Free Things to do in Toledo Ohio
The city of Toledo is full of incredible activities all year long. It is an amazingly affordable place guaranteed to make your wallet happy. It is home to multiple museums and one of the top-rated park systems in the United States. Here is a list of fun, free things to do in Toledo Ohio. This list is guaranteed to keep you entertained and on budget while giving you the chance to explore the area.

If you love hiking and the outdoors, don’t forget that Cuyahoga Valley National Park is a free National Park and is just a couple of hours away.
Free Outdoor Activities in Toledo
You can find plenty of free outdoor experiences in Toledo suitable for all skill and activity levels. There are plenty of parks to walk, bike, or hike in. Relax at one of the many free concerts or get dirty while hunting for fossils. Whether you want a challenge or simply enjoy nature, here is a list of the best free ways to have fun outside in Toledo!
If you are looking for more options that may include rental or entrance fees, check out Summer Activities in Toledo.
Free Concerts
All summer long, parks throughout the city put on free concerts for all to enjoy. Listen to all types of genres like folk music, jazz, and even opera. Do a quick Google or Facebook search to find out where and when the next concert will be. Don’t forget to bring snacks and something to sit on for the best experience!

Toledo Botanical Gardens
Toledo Botanical Gardens is a great place to connect with nature with its beautiful gardens throughout the property. The only downside to this outing is that they are not dog-friendly (so they can protect the plants). The Botanical Gardens is host to many of those free concerts mentioned above throughout the summer.


Hunt for Fossils
Fossil Park in Sylvania is a great outing for anyone that does not mind getting dirty. Bring a bucket and some small brushes and search the quarry for some cool fossil discoveries that you can take home with you! If you need a break from scavenging the area, there are trails available in the park. Dogs are allowed on the trails but not in the fossil-finding area. This activity is usually availabe from April to September and is fun for all ages.

Go Bouldering
Try your hand at Bouldering at Blue Creek Metro Park. If you are interested in trying your hand at rock climbing this is a fun stop to try it out at. Bouldering is basically rock climbing without the ropes and carabiners. This activity is strictly at your own risk, and you will need to bring any equipment like climbing shoes or crash pads with you.

Mountain Biking
For mountain bikers bring your bike to Oak Openings. Take a spin through the 21 obstacles on the FitPark Ride course to brush up on your skills. There are also several mountain bike trails in the park if you don’t want to use the course.

Water or Snow Fun
If you have your own kayak or canoe, there are several spots along the Maumee River you can put in for a few hours of fun on the water. There are also places at Wiregrass Lake, Blue Creek, Howard Marsh, and Oak Openings parks that provide more water-based fun.

In the winter, you can find several parks where you can cross country ski, sled, or ice skate for free if you bring your own equipment.
Metroparks Programs
The Toledo Metroparks programs. I’ve mentioned several specific activities available at different Metroparks but did you know that they also offer free organized activities like community hikes throughout the year? This is a great way to see the park system in a whole new way, try something new, or make a new friend. Like their Facebook page to be notified of new programs that will be coming up. Full disclosure: not all of their programs are free so make sure to read the full details of each program so you won’t be surprised.
If you don’t want to participate in a program, you can always explore the parks on your own!


Free Indoor Activities in Toledo
Looking for something free to do indoors in Toledo? There are several free museums in the area to offer hours of fun. Enjoy famous pieces of art or learn about the history of police and firefighters in the city. Don’t like museums? Get more hands-on by trying out a new board game at a game store or learning a new skill or watching a movie at one of the programs hosted by the library. These are great ways to spend time with your crew or to expand your horizons and meet new friends!
For more indoor opportunities take a look at Winter Activities in Toledo.
Learn a New Game
Board game lovers should head to Old School Gaming. They have demo games available for you to try out and have a dedicated board game night each Thursday. They host other activities like Dungeons and Dragons throughout the rest of the week and other special events, so check out their website to find out the latest.

Library Programs
Toledo Library Programs provide a wide array of activities- many of them being free. Take a cooking class, watch a movie, or learn a new skill like gardening or knitting. Pick up a booklet at any local library or look at their activities calendar online. Many of these events cycle through several locations so you can choose the most convenient location to you.

Toledo Museum of Art
The Toledo Museum of Art is an internationally known art museum that has free admission all year long. They are closed on Mondays and Tuesdays and be aware that there is a parking fee if you decide to use their parking lot. This museum is a great place to visit all year long with art exhibits indoors and outdoors. They regularly rotate art pieces in their galleries and for a small fee, you can choose to tour whatever traveling exhibit is available at that time.


If you are interested in glass blowing visit the Glass Pavilion across the street to watch live demos and see glass-blown art on display throughout the building.
Popcorn Museum- now closed
J.H. Fentress Antique Popcorn Museum is a fantastic spot for those who like unique places and lovers of popcorn. They do require you to call ahead to set up a tour (419-308-4812) but it is well worth it! The tour will take you through one of the largest collections of popcorn-related memorabilia in the world. The tour is around 45 min long and you will get to see everything from old-fashioned tins to popcorn-making machines. This museum closed at the end of August 2022.

Toledo Firefighters Musem
The Toledo Firefighters Museum is only open on Saturdays from 12-4 and is a great stop for anyone that loves firefighters and history. You will be able to see several antique fire trucks and how firefighting has evolved over the years. There are also several fun interactive displays to help educate children about fire safety. Many of the volunteers are retired or active firefighters to answer any and all questions you may have.

Toledo History Museum
If you are a local history buff, visit the Toledo History Museum. They are open on Saturdays from 12-5 pm and Sundays from 1-5 pm and are home to numerous collections such as pictures, period clothing, industrial tools, and household goods from Toledo’s history.

Toledo Police Museum
Anyone interested in the criminal history of the city should visit the Toledo Police Museum. Learn about the criminal records of the more infamous Toledo locals and have fun having your own mug shot taken! You can also learn different historical moments of Toledo’s police force including details about their first police dog.

Why You Should Visit:
When visiting Toledo, most people only make a point to visit the zoo but this city offers so much more! Whether you are visiting family, driving through, or live in the area, I encourage you to take some time to explore Northwest Ohio. Use this list of free things to do in Toledo to help keep you and your family entertained throughout the year.
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Wow, I just drove through Toledo last week on a road trip, I had no idea there was so much to do there! I’d love to go to one of those outdoor concerts. Thanks for this great guide!
Thanks! I am always amazed at how much free stuff there is to do here- LOL
You have pulled together a great list for a variety of interests. I would love to visit the botanical garden and enjoy the free concerts throughout the summer.
Thanks! I love having a ready list of things to do when people come into town- or when we need to get out of the house! The concerts are great 🙂
Wow! We have always overlooked Toledo when we are thinking about a domestic trip. Boy, were we wrong! I would love to see the popcorn museum and maybe even enjoy an outdoor concert or two. Nice to have a great reference resource for when we plan our trip. Thank you!
Nobody thinks that Toledo has anything except for the zoo- LOL. The popcorn museum was amazing and I highly reccommend!
I wished I lived closer to take advantage of the free concerts. It might be worth a weekend trip to check out the local hiking since my husband and I love to hike.
Oak Openings, Wildwood, and Secor are my favorite parks to hike in!
Sounds like something free for everyone!!
Yup! I love the options available!!
Great list of activities! I want to see that popcorn museum!
I didn’t think I would like it (it was something I knew my husband would like) but I actually really enjoyed it!
I haven’t been to Toledo in a minute. Didn’t realize there was so much to do! It would only be a couple hour road trip for me too. Popcorn museum here I come!
I was surprised at how much I loved the Popcorn Museum!
Great list of things to do on a budget! I think people definitely tend to underestimate the amount of free activities available to them in their area!
Yes, I think we fall into a trap and think that everything fun costs money. Not the case in Toledo!
What fun things to do! There’s a lot, and free is good!
I love free!
My boys would love the fossil park and popcorn museum! I never would have known these things were there.
Those are two of my favorite things! They have good taste 🙂
Great post. Perfect for large families like us as doing activities can become expensive so fast.
I can imagine!
I haven’t been to Ohio since I was in middle school. Toledo sounds awesome though. Thanks for sharing!
Your welcome!
LOL – when I lived in Ohio (long ago), Toledo was kind of a joke – I can see that either I was misinformed, or Toledo has upped it’s game in the intervening 3-4 decades!
From what I understand they have made many huge improvements to the area 🙂
How fun! I hope I get to visit this area some day.
I hope you do too!
Ok… the popcorn museum sounds like the ‘corn’ attractions my kids would go for! We haven’t been as far as Toledo yet (only made it to Cleveland)… but someday soon!
The popcorn museum is easily in my top 5 of the best weird museums so far! Eventually I’ll make an official list LOL
Lots of fun things to do in Toledo! I’d head to the botanical garden first!
Excellent ideas for activities while in Toledo!
Thanks!
Wow, so many great things to do here! I need to add this to my places to visit in the near future. Everything looks great, and family friendly too!
I am constantly amazed at how much there is to do here