Low-Cost Summer Activities for Dallas Families

Summer's just around the corner once again. Families are planning vacations and activities for the warm weather ahead. In just two months children will be pouring out of the schools. Yes, summer's wonderful. But there's so much time and it takes some planning to figure out how to organize activities for their children that are fun, productive and will cost as little as possible. Most large cities are also planning for the active season ahead. Parks, museums, and libraries are all good resources for some useful free or inexpensive summer activities for families. Theme parks usually sell passes or packages that will make summer fun a lot more affordable. And water sports on nearby lakes and rivers mean a lot of healthy fun.

The Office of Cultural Affairs might not seem like a place to take active children for an outing, but you'd be surprised how many fun events they have lined up for the summer 2007 season. June 16th, the Ice House Cultural Center is partnering with ArtSpirit to put on a fun, hands-on workshop for children aged 2 and up. Youngsters are to bring anything Styrofoam they can find at home to join with others to make Styrofoam sculpture. It should be lots of fun and educational as well. It takes place from 2-4. Just make sure that the Styrofoam items brought are clean. Contact them about the workshop at 214-670-7524. On June 30, there will be a paper mache workshop at the same time. Using paper mache and acrylics kids will make folk art angels to take home under the guidance of local folk artists. Schedule this early since the workshop only has space for 15 youngsters. Look at the schedule on the web site for their "Target Saturday" programs of readings for children in Spanish and English. This organization has so much for children it's amazing.

The Junior Players are putting on a production of The Comedy of Errors July 25-30, using giant puppets! It's free to the public and everybody should come to the Samuell Grand Park Amphitheater, 6200 E. Grand Ave. at 7:30 to see this lively play. Bring blankets and snacks to settle on the lawn and watch the show. For another play that should be a thrill for children definitely check out the Madhouse Matinee at Slappy's Puppet Playhouse. Who doesn't like Alice in Wonderland? It has delighted audiences for decades for the outrageous characters and costumes and fantasy. Each Friday afternoon through Sept 1, at 1 p.m these players will put on a production of this hilarious story. This is a perfect activity for the whole family but youngsters will especially get a kick out of this production. Just call 214-369-4849 and say "Madhatter" to get two tickets and one for free.

Each Friday, through July 28, families can go downtown and enjoy free activities, browse sidewalk sales and specials put on by local businesses. But on July 7, free carriage rides will take folks around the area. July 14th will be be a day for free live entertainment at the gazebo. On the next weekend, get into watermelon-spitting contests and sample free slices. Then the last weekend on July 28, people can tour the area to see local art on Gallery Night. All this takes place around the South Main area. Call to check schedule or ask questions at 817-410-3185.