We are sharing a big list of Free Admission Days in Utah for places like for Hogle Zoo, Loveland Living Planet Aquarium, Red Butte Gardens, and more, so you can enjoy family fun without a big cost. Some of them are discounted, and some are free. We would love to add more so if you find something, please let us know!
This is a list of discounted and FREE admission days in Utah
Here is a great list of the discounted and free admission days in Utah offered by Hogle Zoo, Tracy Aviary, The Loveland Living Planets Aquarium, Utah Museum of Fine Arts, Red Butte Gardens, and many other places around Utah! We have updated this to add events that run throughout the year and will be updating it regularly to keep up with new things we find. If you know of something that is not listed, please leave a comment or email me at lovebugsandpostcards@ gmail.com! Let me know which one of these free admission days in Utah is your favorite.
Hogle Zoo (Salt Lake City, Utah)
I think my favorite discounted admission days are the ones at Hogle Zoo, and that’s mostly because of my kids! They LOVE the Zoo! We have gone in the winter a few times and while it is a little chilly, it is so fun because the animals are so active! Just bundle up and take hats and gloves to keep your head and hands warm. I also recommend boots to keep your feet from getting cold over the extended amount of time you will be outside.
This is a great family activity!
They are doing $5 Wild Weekdays in November and December. So you can get tickets for only $5 each, any weekday in November and December for your family to visit the Zoo. Get your Hogle Zoo tickets here: https://www.hoglezoo.org
They are $5 online and $7 if you buy them at the door. Children under 3 are free. Ages 3+ are $5 each. The hours are 10 am to 5 pm. You can also get tickets for the Zoo Lights.
Tracy Aviary (Salt Lake City, Utah)
We have gone to Tracy Aviary a few times since moving to the Salt Lake area! Each time we go, our kids love it just as much as our first visit. There are so many birds there and they are all so interesting and neat to watch and see. I think my favorites are the Flamingos. They are so cute!
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Take a stroll and experience Tracy Aviary’s natural nighttime beauty, enhanced with thousands of twinkling lights, including a giant Christmas Light Maze and a selfie-worthy lighted tunnel. This family-friendly holiday event runs from November 24 to December 23, 2023. Tickets go on sale on November 1
Get your tickets for the Light Walk SLC at Tracy Aviary here: https://tracyaviary.org/liberty-park/lightwalk
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Museums for All SNAP recipients receive free admission to Tracy Aviary through the Museums for All program. To receive free admission, present your EBT card upon entry.
Be sure to sign up for their newsletter (visit tracyaviary.org) to get a monthly newsletter with all their upcoming events and special admissions.
The Loveland Living Planet Aquarium (Draper, Utah)
The Loveland Living Planet Aquarium is dedicated to cultivating public interest in the environment, conservation, and enhancement of our planet and its creatures through adoption, education, research, and recreation. We have gone to the Living Planet Aquarium dozens of times, and it is just as interesting each time. My kids especially love the penguins, otters, and Sharks.
They are doing a $2 discounted ticket day on September 6, 2023.
Good news for Homeschooling families! Students enrolled in home school in Utah for the current school year are eligible for free Aquarium Admission. The day for this year has already passed – I will update it when I get more info on the next one. Terms and conditions apply. Learn more here and get your tickets!
If you are wondering what the aquarium is all about, you can read about our visit to the Haunted Aquarium.
Utah Museum of Fine Arts (Salt Lake City, Utah)
I have never been to the Utah Museum of Fine Arts, but often thought it would be a fun experience My kids love to paint and do crafts and all of that, so I am sure that they would enjoy looking around at everything too.
Free Days
Admission is free on the first Wednesday and the third Saturday of the month. Free access may vary for special ticketed exhibitions. Free tickets must be reserved in advance through the ticketing page. (get tickets here)
Museums for All
The UMFA supports Museums for All. Present a Utah Horizon or EBT (Electronic Benefits Transfer) card and valid photo ID to receive free admission for 1–4 visitors.
Blue Star Museums
The UMFA is a Blue Star Museum, offering free admission to active-duty military personnel and their families (up to 6 visitors) with military ID.
FREE ADMISSION TO THE UMFA:
- Every First Wednesday
- Every Third Saturday
- UMFA members | FREE
- U of U students, staff, and faculty | FREE
- Students at public Utah universities | FREE
- Utah Horizon/EBT cardholders | FREE
- Active duty military families | FREE
- Bank of America cardholders | FREE on the first full weekend (Saturday and Sunday) of every month
Learn more here: https://umfa.utah.edu/visit
FREE Admission Days in Utah
The Natural History Museum of Utah (Salt Lake City, Utah)
The Natural History Museum of Utah is an amazing experience. If you haven’t taken your family, be prepared to spend the day (and bring a camera!). The museum is currently not doing the FREE or Discounted days through the ZAP program. But I am hopeful that they resume it soon. Here are some other discounts you may be able to use:
Association of Science – Technology Centers Passport Program*
Blue Star Museums*
Foothill Cultural District*
ShareTix Foundation*
School Field Trip “Bounce Back”*
University of Utah Alumni Association member discount*
University of Utah students, faculty and staff–FREE*
Visit Salt Lake Connect Pass*
You can read more about each of these programs here: https://nhmu.utah.edu/promotional-partners-and-special-offers
Red Butte Garden (Salt Lake City, Utah)
We love going here and exploring the gardens. There is so much to see and my kids love the ponds. They have some free days in 2022.
FREE DAYS AT RED BUTTE GARDEN for 2023-2024:
- Labor Day – Monday, September 4, 2023
- Zeke Dumke, Jr. Day – Monday, October 2, 2023
- Veterans Day – Saturday, November 11, 2023 (for military personnel with ID)
- Annual Gift Shop Holiday Sale – Saturday & Sunday, December 1 & 2, 2023
- Arbor Day – Friday, April 26, 2024
- Sundance Film Festival Free Outdoor Film – TBA 2024
- Pioneer Day – Monday, July 24, 2024
Here are some other discounts you may be able to use:
- Half-price admission in December, January, and February.
- Free admission on Veterans Day for military personnel with valid photo ID.
- Groups of 12 or more receive $1.00 off each admission. Full group payment is due prior to entrance.
- Red Butte Garden supports Museums for All and free admission for those who receive food assistance. Present a Utah Horizon, EBT (Electronic Benefits Transfer), or WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) card and valid photo ID to receive free Garden admission for 1-4 guests.
- Ticketed events such as BOOtanical, lectures, classes, concerts, and special events are NOT included with daily Garden admission or discounted admission.
- Rates, inclusions, and benefits are subject to change without notice.
Learn more here: https://redbuttegarden.org/free-garden-events and here https://redbuttegarden.org/plan-your-garden-visit/general-info
Discovery Gateway (Salt Lake City, Utah)
Discovery Gateway is an amazing place to visit with your kids! If you have never been there or you have been there 100 times, your kids will love to explore, play, and create at Discovery Gateway! They have so much to do there and it fits all different ages!
From a real Helicopter to a life-size horse and everything in between, your kids will have so much to do for hours. It’s a great place for parents to connect with their kids and have fun playing and exploring too!
They had discounted admission on July 31, 2021! I will update you if they post another one.
Learn more here: https://www.discoverygateway.org/visit/
Clark Planetarium (Salt Lake City, Utah)
Admission is always free to get into Clark Planetarium and explore its exhibits. They have tons of interactive things you can do with your kids, even a gravity station. It’s awesome! They have shows/movies for a fee. Outside Clark Planetarium is the Gateway Mall, and there is a huge splash pad that is free. It is a great way to spend a day with your kids for FREE!
There is underground parking there, and you can also validate your parking in the Planetarium to get really cheap parking. Enjoy one of the movies on their IMAX screen or a show in the Dome Theater. Both are fantastic (both have a fee).
Learn more here: https://slco.org/clark-planetarium/plan-your-visit
They have outreach programs on the following days:
Sensory-friendly Saturdays
Fun Science Friday
Micro Wednesday
See the calendar of events here https://slco.org/clark-planetarium/events/
National Parks FREE Admission + free 1-year National Park Pass
Exciting news! If you have a fourth-grader you can get a FREE NPS Park Pass! Thanks to the Every Kid In A Park Program, you get free access to hundreds of parks, lands, and waters for an entire year. Visit https://www.everykidinapark.gov for all the details and to get your free pass!
FREE Admission to National Parks in 2023:
- January 17: Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
- April 16: First day of National Park Week
- August 4: Anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act
- September 24: National Public Lands Day
- November 11: Veterans Day
Get all the details here for the NPS free days.
We made an extensive travel guide of all of the National Parks, Trails, Monuments, and Recreation Areas that are in Utah. Check it out here.
We also just shared a Road Trip guide to the National Parks in Utah that you can read here.
Here’s a tip-265 of your 398 national parks NEVER charge an entrance fee.
FREE Admission Days in Utah
Lights at Temple Square (Salt Lake City, Utah)
The Lights at Temple Square are truly amazing! They light the lights around or just after Thanksgiving. There is a beautiful nativity. Take your family to see this beautiful free display and be sure to take your camera too! Dress warm, it gets really cold, but they have two large visitor centers you can go in to warm up and look around as well. It usually lasts from right after Thanksgiving until the end of December.
Weber County RAMP Free Days (Odgen, Utah)
The Weber County RAMP free days are a great way to get out and experience places that are fun for the whole family. Be sure to mark the days on your phone so you don’t forget! We usually plan 2-3 of the free activities each weekend and go to multiple places because we have to drive for a couple of hours. Some of them require advanced ticket reservations so be sure to check for that as well.
Gardner Village (West Jordan, Utah)
We always have a great time at Gardner Village. It is free to walk around and see everything and open almost year-round! They have several different events throughout the years like the Fairies, Witches, Elves and so many more. You can also take a wagon ride, visit the farm ($2 Tuesdays), and do a pile of other fun things just waiting for you to explore. You can see the full list here: https://www.gardnervillage.com/events/Gardner-Village-Events of upcoming events.
The Witches are on display from Friday, September 22-Saturday, October 31, 2023. (scavenger hunt and more details here)
Monte L. Bean Life Science Museum (Provo, Utah)
This is a free museum. The Monte L. Bean Life Science Museum is located at Brigham Young University. The museum was opened to the public in 1978, is accredited by the American Association of Museums and maintains membership in the Natural Science Collections Alliance. Research collections of vascular and nonvascular plants, invertebrates, and vertebrate animals are maintained and made available to research scientists and educators. Public exhibits and educational programs are offered.
Learn more about the museum here: https://mlbean.byu.edu
There are four other FREE museums close to here and maintained by BYU. Museum of Art, BYU Museum of Paleontology, Museum of Morman History, and Museum of Peoples and Cultures. Looking for more free admission days in Utah? Check out these.
Hill Aerospace Museum (Layton, Utah)
Hill Aerospace Museum is located on approximately 30 acres in the northwest corner of Hill Air Force Base, Utah. The museum, which opened in 1986, was founded in 1981 as part of the United States Air Force Heritage Program. The Hill Aerospace Museum is an Air Force field museum operating within the guidelines of the United States Air Force Heritage Program, AFI 84-103, U.S. Air Force Heritage Program. In addition to the Air Force, the major supporter of the Hill Aerospace Museum is the Aerospace Heritage Foundation of Utah, a non-profit, private organization authorized to operate on Hill AFB for the specific purpose of supporting the museum.
The museum is open from 9 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Admission is FREE.
Every summer Hill Aerospace Museum has a STEM summer passport program. Learn more about that here.
Monthly Kids Club at The Shops at South Town (Sandy, Utah)
Every third Thursday from 11:00 -12:00 pm you can have a fun party at the Shops at South Town!
There will be a DJ, DANCING, CRAFTS, BALLOON FUN, GAMES, GIVEAWAYS & MORE! All YOU have to bring is a smile, your best dance moves, and an invisible party hat! Kids Club will occur every 3rd Thursday from 11:00-12:00 PM each month! See you at Fountain Court!
Learn more here: https://shopsatsouthtown.com/events
Sleigh Rides at Hardware Ranch (Logan, Utah)
Hardware Ranch WMA offers a unique opportunity to get up and close to the wild Rocky Mountain Elk on a horse-drawn sleigh.
Located at the top of Blacksmith Fork Canyon in northern Utah — provides a habitat that supports a variety of wildlife species and public access for wildlife viewing, hunting, fishing, and other outdoor recreation. Public rides through the elk feeding grounds are popular during the winter months.
During the winter months, the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources feeds between 500 and 600 Rocky Mountain Elk in the big meadow near the visitor center each day. The grass hay used to feed the elk — approximately 300 tons — is grown on the WMA throughout the summer
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The DWR and Hardware WMA are pleased to announce that beginning Dec. 2, Haviland’s Old West Adventures will offer sleigh rides on the WMA Friday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. during the winter elk-viewing season.
IMPORTANT: Tickets for sleigh rides are sold only at the Hardware Wildlife Education Center on a first-come, first-served basis. Please note that you cannot make reservations for sleigh rides.
PRICES
- Ages 3 and younger: free
- Ages 4–8: $4
- Ages 9 and up: $10
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Learn more about Hardware Ranch here.
You can also read about our experience at Hardware Ranch here.
Utah State University Eastern Prehistoric Museum (Price, Utah)
Nestled in the heart of a resource-rich archaeological, paleontological, and geological playland, the USUEastern Prehistoric Museum has much to offer in diverse prehistoric subjects. One thing that makes the museum so unique is that the items on display were actually discovered within a stone’s throw of the museum location! Dinosaurs and other finds from that region are world-famous, but only there can you see them surrounded by their original context.
You can get free admission to the museum on all Federal Holidays and Pioneer Day. This is a fun museum we have visited a few times and my kids have always loved it. Just in case you are wondering, this is located in Price, Utah.
FREE ADMISSION TO THE USUEASTERN PREHISTORIC MUSEUM 2023-2024:
- Labor Day – 9/4/2023
- New Year’s Eve – 12/31/2023
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day – 1/15/2024
- President’s Day – 2/19/2024
- Memorial Day – 5/27/2024
- Independence Day – 7/4/2024
- Pioneer Day – 7/24/2024
Learn more about the museum here
FREE Admission Days in Utah
Peery’s Egyptian Theater (Ogden, Utah)
Built in an era of sumptuous movie palaces, the 1924 theater has been returned to its original elegance. Designed to replicate the courtyard between two Egyptian temples, the building was constructed during a time when the discovery of King Tut’s tomb sparked the nation’s interest in Egyptian history and stoked imagination.
Once again, Peery’s Egyptian Theater boasts state-of-the-art technology, including the restored atmospheric lighting which resembles a setting desert sun evolving into a sparkling night cosmos. The modern stage house is designed to accommodate live theater, dance, choral, symphonic, and multimedia performances as well as film. The theater is now home to a performance series, and a film series, and is a screening venue for the Sundance Film Festival.
FREE ADMISSION DAYS IN UTAH TO SHOWS/EVENTS AT PEERY’S EGYPTIAN THEATER:
- TBA
See all of the events here: https://www.ogdenpet.com
Provo Pioneer Village (Provo, Utah)
Experience the life of the pioneers as you walk back into the early days of Provo when the settlers of 1849 had to survive in isolation. The Pioneer Village contains the original structures built by these pioneers, including the Turner Cabin, the Haws Cabin, the Loveless Home, a granary, school, woodshop, corn crib, outhouse, and more. The Pioneer Village also contains an ox shoeing stock, various pioneer wagons, a working blacksmith shop, an authentic mercantile general store, pioneer games for the children, and a wide variety of historical artifacts and tools.
Admission is FREE–Donations are gladly accepted
Summer Season – Memorial Day to Labor Day
Monday, Wednesday, Friday from 5:00pm – 8:00pm and Saturday from 11:00am – 3:00pm
Please check the Calendar for Holiday Hours
- April 1st: Founders’ Day
- May 2nd: Private Tours Begin
- May 28th: Opening Day, 11:00 am-3:00 pm
- May 30th: Memorial Day, 11:00 am-3:00 pm
- June 1st: Summer Hours Begin
- July 2nd: Pioneer Day City Celebration, 10:00 am-5:00 pm
- July 4th: Independence Holiday, 12:00 pm -3:00pm
- September 5th: Labor Day, Closing Day, 10:00 am-2:00 pm
- October: Autumn Harvest
- October 31st: Private Tours End
- December: A Pioneer Christmas
Post-Season
The Village is open only by appointment for Group Tours during the post-season for groups of 12 or more people. You can learn more here: http://www.provopioneervillage.org/find-us
Conservation Garden Park (West Jordan, Utah)
With more than 8 acres of exhibits, pathways, and plants, Conservation Garden Park is Salt Lake County’s premier destination for learning about Utah’s unique climate and the role each of us can play in protecting our water supply. During your visit take a walk through a water pipe, explore a full-scale Localscape, see thousands of Utah-friendly plants, and learn how to create and maintain your own water-efficient landscape.
Admission is free. You can see open dates/times on their site.
You can learn more here: https://conservationgardenpark.org
Thanksgiving Point (Lehi, Utah)
Thanksgiving Point has five different venues. The Museum of Natural Curiosity, Museum of Ancient Life, Farm Country, Ashton Gardens, and the Butterfly Biosphere.
I haven’t seen any information on it for 2023 about discounted admission – but I highly recommend a season pass if you live within driving distance.
Other discounts at Thanksgiving Point:
Thanksgiving Point joined forces with the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), and the Association of Children’s Museums (ACM) to expand $2 reduced admission year-round through Museums for All, increasing the number of people able to afford transformative family learning for years to come. Learn more about Museums for All and find other participating locations at Museums4All.org
No need to reserve tickets online! Space is allocated at each Thanksgiving Point venue for you to purchase tickets when you arrive.
St. George Children’s Museum (St. George, Utah)
They are offering a free opportunity for Washington County families to visit the St. George Children’s Museum through the LEAP program! Your child will have the opportunity to complete an educational activity monthly as a part of their LEAP program (Learn, Explore, And Play), which corresponds with our museum’s monthly theme. Once 8 activities are completed, they, along with their caregiver, will be admitted to a free visit at the museum ANY DAY of that month. Twelve activity boards means twelve opportunities to come Discover, Imagine, and Create with them each year! How exciting!
Learn more here: https://www.sgchildrensmuseum.org/admission/discount-programs
The Hutchings Museum (Lehi, Utah)
Admission is free for veterans and currently serving military personnel and their families. Also, members of participating ASTC Museums more than 90 miles away from the Hutchings Museum get Free Admission for the pass holder and any 5 other people.
Learn more here: https://johnhutchingsmuseum.org/visit
Ogden’s George S. Eccles Dinosaur Park (Odgen, Utah)
Dinosaur Park is an exciting collection of creatures from prehistoric crawlers to predators and even flying reptiles. More than one hundred dinosaur sculptures fill the park. These realistic full-sized sculptures are based on actual fossil skeletons and are brought to life by robotics, artistic details, and state-of-the-art sound systems.
There is free admission on the following days thanks to Weber County RAMP:
- June 10, 2023
- July 8, 2023
See upcoming events here: https://www.dinosaurpark.org
Memory Grove Park (Salt Lake City, Utah)
Like many other cities in the United States, Salt Lake City’s population doubled in size during the early 1900’s, overcrowding urban areas. As a response to issues associated with urbanization, a movement for parks in cities was born. In 1902, Salt Lake City acquired the land in the lower City Creek Canyon, a prime location for recreation. Although the City passed the resolution to create the park in 1902, it would take two decades to see any significant improvements. In the 1920’s, women of the Service Star Legion requested that the City designate the area as a memorial to America’s fallen military men, later to be dedicated as Memorial Park in 1924. They led the first of many contributions to the park with trees and monuments.
There are restrooms here. There is also a walking/jogging path, off-leash dog area, picnic tables, and a drinking fountain. It is always free to get in. There are several cool monuments here as well.
Learn more here: https://www.slc.gov/parks/parks-division/memory-grove
Gallivan Center (Salt Lake City, Utah)
The John W. Gallivan Utah Center (“The Gallivan Center”) is a year-round open space and urban area destination in the heart of Downtown Salt Lake City that serves a variety of uses. Home to a lush grass amphitheater, public plazas, a banquet/meeting center, a public ice rink, and art installations, the Gallivan Center serves as the hub for concerts, exhibits, workshops, debates and lectures, public gatherings, festivals, and holiday celebrations.
Free events at the Gallivan Center:
- Excellence in the Community – Free concert every Wednesday showcasing Utah’s best musicians on stage.
- Big Band Dance Night – Every Tuesday evening this Summer for live Jazz music with Big Band swing sound, dance lessons, and more!
Learn more here: https://thegallivancenter.com/events
Liberty Park (Salt Lake City, Utah)
Liberty Park is Salt Lake City’s oldest and second-largest city park. The park, and many of its features, was well established by the early 1920s. Shade trees, flowers, lakes, playgrounds, tennis courts, and even a zoo were present (though the zoo would move to Emigration Canyon in 1931). Liberty Park even has the largest and oldest of two free-standing aviaries in the United States, the Tracy Aviary. Nearly 140 years later, Liberty Park remains a favorite spot for many residents in Salt Lake City with its diverse uses and natural space tranquility.
Features include playgrounds, splash pad, tennis courts, volleyball courts, jogging/walking paths, bocce ball courts, a gazebo, a pavilion with grills and power, a swimming pool, horseshoes, grills with tables, and more.
Learn more here: https://www.slc.gov/parks/parks-division/liberty-park
City Creek Center (Salt Lake City, Utah)
City Creek Center is a mall with fun walkways, ponds, streams, a splash pad and so much more! Partially inside, partially outside, and right across from Temple Square in Downtown Salt Lake City. This is a fun place to stop and enjoy some time with any age.
Learn more here: https://shopcitycreekcenter.com
Free Admission Days in Utah
Also, be sure to check out this HUGE list of over 100 things to do in Utah as well as Unique Things To Do In Utah
If you know of other events or more free admission days in Utah, please let me know and I will add them. I would love to make this a more extensive list – so leave a comment and I will add it to the list. Thanks!
Thanks for your article!
Clark Plantarium is listing free show admission for Nov 8th, 2022 https://slco.org/clark-planetarium/events/
Also, how do you hear about the Aquarium $2 days? I was sad to have missed the last one, and want to know how I can hear about the next one.
Thank you
Thank you! I will add that. I have signed up for their newsletter and also follow them on Instagram. There isn’t usually much warning, maybe a few weeks at most. Hope that helps 🙂
Thank you so much! Is their any discounts to visit Lagoon?
Lagoon offers discounts regularly but as far as I know there aren’t any promos right now. I will add Lagoon and any promos I find going forward. Thanks for asking.
Hi Coralie! Love this website! Can’t wait to see the updates for 2021!
THANK YOU for sharing all this terrific info about FREE admissions to fun places to visit as families. Do you have any updates for 2019? Once again, THANK YOU!
The hill Aerospace Museum near Ogden is free! Lots of fun airplanes and activities
The Hill Aerospace Museum is open Monday through Saturday from 9:00 am – 4:30 pm. Just take exit 338 from I-15
Thank you so much for sharing this great list!
Ogden Christmas Village is for free
Ogdens Christmas Village is for free
Will you please do an updated one of these lists for 2017/2018? Thanks!
Working on it this weekend! 🙂 thanks
I took my family to the Loveland Living Aquarium on the 28th of December of 2016 and they DO NOT OFFER the free wednesday. Waste of gas and time to be turned away.
Hi Stacey, Sorry that happened.
It is actually Hogle Zoo that has free admission days on the last Wednesday of every month in Nov, Dec, Jan and Feb. Hopefully, you will be able to take advantage of a free day there. The aquarium has had a few discounted nights, but as far as I know they don’t do any free admission days. HTH.
I think they may be free on Veterans Day, (for Veterans and their families)
Discovery Gateway has a Holiday Food Drive, where you receive 1 Free admission for every 2 non-perishable food items. This year it was Nov 22, 2016. Watch for it next year?
Good to know! Thank you. I will look for that and add it.
Just a heads-up, the website for the Utah Museum of Fine Arts says they are closed for renovation until August 2017.
Thanks for the fun list!
Thank you 🙂
I will update that.
Nice weblog right here! Additionally your site rather a lot up very fast!
What web host are you the use of? Can I am
getting your affiliate hyperlink on your host?
I wish my site loaded up as fast as yours lol
Thank you, Coralie.
Do you have a Facebook page?
You are welcome William. We are at
https://www.facebook.com/lovebugspostcards
Thanks 🙂
Do you have an updated list for 2015-2016?
Working on this now! sorry
Thanks! Please keep us updated!
You’re Welcome! I will. 🙂
Thank you for sharing i work with people with disabilities and this just makes our job better.
Bless you for sharing
In September, the Smithsonian Institute has a nation-wide free museum day. There are a number of museums in Utah that participate. You have to sign-up through the Smithsonian website and print out tickets, two admissions per family. I have been able to take my son to Discovery Gateway last year and the Leonardo this year for free. Keep an eye out in August/September, they advertise in the SL Trib the date. Also, if you go online to SL Trib, the entertainment calendar gives a listing of a lot of activities going on in the area. They designate free events and family-friendly events. We do seomthing new almost every weekend…mostly for free!
Awesome!
Does Hogle Zoo know that its there free days? or do we have to have a paper saying it or something??
Not exactly free … but just the cost of canned food! 🙂
Discovery Gateway’s
Holiday Food Drive
Wednesday, November 26
Make it a family tradition to give back to the community on the day before Thanksgiving at Discovery Gateway! Bring in a donation for the Utah Food Bank and receive 1 FREE admission for every 2 non-perishable food items donated at the museum during this one-day-only event!
The aerospace museum at hill air force base is always free (they gladly donations though) and my nieces and nephews love going there to see the planes.
The living planet aquarium is giving free admission to military members and their families on veterans day with military ID card. I know this only applies to select people, but still.
Thanks so much for the information!
Timpanogos Cave is not included in fee free (we tried it once). Also, This is the Place has the annual Huntsman Day (free ice cream too!) in June.
Anything extra (Zoo Lights etc.) at most of these places is never covered for a free day. We tried UMFA on a free day when they had that fantastic and super expensive car exhibit a year or two ago. We could see the rest of the museum, not the car exhibit.
Love this list!! We have done several of these, but I had no idea about the Museum of Fine Arts or free zoo days (our zoo membership expired and we got a Thanksgiving Point on instead of renewing, but I have felt really sad about that!) I’ve already put it all in my calendar. 🙂
Also, you might want to make a designation about the National Parks. There are five National Parks in Utah (you surely know because they top the list), the rest are part of the National Parks SYSTEM, but do not have the very unique designation of being National Parks (there are only 58 of those in the country). The rest of the list are National Forests, Monuments, Recreation Areas, etc. Really cool places, but not in the same field as true National Parks. (Like Timp Caves vs. Yellowstone–the caves are awesome, but the size and amount of things to do are vastly different.)
wow! thanks so much. I’m trying to come up with experience gifts for this Christmas and this helped a ton!
Discovery Gateway is doing free admission for military/veterans on Nov 11. Also free admission on Nov 26 with donation of two nonperishable food items per person.
The day after thanksgiving in Vernal the have a HollyDays festival with tons of freebies, contests, and fun for the kids like camel rides.
There are also quite a few festivals that midway by Heber host, one of my favorites is Swiss days usually the weekend after Labor Day. It has a parade and lots of activities for free.
Great info thank you! Sure hope the Living Planet Aquarium has one too….
Golden Spike is free to the public on May 10. They do a reenactment of the railroads meeting in Promatory Utah. If you have never been there, it is a must. You even get a tour of the trains and they have a museum.
Where did you find the information about the zoo? The link provided doesn’t show any free admission days. Just wanted to verify before making plans 🙂
I called up there and they verified it. 🙂
I called today Zoo free day: Nov-Feb 2015 the last Wednesday of the month this doesn’t include zoo lights. Hours 9am-4pm
Thanks for all the good info. Will share the dates of the different activities with family and friends. Sounds like there is always some place to go that is not expensive. Thanks again.
Is Kolob Canyon part of the National Parks? We were able to get in free of charge last President’s Day.
Kolob Canyon is part of Zions National Park,
Thanksgiving Point has 2 buck Tuesdays in August at almost all of their facilities with $2 menu items at their restaurants as well. Another smaller but fun and interactive local gem is the Hutchings Museum in Lehi, Ut. They offer free admission one day during their Round-up Days in June. They do bird shows and have actors dressed up for a “night at the museum” experience. It is my children’s favorite museum, and their ages range from 1-15. Hope this helps!
The Springville Museum of Art is always free admission! They have Community and Family Night the first Monday of the month (except Jan,Jul,& Sept due to holidays) from 6-8 where there are always art projects corresponding to current exhibitions. They also have a Children’s Art Festival in June (usually the first or second Friday) that offers 15-20 art making booths on the front lawn along with balloon animals, face painting, and food trucks. And it’s all free! Check out their website for more activities: http://www.smofa.org
Says it was updated 11/4/14, but a lot of the dates still say 2012 or 2013. Difficult to tell what was updated for 2014.
It is completely updated now – was in the middle of making the changes 🙂