Kids Explore Free at Over 40 San Diego Museums This Fall

Sept. 12, 2018

For Immediate Release

Kids Explore Free at Over 40 San Diego Museums This Fall
Kids Free in October offers new adventures with free admission for kids 12 and under at San Diego Museum Council member institutions

San DieGO – There is no better time to be a kid in San Diego than in the month of October. This October 1-31, the San Diego Museum Council (SDMC) presents Kids Free in October, an initiative that provides San Diegans and tourists alike the opportunity to explore more museum destinations than ever before. Going into its eighth year, this annual program sponsored by Scholarshare 529 provides free admission for kids 12 and under at more than 40 art, cultural, and science museums and historical sites in San Diego County.

Organized by the San Diego Museum Council (SDMC), Kids Free in October is an opportunity for thousands of families to enjoy new museum experiences each year. Kids Free in October offers adventure for all ages, from the colorful Hall of Fishes in the Birch Aquarium at Scripps to the historical United States aircrafts at the Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum. Nearly 20,000 kids participated in the program in 2017 with free access to the many diverse museums throughout San Diego County such as the Maritime Museum of San Diego in San Diego’s harbor, Museum of Music in Carlsbad, the Fleet Science Center in the heart of Balboa Park, and many more.

“Families will be surprised to see new exhibits and experiences ready to be explored throughout San Diego — from the California Surf Museum in Oceanside to the Living Coast Discovery Center in Chula Vista,” said Julio Martinez, executive director of the ScholarShare Investment Board, which oversees ScholarShare 529. “We are excited to be a part of this incredible annual San Diego Museum Council initiative that offers cultural and educational experiences from over 40 museums while providing fun for the whole family.”

This program can bring savings of up to $30 for a family of four. Free admission is available for up to two kids for every adult ticket purchase. To participate, download the Kids Free in October coupon at sandiegomuseumcouncil.org. Simply present the coupon at the participating museum’s admissions desk. A full directory of participating venues can be found on the San Diego Museum Council’s website.

Kids Free in October is also sponsored, in part, by Mission Federal Credit Union. Families can pick up a printed Kids Free in October coupon at any of their 31 branch locations throughout San Diego county starting on Sept. 27. As a member-owned, not-for-profit financial institution, Mission Federal Credit Union is committed to providing financial services to the San Diego community.

Additional support for Kids Free in October is provided in part by: the California Arts Council, a state agency, National Endowment for the Arts, the City of San Diego Commission for Arts & Culture and the County of San Diego Community Enhancement Program.

Kids Free in October is presented in partnership with the San Diego Tourism Authority’s Kids Free campaign. To find out about other great family-friendly deals this October, check out their website Kids Free San Diego.

Share #KidsFreeSD on Social Media

Museum-goers are encouraged to share their experiences on social media. Find the San Diego Museum Council at @gomuseums on Instagram and Twitter and on Facebook at @SanDiegoMuseumCouncil

About San Diego Museum Council

The San Diego Museum Council (SDMC) represents San Diego County’s museum community by increasing awareness, connecting, and providing services to the diverse museums within its membership. With more than 40 unique arts and culture destinations as members, the SDMC presents three flagship annual promotions (Museum Month in February, The Big Exchange and Kids Free in October), while also offering additional community-oriented programs and events aimed at providing museum access. The SDMC offices are located at 2750 Historic Decatur Rd., Studio 201 San Diego, CA 92106. For more information, call 619.276.0101 or visit sandiegomuseumcouncil.org. Follow the SDMC on Instagram and Twitter and join the discussion on Facebook.

About ScholarShare 529

ScholarShare 529 serves as California’s official college savings plan. Administered by the ScholarShare Investment Board, ScholarShare 529 provides families with a valuable tool that offers a diverse set of investment options, tax-deferred growth, and withdrawals free from state and federal taxes when used for qualified higher education expenses, such as tuition and fees, books, certain room and board costs, computer equipment, and other required supplies.

To open a ScholarShare 529 account or get more information about the plan, visit www.ScholarShare529.com. For information about the ScholarShare Investment Board, visit www.treasurer.ca.gov/scholarshare. Like ScholarShare 529 on Facebook at www.facebook.com/scholarshare529 and follow us on Twitter at @ScholarShare529.

About Mission Federal Credit Union

Mission Federal Credit Union is a not-for-profit organization providing a wide variety of financial services to meet the needs of its customers. With over $3.5 billion in assets, 31 local branches, and more than 232,000 customers, Mission Fed is the largest, locally based financial institution exclusively serving San Diego County.

Mission Fed enhances the lives of its customers through financial education and financial services. In addition, Mission Fed contributes to hundreds of educational and nonprofit organizations. All San Diegans are welcome. Insured by NCUA and Equal Housing Lender.

Kids Free in October 2018 List of Participating Museums:

1. Barona Cultural Center & Museum
2. Birch Aquarium at Scripps
3. Bonita Museum & Cultural Center
4. California Center for the Arts Museum
5. California Surf Museum
6. Coronado Museum of History & Art
7. Fleet Science Center (Galleries only)
8. Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum
9. Gaslamp Museum at the Davis-Horton House
10. Heritage of the Americas Museum
11. Japanese Friendship Garden
12. La Jolla Historical Society
13. Living Coast Discovery Center
14. Lux Art Institute
15. Maritime Museum of San Diego
16. Marston House Museum & Gardens
17. Miniature Engineering Craftsmanship Museum
18. Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego
19. Museum of Making Music
20. Museum of Photographic Arts
21. New Americans Museum
22. Oceanside Museum of Art
23. San Diego Air & Space Museum
24. San Diego Archaeological Center
25. San Diego Art Institute
26. San Diego Automotive Museum
27. San Diego Children’s Discovery Museum
28. San Diego Chinese Historical Museum
29. San Diego History Center
30. San Diego Model Railroad Museum
31. San Diego Natural History Museum (the NAT)
32. Serra Museum
33. The New Children’s Museum
34. The San Diego Museum of Art
35. The Water Conservation Garden
36. Tijuana Estuary Visitor Center
37. Timken Museum of Art
38. USS Midway Museum
39. Veterans Museum at Balboa Park
40. Visions Art Museum
41. Warner-Carrillo Ranch House