Kids & Family — Waco Metro¶

The Waco metro has a surprisingly strong ecosystem of free and low-cost family activities, with a heavy tilt toward outdoor and library programming. Cameron Park, six free city splash pads, and the Mayor's Summer Reading Challenge alone can fill a summer for young kids at near-zero cost. This guide covers the full picture — validated and sourced, with summer 2026–specific details throughout.

For childcare, daycares, Mother's Day Out, and pre-K programs, see the Childcare & Daycares Guide.

Free — Outdoors & Parks¶

Cameron Park¶

Cameron Park is the undisputed family flagship — 416 acres of trails, river bottomland, and limestone bluffs along the Brazos and Bosque Rivers. For families, it functions as an all-day outdoor campus.

Kid-specific highlights (all free):

Proctor Springs — A natural, shallow spring inside the park where kids can splash and wade in a real spring-fed creek. Not a spray pad — the actual ground.
Pecan Bottoms Splash Pad — One of Waco's six free city splash pads; located inside Cameron Park on Cameron Park Dr. Open daily May–September, 8am–10pm.
Wild Wednesdays Hikes — Free park ranger-led group hikes every Wednesday, beginning at 5:45 PM at Northern Gateway (704 Park Lake Dr.). Two rangers offer both an easy and a moderate trail option. Hikes last approximately 1 hour. All ages and skill levels welcome. Bring water and trail-appropriate shoes. Destination Waco — Wild Wednesdays
Playgrounds and picnic areas throughout the park
Disc golf — Free 18-hole course
Jacob's Ladder — 88 limestone cliffside steps; a favorite challenge for kids 8+
Lovers Leap — Accessible scenic overlook over the Brazos River

Cameron Park Zoo (1701 N. 4th St.) is directly adjacent to the park — a 52-acre natural-habitat zoo with 1,700+ animals. Separate paid admission; see Paid Attractions below.

Source: City of Waco Parks & Recreation | Parks Guide

Six Free City Splash Pads (May–September)¶

All six City of Waco splash pads are free and open daily 8am–10pm, approximately early May through September. City of Waco Splash Pads

Splash Pad	Address
Chapel Park	9420 Chapel Rd.
Dewey Park	925 North 9th St.
Kendrick Park	4011 Bagby Ave.
Mountainview Park	2325 Mountainview Dr.
Oscar DuConge Park	1707 JJ Flewellen Rd.
Pecan Bottoms (Cameron Park)	Cameron Park Dr.

The Carleen Bright Arboretum in Woodway also operates a free splash pad (see Woodway section below) — it's outside Waco city limits but a top family destination in the metro.

Waco Riverwalk¶

A 7-mile paved multi-use trail along both banks of the Brazos River — flat, lighted, and stroller-friendly. Connects Baylor University and McLane Stadium north to Cameron Park. Used daily by runners, cyclists, and families. Free.

Waco Sculpture Zoo (University Parks Drive)¶

A mile-long public art installation along University Parks Drive featuring 28 bronze animal sculptures — a free "zoo preview" walk that ends naturally at Cameron Park Zoo. Good activity for younger kids and casual walkers. Free.

Carleen Bright Arboretum (Woodway)¶

Address: 9001 Bosque Blvd, Woodway, TX 76712 | Free | Open daily 6am–10pm

A 16-acre botanical garden operated by the City of Woodway. One of the nicest free family parks in the metro.

Splash pad — Open Memorial Day–Labor Day, 9am–7pm. Free.
Playgrounds and swings
Todd Willis Nature Trail — winding path through native woodland; manageable for young children
Fountains and interactive water features

Source: Discover Woodway — Carleen Bright Arboretum | See Woodway

Lake Waco Wetlands¶

Walking trails, birding towers, wildlife viewing, and a free education center on the western edge of the metro. Good for curious school-age kids (herons, turtles, shorebirds) and nature walks. Free.

Twin Bridges Park¶

Sandy beach access on the north shore of Lake Waco. A low-key alternative to the busier Army Corps parks for a half-day beach outing. Free or minimal parking fee.

Waco Downtown Farmers Market¶

Every Saturday, 9am–1pm, year-round — 500 Washington Ave (Bridge Street Plaza). Free to browse. Live music, local food, and consistent community energy. A reliable Saturday morning anchor for Waco families.

Source: Destination Waco

Free — Museums, Culture & Indoor¶

Baylor Bear Habitat¶

Live black bears (Indy & Belle) on the Baylor University campus. Free. Open daily 9:30am–5pm. Always a hit with young children.

Downtown Walking Loop (Free)¶

Three connected free landmarks within easy walking distance of each other downtown:

Waco Suspension Bridge (1870) — Walk across the historic pedestrian bridge over the Brazos
Indian Spring Park — Adjacent riverfront green space with the Branding the Brazos cattle drive sculptures
Doris Miller Memorial — 9-foot bronze statue of Waco's Pearl Harbor hero on the East Waco riverfront

Magnolia Market at the Silos¶

Free to enter the grounds and wander. The lawn, food truck park, and silos backdrop are accessible for families without spending anything. Pair with the Suspension Bridge for an easy downtown loop.

Homestead Craft Village¶

608 Dry Creek Rd | Mon–Sat, 10am–5pm (closed Sundays) | Free to browse

A living, working traditional-skills community demonstrating woodworking, pottery, blacksmithing, and farming. Free to walk through the entire village. A genuinely unusual educational experience — older kids especially tend to find it memorable.

Source: homesteadcraftvillage.com

Fabled Bookshop¶

Independent bookstore downtown with a well-curated kids section. Free to browse. A natural pairing with a Magnolia visit or a farmers market Saturday.

Waco Murals¶

Dozens of photo-ready street murals scattered across downtown and surrounding neighborhoods. Functions as a free scavenger-hunt style activity for older kids. No guide required.

Art Center Waco¶

Rotating exhibits in a downtown gallery space. Free admission.

Armstrong Browning Library (Baylor)¶

Stunning interior architecture — stained glass, carved wood, ornate reading rooms. Free. Worth a 20-minute stop even with young children.

Martin Museum of Art (Baylor)¶

Student and emerging artist exhibits on the Baylor campus. Free.

Free — Summer 2026 Events¶

Brazos Nights Concert Series¶

Free outdoor concerts at Indian Spring Park (101 N. University Parks Dr.) along the Brazos River — a long-running Waco summer tradition. Remaining 2026 dates:

June 19 — Indian Spring Park (lineup TBA)
July 4 — Fourth on the Brazos (see below)

Source: brazosnightswaco.com | KWTX

Fourth on the Brazos (July 4)¶

Free | Touchdown Alley, McLane Stadium (1001 S. MLK Blvd.) | Gates open 6pm | Fireworks 9:15pm

Waco's signature July 4th celebration. Live music, food vendors, and the H-E-B Fireworks Extravaganza — shot above the river and visible from both banks and the Baylor campus. Free admission.

Source: Destination Waco | KCENTV

Juneteenth Family Fun Day¶

Free | Brazos Park East

Annual June 19 community celebration with live music, food, kids' activities, health services, and a parade. Family-friendly, free to attend.

Mayor's Summer Reading Challenge 2026 — "Summer of Stories"¶

June 1 – July 31 | All branches | Free

Updated June 2026 — Challenge is now live; Kickoff Party was May 30; 4,166 readers in 2025 (record); prizes every 10 days via Beanstack app.

The Waco-McLennan County Library's annual summer program, officially titled the Mayor's Summer Reading Challenge: Summer of Stories for 2026. The challenge is now live (started June 1). Registration via the Beanstack app (download → add Waco-McLennan County Library → create free account → log daily reading).

Track reading days in the Beanstack app → earn prizes every 10 days + qualify for raffle drawings
Available for all ages — children, teens, adults, and families
Free to participate; library cards are free for McLennan County residents
Kickoff Party was held May 30 at all four branches (free tote bags + books while supplies lasted)
Featured summer performers: animal encounters, science shows, juggling performances, dog trick shows
Last year's program drew 4,166 readers — a record
Mayor Jim Holmes: "It's about more than just reading; it's about building community."

Source: City of Waco — Mayor's Summer Reading Challenge

Recurring Weekly Storytimes (Free, Year-Round)¶

Program	Day	Time	Branch	Ages
Bubble Storytime	Mondays	10:30am	East Waco	All
Move & Play Storytime	Tuesdays	10:30am	South Waco	3–6
Baby & Toddler Time	Thursdays	10:30am	Central Library	0–3
Bilingual Story Time	Select Saturdays	—	Central Library	All

Source: calendar.wacolibrary.org | Waco Library Kids Services

Summer 2026 Special Library Events¶

All events are free. Verify dates and locations at calendar.wacolibrary.org before attending, as schedules are subject to change.

Date	Event	Notes
June 5–6	Friends of the Library Book Sale	West Waco branch — discounted kids books
June 6	Mario character visit + scavenger hunt
June 10–12	Juggling performance — Matt Tardy	Various branches
June 11	Instrument Petting Zoo	Baylor String Project
June 16	Science Heroes interactive STEM	STEAM Center
June 20	Elsa storytime + sing-along
June 23	Dry Ice Ice Cream science demo
June 24–26	Wildlife on the Move — live animal show	Various branches
June 27	Spider-Man visit
July 8–10	Mad Science Austin
July 11	Bluey storytime + games

Paid Attractions¶

Water Parks & Outdoor Adventure¶

Hawaiian Falls Waco¶

Address: Waco, TX | Season: May–September (check hfalls.com/waco-park-hours for exact dates)

Ticket	Price	Who
Big Kahuna	$30.99	Guests 48" and taller
Little Kahuna	$20.99	Guests under 48"
2026 Summer Passport (season pass)	$49.99	Unlimited visits all season

Water slides, pools, a lazy river, and seasonal programming. The season pass at $49.99 is a strong value for families planning more than two visits.

Source: hfalls.com/waco | hfalls.com/daily-admission

Waco Surf Water Park¶

Address: 5347 Old Mexia Rd, Waco, TX | Season: May 9–September 13, 2026

Ticket	Price
Children's day pass	From $14
Family package (2 adults + 2 kids ages 6–16)	$99
Children under 6	Free (guardian waiver required)
Military	10% off

Hours: Weekdays 12pm–6pm | Weekends & holidays 11am–7pm

2026 highlights: - America's first FlowSurf Shredmill (stationary wave for all skill levels) - Glow Surf evening sessions — illuminated boards, music - The Lil' Wedgies mini slides designed for younger guests - Revised Learn-to-Surf instruction with parent ride-along sessions for young beginners (safe for ages 5+) - Lazy river, Wedge Water Slides, beach access - Coolers with food/drinks allowed (no glass)

Source: wacosurf.com/water-park-passes | Wave Pool Mag — Waco Surf 2026

Camp Fimfo Waco Day Pass¶

Season: Memorial Day through October | Hours: 11am–7pm

Ticket	Price
Day pass (ages 4+)	$41/person
Children 3 and under	Free

Includes: Resort pool, water playground (two full-size water slides, two kiddie slides, hydrostorm bucket), mini golf, sport courts, fishing pond, activities, scavenger hunt, and WiFi.

Reservations required — day passes frequently sell out. Book at campfimfo.com/waco/park-passes.

Source: campfimfo.com/waco/water-playground

Indoor Play¶

Urban Air Trampoline & Adventure Park¶

Address: 5701 West Waco Dr, Waco, TX 76710 | urbanair.com/texas-waco Hours: Mon–Thu 10am–8pm | Fri–Sat 10am–9pm | Sun 12pm–8pm

Pass	Price	Includes
Ultimate	$25.99	All attractions
Deluxe	$20.99	Most attractions
Shorty Pass (under 40")	$11.99	Kid-appropriate attractions
Parent/Spectator Pass	$13	Entry only
UA Socks (required)	$3.99

Attractions include: Trampolines, climbing walls, ropes course, Sky Rider, Warrior Course, DropZone, ProZone, dodgeball, and a dedicated Kid's Area for ages 7 & under.

Special programs: - Jumperoo (toddlers) — Wednesdays & Fridays, 10am–12pm - Homeschool Play — Wednesdays & Fridays, 2pm–4pm

Playtime Waco¶

Address: 5144 W Waco Dr, Waco, TX 76710 | playtimewaco.com Hours: Mon–Sat 8am–5pm (closed Sundays)

Ticket	Price
Open play	$13.99

Ages: 0–12. Jumbo sandbox, three life-size playhouses, a learning corner, and space for parents to sit and relax. A quieter, lower-stimulation option compared to Urban Air.

Little Land Play Gym¶

Address: Waco, TX | indoorplaygroundforkids.com — Little Land Waco

A developmental indoor play facility designed for children of all abilities, run by a pediatric therapy organization. Drop-in play available; monthly memberships also offered. Good option for families with children with different developmental needs or sensory considerations.

Museums & Attractions¶

Cameron Park Zoo¶

Address: 1701 N. 4th St., Waco, TX | cameronparkzoo.com Hours: Mon–Sat 9am–5pm | Sun 11am–5pm (last entry 4:30pm) | Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's

Ticket	Price
Adults (13+)	$18
Children (3–12)	$14
Seniors (60+)	$14
Children 2 & under	Free

Weekly deals: - Wild Wednesdays — McLennan County residents pay $12/person with proof of residency (driver's license or utility bill) - BFF Mondays — Buy one full-price ticket, get up to two additional tickets at 50% off (all guests must enter simultaneously)

Note: The Cameron Park Zoo's "Wild Wednesdays" admission discount is a separate program from the City Parks & Rec "Wild Wednesdays Hikes" (free ranger hikes at 5:45pm on Wednesdays). Both exist, same name.

Zoo splash pad operates Memorial Day–Labor Day.

2026 updates: Tembo the elephant passed away December 2025 (zoo's elephant program ended). New June 2026: 4 camels + 2 ostriches (March 2026, Camel Encounter launching end of summer); Gibbon Lake (gibbons + lemurs) opening imminently; baby orangutan, penguin chick, and rare black-footed cat kitten Maverick (number 28 in North America); jaguar habitat expansion planned. Previous additions: Penguin Shores (Aug 2024, Texas's largest penguin colony), two Sumatran tigers, new education center and animal hospital. Source: Baylor Lariat, KXXV.

Source: cameronparkzoo.com/hours-pricing

Waco Mammoth National Monument¶

Address: 6220 Steinbeck Bend Dr, Waco, TX 76708 | nps.gov/waco Hours: Check nps.gov/waco for current schedule

Ticket	Price
Adults	$6
Youth (ages 4–17)	$5
Seniors (62+)	$5
Military (with ID)	$5
Children 3 & under	Free
Groups (20+ people)	$4/person

Grounds access: Free (no ticket required)
Dig Shelter tours: Required to view fossils; tours depart every 30 minutes and last 45 minutes to 1 hour; no reservations needed
National Park passes (America the Beautiful, Senior, Access) do not apply to tour fees
Free entrance days 2026: Presidents Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day weekend, Veterans Day

Source: nps.gov/waco/planyourvisit/fees | City of Waco — Mammoth Fees

Mayborn Museum Complex (Baylor University)¶

Address: 1300 S. University Parks Dr, Waco, TX | mayborn.web.baylor.edu Hours: Mon–Sat 10am–5pm | Sun 1pm–5pm

Ticket	Price
Adults	$10
Children (2–12)	$8
Seniors (65+)	$9
Baylor students	Free
Children under 2	Free

Ways to pay less or nothing: - Museums For All — Families with an EBT/SNAP card pay $1 per person (up to 2 adults and all children in the household) - Borrow a Membership — Waco-McLennan County and Hewitt Public Library patrons can check out a museum membership card for free admission; ask at the library circulation desk - Community Days — Periodic free-admission days; check mayborn.web.baylor.edu for dates

Hands-on exhibits for ages 1–14. Includes natural history galleries, a Discovery Center, and the Governor Bill & Vara Daniel Historic Village.

Source: mayborn.web.baylor.edu/visit | WhichMuseum — Mayborn

Texas Ranger Hall of Fame & Museum¶

Address: 100 Texas Ranger Trail, Waco, TX | texasranger.org Hours: Daily 9am–4:30pm | Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's | Free parking

Ticket	Price
Adults	$10
Children (6–12)	$4
Children under 6	Free
Seniors (60+)	$8
Military / Law Enforcement	$6–$8

Group and school tours (10+) available with reservations: (254) 750-8631.

Source: texasranger.org/Visit | WhichMuseum — Texas Ranger HoF

Dr Pepper Museum¶

Address: 300 S. 5th St., Waco, TX | drpeppermuseum.com Hours: Mon–Sat 10am–5:30pm | Sun 12pm–5:30pm | Closed Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve/Day, New Year's

Ticket	Price
General admission	$12
Children (0–4)	Free
Members	Free

Free Dr Pepper included with paid admission.

Source: drpeppermuseum.com/plan-your-visit

Summer Camps (Select Options)¶

Summer camps in Waco span a wide range. A few notable options with local character:

Cameron Park Zoo Camps — Age-grouped themed camps with behind-the-scenes zoo access, zookeeper talks, and hands-on activities; the 12–14 age group includes a Thursday overnight at the Zoo. cameronparkzoo.com
Basin Climbing Camps — Four-day climbing camps running every week all summer; certified instructors, all gear provided, safety and skill progression for all levels
YMCA of Central Texas Summer Camp — Full-day and half-day options, ages 5–15; swimming, outdoor games, creative arts, team challenges
Mission Waco Children's Summer Day Camp — Faith-based summer day camp option in Waco; missionwaco.org
All That Jazz Academy of Dance — Dance camps (ballet, tap, jazz, hip-hop, lyrical) for ages 2–adult; six-week summer session beginning June 15

For a full curated list with ages, costs, and registration: Wacoan 2026 Summer Camp Guide | Macaroni KID Waco | The Waco Buzz — Summer Camp Guide

Planning Resources¶

Resource	What It Is
calendar.wacolibrary.org	All library events — filter by age group and branch
waco-texas.com/Events-Activities	City of Waco calendar — filterable by Free + category
destinationwaco.org/events	Visit Waco official event calendar
waco.macaronikid.com	Local kids event roundup, updated regularly
hoorayforfamily.com/events	Family-specific event calendar covering Waco, Killeen, Temple
thewacomoms.com	Family events blog
actlocallywaco.org/events	Act Locally Waco community events
wacoan.com/featured-events	WACOAN magazine events
wacowise.com	Events + live music listings
thewacothings.com/free-things-to-do-in-waco	25 free ideas list
eventbrite.com/d/tx--waco/free-kids-event	Eventbrite: free Waco kids events
facebook.com/groups/1511679375756300	Waco Events Facebook group — real-time local posts