Do your kids beg you for Dippin’ Dots every time you go to the zoo, a Royals game, Worlds of Fun or the mall? If they’re anything like mine, you don’t hear the end of it until you buy that little cup full of rainbow-hued beads of cryogenically frozen ice cream.

Just to keep it real, I’m gonna go ahead and admit that, despite the huge number of Dippin’ Dots cups I’ve purchased over the years for my children, I’ve never actually tasted Dippin’ Dots. Is that weird? Maybe. Just don’t tell Mary Ann Deming, the owner of several local Dippin’ Dots franchise locations.

Mary Ann’s stores can be found at the Great Mall of the Great Plains in Olathe, at Independence Center and at Oak Park Mall. And since Mary Ann is hip to social media, you can also find Kansas City Dippin’ Dots on Twitter at @kcdippindots.

Did you know that you can get Dippin’ Dots for a party or fundraiser too? You can order Dippin’ Dots single serving Prepacks for birthday parties, block parties, or other events. For really big parties, they’ll even bring a serving freezer right to you with 8 to 10 different flavors.

Anyway, the bottom line: we’re giving away a one gallon bag of Dippin’ Dots! Winner can choose a bag of one of the following flavors:

• Cookies and Cream
• Banana Split
• Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough
• Rainbow Ice
• Chocolate
• Vanilla
• Birthday Cake

A one gallon bag serves 35 of the 3.5 ounce cups or 25 of the 5 ounce cup. It’s an $80 value. The winner can pick it up at the Great Mall, Independence Center or Oak Park Mall locations.

So, here’s what you need to do to enter the random drawing to win – (1) tell us why you (or your kids) LOVE Dippin’ Dots by submitting a comment (click the Comments link at the end of this post); (2) the form will require a valid email address which will NOT be made public with your comment; (3) just tell us why you (or your kids) LOVE Dippin’ Dots along with your first name and the city/town in which you live and you’re entered!

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RULES: Comments/entries must be submitted before 11:59pm CST on Tuesday, June 16, 2009. One winning entry will be chosen at random and the winners will be notified by KC Kids Fun via email.
Must be 21 years of age to enter and win. Only one entry per household will be considered. No substitutions or transfers. Giveaway prize is not redeemable for cash. By entering, winner consents to allow the use of his/her name for promotional purposes without further compensation. Winner releases all sponsors of liability regarding use and enjoyment of the prize. No purchase necessary to enter or win.

June 28, 2009 is the date when the community pulls together in support of one of our city’s finest preschools–Children’s Therapeutic Learning Center (CTLC).  Located at 31st and Main in Kansas City, CTLC is a fully accredited preschool and has been providing outstanding early education to children with special needs, as well as for those who are typically developing.

Did you know that CTLC was founded in 1947?!?  The preschool serves children from the entire metro, across a broad range of physical and developmental disabilities.  Kate and I are honored to call CTLC one of our community partners.  We are so impressed with what this preschool has to offer–and we feel like it’s a feather in our city’s cap.   SO WHAT DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH DUCKS?????

RED Development, along with CTLC, joins forces again this year to bring 20,000 rubber ducks to the Country Club Plaza’s Brush Creek.  Families can enjoy live entertainment and family fun on the Plaza as they eagerly await the “DUCK DROP” into Brush Creek.  It is a sight to behold!

Here’s where you come in.  You can adopt a duck(s) for only $5, and there are some fabulous prizes to be had.  Grand Prize is a 2009 Harley Davidson VRSCF V-Rod Muscle bike donated by Central Harley Davidson South.  Other prizes include concert tickets, dining packages, Tiffany jewelry and retail gift cards just to name a few!!  Best of all, you will be directly helping fellow KANSAS CITIANS.  Not bad for $5!

The fun starts on Sunday, June 28 at 11am on the Plaza.  2pm will be the Duck Derby and the entertainment and fun ends at 4pm.  Head down to Brush Creek for a great day of fun!  If June 28 won’t work for you…don’t despair; you can still help those wonderful children at CTLC.  Check out the school’s Amazon Wish List for some much-needed items.   With a few simple clicks, you will be well on your way to making someone’s day!  It’s that easy to donate–all from the comfort of your home!  THANKS, READERS!

Kiran and I are so excited to share a new project with you (and some really FANTASTIC deals)!  We were invited to write a few articles for the Kansas City Convention & Visitors Association’s great website, visitkc.com. And you can find our first piece “Kids Guide: Summer Break in KC” over there now!

While you’re over at visitkc.com, you will NOT want to miss their Sunsational KC specials and deals. There are some tremendous coupons and specials offered that can really lighten the burden on your wallet this summer around Kansas City.

Among these terrific offers available are coupons for $2 off admission to the College Basketball Experience, buy a ticket to the Narnia Exhibit at Union Station, get a free ticket to Science City and $8 off admission to Worlds of Fun but I am most excited about the HUGE number of TWO-FOR-ONE ADMISSION deals available.

You won’t want to miss TWO-FOR-ONE ADMISSION to:

• Airline History Museum – downtown KCMO
• Truman Library – Independence, MO
• Kansas City Zoo – KCMO
• Coterie Theatre – Crown Center
• National World War I Museum – KCMO
• Negro Leagues Baseball Museum – KCMO
• National Agricultural Hall of Fame – Bonner Springs, KS, just west of the Kansas Speedway
• Royals game – KCMO
• CoCo Key Water Resort – KCMO, near the Truman Sports Complex
• Toy & Miniature Museum – on the UMKC campus
• Paradise Park Miniature Golf – Lee’s Summit, MO
• Paradise Park Children’s Edutainment Center – Lee’s Summit, MO

and MANY more great attractions!

A big thanks to the Kansas City Convention and Visitors Association for providing these super deals (and for letting us guest post on their website)! What a great service the KCCVA provides to visitors and residents alike.

Now, start clicking and printing those coupons! And get the kids out to explore the city this summer!

As my kids and I started our list of things to do this summer including a trip to the zoo, I was feeling a bit nostalgic and thought I’d share my memories as a Kansas City kid here. And I hope any of you grown-up KC kids feel free to share your memories in the comments here too!

The Tropics exhibit opened recently in the original Kansas City Zoo building from 1909. I’m looking forward to getting back inside. No, I wasn’t around back at the turn of the 20th century but I do remember going through that building as a child. It had a tropical feel then too – trees, vines, free-flying birds, glass-fronted tanks with snakes and the absolute highlight – the hippo. Yep, they had a hippo in a pool of water inside the building. Does anyone else remember that?

I ran to my mom’s and dug out some old pics to share with you too. Back in the late ’70s, the zoo was a regular stop on our summer agenda. No zebra tram back then, but we always rode the train. Same train that’s there now with a slightly different route. My kids don’t seem to think that’s as cool as I do – though they love the train just as I did.

Africa was called the “African Veldt” and was a huge concrete pit containing elephants, giraffes, lions, gazelles and other animals I don’t recall. We walked around the outside and peered down towards the animals. This picture of me, my little sister and my dad is near the giraffe section circa 1977. Check out the awesome socks and sneakers on Dad.  :)

Remember the Great Ape House? Better yet, remember how bad the Great Ape House smelled? And the island of monkeys across the sidewalk? I could never figure out how they stayed over there – were they that afraid of the narrow moat?

There also used to be a dairy barn at the zoo with a petting zoo nearby. Here’s a photo of my sister and me, feeding goats. Check out my sweet Worlds of Fun bucket hat. Looks like we were quite the local attraction aficionados that summer…

Not far from the petting zoo was this big whale – you could walk inside but I don’t remember what was in there. Anyone?

Aside from the newly remodeled 1909 building and the train, the Great Cat Walk and the sea lions are the only things that remain the same 30 years later. I strain to glimpse the old bear cages now on the walk to the new Africa. The old African Veldt is just beyond the train barn that you pass as the tram to Africa leaves the front of the zoo.

Lots of good memories at the zoo. With my parents, with my cousins. I can remember it vividly and hope my children have similar memories 30 years from now as they share an even newer and more improved Kansas City Zoo with their children.

If you have old Kansas City Zoo memories, please share them with us in the comments below! If you have old zoo pictures you’d like to share (and really? Who could possibly look sillier than I do in these?), please share them by posting them to a fan album on our Facebook Fan Page!

Next up for the Now and Then treatment? I’m thinking Worlds of Fun – I just have dig out some old Orient Express and Zambizi Zinger photos!

Summer in the Kansas City metro means fairs and festivals! And they’ve already started! The Brookside Art Annual was held last month and the next few weeks brings the first wave of true summer events. The best news? Each and every fair has a TON of awesome activities to share with your kids!

So, get ready for Tilt-A-Whirls, funnel cakes, ferris wheels, corn dogs, cotton candy, livestock and live music. Fair and festival season is starting…and there are so many that you have ABSOLUTELY NO EXCUSE to not catch at least one!

The 2009 Kansas City fair and festival schedule looks like this:

Prairie Village Art Fair, Prairie Village, KS – May 29 thru May 31

Serb Fest – St. George Serbian Orthodox Church, College & Greenwood (west of Pflumm), Lenexa KS – May 29 and May 30

Old Shawnee Days – Shawnee, KS – June 4 thru June 7

Lee’s Summit Downtown Days – June 5 thru June 7

Festa Italiana – Zona Rosa, Kansas City North – June 5 thru June 7

Mardi Gras Days – downtown Overland Park, KS – June 5 and June 6

Vaile Strawberry Festival, Vaile Mansion, Independence, MO – June 6

Irish Street Fair – Kansas City, MO – June 6

Sugar Creek Slavic Fest – Sugar Creek, MO – June 12 and June 13

Greek Festival – St. Dionysios Greek Orthodox Church, Overland Park – June 12 thru June 14

Scottish Highland Games & Celtic Festival, E.H. Young Park, Riverside, MO – June 12 thru June 14

Dragon Boat Festival – Country Club Plaza, KCMO – June 13

Fiesta Filipina – Filipino Cultural Center, 79th St. between Antioch & Frontage in Overland Park – June 13 thru June 14

Chalk & Walk Festival, Crown Center Square, Kansas City, MO – June 20

KC Riverfest – Berkley Riverfront Park, KCMO – July 2 thru July 4

Cass County Fair, Pleasant Hill, MO – July 14 thru July 19

Amelia Earhart Festival – Atchison, KS - July 17 thru July 18

Miami County Fair, Paola, KS – July 18 thru July 26

KC Fringe Festival – various KCMO locations – July 19  thru July 26

Platte County Fair, Platte City, MO – July 22 thru July 25

Douglas County Fair, Lawrence, KS – August 5 thru August 9

Wyandotte County Fair, Kansas City, KS – July 28 thru August 1

Johnson County Fair, Gardner, KS – August 3 thru August 8 – don’t miss the rodeo, Family Fun Night or the parade!

Missouri State Fair, Sedalia, MO – August 13 thru August 23 – 12 & under FREE every day; lot of free kids’ entertainment

Festival of Butterflies, Powell Gardens, Kingsville, MO – August 7 thru August 9 and August 14 thru August 16 – no carnival but still super cool!

Leavenworth County Fair, Tonganoxie, KS – August 11 thru August 15

Ethnic Enrichment Festival, Kansas City, MO – August 21 thru August 23

Trails West!, St. Joseph, MO – August 21 thru August 23

Parkville Days Riverfest, Parkville, MO – August 21 thru August 23

Lewis & Clark Trail Days, Buckner, MO – August 21 and August 22

Santa-Cali-Gon Days, Independence, MO – September 4 thru September 7 – TONS of fun for kids and adults alike. If you’ve never been, you should definitely try this one!

Kansas City Irish Fest, Kansas City, MO – August 29 thru August 31- awesome children’s area at this Crown Center event

Kansas City Renaissance Festival, Bonner Springs, KS – August 30 thru October 13

The 48th Annual Annunciation Greek Food Festival, Kansas City, MO – September 11 thru September 13

Old Settlers Days, Olathe, KS – September 4 thru September 6

Valley Fair Daze, Grain Valley, MO – September 10 and September 11

Kansas State Fair, Hutchinson, KS – September 11 thru September 20 – Nat & Alex Wolff, the Naked Brothers Band closes the Fair on the 20th!

Blue Springs Fall Fun Festival, Blue Springs, MO – September 18 thru September 20

Zona Rosa Art Festival, Kansas City north, MO – September 18 thru September 20

Jesse James Festival, Kearney, MO – September 11 thru September 20

Plaza Art Fair, Kansas City, MO – September 25 thru September 27 – spend some time at the Kids’ Art Workshop!

(Photos via jonathan_moreau)

Has Memorial Day 2009 really come and gone?  That can only mean one thing…it’s the official start of summer! Since our aim at KC Kids Fun is to help you find great things to do with your kids, I thought I’d offer up two lists.  One happens to be a frequently-read and requested list that we came up with last summer.  You longtime readers might remember the “30 Fun Things” list of things to do with your kids in Kansas City over the summer from last year.  I think it’s worth re-posting! The items on this list might serve as a “to-do” list for your summer activities.

The second list I’m offering up (see adjacent graphic) was NOT authored by Kate and I, but by Kate’s 6-year-old daughter.  Although not frequently requested, it might also serve as a “to-do” list for your summer activities!!  Kate tells me that item 2, “Grabing”, doesn’t refer to “grabbing” or “groping”; but gardening.  Now that’s what I call summertime fun.

It’s still not too late for you procrastinators to get your kids enrolled in one of the hundreds of summer camps/classes which are available!  We’ve tried to make it easy on you by providing a comprehensive listing of camps. We’ve sorted them by camp type ie) General Day Camps, Science/Nature Camps, etc.  Check out our 2009 Summer Camp Directory!

So, we’ve shared our ideas with you…READERS, WHAT DO YOU DO IN THE SUMMER WITH YOUR KC KIDS?  DO TELL!!!!

It’s summer!  My son finished school today–I can’t even believe it.  It only took him about 3 hours to ask me if there was anything “else” to do.  If your family is anything like mine, the economy has you forgoing the vacation and you are opting for a “staycation” here in the metro–and looking for anything free–or at least on the cheap!

We are lucky in the sense that Kansas City is pretty heavy on the free summer movies.  It seems like they have become increasingly popular and often involve kid-related activities prior to the show itself.  For you newbies, most are held in parks or parking lots and begin at dusk, so be sure to spray everyone down with bug spray!  Also, you’ll want to bring a lawn chair(s) and/or blankets.  Lastly, you will want to bring along snacks and drinks.  Many locations will sell concessions, or have nearby shops willing to sell you something, but not all have food options.

I have to give it to the Kansas City MO Parks & Recreation Department…they win as far as number of movies goes–18 to be exact!  They are at various locations throughout the metro as part of the “See a Movie; See Kansas City” series.  (I indicated these movies by putting the date in bold green print.)  This would be an excellent opportunity to check out a new part of town you’ve never been before!  And, located just 5 miles north of downtown on 169N over the Broadway Bridge, Briarcliff Village seems to be the a close second in the quantity department at 13 movies!

Be sure to check out the KC Kids Fun Events Calendar in the toolbar at the top of the page for more great kid- and family-friendly events around Kansas City this summer!

Here’s the 2009 summer lineup–let me know if I’ve missed anything! (We’ll add the Independence Square movies to the list as soon as they’re announced.)

Thursday, June 4 Briarcliff Village- “Bee Movie”

Friday, June 5 Corinth Square, Prairie Village- “Sandlot”

Saturday, June 6 Kearney, MO Amphitheater- “Bee Movie”

Thursday, June 11 Brookside Triangle Park, 58th and Brookside- “Apollo 13″

Thursday, June 11 Briarcliff Village- “As Good As It Gets”

Friday, June 12 Oak Grove Park’s Amphitheater, Gladstone- “Kung Fu Panda”

Saturday, June 13 Tower Park, 76th and Holmes- “Ghostbusters”

Thursday, June 18 Briarcliff Village- “The NeverEnding Story”

Friday, June 19 Kansas City Central Library’s rooftop- “Near Dark” (note: rated “R”) and Blue Springs MO Street Flicks, 12th and Main- show not listed

Friday, June 19 26th and Jarboe- “Kung Fu Panda”

Thursday, June 25 Briarcliff Village- “City of Angels” (not a movie for small kids)

Friday, June 26 City Market Cinema- “Caddyshack” and 18th and Vine- “The Wiz”

Friday, June 26 Prairie Village Shops – “The Wizard of Oz”

Saturday, June 27 Kearney, MO Amphitheater- “E.T.”

Thursday, July 2 Briarcliff Village- “E.T.”

Friday, July 3 Crown Center- “Sandlot”

Thursday, July 9 Briarcliff Village- “Meet Joe Black” (probably not a flick for little kids)

Friday, July 9 Brookside Triangle Park, 58th and Brookside- “Ghostbusters”

Friday, July 10 Crown Center- “Men In Black” and Corinth Square- “Raiders of the Lost Ark”

Thursday, July 16 Briarcliff Village- “Kung Fu Panda”

Friday, July 17 Crown Center- “The Karate Kid” and at Kansas City Central Library’s rooftop: “Fight Club” (definitely not a kid movie! Get a sitter for this one!)

Friday, July 17 Observation Park, W. 20th and Holly- “The Goonies”

Saturday, July 18 Budd Park, St. John and Brighton- “Wall-E”

Thursday, July 23 Briarcliff Village- “The Blues Brothers”

Friday, July 24 Crown Center- “Dr. Strangelove” and at Oak Grove Park’s Amphitheater, Gladstone MO:  “Madagascar”

Friday July 24 Prairie Village Shops – “E.T.”

Saturday, July 25 Budd Park, St. John and Brighton- TBD

Thursday, July 30 Briarcliff Village- “Finding Nemo”

Friday, July 31 Crown Center- “Mamma Mia!” and at City Market Cinema:  “Little Shop of Horrors”

Saturday, Aug 1 Budd Park- “Pineapple Express” (not exactly a kid-themed movie…but a fun night out for mom and dad?)

Thursday, Aug 6 Briarcliff Village- “The Dark Knight” (Batman, but maybe not a Batman for the littlest ones?)

Friday, Aug 7 Crown Center- “The Wizard of Oz”

Saturday, Aug 8 Budd Park- “To Kill a Mockingbird”

Thursday, Aug 13 Briarcliff Village- “Ghostbusters 2″

Thursday, Aug 13 Brookside Triangle Park- “Groundhog Day”

Friday, Aug 14 Crown Center- “Pirates of the Caribbean”

Thursday, Aug 20 Briarcliff Village- “Iron Man”

Friday, Aug 21 Gage Park, W. 23rd and Jarboe- “Finding Nemo”

Friday, Aug 21 Kearney, MO Amphitheater- “Kung Fu Panda”

Thursday, Aug 27 Briarcliff VIllage- “Twister”

Friday, Aug 28 City Market Cinema- “Rocky Horror Picture Show” (probably not a movie to take your elementary school kids to…)

Saturday, Aug 29 Roanoke Park, Valentine Rd to 34th and Karnes- “Hotel For Dogs”

Saturday, Sept 12 Migliazzo Park, Minor Dr. and Pennsylvania- “Journey to the Center of the Earth/3D”

Friday, Sept 18 26th and Jarboe- “Wall-E”

If you’re staying in town this long Memorial Day weekend and won’t be overwhelmed with kids’ sporting events, you should definitely think about heading to Crown Center for the Jiggle Jam Family Music Fest!

Jiggle Jam is on Saturday, May 23 and Sunday, May 24 on the square in front of Crown Center. My husband and I took our four kids last year and had a great time.

There are tons of fun kids’ activities, puppet workshops, Wonderscope, shopping, bubble tents, food, inflatables and MUSIC, MUSIC, MUSIC! (The inflatable bounce houses do cost a bit extra – I think, $1 a ticket/a turn – the perfect excuse for limited times through the line. “Sorry, no more money!”)

This year’s entertainment line-up includes:

• Jim “Mr. Stinky Feet” Cosgrove

• Funky Mama

• The Doo-Dads

• Dino O’Dell

• Recess Monkey

• Justin Roberts

• They Might Be Giants

• Dan Zanes

• and more!

Tickets are $10/child at the event ($8/child in advance); $5/adult; kids under 2 are FREE. So, grab your kids, your sunscreen and your camera and head to Crown Center this weekend for a very unique, very fun event for Kansas City families.

Having fun this weekend around Kansas City won’t be hard for even the most budget-conscious families! There are a number of different events going on this Saturday which are FREE (or at least pretty inexpensive).

Here are a few that you might want to check out:

♦ Head downtown to the Power & Light District (YES, the P&L WITH your kids!) for the Sprint Family Fun Days from 12pm to 4pm. There will be games, crafts, activities and Radio Disney! This fun event is scheduled once a month into the fall. And this month’s theme is “All that you ART.” Enjoy painting, jewelry-making, balloon artists and many more fun art activities. Quixotic Dancers & Drummers will be performing on the KC Live Stage!

♦ Merriam is holding its Turkey Creek Festival on Saturday as well. Head to Antioch Park for arts, crafts, a little red train ride, pony rides, exotic petting zoo, moon walk, 23′ double inflatable slide, an obstacle course, a roving magician and a balloon artist and caricaturist. There will be pedal boat rides and kid-friendly concerts. And a parade at 11am! Mr. Stinky Feet will perform at noon!

♦ Later in the afternoon and evening, you can head to Leawood’s Town Center Plaza for Amuse: A Fashionable Circus benefiting the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. It is FREE for all ages from 3pm to 8pm and features a 50 Foot Ferris Wheel, Extreme Face Painting, Stilt Walkers, Balloon Art, Kids’ Music Korner, Cotton Candy and Popcorn vendors, and much much more!

♦ If you miss Mr. Stinky Feet at noon in Merriam, you can head north of the river and catch him performing at the Kid Fest in Kearney, MO. The event runs from 12pm to 4pm at Jesse James Park~Kearney Amphitheater. The Mr. Stinky Feet concert is at 3pm. There will be prizes, explore police cars, fire truck, ambulance and UPS truck, bicycle safety course and more! Free food for the kids that register. Food for adults and anyone not registered is $1.00. All proceeds donated to the Toys for Tots Literacy Fund.

So, if you’re not booked up with soccer games and baseball games this Saturday, leave some of your worries behind and take off with the kids for a little FREE fun! You deserve it! And you can afford this kind of fun!

You may have noticed the banner ads for The Wiggles Go Bananas on our site over the past few weeks. If you’ve got preschoolers and haven’t clicked those ads already, you definitely should! Because The Wiggles are coming to Sprint Center on August 1st!

The Wiggles – including Sam, the newest Wiggle – are back with a brand new lineup of songs from their latest album “The Wiggles Go Bananas” including the smash hit “Monkey Man” featuring Australian pop sensation Kylie Minogue. The Wiggles, Captain Feathersword, Dorothy the Dinosaur, Henry the Octopus, Wags the Dog and all the Wiggly Dancers will all be in Kansas City on Saturday, August 1st for two fantastic shows at 1:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.

If you haven’t experienced The Wiggles live, you should give it a try – it’s great fun! The show is highly interactive, fun and educational. TONS of audience participation. The characters sing and dance through the audience. Kids yell “Wake up, Jeff!” to the narcoleptic purple Wiggle when he falls asleep onstage. And more!

Tickets are already on sale.  Regular ticket prices range from $35-$18 (additional facility fees and service charges may apply). Seating for tickets purchased at the $35 level will take place in the “hot potato seats” and will include an exclusive Wiggles giveaway.

And KCKidsFun is excited to offer its readers a special discount!! Click here and enter promo code “kckids” to get tickets at a discounted rate (and the added financial bonus of no Ticketmaster fees!). Check it out and share it with your friends!