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I love summertime because there’s so much to do. What’s more, many of the activities are free of charge or inexpensive. So if you end up bringing a fussy child to the activity and end up having to make a quick and early exit, it’s no loss. Some of my favorites include:

Concerts in the park. Many cities and towns have local bands play once a week or several times a week in local parks and other areas. Bring a towel or lawn chairs and pack a picnic lunch, and enjoy the free entertainment with your kids. Even if there’s not a concert going on, it’s still fun to pack a lunch and spend a summer afternoon playing at the park.

Story time. Our local library offers story time for kids on Saturday mornings. It’s a great activity to get kids involved with, as well as a good way to meet other local parents.

Festivals. Local festivals offer a range of activities for children and adults alike. The Traverse City (MI) Cherry Festival takes place over the Fourth of July, and the Taste of Chicago runs June 27-July 6 in Chicago Check with your city or county for a festival schedule.

Parades. Holiday parades are a great place to take kids. Find out if your town offers a parade for the Fourth of July or other holidays and bring the kids along.

Ferry rides. Many ferry boats give passengers a free ride across the river. The Staten Island Ferry offers a free, five-mile, 25-minute ride between Staten Island and Manhattan. The Galveston-Port Bolivar ferry is the only way motorists can cross the waterway between Bolivar Peninsula and Galveston Island, and is free. The Jamestown-Scotland Ferry takes passengers to the historical attractions of the Historic Triangle (Yorktown-Williamsburg-Jamestown). The free ferry service runs from Scotland Wharf in Scotland, VA, to Glass House Point, in Jamestown, VA.

Also check with your local parks department or city newspaper for activities in your area.

What are your favorite free or inexpensive summertime activities?

Tags: Freebies, Frugal Living, Fun Stuff