Arts & Entertainment
Grab&Go Kids Planner: Look for Aliens or go Ice Skating
Don't let winter keep the kids cooped up! Let us help you find activities for them every week with our Kids Planner feature
It may be winter in Northeast Ohio, but the calendar is still chock full of fun activities – both indoors and out – for children and families. And most of them are free!
Every week, check back with Kent Patch for a roundup of ideas for getting out of the house with the kids. Have suggestions for activities and venues that should be on the list? Just add them in the comments section below.
Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence
Where/When: Planetarium, Smith Hall on East Summit Street. The program will be presented at 8 p.m. Feb. 18, 19, and 25.
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Why Go: Children ages 6 and up and adults can “tour” the lovely Ohio night sky, then learn about ongoing attempts to communicate with whoever may be listening and the huge, difficult, worldwide effort to find the needle of an intelligent message within the haystack of cosmic radio noise.
Special Feature: Kids are invited to bring a drawing of what they think a space creature looks like, or create one at the show, and it will be posted in the Gallery of Aliens outside the Planetarium!
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Pricing: Free, but seating capacity is limited so reservations are recommended. Call 330-672-2246.
Poetry Alive!
Where/When: Dietrich Youth Center, 705 Oakwood St., Ravenna, 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 24.
Why Go: Portage County youth ages 5 to 21 are welcome to attend workshops in the visual, literary and performing arts, a program of .
Pricing: Free, but registration is required. Visit www.artsalive2009.webs.com for details.
SchoolzOut Ice Skating Party
Where/When: Kent State University Ice Arena, 2:30 to 4 p.m. Feb. 25.
Why Go: Youth in kindergarten through eighth grade can celebrate an early release day from Kent City Schools during this Kent Parks & Recreation event that includes skating, pizza and pop.
Pricing: $8, which includes all skating fees and snacks. Registration is required by calling 330-673-8897.
Drop-In Play Center
Where/When: Kent Rotary Early Literacy Center at the Kent Free Library, 312 W. Main St., 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Thursdays and 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Fridays.
Why Go: The library offers its story time room as drop-in play center for parents and their children ages 5 and under. The room is filled with a variety of toys, games and activities that help develop early literacy skills. The interactive room encourages parents and children to play together, with the added bonus of kids learning while playing.
Pricing: Free; just sign in at the Children's Desk.
Superhero Party
Where/When: Meeting Room at the , 312 W. Main St. 11 a.m. Saturday.
Why Go: Children ages 4 and up are invited to celebrate their favorite super hero or create a new one! Come dressed as your favorite masked avenger, listen to stories, play a game and enjoy a snack. A few spots are still open for the program, but registration is required by calling 330-673-4414.
Pricing: Free
Toddler Tales Story Time
Where/When: DuBois Children's Reading Room at the Kent Free Library, 312 W. Main St.,. 10:30 to 11 a.m. Monday.
Why Go: Children ages 2 and 3 , along with a favorite adult, can hear great stories in a group setting.
Pricing: Free, but a Boarding Pass is required. Pick one up at the children’s desk up to 30 minutes beforehand.
Preschool Place
Where/When: DuBois Children's Reading Room at the Kent Free Library, 312 W. Main St., 1:30 to 2 p.m. Monday.
Why Go: Children ages 4 and 5, along with a favorite adult, can listen to stories read aloud in a group setting.
Pricing: Free, but a Boarding Pass is required. Pick one up at the children’s desk up to 30 minutes beforehand.
Music Together
Where/When: Story Time Room at Kent Free Library, 312 W. Main St., 7 p.m. Monday, 10:30 and 11:30 a.m. Tuesday.
Why Go: Children of all ages, accompanied by an adult, are invited for music and songs with Mr. Jim.
Pricing: Free, but space is limited so pick up a Boarding Pass at the Children's Room Desk 30 minutes before each program.
Pajama Time
Where/When: Story Time Room at Kent Free Library, 312 W. Main St., 7 p.m. Tuesday.
Why Go: Children of all ages can wear their pajamas to the library for a half-hour session of stories and songs.
Pricing: Free, but a Boarding Pass is required. Pick one up at the children’s desk up to 30 minutes beforehand.