Kids' activities in Melbourne: playgrounds, zoo, story time

Last checked Oct. 9, 2026. Sources: the City of Melbourne’s parks, pools and special events pages, Brevard Zoo, the Brevard County Library System and the organizers linked below.

Melbourne’s biggest draw for families is Brevard Zoo, on North Wickham Road, open every day but two. Closer to home, the city runs 23 parks with playgrounds, three pools and a calendar of family events at its community centers, from Touch a Truck in January to the Halloween Spooktacular in October.

Who to call

• City Parks, Recreation and Golf (Eau Gallie Civic Center): 321-608-7400
• Brevard Zoo: 8225 N. Wickham Road
• Melbourne Public Library: 540 E. Fee Ave., 321-952-4514
• Wickham Park Community Center: 321-608-7490
• Eddie Lee Taylor Sr. Community Center: 321-608-7450

Brevard Zoo

Brevard Zoo, 8225 N. Wickham Road, is open 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, except Thanksgiving and Christmas Day; members can enter at 9 a.m. Its seasonal family events this year include:

• Boo at the Zoo, Saturdays and Sundays in October, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., included with admission. See our Halloween events page.
• Thanksgiving at the Zoo, a family program, 10 a.m. to noon Tuesday, Nov. 24.
• Kids’ Holiday Hangout, a drop-off night with animal encounters, crafts and pizza, 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12.
• Mini Camps, one-day camps for grades 1 to 5 on Brevard Public Schools holidays and teacher workdays from October to April, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Playgrounds

The city lists playgrounds at 23 parks on its parks page:

City parks are open from 7 a.m. until sunset under the city code. Riverview Park, just south of downtown, adds the Saturday farmers market, and Ballard Park and Pineapple Park face the water. More on our parks and trails guide.

Story time and the library

The Melbourne Public Library, part of the Brevard County Library System, is at 540 E. Fee Ave., 321-952-4514. The county library system runs story time, summer reading and STEAM programs for children, with a different lineup at each branch. Call or check the county’s library calendar for this month’s story times.

City family events

The City of Melbourne’s Parks, Recreation and Golf Department runs family events at its community centers. Recent ones, from the city’s special events list:

Register through the city’s online registration or at the Eau Gallie Civic Center, 1551 Highland Ave., 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays.

Pools and swim lessons

The city runs three pools: Sherwood Pool, 2479 Post Road, open on weekends through the winter; and Fee Pool, 114 E. Fee Ave., and the Eddie Lee Taylor Sr. Pool, 3400 Monroe St., which reopen on Memorial Day. Children under 12 must be with an adult. Swim lessons start at 6 months with parent-and-child classes. Fees and schedules are on our summer camps and pools page.

The city’s parks directory did not list a splash pad when we checked.

Rainy-day picks

• Melbourne Square, 1700 W. New Haven Ave., is indoors; JCPenney there runs a monthly free Kids Zone craft, and the mall holds a Candy Crawl on Oct. 30.
• The library, 540 E. Fee Ave., for story time and books.
• The Melbourne Auditorium hosts the city’s indoor family events, listed above.
• Paint or pottery downtown: Painting with a Twist, 702 E. New Haven Ave., posts its class calendar online, and Get Fired Up Pottery is in Melbourne Main Street’s directory.
• Liberty Bell Memorial Museum, 1601 Oak St., open Tuesdays 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and the first Saturday of each month 9 a.m. to noon, per its website.

What this means for you

• For a full day out, the zoo opens at 9:30 a.m.; Boo at the Zoo weekends run through October.
• Some city family events need registration; book through WebTrac.
• Bring cash for city pool open swim.

More: summer camps and pools, free things to do and things to do this weekend.

Frequently asked questions

What is there for kids to do in Melbourne, Florida?

Brevard Zoo on North Wickham Road, 23 city parks with playgrounds, story time at the Melbourne Public Library, city family events such as Touch a Truck and the Halloween Spooktacular, and three city pools.

What are Brevard Zoo’s hours?

9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day except Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Members can enter at 9 a.m. The zoo is at 8225 N. Wickham Road.

Which Melbourne parks have playgrounds?

The city lists 23, including Ballard Park, Riverview Park, Wells Park, Pineapple Park River Front, the Tim Wakefield Sports Complex and the Southwest Recreation Complex.

Is there a splash pad in Melbourne?

The city’s parks directory did not list a splash pad when we checked. For water play, Fee Pool and the Eddie Lee Taylor Sr. Pool open on Memorial Day, and Sherwood Pool runs through the winter on weekends.

Where is story time in Melbourne?

The Melbourne Public Library, a Brevard County library at 540 E. Fee Ave., runs children’s programs including story time. Call 321-952-4514 for the current schedule.