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.
Christmas Tree Lane
Two miles of Van Ness Blvd lit every December since 1920: about 140 homes and 300 decorated trees. Free to dri...
Clovis Botanical Garden
Free 4-acre water-wise garden at Clovis and Alluvial, open Wed-Sun 9 AM to 4 PM. Drought-tolerant natives and ...
Clovis Old Town Trail
Paved 6-mile rail-trail through Old Town Clovis, free and flat, linking the Sugar Pine, Dry Creek, and Fresno-...
Downtown Fresno and Fulton Street
Downtown Fresno's six-block Fulton corridor: 22 restored public artworks including an original Renoir bronze, ...
Dry Creek Park
Free Clovis park at Clovis and Alluvial with playgrounds, picnic shelters, a fitness course, and the shaded 5-...
Fresno Chinatown
Fresno's historic multi-ethnic district west of the tracks, established around 1872, with ten registered histo...
Fresno County Blossom Trail
Self-guided drive of about 62 miles through orchards southeast of Fresno, peak bloom mid-February to mid-March...
Fresno State Gibson Farm Market
Fresno State's student-run farm market: famous sweet corn, 20-plus flavors of campus creamery ice cream, and s...
Huntington Lake
Five-mile Sierra sailing lake at 7,000 ft, about 1.5 hours from Fresno. Seven campgrounds, free access, and th...
Old Town Clovis
A walkable historic district in Clovis with antique shops, restaurants, and bars in old rail-town storefronts....
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...
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.