With these free activities, you can have fun, learn, and
exercise your brain
From Sharon O'Brien, former About.com Guide
Who doesn't like free activities? Whether
you're saving for retirement, living on a fixed income, or just looking for new
ways to be smart about how you spend your money, consider the many ways that
you can trim your entertainment budget and actually increase your fun. Here are
10 of the best free activities I've found.
Gallery openings and art
walks – Attend art gallery openings, free activities which often
include wine, hors d’oeuvres, and a chance to meet the artists and gallery
owners. Many communities also host monthly “art walks,” which allow you to join
other art lovers to tour a number of local galleries on the same evening.
Open mic nights –
Check out local coffee houses and pubs that regularly provide an open
microphone and performance venue to amateur and aspiring musicians. At these
free activities you can support local artists and to hear some of the freshest
sounds around—or maybe even sign up and share your musical, comedy, or poetry
talents.
Free activities at
museums – Many museums offer free admission at least one day or
night each week. Same art, same exhibits, but no admission fees.
Volunteer to usher –
To stretch tight budgets, many professional theater, opera and dance companies
offer free activities you mmight not have thought of--passing out programs and
helping the paying customers find their seats. For an afternoon or evening or
your time, you will receive free admission to the performance, an inside look
at what happens before the curtain goes up, and the opportunity to provide
hands-on support to a dynamic arts organization in your community.
Literary readings –
When authors go on tour to promote their books, they may be heading to a
bookstore near you. Check your local newspaper, public library, and bookstores
for free activities like readings, where you’ll have a chance to meet the
authors and sample their new work.
Free lectures and
community events – Colleges and universities, especially those that receive
public funding, are great community resources for free activities, or events
and services at little or no cost. Community and nonprofit organizations also
host many free activities. Check libraries, newspaper listings, and
neighborhood bulletin boards for schedules.
Free lunchtime concerts –
During nice weather, many communities offer free lunchtime concerts in pleasant
locations where there is a high concentration of office workers and a lot of
pedestrian traffic. For these free activities, pack a picnic or a brown bag
lunch, grab a friend, and tap your feet to some good music while you enjoy the
sunshine and the energy of the city.
Join a book club or
discussion group – Whether you organize your own with a small group of
friends, discover an established group through your local library or bookstore,
or plug into a national movement like the Socrates cafés (whose members use the
Socratic method to discuss important life issues), book clubs and discussion
groups are free activities that offer a great way to exchange ideas and gain
new insights.
Be a tourist at home –
We all establish routines and patterns, get into ruts, and eventually see only
a narrow slice of our own community. Make a conscious effort to step off your
usual path, and take a day to explore a neighborhood or nearby attraction that
you have never visited or haven’t seen lately. You may find a wealth of free
activities, close to home.
Go to the library –
Still the single greatest resource in almost any community, the public library
offers a rich collection of books and magazines, research and reference
materials, and free Internet access. Whether you just drop in to check out a
book you can read on the bus, attend a public meeting about a critical local
issue, or spend a rainy afternoon surfing the Web, your local library is a
great place to find free activities.
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