'F' is for Free & Frugal Family Fun: Month of July 2012

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FIREWORKS
Minneapolis Fourth of July Events
Richfield - 64th Street and Portland Avenue
Richfield's Fourth of July Events 
Calendar of Events
Edina - 4801 West 50th Street
MN Fireworks

Minneapolis Movies and Music in the Parks

Lake Harriet Band Shell
Sun, July 1, 2:00 PM, Spruce Top Review
Sun, July 1, 5:30 PM, Minneapolis Pops Orchestra
Mon, July 2, 7:30 PM, Matt Griswold
Tues, July 3, 7:30 PM, Dean Harrington's Mill City Hot Club Gypsy
Wed, July 4, 7:30 PM, Retro Groove
Thurs, July 5, 7:30 PM, The Flyin' A's Rockin'
Fri, July 6, 7:30 PM, The Snaps Pure Americana Rock
Sat, July 7, 7:30 PM, Minneapolis Pops Orchestra
Sun, July 8, 2:00 PM, Wolff Jabbr
Sun, July 8, 5:30 PM, Minneapolis Pops Orchestra
Mon, July 9, 7:30 PM, Jazz on the Prairie Big Band
Tues, July 10, 7:30 PM, St. Louis Park Community Band
Wed, July 11, 7:30 PM, Charity Huot
Thurs, July 12, 7:30 PM, Eden Prairie Community Band
Fri, July 13, 7:30 PM, Minnesota Sinfonia
Sat, July 14, 7:30 PM, Minneapolis Pops Orchestra
Sun, July 15, 2:00 PM, Minnesota Bluegrass & Old-Time Music Association
Sun, July 15, 5:30 PM, Minneapolis Pops Orchestra
Mon, July 16, 7:30 PM, Calhoun-Isles Community Band
Tues, July 17, 7:30 PM, Machinery Hill
Wed, July 18, 7:30 PM, Israel Scout Friendship Caravan
Thurs, July 19, 7:30 PM, Kenwood Slim and "His Fairly Reliable Backup Band"
Fri, July 20, 7:30 PM, Minnesota Sinfonia
Sat, July 21, 7:30 PM, Minneapolis Pops Orchestra
Sun, July 22, 2:00 PM, Steve Parry Country,
Sun, July 22, 5:30 PM, Minneapolis Pops Orchestra
Mon, July 23, 7:30 PM, Brooklyn Community Band
Tues, July 24, 7:30 PM, Civic Orchestra of Minneapolis
Wed, July 25, 7:30 PM, Hopkins Westwind Concert Band
Thurs, July 26, 7:30 PM, Robinsdale City Band
Fri, July 27, 7:30 PM, The Smarts Original Pop Jazz
Sat, July 28, 7:30 PM, Minneapolis Pops Orchestra
Sun, July 29, 2:00 PM, Bethany Larson and the Bee's Knees
Sun, July 29, 5:30 PM, Minneapolis Pops Orchestra  Mon, July 30, 7:30 PM, The Auto Body Experience
Tues, July 31, 7:30 PM, The Siems-Hauer Acoustic Duo

Richfield Concerts in the Park, Thursday, July 5 (The Percolators), July 12 (Dan Perry and Ice Cream), July 19 (Northern Winds Concert Band), July 26 (The Resistors), 7 PM, 70th and Nicollet Ave, FREE!

Kids Concerts at Noon, Tuesdays, 12:00 pm, Augsburg Park
Kids of all ages will have fun with entertaining outdoor music!
Bring your own lunch or pick up a lunch from the Free Summer Food Program! Bring your blanket, chair, friends and sunscreen!
July 10 (The Splatter Sisters), July 17 (Tricia & The Toonies), July 24 (Sticks & Tones)

Centennial Lakes Park Programs
Click here for more details on the following events:
Flute Cocktail, Mon, July 2, 7 PM
Vintage Piano with Jim Shannon, Tues, July 3, 7 PM
Fourth of July Parade, Wed, July 4
The Bazillions, Thurs, July 5, noon
Cowboys and Aliens, Thurs, July 5, sunset Honeywell Concert Band, Sun, July 8
Calhoun Isles Community Band, Mon, July 9
Pickleball Clinic, Wed, Wed, July 11
Star of the North Community Band, Thurs, July 12
Mister Jim, Thurs, July 12
Northern Winds Concert Band, Sun, July 15
Jazz on the Prairie, Mon, July 16
Vintage Piano with Jim Shannon, Tues, July 17
Medalist Concert Band, Wed, July 18
Will Hale and the Tadpole Parade, Thurs, July 19
First John Philip, Sunday, July 22
Amy and Adams Concert, Mon, July 23
Sidewalk Cafe Duo, Tues, July 24
Lee Engele, Wed, July 25
Music that Tickles, Thurs, July 26
Minneapolis Police Band, Sun, Jul 29
Martial Arts in the Park, Mon, Jul 30
Ms. Catherine and Friends, Tues, July 31
Vintage Piano with Jim Shannon, Tues, July 31

MALL of AMERICA EVENTS
Toddler Tuesdays: Curious George, July 3, 10 AM-noon, Rotunda

SpongeBob's Beach Party, July 10, 10 AM - noon, Rotunda

Gustafer Yellowgold, July 17,10 AM - Noon, Sears Court   

American Girl Doll Store Events - all events FREE and open to the public!
McKenna "Take the Challenge" Scavenger Hunt, Jul 4, 11, 15 (2-6 PM), 18, (1-5 PM), & 25.
American Girl Historical Character Scavenger Hunt, Jul 1, 20 (3-7 PM), 21 (1-5 PM)
McKenna Bracelet Craft, Jul 15 (2-4 PM)
American Girl Historical Character Scavenger Hunt, Jul 1, 20 (3-7 PM), 21 (1-5 PM)
Julie's Bracelet Craft, Jul 26, 2-4 PM

EXHIBITS, MOVIE, & THEATRE EVENTS
Click here to enter to Win a Year of Museum Adventures

MacPhail Center for Music FREE Family Music Seies

MN Children's Museum's Let Your Imagination Go Bananas with Curious George, May 26- Oct 7

Arty Pants at Walker, second and fourth Tuesdays of the month, 11 AM - 1 PM, ages 2-5 with adult

Target Free Family Concerts at Orchestra Hall schedule

Real Pirates Exhibition: Science Museum of Minnesota, now through Sept. 3.

NATURE EVENTS
Wood Lake Nature Center, Minneapolis Parks and Recreation and Three Rivers Park District offer a wide variety of fun activities and events for all ages including preschoolers. Three Rivers also has Free Family Fun Days.

Richardson Nature Center Events 
Turtle Talk, Sun, July 8, 3 - 4 PM
Off the Page and into Nature Camp, July 10, 9:30 AM- 12 noon  Insect Collecting, July 15, 3 - 4 PM
Slime and Grime Camp, July 17, 9 AM - 3 PM Treasure Hunting In Nature Camp, July 19, 9 AM - 3 PM
Meet a Live Animal, July 21, 10 - 11 AM
Pond Exploration, July 22, 3 - 4 PM
All About Animals Camp, July 24, 9:30 AM - noon
Remarkable Reptiles, July 29, 3 - 4 PM
Fishing Camp, Mon, July 30, 9 AM - 3 PM
Stinkbugs, Slugs and Other Bugs Camp, July 31, 9:30 AM - 12 noon
Women on the Wild Side: Prairie
Accompany a naturalist to identify colorful prairie plants, spot wildlife, and visit the "bee tree."...

Como Zoo Events
Parent/Child Preschool Programs - Parent/Child Preschool Classes are for preschool children ages 4-5, accompanied by an adult, Fee: $15/child
Totally Turtles and Tortoises, July 3, 5
Leapin' Lizards!, July 9, 11 Yuck & Stuff, July 17, 20
Big Cat Bonanza, July 25, 27
Excellent Eggs, July 30

Programs for 3-Year-Olds, cost: $15 per child ($13.50 per child for Como Friends members) Animal Homes for 3s, Aug 8
Click here for more Como Zoo events.

Minnesota Zoo Events
Dinosaurs- Summer 2012 - through September 3

Family Overnights (5 years and older), 7 PM, breakfast provided, one adult required, $47 per person for members, $55 per person for non-members

Dolphins Dusk to Dawn, Jul 27

Farmyard Slumber, Jul 27

Growlin’ with the Grizzlies, Jul 13 If the date you want is full, there is a waiting list option available during registration. 
Click here for more Minnesota Zoo events.

CRAFTS
Decorate Your Bike, Creative Kidstuff (all locations), Mon, July 2, 10 AM - 12 PM
Booster Launch Party, Sun, July 22

Fairy Gardening, Little Enchantments in Edina, Sat, June 23, July 28, Aug 25, 1 - 4 PM, $25-$40, call 612.746.4040 for reservations

Heartfelt Classes: Call 612-877-8090 to register for classes at Heartfelt in Linden Hills
Preschool Classes - ages 2 1/2 and older with a grown up, $10, $5 for each additional child per family
Preschool Leaf Crafts, Wed, July 25 or Thurs, July 26, 10:30 - 11:30 AM
Chalk Mural Drawing and Hopscotch, July 7, FREE!
Beeswax Farm Stand, Thurs, July 19, 1:30 - 3:30 PM, ages 6 and up, $15
Tissue Pom Poms, July 21, FREE!
Finger Knitting, Braiding, & Twisty Cords, Tues, July 24, 1:30 - 3:30 PM, ages 5 and up, $15
Rustic Twig Fairy Furniture, Thurs, July 26, 1:30 - 3:30 PM, ages 7 and up, $15
Archery Target Practice, July 28, FREE!
Pinecone Creatures, Tues, July 31, 1:30 - 3:30 PM, ages 7 and up, $15
Knitting 101 - learn to knit in a small group with private knitting lessons for ages 7 to adult, $38 for three hour long lessons. 
Fairy Tree House, set up your personal class between July 20th and August 4th, ages 8 to adult; ages 6 & 7 with grow up helper, $44.
Sword Making, ages 9 and up, $39 for two session, Sat, July 21 and July 28, 2 - 4 P:30 PM
Fairy Fortnight, ages 7 and up, $20, set up your personal class between July 20th and August 4th Click here for upcoming Heartfelt classes

Hennepin County Library Events - Click here for this week's library events schedule

Click here for STORYTIME around town
Click here for SUMMER CAMPS A to Z information
Click here for BIRTHDAY PARTIES A to Z