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

  • Love these ideas!! I’m motivated to make strawberry jam (plus we have rhubarb so I could do strawberry/rhubarb jam) and I love the idea of going on a drive and finding something that starts each letter of the alphabet ❤️

    • Thank you! The strawberry/rhubarb jam sounds amazing! It would be so good on some fluffy buttery biscuits. Yum! :)

      • Oh yes for sure..we even do biscuits and the jam and then smother it with homemade sausage gravy...so yummy...it’s like comfort, sweet and savory all mixed together ❤️❤️❤️

  • For countless years while the kids were growing up we made a summer list, posted it on the fridge and attempted to do as many of the things listed as possible. Your list is fun, thoughtful and could cover a couple summers!☀️

    • That's so fun! It's a great way to create some wonderful memories. I agree! Whatever you don't get to do one year, just continue the list for the next year. Good point! :)

  • I remember doing many of these as I was growing up with friends good to be reminded of them.

    • That's great! Sounds like you and your family are going to have a wonderful memory-filled summer. :)

  • Love these ideas! I love outside so a lot of these I have done with my son! Thank you for sharing.

  • I will miss all your recommendations on the weather. For Chile, we are leaving autumn. Very cold (5) degrees sometimes and (0) early in the morning. Therefore we will have a very hard winter.
    Similarly, the list seems well suited to enjoying summer as it should be.
    Good weekend for you
    Manuel

    • Wow! That is cold! I hope the winter isn't too hard on you this year. Although I have to admit that when it's super hot here I'll be wishing it was autumn. :) You can always save the list for summer. :D Thank you for reading! I hope you have a wonderful weekend. Stay warm!

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