Shakespeare in the Park

Directed by Aaron Spjute, with an all-female cast Woodward Shakespeare Festival's 

Taming of the Shrew at the Festival Stage at Woodward Park. 

Come out Thursdays through Saturdays at 8pm from July 24 to August 16.

 Admission is FREE, although donations are encouraged. Entry to the park is $5 per car. Use the Fort Washington Entrance of of Friant.

 It's hot, and it's free, but don't let it fool you. This actors' company is amazing and you will entertained every moment. This is their tenth anniversary. 

Additionally, if you have little ones, all the babysitter has to do is hang out while they sleep. Best date night ever. 

Join the event on Facebook.

 

Great Fresno Fair Deal

Fotech is a local photo imaging business. This year the are offering their annual"Shoot the Fair" contest.
The deal is a non-refundable $15 entry fee that covers an 11x14 foam mounted print of your entry, 2 all day tickets to the Big Fresno Fair, and a free parking pass.

 This contest requires that you take your favorite or best digital photo from your day taken at the fair (this year) and submit it to Fotech at the Fine Arts and Photography building or you can email them when you get home at fotech@fotech,comcast.biz.net by the deadline October 10th.
Judges independent of Fotech with vote on the pictures.

First place prizes with $75 cash, a $75 gift certificate to Fotech, and a first place ribbon. Second prizes win $50 in cash. Third prizes earn $25.

Even if you no you're not really interested in the competition, you can always take a picture of the kids or the family to get mounted and you still got a great deal!!! You can pick up your submission at Fotech after the fair closes.

To participate, pick up an entry form on Fresno and Shaw in the Mission Village shopping center by September 27th.

You can fill out the form and pay in person.

A couple years ago, Sammy and I decided we weren't going to the fair so we didn't participate and we're kicking ourselves later because we went anyway and missed out on this great deal. Just make sure you have plenty of room on your camera's file for photos and a charged battery!

Call (559) 222-9393 for more information.

Hashtags for Giveaways

Ok so I may be way behind on all this, but I discovered a couple days ago that if you search #giveaways on facebook you get a feed with all the latest posts that have that hashtag! Yes. That's how hashtags work you may say, but this means you have an easy resource to enter blog giveaways! Try some other hashtags and go win some stuff!

Independence Day Events

Happy Independence Day!

How are you celebrating?

Here's some events happening in the Central Valley. It's hot, but we're use to it! 

FRIDAY

ABC30 & Island Water Park Fireworks Extravaganza3 nights of Fireworks
Friday, July 4 - Sunday, July 6
Water Park opens at 10am each day
Fireworks at dusk


Livingston July Festival and Fireworks Show
July 4th, 5th and 6th at about 9:30 p.m.
Memorial Park and Livingston High School

Bass Lake Fireworks
6pm
Ducey's on the Lake
Marie Wilson's Band
39255 Marina View Drive
Bass Lake (this one is always very crowded)
Free

Clovis Freedom Fest
Buchanan High School
Gate open at 5pm
Fireworks at Dusk
1560 N Minnewawa
$5


Grizzlies Fireworks
Postgame fireworks
Chukchansi Park
1800 Tulare St
Fresno
$8-$40

Exeter Celebrates
Exeter City Park
7am-3pm pancake breakfast
2 mile walk, 10k run, horseshoe tournament
Chesnut and E streets
Fireworks at Dusk

Fowler Celebrates
Fowler High School
5pm
Randy Deaver and the Crossfire performance
Food and Fun
Fireworks at Dusk
701 E Main st.
Free

Madera Fireworks
Madera Municipal Golf Course
23200 Avenue 17
Free

Freedom Celebration Visalia
Giant Chevrolet-Cadillac Mineral King Bowl
6pm
Mineral King Avenue and Giddings Street
Visalia
Free

Reedley Spectacular
Reedley Sports Park
6pm
2453 E Dinuba Ave
$5 Adults
$3 Children, Seniors
Military Free


Sanger Independence Day Spectacular
Sanger High School Athletic Field
6:30pm
1045 Bethel

Fireworks Celebration Lemoore
Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino
Outdoor Pavilion
5pm
Carnival and Fireworks
17225 Jersey Ave
Lemoore

Atwater 4th of July
Castle Air Base
6pm
Concert and fireworks show. Gates close to the public at 9:15 p.m.
$5 per car, no walk-ins

Hanford "Proud to be an American"
Earl F. Johnson Park - Brown Street and Grangeville Blvd.
12pm
Kids activities, car show, food booths and beer, live music, swimming at Hanford High School.
Fireworks show at Hanford High School Neighbor Bowl at 9 p.m.

Tulare's 49th Annual Fireworks Spectacular
Tulare County Fairgrounds
6 pm
$5 per person, 6 and under is free
No ice chests or alcohol beverages are allowed.
 

SATURDAY

ABC30 & Island Water Park Fireworks Extravaganza3 nights of Fireworks
Friday, July 4 - Sunday, July 6
Water Park opens at 10am each day
Fireworks at dusk
 

Mariposa County Park Ampitheater
4:30-6:30pm Hot Dog Dinner
Mariposa Symphony Orchestra
4998 County Park Rd.
$17 Adults
$7 Children 12 and younger

Shaver Lake Fireworks
7-8pm Boat Parade and Fireworks
Free

Fireworks Festival
Chowchilla-Madera Fairgrounds
5-10pm
1000 S Third St.
Chowchilla
Free

Livingston July Festival and Fireworks Show
July 4th, 5th and 6th at about 9:30 p.m.
Memorial Park and Livingston High School

SUNDAY

Patriotic Musical: "God Bless the USA"
July 6th at 10:30 a.m.
Prosperity Avenue Baptist Church, 1781 E. Prosperity Ave., Tulare
DVD presentation and 20 voice choir featuring combined singers from Prosperity Avenue Baptist Church and VCM-Bible & Breakfast and directed by Joe and Norma Ivey in two performances

ABC30 & Island Water Park Fireworks Extravaganza3 nights of Fireworks
Friday, July 4 - Sunday, July 6
Water Park opens at 10am each day
Fireworks at dusk

Livingston July Festival and Fireworks Show
July 4th, 5th and 6th at about 9:30 p.m.
Memorial Park and Livingston High School
Have a safe fourth of July!

Fresno Art-Hop

Galactic Pineapple by Sammy G Art

Have you heard of Art-Hop? It's an excellent date night.

Every first Thursday from 5pm-8pm of the month museums, galleries, shops and locals in downtown Fresno and in the Tower District invite the community in to mingle with artists enjoy their art work (and refreshments) gratis.

My husband Sammy G Art is presenting his No. 6 Solo Show at Gallery 25 this Thursday July 3, 2014. We'd love to see you. It's a free family friendly event.

Every third Thursday of the month, participating venues outside of downtown have their own Art-Hop. You can find more information at The Fresno Art Council and online at the Facebook Fresno Art-Hop Guide.

Cheers,

~Sarah

Free Water Play Areas for Kids in Fresno

Todd Beamer Park

Fresno has three free water play parks in Fresno that are mainly for ages 2-8 years old. One is well known and located in Roeding Park, the another is Todd Beamer Park located on Maple north of Perrin near Copper Hills Elementary and has two jungle gym areas, one for ages 2-5 the other 5-12. Third is located near the Fig Garden Loop. I have also known parents to take their little ones to play in the fountain that squirts up from the ground in front of the main entrance of Fashion Fair mall. So, if you were looking for a way for your kiddos to cool off, without your sprinklers or a pool, check these places out.

Roeding Park: 890 W. Belmont, Fresno CA 93728

Todd Beamer: 1890 E Plymouth Way, Fresno, CA 93720

Figarden Loop: 4265 N Figarden Dr, Fresno, CA 93722

Dickey Playground: 50 N Calaveras St, Fresno, CA, 93721

Main Entrance to Fashion Fair. 

Fresno Library Summer Reading Program and ZappCon!

Come out and craft with ZappCon on Saturday at the Gillis Branch Library and participate in the book discussion and trivia regarding Divergent a novel by Veronica Roth. I'll be there, running crafts for ZappCon, including T-shirts, buttons, and bookmarks made by YOU (if you're a teen or volunteering). This event is free and teens that come will have a chance to win a badge to ZappCon happening this October 18-19th at the Fresno Convention Center! Learn more about this family friendly geek and gaming convention visit zappcon.com. For a full geeky tween, teen and young adult reading list check out this link.

J&K Farley Farms U-Pick

"We are opening June 21, 2014 with our fantastic U-PICK peaches! We will be open every day 7am-7pm until this variety is sold out. All fruit on our farm is 65cents/lb. Boxes and wagons are provided free of charge. Our picnic area is ready for your family and the petting zoo is getting more animals every day!"

From J&K Farley Farms facebook page.

J&K Farley Farms posted this the other day on facebook and I think it's really exciting! I have apricot jam still that I canned from last year and I've gobbled up all the jams my friend Heather made me from her u-pick adventures last year. I've always said one of the best reasons to live in the valley is all the ripe produce. So get out to those farms and farmers markets. Yes it's hot, but peaches from Save Mart or Costco will never compare to those right of the tree! Last year they were open until mid September.                

J&K Farley Farms
512 N 7th Ave
Kingsburg, California  

www.farleyfarms.com

For directions click HERE.