Free things to do with kids in Toledo
Toledo is full of free family fun. Here's every free, kid-friendly event we're tracking right now, updated daily.
Worthington Concerts on the Green on Sundays
Free Sunday concerts on the green—perfect for family picnics.
Open Farm Days at Harrison Farm
Free farm visit where kids experience agricultural activities and animal encounters.
Westerville Sounds of Summer Concert Series
Free outdoor summer concerts perfect for picnicking and family fun.
Lolli-Pops! Summer Children's Concert Series
Free outdoor concert series with music designed for young children.
Family Flick Nights at Hinson Amphitheater: The Lion King
Free outdoor screening of The Lion King under the stars at a local amphitheater.
Farmers Market
Free farmers market inside the Franklin Park Conservatory & Botanical Gardens.
Midweek Music - Dublin Summer Fun Series
Free live music Wednesday evenings at Riverside Crossing Park all summer long.
Food Truck Wednesdays
Weekly rotating food trucks at Coffman Park in Dublin for lunch.
2026 ProMusica Summer Music Series
Free ProMusica summer classical music series at Franklin Park Conservatory in Columbus.
Reynoldsburg Tomato Festival
Family-friendly festival celebrating tomatoes at Huber Park.
BAM Thursdays
Free all-ages evening at the museum with live music, art, and food on Thursdays.
Celebration at the Station
Family celebration with live music at Station Park.
Empower Hour
Empower Hour - Dublin Summer Fun Series at Riverside Crossing Park
Abbey Theater - The Lightning Thief
Percy Jackson comes to life in this stage adaptation of the beloved fantasy series at Abbey Theater.
String Impact 2026: Resonance
String Impact 2026: Resonance in Columbus
Lunchtime Live!
Free live music for kids at Weaver Park.
The Miss Ohio and Miss Ohio Teen Volunteer Pageant
Watch teen competitors showcase talent and community service at Ohio's official pageant.
Gates and Trees Tour
Gates and Trees Tour in Columbus
Speaking of History… A Fair To Remember
Speaking of History… A Fair To Remember in Columbus
Origin of Source Material for Ohio Hopewell Ceremonial Objects
Origin of Source Material for Ohio Hopewell Ceremonial Objects in Columbus
Apiary Gatherings
Bee-focused gathering at Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens in Columbus.
Literary Libations: A Book Discussion Group
Literary Libations: A Book Discussion Group at The Pub Out Back
Verandah Concerts 2026
Twice-monthly outdoor concerts with ice cream on the lawn of a historic home.
Newark Earthworks Lecture Series
Newark Earthworks Lecture Series at Octagon Earthworks
Open Mic Night
Open Mic Night in Columbus
Free Showing of "What It Takes" Documentary
Free Showing of "What It Takes" Documentary at Municipal Services Center, 3600 Tremont Road, Upper Arlington OH 43221
Third Friday Archaeology Tour
Monthly guided archaeology tour through Fort Ancient museum and grounds with expert historian.
Third Friday Tours at the Octagon Earthwork with Brad Lepper
Guided monthly archaeology tours of Newark's Octagon Earthwork with a senior archaeologist.
Sunbury Sizzle and Sounds
Downtown street festival with live music, food, and community vibes.
Craft Beers, Cocktails & Corks
Craft Beers, Cocktails & Corks in Columbus
Festival Latino
Celebrate Latin culture at this Columbus festival with food, music, and community.
Fort Laurens Speaker Series: Patrick Pool
Fort Laurens Speaker Series: Patrick Pool in Columbus
SlapStik Comedy: On The Cover with Leyla Ingalls
SlapStik Comedy: On The Cover with Leyla Ingalls in Columbus
60 Years' War for Ohio: American Revolution
60 Years' War for Ohio: American Revolution in Columbus
Semi-Colon Club: Fever in the Heartland
Semi-Colon Club: Fever in the Heartland in Columbus
World War I-Era Collections Display, 1914-1919
Explore WWI uniforms, weapons, and home-front artifacts at Ohio History Connection.
Presidential History Book Club
Presidential History Book Club in Columbus
Serpent Mound Archaeology Tour
Guided archaeological tours of the ancient Serpent Mound with a professional archaeologist.
Octagon Homeschool Days
Drop-in homeschool programs exploring Ohio history and archaeology at Octagon Earthworks.
Full Moon Tour of the Octagon Earthwork
Sunset tour of Newark's ancient Octagon Earthwork—explore a 5,000-year-old archaeological wonder.
Rescheduled: Speaking of History… Let’s Explore Ohio’s Architectural History
Discover Ohio's architectural heritage with a historian exploring buildings, neighborhoods, and landscapes.
First Lady Lucy Hayes’ Birthday Celebration
First Lady Lucy Hayes’ Birthday Celebration in Columbus
Harvest Gathering of the Crops
Hands-on historic food prep demonstrations — make hominy, preserve beans, grind corn at Ohio History Connection.
A Walk Through Time: A History of Cedar Bog
Guided nature walk exploring Cedar Bog's ecology and history at Ohio History Connection.
Mill Street Makers' Market
Artisan market with local vendors and handcrafted goods.
First Friday Archaeology Tour
Guided archaeological walk through Fort Ancient with a museum historian.
First Friday Tours at the Great Circle with Brad Lepper
Expert-led archaeology tour of Ohio's Great Circle on First Friday.
New Concord Community Day
Free community celebration with museum tours and vintage outdoor games at the John & Annie Glenn Museum.
Canal Winchester Labor Day Festival
Labor Day festival with parades, vendors, entertainment & family activities downtown.
Explore! Series: Sounds of Space
Hands-on STEM activities: make music with Boom Whackers, build a harmonica, explore music's space history.
Historical Miniatures Gaming at the Ohio History Center
Tabletop miniatures gaming afternoon with the Historical Miniatures Gaming Society.
September Community Day
Free community day at Franklin Park Conservatory with gardens.
Schoenbrunn: Inside Ohio's First Settlement: A Guided Tour
Guided tour of Schoenbrunn, Ohio's first settlement, first Sundays June–October at 12:30pm.
Hide and Seek: Finding Young Ohioans in the Archives
Interactive exhibit celebrating young Ohioans throughout history as poets, musicians & explorers.
1950s: Building the American Dream
Step into a 1950s home at the Ohio History Center and explore post-war American life.
2026 Ohio Cup Vintage Base Ball Festival
Watch 30+ teams play vintage baseball by 1860s rules at this national festival.
Special exhibit: “Welcome to the World’s Fair: Philadelphia 1776”
Travel back to 1876 and discover how America celebrated 100 years of independence.
New Exhibition—Trailblazers of Innovation: African American Inventors Who Changed America
New permanent exhibit celebrating African American inventors who revolutionized everyday life.
Armstrong Remastered Exhibition
Stunning remastered NASA photos from Apollo 11 and Gemini VIII at the Armstrong Air & Space Museum.
African Art: Form, Function, and Fraught Histories Exhibit
Discover the profound impact of African art on world culture at Ohio History Connection.
Upper Arlington Labor Day Arts Festival
Labor Day arts festival with crafts, vendors, music & family entertainment.
Doggie Dippin’
Bring your dog for a pool day at Clyde Butch Seidle Community Pool.
Columbus Oktoberfest
Oktoberfest celebration with German food, beer garden, music & family activities.
September 11 Remembrance Ceremony
September 11 remembrance ceremony at First Responders Park.
Remembrance Ruck
Community reflection walk honoring veterans, bringing families and the public together at the National Veterans Memorial and Museum.
Fall Festival
Free fall festival at Roger A. Reynolds Municipal Park.
The New Albany Lecture Series: A National Security Discussion with General David Petraeus, U.S. Army (Ret.) and Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch moderated by Bret Stephens presented by The New Albany Community Foundation
The New Albany Lecture Series: A National Security Discussion with General David Petraeus, U.S. Army (Ret.) and Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch moderated by Bret Stephens presented by
Ice Cream Land
Free family-friendly ice cream event at Lincoln Theatre Columbus.
More events outside the Columbus area
1 event farther afield.
Good to know
- Are there really free things to do with kids in Toledo?
- Yes — from library story times and park programs to free festivals and community days, this list pulls every free family event we can find, refreshed daily.
- How often is this updated?
- Every day. Past events drop off automatically and new free events are added as we find them.