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.” A private gym was definitely not in the budget. 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.
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 June 22 through August 21, 2026. 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 recreation will be offered. There will be no program on Friday, July 3. 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 25, at Parklane Park. Watch our reel about it here! The event will run from 11 am-1 pm, including free lunch, of course. There will be crafts for 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
| Locations | Program Dates | Mealtime |
|---|---|---|
| Columbia Park N Woolsey Avenue and Winchell Street | June 22-August 21 | 11:30 am – 1:00 pm |
| Kenton Park N Delaware Avenue and Kilpatrick Street | June 22-August 21 | 12 – 1:30 pm |
| McCoy Park N Newman Avenue and Newark Street | June 22-August 21 | 11:45 – 1:15 pm |
| Peninsula Park 700 N Rosa Parks Way | June 22-August 21 | 12 – 1:30 pm |
| St. Johns Park 8427 N Central Street | June 22-August 21 | 11:15 am – 12:45 pm |
Northeast Portland
| Location | Day and Time | Mealtime |
|---|---|---|
| Alberta Park NE 19th Avenue and Jarrett Street | June 22-August 21 | 11:45 am – 1:15 pm |
| Irving Park 875 NE Fremont Street | June 22-August 21 | 11:30 am – 1:00 pm |
| K’hunamokwst Park 5200 NE Alberta Street | June 22-August 21 | 11:30 am – 1:00 pm |
| Montavilla Park NE 82nd Avenue and Glisan Street | June 22-August 21 | 11:15 – 12:45 pm |
East Portland
| Location | Day and Time | Mealtime |
|---|---|---|
| Gateway Discovery Park 10520 NE Halsey Street | June 22-August 21 | 11:00 – 11:45 am |
| Lents Park SE 92nd Avenue and Steele Street | June 22-August 21 | 11:30 am – 1:00 pm |
| Rosewood Initiative 14127 SE Stark Street | June 22-August 21 | 11:45 am – 1:15 pm |
| Luuwit View Park NE 127th Avenue and Fremont Street | June 22-August 21 | 12:15 – 1:00 pm |
| Raymond Park SE 118th Avenue and Liebe Street | June 22-August 21 | 11:45 am – 12:30 pm |
| Ventura Park 460 SE 113th Avenue | June 22-August 21 | 12:30 – 1:15 pm |
| Verdell B. Rutherford Park 1599 SE 167th Avenue | June 22-August 21 | 11:30 am – 1:00 pm |
| Parklane Park 15635 SE Millmain Drive | June 22-August 21 | 11:30 am – 1:00 pm |
| Mill Park 1949 SE 122nd Avenue | June 22-August 21 | 12 – 12:45 pm |
Southeast Portland
| Location | Day and Time | Mealtime |
|---|---|---|
| Creston Park 4454 SE Powell Blvd. | June 22-August 21 | 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm |
| Essex Park SE 76th Avenue and Center Street | June 22-August 21 | 11:45 am – 1:15 pm |
| Mt. Scott Park SE 72nd Avenue and Ramona Street | June 22-August 21 | 11:15 am – 12:45 pm |
Southwest Portland
| Location | Day and Time | Mealtime |
|---|---|---|
| Holly Farm Park 10819 SW Capital Highway | June 22-August 21 | 11:30 am – 1:00 pm |
| Stephens Creek Crossing Apt. 6715-6861 SW 26th Avenue | June 22-August 21 | 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. 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 — pre-movie activities begin at 7:30 pm, and films don’t begin until after dusk, when it’s dark enough to see the screen. For kids with a later bedtime, it’s a blast!
The full Movies in the Park lineup includes even more films, but these are the picks most likely to work for a family night out:
July Family-Friendly Movies in the Park
Elio — PG
📍 King School Park
🕙 Friday, July 10
Paddington in Peru — PG
📍 Elizabeth Caruthers Park
🕙 Thursday, July 16
Zootopia 2 — PG
📍 Khunamokwst Park
🕙 Friday, July 17
Kung Fu Panda 4 — PG
📍 Brentwood Park
🕙 Friday, July 24
August Family-Friendly Movies in the Park
The Bad Guys 2 — PG
📍 Lents Park
🕙 Thursday, August 6
A Minecraft Movie — PG
📍 Mill Park
🕙 Friday, August 7
How to Train Your Dragon — PG
📍 Wilshire Park
🕙 Thursday, August 13
Hoppers — PG
📍 Gateway Discovery Park
🕙 Friday, August 14
The Princess Bride — PG
📍 Irving Park
🕙 Saturday, August 15
Lilo & Stitch — PG
📍 Farragut Park
🕙 Thursday, August 20
Cool Runnings — PG
📍 Sewallcrest Park
🕙 Saturday, August 22
Ratatouille — G
📍 Luuwit View Park
🕙 Friday, August 28
Wicked — PG
📍 Hamilton Park
🕙 Saturday, August 29
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 Portland Summer Arts Festival on July 11, Ants Ants Ants concert on August 20, and the annual Washington Park Summer Festival on August 8. There are also a wide variety of live concerts, with everything from Cuban music, salsa and samba to funk, R&B, reggae, marimba, jazz and kid-friendly music. These events will be added to our Kids Calendar, or see the full list here.
Fitness in the Park
Want to squeeze in a free workout while the kids play nearby? Portland Parks & Recreation’s Fitness in the Park brings free outdoor group fitness classes to parks across the city, with options like yoga, Zumba, qigong, strength, mobility, dance cardio and more.
Classes are drop-in, open to all fitness levels and designed for ages 14 and up. No registration is required; just arrive 5-10 minutes early and bring a water bottle and yoga mat if you have one. A limited number of mats and straps are available first come, first served.
Fitness in the Park is open now at Irving Park and expands to nine parks across Portland beginning Monday, June 22. Classes run Monday-Friday through Friday, August 28. Many class locations are near playgrounds, and some sites offer simple kid activities so grown-ups can move while kids stay entertained — though children must be supervised at all times.
Find the full Fitness in the Park schedule here.
Free Open Swim and Swim Lessons
Learning to swim is an important summer ritual! PP&R pools open to the public on June 18, and close Sunday August 23 (exception: Peninsula stays open through September 7). Free learn to swim lessons will be held from June 22-26. Mark your calendar: Online registration for free swim lessons will begin June 12, or register in-person at any PP&R pool.
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 pm to 8 pm
- Peninsula Pool – Tuesdays 1 pm to 3:45 pm
- Montavilla Pool – Tuesdays 6 pm to 8 pm
- Grant Pool – Wednesdays 1 pm to 3 pm
- Sellwood Pool – Wednesdays 6:30 pm to 8 pm
- Pier Pool – Thursdays 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm
*Schedules are subject to change. Be sure to check with PP&R before you go!
Gateway Discovery Park
If going to a different park every week sounds overwhelming, get comfortable with Gateway Discovery Park. This East Portland park is a Summer Free For All hub, with free events happening all summer long — including recurring weekly kid-friendly activities, Free Lunch + Play, performances and a movie night. Plus the splash pad is expected to be on from the second or third week of June through Labor Day!
Family-Friendly Events at Gateway Discovery Park
📍 Gateway Discovery Park, 10520 NE Halsey Street
Free Lunch + Play
🕙 Monday-Friday, June 22-August 21, 9 am-2 pm; no program July 3
Free lunch for youth 18 and under is served from 11-11:45 am, first come, first served, plus arts and crafts, games and special events on the plaza.
Tennis on the Go
🕙 Mondays, June 22-August 17, 9 am-2 pm
Kids can drop in and play with foam balls, youth racquets and portable nets.
DJ Time with DJ George
🕙 Mondays and Fridays, June 22-August 21, 11 am-1 pm
Family-friendly music while kids play in the plaza and splash pad.
Performances for Youth and Families
🕙 Wednesdays, July 1-August 19, 11:30 am-12:30 pm
Weekly family-friendly performances, including dance, music, magic, aerial arts and more.
Sing Along with Teacher Brittany
🕙 Thursdays, June 25-August 20, 11:30 am-12:30 pm
Sing in English and Spanish with Teacher Brittany and her guitar.
Cultural Roots & Rhythms at Gateway
🕙 Saturday, July 25, 3-7 pm
A free community celebration of culture, music and connection.
Movie in the Park: Hoppers — PG
🕙 Friday, August 14, 7:30 pm
Free popcorn; movie starts after dusk.
Aaron Nigel Smith & Friends
🕙 Saturday, August 22, 3-7 pm
Bring everyone to this family dance party.
Free for All Means All
Even though our student loans are (finally!) paid off, we still participate in Summer Free For All every year. What started as a necessity has now become a tradition. Whatever your situation, the Free for All is really for all.