Budget-Friendly-Orlando-Summer-Activities

We’ve updated our Budget Friendly Summer Activities list, just in time for summer!

The heat is blazing and the end of school countdowns are ticking away. While this season is notorious for lazy days, ice cream cones and cannonballs into the pool, it’s often met with parental hesitation in fear of constantly hearing the infamous “I’m bored” declarations from their tiny humans. So here we go, mamas! In an effort to keep the kiddos happy and you smiling, OMB has sought out some Budget Friendly Orlando Summer Activities, free or minimal fee, and compiled them for you in one go-to boredom buster list!

Arts & Cinema

  • Regal Cinemas $1 Movies – Throughout the summer, Regal Cinemas hosts the Summer Movie Express where $1 kid movies are every Tuesday and Wednesday morning through the summer at participating theatres.
  • Popcorn Flicks – The City of Winter Park and The Enzian have teamed up to host an outdoor movie night on the second Thursday of each month on Park Ave’s Central Park. This event is free to the public and sure to be a hit, especially with several ice cream shops just across the street!
  • Museums On Us Weekends – If you are a Bank of America or Merrill Lynch card holder, then you have free access to certain museums on the first weekend of each month! Click here to find the museums closest to you.
  • Uptown Concert Series – The city of Altamonte Springs hosts a free concert in Cranes Roost Park. Bring a picnic or purchase from the food and drink vendors available. (day may vary, check their calendar!)
  • Fort Wilderness Campground Cinema & S’Mores Sign-A-Long – Enjoy a unique night of free camp themed fun filled with songs, a movie, and a meet-and-greet with Chip and Dale all in the fantastic campsite of Disney’s Fort Wilderness.
  • Saturday Serenade at East End Market – Every first and third Saturday from 2p.m. – 5p.m. East End market hosts a concert with multiple bands in their beautiful courtyard. Grab some tasty treats or a book to read from the shops inside, and enjoy a relaxing, musical afternoon.

Recreation

  • Check out our bucket list of over 30 places to take the kids (anytime of year!)
  • Splash Pads – There are so many in Central Florida that are free or very inexpensive! You could visit a new one every week and not see them all this summer.
  • Parks & Nature Trails – Florida is a beautiful state! So get out and explore it’s natural beauty in one of the many nature trails and parks! It’s the best free fun around!
  • Natural Springs – Natural springs usually provide you with the chance to do some nature walking and then cool down in the gorgeous spring water. The Florida Springs site provides you with the location of each spring in Florida and very detailed information about each one. Or, read what some of our contributors have to say about De Leon Springs State Park and Blue Spring State Park.
  • FREE Bowling for Kids at Aloma Bowl
  • Farmer’s Markets – If you’re looking for a fun weekend outing for your family, visit one of the many farmers markets we have here in Central Florida! There are several to choose from and at least one happening every day of the week. My personal favorite is the “cheese guy” (you’ll thank me later), and the kettle corn. You’re sure to enjoy the community, healthy foods, and some of the most interesting individuals in the area.

Crafts & Educational Fun

  • Hardware Store Kid Clinics – Check out your local Lowe’s for their Build & Grow Kid’s Clinic or Home Depot for their Kid’s Workshop. Each event is held once a month a designated Saturday and is free.
  • Michaels Kids Club – For just $2 a child, creative minds can make something new and exciting by attending one of the Michaels Kids Club craft workshops. These classes are geared for children ages 3 and up, and be sure to check their website for dates and times at the location nearest you.
  • Joann’s Classes – From sewing to tie-dye to cake decorating, Joann’s offers a variety of classes at multiple times throughout the summer with prices ranging from $5 – $45 depending on what skill you would like to learn. Each location has their own Kid’s Classes, so be sure to check with the location nearest you.
  • The Crayola Experience – Discover the magic of color at the Crayola Experience in The Florida Mall. When you’re here, you’re always encouraged to let your creativity run free, to color outside the lines, and to play, explore, and learn. The Crayola Experience features 25 one-of-a-kind attractions, our very own Café Crayola, and the Crayola Store with a large selection of colorful souvenirs. Enjoy a day of family fun and see how colors, chemistry, and digital technology can create an exciting adventure of colorful memories. Buy your tickets ahead of time to save a little money, or grab an annual pass to go back as many times as you want. Be sure to check their calendar and events page to see what’s happening today!
  • Vacation Bible Schools – Week-long summer activities that are usually free to attendees held at various churches around Central Florida that generally involve music, moral/religious lessons, crafts and snacks all revolving around a specific theme.
  • Creative Crayons Workshop– Summer is here and so is the FUN! Get a Summer Coloring Bundle to keep them entertained for hours! The bundle includes 3 best-selling summer designs that will keep your kids screen-free and far from boredom as they ignite their creativity coloring together!  Each paper coloring design is printed on 72″ x 36″ premium matte paper and can be used with markers, crayons, colored pencils or even paint! Get 50% off this Summer Activity Bundle and code FREESHIPPING gets you free shipping off any product site wide all summer!

AND Just for Fun!

  • Keg Social in Waterford Lakes offers $5 arcade cards (1 hour cards) Monday through Friday from 2-6p! Our kids love going there to play in the arcade!

Be sure to check and double check times and locations. We’d hate for you to make the trek with your family, only to have an event cancelled.

Know of something free (or almost free!) and fun that you don’t see on the list? We’d love to hear about your budget-friendly summer activities in the comment section below!


2015 Budget Friendly Summer Activities by Lisa Curzon.
Updated
5/29/16 by Orlando Moms Blog
6/15/17 by Orlando Moms Blog
7/16/18 by Orlando Moms Blog
6/13/19 by Orlando Moms Blog

5/1/23 by Orlando Mom Collective

8 COMMENTS

  1. You should add the Oviedo farmers market. I believe it’s the first Saturday of each month, but you can probably Google it for details. It’s so cute and has a great park attached to the market. Great for a fun couple of hours with family!

    • Hi Dayna! Thanks for stopping! You’re right! the Oviedo farmer’s market is a great spot for family fun on Saturday mornings. It is included in the list under it’s official title of Good Neighbors Farmers Market. Hope you found some new places to try out with your family!

  2. Thank you for all the research. This is a fantastic list of all that Orlando has to offer for families. I have a friend moving into the area and she has asked if Orlando is family friendly…oh yeah! This is an awesome guide to give her as she makes Orlando her new home.

  3. Have you tried the Fort Wilderness Campfire and movie? Do you have to be a guest of the hotel to participate? I am always worried about going to something like that and then being asked for my room number or required to have a bracelet on!

    • While I have not been to this particular event personally, i have friends who have gone several times and they have never had any issues! We have actually gone to the Polynesian and enjoyed their beach area to watch fireworks without any problems as well. Hard to believe, but Disney does offer some free activities, which is truly awesome!

  4. Does anyone know of a summer camp for kids who like to paint? week of July 29th? Elementary school age kids, here in the Orlando area?

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