After three years of construction, the Randall Children’s Hospital at Legacy Emanuel is open! Join the celebration this Saturday at a free, family-friendly grand opening event, with music, entertainers, prize drawings, a scavenger hunt, a LEGO play zone, bike and snowboard helmet sales and fittings, kite decorating, tours of the new building -– and a whole lot more!

The Community Opening Celebration will be held Saturday, Feb. 11, from noon to 6 pm.

For more information, including videos detailing the new facility and services and a schedule of events for the grand opening, visit legacyhealth.org/kidsonly.

Category: Events/Performances, Health and Wellness // Posted on February 8, 2012 // Leave a Comment

Gung Hay Fat Choy! Chuc Mung Nam Moi! The Year of the Dragon is nearly upon us, and the Chinese and Vietnamese New Year’s festivities happening around town offer an especially entertaining and engaging way to introduce your kids to different cultures.

Lan Su Chinese Garden hosts two full weeks of celebrations, beginning Jan. 23 this year, including lion and dragon dances, performances, crafts, story telling and much more! Check their website for a schedule of events.

You’ll also find celebratory events at local libraries, and at A.C. Gilbert’s Discovery Village in Salem. Here’s the scoop: More…

Category: Events/Performances, Family Fun, Holidays // Posted on January 16, 2012 // Leave a Comment

Do your kids love animals? Do they play doctor with their stuffed animals? Perhaps they even dream of someday become a veterinarian. If so, you won’t want to miss Future Vet tomorrow, Nov. 10, from 10 to 10:30 am, at the Portland Children’s Museum!

At the event, presented by Banfield Pet Hospital, a licensed vet will show kids how to care for pets and what they need to be happy, safe and healthy. More…

Category: Events/Performances, Family Fun // Posted on November 9, 2011 // Leave a Comment

We’re constantly amazed at the vast array of activities and resources for families in the Portland metro area, and we’re proud to provide our readers with information they can use to take advantage of all the area has to offer. From our Family Calendar and Family Fun Reviews to information about local parenting resources, we do our best to keep you up to date on local activities and events of interest. More…

Category: Events/Performances, Metro Parent, Parenting // Posted on October 24, 2011 // Leave a Comment

As parents, we know how important it is to support our children’s education. We know it’s our job to help them develop and strengthen the academic skills they’ll need to succeed in school and in life. We know it’s our job to keep the lines of communication open between school and home, and to work as partners with our children’s teachers and school administrators. More…

Category: Education, Events/Performances, Parenting // Posted on October 17, 2011 // Leave a Comment

It’s that time again! Halloween and Harvest time! Whether your kids are into pumpkin picking, corn mazes and hay rides or haunted houses and other spooky spectacles –- or both! –- you’ll find plenty of tempting attractions to keep the whole family entertained all month!

To help you plan your month of fun, we’ve compiled a pretty hefty list of options. Check our Family Calendar for even more harvest fun every day this month. More…

Category: Events/Performances, Family Fun // Posted on October 3, 2011 // 1 Comment

Why is Oktoberfest celebrated in September? Who cares?! It’s a great excuse to get out and have some totally Teutonic fun! Even if you missed the super huge festival in Mt. Angel this past weekend, you can still find plenty of family-friendly Oktoberfest fun right here in Portland:

Oaks Park. There will be plenty of oompah music and dancing, plus a pretzel toss, contests, wiener dog races and more. More…

Category: Events/Performances, Family Fun // Posted on September 21, 2011 // Leave a Comment

Looking for something fun to do with the family next weekend? Want to learn more about eco-friendly, community-oriented, healthy and natural options for raising your family? Check out the ReDirect Guide’s Green Sprouts Festival on Sunday, Sept. 25!

Admission to the festival is free, with a variety of workshops, activities and exhibitors for the whole family. More…

Category: Events/Performances, Parenting // Posted on September 14, 2011 // Leave a Comment

Photo by Beth Blenz-Clucas

If you love music -– and sharing that love of music with your kids! –- you’re probably always on the lookout for great kid-friendly artists you can all enjoy together. Enter Grammy Award nominee Justin Roberts, who’s been compared to Buddy Holly, Nick Lowe and even Paul McCartney. Justin is heading to Portland next month for a fabulous family-friendly concert, and we’re giving away More…

Category: Contests, Events/Performances // Posted on July 20, 2011 // 24 Comments

Like many others who attended public school in Multnomah County, McKenzie Fletcher has fond memories of Outdoor School. But it’s more than just memories of good times spent in the woods with friends. McKenzie, a recent Wilson High graduate, says Outdoor School had a significant, positive impact on her life, and on the lives of many of her peers.

“When kids get to use their senses to learn about things it sparks their curiosity and it makes them want to learn,” she says. “That’s not something you can get in a classroom. More…

Category: Charitable Giving, Education, Events/Performances // Posted on July 11, 2011 // 1 Comment

July and August are prime time for fairs and festivals! Today, you can catch the tail end of the Waterfront Blues Festival or Estacada’s Big Bang, or check out any number of rodeos around the region.

As the summer continues, you’ll find plenty to see and do at the Great Oregon Steam-Up, the 50th anniversary of TurkeyRama, the Robin Hood Festival, da Vinci Days, the West Linn Old Time Fair and more. And then of course there are all the county fairs coming up More…

Category: Events/Performances, Family Fun // Posted on July 4, 2011 // Leave a Comment

Want to get outside and enjoy some family fun this summer? How about a movie or concert in your neighborhood park or swimming pool? Here’s a list of movie and concert series planned for area parks this summer. (Events are free, unless noted.)

MOVIES IN THE PARKS:

Portland Parks and Recreation: Free movies in area parks from June 26 through Sept. 10. Events begin at 6:30 pm; movies screen at dusk. portlandonline.com. More…

Category: Events/Performances, Family Fun // Posted on June 22, 2011 // Leave a Comment