5 Things for Families: Dragons, roller skating, free fun at Lewis Ginter, living history, and baseball

Happy birthday, Uncle Sam! You’ve had a a busy/emotional couple of weeks, so let’s go out and do it up right!

July 1, 2015; 9:00 AM • by Valerie Catrow

Photo by: Kuba Bożanowski

1. How to Train Your Dragon 2

Movieland’s Summer Kids Series 2015 started last week, offering another great (and free!) option for parents and caregivers to keep the kiddos entertained. This week’s feature: the Academy Award-nominated How to Train Your Dragon 2.

• Wednesday, July 1st • 10:00 AM (but get there early)
• Movieland, 1301 N. Boulevard
• Free

2. $3 Thursday at Skate-A-Way

Is there anything more fun than doing the Chicken Dance while on roller skates? No. No there is not. Time to let your kids in on this weird and wonderful tradition.

• Thursdays all summer long • 6:30 – 8:30 PM
• Skate-A-Way, 3330 Speeks Drive
• $3 admission and rentals

3. CarMax Free Fourth of July at Lewis Ginter

Non-members typically have to fork over 11 smackaroos to spend time at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, but the folks over at CarMax will foot the bill for everyone this Fourth of July. Check out live music, a parade–all kinds of good stuff. And be sure to stop by the Butterflies LIVE! exhibit while you’re there.

• Saturday, July 4th • 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
• Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, 1800 Lakeside Avenue
• Free

4. Independence Day Reenactments

I just asked my son what we’re celebrating on the Fourth of July when we hang out with our friends and watch fireworks. His response:

“Um…shrug…hot dogs?”

If you’re a failure like me, take the kids over to Church Hill on Saturday for a living history lesson featuring a reading of the Declaration of Independence.

• Saturday, July 4th • 11:00 AM
• St. John’s Church, 2401 E. Broad Street
• $5 suggested donation

5. Independence Day Celebration and Superblast Extravaganza with the Flying Squirrels

I’m not 100 percent sure what a “Superblast Extravaganza” is, but it sounds real American. Tickets to this Fourth of July favorite were still available as of this writing, but don’t dilly-dally; the website promises it will sell out.

• Saturday, July 4th • gate opens at 4:30 PM, game starts at 6:05 PM, fireworks start whenever the game ends
• The Diamond, 3001 N. Boulevard
• $8-$12

July 1, 2015 9:00 AM · in East End Daily, Fan of the Fan, and more 0