15 Free—or Almost Free!—Things to Do With Kids this Summer

School’s out for the summer! Now what?

One of the challenges of summertime can be finding new things to do. Lewis County has a wide range of events and activities that families can do together. Check out some of these activities and events happening throughout the summer!

1. Make summer reading fun with the Timberland Regional Library Summer Reading Program. With weekly prizes and events, this is a must for every family. The program is free, and is for ages all the way up through high school. What beats the heat better than reading at the library?

2. Explore Ike Kinswa State Park. This activity is free with your Washington State Parks Discover Pass. If you don’t have a pass, it’s only $10 to spend the day. Pack a picnic, some sunscreen, and play for a day at the lake.

3. Visit the Mount St. Helen’s Forest Learning Center at mile marker 33 on SR 504. Explore the playground, eruption chamber and, best of all—free admission!

4. Take a hike. Seminary Hill is home to miles of nature trails perfect for a family outing. Brian Mittge, President of the Friends of Seminary Hill, shares that there are several events planned throughout the summer designed for families and kids, including nature activities, art on the hill and music.

5. 

   Enjoy 4th of July county-wide celebrations. Several towns across the county have special events planned for the fourth. Our family tradition is Summerfest, which happens in Centralia. Begin the day with a pancake breakfast at Borst Park, followed by games and the parade through downtown. Cap off the night with fireworks.

6. Spend time on Willapa Hills Trail. With five miles of pavement from Chehalis to Adna, it’s the perfect trail for runners, bikers, and little legs. Not to mention: the scenery is spectacular.

7. Take in a concert at Music in the Park, happening in Chehalis July 15, 22, 29, and August 5 at Recreation Park from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Pack lawn chairs and get ready to have some fun dancing or simply relaxing to live music.

8. Got wheels? Strap on your helmet and take your wheels to the Rotary Riverside Park and Fuller’s Twin City Skate Park.

9. Take the C to C Bike Ride. On July 23, 2016, this family bicycling event takes riders seven miles from Centralia to Chehalis. At the end of the ride is pizza, games, and giveaways. The great news? The bigger your family, the better deal you get on registration. A family of five or more riders is $25.

10. Round up kids for a playground tour. How many of the parks and playgrounds can you hit in Lewis County?  Pack a picnic and your play shoes. For a list of parks check out Centralia Parks and Trails, Lewis County Parks, and Chehalis Parks.

11. Pack up the kids and head to Chehalis Kiddy Spray Park, right next to the Shaw Aquatics Center in Chehalis. Splash, play and laugh in the water.

    

12. Chalk the walk for ARTrails of Southwest Washington, play in the kid zone, and see a civil war re-enactment at ChehalisFest on July 25 and 26. ChehalisFest features two full days of family activities, music, and vendors.

13. Say thanks! First Responders spend their careers serving our communities in lots of ways. Help your child create a thank you card or poster and deliver it to your local fire house, sheriff’s office or police station. Saying thank you goes a long way—and can mean a lot.

14. Another way to give back: visit the Lewis County Animal Shelter and volunteer. After signing up and completing an orientation class, volunteers get the fun jobs of playing and socializing the animals, helping to keep them happy and make them more adoptable.

15. Walk down Tower Avenue at the Hub City Car Show on August 24. With so many cool cars and hot rods, you’re sure to be entertained.