Children's Clothing, Toy & Equipment Resales: Spring 2013 Edition

This post is brought to you through the support of Fox Valley Family Physicians, a practice that sees patients from newborns through seniors at its offices in Geneva and Elburn. Each of its physicians is board certified in Family Practice, and they are active staff members at Delnor Hospital in Geneva.

Are you ready to stock up on some spring and summer clothes for your children and nab some great deals on toys and equipment, too? Well, then you're going to love this guide to the upcoming spring resale season!

Please follow the links provided to learn more about each resale's individual policies: Some are free to enter, others charge a small admission. Some of the events ban children, strollers, wagons or laundry baskets. Most sell items for half-price later in the day. And some are still looking for volunteers to help out -- volunteers get to shop the presale, usually held a day before the event is open to the general public. 

Before you head out, especially if you're a resale novice, you'll want to read our guest columnist Edith Tarter's tips for making the most of these types of events.

Know of a resale we don't have listed here? Add it in the comments section. Happy shopping!

Photo courtesy of the John Shields and McDole Elementary Toy and Clothing Resale, being held March 1-2 in Sugar Grove.

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Winter Guide 2013: Visiting a Chicago-Area Museum or Zoo for Free

We are all so appreciative of all the amazing museums in the Chicago area, but sometimes visiting -- especially with a few kids in tow -- can get pricey.

The Shedd Aquarium has a number of free days coming up in January and February. Photo by rendomthoughts on Flickr.Checking out a Museum Adventure Pass from your local library is one option. Sometimes it makes the most sense to become a member, especially if it's a place you'll visit more than once in a year. And if you plan to visit a couple of museums in a short time span, you'll want to look into purchasing the CityPass or the Go Chicago Card.

But many Chicago museums also offer community free days or regular days during a month when visitors get in free. Note that these days are often quite popular, so you might be fighting some crowds. And also make sure to check the museum’s website, or give the museum a call, before your visit to make sure nothing has changed since this guide was compiled. 

Here's a list of the published discount dates for Chicago sites in winter and spring of 2013:

* The Adler Planetarium, 1300 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago. 312-922-7827. Free general admission for Illinois residents: Jan. 17, 28-31. 

* Museum of Science & Industry, 57^th Street and Lake Shore Drive. 773-684-1414. Free general admission for Illinois residents on: Jan. 16-18, Jan. 21-25, Jan. 28-31; Feb. 6, Feb. 13, Feb. 20, Feb. 27; March 4; April 22; May 6: June 3-7, June 10.

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Visiting a Suburban Museum or Zoo for Free: Fall & Winter 2012

Last week, we brought you an updated "Visiting a Chicago Museum for Free in Fall & Winter 2012” post. But we can't forget the suburbs! While nearly every major Chicago museum offers “community free days,” that is more rare among suburban institutions, so the list below is a bit less definitive than the Chicago one.

Please make sure to check the museum’s website, or give the museum a call, before your visit to make sure nothing has changed since this list was compiled. And if you know of a spot that should be on here, please let us know!

* Brookfield Zoo, 8400 31^st Street, Brookfield. 708-688-8000. Information for the 2012-13 season has yet to be posted. During the 2011-12 year, admission to the Hamill Family Play Zoo, as well as the Children’s Zoo, were free from Nov. 1 to March 1, but you still had to pay pay general admission and a $9 parking fee at the zoo. In early 2012, the Brookfield Zoo had free admission on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays in from Jan. 1 through Feb. 28, but again, that has not been confirmed for 2013 yet. 

* Midwest Museum of Natural History, 425 W. State Street, Sycamore. 815-895-9777. Free admission on Wednesdays. Fees still apply for special events or programs.

Admission is always free at the Spring Valley Nature Center in Schaumburg. Photo by Prairie Woods Audubon on Flickr.

* Kline Creek Farm, 1N600 County Farm Road, West Chicago. 630-876-5900. Admission is always free at this DuPage County Forest Preserve property that seeks to show visitors what life was like on a northern Illinois farm in in the 1890s.

* Lederman Science Center at Fermilab, Kirk Road and Pine Street, Batavia. 630-840-8258. The museum was designed for middle school field trips, but the hands-on exhibits are available to the general public on weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission is free. On holidays, call to check if the center is open. 

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Children's Clothing, Toy & Equipment Resales: Fall 2012 Edition

It's that time of year again -- time to mark you calendars in preparation for scoring some deals at massive resale events!

Photo courtesy of Curly Q Consignment.Please follow the links provided to learn more about each resale's individual policies: Some are free to enter, others charge a small admission. Some of the events ban children, strollers, wagons or laundry baskets. Most sell items for half-price later in the day. And most are still looking for volunteers to help out -- volunteers get to shop the presale, usually held a day before the event is open to the general public. 

Before you head out, especially if you're a resale novice, you'll want to read our guest columnist Edith Tarter's tips for making the most of these types of events.

Know of a resale we don't have listed here? Please add it in the comments section. Happy shopping!

SEPTEMBER

Step by Step Childhood Enrichment PTA Fall/Winter Resale: Saturday, Sept. 8, from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. and then a half-price sale from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the DuPage County Fairgrounds, 2015 W. Manchester Road in Wheaton, in Building 4.

Double Blessings Fall/Winter Resale: This DuPage County-area multiples club is holding its resale Saturday, Sept. 8, from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the DuPage County Fairgrounds, 2015 W. Manchester Road in Wheaton, in the Exhibition Building. 

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How to Visit a Chicago Museum for Free: Fall & Winter 2012

We are all so appreciative of all the amazing museums in the Chicago area, but sometimes visiting -- especially with a few kids in tow -- can get pricey.

The Adler Planetarium is among several museums that offer "community free days." Photo by happysteve on Flickr.Checking out a Museum Adventure Pass from your local library is one option. Sometimes it makes the most sense to become a member, especially if it's a place you'll visit more than once in a year. And if you plan to visit a couple of museums in a short time span, you'll want to look into purchasing the CityPass or the Go Chicago Card.

But many museums also offer community free days or regular days during a month when visitors get in free. Note that these days are often quite popular, so you might be fighting some crowds. And also make sure to check the museum’s website, or give the museum a call, before your visit to make sure nothing has changed since this guide was compiled. Here's a list of the published discount dates for fall and winter of 2012:

* The Adler Planetarium, 1300 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago. 312-922-7827. Free general admission for Illinois residents: Sept. 11-12, Sept. 18-19, Sept. 25-26; Oct. 2-3, Oct. 9-10, Oct. 16-17, Oct. 23-24, Oct. 30-31.

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