Upcoming Events for free/low cost
Looking for fun and low cost activities to engage your child this summer? View this list of upcoming events in and around the Johnston community, compiled by our Student Success in Learning Advocates!
Click here for or a full list of low cost/free resources.
| Name of Business/Opportunity | Location | What’s Offered | Cost | Date/ Any Restrictions? | Contact Information/Website |
| Johnston Yard summer movies | Johnston Town Center | Bring your own lawn chair and blanket and join the community for free movie nights at the Johnston Yard! | Free | 5/23; 7/18; 8/28; 9/29 | Learn More |
| Party in the Park (June) | Walker Johnson Park | Food trucks and live music. Inflatables (bounce houses), laser tag and lawn games for kids | Free | June 13, 5-9 p.m. | Learn More |
| Party in the Park (August) | Walker Johnson Park | Food trucks and live music. Inflatables (bounce houses), laser tag and lawn games for kids | Free | August 15, 5-9 p.m. | Learn More |
| Des Moines Parks & Rec Adapted Summer Camp |
Various Locations in DSM | Join us for four days of exciting adapted sensory activities! Each day features a new activity at a different location, providing a fun and engaging experience for your child. Participants will explore activities designed around adaptability, fostering confidence and new skills. This program is thoughtfully designed to accommodate individual needs and abilities, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to learn and participate in a way that works best for them. |
Free | Ages 7-15 June 23-27, 2025 10:30-11:45 a.m. |
Learn More |
| Family Fest | Johnston Town Center | Join us for an afternoon of family fun on Saturday, June 7! We will have various activities for your family to enjoy for FREE. The event will run from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Johnston Town Center (6245 Merle Hay Rd.). Overflow parking will be available across the street at Lawson Elementary School (5450 NW 62nd Ave.). We hope to see you there! | Free | 6/7/2025 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. |
Learn More |
| Free Fishing Weekend | State of Iowa | Free | June 6-8th, 2025 | Learn More | |
| Family Scavenger Hunt | All around Urbandale. | Urbandale Parks and Recreation has 57 parks within the city limits. Do you know where they are? How many have you been to? What is unique about each park? Spend the summer with your family exploring as many of those 57 parks as you can.At the registration deadline, you will receive a list of clues with one specific detail of each park. You will need to complete the list and email it back to cbarkema@urbandale.org by September 1.All correct Summer Scavenger Hunt lists will be entered into a drawing for fabulous prizes. |
Free | Register by May 18, 2025 | Learn More |
| Johnston Library Summer Reading Challenge | 6700 Merle Hay Rd, Johnston, IA 50131 | 1. Summer Reading Challenges (for ALL Ages) – with prizes | Free | Learn More | |
| Des Moines Art Center | 4700 Grand Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50312 | Open free to the public! Self guided tours and events/programs througout the summer for children. | Free | Open Tuesday & Wednesday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Thursday & Friday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday & Sunday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. | Learn More |