The Radford University Planetarium offers FREE shows to the general public on Tuesday and Thursday nights at 7:30pm and on Saturday mornings at 10:30am.  The shows vary by the season, time etc. so be sure to check their website for the shows currently running.  The Saturday morning shows are usually specifically for children.

Current shows include:

• The newly-acquired show “The Planets” which takes audiences on a tour of our solar system, explaining how our solar system and its planets formed, why things rotate around the sun in the ways they do, and eventually looks at the planets that have been discovered around other stars.  This show was produced by the Southeastern Planetarium Association and is narrated by Kate Mulgrew (aka Captain Katherine Janeway of “Star Trek: Voyager”) .
• The three shows in the “Explorers” series.  These were produced by the Bishop Museum Planetarium in Hawaii and address many of the national and Virginia Standards of Learning (SOLs) for K-12 students.
• The children’s show “In My Backyard”, produced by the Calgary Science Center.  This show takes younger audiences (from 3 years old to second graders) on a tour of many of the objects that can be seen in the night sky without a telescope.
• “Dinosaur Prophecy”:  The audience joins paleontologists at the scene of the crime, excavating bones and wondering what killed the mighty dinosaurs.  Be amazed as your favorite giants come to life, roam across the dome, and meet their catastrophic deaths.  Find out how NASA scientists monitor the Earth and solar system for potential disasters!
• And the always-popular Christmas show ” ‘Tis the Season” chronicles many of the legends and traditions of the Christmas holiday season, including the story of a certain star.

Tina’s take:  I brought my son and a couple of his friends here for an evening show.  They loved it and can’t wait to go back!  Curie Hall, where the Planetarium is located on the Radford campus, is easy to find and free parking is available right behind the building.  The young lady leading the show we attended seemed to be very passionate about her work and took extra time to answer all the kid’s questions.  Shows last anywhere from 30 to 50 minutes.

I’m not sure about you, but at our house, we have Halloween candy overload.  Between the left over candy we had for trick or treaters and the candy acquired through the various events we attended, we are a dentist’s worst nightmare waiting to happen.

Even though there is zero nutrient value to most of this stuff, it does seem kind of wasteful to just toss it.  I decided to search for a few ideas of what to do with your leftover take….

1.  Save some colorful candy for decorating a holiday gingerbread house

2.  Have your child leave 1/2 of their candy for the “Candy Fairy” who will come at night to take the extra candy and deliver to children who couldn’t go trick or treating.  Consider leaving $1 under the pillow for this effort.

3.  Donate to the local fire department, police department or library.

4.  Donate to the local YMCA or Boys/Girls Club

5.  Save some for an advent calendar

6.  Send it overseas for the troops.  Once place is the Army Medical Center in Germany (thanks Aunt Nancy USA!):

Landstuhl Regional Medical Center 
ATTN: MCEUL-CH/Chaplains Office 
CMR 402 
APO AE 09180

7.  Donate to a local food bank or homeless shelter (they do appreciate being able to offer treats)

8.  Save and freeze the chocolate for baking and cooking add ins (such as cookies and ice cream mix ins)

9.  Take it to work and give it to the receptionist to keep the office candy jar filled

10.  Wrap some up in green/red cellophane or bags and save for Christmas treats

For a limited time, the Virginia tourism website is offering to mail your “Virginia Memory” postcard for FREE!  All you have to do is visit the website:  MyVirginiaMemory, upload the photo of your “memory” (or choose one of their stock vintage postcards).  After choosing your image, customize your card by choosing a border and handwriting style.  Then, just type a message to the recipient, add their address information and send.  You can choose to send by email or by post mail…both are free.  What a great activity to do with the kids and send some happiness to the grandparents!

This came across my email today and looked like an inexpensive (or FREE) activity for the kids!  These events will all be held and sponsored by your local Michael’s Arts and Crafts store.  For a list of stores near your area, please click here.

The Knack Great Pumpkin Event
Saturday, October 10
10am–1pm

Bring the whole family to Michaels and create your own craft pumpkin. $5 per pumpkin ($7 Canada), includes supplies. While supplies last.

The Knack FREE Family
Halloween T-Shirt Event*
Sunday, October 25
1pm–3pm

Use your hand to make a special Halloween t-shirt that is sure to spook. Just purchase the t-shirt of your choice at Michaels and decorate it for FREE using our paint supplies! While supplies last.

*Parents, we also have an Adult Mask-Making Demo going on at the same time. Learn how to turn an ordinary mask into an extraordinary costume accessory!

The Knack FREE Family
Halloween Event
Saturday, October 31
10am–12pm

Bring the kids in to kick off Halloween! Come and get a FREE trick-or-treat pail! Plus, enjoy a free coloring activity, FREE Crayola® pencil topper demo using Crayola® Model Magic® FusionTM and a Make-It Take-It Halloween frame. Children will also receive a FREE balloon and candy. While supplies last. Ages 5–12 welcome.

The Virginia Zoo in Norfolk recently dedicated a new childrens rain garden as one of its newest attractions. Besides being a beautiful addition to the zoo, the garden will function as an outdoor classroom too.

AT&T is sponsoring the 21st Annual Children’s Festival in Norfolk on October 10, 2009 at Town Point Park.

The Children’s Festival now in its 21st year is filled with more than 100 creative and interactive activities, storytelling, hands‐on workshops and educational displays, cultural experiences, arts and crafts, stage shows and costumed characters.  This event is designed with children 10 and younger in mind (from the list of activities provided, I would make that 8 and younger).

There is a $3 admission with a portion of the proceeds being donated to Saint Jude Children’s Research Hospital.  To purchase tickets click here.  AT&T wireless phone customers will receive 1 free admission with each AT&T wireless phone.  Tickets must be purchased at the gate and phone must be presented to qualify for this special offer.

What child doesn’t love romping through pumpkin patches that seem to go on forever?  Holding a parent’s hand as they weave their way though a corn maze made of corn stalks that seem as tall as Jack’s Beanstalk?  Virginia is filled with places to enjoy the fruits of fall and Virginia.org has put them all in a easy-to-navigate online directory for us!  So, pack up the kids and take a day trip this weekend to enjoy the crisp fall air and quality family time!

This just in from Grandparents.com:

Restaurants throughout the country are feeling the sting of the slow economy, just like you. In order to improve their bottom line and get families to eat out more often, many have initiated programs where kids eat free with the purchase of adult entrees. National chains, such as Bennigan’s, TGI Friday’s, and IHOP are promoting these deals, and local mom-and-pop restaurants are starting to do the same.

The specific times and dates vary from restaurant to restaurant, including those of the big chains so call your local favorites directly and find out if they have any kids-eat-free specials. Usually, these deals take place on off-peak days, like Tuesdays and Wednesdays; if you can find a deal, it’s a good excuse to  spend time with the grandkids. Treat them to a special dinner, give their parents some downtime, and save money at the same time.

Here is a short list of national chains that have kids-eat-free deals at some locations*:

*Note: These specials vary from restaurant to restaurant and are subject to change at any time. The sample deals are real listings, but may not apply to the specific restaurants in your area. Sometimes, the deal in your area might even be better.

Applebee’s
Sample deal: Get one kid’s meal free when you buy one adult meal. Additional kids eat for $1 each.

Bennigan’s
Sample deal: Kids eat free with the purchase of an adult entrée, on the first and third Tuesday of each month.

Captain D’s
Sample deal: Thursdays, kids eat free. Get two free kids’ meals with any adult entree purchased at regular price, dine-in only.

Chevys Fresh Mex
Sample deal: All day Tuesday, get one free kid’s meal with one adult entrée, dine-in only.

Chic-fil-A
Sample deal: Get a free kid’s meal with purchase of a combo deal, Tuesdays from 5:30pm to 7:30pm.

Denny’s
Sample deal: Tuesdays from 4pm to 10pm, up to two kids’ entrees are free with the purchase of one adult entrée.

Firehouse Subs
Sample deal: Kids enjoy a free meal from the kids’ menu with the purchase of a combo meal.

IHOP
Sample deal: From 4pm to 8pm every day, kids get one free kids’-menu item with the purchase of an adult entree.

Jason’s Deli
Sample deal: All day Sunday, kids eat free from the kids’ menu.

Marie Callender’s
Sample deal: All day, Tuesday and Saturday, receive one free kid’s meal with the purchase of one adult entrée.

O’Charley’s
Sample deal: Kids, 12 years old and younger, eat free every night of the week (up to two per paying adult).

Red Robin
Sample deal: Tuesday nights, kids eat free with the purchase of an adult entrée.

T.G.I. Friday’s
Sample deal: Mondays and Tuesdays, kids younger than 3 years old eat free.

Tony Roma’s
Sample deal: Tuesdays, kids 12 and younger eat free.

Head to the National Zoo’s Autumn Conservation Festival October 3-4 from 10am-3pm and enjoy an unforgettable day in the Blue Ridge Mountains.  This is the ONE AND ONLY time every year that CRC is open to the public.  And this year, it’s your ticket to getting a peek at the clouded leopard cubs born at CRC this spring!

Visitors get behind-the-scenes looks at some of the CRC’s endangered animals, the bird house, and the veterinary hospital.  One of the Zoo’s endangered brown kiwi’s will also be available for meet and greets.  In addition, there will be live music, draft horse wagon rides and cavalry maneuvers.  Lunch, beverages and zoo-themed merchandise will be available for purchase.

Admission is free for CRC members.  For non-CRC members, a car pass is required and may be purchased for $5.  Car passes are also available at the Front Royal/Warren County Visitor’s Center (414 East Main Street, Front Royal, VA) and at the gate each day of the event.

Please note: The Conservation and Research Center is set in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains.  The Autumn Conservation Festival activities are scattered throughout the campus.  Dress appropriately for outdoor activities and wear comfortable walking shoes.  This event will be held rain or shine.

Directions:

From the East (Washington DC Area)

• Take I-66 to the Linden/Route 55 exit (Exit 13)
• Turn left at the bottom of the exit ramp
• Turn right at the first stop light onto VA-55 West and go about five miles
• Turn left at the first traffic light onto US-522 South/Remount Road
• The main gate to the CRC will be on your left in about two miles
• Turn left into the CRC

From the West (Winchester/Strasburg)

• Take I-81 to I-66
• Take the Front Royal/US-522 exit (Exit 6)
• Turn right at the end of the ramp and follow US-522 South/Remount Road through Front Royal and for about two miles south of town
• Turn left into the CRC

Throughout the month of October, come to the Farmer’s Market lot in the 1100 block of East Main Street in Radford for all kinds of activities celebrating kids!

Schedule as follows:

OCTOBER 3 – Scarecrow building and pumpkin painting (“scarecrow clothes” donations always appreciated)
OCTOBER 17 – Kid’s movie matinee
OCTOBER 24 – Kid’s craft activity
OCTOBER 31 – Trick-or-Treat Trail

Date/Hours:
Saturday, October 03, 2009 (10:00 AM-12:30 PM)
Saturday, October 17, 2009 (3:00 PM-5:00 PM)
Saturday, October 24, 2009 (10:00 AM-12:30 PM)
Saturday, October 31, 2009 (3:00 PM-6:00 PM)

For more information, call Main Street Radford at:  540-731-3656 or email:  info@mainstreetradford.org