These Southern California Museums Will Be Free on February 5th
SoCal Museums announces the Museums Free-for-All Day on Sunday, February 5, 2023, in-person for the first time since 2020. Over thirty museums— presenting art, cultural heritage, film, natural history, and science—will open their doors and offer free general admission.
With museums from Long Beach to Los Angeles to Santa Barbara, there’s so much to explore! We highlighted the best museums offering kid-friendly activities, but there’s a full list of participating museums below.
Note: This offer is for general museum admission only and does not apply to specially ticketed exhibitions. Regular parking fees apply at each museum. Visit each museum’s website for hours, directions, and other visitor information.
Museums with Kid-Friendly Activities
What can kids do?: It just so happens that Bowers Museum’s monthly free family festival lands on the same day as Free-for-All Day! This month, the museum celebrates chocolate with the International Festival of Chocolate! Try chocolate samples, purchase from local chocolatiers, and learn about chocolate recipes from Mexico and South America. Enjoy music and dance performances, plus free art projects and face painting. There’s also a Chocolate & Whiskey Tasting event for grown-ups (separate fee).
Is it normally free?: Museum admission is normally $15 for adults, but free on Free-for-All Day. Monthly festivals and children under 12 are always free.
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What can kids do?: Craft Contemporary will be offering art-making activities for Free-for-All Day.
Is it normally free?: Admission is normally $7-9, but free on Free-for-All Day.
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What can kids do?: Take a ride on the Enchanted Railroad at Descanso Gardens, a 1/8th-scale replica of a diesel train. The railroad travels through sections of the gardens near the Promenade. Timed tickets are $5 each and muse be purchased at the Visitor Center.
Is it normally free?: Garden admission is normally $5-15, but free on Free-for-All Day. *Advanced tickets required. Visit museum website to make a reservation.
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What can kids do?: While there’s not a designated kids area, Hammer Museum has a printable Discovery Guide for families and K-12 students. The guide is designed to help kids make meaningful connections to the artwork. They also have great tips on looking at art with kids.
Is it normally free?: Yes! Museum admission is always free.
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What can kids do?: Pick up Art Detective Cards in the Museum Entrance Hall to hunt for clues and uncover answers to trivia questions while exploring the center. Prepare for your family visit to the Getty Center with more tips on their website and visit their calendar for tour times happening on Free-for-All Day.
Is it normally free?: Yes! The center is always free, just reserve a time for your visit. *Advanced tickets required. Visit museum website to make a reservation.
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What can kids do?: Pick up Art Detective Cards in the Entry Pavilion to hunt for clues. Listen to the immersive audio tour, The Demigods. Inspired by the popular Percy Jackson book series, this immersive audio tour takes you on a personal quest around the Getty Villa, where you’ll meet heroes, dodge monsters, and avoid a certain unfriendly god. Find more family tips on their website and visit their calendar for tour times happening on Free-for-All Day.
Is it normally free?: Yes! The villa is always free, just reserve a time for your visit. *Advanced tickets required. Visit museum website to make a reservation.
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What can kids do?: Watch excavators unearth remains right outside the park then watch fossils be prepared, researched, and put on display. See the live stage show, Ice Age Encounters, a dynamic show featuring a life-size adults saber-toothed cat puppet, live performance, and film projections (separate $6 ticket). Families could also watch Titans of the Ice Age 3D (separate $6 ticket).
Is it normally free?: Museum admission for non-members is normally $7-12, but free on Free-for-All Day. Advanced tickets required. Visit museum website to make a reservation.
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Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA)
What can kids do?: MOLAA is hosting a free children’s workshop on the same day as Free-for-All Day! Celebrate Valentine’s Day / El día de Cariño by crafting mixed media valentines. No reservation needed.
Is it normally free?: General admission is $10-15, but free on Free-for-All Day. Children under 12 years old are always free.
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What can kids do?: This museum is geared for older kids and teens who have an understanding or would like to learn more about the history of the Holocaust. Other exhibits include Para Todos Los Niños, where visitors can learn about the struggles of Latino families during segregation in rural Orange County.
Is it normally free?: General admission is $12-16, but free on Free-for-All Day. Children under 5 are always free.
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The Zimmerman Automobile Driving Museum
What can kids do? See a collection of 130+ vintage, antique, and muscle cars. Kids can also participate in a scavenger hunt, play withs cars and tracks, dress-up, and more. They also have a 1950s themed ice cream parlor!
Is it normally free?: Admission is a suggested donation of $5-15. Children under 10 are always free.
More Participating Museums
Academy Museum of Motion Pictures
*American Museum of Ceramic Art (AMOCA) – sold out for Feb. 5th
Catalina Museum for Art & History
*Cayton’s Children’s Museum – sold out for Feb. 5th
Frederic R. Weisman Museum of Art, Pepperdine University
Japanese American National Museum
*The Museum of Contemporary Art
Museum of Ventura County’s Agriculture
Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History
Categories: Blog
This post was written by Alina Na
