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Free MN Fall Passport from Explore Minnesota (Deals & Freebies Galore!)

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Well, fall is here in Minnesota! And now through November 30th, 2022, Explore Minnesota is giving everyone a FREE MN Fall Passport to help you save money all across Minnesota this fall!

mn fall passport

There are a TON of great deals including freebies at breweries, BOGO deals at wineries, discounts at corn mazes and hotels and much more. There are places in the Minneapolis/St Paul area and all across the state.

Deals include:

  • FREE Beer Flight at 22 Northmen Brewing Company – Alexandria
  • $1 off a pumpkin at Big Springs Farm Pumpkins & Corn Maze LLC – Lanesboro
  • FREE Guided Tasting at Carlos Creek Winery – Alexandria
  • $1 off admission at Center Creek Orchard – Fairmont
  • $2 off a classic tour at Glensheen Mansion – Duluth
  • $1 off admission to Historical and Cultural Society of Clay CountyHormel Historic Home
  • FREE tour of Hormel Historic Home – Austin (Read about our visit here!)
  • Buy One, Get One FREE Admission to Judy Garland Museum & Children’s Discovery Museum – Grand Rapids
  • 50% Off Adult Corn Maze Admission at Montgomery Orchard – Montgomery
  • $2 Off Regular Admission – Combo Ticket at Paul Bunyan Land Haunted Hidden Hollows – Brainerd
  • One Free Farm Tour Ticket at Redhead Creamery – Brooten
  • Free Medium Feed For Animals at Fresh Acres Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch – Monticello
  • AND MANY MORE!

Just sign up for the passport and then show the info on your phone as you visit these fun places.

Go take a road trip to explore some fun new places and get some great deals!

Print this FREE Halloween Bucket List for more fall fun:

Halloween Bucket List Printables

“The Amazing Castle” at the Minnesota Children’s Museum – Discount & Giveaway!

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“The Amazing Castle” is open at the Minnesota Children’s Museum!!!

And you can save $3 per ticket when you mention my blog or code TCFM at the admission desk!

PLUS – I have 4 tickets to GIVE AWAY! Read more about the exhibit and enter below!

Amazing Castle 5 MCM
 
This “Amazing Castle” exhibit features:
 

🏰 Exhibit Entry and Big Book – From the moment visitors walk through the entrance to “The Amazing Castle,” they are transported to a magical time and place—and the fantasy begins! Lord Ben and Lady Evolent welcome children and adults and make sure the castle is a safe and healthy place to live. Visitors can begin their adventure by reading the story of “The Amazing Castle,” which introduces the castle citizens and depicts the interconnectedness of those living within its walls.

Amazing Castle 1 MCM

🏰 The Keep – The Keep is a fortress sure to be enjoyed by our youngest royals. Toddlers create a miniature, magical community in a castle-inspired dollhouse, build their own fortress out of stone blocks and play with a castle busy wall.

[Read more…]

Get 1 Month of Disney+ for Only $1.99 (Limited Time Deal)

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If you’re not a current Disney+ subscriber but want to try it, now’s a great time!

From now through September 19th, sign up for Disney+ and get one month for only $1.99!

After that it’s $7.99 a month. If you don’t want to continue, just cancel before your first month ends so you don’t get automatically charged.

This deal is only good for new and eligible returning subscribers.

Our family has subscribed to Disney+ for a couple years now and we use it more than any other streaming service!

You can see many Marvel movies, Star Wars, the new Pinocchio, and so much more. We just watched the new Chip & Dale movie which was funny.

Get 1 month of Disney+ for only $1.99 here!

You can also get the Disney+ bundle for $13.99 a month. This includes hulu, Disney+ and ESPN.

(Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links that help support this site at no cost to you. All opinions are 100% mine.)

What to Buy (& Skip) in September to Save Money 2022

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What to Buy in September

Did you know that there are different things on sale each month of the year? 

A while back I put together a Month to Month Shopping Guide that lists the best items to buy each month to save money!

Here I am highlighting the best items to buy this month!

September

September is a great time to still buy school supplies, even after school starts.

Labor Day is also probably the best time for some items like mattresses until the holiday sales come.

There are also special days to note which could mean discounts!

National Cheese Pizza Day is September 5th, and National Pepperoni Pizza Day is September 20th, so watch for pizza deals.

National Guacamole Day is September 16th, National Cheeseburger Day is September 18th, National Ice Cream Cone Day is September 22nd, and National Pancake Day is September 26th – so more food deals to watch out for!

And National COFFEE Day is September 29th! There are always some good coffee deals and freebies.

September is the best time to buy:

Summer clearance

Perennials, shrubs and trees – Greenery at this time of year can’t be beat, according to Consumer Reports

Bicycles – deals start now and run through Fall

Halloween candy, decorations, costumes show up in stores

Baking supplies

Lawn mowers – prices get trimmed to create space for snowblowers and other winter gear

Apple products like the iPhone and watches as new models are revealed

Appliances (like washers, dryers, stoves) as new models are hitting showrooms soon

Airfare for the winter holidays is cheaper now

Cars: New models hit the showroom floor so older vehicles are the ones to buy

What NOT to Buy Right Now:

Large TVs. Prices aren’t the best. Wait until late November for the Black Friday deals if you can.

Seasonal produce on sale now:

Acorn squash
Apples
Beets
Butternut squash
Cantaloupe
Cauliflower
Eggplant
Figs
Grapes
Green beans
Lettuce
Mangoes
Mushrooms
Okra
Peppers
Persimmons
Pomegranates
Pumpkins
Spinach
Sweet potatoes
Swiss chard
Tomatoes

Labor Day â€“ 50% off clothing, shoes and home items at thrift stores like Savers and Unique Thrift Stores

View the full month to month list here!

And be sure to view my Deals & Events Calendar for more deals and fun this month!

National Cinema Day is September 3rd – Movie Tickets are Only $3!

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Here’s a fun, cheap way to enjoy your Saturday this weekend – see a movie for only $3!

This Saturday, September 3rd is National Cinema Day, and to celebrate, many movie theatres nationwide are offering $3 movie tickets that day! This includes many HD and IMAX movies!

national cinema day

There are many movie theatres participating in Minnesota. You can see the full list here!

Movies playing right now include:

  • Breaking (PG-13)
  • The Invitation (PG-13)
  • Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero (PG-13)
  • DC League of Super Pets (PG)
  • Minions: The Rise of Gru (PG)
  • Top Gun: Maverick (PG-13)
  • Spiderman: No Way Home (PG-13)

Get your $3 tickets here!

Note: This movie pricing may only apply to select movie showtimes that day. Tax and third party ticketing fees may not be included.

Target Car Seat Trade-In Event September 11 – 24 (Free Recycling & Save 20% on a New One!)

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Target’s Car Seat Trade-In Event returns September 11-24, 2022, where you can recycle used car seats for free! Plus you get a coupon!

All car seats collected through this popular program will be recycled so that each component will see a second life. And what’s super neat is that when you recycle your car seat, you get a 20% coupon for a new car seat, stroller or other baby gear item!

The coupon can then be redeemed through October 8, 2022.

Target Car Seats 2020

Here’s what you do:

  1. Bring an old car seat or base to a nearby Target and drop it in the designated box inside the store.
  2. Open your Target App to scan the code on the box. Talk to a Team Member in Guest Services if you need help.
  3. Open your Wallet in the Target App to find your coupon in the baby category + more contactless savings.
  4. Click the red “+” to save the offer and place your order online, or scan your barcode at the register.

I also recommend that you combine your savings with using your RedCard, which saves you 5% on all purchases (I love mine!).

target car seats

LEARN MORE HERE: https://www.target.com/c/car-seat-trade-in-event/-/N-v41nu

(Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links that help support this site at no cost to you. All opinions are 100% mine.)

Free Admission at the Minnesota Children’s Museum September 4th! Sign up now

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Free First Sundays at the Minnesota Children’s Museum are back, and the next one is Sunday, September 4th, 2022. Registration is now open so hurry and sign up! These spots fill up fast.

mcm free first sundays

The museum is collaborating with Securing Financial for Securian Financial Free First Sundays, which means FREE admission for EVERYONE the first Sunday of the month.

Capacity is limited. This is good because it prevents the place from getting too crowded. But be sure to reserve them ASAP!

This year in 2022 there are cool things coming to the Minnesota Children’s Museum.

Here are fun exhibits coming:

  • Imaginopolis: Nature Remix
  • The Amazing Castle

NOTE: If you don’t go to the museum on the first Sunday of the month, you can still go for less than full price!

Get DISCOUNTED Tickets (Lowest-Priced!)

  • Get $3 off admission with my EXCLUSIVE code TCFM when you buy in person! (Mention code at the desk) Or save $20 on a membership either in person or online. This is the BEST deal you can find! No limit. https://mcm.org/wp/visit/
  • Get free and reduced-priced admission through the “Play for All” Program. Minnesota Children’s Museum in St. Paul provides free and reduced-priced family memberships to low-income and foster care families and is available to any family living at or below 200% of the poverty level. More info on their website.

Valleyfair Education Appreciation Days August 22 – September 5 ($28 Admission)

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Valleyfair 2021

Valleyfair is offering a special ticket price of only $28 to all teachers, education workers, school bus drivers, and their families during their Education Apprecation Days August 22 – September 5, 2022!

The total is only $30.07 per ticket after taxes!

Admission includes unlimited access to rides, shows, Planet Snoopy, and Soak City Waterpark! Tickets must be purchased online in advance to receive this special rate.

The tickets are then good for any day August 22 – September 5. (Follow the instructions on their website to plan your visit.)

This is a great time to go as they have Monster Jam Thunder Alley right now!

DISCOUNTED TICKETS for everyone else!

Valleyfair Discount Tickets

EVERY DAY LOWEST PRICE

Of course, if you don’t qualify for this deal, you can get my EVERY DAY LOWEST-PRICED VALLEYFAIR TICKETS! With taxes and fees, they’re CHEAPER than on the Valleyfair website!

Gate admission is regularly $64.43.

But you can get tickets for $37.99 on my site! (You can purchase tickets for Valleyfair AND Soak City, their waterpark.) With taxes and fees, this totals $39.99. The ticket price is lower on the Valleyfair site, but with taxes and fees each ticket totals $44+! So you’ll save money getting your tickets from me.

Get DISCOUNTED tickets here!

More info including 12 tips for visiting in 2022 here!

Valleyfair Pre-K Pass

FREE Pre-K Passes

If you have preschoolers, do NOT buy their tickets – get them FREE!

The FREE Valleyfair Pre-K Pass for 2023 is now available! With this pass your 3 – 5 year-old can get in to Valleyfair and Soak City for unlimited FREE visits during the 2023 season.

(Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links that help support this site at no cost to you. All opinions are 100% mine.)

Educators get FREE Admission to the Minnesota Renaissance Festival August 20-21

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The Minnesota Renaissance Festival in Shakopee takes place weekends August 20th through October 2nd, 2022.

And EDUCATORS get FREE ADMISSION on opening weekend, August 20-21!

Minnesota Renaissance Festival

On the promotions page you can find tons of discounts, starting with this one for teachers, school faculty and staff. FREE admission on August 20 – 21! Just show your school ID badge. Not a teacher? You can get FREE or discounted admission if you donate blood, have good grades, are in the military, or live near the fair. Learn about the discounts here.

Other discount options:

  • You can also discounted tickets at Costco. Check out my post about that here. Deal is only available to members (but if you know someone who is a member maybe you can get them to get you tickets!).

Regular prices are:

Adults $26.95 Senior $24.95 Child $17.95 (ages 5-12)

Note that children 4 and under are FREE. ADVANCED ticket prices are lower: Adults $23.95 Children $15.50 (ages 5-12)

[Read more…]