FRIDAY, JULY 11
BRISTOL
FIRST FRIDAY FAMILY FESTIVAL WITH AN ICE CREAM FESTIVAL. 5 to 8 p.m. It’s National Ice Cream Month. Ice cream cone races. Take a tour of the 1940s Old Fashioned Soda Fountain. Learn the ins and outs of being a soda jerk. Popsicle licking challenge. Make an ice cream craft. Listen to stage performers and play with face paints as you create your own design. Ice cream donation by Turkey Hill. Enjoy dinner with hot dogs, ice cream, and other snacks available Imagine Nation, 1 Pleasant St., Bristol. $6. Children under 1 and Imagine Nation members free.. (860) 314-1400.
MONDAY, JULY 14
BRISTOL
NANCY HERSHATTER PRESENTS ‘MUSIC AND MOVEMENT.’ 10 a.m. Children encouraged to sing and dance. Bristol Public Library, 5 High St., Bristol. (860) 584-7787, ext. 2021, BristolLib.com
JULY 14-18
BRISTOL
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL. Held by St. Andrew, Gloria Dei, and Zion Evangelical Lutheran churches. 5:30 to 8 p.m. Participants will take a safari journey through the Standard Publishing “Jungle Safari” program. Each day has a special emphasis that will help children know how they can count on God, explore what God has done, and serve God through acts of service to others. Dinner provided at 5:30 p.m. VBS and dinner are free. (860) 583-5809.
JULY 14-18
OTHER
CAN YOU DIG IT? DINOSAUR FOSSIL HUNT. 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Each child will join in a simulated fossil excavation, uncovering different bones before assembling them to create a three-dimensional dinosaur to take home. Children also will make plaster fossil replicas, identify 20-million-year-old shark’s teeth, cave bear teeth, dinosaur eggs, rocks, and minerals. TunxisCommunity College, junction of routes 6 and 177, Farmington. Tunxis.edu/cesched
TUESDAY, JULY 15
BRISTOL
DYSTOPIAN MOVIE MARATHON FOR TEENS. 1 to 7 p.m. Snacks and sci-fi trivia. Call for movie titles and times. Manross Memorial Library, 260 Central St., Forestville. Register. BristolLib.com. (860) 584-7790.
JULY 15-AUG. 19
BRISTOL
FAMILY READING ADVENTURE PROGRAM. 10 to 11 a.m. on Tuesdays. Group helps families meet other parents and children in preschool or about to enter kindergarten. Six week parent/child literacy group will help you bond with your child as you explore six children’s books together. Includes story time, craft activities, and creative ideas to help prepare your child for kindergarten. Free for low-income Hartford County residents. Parent and Child Center, 9 Prospect St. in Bristol. For all others, fee is $30 per child. Sliding scale fee structure is available. Pre-register. Space is limited. (860) 585-3895. cgaray@bristolhospital.org
THURSDAY, JULY 17
BRISTOL
SCIENCETELLERS PRESENT ‘POTIONS.’ 6:30 p.m. Stories that make things go pop, create spooky smoke, more. Children help tell the tales. Bristol Public Library, 5 High St., Bristol. (860) 584-7787, ext. 2021, BristolLib.com
WEDNESDAY, JULY 30
BRISTOL
TRASH ART FOR TEENS. 2 p.m. Includes documentary about creating art from trash and a DIY craft made from old CDs. Manross Memorial Library, 260 Central St., Forestville. Registration required. Bristollib.com, (860) 584-7790.
JULY 31, AUG. 1
BRISTOL
STUFFED ANIMAL SLEEPOVER. Friday, July 31 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., children encouraged to drop-off their favorite stuffed animal to sleepover any time. Saturday, Aug. 1 at 9 a.m., children to come for breakfast and find where their stuffed animal is hiding. Manross Memorial Library, 260 Central St., Forestville. Register. www.BristolLib.com. (860) 584-7790.
MONDAY, AUG. 4
BRISTOL
MULTI-CULTURAL POTLUCK LUNCH FOR TEENS. 1 p.m. Bring food that represents your ethnicity. Lunch will be followed by make-your-own sundaes. Manross Memorial Library, 260 Central St., Forestville. Registration required. BristolLib.com, (860) 584-7790.
AUG. 4-8
BRISTOL
CHALLENGE QUEST. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. For ages 9 to 18. Fun and respectful atmosphere to challenge yourself to reach your potential. High school students, who successfully complete the week-long program, may participate in a four-day, three night camping excursion, Aug. 9 to Aug. 12. PineLake Challenge Course, Bristol. Applications at Bristol Youth Services or download copy at the city of Bristol’s website. Mail completed applications to Bristol Youth Services, attn: Cindy M. Oliveras-Cyr, 51 High St., Bristol. (860) 314-4689.
WEDNESDAY, AUG. 6
BRISTOL
VIDEO GAME TOURNAMENT FOR TEENS. 2 p.m. Manross Memorial Library, 260 Central St., Forestville. Registration requested. www.BristolLib.com, (860) 584-7790.
FRIDAY, AUG. 8
BRISTOL
PUPPET SHOW, ‘JACK AND THE BEANSTALK.’ Presented by Nappy’s Puppets. 11:30 a.m. Register. Manross Memorial Library, 260 Central St., Forestville. www.BristolLib.com, (860) 584-7790.
NOW thru AUG. 5
BRISTOL
DROP-IN STORYTIME. 10 a.m. on Tuesdays. Manross Memorial Library, 260 Central St., Forestville. No registration necessary. www.BristolLib.com, (860) 584-7790.
NOW thru AUG. 14
BRISTOL
NUTMEG LUNCH BRUNCH. Thursdays at 1 p.m. For children in grades 4 to 6. Manross Memorial Library, 260 Central St., Forestville. BristolLib.com, (860) 584-7790.