How to Get Free Admission to Family Attractions in Massachusetts

Highland Street Foundation was responsible for bringing free admission to local museums and other recreational sites to families each Friday in Massachusetts. Free Fun Fridays were a beloved program that residents of the SouthCoast looked forward to each year until the pandemic brought it to a halt in 2020.

Unfortunately, it was no longer safe to host such an event that drew large crowds each week starting in June. And with so many uncertainties at the time of planning the schedule, it was decided that Free Fun Fridays would not occur again in 2021.

However, now that the COVID risk is substantially lower than it was just a few months ago, Highland Street Foundation is ready to bring some fun back this summer. The organization announced on Tuesday, June 29 that the month of August would bring a new adventure each day.

Get our free mobile app

August Adventures will provide free admission to various attractions across Massachusetts each day of the month. Promoting enrichment for families in the Commonwealth, these adventures allow access to zoos, museums, and events that children, families, and individuals would not be able to participate in otherwise.

“This is our collective way of saying ‘Welcome Back’ to the community,” said Highland Street’s Executive Director, Blake Jordan. “Like many industries, arts, cultural and recreational venues were hit hard by the pandemic, and we hope they can bounce back quickly as things begin to normalize.”

The New Bedford Whaling Museum is one of the 31 participants in the program, with a free admission day scheduled for Monday, August 9.

“August Adventures is a fantastic way for the New Bedford Whaling Museum to connect deeply with our community and share our new Creature Features program,” said President and Chief Executive Officer, Amanda McMullen. “We are grateful to the Highland Street Foundation for recognizing an important need for families and children, and making it possible for the Whaling Museum to open our doors for free on August 9th.”

The Children's Museum of Greater Fall River is also participating and is scheduled for Wednesday, August 4. Highland Street Foundation has provided a downloadable calendar for the full schedule of events. For safety reasons, many of the participating venues have limited capacity and are requiring advanced registration. Available spots are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. There is information regarding each participating venue.