children

Anima-Young Singers of Greater Chicago, formerly the Glen Ellyn Children’s Chorus, invites all third-, fourth- and fifth-graders who like to sing to come to an open rehearsal. It begins at 4:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 16, on the third floor of the Glen Ellyn Park District’s recreation center, 501 Hill Ave., Glen Ellyn.
 
Anima has been providing quality, performance-based choral music education since 1964. Sit in on a rehearsal, meet the conductors, and learn more about singing with Anima.
 
Its directors say chorus kids have fun, make new friends, learn new skills, travel to new places and mature and develop self-confidence.  
 
For more information, call the chorus office at (630) 858-2471 or e-mail sing@animasingers.org.

Peppercorns Restaurant in Carol Stream recently held its annual pumpkin painting class and attracted almost 20 children who participated in the tradition. Each child chose a pumpkin and then was given painting instruction by local artist Susan Barthel. The winner will receive prize of $50, selected by customers.

The pumpkins remain on display for a week before a winner is picked. Children can check Peppercorns’ Web site for daily updates and pictures at www.peppercornsrestaurant.org.

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Peppercorns’ next holiday class will be a gingerbread house building class offered by its chef.

Children can explore with Dora the Explorer who will make a special Halloween appearance at the Tivoli Theatre, 5021 Highland Ave., in Downers Grove.

The event includes the theater's 17th Annual Costume Contest with prizes and free popcorn and a movie - "Igor," the story of a hunchbacked lab assistant who has big dreams of becoming a mad scientist and winning the first place prize at the annual Evil Science Fair.

Children and their parents can learn what the Noble Fool Theatricals Performing Arts Academy is all about with a Fall Open House from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Pheasant Run Resort in St. Charles.

The open house is open to local youth ages 3 to 18 and will be located at the Studio Theater on the resort grounds at 4051 E. Main St.

The open house is designed for interested children and their parents to meet the accomplished teachers and even try out a mini-workshop with fellow students. Each workshop will include a short performance from past students.

With all the adult dining acitivities available, the Downers Grove Hospitality Alliance is making sure not to leave children out of the fun -- seeing as how children like to eat too.

From Oct. 16-18, children and their families can participate in the first-ever "Kids Rock Too! - Kids Restaurant Weekend" in Downers Grove. The family-friendly weekend will feature promotions and meals specifically for children at 17 participating Downers Grove restaurants.

Giggles greet your ears when you enter the DuPage Children’s Museum, a discovery playground designed to engage adults and kids as young as 6 months in a shared partnership of learning.

Founded in Hinsdale two decades ago, its permanent home opened in 2001 in Naperville, a three-story structure full of interactive exhibits that teach young minds math, science and the arts under the guise of pure fun. Some let them float balls in midair atop pressurized tubes, tackle real carpentry, make music, bounce light, splash into water games or encase themselves in a giant bubble. Helping families maximize the experience is a pool of 500 volunteers devoted to the museum’s mission, says Alison Segebarth, marketing director.

A visitor tries out the wind tunnel at the DuPage Children’s Museum. SUBMITTED PHOTO

The Atomic Gumdrops will perform a children's concert from 12 to 12:45 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 25, at the 16th Street Theater in Berwyn.

Admission costs $5 per person, and is free for children younger than 2. Sponsored by the Berwyn Arts Council and the North Berwyn Park District, this is also the kick-off event for the Berwyn Arts Council-sponsored “Poefest,” which offers Berwyn events the entire week of Halloween. Costumes are encouraged. To learn more, visit www.berwynartscouncil.org.
 
The Atomic Gumdrops started with Matt Scharpf on vocals and guitar, and Joe Eisman on upright bass. A few years back, they began playing together for their kids. Then they started playing for their kids’ friends, and then for all the kids in their neighborhood. When buddy Brian Abraham joined them on the drums, they say they gained the turbo charge they needed to go Atomic.
 

Join Arts in Bartlett for a field trip Saturday, Oct. 3, to the new wing of The Art Institute of Chicago. Except for Metra train fare, the trip is free thanks to a grant from Target, but you must register by Sept. 29. Children’s programs also are announced.

Disney's "Sleeping Beauty" won't be sleeping this fall. The production is being revived to take the place of the cancelled Noble Fool ensemble production of "Grease." All dates/times remain the same.

Auditions for "Sleeping Beauty," which is open to local youth ages 8 to 18, will be held on Thursday and Sunday at Pheasant Run Resort, 4051 E. Main St., St. Charles. Auditions are open on the Preservation Hall Studio Stage at Pheasant Run on Thursday, Sept. 10, from 6 to 9 p.m. and on the Pheasant Run Mainstage on Sunday, Sept. 13 from 5 to 9 p.m. No appointment is necessary.

The Wild Fire HOG Chapter holds their annual Hot Times Poker Run on Sunday, Aug. 19, beginning in Villa Park. The poker run benefits the Illinois Fire Safety Alliance childrens burn camp, Camp I Am Me.

All makes and models of motorcycles are welcome. Rain or shine, registration opens at 9 a.m., with the last bike out at noon. The donation is $20 per rider and per passenger to participate.