15 Free Things To Do in Sacramento with Kids This Summer
There are tons of amazing activities to keep kids entertained in Sacramento during the summer. However, activities for a whole family can add up. If you’re saving for a pricey summer vacation or want budget-friendly ideas, this list consists of entirely fun and free things to do in Sacramento with kids this summer! None of these activities will cost you a penny.
Keep reading for free family fun all summer in Sacramento with kids. Everything on this list is free!
Free Things To Do in Sacramento with Kids in the Summer
1. Kids Bowl Free
Strike up free summer fun at the bowling alley. Kids bowl free all summer in Sacramento! Only select alleys participate in the program, and kids have to be registered to bowl for free. It’s a perfect summer activity to keep children active while staying in an air-conditioned building when it’s too hot.
2. Splash Pads
Splash pads are the epitome of an incredible free summer activity in Sacramento for kids. There are tons of splash pads in the Sacramento area, from 12 splash pads in Elk Grove to ones in Rancho Cordova, Natomas, and Folsom.
3. Fairytale Town
When temperatures rise to 95 degrees in Sacramento, admission to Fairytale Town is free! This promotion begins June 1, 2025. To stay cool, run through the misters, find a shady spot, and hunker down in the air-conditioned Story Center.
4. Outdoor Movie Nights
Spend an evening with family and friends watching a movie under the stars. Free outdoor movie series near Sacramento include Friday Night Moonlight Movies in Rancho Cordova and Folsom Movie Nights.
Friday Night Movies in Rancho Cordova show free family-friendly movies every Friday evening in June 2025. This year, all the movies have a sports theme.
Folsom Movie Nights will take place once a month from June – August 2025. Each movie is at a different venue in Folsom, with family-friendly activities related to the venue taking place before the movie.
5. Fridays in the Grove
Free activities for the Elk Grove community take place at District 56 and Old Town Plaza throughout the summer. They tend to occur on select Fridays. A free roller rink pops up on June 6, 2025, which even includes free skate rentals! There will also be rock painting on June 20, 2025, and free ice skating (and free ice skate rentals!) at Christmas in July on July 18, 2025.
6. Arden Fair Kids Club
Every Thursday from June 12 to July 17, 2025, families can attend the free Kids Club Summer Program at Arden Fair from 11am to 12pm. The Chords & Crafts hour will include themed sing-alongs and crafts hosted by Jillian Van Ness of Grow Resilient Families.
7. Big Trucks Summer
Big Trucks Summer takes place each Thursday from 9-11am in June at Mahany Park in Roseville. Kids can spend their Thursday mornings learning and interacting with utility vehicles that operate in the city of Roseville.
8. Fun Fridays at Fox
Splash into the Jerry Fox Swim Center in Elk Grove on Friday afternoons for Fun Fridays at Fox. Free recreational swimming at this pool happens every Friday from 1-4pm during the dates of June 20 to August 8, 2025.
9. Wading Pools
For little kids who aren’t quite ready for a big kid pool, there are a handful of wading pools in Sacramento where they can test the waters and splash around. One of the best wading pools is Bertha Henschel Wading Pool in East Sacramento.
Note that dates and times of wading pools vary by location. All Sacramento wading pools will be open for the 2025 season from June 14 to August 17.
Free wading pools in Sacramento include:
- Land Park Wading Pool
- Bertha Henschel Wading Pool — East Sacramento
- Robertson Wading Pool — North Sacramento
- Colonial Wading Pool — Colonial Heights
10. West Sac Rhythm on the River
Drakes: The Barn is always a lively atmosphere, but in the summer, they turn up the heat even more. Rhythm on the River is a free, family-friendly summer concert series that rocks West Sacramento on the last Thursday of the month from May through August. In addition to live music, there’s a free Family Fun Zone with children’s activities.
11. Sacramento Public Library Outdoor Storytime
Summer means free library storytime takes place outdoors in local parks. Set up a blanket and enjoy storytime in the sunshine at select Sacramento area parks on the following days:
- Thursdays at 10-10:30am – Elk Grove Regional Park
- Thursdays at 10-11am – Tahoe Park
- Thursdays at 10:30-11am – McKinley Park
- Fridays at 10-11am – Morse Community Park in Elk Grove
Pro tip: Morse Community Park has one of the best splash pads in Elk Grove. Go for storytime on Friday mornings, and stay for the splash pad!
Plus, don’t forget about the Sacramento Public Library Summer Reading Challenge. Kids can keep track of how many books they read over the summer and earn themselves a free book.
12. East Village Bookshop Summer Storytime
For another outdoor storytime option, East Village Bookshop will have free Summer Storytime every Tuesday and Thursday in July at McKinley Park. Storytime will take place from 10:30-11am under the large cork tree at the McKinley Park panhandle at 35th & McKinley Blvd. The theme and activities will change each week. While this program is meant for kids ages five and under, all ages are welcome. Bring a blanket or towel to sit on for storytime.
13. Family Fun at Rancho Cordova Library
For more free library fun, the Rancho Cordova Library will have a free family fun activity every Friday in the summer from June 20 to August 1, 2025. From painting without brushes to hexbug mazes, each week will be a different activity.
14. Mezger Family Zinnia Patch
This family-run flower patch in Woodland is unique because in the summer when their zinnia flowers are at peak bloom, you can pick flowers from their patch for free! Vases are sometimes available too, also for free. However, if you take a vase, it’s best practice to leave a donation.
15. The W.O.W. Bus in Fair Oaks
The Wonderful Outdoor World (W.O.W.) Bus pulls up at rotating Fair Oaks parks once a month from June to August 2025. Free activities will include games and art, encouraging kids to get outside.
Top photo is Big Trucks Summer courtesy of City of Roseville.
