Kids and Family

Japanese garden hosts Anime cartoon contest     The Japanese Friendship Garden is sponsoring an Anime cartoon contest; Anime enthusiasts of all ages are encouraged to participate. Entry forms are available on the Garden’s webpage: www.japanesefriendshipgarden.org, and can be submitted at the following locations: • Japanese Friendship Garden, 1125 N. 3rd Ave. (Entries maybe submitted Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.); and • Norton House, 2700 N. 15th Ave. (Entries maybe submitted Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.)     Entries can be submitted from Oct. 1 through Nov. 2. They will be evaluated on the basis of originality, artistry, and public appeal.  Winning entries will be displayed at the Japanese Friendship Garden’s gift shop and at Burton Barr Central Library’s Teen Central and at other public events in Greater Phoenix during 2008 and 2009. know99 Student Film Hour launches Are you a budding producer, director or videographer?  Now you have an opportunity to showcase your video on know99 Television’s Student Film Hour. The Student Film Hour airs at 7 p.m. on the first Friday of the month and features student created and produced films. Featured films will be replayed throughout the month.            Elementary, high school and college students are encouraged to submit documentaries, shorts and full-length films to know99. All content must be age appropriate and will be reviewed prior to airing.  Send copies of DVDs or tapes to know99 Student Films, c/o know99 Television, 200 W. Washington St., 12th floor, Phoenix, Ariz., 85003. Submissions should include the title of the film, the student’s name and phone number or e-mail address. For more information about know99 and the Student Film Hour, visit phoenix.gov/know99. Sunrays hosts sleepover event Arizona Sunrays Gymnastics and Dance, 3110 E. Thunderbird Road, is hosting an Arizona Sunray Spooktacular and Sleepover on Saturday, Oct. 25. The event will include a costume parade and contest, dancing, spooky trails, bounce house and Halloween fun! Children ages 5 or older can stay for the night. Late-night activities include a Haunted House, fort building, games, movie and a donut and milk breakfast. For more information visit www.arizonasunrays.com or call 602-992-5790. Explore a world of foam noodles Early October marks the much-anticipated return of Noodle Forest to the Children’s Museum of Phoenix, 215 N. 7th St. This exhibit is unique to the museum. It is a one-of-a-kind sensory explosion that you will not find anywhere else in the country! Visitors to the museum’s June opening weekend celebration first delighted in the dense textural forest made up of thousands of pool noodles strung vertically from the ceiling. The museum has made some improvements to the Noodles and it’s going to be better than ever! Check out the events calendar at www.childrensmuseumofphoenix.org  to get dates and times as to when you can join in the noodle fun. For more information, call 602-253-0501.