Events & What’s Happening
Annual marathon, half marathon, and kids fun run winding through downtown Green Bay and surrounding neighborhoods.
💡Sign kids up for the free Fun Run the day before — it finishes on the Lambeau Field turf, which is a huge thrill for little Packers fans.
One of the most affordable amusement parks in the country, Bay Beach offers classic rides including the Zippin Pippin wooden roller coaster, carousel, and scrambler — most rides cost only 25 cents.
💡Bring a roll of quarters and pack a lunch to eat at the picnic shelters overlooking the bay — you can spend a full day here for under $10 per child.
Annual open training camp practices at Lambeau Field and Ray Nitschke Field, culminating in a ticketed Family Night scrimmage under the lights at Lambeau Field.
💡Free practice sessions are first-come, first-served — arrive early for a spot along the fence to get autographs from players.
Free outdoor jazz festival held at the Meyer Theatre and adjacent outdoor stages in downtown Green Bay, featuring local and regional jazz artists across multiple days.
💡The outdoor stages are family-friendly with open lawn seating — bring a blanket and let kids dance in the grass.
Held in nearby Pulaski (about 20 miles from Green Bay), this beloved festival celebrates the region's deep Polish heritage with polka dancing, authentic Polish food, a parade, and carnival rides.
💡Kids love the parade and carnival area — come hungry for pierogi and czarnina, and stay for the open polka dancing where all ages are welcome on the floor.
The Titletown District adjacent to Lambeau Field transforms into a winter wonderland with a free outdoor ice skating rink, tubing hill, winter markets, fire pits, and holiday lighting throughout the season.
💡Skate rental is affordable and the tubing hill is free — pair it with a visit to the Packers Pro Shop or the Lambeau Field Atrium for a full Titletown holiday day.
The Green Bay Botanical Garden is transformed each winter with over half a million lights illuminating themed garden rooms, sculptures, and pathways for a magical evening walk.
💡Purchase tickets in advance as popular nights sell out — strollers are welcome and the walk takes about 45 minutes at a relaxed pace.
Free city-owned wildlife sanctuary housing over 80 species of native Wisconsin animals in natural habitats, with walking trails, a nature center, and regular interpretive programming year-round.
💡The sanctuary is completely free and open daily — the wolf and bald eagle exhibits are perennial kid favorites, and the nature center has hands-on displays for all ages.
Free weekly story time sessions for toddlers and preschoolers held at multiple Brown County Library branches, featuring picture books, songs, and simple crafts tied to seasonal themes.
💡Check the Brown County Library website for the branch-specific schedule — the Central Branch in downtown Green Bay offers multiple weekly sessions for different age groups.
Daily guided tours of iconic Lambeau Field departing from the Packers Hall of Fame in the Lambeau Field Atrium, covering the field, locker rooms, press box, and suites.
💡Pair the stadium tour with the interactive Packers Hall of Fame — combination tickets offer better value, and kids under 6 are free for the Hall of Fame.
One of the largest farmers markets in Wisconsin, held on Broadway in downtown Green Bay with fresh local produce, baked goods, artisan crafts, and prepared food vendors.
💡Arrive before 9am for the best selection and the least crowds — kids love the fresh kettle corn and sampling tables near the center of the market.
Free outdoor snow tubing hill operated by the Titletown District next to Lambeau Field, open daily during the winter season whenever weather and snow conditions allow.
💡The hill is free and no reservations are needed — combine it with ice skating at the adjacent rink for a full winter afternoon without spending much money.
Planning Your Visit
Neighborhoods & Areas
Local Tips for Families
- 💡Bay Beach Amusement Park ride tickets are 25 cents each and sold in strips — load up a $10 strip per kid at the ticket booth near the Zippin Pippin wooden roller coaster entrance, and your children can ride all afternoon for almost nothing. The park is free to enter and open weekends from mid-May and daily from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
- 💡The Lambeau Field Atrium is open to the public at no charge year-round — walk in, browse the Packers Hall of Fame lobby exhibits, eat at Curly's Pub, and shop the Pro Shop without buying a stadium tour ticket. On non-game Saturdays in summer, the atmosphere is still electric with families taking photos on the stadium exterior.
- 💡Green Bay Gamblers USHL hockey games at the Resch Center cost around $15-25 per ticket and offer a genuinely exciting live sports experience in a small arena where kids can see the action clearly from almost every seat. The season runs October through April and games are typically on Friday and Saturday nights.
- 💡Heritage Hill State Historical Park in De Pere offers 'Ethnic Heritage Days' events on specific summer weekends where different Wisconsin cultural groups demonstrate traditional crafts, food, and music — check their calendar at heritagehillgb.org before your trip as these days significantly enhance the experience beyond the standard admission.
- 💡The Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary nature center offers free admission and is far less crowded on weekday mornings — arrive before 10am to see the most active wildlife in the enclosures. The sanctuary's bald eagle exhibit is one of the few places in Wisconsin families can see a non-releasable eagle up close at eye level.
- 💡Kroll's West on Military Avenue is the quintessential Green Bay dining institution — order the butter burger (a true regional specialty where the bun is buttered and toasted, distinct from any chain version) and a frozen custard. Prices are very reasonable at under $40 for a family of four. Cash is accepted and parking is easy in their lot.
- 💡The National Railroad Museum's outdoor locomotive collection is freely visible from the parking lot if you arrive just before or after closing, but the inside — including a ride on an actual operating train on-site — is worth the full admission. Ask staff specifically about the Eisenhower train car, which is consistently the favorite stop for school-age kids.
- 💡If visiting during a Packers home game weekend without tickets, position your family along Lombardi Avenue two hours before kickoff to experience the tailgate culture — some of the largest private tailgate parties in the NFL happen in the Lambeau Field parking lots and are entirely visible from public sidewalks, with fans typically welcoming to visiting families.