Enjoy art projects and more at Black Creativity Family Day at the Museum of Science and Industry. Photo courtesy of the museum.
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Fat Shallot has kid-friendly food near Lincoln Park Zoo. Photo courtesy of the Fat Shallot
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Visit the Thorne Rooms at the Art Institute of Chicago. Photo by Maureen Wilkey
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Free activities for kids in Chicago include the Lincoln Park Zoo, which is always free. Photo courtesy of the museum via Facebook
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Photo courtesy of Enchanted Castle.
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Free Fun Friday: Bastille Day, Swing Dancing, Hip Hop Festival

7/10/08 - By Nina

There are lots of opportunities for dance this weekend - you can head over to Kid's Day at Lincoln Center's Damrosh Park to learn the basics of ballroom, tango and swing from Pierre Dulaine, the star of Mad Hot Ballroom on Saturday from 11-12:30, tickets cost $5. Or if you prefer to swing for free head down to Battery Park City for their Family Swing Dance where instructors from Dance Manhattan will be teaching Lindy Hop to the sounds of Harlem Renaissance Orchestra's big band, Saturday 6:30-8pm, Free.

If swinging aint your thing, check out Family Day at the 4th Annual Hip Hop Festival

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at the Empire Fulton-Ferry State Park in Brooklyn. Listen to DJ Misbehaviour while you learn to dance, watch demonstrations and if you are so inclined they will be giving free diabetes and asthma screenings in an effort to use Hip Hop music and culture to bring attention to childhood obesity and associated diseases. Saturday 12-3pm, there is a $10 suggested donation.

Explore the Himalayas at your own pace at the RMA's Garuda Open Studio where you can play games, make art, dress up and read Buddhist parables. Friday from 3- 5pm, Free with admission to the Museum (kids under 12 get free admission to the Museum).

Sun and Sail at the Socrates Sculpture Park with artist Martine Kaczynski who will lead a workshop where kids will design and construct sailboats using fabric, straws and clay, then decorate their boats and sail them in a pool at the park. Saturday 12-3pm, Free.

Celebrate Bastille Day on 60th Street - explore French cuisine and culture at this three-block party that includes a kids corner where children can play petanque and participate in their very own stationary Tour de France race.  Musicians will be performing throughout the afternoon and they will be raffling off a trip to Paris!  Sunday, 12-6pm, Free.

Make sure to check our event calendar and Summer Fun Guide for more stuff going on this week.