24 Free Activities To Do with Your Kids This Summer

Are you tired of hitting up your neighborhood park or maybe you already have a membership to your city zoo and visiting every week is beginning to feel a bit… dull? Here are 24 Fun & Free Activities to do with Your Kids this Summer that don’t involve a picnic or trip to the pool.

This is a list compiled of companies, parks, amusements and city activities offered during the summer months for free or a small fee, but pack a big dose of fun for both kids and adults!

 

1) Free Donut – June 7, 2019 

National Donut Day is on Friday, June 2nd. You can get a free donut at…

• Krispy Kreme – You can go to your local Krispy Kreme on National Donut Day and get any doughnut for free, no purchase necessary.
• Dunkin’ Donuts – Dunkin’ Donuts is giving away a free classic donut of your choice with a purchase of any beverage on June 2nd. A small regular coffee shouldn’t set you back too much. Here are their locations.
• LaMar’s Donuts – Visit LaMar’s Donuts on Friday, June 2nd to get any donut that has a hole for free. No purchase necessary. Be sure to show your golden ticket to get your free donut. Here’s a list of locations.

 

2) Sign up for Arts & Crafts Projects at Michael’s 

Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday Michael’s has craft and activities to sign up for, aimed at children 3 years and up.  Check it Out Here 

 

3) Join Your Local Library’s Summer Reading Program

Public libraries across the country offer summer reading programs for children and teens specific to each age range. Readers who complete criteria are rewarded with books, games, and prizes. Check your local library for details on their summer reading program.

 

4) Join Barnes & Noble’s Summer Reading Program

Barnes and Noble has a reading program where children – aimed at 1st through 6th grade – participate by reading books (from the library, borrowed or bought at Barnes and Noble) write about each book in their Reading Journal. Once they complete all the assignments, they receive a free book from Barnes and Noble. Check out the Summer Reading Program Here.

 

5) Search for Free Days at Local Amusements  

Search your city for free days where admission is waived. Check your local zoo, museums, nature centers, and attractions for listings of free admission days. Be sure to arrive early, these are generally the most popular days of the year!

 

6) Free Slurpee Day 

7-Eleven offers free small slurpees on July 11th

 

7) Kid’s Eat Free Nights 

Google search your city for “kids eat free” lunch and dinner days to find what restaurants offer free meals for kids.

 

8) Kids Bowl Free in the Summer  

Select bowling centers across the city participate in the Kids Bowl Free program. Children who sign up are eligible for 2 free games a day, all summer long. Search to find the nearest participating bowling alley to you.

 

9) Visit a National Park for Free  

Each year the National Parks Service offers 10 days a year free admission to all national parks and monuments, and this year, one of those days falls in the middle of summer. Parks will be free to enter on August 25th for the National Park Service Birthday.

Here are all the dates of free admission 

Here you can search national parks and monuments by state

Additionally, Fourth Graders and their families can visit national parks for free with the Every Kid in a Park program. Sign up here.

 

10) Free Craft Saturdays at Lakeshore Learning

Lakeshore Learning offers free in-store craft projects every Saturday from 11am -3pm for children ages 3 and up. No reservations are necessary. Check out the art projects here.

 

11) See a Movie at the Theatre for $1

Regal Cinemas offers $1 movies during their summer express series. Movies play on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 10am and tickets are $1.00 per person. Check out the local listings and movie selections here.

 

12) Sign up for Free Building Workshops  

Home Depot offers free workshops on the first Saturday of the month between 9am – 12pm. Each participant receives a kid-sized Home Depot orange apron, workshop kit and participation pin. Check out the different activities they offer.

 

13) Free Concerts & Movies in the Park 

Check your local parks and listings for upcoming evening concerts and movies in the park. You may have to stay up a little later than normal, but pack a blanket, chairs and dinner and enjoy live music or a fun movie outdoors with family and friends.

 

14) Go Roller Skating for Free  

Check the listings to see if there is a roller rink nearby which participates in the Kids Skate Free program. If your local roller rink doesn’t participate in this program, you can send them this letter encouraging them to join.

 

15) Free Family Entertainment at Bass Pro Shops 

During the summer months, Bass Pro Shops have held Family Summer Camp days where kids can learn how to fish, participate in free arts and craft projects and walk around and explore the huge store. They have a free catch and release pond, rod and reel challenge, arcade games and more fun activities planned.

Check out the activities, dates and search for a location near you

 

16) Visit a Museum for Free

If you have a Bank of America or Merrill Lynch debit or credit card, you can get one free general admission ticket on the first Saturday of every month to over 150 museums (in 31 participating states.) Check out the Bank of America Museums on Us program for more details and participating museums.

 

17) Sign up for a Free Behind-the-Scenes Factory Tour 

With over 500 factories across the country offering free tours, sign up to explore your city and sample ice cream, candy, beer (without kids) and tour stadiums.  Check here for a factory tour in your city and maybe even enjoy a few free samples along the way.

 

18) Build a Free Lego Model Every Month  

Every month in a LEGO store, kids are able to build a free LEGO model. Be sure to sign up for the once a month event since space is limited. Participants are able to build the model and then take it home. Sign up here.

 

19) Visit Your Children’s Museum & Theatre for Free

Thanks to Target Free Days, you can spend a day at your local children’s museum, children’s theater or art museum totally free. Some locations offer a reduced cost admission price, but most have once a week or once a month where admission is completely waived.

 

20) Volunteer 

Children can volunteer for projects such as gathering items for those less fortunate, picking up trash at a local park, or making meals for those in need. Search VolunteerMatch.org for kid-friendly volunteer opportunities you can do as a family.

 

21) Fish for Free 

 

22) Apple / Berry Picking 

 

23) Take a Free Treasure Hunting Adventure 

Using a smartphone to navigate your way to hundreds of geocaching locations preset nearby to your location. Simply create an account and you’ll be on your way to a fun treasure hunting adventure you can do one day, or spread over several days throughout the summer.

Sign up here for a fun Geocaching adventure.

 

24) Scout Out Local Festivals 

Search your city for local festivals and food fairs you can attend for free. A lot of local festivals will have entertainment for kids such as bounce houses, activities, petting zoos and face painting. Here is a nationwide festival search engine you might find usual but be sure to check local listings which may be more informative.

 

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