Thrifty Thursday With Mel: Free and Cheap Activities in Atlanta
School is out for summer and now begins the scramble to find something to do with your restless kids and all that extra time. While most regular activities are switching over to summer hours or shutting down altogether for the next 3 months, there are still plenty of free and cheap activities to enjoy. For this week’s Thrifty Thursday post, there’s something for everyone from little ones to teens around Atlanta.
Last week, we got out and about nearly every day for some unique activities going on around the city. My girls had a blast at story time at Little Shop of Stories in Decatur and the Decatur Kids Arts Festival over the weekend.
My daughters love stories, so we already checked out the first Story Time in the Garden at Toomer Elementary of the Summer and are looking forward to more fun in the city. Hope you join us out and about this week!
THURSDAY, 6/2
Circle Time with Ms. Krista at Little Shop of Stories
11:00 a.m.
133 E Court Square # A, Decatur, GA 30030
404-373-6300
FREE!
Circle Time with Ms. Krista includes songs and interactive play, in addition to fun, age-appropriate stories. The group will meet in the gazebo on the Decatur Square, just a short walk from the store, during the summer months. This event is best suited to children 3 and under. Babies are welcome!
Evening Story Time at Little Shop of Stories
7:00 p.m.
133 E Court Square # A, Decatur, GA 30030
404-373-6300
FREE!
If you missed circle time earlier in the day, you can load up your pajama clad little ones in the evening to enjoy a special story time and snack each Thursday at 7 p.m.
Movies on the Town at Town Brookhaven – Inside Out
6:30 PM – 10:00 PM Movies begin at dusk
Town Brookhaven, 4330 Peachtree Road, NE Atlanta, GA 30319
FREE!
Movies on the Town is back on the green space at Town Brookhaven with free movies at dusk. Music and announcements begin approximately two hours prior. Bring your blankets, come early, grab dinner to eat on the green space and watch the movie of the week with your friends and family! This week’s feature is Inside Out. No coolers, outside food/drinks, pets or chairs allowed.
Tale Time Thursdays at Center for Puppetry Arts
2pm-2:30pm
Center for Puppetry Arts, 1404 Spring St. NW at 18th, Atlanta GA
Museum only tickets are $10.50. Children under 2 are free
Dive into folktales through this puppet-led storytelling experience. Gather in the Global Collection gallery to hear stories from around the globe every Thursday at 2 p.m. Included with museum admission.
FRIDAY, 6/3
Teen Open Studio at The High
5:00pm – 8:00pm
High Museum of Art, 1280 Peachtree Street, N.E., Atlanta, GA 30309
FREE admission to the museum and Open Studio for all teens age 15 and older!
Swing on by the High to find inspiration in the galleries and experiment with materials like charcoal, paint, metal, fabric, and duct tape in our studio! Projects will be different each month, and you’re welcome to bring in sewing projects you need help with. Teen Team members and Shannon Mulkey, founder of the Indie Craft Experience, are always around to lend a hand. Open Studio is a drop-in class! Come any time from 5 to 8 p.m. Admission to Open Studio and the Museum is FREE for ALL teens age 15 and older. You don’t even need to be a member, just a teen! Drinks and snacks provided.
SATURDAY, 6/4
Build a Father’s Day Craft at Home Depot
9am-12pm
Home Depot
650 Ponce de Leon, Atlanta, GA 30308
404-892-8042
Show Dad who’s #1! Join our hands-on workshop and build a trophy-shaped cell phone holder. Once the project is built, your child can paint it and decorate with stickers that show dad he’s #1. All kids get to keep their craft, receive a FREE certificate of achievement, a Workshop Apron, and a commemorative pin while supplies last. Children must be present at the store to participate in the workshop and receive the kit, apron and pin. Click here to register online to reserve your spot. http://workshops.homedepot.com/workshops/kids-workshops
Junior Chef Summer Series at Williams Sonoma
Check local stores for times/details
$20 per child (includes Williams Sonoma Junior Chef Cookbook!)
Who doesn’t love mac & cheese? In this class you’ll learn how to make one that’s extra-rich and creamy, with three kinds of cheeses. We’ll bake it in a cast-iron pan and then eat. It’s the mac & cheese of your dreams! Suitable for ages 8-13.
SUNDAY, 6/5
Family Fun at Woodruff Arts Center
Sundays 1-4
1280 Peachtree St. NE, Atlanta, GA 30309
FREE!
Bring the entire family to the Woodruff Arts Center on Sunday afternoons for a day of playing music, theatre games, crafts, instrument petting zoos, and more. The event is free, but online reservations are required. Visit http://familyfun.woodruffcenter.org/single/SelectSeating.aspx?p=96370
This reservation puts you in a drawing for a chance to win a High Museum of Art Family Membership. For information about parking visit http://www.woodruffcenter.org/Visit/Parking-and-Directions
Babies in Space
Alliance Theatre
Joseph R Bankoff Gallery
1280 Peachtree St. NE, Atlanta, GA 30309
A part of the Theatre for the Very Young series, Babies in Space, is an interactive outer-space playscape and performance for little ones newborn through 24 months old. Admission to the playscape is free. Performance tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for children aged 6-17 and free for children 5 and under.
Performance Times (requires a ticket)
Sundays: 1 p.m., 2 p.m., & 3 p.m.
Playspace Hours (FREE admission)
Monday – Friday: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Saturdays: 12:30 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Sundays: 10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
MONDAY, 6/6
Toddler Time at Lego Land Discovery Center
10:00 a.m.
Lego Land Discovery Center at Phipps Plaza,
3500 Peachtree Rd, Atlanta, GA 30326
FREE for children 0-2!
Every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday head to Lego Land for guided play and story time for toddlers at in the DUPLO® Village. Tickets for children over 3 and adults are $11.95.
TUESDAY, 6/7
Toddler Time at Lego Land Discovery Center
10:00 a.m.
Lego Land Discovery Center at Phipps Plaza,
3500 Peachtree Rd, Atlanta, GA 30326
FREE for children 0-2!
Every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday head to Lego Land for guided play and story time for toddlers at in the DUPLO® Village. Tickets for children over 3 and adults are $11.95.
WEDNESDAY, 6/8
Toddler Time at Lego Land Discovery Center
10:00 a.m.
Lego Land Discovery Center at Phipps Plaza,
3500 Peachtree Rd, Atlanta, GA 30326
FREE for children 0-2!
Every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday head to Lego Land for guided play and story time for toddlers at in the DUPLO® Village. Tickets for children over 3 and adults are $11.95.
Zoo Atlanta Adventure Cubs
10:00 a.m.
Zoo Atlanta, 800 Cherokee Ave., Atlanta, GA 30315
404-624-5600
Member adult/child pair – $18 ($9 per person)
Non-Member adult/child pair – $24 ($12 per person)
Cost includes Zoo admission.
This exciting, hands-on program allows you to explore different toddler-friendly concepts about animals. Go on a Zoo tour, explore and play at interactive learning stations, and meet an animal ambassador up-close. All topics and activities are designed specifically for the developmental needs of 3 and 4-year-olds. June 8 Theme: Animal Dads – Learn about amazing animal dads!
Story Time in the Garden at Toomer Elementary
9:30 a.m.
Toomer Elementary School, 65 Rogers St., NE, Atlanta
FREE!
Story time takes place every Wednesday at 9:30am in the Toomer garden. Kids can listen to stories, dig in the dirt, water the garden, and play with friends. All ages are welcome (2-6 years old is the target age).
THURSDAY, 6/9
Movies in Central Park: Finding Nemo
Movie begins at dusk
Atlantic Station
1380 Atlantic Drive NW, Atlanta, GA 30363
404-410-4010
FREE!
Pack up the little ones and head out to Atlantic Station for the Movies in Central Park series, featuring Finding Nemo this week. Grab dinner at a delectable Atlantic Station eatery and cheer Dory and Marlin as they journey to rescue Nemo.
