FREE Summertime events for Kids

Reading Programs:

Barnes and Noble
Grades 1-6
Starts 5/24, ends 9/24 (but get it done as soon as possible for best reward selection)
Read 8 books, choose one book from a limited selection free.  And parents are entered to win a free Nook Color.
Form: http://img1.imagesbn.com/pImages/kids/summerreading/2011/BN-Tear-Pad.pdf
Borders
Ages 12 and under
Starts 6/1, ends 9/5 (but get it done as soon as possible because they REALLY run out of the popular books fast!)
Read 10 books, choose one book from a limited selection
Form: http://media.bordersstores.com/pdf/formDoubleDogDare.pdf
Book list: http://media.bordersstores.com/pdf/listDoubleDogDare.pdf
Half Price Books
Ages 14 and under
Starts 6/1 (there is a kick off story time at 6/5 2pm at all stores if you want to go), ends 7/25
If you read 600 minutes or more, turn in your form between 7/25-8/7 and you will get a $5 coupon (think free book) to be used 7/25-8/31.  You also enter into the fishbowl contest.  The top reader (1 winner per age group per store) will win a $20 giftcard.
Form, rules, etc: http://www.hpb.com/community/fyb/started/
HEBuddy program
(not updated for this year yet)
Read 10 books and mail in form to get a gift pack.  In the past it has had a tshirt, pencil, sticker, certificate, HEbuddy bucks, bookmark, etc.
More information: http://www.hebuddy.com/
TD bank
5/4-9/30
Read 10 books and turn in form at any TD bank to get $10 added to their new or existing Young Saver account.
More information: http://www.tdbank.com/summerreading/
Library
Check your local library.  Almost all libraries do a story time for preschool age children every week throughout the year and do a special summer program that includes school aged children.  (ie: Our local one has special guests and does a reading program where kids can earn prizes)

Movies:

Regal Cinemas (United Artists and Edwards Theatres also)
$1 tickets for select G/PG movies Tuesdays and Wednesday at 10am during the 9week festival (June to August).
Find Movie/Theaters: http://www.regmovies.com/summermovieexpress/default.aspx
Cinemark
$1 per movie or buy a pass NOW at the box office for 5 (so it comes out to $.50 each if you go all 10 weeks).   
Find Movie/Theaters: http://www.cinemark.com/summer-movie-clubhouse
AMC
They cancelled their summer movie program because attendance last year was so low.

Smaller chains/ locations:

Bowtie cinemas free movies: http://www.bowtiecinemas.com/summer_2011.html
Classic cinemas $1 movies: http://www.classiccinemas.com/Content.aspx?page=34
Harkins Theatres $1 movies: http://www.harkinstheatres.com/summerMovieFun.aspx
The Grand Theatre $3 movie includes kids drink and popcorn: http://thegrandtheatre.com/
The Great Escape Theaters: http://www.greatescapetheaters.com/Promotions.html?banner_id=22
Malco Theatres $2 movies: http://www.malco.com/survey.php
Marcus Theatres $2 movies: http://www.marcustheatres.com/Promotion/PromotionDetail/5/
National Amusements Theatres $3.50 movie, $3.50 snack pack, free storytime (w/ free slice of pizza) after movie at some locations: http://www.nationalamusements.com/programs/kid_toons.asp
Phoenix Theatres free movies: http://www.phoenixtheatres.com/summerkids.html
Towne Cinema: $1.50 per movie or $8 for all 11 when you buy the pass http://www.townecinema.com/summermatinees.html
Ultra Star: $2.50 movies every Saturday and Sunday http://www.ultrastarmovies.com/kidtoons.asp

Other activities:

Bowling
Kids bowl 2 free games per day during the summer.  Dates, times, ages, and whether it includes shoe rental varies by location (ie: the oe near us is for 15 and under, 5/1-10/31, shoe rental not included, Mon-Sat open-5pm, Sun open-availability).  You can also purchase a family pass for $24.95 which will allow up to 4 adults to also get 2 free games per day when accompanied by a child bowling free.
More information: http://www.kidsbowlfree.com/
National Parks
Free entrance to National Parks (many of which charge fees usually).  June 21  (First day of summer) and September 24 (Public Lands Day) are the dates near summer.
Find parks: http://www.nps.gov/findapark/feefreeparksbystate.htm
More info and to find ones that are always free: http://www.nps.gov/findapark/feefreeparks.htm
Bass Pro Shops
6/4-7/10 Various activities for the Family Summer Camp
More information: http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CFPageC?storeId=10151&catalogId=10001&langId=-1&lf&appID=86326&cfm=index.cfm
Apple Camp
ages 8-12
3 day workshop leads up to an Apple Camp Film Festival where they show off their creation.
More information : http://www.apple.com/retail/youth/
Massachussetts Free Fridays
Starts 7/1
Free cultural attractions every Friday.  Check back for locations and dates
More information: http://www.highlandstreet.org/

Free activities throughout the year:

Lowes Build and Grow
Saturdays (usually every other Saturday) 10am.  Register online ahead of time and get there just before 10am so they don’t run out. Children get to build a project and will get googles and an apron their first time and a patch to add to it for subsequent visits as well as a certificate.
More information: https://www.lowesbuildandgrow.com/
Home Depot Kids Workshop
First Saturday of each month 9am-12pm (get there early.  Includes a free project, apron, and project pin.
More information: http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ContentView?catalogId&langId=-1&pn=Kids_Workshops&storeId=10051
Michaels
Make It Take It projects.  Some require a purchase and some are free.  For monthly schedule (says whether it’s free or requires a purchase on the schedule): http://www.michaels.com/Store-Events/store-events,default,pg.html
Lakeshore
Free projects every Saturday from 11am- 3pm.
For schedule: http://www.lakeshorelearning.com/general_content/store_locations/storeCrafts.jsp?f=m
AC Moore
Free Make and Take projects
May’s schedule: http://www.acmoore.com/images/upload/00_may11_stanchion.pdf.pdf
How to get to the current month’s schedule: http://www.acmoore.com/e-acm.StoreLocator.aspx
Pottery Barn
Free story time every Tuesday 11-11:30am.  Kids receive a Book Club Passport on their first visit and a special gift after their 5th visit. To find a store near you (as well as seeing other kids events that they have): http://www.potterybarnkids.com/customer-service/store-events.html?cm_type=fnav
Museums
If you have a Bank of America card, you can get one free admission (for the cardholder) to several different museums, zoos, science centers, and gardens all over the country for free the first weekend of each month. 
For locations or details: http://museums.bankofamerica.com/
More Museums
Free museums on certain days sponsored by Target.
For locations and times: http://sites.target.com/site/en/company/page.jsp?contentId=WCMP04-031764
Bowling
Various offers including free offers for the family.
More information: http://www.amf.com/eclub
Chuck E. Cheese
Free tokens for turning in charts (a ton of different ones available), report cards with good grades, etc.  If you are going anyway, you might as well get some free tokens out of it.  You can also sign up to receive coupons via email from them (some of them can be combined).
More information: http://www.chuckecheese.com/promotions/

thanks swaggrabber blog