Budget Friendly Summer Activities in Lancaster County

School’s out and the kids are bored. What can you do to entertain them without breaking the bank? Lucky for you, in Lancaster County there are some wonderful inexpensive (often free) activities that will entertain the whole family! 

1. Discounted Movies - One of my favorite discoveries of the summer is Penn Cinema’s “Summer Kids Camp'' program. Unlike most camps, there’s no need to sign up in advance, as you simply pay as you participate. Every Wednesday from June through August 16th you can take the whole family to go see a kids movie at either 10 a.m. or 6:30 p.m. for just $3.00 each.
2. Petting Zoos - There are quite a few locations throughout the county where you can bring the kiddos to feed and/or pet animals, at zero cost to you. They can meet the goats at Oregon Dairy in Lititz, pet the miniature horses at the Miniature Horse Farm in Ronks, or feed the ducks at The Hayloft in Leola.  They can visit with a wide range of farm animals at The Pretzel Hut in Newmanstown, Village Petting Zoo in Bird-in-Hand, or The Red Caboose in Ronks. 
3. Live Music - Keep an eye out for notifications of live music at breweries, wineries and cafes this summer. Many of these venues have kid friendly areas where the children can play while the adults socialize and enjoy the music. We also highly recommend Long Park’s summer concert series in Lancaster.
4. Reading Programs - Almost every library in the county is hosting fun kid-focused programs for the summer. Whether it be scheduled story-time readings, or read-at-home programs with celebratory prizes; there’s something for book lovers of all ages. 
5. Park Playgrounds - It seems like every month I’m learning of a new park I “must” check out. We recommend picking a new one for each visit so that every afternoon trip becomes an exciting adventure. Be sure to let us know which one is your child’s favorite!