Save the Date
Tue, Aug 28: TERRIFIC TUESDAY – PETTING ZOO at Gale Center of History and Culture - South Jordan, UT
Fri, Aug 31: 2018 Classic Sheepdog Championship at Soldier Hollow
Mon, Sep 3: LABOR DAY LUAU - Thanksgiving Point
Fri, Sep 7: 2018 Salt Lake Greek Festival at The Greek Orthodox Church of Greater Salt Lake
Sat, Sep 8: Sandy Heritage Festival 2018 at Main Street Park-Sandy
Sat, Sep 15: Walk and Roll for Love at Shriners Hospitals for Children—Salt Lake City
Sun, Sep 16: 2018 FESTA ITALIANA at The Gateway
Sat, Sep 22: FINAL Midnight Drag Bash w/ Salt City Drift at Rocky Mountain Raceways
*Some events may have additional dates. Click through to see more information.
Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers:
When I was a kid growing up in Cranford, NJ, there was only one reason to look forward to the end of summer: St. Rocco's Feast was held the third weekend of August in the neighboring city of Elizabeth, and we went every year. I'm sure it was exactly like every other city festival in the country, but to a kid it was a recipe for late-summer hedonism: music, carnival rides and games, throngs of people packing the closed-off streets, and, most important, FOOD, lots of delicious Italian food that probably wreaked havoc on the grownups' digestive systems, but which to a kid was simply... well... a feast. There were stands for pizza and meatballs and Italian ice and Italian sausage on every corner, and, of course, zeppoles. Zeppoles (ZEPP-oh-lees) are basically deep-fried wads of pizza dough, sprinkled with powdered sugar and eaten hot from the stand. It sounds mundane when you say it that way, but to this New Jersey kid, zeppoles' presence on the planet was almost proof of magic.
It's 30 years down the road, but I can smell it all now, in my mind's nose. And so whenever I think of the end of summer, I can smell the zeppoles. And whenever I smell zeppoles or anything close, I'm back in Elizabeth in the hot, sticky August of 1982.
The reason I can conjure the smell and then all the rest of the sensations of late summer so long ago is that I have a hippocampus. And so do you! The hippocampus is a structure in the center of the brain that is involved with long-term memory. It's also directly connected to our olefactory bulb, the brain structure that processes smell. Scientists aren't yet exactly sure how it works, but our sense of smell is deeply and intimately connected with long-term memory. You can tell how true this is if you just introspect for a moment: One unexpected little whiff can conjure up complete and vivid memories of something that happened decades ago, a place or an event or a person.
Summer is a time for memories. And because memories are so intimately connected with smell (yay, hippocampus!), the best way to anchor the Summer of 2018 in your family's minds is to surround yourself with the special smells of summer, and point them out to your kids. Cultivate that hippocampus! Smell the flowers, smell the tomatoes, smell the beach, smell the sunscreen, smell the green humidity in the air before a summer storm, smell the special fragrance of your baby's sweaty little head.
And if you're lucky enough to smell some zeppoles, have one for me, okay? Thanks.
—Debra Ross, publisher
Utah Children's Theatre hosts a Waffle Party as part of our Shakespeare Festival for Kids (and adults with short attention spans). Come to the waffle party before attending either Twelfth Night or the Puppet Show! Or come just for breakfast. Serving all you can eat waffles with toppings along with favorite breakfast sides and drinks (not all you can eat).
Click here for more information.
We have a special time when we open the facility to little kids (under 46"). Little Air jumpers and their parents are the only ones allowed during this time. Parents cannot share a trampoline with a child, but can jump near them.
Click here for more information.
Relive History with us in the Renaissance and Medieval times. Full Contact Jousting by the world champions Knights of Mayhem. Armored Combat men and women compete in heavy armor with real weapons. Meet Royalty: Kings and Queens, Lords and Ladies. Fun for kids! Rides, petting zoos, games, and more. Educational Shows and Booths Learn about birds of prey, caligraphy, shipbuilding, blacksmithing, leatherworking, and many other crafts.Visit over 85 vendors and artisans. Renaissance and Medieval clothing, weapons, accessories, food, drink, and more. Wandering performers will amaze you!
Click here for more information.
Family & Friends Fitness Night
Bring the family or your 3 best friends and come have some fun in an exciting and healthy way! Get a full hour of park admission for any group from 4-6 people on Mondays for just $35.00 (Does not include grip socks). If you have a little one under the age of 2, they can now play for free in the Kids Airena with any of your paid admissions!
Click here for more information.
It’s about more than just bending elbows. Oktoberfest at Snowbird is a family-friendly affair with activities, food, and, of course, brews for days — weeks actually. The highly-anticipated festival begins each August and lasts through October, taking place every Saturday, Sunday, and Labor Day. It’s probably the greatest beer festival Utah has to offer, so don’t miss out!
Click here for more information.
Get Organized for Back to School
The new school year can be exhausting! Getting ready in the morning, completing all of that "grown-up homework" of paperwork and emergency cards, remembering the daily activities in school as well as after school. It can start to feel pretty overwhelming. How can you get organized and transition into a whole new year with as little stress as possible? Well, start with these organizing tips. With our help, you'll conquer the school year.
Read Back to School: Get Organized!
Back to School Means Packing Lunches
Packing lunches can feel like an awful chore as a parent, and finding ideas for balancing good nutrition and delicious tastiness can be a challenge. We're constantly looking for recipes and tools to make lunchtime easier. Here are some articles to give you some ideas
