Indoor Fun for all ages

Above: Indoor enjoyable in our space contains an space trampoline park and a puzzle course with bodily challenges (Altitude and Level 99 pics by Joao Melo)

With a warmth warning as we speak by way of tomorrow, I’m posting my annual replace on suggestions for indoor enjoyable in our space.

The thought is to assist individuals discover locations to search out respite from houses which might be too sizzling (or locations to go when cabin fever hits). It’s equally useful for wet days which might be certain to hit once more this summer time. 

Many of the choices are geared to households with youngsters. But there are additionally ones good for teenagers and adults (particularly in the event you’re younger at coronary heart!), or particularly for seniors.

Every 12 months, among the particulars change. (Venues open and shut, and hours change, and so on.) Here is my up to date take a look at what’s accessible this summer time.

Free leisure/rest

• Free playspaces: the Solomon Pond Mall (on the decrease degree), and McDonald’s (155 Boston Post Rd W, Marlborough and 299 Turnpike Rd, Westborough). The mall hours are Mon-Thurs 11:00 am – 8:00 pm, Fri-Sat 10:00 am – 9:00 pm, and Sun 11:00 am – 6:00 pm.

• Libraries – The Southborough Public Library could be hotter than common in excessive warmth – however actually higher than outdoor or no A/C. Find a snug chair and ebook to twist up with. The “Teen Space” is an effective space for younger adults to hang around. Over the summer time, the Children’s Room provides numerous summer time studying actions for youthful youngsters. Hours are 10:00 am – 5:00 pm on Mon and Fri (plus, Saturdays in June), and 10:00 am – 9:00 pm Tues-Thurs.

Unfortunately, our Library is closed on weekends in July & August. Fortunately, there are libraries in neighboring cities which might be open Saturdays 12 months spherical. For this summer time, the Saturday hours are: Northborough (9:30 am – 5:00 pm), Marlborough (9:00 am – 5:00 pm), Westborough (9:00 am – 5:00 pm), Hopkinton (9:00 am – 5:00 pm), Shrewsbury (9:00 am – 5:00 pm, and Hudson (9:00 am – 5:00 pm). Bonus, these all share the identical library card system as Southborough (CW MARS). So you may examine supplies on the market and return them in Southborough (or vice versa). Framingham isn’t on the identical lending system, however along with being open 9:00 am – 5:00 on Saturdays, it’s also open Sunday afternoons from 1:00 – 5:00 pm in June.

• Senior Centers – For seniors, you may chill out on the Southborough Senior Center weekdays from 8:30 am – 3:00 pm. You can play pool most days. If you examine their schedule, you may additionally be capable of drop in on a recreation of playing cards or Mah Jongg. See the senior heart’s May/June e-newsletter right here. (I’ll attempt to bear in mind to replace this when the July/Aug situation turns into accessible!)
• Most Surrounding cities’ facilities are open somewhat longer:
  • Northborough opens at 8:00 am and closes on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays at 4:00 pm, with prolonged hours to 7:00 pm on Tues. Friday hours are 7:00 am to midday.
  • Marlborough is open from 8:00 am – 4:00 pm on weekdays
  • Westborough is open 8:00 am – 4:30 pm on Mon, Wed, and Thurs; 8:00 am – 8:00 pm on Tues; and Fri from 7:30 am to midday.
  • Framingham is open weekdays at 8:30 pm, closing at 4:30 pm on Mon, Wed, and Thurs, prolonged to 7:30 pm on Tues and shutting Fri at 1:30 pm.

Indoor Play for a value

• Paid playspaces:
  • Happy Play Day playcenter in Westborough for ages 0-6. Open Tues – Fri 10:00 am – 5:00 pm, Saturdays 10:00 am – 9:00 am, and Sundays 10:00 am – 6:00 pm.
  • Hey Kiddo’s Playtime for ages 0-12. Open play bookings are for 2 hour timeslots Sunday by way of Fridays. Hours are largely mornings, however seem to fluctuate by day.
  • The Natick Mall’s playspace is a Jam Time that prices for teenagers to play there. Mon, Thurs, & Fri: 10:00 am – 6:00 pm, Tues & Wed 10:00 am – 3:00 pm, and Sat/Sun: 10:00 am – 1:30 pm.
  • Let’s Bee Kids playcenter in Hudson is another choice, open Mondays by way of Saturdays 9:30 am – 2:00 pm — however examine the web site, as a result of there are occasional closures for booked non-public occasions.
• Trampolines/inflatables – These require buying tickets:
  • Altitude Trampoline Park within the Apex advanced in Marlborough. The leisure extends past simply trampolines, with dodgeball, hoops dunking, “battles”, a rock wall, a top problem check, trapeze, and extra. The enterprise opens day by day at 10:00 am, closing at 8:00 pm Sun-Thurs with prolonged hours to 10:00 pm on Fri & Sat. (Worth noting, they provide a particular “Junior” bounce time for ages 2-6 on weekdays from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm and a Friday night time particular for youthful teenagers and tweens from 7:00 – 10:00 pm.)
  • Apex Kids for ages 2-12 (jungle gyms, inflatables, and impediment programs) is open day by day from 10:00 am – 7:00 pm.
  • Launch in Framingham opens 10:00 am Mon, Tues, Thurs, Sat, and Sun. They open 3:30 pm on Wed, and 1:30 pm on Fri. They keep open till 8:00 pm Mon – Thurs, 10:00 pm Fri & Sat, and seven:00 pm on Sun. (Their Toddler Time for teenagers 5 and below is weekend mornings 9:00 – 11:00 am.)
• Entertainment Centers/Arcades/Laser tag:
  • Apex Entertainment Center in Marlborough positively has the biggest vary of indoor actions – ropes course, bowling, arcade, laser tag, Bumper automobiles, go karts, sports activities simulators, arcade, and mini golf. Bowling needs to be booked at the very least 24 hours prematurely. (Note: Altitude Trampoline Park and Breakout escape rooms share the power however have their very own web sites for reservations.)
  • Dave & Busters on the Natick Mall has an arcade, digital actuality video games, and sports activities bar.
  • Immersive GameBox within the Natick Mall is an “immersive reality” gaming expertise with projected photos, and monitoring gamers’ actions. Current video games (together with Soccer Arcade, Batman, Squid Game, Floor is Lava, Angry Birds, Ghostbusters, and Paw Patrol) cowl pursuits for little ones by way of adults.
  • Fun & Games in Framingham, Pinz Bowling in Milford, and Roller Kingdom in Hudson additionally provide an arcade and laser tag.
  • In the Solomon Pond Mall, there’s additionally the arcade WOW Family Entertainment.
• Indoor Sports:
  • Indoor Mini Golf:
    • Trombetta’s Farm in Marlborough has indoor golf. (This facility higher setup for wet climate than brutally sizzling temps. Bonus, additionally they promote their handmade ice cream.)
    • Puttshack within the Natick Mall is air conditioned and provides “tech-infused” programs. (For adults, additionally they promote cocktails.) The venue permits on-line reservations, and it’s possible you’ll want them.
    • Apex Entertainment‘s “black-lighted” course in Marlborough can be air conditioned and with on-line reservations.
  • Bowling:
    • Apex Entertainment in Marlborough (must be booked at the very least 24 hours prematurely)
    • Pinz in Milford (with an arcade and laser tag). You can sign kids up to bowl at no cost all through the summer time – two free video games per day.
    • Bowlero in Shrewsbury
  • Skating: Roller Kingdom in Hudson (Only open Wed & Friday evenings and weekend days)
  • Misc.
    • Bosse Pickledom on the Natick Mall provides Pickleball courts, golf simulators, and “dart lanes”
• Challenges/Escape Rooms:
  • Breakout at Apex
  • Level 99 on the Natick Mall is described as providing “challenge based entertainment”. It features a slew of bodily and psychological challenges that may be taken on individually or as a group. Instead of buying a problem, you buy the period of time you need to spend within the facility.
• Artistic Fun:
  • Two Tales Pottery Studio in Northborough not solely has pottery portray, but in addition permits constructing pottery (together with on a pottery wheel). (This is closed on Mondays.)
  • Clay Time in Shrewsbury provides pottery portray, glass fusing, and stoneware glazing
  • Plaster Fun Time in Marlborough focuses on portray plaster collectible figurines
• Museums: Click here for museum passes provided by the Southborough Public Library (most sponsored by The Friends of the Southborough Library). If a go is booked for the day you need it, you can even examine with different native libraries.
• $1 matinees – Regal Cinema at Solomon Pond Mall’s summer deal is again for teenagers’ motion pictures matinees at 11:00 am. As common, the discounted lineup doesn’t embody current releases. This summer time, this system is Mondays by way of Thursdays, working by way of August thirteenth.

Have a tip for someplace that I ought to add to the listing? Post a remark or e mail [email protected].

For extra of my “Favorite local places” collection, click on right here.

Updated (6/11/26 11:11 am): I edited the arcade part to repair a hyperlink and add a location.