There are tons of freebies for kids and families in Minnesota!
After blogging for the past 14+ years and posting about one freebie after another throughout that time, I realized there were so many it was worth compiling into a single list, and here it is!
Note that these are all subject to change anytime. Let me know of more to add!
For Preschoolers and Young Kids:
Free Valleyfair Pre-K Pass
Families of preschoolers! You can get a FREE Valleyfair Pre-K Pass every year! With this pass your 3 – 5 year-old can get in to Valleyfair and Soak City for unlimited FREE visits that year. Sign up here.
For the rest of your family, you can also get the CHEAPEST tickets from my special store! (They are available seasonally – if they’re not listed, check back later!)
For 4th Graders:
Free Minnesota Ski Areas Unlimited Passport for 4th Graders
Does your 4th grader like to ski? This is one Minnesota deal to sign up for.
It’s not completely free – there is a one-time fee of $34.95 for processing. But after that, your 4th grader can enjoy a minimum of two free lift tickets at every Minnesota member area, all season long! Some of the ski areas participating include Wild Mountain, Giants Ridge, Elm Creek, Spirit Mountain, Afton Alps and many more.
Learn about it and sign up on the Minnesota Ski Areas website!
Free National Park Pass for 4th Graders
Families of 4th graders! Did you know that your family can get FREE admission to national parks for a whole year?
If your kid is in 4th grade then sign them up for the Every Kid Outdoors program and your family can get FREE admission that’s good through their 4th grade year until the following August 31st!
For 6th Graders:
Free Minnesota History Pass for 6th Graders
Minnesota students in the 6th grade can get a FREE Minnesota History Pass to use for free admission to Minnesota Historical Society sites and museums! The pass is only good for the 6th grader (so not for the parents or siblings) and can be used throughout their 6th grade year through August 31st, following their 6th grade year. Sign up here!
For Sports Fans:
Free Minnesota Wild Kids Club Membership
If your child loves the Minnesota Wild, then they’ll love this!
The Minnesota Wild hockey team has a FREE Kids Club for kids up to age 12! Parents – you need to sign them up, but there are lots of cool things for them.
Try Hockey for Free Day
Each March and November, USA Hockey and a few hundred local programs across the country encourage kids, ages 4 to 9, to come to a local participating rink and try youth hockey as part of the NHL’s Come Play Hockey Month.
Learn about the March event here.
Learn about the November event here.
For ALL Families:
Free First Saturdays at the Walker Art Center
Free First Sundays at the Minnesota Children’s Museum
The Minnesota Children’s Museum is collaborating with Securing Financial to launch Securian Financial Free First Sundays, which means FREE admission for EVERYONE the first Sunday of the month at the St. Paul location. But you have to reserve your free tickets in advance.
(Can’t go the first Sunday of the month? Don’t worry – you can save $3 per ticket by using my code TCFM either online or in person)
Free Admission to Minnesota State Parks 4 times a year
There are 4 days you can get FREE admission to Minnesota State Parks each year! All 75 Minnesota state parks and state recreation areas will offer free admission to everyone. See this year’s dates here.
FREE First Tuesday at Washington County Parks
On the first Tuesday of every month (non-holiday), visit any Washington County Park FREE. No Vehicle Permit required.
Free Tickets to Local Attractions and Concerts (for Twin Cities library cardholders)
Do you have a library in the Twin Cities metro area? If so, you can use it to get FREE tickets to museums and entertainment in the Twin Cities!
SmARTpass is an arts access program that started in 2016 and is open exclusively to metro public library users. I shared information about it then and how you can use your library card for free admission to museums and entertainment in the area. It was a bit on hold during COVID, but is back with limited tickets. They do go fast and aren’t always available, but it’s worth checking regularly! Some tickets they’ve offered have included the Firefighters Hall & Museum, the American Swedish Institute, and Stages Theatre Company. Go here to see what’s available and claim your tickets!
National Freebies for Kids
Free LEGO Life Magazine Subscription
Sign up your kid for a FREE LEGO Life magazine subscription here! Then they will continue to receive it 4 times per year until they turn 10! There is no catch – it’s truly free!
I signed up my son for the subscription a few years ago, and he gets a new issue 4 times a year. When the newest issue comes in the mail it’s so exciting for him, and he goes to read it right away.
Free Netflix Jr. Pre-School Print Magazine Subscription
Here’s a fun freebie if you have a young child in your household!
Sign up for a FREE Netflix Jr. Pre-School print magazine subscription!
This is an actual, physical magazine your kids can hold in their hands. It’s full of games, stories, activities — everything you need to share in the fun of your child’s favorite Netflix characters. It’s published every other month, so 6 times a year. You can only sign up for one per household, and you DON’T need to provide your child’s information at all.
Free Blockbuster Movies to Borrow
Free Blockbuster is a place where people can leave movies so other people can borrow them. It’s for VHS tapes and DVDs, and anything else you want to share with your neighbors. There are several locations in Minnesota!
Free Home Depot Kids Workshops
On the first Saturday of the month, your kids can participate in a free kids workshop at Home Depot stores!
Free JCPenney Kids Crafts to Take Home
On the second Saturday of the month, you can pick up a FREE kids craft at participating JCPenney locations.
Free Admission to National Parks on Select Days Each Year
On select days, all National Park Service sites that charge an entrance fee will offer free admission to everyone. There are 5 days in 2023. There are 5 national parks in Minnesota including Voyageurs National Park in International Falls.
Free Admission to a Museum in the U.S. on Smithsonian Magazine Museum Day
Smithsonian Magazine Museum Day occurs once or twice a year, and everyone can sign up to get FREE admission to a participating museum in the U.S.! There are always at least a few that participate in Minnesota.
It usually occurs in September each year but check their website for the next one.
Kids Bowl Free
Kids Bowl Free is a program designed by bowling centers to give back to the community and provide a safe, secure, and fun way for kids to spend time in the summer. Select schools and bowling centers around the country participate each year, including dozens in Minnesota!
Kids Skate Free
Kids can skate for FREE at Cheap Skate in Coon Rapids! Each year you can sign up your kids for 2 FREE PASSES per week to skate at Cheap Skate. Kids Skate Free is a nationwide program and currently only this one skating rink is participating.
Free Museums & Admission Days in Minnesota
EVERY DAY
(Note that these are always free, but each have different hours and may not be open every day)
Como Zoo – St. Paul (donations requested)
Minneapolis Institute of Arts – Minneapolis
Minneapolis Sculpture Garden – Minneapolis
Northwest Airlines History Center – Bloomington
Spam Museum – Austin (Read my review of our visit!)
Weisman Art Museum – Minneapolis
First Saturday of the Month
Walker Art Center – Minneapolis. Free Family Day is the first Saturday of the month – explore the galleries, make art, and get creative with your family!
First Sunday of the Month
Minnesota Children’s Museum – St. Paul (Register in advance for free admission on Free First Sundays)
Every Thursday
Walker Art Center – Minneapolis. Gallery Admission is free from 5:00-9:00pm.
There are also many other ways to save on family fun and more in the Twin Cities!
Free Summer Fun for Twin Cities Kids & Families 2023 – Check out my annual guide!
Deals & Events Calendar – View my calendar of local family fun.
Limited Income Discounts – Many local museums and attractions offer free or discounted admission for families who qualify. View my full list!
MELSA SmARTPass Program – FREE passes to local museums and performances! Includes more than I’ve listed above. You just need a library card from one of the 8 library systems in the Twin Cities area.
Groupon – For discounted tickets, dining, shopping, travel and so much more.
Goldstar – See my Half Price Tickets page for half price and otherwise discounted tickets on local events from Goldstar!
Kids Eat Free – My list of Twin Cities restaurants where kids eat free with purchase of an adult meal.
100 Birthday Freebies – You and your kids can get tons of freebies on your birthday!
Free Printables – I have tons of free printables throughout my site here like this one:
Here’s a FREE printable for summer fun!
Do you know of more freebies or ways to save?
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YOU CAN GET MORE FREEBIES like this FREE 18-page, One Year Printable Planner & Calendar
Get this planner for free! It includes:
- Blank, Undated Calendar Pages
- Goal Tracker
- Class Schedule
- Weekly Planner
- Weekly Schedule
- Weekly Meal Planner
- Menu
- Grocery List
- Recipe Worksheet
- Monthly Budget
- Daily Expense Tracker
- 52 Week Savings Plan
- AND SO MUCH MORE!
Also, you can get my FREE Boredom Busters printables!
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