22 Free Spring and Summer Delights

Bowling, concerts, donuts and more goodies you can score without spending a dime.

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Published May 09, 2024
gif of photos of summer related activities
Getty Images, 2; Stocksy, 2

What's the nicest thing you've ever gotten for free? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Sunshine season is in full swing, sis! And it’s time to celebrate it with exciting experiences, tasty bites and fantastic finds. From beauty products to live events, we rounded up these fun, fabulous, free (and almost free) goodies just for you — wallet optional.

● Free movies. During the summer, most movie chains and local theatres run a free or deeply discounted movie program. Catch kid- and family-friendly movies at AMC, Cinemark, Harkins Theaters, Regal and other regional chains. Also, check out the AARP Streams app and AARP Movies for Grownups for free shows, screenings and events.

● Free festivals and entertainment. Spring and summer offer unlimited opportunities for free concerts, festivals, plays, art expos, outdoor movies, annual cultural events and much more. Browse your library and town or city websites for events throughout the season. Also, search online for “free events” followed by your city or town and visit AARP’s Virtual Community Center for fun online events and classes.

● Free flower and plant seeds. Start a new garden this year — or add to your existing one — with free seeds from your local library. Many give out complimentary seed packets to promote plants and flowers native to your area.

● Free decorating services. Get help with a decorating project with complimentary interior design services from your favorite furniture and home decor stores. Many national retailers, including Ashley Furniture, Crate & Barrel, Ethan Allen, Pottery Barn and local specialty retailers, offer free design services ranging from quick styling tips to complete home makeovers. Options include virtual appointments, in-store consultations and home visits.

● Free seasonal gear, tools and games. Whether you’re hosting an event, working in the garden or need some warm-weather gear, you may find what you’re looking for in your local Buy Nothing group on Facebook. Nearby neighbors give, request and share items like backyard games, beach gear, tools, appliances, clothing and much more. Also, browse your library’s collection for more seasonal items.

● Free national park admission. The National Park Service offers several free entrance days in 2025. This summer, get into one of the over 400 national parks free of charge on Juneteenth, August 4, and September 27.

● Free gym passes. Stay fit with complimentary passes or trial memberships from area gyms. Anytime Fitness, Chuze Fitness, Crunch, Gold’s Gym, LA Fitness, Orangetheory Fitness, Planet Fitness, Retro Fitness, The Edge Fitness Clubs and 24 Hour Fitness offer passes ranging from one to seven days. Your local YMCA or independent gyms may also provide trial memberships.

● Free donuts. June 6 is National Donut Day, when Dunkin’, Krispy Kreme and other donut chains roll out sweet donut promotions. If you miss the big day, no worries; you can score the delicious treat anytime by joining Krispy Kreme Rewards. New members receive a free donut when signing up.

● Free hot dogs. Celebrate the season with the ultimate summer food: hot dogs. July is National Hot Dog Month, and July 16 is National Hot Dog Day. Look out for deals from chains such as 7-Eleven, Nathan’s Famous, Shake Shack, Sonic and The Original Hot Dog Factory.

● Free ice cream. Did you know the average American eats about 20 pounds of ice cream each year? Well, July is National Ice Cream Month, when we can all enjoy the cold treat for free! Expect promotions throughout the month and on National Ice Cream Day, July 20, from Baskin-Robbins, Carvel, Dairy Queen, Friendly’s and other ice cream chains.

● Free french fries. Join McDonald’s Rewards and get free medium fries with a $1 mobile order every Friday through December 31. Plus, new members get free large fries with their first purchase.

● Free root beer float. August 6 is National Root Beer Float Day, when you can enjoy a free small root beer float at participating A&W Restaurants. No purchase is necessary, but donations to DAV (Disabled American Veterans) are encouraged.

● Free kids’ meals. Through SUN Meals (the USDA’s Summer Food Service Program), children 18 and under can access free healthy meals at local community meal sites and additional resources for nutritious meals during the summer.

● Free beauty products. Love trying new skincare products? Head to freeflys.com to request free beauty and makeup samples. Current products include La Roche-Posay Mela B3 Dark Spot Serum, Riversol’s 15-Day Anti-Aging Sample Kit, CeraVe Moisturizing Cream and CeraVe Ultra-Light Moisturizing Gel.

● Free bowling. Take the kids or grandkids bowling this summer with the Kids Bowl Free Program. Participating bowling centers offer children two free games every day during the Summer. (Note that age limits vary by bowling center.)

● Free roller skating. This is another great freebie if you need to keep kids busy this summer. Sign up for the Kids Skate Free Club to get free weekly skating passes for the kiddos. (Note that there is a $4.99 annual membership fee, and age restrictions vary by skating rink.)

● Free kids' magazines. Entertain kids and grandkids with free printed subscriptions from LEGO® Magazine and Netflix Family Magazine. Kids will stay busy with games, stickers, crafts, recipes and more.

● Free museum admission. Many states and cities run free museum admission programs and special events during the summer for children and adults. Search your state or city and “free summer museum program” online to find out what’s available in your area. Military Families receive free admission to participating museums from May 17 to September 1 through Blue Star Museums. Also, Bank of America debit or credit cardholders can visit participating museums for free during the first full weekend of every month.

● Free outdoor sports. Stay active this season with free local outdoor activities. For example, the Downtown Boathouse offers free kayaking in New York’s Hudson River Park, and many beaches and parks nationwide offer free outdoor yoga. Check with your town or city’s recreation department for free sports and fitness events.

● Free home improvement and DIY workshops. Stay on top of your spring and summer home maintenance and projects with online or in-person workshops at Ace Hardware, Home Depot and Lowe’s. Learn how to tackle spring cleaning, make a bird feeder, build a raised garden bed and more. Some locations also offer free in-store workshops for kids.

● Free tech workshops: Head to your nearest Apple Store to attend one of many free workshops available. Discover how to maximize your devices and programs or pick up new creative skills. Sessions cover video, photography, music, coding and app-building, so you’re bound to find one that interests you.

● Free craft workshops. Get crafty this spring and summer with in-person and online workshops and events at Michaels. Classes include crocheting, painting, art journaling, cake decorating and more. Michaels also offers Camp Creatology, a summer-long virtual art camp for kids.

What's the nicest thing you've ever gotten for free? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Alaya Linton is a personal financial coach on a mission to help women break the paycheck-to-paycheck cycle and create a better financial future. As a former clothing designer, she writes about both money and fashion and has appeared in U.S. News & World Report, thebalance.com, GOBankingRates, and other publications.