Weekend Spotlight: Turtles, Sheep, Flowers & a Rec Festival

It looks like a gorgeous weekend ahead, which is good, since all of the below activities take place mostly outside! Of course check the Go West Calendar, too, for events that might better fit your family's budget, interests or SPF needs.

The "JustPlay!" festival in Carol Stream will have a special area for smaller children. Photo courtesy of the Carol Stream Park District.TURTLES EVERYWHERE: Cosley Zoo in Wheaton will be celebrating "World Turtle Day" on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. with fun activities and chances to meet live turtles and tortoises. You'll also learn about the zoo's efforts to help protect the Illinois Endangered Blanding's Turtle. Regular admission rates apply. 

BAA BAA: If you want to show your kids how sheep's wool becomes clothing, you'll want to check ou the "Sheep to Shawl" event on Saturday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Blackberry Farm in Aurora. Activities are included with regular daily admission.

FLOWER FEST: Downtown West Chicago is hosting its popular "Blooming Fest" on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. It will feature a plant sale, craft show, children's activities, music and food. TURTLES EVERYWHERE: Cosley Zoo in Wheaton will be celebrating "World Turtle Day" on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. You can meet turtles and tortoises and take part in fun activities. Regular admission rates apply.

PLAY ON!: The Carol Stream Park District is hosting "JustPLay! Sports & Rec Festival" on Saturday and Sunday at the Carol Stream Town Center. There will be more than 10 sports, activities and performances for visitors to take part in, including climbing walls, a BMX stunt show, a zip line, NASCAR simulator and more. Admission to the festival is free.

Family Movies for Free (Well, Nearly) in St. Charles This Summer

A number of movie chains host series featuring free, or nearly free, children's movies in the summer. 

One of those is Classic Cinemas, which recently released the lineup for its "Wednesday Morning Movie Series." Each Wednesday morning from June 13 through Aug. 8, Classic Cinemas will show a family-friendly film (rated G or PG) with admission of $1 per person.

The show time is 10 a.m. but the doors open at 9 a.m. and you're encouraged to come early to meet costumed characters and participate in games and fun activities. 

Classic Cinemas will take reservations for groups of 15 or more (the series is popular with summer camps and daycare programs), and the group rate of $4.75 per person includes admission, a Kiddie Combo and reserved seating.

Classic Cinemas has theaters all over northern Illinois, including the Charlestowne 18 Theatre at Charlestowne Mall in St. Charles. Other Classic Cinemas participating include those in Carpentersville, Elk Grove Village, Fox Lake, Oak Park, Freeport, North Riverside, Naperville, Kankakee, Downers Grove, Woodstock and Elmhurst.

Without further ado, here's the lineup and a brief description from Classic Cinemas about the film:

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Pick-Your-Own Farms West of Chicago

I'll soon be publishing the Go West Guide to Farmer's Markets, but in the meantime, here's a few places where you can plan to pick your own produce this summer. Of course we'll have a guide to apple orchards this fall.

Photo by mhall209 on Flickr.* Susie's Garden Patch is expecting strawberries to come early this year, before Memorial Day. It's located at 10285 US Highway 20 in Garden Prairie, near Rockford. Call815-597-3011 to check availability on what's available for picking. 

* Plow Creek Farm offers U-Pick strawberries, blueberries, blackberries and raspberries. It is located about 8 miles south of Princeton and 3/4 miles east of the town of Tiskilwa, on County Road 23. Call 815-646-4862 for a daily update on what's available and the farm's hours. 

* Granny's Berries is located in Rochelle at 3405 South White Rock Road, featuring blueberries and raspberries in July and August. Call 815-562-4452 for availability.

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The Go West Guide to Consignment Stores & Resale Shops

Looking to save money while staying stylish and doing some good for the planet, too? Well, you'll love the new Go West Guide to Consignment Stores and Resale Shops in Chicago's westerns suburbs. To add your resale shop (or a shop that you love), please write to biz@gowestyoungmom.com. Note that the "Featured Listings" belong to businesses that are sponsors of Go West Young Mom. The free basic listings continue below those featured listings. Happy Shopping! 

FEATURED LISTING:

Sweet Pea Children's Posh Consignment is located in Westmont.Name: Sweet Pea Children's Posh Consignment

Address: 41 N Cass Ave. in Westmont. 

Hours: Tuesday noon to 8 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Closed Sundays and Mondays.

About Us: Sweet Pea Consignment sells gently-used, high-quality children's clothing and shoes from newborn to size 12. The store also sell toys, books, baby gear, decor items and more. In addition to consignment, there are new locally-made boutique items such as bows and necklaces as well as a spot in the back that has "Mommy Fiction" and non-fiction books, candles and handmade soaps. The shop is kid-friendly and has a small playroom in the back. It is owned by Traci Curtis, who lives in Clarendon Hills with her husband and two children. Traci has always enjoyed the thrill of the hunt for a great bargain, whether it is on the sale rack at Neiman’s or a local garage sale. She strives to change the stigma that resale shopping has traditionally carried with the boutique feel of her store. All of the items in the store are thoroughly quality controlled so the need to dig through racks with stained or imperfect items is a non issue. 

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Weekend Spotlight: Frogs, Toads, Beetles and Princesses

It looks like a beautiful weekend ahead. In addition to these highlights below, make sure to check out the Go West Mother's Day Guide (still a few chances to encourage your kids to make a homemade gift!) and of course the Go West Calendar.

Salt Creek Ballet is performing this weekend at the McAninch Arts Center in Glen Ellyn.MEET THE BEETLES: The Elgin Public Museum is hosting its monthly science night on Friday at 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The theme this month is "Beetle Mania." Learn about this insect at stations set up around the museum, conduct experiments and check out demonstrations. The cost is $2 per person.

AMPHIBIANS UNITE!: CYT is performing "A Year With Frog and Toad" this weekend at the Performing Arts Center at Huntley High School. The show description promises to follow the spirit of the original classic stories, focusing on friendship and the attributes that make each of us special. Tickets in advance are $12 for adults, $9 for children; you'll pay $2 more at the door. Performances are Friday at 7 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m. (CYT's DuPage Branch is performing "The Music Man Jr." this weekend at Timothy Christian School in Elmhurst.)

PRINCESS AURORA: The McAninch Arts Center at the College of DuPage is hosting the Salt Creek Ballet this weekend. The troupe will be performing the wedding scenes from "The Sleeping Beauty" (featuring other fairy tale characters like Little Red Riding Hood) and other selections from its repertory. Performances are Saturday at 5 p.m and Sunday at 2 p.m.. Tickets are $30 for adults, $20 for youth.

STARRY NIGHT: The Fox Valley Astronomical Society is hosting one of its "public star parties" on Saturday night. These are usually offered at Peck Farm Park, but this month, the public observing time will get underway at 8 p.m. outside at the Stephen Persinger Recreation Center, across from the farm. This event is free.