'F' is for Free & Frugal Family Fun: Week of March 19

EASTER
Easter Egg Scramble for toddlers and preschoolser, Saturday, March 24 at 9 and 9:30 AM. (Ages 2-5 years), Edinborough Indoor Park. The Easter Bunny will be available for photos so bring your camera and Easter basket.  Come early. Limited to 75 children. Tickets sold on a first come, first serve basis. Advance tickets are not available. Cost is $8 per child which includes the regular daily admission to Adventure Peak and the Play park. Adults are free. Call 952.806.9060 for more information.

Dr. Seuss – 75 Years of Imagination!, Saturday, March 24 from noon to 2 PM, Southdale Mall. There will be a story time, a video screening area, various Dr. Seuss themed crafts, a parade, prizes and goody bags! Be sure and save the date – FREE! and open to all!

Hennepin Overland Railway Historical Society -2501 East 38th St, Minneapolis. Open 1-4 PM, Saturday and Sundays through April. Closed Easter.  Learn about model railroading, bench work, track laying, construction, scenery, wiring, structures, and membership. Cost is $5 per person or $10 per family. Monthly berships are available.

Craft Show Calendar – just found this great website filled with craft events and festivals throughout the United States. Here are the MN shows coming up!

Bachman’s Spring Ideas House, March 22-April 15 (open 7 days a week), 5936 Lyndale Ave. S., Minneapolis

Cost: $5, with 20% benefiting Art in Bloom, Enjoy a self-guided visit to Bachman’s Spring Ideas House, located in our historic family home on Lyndale Avenue. Each season, our designers transform the house into a magical destination of design inspiration. Visit the spring house to see 100s of creative home décor and entertaining ideas that burst with spring energy and renewal. Buy Spring Ideas House tickets now

MALL of AMERICA EVENTS
Photos with the Easter Bunny, Saturday, March 17 – Sunday, April 8, West Market Square. Hippity Hoppity Hooray – the Easter Bunny is on his way!  Children will also receive a special treat from Peeps & Company! Hours: Sunday – Thursday: Noon – 7 p.m.; Friday – Saturday: 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. Please Note: Break times will vary and will be no longer than 15 minutes in length.

Toddler Tuesdays: Lil’Luau, Tuesday, March 20, 10 AM – noon, Rotunda. Grab your grass skirts and leis and hula on down to Toddler Tuesdays®. Learn to hula dance, make a colorful craft and be ready for a tropical time! FREE!

Music Connection’s Yamaha Piano Expo Friday, March 23 – Sunday, March 25, Nordstrom Court. See, hear and play some the best and most innovative pianos in the world from Yamaha.

Food Allergy Awareness Walk Saturday, March 24, 7-9 AM, Macy’s Court. Hey Diddle, Diddle, Help Solve the Food Riddle! Join us at the Annual Food Allergy Awareness Walk beginning at 7 a.m. on Saturday, March 24 at Mall of America®. Register day-of or visit http://www.minnesotafoodallergy.org/ to register online.

McKenna “Take the Challenge” Scavenger Hunt Store, Wednesday, March 21, 5 PM,  American Girl Doll,Your girl will go on a scavenger hunt throughout the store, taking fast and fun challenges to stretch her skills along the way. Plus, she’ll get a free American Girl poster at the end!

Innerstar University Yearbook Craft Saturday, March 24, 2-4 PM, American Girl Doll Store. Your girl can imagine a great first day at Innerstar University! During this fun craft event, she will create and decorate a personalized Innerstar University yearbook and student ID card just for her doll. Plus, she’ll take a fun quiz to discover her doll’s unique sense of style. For girls ages 8 and up.  FREE!

Macy’s Prom Fashion Show Saturday, March 24, 2-4 PM, Macy’s Court. Grab your girlfriends and prep for prom at Macy’s – Mall of America! Get a front row seat at our runway show, enjoy music, sips and sweets, and check out the must-have looks for the big night. Be sure to try out all of the new Spring makeup trends to create your perfect prom face. *Also, enjoy 15% off your dress purchase! To RSVP, please text “PROM16″ to 62297. Make a girl’s prom dreams come true! Donate your gently worn prom or formal dress at our event and it will go to Operation Glass Slipper, a local DonateMyDress.org chapter.

Mayo Clinic Complementary and Alternative Medicine Event Saturday, March 24, 10 AM – 2 PM, Rotunda. Come relax with Mayo Clinic Healthy Living! Mayo Clinic’s Integrative Medicine team will be providing complimentary back and hand massages, aromatherapy samples, and yoga and Tai Chi lessons. Take this opportunity to learn about herbal supplements, relaxation techniques, meditation and acupuncture from Mayo Clinic’s team. Dr. Jack the therapy dog will also be on-site for “pawtographs.”

Kung Fu Panda 2 Saturday, March 24, 10 AM, Free Family Flicks at the Mall of America, first-come, first-served, as seating is limited to the theater capacity. FREE!

EXHIBITS & THEATRE EVENTS
Robinhood,Friday Night Family Movies, Friday, March 23, 6 PM, West Side Perk, FREE!

Real Pirates Exhibition, Science Museum of Minnesota, Saturday, Feb. 18 - Mon, Sept. 3 – Don your pirate hat and climb aboard a recreation of a pirate ship. Learn to tie knots, hoist a pirate flag and explore what life was like on a real pirate ship. See more than 200 artifacts from North America’s only authenticated pirate shipwreck.

NATURE EVENTS
Wood Lake Nature Center,  Minneapolis Parks and Recreation and Three Rivers Park District offer a wide variety of fun activities and events for all ages including preschoolers.  Three Rivers also has Free Family Fun Days.

STORYTIME
Family Storytime at the Hennepin County Libraries (recurring) FREE!

Augsburg Park Library, Family Storytime, Tuesday, March 6 – April 10 at 10:30 AM
Edina Library, Toddler Storytime, Monday, March 5–26, 11 AM; Baby Storytime, Thursday, March 1–29, 11 a.m.
Oxboro Library, Family Storytime, Monday, March 5 – May 21, 10:30 AM
Penn Lake Library, Family Storytime, Tuesday, March 6 – April 3, 10:30 AM
Southdale Library, Baby Storytime, Monday, March 5, April 2, 10:15 AM and Tuesday, March 6 – April 3, 10:15 AM; Family Storytime, Tuesday, March 6 – April 3, 7 PM and Wednesday, March 7 – April 4, 10:30 AM.

Wild Rumpus Tail Time – Mondays at 10:30 a.m. The Wild Rumpus also has a program for book clubs. Register your book club and receive 20% off. (recurring) FREE!

Barnes and Noble Story Time – all FREE events
Mondays – 11 AM, Burnsville, Preschool (recurring)
Mondays – 10 AM, Eagan (recurring)

Wednesdays – 11 AM, Edina, The Caldecott Winners (recurring), 7 PM, Hunger Games Party! Teens+, Join us for a colossal celebration of The Hunger Games, featuring games, activities, trivia contests, goodies, raffles and more. Be sure to wear your best Capitol attire! VIP access at 6:00 pm for NOOK VIP Pass holders. Ask any booksellers for details.

Thursdays – 10 AM, Highland Park, St. Paul, Toddler story time (recurring)
Fridays – 11 AM, Edina, St. Patrick’s Day (recurring)
Fridays – 7 PM, Highland Park, St. Paul, PJRama story time (recurring)

Creative Kidstuff Story Time, Thursdays at 10 AM at all stores  (recurring) FREE!
Tiger Book Club, Tuesday, March 20, 6-7 PM, The Shops at West End Creative Kidstuff, Grades K-2 with parent. Join the group as we read WONTON: A Cat Tale. Meets monthly (April 17, May 15, later dates TBA) Spaces limited. Register online or in-store required. FREE!

Liger Book Club, Wednesday, March 21, 6:30 – 7:30 PM, Grades 3-5, The Shops at West End Creative Kidstuff. Meets monthly (April 18, May 16, later dates TBA). Spaces limited. Register online or in-store required. FREE!

PLAYTIME
Creative Kidstuff Toddler Play Time at the West End St. Louis Park and Wayzata stores (Wednesdays at 10 AM) is hosting a weekly Play Time for toddlers and parents in our inviting playroom stocked full of toys and activities that toddlers will love. We’ll prepare the room and plan the activities, set up and clean up! Your only job is to play. FREE!

Family Gym Time, Tuesday, March 19 and Thursday, March 22 at the Edina Community Center, 10 AM – 12 noon. Gym time is an interactive time with your children. This facility will give you and your pre-schoolers a chance to dance, run, wiggle and play. The Edina Family Center provides the environment and age appropriate equipment, and you provide the snacks and supervision. No registration required. Cost is $3 for First Child, $5 Maximum, Annual pass $80

Visit Alphabet Adventures for more family fun at home and around town. Please share FREE and FRUGAL FAMILY FUN ideas in the comment section or email them to meganmmc@yahoo.com.