Fairs, Festivals, & Fun Events!

Cotton Candy, Contests, Balloons. It’s all wrapped into one in this list of activity specialities! From annual community festivals to Holiday City Parades, this calendar will help you plan and fill your family outings calendar in no time. Be sure and check with your community library, community centers and church organizations to see what fun they have in store too!

FEBRUARY

AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH  

National Civil Rights Museum

(901) 521-9699

www.civilrightsmuseum.org

All month Experience and celebrate African-American culture. The museum offers exhibits, speakers, and special events.

REELFOOT LAKE EAGLE FESTIVAL

Reelfoot Lake State Park

(731) 253-2007

 www.reelfoottourism.com

Festival includes eagle tours, art and photography contests, storytelling, a silent auction, arts & crafts vendors, and photos with Eagle Mascot. Also, a Live Birds of Prey program with John Stokes. Admission. February 3-5, 2012.

My Big Backyard Winter Campfire Party

Friday, February 3, 2012 6-8 p.m.

(901) 636-4131

www.memphisbotanicgarden.com

Bring the family for a Groundhogs' night out!  Roast hot dogs, enjoy a shadow play and marmot crafts, and finish the evening with a sweet s'more and cider. $5 plus Garden admission.Under 2 free. (reservations required) Call 636-4131 to register soon... past events have sold out!

Cirque de CMOM

CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF MEMPHIS

(901) 320-3170

www.cmom.com

Help the museum raise needed funding at the museum’s annual fund raiser, a fun and fabulous party! This year’s theme is Night in Hollywood: A Vanity Affair! Call 901-320-3171 for details. Sat, February 4, 2012.

POLAR BEAR PLUNGE AND CHILI COOK-OFF

Mud Island River Park

(901) 683-1271

www.polarbearplungemem.org

Event includes a dip into the Mississippi, a pizza eating contest, costume contest, and team competitions for Best Salsa, Best Chili, and Showmanship. Admission. Proceeds benefit the Special Olympics of Greater Memphis. February 4, 2012.

LOCOMOTION

The Orpheum Theatre

www.orpheum-memphis.com

Meet Lonnie Collins Motion, a kid who is so full of energy that everyone calls him Locomotion. After experiencing some family tragedies, Locomotion turns to poetry as an outlet of expressing his feelings. Award-winning novelist Jacqueline Woodson makes her book come to life in this heartfelt play about the journey of a boy who goes from tragedy to hope and finds self-discovery through spoken word. 6pm. February 7, 2012.

Memphis Brooks Museum of Art

(901) 544-6200

www.brooksmuseum.org

Creation Station is a monthly drop-in art-making activity for children and their grown-ups. Included with museum admission and always free for children 6 & under.

Sponsored by Thomas & Betts

Coming Unglued

Using Styrofoam blocks and other shapes joined together with tooth picks, kids will create 3D sculptures, buildings, or creatures from their own imaginations.

AbunDANCE: Reflections

Playhouse on the Square

(901) 737-7322

An all-out reason to celebrate—from the percussive male solo Takademe by Robert Battle to the quiet elegance of Dana Tai Soon Burgess’ Venetian Reflections, including Steve Mahon’s Soul Selects Her Society and Mark Godden’s Angels in the Architecture. AbunDance: Reflections is a retrospective showcase of the artistic diversity that has helped shape the company over the past 25 years. February 17-19, 2012.

2012 REGIONS MORGAN KEEGAN CHAMPIONSHIPS

The Racquet Club of Memphis their grown-ups. Included with museum admission and always free for children 6 & under.

Sponsored by Thomas & Betts

The only professional tennis tournament in the world to be held in a private club featuring the world’s top men’s and women’s players. Don’t miss a minute of the action. It is a win-win situation for the players, sponsors, fans and children.

5th ANNUAL FAMILY FUNSPOTS! SUMMER CAMPS & ADVENTURE FAIR

WOLFCHASE GALLERIA- CENTER COURT

(901) 219-2930

www.familyfunspotsmag.com

Jump into action at Family FunSpots! 5th Annual Camps & Adventure Fair! Parents – Talk to representatives from all kinds of different summer camps, birthday party vendors and much more! Don’t miss the opportunity to explore a different summer experience for your child! For more information or if you’d like to become a vendor, contact us at (901) 219-2930 or email us: info@familyfunspotsmag.com. Don’t miss the giveaways, entertainment and fun! See you then! Plenty of fun activities for the kids too! Saturday, February 18, 2012

SOUP SUNDAY

Youth Villages

(901) 251-5000

www.youthvillages.org

Memphis Brooks Museum of Art

(901) 544-6200

www.brooksmuseum.org

SAT, FEB 25, 2012 | 10am to 1pm

Armed and Dangerous Family Day

Free Admission

Come experience the art of the arsenal in this dynamic family day. Visitors of all ages will enjoy hands-on art-making inspired by the works of art in the exhibition “Armed and Dangerous,” led by art education students from the University of Memphis. Also, don’t miss a drum and dance performance by Out Loud Artistry; demonstrations of Japanese and Medieval European arts and culture by the Society of Creative Anachronisms; and a demonstration of forging by an artist from the National Ornamental Metal Museum (weather-permitting).

Sid the Science Kid Discovery Day

Saturday, February 25, 2012

Lichterman Nature Center 5992

Quince Road, Memphis

Free family event featuring Sid the Science Kid, from the WKNO children’s television show, and lots of activities to explore science and nature. Presented by BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee and Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital. Tickets are free but limited and must be reserved in advance. For ticket reservations,

www.wkno.org/events