Free Summer Events in Atlanta for Kids 

Reliable, free summer activities include a splash at the Historic Fourth Ward Splash Park. Photo courtesy of the park

1. Free Spraygrounds and Splash Pads 

Cool off at one of Atlanta's many free spraygrounds and splash pads —great for cooling down as well as running kids down. 

2. Free Movie Nights 

Watch a movie under the stars this summer and beat the daytime heat of an Atlanta summer. Or stay at home and cuddle in the air conditioning and screen a free film from a streaming app. 

3. Free Concerts 

Check out a tribute band (or even some you have heard of!) while kids run around in the grass at these free summer events. We like Live at the DTL (Downtown Lawrenceville) Concert Series, Concerts by the Springs, and Woodstock Summer Concert Series. 

4. Hiking

Yes, summertime can be hot for hiking but hear us out: Atlanta is a tree-covered oasis making many of our favorite hiking trails super shady. Head out in the morning and bring along our list of hiking games for kids. 

Spend the day at beautiful Acworth Beach or other local swimming areas. Photo courtesy of Acworth Beach

5. Swimming Lakes and Beaches 

Many Atlanta swimming lakes are free, like Cauble/Acworth Beach (free admission and parking during the week) and Pine Lake in Dekalb County; others charge a small parking fee. At Poole's Mill Park in Cumming, kids can swim and play in the cool water. 

There's a ton of great things to do along the many BeltLine paths. Photo by Melanie Preis

6. BeltLine Atlanta

This 22-mile loop is an Atlanta gem and a great place to bring your kids and discover more about Atlanta. 

7. Outdoor Playgrounds

Many of the outdoor playgrounds on our list have awesome shade structures over the play areas, to stay cool in the summer and block afternoon showers. 

8. Indoor Playgrounds

Make use of active time in the air conditioning and head to one of Atlanta's free indoor playgrounds, where little ones can climb and play while parents sit and chill...literally. 

9. Kids Eat Free 

No need to spend money on picky eaters when there are great Atlanta restaurants that offer free meals and deals for kiddos. 

10. Geocaching 

Our family loves this modern "treasure" hunt, which you can do with a free app and your smartphone's GPS. Atlanta has thousands of geocaches so start hunting!

11. Free Museum Days

Atlanta is home to fabulous museums like the High Museum, Center for Puppetry Arts, and the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park. Our list of free museum days in Atlanta breaks down which attractions are free on certain days, and which are free all the time. 

12. Food Truck Nights 

At these free summer evening events, kids run around, families enjoy music, and parents either purchase dinner from food trucks or pack their own picnics. Great options are Fridays-N-Duluth, Dunwoody Food Truck Thursdays, and Downtown Canton First Fridays. 

13. Local Libraries 

Visit your local library and check out books to read all summer long. Use our Guide to the Best Kids' Books for helpful ideas and get involved in a Summer Reading Program with Prizes. 

14. Experiments at Home 

Sure, science experiments can be messy, but kids love messy! Combine the great outdoors with STEM and do these 15 Backyard Science Experiments for Messy Summer Fun.

Go on a Tiny Doors ATL scavenger hunt and find the adorable creations throughout the city. Photo courtesy Tiny Doors ATL

15. Tiny Doors ATL

Combine the thrill of a scavenger hunt with the cuteness overload of tiny doors (exuding the spirit of various Atlanta neighborhoods), and you've got yourself an afternoon of free fun hunting for all the Tiny Doors ATL spots.

16. Water Games 

On our list of 25+ Water Games for Kids to Play All Summer Long, we've got plenty of activities that include items you already have at home, including imagination, like Drip, Drip, Drop (the wet version of Duck, Duck, Goose) and Excavating with Ice. 

17. Farmers Markets

There's nothing like farm-grown food and Atlanta has a bunch of farmers markets where you can shop, socialize, and spend a calm morning outside.

18. Backyard Games 

Just like our water games, our list of Classic Outdoor Games for Kids includes summer ideas that utilize household items. We've got traditional games, like Hop Scotch, to crazier ones, like The Grass is Lava. 

19. Storytime at Little Shop of Stories

Pop by Little Shop of Stories in Decatur every Tuesday and Thursday for storytime with toddlers and young children.

20. Dunwoody Nature Center

The shaded, beautiful grounds of the Dunwoody Nature Center (DNC) are open from sunrise to sunset all year round. Visitors pay nothing to use DNC's hiking trails, playgrounds, tree swings, and more. 

Bike the shaded Big Creek Greenway this summer for free family fun. Photo by the author

21. Biking

Just like hiking in the summer, we like to focus on shaded paths for biking this time of year, too. Our faves with the most shady trees are Big Creek Greenway, which runs through Roswell and Alpharetta, and Silver Comet Trail in Smyrna and beyond. 

22. 4th of July Events 

We've rounded up amazingly fun 4th of July parades, festivals, and fireworks shows near Atlanta, and almost all of them are free!

Atlantans have the opportunity to celebrate Juneteenth this month, which commemorates the emancipation of enslaved people in the United States. Photo courtesy of the event

23. Juneteenth Atlanta Parade and Music Festival - Downtown

Commemorate Juneteenth in Downtown Atlanta on June 16-18, 2023 with events, including a parade, musical performances, food trucks, and more.

24. Virginia-Highland Summerfest - Virginia-Highland

On Saturday, June 10, 2023, spend a day of fun, art, food, and kids activities in the Va-Hi neighborhood!

25. Atlanta Ice Cream Festival - Piedmont Park

Head to Piedmont Park on Saturday, July 22, 2023 to taste LOTS of ice cream in different forms (cones, cups, on a stick) and enjoy music and kids' activities. 

There are plenty of activities for kids at Alive in Roswell. Photo courtesy of the event

26. Alive in Roswell - Downtown Roswell

27. Pigs and Peaches BBQ Festival - Kennesaw

28. Piedmont Park Arts Festival - Piedmont Park

29. Summer Shade Festival - Grant Park

30. Little Acorns at Avalon - Alpharetta

31. Halcyon Kids Club - Alpharetta

32. Free Opportunities at the Center for Puppetry Arts - Midtown

Fulton County residents get free entry to the Center for Puppetry Arts on July 1, 2023 through the Free Fulton Saturdays program. Also, the Passport to Puppetry program allows Georgia library card holders to reserve up to four free passes through any participating public library in Georgia.

33. Stone Mountain Park - Stone Mountain

Though we love the attractions at Stone Mountain Park, there can be hefty admission fees. Enjoy the natural side of the area by walking around the base of the mountain or up the rock. There is a parking fee at Stone Mountain, so if you want to save money, try to get a ride.

34. Fernbank Science Center - Atlanta

Fernbank Science Center offers free admission year round and is a great place for science-loving kids in the summer. Note: Planetarium access requires an admission fee.

35. Atlantic Station - Midtown

Spend the summer at Atlantic Station with lots of free events happening at the midtown shopping district! Atlantic Station summer events include Tot Spot, Screen on the Green, Wellness Wednesday, Lunch Time Jazz, and more.

36. Shoot the 'Hooch - Chattachoochee River

"Shoot the 'Hooch" as we locals say and spend a wild and wet afternoon tubing down the Chattahoochee River.

37. Marietta Square Art Walk - Marietta

The first friday of each month (June 2, July 7, & August 4 for this summer) walk through Marietta Square for a free, self-guided tour showcasing local art and artists, as well as free admission to Marietta Cobb Museum of Art.

38. Babyland General Hospital - Cleveland

Kids will love visiting Babyland General Hospital and see where Cabbage Patch Kids are born. There's no admission fee but any dolls and accessories must be purchased.

39. Food Halls - Various locations

Peruse the aisles at the many food halls throughout Atlanta and the outside the perimeter.

40. The Battery Atlanta - Atlanta

If you don't have the funds for an Atlanta Braves game but still want to get into the baseball spirit, spend an afternoon at The Battery. Check out free events through the Wellstar Family Series, including Tennis on the Turf every tuesday in June.