Cheap or free fun in and around Philadelphia

[jillys]

I'm not sure if this is the appropriate section, but seeing as a discussion about the Real Housewives of NJ is here, I think I'm safe.

Anyway, I would love for people to post their favorite or upcoming cheap or free events/activities here. We're always looking for interesting/fun things to do without breaking the bank...

I'll start:

hanging out at the Piazza and Liberty Lands Park

Grounds for Sculpture--about 45 minutes away, kids under 5 are free--it's a pretty amazing space (We just went there for the first time yesterday)

[OB2SP]

-Laurel Hill cemetary, although not sure if that's something kids would find particularly interesting
-Boat House Row - check out the sculptures along the roadway
-Similar to above: there is now an iPhone app for a walking tour of the sculptures on the Parkway. It might extend to BHR as well
-Art Museum - I believe it's still free on Sundays
-Penn Landing used to have all sorts of festivals on summer weekends. Not sure if that's still the case
Fireman's Hall - PFD's museum on 2nd and Race. No admission. You'll be in and out in about 45 minutes

[Moonraker]

If travel is not a problem, and kids or guests need entertaining, consider the Howell Farm, Howell Living History Farm Homepage near Lambertville, then visit Lambertville or New Hope. Small towns in general can be entertaining, and Haddonfield and Morrestown are premier.

Consider Intermodal transporation as a theme for small children. On a good day, walk them around the seaport to see the ships close at hand and coming up the river. Though you must pay for parking, take them to PHL or to see the architecture and watch the big birds taxi and take off. paying attention to the ground crew. Better yet, go there by SEPTA and take in the RR experience, watching the viewshed of what was once industrial Philadelphia. There's a lot to be seen and explained from the front of the Frankford El.

The Norther Liberties section has 6 eastern European, Orthodox-Catholic churches with architeture and art. Best viewed on a Sunday morning between services.

The Fairmount Park Art Association has the Museum without Walls MWW: AUDIO

Tour the Mural Arts sites on your own. info at Mural Arts Program: Take a Mural Tour

Somewhere and somehow there are still free Philadelphia Orchestera at the Mann tickets. And there are programs at the old Dell. The Phila. Art Museum may still be free on Sunday mornings up to noon or 1 p.m. The Gross medical painting is featured in the Perelman Annex.

Visit the Reading Terminal Market, Chinatown and cool off at the restored Organ recital at the Lord & Taylor, (or whoever they are today).

People watch and tour the UoP campus, say around 39th & Walnut Sts. Find the ENIAC if you can.

Finally, take a Center City walk as the skyscrapers and architecture transistions to twilight.

[phillyaggie]

excellent thread, JillyS!

I'm going to the Mann Center this evening for a concert of all Tchaikovsky and fireworks-- it's a BYOB night and the lawn tickets are just $10 so you can enjoy a family/friends picnic, enjoy great music, and cap it with fireworks.

[jillys]

These are great suggestions...

Almost forgot...I have an easily entertained 4-year-old. Sometimes we just walk to the Kimmel Center, take the elevator to the garden/atrium, look around a bit and then take the elevator back down. They sometimes have free events during the weekends in their main lobby too (some are geared toward kids, some are geared toward everyone).

[phillyaggie]

I think the orchestra tickets are free if you can get some from your state rep's office or or city councilperson's office or something like that. Those people get some number of tickets to the orchestra to distribute to their constituents.

[borntochill]

The art museum is "pay what you wish" only on the first Sunday of each month, although kids under 12 are admitted free all the time.

[macdaire]

-Smith Memorial Playground
-All musuems are free on Sunday-my fav is the Archaeology and Anthroplogy one
- all the public pools
-Neighborhood lawn concerts- like at Julian Abele Park
- we plug in a splash and slide when we go tto N. Libs park
-Mann used to have free lawn tickets every summer but there are free kids shows during the day if you get to check them out.


More to come....

On a kiddie note I subscribe to Metro Kids and other Philly websites and I get emails every week that have fun stuff to do.

[vincent59]

Valley Forge is a nice place to ride bikes or just take a walk. Throw in a little history at the visitors center and you have a nice day. Bring a little picnic lunch for your bike ride.

[ShoshTrvls]

There are free Young People's Concerts at the Mann every summer. The remaining ones for this summer are:

Tuesday, August 3rd 11:00am-12:15pm
“Rhapsody of Rock”
Rock School for Dance Education

Tuesday, August 10th 11:00am-12:15pm
“Dance Voyage”
Cambodian Arts Youth Dance Ensemble
Danza Mexican Dance Company
Universal African Dance & Drum Ensemble

Young Peoples' Concert Series | The Mann Center

[radiocolin]

Schuylkill Banks boat tours are $15 for kids and $20 for adults, but you can usually get half off if you get the Philly Funsavers emails.

Schuykill Banks

[MuscleHead]

Schuylkill Banks boat tours are $15 for kids and $20 for adults, but you can usually get half off if you get the Philly Funsavers emails.

Schuykill Banks

Have you ever been on one of these boat tours? I've seen them on the Funsavers emails and thought we should try it out.

[phillyaggie]

I bet the public library has some summer kids reading and storytelling times... and for that matter, some book stores probably do too, so you should check those out.

There is a Philly Bicycle Coalition "Philly Bike Ride 2010" coming up, but that's not a kid-friendly event...nonetheless, if you're a biker (even just for fun), it's a great event and doesn't cost much to register and participate...you will have the Philly roads all to yourself (along with other bicycle riders obviously!) for that ride... if you (or anyone else) wants more info, I'll post it here.

And similarly, there is this fun race coming up:

The Great Urban Race | Philadelphia 9/25/2010

just sharing ideas...probably not useful to you jilly but thought i'd put it out there anyway.

[loveisnoise]

Go to citypaper.net. Their news sucks but their event section is the best. On the right hand side you can select a date range, and then check the box that says "Free". Whola. Up to the minute free stuff to do. You can also select to see only kid friendly events, or specific types of things.

[kyrmyt]

Have you ever been on one of these boat tours? I've seen them on the Funsavers emails and thought we should try it out.

YES!! We had bought the tickets at half off and had an one-hour cruise down the Schuylkill, with narration, about all the things you never see otherwise because of the unusual vantage points. I'd do it again anytime!

[kyrmyt]

Wednesday nights: free concerts in Pastorius Park in Chestnut Hill
Monday evenings: free carillon concerts on the grounds of St. Thomas Whitemarsh Church
Tuesday evenings: participatory folk dancing (for teens and adults), check out phillydance.org for more activities

[jillys]

just sharing ideas...

Great ideas--that's why I started this thread! I thought it would be nice for anyone looking for something to do to pull this up and take a look. Activities/events don't have to be kid-friendly...

[phillyaggie]

another one:

Shakespeare in Clark Park

free play by the Bard, and you can picnic to your own liking. it's running Wednesday thru Sunday of this week, so you'd have to hurry. I'm planning to go Friday evening.

[loveisnoise]

I walked around the river today and noticed that penn's landing is having a bunch of free things going on-concerts, fireworks every friday, movies, etc.

[borntochill]

The Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center is pretty neat, kid friendly, and admission is free.