FREE Summer Activities for Families
UPDATED: as of 6/8/20 ** means site has not been updated to current 2020 Summer.
Summer Activities for Families from national stores, brands and companies in your area. Free or extremely cheap things to do with your kids this summer and keep them entertained and having fun. With them they can read, build, bowl or watch movies.
Barnes & Noble Summer Reading Program– Summer Reading Triathlon- Barnes & Noble offers this great program to encourage children to read and they receive a FREE book when they turn in their list after reading 8 books. They provide suggestions by grade level also. My kids have loved this, reading to them counts too!
**REGAL Entertainment/ Cinemas– Regal Cinemas is offering $1 movies for 9 weeks of summer, two movies a week. You can find the schedule here and locate a local theatre here. We found Mohegan Lake in Westchester, Poughkeepsie in Dutchess, and Nanuet in Rockland.
Bowling- Kidsbowlfree.com Kids can bowl 3 games A DAY everyday all summer long from 5/29-8/31 There are tons of places in the Hudson Valley participating. For the full list look here and sign up for the participating Bowling Alley closest to you.
**Bowling- Bowl Summer Games This is a discounted pass that gives you 3 games a DAY every day from June 1-September 10th. Ipfront cost but then over 3 months of bowling daily is included. For families nearby CT and NJ there are many places listed also in White Plains. (shoe rental not included)
Home Depot– Free Kid’s Workshop building program, the first Saturday of the month at your local Home Depot. Registration is suggested/required. Did you know they also offer Do-It-Herself workshops, once month usually on Thursday nights.
Michael’s Kids Club– Currently offering FREE online crafts. *** Typically Michael’s has a summer camp, 7 weeks of crafts (non drop off). Check out the schedule and sign up in advance or drop in. $5 each of 3 for $12 (in store sign up)
Target offers FREE community events. Locally these are in NYC, but it is summer vacation and the city is a hop, skip and a jump away. These events are at museums- educational fun, teachers would be so proud!
Chuck E Cheese Reward Calendars All summer there are monthly calendars for chores, reading, potty training and others, once calendar is completed it can be turned in for 10 free tokens. Customize your family fun and pick out what works for you.
National Parks– This is one of our favorite and free to cheap things to do, which can be done all over the United States. The list for New York is long, there are 3 in the Hyde Park area of the Hudson Valley too. We have the National Park Passport book to collect stamps from all the parks we have been too, a cheap life long keepsake for the family. Also there are many ONLINE Junior Ranger packets with badges you can do while home. Check out our list HERE.
**Disney Stores– Two Free and Fun activities: 1- OPEN the store, be the first at the store and participate in their opening celebration and receive a special prize. I recommend being there at least 20 minutes before store opens to be there first, they are strict about 1 child receiving prize, even siblings- one per a family. 2- Summer Play Days, collect special PATCHES every Saturday at 3pm all summer long.
***APPLE– Kids Hour, different sessions for kids ages 6-12 (recommended). Sign ups required. Also offer camps, check with local stores.
Microsoft– Student programs ages 8+. Camps, programs and lessons on various areas through YouthSpark.
*List compiled from online lists and checked as on June 2020. Apple Moms is not reliable for any incorrect information shared.*
More? Send us a message or comment and we will add to our list. Have fun!
