Free or Inexpesive Activities in Olympia, WA for Your Kids During Christmas and Winter Vacation

Winter Break 2009: If you're going to have kids at home during winter break, Chanukah break, Christmas Break or whatever you call it, it pays to be prepared with a list of activities and outings that get you and the kids out and about while supporting local businesses and community treasures. Times are tough and many parents are looking for festive, holiday season appropriate activities for their families that won't stress the budget. Olympia, Washington and her sisters, the cities of Lacey and Tumwater, all offer great opportunities for fun this winter vacation.

The Timberland Public Library has a surprising number of free activities such as Christmas Story Time, Winter Crafting (appropriate for adults teens middle and high school), Creative Magic Show and Season-themed Puppet show, scheduled to conclude at the end of December. Someone described the Olympia public library as "our community living room" and I think that this is a great way to think about this resource. If your local library does not have anything scheduled for winter break then check out what's on your neighboring library's schedule. Follow this link to get see the Timberland Regional Library's schedule for activities for all of its branches for the month of December http://events.trlib.org/evanced/lib/eventcalendar.asp Remember that the library offers an array of programs for kids teens and adults throughout the year. Spend a little time in the community living room and drop by during winter vacation and year round.

Get Rolling. Olympia has its very own skating rink and it called Skateland. www.skatelandolympia.com. It is located at 2725 12th Avenue N.E. Olympia, WA. Skating costs between $4 and $6 for two to three hours of skate time. Skates are extra; check your local Good Will to locate a pair of gently worn roller skates or roller blades. Oh and get this, there are Wednesday Dollar nights, $2 if renting skates! I love roller skating. It's cheap and it wears kids out. Need I say more? Call 360-352-9943 for updated schedule and hours.

The Hands on Children's Museum located 106 11^th Avenue S.W., Olympia, is one local venue that is sure to teach and entertain. While it's not free, the entrance fee is a modest $ 7.95 for humans ages 2 years old and above, those under age 2 pay $4.95. In need or know someone who is? Ask about applying for the museum's sponsored memberships, for low income families. Once inside enjoy all of the "art, the science and the lore of all the ages long since past" through the museum's interactive and engaging displays and installations. The Museum will be open as usual through December and will be closed on December 25. The museum also offers a variety of activities during its "Winter Vacation Camp". The schedule for the camp contains a wide-ranging schedule of activities. Some of those activities emphasize science and discovery and othersthe tactile pleasure and thrill of making your own paper. While these classes really do sound great, their prices are a little out of my budgetary league, but hey, everything is relative. A day at Winter Vacation Camp at the Hands on Children's Museum for one camp: $65 per camp for non-museum members and $60 for members. www.hocm.org

Open every Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. through December, an outing to the Olympia Farmer's Market is a great way to spend an early winter Saturday or Sunday with the kids. The Olympia Farmer's Market is a 30 year old Olympia success story. The market offers the community an indoor/outdoor gathering place. Dedicate one weekend during the kid's winter break to visit the market. Rub elbows with your neighbors some of whom are famers, artisanal cheese makers, butchers, silver smiths and fishmongers. Take the opportunity to talk to your kids about sustainability, local food and supporting your local economy. Stroll among the stalls and share early winter apples and pears with your kids or grab a quick bite from on of the markets and food vendors. A day at the Farmer's Market doesn't have to cost you a dime. www.farmers-market.org.

Everyone needs a little splurge, some time. Just in case this is your some time, I've put two indulgences on this list. Here's your chance to treat yourself and the kids to a bit of live performance during winter break. I have two candidates that fit the bill; both are home grown and local. First, there's "A Star Dust Home Coming," Harlequin Productions' 1940's noir-ish, "who done-it" serial with holiday overtones. This kind of theatre is probably too much for young kids, but is certainly a great way to introduce kids ages ten and above to live theatre. An afternoon at the movies with the kids would cost as much or more as a theatre matinee tickets. With tickets prices for this Harlequin production ranging from $12 to $20* (for Rush ticket pricing must be at theatre half an hour before the show) this splurge is not a budget buster. For more information about performances contact www.harlequinproductions.org .

My next candidate is a performance of the Pacific Northwest's Nut Cracker. The play is a holiday standard that tells the tale of the gift of a nutcracker and a little girl's vivid dream which ends with her trip to Land of the Sugar Plum Fairies. This ballet is a holiday standard and a wonderful opportunity to watch and support young dancers and a vibrant arts community. Tickets run $14 to $28. Shows are from December 11 though December 13; check at The Pacific Northwest Ballet's web-site for more details: www.balletnorthwest.org

There are free land low cost activities that you can enjoy with your kids during their Christmas Break, Chanukah Break Winter Vacation or Kwanzaa break. Look to your community to find more holiday happenings in your neighborhood.

Sources:

www.Frommers.com