School’s out, summer’s here — and there are literally dozens of kid-friendly events happening each and every day! We scoured our Online Calendar in search of the best FREE events happening this June — and there were so many, we couldn’t pick just 20 or 25… we broke our own record and chose 30!
Without further ado, here are 30 free things to do in Cincy this June:
Raybot Story Time with Author/Illustrator Adam F. Watkins!
June 1, 10 – 11 a.m.
Head to Blue Manatee on June 1 for a very special story time and signing event with author/illustrator, Adam F. Watkins, as he shares his newest book, Raybot! Raybot is a lonely robot searching for that one animal that says, “woof”… and he soon learns that there are many wonderful (and different!) animals on Earth! This is a delightfully sweet tale that will warm everyone’s hearts, no matter how old!
Summer Cinema at Washington Park
June 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29 from 9 – 11 p.m.
Formerly called Date Night Movies, Summer Cinema features a free movie screening every Wednesday at the Park! Dust off those lawn chairs, grab a picnic basket, and join us for a fun, relaxing evening over on our civic lawn.
Family Ice Cream Social
June 2, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Get ready for Shavuot at the JCC with a Family Ice Cream Social! Children can enjoy fun outdoor games, a bounce house, giant slide, and petting zoo.
Try It! Fitness Classes
June 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30
These free Sharon Woods classes will rotate weekly in gentle yoga, tai chi and yin yasa flow. Each class is led by a YMCA of Greater Cincinnati instructor. Participants are asked to bring their own mat and a water bottle.
Free Friday at the Cincinnati Museum Center
June 3, 4 – 8 p.m.
Visit Duke Energy Children’s Museum, Museum of Natural History & Science* and Cincinnati History Museum free of charge! Climb through the tunnels and bridges in the three-story woods, travel back in time in our immersive ice age exhibit and step aboard a replica of the 94-foot steamboat, the Queen of the West. (Admission to the Da Vinci exhibit not included.)
Mio’s Blue Ash Summer Concert Series
June 3 – August 19, 8 – 10 p.m. (Fridays)
Friday night concerts take place at the Blue Ash Towne Square beginning at 8 p.m. (No concert on July 1).
Curiousity Saturdays at Washington Park
Saturdays in June, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Presented by the Cincinnati Art Museum, Curiosity Saturdays offer a wide-range of FREE, engaging, kid-friendly activities that the whole family is sure to love!
- June 4, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. at the Milford-Miami Twp. Branch Library
- June 6, 5 – 7 p.m. at the Felicity Branch Library
- June 29, 2 – 4 p.m. at the Amelia Branch Library
Honey Hill Farm is bringing a menagerie to the Clermont County branch libraries this spring and summer. See cute farm animals that love to be fed and petted as well as more exotic creatures.
Great Parks Day at Woodland Mound
June 4, all day (check website for schedule)
Come out and play in your Great Park! Experience all Woodland Mound has to offer with free park entry, wet playground admission, golf, concerts, nature and fitness programs and more! For a full list of free activities, visit greatparks.org.
16th Annual Art in the Garden
June 4, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
The 16th Annual Art In The Garden will feature over 60 local and regional artists, live music, local food and wine, and children’s activities along the banks of the Ohio River, including a performance by the MadCap Puppets! This event is kid/pet friendly and completely free! For more information, visit www.AugustaArtGuild.com.
City of Beavercreek Summer Concert Series
June 5, 12, 19 and 26 at 7 p.m.
The City of Beavercreek Parks, Recreation & Culture is pleased to announce its lineup of Summer Concerts for 2016. Mark your calendars for another summer of great entertainment. The Sunday night concerts will take place at Dominick Lofino Park at 7 pm. In case of rain, the concert will be held in the park shelter.
YMCA Camp Ernst Open House
July 5, 1 – 4 p.m.
Looking for a great summer camp for your kids? Look no further than the YMCA Camp Ernst in Burlington Kentucky! Come tour our 365 acre location, meet our friendly staff, see the cabins, try the zipline, ride a horse, make a s’more and sample the camp food!
Free Junior Clinic
June 6, 1 – 2 p.m.
This free one-hour introduction at Miami Whitewater Forest teaches basic golf safety, etiquette and full. Register by 6/4.
Free Movies for Kids!
June 6, 13, 20 and 27 (Mondays) and June 8, 15, 23 and 30 (Wednesdays). Doors open at 9:45 a.m. and movies start at 10:30 a.m.
Free Movies for Kids kicks off on June 6 with ICE AGE 3! Free Movies for Kids (free for parents/guardians too!) will take place at the Kenwood, Esquire, Mariemont, and Eastgate Brew & View theatres every Monday and Wednesday morning through August 10. Check theatre websites for schedules.
Touch a Truck!
June 6, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Kick off the summer at the Sharonville Convention Center’s annual Touch a Truck event!
Wednesdays on the Green
June 8, 15, 23 and 30 from 7 – 8:30 p.m.
Clifton Cultural Arts Center (CCAC) is thrilled to present another summer of Wednesdays on the Green. There are 11 weeks of musical performances on the schedule, including a performance by the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company! Kick back in the grass, enjoy the show and meet some new friends on the beautiful lawn at CCAC.
Miss Katie’s Story Time at Oakley After Hours
June 10, 7 – 7:30 p.m.
Join the beloved Miss Katie for a special summertime story time during our Oakley After Hours event. Blue Manatee will be open from 6 – 8 p.m., and Story Time will be from 7 – 7:30 p.m. See you at the LePage Stage for this free event!
Branch Brain Camps at the Library
June 13 – 17, June 20 – 24 and June 27 – July 1
Kids in grades 1 – 5 can read great stories, make themed crafts, play fun games, experiment with science, and create art during week-long, totally free, Branch Brain Camps. Come and join the fun at your neighborhood Branch Library. Registration is required. Contact your nearest branch to sign up.
Zak Morgan at the Madeira Branch Library!
June 13, 1:30 – 3:15 p.m.
See a free performance from Grammy-nominated Zak Morgan!
Harrison 500 Hot Wheels Tournament
July 14, 6:15 – 8:15 p.m.
Enter a Hot Wheels or Matchbox car, or just come to watch the races at the Harrison Branch Library. The winner receives a trophy! Registration begins at 6:15 p.m. Races begin at 7 p.m. For ages 12 and under with a caregiver. Advance registration is required.
Touch a Truck!
June 17, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Springfield Township’s Touch A Truck event will introduce over 50 different vehicles (and a helicopter) to kids of all ages. Participating vehicles include a variety of service and luxury vehicles. Meet police officers and fire fighters. A mobile DJ will emcee the event. Bring your cameras — kids will have a chance to climb aboard many of the trucks!
The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati Open House
June 18, 11:30 a.m. – 2 p.m.
On Saturday, June 18, The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati (TCT) officially opens the doors to its new facility on Red Bank Road. From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., the community is encouraged to stop by for a family-friendly Open House, featuring face painting, balloon animals, Snap Booth photos, games, character meet-and- greets and tours of the new facility.
Third Sunday Funday: Big Tip Fun
June 19, 1 – 4 p.m.
Get ready for some circus-style fun under the Taft tent! Get your face painted like a clown or your favorite circus animal, explore painting tools at the Art Cart, make a circus-y craft to take home, and enjoy a guided or self-guided tour of the Museum. Performers from My Nose Turns Red youth circus will delight kids of all ages at 2 p.m.
Yoga for Kids
June 21, 2 – 3 p.m.
Come and meet yoga teacher Vivienne Konz at the Hyde Park Branch on June 21 for a fun, relaxing, kid-friendly yoga class.
Puppet Making Workshop with Madcap Puppets
June 23, 2 – 3 p.m.
Head to the Mt. Washington Branch Library on June 23 for a puppet-making workshop presented by Madcap Puppets! Create your very own masterpiece puppet to take home. Grades K-6. Registration is required.
Library Mini Golf
June 24, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Mini golf at the library?? If that sounds fun, head to the Cheviot Branch Library for a round or two of golf — and then a pizza party! Prizes will be awarded. Sign up is required.
Summer Soccer Clinics
June 26, 1 – 4 p.m.
Start your season off in the right direction with these clinics led by soccer star Jennifer Meiners. Meiners played soccer with the UC Women’s Soccer Team for four years, and the USL W-League for the Northern Kentucky TC Stars. Meiners currently coaches Girls Elite teams with Total Futbol Academy and has taught camps and clinics both locally and on the collegiate level. Meiners will teach children skills and drills to hone their soccer knowledge. Free; registration required.
Star Wars Magic
June 27, 1:30 – 2:30 p.m.
Join in the Star Wars fun at the Madeira Branch! Designed for ages 6-12. Registration required.
Cincinnati Pops Free Concert
June 29, 8:15 – 10 p.m.
Spend an evening at Miami Whitewater Forest with the Cincinnati Pops.
Bowl for Free
Daily through August
Sign up for free bowling every day this summer through the Bowl for Free Program! Check out all the details in our post.
By the way, many of these events already on the 100 Days of Summer — if you haven’t already read, downloaded, shared and pinned this bucket list… well, what are you waiting for?