Events for the family

*FREE*

Dog Day Afternoon

All-day celebration of man's best friend, featuring contests, free grooming, training demonstrations, movie screening & more. The Piazza at Schmidts, N. 2nd St. & Germantown Ave.;

» READ MORE: www.atthepiazza.com

. 7/25 10 am-7 pm.

*FREE* Friends, Family & Neighbors: Fun Activity Day Lawn & table games, dancing, entertainment & more. Cliveden Park, Musgrave St.; 215-988-8800. www.pennsylvaniahorticulturalsociety.org. 7/25 10 am-7 pm.

Preservation Alliance Architectural Walking Tours Guided exploration of some of the city's architectural gems. Rain or shine. Closes 10/31. For full schedule & specific locations, see www.preservationalliance.com. 215-546-1146 x3. $10; $8 students; free for children 10 & under.

*FREE* River Clean-Up Join others in cleaning up the lush wetlands of the Delaware River & Tinicum Marsh. John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum, 8601 Lindbergh Blvd.; 215-369-1188 x113. www.heinz.fws.gov. 7/25 9:30 am-12:30 pm.

18th Annual Pond Tour

Opportunity to visit 20 privately-owned ponds around Bucks County. Silver Lake Nature Center, 1306 Bath Rd., Bristol; 215-785-1177.

» READ MORE: www.pondtour.info

. $25. 7/26 11 am-5 pm.

Ab N' Jacks All-Betterfest 5 Weekend music festival featuring 12 bands, arts & crafts vendors, food & camping. www.abnjacks.com. Snipes Farm & Golf, 890 W. Bridge St., Morrisville. www.abnjacks.com. $20-$30; $50 weekend pass; free for children under 12. 7/24-7/26.

*FREE* Healthy Families' Block Party Health screenings, entertainment, live band & DJ, health & social service vendors, "teddy bear clinic," healthy snacks & more. Brandywine Center, 744 E. Lincoln Hwy., Coatesville; 877-870-9355. www.brandywinecenter.org. 7/25 1-5 pm.

*FREE* Moonlight Memories Car Show Display of over 500 specialty cars & trucks, car product vendors & live music by Stone Age. Downtown Hatboro, York Rd., Hatboro; 215-956-9540. www.hatboro-pa.com. 7/25 5-10 pm.

*FREE* Sweet Corn & Blackberry Festival Variety of corn-based dishes, costumed characters, pony rides, music, games & more. Linvilla Orchards, 137 W. Knowlton Rd., Media; 610-874-4678. www.linvilla.com. 7/25 9 am-6 pm.

Tour de Tinicum 5 bicycle rides of varying difficulty & post-ride picnic benefit Delaware Valley Volunteer Fire Co. All ages. Delaware Valley Volunteer Fire Company, 75 Headquarters Rd., Erwinna; 215-534-4086. www.delawarevalleyfire.com. $20-$25. 7/26 8 am.

*FREE*

Camden Dads: Family, Food & Fun

Summer cook-out & fun run celebrating fatherhood. All ages. Camden High School, 1700 Park Blvd., Camden; Fun Run/Walk registration: 856-963-1013.

» READ MORE: www.camdenhs.org

. 7/25 9 am-1 pm.

Faith in Action: Go Ghana Cultural Festival Festival-goers will enjoy food, art, performances & more. Willingboro Township Kennedy Center, 429 John F Kennedy Way, Willingboro; 609-877-2200 or 609-747-1008. www.faithinactioninc.org. Donation suggested: $7. 7/25 noon-3 pm.

NJMP Run-Ride-Walk Benefit for the Lance Armstrong Foundation & the South Jersey Healthcare Foundation, in honor of the late Barbara Cook of Millville. All ages. New Jersey Motorsports Park, 8000 Dividing Creek Rd., Millville; Registration begins at 4:30 pm. www.njmp.com/runridewalk. $20-$35. 7/25 6 pm.

Quick Chek New Jersey Festival of Ballooning Over 120 sport & special-shaped balloons, live musical performances, amusement rides, fireworks & more. Solberg Airport, Thor Solberg Rd., Readington; 800-468-2479. www.balloonfestival.com. $17; $7 children 4-12; free for children 3 & under. 7/24 1-10 pm. 7/25 6-10 pm. 7/26 6-8 pm.

WWE Raw/ECW Live Wildwoods Convention Center, 5401 Boardwalk, Wildwood; 609-729-9000. www.wwe.com. $20-$60. 7/25 7:30 pm.

*FREE*

G-Force Activity Day

Games, giveaways & activities in honor of the opening of the new movie 'G-Force.' Regal Cinemas Brandywine Town Center, 3300 Brandywine Pkwy., Wilmington; 302-479-0753. 7/25 11 am-3 pm.

Historic Cemetery Lantern Tours: Christ Church Cemetery All ages. Christ Church, State & Water Sts., Dover; RSVP: 302-739-9194. www.christchurchdover.org. $5. 7/24 8:30 pm.

*FREE* Rules of Civility & Spy Letters Program on 18th-century etiquette & spy techniques during the Revolutionary war. First State Heritage Park, 152 South State St., Dover; 302-739-9194. www.destateparks.com/heritagepark. 7/25 12:30 pm.

*FREE*

The Cat's Pajamas

Rose Tree Park, Rose Tree Road, Media; 610-891-4663. 7/24 7:30 pm.

Dorothy Stanaitis Master storyteller weaves magical tales. Star of the Sea Parish, Lafayette St., Cape May; 609-884-1011. $5; $3 children 3-12. 7/27 7 pm.

*FREE* Gene Galligan & Friends Tunes from the '30s & '40s, puppet show & family-friendly novelty songs. Rose Tree Park, Rose Tree Rd., Media; 610-891-4663; www.co.delaware.pa.us/summer. 7/30 7:30 pm.

Hudson Valley Puppets: Butterfly, The Story of a Lifecycle From her tiny egg, you will follow the Monarch Butterfly as she grows through her caterpillar state. All ages. The Ocean City Music Pier, Moorlyn & the Boardwalk, Ocean City; 609-525-9300. www.njoceancity.com. $9. 7/29 10:30 am.

Jane Kirkland: I Saw a Bald Eagle Soaring Over My Grocery Store Award-winning children's nature book author shares fun stories about her nature discoveries & adventures. Colonial Theatre, 227 Bridge St., Phoenixville; 610-917-1228. www.nostudentleftindoors.com. $5. 7/28 10:30 am.

Miss Scherling MilkBoy Coffee, 2 E. Lancaster Ave., Ardmore; 610-645-5269. www.missscherling.com. $5. 7/27 10 am.

*FREE* The Paisley Pickles Downtown Haddonfield, Kings Highway East, Haddonfield; 856-216-7253. www.haddonfieldnj.org. 7/24 7 pm.

*FREE* Steve Pullara & Cool Beans Band St. Davids Community Park, Lancaster Ave., St. Davids; 610-688-5600, x 141. www.radnor.com. 7/29 6:30 pm.

Suzi Shelton NY-based family performer who sings songs about animals, dreams & delicious treats. World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St.; 215-222-1400. www.worldcafelive.com. $10; $7 children 1-12; free for children under 1. 7/25 11:30 am.

*FREE*

Christmas in July with Santa Claus

Wildwood Beach & Boardwalk, 17th to 53rd Sts., Wildwood; 800-338-3198.

» READ MORE: www.wildwoodsnj.com

. 7/25 1 pm.

Colonial Kids' Quest Search for clues to solve the mystery of a missing copy of the Declaration of Independence. Independence Living History Center, 115 S. 3rd St.; RSVP required: 215-629-4026. www.onceuponanation.org. $16. 7/25 11 am.

Emlen Physick Estate Children's Tour Trained storytellers share kid-friendly tales as children get a glimpse of life more than 125 ago. Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts, 1048 Washington St., Cape May; 609-884-5404. www.capemaymac.org. $10; $5 children. 7/27 10:30 am. 7/29 10:30 am.

*FREE* FunPlex Idol Kids Children are invited to take the FunPlex stage & sing their favorite "idol-worthy" songs. The FunPlex, 3320-24 Rte. 38, Mount Laurel; 856-273-9666. www.thefunplex.com/mt_laurel. 7/25 5-7 pm.

*FREE* KidFest 2009 Sculpture Park will be full of art activities. Also features concert by Dog on Fleas. Abington Art Center, 515 Meetinghouse Rd., Jenkintown; 215-887-4882. www.abingtonartcenter.org. 7/30 5:30-8:30 pm.

Teddy Bear Picnic Kids are invited to bring their own bear or stuffed animal & picnic at the Visitor Center. Byers' Choice Visitor Center, 4355 County Line Rd., Chalfont; 215-822-6700. www.byerschoice.com. $6. 7/25 noon.

Camden Children's Garden

3 Riverside Dr., Camden; 856-365-8733.

» READ MORE: www.camdenchildrensgarden.org

. Butterfly house, maze, treehouse & more. Storybook Celebration Family Festival - Stories, crafts & planting activity. 7/25-7/26 noon-4 pm. $6; $4 ages 3-11; free for children 2 & under. Tue.-Sun. 10 am-5 pm.

Insectarium 8046 Frankford Ave.; 215-335-9500. www.insectarium.com. Thousands of mounted & live specimens, interactive exhibits, movie room, children's activities & more. $7; free for children under 2. Mon.-Sat. 10 am-4 pm.

Kix & Giggles Children's Playground 9356 Old Bustleton Ave.; 215-677-4140. www.kixandgiggles.com. Attractions include a wrap-around gym, a rock wall, soft-play section for babies & toddlers, an outside seating area & more. Mondays 10 am-3 pm are reserved for children with special needs & their families. See website for more info. $6.95. Tue.-Thu. 10 am-8 pm; Fri.-Sat. 10 am-9 pm; Sun. 10 am-8 pm.

Please Touch Museum Memorial Hall, Fairmount Park, 4231 Avenue of the Republic; 215-581-3181. www.pleasetouchmuseum.org. Hands-on museum featuring 6 interactive exhibit zones: Roadside Attractions, Flight Fantasy, City Capers, Wonderland, River Adventures & Centennial Exploration. The Heart Gallery Philadelphia - Compelling photos of foster children awaiting adoption in Philadelphia. Closes 7/31. Getting There - Prop & puppet-filled tale about the history of transportation. Closes 8/9. $15; free for children under 1. Mon.-Sat. 9 am-5 pm; Thu. 9 am-8 pm through 9/3; Sun. 11 am-5 pm.

Sesame Place 100 Sesame Rd., Langhorne; 215-752-7070. www.sesameplace.com. Share in the spirit of imagination at this theme park, which features whirling rides, water slides, colorful shows & furry, familiar friends. Bert's Birthday Bash - Dine with Bert, Ernie & other 'Sesame Street' characters, then take in a fireworks display. $22; $16 children. 7/26 7:30 pm. $50.95; $45.95 seniors; free for children under 2. Fri.-Thu. 10 am.

*FREE* Smith The Kids Play Place in the Park Above Kelly Dr. near the intersection of 33rd & Oxford Sts. in E. Fairmount Park; 215-765-4325. www.smithplayhouse.org. 6-acre playground for children 10 & under featuring one-of-a-kind equipment including the Ann Newman Giant Wooden Slide. 3-story "play mansion" for children 5 & under. Children must be accompanied by adult. 110th Birthday Party. 7/25 10 am-1 pm. Tue.-Fri. 10 am-4 pm; Sat.-Sun. 10 am-7 pm (thru 8/30).

Barnes & Noble

150 W. Swedesford Rd., Devon; 610-695-6600.

» READ MORE: www.bn.com

. Daniel Putkowski:

Bonk's Bar

. 7/25 5-8 pm.

Between Books 2703 Philadelphia Pike, Claymont; 302-798-3378. www.betweenbooks.com. Liars Tell the Truth Tour - Games, giveaways & author appearances, incl. Jonathan Maberry, Gregory Frost, Marie Lamba & more. 7/25 3-5 pm.

The Doylestown Bookshop 16 S. Main St., Doylestown; 215-230-7610. www.doylestownbookshop.com. Sarah Stolfa: The Regulars. 7/25 3 pm.

Newtown Library Company 114 E. Centre Ave., Newtown; 215-968-7659. www.newtownlibrary.com. Allen Hoey: Once Upon a Time at Blanche's. 7/30 7 pm.

3 Sisters Corner Cafe

7950 Oxford Ave.; 215-725-6848. Mad Poet Society: Tim Gager & Vincent Quatroche. 7/25 2 pm.

Big Blue Marble Bookstore 551 Carpenter Ln.; 215-844-1870. www.bigbluemarblebooks.com. Raina Fields & Ross Losapio - Poetry reading. 7/26 2 pm.

Burlington County Historical Prison Museum 128 High St., Mount Holly; 609-265-5476. Guided Tours - Visitors will be guided through the prison museum, hearing the history of executions from the 1800s. Included in admission. 7/25 10 am-4 pm.

Essene Market & Cafe 719 S. 4th St.; 215-922-1146. www.essenemarket.com. Kat Johnston: Discover Art Therapy - An introduction to art therapy will be given in the form of both discussion & art experiment. 7/29 7 pm.

Hiway Theatre 212 Old York Rd., Jenkintown; 215-886-9800. www.hiwaytheatre.org. Shakespeare on Film - Discussion on how Hollywood has adapted Shakespeare's work for the silver screen. 7/25 6-7 pm.