This is obviously a small Boomer and Senior Entertainment and Activity Discounts list. As more discounts are identified I will add them.
Always ask if there are Senior Entertainment and Activity Discounts when you are buying entrance tickets. Many local entertainment, educational and activity related businesses will offer some kind of senior discounts like Museums, Zoos, Art Galleries, Go-Kart racing, Amusement Park, Rodeos, etc.
- AMC Theaters: up to 30% off (55+)
- Bally Total Fitness: up to $100 off memberships (62+)
- Busch Gardens Tampa: $3 off one-day tickets (50+)
- Carmike Cinemas: 35% off (65+)
- Cinemark/Century Theaters: up to 35% off
- U.S. National Parks: $10 lifetime pass; 50% off additional services including camping (62+)
- Regal Cinemas: 30% off
- SeaWorld Orlando: $3 off one-day tickets (50+)
Entertainment and Activity Discounts Regardless of Age
Free Entertainment and Activities
Being a retiree means having more free time to investigate and plan for recreation and entertainment. It is fairly simple for anyone to find frugal entertainment options if just taking the time to seek them out and then keeping track of them. We have attended many free concerts and events year round in our community by being on the lookout. Below is how I find out about all the free fun we can handle. This information was taken from my post – Early Retiree Frugal Entertainment and added to this page.
Bulletin Boards –
For local entertainment I find most of them by looking at the bulletin boards placed in the businesses I often go to. Most people walk right past them. Start taking the time to browse the boards to see if anything is there that strikes your interest. Coffee Shops, Banks, Grocery Stores, Auto Parts Stores, mechanic shops, etc. Some stick posters on their shop windows. If the business is a sponsoring business for an event or part of the organization sponsoring the event don’t be shy. If it’s a paid event ask if they have discount coupons or free tickets for their customers, i.e. YOU. We got free tickets to the “Taste Event” and a Buy One, Get One offer for the movie date night from our bank.
The Library–
Go to the library and look through their community newspapers. Many entertainment events are advertised or are in there as announcements in the local community papers. It is not unusual for your Library to offer a chance for a little educational based entertainment too. Not that long ago I signed up for gardening classes at my library that was taught by a Master Gardner from a nearby nursery. It was free, informative, and I met some really cool new people in town. There was also a lot free giveaways like seeds and plants. Don’t forget to ask the librarian if they have any discount coupons or free tickets for local events.
Go On-Line and Check Community websites–
Most counties, towns, and even subdivisions (neighborhoods/developments) will host free events and post them to their website. You will also find Chamber of Commerce and Merchant Associations associated to your community with websites to check. This is where I can find out about concerts in the park, concerts downtown, charity events, street fairs and sometimes even car shows. For bike races I look at our Parks and Recreation website. You should be able to find event calendars or lists of entertainment opportunities.
Facebook, Twitter, and email–
Sign-up with your favorite event sponsoring entities and get notifications when they are sponsoring an event. For example, I know our local biergarten and my favorite coffee-shop sponsors a few entertainment events each year. This way I get a notification when they start making their announcements. I get email alerts from my town and Facebook updates from the merchants association, etc.
Slow Down and Read the signs, hear the conversations–
I think the biggest tip here is to slow down and pay attention to what is going on in your community. People will always mention things that is going on but you have to hear it to remember it. Pay attention and even ask people if they have heard of any new events coming.
Web Search your Favorite Locations–
When you feel like going to the Zoo, Aquarium, Museum, etc., do a web search on them and find out when they have a free attendance day or if they offer a discounted time-frame. Being retired means you have time to go during off-peak attendance days or times and can get in for free or lower cost. Most movie theaters offer off-peak time movie ticket discounts so take advantage of them. You can also expand your search for all communities/cities near you by using a national event listing site called Eventbrite that I have found some fun frugal things to do.