For students, finding things to do with your down time is important. But college student budgets often make finding activities difficult. Luckily, Erie has plenty of low-cost and even free options for students with time on their hands. There are activities and events for people with all different interests.
For the outdoorsy type, The Lake Erie Arboretum at Frontier Park (LEAF) offers Frisbee Golf, as well as outdoor movies for free once a month. LEAF also hosts music shows, like the recent Blues and Jazz festival as well as various other artists.
Dates and times for these events can be found on the Lake Erie Arboretum website or Facebook. LEAF is also great for those who want to go and see and experience nature. More information about LEAF can be found at: www.leaferie.org.
There are other great places in Erie to find free things to do as well. For instance, the Blasco Memorial Library is much more than just a place full of books and movies to rent. You are able to borrow fishing supplies, visit the maritime museum, learn languages online and even take Qigong classes. All of these are for free! The library doesn’t always have to be a place of studying and schoolwork; it can also be a provider of fun activities. The library’s website is also accessible at: www.erielibrary.org.
For those trying to take things slow and enjoy their downtime, Erie has plenty of good choices. Students in search of some exercise and relaxation can take yoga classes for free on Wednesday evenings at the Erie Art Museum, or you can stop by the art museum to check out the exhibits. There’s plenty to see and it’s inexpensive.
For those looking to do some sightseeing, it is free to go to the top of the Bicentennial Tower on the first Sunday of every month (excluding holidays). Further information about the art museum is available at: erieartmuseum.org.
For further entertainment, students can head to Tinseltown to catch the hottest new movies. The theatre offers $5 movies on Tuesdays. This discount runs all day and is year round. A list of what’s playing can be found at: www.cinemark.com.
Erie is also home to multiple sports teams. One of those local sports teams, The Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League, offers a discount with a Gannon ID for tickets at home games. Minor league sports can often be more fun than their major league counterparts. The tickets are cheaper, the scoring is higher and you can get closer to the action. The season starts in late September with the first home game on October 4. More information about Erie’s hockey team can be found at: www.ottershockey.com.
Students with tight budgets do not need to worry. Erie has loads of opportunities to have a great time while spending little to no money. Why sit around in the dorm watching Netflix or taking another nap when there are so many great options out there?
Adam Miller
