Things to do with kids in Tallahassee: Cascades Park's Discovery playground and fountain, free library story times, the Tallahassee Museum and Challenger IMAX.
Last checked 2026-10-10. Facts come from the City of Tallahassee, the LeRoy Collins Leon County Public Library’s event calendar and each venue’s own page, linked below.
The best free kids’ outing in Tallahassee is Cascades Park downtown: the Discovery play area, the Imagination Fountain splash pad and 2.3 miles of paved trails, all at 1001 S. Gadsden St. On weekday mornings the county libraries run free story times; for a rainy day, the Challenger Learning Center has an IMAX theater and a planetarium.
Who to call
- City parks and Cascades Park: 850-891-3866
- Tallahassee Museum: 850-575-8684
- Challenger Learning Center box office: 850-645-7827
- Tallahassee Automobile Museum: 850-942-0137
Playgrounds and splash pads
- Cascades Park, 1001 S. Gadsden St. Discovery is a natural-materials play area with a Cypress Climb, Steephead Slide, Log Jump, a butterfly garden and a beach sand area. Imagination Fountain has 73 jets that fire at random, with public changing rooms beside it; interactive play runs 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily, and the city warns it can be down for maintenance. No food, drink or animals in the fountain.
- Tom Brown Park, east of Capital Circle SE between Mahan Drive and Apalachee Parkway: nearly 300 acres with playgrounds, ballfields, wooded trails and a pump track. Open sunrise to sunset.
- More city parks and their playgrounds are on the city’s parks finder and our parks and trails guide.
City pools and summer camps are on our summer camps and pools page.
Library story times
The LeRoy Collins Leon County Public Library runs these free weekly story times this fall, most followed by a half-hour “Stay and Play”:
| Story time | Ages | When | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baby Story Time | 0 to 2 | Tuesdays, 10:30 a.m. | Main Library |
| Preschool Story Time | 3 to 6 | Thursdays, 10:30 a.m. | Main Library |
| Sensory Story Time | See listing | Fridays, 10:30 a.m. | Main Library |
| Baby Story Time | 0 to 2 | Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m. | Bruce J. Host Northeast Branch |
| Preschool Story Time | 3 to 6 | Thursdays, 11:30 a.m. | Bruce J. Host Northeast Branch |
| Preschool Story Time | 3 to 6 | Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m. | Eastside Branch |
| Baby Story Time | 0 to 2 | Fridays, 10:30 a.m. | Eastside Branch |
| Preschool Story Time | 3 to 6 | Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m. | Lake Jackson Branch |
| Family Story Time | All | Saturdays, 11 a.m. | Dr. B.L. Perry Jr. Branch |
| Virtual Story Time | All | Wednesdays, 9:30 a.m. | Online |
Older kids: Lego Club meets Saturday afternoons at the Main Library and the Northeast, Eastside, Dr. B.L. Perry Jr., Lake Jackson and Fort Braden branches, and Homework Hub runs Monday afternoons at the Main Library and Tuesday afternoons at the Perry branch. Check the calendar for holiday closures.
Museums and indoor play
- Tallahassee Museum, 3945 Museum Drive: native Florida wildlife along boardwalks, historic buildings and Tree-to-Tree Adventures. Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday; free parking. Its Trail Break Café is closed Oct. 16 to Dec. 3 for a refresh.
- Challenger Learning Center, 200 S. Duval St. on Kleman Plaza: the IMAX theater, Fogg Planetarium and a space mission simulator, run by the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering. Call the box office for IMAX and planetarium tickets.
- Tallahassee Automobile Museum, off I-10 at Exit 209A: classic cars and a collection of Batmobiles from the Hollywood movies. Open daily; children 4 and under free.
- Museum of Florida History, 500 S. Bronough St.: temporarily closed during renovations at the R.A. Gray Building, its website says.
Seasonal
- Halloween, trunk-or-treats and Goodwood’s free family day: Halloween events.
- Egg hunts: Easter in Tallahassee.
- Spring break camps and things to do: spring break.
What this means for you
- Free and outdoors: Cascades Park’s Discovery area and fountain, every day.
- Free and indoors: library story times, mostly weekday mornings at 10:30 a.m.
- Rainy weekend: the Challenger IMAX or the Automobile Museum.
Related: free things to do, walking and biking trails and dog-friendly Tallahassee.
Frequently asked questions
Where are story times in Tallahassee?
The LeRoy Collins Leon County Public Library runs free weekly story times: baby story time Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m. at the Main Library, preschool Thursdays at 10:30 a.m., sensory story time Fridays at 10:30 a.m., and more at the Northeast, Eastside, Lake Jackson and Dr. B.L. Perry Jr. branches.
Is there a splash pad in Tallahassee?
Yes. Imagination Fountain in Cascades Park, 1001 S. Gadsden St., has 73 water jets and interactive play from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily, the city says, with changing rooms next to it. No food, drink or animals in the fountain.
What can kids do in Tallahassee on a rainy day?
Library story times and Lego clubs, the IMAX theater and planetarium at the Challenger Learning Center on Kleman Plaza, and the Tallahassee Automobile Museum, where children 4 and under get in free.
What are the Tallahassee Museum’s hours?
9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, at 3945 Museum Drive, with free parking. It closes on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
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