Free Museum Days (and Always-Free Museums) in NYC

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Kids can see the masterpieces and get hands-on with art during a free visit to MoMA on Friday evenings. Photo by Jody Mercier

When it comes to saving money on culture, there are tons of free museum days and free admission hours offered at a wide variety of New York City's top museums, zoos, gardens, and cultural institutions. Many of these local cultural hubs offer free admission on certain nights, days, or hours at least once a month—a city perk no busy, cash-strapped parent should miss!

It can be hard to keep track of when and where these free museum days in NYC are available, so we've compiled an exhaustive list of free admission days at our favorite NYC cultural spots from the Bronx Zoo to the Brooklyn Children's Museum and every free museum in between.

As always, you can visit our Family Activity Calendar for more budget-friendly kid activities every day or visit our NYC Kids Guide to Museums, Galleries, and Exhibits for the latest kid-friendly exhibitions. Also, don't forget to put your library card to work for free admission at many of these same places any day.

Top Things To Do This Weekend in Westchester and the Hudson Valley with Kids

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Explore the science of winter during Snow Day Weekend at the Westchester Children's Museum. Photo courtesy of the museum

Looking for the best things to do in Westchester and the Hudson Valley this weekend? Here are our editors' picks for the best family-friendly events and activities!

Winter-loving families can celebrate the ice harvest with live ice sculpting demonstrations, igloos, campfires, and more this weekend at the Knickerbocker Ice Festival in scenic Rockland Lake State Park. Or, if you prefer to enjoy winter indoors, where it's warm, check out Shake it Off's Frostival, with bouncing, interactive music, and a visit from Olaf.

Families are also invited to enjoy a free play session at the grand opening of Cloudbound, a brand-new indoor play space for babies and toddlers in New Rochelle.

Taylor Swift Experience, Sunday Science and More Things To Do on Long Island this Weekend

Jaime Sumersille's picture Submitted by Jaime Sumersille on

Sands Point Preserve kicks off a wilderness survival series Saturday where teens can learn survival basics alongside their parents. Photo courtesy of the venue

Looking for the best things to do on Long Island this weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your schedule.

From singing along with your favorite winter movie tunes to shaking it off, Taylor style, we’ve found a few fabulous family outings to make your days off feel extra magical.

Sing your hearts out at the Winter Movie Sing-Along Series - cozy up at the Smithtown Performing Arts Center for a musical twist on a classic film experience (perfect for all ages). On the East End, FEARLESS: The Taylor Swift Experience in Suffolk promises an upbeat, high-energy tribute that’ll have everyone belting out their favorite anthems. Or get curious and creative during Sunday Science: Science Spa at CSTL, where kids can explore cool experiments and hands-on fun that feels more like play than class.

Find all that and more top picks for the weekend ahead below!

Monster Jam, Soup Tasting, and More Things To Do this Weekend in New Jersey

Submitted by Laurie Rein on

Reptile lovers and other animal aficionados will have a blast at Super Pet Expo. Photo courtesy of the expo

Looking for the best things to do in New Jersey this weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list.

This last full weekend of January will please your palate with some delicious options, including a variety of sweets and children's activities at Dessertopia in Morritown, and a yummy soup sampling at Alstede Farms' Free Soup Tasting Weekend.

Plus, massive trucks take the stage at the action-packed Monster Jam at Prudential Center. 

Read on for all our top picks for the weekend ahead!

Bumper Cars on Ice and More Things To Do in NYC this Weekend with Kids

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Bryant Park's Bumper Cars on Ice are a perennial crowd-pleaser. Photo by Angelito Jusay

Looking for the best things to do in New York City this weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list.

January is shutting down with a blast of arctic air, but the last weekend of the month in NYC offers lots of enticing activities to lure families out to play. Take the kids to the New York Boat Show and fantasize about life on the high seas, build something special at the KoKo NYC Makers Workshop, make puppets at the Museum of the Moving Image's Open Worlds initiative, or take an Ice Age Hike in Queens!

Keep reading for all our top picks for the weekend ahead!

Free Museums and Free Museum Days in Philly

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Kids 18 and under are always free at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Photo by Liz Baill @creativishmom

Free museums and free museum days abound at Philly's finest institutions. Browse our list of all the times museums in Philadelphia are free. 

Making a museum visit a part of your family's routine is easier than you think! Philadelphia and its suburbs are chock-full of amazing institutions and lots of free museums. Whether your little ones are interested in art, science, or history, there's something here sure to ignite young imaginations without stretching the wallet too thin. Get ready for some incredible fun at no cost.

Take note that this list features museums that are always free, or offer regularly-scheduled free or what-what-you-wish days. Other museums in the area often offer free entry on national holidays or as part of special events. Keep an eye on our events calendar to see when museums are offering free museum days throughout the year. 

For more free fun, browse our Free Things To Do with Philly Kids Guide, featuring our favorite free indoor playspaces and more. Don't miss our Guide to Philly Museums for Kids, filled with reviews and roundups of the city's amazing museum scene.

Theatre for Youth, A Wrinkle in Time, Storytime & Skate, and More Fun Things To Do in Philly this Weekend

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You won't want to miss the flaming hot shows at Fire & Frost Fun. Photo courtesy of Peddler's Village

Looking for the best things to do in Philadelphia this weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your must-do list.

Keep the winter blues away with these events in and around Philly. Check out the Curtis Symphony Orchestra: Osmo Conducts Bartók or Live at the Lane presents: Theatre for Youth! For more theater fun, don't miss A Wrinkle in Time at the Arden Theater. Head to the riverfront for Storytime and Skate with Characters. Franklin Square Park transforms into a Winter Wonderland for two events on Saturday: Ice Princess Night & Brunch. Whatever you do, don't miss a thing.

 

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