Free and cheap things to do with kids around Phoenix
Listings last checked · Covers next 30 days (from Oct 16) · Past events drop off automatically
Quick answer: We list 18 free parks and libraries, 8 attractions with verified kids' tickets of $15 or less (Cave Creek Museum, free child; McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park, $3 child; HD SOUTH – Gilbert Historical Museum, $3 child; Goldfield Ghost Town – Superstition Narrow Gauge Railroad, $8 child; Musical Instrument Museum, $10 child; Arizona Railway Museum, $10 child; i.d.e.a. Museum (Mesa), $12 child; Hall of Flame Fire Museum, $15 child), and 16 free family events in the next 30 days around Phoenix.
This page sticks to things we can show are free or cheap. That means free parks and libraries, attractions whose official prices we verified at $15 or less for kids, and upcoming events whose organizers list free admission. We don't include places where we only have an estimate.
Free events in the next 30 days
Scottsdale Sparkle Halloween Market
- When
- Sat, Oct 17 · 10am–4pm
- Cost
- Free
- Ages
- All ages · Outdoor
60+ craft vendors plus free kids' face painting, costume characters, trick-or-treating and costume contests.
✓ Checked Oct 17, 2026 on the organizer's official page
Scottsdale Fall Festival
- When
- Sat, Oct 17 · Starts 5pm
- Cost
- Free
- Ages
- All ages · Outdoor
Free trick-or-treating, carnival games, hands-on arts & crafts, live band & DJ and food trucks.
✓ Checked Oct 17, 2026 on the organizer's official page
Cauldron Catapults (Halloween STEM) — Appaloosa Library
- When
- Tue, Oct 20 · 3:30pm (60 min, space limited)
- Cost
- Free
- Ages
- Ages 6-11 · Indoor
Build a DIY Halloween catapult and launch candy pumpkins and stretchy skeletons.
✓ Checked Oct 17, 2026 on the organizer's official page
YMCA x Carefree Trunk or Treat
- When
- Fri, Oct 23 · Starts 5:30pm
- Cost
- Free
- Ages
- All ages · Outdoor
Trick-or-treat from decorated car trunks along Easy Street, plus costume contests, face painting, music, a fall photo booth and the Carefree fire truck.
✓ Checked Oct 17, 2026 on the organizer's official page
Tempe's Family BOO Bash
- When
- Fri, Oct 23 · 6–10pm · 6:30 costume parade · 7:30 movie
- Cost
- Free (food & carnival games extra)
- Ages
- All ages · Outdoor
Train rides, face painting, dance party, costume contest & parade, then Toy Story 5 (PG) on the lawn.
✓ Checked Oct 17, 2026 on the organizer's official page
Día de los Muertos Festival at Mesa Arts Center
- When
- Sat, Oct 24 – Sun, Oct 25 (Oct 24 & 25) · Sat noon–10pm · Sun noon–5pm (relaxed hour 11am both days)
- Cost
- Free
- Ages
- All ages · Outdoor
Live music, ballet folklórico, community altars, art-making and a Sunday procession.
✓ Checked Oct 17, 2026 on the organizer's official page
Candy Crawl at Scottsdale Quarter
- When
- Sat, Oct 24 · 1–4pm
- Cost
- Free (optional $18 Superhero VIP for kids)
- Ages
- All ages · Outdoor
Trick-or-treat at participating stores, character appearances, crafts, face painting, balloon twisters and a pumpkin-carving demo.
✓ Checked Oct 17, 2026 on the organizer's official page
Fountain Hills Spooky Blast
- When
- Sat, Oct 24 · 5–8pm
- Cost
- Free
- Ages
- All ages · Outdoor
Inflatable slides, obstacle courses, a corn maze, 20+ candy and activity booths and a costume contest.
✓ Checked Oct 17, 2026 on the organizer's official page
Halloween Family Fun — Arabian Library
- When
- Mon, Oct 26 · 5:30pm (45 min)
- Cost
- Free
- Ages
- Ages 0-8 · Indoor
Costumed kids welcome for family-friendly Halloween games and activities.
✓ Checked Oct 17, 2026 on the organizer's official page
Halloween Family Fun — Mustang Library
- When
- Mon, Oct 26 · 5:30pm (45 min)
- Cost
- Free
- Ages
- Ages 0-8 · Indoor
Costumed kids welcome for family-friendly Halloween games and activities.
✓ Checked Oct 17, 2026 on the organizer's official page
Halloween Family Fun — Appaloosa Library
- When
- Tue, Oct 27 · 5:30pm (45 min)
- Cost
- Free
- Ages
- Ages 0-8 · Indoor
Costumed kids welcome for family-friendly Halloween games and activities.
✓ Checked Oct 17, 2026 on the organizer's official page
Halloween Family Fun — Civic Center Library
- When
- Tue, Oct 27 · 5:30pm (45 min)
- Cost
- Free
- Ages
- Ages 0-8 · Indoor
Costumed kids welcome for family-friendly Halloween games and activities.
✓ Checked Oct 17, 2026 on the organizer's official page
Cauldron Catapults (Halloween STEM) — Civic Center Library
- When
- Wed, Oct 28 · 4pm (60 min, space limited)
- Cost
- Free
- Ages
- Ages 6-11 · Indoor
Build a DIY Halloween catapult and launch candy pumpkins and stretchy skeletons.
✓ Checked Oct 17, 2026 on the organizer's official page
Chandler Halloween Spooktacular
- When
- Fri, Oct 30 · 5:30–8:30pm · parades 6:15 & 7:30
- Cost
- Free
- Ages
- All ages · Outdoor
Trunk-or-treat stations, carnival games, catwalk costume parades and a Little Monsters Zone for ages 5 and under.
✓ Checked Oct 17, 2026 on the organizer's official page
Red Mountain Halloween Extravaganza
- When
- Fri, Oct 30 · 5:30–8:30pm
- Cost
- Free
- Ages
- All ages · Outdoor
30+ trick-or-treat booths, each with a game or activity, plus a DJ and free photo booth.
✓ Checked Oct 17, 2026 on the organizer's official page
Día de los Muertos Festival at St. Mary's Basilica
- When
- Sun, Nov 1 · 11am–5pm
- Cost
- Free
- Ages
- All ages · Outdoor
Mariachi, ballet folklórico, food trucks, kids' activities, car show and a community ofrenda.
✓ Checked Oct 17, 2026 on the organizer's official page
Cheap attractions (verified prices)
Cave Creek Museum
- Price
- Adult $10 · Child free (child under 12)
- Best for
- Ages 4–17+ (our guidance)
Students 12+ $8. Open Oct–May: Wed, Thu, Sat, Sun 1–4:30pm; Fri 10am–4:30pm
✓ Price verified Oct 17, 2026 · source
McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park
- Price
- Adult $3 · Child $3 (child 3+)
- Best for
- Ages 0–12 (our guidance)
Park entry free; train/carousel $3 per ride, 2 and under ride free; all-day wristband $12
✓ Price verified Oct 17, 2026 · source
HD SOUTH – Gilbert Historical Museum
- Price
- Adult $6 · Child $3 (child 5-12)
- Best for
- Ages 3–17+ (our guidance)
Under 5 free; seniors $5. Open Tue–Sat 10am–4pm
✓ Price verified Oct 17, 2026 · source
Goldfield Ghost Town – Superstition Narrow Gauge Railroad
- Price
- Adult $12 · Child $8 (child 5+)
- Best for
- Ages 3–17+ (our guidance)
Town entry free; railroad ticket
✓ Price verified Oct 17, 2026 · source
Musical Instrument Museum
- Price
- Adult $24 · Child $10 (child 4-12)
- Best for
- Ages 4–17+ (our guidance)
Teens 13-19 $15
✓ Price verified Oct 17, 2026 · source
Arizona Railway Museum
- Price
- Adult $15 · Child $10 (child 2-12)
- Best for
- Ages 2–17+ (our guidance)
Open Sat–Sun 10am–4pm, Sept–May. Under 2 free; family ticket (2 adults, 3 kids) $40
✓ Price verified Oct 17, 2026 · source
i.d.e.a. Museum (Mesa)
- Price
- Adult $12 · Child $12 (child 1+)
- Best for
- Ages 0–12 (our guidance)
$12 per person; under 1 free
✓ Price verified Oct 17, 2026 · source
Hall of Flame Fire Museum
- Price
- Adult $19 · Child $15 (child 6-17)
- Best for
- Ages 2–12 (our guidance)
Adult 18+; ages 3-5 $10
✓ Price verified Oct 17, 2026 · source
Free parks and libraries
Burton Barr Central Library
- Price
- Free
- Best for
- Ages 0–17+ (our guidance)
Encanto Park
- Price
- Free
- Best for
- Ages 0–17+ (our guidance)
Papago Park (Hole-in-the-Rock)
- Price
- Free
- Best for
- Ages 0–17+ (our guidance)
Tempe Beach Park & Splash Playground
- Price
- Free
- Best for
- Ages 0–12 (our guidance)
Scottsdale Civic Center Library
- Price
- Free
- Best for
- Ages 0–17+ (our guidance)
Kiwanis Park (Tempe)
- Price
- Free
- Best for
- Ages 0–17+ (our guidance)
Indian Bend Wash Greenbelt
- Price
- Free
- Best for
- Ages 0–17+ (our guidance)
Chaparral Park
- Price
- Free
- Best for
- Ages 0–17+ (our guidance)
Chandler Downtown Library
- Price
- Free
- Best for
- Ages 0–17+ (our guidance)
✓ Details checked Oct 17, 2026 on the official website
Freestone Park
- Price
- Free
- Best for
- Ages 0–17+ (our guidance)
Playgrounds, skate park and the Freestone Railroad (miniature train, carousel; rides extra). Tot lot closed for work Sep 14–Nov 20, 2026; lakes closed through May 2027
✓ Details checked Oct 17, 2026 on the official website
Tumbleweed Park & Playtopia
- Price
- Free
- Best for
- Ages 0–17+ (our guidance)
Chandler's largest park: shaded Playtopia play areas (farm, dinosaur and toddler zones), 1.3-mile path. Open 6am–10:30pm
✓ Details checked Oct 17, 2026 on the official website
Southeast Regional Library (Gilbert)
- Price
- Free
- Best for
- Ages 0–17+ (our guidance)
Overlooks the Riparian Preserve; under construction improvements, expect fencing
✓ Details checked Oct 17, 2026 on the official website
Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch
- Price
- Free
- Best for
- Ages 0–17+ (our guidance)
Veterans Oasis Park & Chandler Nature Center
- Price
- Free
- Best for
- Ages 0–17+ (our guidance)
Fishing lake (state license required), 4.5 miles of trails, free family bird walks 1st Saturday Nov–Apr. Open 6am–10:30pm
✓ Details checked Oct 17, 2026 on the official website
Fountain Park (Fountain Hills)
- Price
- Free
- Best for
- Ages 0–17+ (our guidance)
Gilbert Regional Park (The Falls splash pad)
- Price
- Free
- Best for
- Ages 0–17+ (our guidance)
4,000 sq ft splash pad open 8:30am–9:30pm, Mar 1–Nov 30; 17-ft 'Mountain' playground with zip-line, tot playground, fishing lake
✓ Details checked Oct 17, 2026 on the official website
Carefree Desert Gardens
- Price
- Free
- Best for
- Ages 0–17+ (our guidance)
Free, open 365 days; playground and splash pad for kids, plus the giant Carefree Sundial
✓ Details checked Oct 17, 2026 on the official website
Desert Foothills Library
- Price
- Free
- Best for
- Ages 0–17+ (our guidance)
✓ Details checked Oct 17, 2026 on the official website
Frequently asked questions
What are the cheapest family attractions in Phoenix?
Cave Creek Museum: adult $10, child $0 (Students 12+ $8. Open Oct–May: Wed, Thu, Sat, Sun 1–4:30pm; Fri 10am–4:30pm); McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park: adult $3, child $3 (Park entry free; train/carousel $3 per ride, 2 and under ride free; all-day wristband $12); HD SOUTH – Gilbert Historical Museum: adult $6, child $3 (Under 5 free; seniors $5. Open Tue–Sat 10am–4pm); Goldfield Ghost Town – Superstition Narrow Gauge Railroad: adult $12, child $8 (Town entry free; railroad ticket); Musical Instrument Museum: adult $24, child $10 (Teens 13-19 $15); Arizona Railway Museum: adult $15, child $10 (Open Sat–Sun 10am–4pm, Sept–May. Under 2 free; family ticket (2 adults, 3 kids) $40); i.d.e.a. Museum (Mesa): adult $12, child $12 ($12 per person; under 1 free); Hall of Flame Fire Museum: adult $19, child $15 (Adult 18+; ages 3-5 $10).
What can families do for free in Phoenix?
Free places: Burton Barr Central Library, Encanto Park, Papago Park (Hole-in-the-Rock), Tempe Beach Park & Splash Playground, Scottsdale Civic Center Library, Kiwanis Park (Tempe), Indian Bend Wash Greenbelt, Chaparral Park, and 10 more. Free events coming up: Scottsdale Sparkle Halloween Market, Scottsdale Fall Festival, Cauldron Catapults (Halloween STEM) — Appaloosa Library, YMCA x Carefree Trunk or Treat, Tempe's Family BOO Bash, and 11 more.
How does Little Outings check these listings?
Every event and verified price here was checked on the organizer's official website or calendar, and each listing shows the date we last checked it and links to that source. Past events drop off the page automatically. Dates, times and prices can change, so confirm on the official page before you go.
How we build this page: each event comes from the organizer's official website or calendar and shows the date we checked it. Prices marked verified were copied from the venue's official site. Price levels without a source are our estimates. Read how we verify listings.