Every week, my kids get to see marine life up close, enjoy fresh-baked cookies and ride around in funny little cars. All in one place. For free.

That's because every week they go to the supermarket. Yes, whether you go to Hannaford or Shaw's or elsewhere, your supermarket is a lot more fun for your kids than for you. So take the time and show them the fun.

OK, class, here's your homework in Frugal Family Outings 101:

Make a list of 10 museums, amusement parks or attractions you'd like to visit, then bookmark their Web sites and check every two weeks to see if they announce a free day.

The term “cheap dad” is sometimes used in derision. Wrongly. Unjustly.

So it’s nice to see the folks at the Boothbay Railway Village paying homage to dads who don’t like to shell out a lot of cash. On Sunday, Father’s Day, admission for all fathers is free. Usually, adults pay $9.

This week’s award for “Most Creative Family Event of Epic Proportions” goes to the Pirate Rendezvous in Damariscotta. It’s scheduled for Saturday, beginning around 10 a.m.

A 55-foot sailing ship full of pirates will sail into town with cannons blasting. At noon, the ship comes into the schooner landing off Main Street, and a battle between rival pirates, with muskets and swords, ensues. Then the merry band moves down Main Street to plunder what they can, including a bank’s drive-thru. The show is free.

You want to impress all the other parents you know with a clever and fun birthday party for your child, right? But you don’t want to spend the $200 or more it costs at some party-for-rent places, right?

Here’s a compromise: The Gorham Fire Department.

So I’m standing at the counter of the South Portland Public Library, waiting to check out “Olivia Saves the Circus” and a couple of Wiggles DVDs, when I notice a small printed notice announcing that the library has a free family pass for Willowbrook , a 19th century village/museum in Newfield.

If I took my kids to all the circuses, amusement parks and ice skating shows I'd like to, I'd need a home equity loan.

So a few years ago, I decided to start training myself to look for cheap family entertainment. And it’s not that easy. Often the free events aren’t advertised much, so you have to keep your eyes open.

In this blog, I’ll share what I find as I search for cheap family entertainment.