TRF button for a discount on admission

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Three Rivers Festival

Friday, July 13, 2012 – Saturday, July 21, 2012

Indiana’s second largest festival offers 9 days of fun for the entire family!  From the opening day parade, arts, crafts, amusement rides, and International Village, to live music, the Bed Race, and the all-new RiverGames Water Wars and canoe races, Three Rivers Festival brings family-friendly fun to the heart of downtown Fort Wayne! 

Location: Headwaters Park – Downtown Fort Wayne

For additional information, please visit the Three Rivers Festival website.

There are so many great family attractions in Fort Wayne, such as the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo, Science Central and the TinCaps; but what else is there to do?

There are plenty of free or low cost options to keep the kids entertained (and hopefully give you a few minutes to relax and rejuvenate) this summer.

Mondays and Thursdays: Free children’s movies at Rave Motion Pictures and $2 movies at Carmike Cinemas (which includes popcorn and drink). Movies start at 10am.

Tuesdays: Check out the Allen County Public Library, Artlink, Cathedral Museum, Firefighters Museum, History Center and many others. You could even make Tuesdays “field trip day” and go to a different attraction each week!

Wednesdays: Free movie night at the Foellinger Outdoor Theatre. Movies start at 8:30pm and are rated PG. Need a snack? Check out the concession stand which is sure to satisfy your cravings.

Thursdays: Lunch on the Square from 11:30am-1pm at One Summit Square with live entertainment. Pack your own lunch or stop by one of our downtown restaurants.

Fridays: Friday Nites Live at Jefferson Pointe. From 6:30-8:30pm enjoy live entertainment while the kids cherish the balloon art, face painting and more from Sweetcakes Entertainment. Finish the night off with dessert at Culver’s or DeBrand.

Saturdays: Rock the Plaza at the Main Library from 6pm-9pm. Dance the night away or take a blanket for a more relaxing evening. Grab a bite to eat before or after the show. If you are kid-free for the evening, check out Fort Wayne’s Nightlife scene!

Sundays: Free admission to the Fort Wayne Museum of Art. Exhibits over the summer include Infinite Mirror: American Identity, Challenging the Figure: works by Loren Olson, Gwen Gutwein: Barns of Indiana, Outside the Circle: Indiana Woodturning and Step Gently Out.

Looking for other suggestions? Give us a call at the Visitors Center: 1-800-767-7752. We’d be happy to help!

So, the kids are out of school…wait, THE KIDS ARE OUT OF SCHOOL?!?! This means, that if we want to have fun, I also have to be willing to drop a decent amount of cash. OR, you can read my series of blogs that will help keep your summer eventful without breaking the bank (I will try to keep the events to free or minimal admission).

The Foellinger Theatre offers a movie under the stars!

If you are a devoted reader, you may remember Enjoy a Movie Under the Stars at the Foellinger Outdoor Theatre. All movies are rated PG and start at 8:30pm on Wednesday nights. Here is the schedule for 2012.

Cars 2-June 20
Kung Fu Panda 2-June 27
Puss in Boots-**Thursday, July 5**
The Adventures of Tintin-July 11
Happy Feet Two-July 18
Hugo-July 25
The Muppets-August 1
Hop-August 8
Zookeeper-August 15
Spy Kids: All the Time in the World-August 24

What to make it a special night? Take them out for dinner before or dessert after!

Fort Wayne offers a festival nearly every weekend in the months of June and July. Out of all of the summer events, my favorite is GermanFest. Why? That’s simple; it’s the festival that my husband and I enjoy together (and without kids).

The celebration begins at various city locations on June 2^nd and ends Saturday, June 9^th. On Wednesday, June 6^th, the majority of the events take place at Headwaters Park in the Festival Pavilion. The week is jammed-packed with events that are sure to please everyone.

My favorite activity is the Beer Stein Relay Race, it’s always fun to watch (maybe this year I will even talk myself into participating).

My other favorite part of GermanFest is inviting a group of friends to enjoy the food (the warm potato salad is amazing) and music (oh, and of course, the beer!)

If the festival closes for the night, but you are still yearning for more, be sure to check out the nightlife that Fort Wayne has to offer!

Who doesn’t love a picnic? Grab the family, get a sandwich or pizza to go and head over to the park for some quality time.

No matter what side of town you are on (or want to go to) I’ve got you covered – below are my picks for great parks (and great places to grab a bite!)

Downtown has great restaurants and delis where you can pick up a quick bite.

Downtown
Dash-In (I recommend any of the grilled cheese sandwiches or the Tuna Po-Boy)
816 Pint and Slice (the Margherita is my favorite, and make sure you try the breadsticks too)
Toscani Pizzeria (the sausage pizza is the best)
Jimmy John’s (The Big John is always a hit)

Head over to Lawton Park (take some sand box toys)
Headwaters Park (bring the swimsuits and run through the fountains)
Freimann Square (bring some bread or crackers to feed the ducks)
One Summit Square (head over on Thursdays at 11:30am for live entertainment).

North
Don Hall’s Drive-In (the Big Buster is a must)
Five Guys Burgers and Fries (you can’t go wrong with the bacon cheeseburger)
Penn Station (the Dagwood is a family favorite)
Dogs N Suds (it’s ok, treat everyone to a root beer float)

Enjoy the afternoon at Shoaff Park (splash pad, baseball, golf or just walk the trails)
Northside Park (bring your tennis racquet or cool off at the pool)
Kreager Park (home of Taylor’s Dream Playground, complete with a new playground and splash pad)

Kreager Park is home to Taylor's Dream Playground, a great place to enjoy a picnic and for the kids to have a blast!

South
Casa! Ristorante (the Casa salad is amazing)
Shigs in Pit Barbeque (the Pulled Pork is their specialty)
Azar’s Big Boy (the Big Boy burger is amazing)
Culver’s Frozen Custard (and the best Butter burger)

Foster Park (playgrounds and great flower displays for a few pictures)
Lindenwood Nature Preserve (offering some peace and quiet as you enjoy the nature)
Tillman Park (take your baseball glove)
Indian Trails Park located at 10313 Aboite Center Road is sure to be a family hit

Do you have any other favorites I should add to the list?