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!

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Talk about a fun educational experience! School-aged children are invited on a personalized tour of one of Fort Wayne’s most beautiful landmarks – The Embassy Theatre.

This special opportunity is an especially meaningful adventure for children who have visited the Embassy for special events, like Christmas or even attended a silent movie with the Embassy’s historic Grande Page organ. Children who have never visited the Embassy will find it equally amazing to observe this gigantic musical instrument and its home for the past several decades.

In addition to examining the Page organ, kids can participate in art projects like creating mosaics and rubbings. Games are planned, including a Scavenger Hunt! I might have to join them as I love scavenger hunts! There’s even popcorn! What could be more appropriate for a movie theater setting?

Behind the Screen takes place on June 27, 28 & July 17. Time: 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m.

Tickets are $5 per person and available at the Embassy box office. Group rates are available by calling the Embassy box office at 260.424.5665.

This is a totally cool creative and educational program for kids. Kudos to the Embassy Theatre staff for opening this precious historic landmark and allow our city’s youngest residents to experience it up close through this organized activity. Hopefully it will inspire a love for the Embassy Theatre and loyalty for its contribution to Fort Wayne’s quality of life.

Go to the Embassy Theatre website for more information.

Embassy Theatre
125 W. Jefferson Blvd.

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The Fort Wayne Museum of Art extends its hospitality to visitors by opening wide the doors of Paradigm Gallery, its museum store, for extended hours on the Second Thursdays of each month.

Hours for Second Thursdays are from 5:00 p.m.-7:30 p.m. Each month in 2012 Second Thursdays have offered different shopping options: items for gardens and lawns; new artist debuts; area jewelry artistry; sales of items under $100; demonstrations of wood turning by area artisans.

The lovely gift shop is a highlight of the Museum of Art.

June’s Second Thursday will offer views of the Paradigm Gallery with its doors literally wide open under the sky’s magnificence at sunset.

There is free admission during Second Thursdays.

Fort Wayne Museum of Art
311 East Main Street

Regular hours for the museum are Tuesday – Saturday 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.; Thursday 11:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.; Sun 12-5. Closed holidays.

For additional information, call 260.424.6467 or go to www.fwmoa.org.

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Have you ever wondered how those talented employees feel when they are actually “behind the scenes” at the Zoo? What does it look like? How does it feel? How close do they really get?

Get a Backstage Pass!

Now YOU can experience jungle life this summer like you never have before! The Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo is offering a close-up encounter with their “Backstage Pass,” offered to all of us who have ever wondered.

This behind-the-scences adventure is FREE with regular zoo admission and is sure to delight the young and old with it’s one-of-a-kind opportunity to experience what really happens with all of those incredible animals that we don’t usually get to see.

The Fort Wayne Zoo was voted as “Indiana’s #1 Gotta-Do Summer Attraction” in a contest sponsored by the Indiana Office of Tourism Development, so if you want something super wild to add to your summer bucket list, this is a must do! Not only will you be able to spend the day visiting the African Safari, Indonesian Rain Forest exhibit and so much more, you can NOW, on June 28th from 10:00 am – 3:00 pm, embrace the reality of zoo life at Indiana’s finest.

The Fort Wayne zoo is open from April 21st – October 14th, 2012 with so many exciting activities for the whole family. Learn more online at www.kidszoo.org!

This summer, your family can create a unique and affordable vacation by “diving into” a memorable vacation at the Fort Wayne Zoo. You might just make a few furry friendships while there!

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Budget-conscious visitors can find plenty to do in the Summit City at no cost. Here are a few wallet-friendly options:

• Summer is a great time to get active. Ride or walk on Fort Wayne’s trail system. Fort Wayne is a dream come true for outdoor enthusiasts. Its 60-mile trail system and rivers welcome guests for a weekend of fun and adventure.

The trails are a great (and free) way to see Fort Wayne in a new way, and get some exercise.

• Are you a history buff and have a few hours to spare? The Allen County is a draw for those who want to research their roots. The Genealogy Center at the main branch of Allen County Public Library (ACPL) in Fort Wayne contains more than 332,000 printed volumes and 362,000 records of archival nature on microfilm and microfiche.These stats make the Genealogy Center at ACPL the largest collection of genealogy and local history materials in a public library in the US. It is the second largest collection of its kind in North America.

• Jefferson Pointe is more than just about shopping. The lifestyle center offers toddler programs and live music on Fridays in the summer.  Of course window shopping is always free!

• Discover a Fort Wayne icon, Hyde Bros Booksellers. Located just north of downtown Fort Wayne on the east side of the street at 1428 Wells, it is one of the largest bookstores in Indiana. Specialties include history, literature, nature, Indiana, science fiction, fantasy, mystery, horror, sports, humor, travel, religion, and the social sciences.

• Fort Wayne is fortunate to have a quality art museum downtown–the Fort Wayne Art Museum.  This contemporary art museum offers works from permanent collections and national traveling exhibitions. Visitors can also enjoy activities including workshops, lectures, guided tours. Additionally, the museum store has unique selections of original art, jewelry and gifts. Visitors can enjoy free admission Thursdays and Sundays.

With the reasonable cost of living, Fort Wayne is an choice easy for someone watching expenses. Who doesn’t love saving a little green?

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