Trying to keep kids busy all summer without spending a fortune? Same.
The good news: Vero Beach and Sebastian have plenty of free and budget-friendly things to do. We've got a list of 14 things to do in Indian River County when you're looking to have fun for less this summer.
1. Attend a free family-friendly event
You can check our event calendar for all of the free Indian River County family-friendly events! Some of the recurring free events are:
- The Home Depot Kids Workshop on the first Saturday of each month
- Lowe's Kids Workshop monthly
- Michaels' Kids Club (usually twice monthly)
2. Cool off at a splash pad
The Riverview Park Splash Pad in Sebastian and the Royal Palm Pointe Fountains in Vero Beach are free and fun! We put their daily hours on the calendar, and more information on these places and low-cost community pools can be found in our Pools & Splash Pads Guide. Please note that the Royal Palm Pointe Fountains are always closed on Tuesdays!
3. Head to a library
Visit the Main Library and Brackett Library in Vero Beach, the North County Library in Sebastian, and the Marian Fell Library in Fellsmere. Not only can you enjoy checking out some great children's books and media, but you can also use the Makerspace area, STEM carts, computers, and toys. The library system also has a full schedule of summer programming that you can find here. Read more about what's available at our local libraries.
4. Spend the day at the beach
There's nothing better than some sand between your toes and salt in your hair! The best part: it's totally free! Our favorite family-friendly beach is the Lagoon side of the Sebastian Inlet, but it does cost $8 per vehicle to enter.
5. Go bowling
While Vero Bowl isn't participating in Kids Bowl Free this summer, you can register to bowl at our neighboring bowling alleys in Melbourne (Shore Lanes Palm Bay) or Jensen Beach (Jensen Beach Bowl). Kids can get 2 free games per day during the designated times—all you have to do is complete a quick online registration! Click here to find out more about the registration process. Make sure you read the fine print, and please note that you will need to rent (or bring) bowling shoes.
6. See a movie
You can see cheap movies at both of our Vero Beach movie theaters this summer! The Majestic 11 offers Summer KidFest, where tickets to select family movies are just $1 for kids and $3 for adults on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and Tuesdays. Click here to see the schedule! AMC Classic Indian River 24 offers Summer Movie Camp, where tickets to select family movies are only $3 on Mondays and Wednesdays. Click here to see the schedule!
7. Play at The Buggy Bunch Family Center
The Buggy Bunch offers free programming for families all summer long, such as educational playgroups, mom meet-ups, Bible studies (with free childcare), and open play times in their fun indoor play space. We include most of their programming on our calendar, but you can visit their website for more information and to register in advance when required. Please note that you will need to make a free account to access their calendar.
8. Visit the Vero Beach Museum of Art
At Vero Beach Museum of Art, families will enjoy looking in the galleries and playing in the interactive Art Zone—a space made for kids! There are several ways families can get free admission to the museum.
On the second Saturday of each month, admission to VBMA is free, plus there are docent-led mini tours of the exhibitions and a connected art project! You can also check out free museum passes at any Indian River County Library—read the details here. Additionally, VBMA is a participant in Museums for ALL, Blue Star Museums, and Bank of America's Museums on US program, which offer free admission to qualifying people.
9. See if you qualify for free or reduced admission to museums
As mentioned above, there are a few programs that may help reduce your family's admission costs to fun places!
- Museums for All—free or reduced admission to participating museums for those receiving SNAP benefits
- Blue Star Museums—free admission to participating museums for active-duty military members and their families
- Bank of America's Museums on US®—free admission for Bank of America cardholders to participating museums on the first full weekend of every month
- Teacher Passes—educators receive free admission to select Florida attractions
10. Have fun at a playground
Check out our Parks Guide, which lists amenities (such as the amount of shade available), and pick out the perfect playground for your family to visit.
11. Go fishing
Kids under the age of 16 do not need a fishing license, and adults can join in the fun without a Florida license on select dates. License-free freshwater fishing days are June 13–14, 2026, and saltwater fishing days are June 6–7 and September 5, 2026. Read more about Florida fishing and hunting licenses, or see when other states' free fishing days are.
12. Participate in a summer reading challenge
A free activity that helps kids avoid the summer slide AND earns them a reward? Sounds like a win to us! Check out our round-up of reading reward programs and challenges to find one (or multiple!) to participate in.
13. Sign up for the Planet Fitness® High School Summer Pass®
If you have a teenager aged 14–19, they can register for a free summer pass to Planet Fitness®! The pass gives them access to their chosen club from June 1 through August 31, 2026. This is a great way to keep teens active! Click here to register.
14. 100 Easy Ideas for Kids + Printable Bucket List
Look over our list of 100 things to do this summer (most free or low-cost) when you're out of ideas or can't handle hearing "I'm bored" one more time.
Make sure you sign up for our free e-newsletter to learn about more free and low-cost things to do throughout the year!
