Top 10 Free Local Things to Do This Summer

Lehigh Valley is teeming with free fun, ranging from festivals and concert series to outdoor activities and museum happenings.

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While the region’s restaurants, shopping and ticketed entertainment are worth every penny, there are also endless ways you can frolic for free. Drop a donation here and there while you enjoy these generous events and activities!

1. Hiking/Biking   

Meeting up for a hike or a bike ride is a great way to blend socializing with healthy movement, and there are almost endless trails to choose from. THE LINK Trail Network is an organization with the goal of piecing the patchwork of multi-use pathways together, connecting 125 miles (and counting!) under one mission. Check out THE LINK’s handy trail maps and online search function to pinpoint the perfect park for fishing, horseback riding or a puppy playdate. And be sure to take in all of the local history and scenic surroundings that stretch for 165 miles on the D&L Trail. 

DiscoverLehighValley.com/summer

2. Sundays at Allentown Art Museum   

From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sundays, the Allentown Art Museum makes its collection free to visitors—just be sure to reserve timed tickets in advance. Treat your senses to towering Japanese ceramics, ancient Indian sculptures and hushed galleries lined with Renaissance and Baroque paintings. Kids can explore new art-making opportunities in the museum’s Art Ways children’s gallery and take home an original creation.

DiscoverLehighValley.com/summer

3. Mayfair Arts Festival  

Celebrate the 30-year tradition that is the Mayfair Festival of the Arts! From May 28–30, head to Cedar Crest College and check out the 100-plus local artisans on site, featuring pottery, fiber arts, woodworking, glass, jewelry, drawing and photography. Don't miss the food and craft vendors, music and live performances. 

DiscoverLehighValley.com/summer

4. Movies in the Park

Enjoy the thrill of the big screen under a starlit sky, and don’t forget the snacks! At Grange Park in Macungie, you can drive in to see The Trolls in June, The Princess Bride in July and Black Panther in August. There’s no shortage of other showings to check out, including at the Promenade, SteelStacks and the Forks Township Amphitheater.

DiscoverLehighValley.com/summer

5. Werk IT Wednesday 

Hosted by Downtown Allentown Business Alliance and Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center, find fun in the first Wednesday of every month with Werk IT Wednesday. Enjoy happy hour specials, drag queen entertainment, pop-up shops and DJs at your favorite Allentown eateries all summer long. Make sure to properly celebrate National Leave the Office Early Day at Brü Daddy's on June 2. 

DiscoverLehighValley.com/summer

6. ¡Sabor! Latin Festival 

Taking place in June, this two-day festival on the campus of SteelStacks celebrates the culture and cuisine of the region’s vast Latino population. With arts and crafts for the kids, an array of free music and Latin dance displays, it’s sizzling summer fun. Grab enticing eats from the food vendors and join the fiesta!

DiscoverLehighValley.com/summer

7. Sigal Museum Sidewalk Series 

Scrumptious finds at the Easton Farmers Market may thrill adults, but if your kids aren’t as charmed by swiss chard, reward their patience with Sigal Museum’s Sidewalk Series. On the market’s Honey Bee Day in June, youngsters can make their own beeswax candles, and Peach Day in August means a peach pit whittling demonstration. Check out Sigal’s Scavenger Hunt as well!

DiscoverLehighValley.com/summer

8. Free Music Series 

The region is awash in free music, from downtown twilight concerts to picnic in the park presentations. In Allentown, experience Rock the Walk every Thursday at ArtsWalk Pocket Park from 4 to 9 p.m.; or check out Live at the Falls on Thursday nights at Scott Park in Easton; head to the patio at The Promenade Shops at Saucon Valley on select Saturdays from 1–4 p.m.; and the Levitt Pavilion Summer Concert Series has shows scheduled most Saturdays and Sundays through September. No matter your hometown, there’s probably a free summer music series to bring you and your picnic blanket out for a relaxing time!

DiscoverLehighValley.com/summer

9. Sundays at Historic Bethlehem

Free Sundays at the Kemerer Museum of Decorative Arts let kids delve into techniques and mediums they may not have tried yet, giving their creativity greater range. A scavenger hunt is included in museum tours to keep youngsters engaged, and Career Corner uses an activity to show how a visiting professional uses design in their work.

DiscoverLehighValley.com/summer

10. Picnic in a Park   

Don't let summer pass you by without packing your own picnic lunch and enjoying the afternoon at one of the region's beautiful parks. Hit the Allentown Rose Garden in June when the roses are in full bloom!

DiscoverLehighValley.com/summer

This post is a sponsored collaboration between Discover Lehigh Valley and Lehigh Valley Style.