All that and flowers too.

We spend very little on entertainment. You would think with four kids and 100 acres of woods there is plenty entertainment here, right? Well. . .yes, but sometimes we do need to get out of the woods!

I am always on the look out for low cost or (preferably free) things to with the kids or whole family. Some great places have free activities you just need to look. Here are some places I look;

• The newspaper. We don't actually subscribe to the big newspaper, but there is a local free paper that comes to us in the mail. Churches and libraries often have listings here.
• Speaking of the library. Check their website or at your local branch. There usually is a lot going on.
• Check local museum websites. Even if the museum is not free, they often offer a free day or free activities.
  
• Home Depot offers free build it workshops for kids.
  
• Many craft stores also offer a free craft day for the kids.
  
• This time of year check the mall calendar. There is usually plenty going on to try to get you in the building!
• Your local parks systems. Yes, they do offer things year round!

Here is an example of the latest free event we attended. In our free paper a church in a nearby town advertised a fall festival. We arranged to meet a few friends there on Tuesday night. There was free:

• Food- hot dogs fixed WV style (coleslaw and chili and onions), bean soup, chili, pop, brownies, cookies, popcorn, cotton candy
  
• Games: at least 20 carnival type games
• Inflatables
• Family picture - they will send us a 4x6
• Giant hay maze - it took up about 3/4 of the gym floor
• Candy, candy, candy everywhere
• Face painting, balloon animals
• A cake walk (we won one BTW)

The kids had a great time and so did the parents. Since we were there the last evening of the festival there was an added bonus. See they had decked the place out with pumpkins and mums. Seriously, there must have been 100 mums decorating the maze alone. The organizer did not want to take all those home you know. The solution: give them away. There were signs everywhere (and people too) saying "Please take mums and/or pumpkins with you when you go!" I brought home four gorgeous mums and a couple of pumpkins too. All that fun, and flowers too!

Looking for more frugal tips? Check Frugal Fridays at Biblical Womanhood.