Free Summer Fun

Bored?

Broke?

No worries! There are plenty of free fun things to do!

40 Ideas for Free Summer Fun

1. Free Redbox Movie Rentals – CouponDad.com always keeps you up-to-date on the latest Redbox Movie codes for free rentals.
2. Report Card Freebies – Grab your child’s report card and enjoy some free food like a free scoop of ice cream at Baskin Robbins for A’s and B’s. Check out the complete list of Report Card Freebies.
3. Free Community Events – Take advantage of free festivals, concerts, plays and more! Check your local city/county website or parks and recreation website, and then make sure to mark your calendar with all the free events.
4. Backyard Campout – Pitch a tent, tell ghost stories, play flashlight tag, catch fireflies and cook s’mores on your grill.
5. Picnic in the Park – Get the entire family involved in planning the menu and cooking.
6. Visit the Library – Check out books, join the summer reading club and take advantage of any free summer events at your local library.
7. Make Ice Cream – Homemade Ice Cream is a summertime ritual, so why don’t you start a family tradition of having Sundaes on Saturdays?
8. Play in the Sprinklers – Remember the days before water parks? Remember when cooling off meant playing in the sprinklers? Treat your kids to some old-fashioned summer fun and play in the sprinklers!
9. Stargazing – Check out a constellation guide at the library, spread a blanket on the lawn and see what you can find! On June 23rd you’ll see the biggest full moon of 2013, and you can see a meteor shower on August 12th.
10. Collect Seashells – Take a walk on the beach and collect seashells!
11. Cooking Class – Teach your children to cook this summer, by spending one day each week hosting “cooking class.” Chocolate Chip Cookies are a must!
12. Play Board Games or Card Games – Games are perfect for a rainy day! My daughter recently reminded me of the summer when we learned to play Canasta, and it became a daily ritual. She’s already put that on our “to-do” list for this summer!
13. Puzzle Time – Another rainy day activity! Spread out a giant jigsaw puzzle on the dining room table, and spend hours putting it together. Our family favorites are map puzzles, and they’re educational too!
14. Crafts, Crafts, Crafts – Make a boat out of an empty milk carton, turn an stray sock into a puppet or an empty plastic bottle into a piggy bank! ZiggetyZoom.com is full of craft projects using recycled household items.
15. Fly a Kite – If you don’t have a kite, make your own kite!
16. Water Balloon Toss – Cool off with a water balloon toss!
17. Watch the Sunset – When’s the last time you watched the sunset? Find a beautiful place near your home and enjoy!
18. Play Croquet or Lawn Games – Lawn games are made for summer…croquet, badminton, horseshoes – enjoy!
19. Go for a Bike Ride – Wouldn’t a family bike ride be fun?
20. Minute to Win It – Host your own Minute to Win It event. The silly challenges use everyday household items, and the possibilities are endless! Check out some Minute to Win It challenges that are ideal for families.
21. Family Videos – Pull out the old family videos for some FREE entertainment! My teenagers always get a laugh out of watching themselves as crazy toddlers!
22. Charades Anyone? – Last week we saw a group of teenagers playing charades in the park…it’s free fun at its finest!
23. Nature Hike – Discover a nearby nature trail and go exploring.
24. Plant a Sunflower – Did you know that a Sunflower will grow about 5 inches in just 2 weeks? Let your children experience the fun of growing a sunflower this summer!
25. Scavenger Hunt – Indoors or outdoors, a scavenger hunt is always fun!
26. Catch Fireflies – And set them free!
27. Watermelon Seed Spitting Contest – Why not?
28. Free Factory Tours – Go to FactoryToursUSA.com and find a free factory tour near you.
29. Water Painting – It’s painting without the mess! Fill a big bucket with water, give your kids a big paintbrush and let them “paint” the fence or driveway.
30. Sidewalk Chalk – My daughter used to love using sidewalk chalk to write messages like Happy Father’s Day in the driveway or Happy Birthday.
31. Free Museum and Zoo Admission – If you’re a Bank of America customer, take advantage of free museum or zoo admission the first weekend of every month. Click here to find a museum or zoo near you.
32. Free Bowling – Register your child at KidsBowlFree.com and they’ll receive two free games of bowling everyday this summer!
33. Free Slurpees – Celebrate 7-Eleven day with a free slurpee on 7/11.
34. Free Chick-Fil-A – Don’t miss Cow Appreciation Day at Chick-Fil-A on July 11th. Come fully dressed as a cow and you’ll get a free meal. Come partially dressed as a cow (think cow bell, black and white spots, a tail) and enjoy a free entree.
35. Bass Pro Shops Free Family Summer Camp – Check your local store for dates. Activities include BB Shooting Range, Casting Challenge, Archery Workshop, Homemade Ice Cream, Fishing Workshop and more. Times and activities vary by location, so call please call ahead.
36. Free Apple Camp – If you have an Apple Store in town, your kids (ages 8 – 12) will love Apple Camp! It’s a free, 3-day camp where they’ll learn to make movies. This year’s camp dates have yet to be announced, but you can sign-up here to be notified when registration opens.
37. Barnes and Noble Storytime – Free storytime includes stories, activities and treats! Contact the location near you for the schedule.
38. Home Depot Free Kids Workshops – These free workshops are offered for kids ages 5 – 12 on the first Saturday of every month from 9 a.m. – 12 noon. They might learn to build a birdhouse, and they’ll receive a free kid-sized orange Home Depot apron. Check out the upcoming Kids Workshops, and make sure to register in advance.
39. Lowes Free Build and Grow Clinics – Click here to see the list of upcoming clinics at your neighborhood Lowes store.

Mark your calendar and don’t miss a moment of free summer fun!

Please leave a comment to share your ideas for free summer fun…thanks!

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Image courtesy of digitalart / FreeDigitalPhotos.net