Summer can be expensive with road trips, summer camps, and the extra days spent entertaining the kids in Edmonton. This summer, we want you to save money in Edmonton and find free things to do, with the kids. We want to keep more money in your pocket, with free (and very cheap) ways to entertain the kids in Edmonton, with events all summer long.

Here are 50 Free Summer Activities in Edmonton

1. Celebrate at one of the local Canada Day festivities in Edmonton. Find the celebrations, here, and find out where to watch the Fireworks, right here.

2. Visit a City of Edmonton outdoor pool. This summer, kids under twelve receive free admission to outdoor pools in Edmonton. It’s a free (and cheap for parents) to cool off during the summer months.

3. Peek in a Pond at Miquelon Lake. Ever wonder what lies beneath the surface? Dive in to this fun and interactive program to discover for yourself what kind of critters call Grebe pond home. Get down on your bellies and dip into the reeds to see what you will catch! This free event is a perfect reason to head just outside of the city and explore Miquelon on a Saturday. (July 2)

4. Enjoy a FREE day of fun! Bouncy house, obstacle course, games, face painting, popcorn and prizes at Bianca’s Dance Company. (July 2)

5. Experience Doors Open Edmonton. Visitors can enjoy a variety of events, such as celebrating community milestones; exploring museums, archives and historic sites; and participating in bus or walking tours of gardens, natural areas, cemeteries and neighbourhoods. (July 3-10)

6. Try a FREE Dancing in the park class with Stageworks where you can explore a local playground, and take a free dance class. There are two locations taking part.

7. Hit up a summer green shack at an outdoor playground. Get active and join in on games, sport, crafts, music, drama and special events! A complete list of activities and special events is posted on the side of Green Shacks each week. (July 4 - End of Summer)

8. Drop in for a Kids Play craft session at Londonderry Mall (July 4)

9. Get tickets for Edmonton Expos Day, a FREE baseball game celebration in Edmonton. Tickets can be purchased through Eventbrite, and are free!

10. Pop by Friday Family fun in the Park (July 8)

11. Visit the pop-up night market at Callingwood Marketplace for free fun for the whole family. The food trucks and shopping is not free, but there are free family activities on site. (July 8)

12. Visit the Edmonton Street Performer’s Festival. Edmonton largest celebration of street performance and artists is returning to Churchill Square for 2022. Stay tuned for more festival details. (July 8 - July 17)

13. While you’re there, splash in the fountain at city hall, or explore The Works Art & Design Festival, also on between July 8 and 17, 2022.

14. Spend an afternoon at the POOP-a-PALOOZA event at Sally Stewart dog park, for a fun afternoon learning about how your furry friend can reduce their carbon paw print. (July 9)

15. Get out your bike and get ready for a Silly Summer Bike Parade! (July 9)

16. Move your body during one of these FREE drop-in family moving sessions, to get out, and get moving. (July 9)

17. Learn about bugs at Miquelon Lake. Is a Lady bug really a bug? Some may think they are creepy crawlies, but insects and other invertebrates are fascinating critters with amazing adaptations! Come over and look at the secret lives of some of our tiniest park animals. This free event is a perfect reason to head just outside of the city and explore Miquelon on a Saturday. (July 9)

18. Catch a FREE family friendly movie screening at Edmonton Public Library. This event is completely free, and happens throughout the summer with different movie screenings, at different locations in Edmonton. (July 10, and weekly throughout the summer)

19. Pack a picnic and visit the St. Albert Botanic Gardens. It’s a fun way to explore outside, and it’s completely free! There’s a gorgeous fountain to explore.

20. FREE Family outdoor movie night - Despicable Me is playing outside, at Northe Pointe Church. It’s a fun night out with the whole family. You can bring snacks and a picnic, or you can buy delicious treats from the food truck on site. (July 13)

21. Take in another free family movie night during Out Loud St. Albert (July 14)

22. Catch a cool raft race on the river! The Sourdough River Raft Race. This is an event where you can watch the coolest, homemade rafts go down the river with a full day of free fun. (July 17)

23. Family Nature Nights are back for 2022 (July 20)

24. Take a Citizen Science session at Miquelon Lake. Welcome to our July nature series, all about citizen science research. Join us as we teach you the art of the bioblitz, fun apps to help you figure out what you’re looking at in nature and how to report your amazing sightings anywhere you go. Each Saturday we will have a different focus of research that you get to be a part of! (July 23)

25. Take part in a FREE Family fun pool party at Leduc at Alexandra Outdoor pool and get free admission compliments of a local real estate team. (July 24)

26. Summer Movie Night at Terwillegar Spray Park! The movie will be announced closer to the event. Film begins at sunset. Bring your own seating and bug repellant, and dress for the weather. It’s a fun night out (and free) with the kids. (July 23)

27. Family Nature Nights are back for 2022 (July 27)

28. Take a Plentiful Polinators Guided walk at Miquelon Lake. Super Heroes are amongst us! Some have super strong electro-static powers or even feeding an entire planet. Despite their small stature we call them Pollinators! Join us on this guided walk to learn how you too can be a super hero and save the world with them! (July 27)

29. Get Free admission to Art Gallery of Alberta. It’s the last Thursday of the month and your chance to access the Art Gallery of Alberta for free between 4-7pm. It’s a great way to explore the newest exhibits at the museum.

30. Visit one of the local spray parks. Find our favourite ten spray parks to visit in Edmonton, right here. The spray parks are an easy, and cheap way for kids to cool off for free.

31. Kids Bowl for Free, all summer long. It’s true that parents are not admitted for free, but this would be a great time for parents to let the kids play, and parents can catch up on work, emails or reading, while they play inside. This is one of our favourite rainy-day activities!

32. Take a Free tour of Alberta Legislature. Get the details, right here. See some cool behind the scenes parts of the Legislature building and learn more about the provincial government.

33. Take a free art class, or free yoga class at Al Fresco Market on 104th, every Saturday through the summer months.

34. Take advantage of the rain and visit the creek at Hawrelak Park. The small creek is perfect for kids to play in on a visit to the park. Bring small water toys to float down the creek after a visit to the playground.

35. (CHEAP) Visit McDonalds for a $1 ice cream cone. Hint: stash a tiny bottle or ziploc bag of sprinkles in the car to make these cones extra special, without any extra cost.

36. (CHEAP) Visit Cineplex on Saturday mornings for $2.99 Cineplex Family Favourite Movies. Every Saturday, there are $2.99 family friendly titles at your local movie theatre.

37. Visit a brand new playground, you can find playground inspiration, here.

38. Register for a make-it session at your local Michaels store. All summer long, you can register for events in-store that encourage kids to be creative, and make, with new themes every week. Camp Creatology is a great way to get creative on the cheap, all summer long.

39. Download the Geocaching app and hit up your favourite trail to see what you can find. It’s a fun treasure hunt that encouruages you to get out, and explore. Fun fact: there are close to 5,000 geocaches to find near Edmonton - that’s a lot of exploring near you this summer. Note: though there is a free version of this app available, not all the geocaches are available with the free version of the app.

40. Pack a lunch and picnic at a hidden fountain. Your kids will love tossing coins and making wishes in the water. It’s a great stop after you’ve spent time at a Sherwood Park Playground. Find the fountain at 220 Lakeland Drive, in Sherwood Park.

41. Love fountains? Make your next stop for a picnic at Alexander Circle, located at 133 Street and 103 Avenue. It’s a fountain in the heart of Glenora, featuring an ornate fountain and park that you have to visit this summer.

42. Join the summer reading club and read to win prizes with Edmonton Public Library! Stop by your nearest EPL branch to pick up your activity sheet or sign up below to keep track of your reading and other activities online. Read and compete for fun prizes. The best part? Adults can sign up too!

43. Speaking of the library, pop by one of the local Makerspace spots at Edmonton Public Library and learn a new skill, or make something in the space! Find the details and drop-in schedule, right here.

44. (CHEAP) Have older kids and aren’t sure how to entertain them? A month-long membership to Millennium Place Recreation Centre in Sherwood Park is as low as $14 (you can cancel at any time) and enables your older kids to visit the pool, indoor teen hangout room with video games and entertainment, and drop-in sports all summer long!

45. Visit the Seed Library at Stanley Milner location of Edmonton Public library, choose a package of seeds and plant a garden together with the kids.

46. Visit the Strathcona Riverside Nature Trail and explore the single track trail closest to the River, for easy access to the water where you can spend time playing in the sand, throwing rocks in the water, or even trying your hand at fishing.

47. Take a Free Online Art class for Kids

48. Get in the car and head out to Fort Saskatchewan to visit with the sheep in charge of keeping the grass short and trim at Legacy Park.

49. Are you celebrating a special occasion? Request that the Now Trucksicle bring the popsicle party to you, and bring popsicles straight to your door!