Richmond has a children’s museum and a big science museum side by side, a free art museum, a farm and nature center at Maymont and a large zoo just south of town.
Not this week’s events, just the reliable stuff. Where to eat with a toddler, where to burn off energy when it rains, where to splash, what’s worth the admission, and where to spend a night without going far.
Places where a dropped fork is no big deal and nobody minds a little noise.
A sit-down grill with a separate kids’ menu of pasta, grilled chicken and shrimp, and weekend brunch.
A wood-fired grill at the mall, with kids’ plates from pasta to salmon.
Fondue as a treat for older kids. The kids’ menu lets them pick three dippers.
A local Mexican restaurant group with several locations around the area.
For rainy mornings, cold afternoons and anyone who needs to run in circles for an hour.
Hands-on play exhibits for young kids, downtown and in Chesterfield. Prices shown are for the Chesterfield location.
A big science museum with hands-on exhibits and The Forge, a makerspace.
Preschool (ages 3–5) $11
Free general admission every day of the year, and plenty of space to walk a stroller.
The downtown library, with free children’s programs on the calendar.
Pools, fountains, zoos and theme parks: the big all-day outings.
Gardens, the Maymont Farm and the Robins Nature Center, all on one big estate.
Gardens and a conservatory on the north side of town, free for kids 3 and under.
Free riverside parkland along the James, with trails and rocks to explore.
Museums, animals and farm days that hold a little one’s attention.
A big zoo south of the city with the Treetop Zoofari zip course and seasonal events. Closed Sundays.
A night away without a long drive. New bed, same bedtime.
Richmond’s grand historic downtown hotel, for a special night away.
A big state park south of the city with lodging, camping and trails.
These don’t change week to week. Last checked . Hours and prices change, so check the place’s own site before you go. Know a spot we missed? Tell us at hello@littlesweekly.com.
Where a family can go in RVA without paying for admission. For free days, free events and this week’s free outings, see every free thing to do in RVA.
Museum DistrictVirginia Museum of Fine ArtsFree general admission every day of the year, and plenty of space to walk a stroller.FreeIndoor
DowntownRichmond Public Library, Main LibraryThe downtown library, with free children’s programs on the calendar.FreeIndoor
Along the James RiverJames River Park SystemFree riverside parkland along the James, with trails and rocks to explore.FreeFree or cheap for babies and toddlers, and easy with a stroller.
Recurring and free. Times change by branch, so check the calendar.
Weekly; days and times vary by branchFree storytimes for babies, toddlers and preschoolers at the Main Library and branches. Henrico and Chesterfield county libraries run their own.
Schedule ↗Weekly at 8 locations; Monday–Friday, mostly mornings, plus an evening sessionFree baby, toddler and preschool storytimes. This fall's regular sessions include Baby Story Time (Mondays 10am, Midlothian Library) and Baby and Toddler Story Time (Tuesdays 10am, Chester Library), with more at Bon Air Library, Central Library, Enon Library and Ettrick-Matoaca Library and other branches.
Schedule ↗Weekly at 6 locations; Monday–Thursday, mostly morningsFree baby, toddler and preschool storytimes. This fall's regular sessions include Music, Rhymes & Wiggle Time (Mondays 10:30am, Glen Allen Branch Library) and Adaptive Storytime (Tuesdays 9:30am, Tuckahoe Area Library), with more at Fairfield Area Library, Libbie Mill Area Library, Twin Hickory Area Library and Varina Area Library.
Schedule ↗Weekly at 7 locations; Monday–Friday, mostly morningsFree baby, toddler and preschool storytimes. This fall's regular sessions include Mother Goose Storytime- Ashland Branch (Mondays 10:30am, Ashland Branch) and Preschool Storytime- Atlee Branch (Mondays 10:15am, Atlee Branch), with more at Goochland Branch, Hanover Branch, Mechanicsville Branch and Montpelier Branch and other branches.
Schedule ↗Baby storytimes, places where babies get in free, and where to change and feed. For rainy days, see indoor play places; for zero-cost ideas, see free things to do.
Wednesdays at 9:15am · Bon Air LibraryBabies. Babies will play, explore and interact with their caregivers as they develop building blocks for reading.
Storytime calendar ↗Tuesdays at 10am and 11am · Chester LibraryBabies and toddlers. Babies and Toddlers will play, explore and interact with their caregivers as they develop building blocks for reading.
Storytime calendar ↗Thursdays at 1pm · North Avenue branchBirth to 5 years
Storytime calendar ↗
Under 12 months free
Admission page ↗Age 2 and under free
Admission page ↗Age 3 and under free
Admission page ↗Under 2 free
Admission page ↗
Single strollers are $7 and doubles are $12.
Official site ↗Strollers are available to borrow.
Official site ↗Santa visits and Christmas lights only run part of the year, so they have their own pages with this season’s dates and prices.
The guide is the evergreen list. Here’s what’s happening in Richmond right now.
Yes. It’s made for young kids, and babies under 12 months get in free.
VMFA, the James River Park System and library programs are free, and parking at the Science Museum is free.
The Children’s Museum, the Science Museum and VMFA, all in or near the Museum District.
Children’s Museum of Richmond: Built for young kids, and babies under 12 months are free. Richmond Public Library, Main Library: Free children’s programs for little ones. Free for the littlest: Science Museum of Virginia (Age 2 and under free) and Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden (Age 3 and under free). See best for under 3s.
Richmond Public Library: Weekly; days and times vary by branch. Chesterfield County Public Library: Weekly at 8 locations; Monday–Friday, mostly mornings, plus an evening session. Henrico County Public Library: Weekly at 6 locations; Monday–Thursday, mostly mornings. Library storytimes don’t need a ticket, but times change by branch, so check the calendar first. See library storytimes, and this week’s dated sessions are on the RVA weekly list.
Every one of the 14 places is somewhere we’d take a baby, toddler or preschooler, with a note on who it suits and when to skip it. Prices, hours and menus come from each place’s own site, and 7 of them have checked admission or menu prices. The guide was last checked Oct 18, 2026. How we choose and check.
Under 12 months free; kids: $12; adults: $12. We checked this on its official site on Oct 17, 2026. Prices change, so confirm before you go.
One short email every Friday morning: the five things worth leaving the house for in RVA, plus what to skip.
