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The Fresno Bee
5 things to do for free in the Fresno area — from farmers market to yoga classes
By Fernanda Galan,
7 days ago
Looking for fun, free activities in the Fresno area?
The region is home to plenty of no-cost attractions, from lush parks and gardens to farmers markets and museums.
Here are five things you can do in and around Fresno while leaving your wallet at home.
At Woodward Park in northeast Fresno, fiery red colors of a Chinese pistache tree stand out while looking out over the lake from the Shinzen “Friendship” Garden. John Walker/The Fresno Bee
Hike, walk and bike at Woodward Park
Woodward Park is the largest park in Fresno, covering a total of 300 acres.
Whether you are hiking, walking, biking or just want to curl up with a good book on one of the multiple benches, the park at 7775 N Friant Road , has something for everyone.
The park boasts “native plants, chaparral shrubland, riparian woodland, wetlands, grasslands and oak woodlands,” in addition to a large lake and ponds, according to the park’s website.
The park’s BMX course is designed for mountain bikers of all levels — as is the Woodward Mountain Bike Skills progression park, a 10-acre park for jumps and tricks.
There are two cross country tracks — measuring 5,000 meters and 10,000 meters, respectively — and the Woodward Legacy disc course with 18 holes.
Jennifer Alba, left, walks Blu, a 1-year-old pit bull terrier, while her husband Eric Alba, right, walks Athena, a 2-year-old pit bull terrier, during the Bully Walk 2015 at Woodward Park in Fresno, California on May 31, 2015. SILVIA FLORES / sflores@fresnobee.com
A dog park is conveniently located at the entrance of the park on Friant and Fort Washington roads, and there are a couple of picnic and barbecue areas.
The park also has three family-friendly playgrounds.
Although it costs up to $5 per vehicle to park at Woodward Park, you can find nearby street parking for free.
The park is open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily, April through October, and 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. November through March.
A ladybug walks the stems of a lupine at the Clovis Botanical Garden. JOHN WALKER/jwalker@fresnobee.com
Inspired by Clovis resident Gordon Russell. The volunteer-run garden at 945 North Clovis Ave. serves as an educational outlet and community attraction, with an emphasis on water conservation and horticulture appropriate to the Central Valley climate.
The Children’s Garden offers kids the opportunity to learn plants, animals, insects and “how they interact,” the Clovis Botanical Garden website said, while other sections of the garden focus on water-wise landscaping.
For instance, the Cactus Garden features cacti and succulents that boast “interesting shapes, low maintenance, and drought resistance,” the website said, while the Sensory Garden provides a “stimulating journey through the senses to heighten awareness or achieve calmness.”
The botanical garden recently opened its visitor center and unveiled a new ornamental glass display.
It’s free to visit the garden, which is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday.
The World Languages section is located toward the back right section of Fresno County Public Library’s Central Branch. Books in Spanish and other languages lined the shelves, ranging from nonfiction to fiction, reference and autobiographical books on Thursday, Dec. 8, 2022. LAURA S. DIAZ/ldiaz@fresnobee.com
Yoga, dance and more at Fresno County Public Library
Libraries may have reputations as dull places, but there’s nothing boring about the Fresno County Public Library , 2420 Mariposa St. in Fresno.
In addition to an impressive collection of books in both English and Spanish, the library hosts a variety of activities — from yoga and crochet classes to folk dancing lessons.
The library also offers a homework help service for kids and teens.
The Fresno County library is home to the San Joaquin Valley Heritage & Genealogy Center, home to a vast collection of books, newspaper clippings, photographs and other research materials focusing on Fresno County history and American genealogy.
The library is open to the public for free from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday. On Sunday, it opens at noon and closes at 5 p.m.
Sheri Cooley sells produce on the evening of the year’s first Friday night Old Town Clovis Farmers Market in 2020.. ERIC PAUL ZAMORA/ezamora@fresnobee.com
What’s for sale at Clovis Farmers Market?
You can shop for fresh, local produce, baked goods and more at the Clovis Farmers Market in Old Town Clovis.
Although the Friday night market, held on Pollasky Avenue between Third and Seventh streets, is a seasonal affair, the Saturday morning market on the same street between Fifth Street and Bullard Avenue is held all year round.
At the market, shoppers can stop by booths operated by vendors such as Ferrer Farm in Madera for seasonal fruits and vegetables, or Wake Me Up Farms in Fresnofor award-winning blueberries pies, Bundt cakes, breads, cinnamon rolls and other treats.
Other options include Hinkle’s Honey in Fresno, which has natural raw honey and Let’s Get Mini, a locally owned Fresno business that specializes in miniature desserts such as mini donuts and mini funnel cakes.
Admission is free, and you can enjoy live music on Fridays.
The Clovis Farmers Market takes place on 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, through Oct. 25, and 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Saturday.
Bob Cole, 100, stands near the uniform worn by then-Lt. Col. Jimmy H. Doolittle, on the 80th anniversary of the sinking of the aircraft carrier USS Hornet (CV-8) that Cole served on, while visiting the Veterans Memorial Museum in Fresno on Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2022. Cole was photographed with Doolittle before his famous raid on Tokyo. CRAIG KOHLRUSS/ckohlruss@fresnobee.com
Where is veterans memorial museum in Fresno?
Veterans Memorial Museum , 2425 Fresno Street in Fresno,honors all military veterans and is dedicated to “Americanism and education,” according to the museum’s website.
Housed at the Fresno Veterans Memorial Auditorium, the museum “grew out of the efforts of several dedicated Legion of Valor members and their wives,” the website said.
On display are “numerous framed citations, photographs and exhibits that tell the story of America’s wars as seen by individual soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen,” the website said, as well as military uniforms and equipment from different eras.
The museum is staffed by volunteers and admission is always free. It’s open 10 am. to 3 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
An example of a low-water garden is seen at Clovis Botanical Garden in 2017. Special to The Bee
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