Weekend Spotlight: Fiddler, Free Movies and More Maple Sugar

Here are a few highlights for the first spring weekend of 2013! Make sure to also check out the Go West Easter Guide for seasonal events.

AURORA: This is the last weekend for the amazing production of "Fiddler on the Roof" at the Paramount Theatre, part of its 2012-13 Broadway series. Check out the glowing reviews from the Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times. As for an age range, I'd say this show would appeal to children 12 and up ... and give your family much fodder for discussion afterward! Tickets range from $35 to $47. Performances are Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m.,. and Sunday at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m.

BATAVIA & OSWEGO: The Goodrich Quality Theatres' Free Spring Movies series continues this weekend. Last summer's animated hit "Madagascar 3" will be shown at both 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday at the Randall 15 IMAX in Batavia and the Kendall 10 in Oswego. The free tickets are first-come, first-served. Note that "Madagascar 3" is also scheduled to be shown at the West Branch of the Aurora Public Library on Saturday at 2 p.m. as part of its "Saturday Afternoon Movies for Children."

ST. CHARLES: The Steel Beam Theatre offers up "The Tale of Peter Rabbit and Benjamin Bunny" this weekend, as part of its Kids' Stage. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for students to see this musical production. Showtimes are Saturday at 10:30 a.m., 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. The Easter Bunny will be making a special appearance after each performance for photographs with families. 

WEST CHICAGO: If you missed the maple sugaring fun earlier this month, you're in luck! The staff at Kline Creek Farm in West Chicago say that because of our below-freezing nighttime temps, the maple trees will continue to provide sap for sugaring demonstrations. So stop by the farm on Saturday between 10 a.m. and 4:30  p.m. or Sunday between 12:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. to learn how to take advantage of a natural resource growing right in your neighborhood.

Giveaway: Four Tickets to See 'The Little Engine That Could' at Aurora's Paramount Theatre

Updated on Thursday, March 28, 2013 at 12:01AM by Tara Burghart

We have another great Go West Giveaway for you today, courtesy of the wonderful folks at the Paramount Theatre in Aurora.

"The Little Engine That Could Earns Her Whistle" is coming to the Paramount on Thursday, April 4, for a 9:30 a.m. show. This song-filled production is based on the book "The Little Engine That Could." It tells the timeless tale of the Little Blue Engine that dreamed of one day getting to pull the big cars on the Pine Valley train line. Here's a video preview of the show:

This production is recommended for preschoolers through 2nd grade. It is sure to draw lots of school groups, but the general public is welcome, as well. 

I have four tickets to give away to the show at the Paramount to one lucky Go West reader. Tickets are $8.50 each, so this is a $34 value.

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The Go West Spring Break Survival Guide

It seems like nearly every school district in the Chicagoland area has its spring break starting next Monday, March 25. If you're not heading to the beach, Disneyworld, Mexico, or on the road to visit family ... well, we have some ideas for how your family can make your "staycation" an enjoyable one -- and inexpensive, too! 

Keep the kids active: If this chilly weather continues, that likely means making the most of the indoors. So check out the Go West Indoor Play Guide for a multitude of options. Nearly all of the professional gymnastics facilities offer a few open gyms a week. During the week of March 25, the gym at the Pottawatomie Community Center in St. Charles will offer its "Preschool Playtime" on Monday from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m., Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and Friday from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. (That's a cheap option; only $3 for up to two hours of play time.) My preschooler is a big fan of both Kids Town and Little Monkey Bizness in Wheaton.  

Photo by John-Morgan on Flickr.

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Weekend Spotlight: A Fiddler, Leprechauns & Junie B. Jones

Sunday is St. Patrick's Day, but if you don't look good in green, there are plenty of other events to keep you busy this weekend. Here a few of the highlights. Check out the Go West Calendar for more events that might better fit your family's schedule, interests or budget.

AURORA: The Paramount Theatre's 2012-13 Broadway series comes to a close with a production of the classic musical "Fiddler on the Roof, playing at various times through March 24. I got to attend the opening night, and I must say that I was blown away. The only other version I'd seen of "Fiddler" was at a community theater, and I wasn't really looking forward to the Paramount's production. Now I'm wandering around the house singing TRADITION! If you don't trust my judgement, check out the glowing reviews from the Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times. As for an age range, I'd say this show would appeal to children 12 and up ... and give your family much fodder for discussion afterward! Tickets range from $35 to $47.

'Fiddler on the Roof' is playing at the Paramount Theatre in Aurora through March 24. Photo by Liz Lauren.

GENEVA: The Northern Illinois LEGO Train Club is bringing its diorama and landscapes to the Geneva Public Library this weekend for the annual LEGO Train Show. Tickets are not needed for this free event. It will be open Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 3:45 p.m. 

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Spring Guide 2013: How to Make a Leprechaun Trap

My friend Maegen shared this with her readers on Sounds Fun Mom, a wonderful resource for families in the Puget Sound area around Seattle. If you have friends out there, make sure they know about Sounds Fun Mom!

St. Patrick’s Day is Sunday, which means you’ll want to be building your leprechaun traps.

Photo by rnv123 on Flickr.Never tried to trap a leprechaun? You can see some truly beautiful projects here in the article at Family Fun that I think sparked the whole craze. Quite frankly, our kids’ trap usually looks like a hot mess of cardboard, duct tape, and whatever else the boys found in the recycling bin. It doesn’t matter, though. They have crazy fun making it every year.

The basic idea is that you design some sort of box that a little leprechaun might be lured into. Bait varies …. I know some kids who swear by Lucky Charms, and some who try to construct a cozy-looking moss bed. At our house, we always try pistachio pudding. We’ve yet to catch one, but we usually find some chocolate gold coins he’s left behind. At other houses the little guys don’t leave treats but do plenty of mischief-like turning the toilet bowl water green. Leprechauns!