Cajun Festival hosted by the Island Rec. Center at Shelter Cove Community Park, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Authentic Cajun food, live music, a Kid’s Zone, Business Expo, Crawfish Eating Contest and more. Proceeds benefit the Rec. Center’s Children’s Scholarship Fund. 39 Shelter Cove Lane. (843) 681-7273 or islandreccenter.org.

12-4 p.m. Sample food from Village restaurants with sidewalk shopping, carnival games, prizes, live music, kid’s fun and games and Jake the Salty Dog. (843) 671-2233 or saltydog.com.

October 13 – 16 & 20 – 23:
Main Street Youth Theatre presents the fractured fairy tale, “Into the Woods” by Stephen Sondheim, at the Hilton Head Island High School Visual & Performing Arts Center. Thurs.-Sat. at 7 p.m.; Sun. at 2 p.m. 70 Wilborn Rd. (843) 689-MAIN (6246) or msyt.org.

Oatland Island Wildlife Center
Wildlife and education programs
711 Sandtown Rd.
Savannah, GA, 31410

(912) 395-1212

Toddler Tuesdays nature and animal programs are held at Tuesday mornings. Click here for more info.

Oatland Island Wildlife Center of Savannah is conveniently
located less than 5 miles from Savannah’s historic district off of Islands
Expressway (President Street).

From I-95 via I-16

From I-95, take the I-16 East exit and follow I-16 until
it ends at Montgomery Street/Downtown Savannah.  Get into the extreme right hand
lane and make a right at the first traffic light onto Liberty Street.  Follow
Street to the sixth traffic light and make a left onto East Broad Street.  At
the second traffic light, make a right onto President Street.  Drive
approximately five miles on President Street.  Oatland Island Wildlife Center of
Savannah will be on the right.

From Hilton Head/Beaufort South Carolina via
Downtown Savannah

Follow US 17 south over the Talmadge Bridge.  Get off at
the Oglethorpe Street exit and follow Oglethorpe.  At the sixth stop light, make
a left onto East Broad Street.  Make an immediate right on President Street.
Drive approximately five miles on President’s Street.  Oatland Island Wildlife
Center of Savannah will be on the right.

From Southside Savannah

Take the Truman Parkway North towards Downtown Savannah.
Take the US 80 east through Thunderbolt, up over the Thunderbolt Bridge and
through Whitemarsh Island.  Make a left onto the Islands Expressway/President
Street just after the Whitemarsh Plaza.  Follow the Islands Expressway/President
Street for 1.3 miles and make a left into Oatland Island Wildlife Center of
Savannah.

From Tybee Island

Follow US 80 West 10 miles through Wilmington/Talahi
Island.  Bear to the right at the split of US 80 and Island Expressway/President
Street.  Oatland Island Wildlife Center of Savannah will be on your left 1.2
miles after the split.

The Island Recreation Association and title sponsor South Carolina Bank & Trust will host the 10th annual Hilton Head Oyster Festival on Fri. Nov. 11, Sat. Nov. 12 & Sun. Nov. 13, 2011. Since it’s the 10th annual, we’re making it a big deal this year by adding Friday night for the first time and having the legendary Bobby Ryder perform from 5 – 8 pm. Saturday and Sunday will be from 11 – 5pm and as usual this all takes place at Shelter Cove Community Park.

Musical line-up includes Bobby Ryder on Friday, Candace Woodson & the Domino Theory Band, the Good Times Band and the Matt Mackelcan Band are just a few of the bands that play Saturday and Sunday.

This family event features oysters and local shrimp from Captain. Woody’s and for those non-oyster lovers, Street Meet is on hand cooking hamburgers & hot dogs. All food is sold separately. Live music and a kid’s zone including moon bounces, carnival games and prizes are on hand for the kids. Thanks to Custom Audio Video, football fans can catch both the NFL and college games at the park.

Don’t forget to check out the Holiday Craft Show and Silent Auction featuring items such as rounds of golf, art from local artisans, and gift certificates from local restaurants are all up for bid.

Admission: $5/per person with children 12 and under being free. All proceeds go to the Island Recreation Association’s Children’s scholarship fund which insures that “no child is denied” our recreation opportunities.

For more information go to www.islandreccenter.org , call the Island Recreation Center at 681-7273 or email info@islandrecccenter.org .

A new indoor play spot on Hilton Head Is. that encourages students to build unique creations, play games, and have loads of fun using LEGO® bricks

Bricks 4 Kidz offers programs and activities that let children play and socialize while learning fundamentals of science, technology and engineering in a noncompetitive setting.

Current Programs include: (please check website for details – www.Bricks4Kidz.com )
AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS (In the Bricks4Kidz Creativity Center and at elementary schools)
We offer afterschool enrichments classes for grades K-5 in our Creativity Center every Monday from 4:00 – 5:00 pm, as well as at schools across the county (please check actual schedules and price on our website).

PROGRAMS FOR HOMESCHOOLERS (In Bricks4Kidz Creativity Center)
Students will love learning science and technology in a lab-type setting using LEGO® Technic bricks and an integrated science curriculum. Designed for students grades 3-5, our homeschooling curriculum ensures that the fun gets back into learning science and technology. Please sign-up online.

BIRTHDAY PARTIES (In the Creativity Center or at a place of your choice)
Let Bricks4Kidz organize your next birthday party and experience how much fun it will be for your child and guests and how easy for you!
The base party package is available for $190 and includes 90 min of LEGO® fun and activities (2 hrs total) for 10 children ($5.00 each additional child), with party host, invitations and thank-you cards, lots of games and challenges, model building, free-play time. Bricks 4 Kidz® – T-shirt for the birthday child (signed by all kids), Duplo® for smaller children. Please check the website for more details.

KIDS NIGHT OUT (KNO) (In the Creativity Center)
Enjoy yourself for a couple of hours while Bricks4Kidz takes care of your child in a safe place, being entertained in a playful and enriching setting by our trained and screened teachers. Kids will spend their time building proprietary LEGO® models; participate in creative playing and games, or simply enjoy LEGO® free play. Kids will have so much fun, they’ll beg to come back every week! Admission is $25 per child ($5 sibling discount). Ages: 4 – 12

MOMMY/DADDY & ME (In the Creativity Center)
Mommy and Me classes (for ages 1-4) are available on Tuesdays from 10:00 to 11:00 am and can be booked in units of 4 weeks for $35. The classes are designed to create a time of fun, learning and bonding between children and mothers or other caregivers. It is also an avenue for mother and child to socialize with other mothers and children in an educational yet relaxed environment. Our trained teacher offers educational play with LEGO® Duplo and other materials. Wireless internet access and coffee available.

WALK-IN AND PLAY (In the Creativity Center)
Children ages 5 to 12 walk in and play at our Creativity Center with tons of LEGO® bricks. They can build cars and race them on our racing ramp, or just let their imagination go wild with building and playing. Parents can leave their children with us if they want to, or stay and play with them. Admission is $10 per child.

Bricks 4 Kidz, 42 New Orleans Road, Hilton Head, 29928, tel: 843-686-2829, www.bricks4kidz.com

Ticket sales begin this Monday Oct. 10 for DISNEY’S BEAUTY AND THE BEAST at Savannah Art’s Academy.

Savannah Arts Academy’s Theater Department in collaboration with the departments of Choral Music and Dance are proud to present Disney’s Beauty and the Beast as their 2011-2012 musical. Tickets may be purchased in the school office from 9:00 – 2:00 Monday through Friday.

Performance dates are as follows:
Thursday, October 20 @ 7 pm
Friday, October 21 @ 7 pm (Dinner Theater begins at 6:00pm w/ reserved seating in the theater)
Saturday, October 22 @ 7 pm (Dinner Theater begins at 6:00pm w/ reserved seating in the theater)
Sunday, October 23 @2:30pm

Tickets are: $25 for dinner theater and reserved seating in the theater; $10 for adults; $7 for students and senior citizens.

Savannah Arts Academy, 500 Washington Avenue, Savannah, GA 31405, (912) 395-5000

We love this! A debate on issues that matter to moms.

The Junior League of Savannah invites you to attend a debate on women and children’s issues between Savannah’s mayoral candidates: Floyd Adams, Ellis Cook, James Dewberry, Jeff Felser, Edna Jackson, and Regina Thomas. The debate will be on Tues. Oct. 18 at the Coastal Georgia Center, 305 Fahm Street. Doors open at 5:30pm.

This event is sponsored by the Chatham-Savannah Youth Futures Authority, Healthy Savannah, The Junior League of Savannah, Savannah-Chatham Family Violence Council, and Voices for Georgia’s Children. The debate, moderated by Mary Willoughby, will feature candidate discussion from 6-7:30 PM of pre-submitted questions, followed by individual questions from the floor. At 7:30 candidates will be available for press interviews and meet and greet with attendees.

The Junior League of Savannah invites you to attend a debate on women and children’s issues between Savannah’s mayoral candidates: Floyd Adams, Ellis Cook, James Dewberry, Jeff Felser, Edna Jackson, and Regina Thomas. The debate will be on Tues. Oct. 18 at the Coastal Georgia Center, 305 Fahm Street. Doors open at 5:30pm.

This event is sponsored by the Chatham-Savannah Youth Futures Authority, Healthy Savannah, The Junior League of Savannah, Savannah-Chatham Family Violence Council, and Voices for Georgia’s Children. The debate, moderated by Mary Willoughby, will feature candidate discussion from 6-7:30 PM of pre-submitted questions, followed by individual questions from the floor. At 7:30 candidates will be available for press interviews and meet and greet with attendees.

The first Tuesday of each month starting October 4th, Monkey Joe’s will close at 6 pm to allow our family’s with special needs to enjoy a special night of fun and bouncing! Monkey Joe’s will remain open until 8 pm on these nights to allow the families more time to play! For more information, call 912-349-2528!

SouthernMamas.com has now added local Halloween happenings to our Corn Mazes/Pumpkin Patches/Fall Festivals 2011 page. Click here.

Highlights include the ever-popular Halloween Hike at Oatland Is. Wildlife Center; Wag-O-Ween trick or treat with your dog in downtown Savannah; Tricks, Treats & Trains at Georgia State Railroad Museum (Roundhouse Railroad Museum); The Haunted Forest at the Savannah Moose Lodge; several Trunk R’ Treats; and much more.

You can access this list by clicking on this link. Or by clicking on Corn Mazes/Pumpkin Patches at the top of our home page and going to Savannah Halloween Events in the drop-down menu.

A big thank you to SouthernMamas.com reader Lynn Adams for helping compiling this list.

November 6
Open House for Prospective Families
12:30 – 2:30 p.m.
Presentation for all ages at 1 p.m.
WWW.SAINTSCHOOL.COM

October 22
7 – 10 p.m.
Live from St. Andrew’s, It’s Saturday Night
Silent Auction on campus
$30 per person includes dinner
Reservations at www.saintschool.com/auction

Registration for November children’s Starfish swim classes at Chatham Aquatic Center started Oct. 1 2011. Deadline to register is Oct. 31. Register here.

Starfish Swim Lessons in Savannah
Chatham Aquatic Center, Savannah
7240 Sallie Mood Drive
Savannah, 31406-3991
(912) 652-6793
Each session consists of 8 lessons.
Click here for the November 2011 schedule.
Session Fees
Non-Member:$ 50 Member: $38
Non-Member Consecutive Session: $45 Member Consecutive Session: $33
Second Child:$45 Second Child: $33
Star Babies: $25 Out of county fee: $60

StarBabies (Ages 6 months – 36 months)
The purpose of this course is to build off of the skills and love of the water learned in StarBabies. The course does not teach children to be accomplished swimmers; it does prepare young children for the SeaSprites level of the Starfish Swim School. One parent or trusted caregiver must be in the water with each child. Swim diapers are required.

SeaSprites (Ages 3-5)
Designed to meet the needs of pre-schoolers, this class will develop a high comfort in the water, a readiness to swim, and for those children who are developmentally ready, teach beginning swim skills. Students work toward development of the five core swimming competencies and receive color level patches for each achievement. Approaches teaching skills through creative, fun activities.

SeaStars (Ages 6-8)
Students work toward development of the five core swimming competencies and receive color level patches for each achievement. The color levels are used to divide students into broad ability groups. Children progress at individual rates with the opportunity to learn the core swimming skills and progress to advanced strokes. Learning is self-paced but challenging.

SwimStars (Ages 9 & Older)
Students are divided by age group (Ages 9 – 14, Adults) Classes are taught along the same philosophy as SeaStars.

StrokeStars (Any age that meets skill prerequisite)
Swimmers refine freestyle and learn stroke technique for backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly and more!

AngelFish
The AngelFish program is designed to meet the needs of your special needs child. These classes are taught along the same philosophy as the Starfish Swim School. The classes will provide necessary teaching adaptations and or adaptive equipment that may be required to make your child as independent and successful in the water as possible. Private lessons are available for children and adults of all ages.

Join Shana Cawley Photography for Fall Mini sessions at Sara Jane Children’s Boutique on Sat. October 22 2011. Shana Cawley Photography will be at the Savannah boutique from 10 AM to 4:30 PM.

15 minute session, 2 4×6 prints of your choice, 15% of other prints (8×10 or larger).
Cost: $68 ($5 for each additional child up to 3 kids)

Email: sarajanekids@comcast.net  or call 912-234-5266 to make your appointment

Shana Cawley Photography provides portrait and wedding photography. Maternity, newborns, child, teen, family,and wedding photography. Covering Southeast and Central Georgia, now based in Richmond Hill/Savannah GA

Sara Jane Children’s Boutique, 202 East 37th St., Savannah, Georgia 31401 912-234-5266, email  sarajanekids@comcast.net, http://sarajane.myshopify.com/ Sara Jane Children’s Boutique is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser.

Cannon Firings every weekend in October at Old Fort Jackson & Fort Pulaski. Details here.

UPDATE: Winner is Julie Scott!! This week win four tickets to TERRANCE SIMIEN & THE ZYDECO EXPERIENCE family Zydeco concert at 3 PM
Saturday, October 22 at American Legion Post 135 in Savannah! Watch a snippet of a family zydeco concert here. The foot-stomping zydeco band will have families dancing and will teach children more about the Creole music of southwest Louisiana and the Texas gulf coast.

This kid-friendly afternoon dance & concert is part of the SAVANNAH MUSIC FESTIVAL (SMF) new programming that includes a year-round concert series – SMF LIVE – featuring some of the music world’s most acclaimed performers, increased distribution of its concert recordings to public and satellite radio, and music education programs that span the entire year. The complete program for the 2012 Savannah Music Festival, which takes place March 22 through April 7, will be announced in early November.

To win tickets, visit the Savannah Music Festival’s new Facebook page here; “like” the page; then answer this question on their Facebook wall: “What is your child’s favorite instrument?” Or, for those kiddies too young to have one, “What instrument do you want your child to play when they’re old enough?” Pls say SouthernMamas.com sent you! Deadline to enter to win is noon Sun. Oct. 9. We’ll announce the winner here and on SouthernMamas.com Facebook!

Not into Facebook? Enter to win by answering the question by commenting below this post. Click on comments.

Learn more about this upcoming family zydeco arts-in-education ‘informance’ (informational performance) here.

Can’t wait for the giveaway? Order tickets here. Kids’ tickets for the show have to be purchased over the phone 912.525.5050 and picked up at will call OR in person at the box office (216 East Broughton St).

Guided Birding Walk and Talk – Wormsloe
Oct 9 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM
Author Joe LaFleur will provide a free audiovisual program and a guided bird walk. The introductory program will help you identify birds by sight and sound and will also review preferred habitats where each species is likely to be encountered. The walk features hands-on identification of migrant and breeding birds in a variety of habitats. Beginners are welcome. Meet at the visitor center theater. $3.50-$6.00 912-353-3023.

Sunday, October 9, 2011 7:00am

At the Battlefield Memorial Park. Free and open to the
public!! Walk in the footsteps of Patriots during the annual memorial service
commemorating the soldiers who fell in the Siege of Savannah, one of the
bloodiest battles of the American Revolution fought on October 9, 1779.
Attendees gather in the Savannah History Museum parking lot. 912.651.0911 x307
West Harris Street Savannah, Georgia 31401

Make It and Take It
This craft program features a seasonal or holiday themed art activity.
Celebrate Halloween with a pumpkin design!
Ages 4 and up.
Bull Street Library, Tuesday, Oct 25, 4:30 p.m.
Islands Library, Thursday, Oct. 27, 4 p.m.
Oglethorpe Mall, Saturday, Oct. 29, 3 p.m.
Port City Library, Tuesday, Oct. 25, 4:30 p.m.
Southwest Chatham Library, Thursday, Oct. 27, 4:30 p.m.
Tybee Library, Friday, Oct. 28, 4 p.m.
West Broad Library, Thursday, Oct 27, 4 p.m.
W. W. Law, Wednesday, Oct 26, 3 p.m.
More info here

Savannah Storyteller Lillian Grant-Baptiste presents storytimes featuring author Virginia Hamilton’s “The People Could Fly,” a moving collection of folktales and stories about slavery and freedom.
Islands Library: Tues., Oct. 4, 4 p.m.
Hinesville Library: Wed., Oct. 5, 4 p.m.
Southwest Chatham Library: Thurs., Oct. 6, 4:30 p.m.
Carnegie Library, Sat., Oct. 8, 4 p.m. (all ages)
Bull Street Library, Tues., Oct. 11, 11 a.m.
Rincon Library, Wed., Oct. 12, 4:30 p.m.
Pooler Library, Thurs., Oct. 13, 4 p.m.
West Broad Library, Fri., Oct. 14, 4 p.m.
Oglethorpe Mall Library, Sat., Oct. 15, 4 p.m.

It’s October. Does your pre-K or kindergartener know all his or her sight words yet?

Kidding. Sort of. Thanks to a local pre-k teacher for telling us about www.education.com which offers free printable worksheets & activities for children.

You can print out a Sight Words Bingo game, which is a big more fun than flashcards.  Click here to go directly to the Sight Words Bingo game.

More free sight words worksheets & printables here. 

We’d love to hear about your favorite online resources to help children begin to read. Email anne@southernmamas.com or comment below.

About 5 percent to 20 percent of people in the U.S. will get the flu this year according to the CDC. The flu is a respiratory illness caused by a virus. It can cause mild to severe illness—and can even lead to death.

Join Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Fri. Oct. 7 from 12-1 p.m. for a live chat on Twitter. Children’s Healthcare will answer your questions on ways to protect yourself and your family. Ask questions via the Children’s Twitter account, @ChildrensATL, and follow the conversation using the hashtag, #CHOAchat. For more information, visit www.choa.org/flu .

Savannah Baby Company opens its doors on October 15, 2011 in the midtown Medical Arts neighborhood!

The store carries lines of furniture, baby gear (such as strollers) and gifts for the style-conscious parent.

The store stocks brands familiar to many with an ear (and eye) toward style: Dwell Studio, Dutailier, Baby Jogger, Barefoot Dreams, Stephen Joseph, Zutano, Trumpette, Urban Smalls, Brito, Cybex, Dekor, Ergo Baby, Peg-Perego, Mamaroo, Origami, Earth Mama Angel Baby, KidCo, Eco-Kids, Manhattan Toy, Bambino Mio, Pbnj Baby, iPlay, MD Moms, Goody Goody, ALEX Toys, Zebi Baby, Sassafras, Reisenthel, Life Factory, blabla, Baby KTan, zoe b Organic, Dabbawalla Bags, Yala, Itzy Ritzy and more.

In addition to making a difference in how a home and nursery look, purchases from Savannah Baby Company make another, deeper difference. The company donates five percent of sales to CURE Childhood Cancer.

ABOUT SAVANNAH BABY COMPANY: Savannah Baby Company is a Savannah-based, locally-owned boutique stocking furniture, gear and gifts for the modern baby. The store is located at 5301 Paulsen in the Medical Arts neighborhood. Hours will be Monday-Friday, 10-6. Saturday 10-3. For more information, call 912-480-0212. Savannah Baby Company is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser.