Final Wrap-up Of 2016! Merry Christmas And Happy Holidays!

Spending time with Santa, Opening day at the OVAL, an All-Girls self-defence program, lots of Holiday Day Camps and a NYE slumber party… Our 2016 Holiday Wrap UP has something for everyone! From our family to yours, we hope you have a loving holiday season! And remember… sometimes the littlest things take up the most room in our hearts.   Feel like you are running out of time?! Get to the Last Chance Christmas Craft Fair 10am-9pm this Saturday Dec 17th. Support local crafters this holiday season at the Dartmouth SportsPlex. Admission is only $2 and parking’s free! Tis’ the season to find an army of Santas posted at Malls all over town, Make sure to carve out a little time on Santa’s knee. The pictures are perfect gifts for grandparents, aunts & uncles. Check out the schedules in the links below for some of the best Jingle Bell experiences in HRM. Mic Mac Mall https://www.micmacmall.com/promotions-events/event/santas-polar-club/ Free Photos! Halifax Shopping Centre http://halifaxshoppingcentre.com/events/halifaxcentre-visit-santa–2 Donate $5 for a 4×6 print or have your shot emailed for Free! Sunnyside Mall http://sunnysidemall.ca/sunnyside-of-santa/ Support FEED Ns and Autism NS with $5 per photo. Bedford Place Mall http://bedfordplacemall.com/santa-claus-coming-bedford-place-mall.php Donate $5 to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation for a photo. Wishing for a more intimate setting with St. Nick? Perhaps dream of sharing a meal with him? The Playbox in Dartmouth has it all set up! Your little one can spend a whole interactive hour with Santa, plus a snack and a present for only $15+tax! 4-5pm Dec 18th. Be Your Own Superhero at SISU Women’s Self Defence in Dartmouth! On Saturday Dec 17th at 10am, mom and daughter can attend a free sample class for Supergirls. Get a taste of their 8-week intro-level self defence program that starts in January. It is a fabulous program for girls aged 9-12, designed by a woman and taught by a female instructor, SISU has a range of dynamic and exciting programs that cover pre-teens to seniors, regardless of physical ability or fitness level. January might seem a long way away, but NOW is the time to Book your NYE babysitting! Our friends at Party Patrol are offering Slumber Party of the Year! Ring in the New Year in style, while your children are in good hands all night long. There will be a minimum of 2 staff on-site at all times and up to 4 adults depending on registration numbers. The Party allows for up to 22 girls and boys, aged 6-12 years old. It’s held at Harold T. Barrett Fun Camp in Beaver Bank, drop-off is from 4-6pm. For just $75+tax, all meals & fun times are provided, with pick-up on January 1st by 11am. Do you have to work through the holidays? Or looking for a little extra enrichment for the kids while school is out? Party Patrol, the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia and 4Cats Art Studio are offering some of our favourite day camps. Party Patrol is on the case in Windsor NS, teaming up with the Windsor Junction Community Centre. On Dec 22nd & 23rd programming is from 9:00-4:00, offering crafts, games & activities for children ages 6-12 years old. $38+tax. The Art Gallery of NS offers brilliant full-day workshops on Dec 22nd & 23rd for primary to grade 6 students. Led by experienced art educators, these workshops will include hands-on art activities in the studio and visits to the various exhibitions for inspiration. Programming is from 9am-4pm and costs $40+tax ($36 if you’re a member). 4Cats has a plethora of half day workshops over the holidays. (perfect for a handmade gift!). There is something happening in the studio everyday except Dec 24th & 25th. excluding the 24th-26th . Kids can work with clay at “Cool Camp,” mixed media at “Snow Queen,” painting at “Birds of a Feather” and “All I Want is You.” Check out the black boxes on the Urban Parent calendar for dates, times, ages and pricing! Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it SNOW! With all of the beautiful weather we received this week, it is the perfect time to dust off the sled & have some family fun! Gorsebrook Hill, and the Citadel are two of our family favourites! Light up the Night? Pack up the kids after dinner, and check out some of the city’s best light displays. There is a fabulous interactive map showcasing the best decorated homes in HRM, http://www.narcity.com/halifax/heres-map-finding-magical-christmas-lights-halifax/# Holiday parties from around the globe, why not try celebrating Iranian style? Join the Iranian Cultural Society of Nova Scotia for Yalda night, the Winter Solstice, on Friday Dec 23rd in celebration of the triumph of light over darkness. There will be live entertainment, dance, music, Hafiz poetry, and pop music. Cookies, nuts, fruits, coffee and tea will be served. The party goes from 7:30-midnight. Admission is $35, and children under 6 are free. THE OVAL is back for another season! It is opening this weekend (weather permitting) . there are multiple public skates during the day, and FREE Skate & helmet rentals are available onsite. The new warming building will definitely be a hit with families, featuring heated washrooms, lots of seating, Trivia for the Tots… our ice surface is the size of 3 NHL hockey rinks, and is the largest out-door refrigerated ice east of Quebec City. NYE in Downtown Halifax! The big show is at the Grand Parade with live music & midnight fireworks. Festivities begin at 10pm with Ria Mae and headlining are The Strumbellas! For the littler guys and gals , an early evening fireworks display will be held at the Emera Oval at 7pm. This free family friendly event includes music provided by DJ Chris Swift and public skates from 6-8pm and 9-midnight. Hope we’ve given you a few ideas to enjoy over the holidays. We’ll see you in the New Year with more Family Events and great ideas for spending time together. Happy holidays from your friends at Urban Parent.


Spending time with Santa, Opening day at the OVAL, an All-Girls self-defence program, lots of Holiday Day Camps and a NYE slumber party… Our 2016 Holiday Wrap UP has something for everyone! From our family to yours, we hope you have a loving holiday season! And remember… sometimes the littlest things take up the most room in our hearts.
 

Feel like you are running out of time?! Get to the Last Chance Christmas Craft Fair 10am-9pm this Saturday Dec 17th. Support local crafters this holiday season at the Dartmouth SportsPlex. Admission is only $2 and parking’s free!
Tis’ the season to find an army of Santas posted at Malls all over town, Make sure to carve out a little time on Santa’s knee. The pictures are perfect gifts for grandparents, aunts & uncles. Check out the schedules in the links below for some of the best Jingle Bell experiences in HRM.

Mic Mac Mall https://www.micmacmall.com/promotions-events/event/santas-polar-club/ Free Photos!
Halifax Shopping Centre http://halifaxshoppingcentre.com/events/halifaxcentre-visit-santa–2 Donate $5 for a 4×6 print or have your shot emailed for Free!
Sunnyside Mall http://sunnysidemall.ca/sunnyside-of-santa/ Support FEED Ns and Autism NS with $5 per photo.
Bedford Place Mall http://bedfordplacemall.com/santa-claus-coming-bedford-place-mall.php Donate $5 to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation for a photo.

Wishing for a more intimate setting with St. Nick? Perhaps dream of sharing a meal with him? The Playbox in Dartmouth has it all set up! Your little one can spend a whole interactive hour with Santa, plus a snack and a present for only $15+tax! 4-5pm Dec 18th.
Be Your Own Superhero at SISU Women’s Self Defence in Dartmouth! On Saturday Dec 17th at 10am, mom and daughter can attend a free sample class for Supergirls. Get a taste of their 8-week intro-level self defence program that starts in January. It is a fabulous program for girls aged 9-12, designed by a woman and taught by a female instructor, SISU has a range of dynamic and exciting programs that cover pre-teens to seniors, regardless of physical ability or fitness level.
January might seem a long way away, but NOW is the time to Book your NYE babysitting! Our friends at Party Patrol are offering Slumber Party of the Year! Ring in the New Year in style, while your children are in good hands all night long. There will be a minimum of 2 staff on-site at all times and up to 4 adults depending on registration numbers. The Party allows for up to 22 girls and boys, aged 6-12 years old. It’s held at Harold T. Barrett Fun Camp in Beaver Bank, drop-off is from 4-6pm. For just $75+tax, all meals & fun times are provided, with pick-up on January 1st by 11am.
Do you have to work through the holidays? Or looking for a little extra enrichment for the kids while school is out? Party Patrol, the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia and 4Cats Art Studio are offering some of our favourite day camps.

Party Patrol is on the case in Windsor NS, teaming up with the Windsor Junction Community Centre. On Dec 22nd & 23rd programming is from 9:00-4:00, offering crafts, games & activities for children ages 6-12 years old. $38+tax.
The Art Gallery of NS offers brilliant full-day workshops on Dec 22nd & 23rd for primary to grade 6 students. Led by experienced art educators, these workshops will include hands-on art activities in the studio and visits to the various exhibitions for inspiration. Programming is from 9am-4pm and costs $40+tax ($36 if you’re a member).
4Cats has a plethora of half day workshops over the holidays. (perfect for a handmade gift!). There is something happening in the studio everyday except Dec 24th & 25th. excluding the 24th-26th . Kids can work with clay at “Cool Camp,” mixed media at “Snow Queen,” painting at “Birds of a Feather” and “All I Want is You.” Check out the black boxes on the Urban Parent calendar for dates, times, ages and pricing!

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it SNOW! With all of the beautiful weather we received this week, it is the perfect time to dust off the sled & have some family fun! Gorsebrook Hill, and the Citadel are two of our family favourites!
Light up the Night? Pack up the kids after dinner, and check out some of the city’s best light displays. There is a fabulous interactive map showcasing the best decorated homes in HRM, http://www.narcity.com/halifax/heres-map-finding-magical-christmas-lights-halifax/#
Holiday parties from around the globe, why not try celebrating Iranian style? Join the Iranian Cultural Society of Nova Scotia for Yalda night, the Winter Solstice, on Friday Dec 23rd in celebration of the triumph of light over darkness. There will be live entertainment, dance, music, Hafiz poetry, and pop music. Cookies, nuts, fruits, coffee and tea will be served. The party goes from 7:30-midnight. Admission is $35, and children under 6 are free.
THE OVAL is back for another season! It is opening this weekend (weather permitting) . there are multiple public skates during the day, and FREE Skate & helmet rentals are available onsite. The new warming building will definitely be a hit with families, featuring heated washrooms, lots of seating, Trivia for the Tots… our ice surface is the size of 3 NHL hockey rinks, and is the largest out-door refrigerated ice east of Quebec City.
NYE in Downtown Halifax! The big show is at the Grand Parade with live music & midnight fireworks. Festivities begin at 10pm with Ria Mae and headlining are The Strumbellas! For the littler guys and gals , an early evening fireworks display will be held at the Emera Oval at 7pm. This free family friendly event includes music provided by DJ Chris Swift and public skates from 6-8pm and 9-midnight.

Hope we’ve given you a few ideas to enjoy over the holidays. We’ll see you in the New Year with more Family Events and great ideas for spending time together.
Happy holidays from your friends at Urban Parent.

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