Week 1

Summer is in full swing and Central California Parent doesn’t want your kids saying “I’m bored!” We are going to keep you busy with things to do, places to go and giveaways throughout the month of July. Be sure to check back each Wednesday for a new list of fun ideas. This week we offer up 6 COOL summer fun items. Let’s get started!

Cool Cinemas

Creative Craft

Take Me Out to the Ball Game!

Tasty Treat

Amusing Museum

Scoot Around This Summer!

Cool off at the Cinema

Sierra Vista Cinemas 16, located at 1300 Shaw Avenue in Clovs, is offering a series of kid’s summer movies every Tuesday at 10 a.m. for only $1.50 each performance.

Minions is showing July 5
Hotel Transylvania 2 shows on July 12
The Book of Life is scheduled on July 19
Norm of the North is showing July 26

Summer Kids Film Festival at Maya Cinemas is showing movies for $1 admission Wednesdays and Thursdays at 10 a.m. Maya Cinemas is located at 3090 E. Campus Pointe Drive in Fresno.

Alvin & The Chipmunks: The Road Chip plays July 6 and 7
Home is scheduled on July 13 and 14
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 shows July 20 and 21
Turbo plays July 27 and 28

Kids will love Summer Movie Express 2016 at Edwards Fresno Stadium 22 and IMAX, Regal Manchester Stadium 16, and Regal Visalia Sequoia Mall 12. These theaters are showing two movies each Tuesday and Wednesday at 10 a.m. for only $1 per ticket. Visit regmovies.com/Movies/Summer-Movie-Express for more details.

Despicable Me 2 and Home are showing on July 5 and 6
Minions and The Peanuts Movie show on July 12 and 13
Alvin & The Chipmunks: The Road Chip and Curious George are scheduled for July 19 and 20
The Book of Life and Hotel Transylvania 2 play July 26 and 27

Fourth of July Windsock

Upcycle an old can for this festive windsock just in time for the Fourth of July. Let the kids make their own and deck the porch out in red, white and blue!

Peel the label off of an old can. Use a can opener to completely remove the lid of the can. Rinse it clean with soap and water, then dry the inside and outside.
Paint the outside of the can blue with acrylic paint. Let it dry for 30 minutes, then apply a second coat and let dry one hour.
Take star stickers and apply them all over the outside of the can.
Cut stripes of red and white ribbon into 2 foot long sections. Alternate hot gluing the stripes to the inside of the can on the end with the opening.
Poke 2 holes in the other end of the can and run a loop of fishing line through both. Secure with 2 knots. Now your patriotic creations are ready to catch some wind!

Take Me Out to the Ball Game

Chukchansi Park hosts the Fresno Grizzlies baseball team and summer is the perfect time to catch a Triple A baseball game. There are 14 home games in July. Special promotions run throughout each week: tacos are $2 through the fifth inning on Tuesdays; wear Grizzlies gear on Wednesdays to win free tickets to the following Wednesday home game; kids can run the bases post-game on Sundays; and if the Grizzlies win, everybody in the ballpark will receive 6 FREE garlic parmesan breadsticks from Round Table Pizza! It’s fun for the whole family! Tickets run $8-$20/person.  Chukchansi Park is located at 1800 Tulare Street in Fresno. 559-320-TIXS

Here’s the Fresno Grizzlies home game schedule:
Sacramento River Cats July 5-6
Reno Aces July 7-10
Albuquerque Isotopes July 22-25
Las Vegas 51s July 26-29.

The Visalia Rawhides are busy with home games this month also. There’s a fireworks extravaganza post-game on July 3rd. On Family Fun Sundays the Kids Club Members run the bases post-game. Attend a Rawhides game on Wednesday and, if the Rawhides win, you’ll receive a voucher for the next Wednesday game. Tickets are $7-$18, kids 2 and under free.  Recreation Park is located at 300 N. Giddings Street in Visalia. 559-732-HIDE

Watch the Visalia Rawhides play:
San Jose Giants July 1-3
Bakersfield Blaze July 8-11
Stockton Ports July 21-24
Modesto Nuts July 25-27

Fourth of July Pops Recipe

These fun popsicles are a great way to sneak some fruit into your child’s diet. Made with Greek yogurt and fresh fruit, they are as healthy as they are tasty and perfect for a Fourth of July celebration!

In your first bowl, mix together 3 cups of Greek yogurt, 1 tablespoon of honey and 1 tablespoon of cinnamon.
Puree 2 cups of fresh strawberries in a food processor and put the puree in your second bowl. Do the same to 2 cups of fresh blackberries and put that puree in a third bowl.
Now it’s time to fill the popsicles! Let the kids make their own pops by alternating layers of the yogurt mix and the two purees.
Take a knife or popsicle stick and twirl through the layers for a fun swirling effect.
Let the popsicles sit in their molds in the freezer for 8 hours.
When you’re ready to eat the pops, run the mold under hot water for 10 seconds to release the pops and enjoy!

The Discovery Center in Fresno

Pack a picnic and head over to this interactive science arcade located at 1944 N. Winery Avenue in Fresno. This 5 1/2 acre park includes several shady picnic tables, restrooms and green areas for children to play. You’ll find the Deutsch Cactus Garden, Walden Pond, a Metal T-rex and Pteranodon, Miwok bark houses, a worm farm and plenty more! Hands-on experiences abound inside the science museum where kids will learn about botany, geology, anatomy, dinosaurs, electricity, magnets, music and sound. There are also live animals and an American Indian basket collection. The museum is open 9 a.m.-6 p.m. daily. Admission is $6 adults, $8 children ages 3-17, kids under 2 are free. 559-251-5533

We gave away 8 passes to The Discovery Center each for a family of 6 this week. Make sure to stay connected to Central California Parent to see what we’ll be giving away next!

Giveaway Alert!

Scoot around this summer on your very own Safe Start Electric 3-Wheel Scooter! It’s fun and safe, and designed for beginner riders, 3 +.

Safe Start Scooter Information:
The Pulse Safe Start® was engineered with safety in mind. One push, Safe Start button, steering limiter, wide track, low stance, and deck stability. Ideal for young riders, the push button throttle gently starts the motor to reach comfortable driving speed. This patent pending innovation prevents a sudden jolt that could potentially destabilize young kids learning to ride.

Safe maneuverability
The steering range and turn radius is controlled precisely so that young or inexperienced riders are prevented from over-steering into an unstable position. Their weight remains safely balanced within the triangular center of the three wheels.

Improved stability and ride
The wide front wheelbase is balanced perfectly with the overall deck shape to give maximum stability with every turn. Riders won’t tip over, as deck and handles are always safely between the front wheels during operation.

Stable, low center of gravity
The comfortable low deck height not only makes getting on and off safer, but also makes it easier to ride and maneuver.

Large deck for comfortable foot positioning
Young riders often prefer to stand facing forward with both feet together. The wide deck accommodates that, and, many other foot positions. The intuitive top grip surface provides a safe non-slip foot bed to keep little fit from slipping off while riding.

We gave away a Disney Princess Safe Start Electric 3-Wheel Scooter this week! Make sure to stay connected to Central California Parent to see what we’ll be giving away next!

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5 Weeks of Cool Summer Fun: Week 1