Sun’s out, fun’s out, and summer is calling! Get ready to make the most of the season with endless family-friendly activities around the OKC metro. From splash pads to festivals, there’s no shortage of ways to enjoy the sunshine. The best part? Many of them are completely free or super affordable. We’ve rounded 60+ ideas for free summer fun in OKC.
We’d like to thank Rose State College for sponsoring this Guide to Free Summer Fun.
Rose State Kid’s College offers engaging, hands-on programs designed to spark curiosity and creativity in children of all ages. Best known for its exciting summer camps, Kid’s College provides a safe and welcoming environment where kids can explore a variety of subjects—from STEM and art to leadership and career exploration. Throughout the year, additional opportunities like Parents’ Night Out give families flexible options for fun, structured experiences outside of the summer season. Each program is led by experienced instructors who are passionate about making learning interactive, meaningful, and fun. Kid’s College is committed to helping students build confidence, develop new skills, and create lasting memories in an encouraging setting. Give your child the opportunity to learn, grow, and have fun with Rose State Kid’s College. Visit their website to explore upcoming camps and register today!
Click here to get started!
60+ Free Things to Do This Summer
Bookmark this post for summer fun on a budget, and let us know if we missed one of your favorites! Plus, be sure to check out our community calendar for even more family-friendly events.
Special “Freebie” Days You Don’t Want to Miss
1. Free Slurpee Day – On July 11th, grab a free slurpee at 7-11! (See what they did there?)
2. Free Donuts – June 7th is National Donut Day. Drop by a local donut shop to scope out potential free treats. Krispy Kreme and Dunkin’ usually have freebies for the celebration.
*Be sure to call or check online before your visit to verify participation!
Head to a Museum for Free
3. Oklahoma Contemporary – Open Sunday-Saturday 11am-6pm and until 9pm on Thursdays. (Museum closed on Tuesdays). The art exhibits are always free at the museum, and they often host free family programming and activities throughout the year!
4. Oklahoma Railway Museum – Open Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 9am-5pm. Museum admission is always free, but you must purchase a ticket to ride a train! Trains run first and third Saturdays through August.
5. Art Adventures at Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art – Enjoy a book and hands-on art activity before exploring the museum independently with a scavenger hunt. Recommended for ages 3-8 accompanied by an adult, but kids of all ages are welcome. Admission is FREE for kids and teens (17 and under).
6. OKC Museum of Art – Kids 17 and under are ALWAYS free at OKC Museum of Art! There are family-friendly activities throughout the museum, and of course, we love the Chihuly’s glass exhibit.
7. Family Events and Activities at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum – The Cowboy has an amazing offering of family fun. Children 5 and under are free!
8. Visit the Edmond Historical Society Museum – Another free attraction, this museum features a Children’s Learning Center with hands-on play areas, costumes, and more.
9. Oklahoma National Guard Museum – Formerly the 45th Infantry Division Museum, check out World War II relics and other items from military history at this free museum set on a beautiful 15-acre park.
10. Second Saturdays Make & Take Art – Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center offers free art projects for children every second Saturday of the month from 1-4pm. Projects are fun for children of all ages and experience levels. Admission to the OK Contemporary Arts Center is ALWAYS free!
11. Summer Thursdays at the Gaylord-Pickens Museum – On Thursdays in June and July, beginning at 10am, enjoy free admission to the Gaylord-Pickens Oklahoma Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City! Crafts, story time, and outdoor games are also included.
12. OSU Museum of Art – Admission to the OSU Museum of Art is always free AND includes its exhibitions, events, and programs!
Explore more museums in our Guide to Indoor Play & Family Fun!
***Be sure to take advantage of your local library! They offer FREE experience passes for many museums around the metro***
Catch a Movie, Game, or Concert for Nearly Nothing
13. Art Moves – The Arts Council of OKC presents this free art event that features performances in various locations downtown. The line-up features a wide range of artistic mediums, including musical and theater performances, live art demonstrations, short film selections, and more.
14. Take in a movie at the Summer Movie Fun Series at Harkins Theater – Catch a family-friendly movie for just $1 per person. Get your online digital pass for the summer series for $8!
15. Live! on the Plaza – The Plaza District’s art walk occurs every second Friday of the month. From 6 to 10pm, you can enjoy live music, local artists, special events, shopping, and more!
16. Catch a baseball game – Catch an OKC Comets baseball game in Bricktown. Check out $2 Tuesdays and Family Sundays!
17. Ride the OKC Streetcar – The third Friday of the month is free to ride the streetcar along with Memorial Day and OKC special election days! Check out the free transit days here.
18. Summer Concert Series at Scissortail – FREE concerts this summer at Scissortail.
19. Summer Movies at Myriad Gardens – FREE outdoor movies on the Devon Lawn! Every Wednesday beginning at 7 pm beginning in June. Food trucks will be available, or pack a blanket and picnic! Movies begin at sundown.
Find more summer concerts and free movies around the metro!
Foster a Love of Reading at a Local Storytime
20. Metro Library Story Times & Activities – Check out your local library’s calendar of events for storytimes and other awesome free activities. Your child can also participate in Metro Library’s Summer Reading Program to earn free books!
21. Keep a Home Reading Log – These book recommendations will keep your kids’ minds & imaginations running all summer long.
22. Commonplace Bookstore – Check out Storytime with Littles on Saturdays at 10:30am. Perfect for toddlers through age 6, but the whole family is welcome to join the fun! Cozy vibes, great stories, and sometimes a surprise special guest.
Check out more in our Storytime Guide in & Around OKC!
Free & Cheap Outdoor Fun
23. You Pick Farms & Orchards – This guide lists great pick-your-own farms around the area for you to enjoy!
24. Family Activities Myriad Botanical Gardens – Myriad has weekly kid and family activities like Tasty Tuesday, Reading Wednesday, and Crafty Friday.
25. Fish for Free – The City of Oklahoma City offers free fishing days on the first Saturday of every month. For those 16 and older, a state license is still required.
26. Visit the Clydesdales – Located in Yukon, the Express barn is home to the world-famous Express Clydesdales. You can get up close and personal with these gentle giants for free!
27. Head to an Area Splash Pad – Soak up the sun and check out this guide that will help you find splash pads near you.
28. Spend Time in the Park – Find a park or recreation center near you to explore and play outside: OKC, Yukon, Edmond, Norman, Moore.
29. Go Geocaching – Geocaching, the world’s largest treasure hunt, is both free and educational. Using GPS devices, you try to locate hidden containers and share your experiences.
30. Backyard Games – Never run out of fun at home with this great list of fun games!
31. Make Fairy Houses – Such a sweet way to pass the time!
32. Plant a Garden – Teach the kids about gardening by picking a few flowers or trees and watching them grow.
33. Great Salt Plains – Take your turn at digging for unique selenite crystals on the beautiful salt flats of the Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge near Jet, OK. It’s free, and you get to take your treasures home with you!
34. Oklahoma City Boathouse District – Hike along the Oklahoma River and let your kids enjoy the modern playground located on the banks in Oklahoma City’s Boathouse District. While you’re there, be sure to kick back and watch the various boats, canoes, and kayaks working their way up and down the river.
35. Keystone Ancient Forest – Hike and explore this unique-to-Oklahoma forest made of 500-year-old post oaks and 300-year-old cedars located in Sand Springs. You can also take a break at Keystone Lake to enjoy wildlife watching. Open during select Saturdays.
36. Gathering Place – Okay, okay . . . this is in Tulsa. But the drive is WORTH IT to visit this amazing park with fun for all ages.
37. Tour the Pioneer Woman Lodge – Another freebie worth the day trip, but be sure to check out these tips for a great day in Pawhuska before you go!
38. Complete Guide to Outdoor Fun – Wanting more outdoor ideas? Check out our complete guide to getting kids outside in the metro.
39. Explore the Great Outdoors on a Family Field Trip – Pack up and GO! Oklahoma has a lot of beauty to offer to those who are ready to explore!
Have a Hands-On Experience with History
40. Explore Historic Guthrie – Check out Oklahoma’s First Capitol, ride the trolley, or just stroll through downtown and window shop.
41. Travel Route 66 – You don’t have to go far to find Route 66 in Oklahoma. A quick drive to Pops and the Round Barn in Arcadia are quick ways to discover some of the state’s quirky, beloved roadside attractions.
42. Visit Territorial Schoolhouse – Step back in time and visit the first one-room schoolhouse in Oklahoma. Open to the public on Saturdays from 1-4pm or by appointment at 405-715-1889.
43. Visit historic all-black towns – Bonus points if your kids do some research before you go!
44. Visit the National Memorial – For a few moments of history and reflection, take the family to the Oklahoma City National Memorial in downtown Oklahoma City.
Keep It Local at a Festival or Special Event
45. Attend an Art Walk – The Paseo Arts District hosts the First Friday Art Walk on the first Friday of every month (rain or shine!) from 6-9pm with exhibits, guest artists, and more!
46. Venture to McLoud for the Blackberry Festival – Find all sorts of blackberry items, including cobbler, sodas, and more. There will also be live music, a parade, a pageant, and fireworks for you and your family to enjoy. The festival runs July 12th & 13th.
47. Bust out your red, white, and blue for Libertyfest – Take in the all-day activities in Edmond this July Fourth. Check out the parade, festival activities, food, music, and more throughout the day, and wrap your night up with a brilliant display of fireworks over the UCO campus.
48. Rush Springs Watermelon Festival – Who doesn’t love watermelon in the summer? Visit Rush Springs on August 10 as they celebrate the watermelon harvest with seed spitting contests, arts and crafts, live entertainment, carnival rides, FREE watermelon, and more.
49. Farmer’s Market Guide – Support local artists, farmers, and bakers and enjoy an open market at your local Farmer’s Market.
Learn Something New at a Free or Cheap Class
50. Try Classes at Michael’s – Your child can enjoy crafting and a variety of other events monthly. Simply search the “classes and events” and make sure to search the store nearest you.
51. Build and Grow With Lowe’s – Attend free workshops at Lowe’s that help kids learn how to make fun projects! P.S. If a Home Depot is closer to you, they have kids workshop classes too.
52. Sign Up for a Free Trial Class – There are so many businesses that offer free trial classes for your kiddos. Whether you want something physical, STEM, or art, there’s a class for everyone!
Summer Classics
53. Catch Lightning Bugs – This summer staple can’t be beat, and it’s free fun for the whole family.
54. Go Camping – Even one night can create happy memories (or a funny story!) with your kiddos!
55. Have a Water Balloon Fight – Bonus points if you’re the one that starts it, mom!
56. Make Your Own Art – While you’re outside with the water balloons, break out the sidewalk chalk and let your little artists create their own masterpieces.
57. Get Pinteresty – With this great list of kid-approved crafts!
58. Sprinklers – Turn ’em on. And start running. Water your lawn and wear out the kids all at once. Yes, please!
59. Sign Up for Vacation Bible School – With SO many options around the metro, you’re bound to find one right in your backyard!
60. Go Bowling – Did you know you can register your kids to receive free bowling all summer long? Bowling alleys in OKC and Norman (and other parts of Oklahoma!) participate in this program, and it’s a great way to save money and stay busy.
61. Set Up a Lemonade Stand – Minimal cost, maximum fun (and cuteness!) Plus you can totally pass this off as a teachable activity—put those little entrepreneurs to work!
