Because having fun this summer doesn’t have to break the bank, we have listed down Sacramento kids events and activities that you and your kids can enjoy without even spending a single penny. Try these 50 FREE things to do in Sacramento with kids this summer! Surely, your kids will have an answer when their teacher asks, “What did you do this summer?” during their first day of school.
1. Relax in a Sacramento Park
After all the school hustle, one of the best things for kids to do is to enjoy the summer with some relaxation. Good thing, Sacrament has parks for that. William Land Park could be a good start to enjoy that summer heat.
2. Feel magical and enjoy a day at Koobs Nature Area
This August 3, from 10 AM to 2 PM, Koobs Nature will be hosting a fairy theme event at their activity area. There will be crafts and a lot of magical activities! Admission is free.
3. Get spooky and visit the cemetery
Make things exciting with your kids this summer and go for something unusual. What do we suggest? Visit the cemetery. It could be fun exploring it with them! Sacramento Historic City Cemetery is a historic place, full of uncanny things to explore. Think of it as a museum activity.
4. Enjoy food and activities at California State Fair
There will a 17-day fair to celebrate the community of California, starting on the 12th of July. Enjoy a day of food, activities, and celebration! The Wells Fargo Kids will be free every Tuesday. All kids under 12 get to have free admission and have fun with all the carnival rides.
5. Bring your kids outdoors to enjoy W.O.W Bus activities
The Wonderful Outdoor World Bus wants your kids to enjoy the outdoors, so they are hosting a FREE program for children and families of the community. Imagine group games and a lot of activities! On July 12th, they will be at Fair Oaks Park, from 5 PM to 7 PM. Don’t miss it!
6. Skate and enjoy summer days
For those kids who know how to skate and have been missing because of school work, summer is the time to do get back to it! Visit one of Sacramento’s skate parks and make sure they have their helmets with them.
7. Discover community art with your kids
Every Saturday of the month, HIstoric Downton Placerville will host galleries and art shows. There will be merchants around the area, complete with refreshments, and of course live music! Make sure to be there by 5 PM.
8. Go downtown and join the Concerts at the Park
Live music is everything! This summer, Sacramento’s favorite free weekly music festival is back! Presented by Dignity Health, enjoy live art, music, and local food trucks at Arden Park Roots this July 12th. Oh did we mention that they’ll be giving away a special gift for the first 500 concert-goers?
9. Learn more about the Gold Rush and visit Coloma
Bring your kids to historic spots and try Coloma. Visit the site and learn more about the history of the Gold Rush of California.
10. Have a trip to Apple Hill
Want some apples? Enjoy nature at Apple Hill. Over 50 local and family farms are dedicated to supporting agriculture in the community. Make a day trip with your kids and enjoy refreshing scenery.
11. Beat the heat at Spray Ground Park
Pack some lunch for a picnic and spend an afternoon at Morse Community Park. They will be hosting for free fun activity—Summer Sprayground Fun! Enjoy the pool and beat the summer heat.
12. Meet an owl at Effie Yeaw Sacramento Nature Center
A free program for all ages, get to spend some time with an owl and take some photos. The event will be this coming July 13th, 1:30 PM to 2:30 PM. Go early and get a good spot!
13. Join Vacation Bible School in Sacramento area
You can’t beat the summer-time classic VBS. Send your kids to any VBS near you and fill them up with great biblical lessons. City Bible Church Sacramento is among those who offer Vacation Bible School this summer.
For kids going into kindergarten through sixth grade, each exciting day will be packed with music, teaching, skits, games, crafts, snacks, and more. VBS will start July 24 to 28 from 9 AM to 12 noon. You won’t have to spend much to get your kids enrolled. Just show up and sign up.
14. Appreciate and smell some roses
Flowers are always nice to look at. They are instant mood boosters. Get all of this once you walk through the McKinley Rose Garden. They are located at Alhambra Blvd and open daily from dusk to dawn.
15. Learn more about Historic Locke and Chinese culture
Historic Locke is built by Chinese immigrants, dated way back in 1915! Take pictures and bring the kids for a historical day out.
16. Free art at Memorial Union Art Gallery
Spend a chilly day at the museum with your kids. Expose them to art and they grow up as wise kids!
17. Do a throwback Thursday and visit Old Sacramento
A sure kid pleaser, Old Sacramento is home to many free attractions. Your kids wouldn’t be bored with all the attractions they will see, from old-fashioned candy shops to historic buildings to riverboats. It definitely should be part of your list of things to do in Sacramento with kids!
18. Do a race with Davis Moonlight Run
Try a different run and enjoy it under the moonlight. It could be an extraordinary experience. A Change of Pace Foundation will be offering a free fun run for kids under 12 years of age. The event will start at 5:30 PM and will last until 10:30 PM, this July 13th.
19. Educate your kids with a visit to California State Capitol and Park
Make them understand the history of California with a tour of the state capitol building. Don’t forget to head to the basement for a free movie. And then after, relax at Capitol Park and let kids be kids. Free guided tours of the Capitol from 10 AM to 4 PM.
20. Learn foreign folk music at Sacramento Public Library
This July 18th, from 3 PM to 4 PM, Sacramento Public Library will be hosting a gig for Claudia’s Kitchen band. Join the band and learn more about English, Scottish, and Irish folk music. And you get to make simple instruments out of recycled materials!
21. Party in the Park
Bored this summer? Well, Cordova Recreation and Park District will be hosting their annual Party in the Park. Take these free things to do in Sacramento with the kids list and join the community for some cool activities! Try out swimming, rock climbing, giveaways, food, live music, and many more! It will be held this July 19th, from 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM, at Lincoln Village Park.
22. Go have fun with science
Are your kids interested in science and space? Lucky for them, they will learn more about it with the interactive show at McKinley Library. They will be showing ScienceTellers: Escape from Earth! Show starts at 3:30 PM this July 19th, Friday.
23. Visit the Chinatown Mall in Sacramento
During the Gold Rush, Chinese immigrants moved to California and create their little town. Bring your kids and expose them to a different culture, and find Paifang Gate and the Confucius Temple.
24. Eat sweets and visit the Jelly Belly Factory
A half-hour drive from Sacramento, you will find the Jelly Belly Factory. Kids will surely enjoy a day of sweets and jelly beans. Who doesn’t love sweets? They offer free walking tours from 9 AM to 4 PM. And your kids get to have free Jelly Bean hats too!
26. Go for some river fun
Enjoying nature this summer is a staple! Start with The American River and float along an inner tube. Don’t forget to have your free life jackets!
27. Discover more Asian culture
Bring your kids to California Vietnam Memorial and expose them to a different culture. Make them be curious about things outside their comfort zone! California Vietnam Memorial is located at Capitol Park in Sacramento.
28. Do an art walk
One of those free things to do in Sacramento is visiting art galleries. Every second Saturday of the month, Sacramento galleries are open late at night for free viewing. Nice thing to do during these summer evenings to bond with your kids.
29. Splash some water at Livermore Park
Kids will love all the water features of Livermore Park. Let your kids play some water games this summer. It’s located at 6004 Riley St., Folsom
30. Introduce country rock to your kids
This July 19th, Cliff Huey Outlaws will be playing live at El Dorado Hills Community Services District. It will be a free event of music, dancing, and fun! The event will start at 7 PM.
31. Do a day trip and visits Old Towns
Walk back on a memory lane with your kids, visiting some old towns around the area. Another free things to do in Sacramento with kids is visiting Folsom, Fair Oaks, Roseville, and Elk Grove to get some historical knowledge. It would be a fun trip with your kids!
32. Old Sacramento Past and Present
New free activities at Old Sacramento! There will be activities available each weekend starting this August. Enjoy a day of children’s games, storytelling, walking tour,s and many more!
33. Go outdoors and do a bike trail
One of the fun things to do with kids in Sacramento is going outdoors and do cycling. Sacramento has beautiful views and cycling trails for this activity. And if we can suggest one trail, try out the America River Bike Trail.
34. Watch Hotel Transylvania 3 in the Park
Kids love cartoons! This July 19th make them watch one, with a twist! Fair Oaks Recreation and Park District will host a sunset screening of Hotel Transylvania 3. There will be concessions available for purchase.
35. Enjoy free live music at East Sacramento Parks
You could never go wrong with good music–best if it is live music!. Good thing, you can find one free things to do in Sacramento with kids at several East Sacramento parks, every Saturday. The show usually starts at 6 PM.
36. Have a fun day with your dog at Bannon Creek Park
Plan a day out with your kids and dogs this summer! Bannon Creek Park could be the perfect place to be. Make it even better with packed lunch and set up a picnic
37. Be amazed at some magic
Sacramento Public Library will be hosting a magic show and balloon twisting show! Bring your kids to the library this July 25th. Show starts at 3 PM!
38. Stroll down and check out old houses
Go for a road trip and see some Sacramentan Victorian Houses. Chill your way to bond with the kids. Most of them could be found from 7th to 16th streets, from E to I streets.
39. Do bird watching
One of the free things to do in Sacramento with kids this summer is to do bird watching. Vic Fazio Yolo Wildlife Area covers 25 square miles and is home to nearly 200 species of birds. It could be an ideal spot to go bird-watching with your kids. It is also home to a globally known waterfowl.
40. Travel in time at Wells Fargo History Museum
Bored this summer? Time to do a museum visit with your kids. It’s never too late to learn new things!
41. Walk and browse at American River Ranch Farm
Walk through the stalls of the farmer’s market and maybe do a little shopping with your kids. American River Ranch Farm offers live music and activities for kids. It is located nearby Rancho Cordova and is held on Saturdays during the season.
42. Visit Eagle Theater
Eagle Theater is a reconstructed version of California’s first public theater, which opened in 1849. Entry is free and it features docent-led programs on Sacramento history.
43. Stroll at Napa Valley
How you could go wrong with a day at Napa Valley? You will enjoy it as much as the kids will have fun running around. It would be a perfect day trip from Sacramento.
44. See the Delta King
Take a look back at the 1920s with the Delta King. The boat is home to history and different events. Take your kids and see this historic place.
45. Go Gold Panning
Fun fact: You can pan for gold for free in Sacramento. There are few places that offer it. Find the nearest to you!
46. Learn something new at California Foundry History Museum
Want to learn something new? Bring your kids to California Foundry History Museum. You will learn about boundaries, metal melting, water pipes, and many more! It is located at Micke Grove Regional Park in Lodi.
47. See rare animals at Cosumnes River Preserve
Home to ten thousand of rare animals and plant species, Cosumnes River Preserve is a nice way to expose your kids to nature. Walk trails are also open from dawn to dusk daily. It is one of the free things to do in Sacramento with kids this summer that will never disappoint.
48. More concerts in the park
From May to August, there will be free concerts every Friday night. Take your kids on a night out and grab some ice cream after. Located at Cesar Chavez Plaza, 10th and L Street in downtown Sacramento
49. More roses at State Capitol Park World Peace Rose Gardens
Breathe the air and stop for some roses at State Capitol World Peace Rose Gardens. IT is a 42 acre land with 650 roses. You will also be inspired by the plaques of inspirational messages.
50. Spend an afternoon at Folsom Lake
Want to chill and have a nice quiet day? Visit Folsom Lake and maybe do a picnic with your kids. Folsom Lake is free to visit and part of a state recreation area near the Sierra Nevada foothills.
Now that was an amazing list of fun and enjoyment! Looking for Sacramento kids activities when school is out can be a challenge. But these 50 FREE things to do in Sacramento with kids this summer can surely give you a big hand to come up with a plan. I’m sure your kids will LOVE you for it!
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