Baby Expo

PR Contact: Jamie Born 312-371-3787

What: The Nation's Largest Baby Expo Returns to Chicago with Everything for Baby and More...New Products, Interactive Entertainment, Samples, Baby Derby Races, Toddler Rodeo Races and Family Fun. For the 12th year, national magazine American Baby is hosting American Baby Faire, the nation's largest infant and parenting expo next weekend November 1 & 2, 2008 at Chicagolands Renaissance Schaumburg Hotel & Convention Center,. Many of the nation's juvenile industry leaders will be in town for a weekend of education and entertainment.
Here to showcase some of the latest trends in the juvenile industry is Jamie Born with American Baby Group and some little ones.
(detailed product list to follow)

Screen Details: American Baby Faire

When:
Saturday, November 1 & Sunday, November 2, 2008

Location:
Renaissance Schaumburg Hotel & Convention Center
1551 North Thoreau Drive
Schaumburg, IL 60173
(847) 303-4100

Hours:
Saturday 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Sunday 11:00 a.m. –5:00 p.m.

Web Site:
americanbabyfaire.com

Toll-Free Event Line:
1-877-959-BABY

Admission Cost:
Adults $8.00
Grandparents and Children (under age 12) FREE
$3 discount admission coupons available at local Babies“R”Us stores

Highlights:
American Baby Faire, presented by Babies“R”Us, the nation’s premier baby products retailer, will introduce expectant parents and young families to more than 100 exhibits showcasing the latest in child care, parenting information and services, the newest products for infants and toddlers, exciting interactive children’s exhibits and free product samples. There will be continuous live entertainment throughout the weekend as well as roving fairytale characters for children to meet.

Babies can compete hourly in the Babies“R”Us Baby Derby races for the title of Chicago’s “fastest crawler.” As many as 500 babies are expected to race throughout the two-day American Baby Faire event.

The Chicco Rodeo will debut at the American Baby Faire Chicago this year. Toddler cowboys and cowgirls can mosey on down to the official “rodeo track” and race toy horses. The rodeo track features complete with official racing lanes, cowboy referee, straw hats for the racers and fun prizes for winners.
American Baby Group, owned by Meredith Corporation, is the premier multimedia provider of information to expectant parents and young families. Led by the flagship American Baby magazine, the company's enterprises include 6 English- and Spanish-language magazines, americanbaby.com and healthykids.com, American Baby Faire expositions, sampling and coupon programs, the American Baby Show, custom publishing and market research.

For over sixteen years, the American Baby Faire has been the leading national consumer exposition for expectant parents and young families.

Spooky Seas

WHAT: Join the mysterious creatures of Shedd Aquarium for the Spooky Seas annual family Halloween celebration. This safe and exciting alternative for families provides a unique glimpse of the aquarium and animals after dark. The fee includes presentations, animal encounters, food, activities throughout the galleries, and a live DJ with dancing. Costumes are encouraged but not required. Families have the option to participate just for the evening or spend the night with the animals until morning. Children must be 5 years of age or older to spend the night. All children must be accompanied by an adult.

WHERE: Shedd Aquarium in Chicago

WHEN: Friday, Oct. 31, 6 p.m. to Saturday, Nov. 1, 9 a.m.
Evening-only Option: Friday, Oct. 31, 6 p.m. - 10 p.m.

COST: Fee: $60 per adult or child ($50 per member)
Evening-only Option Cost: $25 per adult or child ($20 per Shedd members)
Children 2 years and younger are FREE

NEED MORE INFO: Visit http://www.sheddaquarium.org/family_programlistings.html#Family_Overnight_Spooky_Seas_20 and call 312-692-2702 to register for the event

The Fear Haunted House at Navy Pier

WHAT: The Fear Haunted House at Navy Pier is to be enjoyed by older children. The Captain at Navy Pier has traveled the globe in search of the darkness. Under his command, the captain’s crew has captured the most feared creatures known to man. You can join his dark crew. At the Captain’s command you will walk through this twisted cage of pain, and find The Fear before it finds you.

WHERE: Navy Pier in Chicago

WHEN: Now – 11/1/08 from 6:00 pm - 11:00 pm

COST: $20 (coupons can be printed online)

NEED MORE INFO: http://www.thefearhauntedhouse.com/tickets.html

Boo! At the Zoo

WHAT: From crazy costumes and treat bags to haunted hayrides and pumpkin-carving demonstrations, Brookfield Zoo’s annual Boo! at the Zoo festival is the perfect way to celebrate Halloween, and everyone is invited to attend! The not-so-scary event will begin at 11:00 a.m. each day and will include frightfully fun activities for the entire family - one of Chicagoland’s largest costume parades, Zoo Chats featuring bats, snakes, and owls, pumpkin carving, and the new hay maze!

WHERE: Brookfield Zoo: 8401 31st Street Brookfield, IL 60513

WHEN: Oct. 25th and 26th from 11:00 am – 4:00 pm

COST:
General Zoo Admission:
Adults $11.00, Seniors 65 and Over $7.00, Children 3 to 11 $7.00, Members are FREE

All-in-One Tickets - Zoo admission plus the following attractions: Sharks! at Stingray Bay, Dolphin Show, Butterflies!, Children's Zoo, Hamill Family Play Zoo, Motor Safari, and Carousel:
Adults $22.50, Seniors 65 and Over, $16.50, Children 3 to 11 $16.50

Admission + 3 - Zoo admission plus choose three (3) from the following attractions: Sharks! at Stingray Bay, Dolphin Show, Butterflies!, Children's Zoo, Hamill Family Play Zoo, Motor Safari, and Carousel:
Adults $17.00, Seniors 65 and Over $12.00, Children 3 to 11 $12.00

(some Boo! At the Zoo events have additional fees)

NEED MORE INFO: visit http://www.czs.org/czs/Brookfield/Events/Boo!-at-the-Zoo for zoo information and the specific schedule of events

Chicago International Children's Film Festival

WHAT: Chicago International Children's Film Festival is one of the largest Kids Film Fests in North America. It includes 225 films, 44 countries, and 7 venues in 10 days! Help them celebrate their 25th Anniversary season! Don’t forget that Friday, October 24 is an in-service day for Chicago Public Schools. Don't stay home...visit the Festival!

WHERE: Chicago venues include: Facets Cinema, Harold Washington Cultural Center, and Kerasotes Showplace 14

WHEN: Friday, Oct 24 9:00a to 7:00p

COST: General Admission: $6.00 for children (3-16) and $8.00 for adults. Tickets are $5.00 per child for groups of 25 or more. General public tickets are available through Ticketweb for screenings Friday, October 24!

NEED MORE INFO: Call: (773) 281-9075 and visit http://cicff2008.org/content/weekday/60 for a specific film schedule and venue locatio

Halloween Fall Fest & No-Scare Maze

WHAT:
Enjoy the Halloween season in the park!
Activities at the park are designed to appeal to all ages. The Fall Fest includes: pony rides, petting zoo, pumpkin patch, face painting, & inflatables. The No-Scare Halloween Maze features colorful characters throughout a lit Halloween-themed maze. Near by are great pumpkin patches, haunted houses and much more.

WHERE:
Athletic Field Park
3546 W. Addison St. Chicago, IL 60618

WHEN:
October 18th & 19th
11:00 AM - 3:00 PM

COST:
No-Scare Maze = $2; Fall Fest = prices vary

NEED MORE INFO:
Visit www.chicagoparkdistrict.com or call (773) 478-2889

French Family Cooking

WHAT:
You can expose your child to French culture and language thanks to traditional French recipes that are easy and fun to make. Your child will learn how tasty, simple and pleasant French cooking can be, bring home samples, and be able to recreate them in your kitchen at home.

The class is open to kids between 7 and 10 years old accompanied by a family member.

WHERE:
Alliance Française de Chicago810 North Dearborn StreetChicago, Illinois 60610

WHEN:
October 17th from 2:00pm-4:00pm

COST:
$45 parent, $30 one child, $55 two siblings

NEED MORE INFO:
Visit www.af-chicago.org and call (312) 337-1070 to register for the class

Explore DuPage Children’s Museum

WHAT:
DuPage Children's Museum has three floors--each one special in its own way. Each floor is packed with exciting ways to explore art, math, science and how they work together in the world. There are also three Young Explorers Neighborhoods (adjacent to our other exhibits) designed for children up to 24 months.

WHERE:
301 N. Washington StreetNaperville, IL 60540

WHEN:
Monday Tuesday Wednesday
9 a.m. to 1 p.m 9 a.m. to 5 p.m 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday
9 a.m. to 8 p.m 9 a.m. to 5 p.m 9 a.m. to 5 p.m Noon to 5 p.m.

* The Children’s Museum is open year round, but check out the calendar for specific programs and events: www.dupagechildrensmuseum.org/WebCalendar

COST:
General Admission: $7.50 per person (ages 1 to 59)
Seniors: $6.50 per person (ages 60 plus)
Members are always FREE!

NEED MORE INFO:
Visit www.dupagechildrensmuseum.org or call (630) 637-8000

Get Movin', Get Shakin'

WHAT:
The Museum of Contemporary Art invites families to dance, create mobiles, make musical instruments, and construct sculptures of animals to perform.
These Target sponsored activities include:
Rattle and Roll!, Blowin’ In the Wind!, Calder Circus, and Dance! Dance! Dance

WHERE:
Museum of Contemporary Art 220 East Chicago Avenue Chicago, Illinois 60611-2643

WHEN:
October 11, 2008 11-3pm

COST:
Free for Families with children 12 and under

NEED MORE INFO:
Visit www.mcachicago.org or call (312) 280-2660

Animated Animals

WHAT:

The Bill Peet Storybook Menagerie
Discover animals in the new illustration exhibition The Bill Peet Storybook Menagerie and in artwork from around the world during this family event.
This is a drop-in program and registration is not required.

WHERE:

The Kraft Education Center at The Art Institute of Chicago

WHEN:

Oct. 4th, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

COST:

Free with admission to the Art Museum of Chicago

NEED MORE INFO:

visit http://www.artic.edu/aic or call (312) 857-7161

Pumpkin Patch

WHAT:

Find your Perfect Pumpkin at the Dollinger Pumpkin Farm! Come and find your pumpkin for carving, decorating, or making a pie. Prices range from $1 to $11 depending on size. You can also find apples, Indian Corn, gourds, squash, corn shocks, straw bales and mini pumpkins on the farm. Don’t forget to check out the Corn Maze, Haunted Barn, Petting Zoo, and other great attractions for KIDS of all ages. The Drollinger Family Farm even has a miniature steam train and horse drawn hayrides too!
Free Entertainment Every Sunday in October at 2PM

WHERE:

Dollinger Family Farm 7502 W Hansel Rd Channahon, Illinois 60410

WHEN:

September 27th thru October 30th 2008

COST:

Free Admission and Parking!

NEED MORE INFO:

Visit http://www.dollingerfarms.com/pumpkins.htm or call 815-467-6766