Free-fest outing: find a free local event and go
Lots of street fairs, library festivals and park concerts are free if you know where to look. Find one, set a treat budget and pick a meet-up spot.
- Time
- About 2 hours
- Cost
- $0, treat money optional
- Ages
- 3 to 12
- Where
- Your town
What you need
- Water bottles for everyone
- Hats and sunscreen
- Snacks from home
- Treat money in cash, if you choose, in an envelope per kid
- A charged phone
Before you go
- Photo and phone number. NCMEC suggests a photo of each kid on your phone before you leave, remembering what they're wearing, and kids who know your number. Bright colors are easier to spot.
- If you're separated: little kids look for event staff, park staff or security; older kids go to the meet-up spot and stay. Never the parking lot.
- Can't find your child? Tell event staff or security, then call local law enforcement right away. NCMEC says act immediately.
- Heat and sun. Carry water and refill it, take shade breaks, and watch for dizziness, headache or nausea. Sunscreen SPF 15 or more, reapplied every 2 hours.
Steps
- Find a free event. Check parks and rec, the library calendar and local news events. Confirm free, time and parking.
- Set the treat budget. Decide treat money at home. One treat each, their pick, no top-ups.
- Prep the safety basics. Photo of each kid, sunscreen on, and your phone number memorized or in their pocket.
- Pick a meet-up spot. Choose a landmark meet-up spot on arrival. Little kids find a worker; nobody goes to the car.
- Do the fest. Walk one lap, let the kids choose the order, and take water and shade breaks.
- Leave on a high note. Leave before they're done in. Ask for the best thing they saw on the way home.
If it stalls
- If nothing's on this weekend, put the next two free events on the calendar now and visit the library in the meantime.
- If the treat money's gone in five minutes, that's the lesson. No top-ups.
Events found · best thing we saw
Signed off: can do this.Signed by Date