Traveling on a shoestring budget? Trying to save money or pay off debt? Heck, even if you’re not trying to save some money, there are more free things to do around town than you may think. Here are some totally free things to try that also happen to be free (the best things in life are free, remember?). Some of them may surprise you.
1. Spend a Day at the Park with Friends
Cities and small towns alike often have parks. When’s the last time you went to a park near you? Pick a park and make an outing of it. Pack lawn chairs, a blanket, a Frisbee, a soccer ball, croquet, bocce ball, or anything else you’re like to do during your outing. Try something new! Don’t have any sporting goods? Ask to borrow some from friends and family for the day. Better yet, invite the friend along!
Some of the larger parks may have nice walking and hiking paths to explore. Some parks in colder climates have free skating rinks. Other parks may feature amenities like beaches, tennis courts, basketball courts, barbecue pits, playgrounds, or even a horseshoe’s kit or disc golf course.
It’s worth checking the schedule for the park near you as well. Local parks commonly host free community events during the year. Check your city’s website to see if they offer any free concerts, free movies in the park, or other free festivals or events.
2. Find a Free Movie Screening
Did you know that many communities offer free movie screenings, if you just know where to look? Many communities host free movies in the park during warm months. Look for a schedule on your local parks website.
In some communities libraries, community centers, or universities may host free movie screenings as well. The selection varies by community. Some university screenings may cover very niche topics. University screenings sometimes also include a question and answer session following the movie, hosted by a grad student, professor or occasionally someone involved with the movie (mostly in larger metropolitan areas).
Signing up for a free advance movie screening website can also help you snag early access to select films before they are released to the general public. Years ago I attended an advance screening of Gravity (2013) in 3D and it was epic. Just consider that even if you do manage to snag a free ticket to an advance screening, the event will be oversold so you need to arrive early to ensure you get a seat. Search for “free advance screening” and you’ll find several sites offering free advance screening movie tickets.
Finally, AARP (yes, that AARP) hosts an ongoing series called Movies for Grownups Screenings. All of the movies are broadcast live online on a set day and at a set time. You can’t rewind or fast forward. The screening requires advance registration using a free AARP.org account which, despite popular belief, is actually open to individuals of all ages and not just seniors. Register for the movie early, because even the virtual screening may have limited space and tickets may sell out. Note that you do NOT need to be an AARP member in order to register for a free AARP.org account. Additionally, AARP also sometimes hosts free in-person movie screenings in select cities as well.
SEE ALSO Going to the Movies: 8 Alternatives to Big Chain Theaters
3. Attend a Free University Event
You don’t always need to be a current student or even alumni to attend an event on a university campus. Some free events on college campuses that are open to the public may include: a guest speaker (various topics), concerts/recitals, film screenings, performances, staff and faculty exhibitions, festivals and more. Check the university’s event schedule to see if something catches your eye. Some events may require advance registration while others might just let you show up. If you can’t attend in person, some university events offer a virtual attendance option as well.
4. Go to Guest Speaker and Author Events
Guest speaker and author events occur at various locations including: universities, libraries, bookstores (big chains and independent), and other local nonprofits and businesses, etc. Sometimes free events, festivals (i.e. book festival), and expos (i.e. fitness expo) will also host guest speakers or panels of speakers. Another place to look for free guest speaker events is on Eventbrite (you’ll find other free events there, too).
5. Visit Museums and Historical Sites
Although most museums are not free everyday, some museums offer free admission periodically: once a year, once a month, or sometimes once a week. Check your local museums and see if they offer a free day. Do consider that free museum days tend to draw larger-than-usual crowds so be prepared. Arriving early can help you get a good parking spot and beat the crowds that tend to arrive a bit later in the day. In Washington D.C., all of the Smithsonian Museums along with the National Zoo offer free admission everyday. True national treasures, the Smithsonian Institute is the world’s largest museum complex.
If you or your immediate family member is an active duty individual serving in the military, many museums around the United States participate in the Blue Star Museums program. The program offers free family admission for active duty military families from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
Some historical sites, monuments and buildings are free everyday. Others periodically offer free days. Many state capital buildings offer free tours. Does your town have an old historic hotel? Check it someday and marvel at the architecture and design.
FURTHER READING How to Get FREE Museum Admission: What You Should Know
Connecting to Community
One of the awesome aspects of all of these free things to do is that they connect you with the local community. Ironically, many of us procrastinate visiting all of the cool places at home that we would visit in a heartbeat when we’re traveling somewhere else. Many of us get lost in the day-to-day grind and miss things right in front of our faces. Taking a step back and appreciating some of cool things that are right in your backyard will lift your spirits, enrich your life, and make you appreciate your home even more than you already do.