There are always days that we can’t wait for nice weather to arrive so we can escape the house and let the kids run off their energy outside. Unfortunately, the weather doesn’t always permit for that! If it’s one of those days where you just can’t remain inside any longer, you need some adult interaction, or just a change of scenery with the kids, check out this awesome list of Cedar Rapids indoor activities for kids and things to do indoors in Cedar Rapids!
Cedar Rapids Indoor Recreational Programs + Facilities
Cedar Rapids Parks & Recreation
Age Range: 1 and up
The Cedar Rapids Parks and Recreation department offers all sorts of indoor classes and programs year-round. From art and music classes for toddlers to Nerf shoot-outs and cooking classes for school-agers. Check out their website for more information.
ImON Ice Arena
Age Range: Walking and up
The Cedar Rapids Ice Arena is a great place to go if you’re looking for indoor activities in Cedar Rapids during both the winter and summer months! They offer both public skate and private and group lessons. Check out their website for hours and pricing.
Bender Pool Open Swim
Age Range: All ages
Open Swim is great for all ages and their baby pool is perfect for toddlers!! This is one of our favorite indoor swimming pools in Cedar Rapids!
YMCA of the Cedar Rapids Metro Area
Age Range: Preschool and up
The YMCA offers recreation programs for kids in preschool and up. From sports to Zumba and Tae Kwon Do. See their website for pricing and locations.
Looking for information about swim lessons? Check out our Cedar Rapids Swim Lessons Guide!
Cedar Rapids Open Gyms
Kids First Gymnastics
Age Range: Walking and up
Kids First Gymnastics offers a daytime story time for kids, with play time in the gym afterwards! They also offer Preschool Open Gym on Saturdays, as well as occasional Parents’ Night Outs. Check out their website for hours and pricing information.
Somersaults Gymnastics
Age Range: Walking and up
Somersaults Gymnastics offers an Open Gym for kids ages 5-18 and a Tot Open Gym for kids ages 6 and under. Check out their website for hours and pricing information.
Twisters Gymnastics
Age Range: Walking and up
Twisters offers a weekly Open Gym for kids ages 5 and up. They also offer Parent + Tot and Homeschool Open Gyms for kids ages walking-16. Check their website for hours and pricing information.
Cedar Rapids Indoor Play Places
Looking for more places for your kids to burn off energy? Check out our Top 10 Indoor Play Areas in Cedar Rapids!
Cedar Rapids Libraries
We are very fortunate to have such great local public libraries/museums in this area. The Cedar Rapids, Marion, and Hiawatha public libraries are very welcoming to families with children of all ages. They offer classes, activities and get-togethers for infants, toddlers, school-agers, teens, and adults. Below lists a couple of the opportunities at each library; check out their websites for more current activities.
Cedar Rapids Downtown Public Library
Age Range: All ages
Story Time offers a story time and play/socialization for pre-k aged children. Mother Goose on the Loose offers nursery rhymes and play time for children ages newborn-3 years old. On their monthly event page you can also find dates for a parachute time, movie showings, activities for school-agers, teen gatherings, and more. You can also find out more in our Guide to the Downtown Cedar Rapids Public Library.
Cedar Rapids Ladd Public Library
Age Range: All ages
The Ladd Library offers Mother Goose on the Loose: nursery rhymes and play time for children ages newborn-3 years old. They also offer Preschool Story Time, which emphasizes Every Child Ready to Read elements (Talk, Play, Read, Write, and Sing). You can find more events for family members of all ages at the Ladd Library on their events page.
Hiawatha Public Library
Age Range: All ages
Toddler Time is on Tuesdays features stories, fingerplays, song and movement. Preschool Storytime also features stories, fingerplays, song and movement. Play & Learn features play time for children ages 0-5 and their caregivers. There are lots of other story times and activities the take place throughout the month. Visit their events page for more info!
Marion Public Library
Age Range: All ages
Marion Public Library Story Times include: Baby Time for ages birth to 18 months; Toddler Time for ages 18 months to 3 years; Preschool Story Time for ages 3-5 years; Music and Movement for ages 2-5; and Family Time for all ages. You can see more of their family-friendly activities on their events page.
Cedar Rapids Museums
Cedar Rapids Museum of Art
Age Range: All ages
Check out their calendar for some great family-friendly events. The CRMA also offers Off-the-Wall Art Boxes to help make the exhibits more interactive for kids of all ages. These boxes help make exhibits more accessible for children and include crafts, touchables, and even dress up options. The boxes are free and must be returned at the end of your visit. Check out their website for hours and pricing information.
African American Museum of Iowa
Age Range: All ages
Learn about African American history in Cedar Rapids through the museum’s permanent exhibit, as well as their changing temporary exhibits. The museum also offers occasional learning opportunities for kids ages 5 and up. Check their events page for more details and visit their website for hours and pricing information.
National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library
Age Range: All Ages
The NCSML in Cedar Rapids is a terrific place to take your kids to learn about Czech history, traditions, and culture. They also offer great family-friendly events throughout the year so be sure to check out their events page. Visit their website for hours and pricing information.
The Iowa Children’s Museum
Age Range: All ages
The Iowa Children’s Museum is located in the Coral Ridge Mall in Coralville and offers a variety of exhibits and programs for children of all ages to expand their imagination and be creative; you can easily spend the whole day there! Admission is free during STEM Family Free Nights on the last Friday night of the month! Check out their events page for more event info! Visit their website for hours and pricing information.
Cedar Rapids Movie Theater Deals
Collins Road Movie Theatre
Age Range: All ages
Collins Road Movie Theatre in Cedar Rapids frequently offers specials, as well as matinee prices. Collins Road Movie Theatre is a locally owned theatre offering movies not previously shown in Cedar Rapids and second-run hits! Check out their website to see showings and deals!
Galaxy 16 Theatre
Age Range: All ages
Galaxy 16 Theatre offers matinee pricing, as well as $5 Tuesdays and deals on special showings. Check out their website for showtimes, pricing, and events.
Vinton Movie Theatre
Age Range: All ages
On the Vinton Movie Theatre website you can download their monthly calendar for their current movie showings. This is a great small town movie theater that plays a couple different family-friendly movies throughout each month.
AMC Classic Westdale 12
Age Range: All ages
AMC Westdale offers matinee pricing as well as Discount Tuesdays (for rewards members). Check out their website for showtimes and pricing.
Other Cedar Rapids Classes & Activities for Kids
Classes with Birth Baby and Beyond
Age Range: Infant-5 years old
Birth Baby and Beyond offers baby yoga, music and movement classes, and play groups. Visit their Facebook page for current details.
The Pointe School of Dance
Age Range: 2-4 years
The Pointe Dance offers Storytime With a Twist on the first Thursday of every month for ages 2-5. It is a free class that includes a story and dance time; registration is required. Get details and register on their website.
Potter’s Obsession
Age Range: All ages welcome, but we recommend preschool and up
Potter’s Obsession is a local shop where you pick a piece of pottery, design and paint it, then they will glaze and fire it for you to pick up later. Hours are seasonal; Call to determine hours (319) 743-9824 or visit their Facebook page.
KidCreate Studio
Age Range: 18 months and up
KidCreate Studio offers art classes and programs for kids ages 18 months and up, including weekday homeschool classes. Visit their website for schedule and pricing information.
Iowa Ceramics Center & Glass Studio
Age Range: Preschool and up
Iowa Ceramics Center & Glass Studio offers classes for multiple age ranges, including family workshops, kids camps, and adult classes. Check out their website for schedule and pricing information.
Are you looking for a place to host your next birthday party? Check out our Cedar Rapids Birthday Party Guide!!
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You can also visit the Helen G Nassif YMCA, Stoney Point YMCA or Marion YMCAs for a guest price and enjoy open swim and open gym times. The max guest fee for families is $20. Reduced community swim fee on Fridays is $3 for 0-18 and $4 for 19 and above. For available open swim and open gym times visit their website at http://www.crmetroymca.org.