When you have a whole family looking for fun, outings can get expensive. Luckily, there are plenty of places in Philadelphia and beyond that offer free and low-cost deals for kids and families. Whether your kids like going to art museums, playing sports, or seeing live music, we’ve found the ways you can do all of those things without breaking the bank.

Arts & Culture

PECO Free First Sunday Family Day at the Barnes Foundation

The Barnes Foundation, an exciting art museum in Philadelphia, offers free admission to everyone on the first Sunday of every month, with family-friendly programming included. Activities include art activities, storytimes, and musical performances.

Free First Sundays at Brandywine

The Brandywine Museum of Art in Chadds Ford, PA, offers free admission and art activities for kids on the first Sunday of every month.

Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts Family Arts Academy

Enjoy free art workshops at PAFA on select Sundays through their Family Arts Academy program. The whole family can learn new skills and make exciting art projects together.

Please Touch Museum First Wednesdays

Not quite free, but pretty close; admission to the Please Touch Museum is only $2 for everyone on the first Wednesday evening of every month from 4 to 7 p.m.

Woodmere Art Museum

The Woodmere Art Museum, a museum in Chestnut Hill that highlights local artists, is $10 for adults, but always free for children and students with ID.

Free Family Fundays at the Kimmel

The Kimmel Center, Philadelphia’s central performing arts center, offers free events for families on select Sundays. While they also have an extensive calendar of family-friendly shows, Family Fundays are a way to experience culture and music at no cost.

Active Outings

YMCA 7th Grade Free Membership

The Greater Philadelphia YMCA is partnering with the Pennsylvania State Alliance of YMCAs to offer a free membership to all 7th graders. To register, 7th graders should bring their current roster or report card, along with a parent or guardian, to their local YMCA location.

National Park Pass for 4th Graders

Kids in fourth grade can get into national parks for free by signing up for a pass through the Every Kids Outdoors program. A few of the local sites include Independence National Historical Park and Valley Forge National Historical Park, but you can find many more online.

Shawnee Mountain 4th Grade Snow Pass

Fourth graders can receive three free ski or snowboard visits to Shawnee Mountain, about two hours outside of Philadelphia, with a paid adult lift ticket. Register here.

Kids Bowl Free

This national program gives kids two free bowling days every day all summer long. Find all the participating bowling alleys in Pennsylvania here!

Other Ways to Save

STAMP Program

High school students in Philadelphia can get free access to museums, gardens, and historic sites in the city through Students at Museums in Philly. Just bring your high school ID to the admission desks at participating STAMP sites.

ACCESS Card

Pennsylvania residents who have an EBT card can visit participating museums, cultural sites, and theaters in the Philadelphia area for the deeply discounted price of $2 a person. Cardholders can bring up to 3 people with them.

 

Know of any more free or low-cost opportunities for kids and families in the area? Email us at eleanor@familyfocus.org or leave a comment below!

 

Lead photo by R. Kennedy for GPTMC courtesy of Visit Philadelphia