Updated June 15, 2024
Summer is here! We’ve put together a list of over 20 FREE things you can do with your family this summer. Whether you want to bask in the sunshine or beat the heat indoors, there’s something for everyone on this list!
Play on the Plaza
When: Saturdays- June 8- August 24 | 8:30-11:30 am
Where: Peace Plaza
8:30 – 9:00 am | Family movement with Unity Yoga
9:00 – 10:00 am | Featured partner programming
8:30 – 11:30 am | Music, games, art activities, and more – all at your own pace!
Enjoy family-friendly activities, yoga, music, demonstrations, and more! Bring your friends and spend the morning enjoying the sites and sounds, the different things to do, the entertainment for the week, and more. Come and go as you like throughout the morning.
All Comer’s Track Meets
When: June 6th, June 13th, June 27th, July 11th, July 18th, July 25th / 6 pm
Where: Soldier’s Field Memorial Track
Meets are FREE for kids 2-15+ years old and open to the public. Para-athlete/wheelchair inclusion – independent or parent-assisted are encouraged to participate. Kids are welcome to participate in as many sprints/races and field events as they’d like. One purple participation ribbon is awarded to each participant per evening. First, second, and third place ribbons are given in each heat and overall for each age group in the long jump.
Parents are requested to pre-register their child(ren) once for the six-week season. Registration is good for all meets attended.
Music on the Plaza
When: Select weekdays all summer long!
Where: Peace Plaza
Get your foot tapping to the beat of live musical performances! This free small concert series showcases local and regional musicians in Peace Plaza. So grab your lunch from a nearby restaurant, find a chair, and listen to the fantastic music of all genres while watching downtown Rochester come to life! Keep an eye on the Event Calendar for the schedule and artist list.
Movies in the Vineyard
When: Every Wednesday through August 21 / 8:30 pm to 10:30 pm
Where: Four Daughters Vineyard and Winery 78757 MN-16 in Spring Valley
Enjoy a free movie every Wednesday night at Four Daughters Vineyard & Winery. Full menu is available to order right from the movie area until 8:30 pm (before the movie starts). Bar will be open for the entire movie! Popcorn and movie candy are available for sale throughout the movie. Bring your own blankets or chairs. No outside food or drinks will be allowed. Weather permitting. Keep an eye on their Facebook page for updates.
Riverside Music Series
When: Sundays from July 14 through August 11 / 7 pm to 10 pm
Where: Mayo Park (located behind the Rochester Art Center/Mayo Civic Center buildings)
Pack your lawn chairs, and coolers, and head down to the riverside behind the Mayo Civic Center for live music on Sunday nights this summer. Enjoy family-friendly concerts from artists in multiple music genres. Some of this year’s artists include EVERCLEAR, Elvie Shane, Vanessa Carleton, Nat Myers with Molly Brandt, Max Weinberg’s Jukebox. Click here for the full schedule.
Oxbow Park and Zollman Zoo
When: Zollman Zoo and Nature Center are open daily from 10 am to 4 pm, and Oxbow Park from 5 am to 10 pm
Where: 5731 County Road 105 Northwest in Byron
Pack a lunch and spend the day at Oxbow Park and Zollman Zoo! Between the zoo itself and the outdoor Path of Imagination playscape area, your kids will stay busy for hours. Keep an eye on their Facebook page for events!
Thursdays Downtown
When: Thursdays from June 13 through August 15 (except July 4) | 11:00 am to 8:30 pm
Where: 1st Avenue Southwest and Northwest, 3rd Street Southwest, and Peace Plaza
Thursdays Downtown is an event we look forward to all year long! Enjoy the block-party vibes you get from this fun and free community event. Expect music, food, and various vendors as you stroll through the streets of downtown Rochester. Check out our guide and you’ll be ready to go!
Swimming
There are many opportunities for staying cool in Rochester and the surrounding areas this summer. Some area pools offer free swimming days, and most area beaches are open at no cost. Check out our guide to summer swimming, and click here for our guide to Rochester area beaches.
Free Bowling
Did you know that in Rochester kids bowl for free all summer long? For more info, check out this post.
Quarry Hill Nature Center
When: The Nature Center is open Monday-Saturday 9 am to 4 pm and Sundays from 12 pm to 4 pm
Where: 701 Silver Creek Road Northeast in Rochester
If you’re looking for something to do in the air conditioning this summer, head to Quarry Hill Nature Center to learn all about animals. You can see (and sometimes touch) snakes, bugs, frogs, lizards, and more! Kids can climb up and around the reading tree room and do some bird watching too. Check out this post for more.
Rochester’s Farmers Market
When: Saturdays May – October, 7:30 am to 12 pm | Wednesdays June 19- Sept 24, 2:00-6:00pm
Where: Graham Park (Olmsted County Fairgrounds) 35 Fairgrounds Avenue Southeast in Rochester
The Farmer’s Market is a wonderful place to be during the summer. The kid-friendly market has locally grown produce and handmade goods for your family to purchase. The market also has music and other special events happening frequently, so make sure to check out their Facebook page to find out more. And here’s our guide to the market to check out before you go.
Events at the Rochester Public Library
When: All summer long!
Lego Parties, dance parties, an Elephant & Piggie party, stuffed animal sleepover, storytimes galore, board games, a magic comedy show, and so much more is happening at the Rochester Public Library this summer, and all of it is FREE! Keep an eye on their calendar for regular updates and additions.
FORWARD Neighborhood Park Concerts
When: June 5th through August 28th / 5:30 pm to 8 pm
This concert series will keep you moving around the city as each ward hosts their own concert for a total of six all summer long! Click here to see if there is one close to your home, and head to another ward to check out the tunes and meet some new people.
Safe City Nights
When: June 11- August 27
This summer’s Safe City Nights will include six gatherings, one in every ward of the City. Each event will include free food catered by Canadian Honker and fun activities with police officers, firefighters and other public safety partners, plus live DJ, scavenger hunts, giveaways and more! Safe City Nights is a community-wide endeavor, and everyone is invited to attend
RochesterFest
When: June 22 – 30, 2024
Daily on-stage entertainment, celebrity sherbet eating contest, laser tag, Dachshund Dash, bubble dance party, and drone races are just a few of the things happening at this year’s Rochesterfest celebration. Don’t miss Family Fun Day on Wednesday, June 26 from 12 pm-8 pm with games and activities for all ages, and Kids Adventure Day Friday June 28! To see the full schedule of events, click here.
Rochesterfest Parade
When: Saturday, June 29th at 2 pm
Click here to see this year’s parade route. For other parade fun, check out our Guide to Area Parades to keep the floats & marching band vibes going all summer long.
Rochester 4th Fest & Fireworks
To celebrate the 4th of July this year, head to Soldiers Field Park. Bring your own lawn chairs and coolers to enjoy the diverse music lineup and a virtual pet parade. Come for the music, fun, and food trucks, but stay for the fireworks! The event starts at 6pm. Click here for more information. For more area fireworks, check out our Guide to Rochester Area Fireworks!
Area Festivals and Concerts
Warm weather hits – and it’s festival time! Check out our guide to what’s going on in the area this summer. You’re bound to stay busy as there’s at least one festival happening every week all summer long!
Olmsted County Free Fair
When: July 22th-28th
Where: Olmsted County Fairgrounds – 1403 3rd Avenue Southeast in Rochester
Enjoy food and fun at this year’s Olmsted County Free Fair! Head to the animal barns to see cows, lambs, birds, and more. And don’t forget to check out the Miracle of Birth Center where you can see all sorts of baby animals and milk the cow! (Don’t worry – it’s not a real cow!)
Free Family Movies
When: July 6 & August 3 | doors open at 9:30 am, movie starts 10 am
Where: Odyssey Hollywood 12 | 2171 Superior Dr. NW Rochester
Come to free community showings of family favorite movies! July 6: Trolls: World Tour; August 3: Puss in Boots: The Last Wish
