Take one part outdoor concert and mix it with equal parts family picnic, kiddie carnival and neighborhood get-together and you’ve got next weekend’s St. John’s Block Party.
The fifth annual Block Party features 12 bands, including co-headliners Soul Asylum and BoDeans, food (wild rice brats, BBQ, desserts and lots more) and fun in a festive outdoor setting.
"It’s (the Block Party) become such a wonderful community event," says Margaret Kelsey, parish administrator at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church.
The Block Party offers an extensive lineup of kid- and family-oriented activities including an Oxbow Park animal show, Magician Star Michaelina, Jason the Juggler as well as face painting, carnival games, crafts and more from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. All kids activities take place inside the church’s air conditioned gym. There is no additional fee for the kids activities.
"The kids activities are very popular, a good draw to the event," says Patti Price, volunteer children’s activities coordinator. Kelsey adds, "we see families with their kids in the early afternoon and then the parents return in the evening without the kids to enjoy the bands — they really make a day of it."
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Advance tickets are $15 through Monday. Advance tickets are available at the church. Tickets are $25 at the gate the day of the party. Children younger than 10 are free with paid adult. No carry-in food or beverage containers, lawn chairs, cameras, skateboards, rollerblades, bicycles or pets. Food and beverages are available for purchase.
Are you game?
If you’re up for the challenge, check out the Library’s Young Adult Game Night. Open to anyone age 12 to 18, the Game Night features Wii sports, Guitar Hero 3, Dance Dance Revolution, as well as prizes and snacks. No fee, no registration.
Other upcoming Young Adult activities include a bead class (work with the staff of Nordic Gypsy to make a bracelet) on July 15.
If you go
What: Young Adult Game Night
Where: Rochester Public Library, 101 Second St. S.E.
When: 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday and July 28.
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Phone: 285-8006
On the Web: www.rochesterpubliclibrary.org
Four times the fun
You’ll get four times the family-friendly fun as the Rochester Honkers take to the field for four home games this week. Monday is Kid’s Buck Day where kids 12 and younger get in for $1. On "Always Low Price Tuesdays," get one free kid ticket with each paying adult.
General admission tickets are $5 for adults 13 and older, $4 for kids 4 through 12, children 3 and younger get in free. Tickets can be purchased online or at the park.
If you go
What: Honkers baseball
Where: Mayo Field, 403 E. Center St.
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When: Monday (1:05 p.m.); Tuesday (7:05 p.m.); July 11 (7:05 p.m.); July 12 (7:05 p.m.)
Phone: 289-1170
On the Web: www.rochesterhonkers.com
S.N.A.P. to it
The S.N.A.P. Bus rolls into a neighborhood near you this summer bringing fun activities (books, crafts and games) to local parks and schools. The S.N.A.P. Bus is sponsored by Child Care Resource & Referral and Summer Of Service and is free for all youth. Kids under 5 must be accompanied by a caregiver.
The bus runs various Thursdays through August. Upcoming dates include July 10, 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Northern Heights Park; July 17, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Harriet Bishop elementary school; July 24, 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Longfellow elementary school. Call or go online for additional dates, times and locations. Call if the weather looks questionable.
If you go
What: S.N.A.P. Bus
Phone: 287-2020 ext. 259
On the Web: www.rochesterfamilies.com/page/page/1049874.htm
Strap ’em in safely
Make sure your little ones are strapped in safely at the upcoming Car Seat Inspection Clinic. Inspections take 20 to 30 minutes. Appointments are required. The inspections take place at the fire station, though they are performed by the Mayo Clinic Trauma Center, not by members of the Fire Department.
Other inspections include 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Aug. 12 and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 22.
If you go
What: Car Seat Inspection Clinics
Where: Rochester Fire Station No. 4, 1875 41st St. N.W.
When: 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. July 16.
Phone: To register, call 255-5066.
The Family Calendar is a weekly calendar of family-oriented events compiled by Lindy Lange, editor of www.ROCHESTERfamilies.com. Do you know of an upcoming event? E-mail details to lifestyle@postbulletin.com by Tuesday each week.
