From the Milwaukee County Zoo to the Milwaukee Public Museum, here are free admission days for 2024
Hoping to plan a few family trips to Milwaukee's favorite destinations in 2024? If you're looking for a fun outing but are concerned about cost, many Milwaukee destinations offer free-admission days. Here's what they've announced for the year so far.
Free admission at Milwaukee County Zoo
On Family Free Days, admission to the Milwaukee County Zoo, 10001 W. Blue Mound Road, is free for everyone, but parking and regular attraction fees still apply. Family Free Days for 2024 are: Jan. 6, Feb. 3, March 2, Oct. 5, Nov. 2 and Dec. 7.
On Mother's Day — Sunday, May 12 — moms get free admission to the zoo (parking and regular attraction fees still apply).
On Father's Day — Sunday, June 16 — dads get free admission to the zoo (parking and regular attraction fees still apply).
On Senior Safari days — Tuesdays, June 11, June 18 and June 25 — guests 60 and older get free admission to the zoo.
On Military Veterans and Family Day — Sunday, June 30 — military service members, veterans and their families receive free admission and parking. Tickets are limited to 10 per family and need to be procured through local County Veterans Service Offices.
Free admission at Milwaukee Public Museum
As part of the Kohl's Thank You Thursdays program, visitors receive free admission to the Milwaukee Public Museum, 800 W. Wells St., on the first Thursday of each month. Advance reservations are recommended as the event is very popular and walk-up admission cannot be guaranteed. Reservations are available on MPM's website starting 7 days before each Thank you Thursday.
Thank You Thursday dates for 2024 are: Jan. 4, Feb. 1, March 7, April 4, May 2, June 6, Aug. 1, Sept. 5, Oct. 3, Nov. 7 and Dec. 5.
Also on Mother's Day (Sunday, May 12) and Father's Day (Sunday, June 16), visitors can receive one free adult admission per group. To make reservations, call 414-278-2728.
Free admission at Betty Brinn Children's Museum
As part of the Community Access Days program, visitors receive free admission to Betty Brinn Children's Museum, 929 E. Wisconsin Ave., on the third Thursday of each month from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The museum recommends that tickets are purchased ahead of time due to capacity restrictions; they become available on Betty Brinn's website two weeks before each community access day. Walkup tickets are subject to availability and not guaranteed. Guests are not admitted past 6:30 p.m.
2024 Community Access Days are: Jan. 18, Feb. 15, March 21, April 18, May 16, June 20, July 18, Aug. 15, Sept. 19, Oct. 17, Nov. 21 and Dec. 19.
Free admission at Milwaukee Art Museum
The Milwaukee Art Museum, 700 N. Art Museum Drive, plans to announce free days throughout the year, with the first set for Sunday, Feb. 18, in honor of Vel Phillips' 100th birthday.
Kids 12 and younger receive free admission to the art museum every day it's open, as do Wisconsin K-12 teachers with a valid school ID or pay stub.
Free admission at Harley-Davidson Museum
Dads and grandpas will receive free admission to the Harley-Davidson Museum, 400 W. Canal St., on Father's Day — Sunday, June 16.
Veterans and their families will receive free admission for Veterans Day on Nov. 9, 10 and 11.
Free admission at Charles Allis and Villa Terrace Museums
Charles Allis Art Museum, 1801 N. Prospect. Ave., and Villa Terrace Art Museum, 2220 N. Terrace Ave., offer free admission on the first Thursday of each month. For 2024, those dates are: Jan. 4, Feb. 1, March 7, April 4, May 2, June 6, Aug. 1, Sept. 5, Oct. 3, Nov. 7 and Dec. 5.
The museums also participate in the Blue Star Museums program, which offers free admission to active-duty military personnel and their families May 18 (Armed Services Day) through Sept. 2 (Labor Day), and in the Museums for All program, which offers free admission to individuals and families who receive SNAP food benefits.
Free admission at Jewish Museum Milwaukee
Admission to Jewish Museum Milwaukee, 1360 N. Prospect Ave., is free for Milwaukee County residents on Sunday, Feb. 18, and Tuesday, March 26, in partnership with the Milwaukee Public Library. During those events, people can sign up for library cards and see the museum's exhibit, "The Book Smugglers: Partisans, Poets and the Race to Save Jewish Treasures from the Nazis — The True Story of the Paper Brigade of Vilna."
Free admission at Wisconsin Black Historical Society and Museum
Admission to the Wisconsin Black Historical Society and Museum, 2620 W. Center St., is free during Milwaukee Museum Days, Jan. 18-28.
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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: 2024 free admission days at Milwaukee zoo and museums
