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.
Boston Family Days is an extraordinary public-private partnership between the City, corporate and philanthropic partners, and 20 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.
Through Boston Family Days, all students who live in Boston (grades K-12 and Boston Pre-K) and two guests can explore 13 cultural institutions for free on the first and second Sunday of each month until December 2026.
In April 2025, Mayor Wu launched a new pilot program adding performing arts to the wide range of cultural institutions accessible to students and families for free. Boston Family Days also includes tickets to selected performances at seven of Boston’s leading performing arts organizations.
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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
Sign Up
Enrollment and Eligibility
Signing Up
Families must sign up for the program with the City. After signing up you will receive your Boston Family Days pass via email, which is your student's personal entry pass and cannot be transferred to another person.
Register for Boston Family Days!
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 schools
- Home school
- Those who live in Boston but attend private school outside the City of Boston
Entry Process
FOR ADMISSION TO INSTITUTIONS
- When: First two Sundays of each month
- Who: All students who live in Boston and up to two guests per student
- How: Students and families show their Boston Family Days Pass (either on a mobile device or a printed copy), which the City will email to enrolled families before each program day. Passes from previous months may be used.
- Registration Required? 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. Please check the policy of each institution below.
FOR TICKETS TO PERFORMANCES
- When: Dates and times vary, based on the performance. Families that are enrolled in Boston Family Days will get an email each time tickets are released.
- Who: All students who live in Boston and up to two guests per student
- How: Students and families must reserve tickets to the performance directly through the performing arts institution. Instructions will be provided in each email.
- Registration Required? Yes, each show will have a limited number of tickets available and all tickets must be reserved in advance. Tickets will not be released on the day of the show.
Participating Institutions
We’re grateful to the following institutions that are participating in the Boston Family Days program. Follow the links to learn more about each institution.
Cultural Institutions
| 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 Enter the code ISGMBFD in the upper right hand corner of the page before selecting your tickets. |
| Paul Revere House |
November 1 – April 14: 10:00 a.m. - 4:15 p.m. April 15 – October 31: 10:00 a.m. - 5:15 p.m. |
Paul Revere House Directions | NO |
| Old North Illuminated |
12:30 – 5 p.m. |
Old North Illuminated Directions | NO |
| USS Constitution Museum |
Museum: 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Ship: 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.* |
USS Constitution Museum Directions | NO |
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Revolutionary Spaces: Old State House and Old South Meeting House ***Launching later this spring. |
Coming soon | Coming soon | Coming soon |
PERFORMING ARTS VENUES
| Location | Address/Travel Info | Ticket Links |
|---|---|---|
| Arts Emerson | TBA | |
| Citizens Opera House Directions | TBA | |
| The Boch Center | Boch Center Wang Theatre and Shubert Theatre Directions | SOLD OUT: Riverdance (April 13 at 1 p.m.) |
| The Huntington Theatre | TBA | |
| Boston Lyric Opera | Boston Lyric Opera Directions | TBA |
| Boston Symphony Orchestra | Symphony Hall Directions | TBA |
| The Wheelock Family Theatre at Boston University | Wheelock Family Theatre Directions | TBA |
About
Boston Family Days began as “BPS Sundays,” a pilot program that launched in 2024 through a partnership with six institutions: the Museum of Fine Arts, the Institute of Contemporary Art, the Museum of Science, the Boston Children’s Museum, the New England Aquarium, and the Franklin Park Zoo.
At the end of 2024, Mayor Michelle Wu announced Boston Family Days, an expansion of the successful BPS Sundays pilot program. This expansion included extending free access to all Boston school-aged children and their families and adding three new participating cultural institutions: the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, and the Museum of African American History.
In March 2025, at the State of the City address, the Mayor announced a second expansion of the Boston Family Days offerings, which included four additional cultural institutions (the Paul Revere House, Old North Illuminated, the USS Constitution Museum, and Revolutionary Spaces, which operates the Old State House and Old South Meeting House) as well as access to live performances at some of Boston’s premier performing arts venues: Arts Emerson, The Boston Ballet, The Boch Center, The Huntington Theatre, the Boston Lyric Opera, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and The Wheelock Family Theatre at Boston University.
News
News
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
