Experience museums, parks, movies, restaurants, and pools near you at these FREE Cincinnati activities.
Nowadays, you don’t have to spend much money to have a great experience. Cincinnati has you in mind for doing more for less, mainly if you are making it a family affair or even a cute first date.
Below is a list of FREE Cincinnati activities to do. See what’s happening each day of the week, then at the bottom, see what is free every day!
The information in this article is as current as the publication date. Readers are encouraged to confirm the information before acting.
Monday
Buffalo Wings & Rings
Kids 10 and under eat free with paying adults.
Frisch’s
Get one free kid’s meal per adult purchase of $6.98.
Quaker Steak N Lube
Kids 12 and under get a kid’s meal for $1.99 by purchasing an adult entrée.
LaRosa’s
Kids 12 and under can enjoy a Spaghetti a Plenty for 99 cents.
Related Article Free African American movies and shows your kids will enjoy.
Tuesday
Bob Evans
Get a free kid’s meal after 4 p.m. with the purchase of an adult entrée.
Chili’s
Get two free kid’s meals with each adult meal purchased.
Famous Dave’s
Receive a free Lil’ Wilbur meal for children eight and under with the purchase of an adult entrée.
Gold Star Chili
Children 12 and under eat free with an adult purchase of $8 or more.
IKEA
Kids 12 and under eat free with the purchase of an adult meal.
LaRosa’s
Kids 12 and under can enjoy a Spaghetti a Plenty for 99 cents.
Lazlo’s Iron Skillet
Kids eat free, and adults can enjoy $5 appetizers at the bar.
Moe’s Southwest Grill
Get one free kid’s meal per paying adult from 4 p.m. to close.
Ruby Tuesday
Get one free kid’s meal with each adult entrée from 5 p.m. to close.
Tom + Chee
Get a free kid’s meal after purchasing any combo after 4 p.m.
Related Article: Check out these exciting Cincinnati kid-friendly activities.
Wednesday
Applebee’s
Kids 12 and under eat for 99 cents with an adult meal.
REC Reads
Cincinnati Art Museum
11:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Your toddler or preschooler can enjoy a morning of art-themed books, songs, and sensory activities at the Rosenthal Education Center. The interactive session lasts 30 minutes. Registration is not required.
Thursday
King Arthur’s Court Dungeon
King Arthur’s Court Toys
10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Take your child to experience the newest, renovated basement of King Arthur’s Court. They can grab a book from the book wall, enjoy climbing a seven-foot-tall toy mountain, and even zip across their indoor kid-friendly zipline.
Friday
Baby Tours
Cincinnati Art Museum
Every Third Friday at 11 a.m., 2 p.m., and 3 p.m.
Introduces your infant (ages 0-2) to visual and mental stimulation activities. Reservations are required online or by calling 513-721-2787.
Final Fridays Gallery Walk
The Pendleton Art Center
6 p.m. – 10 p.m.
On the final Friday of each month, the studios are open to the public, allowing guests to view creative art space and purchase one-of-a-kind artwork directly from artists.
Qdoba
Get one free kid’s meal with an adult entrée after 4 p.m.
Saturday
Izzy’s
Children under 14 eat free at these locations.
Sunday
Taft Museum of Art
Every Third Sunday
11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
It offers an extensive art collection that includes American master paintings, Chinese porcelains, and European decorative arts. Limited complimentary on-site parking is available.
Dickey’s Barbecue Pit
Receive one free kid’s meal with a $10 purchase per adult. Dine-in only.
Related Article: Black Cincinnati events you don’t want to miss.
Daily
American Sign Museum
Three children (12 & under) enjoy free admission with each paid adult. Limit three children per adult.
Art Beyond Boundaries
A professional, mainstream fine art gallery where local and regional artists with disabilities display, market, and sell their artwork.
ArtWorks Murals
Artists from ArtWorks have painted over 130 public murals in 44 Cincinnati neighborhoods. Check out the map and take you and your family on a self-guided tour.
Chili’s
Children under 12 eat free with the purchase of an adult entrée.
CiCi’s Pizza
Children under 3 eat free from the buffet. Kids’ beverages are not included.
Cincinnati Art Museum
General admission tickets and parking are free. Also, enjoy special exhibits for a low price.
Cincinnati Museum Center
Open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Guests with valid food assistance cards and photo IDs will receive free parking and $2/person admission with the Discovery Pass for up to ten guests.
IHOP
Kids Get one free kid’s meal for children under 12 per adult entrée from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Lane Community Technology Center
Dive into over 50 virtual reality experiences, games, and simulators for up to 2 hours.
MakerSpace
Cincinnati Main Library, 2nd Floor (North Building)
Open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday-Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.
Gain access to 3D printers, audio and visual equipment, laser cutters and engravers, sewing machines, cameras, and other hardware and software tools to create, invent, and learn.
Mount Airy Treehouse
Open daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Children can enjoy activities in and around this hidden gem. It’s also Ohio’s only wheelchair-accessible public treehouse.
Sharon Woods
Open daily from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Features a visitor center with exhibits, a recreation area with paved trails, golf, boating, a museum, a gift shop, and the Adventure Station, an accessible two-story indoor play area for children ages 2-12.
Smale Riverfront Park
Open daily from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Play lawn games, listen to live music, and enjoy a variety of roaming and staged performers.
Skyline
Children 12 and under eat free with the purchase of an adult entrée.
Waffle House
Children eat free with the purchase of an entrée over $6. Available Monday to Thursday.
Weston Art Gallery
Aronoff Center for the Arts
Open 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday; Noon to 5 p.m. Sunday
Take a guided tour and receive in-depth knowledge and behind-the-scenes information about various exhibitions.
William Howard Taft National Historic Site
Free admission is offered to the entire family.
Related Article: Don’t feel like going out? Check out these Black movies on Netflix.
If we missed any other free Cincinnati activities, please let us know at The Voice of Black Cincinnati.
Written by: Crystal Kendrick
The Voice of Black Cincinnati is a media company designed to educate, recognize, and create opportunities for African Americans. Want to find local news, events, job posting, scholarships, and a database of local Black-owned businesses? Visit our homepage, explore other articles, subscribe to our newsletter, like our Facebook page, join our Facebook group, and text VOBC to 513-270-3880.
Free Cincinnati Activities © [Monkey Business] /Adobe Stock
