Spookified Fun Friday

It's here once again, and thanks goodness. This Friday couldn't have come soon enough. Well, let's take advantage of the beautiful fall weather upon us and make Friday, a fun day. Once again, here are my top 5 things to do in the area, in no particular order.

1. Lansdale Farmers Market. I love a good Farmers Market and Saturday, October 23rd, from 9am to 1pm, it' Fall Festival time at the Lansdale Farmer's Market. Enjoy pumpkin painting, food, Hay Rides, a Halloween hunt and much much more. Make sure the kids wear their costumes, because from 1pm to 3pm, kick off Halloween by trick or treating with local businesses on Main Street, Pavillion, Ralph's Corner and Hill crest Shopping Center.

2. We have been to this event every year and have always had a great time rain or shine. Philadelphia Zoo is holding their annual Boo at the Zoo.. Wear your scariest costume or not, and trick or treat your way around the Philadelphia Zoo. Enjoy plenty of treats, crafts, games, music and stories along the way. Nice. Boo at the Zoo, takes place this weekend Saturday, October 23rd and Sunday, October 24th from 10am to 4pm. For more information, click here.

(Pictured is George and Sophia with daddy at Boo at the Zoo in 2007)

3. There are some great things going on at the Garden State Discovery Museum this weekend. Kicking off on Friday, October 22nd with their Fairy Ball from 6:30pm to 8:30pm. Enjoy this magical ball filled with sweets and surprises, for all the prince and princesses of the land, and their parents. The ball is complete with horse drawn carriage rides, dancing, jewelry making and more. The admission is $20 for members and $25 for non members/$5 for parents. Advance payment and reservations is required. From fairies to beasts, join the Discovery Museum in their Creature Feature Saturday, October 23rd at 6:30. Enjoy a showing of Beauty and the Beast in their large screen theater complete with popcorn.

4. Stop by the Camden Adventure Aquarium where even the sea creatures are getting in to the Halloween Spirit. The aquarium's annual Creep in the Deep will be in full swing Friday, October 22nd through Sunday October 24th, from 9:30am to 5pm. Creep in the Deep includes Halloween decorations, a swimming skeleton and a ghost ship that appears to sail through a misty wall in the Shark Realm exhibit, hippos munching on pumpkins, sea's and penguins bobbing for pumpkins and much much more. 

5. The Philadelphia Zoo isn't the only Zoo with safe trick or treating. Hop on over to the Elmwood Zoo this weekend from 6pm to 9pm and enjoy their annual Nightmare at Elmwood. The even will feature multiple candy stations throughout the Zoo such as Decomposition Trail, Graveyard of Extinction, Mad Scientist Laboratory, Pirates Cove and much more. Do have little ones who may not be into the scary stuff, their little boo at the zoo will be held on October 31st from 11am to1pm. Be sure not to miss their "not-so-scary" story tie in the Zoobowl theater and a costume parade.

Join me on Monday for a look ahead to events going on through out the week. Is there somewhere you've been or something you'd like to advertise? Drop me a note at daniellebordi@netscape.net and I'll make sure to get your event in.

Reminder: Don't forget to enter my Strasburg Railroad giveaway. One lucky entrant will win a family 4pk of tickets to the Strasburg Railroad's Day Out with Thomas in November. Giveaway ends 10/28. Click here to enter.

Fun Friday: 10 Places to go to Celebrate Fall

Fall is in the air.

Why not celebrate?

Here are the best places in the area to celebrate fall.

1. Merrymead Farm, Lansdale, Pa. One of our favorite places to go and Harvest days are back. Celebrate fall every weekend throughout the month with hay rides, games, pumpkin painting, and much much more. 

2. Freddy Hill Farms, Lansdale, Pa.  There is alot going on at Freddy Hill Farm in October with Freddy's Fall Fest. Every weekend in October enjoy hay rides, pumpkins, corn stalk maze, miniature golfing, pig races, just to name a few, stop by and catch the action.

3. Johnson's Corner Farm, Medford, NJ. We also love this place, we go every fall to go apple picking and  to take a hay ride to pick our pumpkin. Every weekend and Columbus day enjoy the Fall Harvet Festival with Barnyard Bill's Corn Maze, Live Music, Moon Bounce, Fresh Kettle Corn and much more. If you visit this farm make sure to get some Apple Cider donuts...YUM!!! 

4. Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, Pa. Enjoy Curious Cucurbits and Monster Pumpkins through October 31 in the Idea Garden. Browse through the unique displays containing more than 100different types of gourds and squash with bizarre shapes and unusual colors. On October 22, celebrate Fragrant Fridays with Ewww Stinky. Come in your Halloween costume  and celebrate with witches brew, pumpkin crafts and plenty of fun for everyone.

5. Springdale Farm, Cherry Hill, NJ. Pumpkin Hayrides are back, now through November 1st. Also go through their Corn Maze and enjoy the fresh selection of pumpkins and apples.

6. Linvilla Orchards, Media, Pa. Now through November  7th enjoy the Pumpkinland Harvest Festival. Larger than life figures and scarecrows illustrate the legends and lore of the harvest season. See piles of pumpkins in all shapes and sizes with m ore than 100 tons on display. They have a huge selection of straw bales, corn shock, fall decorations, masks, costumes, your one stop fall/Halloween shopping. Also enjoy live music, entertainment, hay rides, train rides, pony rides and face painting! Nice. 

7.  Morris Arboretum, Philadelphia, Pa. Now through October 17th browse through their Scarecrow walk and vote for your favorite Scarecrow.

8. Fifer Orchards, Wyoming, Delaware. Celebrate Fall with their Fall Fest now through October 30th. Includes, hay rides, corn mazes, pony rides face painting, petting zoo, live entertainment, food and beverages and much more.

9. Milburn Orchards, Elkton, Maryland. Have Fun at Milburn with their Fall Festival, weekends now through October 31st. Included with admission is the Hayrides, Corn Maze, Boo Barn, Tractor Tunnel, Barnyard Zoo, a pumpkin patch and more. Also enjoy vendors on hand with lots of tasty treats! 

10. Tyler Arboretum, Philadelphia, Pa. Take part in a long standing tradition at Tyler, Pumpkin Days, next weekend October 16-17. Enjoy Live music, Haunted Barn, Hayrides, Moon Bounce, Trampoline, pumpkin patch, pumpkin painting, games contests and much more.

Stay tuned for the end of October and mid November! I will be doing giveaways for the Strasburg Railroad's Day Out with Thomas and Santa Train, courtesy of the Strasburg Railroad. Enter the giveaway and one person will will tickets for a family of 4! Nice!

Fun Friday

Well, I've had a great week. My husband was on vacation last week, we took lots of day trips and spent time with the kids, so believe it or not, I don't have much to Flip Off this week. But Flip Offs are the best thing since, well, chocolate, so if you are interested check out Kludgy Mom and her other Flip off participants, click here. I'm sure I'll have something to Flip Off next week, so see you then.

In the meantime, I'll bring back a post I used to do here every Friday, that I now do on my other blog, Get.Out.And.Play. dedicated solely for things to do in the tri state area, Fun Friday drum roll please.....

1.Put down that game controller and turn off the TV! Promote a healthy and happy lifestyle with the Please Touch Museum in Philadelphia Sunday August 29th with their Stroller in the Park. Following a 5k path through the park and ending at the Please Touch Museum, the event will feature a Family Fun Pavilion and Healthy Food Tent, activities to get your body moving, a special appearance by the Philly Phanatic, medals for all children participating along admission and morning access to the Please Touch Museum, for all participants, before it opens to the public at 11:00am.Nice. Stroll s tarts at 8:00am.

2. Trains, Trains and the Circus? It's Circus Week at the Morris Arboretum in Philadelphia. From Saturday August 28th to September 6th stroll through the Arboretum and stop at the Garden Railway as circus trains take over the track. First Thomas, now Circus Trains? The fun just keeps on rolling through the Arboretum. Since visiting this a couple weeks ago, the Arboretum has become one of our favorite places to go. No wonder it was voted by Philadelphia Magazine as the Best Stroll Through a Forest, you'll have to visit to find out why. It's peaceful, beautiful and breathtaking. Fun for the entire family. Click here for admission and hours of operation.

3. Chocolate or Vanilla? Can't make up your mind? You can enjoy both this weekend at the Camden Children's Garden Chocolate and Vanilla Family Festival. This event is dedicated to two of nature’s most flavorful plants. Vote for you favorite flavor, and take a tropical smell test.  Make crafts, participate in educational activities, and enjoy the Flavors of the Forest concession stand.  Enjoy chocolate and vanilla treats as you learn about these tropical flavors. Event runs both Saturday and Sunday from 12pm to 4pm.

4."Well, Blow Me Down Matey!" Arrrrr...I can't believe me eyes!" It's Pirate Invasion Weekend at the Pennsylvania Renaissance Fair this weekend. Let the little pirate in your life polish their pirate skills. Learn how to talk pirate talk, brandish a sword, take part in treasure hunts and much much m ore.

"What is that you say Lass? Shiver Me Timbers!"

5. The Philly Phanatic really does get around! The Phanatic is at the Please Touch Museum Sunday morning and then later on you can catch the him at the Elmwood Zoo for Phillies Day at the Zoo. The Phanatic will join the All-Star Cheerleaders for a bash that includes a cookout and special activities for kids that include an inflatable speed pitch, tee ball batting cage and an obstacle course. Enter a raffle for Phillies tickets and a jersey and gift bags will be given to every child courtesy of Citizens Bank Park.Nice. The festivities run Sunday from 10am to 2pm. 

Looking for Free?

*Don't forget about the Lakeshore Learning Store's Free Craft at stores nationwide on Saturday from 11am to 3pm. Click here for a location near you. This weeks craft, a Royal Crown, fit for a king or a queen!

*And Lowe's Home Improvement Store is hold their Free Kids Build and Grow workshop this Saturday at a Lowe's near you. The wooden craft this week, A School Bus that can hold crayons, chalk, stickers and much more. Nice timing. For more information click here.

Looking ahead:

*Your child's favorite little blue friend is taking over the tracks at the Strasburg Railroad. Join them in celebrating Day Out with Thomas September 11th-19th. Click here for more information.

*A special way to say thanks. I may be behind the boat on this one, but did you know that throughout the summer admission for Military Personnel is Free at  more than 700 museums across the country - including The Academy of Natural Sciences, the Please Touch Museum and the Brandywine River Museum, and many other area institutions. Participating -  in Blue Star Museums, a partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, and museums across America to offer free admission to all active duty military personnel and their families (of up to five immediate family members). Click here for a complete list of participating museums.

Join me every Friday for Fun Friday where I list my top things to do in the area for the coming weekend. 

Have something on the calendar you'd like to advertise? Or just want to let other's know about your favorite family friendly place? Send me a message or leave a comment below.

Also join me Sundays as we preview the week ahead!

Happy Friday!

Fun Friday has moved!

Looking for something to do this weekend and the regular Fun Friday post?

Check it out on my other blog Get.Out.And.Play, geared towards things to do and ways to save money doing it in the South Jersey, Philadelphia area and surrounding suburbs!