You’ve heard it echoed in neighborhoods, playgroups, offices, grocery stores, even in the doctor’s waiting room. Seems like you just can’t escape “it.” “It” is the insanely high price of gas and nowadays, it’s the topic of conversation wherever you go.
Ironically, it was a topic brought up last weekend during a mini-road trip my family took to attend a local Kite Festival. Ironic, because like many families, the skyrocketing price of gas has forced us to eliminate our “big” summer road trip. Instead, we have opted to save gas (and money) by attending a variety of area festivals that do not require driving more than an hour away from our home. So, there we were at our quasi-summer vacation destination talking to another couple about how our summer travel plans had been altered because of high gas prices, only to learn that they had driven from Missouri (to the Wisconsin based festival), and in fact, this was their “big” family road trip.
We chuckled, but it got me thinking. We do not live near a major metropolis and these festivals that we attend are by no means HUGE events, yet they still attract visitors from across the region. They cater to families and offer a wide variety of kid-friendly activities and the best part… many of them are FREE. The money you save on gas and admission can be used to purchase food or souvenirs. So, if you decide that you don’t want to dig deep into your pocket to pay for a pricey summer road trip, but you still want to enjoy a fun family outing, consider some of these affordable alternatives:
Food Festivals—Each year, communities across the nation host delicious food festivals that spotlight summertime favorites. From hamburgers, mustard, cherries, and ice cream to strawberries, watermelon, cheese, and ribs. Again, for the majority of these outdoor festivals you won’t have to pay admission. To save even more money, plan your trip to coincide with mealtime, then have fun perusing the countless number of booths to sample the unique ways the “star” of each festival is prepared.
Art Festivals—You don’t have to drive very far from home to take advantage of the various art festivals that take place in towns, villages and cities across the country. The relatively small city we live in hosts an Art-in-the-Park Festival each August. It features a variety of masterpieces created by local artisans. But, you don’t have to purchase a piece to have a good time. Rather, use the venue to stroll your children around and enjoy the fresh air and festive atmosphere. My toddler daughter gets a kick out of the sidewalk entertainers, from “Balloon-Man” to the bongo-playing-harmonica-blowing-monkey-toting-jack-of-all-trades street performer who consistently draws a large crowd.
Other Festivals—My family had a great time attending the weekend Kite Festival. It is a prime example of the many affordable outdoor festivals that take place nationwide. (Hot Air Balloon Festivals are also very popular.) We used less than a tank of gas to get there (and back), my daughter scored a free kite, we met some great people and maybe spent $5 (between the three of us) purchasing snacks and drinks. (You could save even more money by packing a picnic.)
By investing a little time researching the activities offered in your area (a good way to do this is to visit your city’s Chamber of Commerce website… or log on to your local television station’s website and click on “Community,” there is usually a complete list of area events posted) you will find that a little creativity can help you save a lot of money… and you won’t have to sacrifice having a good time in the process.