WAAPA concert in the Park Continuing to work on my quest of finding a range of experiences within the free stuff offered from Perth, I joined, my sister and two friends at Mt Lawley.  This was made easy by riding my bike the 800m to the Ron Stone Park to the annual WAAPA concert of jazz and featuring a bug band and some fabulous solo singers..  A last minute dance for the final song- wishing I had got up earlier.  I will definitely be back next year.

The annual sculptures by the sea is still a very attractive event after 13 years. Thousands of people attend jostling for position in the white sands of Cottesloe Beach. A pictures is worth more than a thousand words.  On every year for two weeks.

It is 6.20pm, I am still at work and beginning to think it is time to go home to feed the menagerie of pets when the phone rings. A short while later I am swinging out to go to Subiaco diverted by the lure of a free ticket to a play? a concert? What the heck it was a free ticket so I just said yes to Wendy I will be there.

Which is how I found myself in the intimate surroundings of the Subiaco Arts Centre watching the Midnite Youth Theatre Company throwing all their might into a musical called "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee".  This title was not an allegory or a metaphor for something deeper it really was about a spelling bee!  Well developed characters, sheer youthful energy and an appreciative audience made this one act play a delight.  A highlight was a tercet (?) between Clare and Peter Martis with Kimberley Harris blending pathos with some delicate singing.  The extended applause said it all.

A quick exit to feed by now starving cats and a ravenous dog, a great night - and all for free.

Braving 38C Steve, a few thousand other hardy souls and I visited the Hyde Park Festival on Labour Day (In March in WA).  Though many people may have forgotten why they had a long weekend they certainly were determined not to waste the day given  there could have been a lot of excuses to stay at home.  But the attraction of many, many stalls, a diverse range of food via the trucks and a seriously cool range of vintage cars was too much. In droves they visited with children enjoying the water playground while others sought out shade to watch the bands.

Fresh golzeme was cooked by the stoic cook in the unairconditioned food van and eaten to the strains of a 17 year old busker creating music through a violin and loop machine.  Though it is great to have these events in our backyard I would love to see the stalls 'curated' to prevent beautifully hand crafted works next to stalls crammed with cheap imported goods.  Happily returned to our bikes just slightly sticky after the locally made Delish icy pole which spurred some energy for the eight minute bike ride home.  Love living locally.

A personal challenge 52 free cultural activities, 52 weeks, 52 reviews.

#Free stuff in Perth #2 $120 a ticket or proof that free stuff is really worth its weight

Proof in full swing