Tune in this Saturday, March 26 at 2 p.m. for the 2011 HoustonPBS Spelling Bee on HoustonPBS/Channel 8, which is the only public television station in the country to locally sponsor the Scripps National Spelling Bee!

Fort Bend County Spelling Bee Champion, Cara Coffman, a Reading Junior High 6th [...]]]> Lights, Camera, Spelling!

Tune in this Saturday, March 26 at 2 p.m. for the 2011 HoustonPBS Spelling Bee on HoustonPBS/Channel 8, which is the only public television station in the country to locally sponsor the Scripps National Spelling Bee!

Fort Bend County Spelling Bee Champion, Cara Coffman, a Reading Junior High 6th grader, will compete Saturday in the Houston PBS Spelling Bee. Cara, or Speller No. 44, will compete with 55 other students from 42 Texas counties. The bee will be broadcast live. One speller will advance to the National Spelling Bee in Washington D.C.

FREE Fort Bend Museum Children’s Day Festival

Celebrate the arrival of spring at the Fort Bend Museum’s annual Children’s Day Festival! The family event will take place on Saturday, March 26 from noon until 5 p.m.

New for 2011: Houston’s InterActive Theater Company will present “The Story of the Lone Star State” at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Each 45-minute performance will take family audiences through more than 600 years of Texas history, from Native Americans to NASA astronauts.

Families will enjoy free admission to the Fort Bend Museum’s gallery and the 1883 John M. Moore home. Other scheduled activities include face-painting, making paper pots and planting beans with the Fort Bend Junior Master Gardeners, learning about wildlife with Brazos Bend State Park and decorating (and eating!) cookies with the Fort Bend Museum Docents. The Fort Bend County Farm Bureau will bring their cotton gin and rice miller, the Brazoria County Woodcarvers Club will be on site to teach festival-goers the art of woodcarving and the Fort Bend Archeological Society will host a real archeological dig in the Moore home yard.

Families will also get to practice chores of the past with clothes washing, ginning and cotton carding activities. Spinning demonstrations will take place throughout the day at the Long-Smith Cottage. It will also be the last day to view the poster art contest in the Museum gallery, which features artwork by students of Missouri City Middle School and is presented by the Fort Bend County chapter of the Links, Incorporated.

For more information about Children’s Day, or to volunteer for the event, contact Claire Rogers at (281) 342-6478 or send her an E-mail at educator@fortbendmuseum.org. For more information, visit us online at www.fortbendmuseum.org. The Fort Bend Museum is located at 500 Houston Street in Richmond.

Living Life After Cancer

Cancer patients and survivors are invited to a free workshop sponsored by Memorial Hermann Cancer Centers and CanCare. Attendees will gain the knowledge and tools they need to ease their post-treatment transition back to everyday life and regain their identity after cancer.

The event takes place Saturday, March 26, from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. at Hilton Garden Inn Sugar Land, 722 Bonaventure Way, Sugar Land. Space is limited and registration is required. Call 713-222-CARE (2273) to register.

Spring Artisan Market

Pack the family and the pooch for this fun outdoor artisan market hosted by Neighborhood Centers Inc. Get dibs on fine art, jewelry, natural beauty products, home décor, clothing, unique gifts and yummy food while you have fun in the sun. You can shop while the kids enjoy the playground and splash park so pack the towels and bathing suits for the tots!

The Spring Artisan Market empowers local entrepreneurs by providing a space where they can sell their homemade goods and keep 100 percent of the profit. Neighborhood Centers keeps Houston a place of opportunity for all who are working for a better life by providing resources such as the Spring Artisan Market which supports local business and economic growth in the community.

Check it out Saturday, March 26, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Baker-Ripley Neighborhood Center ,6500 Rookin Street, 77074 (Southwest Houston). Free Zumba lessons from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

2011 First Annual Memorial Hermann Sugar Land Half Marathon

On Sunday, March 27, from 6:45 am – 11:45 am, check out the 2011 First Annual Memorial Hermann Sugar Land Half Marathon, with start/finish at beautiful Sugar Land Town Square.

Runners will enjoy a certified, double-loop Sweetwater Country Club course. Must be 8 years old or older to participate, great prizes and lots of fun. Seven local charities benefit from this event. Sign up today! For more information, visit SLFinishLineSports.com.

Who better to sell you lots of great stuff for kids, from clothing to shoes to toys to furniture, than parents of multiples?!? Check out this group’s garage sale, also sponsored by Mocha Moms, from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Parkway United Methodist Church, [...]]]> March 19: Fort Bend Parents of Multiples Garage Sale

Who better to sell you lots of great stuff for kids, from clothing to shoes to toys to furniture, than parents of multiples?!? Check out this group’s garage sale, also sponsored by Mocha Moms, from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Parkway United Methodist Church, 5801 New Territory Blvd., Sugar Land. For more info, visit www.fbpom.org.

March 19: Homeschooling A to Z

Fort Bend County Libraries’ Missouri City Branch Library will present a program on “Homeschooling A to Z” on Saturday, March 19, from noon to 4:30 pm, in the Meeting Room of the library, located at 1530 Texas Parkway.

The program will be presented by Holly Wallis, Dr. Bruce Shortt, Ph.D., Mary Camille Pohlman, and Jasmine Baucham. Representing the Southeast Texas Homeschooling Association (SETHSA), Wallis will provide an introduction to SETHSA and the resources it has available for the homeschooling community. Dr. Shortt will address four basic questions – what is homeschooling, does it work, who can homeschool, and how is it done? Mary Camille Pohlman will provide insight on how to get started and on the day-to-day challenges that may be encountered. Jasmine Baucham will elaborate on what it is like to be homeschooled.

The program is free and open to the public. For more information, call the branch library at 281-238-2100.

March 19: Karate Kid

Bring your family, friends and lawn chairs to Sugar Land Town Square’s Plaza to enjoy the movie “The Karate Kid,” starring Jackie Chan and Jaden Smith, under the moon for free! 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.

March 19-20: Marsh Madness

Only a short drive from Sugar Land, Brazos Bend State Park seems like a far away land. Early spring is a time of transition and one of the best times to visit the park. Migratory birds will need a rest stop. Reptiles will begin to relish the warmth of the sun. Wildflowers will blanket the meadows and trail sides. White-tail deer fawns are taking their very first steps. It all starts to happen at once!

The park’s Nature Center will be open to the public each day from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. For detailed information about Marsh Madness programs, entry fees, day-use facilities, camping and other park information, visit www.brazosbend.org or call 979-553-5101.

Cirque du Soleil is pleased to announce that OVO is now performing for a limited engagement under the trademark blue-and-yellow Grand Chapiteau (Big Top) at Sam Houston Race Park. OVO is a headlong rush into a colorful ecosystem teeming with life, where insects work, eat, crawl, flutter, play, fight and look for love [...]]]>

Cirque du Soleil is pleased to announce that OVO is now performing for a limited engagement under the trademark blue-and-yellow Grand Chapiteau (Big Top) at Sam Houston Race Park. OVO is a headlong rush into a colorful ecosystem teeming with life, where insects work, eat, crawl, flutter, play, fight and look for love in a non-stop riot of energy and movement. The insects’ home is a world of biodiversity and beauty filled with noisy action and moments of quiet emotion.

Click here for tickets and a SPECIAL DISCOUNT on select performances for SugarLandMOM.com readers. Want an even better discount? How about FREE? We have one family pack of FOUR tickets to the Sunday, March 27 performance. Just post a comment below to enter to win. Tell us about your favorite family activity. We will pick one family randomly on Wednesday, March 16. You have until noon Wednesday to enter. Good luck!

Motor Fest

From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, check out the 1st Annual Motor Fest 2011 at Sugar Land Town Square. This two-day event will feature more than 50 cars, music, kids activities and more. [...]]]> Looking for something to do this weekend? Check out these local activities:

Motor Fest

From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, check out the 1st Annual Motor Fest 2011 at Sugar Land Town Square. This two-day event will feature more than 50 cars, music, kids activities and more. Motor Fest 2011 will highlight various makes and models, while adding an opportunity for qualified drivers to sign up on Saturday to participate in the Ride and Drive event on Sunday.

The Spirit of Texas

Texas! The Exhibition is open at the downtown Houston Museum of Natural science location. Visit HMNS at Sugar Land on March 12 to celebrate Texas through activities and crafts that highlight this great state and the local community.

Search the museum for the symbols of Texas while learning more about the rich history of the Sugar Land area and the father of Texas, Stephen F. Austin. Did you know that the land and the building that houses the Houston Museum of Natural Science at Sugar Land has a history as well? Historical tours of the building will be conducted that day at 11 am and 1 pm.

Attention Cub Scouts and Webelos: The activities and crafts at this event will satisfy most of the requirements for the Texas Badge! Click here for more info.

Second Cultural Kite Festival

Kite flyers and spectators of all ages are invited to enjoy the Cultural Kite Festival, and many will be given the chance to fly a kite for the very first time. Check it out from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at Sugar Land Memorial Park, 15300 University Blvd. There will be plenty of family activities throughout the event, such as a miniature kite museum showcasing the diverse history of kites. For those who’ve never flown a kite, there will be lessons conducted by SHARK Kite Club of Texas and many other professionals from local area kite retailers and organizations. Attendees will also have the opportunity to enter kite flying competitions and win a variety of wonderful prizes. Children will be able to build, design and take home their own kites created at a kite-making workshop. The main stage will come to life with cultural performances from local area groups. For more information, contact the Sugar Land Parks and Recreation Department at (281) 275-2885 or visit www.sugarlandtx.gov.

Every Saturday in March at 11 a.m., Williams-Sonoma at First Colony Mall hosts a complimentary Technique [...]]]> Looking for ways to spruce up your house and your dinner menu without spending a whole lot of money? If you can go into a Williams-Sonoma or Pottery Barn without spending a lot (ha!), check out these free classes.

Every Saturday in March at 11 a.m., Williams-Sonoma at First Colony Mall hosts a complimentary Technique Class. Each hour-long class is dedicated to a specific topic and led by one of the retailer’s culinary experts. Class size is limited and reservations are suggested.

March classes start this Saturday and include:

• March 5 at 11 a.m.: Classic Steakhouse Starters. Learn how to make a few of the favorite starters served at steakhouses. From stuffed mushrooms and onion rings to easy French onion soup and wedge salad with rich blue cheese dressing, this class will ensure that these classic steakhouse starters can be enjoyed at home.
• March 12 at 11 a.m.: Steak and Chop. Get down to the main meal at a steakhouse—steak and chops. The class will cover basic butchery terms—grading, marbling, aging, cuts of meat and more. It will make buying or ordering meat a less mysterious process. A few great ways to top of a steak will also be taught.
• March 19 at 11 a.m.: Steakhouse Sides. What better to go with steak than classic steakhouse sides? Learn the secrets of decadent creamed spinach, sautéed mushrooms without a rubbery mess and several other classics. These might be classic steakhouse sides but they will surely become favorite sides.
• March 26 at 11 a.m.: Great Grains and Legumes. Get introduced to popular grains and legumes and learn the correct techniques for cooking, great ways to season and a variety of ways to enjoy grains and legumes.

Individuals who attend any of the Technique Classes will enjoy 10 percent savings on same-day purchases from the retailer. Reservations can be made by calling (281) 313-1180 or stopping by Williams-Sonoma, which is located in The Courtyard next to Ann Taylor and Swarovski.

At Pottery Barn, get decorating and entertaining tips from the experts Sundays in March and April. The classes, led by a Pottery Barn pro, are complimentary and offer helpful tips on decorating and entertaining. Reservations can be made by calling (281) 265-6123. Pottery Barn is located in Center Court across from The Apple Store.

Classes for March and April include:

• March 27 at 3 p.m.: How To Throw The Perfect Party. Attendees will learn tips for hosting formal dinners, cocktail parties, weekend brunches and more.
• April 10 at 3 p.m.: How To Design Your Family Room. The best family rooms are relaxing, stylish and invite everyone to gather together. Pros will offer tips for decorating a room from start to finish.
• April 17 and May 1 at 3 p.m.: How To Create Botanical Arrangements. Guests learn how to arrange artful botanicals in this fun interactive class. Also: ideas to create a display for the perfect Mother’s Day gift.

For about-to-be-married couples, every Tuesday at 6 p.m., Pottery Barn hosts a Wedding and Gift Registry Workshop. Experts offer advice to couples about creating the home of their dreams.

Fort Bend ISD’s Safe and [...]]]> Next week may be Fat Tuesday but the Fort Bend school district wants you to think about adopting a healthy lifestyle this weekend at the Watch Your Wellness Health and Fitness Fair. The event takes place Saturday, March 5, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Sugar Land Town Square.

Fort Bend ISD’s Safe and Drug Free Schools, in conjunction with the Fort Bend Medical Society Alliance, will help promote WATCH Week throughout FBISD schools during the week of March 7-11. Now in its 11th year, WATCH (Weight, Activity, Tobacco, Cholesterol and Hypertension) is a heart health awareness program that highlights the five major risk factors contributing to heart attack and stroke.

Saturday’s health fair will kick off Fort Bend ISD’s WATCH Week, and the whole community is encouraged to attend. The fair is a free event and will feature health information and screenings, activity booths and live entertainment by FBISD student groups, Kid’s N Cops, a children’s play zone area, a Sugar Land fire truck and lots of giveaways! Clutch the Rockets mascot and the H-E-B Buddy will also make a special appearance. For more information about WATCH Week and the Watch Your Wellness Health and Fitness Fair, contact Mary Kiernan at 281-634-3565 or Nomita Bajwa at 832-689-2281.

Also free this Saturday, celebrate Dr. Seuss’ birthday at Strasburg Children in Sugar Land Town Square . The birthday party starts at 10 a.m. and goes all day until 6 p.m. Enjoy story time from noon – 2 p.m. The store will be giving out goody bags, balloons and coloring sheets.

On Tuesday, it’s not free but it’s sure to be fun. From 3 p.m. to 2 a.m.,  Sugar Land Town Square’s The Rouxpour, Cigar Cigar, Char House and Loggia will shut down the streets and party Mardi Gras style. Enjoy a crawfish boil, DJ Seduction and live music with Luther & The Healers! Five percent of all proceeds will be donated to Fort Bend Cares. For more information, call 281-240-7689.