Cheap Summer Fun in the SF Bay Area

The kids are out of school and you're already out of ideas for fun things to do with them? Here's the Frisco Kids guide to cheap summer fun in the San Francisco Bay area for 2013!

Kid bowl free - let the kids bowl every day this summer - for free! Join in the fun with a family pass starting at $25 for the summer.

Stern Grove - From June 16 through August 18, experience free Sunday concerts at Stern Grove on 19th Avenue and Sloat Blvd. in San Francisco. In addition to the San Francisco Symphony, the Ballet and the Opera, there's a varied group of performers every week. And it's free! Pack a picnic and blanket, and get there early.


Summer reading programs - I just did a blog post on the many summer reading programs you can sign up for. Your kids read = they win prizes. It's easy! And free.

Summer concerts and performances - This website lists many free outdoor performances in SF, including Shakespeare in the Park (my fave) and other music festivals.

Free Bowling for Kids - get up to two games and free shoes (depending on location) every day for the whole summer through the Kids Bowl Free program. Details here.

Movies
Cinemark Movie Clubhouse - 10 shows for $5 paid in advance, or $1/show at the box office
Check the individual theater for dates, times and shows. The movies are all rated G or PG. Some of the movies featured include Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2, The Smurfs, Horton Hears a Who, Oceans, Happy Feet, Ice Age: Continental Drift, Rio, Alvin & the Chimpunks and more.

Regal Movies - Summer Movies Express. Get $1 admission for kid-friendly movies on Tuesdays and Wednesdays to the 10 a.m. show. It runs for 9 weeks. The Bay Area is not well represented with theaters, but if you're going outside the area, look into this program.

Buy One, Get One Free Movies on Friday
If you have a Visa Signature card, you can get one movie ticket free when you buy two on Fandango for Friday night shows. Good once every 30 days. This is only good on Fridays through 8/2/13. You have to buy and use the tickets on that Friday. 

Museums - many museums have free days once a month. Plus, your local library might offer museum passes you can borrow. Bank of America lets card holders into many museums for free the first full weekend of the month with their Museums on Us program.