Looking for a something to do that won't break the bank? I have collected this list of free (and cheap) things to do for the whole family!
| FREE STUFF TO DO |
Outdoor Parks and Playgrounds
🌲 Sutton Park and Playground - paved walking trail, playground, and nice views of Falling Creek
🌲 Granite City Walking Trail on Brookwood Circle - near Elbert Memorial Hospital
🌲 McWilliams Park - playground, tennis court, gym and sports fields, home to Elbert County Parks and Recreation
🌲 Bobby Brown Park - yurt rental, archery course, hiking and more
🌲 City of Bowman Park - playground, swings, and tennis courts
🌲 Hart County Botanical Gardens (Hartwell) - small yet lovely gardens with walking path, play area and lots of shade
🌲 Royston Wellness Park (Lavonia) - paved walking path, playground and sports field
🌲 UGA Botanical Gardens (Athens) - The Alice H. Children's Garden is one of my favorite local attractions!
🌲 Sandy Creek Park & Nature Center (Athens) - indoor science center, paved bike path and miles of walking trails
🌲 World of Wonder Playground (Athens) - large outdoor play place for all ages
🐻 Bear Hollow Zoo (Athens) - a small zoo with bears, deer, squirrel, owl, and more woodland creatures
Elbert County Public Library
📚 Borrow a book, movie or audiobook from the library - free with your library card
📚 7 (FREE) Things to Borrow from the Library - You can get free seeds, passes to Zoo Atlanta and other local attractions, and even a kids educational tablet
📚 Toddler Storytime - Story, craft and songs for babies and preschoolers with a caregiver (Tuesdays at 10:30-11:00am)
📚 Choose Your Own Adventure - An after-school program with science and reading activities for ages 11 and up (Wednesdays 3:30-4:30pm)
📚 Summer Reading Program - Fun and free activities, special guests, and learning fun all summer long - magicians, jugglers, and legos!
📚 Crochet & Knitting Club - for all skill levels (Mondays in Bowman)
♟️ Chess Club - All skill levels are welcome to come and play chess (Fridays at 3:30pm)
Local Museums & Historic Sites
❤️ Elberton Granite Museum & Exhibit - learn about the history of the granite industry in Elberton and why it's called "The Granite Capital of the World" (Open Monday - Saturday | 2:00 - 5:00pm | Free Admission)
❤️ Jim-Ree African American Museum - by appointment only
⏰ Downtown Elberton Square - browse the local shops, events and festivals in a historic downtown setting
⏰ Old Dan Tucker's Grave - take a short hike to the grave site
⏰ Nancy Hart Cabin - replica cabin of the revolutionary war heroine
⏰ The Granite Bowl Football Stadium - made entirely of local donated granite block and seats 20,000
Music
🎶 First Fridays Concert Series - First Fridays in May-August in Downtown Elberton
🎶 Flat Tire Bar and Grill - karaoke, open mic night, and live music
🎶 Blue Ceilo Farms Vineyard and Winery - live music in a lovely winery setting
🎶 Imperial Bar and Lounge - karaoke, live music and more
Farmers Markets & Craft Fairs
🐄 Elberton Farmers Market - Wednesday mornings in Downtown Elberton
🐄 Elbert County Farm Bureau Market - Saturday mornings at Georgia Farm Bureau
🐄 Hartwell Farmers Market - Saturday mornings in Hartwell Sun Parking Lot
🐄 Washington Farmers Market - Downtown Washington
✂️ 2Morrows Creations Craft Market - Last Saturday of the month at 2Morrows Creations
Seasonal Events
🌷 Spring Festival - April // 🍓 Moon Farms U-Pick Strawberries (Colbert) - Spring // 🏍 Cruise-In Car Show and Granite Bowl Blast Fireworks - July // 🎅 Christmas in July - July // 🎃 Halloween Party - October // 🎪 Elberton 12-County Fair - October // 🍂 Granite City Fall Festival - November // 🎄Candlelight Shop Night & Tree Lighting - November // 🍪 Downtown Cookie Crawl - December
$5 OR LESS |
Georgia State Parks
Requires a $5 parking fee, or you can purchase a GA Park Pass which gets you free parking for one year!
🌲 Richard B. Russell State Park - Beautiful state park with playground, campsites, and beach on the lake
🌲 Victoria Bryant State Park (Royston) - local state park with lots of events and activities
🌲 Watson Mill Bridge State Park (Comer) - picturesque bridge and picnic areas, hiking, and playground
Elberton 12-County Fair
The fair comes once a year, and admission is $5/person plus $5/parking!
🎢 Elberton 12-County Fair - 11 Days of Family Fun - free entertainment, midway, rides, 4-H animal barn, live music, games and fair concessions available
Swimming
🏖 Lake / Beach @ Richard B. Russell State Park - go swimming at the man-made beach on the lake ($5/parking)
💦 Athens-Clarke County Aquatics (Athens) - public pools and splash pads ($1/person per day)
$10 OR LESS |
📣 Family Impact Center - Family Play Time and Zombie Nerf Wars ($10/person)
🍿 The Elbert Theatre - featuring new movies and live performances each month (Movies are $7.50/person - Live Performances vary)
❤️ "INK" Interactive Neighborhood for Kids, Inc. (Gainesville) - an indoor "neighborhood" with different areas to teach about the community, commerce, and society for little ones ($9/person)
🦒 Lake Hartwell Drive-Thru Wildlife Safari (Hartwell) - bring your own car or rent a jeep to explore the drive-thru zoo ($10/adults and $5/child)
🐒 The Haven Zoo (Lavonia) - guided tours available by appointment only ($10/person)
🐖 Ballyhoo Petting Zoo (Anderson) - a hands-on encounter with soft, scaly, spiky, and slimy creatures - featuring over 150 animals of all shapes and sizes ($10/adult and $8/child)
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