Concert tickets have increased in price, movie tickets have gotten outrageous, and a fun night out on the town usually means a deep hole in your pocket the next day. It seems like it really does cost to be cool and have fun — or does it?
Well, here in Yakima, we might have to beg to differ because there is plenty of fun, free activities that won’t leave you breaking the bank and regretting going out the next day!
Learn for Free at the Yakima Valley Museum
2105 Tieton Dr., Yakima
509.248.0747
Free fun is abundant for the whole family at the Yakima Valley Museum! Here you can learn about local history and more at no cost, thanks to their free admission days. These are held on the first Saturday of every month from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. and on the third Saturday as well each month from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Besides free admission days, the museum also hosts Family Fun Days throughout the year, which are free and open to the public.
These fun-filled events include hands-on activities, demonstrations, and games related to the museum’s featured exhibits during those times. Throughout the year, the museum also presents several other special events typically related to holiday celebrations and cultural festivals, all of which are also free and open to the public. Be sure to check out their events page for all upcoming, free fun activities and celebrations.
Get in Shape With a Free Workout
Those in Yakima looking to get their blood pumping can actually do so for free, and not just by running around the block! Several local spots offer free workouts on select days throughout the year.
For instance, the Yakima Athletic Club offers free workout sessions to non-members on select days, usually during the club’s open house events held several times throughout the year. This allows non-members to explore the club’s facilities while participating in group fitness classes for free to determine if the club is a right fit for them.
Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital also offers many free fitness classes as part of its wellness program, all of which can be found on the events calendar. Also, much like the Yakima Athletic Club, the Yakima YMCA offers free community days as well on select days throughout the year, where non-members can access their facilities and participate in group fitness classes for free.
Enjoy Free Fun Every Day at Yakima’s Parks
You can enjoy scenic beauty, recreational activities, and family-friendly amenities, all for free at any of Yakima’s many beautiful local parks! For instance, Franklin Park on Tieton Drive features a playground, tennis courts, a skate park, a basketball court, and picnic areas, all free to the public any time of day throughout the year.
Other local parks also offer free water fun during the warmer seasons, such as Sarg Hubbard Park, which features a spray park and Chesterley Park, which boosts an epically cool splash pad that’s great for beating the heat.
One can also never forget the Yakima Greenway for free outdoor fun! The ten-mile-long park and trail system runs along the Yakima River, offering scenic views, a plethora of walking and biking trails, wildlife viewing opportunities, fishing spots, and picnic and playground areas that can all be used for free! The Greenway even hosts outdoor events and activities throughout the year that are free and open to the public, such as concerts, festivals, and nature walks.
Free Fun at the Central Washington Agricultural Museum
4508 Main St., Union Gap
509.457.8735
Learning is free at the Central Washing Agricultural Museum in Union Gap! Here, friends and family can enjoy a variety of exhibits and activities that showcase the region’s rich agricultural history. The museum also offers numerous hands-on activities for the kiddos to enjoy, including a sandbox filled with toy tractors and a pedal tractor course. How fun!
Exhibits at the museum feature antique farming equipment and tools, so you can learn about the farming techniques of the region’s early settlers and catch a glimpse of antique tractors, plows, harvesters, and other machines used in the early days of farming.
The museum also features a farmhouse, blacksmith shop, and railroad exhibit. The Farmhouse is a fully restored 1890s home showcasing what life was like for a farming family during that time, complete with authentic furnishings and artifacts that reflect the era. At the blacksmith shop, visitors can watch free demonstrations and see how metalworking was done in the past. Over at the railroad exhibit, you’ll be able to check out a restored caboose and other railroad artifacts as the exhibition highlights the critical role that the railroads played in the agricultural industry and Yakima’s early history.
While no admission is charged to enjoy any of these wonderful activities the museum offers, donations are greatly appreciated as the museum remains open and is primarily supported by memberships, businesses, bequests, and donations.
Explore the Downtown Yakima Farmers Market for Free
19 S 3rd St., Yakima
509.961.2055
More free family fun in a vibrant and welcoming atmosphere can be found at the Downtown Yakima Farmers Market every summer starting mid-May until late October! Though the popular local market offers a variety of fresh produce, artisan goods, and other locally sourced products from Yakima artists, crafters, and more, you don’t have to break the bank to enjoy all the market has to offer.
One of the most popular free activities at the market is its live music and entertainment. Local musicians and performers take center stage every week to provide a lively soundtrack to the outdoor shopping experience. From bluegrass to folk tunes, rock to blues, it’ll all be brought to you by local Yakima singers, bands, and entertainers for you to enjoy.
Kiddos visiting the market can enjoy free fun at the kids’ area, which offers free games and activities for children. Here, little ones can enjoy a variety of crafts, games, and educational activities designed to engage and entertain boys and girls of all ages so that parents can relax and enjoy their shopping while the kiddos are occupied with some free fun!
Check out the Yakima Visitors Center’s Free Services
101 N Fair Ave., Yakima
509.573.3388
With the Yakima Visitors Center being a primary resource for visitors to the beloved city, there’s no surprise that the center also offers a wide variety of free services and activities to help visitors make the most of their time while visiting the region.
Besides offering no-cost booking assistance for transportation, stays, and experiences, they also host a number of free events and activities throughout the year. Art exhibits, cultural presentations, and historical tours are frequently held by the center, with these fun, free events listed on their calendar of events. Check in frequently, and you might find something fun to do at no cost!
The visitors center also offers free tour maps of the city’s downtown region, which are great for fun, free self-guided walking tours of downtown Yakima as the maps explore interesting local architecture and landmarks, as well as the rich history that surrounds the city.
Enjoy a Free Tour of Local Wineries and Breweries in Yakima
With Yakima taking great pride in their hop country, its no surprise that many of the region’s local wineries and breweries happily offer up free tours for visitors and locals alike who want to learn all about Yakima Valley and how it produces the majority of hops grown in the United States each year (fun fact).
Local wineries like Treveri Cellars offer free tours of their production facilities, with some, such as Gilbert Cellars, going a little beyond by also offering free tours of their tasting room. In such tours, visitors can expect a behind-the-scenes look at the winemaking process and what makes Yakima Valley wines so special. Some of these even offer complimentary tastings of their wines, such as Two Mountain Winery and Masset Winery.
Breweries in Yakima also offer free tours of their production facilities so that visitors can see how they make their delicious brews and learn about the brewing process. Many of them, like Valley Brewing Co., Single Hill Brewing, and Yakima Craft Brewing Company, also allows visitors to explore the taproom and enjoy a free tasting of their beers during their free tours.
There are plenty of other Yakima wineries and breweries that offer free tours as well. To learn more, visit the main website of whichever local hop hub you’re interested in and check their free tour dates on their events calendars!
Are there any free fun activities you enjoy in our Yakima community that we missed? Send us your answers at submit@yakimatalk.com, and they just might be included in our next free-fun article. And, of course, all articles at YakimaTalk are free to the public, so don’t forget to like our Facebook page for more free fun and info about Yakima!
