Everyone knows summer is the time for arts festivals. It kicks off with Coachella in April and ends sometime in September (the official end might be Burning Man, but that’s way too weird to consider as a benchmark). But one of the discouraging things are how much money these things cost. This year, Bonnaroo alone is $250 for a four-day pass!
Fortunately, if you live in or around any big-ish city, there are plenty of free festivals that will meet your need for fantastic music and art. If you’re near Chicago this summer, you can see Blond Redhead and Ted Leo + the Pharmacists for free as a part of their New Music Monday programs. If you’re in New York, there are free shows all over the city, including Friendly Fires, Wavves, Slick Rick, Pink Martini, Wanda Jackson and the entire Charlie Parker Jazz Festival. San Francisco has free shows by Neko Case, Aaron Neville and classical performances all summer long. There are also music festivals happening in Houston and Los Angeles, movies in Detroit, art films and music in Phoenix, cultural festivals in Atlanta and a piano festival in Portland. No matter where you live, there’s a chance to see great art this summer without breaking the bank.
FREE SHOWS TO CHECK OUT THIS SUMMER:
New York City
SummerStage.com
Chicago
http://relm.ag/kGiHbg
San Francisco
SternGrove.org
Houston
http://relm.ag/lHFcxE
