Find free & cheap fall activities for kids

School is back in session and the cooler temperatures are luring us outdoors again. Houston has great free fall activities to celebrate this harvest time of year. Discover our free fall activities for kids in Houston, along with a few almost-free extras.

Learn Something
After a summer hiatus, free admission days at Houston museums are back. It’s a perfect opportunity to explore the acclaimed Houston Museum District. Below are some great options for families.

• Health Museum – Get an inside look at our bodies when you stand inside a gigantic rib cage at the Health Museum. This museum is rich with hands-on exhibits and houses the McGovern 4D theater. Free Thursdays 2pm to 5pm
• The Children’s Museum of Houston – Find an activity for all ages and with special events like Mid Autumn Festival we can learn about the seasons even when it’s still 90 degrees outside. The Matter Factory and Think Tank will exercise their minds while the Power Play will wear them out for bed time. Free Thursdays 5pm to 8pm.
• Houston Museum of Fine Arts – Stop by the front desk and grab a family pack to guide you through the museum. It will help spark conversation about the art you see. Free Thursdays 10am to 9pm and kids with a public library card are free on weekends.
• Houston Museum of Natural Science – Get into the Halloween spirit with the mummies. The Hall of Ancient Egypt is now open. The African safari exhibit is fierce and the gems sparkle. It’s free on Thursday from 2pm to 5pm.

Play Outside

We try to spend as much time outside as possible during the Fall. The weather is great and it seems like there is no shortage of activities to keep everyone busy.

• Dewberry Farm – Revel in everything Fall at this farm. They have the requisite pumpkin patch, but also stop to enjoy  the hayride, corn maze, barrel train rides, and pig races. Saturdays from 10am to dusk and Sundays from noon to dusk starting September 28. General admission for ages 3 to 54 is $12; senior and military discounts are available. For more information call 281-934-3276.
• Matt Family Orchard – Pick your own fruit for your fall menu or stock up on local honey and preserves to top your warm biscuits. Show up for the Harvest Festival in October that includes scarecrows, hayrides, campfires and more. Hours vary when fruit is in season; call the fruit hotline at 281-351-7676 for details.
• Heritage Society – Get back to your roots with the Heritage Society. Some of the oldest buildings in Houston have been relocated to this site. It’s quite the experience to view these historic structures in the shadows of the shiny new skyscrapers of today. Open Tuesday to Sunday and always free. Guided tours available for $15 for adults, $6 for kids 6 to 18, and 5 and under are free.
• Discovery Green – Toddler Tuesdays are back! We missed them so. This is a special time for little ones and their families with story books and life sized characters. Large groups like day cares and schools are not in attendance, so it’s perfect for the tiny ones in your family. There’s always something happening on the Green. Night time movies, Thursday concerts, or Flea by Night, autum is the best time to be here.

Celebrate the Season
From Fall festivals to cultural exhibits, there are plenty of reasons to be excited for the Fall season. Remember, we will publish our full Halloween list in early October, but here are a few teasers to get you into the haunting spirit.

Did we miss your favorite free fall activity for kids in Houston? Comment below and we’ll add it to our growing list!