Free Movies, Crafts, Events, Storytimes, Bowling and more ways to keep kids happy for FREE or almost FREE this summer.

Summer time can be very spendy - theme parks, movies, fairs, the ice cream truck driving by 3 times a day blasting that music a child can hear from a mile away. Each Friday we bring you some great free family events in our Freebie Friday post but each Summer there are special programs offered to help us all have a fun summer without breaking the bank.

Online search engines for finding events - There are a lot of great inexpensive and free events in the summer but they can be hard to find. Here are a few of my favorite online sources for finding the fun. These sites are especially helpful to find events for places you may be visiting during vacations or day trips.

• Yahoo - Upcoming HERE you can type in a location worldwide and sort by date, type of event ie family, music etc. I found a good selection for my local small town as well as large metro areas like Los Angeles etc.
• GO City Kids / Parents Connect HERE a family focused search engine from Nickleodeon, pick your location to get information on classes, camps, events parks and more. Great source when travelling.
• Parks & Recreation, Library and / or city websites for your local area can be an excellent place to find free and inexpensive community events.

Disney Christmas Carol Train Tour

• Disney and Amtrak have teamed up to promote the new animated version of A Christmas Carol featuring the voice of Jim Carey releasing November 6th with a nationwide train tour. Tour the train for free, see behind the scenes movie making magic and a sneak peek in 3D. See the complete schedule HERE it began in Los Angeles at the end of May and ends in New York on November 1.

Amusement Parks

• Waterpark of America the largest indoor waterpark in the U.S. located in the Radisson Hotel by Mall of America has teamed with M & I Banks to benefit the Read Indeed program. Donate 5 new or gently used books at a Twin Cities M & I location and receive a coupon good for a free admission up to 2 per family. You have until July 31, 2009 to drop off your books. See location and details HERE

National Parks Fee Free Weekends

• The national Park Service announced HERE that fees will be waived one weekend each summer month -
• June 20 - 21st / July 18-19 / August 15-16
• National Park concessioners are joining in with some special offers including Free reusable totes, buy one get on free offers, free houseboat rides and merchandise vouchers see a complete list HERE

MOVIES

A number of Theatre groups offer free or very inexpensive summer movie's for kids. Showtimes are generally mid morning early in the week and available on a first come first serve basis. The movie selections are a mix of relatively new films Kung Fu Panda, Madagascar 2, Igor and Tales of Despereaux from last year and older films.

• Regal Entertainment Group's annual Free Family Movie Festival begins in mid June see an overview HERE we will post schedules as soon as they become available. Nationwide
• Cinemark Summer Movie Clubhouse begins on June 2 presenting a new movie each week for 10 weeks at a cost of just $1 or only $5 for all ten with advanced purchase. You can see click on the location near you HERE to see the schedule .Nationwide
• National Amusements Bookworm Wednesday program gives kids free admission to a select family movie July 8th - August 16th when they submit a book report. See the schedule, program details and download the book report form HERE
• Kerasotes Theatres June 18 - July 31 on Wednesday and Thursday mornings at 10:00 am find your local theater HERE and click on it to see the movies playing there ( Night at the Museum, Alvin & the chipmonks, The Waterhorse are among the selections) CO / IL / IA / IN / MN / WI
• Clearview Cinemas Free Summer Kids Club Thursdays at 10:30 a.m. for 8 weeks beginning July 2 HERE to check your local schedule NJ / NY / PA
• Bow Tie Cinemas Kids Club Film Series Free admission Tuesdays at 10:00 a.m. (doors open 9:30 a.m.)June 23 - August 19th  See the schedule at your local theater HERE CT / MD/ NY/ VA
• Oasis cinema Summer matinee club HERE 10 weeks of movies shown at 10 a.m. every day for a $10 club card. One new movie each week. Nogales, AZ
• Celebration Cinema's of Michigan will offer Flick's Family Film Festival ( formerly known as the Dove Family film festival) in August and September of 2009 with family friendly films free for kids 12 and under and $2.50 for everyone else. See details and a link to the schedule page HERE
• Cobb Theaters Free Summer Kids Shows begins June 9th through July 30th click on your location HERE and then click on the summer movie icon to see the schedule for your theater. The two I checked are each running two movies per week on Tue/ Wed/ Thur at 10:00 a.m. Florida and Alabama,
• MNN Theatres Free Family Films 09 Free movies Tuesday and Thursday at 10 am May 26th to August 6th and the popcorn and soda are just $1. Bring a canned food item and get FREE popcorn. See the schedule and locations HERE. Georgia
• UltraStar Cinemas 2009 Summer Kids Series HERE for .50 cents each when you buy the $5 10 week pass 10 weeks of G or PG movies at 9:30 a.m. Wed or Thurs mornings check your location May through August. Southern California / Arizona.  They also have Parent Movie Morning Wed/ Thur at 10 a.m. see a current release where babies are welcome and changing facilities are in the auditorium.
• Koret Auditorium in San Francisco offers free movies for adult audiences thismonth featuring movies all set in Alaska for Mystery, Alask a comedic hockey drama featuring a very young Russel Crowe to Grizzly Man a documentary about a young man living amongst Grizzly bears. See the schedule HERE
• Screen on the Green in Atlanta's Olympic Centennial Park will show movies each Thursday from May 28th Through June 25th pack a picnic and enjoy a family classic see the complete schedule HERE
• Chicago Park District movies in the park June 27th to September 1st Free movies in Parks around the city huge list from Mamma Mia to Madagascar see the schedule HERE
• Red Box movie Kiosks are both convenient and inexpensive to use costing just $1 per day for new releases with no montly membership obligation. Once per month they release a code valid for a FREE rental. You can even reserve your movie title in advance HERE ( you can not use this feature for free code rentals).
• DVDplay is offering 3 free rentals with the purchase of 3 participating product at Safeway and affiliate stores June 1 - June 30. Code will print on your receipt and you can use it until July 31, 2009. Details HERE

CAMPS

• Bass Pro shops are offering a free Kids summer camp activities HERE in their stores each Saturday and Sunday from 12 - 6 continuing May 30th - July 5th. Includes crafts, fishing, smore's cook out, shooting galleries, photos and more. In addition they have a special new Kids website HERE with games, coloring sheets, crafts and activities for those of us without stores nearby and to continue the fun at home.
• REI passport to Adventure this is a do it yourself camp experience. The program is designed to encourage and reward kids for being active. You can pick up a free activity journal at any REI store or download it HERE where you will also find interactive hiking map guides. Kids need to complete one activity - hike, bike ride etc. then mail in the special postcard to receive their binoculars that include a compass, signal mirror and other fun tools.

BOWLING

• Kids Bowl Free select bowling centers are offering up to two free games per day all summer see details HERE
• Strikes 10 Entertainment Centers have partnered with Tony's pizza to put coupons for a free game of bowling in Tony's frozen pizza's. The special packages hit shelves in mid April and are scheduled to continue thru 5/31/2010 with an expiration date of 8/31/2010. See details and links HERE

SPORTS

• Minor League Baseball Buy one Get one Free Tuesdays sponsored by Kraft Singles you just need to bring a singles package wrapper to the stadium. My local team's tickets begin at $7 so it's a great deal. See the details, teams and rules HERE
• Chivas at the Park L.A. $5 Soccer clinics are available in Los Angeles with Chivas USA and include a t-shirt, soccer ball, 90 minutes of professional coach led clinic, and two vouochers for a Civas USA game. See the schedule, locations and sign up HERE
• Atlanta Braves FREE tickets just like Disneyland the Braves will give you a free birthday admission and since so many people won't have a birthday falling on a home game day you don't really have to go on your birthday. See how to get your free ticket HERE
• Texas Rangers cast 25 ballots for the Rangers for the All Star game HERE by July 2cnd to get two free tickets
• Florida Marlins are offering free tickets to out of work fans for select Monday games HERE
• Pittsburg Pirates FREE birthday tickets offer HERE basicly every fan who registers can get one free ticket for the season there are some excluded games you won't need to attend on your actual birthday.

CRAFTS & PROJECTS

• Home Depot Kids workshops are held the first Saturday of each month between 9 a.m. and noon designed for children ages 5 to 12 years old.  All materials and tools provided. On the first visit your child can pick up their own Home Depot apron and goggles. See the next project HERE.
• Lowe's Build and Grow is a simple building project the second and fourth Saturday of each month from 10-11 a.m. You can see upcoming projects and register HERE. All tools are provided along with an apron, safety goggles, completion certificate and a project patch for each item completed.
• Lakeshore Learning Centers offer weekly Saturday crafts at all locations from 11 am to 3 pm  see upcoming projects HERE
• Micheal's Crafts Stores "The Knack" is Micheal's kids site with free project ideas, printables and coloring sheets and information on upcoming  in- store free events.  Program times vary but are usually on Saturdays however they have events going on all week for Mother's day HERE
• Beverly's Crafts is hosting Kids Can Month in July with free craft projects each Saturday ( expect the 4th) from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. JULY 11th - T-shirt magnet JULY 18th Pet Rock JULY 25th recycled bottle craft - bring your own bottle. find a store near you HERE

MUSEUMS

- check your local museums for Free days many have one day of the week or month with free or reduced admission. In addition there are some major programs sponsored by big corporations.

• Target stores do a tremendous amount of community outreach including sponsoring Free Sundays at the museums listed HERE
• Bank of America gives their customers free admission to over 100 museums across the country just by showing their card on the first full weekend of each month. See all the choices HERE
• Balboa Park Free Tuesdays select museums offer free admission on Tuesdays. There is a rotating schedule of which ones are free through the month see the schedule HERE residents can see them all eventually and visitors can take advantage of what is available from an amazing array of choices.

MUSIC & CONCERTS

• Madison Square Kids is a free summer entertainment series for children on the Oval Lawn of Manhattan's historic Madison Square Park. Child friendly performers engage their audience with live music, storytelling and more every Tuesday and Thursday at 10:30 a.m. June 9th to August 13th. See the complete schedule HERE
• LL Bean Summer Concert Series 2009 with shows from June 27 to September 6th including Dan Zanes, The Wallflowers , Asleep at the Wheel, and Patty Loveless. The shows are held each Saturday at 7:30 p.m. in Freeport park in Freeport Maine. See the complete details HERE
• Roseville, California Music in the Park summer series details, artist links HERE 4th Sunday at 6 p.m. at Royer Park June 28, July 26, August 23 and September 27. Plus July 4th at 12:00 Noon.
• The Fountains Summer Concert Series Roseville, Ca. June through September on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday evening from 7-9 The Fountains is hosting a wide variety of muical acts. Great for hot summer nights the kids can play in the water area and playground while you listen to tunes. See the schedule HERE
• Sacramento Downtown Partnership host the annual Free summer concert series at Ceaser Chavez park every Friday night beginning in May through August 14th. Shows are free and happen from 5-9pm see the complete schedule HERE
• San Francisco Stern Grove Festival runs June 21st through August 23 with artists that include Roberta Flack, Joan Baez, The San Francisco Opera, Ballet and Symphony. Get the complete schedule HERE
• Santa Cruz Harbor the Crow's Nest restaurant hosts a free beach party every Thursday night at 5:30 p.m. of Summer beginning  June 18th. There is food and drink available but no cover charge. See the monthly schedule of events HERE
• San Diego and greater vacinity has a tremendous variety of Free music available for the summer see venues and schedules including Balboa park, Scripps Park in La Jolla, Coranado, Del mar and El Cajon see a complete list HERE
• Valley Cultural Center Warner Park Woodland Hills, CA Concerts in the Park Lou Bredlow Pavillion Sunday afternoons June 7 to August 30th complete schedule HERE
• Boston radio station Oldies 103.3 FM has a free summer concert series with performances by The Beach Boy, The Temptations and 3 Dog Night see details HERE
• Fairfax County, Virginia has a great comprehensive list of free Summer entertainment for their parks from music to movies HERE
• New York City - Of course the biggest artists and venues are here so the shows are impressive see an ongoing list HERE of everything from the Today and Good Morning America Friday morning shows to Central Park free concerts to events sposored by Former President Clinton's foundation. Another great resource for free fun for tourists.

STORYTIMES, READING PROGRAMS & FREE BOOKS

Barnes and Noble Summer Reading Program HERE let kids earn a FREE book when they read 8 books and complete a summer reading journal no purchase required.

Barnes and Noble Story times check the events calander for your location HERE most stores have recurring storytimes each week on Tuesday or Wednesday mornings and Saturday. Often there are coloring pages or crafts after the reading that relate to the books of the day. You can also find book clubs for older children.

Borders Books offers regular storytimes - Saturday for most stores- and frequent special events find your local store's schedule HERE

Pottery Barn Kids offers storytime every Tuesday from 11-11:30 a.m. find your store HERE You'll get a book club card the first day you attend and a special gift after five visits

Scholastic Summer Challange HERE

In this internet based program kids earn points by logging in their reading minutes and bonus points for taking book based quizzes, polls and games. Kids are divided into teams who are competing to log the most minutes read. There are prizes and sweepstakes along the way and the ultimate prize for the winning team is to vote for the U.S. Save the Children program that will receive a special donation. The site has reading lists and guides to help steer kids to books of interest and a special game section for children under six.

Local Libraries - Be sure to check your local library for both free and inexpensive children's programs. In my area there are six week programs built around various themes with books and crafts to match from Disney Princesses to dinosaurs.

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