Things to do with kids in Asheville: library story times, the science and art museums, the WNC Nature Center, Splasheville, city play days and rainy-day picks.

Last checked Oct. 11, 2026. Facts come from each venue’s own website and from Asheville Parks and Recreation, linked below. Parks and Recreation: 828-259-5800.

Asheville is easy with kids if you know where to start: free library story times, two downtown museums a block apart, a wildlife park run by the city, a free splash pad in summer and a city play van that turns up in neighborhood parks. Several of the city’s riverside parks are still closed after Tropical Storm Helene, so check before you head to a playground by the river.

At a glance

  • Free: library story times, Splasheville (May to fall), Rec ‘n’ Roll Discovery Days, city parks and playgrounds.
  • Rainy day: Asheville Museum of Science, Asheville Art Museum, Pack Memorial Library.
  • Animals: WNC Nature Center.

Story times and the library

Buncombe County Public Libraries holds free story times by age, according to the county’s story times page:

  • Baby Story Time: about 4 to 18 months.
  • Toddler Times: 18 months to 3 years.
  • Preschool story times: 3 to 5 years.

The main library is Pack Memorial Library, 67 Haywood St. downtown (828-250-4700). Days and times change by branch and season; the county’s story times calendar has the current list.

Museums

Asheville Museum of Science (AMOS), 43 Patton Ave. Hands-on science exhibits. Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $11.50 for everyone 3 and older; 2 and under are free; EBT cardholders pay $5 a person; and library Zoom Passes give free entry for up to four people, according to AMOS. It also hosts birthday parties.

Asheville Art Museum, 2 S. Pack Square. Open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., closed Mondays and Tuesdays. Children under 6 are free and students 6 to 17 pay $10; Buncombe County residents can get 20% off, according to the museum. Phone: 828-253-3227.

Animals and gardens

WNC Nature Center. The city-owned wildlife park cares for about 60 species native to the Southern Appalachians and is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Its new Gateway to the Southern Appalachians area added a renovated farmyard and barn, a pollinator garden and nature play areas in 2026, the city said. It kept 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. hours on 2026 holidays. Tickets: wildwnc.org.

The North Carolina Arboretum, 20 Frederick Law Olmsted Way, lists the Playing Woods and the Rocky Cove Railroad among its attractions, along with gardens and trails, according to the arboretum. Parking is $25 a vehicle.

Splash pad and pools

Splasheville, in Pack Square Park, 80 Court Plaza, is the city’s only public splash pad. It is free, opens in early May and runs 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. daily, except during special events and bad weather, according to the city. Pools, swim lessons and summer camps: summer in Asheville.

City play programs

  • Rec ‘n’ Roll. Asheville Parks and Recreation’s play van brings games, art projects and sports to parks in neighborhoods without a playground or community center. Its free Discovery Days run 1 to 3 p.m. with no registration needed, and its Toddler Takeover sessions for ages 2 to 5 cost $5 and run 10:30 a.m. to noon, according to the city’s spring 2026 schedule.
  • Tiny Tykes Play Dates are held each Wednesday at the Stephens-Lee Center and each Friday at the Grant Southside Center, according to the city’s February 2026 roundup.
  • Seasonal events such as egg hunts, foam parties, Truck City AVL and Movies in the Park are listed in the city’s monthly roundups. Register on AVLREC.com or call 828-259-5800.

Playgrounds and parks

City parks are open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day. Helene damage still closes some riverside parks, including French Broad River Park, and parts of Carrier Park and Richmond Hill Park have been closed during repairs; the city’s park finder shows each park’s features and any closure notice. Our parks and trails page covers the main parks.

Seasonal

Frequently asked questions

Where is story time in Asheville?

Buncombe County Public Libraries runs free Baby Story Time (about 4 to 18 months), Toddler Times (18 months to 3 years) and preschool story times (3 to 5 years) at its branches, including Pack Memorial Library, 67 Haywood St. Times are on the county’s story times calendar.

What can kids do in Asheville when it rains?

The Asheville Museum of Science at 43 Patton Ave. is open daily, and the Asheville Art Museum at 2 S. Pack Square is open Wednesday to Sunday; children under 6 get into the art museum free. Pack Memorial Library has story times and is free.

Is there a splash pad in Asheville?

Yes. Splasheville in Pack Square Park, 80 Court Plaza, is free. It opens in early May and runs 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. daily in season, except during events and bad weather.

Does the city run free play days for kids?

Yes. Asheville Parks and Recreation’s Rec ‘n’ Roll van brings games, crafts and play to city parks, with free Discovery Days from 1 to 3 p.m. that need no registration, and $5 Toddler Takeover sessions for ages 2 to 5.

How much is the Asheville Museum of Science?

General admission is $11.50 for everyone 3 and older; children 2 and under are free. Families with an EBT card pay $5 a person through Museums for All.