Free things to do in Homewood: the Shades Creek Greenway, Miss Sims' Garden, city parks, library programs, a self-guided history tour and free events all year.

Last checked Oct. 17, 2026. Sources: the City of Homewood (Sims Garden, driving tour and greenway pages), Homewood Parks and Recreation, the Homewood Public Library calendar and each organizer’s page. “Free” means the organizer lists no charge.

A lot of what Homewood does best costs nothing: a busy greenway, a botanical garden left to the city, five parks, a library with programs most days, and a calendar of free community events from the fall festival season to the Christmas parade.

At a glance

  • Any day: Shades Creek Greenway, Miss Sims’ Garden, city parks
  • Most weekdays: library story times and kids’ clubs, no charge
  • On your phone: a 16-stop self-guided history tour
  • Questions: Homewood Parks, 205-332-6700; library, 205-332-6600

Outdoors

  • Shades Creek Greenway, also called the Lakeshore Trail: the city counts 145,600 visitors a year. Official trailheads at 1280 Columbiana Road and at Brookwood Boulevard and Brookwood Village Road, with parking and water fountains.
  • Miss Sims’ Garden, five lots between 908 Highland Road and 913 Irving Road, left to the city by Catherine Anville Sims, “The Plant Lady,” to be kept as a botanical park. It is open daily for self-guided tours, and garden beds in the Alabama Cooperative Extension’s Grow More, Give More program grow fruit and vegetables that are free to pick, the city says.
  • City parks: Central Park and Patriot Park are open 5:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Overton, Spring and Woodland parks sunrise to sunset. Playgrounds, walking paths and tennis courts; see parks and trails.

At the library

The Homewood Public Library, 1721 Oxmoor Road, lists no charge for the programs on its events calendar, though some need registration. Every week there are story times for ages 0 to 5 on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings, and after-school clubs such as Hot Wheels Club, Pokemon Club and Art Club. Adults get book clubs, classes and evening programs. Details on our kids’ activities guide.

History

  • Self-guided driving tour: the Homewood Historic Preservation Commission’s tour has 16 audio and text stops covering Homewood’s five historic wards; start wherever you like. It is free on the TravelStorys app.
  • Homewood turns 100 on Oct. 29, 2026; the library’s centennial time capsule burial is at 4 p.m. that day at the front entrance flagpole. Event page. More in our history and landmarks guide.

Free events through the year

When Event Source
Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026, 3 to 5 p.m. Homewood Library Foundation Trunk-or-Treat Library
Sunday, Oct. 25, 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. Homewood Mini Con, for grades 4 to 12 Library
Thursday, Oct. 29, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Trunk or Treat at Shades Valley YMCA Chamber
Thursday, Dec. 3, 6:30 p.m. Christmas parade and tree lighting Our parade page

In 2026, the We Love Homewood Day parade was free to enter, Homewood Parks says; the 2027 day is Saturday, May 1. See our seasonal pages for each holiday: Halloween, holiday events and Easter.

Frequently asked questions

What is free to do in Homewood this weekend?

Walk the Shades Creek Greenway, visit Miss Sims’ Garden, which is open daily for self-guided tours, or take a library program; the Homewood Public Library lists no charge for the programs on its calendar.

Is Miss Sims’ Garden free?

The city says the garden, between 908 Highland Road and 913 Irving Road, is open daily for self-guided tours, and some garden beds grow fruit and vegetables that are free to pick.

Is the Homewood Christmas parade free?

Yes, watching is free. The 2026 parade is at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 3, and ends with the tree lighting at City Hall Plaza.

Is there a free history tour of Homewood?

Yes. The Homewood Historic Preservation Commission’s self-guided driving tour has 16 audio and text stops across the city’s five historic wards, free on the TravelStorys app.