Thrifty Thursdays with Mel: Free and Cheap Activities in Atlanta
Don’t let cabin fever keep you down this week! There are lots of fun (and free!) activities happening around Atlanta. In addition to some unique events, there are also tons of fun regularly occurring indoor activities around the city to help you keep cool when you get out and about with your little ones.
THIS WEEK ONLY
Parent’s Night Out – Lynwood Community Center
Friday, June 24
6:30-9pm
Lynwood Community Center
3360 Osborne Road, Brookhaven, Georgia 30319
$15 per child; Ages: 5-12
Parent’s Night Out is a great way for parents to drop off the kids on a Friday and get some time to themselves. The center will provide dinner as well as games, activities and plenty of options to keep the kids entertained. Cost: $15 per child; Ages: 5-12. For more information call 404-637-0512. Pre-registration is required and pick-up is promptly at 9pm.
Touch a Truck at Blackburn Park
June 25
9am-1pm
Blackburn Park, 3493 Ashford Dunwoody Road, Brookhaven, Georgia 30319
Police and fire departments will be on hand to provide a day of FREE fun and learning for the whole family. Kids will be able to hop up in a fire truck, get behind the wheel of some heavy maintenance equipment, check out various police vehicles and get some helpful safety tips from Brookhaven’s fines.
2nd Annual Bud-n-Burgers Festival at Brookhaven Park
June 25
12:30pm-7pm
Brookhaven Park, 4158 Peachtree Rd, Brookhaven, GA 30319
Free (sampling ticket packages available for $14.99)
The 2nd Annual Bud-n-Burgers Festival will be showcasing 20 – 25 local restaurants and their burger skills competing for a chance to win a share of the $10,000.00 in cash and prizes. Live music and fun for the whole family. This is a FREE event and the public can vote in the people choice award for their favorite burger. The event will offer a limited number of sampling ticket packages ($14.99) that includes an event-sampling wristband for you to try up to 5 different restaurants burger samples.
STORY TIME
Circle Time with Ms. Krista at Little Shop of Stories
June 23
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 and will not take place in the event of inclement weather. Babies are welcome! Click here for more info.
Evening Story Time at Little Shop of Stories
June 23
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.
Tracy Tales at Brookhaven Library
June 27
11-11:45am
Brookhaven Library
1242 N Druid Hills Rd.. Atlanta, GA 30319
Storyteller Tracy Walker tells tales through a unique blend of words, rhythm, song and movement. Open to first 30 participants. Funding provided by the Friends of the Brookhaven Library. Please park behind the library and enter at the lower level. Click here for more info.
Storytimes at Brookhaven Library
June 28
10am
Brookhaven Library
1242 N Druid Hills Rd.. Atlanta, GA 30319
Building Blocks Storytime from 10am to 10:45am for baby (Ages 0—24 months); Toddler Time (age 2) from 11am to 11:30am. Stories, fingerplays, rhymes and songs specifically targeted to the developmental needs of 2-year-olds. Please park behind the library and enter at the lower level.
Story Time in the Garden at Toomer Elementary
June 29
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).
Toddler Time with Mrs. White at Northside Library
June 29
10:30-11 am
Northside Branch Library, 3295 Northside Parkway, NW, Atlanta 30327
FREE!
Story time includes fingerplays, nursery rhymes, songs and board books. Appropriate for pre-schoolers. Click here for more info.
On Your Mark, Get Set, Read! Storytime at East Atlanta Library
June 28
10:30 a.m.
400 Flat Shoals Ave. SE, Atlanta, GA 30316
404-730-5438
FREE!
Tuesday’s storytime is geared for toddlers ages 3 and under. Storytime is in the meeting room. Afterwards, visit the children’s section of the library, where you can cuddle on a cushioned window seat with your toddler and a big pile of board books or get creative with the crayons and free coloring sheets available. There’s plenty of parking in the library lot or on the street.
Preschool Pals Story Time at West End Branch Library
June 28
10am
525 Peeples St., SW, Atlanta, GA 30310
FREE!
Enjoy theme-based story time and hands-on craft activities.
ARTS & CRAFTS
Toddler Thursdays at the High Museum
June 23
11am-3pm
High Museum
1280 Peachtree St., NE, Atlanta, GA 30309
Enjoy the museum’s new, themed family programs, this month with Eric Carle’s collage art! In conjunction with Toddler Takeover, the High Museum of Art will offer in-gallery tours just for toddlers (15 months–3 years) and their caregivers. Take part in a guided tour on the second and fourth Thursday of each month during Toddler Thursday (11 a.m.–3 p.m.). For more info click here.
Family Fun at Woodruff Arts Center
June 26
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. Click here to register.
This reservation puts you in a drawing for a chance to win a High Museum of Art Family Membership. For information about parking click here.
Drop in Art @ Treehouse Kid & Craft
June 25
Every Saturday 10am
533 W. Howard Ave., Suite A, Decatur
470-355-8305
$12
Enjoy weekly activities including painting, drawing and sculpting inspired by the seasons, holidays, nature, artists or community happenings. Suitable for children ages 2-5.
RUN & PLAY
Tot spot at Atlantic Station
June 28
10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
1380 Atlantic Drive, NW Atlanta, GA 30363
404-410-4010
FREE!
Each Tuesday morning, Atlantic Station’s Central Park transforms into every child’s dream playground! Toddlers can enjoy games, storytelling, toys, music and appearances from very special guests.
Fountain of Rings Splash Pad
Everyday
Centennial Olympic Park
Free!
The Fountain of Rings is the centerpiece of Centennial Olympic Park and is one of the most recognized and photographed landmarks in Georgia. The free Fountain of Rings show plays four times a day, 365 days a year, at 12:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m., 6:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. To view any schedule changes, click here.
COOKING
Young Chef’s Academy
Participating locations
$35 per class
Classes each week are centered on a monthly theme. Learn the basics of cooking in Kinder Cooks or try the Junior or Senior Chef classes in Marietta, North Druid Hills and Sandy Springs. Visit www.youngchefacademy.com to register.
NATURE/OUTDOORS
Zoo Atlanta Stroller Cubs
June 25
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.
Bring your little one on an early learning adventure to celebrate animal dads in honor of Father’s Day. Visit animal exhibits, and meet a friendly animal ambassador up-close during a special introduction to wildlife for our littlest guests. Adults socialize while kids enjoy playtime! Each month features a different area of the Zoo and a different animal ambassador. Don’t forget your stroller! Advance registration required. Click here to register.
STEM ACTIVITIES
Toddler Time at Lego Land Discovery Center
June 27, 28 & 29
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.
Lowe’s Build and Grow Clinics- Iron Man
June 25
10-11am
Participating Lowe’s stores
Build and Grow kid’s clinics are a great way to help build confidence! Each participant receives a free apron, goggles, a project themed patch, and a certification of merit upon completion of their project. This month’s project is a chance to build an Iron Man with a light up arc reactor. Registration not required, but strongly recommended. Click here to register.
THEATRE & FILM
Tale Time Thursdays at Center for Puppetry Arts
June 23
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.
Disney Nature’s Wings of Life Movie Screening
June 25
11am-12:30pm
Midtown Art Cinema
931 Monroe Dr NE Atlanta, GA 30308
In celebration of National Pollinator Week, Monarchs Across Georgia is offering a film showing of Disneynature’s Wings of Life. To help defer the costs, please consider a donation to the Environmental Education Alliance of Georgia. Native Georgia milkweeds, the host plant of the Monarch butterfly, will be available for purchase in the theater lobby after the showing. Seating is limited seating and advanced registration is recommended. Click here to register online. http://www.eealliance.org/
