What do you feel when I say the words “Summer Break”? If you immediately panic thinking about how you’ll keep them busy all summer, I've got you. We’ve got a team full of parents here at KCL and a big ol’ list of free things to do with kids this summer.
Grab free kids’ meals when you buy an adult meal, get free admission to national parks, or get two free games of bowling every single day. From screen-free to toy-free (and most of ‘em totally FREE-free), here’s a curated list of kids' summer freebies.
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Entertainment & Attractions
When the weather gets too hot or rainy for outdoor play, there are plenty of free (or nearly free) indoor activities to keep kids entertained, engaged, and learning. From bowling to museum visits and movie mornings, these ideas fill your indoor summer days without making you spend a fortune.
Free Indoor Fun
Kids Bowl Free: Two free bowling games every day at over 1,300 participating locations.
Kids Skate Free: A $5 annual fee gets you two free skating passes every week at participating rinks.
Library events: Storytime for toddlers, teen STEM projects, and free activities. Check with your local library.
Indoor fishing events: Find free fishing events at Cabela’s and Bass Pro Shops on select weekends in June.
Movie theaters: Select theaters have cheap or free summer movie tickets on weekday mornings.
Museums & Cultural Experiences
Free museum admission: Get free museum admission with your Bank of America card the first weekend of each month or with an EBT card through Museums for All.
Historical sites and local monuments: Review the list of National Historical Landmarks in your state to visit nearby sites.
Factory tours: Give kids a firsthand look at different industries by checking out free factory tours in your town.
Outdoor Adventures
Local parks, splash pads, and nature trails offer plenty of space for running, playing, and exploring. Many communities also host free events like concerts, outdoor movies, or kids’ activity days. With a little creativity, even a walk around the neighborhood can turn into an adventure.
Parks & Nature
Visit a National Park: Fourth-grade students receive a free park pass through Every Kid Outdoors. Plus, there are six National Park free days every year, with two dates typically happening during summer break.
Nature scavenger hunts: Create a list of outdoor items to find and turn a walk in the park into a fun, nature-based treasure hunt.
Stargazing nights: Spread out a blanket and watch the night sky, learning about constellations and planets.
Bird watching expeditions: Grab some binoculars and a guidebook or app — like the free Audubon app — to spot and identify birds in your area.
Water Activities
Public splash pads and fountains: Cool off and play for free at local water features designed for kids.
Beach days: Pack your sunscreen, buckets, and snacks for a full day of sand and surf. Before you go, check beach advisories and closings through the EPA website.
Creek exploring and rock collecting: Walk along shallow creeks and collect smooth rocks or interesting finds.
Fishing at local ponds: Websites like takemefishing.org are a great resource to find fishing locations, boat launches, and bait shops. Be sure to follow licensing and registration procedures before you plan your trip.
Educational Activities
Keep kids learning, but make it fun with these free educational activities. Summer reading programs reward kids for meeting reading goals. Libraries often offer reading programs, STEM workshops, and story hours for all ages.
Reading & Learning
Pizza Hut's Camp BOOK IT!: Register for this reading program for PreK-6th grade, and your kids can earn free pizza when they complete their reading goals.
Barnes & Noble Summer Reading Journal: Kids complete an 8-book reading journal and return it to a local B&N to get a new, free book of their choice. See more details and print out the journal in English and Spanish here.
Local library summer reading programs: Join reading challenges and attend story times or fun library-hosted events. Some areas have LEGO clubs and other daily activities.
Book exchange parties: Trade favorite books with friends for a fresh stack of reading material.
STEM Activities
Free coding classes for kids and teens: Kids as young as four can learn to code online for free. Code.org and Khan Academy are excellent places to start.
Science experiments with household items: Try safe, simple experiments like vinegar and baking soda volcanoes to spark curiosity. The Children’s Science Center has some at-home options.
Math games using everyday objects: Use items like coins, dice, or snacks to practice math through playful activities.
DIY engineering challenges: Build bridges, towers, or simple machines using materials like popsicle sticks and rubber bands.
Food & Dining
Finding free kids' meals can be a fun and budget-friendly outing during the week. Many restaurants offer “kids eat free” deals on specific days. Plus, farmers' markets and community food festivals are great ways to get kids to try new things.
Free Meals & Treats
Restaurants that offer free kids' meals: Many restaurants offer free kids' meals with the purchase of an adult entree on select days of the week. See our list of over 30 restaurants where kids eat free.
Grocery store sampling events: Let kids try new foods and learn about nutrition during free sampling days. Check with your local grocery chain.
Farmers market tastings: Taste fresh produce and local treats while exploring colorful market stalls. Bonus: See if any of the vendors host farm tours during the summer.
Community picnics and food festivals: Macaroni Kid is a helpful source to find events in your area. Or use it when traveling to find free events in your vacation location.
Sports & Physical Activities
Get kids moving with free fitness and sports activities. Many local parks and community centers offer free classes like yoga, dance, or sports clinics. Open fields and courts are perfect for pickup soccer, basketball, or frisbee. Or build your own fitness fun at home with things you have on hand.
Fitness & Exercise
Free Golf Membership: Bank of America's Golf on Us program teamed up with Youth on Course to offer kids a 1-year Youth on Course membership for free. Register your kids by June 15 for unlimited number of rounds at golf courses across the U.S. for a year.
Planet Fitness Summer Pass: The Planet Fitness Summer Pass lets teens between the ages of 14 - 19 work out for free from June through August each year.
Free yoga in the park events: Practice simple poses and stretching in a family-friendly outdoor class. Or find free yoga videos online to practice in the backyard.
Family-friendly hiking trails: Websites like AllTrails.com have location-based lists of hiking trails with distances and difficulty levels.
DIY Backyard Olympics
Create a DIY obstacle course: Use cones, chairs, and toys to build a course that encourages active play.
Water balloon competitions: Beat the heat with a splashy game of water balloon toss or tag. Invest in reusable water balloons to keep this game going all summer long.
Three-legged races: Pair up and race with your legs tied together for lots of laughs.
Long jump contests: Mark off a jumping line with rope or tape and see who can leap the farthest in your backyard or park.
Creative Projects
Many craft stores and libraries host free workshops where kids can paint, build, or create with various materials. You can also find virtual art classes, printable coloring pages, and DIY projects using items around your home.
Arts & Crafts
Home Depot kids’ workshops: On the first Saturday of every month, Home Depot has one-hour, free craft events from 9 a.m. - noon.
Lowe's free kids' workshops: Build a free project at Lowe’s every third Saturday of the month.
JCPenney kids’ events: On the second Saturday of each month, JCPenney hosts KidZone Craft Events — a one-hour event starting at 11 a.m. — with free DIY crafts.
Michael’s craft classes: Kids can join the free virtual Camp Creatology from July 7 - 18, 2025. Or visit participating Michael’s stores every Saturday in July for in-store craft classes (supplies cost $5).
DIY sensory bins: Fill containers with rice, pasta, or beans for tactile play and imaginative discovery.
Nature-inspired art projects: Collect leaves, flowers, and twigs to turn into creative artworks.
Performing Arts
Backyard talent shows: Let kids perform songs, dances, or jokes for an audience of family or neighbors.
Puppet shows with homemade puppets: Make sock or paper puppets and put on a living room performance.
Storytelling circles: Take turns making up and sharing stories to boost creativity and listening skills.
Technology & Online Fun
Free tech activities can keep kids engaged and learning during summer vacation. Find organizations with free online coding classes, STEM challenges, and educational apps with trial access. Libraries and community centers sometimes host tech days with hands-on activities like robotics or 3D printing demos.
Virtual Experiences
Life Skills Now virtual camp: Kids age 5 - 18 can sign up for the #LifeSkillsNow virtual camp to learn life skills like financial literacy, kitchen safety, and cooking skills, and more.
Free virtual museum tours: Explore world-class museums — like the Louvre, MetKids, or the Smithsonian — from home with interactive online exhibits.
Free virtual aquarium and zoo visits: Zoos and aquariums across the country offer free virtual zoo field trips or live cameras. The San Diego Zoo live cams feature pandas, penguins, hippos, and more.
Digital photography challenges: Encourage kids to snap themed photos and create their own mini galleries.
App-Based Experiences
Scavenger hunt apps: Use apps like Goosechase for pre-made scavenger hunts — or create your own.
Geocaching adventures: With more than two million Geocaching sites worldwide, let your kids find hidden treasures in their communities. Check out this Geocaching guide for kids to ensure you’re going on a hunt with a reward.
Augmented reality games in local parks: Play interactive AR games like Pokémon Go that combine tech with exercise. Check out Pikmin Bloom or AR Dragon for iOS as additional free app options.
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