Kid-Friendly Fun: July Jubilation and FUNtastic Saturdays

FUNtastic Saturdays for Kids: Linden Square is showcasing its new courtyard with four weeks of carnival-like entertainment. Saturday afternoons in July, from 2-5 p.m., the square comes alive with arts and crafts, like cupcake decorating and pinwheel making, and a petting zoo that features farm animals, such as goats, a rabbit, and a miniature horse. There’s also balloon twisting and face painting.

If you can’t wait until Saturday to start the weekend fun, check out Friday movie nights in the courtyard. This week’s flick is “Hotel for Dogs.” “Bee Movie” screens July 29.

Everything—the Saturday fun, the Friday movies, even the popcorn—is free. FUNtastic Saturdays’ four-week run is half over, but there are still two more gleeful weekends left.

July Jubilation: It’s a local tradition, and this year’s event was as fun as any. Central Street was the place to be Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., as 45 Wellesley businesses offered food, entertainment, and bargain shopping in the 19^th annual July Jubilation.

Organized by the Wellesley Center Merchants Association, the free festival included live music and a DJ. Kids enjoyed moonwalks, face painting, stilt walkers and a juggler. Even Elmo and Smokey the Bear stopped by.

Animal lovers made plenty of furry friends, including Miss Mazi, the Wellesley Police Department bloodhound. For those who enjoy summer reading, the Wellesley Free Library held a children’s book sale.