Staycation 2011, Springfield, Missouri

Springfield has so many things to do for families, many of them free to pass the time in summer!

Go to a movie:

Campbell 16 theatre runs free children's movies on Wednesday's and Thursdays. Check out their website for a complete list

Movies at Founder's Park are awesome! Me and the crew look forward to these. On Friday nights, it's a family movie. On Saturday, it's a "date night" movie. Both are shown outside. Bring your chairs or blankets, dinner and snack and enjoy a movie under the stars!(pick up tickets at several locations, including Mediacom Ice Park and Mediacom Offices)






If art is more your thing:

First Friday Art Walk, downtown Springfield, the first Friday of the month. Peruse downtown stores that have work displayed by local artists or take in street performances

　

Free Art Day, The Creamery Arts Center.

Saturday, June 18, 2011 from 10 a.m. to Noon.

The Springfield Art Museum is open year round with displays for browsing. There is no admission charge and check out special events like Watercolor USA.

Bookworms in your family?　

Check out the Springfield-Greene County libraries! Awesome programs for babies through adults(all at no charge!), storytimes, movie nights, and a summer reading programs. Pick up the details at any branch library or on their website 

Barnes and Noble..read 8 books and earn a free book! this is great to go along with the SGL program! Also check out story times!

Outdoorsy types:

 Bass Pro Shop is open for browsing! Check out the alligator, aquariums and waterfall in store!

Springfield Nature Center is open for your enjoyment. Located by Springfield Lake, it offers trails and a learning center(all free!)

Swim, swim, swim! The Springfield Park Board has various pools open for your use. Check out the website for pricing and hours. Many pools offer discounted swimming after 5 pm and even free swimming with a non perishable food donation. The McGee-Mcgregor wading pool is FREE for kids ages 6 and under!

The Botanical Center is now open at Nathaniel Greene Park. Also check out the Butterfly House, The Japanese Stroll Gardens(small fee), The Gray-Campbell Farmstead, and more while you are there! Also, check out one of our other spectacular parks!

Check out Rutledge Wilson Farm Park!

Take a splash in the Jordan Valley Fountains downtown, next to Medicom Ice Park and Hammons baseball field.

There is so much to see and do in Springfield! Parks, lakes, museums and more!

Some ideas for things to do that charge: Jump Mania, Jumpin Joeys, and Wacky World are indoor bounce houses, the Discovery Center is a hands on children's museum,check out a Springfield Cardinal's baseball game, Pythian Castle,  Wilson
s Creek National Battlefield, summer bowling(which the games are free, but not the shoe rental, so I added this in the pay section)ice skating at Mediacom Ice Park, 1984(a retro arcade!), live performances at Springfield Little Theatre, the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame and don't forget about the Dickerson Park Zoo!