50+ Free Things to Do This Summer in Albuquerque

Summer fun doesn’t have to be expensive! Albuquerque offers so many wonderful free activities and events during the summer months.

Scroll down to check out our list of free summer fun in and around Albuquerque.

And be sure to print out our *free* summer bucket list bingo!

Founded in 1938, Manzano Day School is an independent, non-profit elementary school serving children in pre-k through fifth grade. The program at Manzano Day School sparks curiosity, builds confidence, and develops the whole child while cultivating lifelong learners, independent thinkers, and engaged community members.

Students build a strong academic foundation through core studies in reading, writing, mathematics, social studies, and science, complemented by co-curricular programs in library, music, physical education, Spanish, technology, and visual arts.

With an 18:1 student-to-teacher ratio, students benefit from personalized attention and strong teacher relationships. All students also participate in our Environmental Education program at Fenton Ranch in the Jemez Mountains, one of the few programs of its kind in the country, where outdoor learning strengthens independence, teamwork, and environmental stewardship.

Manzano Day School is committed to accessibility and inclusivity. Nearly one in four students receives financial aid, awarded based on demonstrated need and available funds, with awards covering up to 50% of tuition. Learn more about admission here.

Guided by the philosophy of Joy in Learning®, Manzano Day School balances tradition and innovation while preparing students for continued academic success and meaningful participation in their communities and an ever-changing world.

That joy carries over into the summer during Manzano Day School’s Summer Discovery, a hands-on, interactive program that immerses students in creative, skill-building experiences. Students can enjoy Manzano Day School’s sprawling six-acre campus as well as classes taught by MDS teachers.

Summer Discovery is open to the public for rising pre-k and fifth graders. It runs from June 8 to July 17, 2026. Space is limited. Contact [email protected] or the website for more information.

Free Educational Activities & Events

1. Sign up for Unearth A Story, this year’s free summer reading program at Albuquerque Public Libraries and Rio Rancho libraries. Kids (and adults!) log their reading to earn prizes each week. Summer reading programs are one of my kids’ favorite activities when school is out! They love showing off their progress and earning prizes and free books.
2. Speaking of summer reading, libraries across the Albuquerque area host free, family-friendly events all summer long, and they’re seriously amazing children’s programming. We’ve attended free concerts, magic shows, comedy shows, storytimes and more at local libraries around town each summer. The libraries will release their events schedule soon, so stay tuned!
3. Earn FREE tickets to an Isotopes game with Dion’s Summer Reading Program. Print the reading log, then kids read six age-appropriate books and turn in their log to a local Dion’s to earn a free slice of pizza! Next, they receive a second log, which they can turn in at the Isotopes offices to receive a free voucher to a Tuesday-Thursday Isotopes game!
4. Play (or learn) chess in the park!
5. Listen and learn at storytime at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, one of my favorite storytimes in Albuquerque.
6. Read, laugh, and play at other storytimes all around Albuquerque.
7. Attend Vacation Bible School.
8. Sign your child up for free reading instruction through the New Mexico Summer Reading Program. The program is open to entering kindergarteners through outgoing eighth graders.

Free Outdoor Fun

9. Grab free lunches for kids all summer long, and listen to stories in the park thanks to free summer meal programs.
10. Print off our Albuquerque parks bingo card and see how many parks you can visit this summer!
11. Attend an ABQ Mom Park Hop. Meet new mom friends, explore kids’ activities, and more at our giant summer playdates!
12. Cool off in a splash pad.
13. Swim at city pools for free! Check out a swim pass at your local library location as part of its Museum Discovery Pass program.
14. Splash at home with backyard water play ideas.
15. Have a picnic.
16. Stroll local farmers’ markets. No buying required! Purusing fresh produce, listening to live music, and enjoying the sunshine are lovely ways to start or end a summer day.
17. Become a JR Ranger at Petroglyph National Monument. There is no fee to visit this great national monument right in town, featuring petroglyphs that are hundreds of years old. Kids can pick up a JR Ranger activity booklet at the visitor center, complete it, and turn it in for a free badge!
18. Go for a hike! Several hikes around the area are free (or very cheap), including the Bosque Trail, Bear Canyon Open Space, and the trails in Petroglyph National Monument.
19. Celebrate bees, butterflies, and birds at Annual Pollinator Day.
20. Get dirty at International Mud Day!
21. Learn about pollinators or camping with Family Nature Club clinics.
22. Attend a bicycle safety class or pop-up repair clinic with Esperanza Bicycle Safety Education Center.
23. Take that newly repaired bike and hit the bike park.
24. Prefer a bike trail? Check out our favorite bike paths around Albuquerque.

Free Cultural Activities

25. Celebrate Juneteenth. June 19 commemorates the end of slavery in the United States, when enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, finally learned of their freedom on June 19, 1865. Attend a local Juneteenth event, support Black-owned businesses, teach your children America’s full history, and fight for an inclusive, equitable future.
26. Take off at the Balloon Museum. The Anderson-Abuzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum is free every Sunday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and on the First Friday of every month. It’s also free during Wednesday morning Stories & Music in the Sky storytimes. Don’t forget to stop by the great kids area, Elevation Station, in the back!
27. Stop by your local library and grab free passes to local museums.
28. Visit the free Wheels Museum.
29. Residents, students, and veterans of Valencia County and Isleta Pueblo can visit the Nuclear Museum for free on monthly free admission days.
30. Walk through history at the Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument. Explore the three unique sites that make up this fee-free national monument that stand as reminders of the Spanish and Pueblo peoples’ early encounters.
31. Dive into the past at the Maxwell Museum of Anthropology.
32. Learn about the Declaration of Independence ahead of its 205th birthday with the Wonders on Wheels mobile museum.
33. Watch top-notch Shakespeare shows for free at Veterans Memorial Park through the Shakespeare Festival!

Free Entertainment & Festivals

34. Old Town Albuquerque hosts so many amazing, free festivals and cultural events throughout the year! On the docket this summer is live music each weekend, Second Saturday evenings, and Pride Day!
35. Attend free concerts all summer long. Free live music isn’t just in Old Town! Check out Winrock Town Center, The Block, and more!
36. Find free summer movies! Local movie theaters offer cheap family movies throughout the summer months, but you can also enjoy movies completely free at local libraries, The Block, Bernalillo’s Movies Under the Pavilion, and more!
37. Enjoy free bowling! Sign up for Kids Bowl Free to bowl two free games a day at Silva Lanes and Main Event all summer long.
38. Ooo and awww at July Fourth fireworks.
39. Attend Heights Summerfest. Listen to music and enjoy kids’ activities all for free!
40. Celebrate the Route 66 Centennial at Route 66 Summerfest!
41. And don’t forget Westside Summerfest, too!
42. Join a Pokemon club or board game night. Several local Albuquerque game stores offer free board game nights, Pokemon leagues, and more! Check out Ettin Games in the Northeast, Old Town Hobbies & Games, and Duke City Games locations around town.
43. Snag free treats! Many donut stores offer free donuts for National Donut Day, June 4, and 7-Eleven offers free small slurpees on July 11 (7/11). Plus, Cookie Dough Bliss offers free kids scoops on Wednesdays with any purchase.

Free Fun for the Littlest Littles

44. Play at the library. Most library locations around the Albuquerque area have small indoor play areas that are especially great for littles.
45. Play at Coronado Center and window shop. Just outside JC Penny’s is a small indoor play area perfect for babies and toddlers.
46. Attend Toddler Tuesday at Cottonwood Mall to enjoy storytimes, crafts, and sensory play.
47. Craft and create at Arte Para Chiquitos at the National Hispanic Cultural Center.
48. Attend Toddler Time at Explora every Monday from 9-11 a.m.

Admire & Make Art Together

49. Explore the ABQ Museum. Admission is free every Sunday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., as well as the first Wednesday of each month.
50. Craft together. OffCenter Arts downtown hosts free open studio hours for all ages, with materials to paint, draw, collage, make jewelry, and more! The studio also offers several classes, from quilting to drawing to writing, on a sliding fee scale, from free to supporter-level pricing.
51. Enjoy a street fair vibe each month at Last Saturdays on Harvard in the Bricklight District.
52. Admire art at the ABQ Artwalk. Each month, galleries and businesses downtown open their doors for the ABQ Artwork. Walk block to block to explore exhibits, pop-ups, and live performances.
53. Craft something together at free Home Depot workshops for kids.

Check out this list of upcoming free events in and around Albuquerque!