Jan 3, 2024 - Things to Do
Lots of free, fun places to take kids during winter in Salt Lake
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Illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios
Need to keep the kids busy? Want to escape the cold, dirty winter air?
Here are lots of free indoor activities for kids and families in 2024:
Not your mom's story time
The county and city library systems have sooooo many events and activities:
- Regular clubs and meetings for computer coding, chess, gaming, YA readers and casual hangs
- Free use of LEGOs, video and tabletop games and other toys
- Scavenger hunts
- Reading practice with therapy dogs
- Arts, crafts and science projects
- A formal dance for teens
- Live music, puppet shows and, of course, story time
How it works: Scan the calendars for literally dozens of options each day.
Museums on a budget
- The Utah Museum of Fine Art offers free admission on the first Wednesday and third Saturday of each month.
- The Utah Museum of Contemporary Art suggests a $10 donation, but it's OK to pay what you can.
- The Chase Home Museum of Utah Folk Arts in Liberty Park is always free and fun.
- The Sorenson Unity Center gallery has rotating exhibits, usually with hands-on elements.
- The Gale Center Museum in South Jordan has kid-friendly interactive exhibits and craft kits.
- Take the kids to the Utah State Capitol for a free tour.
- Use the Pioneer Memorial Museum's floor-by-floor online guide to make a scavenger hunt.
- Visit the Fort Douglas Military Museum.
Play and learn
- Clark Planetarium is the big winner among Salt Lake's free, indoor "playgrounds," with outstanding interactive exhibits and a jungle gym.
- Shops at South Town has a free playground and family "Kids Club" parties on the third Thursday of each month.
- Hit the City Creek play area by the food court.
Try something new
- The Mundi Project offers pay-what-you-can music classes at community centers in Salt Lake City, Kearns and Provo.
- Code Ninjas, with four Salt Lake locations, offers a free drop-in session to start learning coding.
- Take a free ice skating class next week at one of three Salt Lake County rinks.
- Clever Cucumber offers free art classes and studio access in Rose Park.
- Lakeshore Learning occasionally hosts free educational activities — like slime-making later this month.
- Pray for a good roll at open-play sessions hosted by game shops like Game Night, Legendarium, Oasis or Mind Games. Call first for age range estimates.
- Home Depot hosts craft and building projects for kids on the first Saturday of each month.