Movie Theaters, Fairs, Playgrounds, and So Much More!

Looking for some end-of-summer activities to do with your family in the Lancaster, PA area...for little or no cost at all?  Here you go!  And please feel free to share even more ideas in the "comments" section below.  :)

{1} Kendig Square Movie Theater
All movies are only $2.50 per person BEFORE 6:00 PM.  (See website for movie times and other pricing info.)

{2} Lancaster Creative Reuse
All summer long, they're offering "free craft table" Fridays.  Every Friday - 10:00 AM til 2:00 PM.  Let your imagination run wild as you create whatever you want with supplies from their craft room.

{3} Elizabethtown Fair
August 19-24, 2013.  10:00 AM - 11:00 PM (except August 19th is 5:00 PM - 11:00 PM).  Full schedule of events available on their website.

{4} Cherry Hill Orchard
Pick-Your-Own fruits in their orchard.  Peaches and apples and nectarines are soon ready.  Check their "ripening schedule" or call before you go to see what fruits are ready for picking.  (Just a note: If my memory serves me correctly, they may only accept cash or checks for their pick-your-own fruits out in the orchard.)

{5} Go Park Hopping!
Start at a favorite local, community park in the morning.  Travel to another one for a picnic lunch.  Meet up with some friends at yet another park in the afternoon.  Create a scavenger hunt for your adventures or pack a cooler full of water balloons.  Maybe even invite some "surprise" friends or family to meet you at the park and surprise your kids.  "Daniel's Den Playground" at Manor Church is especially neat because they have a "water mister" to keep kids cool on warm summer days, AND they basically have two parks in one (half of it is for older kids, half of it is for younger kids, AND it's all handicap-accessible.)

{6} Lancaster Central Market
Such a cool place to explore your five senses.  Open Tuesday & Friday 6:00 AM til 4:00 PM and Saturday 6:00 AM til 2:00 PM.

{7} Visit Other Farmers' Markets
Green Dragon - Ephrata, PA (Fridays only)
Root's Market - Manheim, PA (Tuesdays only)
Bird-in-Hand Farmer's Market - Bird-in-Hand, PA (Wednesday thru Saturday this time of year)
Lancaster's Eastern Market (Saturdays only)

{8} Lapp Valley Farm
Fun farm setting with lots of animals.  Delicious homemade ice cream.

{9} Visit Strasburg on a Saturday
Strasburg Farmer's Market
Strasburg-Heisler Library
Sweet Charity Shop
Strasburg Creamery and Other Cool Shops
Strasburg Railroad

{10} Hayloft Candles
Free petting zoo.  Monday thru Saturday 9:00 AM til 5:00 PM (this time of year).  

{11} Local Library Events
Many local libraries have free events for kids of all ages.  Check out their calendar of events online and register for events online, too.  Events and programs are available year-round.

{12} Visit Long's Park
They have several nice playgrounds, lots of picnic areas, a large pond, tennis courts, a petting zoo, and a free summer music series.  The summer concerts are every Sunday night at 7:30 PM all summer long.  Click here for more info on the music series.

{13} Construct this COOL "Outdoor Easel"
I love this idea and just had to share it with you.


Please share MORE IDEAS if you have them.  As a mom, I know I'm always looking for fun things to do with my daughter...and I imagine you might be, too.  :)