SUMMER DREAMS - A cooler evening allows people to sit outside in comfort and enjoy food from the variety of stands one night during last year's popular Thursday Night on the Square series.

MOLLY HAUXWELL/Valley Press files

Thursday on the Square the place for summer fun

This story appeared in the Antelope Valley Press
Thursday, July 2, 2009.

By RICH BREAULT
Valley Press Senior Feature Writer

PALMDALE - If it is a Thursday during the summer, Poncitlan Square is the place.

Palmdale's popular Thursday Night on the Square series for 2009 kicks off from 5:30 to 9 p.m. today at Poncitlan Square, Ninth Street East and Avenue Q-9.

The series is music, food, fun activities, farmers market, arts and crafts vendors - a social meeting ground.

And it's free.

"We're excited to open another year of Thursday Night on the Square," said Annie Pagliaro, Palmdale's Parks and Recreation supervisor, who organizes the event. "However, some people are not aware that we're having (the series) this year because it was one of the programs up for budget cuts. But the city decided to keep it going, at least for this summer.

"After our first week I hope the word of mouth about (the series) spreads like wildfire."

The series runs for eight consecutive Thursdays, ending Aug. 20.

Free each week are: Barnes & Noble Storytelling at 6:30 p.m.; Petunia's Puppet Palooza (sponsored by High Desert Medical Group) at 7:30 p.m.; Riki Tiki Balloon Fun; face painting; Children's Art & Activity Center; The Game Garden; a bounce tent; and the Square Bees' Buzz'n Boogie Time.

Each week will highlight special themed activities for children.

Tonight's theme is "Native American Legends." Visitors are invited to celebrate Native American culture, and children can create wearable paper bag vests, dream catchers and arrowhead necklaces.

They can listen to Native American stories inside teepees in the Activity Zone and enjoy easel art in the Art & Activity Center. R&B music will be provided by The Ambassadors of Soul.

"(The series) is a place where people feel they belong to a community." Pagliaro said. "It's a very positive environment with friendly people all around.

"And it leads to other positives in the community. It gives families and kids things to do on a summer night. Rather than just 'hanging out,' they can come here and have an evening of fun and entertainment."

The remaining event themes, activities and music are:

July 9: Dog Gone Green. Re-purpose and re-use items to create doggie costumes, then join the costume contest and parade to win prizes from Puppy Mama's Biscuit Bakery. Create a piggy bank, a button tambourine and a "reuse-recycle" tote bag using recycled materials in the Art & Activity Center. Enjoy the Stamp'n Station. R&B music provided by Lorena Mackey & The Highlites.

July 16: Seussical Square. Enjoy a whimsical evening and pay tribute to Dr. Seuss. Make a "Cat in the Hat," "Fox & Socks," and "Horton Hears a Who" finger puppets. Enjoy easel art. Children can use their imaginations in the Claymation Creation contest and win prizes sponsored by High Desert Medical Group. Swing music provided by Phat Cat Swinger.

July 23: Prehistoric Playground. Go back to the prehistoric era when dinosaurs roamed the land. Make a dinosaur claw necklace, a dinosaur mask and a hatchable dinosaur egg. Dig for fossils and make clay imprints. Enjoy the Stamp'n Station. Classic rock music provided by Power Play.

July 30: Art Safari. Celebrate art on the Square. Children can make rock art creatures, wood name-hangers, colorful sand art bottles and create a patchwork quilt to be donated to a local shelter. Enjoy easel art. R&B music provided by Bump City.

Aug. 6: Hunnee & Buzzee's Birthday Bash. Come celebrate with event mascots Hunnee and Buzzee at their birthday bash. Make a bee visor, bee bracelet, bee finger puppet and participate in a musical flowers game. Prizes sponsored by Anna's Bakery. Enjoy the Stamp'n Station. Oldies music provided by The Del Aires.

Aug. 13: Visions of Sugar Plums. Children can enjoy a little holiday fun by creating sparkle ornaments, glitter pine cones and snow sleds in the Art & Activity Center. They also will enjoy decorating snowflakes, snowmen and penguins. Enjoy the Stamp'n Station. Country music provided by Tombstone.

Aug. 20: Summertime Dreams. Summer won't last forever, but it can be a fun memory when children craft their own decorated pillowcases to use at home, dream books to hold all those special thoughts and glow-in-the-dark switch plates for their rooms. Enjoy easel art and The Bubble Garden. Latin rock music provided by Boulevard Knights.

For details, call Palmdale Parks and Recreation at (661) 267-5611.

rbreault@avpress.com