Things to Do in Fresno
Parks, museums, water parks, lakes, family fun centers, and the week's events. Everything worth doing in Fresno County, in one place.
This guide covers 54 places to go in Fresno, Clovis, and the rest of Fresno County. It includes the Chaffee Zoo, Forestiere Underground Gardens, Woodward Park and its Japanese garden, lakes on the San Joaquin and Kings rivers, museums, water parks, and the walkable districts. Every listing shows the address, price level, and age fit.
The weekend section below updates from our Fresno events calendar, so it reflects what is actually happening this week. For produce stands and food vendors, see the Fresno farmers markets guide.
This Weekend in Fresno
Full events calendar →10 events in the next seven days, from our events calendar. Updated daily.
Today August 13
Tomorrow August 14
Saturday August 15
Sunday August 16
Monday August 17
Tuesday August 18
Wednesday August 19
Top Attractions in Fresno
The places visitors ask about first. Each one links to hours, prices, and directions.
- 1. Fresno Chaffee ZooFresno's zoo in Roeding Park, with elephants, lions, a tropical aviary, giraffe feeding, and a stingray touch pool. Plan two to three hours, and go in the morning during summer.
- 2. Forestiere Underground GardensHand-dug underground tunnels, rooms, and planting courtyards built by Baldassare Forestiere starting in 1906. Seen on an hour-long guided tour, cool even in summer heat.
- 3. Woodward ParkFresno's largest park, about 300 acres near the river bluffs, with trails, a dog park, disc golf, an amphitheater, and the Shinzen Japanese garden inside.
- 4. Shinzen Friendship GardenA Japanese garden inside Woodward Park with a koi pond, tea house, and arched bridge. Cherry blossoms peak in March. Open limited days, small entry fee.
- 5. Island WaterparkFresno's outdoor water park on W Barstow Ave, open late May through September. Wave pool, lazy river, and racing slides. General admission about $40 in 2026.
- 6. Rotary StorylandStorybook-themed kids park in Roeding Park next to the Chaffee Zoo. Admission $10 adult, $8 child. Open Wed-Fri 9 AM to 2 PM and weekends 9 AM to 4 PM.
- 7. Tower DistrictFresno's arts and nightlife district around the 1939 Tower Theatre: about 80 restaurants, bars, theatres, and shops at Olive and Wishon.
- 8. Millerton Lake State Recreation AreaThe closest big lake to Fresno, 25 minutes north behind Friant Dam, for boating, swimming, and fishing. Bald eagle boat tours run in winter. Day-use vehicle fee.
- 9. Fresno Art MuseumThe only accredited art museum between LA and the Bay Area, with modern, contemporary, and Mexican collections. About an hour to see, closed Mondays and Tuesdays.
- 10. Old Town ClovisA walkable historic district in Clovis with antique shops, restaurants, and bars in old rail-town storefronts. Home to the summer farmers market, the rodeo, and Big Hat Days.
Legion of Valor Museum
A downtown museum of military uniforms, medals, and war memorabilia from the Civil War onward, run by veteran ...
Lost Lake Recreation Area
County park on the San Joaquin River below Friant Dam, 19 miles from Fresno. $5 per vehicle, with a nature tra...
Lucky Strike Fresno
48-lane blacklight bowling alley on N Blackstone Ave in Fresno (formerly Bowlero), with billiards, an arcade, ...
Meux Home Museum
A restored 1889 Victorian house in downtown Fresno, seen on a guided tour of its period rooms. Open limited da...
Millerton Lake State Recreation Area
The closest big lake to Fresno, 25 minutes north behind Friant Dam, for boating, swimming, and fishing. Bald e...
Pine Flat Lake
Kings River reservoir 45 minutes east of Fresno: nearly 6,000 acres at full pool, bass and trout fishing, and ...
Roeding Park
A shaded 90-acre historic park west of downtown, home to Fresno Chaffee Zoo, the Playland rides, and Storyland...
Rotary Storyland
Storybook-themed kids park in Roeding Park next to the Chaffee Zoo. Admission $10 adult, $8 child. Open Wed-Fr...
San Joaquin River Parkway
Free river center and trails on the San Joaquin: an 1890s ranch house, the Hidden Homes kids trail, and the pa...
Shaver Lake
2,177-acre Sierra lake at 5,500 ft, about an hour from Fresno on Hwy 168. Free access, boating, swimming beach...
Simonian Farms
Family farm stand at 2629 S Clovis Ave, run by the Simonians since 1901. Produce, dried fruit, nuts, and a wes...
The Discovery Center
A small hands-on science and nature museum in east Fresno, with indoor exhibits plus an outdoor cactus garden,...
Free Things to Do in Fresno
These places cost nothing to visit. Parks, trails, gardens, and the walkable districts.
- African American Historical & Cultural Museum of the San Joaquin ValleyFresno
- Christmas Tree LaneFresno
- Clovis Botanical GardenClovis
- Clovis Old Town TrailClovis
- Downtown Fresno and Fulton StreetFresno
- Dry Creek ParkClovis
- Fresno ChinatownFresno
- Fresno County Blossom TrailFresno
- Fresno State Gibson Farm MarketFresno
- Fresno State WineryFresno
- Huntington LakeLakeshore
- Legion of Valor MuseumFresno
Things to Do in Fresno with Kids
Every kid-friendly listing shows the realistic age fit, so you know before you drive.
- Forestiere Underground GardensFresno
- Fresno Chaffee ZooFresno
- Sequoia & Kings Canyon National ParksThree Rivers
- Woodward ParkFresno
- Aerozone Trampoline ParkFresno
- African American Historical & Cultural Museum of the San Joaquin ValleyFresno
- Arte AméricasFresno
- Blackbeard's Family Entertainment CenterFresno
- Christmas Tree LaneFresno
- Chukchansi ParkFresno
- Clovis Botanical GardenClovis
- Clovis Old Town TrailClovis
Things to Do in Fresno: Common Questions
- What is there to do in Fresno with kids?
- Fresno has more than a dozen kid-friendly places in this guide, including Forestiere Underground Gardens, Fresno Chaffee Zoo, Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks. Each listing shows the age fit, price level, and whether it is indoor or outdoor.
- What free things to do does Fresno have?
- This guide lists more than a dozen free places, including African American Historical & Cultural Museum of the San Joaquin Valley, Christmas Tree Lane, Clovis Botanical Garden. City parks, trails, and the walkable districts cost nothing, and several museums have low-cost or donation-based admission.
- What is there to do in Fresno today?
- The This Weekend section on this page pulls from our Fresno events calendar and updates daily. It currently shows 10 events over the coming week, each with its time and location.
- What can you do in Fresno on a rainy day?
- Use the Indoor filter on this page. Fresno has indoor museums, theaters, trampoline parks, bowling, ice skating, and arcades, so a rainy day in the Valley does not cancel the plan.
- Is Fresno worth visiting for a weekend?
- Yes. Fresno is the largest city in the Central Valley, with the Fresno Chaffee Zoo, Forestiere Underground Gardens, and Woodward Park in town, and Sequoia, Kings Canyon, and Yosemite within about a two hour drive.
- What is the best time of year for things to do in Fresno?
- Spring and fall have the mildest weather. Late February brings the Blossom Trail through the orchards, summer is lake and water park season, and December has Christmas Tree Lane.