Family outings can be expensive. Fortunately, the Milwaukee County Zoo and several Milwaukee museums offer periodic free admission days. Here are those days for 2025.
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 2025 are: Jan. 4, Feb. 1, March 1, Oct. 4, Nov. 1 and Dec. 6. On Mother's Day — Sunday, May 11 — moms get free admission to the zoo (parking and regular attraction fees still apply). On Father's Day — Sunday, June 15 — dads get free admission to the zoo (parking and regular attraction fees still apply). On Military & Veterans Family Day — July 6 — military service members, veterans and their families receive free admission and parking. Tickets are not available at the zoo gate; they need to be procured in advance through local
County Veterans Service Offices . During Frosty Free Week — Dec. 26-30 — admission to the zoo is free (parking and regular attraction fees still apply).
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 2025 are: Jan. 2, Feb. 6, March 6, April 3, May 1, June 5, July 3, Aug. 7, Sept. 4, Oct. 2, Nov. 6 and Dec. 4. Also on Mother's Day (Sunday, May 11) and Father's Day (Sunday, June 15), 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. 2025 Community Access Days are: Jan. 16, Feb. 20, March 20, April 17, May 15, June 19, July 17, Aug. 21, Sept. 18, Oct. 16, Nov. 20 and Dec. 18.
Free admission at Milwaukee Art Museum
At the
Milwaukee Art Museum , 700 N. Art Museum Drive, 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. The art museum also periodically announces additional free days throughout the year.
Free admission at Harley-Davidson Museum
Moms will receive free admission to the
Harley-Davidson Museum , 400 W. Canal St., on Mother's Day — Sunday, May 11. Military members will receive free admission on Armed Forces Day — Saturday, May 17. Dads will receive free admission on Father's Day — Sunday, June 15. Veterans will receive free admission for Veterans Day — Tuesday, Nov. 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 2025, those dates are: Jan. 2, Feb. 6, March 6, April 3, May 1, June 5, July 3, Aug. 7, Sept. 4, Oct. 2, Nov. 6 and Dec. 4.
