Halloween Time at Disneyland is about to get a whole lot better. From Sept. 17 to Oct. 31, park-goers will be able to celebrate the spooky season at the brand new Oogie Boogie Bash – A Disney Halloween Party at Disney California Adventure park.
The special ticket party will have plenty of new experiences, including a fresh stage show, villains and of course, Oogie Boogie. Keep scrolling to get all the details for this special seasonal event!
Halloween Time at the Disneyland Resort runs from Sept. 6 through Oct. 31, 2019, but the Oogie Boogie Bash only takes place on certain days. You can join the party on:
So what can you expect at the brand new soiree? Check out the new “World of Color” show called “Villainous!” which highlights the villainous side of your favorite Disney characters. Get your groove on at the DescenDance party in the Backlot of Hollywood Land, enjoy the “Fridafully Fun Parade” that features The Headless Horseman of Sleepy Hollow, Mickey’s Trick or Treat show and lots of character encounters.
As for buying tickets, Annual Passholders, Disney Vacation Club members and Disney Visa cardholders can start purchasing tickets on Apr. 23, with tickets being released to the general public on Apr. 30. There is a limit of eight tickets per person, per date and no ticket required for kids two years old and under.
You’ll need to have a special ticket for this event, which begins at 6 p.m. PT and take advantage of the opportunity to enjoy the park for three hours before the event starts on Tuesday and Thursday nights or four hours on Sunday nights, plus Oct. 29 and Oct. 31.
Head to the Disneyland Resort website to purchase tickets online, buy at the Disneyland Resort main gate or call 714-781-4636. This popular event will sell out so definitely do not wait until the day of to grab your tickets.
For a kid with an egg allergy, celebrating a holiday like Easter can be like navigating a minefield of potential outbreak triggers. One company, eggnots, is putting families’ minds at ease with their ceramic eggs that be dyed and decorated just like the real thing (minus the anxiety associated with the real thing). Find out just how fun and easy decorating eggs can be for any kid—food allergy or not—with eggnots.
Good news, parents. You don’t have to read the ingredients label on this product. We can tell you that it contains zero eggs, though to the naked eye, the ceramic eggs may be deceiving! None of the top 8 allergens (dairy, egg, wheat (gluten), soy, peanuts, tree nuts, fish and shellfish) are contained in eggnots. And what’s more, eggnots are not produced in a facility that processes any of these allergens. To families who deal with food allergies, this deserves a happy dance.
Shop from the eggnots.com website. Choose from ceramic eggs that come in anywhere from a six-pack to 12 cartons of 18 eggs each (if you’re decorating for a crowd). Find the size that works best for your family, with add-on accessories like egg hangers, non-toxic dye, dye cups and a chick and nest kit available at an extra cost.
If you opt to buy the non-toxic dye, expect vibrant colors. Bonus: it’s easy-to-use (simply mix ½ cup of water and 1 tsp. of vinegar to the dye packet). Since the eggnots are hollow you will need to weigh them down in the cup—we used a spoon. Leave them there for anywhere from 5 minutes on, take them out and let them dry for 20-30 minutes. Afterwards, decorate with markers, stickers, feathers or any other fun craft supplies.
Other fun facts about eggnots:
While they’re realistic and look like a real egg, they’re also durable enough for toddlers to handle.
They’re non-perishable and eco-friendly—they’ll last forever!
They’re vegan-friendly!
And, no need to put them in the fridge, though they are so realistic you may mistake them for real eggs.
Those colorful, plastic Easter eggs just wouldn’t be the same without the tasty treats tucked inside, but with so many options to choose from, what’s the best Easter candy to stock up on for that egg hunt?
CandyStore.com surveyed over 23,000 customers to rank Easter candy and here are the top selections.
When it comes to jelly beans, they’re not all created equal. Bypass the generics in favor of fancy and check out the top Jelly Bean flavors in every state for more ideas.
There is no candy that screams Easter more than a chocolate bunny. With a variety of styles and sizes available, every Easter basket should have at least one of these.
These Easter candy-coated chocolates don’t have the same storied history as chocolate bunnies, but they were by far the most popular choice for those surveyed by CandyStore.com.
The Kinder Egg, the most awesome combination of candy and toy, is one of the biggest global selling confections in the world. Unfortunately for American kids (and grown-ups) it has never been available in the US . . . until now. Prep your piggy banks and get ready for the most legendary candy you will ever devour/ play with.
Despite selling three and a half billion Kinder eggs every year, the candy has sadly been unavailable in the US because of a decades old law that bans confections containing non-edible items. Kinder Surprise, the most iconic version of the egg, which has been around since 1974, is a hollow chocolate egg with a plastic capsule inside. The plastic capsule contains a small toy, usually one that needs to be built out of several smaller parts, and you never know what toy you’ll get with so many thousands of options.
The newest version of the Kinder egg, Kinder Joy, features two separately sealed halves of a plastic egg packaged together. One half contains milk-creme and cocoa flavoring with wafer bites that can be eaten with the included spoon. The other sealed half contains the toy. This clear separation is what finally allows American kids (small and big) to discover the joy that is a Kinder Egg.
As Fortune reports, the eggs will launch in grocery stores and candy shops across the country in the beginning of 2018. You won’t have to wait much longer to discover the surprise inside!
Are you excited about Kinder Eggs? Share your thoughts in the comments.
The cow says, “Moo.” The horse says, “Neigh.” And your little animal lover shouts, “Hooray!” when you plan a trip to the farm this summer. We’ve pieced together the best our area has to offer when it comes to family farms. From animal encounters and berry picking, to farms that add carnival faves alongside their wide open spaces, each one guarantees enough fresh air plus play time to tucker out your mini farm hand by the end of the day.
Fox Hollow Farm
Gather your little farm hand and head to the Eastside for some snuggly good times with the animals at Fox Hollow Farm in Issaquah. Fox Hollow wins when it comes to creating a welcoming farm experience for kiddos at any age, and they pride themselves on the authentic interactions your little animals can have with theirs. This summer spend some face time with the two baby lambs born last week, or the squeal-worthy piggies who arrived this spring. Sure, they’re teenagers by now, but your little animal lover will find them just as endearing. They can also hang with bunnies, goats, chicks, ducks and a mini cow with her sweet baby in tow in the animal petting area during your day here. But Fox Hollow is more than just a Doolittleian paradise. They’ve also got a corn bin and hay loft for jumping and general childlike abandon, motorized ride-along farm vehicles and creek-side pony rides for your partner-in-training. (Psst… the creek is also tube-able. Bring one if you’ve got one to cool off on a hot summer day). And the large inflatables have a new addition to brag about this year—a huge log waterslide . Based on the sunshine we’ve been having this year, it’s sure to get tons of use!
Pull off your visit to Fox Hollow like a pro with these helpful hints. Parking ($10) gets busy (especially on weekends), and once it’s sold out, entrance to the farm is closed. Guarantee your spot by registering online first. Then print your parking ticket, or flash the digital equivalent on your phone, at the gate. If you want to keep up with special events and offers at Fox Hollow, be sure to sign up for their new-this-season newsletter. It’s hot off the presses and comes with a $4 off each kiddo coupon each month. You can also save on the green by buying a season pass ($75) for your cutie when you get to the farm. Not only do you save on admission, but you also save on parking with this one!
Fox Hollow Farm
12123 Issaquah Hobart Rd. S.E.
Issaquah Wa 98027
425-996-0575
Online: foxhollowfamilyfarm.com
Open: Thurs.-Sun.; Starting June 22, Wed.-Sun.
Times: 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Cost: $15/Babes (ages 1 & 2); $20/Kids (2-14); Adults & 12 mos. and under Free
photo: Allison Sutcliffe
Have you visited any of these farms? Which one is your family’s favorite? Tell us in the Comments below.
If you’ve got a little writer in your house, try this easy way to transform an ordinary ballpoint into an old-fashioned quill pen worthy of scribing a masterpiece. Read on for the simple tutorial.
You will need:
A ballpoint pen (like a simple Bic pen)
A feather
Scissors
Tape
Step 1. Deconstruct.
Take your ballpoint pen apart. You shouldn’t need scissors or a knife for most pens. You need the little ballpoint pen part hiding inside that tube of plastic. (Caution: pen can leak ink so put away your white table linens).
You should choose a feather with a decent sized quill (this is the hollow part of the feather also known as the calamus) because this is where you’ll be stashing the “guts” of the ballpoint pen.
Step 2: Quill It Work?
Make a small snip at the end of the quill. Slide the thin ballpoint pen inside. If the fit is not tight enough, use a little scotch tape to secure it by wrapping the quill to bind the pen inside. It’s also a good idea to wrap the part of the pen that sticks out with scotch tape, to help avoid leaks onto tiny fingers.
Step 3: Pen It! Voila! You’ve got a modern vintage writing implement! Now write a haiku or poem. Or your memoirs.
Tip: If your feather isn’t big enough to hold the pen, or if you prefer to use a pencil, you can just lash it to the pen using tape or yarn.
Exploring your go-to trail this summer is a must, but your walking companions need more than the promise of packed snacks to keep their little legs moving. Make the adventure bigger and better by giving them a chance to scout the route for 35 things hanging out along the way. From exploring a hollow log to saying hello to fellow hikers, we’ve come up with a list that’s sure to entertain everyone along for the ride. Read on, print out and get moving!
1. Find moss growing on a rock.
2. Look for a bird’s nest.
3. Throw pebbles in the water to make a big splash.
If heading to the “Happiest Place on Earth” isn’t in the cards this summer, then try something closer to home! Happy Hollow Park and Zoo in San Jose has been a local favorite for kids of all ages for over five decades. With rides, animals and tons of special events to offer, Happy Hollow is a great choice for families looking for a day of fun (with a little animal education thrown in too). Read on for some of our favorite features of this fun park!
Hop Aboard the Keep-Around Carousel As soon as you walk though the gates at Happy Hollow, you are greeted by one of the Bay Area’s best carousels. The Keep-Around Carousel features endangered species and whimsical characters like dragons that are sure to delight riders of all ages. (Insider tip: save the carousel for the end of the day as a bribe to get your wee-ones out of the park when you are ready to head home!)
Feed Some Goats at the Zoo on the Hill To the left of the carousel as you enter the park is the Zoo on the Hill. Here you can get up-close-and-personal with all sorts of animals. Bring some quarters to feed the greedy goats or head to the barn to check out the miniature horse and dwarf donkey. Just past the barn are two of the zoo’s newest additions – Xander and Xena, the anteaters. Kids will delight to know that their tongues can grow as much as two feet long! Check out the daily schedule to see when they offer animal meet-n-greets to learn some amazing animal facts.
Climb to the Sky at the Redwood Lookout Looking to tire out the kids? Then head to the Redwood Lookout where even the littlest guests can find some rocks to climb. This area has two structures – a big climbing area perfect for the 4+ crew and a smaller climber for the little ones. This area is pretty well shaded which is great for keeping cool while you watch your little monkeys on the rope bridge. (Insider tip: have your little one sport a bright-colored shirt for easy spotting on this big climbing structure!)
Up, Down and Around and Around! In the back of the park past the Redwood Lookout you will find the big draw for most kids—the rides! These are not the big rides that you will find at Great America—they are geared more towards kids under 10. Thrill seekers will enjoy the park’s roller coaster, The Pacific Fruit Express, or the ever-favorite, Frog Hopper. Danny the Dragon will take you on a leisurely ride through familiar storybook tales. Or hop aboard the Mini Putt-Putts and Granny Bugs for some round-and-round good fun!
Zip on Over to the Zoo in the Hollow Jaguars, meerkats, lemurs and more make their home at the Zoo in the Hollow. Kids love walking inside the aviary to watch all sorts of feathered friends fly overhead. Parrots are often the focus of the animal meet-n-greets that take place throughout the day. Little explorers will enjoy digging around in the Dino Dig to find bones and other treasures!
Extra! Extra! Happy Hollow has all sorts of special programs for kids (and adults, too!). Every afternoon crowds delight in the miniature antics at the puppet theatre. Summer camps, fall camps and school break camps are great way to explore the park when school is out and get inside information on the animals there.
On October 24 the park will host the Howl-o-ween Family Sleepover. Bring your tent to camp in the Crooked House Meadow or sleep indoors in the Learning LODGE. Check the special events page for information on these events and more!
Good to Know Admission into Happy Hollow gets you unlimited rides as well as access to all of the animals. Weekdays are less crowded than weekends. Parking is $10 in the two lots—on Senter Road by Kelley Park (lots of shady spots here) and a bigger lot on Story Road (no shade but you get to enter the park via a very cool bridge). Pick up a daily schedule when you enter as there are times when the rides will close for an hour for maintenance.
Happy Hollow Park and Zoo
1300 Senter Road
San Jose, Ca Online: hhpz.org Hours: through the end of August, the hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. After that, the weekday hours vary so check the schedule before heading over. Cost: $12.95 for guests aged 2-69; guests 70+ are $9.95 and under 2 are free
What attraction do you kids run to when you go to Happy Hollow? Let us know in the comments below!
—Kate Loweth
All photos credit the author unless otherwise noted
Here in Hotlanta, we go hog wild for barbecue. And nothing pleases little piggies more than the winning combo of pulled pork, texas toast, mac-and-cheese and banana pudding. In honor of May as National Barbecue Month, here are the hottest spots to pig out around town.
Swallow at the Hollow
Worth the drive to Roswell, this barbecue joint will set the bar high for their understanding of quality ‘cue. In a cabin with indoor picnic tables, a canoe over the door, and vinyl records on the wall, they also offer up a killer pork sandwich.
Insider Info: There’s no doubt that the barbecue being served-up at Swallow at the Hollow is good; just know before you go that they serve wet ribs, not dry, and their mustard-based sauce hails from the Carolinas as opposed to Memphis.
Community Q
Picking a favorite barbecue joint is a lot like taking medicine: the drug has to work, first, but you really decide which one you’re going to stick with based on the side effect profile. Community Q is good medicine. The barbecue is reliable and delicious, but you’ll make this your favorite spot because of the sides (mac and cheese in particular).
Insider Info: The owner, David Roberts, was part of the Same and Dave’s BBQ team in Marietta before heading in-town to open up Community Q.
Fox Bros. Barbecue
Take the kiddos to Fox Bros. for a taste of Texas style brisket, but don’t distress! They also offer up a killer pulled pork sandwich, fried pickles and a crowd-pleasing mac-and-cheese.
Insider Info: Sneak in some veggies by ordering the fried okra, which is fried fresh instead of frozen. They’ll think you’ve just discovered a new genre of french fry!
Dave Poe’s
In Marietta, follow your nose to Dave Poe’s for some of Atlanta’s best pulled pork and killer sides. Located inconspicuously in a strip mall, this spot won’t evoke the cabin-y, folksy feeling of some of the other BBQ options in Atlanta, but your kids won’t care because they’ll be so busy chowing down on the amazing mac-and-cheese.
Insider Info: Be sure to save room for dessert as their banana pudding is slap-your-mama good.
Jim n Nicks
While this is a chain, it did originate in Birmingham where they’re rumored to know a thing or two about barbecue. Don’t expect any weird pork “fusion” dishes. They know what they know and that is some darn good barbecue. They also have a full kids menu that includes both a spare ribs plate, a barbecue slider plate, and other options for those who’ve yet to develop a palate for pork.
Insider Info: Moms, if you’re looking for something a bit more ladylike, the Pig in the Garden salad (pork or chicken) is killer.
Date Night
Date nights used to mean an expensive restaurant, heels, and maybe even a blow-out. But now that we’ve got kids, date nights are usually at the mercy of schedules, showering availability, and are driven by whether or not someone remembered to make a reservation (unlikely). Why not head out for a low-key barbecue date night at one of the following places? Leave your little piggies at home though, because these spots may be esteemed for their pork, but they don’t cater to the small set.
Heirloom Market BBQ: This spot just ITP is being lauded as Atlanta’s best BBQ, and the marriage of Korean spices with Georgia pork know-how is turning all who try it into believers. Heirloom Market BBQ, 2243 Akers Mill Rd. Atlanta, Georgia 30339
Daddy D’z: Head here to check out the scene and don’t forget to try the “que wraps,” which are what happens when a corn dog marries a barbecue sandwich and then starts a family. Daddy D’z BBQ Joynt,264 Memorial Drive, Atlanta, Georgia, 30312
Ms. Betty’s House of Ribs: Chicken or ribs, baked beans or mac and cheese: whatever you please, you’ll find it in this double-wide parked next to a smoke shed. This is a trip to make for the real BBQ aficionados out there, who know that any pork worth its sauce is smoked outside, and can be smelled well before you walk into the restaurant, dining trailer, what have you. 1281 Bouldercrest Drive, Atlanta, Georgia 404-243-8484
Where do you like to go for “que” in Atlanta? Share with us in the comments section below!
After the kids have had their fill of miniature milk chocolate lambs and hollow bittersweet bunnies, pile the collective haul into a double boiler. It all gets melted down and then paired with Spring’s best strawberries for a dipping extravaganza. With strawberry season coinciding perfectly with Easter, the timing couldn’t be better.
Kids just may delight in watching the magic that happens when heat is applied to chocolate. It’s important to be sure the berries are thoroughly dried after washing so the chocolate adheres. Opt for organic berries if possible since conventional ones are some of the biggest offenders on the pesticide front.
If you don’t have leftover bunnies, or don’t celebrate Easter, it’s worth scaring up some chocolate for this anyway. Chocolate dipped berries may be passé in gourmet circles, but in kid circles, they still rank pretty high. And as far as desserts go, it’s not all bad – a few nutrients, not a ton of calories, and antioxidants if you are opting for dark chocolate.
Method: 1. Cover two cookie sheets with parchment paper.
2. Fill the bottom pot of a double boiler one-third full of water. Bring to a gentle boil. Break chocolate up into 1-inch pieces and put in the top of a double boiler. Melt the chocolate, stirring from time-to-time until smooth.
3. Remove the double boiler from the heat. Hold each strawberry by its stem, dip it into the chocolate, and set it on the baking sheet to cool. You may need to reheat the chocolate if it starts hardens up.
4. Allow the chocolate-covered strawberries to cool completely.
5. These are best eaten within a day of when they are made. Store in the refrigerator
Katie Sullivan Morford is a mom, food writer and registered dietitian. You can find her family-friendly recipes and kitchen wisdom at Mom’s Kitchen Handbook.
