Free things to do in Rowlett this weekend with kids

Not everything has to cost money. Here are genuinely free things to do with kids in Rowlett any weekend, plus some rotating free events.

Always free — any weekend:

1. Rowlett Community Park (8100 Community Park Ln) — Playground, splash pad (Memorial Day-Labor Day), open fields, pavilions. This is the hub. The playground equipment is newer (replaced 2023) and there's shade.

2. Pecan Grove Park (4000 Pecan Grove Ln) — Walking trails, playgrounds, fishing pier on Rowlett Creek. Bring a fishing pole — no license required for kids under 17 in Texas. Bluegill and bass in the creek.

3. Rowlett Public Library (3900 Main St) — Free storytime for toddlers (Tues/Wed/Thu mornings), LEGO club, STEM activities, summer reading program. The children's section is well-stocked and the librarians are saints.

4. Lake Ray Hubbard shoreline — Walk the trails at Paddle Point Park. Skip rocks. Watch the sunset. Free and beautiful.

5. Sapphire Bay Boardwalk — Walk the boardwalk, watch the boats, let the kids run on the green spaces. No cost to walk around.

6. Rowlett Nature Trail (along Rowlett Creek) — Paved trail, good for bikes and strollers. Watch for turtles at the creek crossings — kids love it.

Free recurring events:

1. Movies in the Park — Free outdoor movies on Friday nights in June at Community Park. Bring a blanket.

2. Library Summer Reading Program — June through August. Kids earn prizes for reading. Sign up at the library starting May 1.

3. Splash Pad — Community Park, Memorial Day through Labor Day. Free. 10am-7pm daily.

Free weekend ideas that cost $0:

1. Bike the DART trail — The bike path near the DART station connects to Garland trails. Flat, paved, safe for kids.

2. Geocaching — There are 15+ geocaches hidden around Rowlett parks. Download the Geocaching app (free version works fine). Kids think it's a treasure hunt because it is.

3. Watch the trains — The DART Blue Line passes through the station every 10-20 minutes. Toddlers and train-obsessed kids will sit and watch for an hour. Bring a snack and park near the station.

Almost free (under $5):

• Rowlett Community Centre open swim — $5/person
• Fishing bait at Walmart — $3 for a container of worms
• Kite flying at Community Park — $1 kite from Dollar Tree

Sources:

• City of Rowlett Parks & Rec (rowlett.com/parks)
• Rowlett Public Library events calendar (rowlett.com/library)
• Geocaching.com — Rowlett, TX search