FREE & Nearly Free Summer Activities in Redding 2017

UPDATED for Summer 2017 with new activities & Google Calendar!

My children would love to screen hop all day long during the summer.  You know how it goes.  They hop from the TV, to the tablet, and then to the computer. But that leads to cranky children and an even crankier mom.  How do we keep them busy without it breaking the bank? Well...I did a little digging. Look at some of the great activities I found!

Let's try to avoid too much of this.
(But hey...if you're going to play video games, you might as well do it in style.)

Ranger Programs @ Whiskeytown Lake, FREE (May 30-Sept 5) 

• I am amazed at the variety of FREE programs offered by the Rangers. Stand Up Paddle Board, Kayak Tours (Daylight & Moonlit), Junior Rangers, Junior Firefighters and Evening Astronomy Programs are just a few.

Fantasy Fountain @ Enterprise Park, Open Daily June 6 - Sept 4, 10am-8pm, FREE

• Splash Zone has multiple "water spray features for kids of all ages to enjoy with a volcano that rumbles and erupts with a torrent of water whenever kids want it to." 

Barnes & Noble Story Time, FREE, Saturdays @ 11am, geared toward Preschool age children

Family Evening Splash, Redding Aquatic Center, Mon - Thurs, 6:45pm - 8:00pm, 0-2 Years FREE, 3-15 Years $2.25, Adults $2.75

• There are other times for public swim, swim lessons and classes, but if you're on a budget, this is the time to go swimming!

Movies In The Park, FREE, Fridays @ Dusk (June 3 - Aug 27) 

• Caldwell Park, Bring blanket or lawn chairs.  Watch some great movies with your family; The Secret Life Of Pets, The Legend of Tarzan, Ghostbusters, Kung Fu Panda 3, Charolette's Web, Twister, and many more.

Cinemark Movie Clubhouse, $1 per movie or $5 for 10 movies.  Tues & Weds @ 10am (June 6-Aug 9) 

• This is now at Movies 14  NOT  Movies 8 aka The Dollar Theater

Junior Giants Summer Baseball League, Free

• FREE Program that involves over 450 youth participants 

Shasta County Farmers' Market, Saturdays, April 1 - Dec 16, 7:30 am - 12:00 pm.  Behind Redding City Hall @ 777 Cypress Ave.

Shasta Public Library, FREE

• Story time for different ages on different days of the week. 
• Video Game & Movie hour; in case your children need more screen time...
• More events sponsored by the Library, check with the calendar for more info

Sunset River Jam, FREE, Wednesday evenings (Aug 30 - Oct 4)

• This concert series at Anderson River Park entertains and brings professional talent to the North State.

Kids Summer Movie Club @ Cascade Theatre, FREE, Sundays in July, 2pm. There will be games, prizes, costumed characters and chances to win tickets to Cascade Theatre events.

I have created a Google Calendar called "Summer Fun - Redding, CA and Surrounding Areas" with most of these activities on it. I have added some one time events to the calendar too. Check it out. 

Shasta Dam Tours (FREE!) Tours daily from 9am-3:30pm. Tours take 1 hour. 

Do you know of any other FREE or Nearly Free Summer activities in the Redding area? Tell us about them in the Comments below.