If one or more of your family members is enrolled in a program like WIC or Medical Assistance, you/they may qualify for FREE or specially discounted admission at places like the Minnesota Zoo or Science Museum of Minnesota!
Here is a list of the places you may get in FREE or for a discount, where, and what you need to qualify.
(This list was most recently updated in June 2024. Note that any of this information can change at any time. Please check before you go.)
Apple Valley
Minnesota Zoo
The Minnesota Zoo offers a “Free to Explore” program for families enrolled in any of the following programs:
| Program | Approved Documentation |
| TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) | MN EBT Card |
| MFIP (Minnesota Family Investment Program) | MN EBT Card |
| SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) | MN EBT Card |
| MFAP (Minnesota Food Assistance Program) | MN EBT Card |
| General Assistance (GA) | MN EBT Card |
| MSA (Minnesota Supplemental Aid) | MN EBT Card |
| MN Medical Assistance (MA) or MinnesotaCare | MHCP or MA on Card |
| MN WIC (Women, Infants & Children Program) | MN WIC Card |
| MN HeadStart | MN HeadStart Acceptance Letter |
| FDPIR (Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations) | Notice of Decision |
| Housing Support (formerly known as Group Residential Housing) | Acceptance Letter |
| Resident Disabled Veterans | VHIC or Summary of Benefits Letter |
Admission is free. You need to show the approved documentation listed above, plus photo identification and proof of Minnesota residency. Parking and other fees are not included.
Admission is regularly $15.95 – 21.95. Parking is $8.00 for automobiles (more for busses or motor coaches).
Visit their website for more information.
Bloomington
The Works Museum
The Works Museum in Bloomington offers the “Gateway program” which is an access program for kids and families with demonstrated need. Children and/or families that receive free/reduced price lunch at school, or assistance from SNAP, TANF, MFIP, WIC, SSI, Section 8 housing, Medical Assistance or Medicaid Care, Minnesota Care or Basic Sliding Fee Childcare Assistance are eligible for discounted admission, memberships, and camps.
When eligibility is demonstrated at the front desk, you can purchase any of the following:
- $6.50 per person discounted daily admission price (regular admission is $13.00 per person) or
- $25 family membership (regular price is $90)
More info is on their website.
Hopkins
Stages Theatre
Stages Theatre offers the “Open Door program” which provides free and reduced cost tickets, bus subsidies, and tuition assistance to low income families, schools, and social service agencies.
They also offer “Pay What You Can” performances. Patrons can reserve up to FOUR (4) tickets for each of the performances listed on their website at no cost. Patron/Households can reserve tickets to a maximum of FOUR (4) pay-what-you-can productions per season. The day of the performance you can “pay-what-you-can” by making a donation of any amount on your way into the theater.
More info on their website.
Minneapolis
Children’s Theatre Company
At Children’s Theatre Company, the ACT Pass program provides financial aid to low income households so they can attend select Children’s Theatre Company’s performances, classes, and camps. Currently, the ACT Pass program includes over 2,000 families.
For more information and to apply, visit their website.
Guthrie Theater
The Guthrie in Minneapolis offers Gateway tickets for $5. To qualify, you must be at least 18 years old and be enrolled in one or more of the following: TANF, MFIP, WIC, General Assistance, Medical Assistance, MinnesotaCare, Supplemental Security Income, Social Security Disability Benefits, SNAP or Section 8. Up to four tickets may be purchased for select performances by phone or at the Box Office. There are some exclusions.
For more information visit their website.
St. Paul
Bell Museum
The Bell Museum offers Explore & Curiosity Programs. To qualify you must be at least 18 and enrolled in one or more of the following: TANF, MFIP, SNAP, General Assistance, Medical Assistance, MinnesotaCare, WIC, Supplemental Security Income, Social Security Disability Benefits, Food Stamps, Section 8, or Free/Reduced Price School Meals. Present any appropriate documents related to those programs at the Lobby Desk to qualify.
These programs offer:
Explore Museum Admission Passes
Qualifying guests receive free museum gallery admission passes and discounted planetarium show tickets ($3 for adult, seniors and youth).
Curiosity Memberships
Curiosity Memberships are available for purchase at our front desk for $15, and offer a year of free gallery admission and $2 planetarium tickets. Contact them at 612-626-9660 for more information or visit the Curiosity Membership page for details.
They also offer FREE admission for PCAs, Indigenous Peoples, and active-duty military personnel and up to five family members.
Minnesota Children’s Museum
Through the “All Play” Program, the Minnesota Children’s Museum in St. Paul provides $3 tickets and $39 family memberships to low-income families. More info on their website.
If you don’t qualify, be sure to use my exclusive discount code TCFM to save $3 per admission (use online or mention in person).
Learn more on their website.
Read my review of our first visit after the Minnesota Children’s Museum re-opened in June 2017!
Minnesota History Center
At the Minnesota History Center, to qualify for discounted admission you must be at least 18 and enrolled in one or more of the following: TANF, MFIP, WIC, General Assistance, Medical Assistance, MinnesotaCare, Supplemental Security Income, Social Security Disability Benefits, Food Stamps, Section 8, or Free/Reduced Price School Meals.
Pricing is $4 adults (regular museum admission is $12); free for children ages 5-17 (regular admission $6).
You must provide proof of enrollment AND print and fill out the following form before visiting.
More information on their website here.
Science Museum of Minnesota
At the Science Museum of Minnesota in St. Paul, families may get an income-based discounted membership called the Adventurer Membership. You get can a family membership for only $15, if you are least 18 and enrolled in one or more of the following: TANF, MFIP, WIC, General Assistance, Medical Assistance, MinnesotaCare, Supplemental Security Income, Social Security Disability Benefits, Food Stamps, Section 8, or Free/Reduced Price School Meals.
Photo ID and documentation of any of the following is required:
- EBT card
- Medical assistance card (includes MinnesotaCare)
- Section 8 document
- WIC folder
- Supplemental Security Income verification
- Social Security Disability Benefits verification
- Free/reduced school meal approval
- RCA card (Refugee Cash Assistance)
- General Assistance verification
For more information, visit their website.
Twin Cities and Greater Minnesota
Minnesota Historical Society
If you qualify, you can visit any of their 26 sites around Minnesota for only $4/adults, or for FREE for ages 17 and under.
You must be at least 18 and enrolled in one or more of the following: TANF, MFIP, WIC, General Assistance, Medical Assistance, MinnesotaCare, Supplemental Security Income, Social Security Disability Benefits, Food Stamps, Section 8, or Free/Reduced Price School Meals. Please share with us proof of enrollment.
You must also print and fill out this form.
Here are their 26 locations:
More info about the Minnesota Historical Society’s Limited Income Program on their website.
Three Rivers Park District
Three Rivers Park District is offering a Recreation Pass Plus card which offers free equipment rentals, discounts on programs and events, and two free recreation passes per individual family member. With these passes you can enjoy archery, swimming, dog off-leash areas, disc golf, boat trailer parking and cross-country skiing.
The Recreation Pass Plus card is available for families and individuals who live in Hennepin County or Scott County and are experiencing financial difficulty. Many programs qualify including SSI, Medical Assistance and WIC. You can apply online or by phone.
YMCA
At YMCA locations everywhere, special rates are available for those who meet income requirements. More info on their website here.
Duluth
Duluth Children’s Museum
The Duluth Children’s Museum is a member of the Museums for All program, offering general admission to the Museum for a minimal fee of $3 per person (for up to five people) with the presentation of a SNAP Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card and a photo ID.
The Duluth Children’s Museum is also a Blue Star Museum, offering free admission to the nation’s active-duty military personnel and their families, including National Guard and Reserve.
They also offer Young at Heart: Enjoy intergenerational learning experiences every Wednesday with free admission for ages 62+ with the purchase of a child admission.
Visit their website for info.
Great Lakes Aquarium
The Great Lakes Aquarium in Duluth offers discounted admission rates for adults providing a current EBT card or medical assistance card (including Minnesota Care and Wisconsin BadgerCare) and valid photo ID along with any children or adults in their party the day of the visit.
Guardians (i.e. parents, grandparents, foster parents) of children with medical assistance documentation may use the child’s designation to purchase reduced price tickets or a reduced price membership for the attending group – even if the guardian(s) themselves are not medical or food assistance recipients.
- $6/adult
- $4/child
- Children 2 and under are always free.
Reduced-priced individual or family memberships are available for those providing the same documentation. These membership applications must be processed in person at the Great Lakes Aquarium ticketing desk.
- 50% off of posted current membership rates
Note that parking starts at $10 per vehicle.
More information is on their website.
Read my review of our visit in 2018.
Metro Transit
Metro Transit has a Transit Assistance Program (TAP) which helps make public transit more affordable for low-income residents. Fare for bus rides is only $1.00 if you qualify. There are several ways to apply including online.
Minnesota State Parks Library Program
Free seven-day state park passes are available at select libraries in Minnesota. Libraries participating are in lower-income communities so that more people can go to state parks without the barrier of an entry fee. Participating libraries are throughout the state including St. Paul, Duluth, Ely and many more.
Amazon Prime Discount
Amazon Prime is only $6.99 for EBT and Medicaid cardholders! See this website for more info.
Do you know of other discounts for limited income households in Minnesota? Share them in the comments or email them to me at twincitiesfrugalmom @ gmail.com!
More Info
For families in need, there’s a Facebook group called Helping Hands MN that I highly recommend joining. There are over 15,000 members at this time (as of June 2024) and it’s a great resource for sharing resources for everything from baby formula to furniture.
There are also many other ways to save on family fun and more in the Twin Cities!
Deals & Events Calendar – View my calendar of local family fun.
Twin Cities Discount Guide for Families – My guide to all the ways you can save money (or even get free admission) at various places around the Twin Cities.
MELSA SmARTPass Program – FREE passes to local museums and performances! 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.
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!
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Amanda says
Thank you so much for making this!! It’s amazing! ❤️?
Sheila says
Thanks for sharing
katiesblogs1200 says
Thank you for sharing
Judy Shockley says
I also need any help out there. I Recently saw one for for free boots for foster kids I am raising another 2 of my daughter she lives on the streets?have you seen that one. I wish I had know about the zoo ,we recently took my 9 year old and her 5 year old brother with 2 older siblings and my oldest son and myself. To mn zoo. It was way over $100. But it was for Katelynn birthday
I love learning ways to save. It not as cheap as it use to be to raise kids
Jenny says
Thank you for sharing