Looking for free kid-friendly fun this winter? Winter is in full force, and we have reached the point where we all want to get out of the house and have some fun. And what’s better than FREE fun?! Luckily, there are great options in and around the Metro – all it takes is a little bundling up and getting motivated to get out the door!
Don’t miss the following resources – you’ll want to tuck these away to help survive winter!
Ultimate Guide to Indoor Play in OKC
Free Kid-Friendly Things to Do in OKC This Winter
Hit up a Local Museum
Oklahoma Hall of Fame has free admission “See You Saturdays” on every second Saturday of the month. The first hour of the program, 9:00-10:00 a.m. is specifically for individuals with sensory sensitivities. Lights will be lowered and music will be played softly.
Oklahoma Contemporary Second Saturday Enjoy an afternoon of artmaking where visitors can create a take-home art project inspired by their current exhibitions. Also, families can join a kid-friendly tour of the gallery and explore an Art Pack full of engaging activities for all ages. All Second Saturday activities are free and open to the public.
Oklahoma Railway Museum is a great place for those train lovers! Come see freight cars, passenger cars, and even a real steam engine on display. The museum is open every Thursday, Friday, & Saturday 9:00 to 5:00. Admission to the museum is free. Trains operate on the first and third Saturdays of the month, April through August.
Get Outside and Visit a Park or Trail
There are so many great areas to get outside and explore in the Metro area. Here is a list of parks with playgrounds in OKC and a few of some of our favorites:
Scissortail Park | OKC Metro – with over 70 acres to explore, this is a favorite to get out and walk around! And of course stop by the Children’s Play Pavilion to get out those wiggles. *They do empty the lake in the winter for maintenance to get it in tip top shape for spring.
Martin Park Nature Center | OKC Metro – winter hours (October1-March31) are 5am-6pm; a family favorite hub for nature exploration and education for visitors of all ages. With 2.5 miles of woodland trails, a nature themed playground, and Visitor Center with live animals and nature learning library, this is a family favorite!
Hafer Trail | Edmond – an OCK Mom team favorite, Hafer Trail offers a nice 1.7 mile paved path among wooded trees, great for an afternoon stroll! And it offers a playground, perfect for the little ones.
Mitch Park | Edmond– another team favorite, Mitch Park has 2.8 mile paved outer trail with 1.8 miles of inner trails. While we can’t wait for spring at Mitch Park, it’s a great spot to visit in the winter on a chilly morning with paths and a playground for kiddos.
For the Kids 5 & Under: Story Time at the Library
We are so lucky to have the Metropolitan Library System, servicing families in and around the OKC Metro. You can find your closest library here. There are free story times daily during the week for kiddos ages 5 and under. You can sort by location or by age depending on what you are hoping to accomplish. Here are the upcoming story times (with sorting on the left hand side of the page).
Stroll Myriad Botanical Gardens
Visit Myriad Gardens, by simply walking the exterior grounds (open daily 6am-11pm) and visiting the children’s garden (open dusk to dawn). You can also explore the newly renovated Crystal Bridge Conservatory (free for members or $5.50 for youth/$10.50 for adults).
Myriad Gardens also has free Reading Wednesdays from 10-11am in the visitor center lobby (every Wednesday during the school year). *Best for ages 2-5.
Explore Art in the Paseo Art District or Plaza District
We would love to know, how do you beat cabin fever during the winter months?
