Things to do with kids in the Shoals, all in one place.
No plans? Go anytime.Places to go any day, no event needed
Show up for the Shoals
Cheer on local teams. Free or cheap, and everyone's welcome.
Updated every Wednesday. Events are run by their hosts. Times and prices can change, so check with the host before you go.
No event needed
Parks, play spots and more. Pick a list.
Free and open most days. Tap for directions.
Kid spots open most of the year.
Go on your own time. No sign-up needed.
Trading card and tabletop events. Ages are not posted, so ask the store which nights suit kids.
Farms that open their gates to families. Most are open only in season, so call or check their Facebook page before you go.
Patios that welcome dogs. Call ahead with kids.
Florence has no public dog park yet. The city plans one at McFarland Park.
About Little Shoals
Finding something to do with your kids here means checking a dozen Facebook groups, library and museum pages, and the flyer on the coffee shop door. We check them for you every week and put it all on one calendar. Filter by age, cost, town and day, and find something good in a minute.
We cover Florence, Muscle Shoals, Sheffield, Tuscumbia and the towns around them. Libraries, museums, parks, schools, faith communities, theaters and local businesses all have a place here.
We also want to grow what the Shoals has to offer. Families vote on the shows they want to see, share ideas for new clubs and classes, and our Event Fund will pay for free events anyone can come to.
Listing an event is always free. Ads are few, quiet and clearly labeled, so the calendar stays easy to use.
[A few lines about who runs Little Shoals and why.]
Open to the public, good for kids or families, and in or near the Shoals. We link to the host for details, and the host runs the event.
No pop-ups or full-screen ads. No ads that play sound. No ads between events. Every ad, sponsor and paid link is labeled.
Vote in the show poll · Event Fund · Add an event · Share an idea
Learn something new
Weekly classes and lessons for kids in the Shoals. Most run by season and need sign-up, so contact the studio for openings, trial classes and current prices.
Florence · 1507 N Wood Ave · 256-760-0056
Ballet, jazz, tap, hip hop, lyrical and acro for ages 3 and up. Preschool classes (Pre Ballet, Pre Jazz and Acro, Petite Dance, Pre Tap) meet on weekday afternoons. Teen Dance meets Tuesdays at 6 PM. The season runs August to June.
Holiday Showcase on Thursday, December 17. Spring Recital on Saturday, June 5.
Florence · 1505 N Wood Ave
Preschool tumbling for ages 3 to 5, with weekday morning classes at 10:30 and 11:15 plus after-school times. Beginner gymnastics for 6 and up, and ninja, boys and back handspring classes. The booking page lists tuition of $90, so ask how often that is charged.
Florence
Tumbling and cheer classes. Call or check their site for ages and times.
Florence · 256-284-7107
Art Class on Wednesdays at 10:30 AM and Fridays at 9:30 AM. Little Music Makers on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 11:30 AM. Included with museum admission, $10 a person, and kids 18 months and under are free. No sign-up needed.
Florence
Art workshops through the year and Camp KD in the summer. Check their calendar for kids' classes.
Florence · 2138 Helton Dr · 256-712-5549
Family-run music school with lessons for kids and teens in guitar, piano, ukulele, drums, bass, voice, violin, cello, clarinet and saxophone. Private, group and band lessons, at the studio or at home. Free trial lesson.
Florence · 505 N Seminary St · 256-415-8127
Instrument lessons in downtown Florence for more than 20 years. Call for instruments, ages and openings.
Florence · Summer
A summer jazz camp held during the W. C. Handy Music Festival. Watch for dates and ages in the spring.
Tuscumbia · 511 N Main St
Baby & Me for ages 0 to 2 (Mondays) and Little Learners for ages 2 to 5 (Thursdays), both at 10:30 AM. Stories, songs and play. Free, no sign-up.
Florence · 256-764-6564
Babies Love the Library for babies up to 24 months (Fri 10:30 AM), Terrific 2's (Thu 10:30 AM), ABC's Under the Trees for ages 3 and 4 (Wed 10:30 AM), Ready, Set, Read! kindergarten prep for 4-year-olds (Tue 11 AM, Tue and Thu 1:30 PM), and 8-9-10 for ages 8 to 10 (Thu 3:30 PM). Teens get D&D, a tech club, games and more most weekdays at 4:15 PM. Some teen programs need sign-up at teens@flpl.org.
Muscle Shoals
Babytime (birth to 18 months) Fridays, Toddlertime (18 to 36 months) Tuesdays and Preschool Storytime (3 and up) Wednesdays, all at 10:30 AM. Free, no sign-up. A good way to meet other parents.
Studios, coaches and teachers can be listed here for free. Send us the details.
Day trips
Museums, zoos, farms and outdoor spots within about 3 hours of the Shoals. Drive times are from Florence and are rough, so check your map before you go.
Give back
Helping out is one of the best things to do with your kids. Clean up a park, wrap gifts, sort food or place wreaths for Wreaths Across America. Many events welcome whole families, and some are a good fit for teens on their own.
Teens: volunteer hours look great on college and scholarship applications. Keep a list of where you helped, the date and your hours, and ask the organizer for a short note.
Each event sets its own age rules. Check the listing or ask the host, and bring a grown-up when the event asks for one.
We're planning volunteer roles for our own events. Tell us you're interested and we'll reach out.
Add it to the calendar. Start the name with "Volunteer:" and say who can join.
Have your say
Pick up to 3. We'll take the results to local venues to show there's demand.
Give back
100% of donations pay for free kids events in the Shoals. We post every dollar raised and every event it pays for.
Hosting something for kids?
Listing an event is always free. We review each one before it goes on the calendar. Want a featured spot or a partner logo? See options for businesses.
Partner with us
Host something for kids and we will help families find it. Listing an event is always free. Paid spots are clearly labeled and never get in the way, so families keep coming back.
Your event on the calendar with age, cost, and location filters. Same look as every other event.
Your event shows first in the list with a small "Sponsored" label. Only one featured spot per page.
A spotlight for local makers, artists, bakers and photographers. Makers take turns in the spotlight, and it never costs a thing.
Your logo in the partner row at the bottom of each page and a short mention in the weekly family email.
The best kid events for the weekend, once a week. Unsubscribe any time.
Ask a question, fix a listing, or tell us what to bring next: an event, club, class or show.