Cheap Family Fun for the Weekend of October 3-5th

Looking for something to do this weekend in the North Florida area?  Here's some ideas!

Amazing Grace Crop Maze provides a seasonal interactive educational agricultural experience for families of Clay County and Northeast Florida - fall family fun on the farm!

Amazing Grace Crop Maze will be open to the public Fridays and Saturdays from October 3 until November 8 and during the week for field trips. Attractions include: crop maze, hay ride, corn crib, pumpkin patch, corn hole, scarecrow throwin', steer head ropin', duck races and more!

Location 2899 Wisteria Farms Rd, Green Cove Springs, FL, 32043
Cost:  $11 for each person age 4 and up.  Discounts for military, first responders, and teachers!

We took the Starke Elementary third graders to this last year and we had a fun time.  The kids really enjoyed the old-fashioned game area and the hayride.

Bonus:  Pack a picnic lunch and go the the huge park right down the road.  You can't miss it!

In addition, Roger's Farm in Alachua County opens this weekend!

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Home Depot offers The Kids Workshops for FREE how-to clinics for children. Projects include the creation of toolboxes, fire trucks and mail organizers, as well as more educational projects, such as a window birdhouse, bughouse or Declaration of Independence frame kit. The workshops teach children do-it-yourself skills and tool safety, while at the same time helping to instill a sense of accomplishment. Additionally, this fun time allows for quality one-on-one time between adults and children. In addition to the newly constructed project kit, each child receives a kid-sized orange apron, similar to The Home Depot associates' aprons, and an achievement pin. Ages 5-12

On October 4th kids will be building an EMS truck.

Location:  All Home Depots (click to preregister)
Cost:  FREE
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________  

The Annual Butterfly Fest is this Saturday at the Florida Museum of Natural History at the University of Florida campus.  A celebration of wings and backyard things! Explore the lives of bats, bees, birds and butterflies at this fall’s ButterflyFest while celebrating wings, wildlife and biodiversity. Enjoy the Butterfly Plant Sale beginning Friday, Oct. 3 through Oct. 5, one of the museum’s largest plant sales of the year with more than 150 species available. Learn about butterfly gardening, native pollinators, conservation, backyard wildlife and more. Experience butterfly releases and come dressed in your favorite pollinator attire for the Pollinator Parade!

Location: 3215 Hull Road Gainesville, FL 32611-2710
Cost:  varies by which activities you participate in; many are free

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 Fire Safety Expo

Gainesville Fire Rescue's 1st Fire Safety Expo will be the kick off event to Fire Prevention Week. On Saturday, October 4th from 10 am to 2 pm there will be live demos and activities for families to participate in including spraying the fire hose, story time, a craft, and tour the Fire Engine.

Location: Gainesville Fire Rescue Station #3, 900 N. Waldo Road, Gainesville FL

Cost:  Free

 _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 And something for families with older kids: 

Gold Head Haunted Hike and Costume Ball

When: Saturday, October 4, 2014,  6:30 pm

Location: Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park, 6239 State Road 21 Keystone Heights

Cost: $5.00 for hike and costume ball.

Prepare to be scared! Use discretion bringing sensitive children. No pets or strollers allowed. Please wear appropriate footwear. The hike is approximately one mile long over an unpaved trail.

After the hike, come and enjoy our costume ball/DJ dance party.

Food and beverages will be available for purchase.

Website: www.floridastateparks.org