Free Summer Family Fun

• Regal Cinemas Free Family Movies
  
  
• Chick-fil-a has fun family nights on Tuesdays usually from around 5pm-7pm. They offer free activities, have special visitors and all sorts of fun. Plus some restaurants offer a free kids meal with a purchase of an adult meal! Visit their website here and call the restaurant near you to make sure they participate in this awesome program!
  
  
• Metro Parks' seven community pools (indoor and outdoor) open June 9. www.nashville.gov/parks
  
  
• Little ones love the Watkins Park Sprayground and the Kirkpatrick Sprayground. These are small, fenced playgrounds with lots of fun spraying water features. Hours are 9 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Mondays-Fridays and 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays starting June 9. Watkins is on 17th Avenue North across from M.L. King Magnet School, and the Kirkpatrick Sprayground is at 620 S. Ninth St. in East Nashville. 862-8480.
  
  
• Take a free canoe float on Radnor Lake. This Otter Creek Road state park offers night hikes, early morning and evening canoe floats and miles of lovely wooded trails to explore. 373-3467 or www.radnorlake.org.
  
  
• Everyone loves the free Symphony in the Park concerts. Dates are: June 11 at East Park; June 17 and June 24 at Centennial Park; June 25 at Lafayette's Key Park; July 2 at Schermerhorn Symphony Center; and July 4 at Riverfront Park as part of the Fourth of July festivities. www. nashvillesymphony.org or 687-6500.
  
  
• Tango in the Park will take place twice a month from 8-10 p.m. in the Event Shelter at Centennial Park, with lessons and dancing on Friday June 13, July 11 and 25 and Aug. 8 and 22. There's also a 7-9 p.m. session on June 29. www.tango nashville.com or 367-3878.
  
  
• Metro Parks' Big Band Dances are on Saturday evenings between June 7 and Sept. 6. The music is from 7:30-10 p.m. and there are free dance lessons starting at 7 p.m. It's all at the Event Shelter at Centennial Park. 862-8400.
  
  
• Metro Parks presents the Red Caboose Concerts at the Red Caboose Amphitheater in Bellevue from 7 to 9 p.m. on Fridays in July and August. Bring your picnics and blankets. 862-8400.
  
  
• Metro Parks and the Red Caboose Playground Inc. present Tales at Twilight at the Red Caboose Amphitheater in Bellevue. Bring your lawn chairs and a picnic and enjoy music, dance, magic and stories 7-8 p.m. on Friday nights in June. 862-8400.
  
  
• Cheekwood is offering ''free summer Saturdays'' for people 17 and under every Saturday through Aug. 30, (except June 14). Regular admission ($10) applies to adults and there is a limit of six children per accompanying adult. If you go, don't miss the free Saturday A.M. arts activity program for children and families. It's a drop in, no reservation needed. 356-8000 or www.cheekwood.org.
  
  
• Check out the nature centers — Warner Park Nature Center, 7311 Highway 100 and Shelby Bottoms Nature Center on Davidson Street in East Nashville. Both have calendars full of engaging activities for all ages. Almost all are free. 352-6299 or www.nashville.gov/parks.
  
  
• Take advantage of library programs. The Nashville Public Library's main library and 20 branches have more than 200 special events for children and young adults in June and July. It's a full schedule of fun — everything from storytellers, magicians and puppet shows to craft days, music and more. One of the most interesting is the Space Camp Field Day for school-age children on July 15 at 4:30 p.m. at the Z. Alexander Looby Library, 2301 Rosa Parks Blvd. 862-5800 or www.library.nashville.org.
  
  
• Make a trip to the Nashville Farmers' Market at 900 Eighth Ave. N. It's fun to walk the stalls outside and enjoy the restaurants inside. And it's also a good place to take pictures, with blooming flowers or luscious fresh fruit as a backdrop. The market's Summer Grill Party on July 19 and the Ugly Tomato Festival is Aug. 16. For more information, call 880-2001 or www.nashvillefarmersmarket.org. There's also a new East Nashville Farmers' Market that's open from 4-7 p.m. on Wednesdays at the Turnip Truck on Woodland Street. www.eastnashville market.com.
  
  
• Enjoy a kids clinic at Home Depot or Lowe's. These fun, hands-on workshops are held one Saturday a month at these home improvement stores. Check your store or see www.homedepot.com or www.lowes.com for times and details.
  
  
• Purity Dairies shows how ice cream is processed and packaged with tours Monday–Thursday by appointment. The tour includes a free ice cream novelty. You don't have to be a kid to enjoy this. 760-2271, ext. 489 or www. puritydairies.com.
  
  
• Take a walk, bike ride or even roller blade through Shelby Bottoms along the Cumberland River. The trailhead starts near the train trestle in Shelby Park, and now that the new Pedestrian Bridge across the Cumberland River is finished you can go all the way to Two Rivers Park and soon beyond. Check out other new sections of these greenways. 862-8400, 352-6299 or www.nashville.gov/ greenways.
  
  
• Play tennis. There are 173 free Metro courts in Nashville, and many of them are even lighted. The Centennial Sportsplex courts are the only Metro outdoor courts that charge a fee. And if you want to see some great tennis, it's free to watch the tournaments at Centennial Sportsplex. 862-8490.
  
  
• Ride the glass elevators at the Sheraton Nashville Downtown at 623 Union St. This 28-story hotel's open view elevators are always a big hit with the kids. Call 259-2000.

For more great ideas from Ms. Cheap of the Tennessean CLICK HERE.