Our Family Life

Summer Bucket List: Fun-filled Free Ideas for Summer

Are you looking for fun free things to do this summer while staying close to home? Check out this extensive summer bucket list of ideas that won’t cost you a dime!

Summer in 2020 might look a little different than past summers due to some states and countries still under strict restrictions. Vacations have been canceled and you’ve been forced to stay home.

You don’t have to sit at home and be bored out of your mind, though. There are tons of fun things you can do at home or nearby.

And they won’t even cost you a dime!

I’ve created this summer bucket list full of free fun-filled ideas just to keep you (and your kids) from going insane this summer.

Summer Bucket List Ideas

  1. Have a water fight
  2. Play a water game in your backyard
  3. Make snowcones and try different flavors
  4. Catch fireflies
  5. Watch the sunset
  6. Have a lazy day reading library books under a tree
  7. Have a picnic
  8. Go on a backyard scavenger hunt
  9. Go on a road trip to nowhere and take a ton of pictures of things starting with each letter of the alphabet. (A-animal, B-barn, etc.)
  10. Dance in the rain
  11. Learn something new
  12. Volunteer somewhere
  13. Stay up past midnight watching old movies
  14. Make S’mores
  15. Plant flowers
  16. Have a family slumber party
  17. Build a fort (for your slumber party, maybe?)
  18. Have a snowball fight with paper balls
  19. Go hiking
  20. Go to the park
  21. Play frisbee
  22. Go fishing
  23. Go to a free movie (our area has free traveling movies – check to see if there’s one near you)
  24. Make your own fudgesicles
  25. Roll down a hill
  26. Ride your bike on a trail
  27. Play board games on a rainy day
  28. Run through the sprinklers
  29. Make your own bubbles
  30. Go camping in your backyard
  31. Have a dance party
  32. Paint rocks and leave them around town
  33. Make homemade strawberry jam
  34. Hunt for shapes in the clouds
  35. Go birdwatching
  36. Attend a free workshop
  37. Hula Hoop in the rain
  38. Make a bird feeder
  39. Make paper airplanes and have a race
  40. Skip rocks in the river
  41. Make friendship bracelets
  42. Complete a puzzle
  43. Have a pillow fight
  44. Decorate cookies or cupcakes with a summer theme
  45. Attend a free outdoor concert
  46. Make homemade slime
  47. Stargaze and see how many constellations you can find
  48. Fly a kite
  49. Have a bonfire
  50. Make wishes on dandelions
  51. Climb a tree
  52. Bury a time capsule
  53. Play hide and seek
  54. Start a journal
  55. Visit a nursing home and read to someone (if you’re allowed to visit)
  56. See if you can fry an egg on the sidewalk
  57. Have a spa day at home
  58. Watch fireworks
  59. Have a water balloon fight
  60. Create an end of summer scrapbook

Tips for creating your own summer bucket list

  • Get the entire family involved. Gather everyone together and write down all of their ideas and things they would love to do over summer. Ask the kids what they would like to do and what new things they are interested in learning.
  • Make sure you include something new that you’ve never done before.
  • Hang your list somewhere it will be seen.
  • Check off your list as you go and add new ideas as they come.

End of summer scrapbook

At the end of summer, create a scrapbook full of your summer photos and all the fun memories you created. Write down the things you enjoyed the most as well as the things you will probably never do again. Don’t forget to include your summer bucket list in your scrapbook! You can look at it for years to come and make new ones every year.


Don’t forget about these money-saving ideas:
20 Ways to Spend a Money-Free Weekend
12 Ways to Get Books Free or Cheap
20 Unique Ways to Save Money
35 Topnotch Frugal Living Tips
Get Paid to Shop With Cash Back Apps


Thank you for sharing!
Michelle

Michelle lives on a small homestead with her husband, daughter, 6 silly hens, 1 crazy rooster, 2 lazy cats, and 1 rescue dog. She loves DIYs, frugal living, crocheting, and reading. She's also a full-time proofreader.

View Comments

  • So many great ideas on your list, as well as creating a scarpbook at the end of it. I will have to bookmark this post, as we have posponed our holiday until next year, so will have a go at some of these!

    Thanks for sharing!

    Aimsy xoxo
    Aimsy’s Antics

  • Awesome ideas. I can totally support make smores. I am glad that summer is not cancelled because of the pandemic!

    • Thank you! I agree! Even if you can't go out and do things you can still stay home and make fun summer memories. :)

      • Yes, I agree. It is all about setting an intention. Life can be fun if we decide to make it so.

  • You know what I love the most about this great post, Michelle? These are fun, family memories that will be held close for a lifetime! So many of our 'normal' activities before Covid-19 weren't as special and didn't include the closeness these do! Such an incredible list you've made -- I love it! The scrapbook idea is brilliant! :)

    Stargazing with snowcones sounds like a bizarre but awesome combination, don't you think? ;)

    Thanks for sharing these great ideas my friend. I foresee a lot of fun ahead! ♥

    • I think that's one lesson that Covid-19 has taught us - spending time with family and slowing down a bit to make some great memories. :)
      Stargazing with snowcones does sound like a lot of fun! I can see piling some blanket and pillows in the backyard and just looking at the stars while eating a cherry snowcone. :D
      Thank you so much for your wonderful comment! :)

  • These are really great ideas! Staying home doesn't have to be all bad. One thing I would really like to do one day is one of those outdoor theatres. I don't have everything yet since it's expensive. I'm gathering things slowly for this one. Thank you ?

    • Thank you! And yes, I agree. You can always find something fun to do while stuck at home. Those outdoor theaters are so nice. I'd love to have one, too! I hope you get to have one very soon! :)

  • Thank you for this my poor kids are bored. Our pool isn’t opened nor the water park. Poor kids

  • Great ideas, Michelle. I have an earth magnet on a chain,
    that is calling me to hook onto whatever treasure I can find.

    • Thank you so much! I thought that was a fun way to keep all those summer memories. :)

  • That's a pretty comprehensive list. Volunteering is a good idea in any season, I think. In lockdown, some past volunteer opportunities are not possible. But new ones are emerging.

    • My daughter and I were volunteering at the local animal shelter and we haven't been able to go back since all this started. It makes me sad for all those poor animals. I have seen a few things were you can volunteer online, but to me, that's not the same as actually being there hands-on.

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