It was an exciting morning on CBS Better Mornings Atlanta. We announced the winner of the Southern Outdoor Cinema Movie Contest and did the soft launch of my new book 100+ Free and Cheap Things to do in Atlanta with Kids! If you’d like to see the full segment, click here.

*Southern Outdoor Cinema’s Contest Winner*
So first, the contest. Drum roll please….The winner is….. Brent Wehunt of Chestatee Elementary School. Congratulations! Chestatee really pulled out all the stops and mobilized their PTA to vote. It’s not surprising, since they had the most votes, that their name came up in the random drawing (done by Southern Outdoor Cinemas). Chestatee has won a turnkey outdoor cinema event on one of Southern Outdoor’s High Definition (HD) outdoor cinema screen systems plus the licensing to show the movie.

I’d like to thank Southern Outdoor for providing a great prize. They have been a fantastic partner. I encourage you to contact them if you are considering an outdoor movie night or dive-in movie event. Think beyond just showing a movie too; Southern Outdoor Cinema can help you theme the event.  For instance, they work with groups that hold book clubs and discussions then show the movie version, or screen movies with scenes filmed in Georgia. Chestatee Elementary said they’d like to show Diary of a Wimpy Kid as an intro into a conversation about bullying.

*100+ Free and Cheap Things to Do in Atlanta with Kids*
Just in time for summer, my new book 100+ Free and Cheap Things to Do in Atlanta with Kids is here! You can download the ebook version for Kindle, Nook, iPad and iPhone now by going to www.fieldtripswithsue.com/100free. Watch next week for the official launch when we’ll have printed books as well. The e-book version is $4.99  and the printed version will be $9.99.

This morning we gave viewers of CBS Better Mornings Atlanta a sneak peek. We featured two entries from the book:

• Zoo Atlanta Family Passes are available from your local library. Simple check out the pass with your library card.
• Atlanta Track and Field All Comers Track Meets are Tuesdays through June 14. Kids (and adults) can participate in running races, shot put, long jump and high jump. There are different age brackets for ages from under 6 to adults. Athletes are $1 for youth and $2 for adults. Spectators are free!

This is it, the weekend my youngest has been waiting for since about July… Halloween! There are a TON of activities going on all around town but here are a few that I mentioned this morning on CBS Better Mornings Atlanta in the 5 am hour and in the 6 am hour.

Atlanta Botanical Gardens Scarecrows in the Garden (+ Fest of Ale and pumpkin carving)
Pumpkin Patches around Atlanta
Uncle Shucks Corn Maze (and other corn mazes around Atlanta)
Georgia A-Scarey-Um at the Georgia Aquarium and Dali-ween at the High Museum of Art

A round up of Trick or Treating opportunities at area malls from Atlanta with Kid
Flick or Treat Fest at the Cobb Galleria
Haunted Houses around Atlanta

What: Outdoor Movies
Where: East Cobb Park
When: Friday, July 9: Grease (1978)
            Friday, Sept. 10: Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971) 
Cost: FREE

Recently I did a post on FREE Outdoor Movies in Atlanta, but the East Cobb Park schedule wasn’t finished. It was such a good schedule, I thought I’d post it here. I love Grease and Willy Wonka. I’m especially excited that it’s the original. Maybe it’s nostalgia, but I think Gene Wilder makes a much better Willy Wonka than Johnny Depp. Every time I go to the High Museum and get in the elevator from the parking lot to the Plaza, I imagine I’m Charlie and wonder if it will just keep going.

Children’s activities begin at 6 pm and the film is shown at dusk. There is a playground and park for the kids to play prior to the movie. Plan to arrive early and enjoy a picnic. The Friends for East Cobb Park host a concession stand that includes popcorn, candy and drinks. All proceeds benefit the Friends for East Cobb Park. There is also a raffle with great prizes, so bring a bit of extra cash and help keep the program going.

First, the winners of our Center for Puppetry Arts tickets are Jennifer H and Natalie. Congratulations! Send me your full name and address and we’ll have the tickets mailed to you.

This morning I spent some time with Jeff Quattrocchi , aka The SwampMaster on CBS Better Mornings Atlanta. Jeff has risen to fame because of a YouTube video of an alligator eating his arm. I knew Jeff way back when (about two years ago) when he did an alligator show at the Illinois State Fair in DuQuion. Ok, so I didn’t know him, but I saw his show. How weird to meet him now. He was a very nice, normal, (well except for the wrestling alligator part) guy. His show was quite good too, so if you get a chance to see it, by all means, do.

So here is what we discussed this morning on CBS Better Mornings Atlanta. As always, you can view the Field Trips with Sue segment on CBS’ website.

FREE Outdoor Movies
Flips & Flapjacks
Mr. Greggy’s Silly Circus and Family Movie at the Plaza Theatre (look for this post next week)

All-Comers Track Meet
Center for Puppetry Arts Passport to Summer Kick-Off (we’re giving away tickets next week too!)
Storytime Live! at the Fox Theatre (look for a ticket giveaway in the next week)
Summer Activity List (This is a link to one list. Next week we’ll have another)

What: Silver Scream Spookshow
Where: Plaza Theatre
When: Sat. May 29, 2010 (and the last Saturday of every month) 1 pm is the kids show. 10pm is the late (adult) show
Cost: Kids 12 and Under are FREE, Over 12 and Adults $7, Late Show is $10

If you read this blog often, you know about the  Silver Scream Spookshow. I can’t seem to talk about it enough. Although I’ve never been, it sounds like such a great, uniquely Atlanta kind of thing to do.

The Silver Scream Spookshow begins with a half hour variety show featuring Professor Mortes and his side kick Retch. Georgia Public Broadcasting did a video of the show that gives you a good idea of what to expect. You can view it here. According to the Spookshow website, the show is a cross between “Pee Wee Herman’s Playhouse” and “The Munsters” and features magic tricks, dance numbers and a little spooking. Once the audience is sufficiently warmed up, they show a classic horror film. This month is Carnival of Souls.

Looking for something for the little kids? The Plaza Theatre also offers Mr. Greggy’s Silly Circus and a kid friendly movie (more on that next week!). If you like your movies early in the morning, try Flapjacks and a Flick or if FREE movies are more your thing, here’s a list of FREE outdoor movies in Atlanta this summer.