Free and Cheap Activities for Families With Kids in Central Contra Costa

A family adventure need not always break the bank. In fact, there are plenty of things to do in Central Contra Costa County on a tight budget.

After all, memories are free — and finding "the happiest place on earth" doesn't necessarily mean a ticket to Disneyland (in fact, the theme park just hiked its prices by $5 to $92 for adults and $86 for kids under 10). 

Patch will be running a series, "Free and Fun With Kids," to help families in Central Contra Costa County find cheaper ways to make memories. Just click on the "Free and Fun With Kids" category to find lists, stories, ideas and more.

This week, Concord Patch asked locals for ideas about free and low cost activities in the area. Here's what commenters on the Concord Patch Facebook page suggested:

Pack a picnic lunch and go to "Rock City" in Mount Diablo State Park.

Go to the movies for 50 cents or $1. Get 10 movies for $5 by buying a pass online for Cinemark's Summer Movie Clubhouse, or pay $1 at the box office, at participating theaters like Century 16 in Pleasant Hill and the Walnut Creek 14 theater.

Go bowling for free. Register your child with KidsBowlFree.com for two free games of bowling at a local bowling alley.

Take the kids roller skating for free. Passes are available from KidsSkateFree.com for the Golden Skate rink in San Ramon.

Splash around for free at the Meadow Homes Spray Park in Concord, a water playground that includes hoses, fountains and sprinklers. See pictures here.

Get a free BART ticket to visit a Bay Area museum.

Check out the free events at the local farmers' markets, including: 

• Downtown Concord (10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays and 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursdays)
• Concord High (9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sundays)
• Clayton (8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Saturdays) 
• Pleasant Hill BART (11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays)
• Downtown Pleasant Hill (9 a.m to 1 p.m. Saturdays)
• Kaiser Martinez (10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursdays)
• Downtown Martinez (10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sundays and Thursdays)
• Regional Medical Center Martinez (12 p.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays)
• Veterans Hospital Martinez (10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesdays)
• Kaiser Walnut Creek (10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays)
• Walnut Creek (9 a.m. to 1 or 2 p.m. Sundays)
• Diablo Valley Walnut Creek (9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays)
• Rossmoor Walnut Creek (9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Fridays)