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A parents' guide to summer

School is out, pools are open. From what’s happening at local parks to free and cheap kids’ movies, here’s what you need to know.

MATT GENTRY | The Roanoke Times

Starlite Drive-In hosted the movie “Oblivion,” starring Tom Cruise, in early May. Find out the Christiansburg drive-in theater’s film lineup at www.starlitedrivein.info.

The Roanoke Times | File 2012

A swimmer enjoys the slide at last year’s opening of Fallon Park Pool in Roanoke.

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MORE COOL STUFF FOR SUMMER

Lemon “Aid” Stands

The Fresh Squeezed Miracles lemonade-stand benefit is June 28-29. Participants are invited to set up stands and donate the proceeds to the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. Kids can register online at www.freshsqueezedmiracles.org or by calling 540-224-4747. If you can’t sell lemonade that weekend, just host a stand by July 31. Kids can also make “virtual stands” online.

Looney Tunes at the Grandin Theatre

Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Tweety Bird and all classic characters rule the big screen a couple of weekends a month at the Grandin. When: 10 a.m.
Cost: Free

Pulaski Mariners Baseball

The minor-league rookies of the Appalachian League play their first home game on June 23 at historic Calfee Park, the best place to watch a ball game in the region.
When: 7 p.m., June 23
Cost: $5 general admission, $7 reserved seats; $1 off for under 12 and seniors.
Information: To see the season schedule, go online to www.milb.com/index.jsp?sid=t425

Lively Libraries

Ah, summer sounds at the library. The peace and quiet. The whispers of mothers reading to children. The drone of the didgeridoo.
If you think that modern libraries are still the domain of old ladies saying “shush,” wake up and smell the coffee — which might be brewing at a local library near you. Cafe days, movies, music, summer reading programs and crafts are as much a part of libraries as the Dewey decimal system. Check with your local branch for their summer schedules.

Munch Your Lunch Movie: Game Plan
Bring your lunch and watch Disney’s “The Game Plan,” starring that icon of kids’ movies, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. (Kids 5-11.) The libraries show family movies all summer long — “The Lorax,” “James and the Giant Peach” and “Holes” are among the screen gems — so check with your local branch for showtimes.
When: 11 a.m., June 11
Where: Gainsboro Branch Library

Bill Wellington presents “Radio WOOF”

Popular storyteller and musician Wellington will entertain kids and adults with his silly songs, fancy fiddling and funny stories. He will perform at four libraries on June 18-19. (Kids 5-11.)
When: June 18, 10 a.m.
Where: Melrose Branch Library

When: June 18, 2 p.m.
Where: Williamson Road Branch Library

When: June 19, 10 a.m.
Where: Main Library

When: June 19, 2 p.m.
Where: Raleigh Court Branch Library

Farmer Minor and Daisy the Library Pig

Who better to inspire children to read than an overalls-wearing farmer and his pot-bellied pig? Farmer Minor and his pampered pig have traveled the country for more than a decade, telling kids to “pig out on reading.” (All ages.)
When: June 24-25
Where: Six libraries around the city. Check with your local library for information.

Code Academy for Teens

Simple computer coding is taught to youths. (Ages 12-17)
When: 3:30 p.m., July 1
Where: Gainsboro Branch Library

When: 3:30 p.m., July 2
Where: Raleigh Court Branch Library

When: 3:30 p.m., July 3
Where: Williamson Road Branch Library

Cartooning Workshop for Tweens and Teens

Local cartoonist Beck Seashols has tips for the budding doodler in your family. (Ages 12-17.)
When: 3:30 p.m., July 8
Where: Gainsboro Branch Library

When: 3:30 p.m., July 9
Where: Jackson Park Branch Library

When: 3:30 p.m., July 10
Where: Raleigh Court Branch Library

When: 3:30 p.m., July 11
When: Williamson Road Branch Library

When: 3:30 p.m., July 12
Where: Melrose Branch Library

Aussie Funk Jam Workshop

The summer reading program “Didgeridoo Down Under” concludes with a couple of days of Australian-themed activities and music. (All ages.)
When: 11 a.m., July 26
Where: Williamson Road Branch Library

When: 3 p.m., July 26
Where: Gainsboro Branch Library

Black Light Nights

Glow-A-Rama’s game room, miniature golf course and dance floor are open and glowing all summer long.
Where: Glow-A-Rama, 19818 Main Street, Buchanan
Contact: 540-254-3183; www.glowarama.com

Thundering around the Track

Thunder Valley’s go-karts, batting cages, miniature golf, laser tag and other fun stuff are must-do’s every summer.
Where: 1865 Dillard Drive, Salem (just off Apperson Drive)
Contact: 387-9477; www.thundervalley.net

Zoobilee

Mill Mountain Zoo’s day of fun, games and entertainment raises money for its Snow Leopard Trust. Information about the zoo’s summer camps is on the website.
When: 10 a.m.-4 p.m., June 22
Where: Mill Mountain Zoo
Contact: 343-3241; mmzoo.org

Roanoke Children’s Theatre presents “Stuart Little”

When: Thursday-June 16; 7 p.m., Thursday-Saturday; 2 p.m., Saturday-Sunday
Where: Taubman Museum of Art

Dadline column archive

Family columns

Ralph Berrier Jr. | 981-3338

Monday, June 3, 2013

GREAT AMERICAN BACKYARD CAMPOUT

The biggest campout in the United States happens June 22, right in your own backyard. The National Wildlife Federation encourages families to sleep under the stars, commune with nature and, if you are so inclined, raise some money for the federation’s programs.

The NWF cites research that has found only one quarter of America’s children play outside every day. Camping is an easy, fun way to get outside. Plus, if the campout is on your own property, you’re never too far from a bathroom or a shower.

Families on my street are planning a big backyard event, during which one lawn will be transformed into a neighborhood campground complete with a campfire, marshmallows and hot dogs. Hopefully, everybody will abide by the quiet hours.

What: Great American Backyard Campout

When: June 22

Info: www.nwf.org/great-american-backyard-campout.aspx; www.nwf.org/Be-Out-There.aspx

SEE YOU AT THE MOVIES

When I was a kid during the Mesozoic Era of the 1970s and early ’80s, I saw “Rocky” and “The Empire Strikes Back” at the Bright Leaf Drive-In in Mount Airy, N.C., whose name was inspired by the official cash crop of North Carolina, the golden leaf of tobacco.

The golden age of drive-ins went the way of cigarette advertisements in most communities, as even the Bright Leaf has closed, but word travels slowly here in Southwest Virginia — which is a good thing. At least three drive-ins are within an hour’s drive of Roanoke, including one at Smith Mountain Lake that opened just five years ago.

The Mayberry Drive-In Theatre and Diner in Moneta, the Starlite Drive-In in Christiansburg and Hull’s Drive-In in Lexington all show first-run movies, and all carry the drive-in snack bar staples of popcorn, hot dogs and candy. Coincidentally, Hull’s and the Starlite both sit off U.S. 11, separated by about 75 miles on the famed Lee Highway, which was dotted with drive-ins in the 1950s. The Starlite celebrates its 60th anniversary this year.

If you can’t make it to the drive-in, Roanoke has its own outdoor theater setting during Movies at the Tower at the Wells Fargo building the second Friday of every month.

Hull’s Drive-In

Where: 2367 Lee Highway, Lexington

Information: 540-463-2618; www.hullsdrivein.com

Mayberry Drive-In Theatre and Diner

Where: 1696 Whitehouse Road, Moneta

Information: 540-296-1480; www.mayberrydrivein.com

Starlite Drive-In

Where: 275 Starlite Drive (just off U.S. 11), Christiansburg

Information: 382-2202; www.starlitedrivein.info

Movies at the Tower

When: June 14, “Back to the Future”; July 12, “Escape from Planet Earth”; Aug. 9, “The Avengers”; Sept. 13, “Brave”

Where: Wells Fargo Plaza, Salem Avenue and Market Street, downtown Roanoke

Information: www.downtownroanoke.org/our-events/movies-at-the-tower

Carmike Summer Kids Series

Carmike 10 at Tanglewood will show a kid-friendly movie at 10 a.m. on Thursdays for $4, which includes admission and a kids’ tray with popcorn, drink and snack. The first movie will be “Despicable Me” on June 13 and will continue through the week of Aug. 12.

Info: www.carmike.com/Events/Category/8

Regal Summer Movie Express

Valley View Grande 16 is again hosting G- and PG-rated movies Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 10 a.m. for just $1 a ticket.

The first movie on June 19 will be “The Three Stooges.”

The promotion will continue for nine weeks.

Info : Visit www.regmovies.com and search for Roanoke.

PASSPORTS TO PARKS

The Roanoke and New River valleys are blessed with numerous city, county and regional parks. A few years ago, my family made our own local parks scrapbook, which is a sort of photographic diary of our visits to Roanoke’s 60-plus parks (we haven’t hit them all, yet). We modeled our book after the popular National Park Service passport books, in which visitors collect cancellation stamps, complete with the parks’ names and dates of visits.

Local parks: During July, the parks and recreation department is giving away prizes in celebration of Park and Recreation Month . To enter, pick up a copy of the department’s Play Magazine and fill out the registration form about your favorite park. You also can register online at playroanoke.com/enter.

State parks: We made a similar passport book for Virginia State Parks, which are preferred destinations for my family. In fact, the state parks have become a perennial favorite in the Dadline summer guide. Lakes, beaches, trails, cabins, campsites and ranger-led programs are all within short drives of Roanoke and provide inexpensive vacation options.

Info: The fine website www.playroanoke.com features an interactive map of Roanoke’s parks, summer camps, recreation opportunities and lots of other great outdoorsy stuff.

PARKS AND ARTS

The Roanoke parks and rec department has launched a Parks and Arts program this summer that brings a variety of performing artists to neighborhood parks across the city on Saturdays this summer. Music, dancing and visual artists will be part of a program intended to strengthen neighborhoods, bring the arts to the public and raise awareness of the parks.

All shows 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

For complete schedules, visit
www.roanokeva.gov/parksandarts.

June 8, Washington Park

Highlights: Roanoke Chamber Brass, Rob Smith, Moyer Brothers, Matt Ames

June 15, Jackson Park

Highlights: “Art is Happening” performances from Mill Mountain Theatre, Opera Roanoke, Southwest Virginia Ballet and the Taubman Museum of Art

June 29, Kennedy Park

Highlights: Electric Chameleon, Roanoke Children’s Theatre’s “Stuart Little,” Randolph Walker’s “Green Eggs and Ham” rap

July 13, Mill Mountain Park

Highlights: The Wright Kids, Rob Smith, Roanoke Chamber Brass

July 20, Eureka Park

Highlights : Performers from the Music Lab at Jefferson Center, Upscale Band and Show, balloon artist Darcy Meeker

Aug. 31, Highland Park

Highlights: YoYo Players, the Wright Kids, face painter Gwynn Hall

Sept. 15, Elmwood Park

Highlights: Roanoke Symphony Orchestra performing “Peter and the Wolf” with the Southwest Virginia Ballet, Larnell Starkey and the Spiritual Seven

Virginia State Parks

Thirty-five parks provide swimming, camping, hiking and a park-full of other ways to enjoy the outdoors.

Info: www.dcr.virginia.gov/state_parks

POOLISHNESS

Roanoke’s two municipal pools, Fallon Park and Washington Park, open for the season on Friday. Splash Valley at the Green Ridge Recreation Center opened for Memorial Day Weekend, but will be open seven days a week starting Wednesday.

Fallon Park Pool

Hours : noon to 7 p.m., Friday-Saturday; noon to 6 p.m., Sunday

Admission: $2-$3; free for 4 and under

Washington Park Pool

Hours: noon to 6 p.m., Monday-Tuesday, Thursday

Admission: $2-$3; free for 4 and under

Vinton Pool

Hours: noon to 6 p.m., Tuesday-Sunday; 6 to 8 p.m., Wednesday

Admission: $3-$4; free for 4 and under

Montgomery County Frog Pond

Hours: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday-Saturday; noon to 6 p.m. Sunday

Admission : $3-$5; free for 1 and under