Museums, concerts, outdoor films, bats

Houston offers a variety of free activities and events for all ages, including cultural, educational and recreational options. From museums to concerts to outdoor movies, here’s a list of things to do in Houston this summer without spending a dime.

The premier outdoor theater for the performing arts is one of Houston’s most iconic venues, offering free classical music, jazz, ethnic music, ballet, films, festivals and performances of musical theater. Upcoming performances include “Juneteenth: A Musical Journey Through Eras,” Star-Spangled Salute, Summer Symphony Nights with the Houston Symphony and the Houston Shakespeare Festival.

Or: 6000 Hermann Park Drive

Details: milleroutdoortheatre.com

The 12-acre park in downtown Houston offers a variety of free programs for all ages and backgrounds. Events include fitness classes, public art installations, Rainbow on the Green, outdoor film screenings and Flea by Night, a market featuring local vendors.

Details: discoverygreen.com

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Market Square Park in downtown Houston offers a variety of free events and activities, including movie nights, concerts, and fitness classes.

Details: Downtownhouston.org

At Hermann Park, visitors can stroll through the Japanese Garden, explore the McGovern Centennial Gardens, and enjoy the open spaces.

Levy Park offers a variety of free activities for visitors of all ages, including crafts, playground games, fitness classes, story times, bingo games and interactive events with the Houston Museum of Natural Science and the Houston Grand Opera.

Details: levyparkhouston.org

The iconic Houston landmark features a 64-foot-tall fountain that circulates 11,000 gallons of water per minute. It’s a popular place to take photos and a peaceful place to relax.

Or: 2800 Post Oak Blvd.

Details: uptown-houston.com

Project Row Houses offers a variety of activities and programs that celebrate art, culture and community. Visitors can take guided or self-guided tours of the historic shotgun-style homes and learn about their transformation.

Details: projectrowhouses.org

One of the largest birthplaces in the country is located in this 30,000 square foot in-ground public facility. Breathtaking views of the downtown skyline and numerous obstacles await skaters of all levels in the park. Don’t forget to stroll along Skater Alley, which runs between Sabine Street and the skate park entrance, and admire the local artwork along the way.

Details: houstonparksboard.org

About 250,000 Mexican free-tailed bats live in the gaps under the Waugh Bridge at Waugh and Allen Parkway. Visitors can watch the bats from the observation deck, Waugh Bridge or from the hillside, as they emerge each night to feed on insects. Arrive 30 minutes before sunset.

Or: Buffalo Bayou Park, corner of Waugh at Allen Parkway

The museum houses a permanent collection of art from antiquity, the Byzantine era, tribal cultures and the 20th century, all from the personal collection of Dominique and John de Menil. Exhibitions this summer include “Ruth Asawa: Through Line,” “Janet Sobel: All-Over,” “Desire, Sorrow, and Spirituality: Art Since 1980,” “Abstraction After Modernism: Recent Acquisitions” and more.

Located on the Menil campus, the Rothko Chapel is a spiritual sanctuary inspired by artist Mark Rothko. Upcoming events include Summer Solstice on June 21, featuring Apollo Chamber Players and Kaminari Taiko of Houston. Visitors can also explore the tranquil gardens and the Broken Obelisk sculpture.

Or: 3900 Yupon to Sul Ross

Details: rothkochapel.org

Located on the campus of Rice University, the pyramid structure serves as a concert hall and music laboratory for students of the Shepherd School of Music. A sequence of LED lights projects onto the ceiling and through a 72-square-foot knife-shaped opening in the roof 40 minutes before sunrise and 10 minutes before sunset. There are no admission fees for exhibition spaces, although some events and programs require tickets.

Or: 6100 Main, campus entrance

The nonprofit institution founded in 1948 is dedicated to presenting international, national and regional art through exhibitions, lectures and educational programs. Current exhibitions include “Theater Gates: The Gift and The Renege” and “Olivia Erlanger: If Today Were Tomorrow.”