Free & Cheap Fun All Summer Long 😎

One of my favorite summer hacks is themed days for a summer fun list. Not only does this keep the summer schedule predictable for the kids, but it also gives them something to look forward to every day. Here’s a list of themed days for summer 2026:

🎨Make It Monday

• Tie dye t-shirts

• Make nature suncatchers  

• Make ice cream

• Make popsicles

• Make bouncy balls

• Make painted rock animals

• Natural dyeing

  🚗Trip Tuesdays

•  Have a picnic at the park

•  Go hiking

• Go to a new playground

•  Go to an aquarium

• Go fruit picking

• Go to a movie

• Visit a state park

• Go to a museum

• Take a train ride

• Visit a new restaurant

• Go to a family entertainment center
  🌊Water Wednesdays

• Have a water balloon fight 

• Visit a splash pad

• Go to the local pool 

• Visit a waterpark

• Go to the beach or lake

• Create an at home spray ground

• Go to a stream or pond to observe the wildlife

🎬Themed Thursdays

• Movie Marathon

• Game Day

• Field Day

• PJ Day

• Kids Rule Day

• Reading Marathon 

💰FREE Fridays (All of these places are free to visit)

• Columbus Museum

• Columbus Botanical Gardens (Kids are free this summer; there’s a charge for adults)

• Museum of Aviation

• The National Infantry Museum

• Oxbow Meadows

• National Civil War Naval Museum

• Bo Bartlett Center Museum

• Legacy Museum on Main

• Go bowling for free with Kids Bowl Free

• Find a free garden to visit

• Go to your local library

• Mural photo hunt (This is a great one for teens. Check out this mural trail in Georgia)

• Visit your cities website for free events like movie nights & festivals

• Get free food on national food days like 7-11 day

💗Serve Saturdays

• Write thank you notes to people you’re thankful for

• Serve at an animal shelter

• Purchase items to donate 

• Serve at a food pantry or homeless shelter

• Make cards or art for residents at your local retirement home

• Serve at a local retirement home

• Invite family friends over for dinner

• Make something for your neighbors to show you care 

• Support small businesses and leave a positive review online

• Give away gently used items you no longer need

• Clean up a local park

These are just some ideas to get you started. The most fun part of creating a summer fun list is letting your kids get involved and share their ideas! If you’d like a free template to create a summer fun list that you can print or display on a digital device like an Echo Show, click the link below 👇