I love summer, but I hate spending money. When I first moved to Portland, a new mom friend told me I should join her gym because my kids would love the pool. I laughed and said, “Oh, honey, we have student loans.” Luckily, thanks to Portland Parks & Recreation’s Summer FREE for All, I have been able to do fun things with my kids every year, all summer long, without spending a dime.

Courtesy of Portland Parks & Recreation

Read on to learn about all the free offerings, including free lunch and cultural performances.

Free Lunch + Play

I went to my first Free Lunch + Play when my kids were in preschool, and the energy was festive and inclusive. It felt like both a picnic and a parent meet-up, and I felt immediately at ease. Also, there’s something about school lunch (which is essentially what these are — meals are provided by local school districts) that’s especially exciting to my kids. When all public schoolchildren were offered free lunch after the pandemic, my kids talked about it literally every day, and I was reminded of how much kids in general love these Free Lunch + Play events. All this to say, don’t hesitate. These events are fun, and when you attend them, you ensure that they keep happening. Plus it’s “something to do” on those endlessly long summer days.

The drop-in program will be held late-June through August, from 10:00 am-2:00 pm, Monday-Friday with on-site staff. Free lunch for children ages 18 and under will be served at mealtimes listed below (it must be eaten on site), plus games, activities and free performances will be offered. There will be no program on Friday, July 4. Sites will have a “no thank you table,” with parts of lunches that children inevitably reject, and kids may take what they want from that space during the mealtime for each site.

Summer Kick-Off Event for Free Lunch + Play

Celebrate the start of Free Lunch + Play on Thursday, June 26, at the new Parklane Park. Watch our reel about it here! The event will run from 11 am-1 pm, including free lunch, of course. Arts in the Park will be crafting with kids, Rose City Rollers will have free roller skating for kids (bring socks!), DJ George will be spinning tunes and there will be lots of lawn games and fun! 

North Portland

LocationsProgram DatesMealtime
Columbia Park
N Woolsey Avenue and Winchell Street
June 23-August 2211:30 am –
1:00 pm
Kenton Park
N Delaware Avenue and Kilpatrick Street
June 23-August 2212 –
1:30 pm
McCoy Park
N Newman Avenue and Newark Street
June 23-August 2212 –
1:30 pm
Peninsula Park
700 N Rosa Parks Way
June 23-August 2212 –
1:30 pm
St. Johns Park
8427 N Central Street
June 23-August 2211:30 am –
1:00 pm

Northeast Portland

LocationDay and TimeMealtime
Alberta Park
NE 19th Avenue and Jarrett Street
June 23-August 2211:30 am –
1:00 pm
Irving Park
875 NE Fremont Street
June 23-August 2211:30 am –
1:00 pm
K’hunamokwst Park
5200 NE Alberta Street
June 23-August 2212 –
1:30 pm
Montavilla Park
NE 82nd Avenue and Glisan Street
June 23-August 2212 –
1:30 pm

East Portland

LocationDay and TimeMealtime
Gateway Discovery Park
10520 NE Halsey Street
June 23-August 2211:00 –
11:45 am
Lents Park
SE 92nd Avenue and Steele Street
June 23-August 2211:30 am –
1:00 pm
Lincoln Park
SE 135th and Mill Street
June 23-August 2211:45 am –
12:30 pm
Luuwit View Park
NE 127th Avenue and Fremont Street
June 23-August 2212:15 –
1:00 pm
Raymond Park
SE 118th Avenue and Liebe Street
June 23-August 2211:30 am –
12:15 pm
Ventura Park
460 SE 113th Avenue
June 23-August 2212:30 –
1:15 pm
Verdell B. Rutherford Park
1599 SE 167th Avenue
June 23-August 2211:30 am –
1:00 pm
Parklane Park
15635 SE Millmain Drive
June 23-August 2211:30 am –
1:00 pm
Mill Park
1949 SE 122nd Avenue
June 23-August 2212 –
12:45 pm

Southeast Portland

LocationDay and TimeMealtime
Creston Park
4454 SE Powell Blvd.
June 23-August 2211:30 am –
1:00 pm
Essex Park
SE 76th Avenue and Center Street
June 23-August 2211:30 am –
1:00 pm
Mt. Scott Park
SE 72nd Avenue and Ramona Street
June 23-August 2212:00 –
1:30 pm

Southwest Portland

Location Day and TimeMealtime
Holly Farm Park
10819 SW Capital Highway
June 23-August 2211:30 am –
1:00 pm
Stephens Creek Crossing Apt.
6715-6816 SW 26th Avenue
June 23-August 2212:00 –
1:30 pm

Mobile Sites

Location Day and TimeMealtime
East Gate Station Apartments
100 NE 120th Avenue
June 23-August 22
Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays
12:00 –
1:30 pm
Vine Maple Apartments
177 SE 146th Avenue
June 24-August 21
Tuesdays and Thursdays
12:00 –
1:30 pm

Free Movies in the Park

All summer long, PP&R will be hosting outdoor movies in parks across the city. We add them to our popular Kids Calendar, or you can view the full list here. There plenty of family-friendly shows in the lineup, including Barbie, Wonka, Little Mermaid, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles! These events are so fun, but get there early to claim a seat close to the screen. The only tricky part is they start pretty late — most don’t begin until after 7:30 pm, when it’s dark enough to see the screen. For kids with a later bedtime, it’s a blast!

Free Concerts and Cultural Events

In addition to outdoor movies, Portland Parks & Recreation also hosts free concerts, festivals, and cultural events. Families won’t want to miss the East Summer Arts Festival, The Kidz Outside hip-hop festival, and Washington Park Summer Festival. There are also a wide variety of live concerts, from country to Opera in the Park Portland. These events will be added to our Kids Calendar, or see the full list here.

Free Open Swim and Swim Lessons

Credit: Portland Parks & Recreation

Learning to swim is an important summer ritual! PP&R pools open to the public on June 20, and free learn to swim lessons will be held from June 23-27. Pro tip: Online registration for free swim lessons will begin June 13 at 7:00 pm, or register in-person at any PP&R pool, also on June 13 from 4-7 pm.

Pool capacities may be limited due to a nationwide lifeguard shortage. If your teen is interested in earning a little extra money this summer, lifeguarding is a fantastic summer job! Teens ages 16+ may apply here.

Kids already swimming? Portland Parks & Recreation offers weekly open swim sessions at select outdoor pools — no registration or fees required.

Here’s when you can jump in:

  • Creston Pool – Mondays, 6:30–8:00 pm
  • Peninsula Pool – Tuesdays, 1:00–3:45 pm
  • Montavilla Pool – Tuesdays, 6:00–8:00 pm
  • Grant Pool – Wednesdays, 1:00–3:00 pm
  • Sellwood Pool – Wednesdays, 6:30–8:00 pm
  • Pier Pool – Thursdays, 1:30–3:30 pm*

*Schedules are subject to change. Be sure to check with PP&R before you go!

Gateway Discovery Park

There are so many special events at this park, that it needs its own category. Don’t miss Joe Kye; a Tonga Day Festival; tennis on the go; circle and story times and more! See the full list of special events here.

All Are Welcome

Now our student loans are (finally!) paid off, but we still participate in Summer FREE for All every year. What started as a necessity has now become a tradition. Whatever your current situation, the FREE for All is really for all.

Looking for more free things to do? We’ve got suggestions.