Free Christmas Fun From Ms. Cheap!

The Nashville Tennessean has a wonderfully informative article by Ms. Cheap listing all the FREE activities locally that will make you Christmas Cheerier and Cheap.
Click on this link to go straight to the article.

Here are a few fun things on Ms. Cheaps list:

DEC. 5-7: The Metro Parks Youth Ballet Mini-Nutcracker will take place at 7 p.m. on Dec. 5, at 2 and 7 p.m. on Dec. 6, and at 1 p.m. on Dec. 7 in the Davis Auditorium at the Harpeth Hall School. Tickets for Friday/Saturday are $6 or $4 for ages 12 and under. On Sunday, it's $10 for all ages and includes a reception. 862-8439

DEC. 6: The Frist Center for the Visual Arts hosts a 2 p.m. Blair School of Music Children's Suzuki Violin and Cello performance. 244-3340 or http://www.fristcenter.org/

DEC. 6: The Discovery Center at Murfree Spring, 502 S.E. Broad St. in Murfreesboro, has an open house 10 a.m.-4 p.m. It's cooking, crafts and a visit from Mr. and Mrs. Clause, and even a Grinch appearance. 890-2300 or http://www.discoverycenteronline.org/


DEC. 6: Young Chefs Academy, a cooking school for kids, at 99 Seaboard Lane in Franklin, is having a hands-on open house teaching family-friendly recipes and kitchens skills 2-5 p.m. It's free if you bring canned goods for Second Harvest Food Bank. Ages 3 and up can create some good holiday treats. 371-5151 or www.youngchefsacademy.com/brentwood

DEC. 6: Mansker's Yule Fest, is an 18th-century Christmas celebration at Mansker's Station and the Bowen Plantation House in Moss Wright Park in Goodlettsville. It's 6-9 p.m. with music, dance, storytelling and refreshments. 859-3678

DEC. 8: Music City Bronze handbell ensemble has a holiday concert at 7 p.m. at Westland United Methodist Church, 110 Dawson Lane in Lebanon. The ensemble's other upcoming concerts are: 3:30 p.m. Dec. 14 at Cathedral of the Incarnation at 2015 West End Ave., and 7 p.m. Dec. 15 at Andrew Price United Methodist Church at 2846 Lebanon Pike. http://www.musiccitybronze.org/

DEC. 9: The Nashville Philharmonic Orchestra will play a program of "fanfare and fate'' at 7 p.m. at Calvary United Methodist Church at 3701 Hillsboro Road.

DEC. 11: The Parthenon Recorder Concert of seasonal music from around the world will be 6-7 p.m. at the Parthenon in Centennial Park. 862-8431.

DEC. 11: The Tennessee State University Poinsettia open house, featuring 49 varieties of poinsettias, will be 9 a.m.–4 p.m. in the greenhouse on the main campus farm on Ed Temple Boulevard. Fill out a poinsettias survey and they'll give you a small one. 963-5320

DEC. 11: First Tennessee hosts Free Day at the Frist Center for the Visual Arts. 244-3340 or http://www.fristcenter.org/

This is just a small sampling of all the fun things to do Ms. Cheap has listed.
Be sure to go here to see the whole list.

If you live in an area other than Nashville Tennessee, so a search in you local area newspaper. I have seen Ms. Cheap in other cities in the US. There may be an article in your local paper.

Google Search: Ms. Cheap's 2008 Christmas Guide

Homeschool Field Trips on The Cheap

One of the greatest things about homeschooling is the fact that you can enrich you children through field trips.

In our area, there is a wealth of possible field trips that a family mayy participate in for little money. With gas prices the way they are, you will end up with some investment in gas for sure. But if you are careful, you can still come out smelling like a rose and keep you money in your pocket.

One way to save is to look for activities that there is no admission charge..
FREE is the key word here.

County, City or State Museums---
Our Tennessee State Museum is extensive, you could spend several days going through it...
and it is FREE!

Public Library Exhibits--
Nashville Public Library just had a FREE exhibit of an original copy of the Declaration of Independence.
There are always exhibits that include artists of various mediums. Check out their website for a list of upcoming events, storyhours, puppet shows and many other activities that are sure to enrich your children. For FREE!

Dress Rehearsals for Performances in your area---
Like the Nashville Symphony, or Broadway Shows or Christmas Special Shows; ie,Rockettes Christmas Shows, Nutcracker, Christmas Plays, etc

Our area Nashville Symphony has rehearsals that they invite area school children to...bonus is after the rehearsal, the featured artist gives an q&a session for the kids....AWESOME AND FREE!

The Rockettes have come to Nashville to do a Christmas Show....The ticket go fr $65.00....But, they gave our home school group a number of tickets to the rehearsal for FREE! That was awesome because many of these families could have never afforded to attends this....

Most area historical homes or sites have a FREE day once a year...

Our area The Hermitage, home of Andrew Jackson has a free day on his birthday each year, March 15.

Our local Art Museum. The Frist has kids get in FREE everyday, Adults cost $8.00 But ...They have a free day every month sponsored by a local bank. Every Thursday night College Students get in FREE! FREE FAMILY DAYS
The Frist Center features periodic free family days throughout the year. Special programs and activities created just for families and are themed around current exhibitions. Plus I think there are other free days.

Living History Events will usually donate some free tickets to home school groups.

You just basically have to do your homework...

Make a list of the places you want to go, make some phone calls, check the web.

Team up with other home school families and share rides.

If you have any ideas on how to do family field trips on the cheap...
leave a comment and share with us...

Thanks
Happy Homeschooling
Lynne