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Boston on Budget

Find Free Things to Do in Boston on A Budget

The Enchanted Village

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Enchanted Village Jordan's FurnitureThe Enchanted Village is a fun New England tradition and is returning to Jordan’s Furniture for the holiday season!

The Enchanted Village opens Saturday, November 17, 2018 and runs until January 1, 2019 and is open 11-8PM on Monday-Thursday, 11-9PM on Fridays, 10-9PM on Saturday and 11-5PM on Sundays. The Enchanted Village is closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas and has a different schedule for Black Friday, New Year’s and other select dates as well.

Admission to the Enchanted Village is free and is only available at the Jordan’s Furniture Avon location. (Walk in through the main entrance, and head straight back through the clearance portion of the store– you’ll see it!)

In addition to the Enchanted Village vintage displays, you can also take a picture with Santa and enjoy Enchanted Ice for an additional charge. We paid $20-something for pictures with Santa a few years ago,  but they were totally nice about my brother taking pictures in the background.

Keep in mind that the Enchanted Village can get busy, especially on weekends. We go every year and had the following experience for lines, to give you an idea:

  • 2015: Went four days before Christmas on a weekday in the late afternoon: no wait.
  • 2016: Went on a Saturday mid-morning the weekend before Thanksgiving (before Santa): no wait.
  • 2017: Went on Friday, December 1st at 11am-ish: 20 minute wait and it was in a line the whole walk through basically.

I’m not sure what other experiences are with the wait but I’ve heard the weekends can be long and they have a lot of rope to support that theory. I was actually surprised last year that we had to wait in line given my previous experiences, but maybe I just picked a bad time. They were playing frozen on multiple TV screens at the time, which was a nice little bonus for kids.

For more information about Jordan’s Enchanted Village for 2018, please head here.

Have you visited the Enchanted Village in Avon before? How was the wait when you’ve been? 

Discount Tickets for Wine Riot Boston 2018

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Wine Riot Discount TicketsWine Riot is heading to The Castle at Park Plaza this weekend from November 16-18, 2018.

Tickets for Wine Riot Boston are $65 but Goldstar Boston has discount tickets available. Tickets through Goldstar are $40 + service fee and are available for various windows each day.

Groupon also has discount tickets for Wine Riot but they are the Goldstar tickets and promo codes are not eligible. It also appears it would be $1.50 more expensive to purchase through Groupon over Goldstar.

I went to Wine Riot in my pre-kid days and it was one of the better wine tasting events in my opinion. There was a lot of different wine tasting booths and we discovered a lot of new favorites! It’s been a few years though.

For more information about Wine Riot, please head here. To find discount tickets through Goldstar to Wine Riot, please head here.

Have you been to Wine Riot before? Will you be going this year?

 

Story Land Black Friday Sale and Preschool Pass

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Update: Looks like Story Land dropped their Black Friday sale prices a little lower as the Basic Season pass tickets are now $44.99. 

Heads up! If you have young children and plan to do a trip (or two) to Story Land next year, the Story Land Black Friday sale is live!

Single Day tickets are on sale for $22.99 a person and season passes are up to 40% off, with a few different options to choose from!

Even better, Story Land has a Preschool Play Pass that grants a FREE SEASON PASS for children ages 3-5 all season long! This is such a great deal if you have preschool aged children! I signed my son up for it!

Often wonderful free things do have some terms to meet, and the Preschool Play Pass is no exception. Here’s what you need to know in regards to the Preschool Pass:

  • You must have a 3-5 year old at the time of activation
  • You must buy a 2019 season pass for a parent at the same time you sign up for the pass
  • You must register for the Preschool Play Pass (do this soon as I delayed and missed it last year!) and bring a birth certificate or passport at the park upon activation to confirm age
  • You must bring the pass and your child to Story Land between March 5, 2019 and June 16, 2019 to activate the pass. (The park opens during Memorial Day weekend but you can activate the pass at the office beforehand)

If you think you can meet the requirements for the preschool pass, you may want to sign your child up, especially if you’re going to Story Land more than once in 2019.

I signed my preschooler up and bought two basic season passes at the Black Friday price of $49.99. After tax and fees I ended up paying $105.98 total. This will allow myself, my husband, my preschooler and my youngest to get in free all season long for just over $100.

A regular price ticket to Story Land is $34.99 for ages 3+ and under 3 are free. If we bought tickets at the gate, we would be paying the same price as the season pass.

We actually did the Goldstar deal last year and ended up paying around $90 for our family for a one day visit. As long as I make it to Story Land at the beginning of the season to activate the child pass and visit more than a day and a half, I feel like the season pass will be worth it.

Story Land season ticket holders also receive a one day discount to Water Country in Portsmouth, NH and Lake Compounce in CT. It also appears both companies are also offering similar Black Friday ticket deals as well as the preschool pass if your interested.

Don’t forget to check out Story Land’s Black Friday sale on single day tickets and to explore all the season pass options as some of the options have great perks!

And don’t forget to check out ways to save at Story Land to find all the deals and discounts available.

For more information about Story Land’s Black Friday sale or to purchase tickets, please head here.

*I am not an affiliate partner with Story Land and receive no perks if you buy tickets. It just started to feel like a sponsored post when I was reading it back. I just get excited about a good deal, haha. I did put my Goldstar affiliate link in there if you want to check out those deals and you can view my disclosure policy here if you any questions. 

Veterans Day Deals and Free Offers for Veterans and Active Military Members

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Veterans Day is Sunday, November 11, 2018 and if you are a veterans or actively serving the country… thank you for your service. Here is where you can receive a free meal, free fun, and more soon.

 

Keep in mind that many offers are for dine-in only and gratuity and tax is not included, so make sure to bring a little money with you along with proper ID.

Here’s some Veterans Day Freebies and Offers for Veterans Day 2018 in the Greater Boston area:

Applebee’s: Free signature select entrée for veterans and active military all day on Veterans day, dine-in only.

California Pizza Kitchen: Select from a special free menu on Veterans Day for veterans and active military, dine-in only. (May vary by location– usually not valid at airport, stadium or university locations)

Chili’s: Active Military and Veterans will receive a free meal off a select menu on Veteran’s Day for dine-in only.

Denny’s: Free build your own grand slam breakfast from 5am to noon on November 12, 2018!

Friendly’s: Free big-two-do for breakfast or free All-American burger and fries for lunch and dinner with proper ID on Veterans Day

Olive Garden: Free meal for Veterans and current service members from select menu on Veterans Day.

Red Robin: Free tavern burger with bottomless fries on Veterans Day with proof of service.

Texas Roadhouse: Free lunch for military and veterans on Veterans Day from a special lunch menu

Free Car Wash: Many operators across Massachusetts and the Nation are giving free car washes on Monday to Veterans and Active Military

Boston Duck Tours: Free Boston Duck Tours for Veterans and Military members from November 12-16, 2018

Hall at Patriots Place: Free admission for all veterans and servicemen

Zoo New England: Veterans and active military can receive free admission to the Franklin Park Zoo and Stone Zoo on November 10-12, 2018!

Veterans Day Cruise: Free cruise to Georges Island for veterans, active military members and up to 3 family members on Saturday, November 10, 2018. Registration required. ($10 for additional people and general public)

Free Entrance Day at National Parks: Everyone can get free entrance at National Parks across the nation in honor of Veterans Day!

Thank you so much to our active military, veterans, and families for all you do and continue to do for this country.

Please let me know in the comments below if I missed any free meals or great deals that are available in the Greater Boston area. Thanks!

Cheap Weekend Fun in Boston for November 10-11, 2018

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Free Things to Do this Weekend in BostonThere’s so many fun things to do in Boston for November 10-11, 2018. Sunday is Veteran’s Day so make sure to thank a veteran and thank you if you are one!

Holiday Events at Bass Pro Shops: November 10, 2018 to December 24, 2018 at Bass Pro Shops in Foxboro and nationwide. Get a free photo with Santa with a Bass Pass + enjoy free holiday crafts and activities this holiday season at your local Bass Pro Shops!

Veterans Day Cruise: Saturday, November 10, 2018. Free cruise to Georges Island for veterans, active military members and up to 3 family members. Registration required. ($10 for general public)

Fenway Open Studios: November 10-11, 2018 from 11-5pm. Check out the studios of local artists and get the rare opportunity to meet and chat with the artists!

MassArt Family Day: Saturday, November 10, 2018 at Design & Media Center at MassArt. Drop in for interactive activities and art making from MassArt students, faculty, and staff. Free and open to everyone, but recommended for ages 6+.

Free Entrance Day at National Parks: November 11, 2018. Everyone can get free entrance at National Parks across the nation in honor of Veterans Day!

Harvard Art Museums: Massachusetts residents are admitted free every Saturday morning from 10am to Noon year-round with proof of residency

Harvard Museum of Natural History: Massachusetts residents are admitted free every Sunday morning from 9am to Noon year-round with proof of residency

Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology: Massachusetts residents are admitted free every Sunday morning from 9am to Noon year-round with proof of residency

Hope you have a great weekend!

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Mayor’s Holiday Special Returns with $10 off Dining, Discount Tickets & More

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Boston Mayor's Holiday Special with Discounts and Deals

Save on holiday festivities and events in Boston this year with the return of Mayor’s Holiday Special for the 2018 holiday season!

Mayor’s Holiday Special is a celebration of Boston’s performing arts this holiday season with discounts to holiday performances, free holiday festivities, and discounts to many local restaurants as well.

Mayor’s Holiday Special offers discount tickets to popular holiday events in Boston such as The Nutcracker, Holiday Pops, and many more with discounts available for up to 50% off regular ticket prices.

This is a great way to save on holiday festivities and holiday shows this upcoming season in Boston.

In addition to discounted and free holiday events in Boston, Mayor’s Holiday Special also offers a dining deal. Download a coupon for $10 off $40 or more at participating Boston restaurants, valid until December 30, 2018. Keep in mind the coupon does not cover tax, gratuity, or alcohol purchases.

You can use the $10 off food purchases of $40 printable coupon at the following Boston restaurants:

  • Avenue Bar
  • Bar Boulud
  • City Winery
  • Coppersmith
  • Draft
  • Durgin Park
  • EVOO
  • Fajitas & Ritas
  • Good Life
  • Hard Rock Café
  • Henrietta’s Table
  • Koy
  • Loretta’s Last Call
  • North 26
  • Rail Stop

This is a great way to save money for dining out before a holiday show or while out for holiday shopping!

For more information about discounts and deals this holiday season with Mayor’s Holiday Special in Boston, please head here.

Will you be checking out Mayor’s Holiday Special 2018 and getting great discounts on holiday events and local dining this holiday season in Boston?

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Boston on Budget has been helping locals and visitors save money in and around Boston since 2012! Whether you lived in Boston your whole life or visiting Boston for the first time soon, we'll help you navigate how to save money and find local things to do, see and eat!

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