Free & cheap entertainment - Part One

Believe it or not, entertainment can be free, and still, well, entertaining.

Here is a list of some free opportunities for fun in the city of Toronto.  If you’re not in Toronto, stay tuned, because I’ll have plenty of entertainment ideas that are not limited to location.  However, I do encourage those of you who do not live in the GTA to use these as ideas.  Look into your museums and galleries for local deals.  And be sure to leave a comment with your favourite idea for local entertainment!

Take advantage of the free or cheap entertainment your city has to offer - and don’t assume music, theatre and art is off limits - just seek out the best times to go. 

Toronto Symphony Orchestra

If you’re between 15 and 29 years of age, you can sign up to buy tickets to the TSO Soundcheck for only $12! The best part is, you are free to take a guest of any age.  That means you can go with your son or daughter, or anyone else who falls into that age category!

Art Gallery of Ontario

The AGO is free on Wednesday evenings from 6:00 to 8:30pm.  They also offer free general admission for Ontario high school students, aged 13–18, with valid school ID Tuesday to Friday, 3:30–5:30. Students and youth under the age of 18 are also offered a discount - $10 for admission.

Roy Thomson Hall

Free noon concerts in December, January and April.  On Wednesday, December 17, 2008 at 12pm, enjoy the Toronto Mass Choir: A Gospel Christmas for free!  

Royal Ontario Museum

The ROM offers some great deals!  It’s free every Wednesday from 4:30 pm to 5:30 pm (excluding admission to the specially ticketed exhibitions). Admission is half price on Fridays from 4:30 to 9:30. And it is free for university students on Tuesdays!

Bata Shoe Museum

The Bata Shoe Museum offers Pay-What-You-Can Thursdays from 5pm to 8pm and student discounts for $6.

Nathan Philips Square Cavalcade of Lights

Enjoy a free concert, fireworks and ice skate on December 6, 13, and 20 from 7pm - 10pm!  On December 6th Top Three Tour will be performing, followed by Dragonette on the 13th and Serena Ryder on the 20th. Then have some fun on the skating rink while listening to popular Toronto DJ’s.

Saver Queen’s Top Pick:

Improv Classes at the Second City

Now offering a $5 drop-in class on Monday evenings (6pm - 8:30pm).  This is an amazing deal - you get a 2.5 hour class with an instructor (a full course costs $255+tax). 

This selection is the tip of the iceberg - I will be following up with many more ideas and deals soon!  

What is your favourite idea for free or cheap entertainment? (Don’t limit yourself by location - share a tip for anywhere in the world!)