Last Updated on January 13, 2024 by Emily Johnson
Known as the “Hub City” of the South Plains, Lubbock offers visitors affordable attractions that won’t break the bank. You can soak up West Texas culture, admire public art, and enjoy the outdoors without spending a dime.
| # | Activity | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stroll Along Buddy Holly Avenue | Explore murals and tributes in the Depot District. |
| 2 | Visit the Silent Wings Museum | Museum dedicated to WWII military gliders. |
| 3 | Tour Texas Tech University Public Art | Self-guided tour of campus art collections. |
| 4 | Visit the Museum of Texas Tech University | Museum with diverse exhibits on regional history and art. |
| 5 | Hike or Bike at Lubbock Lake Landmark | Outdoor trails at a historic site. |
| 6 | Attend Saturday at the Lake Concert Series | Free music concerts at Mackenzie Park. |
| 7 | Visit the Bayer Museum of Agriculture | Agricultural history exhibits. |
| 8 | Explore Lubbock Arboretum | Nature trails among native plants and trees. |
| 9 | See the Buddy Holly Statue | Iconic sculpture in downtown Lubbock. |
| 10 | Tour the Ranching Heritage Center | Explore ranching history and structures. |
| 11 | See Street Art in the Depot District | View murals and street art. |
| 12 | Walk Along the Parkway | Trails for walking and biking near the airport |
From museums to music, here are 12 of the best free things to do in Lubbock, Texas.
Stroll Along Buddy Holly Avenue
Name and Location: Buddy Holly Avenue, Lubbock, TX
History and Significance: Street named after famous musician and Lubbock native Buddy Holly. Contains shops, restaurants, and music-related attractions.
What to Expect: Walkable downtown street with retail stores, dining, entertainment venues like the Buddy Holly Center.
Visitor Information: Free and open to the public. Metered street parking available.
Lubbock’s most famous native son, rock and roll pioneer Buddy Holly, is honored along Buddy Holly Avenue in the Depot District. Stop by the Buddy Holly Statue and West Texas Walk of Fame to admire tributes and snap photos.
Then window shop as you stroll by the storefront murals depicting Buddy’s life from boyhood to stardom. On select nights, catch free live music at Lubbock’s Summer Showcase Concert Series in nearby Memorial Civic Center Park.
Visit the Silent Wings Museum
Name and Location: Silent Wings Museum, Lubbock, TX
History and Significance: Museum dedicated to the WWII military glider program at South Plains Army Airfield. Opened in 1997.
What to Expect: Exhibits on glider pilot history, artifacts, stories, and recreations of barracks and training plane.
Visitor Information: Open Tuesday-Saturday. Free admission.
An unexpected free activity is visiting the Silent Wings Museum, dedicated to the history of WWII military gliders and glider pilots. Exhibits showcase artifacts like authentic gliders, uniforms, and cargo loads. Audio stories relate veteran’s poignant memories.
Outdoors, walk by the Glider Memorial to reflect on the service members’ sacrifices. Open Tuesdays, the museum is free all day, providing a quality educational experience on a budget.
Tour Texas Tech University Public Art
Name and Location: Texas Tech University Public Art Collection, Lubbock, TX
History and Significance: Large collection of public art across the Texas Tech campus. Established in 1959.
What to Expect: Sculptures, statues, paintings integrated into the campus landscape. Self-guided walking tours.
Visitor Information: Free and always open. Maps online. Limited public parking.
Covering over 100 works across campus, the Texas Tech University Public Art collection offers an free outdoor art experience.
Grab a map and take a self-guided walking tour of sculptures like The Starship, massive murals like Creation, and artistic architectural details on buildings. Spread across campus, you can hit many highlights at your own pace and admire diverse artistic styles.
Visit the Museum of Texas Tech University
Name and Location: Museum of Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
History and Significance: History and natural history museum. Founded in 1929.
What to Expect: Exhibits on West Texas culture, fossils, wildlife. Historic artifacts and photographs. Gift shop.
Visitor Information: Open Tuesday-Saturday. Free admission. Metered parking nearby.
Located right on TTU’s campus, the Museum of Texas Tech University has free general admission every day they are open. The museum houses over six million artifacts showcasing archaeology, architecture, anthropology, and more.
You can learn about life on the South Plains from the dinosaur age through early ranching days. Temporary exhibits also spotlight regional art. It’s an under-the-radar but enlightening museum to visit.
Hike or Bike at Lubbock Lake Landmark
Name and Location: Lubbock Lake Landmark, Lubbock, TX
History and Significance: Archaeological and historical preserve with evidence of 12,000 years of habitation.
What to Expect: Hiking trails, visitor center with artifacts. Unique geology and scenery. Birds and wildlife.
Visitor Information: Trails open daily. Free admission. Dogs welcome on leashes.
At the Lubbock Lake Landmark State Historic Site, hiking and biking on its trails are complimentary. Walk or ride around scenic Yellowhouse Canyon to spot diverse wildlife. Follow interpretive trails highlighting archaeological remnants that reveal 12,000 years of human settlement on the Plains.
Park staff also frequently offer free educational events and tours focused on topics like birding and native plants. It’s both scenic and historic recreation.
Attend Saturday at the Lake Concert Series
Name and Location: Lubbock Lake Landmark, Lubbock, TX
History and Significance: Free summer concert series held annually since 2001. Features local and regional acts.
What to Expect: Outdoor concerts in scenic setting. Variety of musical genres. Food trucks onsite. Family-friendly.
Visitor Information: Saturdays at 7pm, June-August. Free admission. Bring blankets or chairs.
At scenic Mackenzie Park, the Saturday at the Lake concert series provides free music from May through September. Held outdoors at the park’s amphitheater, it attracts popular local and regional acts from country and folk to blues and rock.
Pack a picnic and blanket and enjoy some tunes with lovely lake views. Food trucks are onsite too for grabbing a bite. It’s free lakeside entertainment the whole family can enjoy.
Visit the Bayer Museum of Agriculture
Name and Location: Bayer Museum of Agriculture, Lubbock, TX
History and Significance: Highlights the agricultural history and impact of West Texas cotton. Founded by Bayer in 1987.
What to Expect: Cotton farming exhibits, machinery, interactive displays. Cotton gin demonstrations. Gift shop.
Visitor Information: Open weekdays. Free admission. Private tours available.
On the grounds of Lubbock’s expansive Memorial Civic Center complex you’ll find the Bayer Museum of Agriculture, which offers free admission. Walk through replicas of an old farmhouse and barns containing historic implements.
Machinery sheds house a rotating collection of antique tractors and tools. The hands-on Kids’ Farm provides interactive learning. For an agricultural history lesson, it’s a great no-cost destination.
Explore Lubbock Arboretum
Name and Location: Lubbock Memorial Arboretum, Lubbock, TX
History and Significance: Botanical garden with over 3,000 species of trees, shrubs, and flowers. Established in 1951.
What to Expect: Themed garden areas, walking paths, benches. Seasonal blooms, foliage and water features. Peaceful spot for walks.
Visitor Information: Open daily 8am-8pm. Free admission. Leashed pets welcome.
Stretching across nearly 400 acres in Lubbock’s Yellowhouse Canyon, the Lubbock Memorial Arboretum provides free access to its nature trails. Miles of paths wind through native plants, trees, and wildflowers that blossom gloriously in spring.
Picnic areas dot the landscape as well, perfect for packing a lunch. It’s a scenic natural area where you can hike and observe wildlife for no charge. Donations are welcome to support the upkeep.
See the Buddy Holly Statue
Name and Location: Buddy Holly Statue, Lubbock, TX
History and Significance: Bronze statue honoring musician and Lubbock native Buddy Holly, erected in 1980.
What to Expect: Life-size likeness of Buddy Holly holding a guitar. Photo spot for fans. Located outside the Civic Center.
Visitor Information: Free and always open. Downtown location near shops and dining.
No trip to Lubbock is complete without visiting the iconic Buddy Holly Statue downtown. Located outside the Buddy Holly Hall of Performing Arts and Sciences center, this larger-than-life bronze sculpture commemorates Lubbock’s famous musical son.
Made by local sculptor Grant Speed, it captures Holly mid-song with guitar in hand. It’s free to admire this tribute to a rock and roll pioneer.
Tour the Ranching Heritage Center
Name and Location: National Ranching Heritage Center, Lubbock, TX
History and Significance: Outdoor museum depicting history of ranching in American West. Over 50 historic structures.
What to Expect: Historic ranch buildings, livestock, demonstrations like blacksmithing. Self-guided tour.
Visitor Information: Open daily. Admission fee. Guided tours available.
At the National Ranching Heritage Center, general admission to tour the grounds and its historic structures is always free. Over 40 authentic ranching structures dot the museum’s picturesque landscape.
Highlights include a rare Southern Plains adobe home, the sprawling Pitchfork Ranch headquarters, and the earliest-dated North American cattle chute. It brings Western ranching history to life at no cost. Donations are welcome.
See Street Art in the Depot District
Name and Location: Depot District, Lubbock, TX
History and Significance: Former rail and warehouse area now known for restaurants, shops, and street art.
What to Expect: Murals, sculptures, and other street art. Cafes, breweries, boutiques in historic buildings.
Visitor Information: Free to explore. Metered street parking available. Busiest on weekends.
For an artsy side of Lubbock, see the growing collection of street art in the Depot District downtown. Along Avenue Q and Buddy Holly Avenue, a series of colorful murals liven up both public walls and private buildings.
Subjects range from musical legends to the beloved lone Texas Tech masked rider. It’s free outdoor artwork you can casually admire while strolling between the district’s shops and restaurants.
Walk Along the Parkway
Name and Location: Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport Parkway, Lubbock, TX
History and Significance: Green space connecting Lubbock’s Canyon Lakes. Features walking trails, gardens, and community art.
What to Expect: Benches, scenic views, birdwatching. Peaceful natural area amidst the city.
Visitor Information: Free. Open daily. Parking at trailhead access points.
Get some exercise and fresh air with cost-free walking and biking along the Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport Parkway system. Accessible trails parallel the parkway with benches and public art installations dotted along the paths.
Leashed dogs are welcome. It’s 14 scenic miles of pavement perfect for running, cycling, or a peaceful stroll taking in the wide-open skies above Lubbock.
Try Samples at Llano Estacado Winery
Name and Location: Llano Estacado Winery, Lubbock, TX
History and Significance: Texas’ oldest winery, founded in 1976. Known for its Cabernet and Tempranillo.
What to Expect: Wine tastings, production tours, gift shop. Sweeping vineyard views from tasting room.
At Lubbock’s signature winery, Llano Estacado, public tastings of their award-winning vintages only cost $10. However, you can sample select featured wines for free in their tasting room daily.
Complimentary crackers help cleanse your palate between pours. Staff will even waive the tasting fee with bottle purchase. It’s a wallet-friendly way to sip some Texas High Plains wine.
Conclusion
With its vibrant college town character and rich heritage, Lubbock delivers memorable experiences without big admission costs. From admiring prairie landscapes on a hike to learning at museums, many attractions offer free access or programming.
Live music, public art, and historic sites also provide entertainment without emptying your wallet. By taking advantage of these freebies when planning your Lubbock itinerary, you can make the most of your West Texas getaway.
