June 2020 Siouxland Family Events

Looking for things to do in Sioux City? Every month, I bring you a list of fun events and activities for kids and families in our area. This month, I'm going to do that, but with a special twist in light of the unique times we are living through. While a few in-person events are beginning to be scheduled, many of these events are virtual and/or social distancing friendly, so you can enjoy them from your comfy couch, or dance along in your living room, or go on your own time when no one else is around! I'm also including some silly holidays from the National Day Calendar in addition to the big ones you probably celebrate every year. Don't feel obligated to celebrate them, but if you're looking for some fun things to do to liven up quarantine with kids, maybe they will inspire you!

Always Eat After 7pm Book Review Part 1

This book review post series is sponsored by Always Eat After 7pm: The Revolutionary Rule-Breaking Diet That Lets You Enjoy Huge Dinners, Desserts, and Indulgent Snacks—While Burning Fat Overnight

If you've been following my blog very long at all, or if you know me personally, you have probably figured out that I LOVE books...but you might not know that I collect cookbooks! I have a wide variety, from vintage to trendy, and almost all of them are full of delicious sugary and carb-laden treats that I eat too many of. I've realized lately though that I no longer have the metabolism of a college runner and need to step away from the donut cookbook and find more ways to change my overall diet to one that can be healthy and sustainable as I navigate the metabolism of a 30-something mom instead! So when I heard about the opportunity to be part of the blog campaign for Always Eat After 7 PM: The Revolutionary Rule-Breaking Diet That Lets You Enjoy Huge Dinners, Desserts, and Indulgent Snacks—While Burning Fat Overnight by Joel Marion, I decided this was the time to make a real change.

Siouxland Family Scavenger Hunt

What is the Siouxland Family Scavenger Hunt?

The Siouxland Family Scavenger Hunt is a photo scavenger hunt that will take you all over Sioux City! This Sunday, May 24th, is National Scavenger Hunt Day, so get out and get hunting!

The 2020 Siouxland Family Scavenger Hunt is also a great way to get out of the house in a social-distancing-friendly way, and to enjoy some fresh air and the sights of Sioux City with your family while you're at it!  And there are fun prizes!

In this post, you'll find all the rules and info on the prizes.  Around 8am in the morning on May 24, I will post here the official list of all the places to hunt for!

Spring 2020 Books from Midwest Authors

Seasonally, I share new books from Midwest authors. I try to include a mix of genres, and books from big publishers, small publishers, and even self-published works. Some books I've received free review copies from the publisher or author; I will disclose whenever that is the case. Amazon links are affiliate links, which doesn't change your price, but means I get a tiny bit of Amazon's profits if you choose to buy after clicking through it. 

This unusual spring, many of us have more time than usual to read. I wish this wasn't happening this way, but I do view that as one of the silver linings! Whether you're looking for something to read your kids, or a quick escape from reality into a captivating novel, Midwest authors are ready to deliver this season! Here are a few I've had the privilege of checking out so far this spring:

May 2020 Siouxland Events

Every month, I bring you a list of fun events and activities for kids and families. This month, I'm going to do that, but with a special twist in light of the unique times we are living through. All of these events are virtual and/or social distancing friendly, so you can enjoy them from your comfy couch, or dance along in your living room, or go on your own time when no one else is around! And I will update it throughout the month as new virtual fun is announced (and if there is a major change to state of the world and in-person gatherings become safe, I'll start posting them again too!)I'm also including some silly holidays from the National Day Calendar in addition to the big ones you probably celebrate every year. Don't feel obligated to celebrate them, but if you're looking for some fun things to do to liven up quarantine with kids, maybe they will inspire you!

Sentinels of the Prairie Windmill collection

I found a quirky roadside attraction not far from Sioux City that makes a great little drive if you are looking for a place to get out of the house to visit and charge up your car battery, while also avoiding human contact, and I'm excited to tell you about it! Here's a look at our recent visit to Sentinels of the Prairie:

April 2020 Virtual Events in Siouxland

Every month, I bring you a list of fun events and activities for kids and families. This month, I'm going to do that, but with a special twist in light of the unique times we are living through. All of these events are virtual, so you can enjoy them from your comfy couch, or dance along in your living room! I'm going to start with today's events (writing this on 4/8) and will update it throughout the month as new virtual fun is announced!

Goodies To-Go in Sioux City for Easter 2020

Easter is coming! Easter this year will be on Sunday, April 12th, 2020, but it may look a little different this year, as we all hunker down at home instead of heading out to church or Grandma's house or brunch at a restaurant, or other Easter traditions that take us out and about. But one part of Easter that doesn't have to stop this year is Easter baskets! You can fill your baskets with treats from local businesses without breaking social distancing guidelines, thanks to the creativity of our local stores! Here are some of the great options available and how to get them:

Free Meals for Sioux City Kids during the COVID-19 Outbreak

A friend took a pic of one of the meals before her kids ate it so people can see what they look like! The specific options may be different each day, but all should include kid-friendly foods including fresh fruits and vegetables!

The Sioux City Public Schools are offering free food for kids 1-18 while the schools are closed! Here's how families with kids can take part in the program, plus scroll to the bottom to see restaurant deals for Siouxland kids:

Siouxland Coronavirus Cancellations

As on March 31st, there is at least one reported cases of COVID-19/coronavirus in Nebraska (at least 409 cases and 8 deaths), South Dakota (at least 288, including 4 deaths), and Iowa (at least 946, including 26 deaths).

There are confirmed COVID-19 cases in the following Siouxland counties:

• Clay County, IA
• Crawford County, IA
• Lincoln County, SD
• Monona County, IA
• Sioux County, IA
• Turner County, SD
• Union County, SD
• Woodbury County, IA
• Yankton County, SD

For medical information on COVID-19, please visit the CDC's coronavirus page or Mayo Clinic coronavirus page  

This post will share school and event cancellations within 2 hours of Sioux City that are related to coronavirus. I will try to keep it up to date, but I do not run any of these organizations, and I encourage you to seek out their individual websites and social media to confirm closings that affect you. 

March 2020 Things to do with Kids in Sioux City

***MOST LATE MARCH EVENTS IN SIOUXLAND ARE CANCELLED TO SLOW THE SPREAD OF COVID-19. CHECK OUT THE SIOUXLAND CORONAVIRUS THREAD FOR MORE INFORMATION***

Each month I bring you info on family friendly events and activities in the Siouxland Area. If you know of one I have missed, please leave me a comment or send me an email. I will update my lists throughout the month as I hear of new things to do in Sioux City and our surrounding communities, so check back often for the latest scoop! I  recommend checking out my Event Lists tab to find our lists for other months, and this month, you may also enjoy my posts on St. Patrick's Day fun for Siouxland Families, Best Places to Play Inside in Siouxland, Snow Sports in Siouxland, and Best Places to Play Inside in Sioux Falls.

St. Patrick's Day fun for Siouxland Families

*Most 2020 St. Patrick's Day parades and other events have been cancelled in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19. Check out my post on Coronavirus-related cancellations for more information and please stay home this St. Patrick's Day*

When Valentine's Day is over, down come the hearts and up go the shamrocks! If you too love the wearin' of the green, shamrock shakes, leprechauns and rainbows, blarney and shenanigans, you're in the right place. There are tons of things to do for St. Patrick's Day in Sioux City and in nearby cities (and cities a wee bit farther away), and here are some of my top picks:

Mardi Gras Fun for Siouxland Families

Did you know it's already Mardi Gras season? While technically "Mardi Gras" refers to the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday, which for 2020 means Tuesday, February 25th, 2020, the Mardi Gras season is celebrating from the time after Epiphany (January 6th, 12 days after Christmas) until the day before Ash Wednesday! And even more fun for Siouxland Families: our sister city is Lake Charles, Louisiana, which is basically the capital of family-friendly Mardi Gras! I reached out to the Lake Charles tourism office, and they responded with tons of Southern hospitality and great ideas for celebrating Mardi Gras with kids. I added a few of my own, and I hope they inspire you to have a great day with your family: