**Wed 1/13 UPDATE: Good Morning!  Head over to the Kids Fun Facebook page by 2pm today and enter our latest giveaway! 2 sets of foreign language classes for kids…  WOW!**

We first noticed this trend last year and by the looks of it, Daddy/Daughter Date Nights (or Dad/Daughter Dances, or any of several names we’ve seen used) must be wildly popular. Many local parks & recreation departments are hosting these father/daughter bonding evenings. And they look like fun!

Most of the events seem to be scheduled in the few weekends just before and just after Valentine’s Day. All of them include dancing, many include dinner. It’s a great excuse to gather some friends, dress up and pay extra attention to the littlest lady in your life! (And all of these events welcome “other-than-dad” dates like grandpas, uncles and family friends!)

Here’s our list of Kansas City-area father/daughter dances for 2010:

Friday, February 5, 2010

• Daddy/Daughter Valentine Dance, sponsored by Blue Springs Parks & Rec – girls ages 4 & up; registration req’d
• Father/Daughter Enchanted Wonderland Dance, sponsored by Lee’s Summit Parks & Rec – registration req’d
• Daddy Daughter Ball sponsored by Olathe Parks & Recreation – ages 5 to 12, registration req’d
• Daddy/Daughter Date Night at Cinderella’s Ball, sponsored by the city of Shawnee – ages 5 to 13

Saturday, February 6, 2010

• Leawood Daddy/Daughter Date Night, Lodge at Ironwoods Park – registration req’d
• Daddy/Daughter Valentine Dance, sponsored by Blue Springs Parks & Rec – girls ages 4 & up; registration req’d
• Father/Daughter Enchanted Wonderland Dance, sponsored by Lee’s Summit Parks & Rec – registration req’d
• Daddy & Daughter Dance – Providence Community Church, Lenexa – registration req’d

Friday, February 12, 2010

• Father Daughter Valentine’s Ball, Matt Ross Community Center, Overland Park, KS – registration req’d. Call 913/895-6390 to register

Friday, February 19, 2010

• Daddy/Daughter Date Night sponsored by Blue Valley Recreation Commission, south OPKS, registration req’d, K-5 only
• Daddy/Daughter Dance sponsored by Gladstone Parks & Rec – girls from 3 to 15, registration req’d

Saturday, February 20, 2010

• Daddy/Daughter Dance sponsored by Gladstone Parks & Rec – girls from 3 to 15, registration req’d

Saturday, March 27, 2010

• Dad and Daughter Date Night sponsored by Spring Hill Recreation Commission – registration req’d

We also found a few mom/son “date nights” – a great idea (though probably a bit less fancy)!

Friday, April 23, 2010

• Mom/Son Date Night, Blue Valley Recreation Commission – K-5 only

Friday, April 30, 2010

• Mother/Son Spring Soiree sponored by Lee’s Summit Parks & Rec – registration req’d

Contest Winners Announced!!!!

***Congratulations to our 2 Globetrotters Ticket winners!  PAUL HIMMELSTEIN and KELLY MULVIHILL (Eudora, KS) will receive 4 tickets each to the Jan 2 show!***

For over 30 years, the popular Deanna RoseChildren’s Farmstead in south Overland Park has been a free attraction for all visitors. The facility was open to the public and funded entirely by private donations, a nonprofit supporter group and Overland Park tax money.

The Overland Park City Council voted 10 to 2 on Monday to approve a $2 admission fee, to be charged Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, beginning when the Farmstead opens for the season in April. The facility is open from April 1 to November 1 each year. Admission will still be free for children under 2. And families can buy season passes – $35 for Overland Park residents; $50 for non-residents.

Attendance at the Farmstead is close to 500,000 people each year – only a quarter of those visitors are Overland Park residents/taxpayers. The Kansas City Star article about the new fee indicated that the admission fee is largely an attempt to reign in attendance which was hitting 5,000 to 6,000 on Saturdays and was only slightly less on Sundays. (For comparison, the Star recently reported that the 200-acre Kansas City Zoo logged 540,000 visitors in 2009.)

The Farmstead began in 1978 as a small petting zoo/farm. It has grown amazingly over the years and is now a 12-acre park with farm animals, a fishing pond, hay rides, a dairy barn and many interactive activities for kids.

So, moms, dads, grandparents, caregivers, educators – what do you think about the new admission fee at Deanna Rose? Tell us in the comments below!

He sees you when you’re sleeping. He knows when you’re awake. He knows when you’ve been bad or good…well, you know the drill. For those of us using Santa as a bribe/threat/gentle reminder for good behavior this month, we’ve put together a list of local Kansas City appearances the jolly old elf will be making.

I think you’ll be able to find Santa in just about every corner of the Kansas City metro this year. And I’m sure we’ve missed a few – so feel free to leave the spots we’ve missed in the comments below!

Month-long Appearances

• Crown Center – Santa’s Crayola Christmas Land and Santa’s Gingerbread Village – thru December 31

• Town Center Plaza (Leawood, KS) – thru December 23

• Oak Park Mall (Overland Park, KS) – thru December 24

• Zona Rosa (Northland) – thru December 24

• Independence Center (Independence, MO) – thru December 23

• Metro North Mall (Northland) – thru December 24

• Legends at Village West (Kansas City, KS) – thru December 24

• Great Mall of the Great Plains (Olathe, KS) – thru December 24

• Santa’s Wonderland at Bass Pro Shops (Olathe, KS and Independence, MO) – thru December 24

• Cabela’s (Kansas City, KS) – December 12 & 13, December 19 & 20

Shorter Appearances

December 4

• Holiday Lights & Festive Sights, Mission KS – 6:15pm to 8:30pm – tree lighting, Santa, Dino O’Dell live and musical fireworks!
• Santa and Carolers – downtown Lee’s Summit – 6pm to 8pm
• KCMO Parks & Rec presents Santa’s Wonderland – Gillham Park, 6pm to 8pm

December 5

• A Visit from St. Nicholas, Shoal Creek Living History Museum, Kansas City north – a 19th Century Christmas experience! Take a horse drawn sleigh ride and meet St. Nicholas
• JCPRD’s Breakfast with Santa – 9am to 11am – Roeland Park Community Center – breakfast, games, crafts and SANTA!
• Holiday in the Tropics – meet Tropical Santa and Mrs. Claus at the Kansas City Zoo! – 10am to 2pm
• Santa & Me at Paradise Park, Lee’s Summit – 10am to 2pm
• Holiday Readings (by Madeline & Mrs. Claus), Letters to Santa and holiday crafts – Union Station, KCMO – 10am to 12pm
• Fairy Princess at Kansas City Museum, 10am to 4pm
• KCMO Parks & Rec presents Santa’s Wonderland – Penguin Park, 4pm to 6pm
• Santa Train, Belton, Grandview & Kansas City Railroad (Belton, MO) – 10am – Santa, cookies & hot chocolate on the train!
• Father Christmas and Christmases Past with Laura Ingalls Wilder, National Frontier Trails Museum, Independence, MO
• Holiday Fun with Santa, Powell Gardens, Kingsville, MO – 9am to 12pm (breakfast until 10:30am)
• Santa’s Express at the Agricultural Hall of Fame, Bonner Springs, KS
• Christmas on the Farm, Watkins Woolen Mill State Historic Site, Lawson, MO – 2pm to 7pm – caroling, treats, arts & crafts and Father Christmas – FREE!
• Lawrence (KS) Old-Fashioned Christmas Parade – 11am – horse-drawn carriages, wagons & coaches and SANTA!
• Whoville Holidays at City Market (KCMO) – 10am to 2pm – activities, projects, canned food drive, Cindy Lou Who look-a-like contest, photos with the Grinch! (Okay, so this one isn’t exactly Santa…)
• Santa and Carolers – downtown Lee’s Summit – 3pm to 5pm

December 6

• Holiday in the Tropics – meet Tropical Santa and Mrs. Claus at the Kansas City Zoo! – 10am to 2pm
• Santa’s Express at the Agricultural Hall of Fame, Bonner Springs, KS
• KCMO Parks & Rec presents Santa’s Wonderland – Barry Road Park, 4pm to 6pm

December 11

• KCMO Parks & Rec presents Santa’s Wonderland – The Parade, 6pm to 8pm

December 12

• Santa & Me at Paradise Park, Lee’s Summit – 10am to 2pm
• Fairy Princess at Kansas City Museum, 10am to 4pm
• Father Christmas and Lewis & Clark Celebrate Christmas, National Frontier Trails Museum, Independence, MO
• Holiday Fun with Santa, Powell Gardens, Kingsville, MO – 9am to 12pm (breakfast until 10:30am)
• Winter Festival, Whole Foods Market, 119th Street location, OPKS – 11am to 2pm – horse drawn hayrides, kids’ shopping & wrapping and lunch with Santa at 11 or 12 (lunch: $5/person – call 913-663-2951 to register for lunch)
• KCMO Parks & Rec presents Santa’s Wonderland – Swope Park (shelter 2), 4pm to 6pm
• Santa’s Express at the Agricultural Hall of Fame, Bonner Springs, KS
• Whoville Holidays at City Market (KCMO) – 10am to 2pm – activities, projects, canned food drive, Cindy Lou Who look-a-like contest, photos with the Grinch!

December 13

• Santa’s Express at the Agricultural Hall of Fame, Bonner Springs, KS
• KCMO Parks & Rec presents Santa’s Wonderland – Longview Tract, 4pm to 6pm

December 15

• Macy’s Santa National Tour, Summit Fair, Lee’s Summit, MO – 5:30pm to 6:30pm

December 19

• Kansas City Southern Holiday Express, Union Station – 9:30am to 5:30pm – an amazing Santa visit via train! FREE
• Fairy Princess at Kansas City Museum, 10am to 4pm
• Santa & Me at Paradise Park, Lee’s Summit – 10am to 2pm
• Father Christmas, National Frontier Trails Museum, Independence, MO
• Holiday Fun with Santa, Powell Gardens, Kingsville, MO – 9am to 12pm (breakfast until 10:30am)
• Lunch with Santa, Gladstone (MO) Hy-Vee, 7117 N. Prospect, 816-452-6500 – 12pm to 2pm – lunch, picture with Santa, treat bag & craft – $10/must RSVP and pay by 12/15 (was sold out last year!)
• Whoville Holidays at City Market (KCMO) – 10am to 2pm – activities, projects, canned food drive, Cindy Lou Who look-a-like contest, photos with the Grinch!

December 20

• Kansas City Southern Holiday Express, Union Station – 9:30am to 5:30pm – an amazing Santa visit via train! FREE

We  wrapped up the Halloween costume-creation process last night, just in time for today’s classroom parties. I was cutting an old t-shirt to make into a “kung fu headband” at about 10pm last night. But everyone got out the door with costumes in hand this morning. So, it’s all good.

What will you be doing this weekend? There’s a lot to choose from in Kansas City this Halloween!

Here are a few ideas:

Friday, October 30, 2009

• Night of the Living Farm, Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead, Overland Park, KS – 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Presale $7.00 per person; $8.00 at the gate; children under 1 free. Old-fashioned lanterns and carved pumpkins lead you through pathways of graves and ghouls. There will be games, music and dancing, scary and non-scaryhayrides, candy and much more!
• Midland Railway’s Haunted Train, Baldwin City, KS – 6:30pm, 8pm and 9:30pm
• The Doo-Dads LIVE! at the Record Bar, 1020 Westport Rd., KCMO – 6pm to 8pm
• Friday Night Ghost Tours on the Square – Independence (MO) Square – covered wagon ride with ghost tours and historical stops – 7, 8, 9 and 10pm

Saturday, October 31, 2009

• Spooktacular Halloween Party at Culinary Center of Kansas City (Overland Park) – 10am – $65/parent-child team
• Mildale Farm Fall Fest, Edgerton, KS – 10am to 3pm – hayrides, nature walks, pumpkins, cider, fishing and more!
• Kids Club Halloween Event, Whole Foods, 91st & Metcalf, OPKS – 10am to 12pm – costume parade, goodie bags, decorate a cookie, face painting, balloon artistry – FREE!
• Trick or Treat at the City Market (KCMO) – 10am to 2pm
• Big Brown Bats, Anita B. Gorman Conservation Discovery Center (KCMO) – 10am to 3pm – FREE! – learn about bats, make a bat hat, build a bat house!
• Spooktacular Halloween at Zona Rosa (Northland) – 10am to 12pm – join KidZone and Radio Disney for this not-so-scary Halloween party!
• Spook-ZOO-tacular Fun at the Kansas City Zoo! – 10am to 3pm – costumes, snacks, magicians, ghost stories and Radio Disney!
• Halloween at the Legends, KCKS – 12:30pm to 3:30pm – costumes, trick or treating, DJ, bounce house, games, activities and more!
• Night of the Living Farm, Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead, Overland Park, KS – 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Presale $7.00 per person; $8.00 at the gate; children under 1 free. Old-fashioned lanterns and carved pumpkins lead you through pathways of graves and ghouls. There will be games, music and dancing, scary and non-scary hayrides, candy and much more!
• The Great Pumpkin in downtown Overland Park – pumpkin patch, seasonal products, live music, games, crafts -  3pm to 6pm
• Trick or Treat Trail, Matt Ross Community Center, 8101 Marty, Overland Park, KS – 3pm to 6pm – FREE – pumpkin patch, “apple orchard”, candy, crafts, games and more!!
• Culinary Center of Kansas City’s Haunted Kitchen – walk-in event (no reservations) – hands-on treat-making and more – 3pm to 6pm
• Trick or Treating on the Square and Halloween Parade – Independence Square, Independence, MO – 1:30 to 3pm, trick or treating; 3pm, parade
• Justin Roberts LIVE at the Record Bar, Westport Rd., KCMO – 12pm – with special appearance by Mr. Stinky Feet!
• Valley View United Methodist trunk or treat, 8412 W. 95th St. OPKS. 4pm to 5:30pm
• Winnwood Baptist Church trunk or treat, Kansas City North – 6pm to 8pm
• Lee’s Summit United Methodist Church trunk or treat, 114 SE Douglas, Lee’s Summit. 6:30-8:30pm
• Belvidere Heights Baptist Church trunk or treat, 15109 White Avenue, Grandview, MO. 6 to 8pm
• Kansas City Baptist Temple trunk or treat, Raytown, MO – 3pm to 5pm
• Red Bridge Christian Church trunk or treat, south KCMO – 6pm to 8pm
• New Hope Church trunk or treat, Kansas City North – 6pm to 8pm – with games, bounce house and more!

Have a safe and FUN Halloween everyone!!

Confession time. Halloween is NOT my favorite holiday.

I know, I know! Everyone else LOVES Halloween. And I do a decent job of faking it for my kiddos. We decorate. We work hard on costumes. We buy too much candy.

It does seem like the entire city is excited about Halloween though. TONS of stuff going on for the whole family around Kansas City over the next few weeks – all related to the spooky All Hallow’s Eve…(including a bunch of Trunk or Treat options for you!)

So, mark your calendars and get some good use out of those costumes!!

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

• Pumpkins in the Park – Roberts Park, Independence, MO – 4:30pm to 6pm – pumpkin decorating and storytelling – FREE!

Friday, October 23, 2009

• Night of the Living Farm, Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead, Overland Park, KS – 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Presale $7.00 per person; $8.00 at the gate; children under 1 free. Old-fashioned lanterns and carved pumpkins lead you through pathways of graves and ghouls. There will be games, music and dancing, scary and non-scary hayrides, candy and much more!
• Midland Railway’s Haunted Train, Baldwin City, KS – 6:30pm, 8pm and 9:30pm
• Friday Night Ghost Tours on the Square – Independence (MO) Square – covered wagon ride with ghost tours and historical stops – 7, 8, 9 and 10pm
• Church of the Ascension trunk or treat, 127th and Grant, Overland Park, KS 6:30 pm
• Leawood Freaky Fall Fest, Leawood City Park – 5pm to 9pm
• Fairy Tale Forest, Martha Lafite Thompson Nature Sanctuary, Liberty, MO – 5:30pm to 8pm – non-scary Halloween fun for all ages!
• Enchanted Forest, George Owens Nature Park, Independence – 7pm to 9pm – designed for families with kids 3 to 9
• Spirits of the Past, Missouri Town 1855, Lee’s Summit, MO – ghost stories, hayrides and trick-or-treating through 19th century buildings – 6pm to 9pm – ADVANCED RESERVATIONS ONLY!

Saturday, October 24, 2009

• Night of the Living Farm, Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead, Overland Park, KS – 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Presale $7.00 per person; $8.00 at the gate; children under 1 free. Old-fashioned lanterns and carved pumpkins lead you through pathways of graves and ghouls. There will be games, music and dancing, scary and non-scaryhayrides, candy and much more!
• Midland Railway’s Haunted Train, Baldwin City, KS – 6:30pm, 8pm and 9:30pm
• Trail of Treats, Woods Chapel Church, Lee’s Summit, MO – 5 to 6pm
• Trick or Treat OFF the Street, Mahaffie Farmstead, Olathe, KS – 5:30pm to 8:30pm
• Enchanted Forest, George Owens Nature Park, Independence – 7pm to 9pm – designed for families with kids 3 to 9
• Mystic Pumpkin Festival, Englewood Station Business District, Independence (Winner & Sterling Rds.) – begins at 4:30pm – pumpkins, the Doo-Dads, haunted fire truck rides and more!
• Fairy Tale Forest, Martha Lafite Thompson Nature Sanctuary, Liberty, MO – 5:30pm to 8pm – non-scary Halloween fun for all ages!
• Spirits of the Past, Missouri Town 1855, Lee’s Summit, MO – ghost stories, hayrides and trick-or-treating through 19th century buildings – 6pm to 9pm – ADVANCED RESERVATIONS ONLY!
• Boo at the Zoo! Kansas City Zoo – all day – trick or treating and Halloween-themed activities!

Sunday, October 25, 2009

• Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church trunk or treat, 11100 College Blvd, OPKS, 3:30pm to 5pm
• Platte Woods UMC trunk or treat, Platte Woods, MO – 4pm to 6pm
• Visitation School trunk or treat, KCMO – 5pm to 6:30pm
• Boo at the Zoo! Kansas City Zoo – all day – trick or treating and Halloween-themed activities!
• Fairy Tale Forest, Martha Lafite Thompson Nature Sanctuary, Liberty, MO – 5:30pm to 8pm – non-scary Halloween fun for all ages!
• Pre-Halloween Bash hosted by Robichaud Photography and Jonni’s Dance Academy, Eastbrook Plaza, 1839 NW Vivion Rd (Northland) – 1pm to 4pm – FREE trick or treating, games, crafts – professional portraits in Halloween setting for $10

Monday, October 26, 2009

• Ray-Pec Trunk or Treat, Ray-Pec High School, Peculiar, MO – 6pm to 8pm

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

• Pumpkins in the Park – Cler-Mont Park, Independence, MO – 4:30pm to 6pm – pumpkin decorating and storytelling – FREE!
• City of Riverside Trunk or Treat, Riverside (MO) Community Center – 7pm to 8pm

Thursday, October 29, 2009

• Midland Railway’s Haunted Train, Baldwin City, KS – 6:30pm, 8pm and 9:30pm
• Trunk or Treat, Good Shepherd United Methodist Church, 9555 N. Oak, KCMO – 6:30 to 8pm

Friday, October 30, 2009

• Night of the Living Farm, Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead, Overland Park, KS – 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Presale $7.00 per person; $8.00 at the gate; children under 1 free. Old-fashioned lanterns and carved pumpkins lead you through pathways of graves and ghouls. There will be games, music and dancing, scary and non-scaryhayrides, candy and much more!
• Midland Railway’s Haunted Train, Baldwin City, KS – 6:30pm, 8pm and 9:30pm
• The Doo-Dads LIVE! at the Record Bar, 1020 Westport Rd., KCMO – 6pm to 8pm
• Friday Night Ghost Tours on the Square – Independence (MO) Square – covered wagon ride with ghost tours and historical stops – 7, 8, 9 and 10pm

Saturday, October 31, 2009

• Spooktacular Halloween Party at Culinary Center of Kansas City (Overland Park) – 10am – $65/parent-child team
• Mildale Farm Fall Fest, Edgerton, KS – 10am to 3pm – hayrides, nature walks, pumpkins, cider, fishing and more!
• Kids Club Halloween Event, Whole Foods, 91st & Metcalf, OPKS – 10am to 12pm – costume parade, goodie bags, decorate a cookie, face painting, balloon artistry – FREE!
• Spooktacular Halloween at Zona Rosa (Northland) – 10am to 12pm – join KidZone and Radio Disney for this not-so-scary Halloween party!
• Spook-ZOO-tacular Fun at the Kansas City Zoo! – 10am to 3pm – costumes, snacks, magicians, ghost stories and Radio Disney!
• Halloween at the Legends, KCKS – 12:30pm to 3:30pm – costumes, trick or treating, DJ, bounce house, games, activities and more!
• Night of the Living Farm, Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead, Overland Park, KS – 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Presale $7.00 per person; $8.00 at the gate; children under 1 free. Old-fashioned lanterns and carved pumpkins lead you through pathways of graves and ghouls. There will be games, music and dancing, scary and non-scary hayrides, candy and much more!
• The Great Pumpkin in downtown Overland Park – pumpkin patch, seasonal products, live music, games, crafts -  3pm to 6pm
• Trick or Treat Trail, Matt Ross Community Center, 8101 Marty, Overland Park, KS – 3pm to 6pm – FREE – pumpkin patch, “apple orchard”, candy, crafts, games and more!!
• Culinary Center of Kansas City’s Haunted Kitchen – walk-in event (no reservations) – hands-on treat-making and more – 3pm to 6pm
• Trick or Treating on the Square and Halloween Parade – Independence Square, Independence, MO – 1:30 to 3pm, trick or treating; 3pm, parade
• Justin Roberts LIVE at the Record Bar, Westport Rd., KCMO – 12pm – with special appearance by Mr. Stinky Feet!
• Valley View United Methodist trunk or treat, 8412 W. 95th St. OPKS. 4pm to 5:30pm
• Winnwood Baptist Church trunk or treat, Kansas City North – 6pm to 8pm
• Lee’s Summit United Methodist Church trunk or treat, 114 SE Douglas, Lee’s Summit. 6:30-8:30pm
• Belvidere Heights Baptist Church trunk or treat, 15109 White Avenue, Grandview, MO. 6 to 8pm
• Kansas City Baptist Temple trunk or treat, Raytown, MO – 3pm to 5pm
• Red Bridge Christian Church trunk or treat, south KCMO – 6pm to 8pm
• New Hope Church trunk or treat, Kansas City North – 6pm to 8pm – with games, bounce house and more!

And don’t forget to check out our Pumpkin Patch Directory!!