Family-friendly & beyond

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

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Top Attractions in Fresno

The places visitors ask about first. Each one links to hours, prices, and directions.

  1. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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.
Showing 2 of 2 places
Kid-friendlyFree
African American Historical & Cultural Museum of the San Joaquin Valley

African American Historical & Cultural Museum of the San Joaquin Valley

Museum of Black history and culture in the San Joaquin Valley, at 1857 Fulton St in downtown Fresno. Open Thu-...

Indoor·Ages 6+
Fresno, CA
Arts & CultureCommunity Events
Kid-friendlyFree
Legion of Valor Museum

Legion of Valor Museum

A downtown museum of military uniforms, medals, and war memorabilia from the Civil War onward, run by veteran ...

Indoor
Fresno, CA
Family ActivitiesArts & Culture

Free Things to Do in Fresno

These places cost nothing to visit. Parks, trails, gardens, and the walkable districts.

See all free places →

Things to Do in Fresno with Kids

Every kid-friendly listing shows the realistic age fit, so you know before you drive.

See all kid-friendly places →

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.