Best FREE fun in Sioux City

Whether you're doing a "no spend" January, a whole "no spend" year, or you just want to be frugal in general/this weekend (really who doesn't love free fun?), there are plenty of great options in Sioux City for FREE fun with your family. In this post, I am only going to focus on places within Sioux City, Iowa. I'll work on another post about FREE venues in other Siouxland communities to post soon. So for just Sioux City, Iowa, here are some of my favorite places for free fun:

Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center and Stone Park

Learn more about Sioux City's natural environment at the Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center and Stone Park. The Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center includes fascinating exhibits inside and a nature playscape outside, along with hiking trails and other fun. The center is known for hosting great programming for all ages. Stone Park has even more hiking trails, along with camping cabins and tent camping areas, picnic areas, and a large shelter available for event rental.

For more information, check out my guide to Stone Park.

Sioux City Public Museum

This downtown museum provides an eclectic view of Sioux City history, from plesiosaur fossils to an exhibit showcasing 21st century Siouxland athletes like Shelby Houlihan. A highlight for kids is the dinosaur dig area, which could keep my kids busy for hours. The Sioux City Public Museum regularly hosts excellent FREE historical education programming for all ages including "Kids Saturdays" and "History at High Noon."

For more information, check out my full guide to the Sioux City Public Museum.

Sioux City Art Center

Enjoy a small but nice collection of pieces by regional artists and by artists from all over the globe. A highlight is the Grant Wood Corn Room which is one of the largest works by the master of the American regionalism movement. The Junior League Hands-On Gallery is full of interactive art fun for kids where they can make their own art and explore art concepts. The museum galleries and the Hands-On Gallery are all open to the public and free to visit. The Sioux City Art Center also hosts a spectacular end-of-summer art festival, which in recent years has been over Labor Day weekend and completely free to attend!

For more information, check out my full guide to the Sioux City Art Center.

Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center

The Lewis & Clark Expedition came through Sioux City in August of 1804, and the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center along the waterfront of the Missouri River, offers an insightful look into the Corps of Discovery and their historic expedition. There are some really impressive animatronics, hands-on activities throughout the center, and a play corner with a campaign tent and lots of books and toys to keep kids busy for a long time. The center hosts free programming regularly, including educational classes and workshops for kids and musical performances for all ages.

For more information, visit my full guide to the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center.

Trinity Heights

Enjoy spectacular religious art at Trinity Heights, amidst beautiful trees and flowering plants, flowing fountains and trickling brooks. The stars of the show are undoubtedly the 30-foot-tall statues of Mary and Jesus by South Dakota artist Dale Lamphere. There's also a small museum area, with a life size wood carving of the Last Supper, some additional beautiful religious art, and artifacts from Trinity College and Trinity High (which used to sit in this spot.) While Trinity Heights is Catholic, all are welcome to come enjoy the art and the grounds, for FREE regardless of belief.

For more information visit my full guide to Trinity Heights.

Mid America Museum of Aviation and Transportation

Learn about aviation, aerospace, and the history of planes in Siouxland at the Mid America Museum of Aviation and Transportation. Exhibits include a Huey helicopter and a thoughtful look at the Flight 232 crash. Open on Thursday through Saturday each week unless otherwise posted. While in past years this museum did charge for admission, general admission to the museum is now FREE!

For more information, visit the Mid America Museum of Aviation and Transportation website.

Miracle Field and Riverside Park

Riverside Park has been one of Sioux City's best for more than a century, and that holds true still today. There are playgrounds, grassy areas, picnic areas, pickleball courts, and more. The pool is usually not free, but check with Sioux City Parks & Rec or read my monthly event posts in summer to find out when it hosts Friday Night Free swims (the city rotates which pool is free, every Friday night in June and July!) A highlight of Riverside Park which is always free is the Miracle Field Complex, which includes two adaptive baseball fields, a FREE, wheel-chair accessible mini golf course, inclusive playgrounds, and two splash pads, where all are welcome. Miracle Field is one of the best adaptive playgrounds in the nation!

For more information, check out my full guide to Miracle Field.

For more park recommendations, check out my full guide to Sioux City parks.

Sioux City Public Library

The Sioux City Public Library has three branches that are all free to visit. All three branches have a nice selection of kids and adult books, and you can request your books be held at any location for pickup through the library website (including my book 100 Things to do in Sioux City and Siouxland Before You Die). And all three locations hold excellent FREE programs for kids and adults. The Morningside branch has the best play area for kids.  

For more information, visit the Sioux City Public Library website.

I'll link to the post sharing more free fun in Siouxland outside of Sioux City itself soon! And of course, keep an eye on the monthly event posts I share on SiouxlandFamilies.com. I make sure to share a variety of events each month, including as many free community events as I can find, so I hope you can find some fun that's a great fit for you.