Kids are expensive. Clothes, food, insurance, presents?! Okay… LIFE is expensive! The real magic of the holidays comes from spending time together, NOT spending money. You don’t have to bust your budget to find fun things to do this holiday season. The frugal life can still be fun! I’ve rounded up a list of five family activities this holiday season under $5.00!
Here are your family activities, all under $5.00!
Free Visit with Santa
Visit the big guy at Santa’s Wonderland at Bass Pro Shop and Cabela’s. My kids love going to Bass Pro Shop and Cabela’s for the aquariums! At Christmas, it’s even more fun. Santa’s wonderland has festive decorations, games, and you can write a letter to Santa. Plus, each family gets a FREE 4×6 picture with Santa! (You can purchase additional pictures too.) Book your visit now through December 24th – reservations online are required.
$1.00 Movie Night
There is no better way to warm up inside then by watching a Christmas movie on the big screen! The Phoenix Theatre is showing The Polar Express for $1.00. They have locations in Monroe, Wayne, and Livonia. The Polar Express is perfect for a family movie night! The movie runs December 3rd-9th. I recommend purchasing tickets in advance online. After the 9th, you could stream it online and enjoy some snacks from the comfort of your couch!
Free Ice Skating
Show the kids your skills on the ice! The Riley Park Ice Rink is open every day (weather permitting). Skating is FREE! It’s located in downtown Farmington. No reservations are needed, so it’s the perfect spur of the moment activity! They have some skates available to use but if you have a pair, feel free to bring ’em. Hours of operation are Sun-Thurs 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., Fri-Sat 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Watch Christmas Come Alive Â
An indoor Christmas adventure begins at Fantasyland in Lincoln Park! Fantasyland is a magical place that’s been open since 1964. It’s a place my family and I look forward to each year. It really feels like you are in the North Pole! See Santa’s elves baking, building, taking care of reindeer, and so much more. You don’t need a reservation, and admission is just $1.00. You can also get pictures with Santa! Hours of operation are Wed-Fri 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., Sat-Sun 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Closed Monday and Tuesday. Christmas Eve hours 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.Â
A Drive-Thru Light Display
Put on your pajamas on and pack some snacks! The Wayne County Lightfest is a magical four-mile drive inside Hines Park. You can see nutcrackers, dinosaurs, the Grinch, and nearly 50 animated displays. There are over 100,000 lights used every year! This is by far my husband’s favorite holiday tradition because you don’t have to leave the car. It’s $5.00 per vehicle. Hours of operation are Wed-Sun until December 31st (closed December 25) from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Closed Monday and Tuesday evenings.
Don’t let money be the reason you miss out on holiday fun! The most valuable thing we can give our kids this season is TIME! The true joy of Christmas isn’t the gifts we buy, but the memories we make.
