Free Printable Summer Bucket List for kids and families! Includes LOTS of fun summer activity ideas for your family to have the most amazing summer EVER!
Age Level: All Ages – This summer bucket list was created to appeal to families with kids of all ages, so there are lots of fun ideas for both kids and adults here!
Who’s ready to have the most amazing summer ever?!
Every Summer Break, my family and I try to cram in as many summer craft projects, new recipes, and fun activities as we can, and it can get a little overwhelming trying to remember all of the fun things we want to do. To make it easier, this year we put together a list of fun summer bucket list ideas that are perfect for keeping the fun rolling all season long!
From yummy homemade popsicles and gooey s’mores to swimming and stargazing, this Free Printable Summer Bucket List is full of easy and inexpensive ideas to help your family have an incredible summer!
What is a Bucket List?
A bucket list is a list of things you’d like to do or accomplish in a given timeframe. A bucket list is generally considered to be a list of things to do before you die (or “kick the bucket,” hence the term), but people often create a list that corresponds to different seasons (or seasons of life) as well.
Our summer bucket list is full of summer activities and fun ideas for the whole family to enjoy!
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Fun Summer Bucket List
We could have easily come up with over 100 ideas for our Summer Bucket List printable, but since there’s only so much finite time in summer (😭😭😭), we narrowed the list down to our top 36 most favorite ideas to get you started!
Of course, you’re always free to add your own ideas, too, like visiting a park, an outdoor concert, or your local farmer’s market!
36 Summer Bucket List Ideas
- Make Popsicles – Homemade popsicles really hit the spot on those sweltering hot days!
- Go Swimming – Swimming is a great way to get some physical activity in, and still manage to stay cool. If you don’t have a pool of your own, consider purchasing a kiddie pool. Even just dipping in your toes can be a splashing good time!
- Play Volleyball – Heading to the local park or a community center is a perfect place for making new friends.
- Family Movie Night – Check out 100 of our favorite family movies! Consider hosting an outdoor movie night in your neighborhood; all you need is a projector, a white sheet and some comfy seating.
- Stargaze – Stargazing during those perfectly temperate summer nights is a great idea for anyone who adores astronomy. If you’re in a populated neighborhood, heading to a more rural area is usually the best way to more clearly see the constellations or catch a pretty meteor shower.
- Watch Fireworks – Of course, the Fourth of July is the best time of year for the entire family to sit back and enjoy some dazzling fireworks in action! If you aren’t able to see any fireworks where you live, make your own firework artwork using our easy, step-by-step instructions.
- Go to the Library – If you can’t make it to your local library, check out OverDrive for free e-books and audiobooks.
- Build a Fort – If you’re like us, sometimes Summer can bring a random rainy day, too. Hiding in big, comfy, blanket forts make for great indoor fun!
- Make Tie-Dye Shirts – This activity is a blast for both the kids and adults alike! Check out our collection of tie-dye patterns and tutorials here!
- Grow Sunflowers – If you aren’t able to plant flowers in your own backyard, head over to the local nature center and take a peek at what’s blooming!
- Play Hide & Seek – This classic game always brings endless hours of indoor or outdoor fun!
- Make S’mores – Our favorite summer nights are spent around the campfire! Go beyond the classic graham crackers and Hershey’s chocolate recipe with these yummy gourmet s’mores ideas!
- Go on a Picnic – It’s always the right time for a picnic! Pack up a few picnic supplies and head somewhere special for the day, or just enjoy a relaxing day in the backyard together. You’ll be glad you did!
- Build a Sandcastle – Going to the beach is a great way to beat the heat, and there’s no more perfect summer activity than building a towering sandcastle while getting in some precious family time.
- Go on a Bike Ride – explore your neighborhood or pick a new area to check out!
- Do a Science Experiment – Or our favorite, a CANDY science experiment! YUM!
- Take a Hike – Summer break is a great time to explore new places! Take an adventure to a national park or a local hiking area near you.
- Bake Cookies – There’s no better time to try something new and tasty!
- Have a Water Balloon Fight – reusable water balloons are totally awesome and a more environmentally friendly option!
- Run a Lemonade Stand – This is the perfect opportunity for your kids to practice their entrepreneurship – older kids can run the cash register and little kids can serve the lemonade and baked goods!
- Play Frisbee – Craft some fun obstacles out of pool noodles or hula hoops for bonus points!
- 22. Make Homemade Pizza – Or try our “famous” Pizza Pancakes!
- Draw with Sidewalk Chalk – Or paint a sidewalk masterpiece using our easy 2-ingredient DIY Sidewalk Chalk Paint recipe!
- Blow Bubbles – Chasing bubbles is a fun activity for all ages! For a fun twist, try Bubble Painting!
- Backyard Camping – Skip going to Summer camp and create your own camp in your very own backyard! We love playing this camping scavenger hunt and camping bingo games!
- Watch the Sunset – There’s no better time to catch a photo-worthy sunset than during the peak of summer!
- Make Friendship Bracelets or Paracord Bracelets for you and your best friends! If you’re a Swiftie who’s into Beaded Friendship Bracelets, I have 550+ Taylor Swift Bracelet Ideas for you!
- Fly a Kite – You can easily make your own DIY paper kite or
- Eat Watermelon – There’s nothing more refreshing than a delicious slice of watermelon on a hot summer day!
- Pick Strawberries – It’s so much fun to pick your own fresh fruit! Kids will have a great time getting their hands a little dirty while berry picking and enjoying a sweet treat at the same time!
- Family Game Night – Here are some of our favorites!
- Go Geocaching – Make your own geocache with small items from the dollar store to hide for the next person! This is one of my family’s favorite activities, not just in summer, but year round!
- Make Milkshakes – Use your favorite ice cream to make milkshakes – we highly recommend this Strawberry Milkshake! Or, try your hand at a smoothie recipe instead!
- Take a Day Trip – There are plenty of opportunities to take a fun road trip and explore your local area! If you don’t want to travel too far, consider a quick drive to your local water park instead. A simple state park can even hold endless outdoor activities for you and your family.
- Have a Backyard Barbecue – Summer is the perfect time to fire up that grill and BBQ! We love making these easy camping recipes on the grill at home, too.
- Read a Book (or twelve!) – Indulge yourself in some new books, check out this list of beginner chapter books for young readers. Track your reading with our free printable Summer Reading Challenge List!
As you participate in each activity, check it off of your annual summer bucket list, and continue until you’ve checked off all the boxes! This is such a great summer bucket list that you’re sure to have a totally amazing summer!
Get the Printable Summer Bucket List
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Want Even More
Summer Printables?
If you liked my free summer bucket list, you’re going to LOVE these other summer printables from my Totally Free friends! SO many great ideas!
Heidi Kundin has captivated the hearts of millions with her colorful and inspiring approach to crafting, celebrations, and family fun. With over 15 years of experience, Happiness is Homemade has become a must-visit destination for those seeking quick and easy creative ideas and last-minute solutions. Heidi’s warm personality shines through her posts, inviting readers to join her on a creative journey that’s fun, rewarding, and achievable. Heidi is also the author of Homemade Bath Bombs & More and DIY Tie-Dye.