Stretch your family's dollars: Free and cheap activities around Springfield

Remember when you were single and would hear people talk about how expensive it was to have a child? You really didn’t grasp it until you had your own.

All the joys of parenthood come with lots of extra expenses. What parent doesn’t want to save a buck? From special deals to limited-time steals and free activities, here are some ways to stretch your family’s entertainment dollars in the Springfield metro area.

Fritz’s Adventure in Branson offers southwest Missouri appreciation discount

February is usually the month of cabin fever, although this one has been unseasonably warm. If you love Fritz’s Adventure in Branson or have never been because it’s too pricey, then take advantage of this month’s area appreciation. Tickets normally start at $25 but are $10 all month for Missouri residents in Barry, Barton, Camden, Cedar, Christian, Dade, Dallas, Dent, Douglas, Greene, Hickory, Howell, Jasper, Laclede, Lawrence, McDonald, Newton, Oregon, Ozark, Phelps, Polk, Pulaski, Shannon, St. Clair, Stone, Taney, Texas, Vernon, Webster and Wright counties.

You have to book online and then bring proof of your residency — such as a driver’s license or recent utility bill — when you claim your tickets.

Incredible deals at Retro Discount City

Did you know if you show up at 11 a.m. on Tuesdays at Retro Discount City, you can find some incredible deals? There is a plethora of $1.99 items, bins of shoes for $9.99, discounted clothes and merchandise galore.

A line forms before Retro Discount City opens at 11 a.m. and it’s a little bit like Black Friday shopping, but not as insane. We scored a case of Doritos with 36 snack-size bags for $5. That same week, $150 espresso machines were $50. The inventory changes every week, so you never know what you will find.

New merchandise arrives on Friday, which is the most expensive day to shop but has the best selection. The price declines each day, making Tuesday the least expensive because they close Wednesday and Thursday to restock. Sometimes if it’s a food item, it is near or past its “best if used by” date, FYI.

It is not a traditional shopping experience but there are some incredible deals. They post new deals and merchandise each week on Facebook.

Cheap tickets at Alamo Drafthouse

A trip to the movies can be costly, especially for a family. That’s why Alamo Drafthouse’s weekly ticket deal gets us excited. On Tuesdays, most 2D regular shows are $7. There are exceptions for opening weeks and special events, but in general, tickets are $7 on Tuesdays.

Coupons from the Springfield CVB

The Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau has a website intended for tourists, with coupons to local restaurants and attractions. You can download the coupons, which include:

• Buy one, get one free at the Urban Cup or certain Culver’s locations and items
• $2 off admission to the Dickerson Park Zoo or Butterfly Palace in Branson
• Discounts on pizza, free appetizers from local restaurants

This is a great option to check out with spring break around the corner. Even though the site is geared towards tourists, there is a wealth of information and ideas of things to do.

Free experiences at the Springfield Art Museum

The Springfield Art Museum has open studios — a free art experience — for pre-K kiddos and teenagers. The pre-K studios are from 1-3 p.m. most Fridays and are for ages 3-5. There is one every Friday in March. Advanced registration is required. The classes will continue into May, then they switch to summer programming before closing in September, said Joshua Best, museum affairs officer.

There are also Teen Open Studios from 3:30-5:30 p.m. on March 14 and May 9, and from 4 -5:30 April 11. These are designed for teens who want to develop and work on their art-making skills. They work independently, but an instructor oversees each session. Basic supplies are available, however project-specific materials are not provided. Registration is required.

The museum has another cool service for families: free take-home project bags. These art-making kits include materials and instructions to create your own artwork inspired by a current exhibition. There are two upcoming: greek vessels inspired by Ancient Artifacts Abroad (registration opens Feb. 16) and clouds and zentangles inspired by Breath, Light, and Distance (registration opens May 2024).

Restaurant-quality bread at home

Looking for delicious sandwich bread but not a fan of the stuff at grocery stores? Jimmy John’s sells its day-old bread for 70 cents a loaf, so you can make sandwiches for your family with restaurant-quality bread. Call ahead to the location closest to you to see if they have inventory that day.

Moxie Mornings at Moxie Cinema

Moxie Mornings, at Moxie Cinema, are free events geared towards children ages 2-6 that introduce them to the power of film. Moxie staff selects a theme and diverse short films to help children understand movies and their ability to explore new ideas. The films are followed by an art activity.

Moxie Mornings are held at 10 a.m. on select Saturdays. There is one scheduled for Feb. 17, but the Moxie hasn’t announced the schedule past that date.

Free DIY workshops at Lowe’s

Craft supplies can be expensive, but Lowes has a monthly free DIY kids’ workshop where they supply materials for your child to build something. From 10 a.m.-1 p.m. on March 16, they can make a flower-shaped bird feeder. The activity will not take that long, but you can come in any time during that timeframe.

On April 20, the project is a garden cart planter. You have to sign up in advance and may have to help your child with the project (depending on their age), as some are more challenging than others.

Family Night at Skateland

Remember good old-fashioned roller skating? Well, grab your kids for Family Night at Skateland from 7-9 p.m. on Wednesdays at Skateland. Admission is discounted to $5 per person.

Books, story times, live music and more at the library

If you’re not a member of the Springfield-Greene County Library District, you are missing out on some of the best free resources in the area. Aside from membership and a plethora of books, audiobooks, music and DVDs, there are tons of story times for kiddos; free live music on the second Sunday of each month at the Library Center; Travelogues showcasing different places on the third Thursday of each month at the Schweitzer Brentwood Branch Library; a writers group for tweens and teens; movie nights for teens and so much more. There are too many to mention but check out their events page.

Zoo and science center reciprocity

Both Dickerson Park Zoo and the Discovery Center have reciprocity programs for members. That means your membership in Springfield gets you free or discounted admission to many zoos and science centers around the country.

If you like to travel, a membership can even save you money, as admission in larger cities can be more expensive. Both Dickerson Park Zoo and the Discovery Center have a list of participating locations on their websites.

Juliana Goodwin

Juliana Goodwin is a freelance journalist with experience covering business, travel and tourism, health, food and history. She is a former Food and Travel Columnist for the Springfield News-Leader, a former business reporter for The Joplin Globe, and has written for USA Today and Arkansas Living Magazine, among others. More by Juliana Goodwin

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