'F' is for Free, Frugal Family Fun: Week of Mar. 25

—Kiddywampus and Macaroni Kid Camp Resource Guide

Bachman’s Spring Ideas House, Mar. 22-April 15 (open 7 days a week), 5936 Lyndale Ave. S., Minneapolis Cost: $5, with 20 percent benefiting Art in Bloom. Buy Spring Ideas House tickets now

Totally Kids Fun Furniture and Toys hosts Silhouette Artist, Sat, Mar. 31, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Erik is a 3rd generation silhouette artist; With every silhouette purchased, you will receive $5 in Totally Kids cash! Framing available. Call (952) 881-2425 to sign up or sign up online at: Silhouette Artist Cost: Silhouettes are $25, and duplicates of the same person are $15.

Walker Arty Pants, Tues, Mar 27, Walker Art Center, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., ages 3-5 years and adults. free with gallery admission. Walker members and kids ages 12 and under are always free.

Car Seat Safety and Inspection, Sat, Mar 31, 1-4 p.m., , Enjoy a jumpy bouncer, popcorn and Jamba Juice while there!FREE! 

MALL of AMERICA EVENTS
Photos with the Easter Bunny, Saturday, Mar. 17 – Sunday, April 8, West Market Square.  Sunday – Thursday: Noon – 7 p.m.; Friday – Saturday: 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Million Dollar Quartet Preview Performance, Tuesday, Mar. 27, FREE!

Cheerful Givers, Saturday, Mar. 31, 1 to 3 p.m. Sears Court, FREE!

Minnesota Monthly 2012 Local Chef Challenge, Saturday, Mar. 31, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday, April 1, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Rotunda, FREE!

Schwan's Ice Cream Sampling Event, Sat, Mar. 31, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Rotunda, FREE!

McKenna “Take the Challenge” Scavenger Hunt , American Girl Doll Store, Wednesday, Mar. 28, 5 p.m., FREE!

Megamind Saturday, Mar. 31, 10 a.m., Free Family Flicks at the Mall of America, first-come, first-served, as seating is limited to the theater capacity. FREE!

EXHIBITS & THEATRE EVENTS

Lady and the Tramp, Friday Night Family Movies, Friday, Mar. 30, 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.

Preschool Drop-Off: Kits & Cubs: Spring's Slosh, Tues, Mar. 27, 1-3 PM, Richardson Nature Center. Drop off your kids and investigate spring things. This week, explore spring's slosh, make a craft, and enjoy a snack brought from home. Reservations required. Children aged 4 and 5 How: Make reservations here Three Rivers Parks Cost: $10 per person. 

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

ADDITIONAL LIBRARY EVENTS
Storigami, Augsburg Park, Saturday, Mar. 31, 2 p.m., K-grade 6. Create art pieces based on the stories – one to take home and one for display. Colorful origami papers, embellishments and materials provided.
Teen Anime Club, Penn Lake, Wed, Mar. 28, 3:30-5 PM, Grades 6-12.

Kiddywampus—Fridays at 10 a.m.  FREE!

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 percent off. (recurring) FREE!

Barnes and Noble Story Time – all FREE and recurring events
Mondays – 11 a.m., Burnsville, Preschool
Mondays – 10 a.m., Eagan
Wednesdays – 11 a.m., Edina,
Thursdays – 10 a.m., Highland Park, St. Paul, Toddler story time
Fridays – 11 a.m., Edina
Fridays – 7 p.m., Highland Park, St. Paul, PJRama story time

Creative Kidstuff Story Time, Thursdays at 10 a.m. at all stores FREE & recurring

Creative Kidstuff Toddler Play Time at the West End St. Louis Park and Wayzata stores (Wednesdays at 10 a.m.) 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, Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Edina Community Center, 10 a.m. – 12 noon. No registration required. Cost is $3 for First Child, $5 Maximum.

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.