Boston Family Days
Our program provides students who live in Boston and their families free access to many of the City's world-class cultural institutions.
At the end of 2024, Mayor Michelle Wu announced Boston Family Days, a two year expansion of the BPS Sundays pilot. Boston Family Days is an extraordinary public-private partnership between the City, corporate and philanthropic partners, and nine of our City’s leading cultural institutions to help Boston school-aged children feel at home in places that can expand their learning and show them the world.
Beginning in January 2025, on the first and second Sunday of each month from January 2025 to December 2026, the amazing cultural institutions listed below will be free of charge for every open to all elementary and secondary school students who live in Boston, and children enrolled in Boston Pre-K classrooms, as well as two of their family members!
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Partners
This program is made possible with the generous support of the following funding partners:
- Amazon
- Barbara and Amos Hostetter
- Barr Foundation
- Bob and Michelle Atchinson
- Jim and Cathy Stone
Enrollment and Eligibility
Signing Up
To participate in Boston Family Days, families must sign up for the program with the City. Provide your contact information here to be the first to know when sign ups open later in December! After signing up you will receive your Boston Family Days pass, which is your student's personal entry pass and cannot be transferred to another person.
Note for BPS Families: If your child is enrolled in Boston Public Schools or Boston Pre-K, they are automatically signed up for this program. You will continue to receive your Boston Family Days pass directly via BPS. Please ensure that your email address is updated in the BPS system.
Eligibility
This program is for all Boston students enrolled in grades K-12 or in Boston Pre-K. Students must live full time in Boston. This includes students who live in Boston and are enrolled in:
- Boston Public Schools,
- independent Boston charter schools,
- METCO,
- Boston based parochial and independent school,
- home school
- or those who live in Boston but attend private school outside the City.
Entry Process
Students and families will gain free admission to participating institutions on the first two Sundays of each month by showing their Boston Family Days pass, which the City will send to enrolled families before each program day.
These institutions are popular and frequently reach capacity, so Boston families are encouraged to plan ahead by pre-registering and reserving tickets online before their visit.
Participating Institutions
The following institutions are participating in the Boston Family Days program. Follow the links to learn more about each institution.
| Location | Sunday Hours of Operation (subject to change) | Address/Travel Info | Pre-Registration Suggested? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Museum of Fine Arts, Boston |
10 a.m. - 5 p.m. |
MFA Directions | NO |
| Institute of Contemporary Art |
10 a.m. - 5 p.m. |
ICA Directions | YES Reservations |
| Museum of Science |
9 a.m. - 5 p.m. |
Museum of Science Directions | YES BPS Families can reserve their tickets in advance by calling Science Central at 617-723-2500. |
| Boston Children's Museum |
9 a.m. - 4 p.m. |
Children's Museum Directions | YES Reservations |
| The New England Aquarium |
9 a.m. - 6 p.m. |
Aquarium Directions | No |
| The Franklin Park Zoo |
9 a.m. - 4 p.m. |
Zoo Directions |
YES |
| The Museum of African American History |
10 a.m. - 4 p.m. |
MAAH Directions | NO |
| The JFK Presidential Museum and Library |
10 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Last Entry 3:30 p.m. |
JFK Library Directions | NO |
| The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum |
10 a.m. - 5 p.m. |
Gardner Museum Directions | YES |
Free Admission Days
Boston students K-12 or those enrolled in Boston Pre-K and their families can enjoy free entry to participating institutions on the first and second Sundays of each month from January 2025 to December 2026 by signing up for Boston Family Days. Dates listed below:
- January 5, 2025
- January 12, 2025
- February 2, 2025
- February 9, 2025
- March 2, 2025
- March 9, 2025
- April 6, 2025
- April 13, 2025
- May 4, 2025
- May 11, 2025
- June 1, 2025
- June 8, 2025
- July 6, 2025 (Independence Day weekend; check institution websites for hours of operation)
- July 13, 2025
- August 3, 2025
- August 10, 2025
- September 7, 2025
- September 14, 2025
- October 5, 2025
- October 12, 2025 (Indigenous People's Day weekend; check institution websites for hours of operation)
- November 2, 2025
- November 9, 2025
- December 7, 2025
- December 14, 2025
- January 4, 2026
- January 11, 2026
- February 1, 2026
- February 8, 2026
- March 1, 2026
- March 8, 2026
- April 5, 2026
- April 12, 2026
- May 3, 2026
- May 10, 2026
- June 7, 2026
- June 14, 2026
- July 5, 2026 (Independence Day weekend; check institution websites for hours of operation)
- July 12, 2026
- August 2, 2026
- August 9, 2026
- September 6, 2026
- September 13, 2026
- October 4, 2026
- October 11, 2026 (Indigenous People’s Day weekend; check institution websites for hours of operation)
- November 1, 2026
- November 8, 2026
- December 6, 2026
- December 13, 2026
Who's Involved:
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Partners
This program is made possible with the generous support of the following funding partners:
- Amazon
- Barbara and Amos Hostetter
- Barr Foundation
- Bob and Michelle Atchinson
- Jim and Cathy Stone
