Kids' activities in Birmingham: the zoo, McWane Science Center, free story times, the Children's Theatre, parks and rainy-day picks, with hours from each site.

Last checked Oct. 17, 2026. Hours, ages and programs come from each place’s own website, linked inline. Check before you go: hours change for holidays and special events.

Birmingham’s two big family attractions are the Birmingham Zoo and McWane Science Center. Around them are free options most families use every week: story times at the Botanical Gardens and the public library, the lawns of Railroad Park, and the mountain trails at Red Mountain and Ruffner.

Who to call

The big two

Birmingham Zoo, 2630 Cahaba Road. Regular hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., according to the zoo’s website. The Junior League of Birmingham Hugh Kaul Children’s Zoo has splash pads in warm weather, the Red Diamond Express train runs for an extra fee, and the zoo posts daily keeper chats on its daily activities page. Seasonal events include Hoots & Howls in October, Glow Wild from late November and an egg hunt in spring; see our Halloween, holiday lights and Easter pages.

McWane Science Center, 200 19th St. N., downtown. Exhibits include the shark tank, the bubble room, dinosaur fossils and Itty Bitty Magic City for the smallest visitors, plus an IMAX Dome theater. Hours are Wednesday to Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday noon to 5 p.m.; it is closed Mondays and Tuesdays except on holiday dates it lists, according to McWane’s hours page. McWane runs camps for ages 4 to 13 over winter break, spring break and summer; see spring break and summer camps and pools.

Free story times and library programs

  • Storytime at the Gardens, Birmingham Botanical Gardens, 2612 Lane Park Road: a free story for preschoolers in the Southern Living Garden, 10:30 to 11 a.m. on select Fridays (next: Oct. 23 and Nov. 13), according to the Gardens’ event series. The Gardens also offer a children’s treasure map of the grounds on their visit page.
  • Birmingham Public Library: 17 locations, with youth departments at Central, Avondale (509 40th St. S.), Five Points West (4812 Avenue W) and North Birmingham (2501 31st Ave. N.). Programs are on the library’s calendar; branch hours are on its locations page. Central and Avondale open until 8 p.m. on Tuesdays.

Parks and outdoors

  • Railroad Park, 1600 1st Ave. S.: free, open 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily, with room to “throw a Frisbee, fly a kite or play,” the park says in its FAQ.
  • Red Mountain Park and Ruffner Mountain: free and low-cost trails, and Ruffner’s Nature Center has wildlife ambassador animals; see our parks and trails guide and walking and biking trails.
  • Vulcan Park and Museum, 1701 Valley View Drive: the Observation Tower, museum and park grounds on Red Mountain; see visitvulcan.com.

Rainy-day picks

  • McWane Science Center (above).
  • Birmingham Museum of Art: general admission is always free, according to the museum.
  • Birmingham Children’s Theatre, 2130 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. N., 205-458-8181: professional shows for young audiences. Its fall 2026 season includes Flora Meets a Bee, Nov. 7-21, according to BCT’s website.
  • The public library: any branch, free.

What this means for you

  • Plan McWane trips for Wednesday through Sunday; it is closed most Mondays and Tuesdays.
  • Save the free options: story times, Railroad Park, the art museum and the library.
  • For dates, see things to do this month.

Related: free things to do and dog-friendly Birmingham.

Frequently asked questions

What are the Birmingham Zoo’s hours?

The zoo at 2630 Cahaba Road lists regular hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Some evening events, such as Glow Wild, run later.

When is McWane Science Center open?

Wednesday to Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday noon to 5 p.m. It is closed Monday and Tuesday except on holiday dates it posts.

Are there free story times in Birmingham?

Yes. Birmingham Botanical Gardens holds a free Storytime at the Gardens for preschoolers, 10:30 to 11 a.m. on select Fridays, and the Birmingham Public Library’s branches have youth departments with children’s programs.

What is there to do with kids in Birmingham when it rains?

McWane Science Center, the Birmingham Public Library, the Birmingham Museum of Art (free general admission) and Birmingham Children’s Theatre shows are all indoors.