Column 5-27-2010

We are approaching the end of the school year and summer vacation s. It is time to plan your staycation. It is amazing how many wonderful events are going on right in your neighborhood. I have mentioned only a few so get out into your hometown and have some family fun this summer.
· Regal Free Family Film Festival offers G or PG movies at 10:00am every Tuesday and Wednesdays during the Festival for FREE. http://www.regmovies.com/nowshowing/freefamilyfilm.aspx

· See 10 weeks of fun films for kids every weekday morning during the summer with a Cinemark’s Summer Movie Clubhouse pass for $5.00 or purchase a ticket at the box office for $1.00 per show. Same price for parents and children. http://www.cinemark.com/summermovieclubhouse/index.htm

· Bring a lawn chair, picnic, blanket or purchase food from concessions for FREE Friday Flicks at Jacobson Park. This Friday they will be showing Cloudy with a Chance of Meatball starting with pre-show activities from 7pm then the movie will start at dark.
June 4- Fantastic Mr. Fox
June 11- Planet 51
June 18-Alvin and the Chipmunks – The Squeal
June 25- Classic Movie Night – Singing in the Rain

· Don’t forget Downtown Lexington every Thursday evening, May 6 through October 28 for Central Bank Thursday Night Live! Go to Cheapside Park from 4:30pm to 8:00pm for great music by live bands. http://www.downtownlex.com/thursday-night-live-concerts

· Look for specially marked packages of Energizer Max AA 10ct, AA/AAA 12ct (1 code) and AA 20-ct (2 codes) containing codes for Toy Story 3.
Purchases must be made between 5/1 and 12/31.
3 Codes = Receive a Free print at home Hollywood Movie Money Admission certificate to see Toy Story 3 or any Disney/Touchstone movie up to $14.
2 Codes = Receive a print at home Hollywood Movie money Discount certificate for $6 off Toy Story 3 or any Disney/Touchstone movie.
1 Code = Receive a print at home Hollywood Movie money Discount certificate for $3 off Toy Story 3 or any Disney/Touchstone movie.

· Purchase Karate Kid the original for $9.99 at Office Depot then receive a code to print out an e-ticket to see the new Karate Kid movie.

· Purchase Tony’s Original Crust Pizza that have a free bowling coupon on the box at your local grocers and go bowling for FREE at participating bowling centers. Print out coupon on website for even bigger savings. http://tonys.com/tonys-free-bowling.aspx
· Movie Tavern offers Flapjacks and a Flick every Saturday morning at 9am, all-you-can-eat pancakes and a family movie for $9.00 for children and $10.50 for adults. This Saturday go see Shrek- The Final Chapter. http://www.movietavern.com/flapjacks.php

· Bring a KRAFT singles cheese package wrapper to Applebee’s Park on Tuesdays home game to receive a FREE ticket when you buy one ticket. This offer is good until September 7th. http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/events/kraft_landing_2010.jsp Tuesdays at Applebee’s Park is also quarter hot dog night.


· Kids get two free games of bowling a day all summer. (The closest free bowl is Louisville) http://www.kidsbowlfree.com/

· Kids read any 8 books and track them in the Passport to Summer Reading from Barnes and Noble. Your child will get to choose a FREE BOOK when they turn in their passport at their local Barnes and Nobles. http://www.barnesandnoble.com/summerreading/index.asp


· Join Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge. Kids log their reading minutes, where they will help their schools as they participate in the Read for the World Record Challenge. The top 20 schools with the most reading minutes will appear in the Scholastic Book of World Records 2011 edition. http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/collection.jsp?id=318

· Feed your Brain with Half Price Books Summer Reading Program. Kids ages 14 and under can earn $3 Half Price Books Shopping Card for each week they read at least 15 minutes per day. http://www.halfpricebooks.com/feed_your_brain.html


· Borders double-dog dare your kids to read 10 books this summer and they will receive a FREE book. http://media.bordersstores.com/pdf/summerreading.pdf

· Join your local library’s summer reading program. When you participate in Lexington’s Summer Reading Program read just 15 minutes per day then fill out your reading log when you have logged 15 hours of reading bring the log to your library for a FREE book and an invitation to the special finishers party at Applebee’s Park. http://www.lexpublib.org/reader-instructions-summer-reading-2010
Start your summer of with a reading kickoff party.
Village Branch Monday, June 7 from 2:00pm to 4:00pm
Eagle Creek Branch, Monday, June 7 from 9:30am to 9:00pm.
Tates Creek Branch Friday, June 4 from 2:00pm – 4:00pm.
Beaumont Branch Friday, June 4 from 3:00pm – 5:00pm.
· Carnegie Center on 251 West Second Street wants to Kick-Off your Summer with a party. Join them for free activities and dinner on Tuesday, June 15 from 5:30pm to 7:30pm. Call 859-254-4175 to register or visit their website for more information www.carnegiecenterlex.org.

· Join the Carnegie Center on Tuesday, June 29 and July 20 from 5:30 to 7:00pm for an exciting new summer series of game playing. Challenge your siblings or join other families by playing games, outdoor activities and more. Snacks will be provided. Call 859-254-4175 to register.


· Explore Discovery Nights at the Living Arts and Science Center located on 362 North Martin Luther King Blvd. Thursday, June 3rd from 6pm to 8pm create a piece of stained glass art using materials such as a window frame, plastic bottles, paint, and string. Cost is $2 for adults and $1 for children. Call 859-252-522 to register or visit their website at www.lasclex.org.

· The National Parks are offering fee-free days at more than 100 national parks that usually charge an entrance fees. Mark your calendar for fee-free days this year. Go to their website for even more fun filled free events at your parks. http://www.nps.gov/findapark/feefreeparks.htm June 5-6,
August 14-15, 2010
September 25, 2010
November 11,2010


· Target offers free or reduced price to many arts and cultural events nationwide. If you are traveling or just taking a day trip see if there is an area museum to visit for FREE. http://sites.target.com/site/en/company/page.jsp?contentId=WCMP04-031764
· Check out Lowe’s Build and Grow clinic that are held on Saturday. Your child will get all the materials to build a cool project. https://www.lowesbuildandgrow.com/

· Home Depot offers kids workshops designed for children ages 5-12. The hands-on sessions are offered on the first Saturday of each month between 9:00am and noon at all Home Depot stores. http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ContentView?pn=Kids_Workshops&langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053&cm_sp=knowhow-_-leftnav-_-kids_workshops

· Get free general admission to participating museums, zoos, science centers, botanical gardens and more on the first full weekend of every month- just by presenting any Bank of America card. http://museums.bankofamerica.com/

· Blockbuster is rewarding student for their hard work with a free movie rental from a participating Blockbuster store. Qualifying students are eligible for one free rental with a B average or better. http://www.blockbuster.com/goodgrades


· Get a great trading card gift from your local Topps trading card shop. Just bring your report card to a participating store and the manager will award you with a gift. http://www.topps.com/toppsoftheclass/index.html

· Don’t forget this is the last week to get your FREE card from any Hallmark store. These are kids encouragement cards, so get one that says you’re great or good job to celebrate the end of the school year
http://www.hallmark.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/article%7C10001%7C10051%7C/HallmarkSite/GoldCrownStores/GCS_SO_FREEKIDSCARD


· Team with Chuck E. Cheese for a fun way to reward your kids for their accomplishments. Download and print free reward calendars then mark everyday off as they finish their task. When the month is marked off bring in calendar for 10 FREE tokens. http://www.chuckecheese.com/promotions/rewards-calendars.php
· June 5 at 7pm join the Hepcats for Swingin’ on Main, Lexington’s annual street dance. Live music and free swing dance lessons and a dance contest. For more information go to www.luv2swingdance.com

· Whole Foods at Lexington Green is offering a Gluten FREE Workshop on Thursday, May 27th from 5pm to 8pm. Go on an informative Gluten Free store tour, receive goodie bags with gluten free samples, take the gluten free challenge, find local restaurants that offer gluten free meals and much more.