Free things to do in Provo: museums, trails, concerts and library nights

Free museums, the Y and Provo Canyon, free concerts and films at BYU, and a full calendar of free nights at the Provo City Library. Updated daily.

Updated October 20, 2026

Go Do has found 81 free events in Provo between now and the end of November, plus two museums with free admission and trails and parks to explore. Our top picks: the Monte L. Bean Life Science Museum and the Museum of Mormon Mexican History, both with free admission, a hike up the Y, free films at BYU International Cinema, free recitals in the BYU Music Building, and family movie nights, trivia and open mics at the Provo City Library. Check them out below!

Free fun in Provo
Free museums
Trails, parks and Provo Canyon
Free concerts and films at BYU
Free nights at the Provo City Library

Free fun in Provo

Looking for fun things to do in Provo that won't cost you a thing? You have come to the right place! Between BYU's museums, concerts and films, the trails right above town, and a packed calendar at the Provo City Library, Provo has lots of fun things to do for free, for students, young families and anyone looking for a night out on a budget.

Go Do pulls these from the calendars of the museums, the university, the library and the city, and checks them daily so our suggestions are as current as possible. Each pick links to its full details, a map, and even weather forecasts, restaurants and hotels nearby.

This guide starts with the free museums and the outdoors, which are there any day you want to go, then the free concerts, films and library nights coming up this fall. Here's a few of the top options to consider, so find your next great day or night out and get planning with your family and friends in our App too!

Free museums

Provo has two museums where admission is free, and they're a great way to spend a rainy afternoon or a Saturday morning with the kids. You can stay as long or as short as you like, which makes them perfect for little ones with short attention spans.

Check each listing for the hours before you go, since the Museum of Mormon Mexican History is closed Sundays and Mondays.

Photo: GreenwoodKL · CC BY-SA 3.0

Monte L. Bean Life Science Museum

Provo

The Monte L. Bean Life Science Museum is BYU's natural history museum, and its listing says it's free. It's open into the evening on most days (check the listing for hours), so it's an easy weeknight outing too.

Photo: Bean Life Science Museum at Brigham Young University

Halloween Family Night

Mon, Oct 26 · Bean Life Science Museum at Brigham Young University, Provo

The Bean Museum's free Halloween Family Night, with crafts, a spooky Halloween program and a photo booth, and another chance to show off your costume. It's an evening event, and there's no candy at this one.

Museum of Mormon Mexican History

Provo

The Museum of Mormon Mexican History preserves the history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Mexico, with free admission and free museum tours. Donations are welcome.

Trails, parks and Provo Canyon

Some of the best free things to do in Provo are right outside: the Y on the mountain above town, the parks along the foothills, and Provo Canyon just up the road. Fall is a great time to get out before the snow, with cooler temperatures and the leaves turning.

Start early on the trails, bring water and a warm layer, and wear shoes with good grip, since mountain trails get steep and slippery. Parks are a great backup when the little ones need an easier day.

Photo: Explore Utah Valley

Y Trail

Provo

The Y Trail is a 1.1 mi route up to Provo's famous Y. Go early and enjoy the views of the valley from the top.

Photo: Lunkwill at English Wikipedia · Public domain

Y Mountain

Provo

For a bigger challenge, Y Mountain is a summit hike to 8,566 ft, a big day best for experienced hikers. Check the weather before you go, since conditions change quickly up high.

Photo: Explore Utah Valley

Bridal Veil Falls Park

Provo

Bridal Veil Falls Park sits along Hwy 189 in Provo Canyon, an easy stop to see the falls on a drive up the canyon.

Photo: Explore Utah Valley

Provo Canyon

Provo

Provo Canyon's scenic byways pass Bridal Veil Falls and Deer Creek and head to the Alpine Loop, a beautiful fall drive with the whole family.

Photo: Explore Utah Valley

The Park at Rock Canyon

Provo

The Park at Rock Canyon, at 2620 N 1200 E, is a great place for a picnic or to let the kids run.

Free concerts and films at BYU

BYU's Music Building and International Cinema have free recitals and films coming up this fall. It's a wonderful way to enjoy talented student and faculty musicians, or a classic film from around the world, without buying a ticket.

The BYU recitals listed here say Free in their listings, and the times are in each description, so open the listing before you go. Each International Cinema film plays over several days, so check the listing for showtimes.

Photo: BYU Music Building

Jazz Combo Showcase

Oct 27 – Apr 6 (4 dates) · BYU Music Building, Provo

The BYU jazz combos play everything from swing to fusion, funk and Latin, with standards and original student arrangements. Two free sets, at 7:30 p.m. and 8:45 p.m., in the Recital Hall.

Photo: BYU Music Building

Little Monster’s Guide to Jazz!: Synthesis

Sat, Oct 31 · BYU Music Building, Provo

A free Halloween morning concert for kids: Synthesis and their friendly "little monster" explore swing, from spooky melodies to upbeat improvisation, with Rob Dunn narrating. Come dressed in your costume; it starts at 11:00 a.m. in the Concert Hall.

Photo: BYU Music Building

Fall Violin Showcase

Tue, Nov 3 · BYU Music Building, Provo

A free showcase of BYU's most skilled violinists in the Recital Hall at 7:30 p.m., a lovely weeknight for music lovers.

Ikiru

Nov 4 – Nov 7 · BYU International Cinema, Provo · Free

BYU International Cinema shows Ikiru for free, the story of a bureaucrat who learns he has only months to live and sets out to find meaning before it's too late. It plays over several days, so pick the one that fits.

Let the River Flow

Oct 21 – Oct 24 · BYU International Cinema, Provo · Free

Let the River Flow plays free at BYU International Cinema: in the summer of 1979, a dam threatens to drown a river, pulling a young Sámi teacher into protest camps and a reckoning with her heritage.

Free nights at the Provo City Library

The Provo City Library has a full calendar of free programs: movie nights, trivia, open mics, yoga, a play and ghost stories. It's a great place for families and adults alike, and a lot of fun on a cold night.

Some programs ask you to register online ahead of time, so check each listing, and arrive a few minutes early for the popular ones.