This is one of my favorite summer programs and one I used with my own son — Kids Bowl Free gives every child two free games of bowling every single day all summer long.
We bowled at the same alley I grew up bowling at as a kid and watching him experience it for the first time made it extra special!
One tip that made a huge difference — we bought bowling shoes instead of renting them. Rentals are around $4 every visit and add up fast when you’re going multiple times a week. We found us shoes on Amazon for about $15 and they paid for themselves in just a few weeks. Another option is watch garage sales and thrift stores!
If your kids are going to bowl all summer buying shoes is absolutely worth it!
Sign Up for Kids Bowl Free Here
How Kids Bowl Free Works
- Sign up at kidsbowlfree.com — it’s completely free to register
- Find your local participating bowling alley
- Each child gets coupons for 2 free games of bowling every day
- If your location hasn’t opened signups yet enter your email to be notified when registration opens
- Show up and bowl — that simple!
Tips to Save Even More
- Buy bowling shoes — rentals cost around $4 per visit. A basic pair of kids bowling shoes on Amazon runs $15-$20 and pays for itself in just a few weeks of free bowling
- Family pass upgrade — Kids Bowl Free also offers an optional family pass so adults can bowl too. Check pricing at your local location — it’s usually very reasonable when the kids are already bowling free
- Go during off peak hours — lanes are less crowded on weekday mornings and the experience is much better
- Pack snacks — bowling alley food is expensive. Pack a small cooler or snack bag to keep costs down
- Check for shoe sales — end of season sales at sporting goods stores often have bowling shoes marked way down
Kids Bowl Free — Frequently Asked Questions
Kids Bowl Free — Your Questions Answered
Is Kids Bowl Free really free? Yes — registering and the two daily games for kids are completely free. The only costs are shoe rental if you don’t own shoes and optional upgrades like the family pass for adults. When does Kids Bowl Free start? Registration typically opens in late spring and the program runs through the summer. Sign up at kidsbowlfree.com and enter your email to be notified when your local alley opens registration. How many free games does each child get? Each registered child gets coupons for 2 free games per day at participating locations. That’s a lot of bowling over an entire summer! Do adults bowl free too? Adults are not included in the free program but most locations offer an optional family pass upgrade at a very reasonable price so the whole family can bowl together. Is it worth buying bowling shoes for kids? If your kids are going to bowl multiple times a week — absolutely yes. At $4 per rental a pair of kids bowling shoes pays for itself in just a few weeks and they’ll use them all summer.Looking for more free summer activities for kids? Check out my Freebies for Kids page — updated daily with the best free stuff for families!
