Summer on a budget: How beat the heat and give your wallet a break this summer
Looking for something fun to do with your kids this summer without spending all your money? Check out these other ideas to stay cool in the desert without sweating your spending cash. PALM SPRINGS
Certified Farmer’s Markets move into the Palm Springs Pavilion (401 S. Pavilion Way) every Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Enjoy fresh food, flowers and farm fare in the comfort of the air conditioning.
The city of Palm Springs is hosting free Summer Thursdays from noon until 8:00 p.m. and free Second Sundays from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Palm Springs Art Museum. Admission to the Palm Springs Art Museum is also free all summer if you show proof of a Living Desert membership.
Head on up the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway by springing for a Summer Pass. $80 for adults and seniors (65+) and $40 for children (ages 3-10) means unlimited rides through Aug. 31 to 8,000 feet, and a 30 degree temperature drop. “Junior Ranger Days” returns to the Mt. San Jacinto State Park. These popular and free events led by MSJSP&W Interpreter Allison Barnes are held at the base of the Mountain Station’s walkway from 11:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. and include such children’s activities as “Leave No Trace” games, “Spin the Wheel” information board and “Meet & Greet” with animal pelts on August 4, and September 1 and 2. No advance registration is required.
CATHEDRAL CITY
Cathedral City Parks and Community Events Commission in partnership with the Mary Pickford Theatre presents a Free Summer Kid Movie Series happening on every Friday at 9:30 a.m. starting Friday, June 15, 2018 thru Friday, August 3, 2018. The film series will allow free admission in order to see a different movie geared towards kids each Friday morning at the Mary Pickford Theatre in Downtown Cathedral City.
Pick-up your free Priority Line Pass one week in advance at:
City Hall of Cathedral City, Front Lobby (near reception window), 68-700 Avenida Lalo Guerrero Cathedral City Public Library, 33520 Date Palm Drive
You may still attempt to go to the film series without a Priority Line Pass, but you will be placed in a standby line. Once the Priority Line Pass is empty, those waiting in the standby line will be admitted if seats are still available. Up to 200 kids meal coupon passes will also be given out courtesy of the Old Spaghetti Factory each week.
Kids bowl free from noon to 5:00 p.m. weekdays until Sept. 5 at the Palm Springs Lanes by filling out this form. (68051 Ramon Rd, Cathedral City)
RANCHO MIRAGE
Local and national favorite Brandini Toffee offers free tours of their Rancho Mirage candy factory (42250 Bob Hope Dr.) at 10:30 a.m. with advance notice, and even hands out free samples. When the tour is done, try a terrific toffee shake or hand-dipped ice cream bar while looking out at the factory floor. Bring friends to share. The treats are HUGE. You can also sign up for the Brandini rewards program to earn points toward in-store and online candy credit. Call (760) 200-1598 to set up a tour.
PALM DESERT
Join Barnes & Noble every Thursday June 7 – August 9 from 11am-Noon in the Children’s reading area on level 2 for free Campfire Tales storytelling and treats. Little ones can sit around the faux campfire and listen to tales of adventure and learning. Campfire tales is ideal for kids ages 2-8. Children must be accompanied by an adult who is a minimum of 18-years-old.
Westfield Palm Desert’s Tristone Cinemas offers a free Summer Movie Camp at 10:00 a.m. every Monday and Wednesday through August 8 featuring kids movies like Minions and SING. A kids snack box including popcorn and fruit snacks can be purchased for $4 during Summer Movie Camp.
MyGym Palm Desert offers free unlimited classes to currently enrolled students during the summer. Call (760) 346-6307 for information or contact here
LA QUINTA
Funky Monkey and Little Yogis at Gather Movement and Wellness Studio (78-065 Main Street, Suite 203, LQ) $48 for a 4 class package. See website for class times and details.
INDIO
Tour the grounds of Shields Date Garden (southeast corner of Highway 111 and Jefferson). The garden path behind the famous store winds through the 17 acre date farm. It depicts 14 scenes and includes 23 statues that chronologized Christ’s life using sculptures brought from William and Lillian Vanderzalm’s Biblical Garden in Vancouver. Email info@shieldsdategarden.com or call 760-347-0996 for summer hours. The cafe is closed in July.
Be sure to this Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. on CBS Local 2 for Brooke Beare’s full special report, Summer on a Budget.
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