Kids' activities in Memphis: Tom Lee Park's riverfront playground, Shelby Farms' Woodland Discovery, city splash pads, library story times and rainy-day museums.
Last checked Oct. 18, 2026. Every listing comes from the place’s own website, linked below; hours and prices are as published. Seasonal events for kids are on our Halloween, holiday lights, spring break and summer camps and pools pages.
Memphis has two large public playgrounds: the rebuilt Tom Lee Park on the riverfront and Shelby Farms Park in the east, and the city runs free splash pads in summer. For rainy days, the Children’s Museum of Memphis and the public libraries carry the load. For city parks questions, call Memphis 311, 901-636-6500.
Free or low-cost every week
- Tom Lee Park: open daily, 6 a.m. to 30 minutes after sunset
- Library story times: Memphis Public Libraries calendar
- Memphis Zoo on Tuesdays: free for Tennessee residents with a reservation (Tennessee Tuesdays)
Playgrounds
Tom Lee Park, on Riverside Drive downtown, is a 31-acre riverfront park that Memphis River Parks describes as having “the biggest and most unique playground you’ve seen,” plus a misting fountain, a hammock grove, outdoor classrooms and a basketball court. It is open daily from 6 a.m. to 30 minutes after sunset.
Woodland Discovery Playground at Shelby Farms Park has six “play nests,” each built around a different kind of play, for children ages 2 to 12 of all abilities, plus two 7-foot climbing boulders for ages 6 to 12. It opens daily at 9 a.m. and closes one hour before sunset, and is cleared for lightning and storms.
Overton Park in Midtown has two playgrounds with picnic areas, and the park is free and open to the public.
Splash pads and water play
In summer, the City of Memphis runs free splash pads at David Carnes, Douglass, Hollywood, McFarland, Orange Mound, Peabody and Whitehaven parks; in 2026 they ran May 23 to Sept. 7 (Memphis Parks). Shelby Farms has its Water Play Sprayground, and the Children’s Museum has the H2Oh! Splash Park from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Hours and details are on our summer camps and pools page.
Story times and the library
Memphis Public Libraries list story times on the library events calendar, filtered by branch, including sensory-friendly story times and preschool STEM programs. The flagship Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library, 3030 Poplar Ave., is open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Thursday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday (Central Library). Every branch’s hours are on the locations page.
Rainy-day picks
| Place | Hours | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Children’s Museum of Memphis, 2525 Central Ave. | 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday to Sunday; closed Monday | $20 general admission, ages 1 and up; carousel extra |
| Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library, 3030 Poplar Ave. | Daily; see above | Free |
| Dixon Gallery and Gardens, 4339 Park Ave. | 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday; 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday | Free |
The Children’s Museum has more than 30 exhibits and an outdoor play space included in general admission; it may occasionally close because of traffic from neighboring sporting events.
The zoo
The Memphis Zoo in Overton Park is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with last admission at 4 p.m., in the fall. Tennessee residents get in free on Tuesdays with an advance reservation (up to six tickets each). Holiday events, from Zoo Boo to the Lantern Festival, are on our seasonal pages.
What this means for you
- Outdoors: Tom Lee Park downtown, Woodland Discovery in the east, Overton Park in Midtown.
- Rainy day: the Children’s Museum (closed Mondays) or a library story time.
- Save money at the zoo by booking a Tennessee Tuesday.
Related: free things to do, parks and trails and summer camps and pools.
Frequently asked questions
Where are the big playgrounds in Memphis?
Two big ones: the playground at Tom Lee Park on the riverfront, open 6 a.m. to 30 minutes after sunset, and the Woodland Discovery Playground at Shelby Farms Park, open from 9 a.m. to an hour before sunset, for ages 2 to 12.
Where can kids go on a rainy day in Memphis?
The Children’s Museum of Memphis, 2525 Central Ave., has more than 30 exhibits and is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. Memphis Public Libraries branches hold story times and kids’ programs.
Are there library story times in Memphis?
Yes. Memphis Public Libraries lists story times at its branches on its online events calendar, including sensory-friendly story times for children.
Is the Memphis Zoo free for kids?
On Tuesdays admission is free for Tennessee residents through Tennessee Tuesdays, with an advance reservation of up to six tickets.
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