Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Free Ways to Enjoy the Holiday Season with Your Family

Fun family activities during the holiday season do not have to have a high price tag. Many families find that they prefer a more simple approach to the holidays and throughout the year. By doing a little research and pre-planning, many families can enjoy free or inexpensive kid-friendly entertainment during the holidays that can create lasting cherished memories.

Here are a few ideas:

Take your kids to Holiday Parades
Nearly every city has an annual holiday parade. They typically take place sometime between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Local parades are a source of free fun that can turn into a yearly tradition. Many times, free entertainment takes place before the actual parade as well. Adults and children alike enjoy watching decorated floats, marching bands, horses, Santa, and everything else that makes up a typical parade. If you and your family absolutely love parades, you can watch the ones in neighbouring cities as well.

Make your own decorations
Decorating your house for the holidays can be expensive both purchasing the items and on your electric bill. The easiest way to save money is make your decorating simple. Do not hang as many lights as you have in previous years. Put a timer on your lighting fixtures so that they are turned off during the day so electricity is not wasted.

To decorate your tree, there is nothing sweeter than homemade decorations. Have the children gather around to make decorations for the tree: popcorn strings, cranberry strands and paper chains. Your tree will look beautiful and you will have not spent a lot of money.

People who are out of work may find that they can use the extra time to make handmade gifts and ornaments, bake special treats, learn to play holiday music on an instrument, enjoy the beauty of nature in a season that is usually rushed and frantic, and have one-on-one time with their children.

Enjoy holiday decorations in other people’s yards
Pack the kids in the car, tune the radio to a station playing holiday music, and let the neighbours foot the light bill. Many people have simple to elaborate holiday decorations in their yards. Sometimes an entire community will put on a light show. Let the kids vote on their favourite light show or take turns picking the route. Kids can even work on skills such as counting and navigation along the way.

Look for free local holiday activities
Churches and local businesses usually run some kind of functions during the holidays. These events are almost always free of charge. Holiday church functions range from plays, to musicals, to live nativities. They usually love to have the public attend these events. You can find out about various church functions in your local newspaper.

Public libraries often have a great selection of holiday books, music, activities, and more. These may be enjoyed by the entire family during special times at home. Schools may have holiday-related programs open to the general public as well.

Many families discover that they enjoy helping others during the holidays. Check local shelters, Red Cross, Salvation Army, etc., for volunteer opportunities.

Shopping malls
Shopping malls are usually beautifully decorated for the holidays, and it can be a treat in itself to visit them and admire the decorations. Walking around, window shopping, and enjoying light refreshments can make for a very pleasant evening. If you keep an eye on the shopping centre's website, you will probably notice some free activities they will have around the holiday as well. Some of these free activities will likely be things like concerts, tree lighting, indoor parades, visits from Santa, and free horse drawn carriage rides.

Host a potluck dinner
If your family hosts a dinner for family and friends, make it a pot-luck dinner. Ask each family to make their favourites dish or drink to bring to the dinner. As the host of the party, you will provide the main course. This will help take the burden off your budget and still enjoy a wonderful holiday dinner. It will also allow others to showcase their signature dishes.

The holidays are a time to celebrate with loved ones. This does not imply you should spend more money than you have. A celebration should be enjoyed by all. Celebrating it with family and friends is all that is required to enjoy your holidays.

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