Looking for free and low-cost ways to keep the kids entertained this summer? You’re in luck! Central Massachusetts offers a ton of fantastic options that won’t break the bank. I’ve rounded up fourteen awesome free and low-cost summer activities right here in Central Mass that are perfect for family fun. Just follow the links for all the details you’ll need, including addresses and hours of operation.
Here are some free and low-cost summer activities in Central Mass for family fun:
1. Have a picnic!
Collaborate with the kids on a picnic menu, spend the morning preparing and packaging your picnic meal together, grab a big blanket, and enjoy a few hours grazing and playing in a park!
2. Spend the day at a State Park!
Hike the trails or take a swim in Whitehall Pond at Rutland State Park. Swim, sail, fish, or play tennis at Quinsigamond State Park. Visit the historic earthen dam, hike more than 10 miles of trails, or take a dip in one of two beaches at Hopkinton State Park! Most state parks offer shaded picnic areas as well. Daily parking passes for vehicles with a MA plate are $8.
3. Swim at the pool!
Many towns have public pools available to town residents for a modest fee, but there are 3 totally free public swimming pools in Worcester – Bennett Field, Dennis Shine, and Crompton Park—as well as the Gustave Johnson Memorial Pool in Fitchburg, all staffed with lifeguards. Crompton Park also offers a playground, basketball court, skate park, and splash pad.
4. Cool off at a splash pad!
Visit the Cristoforo Columbo/East Spray Park on Shrewsbury Street for a free splash park and playground, or the Greenwood Spray Park on Forsberg Street for a free splash park, playground, nature trail, and tennis and basketball courts.
5. Hit the beach!
Worcester offers two free public sandy beaches staffed by lifeguards: Shore Park Beach on Indian Lake and the John J. Binienda Memorial Beach on Coe’s Reservoir, which is just down the road from Coe’s Playground that offers 57 ADA accessible playground features, creating fun for all ages and abilities!
6. Take a hike!
Visit Purgatory Chasm, Exit 6 off Route 146 in Sutton, where the whole family and your leashed dog can hike the 0.7-mile Rock Hop loop and take in the breathtaking granite rock walls that rise to 70 feet high. An adventurous playground, equipped with a play structure, swings, and a merry-go-round, is located at the visitor center. Parking is $5 for MA vehicles. You’ll find West End Creamery and over 60 flavors of ice cream a half-mile east on Purgatory Road.
7. Stroll through a Fairy Garden!
A nice shady and free adventure, great for a hot day, the Secret Garden is a free, whimsical 0.4-mile trail full of endless surprises and fun for all ages. The garden is curated by Chief Joseph, a local resident, and is located in a quiet neighborhood off Route 20 in Shrewsbury (type in 2 Stoney Hill Road into your GPS). You will find fairy houses, gnomes, wind chimes, statues, and structures of all animals of all sizes, a stream, and plenty more! There are even tables for picnicking, and dogs are welcome!
8. Go to the petting zoo!
Green Hill Park Farm is free to the public and is a place where kids can pet a wide range of animals (but please don’t feed them!): alpacas, chickens, ducks, goats, llamas, mini-horses, peafowl, pheasants, pigs, and sheep. The farm is nestled in the massive Green Hill Park, where kids can enjoy rolling down the beautiful green hills! Open Tuesdays through Sundays from 10am-2:45pm.
9. Check out the library!
Public libraries are a hub for many enrichment programs and family-friendly events throughout the summer. Not to mention, they offer a great air-conditioned place to spend hours and hours getting lost in books! The Worcester Public Library offers free and discounted passes to many local and regional attractions, such as museums, aquariums, and even Davis Farmland, that you can reserve online and send to your phone to help decrease the expense of other summer family outings. Make sure to check your local library for what types of perks they offer and for their calendar of family-friendly events and classes!
10. Attend a concert in the park!
Institute Park at 82 Salisbury St. adjacent to WPI in Worcester offers three completely free summer family concerts put on by the Massachusetts Symphony Orchestra: the Patriotic Pops concert with accompanying fireworks will be Thursday, July 3 at 7:45pm, the Afro-Latin Jazz concert will be Sunday, July 13 at 7pm, and the Salute to Disney concert will be Saturday, July 20 at 6:30pm. All concerts are free, just bring a blanket or lawn chair, and your dancing feet!
11. Enjoy a musical lunch
At Worcester’s Out To Lunch Music Festival Series on every Wednesday from 11am to 3pm for 10 weeks from June 18 through August 20, head to the Worcester Common Oval behind City Hall for live musical performances, food trucks, and a combined farmer’s and artisan’s market. This is all located right across the street from the main branch of the Worcester Public Library. They have a huge Children’s Room with a wonderful play space with toys and interactive games. Park in the public lot behind the library and get the discounted rate of $1 per hour when you visit the library and validate your parking ticket at the circulation desk.
12. Find a Farmer’s Market!
Check out the local farmers’ markets in your area, as they often will offer free activities for children. My local farmer’s market is on Saturdays from 9am-12pm at University Park next to Clark University. It has hosted clowns, mad scientists, artists, musicians, and more who provide entertainment and hands-on child-friendly activities. All for free, coinciding with the farmer’s market. So head out to your local market, you’ll never know what surprises you might find!
13. Visit the Museum of Worcester!
Free for everyone through the end of 2025, the Museum of Worcester is located at 30 Elm St. and open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10 am-4pm. Visit on a Wednesday and you can follow it up with some lunch and music down the street at the Out To Lunch Music Festival on the Commons (see above).
14. Learn a new skill!
On the first Saturday of every month (year-round), head to your local Home Depot from 9am to 12pm, while supplies last, for their Free Kids Workshop! The hands-on projects are designed for ages 5-12. All ages are welcome, but kids under 5 will likely need extra help from a parent.
Bonus Idea!
If you are looking for an inexpensive but legit ocean destination that is a reasonable day or half-day trip, check out the public beach in North Kingstown, RI. About an hour’s drive from Worcester, the North Kingstown beach is an absolute gem for families with young kids! It’s on a bay, so when there are waves, they are mild and fun. When it’s low tide, you can wade all the way out to the marked swimming barriers. The sand is soft, there are lifeguards, lots of grassy areas with picnic tables, a large pirate-themed playground, and a snack bar.
The adjacent town is also super cute, with lots of free parking in the public lots throughout the town. You can walk around and visit all the cute shops and restaurants! The closest free public lot is about half a mile from the beach and it’s never too crowded, but the best part is that the full summer parking pass for the lot right next to the beach is only $20 for the entire summer season for out-of-state vehicles, and can be purchased down the street at the Town Hall (just bring your driver’s license and vehicle registration) or you can order your pass by mail here.
Do you have any free or low-cost summer activities in Central Mass to share with the community? Let us know in the comments.
