Free things to do with your kids this summer

From movie screenings to concerts to in-store workshops, here are some ideas for free and low-cost activities to keep your kids entertained this summer.

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Museums for All#museums-for-all

Museums for All is a national initiative that includes all types of museums, including art, history, natural history, children’s museums, science centers, aquariums, zoos, and more.

The program grants free or reduced admission to over 1,500 museums, zoos, and other sites across the country. Find a Museums for All location in your area, show your photo ID and your EBT card, and can get admission for $5 or less for up to four people. There’s no limit on visits.

Museum admission is one of the many things you can get for free with an EBT card.

Library Summer Reading Challenges#library-summer-reading-challenges

Public libraries nationwide offer free summer reading programs for kids and teens to keep them engaged while school is out. Participants track their reading, complete challenges, and earn prizes like books or raffle entries.

On top of reading challenges, which typically take place from June to August, many libraries host free events for kids, including storytimes, craft workshops, STEM activities, performances, and teen clubs.

Summer reading challenges often include both in-person and virtual events to keep kids engaged and active over the summer.

Visit your local library branch to learn more about summer reading in your area. While you’re there, check out what other benefits you might get with your library card. Some libraries offer free or discounted tickets to zoos or museums for card holders.

Kids Bowl Free#kids-bowl-free

Kids Bowl Free partners with 1,300 bowling alleys across the country to offer free bowling for kids between the ages of 2 and 15.

Find a participating alley near you to register your kids, and they can bowl up to two free games every day, all summer.

The games are free, but you may still have to pay for shoe rental, depending on the location. The program also sells a family pass, which includes free games for up to four adults during the summer.

Home Depot Kids Workshops#home-depot-kids-workshops

Home Depot offers free in-store workshops for kids on the first Saturday of every month, starting at 9 am, while supplies last. Parents are encouraged to register their kids in advance.

Workshops focus on simple crafts for kids ages 5 to 12, where they use hand tools such as hammers, screwdrivers, and paint to complete a project. All tools and materials are provided to complete the craft in-store. Check out the 2026 schedule to see upcoming projects.

Home Depot also offers free on-demand workshops you can stream at home with your kids, using simple objects you might already have. Spend the afternoon building a solar oven using an old pizza box, or paint your own foldable canvas tent.

The Apple Store Kids & Families Workshops#the-apple-store-kids-and-families-workshops

Apple Stores regularly offer free workshops for kids and families. Programs vary by location, but kids’ workshops include making personalized emojis, building interactive stories, and coding your first app.

Families are encouraged to sign up in advance to reserve a spot. The recommended age varies by activity. Workshops typically last an hour and can take place during the day or in the evening.

Check out your local Apple Store’s calendar to learn more.

Kids Skate Free Club#kids-skate-free-club

The Kids Skate Free Club partners with local skate rinks to offer free roller skating passes for kids. To join, find a participating rink near you, register your kids, and then pay a $5.99 membership fee per child. This annual fee grants you free skating for your kids year-round. The age limit varies per rink.

Once you’re signed up, every week you’ll get two new passes for each eligible child that you can redeem at your participating skating rink, using the app.

Lego Store Little Builders Classes#lego-store-little-builders-classes

The Lego Store offers monthly, free Little Builder Classes for kids ages 2 to 5. Classes combine developmental skill building with hands-on play elements.

Class times vary by location, and parents must reserve a spot in advance.

Lowe’s Kids Club#lowes-kids-club

Families enrolled in Lowe’s free MyLowe’s Rewards™ program can take advantage of free, monthly in-store workshops.

Workshops take place on the third Saturday of every month from 10 am to 1 pm, local time. Parents must register beforehand, and registration for each workshop opens a month before the workshop date.

The hands-on workshops combine DIY and home improvement to craft simple projects kids can complete in under an hour. Projects range from garden baskets and trophies to mini toy boxes and haunted houses. The recommended age range is 4 to 11.

Barnes & Noble Storytime#barnes-and-noble-storytime

Barnes & Noble bookstores across the country host free weekly in-store storytimes. Storytimes take place during the day, and typically last an hour. These events are geared towards younger readers, but there is no age limit, and parents can create a profile for children up to age 18

Find a Barnes & Noble near you to learn more.

Michaels Kids Club#michaels-kids-club

The Kids Club program at Michaels stores offers free craft workshops for kids up to twice a month, depending on location. These workshops have no preregistration, so plan to get there early before supplies run out.

Workshops include small projects, such as stamped cards or bookmarks. Check out their events calendar to learn more.

Birdwatching with the Audubon Society#birdwatching-with-the-audubon-society

The National Audubon Society’s mission is to protect bird populations across the country, and they offer free educational activities for kids, to connect them to the natural world.

Check out the Audubon Society’s Audubon for Kids page for free activities to learn more about birds near you. Then, you can take your learnings out to the real world, identifying birds in your area using the Audubon’s free Bird Guide app. From searching for birds in your backyard to going on hikes to spot rare species, birdwatching is a free and educational activity you can do all summer long.

Geocaching#geocaching

Geocaching can turn a simple walk or hike into a free treasure hunt.

Use the Geocaching app to find “caches” near you. These caches are containers of various sizes that blend into their surroundings. Find the caches using the app, sign the log book, and discover the trinkets other cachers leave behind.

Geocaching is a free and fun way to explore your area in a new way, or a chance to head out on a hike or visit a new neighborhood to search for caches.

Discount movie admission#discount-movie-admission

Some national movie chains offer $1, $2, and $3 tickets for select films in the summer.

Regal’s Summer Movie Express program runs from June 1 through August 13. Every Monday through Thursday, you can get $1 movie tickets for the 11 am showing of a PG-rated movie. Theaters will offer two different movies each week.

Cinemark’s Summer Movie Clubhouse program offers $1.75 admission for kids and parents. For ten Wednesdays in the summer (June 1 through August 6), their theaters will screen a family-friendly movie starting at 9:30 am. Some theaters have additional showtimes.

AMC’s Summer Movie Camp is a similar program to the two above, but they haven’t announced the details for 2026 yet.

Local chains and independent movie theaters in your area may also host discounted screenings for kids in the summer.

County & City Programs#county-and-city-programs

There are plenty of free things to do with your kids offered by your city, county, or local community.

City parks offer free movie screenings, local playgrounds turn on their splash pads, and some communities host free concerts and festivals in public spaces.

Beyond local parks and playgrounds, summer brings free programming to these spaces. Splash pads are turned on at local playgrounds, city parks offer free movie screenings in the evening, and some communities host free concerts and festivals in public spaces.

Learn more about free programming offered by your city or community through the local parks and recreation department page, or your city’s events calendar.