Get out there and play
It’s all about celebrating fun in the sun, family style, at Adler Planetarium, 1300 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago. Adler will host two sets of Family Days—the first is going on now through March 22 and the second is from March 24-29.
To learn more about the sun, both sessions will have sundial-related activities, a scavenger hunt and telescope viewing. From 10:30-11:30 a.m. daily, make your own sundial at the Make a Sundial table, recommended for kids 6 and up, while you hear about time telling techniques before there were watches and electronics. Get the whole family involved in the Sun Fun Fact Scavenger Hunt, daily from 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., to investigate the sun and its properties and design your own tool that will use the sun’s energy to help you in the hunt. Weather permitting, there will be a telescope viewing on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 1-3 p.m. that will allow you to safely view the sun.
During the first session, learn how to bake tasty treats using the sun at the Solar Oven Bake-Off, daily from 1-3 p.m. Create and design your own solar car during the second session of Family Days at Solar Cars from 1-3 p.m. daily. At the end of the session, you will be able to test your design in a race. Both events are outside, so they will not run in inclement weather. Both activities are recommended for families and groups with kids 8 and up.
For tickets and information, call (312) 922-STAR (7827) or visit the Web site, www.adlerplanetarium.org.
Get out there and play some more
Never again in our lifetimes will we ever see an Easter this early in March. Easter moves around the calendar every year to maintain its relationship with spring and the relationship of the moon’s phase, the first full moon occurring after the vernal equinox. The last time Easter fell on such an early date was in 1913. It won’t happen again until 2160. To celebrate this rare occurrence, we have plenty of Eggcellent ideas for your family to“hop” to this weekend.
Grab your Easter baskets and bounce over to the Burpee Museum, 737 N. Main St., Rockford, and Discovery Center Museum, 711 N. Main St., Rockford, for an Old Fashioned Family Egg Hunt on Saturday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. for one admission price, $6, free for members. This event is best for families with kids ages 2-9. At Burpee, there will be a special toddler hunt for kids ages 1-4. On the Burpee lawn, there will be a hunt for 5- and 6-year-olds. The Discovery Center will hold a hunt for kids 7-9 in the outdoor park. Hunt times start at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. promptly, so arrive at least 20 minutes early to ensure your family will have a chance for the hunt. There will also be different activities and crafts from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. in both museums, live bunnies for petting and, of course, Mr. E. Bunny will be in attendance. Free parking is available at both locations. For more information on Burpee Museum, call (815) 965-3433, and the Discovery Center Museum, call (815) 963-6769.
If the sound of hopping down the bunny trail to have lunch with the Easter Bunny sounds good, take a trip to downtown Plainfield on Saturday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. for Egg’straordinary Downtown Plainfield. Before you begin your hunt around town, stop by the corner of Des Plains and Lockport and pick up a passport. Participating businesses will have stamps. Once you have filled the passport, head over to the Plainfield Art Factory, 24046 W. Lockport St., to enter to win one of three golden eggs. After you explore the businesses, join the Easter Bunny for breakfast or lunch at one of the three participating restaurants. Most of them require reservations. At 9 and 11 a.m., Baci, 407 W. Lockport St., will have seatings. For reservations, call (815) 436-3588. Have lunch and see a balloon artist at O’Sullivan’s Irish Pub and Restaurant, 24205 W. Lockport St., from 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Call (815) 436-4529 for reservations. The Plainfield Supper Club, 603 W. Lockport St., will have an all-you-can-eat kids buffet from 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. reservations are recommended, but walk-ins are welcome. Bring a decorated Easter bonnet to show off in the contest. For reservations, call (815) 436-3499. For more information on Egg’straordinary Downtown Plainfield, call (815) 436-5510, or visit the Web site, mainstreetplainfield.org.
In the city, there are plenty of free egg hunts being held in various Chicago Park District parks, including a dog-oriented event at Horner Park, 2741 W. Montrose Ave. If you are interested in bringing Fido to the Doggie Easter Egg Hunt from 10 a.m.-noon Saturday, make sure an adult accompanies your family. The first egg hunt begins 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Friday at the Wentworth Gardens Park, 3770 S. Wentworth Ave. The big bunny’s last stop in Chicago will be at Cotton Tail Park, 44 W. 15th St., from 2:15-2:45 p.m. Saturday. Most of the events will have a variety of activities, including face painting, arts and crafts and snacks, but each will vary. Some of the events require registration, so make sure you check with your specific park beforehand. To find an egg hunt in your neighborhood, visit the Web site, www.chicagoparkdistrict.com.
Who knew the Easter Bunny could swim? If a dip in the pool sounds like an great way to celebrate, head over to the Oak Brook Park District Family Aquatics Center, 1450 Forest Gate Road, Oak Brook, for the Underwater Easter Egg Hunt. The eggs will be filled with prizes and tokens redeemable for prize baskets. The free hunt is from 10 a.m.-noon Saturday and is recommended for kids 2-12. For more information, visit the Web site, www.obparks.org.
Photo courtesy of the Chicago Park District.
Piece of the prize
This week, five lucky winners will receive“Pop go the Wiggles: Nursery Rhymes and Songs” on CD. To win, tell us you child’s favorite nursery rhyme. Post your answer on our discussion board, then e-mail your answer, name and your Chicago Parent ID to e-dition@chicagoparent.com. You must post and e-mail us for your answer to be counted. We will not release your information-it is purely for contact purposes. Some answers may appear in Chicago Parent magazine. Winners will be chosen at random and may have no affiliation with Wednesday Journal Inc. or its employees.
