Ready to plan a fun day out and about with the kids? Sometimes it can feel like quite a challenge to put together an outing that everyone will enjoy without breaking the bank. There’s good news for Norcross-area families, though. The area in and around our city boasts a wide range of activities that are so much fun and totally free.

Crème de la Crème of Peachtree Corners (Norcross) put together this list of free things to do close to home. Get inspired for family fun with these local activities.

Parks in Norcross

“boy standing on green plants” used with permission via Unsplash by lukemichael

You can’t go wrong by spending quality family time enjoying the great outdoors. Fortunately, Norcross features an abundance of parks ideal for any impromptu outing.

The parks in our hometown boast beautiful landscapes, picturesque winding sidewalks, and of course, some awesome trees. For example, the American elm in Betty Mauldin Park is the biggest of its kind in our whole state, and it stands more than 100 feet tall. Time to gather towels and swimsuits for some warm-weather fun? In the summertime, you can cool down by bringing the kids to Lillian Webb Park’s interactive splash pad, open April to November from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Parks in Norcross are typically open 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week. Our parks include:

• Betty Mauldin Park (65 Lawrenceville St.).
• Discovery Garden Park (219 Lawrenceville St.).
• Heritage Park (10 College St.).
• Lillian Webb Park (5 College St.).
• Johnson-Dean Park (145 Barton St.).
• Pinnacle Park (250 Pinnacle Way).
• RossieBrundage Park (350 Autry St.).
• Summerour Park (325 Price Place).
• Thrasher Park (93 Park Drive).
• Veterans Park (Corner of S. Peachtree Street and N. Norcross Tucker Road).

Summer Concerts at Thrasher Park

When the weather warms up, you have another opportunity for free fun outdoors in Norcross. Norcross hosts a Summer Concert Series right in Thrasher Park. Head over to downtown Norcross on select evenings and take in a totally free concert from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.

The Summer Concert Series takes place from May through September. You can take advantage of local restaurants to create a picnic dinner, or pack your own food in a cooler (just don’t use glass containers). Then, gather some chairs and people you love, and enjoy this fun summer activity right in Norcross.

Tribble Mill Park

Head over to nearby Lawrenceville if you’re looking for more opportunities to enjoy the great outdoors. That’s where you’ll find Tribble Mill Park, a sprawling park of more than 700 acres that offers a range of activities to fill your day. Unless posted otherwise, the park is open from sunrise to sunset.

So, why make the drive to Lawrenceville to explore this park? Whether you’re looking for fun on the water or on land, this amazing local place has you covered. A fishing lake allows non-motorized and electric boats, and a boat ramp is also available. The park also boasts a 3.4-mile paved trail for a fun family walk, not to mention non-paved hiking, mountain biking, and equestrian trails to take your adventure to the next level.

You can make use of the grills for an outdoor meal, or let the kids have fun on the playgrounds. There are even restrooms on-site to make a day here even easier to plan. All in all, you can’t go wrong by visiting Tribble Mill Park if you want to plan a day that has something for every member of the family to enjoy.

Georgia Capitol Museum

History buffs will enjoy a visit to the Georgia Capitol Museum, located at the State Capitol in Atlanta. The museum preserves and interprets the history of the Capitol along with events that have taken place there.

You’ll get to learn more about our state’s history through significant artifacts like works of art and historic flags. The free museum is the perfect way to introduce the youngest Georgia residents to history.

Marietta Fire Museum

No list of free activities close to Norcross would be complete without mentioning the Marietta Fire Museum! Admission is free to this museum boasting an array of amazing fire department memorabilia. If your kids love fire trucks, you’ll want to add this local institution to your list of places to visit. The museum is just a few blocks from Historic Marietta Square, so you can easily expand your day to include even more family fun.

The free museum lets you learn the Marietta Fire Department’s history through a collection of antique fire tools, gear, and apparatus. Some of the items date back as far as 1854! You can take a self-guided tour or schedule a guided tour. No matter which tour you opt for, your kids are sure to delight in learning about how this Georgia fire department has changed throughout the years.

In addition to interesting displays about firefighting, antique equipment like nozzles, hoses, and bells, and fire helmets (both antique and items from around the world), you can look forward to seeing memorabilia such as:

• American LaFrance Pumper from 1921.
• Chevrolet Panel Truck from 1952.
• Pirsch Ladder Truck from 1949.
• Seagrave Pumper from 1929.
• Silsby Steamer from 1879.

You can visit for a self-guided tour between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. If you want to visit after 5 p.m., you’ll need to schedule your visit at least a week in advance. Guided tours are available if you have a group of 10 or more people.

Suwanee SculpTour

If your family is into art, you’ll want to take a visit to Suwanee to check out the SculpTour. You can enjoy a free outdoor walking tour in the Suwanee Town Center, where you’ll get to enjoy some amazing public works of art.

Kids can upgrade their experience with Parker’s Passport, a fun guide to the exhibit designed with young visitors in mind. You can download and print the passport for your kids, or just stop by Suwanee’s City Hall to pick one up before you start exploring the art.There you have it, Crème de la Crème of Peachtree Corners (Norcross) just gave you some amazing free things to do, all without traveling far. Let us know if we skipped your favorite local free activity so we can add it here!