Food Fun Family

There’s a New Queen in Town – Medieval Times’ New Storyline

Lolli — Fri, 26 Oct 2018 20:10:17 +0000

Over the years, I’ve had many opportunities to participate in fun family activities with my husband and kids, and I’ve noticed that there are some outings that are more popular than others. Medieval Times is one place that we’ve been to on several occasions but I can guarantee that my family will be excited and eager to go each time. This past week, I was invited to a media night (along with my daughter) to enjoy the new show, meet and chat with the Queen and Head Knight, and even tour the stables to meet the real stars of the show – the horses! Our meals and entertainment were covered, but all thoughts and opinions and photos are our own.

I must say – after seeing the “old” story line half a dozen times or so, I never got tired of the show. However, seeing a totally new story line this past week totally kept me on my toes! It was exciting and action-packed, and it felt like a natural progression to the show I’d seen so many times before. Don’t worry…I’m not going to spoil anything for you if you haven’t been to Medieval Times recently. Just know that the Queen is WONDERFUL (a true leader!) and there IS a twist at the end that is the perfect way to wrap up the knights’ competition.

About the New Show at Medieval Times

For the first time since 2012, Medieval Times has just unveiled a new storyline, featuring a Queen, at its castle located in Hanover, Maryland at Arundel Mills. The Maryland/DC castle is the 8th Medieval Times location in North America to roll out the new show. This new story line is a major break from Medieval Times’ 35-year tradition of casting a king in the show’s lead role. The queen is now in charge and sole ruler of the land, and inherited the throne after the passing of her father, the previous king. She is a firm but kind ruler, respected throughout the kingdom.

The decision to change the story line to feature a queen was based in part on guest feedback that they would like to see women having more significant roles in the show.

What else is new at Medieval Times?

We love Medieval Times for the hot, four-course feast (eaten with your hands!), jousting, swordplay, and the horses (of course!) – and those elements are still there in abundance. Some of the changes, in addition to the updated script are:

• More than 700 new costumes for all nine castles’ performers, including horses, all of which are custom-designed and handmade at a dedicated costume shop in-house.
• The new suits of armour, shields and helmets are custom-designed and handmade at a dedicated armoury in-house.

• Over 200 team members and 20 horses trained and rehearsed new interactions and fight scenes for three months while still presenting the former show.
• For the first time, audiences will see a Queen riding horseback in the Castle.

• New music was composed by Dr. Daniel May, composer and jazz pianist who scored “Everest” and other films and who worked with Sting, The Moody Blues and others. He directed and recorded Medieval Times’ new show composition in Kiev with the National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine. He directed the choir in Ukraine with lyrics written by poet and choir member, Solomia Gorokhivska, solo cellist, Gloria Caceres, and violinist, Maksym Grinchenko, concertmaster at the National Symphony of Ukraine.

Behind the Scenes at Medieval Times

I loved seeing the horses “backstage” after the show. They are so much bigger up close than I imagined they would be! We were reminded that these horses are work horses – not pets – and at over 1000 lbs each, they are not animals to play around with.

I loved the attitudes of all of the head knight and head horse trainer. They said that the horses didn’t volunteer for this job, so they try to make sure that the horses are treated very well. The horses get more “vacation” days than the people involved in the show – they get to spend a lot of time at the ranch about 15 minutes away from the castle.

Horses used in the Maryland/DC castle, as well as the eight other working castles in North America, are bred and raised on a 280 acre ranch in Texas. Did you know that all of the horses seen at Medieval Times are stallions? They start training at the castles at around three years old, and they practice and exercise every single day. They are athletes and would not be happy if they weren’t exercised regularly.

I can’t wait to go back to Medieval Times again! Have you been? What was your favorite part?

Movie Marathon Flavored Popcorn

Lolli — Fri, 02 Feb 2018 18:42:18 +0000

This post is sponsored by Savory: Fast, fresh and easy, but all thoughts and ideas are my own.

This winter has been a COLD one. It’s the kind of weather that makes everyone want to cuddle up under a blanket and stay inside all day. It’s also the type of weather that causes everyone, young and old, to suffer from serious cases of cabin fever. As a mom, I’m often looking for ways to keep everyone (including myself) engaged and fight the boredom of the winter months.

Savory is an awesome food and entertaining magazine, and I was excited to check out their digital exclusive, Snow Day Survival Guide, available on SavoryOnline.com. It’s a great resource for families of all ages, shapes, and sizes.

The Snow Day Survival Guide is full of recipes and new ideas for hot chocolate, grilled cheese (my favorite!), slow cooker classics (comfort food!), plus crafts, games, and more to combat cabin fever.

I decided to try our own boredom-busting activity this week when the kids had a day off school. It was a total hit and SO simple. We love watching movies together, and what better way to watch movies than to cuddle up under a big blanket together with some popcorn?

I made four of the flavored popcorn varieties from the Snow Day Survival Guide, but there are 10 different flavor varieties in the magazine. I can’t wait to try the other six!

Movie Marathon Flavored Popcorn

Spicy Hot Chocolate

1 packet hot chocolate mix
½ tsp cayenne pepper
¼ tsp ground cinnamon

Nutritional Yeast and Black Pepper

3 Tbsp melted coconut oil
5 Tbsp nutritional yeast
2 tsp coarsely ground black pepper

Chinese 5 Spice and Garlic

5 Tbsp melted salted butter
½ tsp Chinese 5 Spice powder
1 tsp garlic powder

Orange Zest and Chili

5 Tbsp melted salted butter
Zest of 1 orange
1 ½ tsp chili powder

Instructions:

Mix the above seasoning ingredients in a small bowl and toss with a bag of popped plain or lightly salted popcorn. Use one popped bag per seasoning recipe. Make a few varieties and enjoy while watching a movie together!

You can find all 10 movie marathon popcorn blend recipes in the Snow Day Survival Guide!

My husband loved the Chinese 5 Spice and Garlic Popcorn. He couldn’t get enough! My youngest son, who LOVES to drink hot chocolate, was naturally drawn to the Spicy Hot Chocolate Popcorn. I was a fan of the Orange Zest and Chili Popcorn. Just a unique and bold flavor! We also loved the Nutritional Yeast and Black Pepper Popcorn, and my youngest daughter loved learning that it was vegan!

Which variety would you like to try?

Connect with Savory:

Read the Snow Day Survival Guide

Website: https://www.Savoryonline.com

Facebook: SavoryOnline

Instagram: Savory.Online

Pinterest: SavoryOnline

Hashtag: #savorysnowday

Paddington 2 Movie Review

Lolli — Wed, 10 Jan 2018 20:50:11 +0000

My family and I were invited to a very early screening of Paddington 2, over a month ago. I’ve been itching to tell everyone about this amazing family film, and the time is finally here! Paddington 2 arrives in theaters officially this weekend, January 12! Although we did see the movie for free, no other compensation was received, and all thoughts and opinions are my own. Amazon affiliate links are used within this post.

Paddington Bear was an icon of childhood for so many of us. I loved his books – his sweet personality and his silly adventures in London – when I was a kid. When the first Paddington movie came out in 2015, I almost wrote it off as a movie JSUT for kids (you know the type). I never imagined that Paddington would be equally as loveable and enjoyable for adults as well as kids.

But despite how much we liked the first Paddington movie, I was surprised by my almost 17-year-old son’s reaction when we were on our way to see Paddington 2 in the theater last month. He asked, “So, what are we seeing, anyway?” (typical question from the child of a blogger who gets dragged around to activities for my blog!). When I said, “Paddington 2,” his face lit up and he said, “Oh, yay! I love Paddington.” Like I said, NOT the response I was expecting from my teenage boy.

So…how did we like Paddington 2? Did it live up to Paddington 1? In fact, we all thought it was EVEN BETTER than the first. Better story, more laughs. We laughed throughout the movie. We fell in love with the characters (talk about an all-star cast!). We couldn’t stop talking about favorite scenes and favorite characters on the way home. And now, a month later, we are all eager to go back to the theater to see Paddington 2 again. This time, we’ll bring the 18-year-old who was busy when the rest of us saw it.

I highly recommend Paddington 2. In fact, I can’t say enough about how much we loved it. This is a movie for everyone (and yes, it’s totally acceptable for date night without the kids – I promise you will smile the entire time and walk away feeling happy. You may even shed a tear or two at the ending!).

About Paddington 2

In theaters: January 12, 2018

Rated: PG

Cast: Ben Whishaw, Hugh Bonneville, Sally Hawkins, Brendan Gleeson, Julie Walters, Jim Broadbent, Peter Capaldi, Hugh Grant

Director: Paul King

Following the worldwide hit “Paddington,” one of the most successful family films of all time, this much-anticipated sequel finds Paddington (Ben Whishaw) happily settled with the Brown family in London, where he has become a popular member of the local community, spreading joy and marmalade wherever he goes.

While searching for the perfect present for his beloved Aunt Lucy’s hundredth birthday, Paddington sees a unique pop-up book in Mr. Gruber’s antique shop, and embarks upon a series of odd jobs to buy it. But when the book is stolen, it’s up to Paddington and the Browns to unmask the thief.

I won’t divulge too much of the story, but Paddington’s adventures take him to an unlikely place – prison! – where he meets some rather rough characters who add a fun (and very funny) dimension to the film.

Head out the the theaters this weekend and catch Paddington 2. You won’t regret it!

Kings Dominion BBQ and Brew Fest 2017

Lolli — Sat, 12 Aug 2017 21:20:19 +0000

My family and I were thrilled to receive an invite to BBQ and Brew Fest at Kings Dominion this past weekend. We couldn’t wait to return for our second year in a row (although this was BBQ and Brew Fest’s 3rd season at the park). The post was sponsored by Cedar Fair in conjunction with Blog Meets Brand, but all thoughts, excitement, and photos are my own.

We decided to make this year’s BBQ and Brew Fest at Kings Dominion a fun family weekend getaway and stayed in the Richmond area Friday and Saturday so we could have a full day – opening to closing – at the park. We couldn’t have asked for better weather for a day at Kings Dominion, especially for August!

What is BBQ and Brew Fest?

BBQ and Brew Fest, in it’s 3rd season, runs Saturdays and Sundays from noon to 8pm between August 5 and August 20. Park-goers can enjoy mouthwatering BBQ from all over the region and relax or dance along with live entertainment (whichever strikes your fancy!). For those of you who are 21+ and enjoy a good craft beer, you can quench your thirst with the best local craft beers in Virginia. Since I’m not a beer drinker myself, I just enjoyed as much of the BBQ as possible!

Memphis Dry Rub Ribs

Memphis-style Mac & Cheese

North Carolina Pulled Chicken Wontons

Shish Kabob Beef from Georgia

How it Works

Visit BBQ booths around Candy Apple Grove to taste sample size BBQ dishes from Texas, Georgia, Memphis, North Carolina, Virginia, and St. Louis. Each sample size portion costs 2-4 Taste Tokens. Tokens can be purchased at the Festival Information Center. The “sample” sizes were very generous, and we all got plenty to eat!

BBQ and Brew Fest Menu 2017

We all spread out and visited several BBQ regions. I think my favorite item was the tater tots with pulled duck and creamy gouda cheese. How delicious does that sound?! It was as tasty as it sounds and looks!

Tater tots with pulled duck and creamy gouda cheese

Live Entertainment

There is live music and entertainment every day of the festival between 12-2pm and 4-6pm – perfect for the lunch and dinner crowds! There are places to sit and enjoy the music while you sip on a cold drink and nibble on some tasty BBQ.

Enjoy a Day at Kings Dominion

Of course, we enjoyed the rest of the day at Kings Dominion riding as many rides as possible and taking a relaxing break or two at a show, too! Check out this summer’s shows at https://www.kingsdominion.com/play/shows-and-entertainment. We loved Jump: The Ultimate Dog Show (which runs through September 4 in the Peanuts Showplace) and Origins: A Cirque Experience (which runs through September 4 in the Kings Dominion Theater in Old Virginia).

Origins: A Cirque Experience at Kings Dominion

Jump: The Ultimate Dog Show at Kings Dominion

There’s so much to do at Kings Dominion – from family-friendly rides to thrill rides to water rides to shows! We did a little bit of everything last weekend!

Caricature Drawings at Kings Dominion

Cooling off on the Shenandoah Lumber Company Log Ride

Hurry over to Kings Dominion for the remainder of BBQ and Brew Fest 2017. You’ll love it!

Connect with BBQ and Brew Fest

Learn More about BBQ and Brew Fest: https://www.kingsdominion.com/play/events/bbq-and-brew
Park website: https://www.kingsdominion.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kingsdominionva
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kingsdominionva/
Twitter: @KingsDominionVA

How We Solved The Summer Time Meal Dilemma

Lolli — Thu, 15 Jun 2017 18:53:56 +0000

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Tyson Foods and SheSpeaks. All opinions are entirely my own. WONDER WOMAN and all related characters and elements © & DC Comics and Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.

As a mom of five kids, dinner time has often been quite a struggle. When the kids were little, my biggest challenge was finding foods that I wanted to eat that they wouldn’t turn their noses up at. I had my share of picky eaters, that’s for sure! It’s so frustrating to make lunches and dinners day after day that they refuse to eat!

Now that my kids are a little older, they’re much more willing to try different tastes, but now I have new challenges to deal with. The biggest that we face as a family of tweens and teens is finding the TIME to cook meals for the family and gathering everyone together at the same time and place. It’s especially difficult during the summer months to find times when everyone is home at once.

It takes some pretty creative thinking to get lunch and dinner on the table each night and to make sure that everyone is eating 3 meals a day when they’re off their normal school-year schedules. Just the other day, I had to remind my recently-graduated daughter to eat lunch, because she was so preoccupied with making a cake that she had forgotten to sit down to eat some food.

I’ve discovered the secret to solving the summer-time meal dilemma – Tyson® chicken from Sam’s Club! Not only is it SUPER quick and easy for me to prepare a tasty meal for my family, but the kids love it so much that I don’t have to nag them to eat. They’re actually excited to eat lunch and dinner!

When I find that perfect meal-time balance (happy kids and happy mom!), I feel like a super hero. I feel like I’ve totally scored because I’ve got the best of both worlds with Tyson® chicken in my freezer – it’s food that my kids and I all enjoy eating and that anyone can prepare in a matter of minutes.

If I’m running late and need one of the teens to make a quick dinner for the rest of the family, I just have them pop a few Tyson® Chicken Nuggets in the oven or the microwave. We pair the Chicken Nuggets with some homemade fries and a green salad or fresh veggies and a dip, and dinner is done!

At lunch time, my teens and tweens can grab a few Tyson® Chicken Nuggets from the freezer and heat them up in just a minute or two. They’re much more likely to eat when they have something delicious to serve up!

For a different twist, we love using Tyson® Chicken Patties to make an easy chicken burger (no need to fire up the grill!). I like to top my crispy chicken burger with lettuce, tomato, and avocado for a fresh and tasty dinner-time sandwich.

I was excited to find a ton of our favorite Tyson® chicken products at our local Sam’s Club. They’re located in the freezer section at Sam’s Club and come in a variety of flavors, including crispy chicken strips, chicken tenders, chicken patties and more. See all of the Tyson® products at Sam’s Club here, or head down to your local club and check it out for yourself!

See Wonder Woman in theaters now! Be sure to check out the fun Wonder Woman quiz on Dailybreak.com. I took the quiz and it told me that I’m filled with POWER. I love it! Take it for yourself here.

Kings Dominion: What’s New for 2017

Lolli — Sun, 02 Apr 2017 14:31:06 +0000

I was invited to a media preview of the new Planet Snoopy expansion at Kings Dominion during opening weekend for the 2017 season. I spent the day at the park with two of my kids and enjoyed a special lunch with the other members of the media and their families. We received admission and lunch, but no other compensation was received.

Kings Dominion is a premier amusement park just outside of Richmond, Virginia. With more than 60 rides, shows and attractions, there’s something for everyone! Check the website for hours and ticket information.

My family and I love Kings Dominion! We spent many summer days at Kings Dominion last year, and I am shocked that the park is open for the 2017 season already.

We lucked out with the weather the day that we were there. Our spring weather has been all over the place, but we couldn’t have ordered better weather if the forecast worked that way (perfectly clear, blue skies and nicely warm but not hot). The time passed a little too quickly, but we had a blast.

During our media preview, we learned about 4 fabulous new features for 2017.

This year, Kings Dominion is making room for more fun, more laughs and more thrills will the Planet Snoopy expansion that includes 3 new thrill rides for kids. Also expanding the Planet Snoopy experience includes a new event space and upgraded food and beverage locations.

Kings Dominion will also be adding free park WiFi for guests and introducing FunPix, a fun and easy way to capture, collect, and share photos while you’re at the park. And last but not least, Kings Dominion has introduced the Pre-K Pass, which allows parents to get free passes for the entire season for their preschool-aged kids.

Free WiFi Throughout the Park!

This is a new feature that the entire family will appreciate! Kings Dominion is now equipped with free WiFi – no password or login required. Now you can play all day and not worry about eating through your phone’s data. We tried it out, and it was fast and smooth to use. No connection problems at all!

More Fun at Planet Snoopy

This spring, Kings Dominion has introduced three brand new Rides in Planet Snoopy:

Kite Eating Tree: Charlie Brown’s kite is stuck in a tree. Can you help get it down? This ride will take you up to see if you can grab it, then gently bring you down. Children of all ages will laugh and smile on this ride that takes them in the air and then gently drops them in a jumping, vertical descent.

Sally’s Sea Plane: Kids and their parents join Sally as she flies through the sky on this crazy airplane adventure that rotates and rises into the air.

Peanuts 500: Start your engines! Burn rubber through a circular speedway towards the checkered flag. Hang on through the turns – they’ll make you giggle! Children and their parents can pick their car and hit the track!

Pre-K Pass

To celebrate the opening of 3 new Planet Snoopy rides, Kings Dominion is offering free admission for ages 3-5 with the Pre-K Pass! Now your little ones can join in the fun with no extra cost! Find out how to get a Pre-K Pass for your little one here!

FunPix Photo Pass

Whether it’s on a ride, with Charlie Brown or at one of the park’s photo spots you’ll have plenty of pictures to remember your visits by. With the new FunPix All Season Photo Pass ($44.99) you’ll be able to look back at all the photos you’ve collected from the entire season. You can also get a Single Day Digital Photo Pass for $24.99.

Take advantage of your photo pass at multiple locations throughout the park, including:

On-ride photos
Roaming photographers
Peanuts character photos
Photo spots

About Kings Dominion

The idea for a family amusement park north of Richmond, Virginia and south of Washington, D.C., began as a dream in 1971. A site was selected in Doswell, VA in the heart of the Mid-Atlantic to build the 400-acre park. The design of the new park was similar to Kings Island near Cincinnati, OH, using similar rides, attractions and themes including a 315-foot-tall Eiffel Tower replica and twin-track, racing roller coaster.

With more than 60 rides, shows and attractions Kings Dominion has everything you need to create lifelong memories. Thrill-seekers will get their fix with one of the East Coast’s largest collection of roller coasters – 12 in all – including Intimidator 305, which stretches 305 feet tall and screams at more than 90 miles per hour. Families will delight in the zany rides at Planet Snoopy, featuring Snoopy and the entire PEANUTS gang.

Find out more about Kings Dominion at kingsdominion.com.

6 Things to Do at Hersheypark Christmas Candylane

Lolli — Fri, 18 Nov 2016 12:00:32 +0000

My family and I spent last weekend kicking off the holiday season at Hersheypark as part of my Sweetest Moms ambassadorship. Our park admission and some activities were covered by Hersheypark, but all thoughts are my own.

Hersheypark’s Christmas Candylane began Friday, November 11th and is open on select dates through Sunday, January 1, 2017. For operational hours and dates visit www.Hersheypark.com.

Tickets are only $19 and free for kids 2 and under.

I highly recommend bundling up and bringing layers when you visit the park during the holiday season. It’s kind of fun to take a break from our normal summer visits and enjoy the park fully decked out for Christmas. There are festive lights everywhere, Christmas music playing around every corner, and…refillable Hershey’s hot chocolate! It doesn’t get much better than all the hot chocolate you can drink (note: souvenir hot chocolate mugs can be purchased at most of the food vendors throughout the park and can be filled for free on the first day or for 99 cents after the first day. I recommend buying the mug as soon as you get to the park!).

Here are 6 things to do at Hersheypark Christmas Candylane:

Enjoy 5 Fabulous Roller Coasters

Bundle up and enjoy 5 of Hersheypark’s fun and fabulous roller coasters: Cocoa Cruiser, sooperdooperLooper, Wildcat, Wild Mouse, and Laff Trakk. There are a ton of kids rides open as well.

Meet Santa and His Reindeer

Santa is available at Hersheypark (near the Kissing Tower…just follow the signs!) for pictures and the obligatory “gift discussion.”

You can also schedule breakfast or lunch at Hersheypark Place. You get a delicious meal and entertainment from Mrs. Clause and her friends, singing, story telling and a treat for everyone 12 and under. There are tons of photo opportunities with Santa himself. Reservations are required.

Santa’s 9 reindeer (including fan-favorite, Rudolph) are also available for a visit. You can ask the reindeer’s special handlers any question you can think of. We learned a lot about reindeer antlers (did you know that they get a new set of antlers EVERY year and that you can tell reindeer apart by their antlers, which are totally unique from other reindeer?).

A Music Box Christmas

A mysterious music box found in Grandma’s attic brings the magic of Christmas to life in this delightful show that “kids” of all ages will enjoy! Expect lots of dancing and songs and a special, sparkly surprise at the end! A Music Box Christmas can be seen at the Chevrolet Music Box Theatre at Hersheypark.
Presented by Capitol BlueCross

NOEL (“Nights of Extraordinary Lights”) at The Hollow

NOEL, a breathtaking light show featuring more than 200,000 dancing lights synchronized to your favorite Christmas music, is something you can’t miss on your winter trip to Hersheypark! Shows are every half hour starting at 5 PM (when the park is open). Note: there are a few different shows, with a unique variety of holiday tunes, so be sure to check back a few times during the night.

Christmas Candylane Storytime

Join one of Santa’s elves for a holiday story at the Cookie Workshop, located in Kissing Tower Hill.

Weeknights: 6 & 7:30 PM
Saturdays & Sundays: 2:30, 3:30, 4:30, 6 & 7:30 PM
Dec. 24, 31 & Jan. 1: 2:30, 3:30 & 4:30 PM

Rudolph’s Skating Pond

Enjoy “ice” skating on Rudoplh’s synthetic skating pond. You can rent skates for a small fee (I believe it was $2 or $3) right next to the reindeer stables.

Photo courtesy of Hershey

What are you most excited to do at Hersheypark Christmas Candylane? Be sure to check back, because I’ll be bringing more family-fun coverage of our trip, including our stay at Hersheypark’s Camping Resort, our appearance on Hershey’s Kitchens Live, and fun things to do at Hershey’s Chocolate World.

Hersheypark in the Dark

Lolli — Tue, 18 Oct 2016 03:04:39 +0000

As part of my Sweetest Moms Ambassadorship this year, my girls and I were invited to spend Saturday (which happened to be my birthday!) at Hersheypark for the opening weekend of Hersheypark in the Dark – Hersheypark’s annual Halloween celebration. Although we were given tickets, we covered all travel expenses and food ourselves. All thoughts are my own.

Fall is my favorite season – with the changing leaves, the cooler temperatures, and the acceleration towards my favorite holidays of the year.

After spending the weekend at Hersheypark, I’ve convinced that fall is also the perfect time to be in Hershey! Hersheypark is transformed into a festive Halloween town, with family-friendly activities and lots and lots of chocolate. Hersheypark is fun all day long, but it becomes magical at night when the sun goes down and the lights come on. I loved the festive Halloween lights, the singing jack-o-lanterns, and the festive music being played throughout the park.

But I think my favorite Hersheypark in the Dark perk was the Pumpkin Pie Funnel Cake – a seasonal treat featuring a pumpkin spice funnel cake drizzled with cream cheese frosting, sprinkled with crumbled graham crackers, and topped with whipped cream. It was heavenly.

Hersheypark In The Dark

Hersheypark In The Dark takes place Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from October 14 – 30 (2016 schedule)

Here are a few of the things you can expect from Hersheypark in the Dark as well as other area attractions:

More than 50 rides and attractions including 13 roller coasters and Halloween-themed live entertainment.

NEW Laff Trakk will be a dark ride experience (ie, NO LIGHTS!) during all operating hours. In addition, the Park will once again turn the lights off the last operating hour of each evening on the three wooden roller coasters: Comet, Lightning Racer and Wildcat.

Hershey’s Trick-or-Treat Adventure with two locations – Hershey’s Chocolate World and Treatville, a hometown village of treats and sweets inside Hersheypark, for children 12 and younger (costumes are encouraged).
Fall-themed food and beverage offerings including pumpkin funnel cakes, pumpkin chili and more!

Live entertainment including favorites “Screaming Mummies,” a band of misfit mummies and their classic Halloween tunes, performing in the Amphitheatre. Additional entertainment offerings including “Boo Crew,” “Monster Party,” and “Treatville Tales” will be located at the exit of Treatville.

Hersheypark In The Dark will offer meet and greet opportunities with your favorite Hershey’s Characters.

For more information about Hersheypark in the Dark, plus hours of operation, visit www.hersheypark.com/seasons/halloween.php.

Laff Trakk is our favorite ride at Hersheypark, but I have to admit…it WAS scarier with the lights out!

Creatures Of The Night at ZooAmerica

Just like the rest of the year, your one-price admission to hersheypark in the Dark also includes admission to ZooAmerica. Starting at 6:00pm every night, guest are encouraged to come to the Zoo with their flashlights to experience Creatures of the Night…after dark and after-hours. This is the only time of the year when guests can experience ZooAmerica in the dark!

See ZooAmerica’s newest additions – two black bears and two armadillos!
Guests may observe the nocturnal habits of North American species with programs and activities nightly starting at 6:00pm (like howling with the wolves!)
Pumpkin treats for select animals.

My girls and I thought it would be fun to howl with the wolves…and it was! Once people and wolves started howling at the full moon (and it really WAS a full moon!), it was hard not to join in.

Hershey’s Chocolate World

We love Hershey’s Chocolate World all year long (especially because it’s a place we can go for good food, entertainment, and as much candy as you could dream of….with free admission!) but like Hersheypark, Chocolate World has some Halloween-themed fun you don’t want to miss!

Hershey’s Trick-Or-Treat Adventure: The candy collecting begins at Hershey’s Chocolate World and continues inside Hersheypark.
Full Moon Fridays: Dress up and enter Hershey Hallow for spook-tacular music, dancing with the Hershey’s Characters and more ghostly activities.

Flavors of Fall Dessert Festival: Bite into the delicious flavors of fall, such as the Pumpkin Pie Milkshake
Trick-or-Treat Trolley: Limited edition tours featuring Milton Hershey’s life story in a fall themed Trolley with plenty of treats and no tricks.
Tricky Treats & Sweets: Shop Halloween treats in Hershey’s largest candy store and pick up delightful sweets from the bakery.

The Hershey Story Museum

Visitors can learn about the history of chocolate at The Hershey Story, The Museum on Chocolate Avenue, and families can experience Ghosts & Goodies: Kids are encouraged to wear their favorite costume as they create ghostly treats using Hershey’s candy. This is a FREE event and is held October 29 and 30 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Hershey Gardens

Hershey Gardens lights up the night with more than 150 uniquely carved illuminated pumpkins and a variety of whimsical scarecrows that come to life along the path, during its annual Pumpkin Glow. Kids ages 12 and younger are invited to bring a flashlight, come in costume, trick-or-treat throughout the Gardens and experience the following activities:

NEW See a unique collection of live spiders and insects in the Educational & Horticultural Wing of the Milton & Catherine Hershey Conservatory.
Listen to a garden-themed story.
Collect candy treats at stops along the Gardens’ paths.
Watch live pumpkin carving demonstrations.

Pumpkin Glow is from 6 to 8:30pm on October 21, 22, 28 and 29. Tickets may be purchased online at www.HersheyGardens.com or at the door. Please note, the Butterfly Atrium will be closed during Pumpkin Glow hours.

The Official Resorts of Hersheypark

Stay overnight at The Official Resorts of Hersheypark for the perfect fall getaway. Don’t forget that Hershey’s Water Works at Hershey Lodge is new this year and open all year round for guests!

There’s a special Hersheypark In The Dark Package available at Hershey Lodge which includes:

Deluxe accommodations.
Breakfast with Hershey’s Characters.
One-day admission to Hersheypark In The Dark.
Admission to Hershey Gardens (including the new year-round Butterfly Atrium).
Admission to The Hershey Story’s Museum Experience.
The package is available Friday and Saturday nights from October 14 -30 with prices starting from $469*.

*Price is per room per night, based on a family of four. Excludes tax and gratuities. Other restrictions may apply.

The Spa At The Hotel Hershey

Through November 30, The Spa At The Hotel Hershey offers guests fall-themed treatments to relax their mind and body such as Pumpkin Latte Manicure & Pedicure, Pumpkin Soufflé Wrap and Pumpkin Spice Scrub. Please visit www.ChocolateSpa.com for treatments offerings, pricing and additional information.

For additional information, hours and pricing for Halloween In Hershey, please visit www.HersheyPA.com. Follow us on Twitter @HersheyPA, Instagram @TheSweetestPlaceOnEarth and enjoy the latest stories from Hershey, PA at Stories.HersheyPA.com.

5 Smile-Worthy After-School Activities To Do With Your Kids #GoldfishMoments

Lolli — Sat, 01 Oct 2016 20:25:56 +0000

As my kids have gotten older, one thing has become certain: it’s harder than ever to find time to bond with them. We always seem to be on the go. Afternoons and evenings are often hectic with homework, practices, and dinner prep. Carving out family bonding time really does need to be deliberate.

The good news is, regardless of the age of your kids, it’s possible to find bonding moments and create memories together on even the busiest of days. And guess what? None of these ideas are anything new. They are probably the things that you’re doing already…so give yourself a pat on the back for being an awesome parent.

5 Smile-Worthy After-School Activities To Do With Your Kids #GoldfishMoments

Cook Together – Dinner needs to be made (they keep expecting me to feed them. Every night!) so why not make it a bonding AND a learning experience? I learned to cook by helping my mom prepare dinners when I was young, and my kids have grown up learning their way around the kitchen by my side. I love to cook, and it gives me great pleasure to see my kids enjoying it, too. Not only does cooking together give you and your child some great bonding time, but you each come away with the satisfaction of knowing that you’ve accomplished something that is helping the whole family (it doesn’t hurt when it tastes yummy, too!). Tip: encourage licking of fingers, flour on the nose, and flicks of water on the neck. In other words, let loose on your silliness and share some laughs and some learning.

Take a Walk – The late afternoon/early evening is my favorite time to talk a walk, but walks are much more fun with a walking buddy. We have a few silly walking games that we play together. One of our favorites is “Pick a Make.” We each start our walk off choosing a make of car (ie, Kid #1 chooses Ford, Kid #2 chooses Chevy, and I choose Toyota). As we walk, we tally up the number of cars of our own make that we find. The one with the most tallied cars seen gets bragging rights. Bonus if I get to hold someone’s hand while we walk.

Turn Errands Into Mini Dates – Errands are not always the most fun activity, but they’re inevitable, so we try to make the most of them. If I need to run to the store to get some milk or to the bank to get some cash, I take a kid along with me and we add in something fun – an ice cream cone from the drive-thru, a special treat at check out. And don’t forget the value of turning up the volume and playing an impromptu game of car karaoke!

Watch Your Favorite Show Together – Sometimes everyone just needs to chill after school. School days take a lot out of kids (and work days take a lot out of me!). I love grabbing a favorite snack and snuggling on the couch together as we enjoy a favorite sitcom together. It doesn’t take lots of planning, and we get to rejuvenate after the long day.

Play a Board Game – We have a huge collection of board games and card games, and we love to gather on the family room floor and play together. It’s during those times when we’re sprawled out on the carpet when we start sharing memories of the day with one another. We laugh and we joke and decompress.

What are some of your favorite activities to do with your kids?

Enter the #GoldfishTalesPromotion for a Chance to WIN!

Do Goldfish® crackers bring smiles to your family’s faces like they do to ours? Share your Goldfish® Tale on Twitter or Instagram using the hashtag #GoldfishTalesPromotion and you could win awesome prizes (the Contest Prize is $1000!). Each month has a new theme, and October’s theme was just announced as “SPOOKY.” Check here for super cute examples, contest details and official rules.

Kings Dominion BBQ & Brew Fest 2016

Lolli — Tue, 09 Aug 2016 20:00:37 +0000

This past Saturday, three of my kids and I headed south to Kings Dominion for BBQ & Brew Fest. All I had to do was mention BBQ tasting and they were ALL IN. This post is sponsored by Cedar Fair Entertainment Company in conjunction with Blog Meets Brand, and I have been compensated for my participation. All opinions are my own.

What is BBQ & Brew Fest?

It’s simple! BBQ & Brew Fest is a three weekend-long festival celebrating great BBQ and local craft beer. Guests can sample everything BBQ, from chicken to brisket to pork to ribs (and don’t forget the sides and desserts!). Guests 21 and over can enjoy signature craft brews from some of the area’s local breweries. All that BBQ pairs perfectly with entertainment from live bands. BBQ and Brew Fest runs Saturdays and Sundays, August 6 through August 21.

Where is BBQ & Brew Fest?

The BBQ & Brew Fest is set up at Kings Dominion along Candy Apple Grove. It’s easy to browse the different food offerings (all within a short walking distance around Candy Apple Grove) and then grab a shady spot to eat and listen to live music.

There is no separate admission fee for BBQ & Brew Fest – anyone in the park can enjoy. All food items are $5.00 each (except for watermelon cups which are $3.00 and strawberry shortcake parfaits which are $4.00); you can either pay cash or purchase sampler cards for $5.00 a piece. They’ve even got a discount card for $20.00 that get you 3 BBQ tasting cards and 2 brew sample cards.

Sample size (5 oz) pours of beer can be purchased for $3.00. Full size (20 oz) pours are $8.00 each.

The BBQ & Brew Fest Menu

The Pit
? Moonshine Pulled pork slider with smoky BBQ sauce and spicy pickles
? Beef Brisket Slider with BBQ sauce and spicy pickles

Tastes from the Tower Food Truck
? Redneck Eggroll with “white BBQ sauce”
? Loaded tater tots with pulled pork, cheese sauce, jalapenos and sour cream

BBQ Fiesta
? Loaded moonshine pulled pork “walking taco” bag
? BBQ chicken tacos

BBQ Island
? Hawaiian style grilled teriyaki beef slider with chive mayo and pineapple coleslaw
? Jamaican style jerk BBQ chicken quarter with Jambalaya Cornbread fritter and mango salsa

The Dogs
? Virginia Oinker dog (dog wrapped in ham, topped with BBQ pork and chopped bacon) and BBQ brown sugar baked beans
? Grilled hot dog topped with BBQ pork, coleslaw and jalapenos with BBQ brown sugar baked beans

Mac ‘N Cheesy
? BBQ pork and mashed potato “parfait” with macaroni and cheese
? Candied bacon blt served with BBQ macaroni and cheese

Southern ‘N Sweet
? Moonshine bratwurst with blackberry jam
? Southern style banana pudding

The Halligan Bar and Grill:

“Chicken Shack” BBQ
? Memphis Style BBQ Chicken Slider
? “Wings of Smoke”
? “Bird Dog”
? Sides: Cole Slaw, Cucumber Salad

Beef Country
? Texas Style Beef Brisket Slider
? Bacon Wrapped Brisket Bites
? “Texas Bull Dog”
? Sides: Cole Slaw, Macaroni salad

Carolina BBQ
? North Carolina Style Pulled Pork BBQ Slider
? Baby Back Ribs
? The “Dog Pound”
? Sides: Cole Slaw, BBQ Baked Beans

Fire Truck Smoker with Whole Pig Roasted on Saturdays

The BBQ & Brew Fest Brewers

I’m not a beer-drinker, so I can’t speak to how great the beer tasting was, but people sure seemed to enjoy it! The list of brewers is different each weekend.

August 6 – 7

Bold Rock Hard Cider — Nellysford (Nelson County), VA
Brother’s Craft Brewing — Harrisonburg, VA
Legend Brewing Company — Richmond, VA
O’Connor Brewing Company — Norfolk, VA
Old Bust Head Brewing Company — Faquier County, VA
Strangeways Brewery — Richmond, VA

August 13 – 14

Ardent Craft Ales — Richmond, VA
Devils Backbone — Roseland, VA
Midnight Brewery — Rockville, VA
Chaos Mountain Brewery — Callaway, VA
Center of the Universe — Ashland, VA
Starr Hill Brewery — Crozet, VA

August 20 – 21

Bold Rock Hard Cider — Nellysford (Nelson County), VA
Steam Bell Beer Works — Chesterfield, VA
Isley Brewing Company — Richmond, VA
Hardywood Craft Brewery — Richmond, VA
Kindred Spirits — Richmond, VA

The BBQ & Brew Fest Entertainment

I love live music, so this was perhaps my favorite part of BBQ & Brew Fest! We loved the Pat Russel Band, and wish we could be there every day of the festival to hear all of the other live entertainment!

8/6: Pat Russel Band
8/7: Inside Out
8/13: Moonshine Society
8/14: Red Light Rodeo Allstars
8/20: The Mashup
8/21: Little Country

Also catch Chainsaw Chix each day at 2:00pm, 3:15pm and 6:30pm. They were fascinating to watch!

I loved everything about our experience at Kings Dominion BBQ & Brew Fest, except for the weather. It was almost too hot to do anything at all. When we weren’t sampling the BBQ and listening to Pat Russel Band perform (in our shady spot), we were refilling our souvenir cups or ordering frozen treats to try to cool off. Unfortunately, because of my son’s stitches, we weren’t able to get wet (how mean would it have been to leave him while we went down a water slide or two?!) but we still had a blast on a couple of our favorite rides.

We’re definitely putting BBQ & Brew Fest on our calendar for next year!