Summer Guide 2013: Kids Bowl Free

Last week, my 4-year-old daughter and I visited Lombard's Lilacia Park to check out the lilacs. Within five minutes of being there, she was complaining about being hot and hopscotching from one shady patch to the next. 

Granted, the sun was unforgiving that day, but unless we're going to spend every day at a pool, it made me realize I might need to plan some indoor activities this summer during the hottest parts of the day.

One I am considering is the Kids Bowl Free program. It's a nationwide program through which registered children can receive two free games of bowling every day all summer long. 

Here's a list of participating bowling alleys in suburban Chicago:

• Fox Bowl in Wheaton
• Bowlway Lanes in Elgin

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Summer Guide 2013: $1 Movies for Kids in Wheaton This Summer

We have another theater to add to the list of inexpensive daytime movie series for families this summer, and this one is high class!

The Studio Movie Grill in Wheaton is located in Rice Lake Square, near the Whole Foods Market. Studio Movie Grill has about a dozen locations around the United States, and it features theaters with leather seating and a full food and drink menu; you push a button to bring a waiter or waitress to your seat and the food is served to you before and during the show. We've taken our daughter there to see some of the "Kidtoons" on weekends, and "Wreck-It Ralph" too, and we always have a good time.

Studio Movie Grill's Children's Summer Series features one movie shown every weekday (Monday through Friday) at 11 a.m. through mid-August. Tickets are $1 for children and $2 for adults. The tickets can only be purchased at the box office; they are not available online.

Here's the lineup for summer 2013:

June 10 through June 14: Clifford's Really Big Movie

June 17 through June 21: Despicable Me

June 24 through June 28: How to Train Your Dragon

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Weekend Spotlight: Touch-a-Truck Day, Just Play and More

Looks like we're in for a steamy weekend: When do the public pools open again? (Just kidding. I'll be doing a post on that next week.) But until then, here are some the event highlights over the next few days. As always, check out the Go West Calendar for many more events that might better fit your family's budget, interests or schedule.

TOUCH A TRUCK: The annual "Touch-a-Truck Day" put on by the Batavia Park District is scheduled for Friday from 10:30 a.m. to noon. It will be held outside the Eastside Community Center. The event is free and parent supervision is required. Don't forget your cameras .. you'll likely encounter a dump truck, tractor, bus, police car and fire truck. The rain date is Friday, May 25.

GET ACTIVE: The JustPlay! Sports & Recreational Festival is taking place Saturday and Sunday in Carol Stream, sponsored in part by the Carol Stream Park District. There is free admission, and there will be more than 100 sports, activities and performances. Before you head out, I'd recommend taking a detailed look at the schedule. There is a KidsZone, too, for the younger crowd. 

GET CRAFTY: The 5-Star Learning Ranch in Batavia (a Go West sponsor) is holding a "Craft Round-Up" on Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., plus there will be a "Buckaroo Fun Fair" for the kiddies, featuring games, a bounce house, face painting and other attractions. Admission is free. 

SING, SING, SING!: Spotlight Youth Theater's Aurora Branch is performing the classic musical "Oliver!" this weekend at the Oswego East High School Performing Arts Center. Advance sale tickets are 412 for adults, $9 for children and seniors. The price is $2 higher when bought at the door. Performance times are Friday at 7 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. 

MUSICALS ALL AROUND:  Spotlight Youth Theater's Kane Branch is performing "Pridelands" this weekend at the Batavia Fine Arts Center. I'm not familiar with this production, but it appears to be an original work set in Africa; here's a sneak peek. Advance sale tickets are 412 for adults, $9 for children and seniors. The price is $2 higher when bought at the door. Performance times are Friday at 7 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. 

FOXY EVENT: The Red Oak Nature Center holds an "Animal Encounter" nearly ever month. This Sunday, your family can learn more about foxes on Sunday starting at 2 p.m. The event is free and no registration is required ... be prepared to possibly meet a live critter! 

Summer Guide 2013: $1 Movies on Tuesdays & Wednesdays in Warrenville

Regal Entertainment Group calls its cheap movie series the "Summer Movie Express" and it will feature G- or PG-rated movies shown for $1 on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings at 10 a.m. Regal's western suburban location is the Cantera Stadium 17, in Warrenville right off I-88. (It also has Illinois locations in Crystal Lake, Moline, Round Lake Beach and Chicago.)

Here's the lineup for the Summer Movie Express at Cantera Stadium 17. You'll find them in the Go West Calendar, too!

June 11: The Three Stooges (Rated PG)

June 12: Ice Age: Continental Drift (Rated PG)

June 18: Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days (Rated PG)

June 19: Parental Guidance (Rated PG)  

June 25: Mr. Poppers' Penguins (Rated PG) 

June 26: Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked (Rated G)

July 2: Monte Carlo (Rated PG)

July 3: Rio (Rated G)

July 9: Coraline (Rated PG) 

July 10: ParaNorman  (Rated PG)

July 16: Dr. Seuss' The Lorax  (Rated PG)

July 17: Big Miracle  (Rated PG)

July 23: Yogi Bear (Rated PG) 

July 24: Journey 2: The Mysterious Island  (Rated PG)

July 30: Racing Stripes  (Rated PG)

July 31: Happy Feet Too  (Rated PG)

Aug. 6: African Cats (Rated G)

Aug. 7: Chimpanzee (Rated G)

Summer Guide 2013: $1 Movies in St. Charles in June, July and August

A number of movie chains host offer free, or nearly free, children's movies in the summer. 

One of those is Classic Cinemas, which recently released the lineup for its "Wednesday Morning Movie Series." Each Wednesday morning from June 12 through Aug. 7, Classic Cinemas will show a family-friendly film (rated G or PG) with admission of $1 per person.

The showtime is 10 a.m. but the doors open at 9 a.m. and you're encouraged to come early to meet costumed characters and participate in games and fun activities. 

Classic Cinemas will take reservations for groups of 15 or more (the series is popular with summer camps and daycare programs), and the group rate of $5 per person includes admission, a Kiddie Combo and reserved seating.

Classic Cinemas has theaters all over northern Illinois, including the Charlestowne 18 Theatre at Charlestowne Mall in St. Charles. Other Classic Cinemas participating include those in Carpentersville, Elk Grove Village, Fox Lake, Oak Park, Freeport, North Riverside, Naperville, Kankakee, Downers Grove, Woodstock and Elmhurst.

Here's the lineup for the Classic Cinemas' Wednesday Morning Movie Series for Summer 2013. Stay tuned for info on more cheap or free family-friendly movie options this summer! And of course you'll find them all listed on the Go West Calendar. 

June 12:  "Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted " (Rated PG; 93 minutes)

June 19: "Hotel Transylvania" (Rated PG; 91 minutes)

June 26: "Ice Age: Continental Drift" (Rated PG; 88 minutes)

July 3:  "Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days" (Rated PG; 94 minutes)

July 10: "Rise of the Guardians" (Rated PG; 97 minutes)

July 17: "Hotel For Dogs" (Rated PG; 100 minutes)

July 24: "Muppets From Space" (Rated G; 87 minutes)

July 31: "Escape From Planet Earth" (Rated PG; 89 minutes)

August 7:  Surprise Movie (Rated PG; 89 minutes)