5 Sure-Fire Sources Of Free Summer Fun In SW Minneapolis

It's summer, time to get outside and enjoy yourself. But what if you want to be frugal? Here are our five top free (or nearly free) things to entertain yourself with this summer.

1. Tours of - Not to be morbid, but you'd be surprised just how cool a cemetery can be. Lakewood offers self-guided tours of its grounds, including the graves of many luminaries from the city's past. See the elaborate and extravagant, or the plain and touching, along with the cemetery's beautiful chapel and two mausoleums. Stop by the main administration building next to the main gate for your tour brochure.
2. Free Museum Passes - You'll need a (free) Hennepin County Library card to pick these up at either the or , but hurry! This is to local institutions like the Bakken Museum and .
3. Wine and Beer Tastings - Local liquor stores and regularly host wine and beer tastings. Check their Facebook pages for details, so you can be a better-informed shopper when you decide to splurge!
4. Movies and Music In The Park - What better to do on a hot summer night than to grab the picnic blanket and head to your local park for a free movie or a concert? The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board is hosting dozens of these events throughout the city. Check the schedule posted on their website to find out when the next one comes to a park near you!
5. Neighborhood Festivals - You might accuse us of cheating with this entry, since some of the games and food aren't free. But no one is charging you to drop by one of Southwest Minneapolis' many neighborhood festivals and enjoy the atmosphere, window-shop for local art, and see local businesses' booths. Upcoming:

• Kenny Ice Cream Social at Kenny Park (6/21/12, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., with a 7 p.m. concert by the Crosstown Community Band)
• Tangletown July 4 Celebration (7/4/12. Final times haven't been announced, but last year's parade began at 10 a.m. at Washburn High School)
• Kingfield Summer Festival (7/19/12, time and place TBA)
• Kenny Summerfest (8/4/12, 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.)
• Armatage Summer Festival and Collectors Car Show at Armatage Park (8/13/12, 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.)
• East Harriet Rosefest (8/25/12, Time TBA)
• Celebrate 38th (9/8/12, Time TBA)