24 Free Summer Things To Do in Grand Rapids

Grand Rapids Free Summer Activities to Do With Kids

Finding summer things to do with kids that will stimulate, educate, entertain, and keep them moving isn’t easy!

With the cost of everything from milk to movie theater tickets going up, it’s always good to have some free summer things to do in your back pocket.

Thankfully, there are so many fun and nearly free summer activities around West Michigan, there’s no need to spend a lot of money. We’ve complied a list of some of our favorite summer things to do that won’t break the bank.

Click here for a full list of all events and see what’s happening today!

24 Free Summer Activities Around GR

Here’s a bunch of great things to do around town that will let those adventurous kids explore all they want. If they happen to change their mind halfway through, it’s okay because you’re not out any money!

1 – Watch a Free Movie or Concert in the Park

Bring your blankets and lawn chairs for an afternoon or an evening of free family entertainment at a concert or movie in the park!

Communities from Ada to Zeeland and all over West Michigan host talented musicians or feature popular family films throughout the summer.

2 – Visit a Public Splash Pad or Pool

One of our favs is Leslie E. Tassell Park, along the Thornapple River. It doesn’t sport a playground, but it does have a really fun interactive water feature and is near two ice cream shops. The park also has a fire pit, two shelters and a public restroom.

For other great places to play in the water try this huge list of splash pads and pools.

3 – Attend a Fair, Festival or Carnival

Whether you’re looking for carnival rides, games of chance or skill, funnel cake, 4-H shows, or concerts on the fairgrounds, Fairs and Festivals are a summer staple here in West Michigan!

Most fairs and festivals offer kids days with reduced admission fees. Parades and fireworks are also free festival fun.

4 – Explore a New Park

Some favorites include Hager Park in Jenison, and Frog Hollow Park in Wyoming and of course the popular Millennium Park in Grand Rapids.

Find our full list, including a handy map of all the local playgrounds, trails and dog parks around West Michigan.

Get a coffee, grab some sunscreen, and have a fun day at the park!

5 – Stay Cool at an Indoor Play Area

Summer days in Michigan can get hot and muggy, so why not stay indoors and let the kids play — for free!

Head to your local library to find designated play areas full of toys and books just for kids.

Kent District Library’s 20 branches have “WonderKnooks”, and each one sports its own theme. Make it a game this summer to see how many libraries you can visit!

Stop by KDL Grandville and play a tune in the outdoor Musical Garden.

6 – Discover Hidden Gems on a Downtown Grand Rapids Hike

There are a lot of exciting sculptures and murals to discover throughout downtown Grand Rapids.

Pair it with colorful bridges over the scenic Grand River, and you’ve got an easy afternoon of free fun. Here’s how to find these hidden gems on a walkable adventure for kids.

7 – Join a Summer Reading Program

Not only are these summer reading programs free to join, but most allow kids to earn prizes and rewards for reading. Be sure to sign up soon as most have summer sign-up periods in mid-June and conclude in August.

Summer reading programs at the library also feature magicians, concerts, special events and more. Check out your local library for details on a program near you.

8 – Sign Up for VBS – Vacation Bible School

Local VBS Programs are a great type of summer camp for kids. Most are free, though some come with a small fee.

Some VBS programs run in the evening (yay for a date night!), some run during the daytime. Programming is generally for grades kdg – 5th grade, some offer programming for pre-school ages as well.

9 – Catch a Show at Grand Haven’s Musical Fountain

Stake out your spot along the river across from the fountain and wait till just after sunset and enjoy!

Every night features a different selection of music with coordinating colorful water displays from the fountain. Specially-themed evenings are very popular like The Greatest Showman, Christmas in July and Jimmy Buffett.

10 – Go Bowling

Kids can bowl two free games per day throughout West Michigan this summer. Participants just have to pay for shoe rental.

11 – Have a Picnic While you Watch Planes Land

The Gerald R. Ford airport sports a really nice viewing area that’s great for watching planes and a fun place to picnic!

The renovated area includes more parking spaces — the lot has grown from 54 to 104 spots — picnic tables, permanent restrooms, a drinking fountain, more trash receptacles and a sleek, modern pavilion. Pop by on a Wednesday during the summer to catch the food trucks!

The viewing area is open daily from dawn to dusk and is located at 4820 Kraft Avenue SE.

12 – Travel the State with a Michigan Activity Pass

Discover hundreds of Michigan’s cultural destinations and natural attractions with your Michigan library card!

You can “check out” FREE or discounted admission passes (or other exclusive offers) to hundreds of Michigan state parks, campgrounds, museums, trails, arts & cultural destinations, and more.

13 – Stroll the Rogue River and see the Rockford Dam

Rockford has a scenic boardwalk along the West side of the Rogue River and a paved bike path to the east (part of the White Pine Trail).

Additionally, the dam and bridge in Rockford are great places for watching fishermen, ducks and other wildlife, as well as taking photographs. Ice cream shops dot downtown Rockford, too!

14 – Take a Scenic Hike

Most trails in the mega trails directory are free.

Pack some water, a snack and a nature guidebook from the library, and set off on an adventure! If you want to start off with a hike to the beach, consider Rosy Mound in Grand Haven. (Parking is $7, but the trail is free.)

15 – Reel in the Big One

Load up the tackle box, grab your poles and go fishing. Several area parks have fishing ponds and most don’t require an admission fee.

Plus, every summer, the state has one free fishing weekend. This year’s is June 13 – 14, 2026.

16 – Visit the Beach and Relax or Hunt for Rocks

It wouldn’t be a Michigan summer without visiting a local beach. Hit up one of the wonderful Lake Michigan beaches in West Michigan (over 60 beaches). Within an hour or so from Grand Rapids.

Many of the Lake Michigan beaches are known for their soft and pretty sand, but some are great for those who love to hunt for rocks (Petoskey Stones anyone?).

17 – Reciprocal Memberships

If your family purchases memberships to local places like John Ball Zoo, Grand Rapids Public Museum, and Grand Rapids Children’s Museum, they often offer reciprocal memberships to local institutions throughout the year.

Reciprocal offerings during the summer months as of April, 2026 include:

John Ball Zoo members can get into Grand Rapids Art Museum, Lakeshore Museum Center, Air Zoo, Grand Rapids Children’s Museum, and Grand Rapids Public Museum.

Grand Rapids Public Museum members can get into Blandford Nature Center, Lakeshore Museum Center, John Ball Zoo.

Grand Rapids Children’s Museum Members can get into Ann Arbor Hands On Children’s Museum, DNR Outdoor Adventure Center, Impression 5, Michigan Science Center, John Ball Zoo, and Holland Museum.

The GRPM and John Ball Zoo also get you into zoos (and aquariums) and museums nation wide as well.

18 – Stargazing and Amateur Astronomy Nights

Toss a blanket out in the backyard or find an open field to search for familiar constellations. You could also visit Veen Observatory for one of their public observation nights.

If you want to travel a bit search up and visit a dark sky park. We have a handful in Michigan.

19 – Attend an Event or Join a Club at the Library

West Michigan has over 30 Libraries and they each have their own events and clubs running year round. From family movie nights to story times, and hobby groups.

The library is a great resource and generally offers programs for all ages from preschoolers to teens and adults.

20 – Go Geocaching

The fun thing about geocaching is that when you participate, you’re joining thousands of people across the world that come together online to play hide-and-seek!

Another perk is that geocaching offers free outdoor fun for the entire family activity.

Pack some snacks and bring your sense of adventure for this fun treasure hunt type of activity. Using a website or app, you will be able to find cache’s almost anywhere.

21 – Pay a Visit to a Nature Center

We are fortunate to be surrounded by so much natural beauty. Michigan nature centers are a fantastic way to enjoy, appreciate, and learn about the world around us.

Blandford Nature Center has an entry fee if you’re not a member, but they do offer free admission during certain months of the year. the Outdoor Discovery Center and DeGraaf Nature Center in Holland are free to visit.

There are often both indoor places to visit as well as their outdoor spaces. Some also have rehabbed animals and critters to see too!

22 – Find a Volunteer Opportunity

Volunteering at a local animal shelter or community garden can be a great way to build some family bonding while giving back to the community.

Volunteering helps kids develop empathy and understand the importance of helping others. 

Bonus: if you have teens looking for work, volunteering can sometimes be used as work experience on a resume.

23 – Free Museum Days

Michigan has many history, art, and children’s museums. There’s no shortage of places where kids can explore, imagine, and are encouraged to touch all of the things (mostly).

Museums for All offers super-affordable entry (just $5 or less per person), museum fun is accessible for everyone.

24 – Use Your Fourth Grader’s National Parks Pass

Students in fourth grade get a pass for them and their families to visit a National Park for free. Michigan has seven national parks alone.