Sure, your checking account is running on empty. You've been scrimping and saving and making tough choices.

But that doesn't mean the recession has to be boring.

In an effort to save you even more cash, we're going to start a regular column in Inside Out called Cheap Thrills.

It will be an index of sorts, highlighting some of the free, cheap (about $5 and under) and can't-miss entertainment deals of the week.

We launch Cheap Thrills the same weekend as Roanoke's Marginal Arts Festival, which is full of eye-opening exhibits, lectures and concerts -- almost all of which are free of charge. You can find our list of festival highlights below.

Starting next week, Cheap Thrills will be anchored on Page 2, under the TV listings. Just look for our little pink piggybank.

While we scour our calendars and other sources for deals in the coming months, we also urge you to let us know about them, too. E-mail events@roanoke.com or call 981-3269. Help us spread the word!

Marginal Arts Festival

There's a whole lot going on this week under the Marginal Arts Festival canopy. In fact, there's too much to list them all here. But after checking out these highlights, visit the Web site (roanokemarginalartsfestival.blogspot.com) where you will find a very detailed -- not to mention helpful -- map and schedule of events.

Before you start tromping about the city, you'll want to know a little bit more about the grass-roots, community-based project aimed at audiences who are looking for something a little off the beaten path. According to festival organizer Brian Counihan, "Marginal arts is anything that doesn't normally have a natural place to be seen in the community." He said the festival is not trying to compete with existing galleries and performance centers, but merely wants to fill in the gaps.

"The idea of a festival is a chance for professional artists in the region to show work they aren't usually able to show because it isn't commercially marketable," Counihan said.

The festival acts, in part, as a fundraiser for Community High School, where Counihan teaches. It culminates Tuesday at Jefferson Center with a Fat Tuesday Celebration (7 to 9 p.m., $10) complete with mask-making and a silent auction. Proceeds will benefit Community High and future Marginal Arts festivals.

Below are some festival must-dos, but there are more than two dozen events to choose from -- Counihan said you'll kick yourself if you don't make it to at least one.

The First Annual Hoo-Rah Marginal Arts Festival Parade

The festival's launching event features Tiny Tim and Miss Vickie as Parade King and Queen singing "Tiptoe through the Tulips," Hollins dancers, Vispo Suited Jim, the Roanoke Vikings, the Fuzzy Candy Backpack Floats, Ricksha Dickie, Post Neos with Pere Ubu effigy and Lotsa Bicycles. Free. 5 p.m. Friday. Starting at the Martin Luther King Jr. statue and continuing to the Roanoke Main Library on Jefferson Street. (map on Web site).

Silent Films, Live Score

Half film festival, half music show. An eclectic group of musicians including the members of the Magic Twig Community will provide live scores to classic silent films. Free. 8:30 p.m. Friday. Jefferson Center.

Exhibition of the Sweet Science

Boxing -- a sport with deep roots in the region -- is making a comeback in Roanoke. Melrose Athletic Club presents professional and amateur athletes. Free. 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday. Dumas Center, 108 First St. N.W., Roanoke.

Power Tool Drag Racing

Competitors race their creations in 12-inch-wide plywood troughs. Free. 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday. Kirk Avenue between Jefferson and First streets in downtown Roanoke.

Kristin Huffman sings musical rarities

It's not free, but the $10 ticket might be worth seeing the Broadway star performing music not often heard in mainstream theaters and music halls. 7:30 p.m. Sunday. Dumas Center, 108 First St. N.W., Roanoke.

"In the Eclipse of Angkor"

An exhibit by 2009 Frances Niderer Artist-in-Residence Binh Danh, who was born in Vietnam but immigrated to the U.S. at age 2. Opening festivities include a lecture by the artist and opening reception (6 p.m. today). Free. Showing through April 18. Eleanor D. Wilson Museum, Hollins University. 362-6532, www.hollins.edu/museum.

"The Light Fantastic: Irish Stained Glass"

The exhibit features the work of 12 leading contemporary Irish glass artists and highlights the importance of traditional stained, painted and etched glass in Ireland. Opening reception at 6 p.m. today. The Eleanor D. Wilson Museum is the first venue in the United States as part of a national tour. Free. Showing through April 25. Eleanor D. Wilson Museum, Hollins University. 362-6532, www.hollins.edu/museum.

Winter Carnival

Hosted by the Roanoke County Public Libraries with lots of games such as "hockey," "ice fishing," "snowball catapult," "snowman building" and more. No age limit, but activities are intended for preschoolers through fourth-graders. The program is open-house-style; stop by any time. Registration requested. Today at the Vinton Branch Library, 800 E. Washington Ave., 857-5043; Wednesday at the Hollins Branch Library, 6624 Peters Creek Road, 561-8024; Feb. 26 at the Glenvar Branch Library, 3917 Daughterty Road, 387-6163. Free. All events are from 6 to 7:30 p.m. 772-7507.

"Skywatchers of Africa"

This planetarium show tells the story of cultures in Africa and their relationships to the sky. Free. 7:30 p.m. today and Tuesday; 10:30 a.m. Saturday. Radford University Planetarium, 43 Curie Hall. 831-5441, planetarium.radford.edu.

"Evening of Spirituals"

Featuring two gospel choirs from historically black universities: the Fisk Jubilee Singers from Fisk University and the Aeolians of Oakwood University. Free; tickets available through the UUSA ticket office in Virginia Tech's Squires Student Center. Concert is at 6 p.m. Friday at the Lyric Theatre in Blacksburg. 231-5615.

Foot Locker College Hoops Tour

Featuring a 3-point shootout, slam dunk competition, giveaways and more. Registration not required, but participants under 18 must have a parent or guardian present. Free. 3 to 6 p.m. Friday. War Memorial Hall, Virginia Tech. 231-6184, ckropff@vt.edu.

Friday Night Films: "Castle in the Sky"

Hayao Miyazaki's 1986 animated tale of a young boy and a girl with a magic crystal who must race against pirates and foreign agents in a search for a legendary floating castle. Doors open at 6 p.m., film starts at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Taubman Museum of Art Theatre, downtown Roanoke. $5 for nonmembers. 342-5760, taubmanmuseum.org.

Kids in the Valley, Adventuring

Get the whole family together for a late-winter walk along the Tinker Creek Greenway followed by warm cocoa with chewy marshmallows. Free. 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday. Fallon Park, Roanoke. 580-3015, kidsadventuring.org, kivainfo@gmail.com.

Roanoke Valley AAUW Sister-to-Sister Summit

A daylong event for girls from 12 to 16 who live anywhere in the Roanoke Valley and surrounding area. Girls will meet in small groups to discuss issues that affect their lives and participate in games, storytelling, a campus tour and a pizza lunch. Free. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. Olin Recital Hall, Roanoke College. 904-7568, ehamed@roanoke.edu, members.cox.net/aauwva/sister01.htm.

Mad Science: Superballs

Make a bouncing ball out of a polymer that forms when household glue reacts with borax. Free. 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday. Blacksburg Library, 200 Miller St. 552-8246.

George Washington's Model Railroad Show and Sale

Model railroads, memorabilia, books, layouts, china, and new and used model trains. Additional exhibits at the C&O Railway Heritage Center. $3. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Clifton Forge Armory, 704 Commercial St. (800) 453-2647.

French and Francophone Film Festival

A different movie each week in French with English subtitles. This week showing: "Lili et le baobab." Free. 3 p.m. Saturday. The Lyric Theatre, Blacksburg. 951-0604, thelyric.com.

Classic films: "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" (1969)

When Butch (Paul Newman) and Sundance (Robert Redford) rob one too many trains in a rapidly civilizing Wild West, they are forced to flee to Bolivia. Directed by George Roy Hill ("Funny Farm," "The Sting"). 3 p.m. Sunday, Taubman Museum of Art Theatre, downtown Roanoke. $5 for nonmembers. 342-5760, taubmanmuseum.org.

Appalachian Clogging Lessons

Dancing with the Blacksburg Hoorah Cloggers. Free. 7 p.m. Sunday. Graduate Life Center, Virginia Tech. missamandabeth@gmail.com.

Learn Go, Play Go!

"Go" or "Igo" or "Weiqi" is an ancient game of strategy that is believed to have originated in China more than 3,000 years ago. The rules are simple, but matches have been known to last from 20 minutes to six weeks. Free. 10 a.m. Wednesday. Raleigh Court Library, Roanoke. 853-2240.

USA Break Dancers

A show packed with acrobatic stunts, antics and dance moves. Part of the Black History Month celebration at Virginia Tech. Free. 7 p.m. Wednesday. Haymarket Theatre, Squires Student Center, Virginia Tech. bsa@vt.edu, www.mps.vt.edu/celebrations.html.

French Film Festival 2009

French movies are in this time of year. See "The Widow of Saint-Pierre" at 7 p.m. Wednesday. Free. Frances Niederer Auditorium, Wetherill Visual Arts Center, Hollins University. www.hollins.edu.