If you are looking for some fun on a budget, we have compiled a list of national retailers with hands-on workshops, classes, and free in-store events for this weekend and more that are coming soon.
Share this fun, money-saving list with your friends and family. If you know of any other free weekend events to include, please let us know! It’s always best to call ahead to be sure that your local store is participating to avoid disappointment.
Summer Fairs and Festivals
Find summer fairs and festivals by location. This site lists state and county fairs, street festivals, food festivals, parades, arts and crafts fairs, music festivals, and more. It’s a great resource to use if you are going on vacation.
Saturday, July 22nd at 11 AM
Join in the fun for story time and activities featuring What Do You Do With a Problem? Contact your local Barnes & Noble store to verify participation.
Saturday, July 22nd at 10:15
Workshops Series – Guitar Center offers free workshops, online classes or in-store lessons taught by experts that will help you learn and have more fun while you do it yourself. Contact your local Guitar Center store for more information.
Home Depot Do It Yourself Workshops
Saturday, July 22nd from 10 – 11:30 AM
Get the skills you need to improve your home at these free workshops. Get more information at Home Depot Workshops.
Saturday, July 22nd from 11 AM – 3 PM and a few locations offer crafts on Sunday.
Kids ages 3 and up design and take a Summertime Nameplate craft. No reservations necessary. Get more information from Lakeshore Learning Free Crafts for Kids.
Saturday, July 22nd from 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Kids Club® – Safari Animal Canvas craft for kids 3 and up. The cost is $2 and the rest of the supplies are included. Sign up in store, online or just drop in. Parent or guardian must remain on premises.
Toys R UsSaturday, July 22nd from 12-2 PM
School Years’ Eve Party
Enjoy a scavenger hunt, learn how to make ooey, gooey slime to take home, customize a door hangar enjoy a cooking activity and more. Get the details from Toys R Us.
Summer Activities for Kids:
Apple Camp – these are free 3-day workshops held at your Apple Store where kids ages 8-12 learn now to make movies, draw, make music and more! These free workshops fill up fast every year. Check your Apple Store website for sign-up and times.
Bass Pro Shops – Family Summer Camp every Thursday, Saturday & Sunday from June 24th to July 23rd. Enjoy free workshops, crafts, activities and more. Check your local store listings for times and verify they are participating.
Disney Stores – Summer Play Days from June 10th – August 9th. Events take place every day at 3 PM all summer long! Participate in an event each week and receive a FREE embroidered patch. *Select stores only. Contact your local store for details.
Kids Bowl Free – Kids Bowl Free offers kids the chance to get 2 free games of bowling each day, all Summer long – over a $500 value per child. Select your state, click your bowling center and complete the registration page (registration may not be open for each center, so check back if your location isn’t open yet). Be sure to check the box at the bottom of the form that says ‘Yes, send me my coupons weekly via email!’. You’ll then receive emails when your coupons are ready, each Sunday for as long as the program runs.
Kids (Roller) Skate Free – sign up for each of your children to receive 2 free Skating Passes a week for kids ages 12 & under.
Free Microsoft YouthSpark Summer Camp Programs
Michael’s Camp Creativity – kids ages 3 and up can enjoy seven weeks of arts and crafts during June and July. Get more information at Michael’s.
Free Summer Movies – find family friendly movies that are free or almost free!
Summer Reading Programs – kids can read books this summer and earn free pizza, rewards, gifts and more!
More to Explore Throughout the Year:
FREE National Park Admission Dates for 2017
Here is a list of participating national parks.
- August 25: National Park Service Birthday
- September 30: National Public Lands Day
- November 11-12: Veterans Day Weekend
Bank of America Museums on Us
Saturday, August 5th and Sunday, August 6th
Bank of America’s Museums on Us is offering free admission to more than 150 museums nationwide. Simply present your Bank of America or Merrill Lynch credit or debit card along with a photo ID to gain free general admission to any participating institution. Cardholders only; guests are not eligible for free admission.
Smithsonian Magazine Free Museum Day
Saturday, September 23rd
Find Free Museum Dates
This site, www.freemuseumday.org, tracks free museum days in the following cities: Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Portland, San Francisco Bay Area, and the Seattle Area.
Free National Parks Pass for 4th Graders
If you have a child in 4th grade this year, your family can get a free National Parks Annual Pass to give you free entry into national parks, national forests, national wildlife refuges, and more! Teachers of 4th graders can also get passes to plan free National Park field trips. This expires on 8/31 so don’t delay!
Apple Store
Free workshops – learn the basic of Mac, iPad, iPhone, or iPod. Learn how to create slideshows with iPhoto. Edit home movies with iMovie and more! Find your local store and make a reservation for a free workshop here.
Factory Tours
Find factory tours all across the USA, go here, The site has 570 tours and counting! Many are free but some may have an admission fee. (Thanks to the Happy Housewife for sharing this!)
Flying Lessons
Young Eagles – Kids ages 8 to 17 experience aviation and get free rides in private aircraft flown by experienced pilots.
Saturday, August 5th from 9 AM to 11:30 AM
Home and Garden Shows
If you like Home and Garden shows, this site will give you a free pass. Check the ACS Home Show site.
Jazzercise
Jazzercise is currently offering FREE dance fitness classes to girls ages 16-21 at participating locations. No strings attached! Contact your local Jazzercise to see if this offer is available in your area. Valid throughout 2017.
Lego Stores Free Model Build
LEGO Monthly Mini Model Build events are typically held monthly where kids ages 6-14 can build a Free LEGO Platypus Mini Model! Be sure to click on the “Open Form” button to register. You must be a LEGO VIP Loyalty Member and use an email address saved in your LEGO VIP Membership account to register. Membership and registration are free. Get more information here: shop.LEGO.com/VIP. Quantities are limited to approximately 120 per store per night and time.
Major League Baseball Clinics
Through the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association, kids can attend a free baseball clinic in many locations across the country. The free program is called Free Legends for Youth Kids Clinics.
Microsoft High Tech DigiCamp for Girls (free)
Microsoft is proud to offer technology programs specifically for youth. Find out more information here.
Pick Your Own Fruits and Vegetables
Find orchards and farms near you where you can pick your own fruits and vegetables at PickYourOwn.org and at LocalHarvest.org.
Pottery Barn Kids
Enjoy story time on Tuesdays from 11 – 11:30 AM. For more information, visit Pottery Barn Kids events here.
Playground Finder
If you find yourself in a new location and are looking for a playground, use the free KaBoom Map of Play, playground finder and just type your location into the search bar.
Find Pumpkin Patches, Hay Rides, Pick Your Own Orchards and Haunted Houses. Many of these will have a fee or admission. Enter your location for details.
REI Running Classes
Learn or get back into running with training and techniques classes. Find our more at REI.com.
SKI Passport for 5th Graders
Go to www.5thgradeskipassport.com to get a free pass in Idaho or the Pacific Northwest. For other areas, search for your state with the words “5th-grade ski pass + your state”, or the name of your local ski resort.
Target – Free Community Events
Target is also sponsoring FREE community events ranging from free museum admission, free theater tickets, family activities and tours at some of our countries most famous venues. Times and locations vary by city. Find free family activities sponsored by Target in your area right here.
Williams-Sonoma – enjoy free cooking classes, typically held on Sundays. Contact your local Williams-Sonoma store for times.
Enjoy free Jr. Chef cooking classes for kids ages 8-13. Get more info from Williams-Sonoma Jr. Chefs.
Celebrate Crazy and Fun Holidays
Make memories and celebrate fun holidays with your family. This week you can celebrate Junk Food Day, Cousins Day, Tell an Old Joke Day, and more. See more at Days of the Year.
* For more ideas for family fun, be sure and check Groupon, and LivingSocial in your area. Join each site for free and start having more fun on a budget! These vouchers make great gifts too!
For inexpensive and sometimes free tickets to local events, I am a fan of Goldstar tickets. Watch your emails for the heading “Comp Train” from Goldstar. If you are new, you can set up a free account here.
Be sure and check out your local library and parks and recreation departments for free programs and events right in your hometown!
Free Weekend Events All Across the USA first appeared on More With Less Today.
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