Summer is a great time to take advantage of some of the fun, free, and family-friendly things going on in Northeast Ohio! My family has been getting out as much as possible, which also means we are always looking for something budget friendly too! Here are 4 of my favorite things we have found to do this summer, that also happen to be FREE!
Wade Oval Wednesdays
I have no idea how we have lived in Cleveland so long and never been to Wade Oval Wednesdays (W.O.W.)! Every Wednesday evening over the summer, Wade Oval is transformed into an outdoor concert! Each week features a different band and style of music. Attendees bring blankets, chairs, or just sit on the grass and take in the great music. Lining the sidewalks around the Oval are food and drink vendors from area restaurants. Lots of people packed their own food and drink, and more the experienced W.O.W. regulars had camping tables, candles, and a smorgasbord of food to share! The week we went featured Nick Tolford & Company, a Rock n’ Roll band, and was followed by a showing of “Frozen”. There was even an Elsa character walking around for kids to take pictures with. Our son loved dancing to the music and people watching! We are going to try to make it back each week for the rest of the summer! The event runs from 6-9 pm every Wednesday through August 27th. Free parking is available at the VA Hospital, which is a short walk to the Oval.
Headlands Beach State Park
If you don’t know someone with a pool or want to pay to join, a beach is a great and free way to enjoy the water over the summer. We are lucky to have Lake Erie right here, and be surrounded by great beaches. Our favorite beach to visit is Headlands Beach State Park. Headlands is a one-mile long, natural sand beach. It is the longest beach in Ohio, which makes it easy to find a spot that isn’t too crowded! Pack a cooler with drinks and lunch, grab a towel, load up the sand toys, and you are ready for a fun and free day at the beach! We went a few weeks ago with our son, and nothing can beat looking out at the lake on a clear day and listening to waves the beach as your little one plays in the sand!
The Cleveland Flea
This is the summer of The Cleveland Flea! Each month, more and more people learn about The Flea, and attendance is growing! The Cleveland Flea is an amazing collection of artisans and food vendors, all from the Cleveland area. It is held once a month, on the second Saturday of the month. I recently blogged about our latest experience at the July Flea, and why we love it! It is a great collection of people, with such a wide display of creativity and talent. The event is free to, and you can enjoy the music from the live bands and people watching at no expense. However, I would recommend bringing some money to enjoy some of the fabulous food! There are always a great selection of food trucks, as well as booths from local favorites, such as Mitchell’s Ice Cream and Campbell’s Sweets. Be sure to check The Cleveland Flea’s website or Facebook page as the event draws closer (the next one is August 9th) for more details about participating vendors, a map of The Flea, and location (these all typically change each month). So far, we have been able to find free parking each time we have attended too!
The Cleveland Museum of Art
Admission to the Cleveland Museum of Art (CMA) is free, which makes it a great way to expose your family to the arts without breaking the bank! It is a perfect rainy day activity too! Even young children can enjoy taking in the works of art, but CMA also has a great kid-friendly area located in Gallery One called Studio Play. We enjoyed our first visit to Studio Play when our son was about 9-months-old, and he had a blast! There are so many hands on activities for any age, such as sculpting, technology, block, books, pretend-play, and more! The only cost for this fun family outing would be parking and any of the paid exhibits you might choose to visit.
What are some great free events or outings your family enjoys in your area?