What a Deal! Take Advantage of These Discounts

Dunwoody Nature Center

It’s summer, and kids are ready to play! Check out these free and almost-free spots where kids and families can have fun without breaking the bank.

Summer Deals

2 for Tuesdays at the High Museum of Art: Now through August 29, buy one Tuesday general admission ticket to the High and get a second ticket at no cost. Check out the museum’s collections as well as Samurai: Armor from the Collection of Ann and Gabriel Barbier-Mueller, featuring more than150 helmets, swords and other objects spanning almost nine centuries.

With Stone Mountain’s Flash Sale, get a regular attractions ticket for $19.95; 24-hour advance purchase is required and the sale is good through September 4.

Summer Movies and Concerts
Take a break from expensive movie tickets! Check out Atlanta Parent’s list of Summer Movie Specials. You’ll find deals at Aurora Cineplex, Movie Tavern and more. Enjoy a movie under the stars – find a complete list in our guide to Outdoor Movies. Pack a blanket and snacks and enjoy music; find a complete list of Outdoor Concerts Around Alanta.

Bowling

Kids ages 2-15 can bowl two free games per day with the Kids Bowl Free program. Sign up at  kidsbowlfree.com for a list of bowling centers and available days. Participating centers in metro Atlanta include Stars and Strikes, Main Event and The Comet Pub and Lanes.

Roller Skating

Get two free skate passes per child every week through the Kids Skate Free program. Kids must be 12 years and younger; register at kidsskatefree.com. In metro Atlanta, four Sparkles Family Fun Center locations participate in the program. Check the website for locations and free skate days.

Kids’ Workshops

In person workshops for kids are back! Register online for a free Kids Workshop session, held monthly at Home Depot and Lowe’s Home Improvement stores. Michaels offers free Sunday MakeBreaks, and check out their summer Kids Club – just purchase the materials and the class is free. On STEM Saturdays at Schoolbox, kids can make and take a fun project. Check with your local store for schedule and availability.

Nature Centers and Preserves

Explore, hike and play at these local nature centers, where admission is always free: Dunwoody Nature Center, Elachee Nature Science Center, Cascade Springs Nature Preserve, Clyde Shepherd Nature Preserve, Big Trees Forest Preserve and Morningside Nature Preserve.

Disc Golf

It’s a combination of golf and frisbee – instead of hitting a ball into a hole, players compete by throwing a disc into an elevated basket. Play for free at these courses: Perkerson Park, Chamblee Church, Brook Run, East Roswell Park, Oregon Park and more. All you need to play is a disc, which typically costs $8-$16.

Airplane Fun

Watch planes take off from the playground at the DeKalb-Peachtree Airport park, or head to the aviation-themed park near McCollum Field, Cobb County’s airport. It’s got plenty of green space for viewing planes landing and taking off.

Public Art

Take a walking tour of downtown Alpharetta to see permanent art and rotating exhibitions.  Suwanee’s annual SculpTour features works of art in a walkable one-mile tour. Discover a variety of fascinating sculptures at City Green in Sandy Springs, or explore the public art on display throughout the city of Roswell. Explore the murals celebrating Black history around Atlanta, including “Dreams, Vision and Change” at Peace Plaza, near the MLK Visitors’ Center.

Museums with Free Admission

Plenty of fun museums in Atlanta are absolutely free, including Fernbank Science Center, where kids can learn about all things science, and the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site, which includes King’s boyhood home. The Marietta Fire Museum and Roswell Fire Museum showcase firefighting history with antique trucks and artifacts. Kids 16 and younger can visit the Jimmy Carter Library and Museum for free.

Museums with Free Days

Take advantage of free days and promotions at several local museums. Atlanta History Center, Tellus Museum, High Museum of Art and the Center for Civil and Human Rights offer free admission on the first full weekend of each month to Bank of America cardholders. The Children’s Museum of Atlanta has Family Free Days on select days; Fulton County residents receive free admission to the Center for Puppetry Arts on select Saturdays, and the High Museum of Art has free admission every second Sunday. Check out Emory’s Michael C. Carlos Museum on their free days.

Georgia Library Pass

With the Georgia Library Pass program, check out free passes at your local library (most are good for a seven days). You can get free  admission to Zoo Atlanta for up to three people, and free museum admission for four at the Center for Puppetry Arts. With a Georgia ParkPass, get free admission and parking for four at Georgia State Parks and historic sites. The Go Fish Education Center in Perry offers free passes for four visitors, and the Georgia Aquarium offers discounted admission with a library pass.

75+ Playgrounds We Love

Swing, slide, climb, spin and explore! Playgrounds are the perfect (free!) destination for entertaining your kids. Whether it’s your neighborhood favorite or a treck across town, playgrounds let kids roam free and explore. Read our list of 75+ Playgrounds in the Metro Atlanta Area.