Are you trying to save money for the future? Or do you want to learn how to live frugally? Whatever your purpose is, there comes a point in your life when you want to live frugally and spend less than necessary. However, looking for fun things to do with little to no money is a challenge.
Finding free things to do should not be a problem for someone who lives frugally. But if you are used to splurging on vacations or other activities, you must plan extensively. Worry no more, as this guide will give you clever ideas on finding free things to do near you.
Calendars (Community and Facebook)
Most cities and towns post their community calendar, which includes all the activities and a list of events for the year. You can find month-by-month copies of this calendar on your city’s website. These events include open houses, community yard sales, and free concerts.
Facebook is another excellent tool for finding free fun things to do in your local area. Facebook Events Calendar is a goldmine for this. Your favorite restaurants, cafes, or bars share their upcoming events for everyone to see.
To check Facebook’s calendar, log in to your Facebook account, click the left-hand sidebar, and choose “Events.”
On this page, you will see all the events you’ve been invited to and other local events recommended to you. This list will include brewery launches, cooking classes, fairs, festivals, food truck appearances, and more. You can also search by your interest or date.
Facebook’s Events includes everything there is to know about the local events near you, including all the dates, times, and venues.
You can also use this feature if you are on vacation. You can browse the local events in your area to find free events to attend or things to do.
Travel apps and websites
Many websites can help you find fun and free things to do near you. Here are some of them:
- Eventbrite – Eventbrite is both an app and a website. It is an American event management and ticketing site that aims to bring people together through live experiences. Here you can discover and find events that match your interest and passion. You can also search through locations and dates and filter by price (or even for free).
- Meetup – This website gathers people with the same interest in particular activities or events. It is a great way to meet new friends. Using their site can help you filter the type of activity or event you are interested in, date, and location.
- TripAdvisor – The most popular online travel and tourism review site is not just hotel reservations and booking for transportation, restaurants, and various excursions. It also compiles all the information you need for your next travel destination, including all the free things to do near your hotel.
- Airbnb – Like TripAdvisor, Airbnb is more than just an accommodation booking site that helps you find a home or place to stay. Locals can now advertise the events, tours, and classes they offer.
- The Culture Trip – If you are seeking new experiences in your travel destination, you should check out this website. It’s an excellent place to search for activities and tours at your travel destination (and even your city). Type your location, choose your interest, and input your preferred dates. The website will instantly show all the information you need.
- Google – Google is the best place to look for fun and free things to do near you. It is the web’s largest search engine. It helps to be specific in your search. When you type in your query, include your location and preferred dates.
Local Public Libraries and Tourist Centers
Your city’s local public library is a great place to visit not just for books and local history but also for fun and free things to do in your area. Check out the bulletin boards and brochures at the front desk. You will find many of these things from art exhibits, club meetings, concerts, and movie nights.
The same goes for your local tourist centers; they usually have brochures, calendars, and flyers of things similar to the local library. Depending on where you are, this can include fairs, farmer’s markets, charity events, summer concerts, comedy shows, and sports events.
For towns with a local minor league sports team, their games are posted in these places. They may not be free, but they are much cheaper than for professional teams. And many stadiums allow you to bring your own food.
Community Website and State Tourism Website
Each city and state has its tourism guide website that lists all the sights and scenes to see and touristy things to do in their area—including the free things to do and places with free public access. Check out their guides and see their attractions for yourself. More often than not, they include calendar events with live and free entertainment.
Colleges and universities in your area
Local colleges and universities offer many free entertainment events, not just for their students and alumni, but also for the whole community. These events include demonstrations, festivals, live sports events, speeches, and even classes. Larger schools often host the activities of local organizations, many of which are open to the community.
Visit your local colleges and university websites and check out their calendar for any of these events.
Parks and recreation department
Like your local public library and town hall, your city’s parks and recreation center run their programs and manage programs of local organizations too. Visit their office or their website to see a list of their activities.
The Takeaway
There you have it, the best places to find free things to do near you. As said earlier, you don’t have to spend money to be entertained. Consider your research as part of the journey and try something new; you will never run out of things to see and do.
