Most of Indianapolis’ museums, libraries and cultural institutions offer free admission days during major holidays.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents Day and Juneteenth are usually heralded as “free days” at major institutions around the country. It’s also a longstanding Indy tradition for local arts organizations to open up their studios for First Fridays, but did you know about other free days and discounts available to Marion County residents?
The Recorder compiled a list of all known free and reduced-admission days and discounts to help Hoosiers experience more art across the city.
Children’s Museum of Indianapolis
The children’s museum offers five free admission days each year, including:
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day (Jan 19)
- Presidents’ Day (Feb. 16)
- Juneteenth (June 19)
- Fiesta de la Familia (Sept. 15)
- Christmas Eve (Dec. 24)
Though admission is free, tickets must be reserved online in advance. Admission is also free for children under 2 years old and reduced for Indiana residents, Access Pass holders and seniors.
Each first Thursday of the month, from 4-8 p.m., the Children’s Museum offers reduced admission, charging only $6 per guest.
Conner Prairie
Conner Prairie offers free admission on Juneteenth.
General admission for all guests is half-priced after 3 p.m. each day, and discounts are available to Access Pass members and active military members and their families.
Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art
The Eiteljorg Museum offers free admission on select holidays, including:
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day
- Juneteenth
- Indigenous Peoples Day
- Día de Muertos
Admission is always free for enrolled members of Native American tribes who have tribal identification and Indiana college, university or trade school students receive free admission with their school IDs.
The Eiteljorg offers $5 admission per family member for those enrolled in the Access Pass program, as well as a $5 discount for members of the Time Travelers program, military veterans and active duty, convention attendees (with badge) and downtown hotel guests (with room key).
Indiana Historical Society
Free admission days at the Indiana Historical Society include:
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day
- Juneteenth
- Independence Day
The organization also hosts a variety of free concerts and events throughout the year. For more information, visit indianahistory.org/visit/calendar.
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Despite fewer free admission days, the Indiana Historical Society offers free admission to various members of the community, including current educators and teachers, first responders and health care workers, military and their families and members of the Indianapolis Consortium of Arts Administrators, Time Traveler Network and Local History Partner Plus
Indiana State Museum
The Indiana State Museum is free on select holidays, including:
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day
- Presidents Day
- Juneteenth
Admission is free for children under 3 and $5 for Access Pass members and Indiana college students with a school ID.
Newfields
Newfields offers a pay-what-you-can (even $0), admission day from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. each first Thursday of the month. Additionally, the museum honors three free admission holidays, including:
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day
- Go Public Gardens and International Museum Day (May; date TBA)
- Juneteenth
Newfields also has a Neighborhood Membership program, which allows families who reside in the surrounding neighborhoods to apply for a free yearly membership, granting them unlimited visits and discounts for special programs. To see if you qualify, visit discovernewfields.org/neighborhood-membership.
Marion County K-12 students receive free admission when visiting outside of school hours for a school assignment. Students need only check in at the Information Desk and let a Guest Experience Associate know they’re visiting to complete an assignment.
Students enrolled in an Indiana college, university or trade school are eligible for a 1-year complimentary student membership to Newfields. The application can be completed online or in person.
Access Pass Program
The Access Pass program allows Indiana residents on SNAP, TANF, WIC, CSFP, Hoosier Healthwise or with a valid Indiana foster care license to get $2-$5 admission to a variety of museums and arts organizations across the city, such as:
- Children’s Museum
- Conner Prairie
- Dance Kaleidoscope
- Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art
- Indiana Historical Society
- Indiana Repertory Theatre
- Indiana State Museum & Historic Sites
- Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum
- NCAA Hall of Champions
- Newfields
- Indianapolis Ballet
- Indianapolis Children’s Choir
Families can apply for an Access Pass online on each institution’s website or in person at participating institutions.
Bank of America Museums on Us
Bank of America cardholders have access to one free general admission ticket to a handful of museums on the first full weekend of each month through the end of 2026.
Institutions participating in the Museums on Us program include Conner Prairie, the Children’s Museum, Newfields and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Blue Star Museums program
Active military and their immediate families receive free admission at most institutions through the Blue Star Museums program. A military ID must be presented upon arrival to receive the discount. Participating museums include:
- Ben Harrison Presidential Site
- Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art
- Indiana Historical Society
- Indiana State Museum
- Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum
- Kurt Vonnegut Museum and Library
First Mondays
The Kurt Vonnegut Museum and Library offer free admission on the first Monday of each month, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
First Fridays
On the first Friday of every month, art spaces around the city open their doors to the community to meet the artists and explore their open studios, shop local goods and more. The following locations are generally free and open to the community from 6-9 p.m. on first Fridays.
- Christel DeHaan ArtSpace at The Athenaeum, 401 E. Michigan St.
- Factory Arts District, 1125 E. Brookside Ave.
- Full Circle Nine Gallery, 1125 E. Brookside Ave., B21
- Gallery 924, 924 N. Pennsylvania St.
- Time varies month to month
- Harrison Center, 1505 N. Delaware St.
- Murphy Arts Center, 1043 Virginia Ave.
- 6-10 p.m.
- Stutz Artists Association, 1060 N. Capital Ave.
- 5-9 p.m.
Contact Arts & Culture Reporter Chloe McGowan at 317-762-7848. Follow her on X @chloe_mcgowanxx.
Chloe McGowan is the Arts & Culture Reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper. Originally from Columbus, OH, Chloe has a bachelor's in journalism from The Ohio State University. She is a former IndyStar Pulliam Fellow, and has previously worked for Indy Maven, The Lantern, and CityScene Media Group. In her free time, Chloe enjoys live theatre, reading, baking and keeping her plants alive.
