Summer is a glorious season when kids are out of school and families get to spend lots of extra time together. As many parents know too well, entertaining your brood can get expensive. We’ve got you covered with this list of 50+ budget friendly summertime happenings. Most of these events and activities are actually totally FREE! Des Moines offers plenty of frugal fun, so be sure to take advantage of these incredible inexpensive programs and activities.
dsm4kids is your source for family friendly summer fun in Des Moines. For even more ideas visit our Calendar, check out the Summer Fun Guide and sign-up to receive the Weekend Fun Guide.
Here’s where you can find some frugal family fun this summer in the Des Moines area:
1. Take a stroll in Des Moines’ new Riverview Park and check out the unique play equipment and outdoor stage.
2. Summer festivals are back and most are FREE to attend!! Metro neighborhoods and communities will be bustling with art, food and entertainment.
3. Tour the town by bus! Most DART fares for adults are under $2, children six to ten are just $0.75 and children five and under ride FREE.
4. Show your support for the LGBTQ+ community this Pride Month at a family-friendly event hosted throughout the month of June.
5. Beat the heat at the movies. During the summer local theaters offer discounted kid flicks.
6. Step outside and check out some public art. Beautiful murals are scattered throughout the Metro and don’t cost a dime to visit.
7. Taking the whole family out for a restaurant meal can be expensive. Pack up your regular homemade lunch and take it on a picnic to instantly upgrade your mealtime for free. Local parks make an ideal spot for a picnic.
8. Host a summer camp for your kids and invite the neighbor kids to attend too!
9. Celebrate Dad on Father’s Day, June 20, 2021, at a family friendly event or activity.
10. Outdoor summer movies are offered totally FREE at many local parks. Spend a few bucks on concessions and you have a killer summer outing!
11. Participate in a FREE summer reading program at a Des Moines area public library and win some great prizes.
12. Grab your phone and hit a local park for a family photo session. Capture silly memories together and share them with your family and friends.
13. Attend a Des Moines Menace Soccer game. General Admission is $10 for adults and $8 for kids (6-18). Five and under are FREE.
14. Enjoy a day trip to the Des Moines Art Center where admission is always FREE. And, then check out Greenwood and Ashworth Park and the Clare and Miles Mills Rose Garden, located near it’s grounds.
15. Visit a historic one-room schoolhouse. Many of the ones on our list offer FREE admission.
16. Connect with nature and hike or bike on a local trail.
17. Go fishing! The Des Moines metro has several close-to-home fishing options.
18. Take the family on the dsm4kids’ Des Moines Scavenger Hunt.
19. Hit up Sonic’s Happy Hour or any of the other special meal discounts on our Kids Eat FREE page for seriously cheap refreshment.
20. Play a round at a local disc golf course.
21. Celebrate Independence Day shoulder to shoulder with your family at a local parade or fireworks show.
22. Communities in the Metro host outdoor concerts filled with live music, local food and activities for guests of all ages. Most of which are FREE to attend.
23. Enjoy a good book and maybe even a craft and activity during outdoor story time at a local park.
24. Go on a high-tech treasure hunt by geocaching.
25. Ditch the water wings and become a confident swimmer by taking swimming lessons at a local pool this summer.
26. Enjoy a cold treat at a local ice cream shop in Des Moines.
27. Create a nature scavenger hunt in your backyard.
28. See hot air balloons take flight over central Iowa during Indianola’s National Balloon Classic. Admission and parking are FREE-will donation for morning viewings.
29. Make a furry friend at Rusty Stars Alpaca Farm. It’s FREE to visit the farm.
30. Go out for donuts.
31. Grab your produce for the week at a local farmers’ market. They are FREE to attend and many offer up other activities like live music and kid activities.
32. Cool off at a local aquatic center or pool when they offer discounted admission, generally on special holidays and certain days of the week or evenings.
33. Grab your skateboard and head to the newly opened Lauridsen Skate Park.
34. Take a spin on the Heritage Carousel in Union Park. It costs just $.50 per ride for kids and $1 for adults.
35. Get your om on during Yoga in the Park, which costs little or is FREE to attend.
36. Hit the water at a local beach or lake and try your hand at kayaking or paddle boarding.
37. Sign your kids up for the Kids Bowl Free or Skate Free programs and you’ll have at least one or two things to do every week this summer.
38. Go stargazing and look for constellations with a few tips for a successful night from the Des Moines Astronomy Club.
39. Embrace the great outdoors by heading to one of these top spots for exploring nature in central Iowa.
40. Play a couple of rounds of mini golf. Several local courses offer admission for $5.00 and under, especially to kids under 12.
41. Beat the summer slide with these tips for keeping your kids learning this summer.
42. Go for a bike ride on the High Trestle Trail.
43. Pick berries at a local u-pick farm.
44. Cheer on the boys of summer at an I-Cubs game. Look for promotions or discounted tickets to make the outing more budget friendly.
45. Enjoy a day at Big Creek Lake.
46. Grab a cool treat at one of the best shave ice spots in Des Moines.
47. Take advantage of all of the FREE perks that come with your public library card in Central Iowa.
48. Track down the Clive Green Belt Goats and Sheep who are keeping the Green Belt Trail tidy.
49. Get crafty and make something. Local businesses offer all kinds of DIY activities and craft kits.
50. Say so long to summer with a FREE, family-friendly concert! The Des Moines symphony is bringing back their FREE Water Works Pops at the Lauridsen Amphitheater.
What are your suggestions for frugal family fun in Des Moines?
