Heading to the nearest park or playground has always been one of the best ways to pass a nice summer day! These days it is even easier to keep the kids entertained during your visit to the park thanks to several free Drop-In Park Programs provided by municipal parks and rec departments and other local organizations.
Find playground games, sports, craft activities, live shows and more in our great list of options below – all you need to do is show up and join in the fun! Find something nearby or use it as an opportunity to explore new playgrounds on weekdays this summer.
Drop-In Park Programs in Edmonton & Area:
FEATURED Green Shack Shows by Edmonton Arts Council
July 2 to August 21 | There is even more to love about the City of Edmonton’s Green Shack program thanks to a partnership with the Edmonton Arts Council and the return of Green Shack Shows! All July and August, you can enjoy live puppet shows, hula-hooping, magic, drumming, theatre, musical acts, and more— completely FREE! For more details, click here.
City of Edmonton Green Shack Program
July 2 – August 21, 2025 | Looking for fun this summer? Think GREEN! Just find an Edmonton park with that familiar green building and you’ll have an excellent resource for games, crafts, sports and other fun activities. Qualified and enthusiastic program leaders are there to help kids 6-12 have lots of active and creative fun.
epl2go Pop-up Library in the Park
Edmonton Public Library’s fleet of epl2go Literary vans are packed and ready to bring free reading based activities and fun right to your own neighborhood. This summer, find an epl2go Pop-up library in several different playgrounds and spray parks across Edmonton. For more details, click here.
Town of Devon Summer Shack
July 2 to August 21, 2025 | Drop-in to the Devon Summer Shack to enjoy games and crafts centered around a new and exciting theme each week. Ideal for ages 5-12, this guided, unstructured program is the perfect spot to meet new friends and keep the boredom at bay. For more details, click here.
Storytime in St. Albert Botanic Park
Mondays May 5 – August 25 | Join the St. Albert Public Library on Monday mornings for Storytime in St. Albert Botanic Park. Drop-in for some storytime fun and explore the gardens every Monday from mid-July through August. Everyone is welcome – no registration required!
City of St. Albert Cruisin’ Clubhouse
July 2 to August 21 | Cruisin’ Clubhouse is back and invites children aged 5 and up to drop-in to local St. Albert parks all summer long to join in the fun! Games, arts and crafts, and water activities are just a few of the exciting activities that are planned during this free programming led by caring and qualified program staff. Bring a snack and dress for messy fun!
Family Nature Nights with Nature Alberta
July 30, August 6 & 20 | These events require pre-registration, but are completely free to participate in. These themed family events run select Wednesday nights at different park areas in Edmonton. Experience tree IDing, wildlife tagging, birding, pond dipping, chasing bugs, and touching trout! Come out with your budding naturalist to experience nature, learn something new, and create some fun memories.
Summer in the Park – Beaumont
July 2 to August 22 | The Summer in the Park free drop-in program returns to Beaumont parks this summer beginning July 2, 2024! On weekdays kids age 6 to 13 are invited to drop-in and enjoy games, crafts, and themed activities with the enthusiastic team of Summer Leaders. For more details, click here.
Spruce Grove Pop-Up Playground
July 7 – August 15 | The City of Spruce Grove is offering FREE drop-in summer programming at rotating parks and playgrounds this July and August. The Pop-up Playground program will feature themed activities, crafts, and games for added summer fun at the playground each weekday. PLUS the last week (August 18-22) promises to be extra special with the addition of bouncy castles, sparkle tattoos, face painting, and a balloon artist!
Play Days with Strathcona County
July 9, August 7 & August 19 | Strathcona County wants to make sure everyone gets in on the fun, so they’re throwing a series of fun events known as Everybody Gets to Play Day! Play Day encourages back-to-basics fun that appeals to kids of all ages – things like digging in the sand, building forts, crafts, and outdoor games.
Community Pond Party in Strathcona County
June 17, July 10 & July 24 | Join the experts from Strathcona Wilderness Centre for some pond-dipping fun this summer! These events will take place in local Strathcona County parks and offer drop-in activities for all ages including wetland story time, water quality testing, and searching for wetland critters in the pond.
