Museums for All Ages

The month of October is calling for a kid-vasion with the return of "Kids Free in October," presented by Time Warner Cable. The program offers free admission to children 12 and under with a paid adult (limit 2) for nearly 40 museums around San Diego County. Kids Free will be kicking off with a launch event—hosted by the San Diego Museum Council entitled "Museum Mash-Up"—on Sunday, Sept. 29, at the Jacobs Center for Neighborhood Innovation. The festivities are free to the public and will feature 16 museums offering an abundance of family-friendly activities, including hands-on kid-friendly projects, live music and dance performances, and special guest appearances. In addition to all the family fun, children will receive a free gift.

Back for its third year, "Kids Free in October" is presented in partnership with Kids Free in San Diego Month. Last year’s attendees totaled 10,000 and this year it is expected to increase. Throughout the course of the month, families are encouraged to challenge themselves to visit all 38 museums by being immersed in a wide range of exhibits and experiences such as:

- Exploring the deep trenches of the ocean floor and interact with the tide pools at Birch Aquarium.

- Making excellent discoveries with hands-on science exhibits for parents and children at Explor-O-Rama at the Ruben H. Fleet Science Center.

- Observing the most recent exhibits at the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego.

- Hopping aboard the U.S.S. Midway’s new family audio tour that takes museumgoers on a fun-filled journey through more than 30 locations aboard the enormous aircraft carrier.

Along with these exciting happenings, thanks to Time Warner, museums will be hosting free science-based activities on each weekend in October. To take part in any or all of the activities the museums is offering, families will need to download the free coupon from the San Diego Museum Council website for each museum they want to visit.

"Time Warner Cable is proud to bring this experience to children throughout San Diego County," said Kim Latour, director of community investment for Time Warner Cable Inc., one of the largest national video, high-speed data and voice services. "Kids Free October is a tremendous opportunity that perfectly coincides with our Connect A Million Minds program, a five-year, $100-million cash and in-kind philanthropic initiative to help promote education in science, technology, engineering and math. We hope that all will take advantage of this local opportunity to engage the curiosity and imagination of our children."

The collaboration between Time Warner and the San Diego Museum Council is a tremendous opportunity for families, and will bring a part of what the council does—increasing awareness of and attendance to the diverse museums in the San Diego region—to life. The council also provides support services to the museum industry through management, resource networking, advocacy, education and promotional opportunities.

The role museums have in children’s lives is a viable one, which makes back-to-school season an ideal time for attending what Kids Free has to offer. It’s the perfect opportunity to develop young minds while working cooperatively with their creativity and imagination. And it’s the answer for parents planning a day out or vacation with the family—a cost-effective day spent with the kids that will give them a chance to learn while having fun.

San Diego is consistently rated as one of the top family destinations in North America and is home to countless outstanding family-friendly attractions including the San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo Safari Park, SeaWorld San Diego, Legoland California and Comic Con. The freebies don’t stop at museum admission either. Kids Free offers free deals on more than 100 incentives ranging from welcome amenities at area hotels, transportation, complimentary meals, attraction admission and more helping to plan the ultimate family vacation. Whether soaking up the rays and culture at the California Surf Museum, discovering San Diego’s rich and fascinating history from the San Diego History Center, or wafting through beautiful flourishes and aromas at the botanical gardens, Kids Free has something for everyone in the family.

Oceanside Museum of Art

San Diego Natural History Museum

Model Railroad Museum

San Diego Natural History Museum

Support for "Kids Free in October," presented by Time Warner Cable," is also provided by the National Endowment for the Arts, an independent agency that has awarded more than $4 billion to support artistic excellence, creativity and innovation to benefit individuals and communities. Further support is supplied by the Commission for Arts and Culture San Diego, an advisory capacity to the mayor and city council that promotes, encourages and increases support for the region’s artistic and cultural assets to integrate arts and culture into community life and showcasing San Diego as an international tourist destination.

"Kids Free in October," presented by Time Warner Cable, will be held the entire month of October. The event does not apply to field trips and special events, and coupons must be presented at the time tickets are purchased. For more information, to print out the free coupons and enter for a chance to win free museum passes, visit sandiegomuseumcouncil.org. To view all of the additional available offers available, visit sandiego.org.