No other season on a busy family’s calendar fills up like summer.
Camps, hikes, vacations, camping trips, family reunions — there’s hardly a week without an event to look forward to.
But summer events can get pricey. That’s why you’ll want to check out these upcoming deals for family fun on a budget. Some offer discounted tickets, food or admission. Others are completely free.
Tip: Read each promotion’s rules and regulations carefully to avoid disappointment.
Throughout summer — Kids’ movie deals
There’s something about watching movies on a theater’s big screen that beats even the best home-video setup.
Numerous cinema chains this summer plan special showings of kids’ favorites, from “Paw Patrol” to “Despicable Me,” all summer long — often for a couple of bucks.
The big names participating in 2025 include Cinemark, where Summer Movie Clubhouse showings will be a mere $1.75, and Regal, where Summer Movie Express showings are $1. But also check with smaller chains in your area — the Kidsguide website has a compilation.
June 17 — Early Prime Day deals started
While Amazon Prime Day 2025 is not until July, early deals kicked off on June 17.
These are available to all Amazon Prime members and include discounts on popular Amazon devices — like video doorbells and e-readers — and Amazon’s lowest prices on Fire TV smart televisions.
June 19 and Aug. 4 — Free admission to national parks
America’s National Park Service is a globally recognized gem that manages the nation’s stunning park properties from coast to coast.
Admission to all of those locations will be free on:
- June 19 in celebration of Juneteenth, which is now a federal holiday.
- Aug. 4 in celebration of the creation of the Great American Outdoors Act of 2020, a federal law that provided for improved infrastructure and expanded recreation opportunities in national parks and other public lands.
Can’t get to a national park on June 19 or Aug. 4? Other free-admission dates are scheduled for Sept. 27 and Nov. 11.
July 8-11 — Amazon Prime Day
Prime Day 2025, Amazon’s big annual sale exclusively for Prime members, is set to start at 3 a.m. ET on July 8 and run through July 11.
This year’s event will last the longest ever, according to the retail giant — a record 96 hours, or four days. Amazon is also introducing “Today’s Big Deals,” which will offer themed daily specials. Members can also use Rufus, Amazon’s AI shopping assistant, for personalized deal recommendations.
Not yet a Prime member? You might want to check out “6 Ways to Get Amazon Prime for Free or Cheap — Just in Time for Prime Day Deals.”
July 11 — Slurpee Day at 7-Eleven
Free Slurpee Day is an annual tradition at 7-Eleven. The convenience store chain hasn’t announced details for 2025 yet, but keep an eye out for rewards for 7Rewards and Speedy Rewards loyalty app members.
Slurpee Day traditionally falls on July 11 (7-Eleven’s actual birthday) and celebrates the invention of the frozen drink in the late 1950s.
July 16 — National Hot Dog Day
If you relish a good hot dog, July is National Hot Dog Month, and National Hot Dog Day is celebrated on the third Wednesday of the month, according to the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council.
This year it will fall on July 16, and you can expect chains such as Hot Dog on a Stick and Wienerschnitzel to offer free or discounted dogs in celebration.
July 20 — National Ice Cream Day
We all scream for National Ice Cream Day.
This deliciously decadent holiday has been around since 1984, when President Ronald Reagan designated July as National Ice Cream Month and the third Sunday of July as National Ice Cream Day. (This year, that’s July 20.)
Look for chains such as Baskin-Robbins and Carvel to serve up specials and frosty freebies.
July and August — Back-to-school sales tax holidays
Back-to-school time sounds far off right now, but fall school shopping will be here before you know it, and parents will be looking for deals to stock up on everything from crayons to computers.
Plan ahead by finding your local back-to-school sales tax holiday. This is when some states suspend their sales tax on certain qualifying items.
This list will tell you if your state has a tax holiday and its dates and details. Watch for restrictions, such as the maximum cost of qualifying items.
Aug. 6 — National Root Beer Float Day
Refreshing root beer and delicious vanilla ice cream pair up for the perfect summer drink. And Aug. 6 offers a chance to snag a deal on this beloved drink.
Where? Try your local A&W for sure. Also, try some Wienerschnitzel restaurants.
Add a Comment