Bob

http://www.sudbury-assabet-concord.o...Fest/index.php

For anyone around next week, River Fest is on. Seems early, but it's a good event all over the Boston burbs.

Rete

Westchester County in lower New York has several free concerts during the summer months. One is at Patriot Park in Sleepy Hollow and sometimes Jazz concerts at Kingsland Point Park also in Sleepy Hollow. Sunday sees free concerts during the day at Wilson Park in Tuckahoe and on Saturday evenings free concerts and dance programs at Untermyer Park in Yonkers overlooking the Hudson River.

Swimming is free for children under a certain height at pools in lower Westchester i.e. Tibbits, Wilson Woods. Permits are not required but you do have to show you are a resident of Westchester County, i.e. driver's license.

Bob

http://www.mass.gov/dcr/recreate/pools.htm

Lists all the swimming pools that are free in MA.

I think I mentioned Clinton, also offering free swimming lessons for kids.

Good site to look around for other free places to go.

http://www.mass.gov/dcr/parks/northeast/coch.htm that is a lovely beach, but the parking is a tad pricey, but you can get library passes to park at these places for free and this spot has loads of shade and great for kids. Gets mentally busy in the summer though.

Bob

http://www.bostoncentral.com/events/...TAtBM.facebook

For those around, 4th July fireworks.

Acton do a massive show and it's really nice, loads of parking, music, free food and stuff for kids to do. Harvard Fruitlands is another fantastic spot, with a cracking view over the valleys.

Bob

http://www.theblacklistnyc.com/tammyp

Next week, free comedy gig in Boston as it's being taped

Ash UK/US

Free bowling (nation wide) I have done this a couple of times with my kids, they have a blast.

http://www.kidsbowlfree.com/

Bob

http://www.regmovies.com/Movies/Summer-Movie-Express

$1 10am movies on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Bit hit or miss on the movies, but some fun ones for the kids.

WEBlue

So many local libraries are having used book sales this month (and a few I know of next month). They are most often held on or over the weekends, and the prices for the books usually decreases each day as the sale moves towards its end.

DH & I have been to several of these in or near our town, and all were a great place to people-watch, even if you don't buy much. The childrens' books areas/tents are always full of kids looking to find a nice cheap book or puzzle/DVD/whatever. We saw two kids stopping on the grass to colour some old (1970s) colouring books out of a huge bag of them they'd bought for just a few dollars.

Just google the town name and library book sales. I bet you'll find some within driving distance for a fun excursion.

Ash UK/US

Our local library also does a lot of organized kids events during the summer, they are not always books related. A couple of weeks ago there was a big give away of bike helmets.

Bob

Our library is great for kids stuff, they show movies, have magic shows, a animal show is coming up, all kinds. A few of the neighbouring towns are also good, some are definitely better than others.

Neighbouring town also did a bike helmet give away as part of a kids health day which was great.

WEBlue

Yes, it's always so valuable to join the public local libray, especially if you have kids in the family...or even if you don't. Many local branch libraries now are part of larger library networks, and if your branch is small or doesn't have many activities, there's a good chance that another library in the network will, and your library card could well entitle you to participate in those. (Movie afternoons, job hunting help, lectures on everything, including some practical stuff like figuring out state health insurance services or getting a mortgage.) Worth checking!

Besides, a library card is free, one of the best deals around. When we were house-hunting, we'd always check out the library along with the town centre (if there was one). Some American libraries here in New England blew us away. Some were in quaint historic buidings, a few had coffee shops, most had various clubs and interest groups, foreign language lessons, knitting, etc. All had comfortable children's sections with regular kiddie activities scheduled, especially through the summer.

Your library can be a real bargain!

Bob

Also really easy to get, self mailed letter as proof of town residence is enough usually and a library card is accepted proof, around here at least, of residence if you need to get a State ID or drivers license and don't want to wait for a utility bill to roll around, which is really handy for everything else that the ID is needed, school enrollment being the big one.

Bob

Any one into history, Sturbridge Village will be free for kids during August and on the 23rd I think it is, that Friday at least, adults are $5 which is a cracking deal to see the place as it's really a nice day out and great for kids.

Mr Weeze

Alamo drafthouse in Katy does frequent free movie showings - calling it kids camp in the summer. It's Stuart Little tomorrow. I assume all the ones in the chain do the same.

Bob

http://www.bostonathenaeum.org/cal/2013-08

Linked to the Consulate, group showing free Brit movies to commemorate the royal birth...