SENSORY FRIENDLY "MINIONS" - SATURDAY, JULY 18TH 2015 AT 10AM - VARIOUS LOCATIONS NATIONALLY! MOST "LESS THAN A LATTE"!

" Minions " 

will be playing tomorrow!

" The program provides a special opportunity for families to enjoy their favorite films in a safe and accepting environment. The auditoriums dedicated to the program have their lights up, the sound turned down and audience members are invited to get up and dance, walk, shout or sing! "

Some matinee-priced - some less! 

For more info. go here.

The Seattle Public Library presents an African American Film Series featuring a screening of "The Wiz" at the Central Branch - Saturday, May 30th 2015 from 1-3pm

" Join us for a screening of "The Wiz," part of the Library's African American Film Series celebrating black actors, directors and films depicting the African American experience.

 Sidney Lumet's "The Wiz" is the film version of the popular Broadway musical that retells the events of L. Frank Baum's classic novel "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" through the eyes of a young African-American kindergarten teacher who's "never been below 125th Street." 

Leaving a large family dinner to chase her dog into a snowstorm, Dorothy (Diana Ross) is swept up by a cyclone and transplanted to the land of Oz -- which looks suspiciously like a skewed version of the run-down Manhattan of the late '70s. Landing on top of the Wicked Witch of the East, the puzzled Dorothy is greeted by munchkins who peel themselves from a graffiti mural and sing to her about the Wiz (Richard Pryor), a powerful wizard living in Emerald City who can help her get home. 

The Wiz has about double the large-scale production numbers of The Wizard of Oz (1939), with songs written and composed by Charlie Smalls. 

There will be raffle drawing for a DVD of the featured film at each event. "

For more info. go here.

Seattle Cherry Blossom & Japanese Cultural Festival at Seattle Center - Now until 6pm on Sunday, April 26th 2015!

                                               

 

    Seattle Cherry Blossom & Japanese Cultural Festival

                   Go and enjoy all things Japanese during this wonderful festival happening at Seattle Center this weekend!

For more info. go here. 

BEST OF NFFTY FILM FESTIVAL for teens and adults and a chance to win FREE tickets at the Central Branch of the Seattle Public Library - Saturday, April 4th 2015 from 4-6pm

Check out this cool event for Teens!

" Join us for a screening of the best films from the 2014 NFFTY Film Festival, featuring directors age 22 & under, with a Q&A to follow. Plus, win tickets to NFFTY 2015

NFFTY (pronounced "nifty") is the largest youth film festival in the world. Filmmakers will be on hand after the screening to answer questions. "

For more info. go here.

3rd Annual French Fest: A Celebration of French-Speaking Cultures at Seattle Center - Today, Sunday, March 22nd 2015 from 11am-6pm

" Join the community for Seattle’s 3rd Annual French Fest: A Celebration of French-Speaking Cultures on March 22, 2015 from 11:00am-6:00pm at the Seattle Center Armory.The festival will be a free, family-friendly event open to the public with the purpose of promoting and raising awareness of Francophone cultures and traditions to the residents of the Greater Seattle area.
During the one-day event, festival-goers will listen to live music, watch dance performances, assist to the first French Fashion Show in Seattle, taste international cuisine, learn from informative seminars and cooking demonstrations, play games and enjoy a day full of fun activities en français! "

For more info. go here.

Irish Festival at the Seattle Center - Today and tomorrow, Saturday and Sunday, March 14th and 15th 2015 until 6pm both days!

Go and enjoy all things Irish this weekend at the Irish Festival!

" The Festival features booths selling Irish and Celtic products, non-stop Irish music, singing, dancing, workshops, lectures, cultural displays, children’s contests and activities, etc. Festival Highlights also include Genealogy Workshops, Irish Language Workshops, Cultural Exhibits and more. Family-oriented activities include wonderful Irish Musicians along with Champion Irish Stepdancers from around the Pacific Northwest. Events for children include the “Smilingest Irish Eyes Contest” and the “Most Irish-Looking Face Contest”, and other activities in the Children’s Activities Center. Contemporary Irish short films will be screened during our Irish Reels Film Festival (see schedule of films at www.irishreels.org). "

For more information call 206-427-3027 or go here and here.

SENSORY FRIENDLY "SPONGEBOB SQUARE PANTS: SPONGE OUT OF WATER" - SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 14TH 2015 AT 10AM - VARIOUS LOCATIONS NATIONALLY! Most "Less than a Latte"!

" SPONGEBOB SQUARE PANTS: SPONGE OUT OF WATER " 

will be playing tomorrow!

" The program provides a special opportunity for families to enjoy their favorite films in a safe and accepting environment. The auditoriums dedicated to the program have their lights up, the sound turned down and audience members are invited to get up and dance, walk, shout or sing! "

Some matinee-priced - some less! 

For more info. go here.

TOP MUST-DO FREE (OR CLOSE TO IT!) HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS IN AND AROUND GREATER SEATTLE TO ENJOY DURING WINTER BREAK 2014/2015!

Every year we try to make sure we hit these numerous different fun events as a holiday tradition for our family. You can have lots of fun spending the winter break with your family without breaking the bank! Make sure to check dates and times as a couple end soon! 

(Click on the blue links for more info. on each event.)

 Holiday Carousel in Westlake  in Seattle

 Runs until January 1st with special hours on New Year's Day.

$3 suggested donation per rider.

Ice Skating - Bellevue

Free opportunity Mondays until January 6th at Downtown Bellevue Park if you have a Bank of America card or Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® card to the staff at the ice arena and you will receive two free skate admissions plus skate rentals on Mondays. There is a limit of two admissions per person and they are limited to skate availability too.

Please Note: expect long lines on school winter break Mondays possibly up to 2 hours. Other Mondays recommended for free skate. 

" Free Skate Mondays – Compliments of Bank of America and Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® card. Show your Bank of America debit or credit card or Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® card to receive two free skate admissions for skating on Mondays. "

Winter Train and Village

Free to view anytime from 10am-6pm until December 31st 2014 and $2 cash only suggested donation to drive remote control train at 10:30am-12pm, 1pm-2:30pm and 3:30-5:30pm daily.

Gingerbread Village

Through January 5th 2014 in Seattle

Free, donations accepted for Juvenile Diabetes Foundation

Garden d'Lights

Runs nightly in Bellevue through January 3rd 2015 

$5 per person (10 and under FREE)

Image courtesy of Binary Christmas

A light show with music near you!

This one is called Binary Christmas and is in Bothell. It runs nightly until New Year's and I believe they hand out candy canes too!

Free, but accepts canned food donations for Hopelink.

All images courtesy of The Bellevue Collection

Snowflake Lane/Celebration Lane

Runs through New Year's - Free - plus lots of lollipops or horns given out!

Children's Film Festival

with animated (1pm)  and live-action shorts (2:30pm)!

Happens Saturday, December 27th 2014 at the Seattle Public Library's Central location at various times depending on ages of children.

Free!

Ice Sculpting

Last one happens on Saturday, December 27th 2014 from 12-2pm at Fisher Pavilion - Free

Happy Holidays everyone with love from FreePlay Kids! 

Enjoy your winter break!

THE BEST OF NFFTY-CINEMA IN TUNE featuring music videos & films created by Teens for Teens and Adults at the Central Library in Seattle - Saturday, September 27th 2014 from 2-4pm

" The Teen Center at Central Library and NFFTY bring you an afternoon of films with a music focus created by teens. Teen directors will discuss making videos and entering the NFFTY festival.

The National Film Festival for Talented Youth (NFFTY, the largest festival of its kind) presents music videos and films with a focus on music made by 16-24 year olds from Seattle and around the world. See below for the films to be screened, though the lineup and order may change. Please call the Library for verification of titles a day or two before the event. "

Featuring:

Flash Point

Colin Campbell

Michigan

Dresses - Painting Roses

Tim Hendrix

California

Fortissimo

Noah Wagner

New York

Song For Anna

Lucinda Harstrick/Isiah Hoban-Halvorsen

Washington

Hope

Adam McArthur

Washington

Eric’s Basement & Secret Tunnels

Jake Oleson

New Jersey

75 Pianos

Jackson C. Davis & Grant Olans

Brush – Manatee Commune

Tyler Michael James

Washington

Renminbi Tips

Cole Jackson & Tommy Lee

A Warmer Sound

Daniel Morris & Carolina Nunes

United Kingdom

This Life 

Joanna Roy

California

Insan_Human

Karim Shaaban

Egypt

For more info. go here.

Food, Water and Bountiful Living - A family fun event at 21 Acres in Woodinville - Now through Sunday, September 27th 2014 - Various times

And featuring the film:

" FOOD and WATER. We will secure these for our future and all future generations. What is your part in this? Classes, exhibits, resources and more on Saturday, Sept. 27th at 21 Acres from 10am to 4pm. Come to all or any of the workshops. See demonstrations and exhibits. Open your hearts and minds to the possibilities. 

A visit to 21 Acres is worth a thousand words. Come and join us. Films, food and fun all weekend through the Sammamish Valley Harvest Festival. 

More info on the weekend event:
21 Acres invites visitors to: explore how to grow healthy, bountiful food in minimal space with just the right amount of water; enjoy the award-winning film, “Growing Cities,” a documentary road trip about urban farming in America; sit in on one of the water themed workshops and get professional advice with our resource experts; stop in the 21 Acres Farm Market where a bounty of produce from the fall harvest will be showcased in addition to Fall Soups food demos.

“Fresh Thinking: Food, Water and Bountiful Living” is held in conjunction with our neighbors and the Sammamish Valley Fall Harvest Celebration. The event is open to the public and there is no charge for most activities. "

For more info. go here.

Free Summer Outdoor Movies in the Park with free popcorn too in Downtown Park in Bellevue - Tuesdays - Now through August 19th 2014 - Movies start at Dusk! (Held at different location if rain - see details)

MOVIES UNDER THE STARS

This is a lot of fun for the whole family! Don't forget to bring a donation if you can for the particular charity being sponsored that week!

" Family, Friends, and Neighbors, get comfy! Bring your picnics, blankets and low-back chairs!

Each week will be dedicated to a special non-profit. Your donations will be graciously accepted.

...On Tuesday evenings July through August 19, enjoy free movies and free popcorn with Summer Outdoor Movies in the Park at Bellevue Downtown Park --Sponsored by Inome and Bellevue Parks & Community Services. Enjoy a free screening at dusk of a variety of movies on a 40-foot screen and help neighbors in need with a donation to local charity. "


Schedule and list of needed items per charity:

	JUL 08 Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters (PG) - 105min   Watch Trailer Highly needed items: - New Clothing for kids ages 5 - 18 - Long or Short Sleeved Shirts   View Complete List +
JUL 15 Epic (PG) - 102min   Watch Trailer Highly needed items: - grocery gift cards - reams of 8 1/2 x 11 printer paper   View Complete List +	JUL 22 Mr. Peabody & Sherman (PG) - 92min   Watch Trailer Highly needed items: - Grocery & gas gift cards - New or gently used clothing   View Complete List +
JUL 29 The Lego Movie (PG) - 100min   Watch Trailer Highly needed items: - Kids snacks - Granola Bars   View Complete List +	AUG 05 Gravity (PG-13, Edited) - 91min   Watch Trailer Highly needed items: - Grocery Gift Cards - Bus Passes   View Complete List +
AUG 12 The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (PG) - 114min   Watch Trailer Highly needed items: - School Supplies - Basketballs   View Complete List +	AUG 19 42 (PG-13, Edited) - 128min   Watch Trailer Highly needed items: - Backpacks - USB Flash drives   View Complete List +

Movie Titles and Pre-Movie Activities are subject to change without notice

PARENTS: A good source to review movie content is http://www.kidsinmind.com

For more info. go call 425-452-4240 or go here.