50+ Free Things for Kids and Families to do in San Antonio

There are so many fantastic ways to spend time with your kids in San Antonio this summer. Wouldn’t it be nice if they didn’t all cost a lot of money? Here’s San Antonio Mom Blogs’ list of 50+ free camps, activities, events, and programs your kids will love experiencing this summer and they are all free!

Free tech camps for kids

Apple
These three-day, free Apple camp sessions teach kids, ages 8-12, how to use iMovie to make their own films.

Microsoft
Microsoft hosts free Youthspark Summer Camps at their La Cantera store for kids, ages 8-10 and 11-13. Courses include: smart game coding, smart game designing, smart movie making, smart photo taking. Registration is now open.

Free programming camps for middle and high schoolers
Three free programming camps for middle and high schoolers in San Antonio this summer. San Antonio Youth Code Jam has details on these camps which take place in June and August this summer. Register now!

Things to do-

With so many choices, where do you begin? Right here. Take a look at all the amazing things to do while at Six Flags Fiesta Texas — from pulse-pounding roller coasters to gentler options for tots. Cool off at White Water Bay or take a break at one of our entertaining shows. Catch a bite at one of our restaurants and don't forget to pick up your souvenirs so you can remember the day!

SeaWorld's Christmas Celebration

SeaWorld San Antonio is decking out the halls for its annual Christmas Celebration, an extraordinary holiday event November 19 - January 1. This wintery, watery wonderland features Christmas shows, holiday lights, festive foods, Santa Claus and more!

New in 2016, the park is covered with 5 million lights, the largest Christmas light display in Texas, and guests can meet Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and friends. 'Tis the season to create family memories, only found at SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration.

Light the Way

2016 HIGHLIGHT

The crisp, clear skies provided the perfect backdrop for fireworks, twinkling lights and even snow as the University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) officially kicked off the holiday season at the 30th anniversary of Light the Way. The event held Saturday, Nov. 19 brought a record breaking crowd of over 8,500 guests to the Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium where UIW Interim President Dr. Denise Doyle and her special guest, two-year old Eleanor Tucker, flipped the switch and illuminated the campus in nearly a million vibrant lights. 

 

The event was the finale to a fun-filled evening sponsored by H-E-B. The highlight of the evening was a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus who entered the stadium in a horse drawn carriage accompanied by angels from UIW’s Brainpower elementary schools amidst a blanket of snow that enchanted the audience.

Special guests for the evening included Sr. Teresa Maya, CCVI, congregational leader of the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word and Dya Campos, H-E-B., director of government and public affairs. The evening began with the National Anthem performed by UIW alumna, Dionne Bedell.

Zoo Lights

Merry & Bright and Wild at Night!

Open nightly at 6:00 p.m., from November 18, 2016 - January 1, 2017, Zoo Lights is a nighttime holiday tradition for the whole family! Stroll under an array of twinkling lights while you sip hot cocoa, roast s'mores and enjoy an all-new light show. Plus, visit Santa and tell him what's on your Christmas wish list. Also, new this year is the ice skating rink and camel rides. The Zoo will close for the day at 4:00 p.m. and re-opens at 6:00 p.m. during Zoo Lights.

Discover local talent in Southtown

Local artists are featured every first Friday of the month year-round at this event. Participants include studios, galleries, and the Blue Star Contemporary Art Museum. Go support the people who make San Antonio awesome.