15 Free Things To Do in Sacramento with Kids This Summer
Looking for free things to do in Sacramento with kids this summer? From splash pads and outdoor movies to library programs and events, bookmark these free activities for kids in summer 2026.
There are tons of amazing summer activities in Sacramento 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.
While there are always-free things to do in Sacramento with kids like the Effie Yeaw Nature Center, Nimbus Fish Hatchery, and California Raptor Center, this seasonal list is specific to free things to do in the Sacramento area with kids this summer.
Keep reading for free family fun all summer in Sacramento with kids. Everything on this list is completely free!
Free Things To Do in Sacramento with Kids in Summer 2026
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. Learn more about how to sign up for Kids Bowl Free.
2. Splash Pads
Splash pads are the epitome of a perfect free summer activity in Sacramento for kids. There are tons of splash pads in the Sacramento area! Ones to check out include 12 splash pads in Elk Grove to Heron Landing Community Park in Rancho Cordova, several in Natomas, and Livermore Community Park in Folsom.
Tip: We bring sand buckets with us to splash pads and they are always a hit! They add a whole level of fun to water play.
3. Big Trucks Summer
Big Trucks Summer takes place every Thursday morning in June from 9-11am at Mahany Park in Roseville. Kids will get to learn and interact with utility vehicles that operate in the city of Roseville. Each week is a different theme. This is a very popular free summer event for kids in the Sacramento area!
4. Outdoor Movie Nights
Spend an evening with family and friends watching a movie under the stars. Popular free outdoor movies near Sacramento include Friday Night Moonlight Movies in Rancho Cordova and Folsom Family Movie Nights, to name a few of many.
5. Arden Fair Kids Club
On Fridays and Saturdays from June 12 to July 25, 2026, families can attend the free Kids Club Summer Program at Arden Fair from 1pm to 2pm. The free hour of kids’ activities will include hands-on activities, performances, and games.
6. Fairytale Town
When temperatures rise to 95 degrees in Sacramento, admission to Fairytale Town is free! This promotion begins June 1, 2026. To stay cool, run through the misters, find a shady spot, and hunker down in the air-conditioned Story Center.
Tip: Combine it with the free Land Park wading pool on a hot day!
7. Fridays in the Grove: Christmas in July
Free activities for the Elk Grove community take place at District 56 and Old Town Plaza throughout the summer on select Fridays. An annual favorite they tend to do each summer is Fridays in the Grove: Christmas in July. Families can go ice skating for free, which includes free ice skate rentals at District 56. The festive event this year takes place on Friday, July 17, 2026.
8. 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, so always check the official website. In 2026, the City of Sacramento wading pools will open on Saturday, June 13.
Free wading pools in Sacramento include:
- Land Park Wading Pool — Land Park
- Bertha Henschel Wading Pool — East Sacramento
- Robertson Wading Pool — North Sacramento
- Colonial Wading Pool — Colonial Heights
9. Shakespeare in the Park – Taming of the Shrew
Each summer, the Take Note Troupe performs free Shakespeare in the Park performances at different locations throughout the Sacramento area. Their 2026 Shakespeare in the Park performance is Taming of the Shrew. This comedic family-friendly performance is for all ages and will take place on various dates from May 28 to June 13 at locations in Roseville, Folsom, Fair Oaks, and Rocklin. All performances begin at 7:30pm.
2026 Shakespeare in the Park performances include:
- May 28 at Bridgeway Christian Church Building A, Roseville
- May 29-30 at Historic Zittel Family Amphitheater, Folsom
- June 4-6 at Village Park Band Shell, Fair Oaks
- June 10-13 at Quarry Park Amphitheater, Rocklin
10. 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 10:30-11am – McKinley Park
- Fridays at 10-11am – Morse Community Park in Elk Grove
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!
More Free Summer Sacramento Public Library Programs
13 Sacramento Public Library branches will participate in Lunch at the Library, offering all kids 18 and under free lunches during summer break.
Don’t forget to use your Sacramento Public Library to get free and reduced admission to Sacramento and Bay Area museums and attractions through the Discover & Go Program.
11. Free Recreational Swim at Johnson Pool in Roseville
In 2026, recreational swimming at the Johnson Pool in Roseville will be free all summer! It’s a zero-depth entry pool with an adorable train slide for little kids that splashes into less than a foot of water. The pool also recently added a brand-new water slide called “The Splash Express.” The minimum height to ride the water slide is 44 inches.
While it’s free, Johnson Pool in Roseville has select recreation swim times from 1pm to 4pm, Tuesdays through Saturdays. There’s also a Parent Tot time for children ages 6 and younger on Fridays and Saturdays from 11:30am to 12:45pm. These times specifically begin on June 8, 2026.
12. 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. West Sac 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.
Plus, Drakes: The Barn is on my list of kid-friendly restaurants in Sacramento and is one of the many options for free summer outdoor movies in Sacramento, though this series is best for teens.
13. 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 6 to August 7, 2026.
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, also for free. However, if you take a vase, it’s best practice to leave a donation.
15. Tot Time & Splash Pad at Fountains at Roseville
Families can head to the Fountains at Roseville for a free storytime on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month from May to October. The Roseville Public Library does a free storytime at the Main Stage in the Courtyard from 10am to 10:30am.
While there on a hot day, let kids jump into the free Fountains at Roseville seasonal splash pad. There’s also a playground near the splash pad.
Bonus Free Summer Activity in Sacramento
Concerts in the Park
This free summer activity in Sacramento is better for teens. Each summer, Sacramento has free Concerts in the Park in downtown Sacramento from May to June. The lineups and genres vary each week and usually feature fun, nostalgic headliners. Concerts in the Park can get pretty busy with some headliners drawing lines that form around the block well before acts take the stage.
Given that free Concerts in the Park are on Friday nights and can get busy, I’d probably leave the kids at home for this one, but it’s an ideal free summer activity for teens in Sacramento.
Top photo is Big Trucks Summer courtesy of City of Roseville.
