Savannah’s ultimate Southern Mama, Paula Deen, will be the Grand Marshal for the 2012 Lowcountry Down Syndrome Society Buddy Walk on Oct. 6 in Forsyth Park.
Deen will be leading walk participants in the one mile fundraising event. Thousands of people are expected to attend the event, which raises awareness and funds for local programs, including Camp Buddy, that benefit people with Down syndrome and their families. Last year’s LDSS Buddy Walk welcomed over 4,000 participants.

The Buddy Walk Program welcomes participants of all ages and abilities. Bring your carriage, strollers, wheelchairs, little red wagons and pets. The goals are to promote acceptance and inclusion of people with Down syndrome and to positively influence local and national policy and practice. Last year alone, Buddy Walk events nationally raised more that $11.2 million to benefit education, research, and advocacy initiatives, as well as the Night of Champions, Camp Buddy and many other services right here in the Lowcountry and Coastal Empire.

The walk begins at 10 AM. The Family Fun Festival, which starts immediately following the walk, will feature a variety of activities such as face painting, pumpkin painting,the BOO Boutique, bouncy houses, games, music and refreshments and last until 2 PM. The LDSS Buddy Walk is one of more than 300 Buddy Walks taking place across the country this October to celebrate Down Syndrome Awareness Month.

Registration forms for the walk are available online at www.ldssga.org or sign-up starting at 8:30 AM day of the event. Registration is $12 per person or $40 for a family of four. Registration includes this years limited edition T-Shirt, Lunch and admission to the festival. To learn more, visit www.ldssga.org or contact John or Candy Bogardus at (912) 728-8505.

About the Lowcountry Down Syndrome Society: The Lowcountry Down Syndrome Society (LDSS) is a support group to benefit people with Down Syndrome and their families through local leadership in support, outreach, education and advocacy. Meetings are held every 4th Tuesday of the month, typically with a guest speaker and social time for families to meet and interact with one another. People are encouraged to bring their children. The group is an affiliate of the National Down Syndrome Society. www.ldssga.org

Everyone is invited to the all-American Block Party this Saturday Sept. 8 at Buckwalter Place in Bluffton from 12-6pm. Enjoy a day of live music and family fun at Buckwalter Place!

Take time to appreciate and thank our military men and women as well as police, firefighters, EMS and others who protect our liberty and to celebrate the freedom and privileges their sacrifices guarantee.

Admission to the event is FREE. Bring a chair but please leave your pets and coolers at home.

For more information contact Kimberly Tatro at Kimberly@LowcountryBusinessCircle.com or 843.301.1037 or click here.

This event will benefit Operation R&R-Hilton Head.

Buckwalter Place is rapidly becoming the focus and nexus of a significant amount of economic, commercial, governmental, entertainment, social, technological, educational and cultural activity in southern Beaufort County. For more information on Buckwalter Place, visit www.buckwalterplace.com .

Find out all about a Children Spanish class being offered in Richmond Hill at an info session at 3 PM Sun. Sept. 9 2012 at the Hill of Beans coffee shop, 10747 Ford Avenue Suite #10, Richmond Hill.

Get ready to become a Lingüa familia and give your children más this Sunday! Learn everything you need to know and enroll your children ages 2-12 in Spanish classes.

For more info, contact Cheyenne Kozaily, 864-399-4828, email cheyenne.kozaily@gmail.com , http://bilingualfamilia.com

Are you a prenatal or postpartum mom looking for a butt-kicking program that will help you to get strong, lean, energized? Check out Stroller Strong Moms in Savannah’s Forsyth Park, a creative and fun total body workout for prenatal and postpartum moms with stroller age children.

You’re invited to the Grand Opening for Stroller Strong Moms, 9:30-10:30 AM Mon. Sept. 17, 2012.

There will be prizes and giveaways at the grand opening class.

Stroller Strong Moms offers a unique and challenging workout that’s constantly on the move. It uses the entire Forsyth Park in Savannah during class. Each fitness class will provide new and different walking/running routes and exercises in order to maximize fitness results and prevent boredom. For schedule & price info on Savannah classes, visit www.strollerstrongmoms.com & click savannah class. First class is free.

All exercises are introduced with multiple levels of difficulty so that moms of all fitness levels are able to workout together. Each class is designed so that your child has fun too.

“Like” Stroller Strong Moms Savannah page on Facebook here to stay updated.

Stroller Strong Moms, 12 East Park Ave. Savannah, 31401, email info@strollerstrongmoms.com , www.strollerstrongmoms.com Stroller Strong Moms is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser.

You’re invited to College Night at St. Andrew’s School in Savannah

The independent private school on Wilmington Island is hosting a College Information Night on Thursday, September 13 at 7 p.m. on the Savannah campus. Admission representatives from Swarthmore College, Vassar College, Williams College and Wesleyan University will be on hand. These individuals will answer questions about the selective college admission process, essay writing, interviews, financial aid and scholarships.

The event is free and open to the public. No reservations are required.

FROGwarts!

Savannah Children’s Museum is hosting a fabulously MAGICAL event on September 8th from 5-7pm called FROGwarts! It’s their very own twist on a familiar book/movie series that you surely don’t want to miss. Cost is $5 for a member family ($5 covers up to 5 people!) and $7.50 per person for non-members.

To get more information and to pre-register for FROGwarts, click HERE! Pre-registration is appreciated and will make your wait for The FROGwarts Express shorter.

Once inside the museum’s Exploration Station, families will find all sorts of magical activities including: The Matching Hat, Wand Making, Potions Class, The Wizardly Wonder Maze, a game of Ribbitch, and magical snacks!

Feel free to wear your ‘school robes’ (a bathrobe or dress-up cape) and any magical attire you desire!

For more info, click here. To register, click here.

Fall Hours of Operation @ Savannah Children’s Museum

Savannah Children’s Museum hours of operation will also change as of September 2nd and the museum will begin offering daily programming Thursday-Monday . Click HERE to see what the new hours will be!

Savannah Children’s Museum Exploration Station, $7.50 per person ages 1 and older, 655 Louisville Rd, Savannah, GA, 31401. Next to Georgia State Railroad Museum,

Savannah’s biggest children’s consignment event – High Cotton Kids – is set for September 27-29th 2012 in the same great central Savannah location at 706 Mall Boulevard, Formerly Seeds of Faith Bookstore!

Come shop consignment at it’s finest. High Cotton Kids is THE place to save a lot of money, make a lot of money and have a great time doing both! This Fall’s upscale resale shopping event will have thousands of high end boutique children’s brand clothing sizes 0-12 and many other items. There will also be a variety of new merchandise from several local retailers.

Get ready to rack up on all your favorite children’s brands at a fraction of the retail price! There is something for everybody’s taste and budget from adorable smocked frocks to funky threads to even high cotton play clothes your kids will love to throw on all fall and winter.

Consignor registration is open now through Sunday, September 23rd! Clean out and cash in, consignors can receive 6-70% of their sales! High Cotton Kids also accepts high end maternity clothing, children’s furniture, art work, baby and nursery necessities (ie. bouncers, exercausers, etc.), strollers, toys, books, dvds and more. For a complete list of items we accept and do not accept, click here .

High Cotton Kids Consignment Event sponsored by The Monogram Place & Robyn’s Nest , Pediatric Dentistry and JPaige .

Stay connected and get updates about the event by liking High Cotton Kids on Facebook here.

High Cotton Kids, 706 Mall Boulevard (formerly Seeds of Faith Christian Bookstore), Savannah. High Cotton Kids is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser.

MusikGarten offers classes on Tuesdays – Wednesdays – Fridays starting September 11th, 12th, 14th;
Feel invited to learn more HERE

Children are naturally drawn to music. By engaging your children in music classes you are not only giving them a “leg-up” on their musical development but on all other educational pursuits as well.

Everybody Plays – At Every Age

Coastal Orff Academy ages 9 to 12
The Coastal Orff Academy is now accepting students age 9-12 for group music classes.
In game-like atmosphere students explore and learn music fundamentals by playing, singing, and moving.
Everyone is welcome and no prior music knowledge is required.
Classes on Saturdays 2-3:30 PM start September 8th
Please find more information and details HERE

Instrument Circle
Get expert advice in choosing the right band instrument.

Private Lessons
For Trumpet, Trombone and Tuba; Saxophone, Clarinet and Flute; Guitar, Bass;
Violin, Viola, Cello and Contra bass; Drums, Piano and Voice;

Please find more information and details HERE or pay MusikGarten a visit at their New Location:

Georgia Music Warehouse 2424 Abercorn – 31401 Savannah GA

Musikgarten offers parent-and-child classes @ Georgia Music Warehouse, 2424 Abercorn St, Savannah, 31401. (Rear Lot entrance) FREE Preview classes. More info here. Musikgarten is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser.

A popular Toddler Tuesday weekly nature program at Oatland Island Wildlife Center in Savannah. There will be no Toddler Tuesday on April 9 2013 but click here to see the theme for Tuesday April 16.

At Toddler Tuesday, children & their parents/caretakers experience nature through themed activities including live animal encounters, wildlife nature walks, storytelling, songs, interactive finger-play & crafts.

Oatland Island Wildlife Center Wildlife, 711 Sandtown Rd. Savannah, GA, 31410 (912) 395-1212

Terrific Tuesdays Free Ice Cream
On Tuesdays, Jump N’ Jacks indoor play center in Richmond Hill offers a free ice cream cone for kids that bring in a homework assignment with an “A” grade.

1 912-459-1555, http://www.jumpnjacksga.com
Richmond Hill, Georgia 31324

Balloon artist Lynnae Weller, owner of Bend Out A Shape Balloons, needs your help searching for clues in a series of strange events as you travel together through well-loved children’s books such as “Sheep in a Jeep” by Nancy Shaw; “Llama, Llama, Red Pajama” by Anna Dewdney; and “Goodnight Moon” by Margaret Wise Brown. Ages 3 and up.
Tuesday, Sept. 11, 11 a.m., Tybee Library
Tuesday, Sept. 11, 4:30 p.m., Islands Library
Wednesday, Sept. 12, 10:30 a.m., Bull St. Library
Wednesday, Sept. 12, 4:30 p.m., W. W. Law Library
Thursday, Sept. 13, 10:30 a.m., Hinesville Library
Thursday, Sept. 13, 4:30 p.m., Southwest Chatham Library

Lynnae Weller, owner of Bend Out A Shape Balloons, has been doing children’s birthday parties for over 6 years with many happy clients.

Birthday party package: Each birthday child gets a large, unique balloon sculpture that is tailored to your theme. Every child at the party will get the chance to “Stump the Balloon Artist” by requesting their own individual creation. There are always plenty of games and fun with a party from Bend Out A Shape Balloons.

If you want to have crazy amounts of fun at your next birthday party, please contact Lynnae with Bend Out A Shape Balloons at 912-228-3024 or e-mail bendoutashape@gmail.com, www.bendoutashape.com/

Like Bend Out A Shape Balloons on Facebook here.

Bend Out A Shape Balloons at 912-228-3024 or e-mail bendoutashape@gmail.com, www.bendoutashape.com/ Bend Out A Shape Balloons is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser.

United States, 31406

Labor Day Beach Bash
FREE & opent to the public
Live music and fireworks from the Tybee Pier & Pavilion at the Fifth Annual Tybee Island Labor Day Beach Bash featuring free live entertainment by the Swingin’ Medallions. The Labor Day Beach Bash fireworks display can be seen from the pier, the beach or anywhere on Tybee Island after dark (around 9:15 p.m.).
7 – 10 p.m. Sun. Sept 2, 2012
TybeeVisit.com

You’re invited to an outdoor family Labor Day event at an ideal spot on Hilton Head is.

The Sandbox Children’s Museum and Lawton Stables are excited about “Sandbox at the Stables,” their new community Labor Day event Monday, September 3 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. AT LAWTON STABLES, Sea Pines Resort. (The Sandbox physical location will be closed)

It will be day of family fun with live music, activities, shows, exhibits, and picnicking (feel to bring your own, but there will be concessions available).

$5 per person, children 12 months and under are Free. (Members Only-With each paid admission, you will receive 5 concession/activity tickets FREE)

Call the Sandbox (843-842-7645) by 4pm August 31st to get a FREE Sea Pines Gate pass for this event only, (otherwise $5 gate fee into Sea Pines will apply per vehicle). Lawton Stables is located at 190 Greenwood Dr Hilton Head Island, SC 29928,

Labor Day Weekend Celebration presented by Verizon Wireless and Southern Eagle Distributing
Saturday, September 1 from 9am – 8pm and Sunday, September 2 from 9am – 7pm
Savannah’s historic River Street
2 days full of arts & crafts, entertainment and fun for the entire family. It starts with a fireworks show presented by Wet Willie’s and the Westin Savannah Harbor Golf Resort and Spa on Friday, August 31. Fireworks will begin at approximately 9:20pm.

You’re invited to “Big Truck” Family Fun Night September 7 2012 at The Sandbox – An Interactive Children’s Museum on Hilton Head Is.

This FREE monthly event is from 5:30-7:30 pm and will feature a variety of “big” trucks for kids to explore. Palmetto Electric’s bucket truck, Town of Hilton Head Fire Department, Tommy’s Towing Big Tow Truck, Fort Stewart’s Military Tactical Vehicles and a big “Monster” truck will all be on site.

The evening is free and offered to all families. There will be a special arts and crafts project and as always the museum is open for free admission to all visitors. A picnic dinner will be provided for all attendees.

The Sandbox hosts monthly Family Fun Nights the first Friday of each month, September through May. The Family Fun Nights are made possible by The Bargain Box: Home of Affordable Treasures.

The Sandbox is located at 18-A Pope Avenue, next to St. Andrew By-The-Sea United Methodist Church. For more information, please contact Caroline Rinehart, Operations manager at 843.842.7645 or crinehart@thesandbox.org . Log on to www.thesandbox.org  for information on other upcoming events and activities.

The Rincon MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) group will have their annual sign-up on Tuesday, Aug. 28 from 10 AM to noon at the Rincon Park in front of the library.  MOPS offers fellowship and encouragement to mothers of children ages birth through kindergarten.  Annual membership dues are $23.95.  Bring your kids with you; snacks will be provided.  For more info. call Esther at 826-0455.

For more info on local moms groups, click here.

Effingham Back to School Summerfest – A Hoops Competition & Exhibition Set for August 25, 2012, 7-9 PM at Effingham County High School, 1589 HY 119 in Springfield.

This event is free and open to the public. See a 3-point Shoot-Out and a Dunk contest, featuring local high school basketball stand-outs, plus plenty of hoops action provided by Harlem Globetrotters Legend, Eugene ‘Ice Man’ Raines. ‘Ice Man’ will create a receptive environment for his motivational message encouraging youth to stay in school and away from drugs. Coastal Empire Council Boy Scouts of America’s Explorer Post program and other sponsors will be on-hand with interactive demos, concessions and membership information. Admission is free with special thanks to Fuller Chevrolet of Rincon, sponsor of Effingham Back to School Summerfest.

For more information or to arrange an interview with Eugene Raines, call 912-665-4914. To reserve a booth, please call Barbara Foley, Exploring Executive at 912-308-7892.