Free YMCA membership to First Graders!!

From the YMCA:

Calling all First Graders:
The YMCA of Ithaca & Tompkins County is spearheading an amazing initiative. One of the Y’s goals is to develop strong and healthy communities...but where to begin? What is the best way to create a Y community buzz? For starters: we want every 1st grader in the Tompkins and surrounding counties to be a member at the Ithaca Y. What is the best way to accomplish that, you ask? Give them a FREE membership! That’s right, any first grader who comes to the YMCA of Ithaca will receive a FREE Youth Membership, which won’t expire until August 2013 (WOW - that’s a $100 value!!). If you have any questions, please contact the Y at 607-257-0101 or email usatinfo@ithacaymca.com. See You Soon!

**Please note, in their message, there is a coupon mentioned, but not attached to the message. I highly recommend contacting the Y to get the complete information before heading in to get your first grader's membership.

Back to School and Ellis Hollow Fair

Area schools begins this week! Be sure to drive safely and be on the look out for buses and pedestrians. Hope everyone has a great school year.

A wonderful way to celebrate your first week back is by spending Saturday afternoon at the Ellis Hollow Fair! This year marks the 60th annual fair, an old fashion country fair full of kids games, a white elephant sale, music, pie and a quilt raffle. It's super fun and admission is free! Saturday, September 8, from 12-5. See you there!

YES Banana Festival this Saturday, August 11, noon to 5 on the commons

I've asked Mike Smith from the city of Ithaca to fill us all in on the upcoming 2nd Annual Banana Festival, and here's what he says!

Come go bananas at the YES Banana Festival on Saturday, August 11th
from Noon to 5pm on the Downtown Ithaca Commons.  There will be food,
games and live entertainment for the whole family to enjoy.

The food will include Banana Milk Shakes, Bananas Foster, Fried
Plantains, Cotton Candy, Frozen Chocolate Dipped Bananas and so much
more.

Have more fun then a barrel full of monkeys and win great prizes in our
games area. You can dunk a teen in the dunk tank, test your skills at
the beanana bag toss or slingshot monkey games.  Other games include
bowling for bananas, water balloon toss and nerf target practice.

Be sure to stop by the Banana Haven and get yourself done up with face
painting, tattoos and hair coloring.  While there, discover interesting
banana facts (did you know that bananas don’t grow on trees) and learn
why you should buy organic and free trade bananas.

The Main Stage will feature performances by Vitamin L, Running to
Places and other fabulous youth entertainers.  There will also be
gorillas and monkeys (don’t worry they are teens in costume) for photo
opportunities, plus balloon twisters and amazing jugglers.
Oh and don’t forget to enter our Banana Cream Pie Eating contest for
your chance to become the Top Banana.

Banana Festival is designed organized and run by youth in the Youth
Employment Service program of the Ithaca Youth Bureau.  All proceeds go
to provide jobs and job training opportunities for youth in and around
the Ithaca area.

YES Banana Festival
Saturday, August 11th
Noon to 5pm
Downtown Ithaca Commons

It's free live music season!

I am nearly giddy with excitement, because free outdoor concert season is here.  I have loved listening to live music since I was a little girl listening to my uncles jamming folk tunes around the campfire in my small town in Minnesota. As a teen, I'd drive an hour to see my cousins wailing out the 60s rock in their band Lost Weekend. In college, I was all about Brenda Weiler and Steward Davis any other midwestern singer songwriter who would make the trek to play at my small liberal arts university. As newlyweds, we'd stay out late on Tuesday nights to hear my cousin's band The Kung Fu Hippies. And in California, I lived the rock start dreams by singing in a church band that also played secular music for local gigs.

Now that I'm a mom, I love to taking my kids to hear live music. It's such a treat to see them engaged with the musicians, making the connections of sound to instrument, beats to drums and lyrics to voice.  Some days we love to dance and twirl, or some days just sit and soak it in. Whether it's folk, rock, pop, hippie jams, or zydeco; you'll see us out and about filling out ears and hearts many evenings this month.

My personal favorite concerts are at the Ellis Hollow community center on Tuesday nights. They start early (6pm), parking is easy, and the atmosphere is very laid back. The fabulous lineup of music downtown on Thursdays also starts at 6, though the concrete ground makes it less comfy for those not dancing. The the fun on Saturday nights at Taughannock State Park is infectious, with hundreds of people enjoying the tunes. I still haven't made it to a concert at Meyers Park or at the Cornell Arts Quad, but I've heard they are great, and both series start THIS WEEK! I'll update the blog with details once I get there!

You can find details on local concerts at the Ithaca Family Fun Fairs, Festivals and Concerts tab, or the Community Calendar.

Fireworks!

It's that time of year! The 4th of July is near, and love them or hate them, the fireworks are about to start. Here's the info on fireworks displays I've heard about in the area. If you know of others, please post them in the comments and/or send them to me!

Sunday, July 1:

The Lansing Community Council will be holding a fireworks celebration on July 1, 2012 starting at 6pm in Myers Park in Lansing, NY. The event will feature Technicolor trailer Park at 6pm and The Dixie Kats at 8:30pm, and hamburgers, hot dogs, and sausage will be available. Dave Hatfield and the Lansing Community Council will be providing food for the evening. A portion of the procedes will support the Community Council. Fireworks at dark!

This event is free and open to the public though donations are accepted at the event.

There will be limited parking in the park. Please use the free shuttles from the Lansing School parking lots. Rain Date: July 7th.

Monday, July 2:

The City of Ithaca will be hosting the Community Fireworks Celebration at Stewart Park on Monday, July 2nd. The celebration will run from 6 to 10pm with the fireworks being launched at 9:45pm. Live music and other entertainment will start at 6pm on the Ballpark Field at Stewart Park. Entertainment for the kids will include a bounce house, face painting, balloon animals, plus games and prizes. All are welcome to join in the picnic fun which is free and open to the public.

Parking will be available at the Park and at the nearby schools. Donations can be received at these locations or in buckets located throughout the celebration. Viewing will be best from Stewart Park, however the fireworks may also be seen from Cass Park and other locations throughout the City.

Candor Indepenence Day Celebrations July 1-7:
Don’t miss Candor’s annual July 4th celebration featuring a parade, carnival, fireworks, special music, barbecue, special music and displays. Festivities begin Sunday, July 1 with the Little Mr. & Miss Candor Contest beginning at 4 p.m. at the Candor Fire Station followed by the Candor Community Chorus Concert at the Candor High School at 7 p.m.

　
Candor’s Fourth of July Parade, July 4, 10 a.m. This year’s theme is commercials of the 1950s. Chicken BBQ follows at the Candor Ballfield.

　
Kiddie Parade, July 5th, 6 p.m. (line up at 5:30 p.m.) Theme: Favorite TV show.

　
Carnival, July 5, 6, & 7 at the Candor Ballfield

Fireworks, July 6, beginning at dusk.

　

It's Strawberry Picking time!

Several local U-Pick Strawberry places are now open for the season! Although I'm unaware of all the places around, I know that Indian Creek Farm on the way to Trumansburg, Silver Queen Farm between Trumansburg and Mecklenburg and Brookside Berry Farm in Freeville are ready for picking! Grisamore Farms north of Lansing should be ready by June 15th. For more information on picking your own food, visit the Farms and Food Tab of Ithaca Family Fun. As always, if you know of places I don't have here or on the website, email me or post them in the comments! Have fun picking!

Midwest Parades vs. Ithaca Parades

Last year after we went to Ithaca Festival parade, my friend and I were comparing notes on Ithaca Festival parades vs. parades in the Midwest. I grew up in a small time in Minnesota and she lived in Madison, Wisconsin for a while. She now lives right on the parade Ithaca Festival Parade Route, which makes for a great way to hang out with friends and score some sweet parking.

Our #1 observation was the shocking lack of clowns in Ithaca. Not a one in the parade last year. Here are others.

Midwest Parade: Lots of floats, usually driven by lawnmowers or nice cars loaned from the dealership.
Ithaca Parade: Mostly people walking, some in costumes, many with dogs.

Midwest Parade: Shriners driving little cars in choreographed movement.
Ithaca Parade: Volvo ballet (Volvos driven in choreographed movement)!

Midwest Parade: Clowns!
Ithaca Parade: A guy covered in plastic grocery bags shouting "Buy everything! Max out your credit cards"

Midwest Parade: "Princesses" from all the neighboring town lookin like Cinderella in there prom gowns
Ithaca Parade: Belly dancers looking a little more like Princess Jasmin


Midwest Parade: Tractors, horses, bands and firetrucks!
Ithaca Parade: Tractors, horses, bands and firetrucks!


Midwest Parade: Leave with tons of candy
Ithaca Parade: Leave with one piece of candy and a beaded necklace.


Take home message: Parades are awesome no matter where you are.
See you all at the parade on Thursday evening!!!