If the holidays have you feeling a bit spent (literally and figuratively), you’ve come to the right place. We scoured our Online Calendar in search of the best FREE events in Cincinnati this January — and came up with a list of 13 awesome activities!
Give the family budget a break and enjoy some free fun to start off 2018 with our January Free Guide:
Living on Air Exhibit
Daily through Jan. 31 at the Main Branch
The Library is partnering with Media Heritage for an exhibit featuring photgraphs and original artifacts from local shows and stations. The exhibit will be on display in various parts of theMain Library, including the Atrium and the Joseph S. Stern, Jr. Cincinnati Room daily through Jan. 31.
Read to a Therapy Pet
Jan. 6 from 2-2:30 pm at Blue Manatee
Our furry friends from Therapy Pets of Greater Cincinnati will be in the store for customers of all ages to read to and pet! This is a fantastic way for kids to practice their reading skills with a sweet, nonjudgmental listener! For non-readers, one of our booksellers will share a few animal books so you can hang out with an animal and hear a great story.
Cincinnati Museum Center STEM Girls at the Library
Jan. 6 from 10-11:30 am at the Main Branch
STEM Girls University is a program designed to introduce STEM Girls participants to STEM concepts through in-depth discussion and activities featuring women in science. Registration is required. To register, call 287-7001 or visit www.cincymuseum.org/STEMgirls. FREE.
Free Ice Skating Lesson on Fountain Square
Jan. 7 from 11 am-12 pm
FREE US Figure Skating Basic Skills Instruction for Beginner Ice Skaters. Skills include: Fall down and recover safely, March in place, March forward, Wiggle backward, Stopping. Wear layers, mittens, hats and ski pants. Strongly recommend children wear an All Sports Helmet. Arrive early to check in and size skates. Bring your own skates or rent skates at the Fountain Square rink. Families are welcome to enjoy one free lesson per family member.
Teen Game Night
Jan. 12 from 6-8 pm at the Monfort Heights Branch Library
Join us in this after-hours program where we’ll have an assortment of games to play. Pizza and drinks provided. Feel free to bring your own game and teach a new friend a new game! For teens in grades 6-12. Registration Required.
Second Sunday Family Showtime: Trip Jones and the Case of the Missing Music
Jan. 14 at 2 pm at the Clifton Cultural Arts Center
Fill your Second Sundays with smiles at CCAC’s monthly series of lively, family-focused musical and theatrical performances, Second Sunday Family Showtime. From beloved classics to contemporary, multi-cultural surprises, every show is a special way to wrap up your weekend. Show begins at 2pm each month and is followed by a community reception. Tickets are $5 for adults and FREE for kids.
Yoga & Mindfulness for Kids
Jan. 18 and 25 from 4-5 pm at Blue Manatee
Start the New Year off in a Zen State of mind at Blue Manatee! Classes geared for kids ages 6-11.
3rd Sunday Funday: Patchwork Fun
Jan. 21 from 1-4 pm at the Taft Museum
You’ll be in stitches this funday! Learn about fabrics at the Art Cart, and create your own paper patchwork masterpiece to take home. From 1–2 p.m., meet a sheep, and learn how its wool plays a part in quilt-making. Learn how quilts tell stories during a musical performance by Russ and Barb Childers from 2–3 p.m. No reservations required. FREE.
Cincinnati Cyclones Kids Eat Free Night
Jan. 26 at U.S. Bank Arena
Bring the kids to the Jan. 26th Cyclones Game – and they’ll eat for free! All kids ages 2-12 will receive a free meal consisting of a John Morrell hotdog, side and soda. Make it a family date night!
Owl Quest
Jan. 27 from 6-7 pm at Sharon Woods
In the deep depths of Sharon Woods, there are creatures that are rarely seen. Join us to go off-trail in search of owls and other nocturnal wildlife. Free; register by Jan. 26th.
Not Free, But Great Deals:
Half-Price Days at the Cincinnati Zoo
Daily through March 9
Ok – so this isn’t technically free, but half-price admission at the Cincinnati Zoo is a pretty fantastic thing! Bundle up the kids and enjoy special winter-themed animal encounters, a less-crowded experience and lots of heated indoor exhibits — all at half price.
Summit Park Ice Rink
Open daily through Feb. 19 at Summit Park
Summit Park’s newest winter addition will be located directly underneath the glass canopy. The ice rink will open November through February with pre-holiday, holiday, and post-holiday hours. All restaurants will be open during their respective hours, and Nanny Belles will have an outdoor cart selling snacks, drinks, hand warmers, gloves, and more. Admission into the rink is just $5 (and includes skate rental!) and kids 3 and under are free.
Classes at Highfield Discovery Garden
Offered Wed-Sun each week with changing and seasonally appropriate themes
We love the classes at Highfield Discovery Garden, and winter is a great time to bundle up and explore this hidden gem! During winter months, you’ll pay just $2/person for admission, which includes that day’s class (held in a cozy indoor setting!).
