Love to Laugh and Learn

Fun and interesting learning activities to do with the children in your life

May Family Friendly Events for the Indy Area, 2016

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May Family Friendly Events for the Indy Area, 2016



It’s time for the May Family Friendly Events. Do you know what May means to Indianapolis? It’s time for “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” – The Indianapolis 500 Race! You will find several family friendly events, this month, related to the race but there are also many other activities as well. Remember to check back often because I will add things as I find them. I also love comments and conversations on here and on the Love to Laugh and Learn Facebook page.

 

May 14
Saturday

Shake, Rattle & Roll – for ages from the Womb to 36 Months
Shake, Rattle & Roll is for the little ones in your family. You are never too young (or too old) to get your groove on. All materials, instruments & drums will be provided by Bongo Boy Music School and REMO.
Bongo Boy Music School
8481 Bash St. Suite 1100
Indianapolis, IN 46250
(Located in the Castleton Area about .3 miles north of 82nd street on Bash St.)
9:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
$5.00 per child, $10 max per family (Parents are free)

Family Friendly Events: Peanut Butter & Jam Concert Series
Family Friendly Events: Peanut Butter & Jam Concert Series

Peanut Butter and Jam Saturday morning music series at the Palladium.
You and your child will be able to explore a multitude of musical genres. You will get to experience 30 minutes of music and then get 15 minutes to explore and play with the musical instruments. These performances are specially geared for children ages 1 to 7 years old. Today your child will enjoy Dragon and Dances of China. Music, colorful costumes, dances, and even a dragon will enchant the youngsters. Two adults get in free with the purchase of a child’s ticket. There is limited seating for these events. To purchase tickets, call the Box Office at 317-843-3800.
Palladium (in the Robert Adam’s room)
355 City Center Drive
Carmel, IN 46032
10:30 a.m.
$10 for child (2 adults get in free with each child’s ticket)

Family Drum Circle – Ages 3 to 8 years old
Children will explore rhythm making and rhythm making games. Older kids and parents play supportive rhythms while younger kids explore rhythm on various instruments. Parents must stay with their children and are encouraged to participate. All materials, instruments & drums will be provided by Bongo Boy Music School and REMO.
Bongo Boy Music School
8481 Bash St. Suite 1100
Indianapolis, IN 46250
(Located in the Castleton Area about .3 miles north of 82nd street on Bash St.)
11:00 – 11:45 a.m.
$5.00 per child, $10 max per family (Parents are free)

Free crafts for kids every Saturday at the Lakeshore Learning Store. This Saturday your child will be able to make a fun pony craft. Lakeshore is an Educational Store that has wonderful toys and craft supplies for use at home or in the classroom.
1300 E. 86th Street
Indianapolis, IN 46240
11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Free

Family Friendly Events: Ferris Wheel at Chase 500 Festival Kids' Day
Family Friendly Events: Ferris Wheel at Chase 500 Festival Kids’ Day

Chase 500 Festival Kids Day
In celebration and anticipation of the Indianapolis 500 race, head downtown to enjoy Indiana’s largest free outdoor festival for kids. There will be so many great things to enjoy with your family. Have your child try their hand at racing remote-control cars or doing a race-themed craft. There will be games, face painting, rides and entertainment by Fifth Harmony. You won’t want to miss this fun filled day. If you have never attended be sure to check out my review of 2013’s event: Review: Chase 500 Festival Kids’ Day.
Monument Circle, Downtown Indianapolis
Noon – 4:00 p.m.
Free

May 16
Monday

Free Community Drum Circle for Special Needs at Bongo Boy Music School
This event is open to families, music and recreational therapists & their clients, and organizations working with children and adults with special needs. It is a requirement that caregivers/therapists stay with their family members/clients and that the ratio stay at one caregiver to two family members/clients. This is so the instructors can more easily lead the group and keep things fun and moving. Drums will be provided by Bongo Boy Music School and REMO. So beat a path to Bongo Boys Music School, on Monday, for a drumming good time.
Bongo Boy Music School
8481 Bash St. Suite 1100
Indianapolis, IN 46250
(Located in the Castleton Area about .3 miles north of 82nd street on Bash St.)
6:45 – 7:30 p.m.
Free

May 19
Thursday

Free Community Drum Circle for the Whole Family
Sharing musical experiences, with the family, can be so much fun. Bongo Boys Music School (not just for boys) gives your family an opportunity to find the rhythm of the beat together, every Thursday evening. It’s a free community drum circle and all ages are welcome. No experience necessary. Drums will be provided by Bongo Boy Music School and REMO.
Bongo Boy Music School
8481 Bash St. Suite 1100
Indianapolis, IN 46250
(Located in the Castleton Area about .3 miles north of 82nd street on Bash St.)
7:00 p.m. – 7:45 p.m.
Free

May 21
Saturday
Family Friendly Events: Drumming at Bongo Boy Music School
Family Friendly Events: Drumming at Bongo Boy Music School

Shake, Rattle & Roll – for ages from the Womb to 36 Months
Shake, Rattle & Roll is for the little ones in your family. You are never too young (or too old) to get your groove on. All materials, instruments & drums will be provided by Bongo Boy Music School and REMO.
Bongo Boy Music School
8481 Bash St. Suite 1100
Indianapolis, IN 46250
(Located in the Castleton Area about .3 miles north of 82nd street on Bash St.)
9:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
$5.00 per child, $10 max per family (Parents are free)

Move and Groove for Ages 3 – 5 yrs old
Move & Groove is a fun rhythm and movement program for kiddos ages 3-5. Children will get to discover their own rhythm while experimenting with different drums and other percussion instruments. Parents must stay with their children and are encouraged to participate. All materials, instruments & drums will be provided by Bongo Boy Music School and REMO.
Bongo Boy Music School
8481 Bash St. Suite 1100
Indianapolis, IN 46250
(Located in the Castleton Area about .3 miles north of 82nd street on Bash St.)
10:15 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.
$5.00 per child, $10 max per family (Parents are free)

Family Drum Circle – Ages 3 to 8 years old
Children will explore rhythm making and rhythm making games. Older kids and parents play supportive rhythms while younger kids explore rhythm on various instruments. Parents must stay with their children and are encouraged to participate. All materials, instruments & drums will be provided by Bongo Boy Music School and REMO.
Bongo Boy Music School
8481 Bash St. Suite 1100
Indianapolis, IN 46250
(Located in the Castleton Area about .3 miles north of 82nd street on Bash St.)
11:00 – 11:45 a.m.
$5.00 per child, $10 max per family (Parents are free)

Free crafts for kids every Saturday at the Lakeshore Learning Store. This Saturday your child will be able to make a fun Twist and Twirl Spinner. Lakeshore is an Educational Store that has wonderful toys and craft supplies for use at home or in the classroom.
1300 E. 86th Street
Indianapolis, IN 46240
11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Free

May 23
Monday

Free Community Drum Circle for Special Needs at Bongo Boy Music School
This event is open to families, music and recreational therapists & their clients, and organizations working with children and adults with special needs. It is a requirement that caregivers/therapists stay with their family members/clients and that the ratio stay at one caregiver to two family members/clients. This is so the instructors can more easily lead the group and keep things fun and moving. Drums will be provided by Bongo Boy Music School and REMO. So beat a path to Bongo Boys Music School, on Monday, for a drumming good time.
Bongo Boy Music School
8481 Bash St. Suite 1100
Indianapolis, IN 46250
(Located in the Castleton Area about .3 miles north of 82nd street on Bash St.)
6:45 – 7:30 p.m.
Free

May 26
Thursday

Free Community Drum Circle for the Whole Family
Sharing musical experiences, with the family, can be so much fun. Bongo Boys Music School (not just for boys) gives your family an opportunity to find the rhythm of the beat together, every Thursday evening. It’s a free community drum circle and all ages are welcome. No experience necessary. Drums will be provided by Bongo Boy Music School and REMO.
Bongo Boy Music School
8481 Bash St. Suite 1100
Indianapolis, IN 46250
(Located in the Castleton Area about .3 miles north of 82nd street on Bash St.)
7:00 p.m. – 7:45 p.m.
Free

May 28
Saturday

Shake, Rattle & Roll – for ages from the Womb to 36 Months
Shake, Rattle & Roll is for the little ones in your family. You are never too young (or too old) to get your groove on. All materials, instruments & drums will be provided by Bongo Boy Music School and REMO.
Bongo Boy Music School
8481 Bash St. Suite 1100
Indianapolis, IN 46250
(Located in the Castleton Area about .3 miles north of 82nd street on Bash St.)
9:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
$5.00 per child, $10 max per family (Parents are free)

Move and Groove for Ages 3 – 5 yrs old
Move & Groove is a fun rhythm and movement program for kiddos ages 3-5. Children will get to discover their own rhythm while experimenting with different drums and other percussion instruments. Parents must stay with their children and are encouraged to participate. All materials, instruments & drums will be provided by Bongo Boy Music School and REMO.
Bongo Boy Music School
8481 Bash St. Suite 1100
Indianapolis, IN 46250
(Located in the Castleton Area about .3 miles north of 82nd street on Bash St.)
10:15 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.
$5.00 per child, $10 max per family (Parents are free)

Family Drum Circle – Ages 3 to 8 years old
Children will explore rhythm making and rhythm making games. Older kids and parents play supportive rhythms while younger kids explore rhythm on various instruments. Parents must stay with their children and are encouraged to participate. All materials, instruments & drums will be provided by Bongo Boy Music School and REMO.
Bongo Boy Music School
8481 Bash St. Suite 1100
Indianapolis, IN 46250
(Located in the Castleton Area about .3 miles north of 82nd street on Bash St.)
11:00 – 11:45 a.m.
$5.00 per child, $10 max per family (Parents are free)

Free crafts for kids every Saturday at the Lakeshore Learning Store. This Saturday your child will be able to make a festive Memorial Day hat. Lakeshore is an Educational Store that has wonderful toys and craft supplies for use at home or in the classroom.
1300 E. 86th Street
Indianapolis, IN 46240
11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Free

 

Sledding: A Family Friendly Event

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Sledding: A Family Friendly Event

Sledding is a great family friendly event. People of all ages can enjoy it. In Indiana, you never know the amount of snow you will get during a winter season. Last winter, we received enough snow to last for three winters (at least in my opinion). This winter we have had a lot of bitter cold temperatures but not much snow. This weekend, Indianapolis received approximately 6 inches of snow and, with the predicted temperatures, it should stay around most of the week.

The house I grew up in sat on three quarters of an acre. The front yard had a perfect slope for sledding so we never had to look for a sledding hill. I realize not everyone is that lucky, so today my husband and I headed to a couple of Indy’s local sledding hills to gather some information, just for you.

Butler Hill

I’ve spent the majority of my life in Indianapolis so I had heard about Butler Hill but had never been there. I grew up hearing how great the sledding hills were at Butler but it was not what I expected. There are two hills and they are actually behind the end zones of Butler’s football field. The hills aren’t real tall but they have enough slope and length for adults as well as kids, to get a good ride. Do watch out for the goal posts.

Family Friendly Events: Sledding at Butler Hill
Family Friendly Events: Sledding at Butler Hill

Fort Benjamin Harrison State Park Sledding Hill

Our second stop was at Fort Benjamin Harrison State Park. We spend a lot of time at the foot of the sledding hill each summer. I am usually sitting in a lawn chair, listening to one of the bands my husband participates in. This was the first time we experienced the hill with snow on it. It is a fairly large hill. There was plenty of action happening here. There was all types of equipment; sleds, snowboards, inner tubes, etc.. As I was facing the hill, I noticed the right side was getting a lot more use than the left. I believe there was a bit of a dip in the middle of the hill which made the ride a little more exciting.

Family Friendly Events: Sledding at Fort Benjamin Harrison State Park
Family Friendly Events: Sledding at Fort Benjamin Harrison State Park

My Recommendations

Both places offer great sledding. At my current stage of life, I believe I prefer Butler Hill. The two little guys in my life are 1 and 3 years old. I think I would rather drag sleds and corral little ones on the smaller hills at Butler. But I know, in the not too distant future, those two little guys will have grown enough that they will want the adventure of the bigger hill at Fort Ben. At that point, I might just have to drag along my lawn chair so I can sit at the bottom of the hill and watch them zoom up and down the hill.

Where is your favorite place to go sledding?

Here are some other Indy Sledding Hills you might want to check out:

Brookside Park
3500 Brookside Pkwy S. Dr.

Butler Hill
On the football field (Butler Bowl) next to Hinkle Fieldhouse
510 W 49th St, Indianapolis, IN 46208

Christian Park
4200 English Ave.

Ellenberger Park
5301 St. Clair

Fort Benjamin Harrison State Park
6000 N. Post Road
Indianapolis, IN 46216

Garfield Park
2450 S. Shelby St.

Glenns Valley
8015 Bluff Road

Paul Ruster Park
11300 E. Prospect St.

Rhodius Park
1001 S. Belmont St.

Southeastway Park
5624 South Carroll Road