Millennium Park Family Fun Festival Returns

It's back! In my opinion, this is one of the city's best free family activities of the summer. Millennium Park's Family Fun Festival takes place daily from June 13 - August 21 between 10am and 3pm, with family performances and hands-on activities taking place in the Family Fun Tent. The daily entertainment includes:

• 10am: Wiggleworms® entertainment, with the fantastic instructors from Old Town School of Folk Music leading kids in singalong and dance.
  
• 11am: Reading circle
  
• 1pm: Entertainment/Concerts

Throughout the day, the Family Fun tent's Activity Zone will include hands-on craft projects and garden, science and environmental activities led by some of the region's popular museums and cultural institutions, including Art Institute of Chicago, Chinese-American Museum of Chicago, Chicago Architecture Foundation, Chicago Children's Museum, Chicago History Museum, Chicago Park District, Chicago Wilderness, Lurie Garden, Museum of Science and Industry and Swedish American Museum.



Here's the schedule of activities:

June 13-19
Wild in the City with activities led by Lurie Garden and Chicago Wilderness

June 20-26
Cultural Exchange: China Week with activities led by Chinese-American Museum of Chicago

June 27-July 3
Carrot Tots: Kids Grow and Cook Their Veggies with activities led by Chicago Office of Tourism and Culture

July 4-10
Global Adventures with activities led by Chicago Children's Museum

July 11-17
Artful Alphabet Activities with activities led by Art Institute of Chicago

July 18-24
Past, Present and Future: Your Chicago with activities led by Chicago History Museum

July 25-31
Architecture Week: Building Chicago with activities led by Chicago Architecture Foundation

Aug 1-7
Cultural Exchange: Explore Swedish Traditions with activities led by Swedish-American Museum

Aug 8-14
Sounds of the City with activities led by Chicago Park District

Aug 15-21
Science and Exploration with activities led by Museum of Science and Industry

Chicago KIDS Day - Health and Wellness Festival

This weekend ushers in some of the season's first festivals, and on Saturday you can celebrate Chicago KIDS Day at Lakeview's Mayfest.

This event was created by Dr. Sarah Weber of Total Balance Chiropractic as a fun and entertaining way to educate and teach kids about health and safety. The Lakeview YMCA and NPN (Neighborhood Parents Network) have teamed up with Dr. Sarah to present this event, which promises fun for the whole family!

Saturday from 10am - 1pm, enjoy free activities, arts & crafts, healthy food, fun, balloons and raffle prizes, plus ChicagoKids.com will be on hand with craft activities. Families can also take part in free spinal and dental screenings, and learn about healthy eating while sampling delicious, healthy free snack samples.

The schedule of events includes:

• 10:00 Painting for Kids
  
• 10:30 Kiddie Yoga
  
• 11:00 Lil’Kickers
  
• 11:30 Kiddie Zumba
  
• 12:00 Awards Ceremony
  
• 12:30 Kiddie Boot Camp
  

The event takes place RAIN or SHINE!

Chicago Farmers Markets - 2011 Schedule

Hard to believe when the thermometer can barely get past 40 degrees, but some of the city's farmers markets are officially underway! Below is the schedule, by day of the week. Visit the official web site for more details on individual markets.

This summer's schedule:

MONDAY

Chicago's Downtown Farmstand, 66 E. Randolph
Monday-Friday: 11 am - 7 pm; Saturday: 11 am - 4 pm

Loyola's Farmers Market, 6542 N. Sheridan Rd.
June 6 - Oct. 17, 2011
3:30 - 6 pm

TUESDAY

City Farm Market Stand, 1204 N. Clybourn
July 12-Sept. 30, 2011
Tuesday-Friday 3 - 6:30 pm

Federal Plaza, Adams & Dearborn
May 17 - Oct. 25, 2011
Tuesdays 7 am - 3 pm

Lincoln Square, Lincoln/Leland/Western
June 7-Oct. 25, 2011
Tuesdays 7 am - 1 pm

Museum of Contemporary Art/Streeterville, Chicago & Mies van der Rohe Way (On MCA Plaza)
June 7-Oct. 25, 2011
Every Tuesday 7 am - 3 pm

Plaza 300, 300 N. LaSalle
July 5-Sept. 27, 2011
Every Tuesday 7 am - 2 pm

Pritzker Park, 344 S. State St.
June 14-Sept. 27, 2011
Every Tuesday 7 am - 3 pm

WEDNESDAY

Andersonville, Berwyn Ave. btwn. Clark & Ashland
June 22-Oct. 19, 2011
Every Wednesday 3 - 8 pm; Sept. 14-Oct. 19: 3 - 7 pm

Avondale - Sprouting Out, 3300 N. Whipple
June 15-Oct. 22, 2011
Wednesdays and Saturdays (every other week) 3 - 6 pm A

Green City Market, 1750 N. Clark St.
May 4-Dec. 21, 2011
Wednesdays and Saturdays 7 am - 1 pm

Lawndale Market, 3555 W. Ogden Ave.
July 6-Oct. 5, 2011
Every Wednesday 3 - 6 pm

Pullman, 111th & Cottage Grove (In Arcade Park)
July 6-Oct. 5, 2011
Every Wednesday 7 am - 12 pm

Seaway Bank Farmers Market, 645 E. 87th Street
July 13-Sept. 28, 2011
Every Wednesday 9 am - 2 pm

South Shore, 70th & Jeffery Blvd. (ShoreBank Parking Lot)
June 8-Oct. 19, 2011
Every Wednesday 7 am - 1 pm

Two North Riverside, 2 N. Riverside
July 6-Sept. 28, 2011
Every Wednesday 11 am - 7 pm

THURSDAY

Daley Plaza, Washington & Dearborn
May 12-Oct. 20, 2011
Every Thursday 7 am - 3 pm

Eli's Cheesecake/Wright College, 6701 W. Forest Preserve Dr.
June 16-Oct. 27, 2011
Every Thursday 7 am - 1 pm

Hyde Park, 53rd & Lake Park Ave.
June 2-Oct. 27, 2011
Every Thursday 7 am - 1 pm

Lincoln Square Evening Market, 2309 W. Leland Ave.
June 16-Oct. 27, 2011
Every Thursday 4 - 8 pm

Uptown Farmers Market at Weiss, 4646 N. Marine Dr.
June 23-Oct. 27, 2011
Every Thursday 7:30 am - 12:30 pm

Willis Tower Plaza, 233 S. Wacker Dr.
June 16-Oct. 6, 2011
Every Thursday 7 am - 3 pm

SATURDAY

61st Street, 61st St. btwn. Dorchester & Blackstone
May 14-Oct. 29, 2011
Every Saturday 9 am - 2 pm

Bridgeport, 35th & Wallace (In parking lot)
June 18-Sept. 17, 2011
Every Saturday 7 am - 1 pm

Bronzeville Community Market, 4400 S. Cottage Grove
June 11-Oct. 29, 2011
Every Saturday 8 am - 1 pm

Division Street, Divison & Dearborn
May 14-Oct. 29, 2011
Every Saturday 7 am - 1 pm

Lincoln Park, Armitage & Orchard
May 14-Oct. 29, 2011
Every Saturday 7 am - 1 pm

Northcenter, Belle Plaine/Damen/Lincoln
June 18-Oct. 29, 2011
Every Saturday 7 am - 1 pm

Printers Row, Dearborn & Polk (Printers Row Park)
June 11-Oct. 8, 2011
Every Saturday 7 am - 1 pm

Southport Market, Blaine School, 1420 W. Grace
June 25-Sept. 10, 2011
Every Saturday 8 am - 2 pm

SUNDAY

Beverly, 95th & Longwood
May 15-Oct. 23, 2011
Every Sunday 7 am - 1 pm

Erie Street, 500 W. Erie St.
June 12-Oct. 23, 2011
Every Sunday 8 am- 1 pm

Glenwood Sunday Market, 6950 N. Glenwood btwn. Morse & Lunt
June 5-Oct. 16, 2011
Every Sunday 9 am- 2 pm

Independence Park, 3945 N. Springfield
June 12-Oct. 9, 2011
2nd & 4th Sundays of the month 9 am - 1 pm

Logan Square, 3107 W. Logan Blvd
June 5-Oct. 30, 2011
Every Sunday 10 am - 3 pm

Pilsen Community Market, 1800 S. Halsted
June 5-Oct. 30, 2011
Every Sunday 9 am - 3 pm

Wicker Park & Bucktown, Wicker Park & Damen
June 5-Oct. 30, 2011
Every Sunday 8 am - 2 pm