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

Are you and your kids excited about summer? So are our local librarians, ready to welcome families for another summer of reading for fun and prizes. Here’s a roundup of some of the area’s library reading programs for kids (and a few for adults!). They’re all free and offer great prizes and incentives to keep kids reading all summer. More…

Category: Education, Events/Performances // Posted on June 15, 2011 // Leave a Comment

Need ideas for a fun Father’s Day celebration? Here’s a roundup of Father’s Day weekend fun, with such a diverse array of activities and events we’re confident there’s something for every family:

SATURDAY:

Make a Gift: If the kids haven’t made a gift for dad yet, head over to Lakeshore Learning Crafts on Saturday, June 18, between 11 am and 3 pm, where children 3 and older can make a Father’s Day wallet for FREE! (16901 SW 65th Ave., Lake Oswego. 503-620-9888. lakeshorelearning.com.)

Pick Some Berries: Show dad how sweet you think he is by celebrating at French Prairie Gardens’ Strawberry Festival or Kruger’s Berry Jam. More…

Category: Events/Performances, Holidays // Posted on June 13, 2011 // Leave a Comment

When my son was younger, he was a huge fan of Thomas the Tank Engine! One of the highlights of his summer (several years in a row) was Day Out with Thomas at Mt. Hood Railroad, where you get to ride on everybody’s favorite little blue engine, meet Sir Topham Hatt and enjoy a train-themed day of fun! And this year, Metro Parent is happy to be offering one lucky reader a Family Four-Pack of tickets for free! More…

Category: Contests, Events/Performances // Posted on June 8, 2011 // 4 Comments

To celebrate National Women’s Health Week (which kicked off on Mother’s Day), Portland State University’s Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies program presents “Women, Love and Self Care … It’s Your Time!” The free workshop will be held on Saturday, May 14, from 9:30 am to 4 pm.

Led by PSU faculty member Roslyn Farrington, who’s taught the course “Women, Love and Self Care” to PSU students for the last five years, the workshop is intended to promote women’s psychological, spiritual and physical wellbeing. More…

Category: Events/Performances, Health and Wellness // Posted on May 9, 2011 // Leave a Comment

Two exciting events are coming up the week of Mother’s Day — Run Mama Run and an evening with author Anne Crittenden — and we’re thrilled to offer you a chance to win free tickets to both. More…

Category: Contests, Events/Performances // Posted on April 25, 2011 // Leave a Comment