From long-time OKC favorites and top trends in family fun to close-to-home travel destinations and boredom busters, check out these 100 ideas to make your summer extra memorable!
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1. Visit your local library! Both the Metropolitan and Pioneer library systems are hosting summer reading challenges, story times, family programming and much more all summer long.
2. Take a hike … at night! Go on a Park After Dark nature walk at Martin Park Nature Center on select Saturdays throughout the summer to hear and see nocturnal animals that only come out when the lights are out. Learn more at okc.gov/parks.
3. Head to a local farm and pick your own produce! Find a farm near you.
4. Enjoy nostalgic family fun at a local drive-in movie theater. Find details for the few still in operation in Oklahoma.
5. Giddy up, cowboy, and head to the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum to experience the American West through history, art, and culture! You won’t want to miss the annual Chuck Wagon Festival, May 24-25. Attendees can take part in a variety of hands-on activities, plus enjoy live artist demonstrations and musical performances.
6. Visit the Oklahoma City Museum of Art to see Dale Chihuly’s show-stopping glass art. Admission is free for all guests on the second Sunday of each month, and kids ages 17 and under always get in free! Bonus: Coming to OKCMOA in early June, Discovering Ansel Adams will feature an unprecedented examination of Adams’ early career.
7. Watch the sunset from atop the Wheeler Ferris Wheel.
8. Step into fun with Summer Thursdays at the Oklahoma Hall of Fame! Enjoy FREE museum admission, crafts, story time and games for the entire family every Thursday in June & July. Activities run 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and each day has a different theme.
9. Make a splash at a local pool. Did you know that OKC Parks has two outdoor family aquatic centers and an indoor pool for families to enjoy? Find more pools near you.
10. Visit the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum.
11. Celebrate Juneteenth, which marked the official end of slavery in the United States on June 19, 1865. Find a family event near you at metrofamilymagazine.com/celebrate-juneteenth-okc.
12. Witness the remarkable views of the setting sun as it aligns with the First Americans Museum Mound during the Summer Solstice Celebration on June 20.
13. Brush up on your angling skills with OKC Parks’ Hooked on Fishing lessons, happening on select Saturdays all summer long. Kids ages 5-15 can sign up at okc.gov/parks.
15. Kick back on the shores of the Oklahoma River to watch a full day of rowing and racing at the Stars & Stripes River Festival on June 28.
16. Explore military history and vehicles at the free Oklahoma National Guard Museum.
17. Sign up for Vacation Bible School! Churches around the metro host free events throughout the summer. Get signed up at metrofamilymagazine.com/vacation-bible-school-guide.
18. Dive into the science of osteology at SKELETONS: Museum of Osteology, where you can see skulls and skeletons from around the world.
19. Celebrate Pride Month at the OKC PrideFest Parade, Family Zone and PrideFest weekend at Scissortail Park June 27-29.
20. Go bowling. Did you know there is a national program that lets kids bowl free during the summer months? Sign up and receive two free games of bowling per day at local venues like Andy B’s Bowl Social OKC.
21. Explore the night skies at the all-new Love’s Planetarium at Science Museum Oklahoma.
22. Spend a day strolling through Bricktown. Ride the Bricktown Water Taxi, play a round of mini golf at Brickopolis Entertainment, catch an OKC Comets game at the Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark, visit the American Banjo Museum and much more!
23. Get your kicks on Route 66! Head of the famous highway’s centennial year next year, visit these quirky roadside attractions, Insta-worthy spots, outdoor adventure and more along the “Mother Road” right here in Oklahoma City.
24. Head to the Oklahoma State Capitol to see where Oklahoma laws are made. Stop by the museum to learn about the history of the building. Don’t forget to look up to admire the sculpture of The Guardian by Enoch Kelly Haney (Seminole) atop the dome! Then, head over to the Oklahoma History Museum to explore Oklahoma’s unique history of Native culture, pioneers, aviation, commerce and more. Guided museum tours are available on Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and are included with the cost of admission.
25. Catch Lyric Theatre’s family-friendly productions of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, June 17-22, and Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Oklahoma! July 29-Aug. 3.
26. Visit your favorite animal friends at the OKC Zoo! Lions, tigers, bears… elephants, red pandas, giraffes… lemurs, meerkats, otters, the OKC Zoo is home to animals from around the world. Bonus – On Mondays in May, ZOOfriends members can explore the zoo after hours during Members Only Monday Evenings. The zoo will reopen at 5:30 p.m. exclusively for ZOOfriends members and select attractions and concessions will be open too.
27. Ride the streetcar downtown.
28. Take your summer of fun to the streets! Visit a local street festival or community block party, like LIVE on the Plaza. Find our favorites at metrofamilymagazine.com/family-friendly-okc-street-festivals.
29. Celebrate the end of summer at Yukon’s annual Red Dirt music festival: Rock the Route! Held Aug. 28, the free concert features family activities and food trucks in addition to a variety of performances.
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30. Plan an epic day trip or weekend staycation at OKANA Resort & Waterpark.31. Cultivate your artistic side at a creative space in the metro. From visual and performing arts to culinary kitchens and makerspaces, there are so many ways to be a creator! Find your family’s outlet at metrofamilymagazine.com/creative-spaces-in-okc.
32. Challenge your family to a friendly game of basketball, pickleball or futsal at the courts in the southern section of Scissortail Park.
33. Build a terrarium as a family at the locally owned Plant People Shop in Midtown.
34. Download MetroFamily’s Street Art Scavenger Hunt to explore some of the city’s most well-known public art at metrofamilymagazine.com/street-art-scavenger-hunt.
35. Transport yourself out of this world at SMO’s Space Day on June 13. Launch reaction rockets, create nebula-inspired art, examine genuine meteorites and more, all free with museum admission. The fun continues into the evening with Sally’s Night honoring Dr. Sally K. Ride, the first American woman in space. Evening activities are free, thanks to Bank of Oklahoma.
36. See 100-plus works of art by Oklahoma City-based Edgar Heap of Birds at Oklahoma Contemporary, where admission is always free. Heap of Birds is an internationally known artist whose work addresses Indigenous rights, sovereignty and relationships to place.
37. Catch a flick at the deadCenter Film Festival, June 11-15.
38. Mark National Selfie Day on June 21 with a tour downtown to find your family’s favorite selfie spot.
39. Get everyone moving with a round of disc golf. Find tips for beginners and ideal local courses for families with this Disc Golf 101.
40. Look to the skies for some high-flying fun at the FREE Tinker Air Show, Jun 28-29. The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds will perform both days as the headlining aerial act. Bonus: Kids can explore potential careers with free hands-on activities at STEM City.41. Ride your bike over the tops of shipping containers (yes, really!) at RIVERSPORT’s bike park.
42. Keep that bike-riding momentum going by exploring new (or new-to-you!) family-friendly bike trails, events and races. Plan your ride at metrofamilymagazine.com/okc-bike-events.
43. Go on an urban hike in the heart of downtown Oklahoma City. Then, as the heat of the day creeps in, retreat into the Underground.
45. Walk through a giant ear into the unexpected, imaginative, immersive world of Mix-Tape at Factory Obscura, where the art on display is touchable and all around you.
46. Plan some #okcfamilyfun with your pup! Check out our favorite dog parks in OKC.
47. Cap off your summer of fun at the Fireflight Balloon Fest in Shawnee on Aug. 8-9 with balloon launches, a kids’ zone, splash pad and the magical evening balloon glow.
Exploring Oklahoma & Beyond
48. Say hello to summer at the annual Sunfest in Bartlesville. The outdoor festival May 30-June 1 features a car show, live entertainment, food, activities for kids and more.
49. Encounter penguins, rhinos, giraffes, otters, lorikeets, monkeys and much more at Tanganyika Wildlife Park in Wichita, Kan. Just 2.5 hours from the metro, the park offers unique opportunities to get up close and personal with exotic and endangered animals to learn how humans can impact conservation. Find out how you could win tickets to visit the park as part of MetroFamily’s Ultimate Summer Fun Contest!
50. Go horseback riding with Sequoyah Riding Stables through the variety of wooded and open trails in Sequoyah State Park in Hulburt.
51. Cool off with a cold treat at the free Chandler Ice Cream Festival in June. Held in honor of the Hiland Dairy plant, enjoy free ice cream, carnival rides, live music and more.
52. Shake up your zoo day with a trip to the Tulsa Zoo to see elephants, tigers, giraffes, sea otters and even DINOSAURS!
53. While in Tulsa, experience the powerful story and legacy of Black Wall Street in Tulsa’s Historic Greenwood District with stops at Greenwood Rising, the Greenwood Cultural Center and John Hope Franklin Reconciliation Park.
55. Head to Shawnee to experience the new KidSpace Park, which features unique play spaces including giant outdoor checkers, a ninja obstacle course and a 40-yard dash track. Plan your trip!
Check out the newly updated Jasmine Moran Children’s Museum in Seminole. Renovated outdoor spaces include a Children’s Garden complete with a fairy garden, farm animals and a pretend farmers market.57. Dig for selenite crystals at the Great Salt Plains near Jet, the only place you can do so in the world! Get tips for your trip.
58. Rent a dune buggy or ATV to scale the 1,600 acres of sand dunes in Little Sahara State Park near Waynoka.
59. Cool off by visiting a cave or go wild on a spelunking adventure. Find our faves at metrofamilymagazine.com/caves-to-explore.
60. Head to Arcadia to see the Round Barn and enjoy a meal at Pops.
61. Sleep in a yurt at Natural Falls State Park near the Oklahoma-Arkansas border.
62. Swim and rent canoes or paddle boats on Lake Altus, hike trails, fish, visit the amusement park and check out the newly renovated lodge at Quartz Mountain State Park in southwest Oklahoma. Find a full itinerary for a weekend getaway at metrofamilymagazine.com/quartz-mountain-state-park.
63. Splash around in nature at an Oklahoma swimming hole. Popular destinations include Blue Hole Park in Salina and the Chickasaw Recreation Area in Sulphur.
64. Spend a day in McLoud for the annual Blackberry Festival June 20-21, where you can sample fresh blackberries and blackberry-flavored treats in addition to watching the parade and enjoying carnival games.
65. Visit Durant, the headquarters of the Choctaw Nation, where the Choctaw Casino & Resort features a family-friendly tropical oasis complete with pools and waterslides. Plus, visit the Choctaw Nation Cultural Center, where kids will love the unique technology and interactive spaces.
66. Enjoy free peaches and ice cream at the 58th Peach Festival in Porter on July 17-19. Plus, check out the parade, arts and craft vendors, tractor pull and culinary contests.
67. Visit the Chickasaw Cultural Center in Sulphur and take part in the daily Stomp Dances. Stop by Chickasaw Nation-owned Bedré Chocolate Factory on your way!
68. Head to the beach right here in Oklahoma! The Sooner State offers miles and miles of lake and reservoir splashing fun. Find our favorites at metrofamilymagazine.com/best-beaches-in-oklahoma.
69. Float the iconic Illinois River near Tahlequah. Pro tip: plan your float on a weekday, when the river is less crowded.
70. Visit Osage Nation in northeast Oklahoma for fishing, hiking and swimming at Osage Hills State Park, a drive through the Joseph H. Williams Tallgrass Prairie and a visit to Woolaroc Museum and Wildlife Preserve. Next, head to Pawhuska to visit the Pioneer Woman Mercantile and walk across the town’s iconic swinging bridge.
71. Pack a picnic and lace up your hiking shoes for a trek through Red Rock Adventure Park near Hinton.
72. Stay in a covered wagon at Robbers Cave State Park.
73. Take a trip to the Twister the Movie Museum in Wakita.
74. Savor the sweetness of summer at the annual Watermelon Festival in Rush Springs on Aug. 9. Check out the carnival rides, craft fair, car show, watermelon-themed activities and seed-spitting contest!
Boredom Busters
75. It’s not too late to register the kids for summer camps! Find camps that still have room at metrofamilymagazine.com/summer-camps.
76. Volunteer as a family at the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma. Find family volunteer opportunities across the metro at metrofamilymagazine.com/family-volunteer-opportunities.
77. Build a blanket fort!
78. Take a hike, ride your bikes or go on a nature walk along the 13 miles of trails around Edmond’s Arcadia Lake. The trails are open daily from sunrise to sunset.
79. Visit a locally owned bookstore such as Full Circle, Commonplace Books or Best of Books, many of which host weekly story times.
80. Head off the beaten path for some new-to-you attractions like the Oklahoma Railway Museum or Oklahoma Firefighters Museum. Find more ideas at metrofamilymagazine.com/lesser-known-venues-for-family-fun-in-okc.
81. Have a hula-hooping contest.
82. 
Stay cool at a metro splash pad. Find our favorites at metrofamilymagazine.com/splash-pads-pools-lakes.
83. Make a list of your favorite local parks and playgrounds and then add some new-to-you locations you want to try. How many can you check off your list by the end of the season? Visit metrofamilymagazine.com/metro-parks to get started.
84. Enjoy the best of locally grown produce and foods by visiting a farmers market. Find a full list of our favorite local markets at metrofamilymagazine.com/farmers-markets.
85. Check out an audiobook from your local library and listen as a family.
86. Break out the glow sticks for a twilight family walk.
87. Stay up late to stargaze.
88. Enjoy a summertime outdoor concert or movie. Find the metro’s seasonal line-up at metrofamilymagazine.com/outdoor-movies-concerts.
89. Plan an active game night. Try balloon volleyball, relay races, water balloon shot put or pool noodle javelin toss.
90. Learn how to conserve water during the hot summer months. Get tips from local nonprofit SixTwelve at metrofamilymagazine.com/how-to-conserve-water.
91. Grab a cool treat from a shaved ice stand. Find local hot spots to enjoy cool treats at metrofamilymagazine.com/places-to-find-cool-treats-in-okc.
92. Celebrate National Joke Day on July 1 with a don’t-laugh challenge to see who has the best jokes in the family.
93. Learn more about snakes at the free World Snake Day Celebration at Martin Park Nature Center in July. Meet park ambassador snakes, make themed arts & crafts and more.
94. Take part in the most relaxing of holidays, National Hammock Day, on July 22. If you don’t have a hammock at home, consider kicking back in the Wheeler Ferris Wheel’s hammock grove.
95. Conduct science experiments with items you already have on hand at home. Visit metrofamilymagazine.com/simple-science to get started.
96. Plan a backyard campout or go camping at a state park.
97. Invite your neighbors to a popsicle party.
98. Go on an outdoor scavenger hunt. Find a list of things to search for at metrofamilymagazine.com/outdoor-scavenger-hunt.
99. Prepare a puddling or insect-watering dish to get your yard ready for the fall monarch migration. These beautiful pollinators could use our help.
100. Create a digital scrapbook or photo book of your family’s favorite summertime experiences so you can look back at the memories for years to come!
For even more summertime family fun, check out our Summer Fun Guides, packed with things to do all season long.
