Great Dates: July 2012

July 4

July 4th Celebration - 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Parade beginning at South Norfolk Baptist Church, 1101 Chesapeake Ave. and finishing at Lakeside Park, 1441 Bainbridge Blvd. Opening ceremony starts at approximately 11:30 a.m., followed by the band My Two Cents. There will be children's events, games, petting zoo and paddle boat rides. Food is available on-site for purchase, Bring a lawn chair. Lakeside Park, 1441 Bainbridge Blvd. (C) 543-0828

July 4th Celebration - 6 p.m.- 10 p.m. Enjoy fun and fireworks. Mount Trashmore Park, 310 Edwin Dr. (VB) 385-2990 or www.vbgov.com/specialevents

Fourth of July Great American Picnic and Fireworks - 5 p.m.- 10 p.m. Feast on traditional All American Fare, including hot dogs, hamburgers, barbecue, seafood, buttered corn on the cob, juicy watermelon and lemonade. Bands and fireworks at 9:30 p.m. Town Point Park, Waterside Drive (N) 441-2345 or www.festevents.org

Spirit of America - 6 p.m., 7 p.m., 5 p.m. 9 p.m. -Enjoy the most amazing 4th of July laser displays in the Virginia Living Museum's nice cool theater with this new laser show! This show mixes great patriotic music with America-inspired rock & roll and songs that have defined American music. Recommended for ages 6 and up. VLM members $3, non-members $6. Virginia Living Museum, J. Clyde Morris Blvd. (NN) 595-9135 or www.thevlm.org

July 5

Concert By the Lake - 7 p.m.- 10 p.m. and continues Thursdays through August. Bring a blanket and the children as you enjoy live music, activities, and food and beverages on the front lawn. The Mariners' Museum 100 Museum Dr. (NN) 591-7771 or www.MarinersMuseum.org.

Toddler Trek Thursdays - 11 a.m. Toddlers enjoy song and animals. Virginia Aquarium, 717 General Booth Blvd. (VB) 385-FISH or www.virginiaaquarium.com

Tickle My Ears: Modern & Contemporary Galleries -10:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. This unique storytelling program for pre-kindergarten children with stories and songs to help them appreciate art. Reservations are not necessary for individuals, but please call 333-6239 for group reservations. Chrysler Museum of Art, 245 W Olney Rd. (N) 664-6200 or www.chrysler.org

Bay Lab Open House - 3 p.m.- 5 p.m. and continues Thursdays until Aug. 30. Join an Aquarium educator and volunteer at the Aquarium's Bay Lab located at First Landing State Park as they show guests animals in the touch tanks and habitats provide a craft for the younger audiences, and offer a beach-finds activity. By Lab at First Landing State Park, Shore Drive (VB) 385-FISH or www.VirginiaAquarium.com.

July 6

Robert RedHawk Eldridge Storytelling - 11 a.m. Part of Storytelling in the Park every Friday until August. A Native American decent and an enrolled member of the Sappony Tribe located in Halifax Co. Stories are an important part of Native Culture teaching lessons to our children in fun ways. Bluebird Gap Farm, Pine Chapel Road, (H) 727-8311 or www.hampton.gov/parks

July 7

Music on Monarch Way - 5 p.m.- 7 p.m. and continues Saturdays until Aug. 11. Enjoy local bands on the lawn. Ted Constant Convocation Center, Hampton Boulevard, (N) 683-4504 or www.oduvillage.com

Saturday Summer Street Fest - 6 p.m.- 11 p.m. and continues Saturdays until Sept. 1. Enjoy a fun-filled street fair including live musical entertainment and activities for the young and old. Queensway, Downtown Hampton (H) 727-0900 or www.vasc.org

July 8

Big Bands On The Bay - 7 p.m. and every Sunday in the summer. Guests are invited down to the Gazebo at Ocean View Beach Park for live Big Band music and dancing. Ocean View Park, Ocean View Avenue (N) 441-2345 or www.festevents.org

Groovin' By the Bay - 6 p.m. Spend your Sunday evenings this summer listening to live music under the stars at Buckroe Beach. Free. Buckroe Beach, 100 1st Street South (H) 727-8311 or www.hampton.gov/parks/

July 9

Happy Feet 2 - 2 p.m. Enjoy this fun free movie. Bayside & Special Services Library, 936 Independence Blvd., 385-2680

July 10

Positive Discipline - 6 p.m. and continues July 17. This class teaches parents positive ways to discipline their children. C. Waldo Scott Center for H.O.P.E., 3100 Wickham Ave., (NN) 244-9223 or www.scottcenter.org

July 11

Story and a Walk - 10 a.m. Enjoy a story and a nature walk with a Park Ranger. Continues every second Wednesday of the month. Newport News Park, 13560 Jefferson Ave. (NN) 888-3333 or www.nnparks.com

Fountain Field Days - 11 a.m.- 3 p.m. and continues Wednesdays until Aug. 29. Enjoy an interactive fountain, children's activities, exercise programs, lawn games, theatre, and dance. Town Point Park, Waterside Drive (N) 441-2345 or www.festevents.org

Wednesday Weekly Story Time - 10:30 a.m. Enjoy stories, a craft and cookies. Barnes and Noble Bookstore, 12170 Jefferson Ave. (NN) 249-2488

July 12

Just Mom and Me - 11 a.m.-noon. Families with children ages 2 to 8 can escape to a world of educational entertainment together and enjoy a variety of enticing activities. Patrick Henry Mall Center Court. Jefferson Avenue, (NN) 249-4305

July 13

Fridays at the Fountain - 5:30 p.m.- 8:30 p.m. Free concerts by the region's best bands. Bring your friends, lawn chairs, blankets and dancing shoes. Food and beverages for sale. Fountain Plaza, Town Center Drive (NN) 282-2822 or www.citycenteratoysterpoint.com

July 14

JB Rattles Reptile Show - 2 p.m.- 3 p.m. Snakes and lizards and turtles, on display. Registration starts June 24. Call to register. All ages. Princess Anne Area Library, 1444 Nimmo Pkwy. (VB) 385-2610

July 15

Norfolk Tides Baseball - 6:15 p.m. Enjoy a summer time past time. Harbor Park, 150 Park Ave.

(N) 622-2222 or www.milb.com

July 16

PJ Lullaby Concert - 7 p.m.- 8 p.m. Wear your pjs and join us as Martha Giles performs songs from her book. For ages 6-11. Meyera E. Oberndorf Central Library, 4100 Virginia Beach Blvd., (VB) 385-0150

July 17

Sheila Arnold Storyteller: Giants, Grand Adventures and Great Ideas - 2 p.m. Enjoy this accomplished storyteller. Grissom Library, 366 DeShazor Dr. (NN) 369-3190

July 18

Understanding the Angry Child: For Parents of School-aged Children - 6:30 p.m.- 8:30 p.m. Learn to understand the causes of anger and how to anticipate and defuse angry outbursts, helping children manage their own emotions. Free and register online at www.chkd.org/classes. CHKD Health Center at Oakbrook, 500 Discovery Dr. (C) www.chkd.org

July 19

Separation and Divorce: Helping Children Cope - 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Learn to create supportive partnerships, balance home and work, and create a positive environment for your children, along with ways to help children deal with separation and divorce. Free and register online at www.chkd.org/classes. CHKD Health and Surgery Center at Princess Anne, 2021 Concert Dr. (VB) www.chkd.org

Baby Care 101 - 7 p.m.- 9 p.m. Class for expectant and newborn parents who want to learn about providing a safe and secure environment for their infant. Free and register online at www.chkd.org/classes. Pediatric Associates of Williamsburg, 119 Bulifants Blvd. (W) 564-7337 press option 5 then 3 with questions.

July 20

Summer Concert Series: Peter Fletcher - 1 p.m. Acclaimed classical guitarist Peter Fletcher will perform a free concert. Main Street Library, 110 Main St. (NN) 591-4858

July 21

Blast off with Hedgie - 2 p.m. Jan Brett's children's book character, Hedgie will visit. Janaf Branch Library, Janaf Shopping Center, (N) 441-5660

July 22

Caribbean Steel - 12 p.m.- 4 p.m. Enjoy Caribbean Steel Drum entertainment. 31st Park Virginia Beach Boardwalk (VB) 425-3111 or www.beachstreetusa.com

July 23

Muppets Movie - 10:30 a.m. Enjoy this fun family movie. Kempsville Area Library, 832 Kempsville Rd. (VB) 385-2627

July 24

Resolving Conflicts in a Positive Way - 6 p.m. and continues July 31. This class provides parents and caregivers with skills to resolve conflict within the family system in a positive manner. C. Waldo Scott Center for H.O.P.E., 3100 Wickham Ave., (NN) 244-9223 or www.scottcenter.org

July 25

Parenting on the Same Page: For Parenting Partners - 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Raising children can be challenging, especially when the parent's discipline styles are different. Learn where your parenting philosophy and mind set come from and how to support a unified front when parenting your child. Free and register online at www.chkd.org/classes. CHKD Health and Surgery Center at Oyster Point, 11783 Rock Landing Dr. (NN)July 26

Breastfeeding Advice - 5:30 p.m. -6:30 p.m. This free class discusses proper positioning; latch on tips, management of engorgement and sore nipples, as well as returning to work and maternal medications. Pediatric Associates of Williamsburg, 119 Bulifants Blvd. (W) 564-7337 ext. 5 then 3. Register online at www.chkd.org/classes.

Family Fun at Bay Lab - 4:30 p.m.-6 p.m. Join an Aquarium Educator for a fun family adventure. Use a seine and dip net to see what's living in the surf and take a beach walk to discover shells and other artifacts. This program is appropriate for ages 5 and up. Children must be accompanied by a paying adult. Fee: $4 members, $5 non-members (additional parking fee charged at park entrance). Bay Lab in First Landing State Park, Shore Drive (VB) 385-0258

July 27

Rob Westcott - 11 a.m. Rob weaves amazing comedy magic with puppetry and audience participation into a story to inspire children to dream big. Bluebird Gap Farm, Pine Chapel Road, (H) 727-8311 or www.hampton.gov/parksJuly 28

Space Jam - 8:30 p.m. Enjoy this movie outside under the stars. Town Point Park, Waterside Drive (N) 441-2345 or www.festevents.org

July 29

Kendl and Company Magic Show - 7:30 p.m. Enjoy a free magic show. 24th Street Park, Virginia Beach Oceanfront (VB) 425-3111 or www.beachstreetusa.com

July 30

Pawsitive Reading with Therapy Dogs - 4 p.m.- 5 p.m. Practice your reading skills by sharing stories with therapy dogs. Bring your own book or choose one from our selection. Call to register. Grade K-5. Windsor Woods Area Library, 3612 South Plaza Trail (VB) 385-2630

July 31

End of Summer Ice Cream Social - 1 p.m. Join us for an ice cream social and receive your Summer Reading Program certificate of participation. Larchmont Branch Library, 6525 Hampton Blvd. (N) 441-5335Early August

Dinosaurs - 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. and continues until Sept. 3. Robotic dinosaurs come alive at the with an all-new exciting exhibit of land, sea and air creatures from Kokoro, the inventor of robotic dinosaurs. Plus, a rare live albino alligator on loan from the Alligator Farm Zoological Park in St. Augustine, Fla. The Virginia Living Museum, J. Clyde Morris Blvd. (NN) 595-9135 or www.thevlm.org

Dolphin Watching Trips - times vary and continues until September. Observe bottlenose dolphins and their dynamic behaviors during a 90-minute ocean excursion. $21 per adult (12 years and over); $15 per child (4 to11 years old). Virginia Aquarium, 717 General Booth Blvd. (VB) 385-FISH or www.virginiaaquarium.com

The 17th Century: Gateway to the Modern World - 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and continues until Aug. 15. This exhibition explores developments that set in motion the transition from "old" world of the Mediterranean - the center of European commerce and diplomacy since ancient times - to a new globally connected world. Admission is $15.50 for adults and $7.25 for ages 6-12. Children under 6 are free. Museum hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. Jamestown Settlement, State Route 31, James City County, adjacent to Historic Jamestowne. (888) 593-4682 or 253-4838, or www.historyisfun.org.

Source: Tidewater Parent Magazine