Free Summer Activities

There are a lot of new, fun things going on this week. Don’t forget to check out the Pioneer Days events!

Monday, July 18

6:30pm- Summer Scrabble and Board Games @ Pleasant Valley Library Branch

7:00pm- Feathered Friends from the Ogden Nature Center @ North Library Branch

7:00pm- Horse & Hitch Parade on Washington Blvd.

7:00pm- Summer Sizzle Arts & Entertainment with Mysterious Mr. Dayley’s Magic Show @ Main Library Branch

8:00pm- Family Night to Remember @ Ogden Amphitheater

Tuesday, July 19

11:30am- Discovery Time @ Main Library

4:15pm- Youth Chess Club @ Pleasant Valley Library

Wednesday, July 20

10:30am- Global Citizens: Children’s Summer Reading Program @ North and Pleasant Valley Libraries

12pm- Tunes at Noon with Stampede @ Ogden Municipal Park

2:00pm- After School Program @ Pleasant Valley Library

4:15pm- Youth Chess Club @ Main Library

7:30- Dan Weldon performing @ Ogden Amphitheater

Thursday, July 21

10:30am- Discovery Time @ North Library

6:00pm- Bilingual Story time @ Main Library

7:00pm- Summer Sizzle Arts and Entertainment with Rootbeer Reunion @ Pleasant Valley Library

Friday, July 22

Check out the Visual Art Exhibit @ Eccles Community Art Center all day.

Saturday, July 23

8:00am- Farmer’s Market on 25th St.

3:00pm- Family Favorites Film Series- Megamind @ Pleasant Valley Libray

RAMP Free Admission to:

Hill Aerospace Museum

Lorin Farr Pool

Ogden Nature Center

Ott Planetarium

Fort Buenaventura

Roy Recreation Complex

Free Summer Activites, pt. 3

I am posting this a couple of days early, because I must surrender my computer to PC Laptops before the old thing crashes. It's 7 years old and literally has no space left on its main hard drive. Accident waiting to happen!

Anyway, there is a ton of stuff to check out this week for absolutely no cost.

Monday, June 13
10:30am- Discovery Time @ Pleasant Valley Library Branch
11:30am- Science in the Park @ Lorin Farr Park
11:30am- Art in the Park @ Liberty Park
5:00pm- Ogden City Cemetery Walking History Tour @ 20th St. and Madison Ave.
7:00pm- Movie Monday @ North Library Branch
7:00pm- Movie: Shrek Forever After @ Ogden Amphitheater

Tuesday, June 14
10:30am- Discovery Time @ Main Library Branch
11:30am- Science in the Park @ Lorin Farr Park
11:30am- Art in the Park @ Liberty Park
4:15pm- Youth Chess Club @ Pleasant Valley Library Branch
6:00pm- Destination: Africa: Teen Summer Reading Program Event @ Pleasant Valley Library Branch

Wednesday, June 15
9:00am- Wildflower Hike with Weber Pathways. Find out about more hikes here.
11:30am- Science in the Park @ Lorin Farr Park
11:30am- Art in the Park @ Liberty Park
12:00pm- Tunes at Noon, Dan Weldon performs @ Ogden City Municipal Park
2:00pm- Ultimutt Readathon @ Main Library Branch
2:00pm- After School Program @ Pleasant Valley Library Branch
2:00pm- Zentangles: Teen Summer Reading Program Event @ North Library Branch
4:15pm- Youth Chess Club @ Main Library Branch
6:00pm- World of Chocolate: Teen Summer Reading Program Event @ Main Library Branch

Thursday, June 16
10:30am- Discovery Time @ North Library Branch
11:30am- Science in the Park @ Lorin Farr Park
11:30am- Art in the Park @ Liberty Park
6:00pm- Bilingual Storytime @ Main Library Branch

Friday, June 17
11:30am- Science in the Park @ Lorin Farr Park
11:30am- Art in the Park @ Liberty Park

Saturday, June 18
All Day- Juneteenth Cultural Arts Festival @ Ogden Amphitheater
All Day- Free Admission to the Treehouse for all dads. Read about the museum here.
10:30am- Introduction to the Internet for Parents and Children @ Main and Pleasant Valley Library Branches
12:00pm- Father's Day Car Show @ Jefferson Park
1:00pm- Jr. Master Gardener program @ Pleasant Valley Library Branch
3:00pm- Disney Adventures Film Series - The Chronilcles of Narnia: Prince Caspian @ Pleasant Valley Library Branch
7:00pm- Mysterious Mr. Daley's Magic Show @ Main Library Branch
R.A.M.P. Free Admission
Hill Aerospace Museum- Learn about the museum here.
BSA Ropes Challenge Course @ 1200 E 5400 S, South Ogden
Ogden Nature Center- Read my post about the center here.
Roy Recreation Complex @ 2150 W 4700 S, Roy

Sunday, June 19
All Day- Juneteenth Cultural Arts Festival @ Ogden Amphitheater

Don't forget about free school lunch all week long. Find participating schools and parks here.

There it is! Find all the details for the events listed above on my calendar. Have fun and let me know if I've forgotten anything.

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Movie Theater Summer

Looking for some more inexpensive days out with the kids. Wanna go to the movie theater, but Friday night is to busy and pricey? Check out the summer deals at local movie theaters.

Cine Point Theater
151 E. 12th St. Ogden
This is a discount theater that plays movies a couple of months after they have been released. Tickets are normally $3/person but, they offer weekday specials like Monday "Family Night" where you can get admission for up to 6 people for only $10. This summer, they also offer the Summer Kids Movie Club. Here you can watch older movies, like Matilda or How to Train Your Dragon, for only $1/person. Showtimes are at 10am and 12pm every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday. Get free popcorn when you sign up for their newsletter. Check the website for movie selections and other discounts, including Tuesday Date Night.

Megaplex at the Junction
2351 Kiesel Ave., Ogden
This is Ogden's newest, biggest and best theater. Here, you've got 3D screens, motion seats and restaurant food you can eat inside the theater. Their best deal is on Tuesday when you get matinee pricing, $6.25/person, all day long. They also offer food specials, like $2 off a Megaone Combo.


Cinemark Tinseltown Theater
3651 Wall Ave., Newgate Mall
This theater also offers a summer movie club that plays older children's movies, like Ramona and Beezus. Showtimes are at 10am every Tuesday and Wednesdays. Shows are $1/person or you can buy a ten movie punch pass for only $5. Click here for a schedule.

You can enjoy a lot of kids movies for free this summer, too. The Weber County Library shows kids movies every Saturday. Next week, Ogden will start it's free movie night at the Ogden Amphitheater every Monday. Check my calendar for more details.

Don't forget to plan a Drive-in Movie Night this summer. Read my post for more details.

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Free Summer Activites, part deux

There is sooooo much going on this week, I'll keep my intro short and sweet. I hope everyone has the chance to get out and have some free family fun. Don't forget to register your kids for the summer reading programs at the library. They have an awesome program planned out.

Monday, June 6
10:30am- Discovery Time @ Pleasant Valley Library Branch
Stories We Tell: Children’s Summer Reading Event @ Main Library Branch

Tuesday, June 7
10:30 am- Discovery Time @ Main Library Branch
1:00pm- It's only 25 cents to swim at Marshall White Center on Tuesdays. Thanks Finding Life in O-Town for the tip.
4:15pm- Youth Chess Club @ Pleasant Valley Library Branch
7:00 pm- Magic Show @ North Library Branch

Wednesday, June 8
9am- Weber Pathway’s guided Wildflower Hike in Ogden Valley.
10:30am- Stories We Tell: Children’s Summer Reading Event @ North and Pleasant Valley Library Branches
2pm- Ultimutt Readathon @ Main Library Branch
After School Program @ Pleasant Valley Library Branch
4:15pm- Youth Chess Club @ Main Library Branch
7:00pm- Jazz at the Station @ Union Station

Thursday, June 9
10:30am- Discovery Time @ North Library Branch
6:00pm- Bilingual Storytime @ Main Library Branch
7:00pm- Family Fun Night @ Pleasant Valley Library Branch

Friday, June 10
8:00pm- Movie at the Fort (note: Last time I checked Fort Buenaventura was flooded, so I have to make sure this event is still going on. I'll give you an update asap.)

Saturday, June 11
All Day- Foursite Film festival and Ogden Arts Festival
2:00pm- Cinema Saturday @ Main Branch
3:00pm- Disney Adventures Film Series - The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe @ Pleasant Valley Branch
12:00pm- Ogden Nature Botany Club @ Ogden Nature Center
12:00pm- Science Saturdays @ Ott Planetarium, WSU
R.A.M.P. Free admission all day

• Hill Aerospace Museum- Click here to read my post on this museum.
• Lorin Farr Pool
• Ogden Nature Center- Click here to read my post on ONC.
• Roy Recreation Complex
• Treehouse Museum- Click here to read my post about this museum.
• Union Station Museums

Also, Treehouse Museum is offering free admission everyday to all active duty military families now through Labor Day.

You can get additional information for all of these events on my calendar.

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Free Summer Activites

This summer in Ogden is going to be awesome! Thanks to R.A.M.P., WSU, Ogden City, Weber County Library and many more, there is going to be a ton of free activities every week for kids and families. Check back every Monday for a list of the week’s free activities. Don’t forget to like O-Town Mama on Facebook or follow on Twitter to keep updated on Ogden events.

Here is the schedule of free activities for May 30-June 4:

May 30-
Treehouse Museum, 347 22nd St., Ogden is offering free admission for all military families with a current military ID. Hours are 10am-5pm. Read my post on the Treehouse for more info about the museum.
Dinosaur Park, 1544 Park Blvd., Ogden is having free showings of T-Rex: Back to the Cretaceous at 11am, 1pm and 3pm. You still have to pay admission to the park and the movie is a bonus.

May 31-
Main Branch, Weber County Library, 2464 Jefferson Ave., Ogden has Discovery Time at 10:30am and 11:30am. Discovery Time is a fun program that integrates songs, nursery rhymes, story time and crafts in a weekly hour-long program to help encourage literacy in children ages 0-5. Don’t forget to register your kids and teens in their summer reading programs while you are there.
Pleasant Valley Branch, Weber County Library, 5568 S Adams Ave.,South Ogden will hold its weekly Youth Chess Club from 4-5pm for kids 18 years and younger.

June 1-
Join Weber Pathways on a guided hike to find wildflowers in the Ogden Valley. Hikes begin at 9am. Call Helene for specific trail-head and more info 801-745-1799. Check out my post on Hiking in Ogden for info about other Weber Pathway hikes.

June 2-
North Branch, Weber County Library, 475 E 2600 N., North Ogden offers Discovery Time at 10:30am and 11:30am.

June 3-
It’s First Friday Night Art Stroll on 25th Street. It’s fun to bring your kids downtown to enjoy live music and local art at places like Ogden Blue Print and Eccles Community Art Center. There’s, also, lots of shopping and good vibes.

June 4-
Saturday is chock full of fun with free admission to Weber County attractions thanks to grants from R.A.M.P.
Choose from:
Hill Aerospace Museum, 7961 Wardley Rd., HAFB (Roy exit)- Read my post for more info on this museum.
Ogden Nature Center, 966 W. 12th St., Ogden- Walk the trails, have a picnic and visit the center’s animals, from the creepy crawly tarantulas to the feathery owls and turkeys.
Roy Aquatic Center, 2977 W. 5200 S., Roy- Enjoy the pool, splash pad and slides at this outdoor pool from 11am-6pm.
Weber State University Pool, WSU Stromberg/Swenson Gym, on the south east side of campus- Do some indoor swimming on campus from 12-4pm and visit the duck pond afterwards.
Ott Planetarium, Lind Lecture Hall, 1551 Edvalson St.,WSU is hosting its Science Saturdays from 12-5pm. Activities include admission to the Museum of Natural Science, hands-On activities, science presentations and planetarium shows.This event only happens once a month, so don’t miss out.

Don’t worry about trying to fit all this fun into one day. All these attractions will have free admission multiple times throughout the summer. Ogden Nature Center will offer free summer Saturdays every week through August 20th and Hill Aerospace Museum is always free, but donations are greatly appreciated.

Wow! So many things to do! What activity are you looking forward to most? After all that family fun, you and your spouse deserve a date. Check out my post,Date Night, for fun and inexpensive date ideas.

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This Week in Ogden

Of course, you already know that you can check my calendar anytime to find out what’s happening and plan your family days in Ogden. I plan on keeping you updated on Facebook and Twitter with daily events, but there are many classes and events that may require advanced registration, so check my calendar in advance to see if there is anything you or your family would be interested in, such as an African dance class at Eccles Community Art Center or Scout Saturdays at Ogden Nature Center.

Instead of relisting everything that is on my calendar, I decided to highlight the activities and events that my family wants to attending.

Here is my schedule of events:

Monday- Weather permitting, I’d like to go walk the trails at the Ogden Nature Center and maybe have a picnic. Eleanor loves seeing the owls, snakes, spiders and other creatures. It is nice to go to the lookout and view the beautiful scenery, also. Last time we spotted a mountain lion right in the Nature Center fields.

Tuesday- I have yet to take my daughter to Discovery Time at the Weber County Library. My husband usually takes her, but I want to check it out. It’s similar to the Treehouse’s On Track to Reading as it uses storytime, songs and activities to help prepare kids for reading, but this one is FREE.

Wednesday- The fam and I will be hiking up Taylor’s Canyon on a Weber Pathways guided family hike. We don’t have a child carrier, so I hope it isn’t too steep for Elle.

Thursday- Park day! There are so many wonderful parks in Ogden and I have a few favorites, but today I think I am going to check out a new one.

Friday- I have been wanting to go to Alphabet Soup at the Treehouse for some time now. They focus on a different letter each week and use songs, science, art, history and more to encourage literacy in young kids. If you don’t have a membership, you can get reduced admission to the museum during this time.

Saturday- The Pleasant Valley Branch is having a Memorial Day Tribute and I’d like to go, because their events are really cool and I’ve never been to this branch before. I don’t know if it will be kid appropriate, though.

That’s it for today. My next post will be about swimming lessons in the area, so check back tomorrow.

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Beyond the Ogden Marathon

The 11th annual Ogden Marathon is here and thousands of people will be running, volunteering or spectating at this major event. The full, half and relay marathon spots are all filled. That’s 6500 people right there! That number doesn’t include 5k and kids K runners or all the volunteers and supporters. There will be a ton of people downtown especially around 1pm when the race officially ends. The race finishes at downtown 25th St where there is usually live music, food vendors and other booths and entertainment.

Most people attending the marathon events are already there or plan on being there soon. Keep in mind that parking may be limited and some roads will be closed off in the morning and early afternoon near the marathon trail.

So, is that all that’s going on in Ogden today? Of course not!

Here’s a just a sampling of other events going on today:
Golden Spike Arena - Acorn Antique Show and Sale from 9am-6pm.

Ogden Nature Center- Have a picnic and check out the birdhouse exhibit and while you’re there inquire about their summer camps and scout programs.

Weber County Library- There is always something to do with the kids at the library. They have computers, games, toys and, of course, books in the children’s section. Today the Main Branch will have a free showing of Disney’s Bambi and an Intro to the Internet for Families class both at 10:30am. The Pleasant Valley branch is also offering the same internet class and will be showing The Spiderwick Chronicles at 3pm.

Eccles Community Art Center- Check out the Carriage House’s current photography exhibit. There will also be two showings of the local play “Bad Show at Boffington Hall” at 2pm and 7pm.

Borrowed Earth Emporium- Bring your kids, ages 4-8, to kids-only yoga @ 11:15am and enjoy a latte for yourself.

Treehouse Museum- Check out the museum and join them for Ramped-up Art and Step on Stage throughout the day.

If you aren’t attending the marathon, there are so many other things to do and see in Ogden this Saturday. If you attend any of these events, share by leaving a comment!

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Cinco de Mayo

Celebrations for Cinco de Mayo start tomorrow. I know, I know, Cinco de Mayo is a waaaaay bigger deal in America than it is in Mexico. Many people think that it is Mexico's equivalent to the USA's 4th of July, but it actually is commemoration of a battle won by Mexico over France. Mexico's independence day is known as Grito de Dolores and celebrated on September 16.

Cinco de Mayo may not be the most important Mexican holiday, but it is a great opportunity to celebrate diversity in Ogden and nationwide.

The Weber County Library will celebrate on Thursday, May 5 (of course) at the Main Branch and on Saturday, May 7 at the Pleasant Valley Branch. The event will boast a presentation of Mexican dances by Utah-based Mexican folk dances, arts and crafts and refreshments. Additional details are available on my calendar.

On Wednesday, May 4, the Marshall White Center will celebrate with a car show, music, dancers and activities for kids. Javier's will provide the food.

Do you know of any other Cinco de Mayo celebrations? Are you attending any of these events? Leave a comment to share!

A day in Ogden

Took some time to go out and enjoy some sun, bikes and O-town. Started at the at the Treehouse for On Track to Reading. On Track to Reading is all about preparing kids to learn to read and for school. The goal is to have them interact with the songs and then sit through a group story time for about 15 minutes. Unfortunately my daughter's not quite on track, more like derailed. She will not sit down for one second. It's OK though, she's a free spirit.

Next, we headed down Washington Blvd. to check out all the newish businesses downtown. We stopped at the BEE for coffee, then did some shopping at Urban Chic, Ogden Rox and Recreation Outlet. Elle was digging the hats at Urban.

We attempted to ride the parkway, but it happens to be about 8 feet under water!

Lastly, we stopped at the library for Children's Book Week. It was really neat. They had a volunteer from the Dinosaur Park who brought bones and fossils. Then we read a dinosaur picture book and made dinosaur masks. At the end, they passed out some treats and every kid got to pick out a free book. If you missed this, I highly suggest you check out it out tomorrow at the Pleasant Valley and North branches. You can get more info from my calendar.