FreeLouisville · Derby City

Free things to do with kids in Louisville, this week and every week.

Yes, plenty is free with little kids in Louisville this week: we found 15 free outings, including Hayride in the Park, Car Free Cherokee and Halloween Craft Morning, plus ten library programs. Seven free days and events are coming up, including two museum or zoo free days, each with its date. And four places never charge admission, like Louisville Free Public Library Main and Waterfront Park.

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

15free outings this weekincl. 10 library programs7free days and events coming upincl. 2 museum or zoo free days4places that are always freeLouisville Free Public Library Main, Waterfront Park2free storytime calendarsLouisville Free Public Library, Bullitt County Public Library

This week

Free things to do with kids in Louisville this week

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

Mon Oct 1910:30am–12:30pm

Nature Play and the Library

Jefferson Memorial Forest – Welcome Center · 11311 Mitchell Hill Rd, Fairdale, KY 40118

LFPL's outdoor play-and-books morning in the forest, for ages 0 to 5.

Event page ↗Checked Report a problem
FreeAges 0–5
Mon Oct 1910:15am–11am

Baby Storytime (Iroquois)

LFPL – Iroquois Library · 601 W Woodlawn Ave, Louisville, KY 40215

A storytime for babies and their grown-ups.

Event page ↗Checked Report a problem
FreeAges 0–2
Wed Oct 2110am–11am

Gardens Storytime

Waterfront Botanical Gardens (Alden Learning Center) · 1435 Frankfort Ave, Louisville, KY 40206

Two stories and a nature-inspired activity in the gardens for ages 3 to 5.

Event page ↗Checked Report a problem
FreeAges 3–5
Wed Oct 2110am–11am

Toddler Storytime (Southwest Regional)

LFPL – Southwest Regional Library · 9725 Dixie Hwy, Louisville, KY 40272

Books and songs for toddlers and their grown-ups.

Event page ↗Checked Report a problem
FreeAges 1–3
Thu Oct 225:30pm–7:30pm

Tricks or Treats at Northeast

LFPL – Northeast Regional Library · 15 Bellevoir Cir, Louisville, KY 40223

An evening Halloween party with treats and a few tricks. Wear your costume.

Event page ↗Checked Report a problem
FreeAges 0–12
Thu Oct 225:45pm–7:30pm (movie at 6pm)

Family Movie Night: The Book of Life

LFPL – St. Matthews Library · 3940 Grandview Ave, Louisville, KY 40207

A movie and a craft to celebrate Día de los Muertos. Pajamas and fuzzy blankets encouraged.

Event page ↗Checked Report a problem
FreeAges 3–99
Thu Oct 229:30am–10:30am

Toddler Story Time (Middletown)

LFPL – Middletown Library · 12556 Shelbyville Rd, Louisville, KY 40243

Stories, songs and play for toddlers and caregivers.

Event page ↗Checked Report a problem
FreeAges 1–3
Thu Oct 226:30pm–7:30pm

Family Storytime (Newburg)

LFPL – Newburg Library · 4800 Exeter Ave, Louisville, KY 40218

An evening storytime for families with kids 5 and under.

Event page ↗Checked Report a problem
FreeAges 0–5
Sat Oct 2410am–11am

Preschool Halloween Party

LFPL – Bon Air Library · 2816 Del Rio Pl, Louisville, KY 40220

Silly songs, gentle stories and costume fun for ages 2 to 5. No scares, just giggles.

Event page ↗Checked Report a problem
FreeAges 2–5
Sat Oct 2410am–11:30am

Halloween Craft Morning

LFPL – Crescent Hill Library · 2762 Frankfort Ave, Louisville, KY 40206

Drop-in spooky-season crafts, best for ages 3 to 10.

Event page ↗Checked Report a problem
FreeAges 3–10
Sat Oct 242pm–3pm

Face Painting and Not Too Spooky Stories

LFPL – Portland Library · 3305 Northwestern Pkwy, Louisville, KY 40212

Spooky-ish books, songs, activities and face painting for the under-5 crowd.

Event page ↗Checked Report a problem
FreeAges 0–5
Sat Oct 242pm–3pm

Arabic Bi-Lingual Family Story Time

LFPL – Northeast Regional Library · 15 Bellevoir Cir, Louisville, KY 40223

Stories and songs in Arabic and English.

Event page ↗Checked Report a problem
FreeAges 0–12
Sat Oct 2410am–11am

Family Storytime (Jeffersontown)

LFPL – Jeffersontown Library · 10635 Watterson Trail, Louisville, KY 40299

A Saturday-morning storytime for the whole family.

Event page ↗Checked Report a problem
FreeAges 0–8
Sun Oct 252pm–5pm

Hayride in the Park

Shawnee Park · 4501 W Broadway, Louisville, KY 40211

A pop-up fall festival with hayrides around the closed Shawnee Park loop, games, face painting and music. Hayrides leave from the park pavilion.

Event page ↗Checked Report a problem
FreeAll ages
Sun Oct 258am–4pm

Car Free Cherokee

Cherokee Park (Scenic Loop) · 745 Cochran Hill Rd, Louisville, KY 40206

The Scenic Loop closes to cars on the last Sunday of the month, so little ones can scoot, bike or push a stroller under the fall leaves.

Event page ↗Checked Report a problem
FreeAll ages
Showing all 15 free outings

Mark the calendar

Free days and free events coming up in Louisville

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.

Who gets in free:EveryoneResidents onlyCardholders only
Nov7
Nov8
Dec5
Dec6

Bank of America Museums on Us weekend

Speed Art Museum · Louisville

Only the cardholder gets in free, so bring the card and an ID. The Speed is free with the card on Saturdays only.

Official page ↗Checked Report a problem
Cardholders onlyFree general admission for Bank of America, Merrill and Private Bank cardholders (one per card, with photo ID)
Dec5

Light Up Louisville

Jefferson Square Park · Jefferson Square Park, Louisville, KY

3–9 p.m. Lots of Lights Parade at 6 p.m.

Official page ↗Checked Report a problem
EveryoneFree
Dec5

Santa's House at Light Up Louisville

Jefferson Square Park, Downtown · Jefferson Square Park, Louisville, KY

3–9 p.m. (parade 6 p.m.). Free photos with Santa & friends inside Santa's House, free trackless train rides, video-mapping show on Metro Hall.

Official page ↗Checked Report a problem
EveryoneFree
Apply any time

Free Community Access Membership at the Kentucky Science Center

Kentucky Science Center · Downtown (Main St)

Passport/P-EBT cards don’t qualify.

Official page ↗Checked Report a problem
Who gets inFree one-year family membership for families who receive SNAP or WIC (2 adults and up to 8 kids ages 2–18)

Any day

Places that are always free in Louisville

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

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

Louisville Free Public Library

Baby, toddler and family storytimes at branches across Louisville, plus nature play programs at Jefferson Memorial Forest.

Weekly at 12 locations; Monday–Thursday, mostly mornings, plus some evening sessions

BabiesToddlersFree
Find a storytime near you ↗

Bullitt County Public Library

Free baby, toddler and preschool storytimes. This fall's regular sessions include Baby Rhyme Time (Wednesdays 10am, Mt. Washington Branch) and Toddler Storytime (Tuesdays 10am, Mt. Washington Branch), with more at Central Library, Lebanon Junction Branch and Nichols Branch.

Weekly at 4 locations; Tuesday–Thursday, mostly mornings

BabiesToddlersPreschoolFree
Find a storytime near you ↗

Keep planning

More for little kids in Louisville

Indoor play in LouisvilleIndoor playgrounds, toddler times and museums, with pricesThanksgiving weekend in LouisvilleParades, turkey trots and what’s open on ThursdayNoon Year’s Eve in LouisvilleKid-friendly countdowns, home by napThis week in LouisvilleDated outings for ages 0–6, checked every Thursday

Good questions

Free things to do with kids in Louisville: the FAQ

This week we found 15 free outings for ages 0–6, including Hayride in the Park, Car Free Cherokee, Halloween Craft Morning and Nature Play and the Library. See free this week; the list is rebuilt every Thursday.

Bank of America Museums on Us weekend: Sat Nov 7, Sun Nov 8, Sat Dec 5 and Sun Dec 6. Free Community Access Membership at the Kentucky Science Center: Apply any time. Dates come from each venue’s own page; see free days and free events.

Light Up Louisville, Santa's House at Light Up Louisville, Noon Year's Eve Party (Shively), Noon Year's Eve (Middletown) and Noon Year's Eve Party (Newburg) are free this season. Dates and times are on each card under free days and free events.

Louisville Free Public Library Main, Waterfront Park, Jefferson Memorial Forest and Brown Park, St. Matthews don’t charge admission. Some charge for parking or special exhibits; the cards say so where the place does.

Yes. Louisville Free Public Library and Bullitt County Public Library 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 19, 2026, and we recheck them every Thursday for dated events and once a month for free places. How we choose and check.

Littles Weekly

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