Opportunities to engage in low-cost to no-cost summer fun activities exists in almost every urban space in America. Do a little research on the web or your local newspaper and you will find an assortment of events and venues available across the nation. From free music concerts in local parks to neighborhood art fairs to major cultural events around the country, there’s no shortage of things to do.
In the midwest The Taste of Chicago features free local and big name entertainment on 5 featured stages, and as you can guess from the name they’re is an incredible variety of food available. Its a veritable feast of culture and culinary delights.
The Three Rivers Jazz Festival in Pittsburgh and the Cincinnati Jazz Fest are summertime favorites in their respective regions of the country. New York City, Miami, Atlanta and Detroit all feature free outdoor music brought to these urban locales by large corporate sponsors, like McDonald’s Jazz Oasis on the University of Chicago’s campus midway. 
Scores of other events are held in public spaces. Chicago’s Grant and Washington Parks, Central Park in New York and Belle Isle in Detroit are seasonal mainstays for summer fun and entertainment.
Google your local municipality’s website for a listing and schedule in a city near you. For Chicago try the Mayor’s Office of Special Events or the Chicago Park District. In Atlanta visit the Parks and Recreation site to find events that appeal to all ethnicities and are free and open to the public.
Events like jazz, blues, classical or salsa music festivals are often daylong affairs with name entertainment and can be easily accessed 
by public transportation. Say you want to spend an afternoon with like-minded people enjoying the sun and listening to some good music. You can take a walk down Chicago’s beautiful lakefront to 63rd Street Beach and catch an open air concert almost any day of the week where congo drummers and other musicians can be found playing just for the love of music and an appreciative audience. The same goes for New York’s Central Park or New Orleans Congo square.
For nature lovers there’s the botanical gardens and inner-city wildlife sanctuaries that provide peace and serenity to rejuvenate the spirit.
You can picnic, bar-b-que, host family reunions and play sports — at no cost to you, the public citizen. Arts and craft fairs, book 
fairs, movies in the park are all there at your fingertips.
Chicago’s upcoming events include the African Festival of Arts in September in Washington Park, the Jazz Fest in Grant Park and the air and water show on the downtown lakefront.
From bike riding to sailing, canoeing, basketball and baseball tournaments it’s all there for you to experience. All of the aforementioned parks have reliable security provided by your own city or park police.
So come out and enjoy your city this summer. See you on the set.–bernard williams
Check out the our website and Facebook pages@ rollingout.com for more info and local event updates in your city.
