While we love summertime adventures, it’s no secret that the cost of outing after outing can get quite expensive. We’ve rounded up a variety of free summer activities that are sure to keep the fun going!
Visit a new park, watch an outdoor movie, check out a museum on a free admission day, and so much more. These budget-friendly summer activities will keep the fun going all the way until fall!
Want to plan an outing without spending any cash? Check out all of these free events, activities, and kid-friendly destinations!
Watch Outdoor Movies
Watch a movie in the park! Bring your own snacks from home for a budget-friendly night out. Wicked, Moana 2, and Sonic the Hedgehog 3 are popular options this summer.
Enjoy Free Summer Concerts
Pack up the lawn chairs and listen to a free concert through a local summer music series. Pack your own picnic for extra fun.
Explore Nature Centers
Visit Chicagoland nature centers, which are a year-round source of free fun. They make for a great home base (with air conditioning!) for an outdoor adventure. Hidden Oaks Nature Center in Bolingbrook just reopened after a months-long renovation.
Roam Conservatories
The rain won’t stop you from appreciating nature, Oak Park Conservatory, Friendship Park Conservatory in Des Plaines, and Wilder Park Conservatory in Elmhurst are all free. Please note: Garfield Park Conservatory is free to Chicago residents, but there is a fee for non-residents.
Cool Off at Splash Pads
Get some relief from the heat at these splash pads. The free options are all listed at the top of the article.
Play at Parks and Playgrounds
Check out a new (to you) playground using our Ultimate Guide to Parks and Playgrounds. Big, little, sand-free, full of sand, we’ve got them all.
Not sure what park to pick? Discover a new playground or visit one of our readers’ top playgrounds together. So many have opened up over the past year!
Fly a Kite
Go fly a kite or find a kite festival! There are many events throughout the suburbs that you can attend, or head to an open space and fly one with your family.
Go Fishing
Once you have the gear, fishing is usually free! Compete in a local fishing derby, or check out our list of favorite fishing spots.
Hike a Trail
Hit the trail with the best forest preserve trails for kids and parks with paved paths.
Stroll Through an Art Fair
Encourage art appreciation and support local artists by exploring these art fair and festivals.
Head to a Farmers Market
Support local farmers and businesses at a farmer’s market. We have the details on all of the french markets and farmers markets, along with a printable schedule.
Attend Vacation Bible School
Many Vacation Bible School programs have a fee, but some are free!
Visit a Local Farm
Kline Creek Farm in West Chicago and Primrose Farm in St. Charles are two of our favorite spots to see local farm animals. As an added bonus: they’re free! While they usually charge admission, Blackberry Farm has free days throughout the summer, too.
Go to the Zoo
Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago and Phillips Park Zoo in Aurora are always free! Lords Park Zoo in Elgin is free, and the Elgin Public Museum next door charges $2 per adult, $1 per child ages 3 to 12 years old.
Take Advantage of Museum Free Days
Adler Planetarium is free to Illinois residents on Wednesday evenings, and the Field Museum offers free admission on Wednesdays. Other local zoos and museums may offer free days, too.
Play at the Beach
Chicago Park District Beaches are free. Their site has great information about parking, restrooms, and other tips for visiting. Enjoy a beautiful summer day along the lakefront.
Enjoy the Library Children’s Areas
Libraries are free, and full of endless fun. Explore your local one, or check out one of the 10 Best Children’s Libraries, as voted by our readers. Many are offering Summer Reading programs, which feature free prizes.
Ride the Metra
Did you know that kids ride free in the summers with Metra’s Family Fares? From Memorial Day to Labor Day, up to three children, ages 11 and under, can ride for free with a paying adult. Not sure where to take it? We have a list of Kid-Friendly Train Trips to Historic Downtowns and New Destinations along the BNSF line.
Go Bowling for Free
With Kids Bowl Free, registered kids receive 2 free games of bowling every day all summer long. You must create a login and enter your childโs month and year of birth in order to be eligible.
Local bowling alleys who are participating in the program include:
- Stardust Bowl in Addison
- Arlington Lanes in Arlington Park
- River Rand Bowl in Des Plaines
- Tivoli Bowl in Downers Grove
- Hillside Bowl in Hillside
- Main Event in Hoffman Estates
- Strike N Spare II in Lockport
- Classic Bowl in Morton Grove
- Kings in Rosemont
- Main Event in Warrenville
- Fox Bowl in Wheaton
- Wood Dale Bowl in Wood Dale
Click here to get free bowling for kids!
Quick List of Free Places to Go
In addition to all of the free fun at local libraries, playgrounds, nature centers, and splash pads, you’ll find extra-cool free summer activities at these spots:
- Lake Arlington Park in Arlington Heights
- Philips Park Zoo in Aurora: You can pair this with the splash pad and Mastodon Island playground
- Stratford Park Playground in Bloomingdale
- Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago
- Maggie Daley Park in Chicago
- Soehrman Park Playground and Splash Pad in Countryside
- Wilder Park Conservatory in Elmhurst
- Elwood Childrenโs Garden in Elwood
- Fabyan Forest Preserve in Geneva
- Peck Farm Park and Hawks Hollow Nature Playground in Geneva
- Mallard Lake in Hanover Park
- Heritage Park Playground in Homer Glen
- Jurica-Suchy Nature Museum in Lisle at Benedictine University
- Oak Park Conservatory and Rehm Park in Oak Park
- Chicago Athenaeum International Sculpture Park in Schaumburg
- St. James Farm in Warrenville
- Spring Rock Park in Western Springs
Free Events for Kids
Go to our events for kids page to find amazing family-friendly events, including many for free summer fun. Keep it bookmarked for easy reference.
Discounts and Inexpensive Summer Fun
Get Discounted Cougars Tickets
While not completely free, Kane County Cougars are offering a Buy One, Get One Free promotion for Kidlist readers. Click here to be taken to the ticket page and enter the promo code KIDLIST before selecting which game you want to go to. The discount will be automatically applied. Only $7.50 per reserved seat when purchasing in pairs!
Check out the Museum Adventure Pass
Head to your local library and snag the Museum Adventure Pass (or reserve it online) and enjoy discounts like buy one, get one free tickets to places like Naper Settlement and Children’s Museum of Oak Lawn, and even two free passes to Brookfield Zoo. Click here for all the details.
Summer Movie Deals
Several movie theaters offer discounted tickets to kids movies throughout the summer. We outline all of the locations and prices in our summer movie deals article.
Kids Eat Free
While your whole dining tab won’t be free, with Kids Eat Free deals offered every day of the week, your final bill at these local restaurants will certainly be lower.
Quick List of Places with Lower Admission Prices
- Cantigny Park has free parking on Wednesdays if you register online in advance.
- Cosley Zoo is $12 per adult and kids are free. (Wheaton residents are always free with ID.)
- Most mall and park district indoor playgrounds and play places are under $6 per child and adults are free.
We’d love to hear from our readers about what free family fun is happening in your town. Please share in the comments field below! Then, find more outdoor family fun.
