10 Kid-Friendly Outings in Downtown Akron

Looking for kid-friendly fun? Look no further than downtown Akron. All year long, the neighborhood is full of unique, enriching, and even educational things to do, perfect for keeping the kids entertained while enjoying family time in downtown Akron.

Photo: Akron Children's Museum

1. Visit the Akron Children's Museum

The Akron Children’s Museum opened in 2016 and is a gathering space for children and families where play inspires exploration, discovery, and problem-solving. The museum houses nearly 20 interactive exhibits for kids to learn and play. Throughout the year, they host special events, like Hands-On Halloween and Make-Believe Midnight, and every Thursday, they’re open late.

Photo: Shane Wynn

2. Stroll Through the Akron Zoo

Aside from being home to animals from around the world, the Akron zoo prioritizes education and important conservation work that helps save animals from extinction and fight climate change. They’re the third zoo in the past 50 years to receive a ‘clean’ accreditation inspection from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Accreditation Commission, which is a pretty big deal. The zoo is also the second zoo in the nation to have become inclusive to kids (and adults) who have sensory processing needs. Visit the zoo to see over 2,000 animals and participate in special kid-friendly events.

Photo: Shane Wynn

3. Take Advantage of The Library

Remember what it felt like to go to the library when you were a kid? It was magic, ripe with potential for a thousand different adventures within the pages of books on the shelves. Give your kids the opportunity to feel that, too! In addition to having literally millions of books (and other media) available to borrow, the library holds programming for kids of all ages—seriously, from babies to teenagers—every week. Check out their website for an extensive list of free, kid friendly events and to register.

Photo: Tim Fitzwater

4. Enjoy Winter Activities at Lock 3

Main Street comes alive in the winter, when twinkly lights are strung in the trees, nostalgic displays fill storefront windows, Archie the Talking Snowman greets visitors, and of course, ice skating opens in the heart of downtown. Rent skates for $5 per pair (or bring your own for $3), and go crazy! You can even add on a game of Polar Putt-Putt for $1 more. For other ways to enjoy the ice rink, try ice bumper cars ($10 for 10 minutes) or ice bikes ($10 for 20 minutes). Winter activities run the day after Thanksgiving through Presidents Day weekend.

Photo: The Green Dragon Inn

5. Play a Game at The Green Dragon Inn

Take family game night to the next level at the Green Dragon Inn Board Game Bar & Café. Located on the second story of its building on East Market Street, it's sure to surprise and intrigue family members of all ages with its immersive medieval-themed décor and 750+ board games to borrow. Play one with your kids while you munch on appetizers and handhelds and enjoy a non-alcoholic beverage or two.

Photo: Akron Art Museum

6. Akron Art Museum Family Activities

Who says high art has to be for adults? The Akron Art Museum offers a variety of family and kid friendly programming that encourages people of all ages to nurture their creativity, learn about art, and spend time together as a family. The museum regularly hosts Family Day events where kids of all ages can experience art. It also has Open Studio in its lobby, which offers sensory activities for babies, messy art materials for school-age kids, and art opportunities for adults. Aside from these predominantly kid-specific activities, admission to the museum is always free to visitors under the age of 18. Learn more about the art museum’s family programming on their website.

Photo: Richard Walter

7. Clayton Bailey’s World of Wonders

Human-sized robots, mechanical wonders, and a slew of other curiosities: what could be more fascinating to onlookers of all ages? Ceramic and metal artist Clayton Bailey has created a museum’s worth of artifacts that, according to Rick Rogers, founder of Curated Storefront, offers “ongoing commentary on some of our greatest fears and fascinations during the Sixties and Seventies—from pollution to space exploration.” Not to mention, the exhibition is simply really freakin’ cool. Visit the Polsky Building (accessible from Main Street) to be dazzled by legendary robots at World of Wonders: Mechanical Molecules.

Photo: Dale Dong

8. See a Show at the Akron Civic Theatre

The beautiful Akron Civic Theatre is designed to resemble a Moorish castle and holds tons and tons of shows throughout the year—both on their spectacular main stage, and in the smaller Knight Stage space. Shows run the gamut from nationally famous musicians and comedians to Broadway shows, tribute bands, dance troupes and more. The shows are generally open to people of all ages, but some are even kid-specific and feature favorite childhood characters. Visit the Civic’s website to see their schedule of events and to purchase tickets.

Photo: The Great Escape Room

9. Test Your Wits at The Great Escape Room

Give the kids a chance to solve a puzzle at the Great Escape Room. This experience is ideal for groups of at least four and up to 10 people, and people of all ages can participate (those under 16 just require parental accompaniment). They’ve got three immersive experiences to choose from, including Poker Night at the President’s Bunker, Rob The Mob: Break-In At Bubba’s, and Moriarty’s Gameroom: The Hunt is Afoot. Each room is full of opportunities to use deductive reasoning and your scavenger hunting expertise to solve the puzzle, and maybe even save the world from nuclear Armageddon.

Play during their regular business hours, or book a private session at whatever time is most convenient for you and your group.

Photo: Chris Rutan

10. Visit a Downtown Festival

Even when the weather starts to cool down, there are several festivals to experience in the neighborhood. Downtown Akron Fall Fest, a Main Street trick-or-treat event; the Smells Like Snow Coffee Festival, a Gilmore Girls–inspired event; and the Downtown Akron Lunar New Year Celebration, which takes place inside the Akron Civic Theatre, are all kid-friendly, fun, and free or very low cost to attend. There are often free crafts for kids, lawn games to play, and more. Keep an eye on our events calendar for festival dates, times, and other details.

See our updated traffic advisories and parking information to navigate and park downtown with ease.

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