Summer Movies Free/Cheap!

Free/Cheap Movies All Summer Long!

Here’s a list of free or inexpensive movies in Prince William County! 

Pillar Church and the Town of Dumfries will be hosting an outdoor viewing of the Muppets Movie on June 9th at 7pm outside town hall.  Popcorn is free and soda/water/hotdogs/chips will be for sale.  

Manassas Stadium 14 and Imax (11380 Bulloch Drive) will participate in the “Summer Movie Express” program where select G or PG Rated Movies show for just $1 on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings at 10:00am.  A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Will Rogers Institute. Traveling this summer? Find another participating Regal Cinemas/United Artist Theatres by clicking HERE 

June 19/20- Journey 2 & Kit Kittredge: American Girl

June 26/27- Dolphin Tale & Happy Feet Two

July 3/4- Legend of the Guardians: Owls of Ga’Hoole & Yogi Bear

July 10/11- Cats & Dogs: Revenge of Kitty Galore & Hugo

July 17/18- Adventures of Tin Tin & Puss In Boots

July 24/25- Kung Fu Panda 2 & Rango

July 31/August 1- Rio & Spy Kids: All the Time

August 7/8- Chimpanzee & Hoodwinked Too

August 14/15- Arthur Christmas & The Smurs

**Movies are subject to change at the theater’s discretion**

Chick Fil A Virginia Gateway in Gainesville (5015 Wellington Road) will be hosting a free movie night on June 9th.  The movie is outdoors and begins at 8:45pm.  Film selection is “A Turtle’s Tale”.  The rain date is June 16th, same time.  Bring your own blanket/chair (and if your kids are like mine, bring some bug spray!)

Chick Fil A Bristow will host several free movie nights this summer.  The planned schedule is as follows, but be sure to check their facebook for any updates.

June 1- Disney’s The Lion King

June 8- The Tooth Fairy

June 15- Alvin & The Chipmunks Chipwrecked

June 22- Up

June 29- The Princess Diaries

July 6- Fly Away Home

July 13- Disney’s Cow Belle’s

July 20- Veggie Tales

July 27- Firehouse Dog

August 3- Nickelodeon’s Barnyard

August 10- Everyone’s Hero

August 17- The Karate Kid

August 24- The Berenstain Bears

August 31- Herbie Fully Loaded 

The ever popular University Mall Theater (across from GMU in Fairfax) runs $2 Tuesday all year long! On Tuesdays, all shows, small popcorn, and small sodas are $2 each.  This may not be the “frilliest” or biggest theater you ever go to, but people, the price is right! In the summer, plan to go early to get your tickets as daycares and camps will show up and buy them out. 


Madison Crescent in Gainesville (Route 15 and Route 29) will be hosting Free Outdoor Movies through June:
May 25- Kung Fu Panda 2
June 1- Cars 2
June 8- The Muppets
June 15- The Smurfs
June 22- Hugo


Manassas will have free summer movies starting at 8pm!
All movies are free, but the location changes!
6/29- Costello Park Happy Feet 2
7/13- Signal Hill Park Dolphin Tale
7/27- Signal Hill Park Cars 2
8/17 Costello Park The Lorax

--Watch for more! Comcast usually does at least one or two outdoor movies at the Government Center and as soon as I hear I'll let you know!  Having your own movie event? I'm happy to share! Email me to get on this list for free! As with all PwcMoms.com lists, this information is current as of the date of publication.  I am not in charge of the weather and only list cancellations that I am informed of, so please use common sense if the weather is not cooperating and plan accordingly, either by calling or making alternate plans for your evening.  

Week In Preview: May 21 to May 27, 2012

Hello readers!  For those of you that are new, each week I try to provide a list of what's coming up in Prince William County that's kid friendly or family friendly so you know where to go!  Here's my list of highlights for this week, but remember that you can always find a full calendar right here on the website!  Also, be sure to check out our event map and contests while you're here!

Reminder: This is a long holiday weekend for most people, so plan for extra traffic and extra people.  Also, be sure to call ahead to your favorite locations to make sure they're open BEFORE you head out the door! 

Monday, May 21
On Mondays, Locust Shade Park offers reduced fees in their batting cage.  This fantastic park also features put put, fishing, an amphitheater and more!
In the evening, it's Bedtime Story Hour at Chinn Park Library.  These evening events can be a great way to finish your day. 7pm

Tuesday, May 22
It's Toddler Tuesdays at the Manassas Museum. This program is designed for younger preschool children and is $10. Pre-registration is encouraged but not required, but space is limited.
Got Teens? Manassas Park Community Center features a great lineup of classes.  Everything from Whiffleball to Etiquette is offered, and the drop-in fee is only $2.

Wednesday, May 23
At 10:30am head over to Virginia Gateway (Gainesville peeps- this one's for you!) to catch the Great Zucchini!  It's the return of "Little Tots" and it's a lot of fun for free!
From 11am-7pm, it's also Free Slurpee Day! Why not grab a cold one and meet a friend at a local park? We've got reviews of several great Prince William County Parks!

Thursday, May 24
Up for a field trip? On Tuesdays and Thursdays the Riverside Dinner Theatre in Fredericksburg offers discount seating to their current children's production.  Right now it's "Seussical: The Musical" and you can bring your own lunch and enjoy the show for $12.  Nut products are forbidden, so no PB&J.
From 6-7pm history enthusiasts can enjoy a "Fireside Chat" at Ben Lomond Historic site.  This is a free program, but donations are accepted.  Light refreshments will be served.

Friday, May 25
Strawberry season will be over before you know it, so make sure you get out to pick your own berries before the season ends! Yankee Farms in Nokesville is on our list, but we also recommend Westmoreland Berry Farm and have a list of Pick Your Own Produce Farms near Prince William County.
Northern Virginia Player's "Mulan Junior" starts tonight in Burke.  Check out this great homeschool cast as they tell the story of a young girl who finds herself and saves her country.

Saturday, May 26
Wegmans' Gainesville Virginia location will host two "Sugar and Spice" kids in the kitchen classes on Saturday.  Be sure to register in advance at the customer service desk.
From 10:30-1, your Pokemon enthusiast can meet with others at the Dale City Neighborhood Library for play and trading.

Sunday, May 27
If you're not going out of town for the long weekend, why not enjoy one of the local pools? If it's still too chilly for your outdoors, Chinn Park's indoor pool offers a special rate for family swim beginning at noon.
Like your water a little colder?  How about ice skating at Prince William Ice Arena? Open skate is at 12 and 2.

Reminder- Have you signed up for Summer Camp and Vacation Bible School yet? These options fill up quickly, so be sure to check out our Prince William County Summer Camp Guide and our Prince William County Vacation Bible School Listing!  If you need to add a camp or VBS, it's not too late! Just shoot me an email and I'll be happy to add your event!

Reading Freebies for Summer!

Teachers want your kids to keep reading during the summer.  For some of you, that's probably easy, but for others, it might be like pulling teeth.  If only there were some free summer reading incentive programs for your children!


Never fear, there are! Bribery is an awesome tool in the parenting tool kit ;) 


We're not here to judge.


Here's a great list of ways to keep your child reading throughout the summer!  


1. Prince William County Library's Summer Quest Program is always a great option.  TEENS CAN GET VOLUNTEER HOURS, but there are reading programs for both younger, elementary, and middle school children to earn rewards for reading books.  For older children, be careful not to let them get discouraged as this program is by number of books, not time spent reading or that you read in a given day, so if your child picks up War and Peace, they're not going to make it to 20.  In the past, rewards have included swim passes for local water parks like Splashdown in Manassas or Water Works in Woodbridge, Kids in Motion and House of Bounce passes, free slurpees or ice cream, and more. Online registration for this program begins JUNE 1, 2012 and if it's like last year, you cannot sign up in person anymore, so be sure to register before you go.  All Prince William County Libraries, both Regional like Chinn Park Regional Library and Bull Run Regional Library to neighborhood libraries like Dale City and Independent Hill participate.  

2. Books A Million will have a Kickoff for their Summer Reading Program on Saturday, May 19th.  The Prince William County Books A Million is located inside Potomac Mills Mall.  This event includes a free cookie with drink purchase, and a free insulated lunch bag when you participate in the Books A Million Summer Reading Program. 

3. TD Bank (which used to be Commerce Bank.  Sorry, TD, but I miss Commerce desperately).  has several locations in our area including TD Bank Woodbridge near the Kohls, TD Bank Dumfries on Route 1, and TD Bank Manassas on Liberia Avenue.  All branches, however, will be participating in their $10 for 10 Books program.  Children fill out a form with the 10 books that they've read, and TD Bank will deposit $10 into a new or existing youth savings account. Cash Money.  Awesome.  The TD website also includes several ideas for making reading more fun.

4. Barnes and Noble will allow children to earn a free book for every 8 books they read and record in their reading journal.  Their website also includes parent and educator kits to make reading more fun. To pick up your free book, you'll need to head to Fair Lakes or Seven Corners, but there are some great field trips (or malls, mommy needs love, too!) at each stop. 

5. Pizza Hut's Book It Summer Program isn't quite the same as school-year Book-It, but sounds fun anyway.  Students who were in grades K-6 during this school year can go to the Book It Summer Reading Challenge Sweeptstakes and enter to win a Diary of a Wimpy Kid Summer Prize Pack when they've completed reading 5 books.  Other parents suggest continuing Book It at home by continuing to provide a personal pan pizza to your child when they've read the requisite number of books.  The prize pack includes books 1-5, 2 DVD movies, a tote, plush, and $20 Visa Gift Card.  50 winners will be selected from among the online entries. 

6. Sylvan Learning Centers Summer Book Adventure Program allows children to track their pages and then take quizzes (very similar to how Accelerated Reader or "AR" works) and collect points.  Then they have the chance to win prize incentives using their points.  Sylvan is also sponsoring a "Page Per Day Sweepstakes" where parents who pledge to read a page per day with their child can enter to win $500 for back to school expenses. 

7. iVillage and PBS have teamed up to give you a Summer Reading Challenge.  Sign up now on their website and you'll get weekly reminders and chances for your reader to win $1,000 or other great prizes all summer long. The 6-week program begins June 18th. 

8.  Need more Word Girl than iVillage is giving you?  Scholastic (yes, the people who bring you those send-home book orders and twice a year Book Fairs where your kid wants to buy wiggle-eye pencils) has a program called the Scholastic Summer Challenge.  Kids read books, log hours, and win prizes.  Being Scholastic, they've also got sections for parents and educators, too! 

9. Chuck-E-Cheese Reading Rewards will give your child 10 tokens for reading for 2 weeks.  Just put a check mark on each day that your child reads (keep it on the fridge or a bulletin board) and bring it with you to the CEC nearest you.  PS- Chuck also offers bribes for things like tooth brushing, keeping your room clean, being a good patient/citizen, using table manners, and just about any other common childhood ailment :) 

10.  Don't forget your child's school!  Many schools require a certain amount of reading and might even ask for a project or journal to be kept.  If your school has a summer reading requirement, make sure you know before September!  Also, some schools (depending on the principal/program) offer a special treat for children who read during the summer like a pencil or certificate, so know your school's programs and prepare accordingly!

Am I missing something? Email me and I'll add it to our list! 

PWC-HCHY Expo 2012

Saturday, May 19, 2012 will be the PWC-HCHY Expo at the Pfitzner Staduim Complex in Woodbridge, VA.  FREE admission includes a petting zoo, jungle climb, mascot dance off, performances and more.  Food will be available for sale.  This great kid-friendly event will be from 10am-4pm and will promote healthy families and healthy youth in Prince William County. If your child received their "passport" from school, this is one of the first events on there!

Guest Post: Animal Shelter Children's Farm

Thanks to Sharon for the info on the Prince William County Animal Shelter Children's Farm!

My kids are crazy about animals.  We are always looking for something to do that involves our four-legged friends.  Today we ventured out to the Prince William County Animal Shelter Children’s Farm.  If you are interested in taking your wee ones to this free exhibit, here are a few things you should know before you go.

First of all, it’s free.  Pretty cool, right?  The only requisite is that you call beforehand to make sure there is someone available to let you in.  Even though the website says they are only open on Thursdays, they will accommodate visitors provided they are adequately staffed.  The staff also recommends that you use discretion if it is raining.  This is a real barnyard with real dirt and your children can get really dirty if it is wet.  Heads up.

We arrived to the Animal Shelter parking lot and walked through the main entrance into the shelter building.  We asked at the main desk if we could be escorted back to the Children’s Farm and we were soon paired with a kind, young employee who walked us to the back and unlocked the gates.  As soon as the gates were unlocked, the fun began.  Two very friendly, very zealous potbelly pigs greeted us immediately: one named Chunk and the other Tootsie. We took a chance and brought a big bag of carrots in case they would let us feed the animals, and as it turns out, visitors are welcome to feed carrots and apples.  And, WOW, were we popular!  My children were able to feed carrots to the pigs, the white pony, all of the goats and the cow in the yard.  The animals were clean and well-groomed.  They appeared happy and well taken care of.

Our visit concluded when all of the carrots were eaten (a few may have been consumed by the humans in our group…) and the children had laughed themselves silly at all of the animal antics in the barnyard.  We stayed for about 20 minutes.

Bottom Line: Call ahead, dress for mud, bring treats, and have fun.

Address and Phone Number:

14807 Bristow Road

Manassas, VA 20112

Phone: 703-792-6465

Hours of Operation:

Tuesday: 11:00am-5:00pm

Wednesday: 11:00am-5:00pm

Thursday: 11:00am-5:00pm

Friday: 11:00am-5:00pm

Saturday: 10:00am-4:00pm

Sunday: 12:00pm-4:00pm

Monday: Closed

__________________________________________

Sharon Kieffer Steele is a homeschooling mother of 5 who resides in Prince William County.  She is a freelance writer who occasionally blogs atsharonksteele.blogspot.com

  

Kona Ice Truck at Frank Orthodontics

Dr. Harold Frank of Frank Orthodontics, located at 4335 Ridgewood Center Drive Woodbridge, Virginia will be having the Kona Ice Truck out to visit on June 12, 2012 from 2:30 to 4:30! Bring out your kids for this FREE event! 


If you'd like to learn more about Frank Orthodontics Prince William County location, you can visit their website here. 

Henderson Husky 5K and Fun Run 2012

Date

Start: Sunday, June 3, 2012 @ 8:00 AM

Additional Date Information

8:00 - 1 Mile

8:30 - 5K

Address

                                                                                 Henderson Elementary School

3799 Waterway Dr Dumfries, VA

Fees

$20.00 for 5K and $15.00 for 1 Mile (Click to register)

Registration Closing Date

Thursday, May 31, 2012 @ 9:00 PM PST

Brief Description

The 4th Annual Henderson Husky 5K is proud to announce new course for the 5K and 1 Mile, and will be chip timed using the ChronoTrack Bib Tag Timing System.

Early Packet Pickup & Onsite Registration is available on Friday, June 1 at the Henderson Elementary Library from 3:45 PM to 7:00 PM.

Additional Information

Race Day Packet Pickup and Registration is available 6:30 AM to 7:45 AM in the Henderson Elementary Gymnasium.

T-shirt size is not guaranteed after May 18th. Family Discount is not available after May 18th.

Parking is available throughout the residential community.

Awards will be given to the following Age Groups: 5 and Under, 6-8, 9-11, 12-14, 15-18, 19-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59 & 60 and Over.