Want to show your kids a good time without breaking the bank? Tyler offers a variety of opportunities for free family fun. Here’s a short list to get your started:
Tyler Museum of Art
http://www.tylermuseum.org/news_updates.aspx
TMA offers free admission the 2nd Saturday of each month for Family Days.
Faulkner Park
http://parksandrec.cityoftyler.org/parkdirectory/faulknerpark.aspx
Strap on your bike helmet and hit the trails for some great off-road riding. Or if biking’s not your thing, take advantage of their tennis courts, picnic and playground areas, fishing pond, and sprayground — all for free!
Brookshire’s Park and Wildlife Museum
http://www.brookshires.com/museum/
Our kids love the big fire engine on the playground, the various animals in the museum, and (especially) the 5-cent candy at the general store. The park has been recently revamped with lots of new playground equipment, plentiful picnic tables, and large canopies for protection from rain or sun.
Green Acres Baptist Church Library
http://www.gabc.org/resources/bookstore/
You do not have to be a member of GABC to enjoy their wonderful library. In addition to books, they have a wide selection of movies and audio tapes.
Home Depot Kids Clinics
http://www.homedepot.com/workshops/#store/6514
Kids can build a free wooden project at Home Depot the 1st Saturday of every month — just show up between the hours of 9am and noon.
East Texas Symphony Orchestra
Don’t let squirmy kids or pricey tickets keep you from enjoying the beautiful music of the ETSO. There are free open rehearsals at The Cowan Center in the afternoons before each performance. Call box office for dates and time.
Fun Forest Pool and Sprayground
http://parksandrec.cityoftyler.org/parkdirectory/funforestpark.aspx
Free admission and free swim lessons are offered during the summer months at this community pool. See website for hours of operation (closed Sun-Mon).
Bergfeld Park
http://parksandrec.cityoftyler.org/parkdirectory/bergfeldpark.aspx
There’s always something going on at Bergfeld — art shows, free concerts, outdoor movies, ballet performances, 5K races, Easter egg hunts, family festivals, flag football matches, etc. Check their calendar of events for details.
Want more ideas of fun stuff to do in East Texas? Check out the great list of resources on Dr. Wick’s website: http://www.doctorwick.com/tyleratoz.html
And if you plan on dining out while you’re in town, check out our list of Tyler-area restaurants where kids eat free!
There is also a lot of free activities to enjoy at the Tyler public library! My son and I go to their storytime every Wednesday! And Barnes and Noble also offers a free storytime on Saturdays.
Those are great ideas, Sarah. We’re big fans of the library, too, and have been super impressed with the wide variety of free programming they are offering for kids of all ages this summer.
We are opening a new STEM learning and enrichment center this next week in Tyler. It’s largely based around Lego education. We are trying to advertise around town and tonight I started googling best activities for kids in Tyler. Your site was one that popped up.
We have been here for 10 years and knew nothing of your family…..I’m completely impressed!! I come from a family of 10 kids… All from the same parents ;). My parents have been married for 44 years. They are deeply religious and did their best to instill it in us. I love to see other large families doing their best also. Your family looks wonderful.
I was emailing to see if we might be able to add our business to your list of things for kids to do in Tyler. I didn’t see any other way to communicate with you other than through comments. I hope this is okay.
Thank you!
Amy
I checked out your website, Amy, and your program looks terrific, but since there is a fee associated with your ongoing classes, I don’t think it really belongs on this list of “Fun Free Things to Do in Tyler.” However, interested readers can check out what BrickedTyler has to offer by clicking through this link.