Local Memorial Day Events 2010

Memorial Day is a day to of remembrance for those who have died serving  our country.  This day is dedicated to honoring our veterans who fought so hard for the freedoms we enjoy today. Additionally, Memorial Day is about celebrating all people - our ancestors and forefathers  who have created the world we live in today and who have paved the long road we walk down into the future.

There’s no doubt about it- if you are near Washington D.C you will be at the National Memorial Day Parade. I had to honor of attending more than 10 years ago and the memory will remain with me for many years to come. If you aren’t near Washington, here is a list of Family-Friendly Memorial Day events happening around the country:

Dallas, TX (or nearby) Events

   Dallas Zoo: Giants of the Savanna Grand Opening

Friday - May 28, 9:00am-10:00pm

  Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Gardens: Peter Rabbit's Flower Village

Daily from Sunday, May 30th until Saturday, July 31st

Admission: $10 for adults, $9 for seniors, $7 for children and free for members and children under two.

  The 44th Annual National Polka Festival held Downtown Ennis - Fri., May 28, Sat., May 29, Sun., May 30

Admission:  $7 on Friday, $12 on Saturday, $10 on Sunday, kids 12 and under get in free.

Chicago, IL Events

  Memorial Day Parade: May 29, 2010. Parade starts at noon at runs from State St. from Lake St. to Van Buren State St. & Lake St.

Admission: Free

Kalamazoo, MI Events

  Memorial Day Parade: May 31, 2010. Parade starts at 10am intersection of Church Street and Michigan Avenue. It will march east on Michigan Ave to Riverview, north to Gull Road, east to ceremonial site at Riverside Cemetery. Come downtown to have a morning of family fun, and to celebrate the memory of those that have passed before us.

Admission: Free

San Francisco, CA Events

  San Francisco Carnival at 2010 Mission Street, San Francisco

On Sunday (10am – 6pm) San Francisco's Mission district becomes one big colorful parade this weekend for Carnival 2010. Billed as one of the biggest multi-cultural parades in the nation, this Sunday's parade and party will feature floats, song, dance and the best people watching anywhere. Stick around for the street party after the parade and enjoy some good local eats and beats.

Admission: Free

  Bay Area Kids Fest: May 29, 2010 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. at Mt Diablo High School

Admission: $5 per person with a can of food for the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano or $6 without a canned food donation. Children under 24 months and Seniors 65+ are FREE!

San Diego, CA Events

  Annual Valley Center Western Days at the Valley Center Community Center

Dates: May 28 thru May 30

Parade, Festival, Rodeo, Carnival, Entertainment and More! Vendors, food booths, beer garden,  Honorary Mayor's Race, Marshall's Posse Showdown, live entertainment, and parade.

The Western Days Parade takes place Saturday, 10:00 am. Carnival opens at noon on each day. Don't miss the Rodeo! New area for the little ones, with pony rides. See complete schedule of events and times on website. 

For more events in the San Diego area, please visit the San Diego Biz Mart.

For more events taking place over this Memorial Day Weekend, check your local newspaper or browse events by city at Yelp.com

What Are Your Weekend Plans?

The high in Dallas tomorrow is supposed to be 78 degrees. We have had more snow this year then I ever remember and I am so ready for this beautiful weekend! Several weeks ago I scheduled my first hair appointment at Splurge Salon in Highland Village. The salon is in this cute little outdoor shopping mall. I am hoping to go shopping tomorrow for some workout pants and summer clothes for my 22-month old. He is growing like a weed! He's already in a 4t. Is that even normal?!

I would love to get out to the Ft. Worth Zoo! If you live in the DFW metroplex and haven't been there yet, you have to go. I prefer the trails at the Dallas Zoo but you see so many more animals in Ft.Worth. Last weekend we waited over an hour to park in the "overflow" parking at the Dallas Zoo. Sunday will be filled with cleaning. Oh boy, I can't wait.

So, what are your plans for the weekend? I'm curious to know how the weather will be everywhere else in the world. Hopefully, no one is still getting snow! If you are looking for something to do outdoors, Yelp is a great place to start. If you aren't familiar with Yelp, it is an online community full of local reviews. You can use the event option to search for local activities in your area, be it a concert, museum, or family friendly outing. I love searching Yelp when it's nice outside and I'm looking for something new to do with the family. Regardless what you do, I hope everyone has a great weekend!

Find Restaurants, Events, Stores & More at Yelp

Have you ever sat at home bored out of your mind? You want to go out for a bite to eat or treat yourself to a shopping spree but you're tired of the same ol' boring routine. Of course, you have! Nobody is happy eating at the same place every night or going back to a hair salon that butchered you.

Yelp is an online community filled with thousands of reviews. You can find reviews for restaurants, grocery and retail stores, salons, theaters, hotels, event planning services and so much more.

Yelp is very user friendly. You have the option to search by city, category or business name/type. Most of the reviews I have seen here are very detailed and from my experience, very accurate. If I'm interested in trying a new restaurant, I always check the reviews first. If most of the reviews are negative, I will search Yelp for an alternative option.

You even have the option to browse through events. Our family has used this feature on many weekends when we were looking for something to do. For instance, a few events in Dallas this week are Dallas Blooms @ the Arboretum, St. Patrick's Day Block Party, The Dallas Flea (upscale flea market) Bon Jovi. There are over 7 pages of events in just the Dallas area. You will have the option to search events in your area.

If you are like me, and like to compliment good service or complain about horrible service, you can join Yelp for free and post your own reviews.