Summer’s here – and the kids are off school and ready to hit the town! Happily, there are tons of kid-friendly events around town where you can do just that — without spending an arm and a leg!
So save your money for the ice cream or whippy dip stands, and enjoy these 35+ free activities for kids this June in Cincinnati:
Donut Day on Fountain Square
June 1 at 12 pm
Cincinnati National Donut Day takes place every first Friday in June. Event is on Fountain Square from 12-1pm. FREE DONUTS will be given out!
Sensory Story Time
Fridays at the Boone County Main Library
A story time especially designed for children with sensory sensitivities. FREE.
Free Junior Clinic
June 2 at 1 pm at Winton Woods/Meadow Links & Golf Academy*
This free one-hour introduction teaches basic safety, etiquette and full swing fundamentals to junior golfers. For ages 7–17.
June 3 at all Great Parks
Enjoy FREE admission to all the Great Parks of Hamilton County in honor of National Trails Day! (Pictured: Embshoff Woods)
Pop Up Play at Washington Park
June 3 from 3-4:30 pm
Join Happen, Inc., a local, award-winning nonprofit bringing families and communities together through art and creative experiences, for a free art activity at Washington Park’s Pop-Up Play event presented by Kroger!
Historic Buildings Open House
Sundays in June from 2-5 pm at Shawnee Lookout
Take a step back in time and catch a glimpse of life in the 1800s. See a cabin built in 1795 and two-story springhouse/schoolhouse dating from 1800. FREE.
Sharonville Touch a Truck
June 4 from 10 am to 2 pm at the Sharonville Convention Center
This popular Touch a Truck event in Sharonville is a great way to kick off the summer! You’ll see the Touch a Truck 18tall, fire truck ladders as you approach the Convention Center. Free.
Airplanes and Parachutes
June 5 from 6:30-7:30 pm at the Montfort Heights Branch Library
Families are invited to explore flight with us as we make airplanes and parachutes and test them. Registration is required.
Wednesdays in the Woods
Wednesdays through August
Come celebrate everything great about summer at our spirited series of 10 free weekly concerts. Good friends, good tunes, good food, good times with a variety of hands-on art making activities for the kids – all at the historic 1911 Burnet Woods bandstand! Concerts are rain or shine: if rain, performance will move to the first floor of Clifton Cultural Arts Center (3711 Clifton Ave.)
June 7 from 10 am to 1 pm
Come play! Join us for live music and children’s play by MadCap Puppet. Free face painting, balloon artist, stilt walker, giant lawn games, clowns, and so much more! Schmidlapp Event Lawn is next to Moerlein Lager House.
Best Friends Story Time
June 8 from 4:30 to 6 pm at Blue Manatee
George and Martha, Elephant and Piggie, Narwhal and Jelly… they’re all best friends! Bring your best friend and make friendship bracelets after hearing a few stories about these great friendships as we celebrate BEST FRIENDS DAY! Free story time for all ages. Friendship bracelet craft most appropriate for ages 4 and up.
Critters on the Lawn
June 9 from 1-3 pm at Sharon Woods/Sharon Centre*
Drop by anytime to meet Sharon Woods’ animal ambassadors as they enjoy some outdoor relaxation.
June 9 from 1-4 pm
Join us for the 8th Annual Snowville Creamery Open House and Farm Tour! Come and see how Snowville Creamery produces some of the best milk in the country. There will be Snowvillains available to answer questions about the milk plant and milking parlor along with a slew of other fun activities including sampling our famous bicycle churned ice cream, petting our lovable dairy calves, a photo booth, and delicious snacks provided by our favorite local companies.
Trillium Art & Music Fair
June 10 from 12-5 pm at Glenwood Gardens/Gatehouse*
Pick up a fantastic work of local art while enjoying food, drinks and live music in beautiful Glenwood Gardens. More than 30 artists and craftspeople will showcase their talents and work, along with a day full of music.
Family Canoe and Movie Night
July 11 from 6:30-10 pm at Rapid Run Park
Bring a picnic dinner & enjoy an evening with your family. Drop by anytime between 6:45 to 8 pm for FREE canoeing with a family friendly movie following as the sun sets. Canoes, paddles, vests and instruction provided. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Bike Rodeo at Summit Park
June 13 from 3:30-7 pm
Blue Ash police, fire, and public works visit. Features safety information, face painting, snacks, free helmets from Children’s Hospital, obstacle course, giveaways and touch-a-truck event! FREE.
June 15 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at The Square @ Union Centre
Check out all the cool trucks and vehicles that serve our community every day. Fire trucks, police vehicles, snow plows, helicopters and more will be on display. This is a free, family-friendly event on The Square.
CFTA Street Food Festival
June 15 from 11 am-10 pm at Summit Park
Features live music, kid-friendly activities and, of course, lots of great food from Cincy’s top food trucks!
Summer Concerts in the Park
June 16 from 7-9 pm at Miami Whitewater Forest/Harbor*
Enjoy a free evening of rock and pop covers with Pandora Effect! Don’t forget to bring your blanket or lawn chairs. Refreshments will be available for purchase.
Springfield Touch a Truck
June 16 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at 9150 Winton Road (Civic Center parking lot)
Big trucks have always amazed kids! 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, luxury and food trucks. 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!
Pop Up Play at Washington Park
June 17 from 3-4 pm
Join Happen, Inc., a local, award-winning nonprofit bringing families and communities together through art and creative experiences, for a free art activity at Pop-Up Play presented by Kroger! On June 17, make a handmade paper bowtie or necktie for Father’s Day! This free interactive Happen activity is designed for children 6 to 10 year olds accompanied with an adult. All activities are first-come, first-served and while supplies last.
Thane Maynard Signs Saving Fiona: The Story of The World’s Most Famous Baby Hippo
June 19 at 6:30 pm at Blue Manatee
Thane Maynard, director of the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, will be at blue manatee to sign and discuss his new book, Saving Fiona: The Story of the World’s Most Famous Baby Hippo. Saving Fiona recounts the story of Fiona, a baby hippo born prematurely at the Cincinnati Zoo, the team of scientists and caregivers who nursed her to health, and the vast community in Cincinnati and beyond who rallied around her. Includes full-color behind-the-scenes photographs throughout.
Owls of Ohio Week
June 19-23 at Farbach-Werner Nature Preserve/Ellenwood Nature Barn
See live Ohio owls at this popular annual exhibit. Dissect an owl pellet or make a craft for a small fee.
Creek Adventure
June 20 from 4-6 pm at Winton Woods/Locust Dell Picnic Area
Summertime is perfect for venturing down an ancient limestone creek bed to delight in the geology and the critters. A limited number of containers and nets will be available for use. Wear closed-toe shoes that can get wet.
Cincinnati Pride
June 23 in Sawyer Point/Downtown Cincinnati
Features a parade and free, family-friendly festival!
Cincinnati Pops in the Park
June 23 from 8:15-10 pm at Miami Whitewater Forest/Harbor
Spend an evening in the great outdoors with the Cincinnati Pops, featuring John Morris Russell, Conductor. Presented by Great Parks Forever.
Raptor, Inc. Open House
June 24 from 1-4 pm
RAPTOR Inc. opens its doors to the public on the last Sunday of each month from March through November. During these times our educators will be available to welcome guests, lead tours, conduct educational programs with our avian ambassadors, share biological artifacts, and answer questions. Participate in special activity stations, shop for merchandise and enjoy some treats!
Harry Potter 20th Anniversary Editions Release Party
June 25 from 10:30-11:30 pm at Blue Manatee
Calling Wizards and Muggles of all ages! Count down to the midnight release of the 20th Anniversary Editions of the Harry Potter books with us! This event, with trivia, a costume contest, and an epic spell battle is FREE with pre-order of at least one of the new paperback editions of Harry Potter with new covers by Brian Selznick. Special beverages and snacks will be available for purchase at the event.
Trail Scavenger Hunt
June 29-July 2 at Farbach-Werner Nature Preserve/Pin Oak Trail
Each day you can meet the nature interpreter to pick up your nature sleuth’s directions. Enjoy this challenge at your own pace, and turn in your answers for a prize at the end of the trail. Please allow at least one hour to complete.
Reptile Ramblings
June 29 at 11 am at Woodland Mound/Seasongood Nature Center
Discover what kinds of reptiles may live in your own backyard and meet a few up close.
Free all summer:
Free Summer Movies for Kids
Free Summer Movies for Kids happens every Monday and Thursday morning, June 4 – August 2, at the Esquire Theatre, Kenwood Theatre and Mariemont Theatres. Doors open 9:45 am, movies begin 10:30 am, and it’s first-come, first-serve — so don’t be late!
Cinemark Summer Movie Escape
The CMX Cinemas Free Summer Movie Escape is a program where families can enjoy free movies all summer long at participating theatre locations. Families can choose from two kid-friendly titles each week. All movies are rated “G” or “PG.” In Cincinnati, our theatre is the CMX Liberty Luxury Cinema in Liberty Township/West Chester.
Free (Outdoor) Summer Movies in Cincinnati
Stay up past your bedtime, pack some snacks and bring a blanket to these local parks for a free, family-friendly flick this summer!
Kids Bowl Free Cincinnati
Kids Bowl Free has partnered with select bowling centers around the country to offer two free games every day to registered kids. Kids registered for Kids Bowl Free can bowl for free at participating centers every day — two games each and every day this summer!
Cincinnati Summer Reading Programs
Here in Cincinnati, there are lots of ways to combat the infamous “summer slide” and make learning a part of your kids’ everyday routine. Most notable are the library summer reading programs offered at each of the major Greater Cincinnati libraries! These programs get kids excited to read their way through the summer by offering a variety of fun incentives along the way.
Summer Farmers Markets
From now until fall, farmers from the tristate area will be selling locally grown produce, homemade baked goods and even specialty items such as olive oil and soap. So grab your reusable bags or baskets, hit up the ATM (most vendors are cash-only), and head out to your neighborhood market!
Touch a Trucks
Touch a Truck events put kids in the driver’s seat of their favorite big vehicles: fire trucks, garbage trucks, diggers and dump trucks. These popular events are being held all around Cincinnati this summer, guaranteeing your kids tons of touch-a-truck fun! Be sure to bring a camera — there are lots of fun photo opps at these free events!
Newport Aquarium Summer Family Hours
Newport Aquarium is kicking off the summer with free kid’s admission during Summer Family Hours. Sundays through Fridays, one kid (age 2-12) gets in free after 4 pm with the purchase of one full-priced adult ticket. This offer is available between May 27 and July 8 online only.
For more happenings around town, be sure to bookmark our Online Calendar and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter!