Things to do with kids in Hoover: the free EXPLORE playground and splash pad, library story times every weekday, Fort Aldridge and indoor climbing.

Last checked Oct. 17, 2026. Facts come from the City of Hoover, the Hoover Met Complex, the Hoover Public Library’s event calendar and Aldridge Gardens, linked below. Program times change by season; check before you go.

Hoover’s best free kids’ spots are the EXPLORE playground and splash pad at the Hoover Met Complex and the Hoover Public Library, which runs a story time almost every weekday. For a walk in the woods, Aldridge Gardens has a StoryWalk and a build-your-own fort area.

At a glance

  • Free playground and splash pad: EXPLORE, 1060 RV Trace
  • Story times: Hoover Public Library, 200 Municipal Drive; Children’s Department 205-444-7830
  • Nature play: Fort Aldridge and the StoryWalk, Aldridge Gardens, 3530 Lorna Road
  • Rainy day: the library, Hoover Heights Climbing Center, the Rec Center pool
  • Hoover Parks and Recreation: 205-444-7703

Playgrounds and the splash pad

  • EXPLORE Playground and Splash Pad, 1060 RV Trace, at the Hoover Met Complex: a 15,000-square-foot inclusive playground and a 7,000-square-foot splash pad built for children of all abilities, free for everyone. The playground is open every day from sunrise to sunset; the splash pad runs May 15 to Sept. 15, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday to Sunday, closed Mondays. Restrooms, a family restroom and charging stations are on site, the city says.
  • Veterans Park, 4800 Valleydale Road: two playgrounds, one of them accessible, plus the lake loop and sand volleyball courts, open dawn to dusk (city).
  • Loch Haven Park, 3469 Loch Haven Drive: a playground, a 0.4-mile walking track and a big recreation field next to the city’s dog park.
  • Bluff Park Community Park, 517 Cloudland Drive: a playground with restrooms.

Story times at the library

The Hoover Public Library, 200 Municipal Drive, runs a story time on most days. The fall 2026 schedule, from its event calendar:

Day Program Ages
Monday, 9:30 a.m. Baby Playdate (registration required) Birth to 18 months
Monday, 4 p.m. Story Lab, a story plus hands-on STEAM 3 to 8
Tuesday, 9:30 and 10:30 a.m. Together with Tots (registration required) 18 to 36 months
Wednesday, 9:30 and 10:30 a.m. Story Sprouts, a movement story time 4 and under
Thursday, 6:30 p.m. PJ Storytime Whole family
Friday, 10:30 a.m. Storytime at Lee Branch, at the East 59 Cafe All ages
Saturday, 10:30 a.m. Saturday Storytime Kids

Older kids get LEGO challenges, Kids D&D for grades 3-6 and Read with Libby, where reluctant readers read to the library’s facility dog. Call the Children’s Department at 205-444-7830.

Nature play at Aldridge Gardens

Aldridge Gardens, 3530 Lorna Road, is open daily from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

  • StoryWalk: a picture book set out in 18 panels along the path, created for early readers and sponsored by the Hoover Public Library. The story changes every quarter.
  • Trail to Fort Aldridge: a spur off the lake trail leading to an unstructured play area where children build with sticks, pine cones and branches.
  • The gardens ask visitors not to run or jog on the trails.

Rainy-day picks

  • The library, above, open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Thursday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday.
  • Hoover Heights Climbing Center at the Finley Center, 5508 Stadium Trace Parkway: 19 climbing elements, including the Skyscraper Walk and the Leap of Faith. Sessions start on the hour and include gear; there is no age requirement, but climbers must fit securely in a harness.
  • Hoover Recreation Center indoor pool, Municipal Drive, for members; children under 15 need a parent on the pool deck (city).

Once a year: Celebrate Hoover Day

The city’s free Celebrate Hoover Day draws more than 10,000 people to Veterans Park each spring for a 10-foot apple pie served with ice cream, live entertainment, food trucks, carnival rides and inflatables. In 2026 it was Saturday, April 25, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., with parking at Spain Park High School.

Seasonal

Related: free things to do and parks and trails.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a free playground with a splash pad in Hoover?

Yes. The EXPLORE Playground and Splash Pad at the Hoover Met Complex, 1060 RV Trace, is free. The inclusive playground is open sunrise to sunset all year; the splash pad runs May 15 to Sept. 15, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday to Sunday.

When is story time at the Hoover Public Library?

Most weekdays. Baby Playdate is Monday at 9:30 a.m., Together with Tots is Tuesday at 9:30 and 10:30 a.m., Story Sprouts is Wednesday at 9:30 and 10:30 a.m., PJ Storytime is Thursday at 6:30 p.m., and there is a Saturday Storytime at 10:30 a.m. Some need registration.

What can kids do in Hoover on a rainy day?

The Hoover Public Library, 200 Municipal Drive, has story times, LEGO and STEAM programs, and Hoover Heights Climbing Center at the Finley Center has 19 climbing elements with no age requirement.

What is Celebrate Hoover Day?

The city’s free annual festival at Veterans Park, with a giant apple pie, carnival rides, inflatables and food trucks. It was Saturday, April 25, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.