FreeLancaster–Harrisburg–Hershey · Lancaster, Harrisburg and Hershey

Free things to do with kids in Lancaster–Harrisburg–Hershey, this week and every week.

Yes, plenty is free with little kids in Lancaster–Harrisburg–Hershey this week: we found four free outings, including four library programs. And one place never charges admission, like Dauphin County Library System. Every listing links to the page we checked it on, so you can confirm before you load the car.

Last checked · Every listing links to its official page. How we choose

4free outings this weekincl. 4 library programs0free days and events coming upwith dates from each venue1place that is always freeDauphin County Library System2free storytime calendarsLancaster Public Library, Dauphin County Library System

This week

Free things to do with kids in Central PA this week

Every free outing on this week’s Central PA list, rebuilt every Thursday. Library programs may need a quick sign-up.

Fri Oct 3012pm

Dramatic Play Friday

Manheim Township Public Library, Lapp Story Silo · 595 Granite Run Drive, Lancaster, PA 17601

Drop-in pretend play in the Lapp Story Silo for toddlers and young kids. No registration needed.

Event page ↗Checked Report a problem
FreeAges 1–5
Sat Oct 319am–12pm

Crafterday!

Manheim Township Public Library · 595 Granite Run Drive, Lancaster, PA 17601

A drop-in make-and-take craft table on Saturday morning. The library pitches it at ages 4 to 11, so it suits older preschoolers.

Event page ↗Checked Report a problem
FreeAges 4–5
Sat Oct 3111am

Duplo Free Play

Manheim Township Public Library, Lapp Story Silo · 595 Granite Run Drive, Lancaster, PA 17601

Drop-in Duplo building for toddlers and young kids. No registration needed.

Event page ↗Checked Report a problem
FreeAges 1–5
Showing all 4 free outingsThis week’s full list

Mark the calendar

Free days and free events coming up in Central PA

Museum and zoo free days, free festivals and other one-off free events, soonest first. Some free days are only for residents or cardholders, so each one says who gets in free.

No free days or free events posted yet.

Museums and zoos post free days a month or two ahead. We check them every Thursday.

Email me when it’s posted

Any day

Places that are always free in Central PA

Parks, gardens, nature centers and museums that don’t charge admission.

Dauphin County Library System

Harrisburg and HummelstownFree baby, toddler and preschool storytimes at East Shore, Alexander Family and other branches.Official site ↗Report a problem
Free to get in, but parking, special exhibits and seasonal extras can cost money. Check each place’s site before you go.

Every week

Free library storytimes

Lancaster Public Library

Free baby and family storytimes, some bilingual.

Tuesday baby storytimes and more

BabiesFree
Find a storytime near you ↗

Dauphin County Library System

Free baby, toddler and preschool storytimes.

Weekday mornings

BabiesToddlersPreschoolFree
Find a storytime near you ↗

Every weekly storytime by day and branch: library storytimes in Central PA.

Keep planning

More for little kids in Central PA

November: things to do in Central PAEvery dated listing for the month, by weekDecember: things to do in Central PAEvery dated listing for the month, by weekLibrary storytimes in Central PABaby, toddler and preschool storytimes by day and branchIce skating in Central PAHoliday and indoor rinks, skate aids and pricesThanksgiving weekend in Central PAParades, turkey trots and what’s open on ThursdayChristmas parades in Central PAParades and tree lightings with dates and start timesThe Nutcracker in Central PABallet and touring shows, sensory-friendly flaggedChristmas markets in Central PAChristkindlmarkts and winter wonderlands with hoursThis week in Central PADated outings for ages 0–6, checked every Thursday

Good questions

Free things to do with kids in Lancaster–Harrisburg–Hershey: the FAQ

This week we found four free outings for ages 0–6, including Dramatic Play Friday, Speech Links to Literacy, Crafterday! and Duplo Free Play. See free this week; the list is rebuilt every Thursday.

Dauphin County Library System don’t charge admission. Some charge for parking or special exhibits; the cards say so where the place does.

Yes. Lancaster Public Library and Dauphin County Library System run free storytimes for babies, toddlers and preschoolers. Times change by branch, so check the calendar linked below.

Each listing comes from the venue’s or organizer’s own page and links to it. We only list a date, time or price when that page shows it, and anything we can’t confirm stays off. These were last checked Oct 30, 2026, and we recheck them every Thursday for dated events and once a month for free places. How we choose and check.

Free things to do, every Thursday.

One short email every Thursday evening with the best things to do with little ones in Central PA that weekend, free ones flagged.

Lancaster–Harrisburg–Hershey skyline