This column includes events that are of interest to families. Material must be received at least two weeks before the event. Address suggested material to Family  Calendar, P.O. Box 81689, Lincoln, NE 68501 or e-mail to eandersen@journalstar.com.

* Friday, March 14Lincoln Public Schools kindergarten registration, 8 a.m.-6 p.m., all Lincoln elementary schools (exceptions: Adams Elementary at LifePointe, 7501 S. 27th St.; Calvert Elementary at Pound Middle School; Sheridan Elementary at 8400 Cody Drive).

Preschool Storytime, 10:30 a.m., SouthPointe Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 2910 Pine Lake Road. New weekly theme, activities, snacks and drawing for free book. Ages 10 and under. 421-7979.

Shrine Circus, 12:30 and 7 p.m. Pershing Center, 226 Centennial Mall South. $11/person, reserved seats required. 475-1212.

* Saturday

Free Family Fun Event, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Michaels Arts and Crafts, 3010 Pine Lake Road. Crayolas co-hosts interactive event.

Festival of Stamps, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Joslyn Art Museum, 2200 Dodge St., Omaha. Free show/free museum admission. (402) 342-3300.

Reading Partners, 10:15 a.m., Gere   Branch Library. Monthly group for parents and fourth and fifth graders. 441-8566.

Daring & Dangerous Kids Club, 11 a.m., SouthPointe Barnes & Noble Booksellers. For ages 8-12. Free.

Soup & Chili fundraiser, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Southwest Rural Fire Department, South Folsom Street and Pioneers Boulevard. Freewill offering for Boy Scout Troop 21.

Shrine Circus, 12:30 and 7 p.m., Pershing Center. Reserved seats required. 475-1212.

Spring Fever Day, 1-4 p.m., Stuhr Museum. Arts and crafts, gardening, outside Easter Egg Hunt with prizes. Regular admission.

* Sunday Festival of Stamps, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Joslyn Art Museum. Free show/free museum admission.

Soup & Chili fundraiser, 11:45 a.m.-2 p.m., Hope Community Church, 4700 S. Folsom St. Freewill offering for Boy Scout Troop 21.

Shrine Circus, 12:30 and 5 p.m., Pershing Center. Reserved seats required. 475-1212.

*  Monday

Lincoln City Libraries Storytimes, Toddlers: 10:30 a.m. Anderson Branch. Elementary ages: 4 p.m. Arnold Heights.

Preschool Storytime, 10:30 a.m., SouthPointe Barnes & Noble Booksellers.

*  Tuesday

MOMS (Meeting Other Mothers) Group, 9:30-11 a.m., Grace Lutheran Church, 22nd and Washington streets. $3/first child, $1/each additional child. Kristin, 464-1481.

Lincoln City Libraries Storytimes, Preschool: 10:15 a.m. Bennett Martin; 10:30 a.m. Anderson, Gere and Walt branches; 7 p.m. Eiseley. Toddlers: 10:30 a.m. Walt; 10:35 a.m. Gere.

* Wednesday

Preschool Playtime: Outer Space, 9:30-11 a.m., Lincoln Children’s Museum. Regular admission.

Mothers Group, 10-11:30 a.m., Northeast Family Center, 6220 Logan Ave.  471-3700. Child care provided.

Lincoln City Libraries Storytimes, Preschool: 10:30 a.m. Eiseley, South and Walt branches; 2 p.m. South branch. Toddlers: 10:30 a.m. Walt; 10:35 a.m. Eiseley.

Grandparent Group, 1 p.m., Northeast Family Center, 6220 Logan Ave. 471-3700.

Thinkfun Family Game Night, 6-8 p.m., SouthPointe Barnes & Noble Booksellers. Free.

Reading Partners, 7 p.m., Eiseley   Branch Library. Monthly group for parents and fourth and fifth graders. 441-8566.

* Thursday

Annual pancake jamboree, sponsored by The Joint Sertoma Clubs of Lincoln, 7 a.m.-7 p.m., Pershing Center, 301 Centennial Mall South.

Parent and child playgroup, for children ages 9 months-5 years, 9:30-11 a.m., Northeast Family Center, 6220 Logan Ave. 471-3700.

Lincoln City Libraries Storytimes, Preschool: 10:15 a.m. Bennett Martin; 10:30 a.m. Eiseley, Gere, 7 p.m. Arnold Heights, Bethany. Toddlers: 10:35 a.m.  Eiseley and Gere.

Lincoln Thursday South LaLeche League, 6:30 p.m., Aldersgate United Methodist Church, 8320 South St. Topic: Breastfeeding in the work environment. 441-9509.

Family Night at the library, “Jammie Jamboree,” 6:30-8 p.m.; storytime, 7 p.m., Gere Branch. Storytime for ages 3-6 and entire family.

* Shows

“Puss in Boots,” today through March 22, The Rose Theater, 2001 Farnam St., Omaha. Audience participation play. For times/tickets, (402) 345-4849.

Planetarium Astronomy Fulldome Digital shows: “Kaluoka’hina: The Enchanted Reef,” 1 p.m. Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays. “Dawn of the Space Age,” 2, 3 p.m. Saturdays; 3 p.m. Sundays.  Admission, $8/adults, $5.50/children, (includes admission to UNL State Museum), Ralph Mueller Planetarium. 472-2641.

Hyde Observatory shows: “The Dawn of the Space Age I,” sunset-11 p.m. Saturday, Hyde Memorial Observatory. Free. Suitable for all ages.

Space: A Journey to Our Future,” through May 18, Strategic Air and Space Museum. Actual rocks from the moon and Mars, Mars Base Camp, take a spin on a centrifuge, explore more interactive exhibits. Regular admission.

“The Schoolchildren’s Blizzard” exhibit, ends March 22, Omaha Children’s Museum, Omaha. Exhibit ties the poetry of Ted Kooser’s “The Blizzard Voices” with history of blizzard of 1888. Regular admission.

* Register now  ADHD: Diagnosis and Treatment, 7-8:30 p.m. Tuesday, BryanLGH East, Plaza Conference Center, 1600 S. 48th St. Register, 481-8886.

Easter Extravaganza, 9 a.m.-noon, March 22, Lauritzen Gardens, 100 Bancroft St., Omaha. Crafts, photos with Easter Bunny and Easter egg hunt. $3/child plus regular admission. Pre-registration required by 5 p.m. Thursday.

Zoo Camp, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. March 24-28, Lincoln Children’s Zoo. For second-fifth graders. $210/member; $245/non-member. 475-6741.

Nature Explorer’s Camp, “Who-o-o-s Coming for Dinner?” 8 a.m.-5 p.m. March 24-28, Pioneer’s Park Nature Center, Prairie Building. For ages 6-12. $140/child. Register by Monday, 441-7895.

Child Care — the Great Debate, informational conference for child care providers, 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m. March 29, Lancaster Extension Education Center, 444 Cherrycreek Road. $15. Register by Monday, 441-7180.

A Spring Treasure Hunt, 9 a.m.-noon March 29, Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center, Denton. For teams of two to 10 and must include at least one adult. $15/team. Pre-register by March 28. 797-2301.

* Workshops/classes Wednesday chess lessons, for families and youth, each Wednesday in March, 4 p.m. lesson; 4:30 p.m. family-friendly community playing, Gere Branch Library. Boards and sets provided. Free. Pre-registration encouraged on-site or call 441-8561.

SECURE car seat fitting station, 45- minute session by appointment. Receive individualized instruction on installation and use of child’s car seat (infant-age 6). $20/car seat. For appointment, 219-7000 or www.SaintElizabethOnline.com.

Breast-feeding Telephone Support, and weekly educational support groups for pregnant and breast-feeding women. Topics include breast-feeding, birth choices, child development and nutrition. LaLeche League, 441-9509.

Breast-feeding Cafe, for pregnant and breast-feeding mothers, mother-to-mother support from La Leche League, 10:30 a.m.-noon Fridays, Eiseley Branch Library, 1530 Superior St.

Breast-feeding Support Group for Moms, 1:30-2:30 p.m. every Wednesday, BryanLGH College of Health Sciences, Room 200, 5035 Everett St. 481-3328.

Mom Talk, for breast-feeding mothers and their babies, Mondays 7 p.m.; Wednesdays and Fridays 10 a.m., MilkWorks, 5930 S. 58th St., Suite W (Trade Center). 423-6402.

* Coming up

Easter Egg/Candy Hunt Storytime, 10:30 a.m. March 21, SouthPointe Barnes & Noble Booksellers.

Nature-inspired Easter weekend, March 22-23, Arbor Day Farm, Nebraska City. For information, (402) 873-8717.

KEVA Planks Exhibit returns, April 1, Lincoln Children’s Museum.

* Family viewing

Current G or PG movies. All movies currently in the theater and running through next Thursday unless otherwise noted. Movies are rated up to  ****

OPEN TODAY

 

DR. SEUSS’ HORTON HEARS A WHO! Featuring the voices of Jim Carrey and Steve Carell, the animated film tells the story of Horton the Elephant who struggles to protect a microscopic community from his neighbors who refuse to believe it exists G. (Edgewood, SouthPointe, Grand) ***½

IN THEATERS

COLLEGE ROAD TRIP. Controlling dad Martin Lawrence takes his daughter, Raven-Symone, on a trip to visit colleges in this slapstick-driven family comedy that wasn’t screened in advance for critics. G. (Grand, Edgewood) **

PENELOPE. Christina Ricci is a girl born with a pig nose because of an ancient curse who has to try to find a man in this charming modern fairy tale. PG. (Grand) ***

THE SPIDERWICK CHRONICLES. Freddie Highmore plays twin brothers who move with their mother Mary-Louise Parker into a weird old house in this fantasy-adventure film based on the children’s novels and aimed at the 7- to 12-year-old crowd. PG. (Edgewood) **½

VIDEO RELEASES

Come Away Home (PG), available now.

Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium (G), available now.

Dr. Dolittle: Tail to the Chief (PG), available now.

Bee Movie (PG), available now.

Enchanted (PG), available Tuesday.

Go Diego Go! Moonlight Rescue (NR), available Tuesday.

* Places to goIn Lincoln:

Ager Play Center, 1300 S. 27th St.; 441-6788.

Hyde Memorial Observatory, Holmes Park, 70th Street and South Shore Boulevard, south side of Holmes Lake.

Lincoln Children’s Museum, 1420 P St.; 477-0128; www.lincolnchildrensmuseum.org.

Morrill Hall, University of Nebraska State Museum and Ralph Mueller Planetarium, 14th and U streets; 472-2642.

Museum of Nebraska History, 15th and P streets; 471-4754; www.nebraskahistory.org.

National Museum of Roller Skating, 4730 South St.; 483-7551.

Pioneers Park Nature Center, 3201 S. Coddington Ave.; 441-7895.

Elsewhere:

Ak-Sar-Ben Aquarium, Schramm Park State Recreation Area, 21502 W. Highway 31, Gretna; (402) 332-3901.

Arbor Day Farm’s Tree Adventure Pavilion and Lied Greenhouse, 100 Arbor Ave., Nebraska City. (402) 474-5655 or www.arborday.org.

Audubon Spring Creek Prairie, southwest of Lincoln, follow Southwest 98th Street south out of Denton for three miles. (402) 797-2301.

Durham Western Heritage Museum, 801 S. 10th St., Omaha; (402) 444-5071; www.dwhm.org.

Edgerton Explorit Center, Nebraska’s Hands-on Science Center, 208 16th St., Aurora. Two miles north of I-80 at the Aurora exit. (877) 694-4032.

Eugene T. Mahoney State Park, located 25 miles east of Lincoln, off I-80 at exit 426; (402) 944-2523.

Hastings Museum of Natural and Cultural History, Lied Super Screen Theater and McDonald Planetarium, 1330 N. Burlington Ave., Hastings; (402) 461-2399 or (800) 508-4629

Henry Doorly Zoo and Lozier IMAX Theater, 3701 S. 10th St., Omaha; (402) 733-8401.

Homestead National Monument of America, four miles west of Beatrice on Nebraska 4; (402) 223-3514.

Omaha Children’s Museum, 500 S. 20th St., Omaha; (402) 342-6164.

Strategic Air and Space Museum, located 25 miles east of Lincoln, off I-80 at exit 426; (800) 358-5029 or www.strategicairandspace.com.

Stuhr Museum of the Prairie Pioneer, 3133 W. Highway 34, Grand Island. (308) 385-5316.