LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — Keeping children busy during the summer is an expensive task for many families.

But, just along Main Street in Downtown Louisville, there are several different places families can get in free this summer — a much needed relief for many parents.

"Having a kid is expensive," Megan Brown, a mother, said.

For Brown's family, it's cheaper for her to be a stay-at-home mom than work to pay for daycare for her 9-year-old son.

It’s a challenge to find activities that’ll keep energetic Clayton, her son, busy.

"Our options are limited, especially in this economy," Megan Brown said.

To beat the heat, like on Thursday, Megan Brown and her sister Emily Luckett take their kids to the Kentucky Science Center.

"It's just like fun, you never know what's going to happen," Clayton said.

“Going all over to the free things, the only thing I want to pay for is the membership I got for Christmas," Luckett said.

For other parents in the same boat, the Fund for the Arts Cultural Pass offers free activities around Louisville. Families can get in free to over 50 arts, culture, and heritage venues certain days of the week. Some of the venues include the Derby Museum, Muhammad Ali Center and the Louisville Zoo.

“The cultural pass is this physical pass that people can come to the library to pick up," Kate Schiavi, Louisville Library Youth Services Manager.

All families have to do is show up to any Louisville Free Public Library Location, and ask for a cultural pass. The Cultural Pass is available from June 1 to August 4.

The library also offers dozens of other free activities at locations across the city. To view the full calendar on their website, click here. 

“The library is free, so you don't ever have to pay to come to a program at the library," Schiavi said.

If transportation is a challenge, TARC is providing free rides through the Summer Youth Pass for ages 6 to 19. The pass will cover the cost of fare on all TARC routes from June 1st to August 31st. To get a Summer Youth Pass, sign up in person at a TARC location either Union Station or the Nia Center. If you do not currently have a reloadable MyTARC student-ID card, you will need to purchase one at a TARC location for an additional one-time set-up fee of $5. 

For older kids looking to get out of the house, Planet Fitness is offering free memberships to ages 14-19 thru the end of August. To get a Planet Fitness summer pass, click here.

All these activities are welcome news for parents hopeful to make summer fun and expense-free. 

"The more things that are free the better," Luckett said.

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