A free art-making workshop at the Barnes for people living with Parkinson's disease and their care partners; no art experience needed. Saturday, October 31, 10am–noon, the last session of the fall series. Space is limited, so register ahead.
Verified Oct 27 · barnesfoundation.org
Catch: Only for: people living with Parkinson's disease and their care partners · Free registration required; space is limited
The Brandywine Museum of Art in Chadds Ford (home of the Wyeth collections) is free on Sunday, November 1, the last Free First Sunday of the season. Open 9:30am–4:30pm. Adults normally pay $20.
On PECO Free First Sunday the Barnes opens its collection and the Noguchi to Asawa exhibition for free, with hands-on art and a scavenger hunt for ages 2 and up (10am–4pm), storytime at 10:30 and 11:15am, and Cambodian classical and folk dance at 1 and 2:30pm. Space is limited, so register for a free spot when registration opens Thursday, October 29, at 10am.
Verified Oct 27 · barnesfoundation.org
Catch: Free registration required (opens Thu, Oct 29 at 10am); capacity is limited
The Second Bank of the United States on Chestnut Street, part of Independence National Historical Park, holds the park's portrait gallery of early American leaders. Walk in Thursday through Monday, noon–5pm.
Daily: open house 9–10:30am; tours every 20 minutes 10:40am–4:40pm
Congress Hall, Independence National Historical Park · Philadelphia
Congress Hall, where the early U.S. Congress met, is part of Independence National Historical Park and open daily. Drop in for the morning open house (9–10:30am) or join a ranger tour that runs every 20 minutes from 10:40am to 4:40pm. It's inside the Independence Square security area: enter through the security screening on the south side of Independence Hall.
Parkway Central Library, Rare Book Department · Philadelphia
See treasures from the Free Library's Rare Book Department on a free daily tour, Monday–Saturday at 11am, on the third floor of Parkway Central Library.
K-12 teachers get into the Penn Museum free (adult tickets are $23). Walk up to the ticket desk. Open Tuesday–Sunday 10am–5pm; closed Mondays and major holidays.
Philadelphia high school students get in free with their student ID through the STAMP program (youth tickets are $14). Walk-up only. Open Tuesday–Sunday 10am–5pm; closed Mondays and major holidays.
Verified Oct 27 · penn.museum
Catch: Only for: Philadelphia high school students with ID (walk-up only)
A Victorian natural history museum in North Philadelphia with original cases of fossils, minerals and specimens, free to visit year-round. Open Tuesday–Friday 9:30am–4:30pm, plus a free open house on the first Saturday of most months (noon–4pm). The museum asks visitors to register on Eventbrite.
Verified Oct 27 · wagnerfreeinstitute.org
Catch: Register your visit on Eventbrite (the museum's site links there)
Active U.S. military personnel and veterans get into the Penn Museum free (adult tickets are $23). Walk up to the ticket desk; free entry isn't available online. Open Tuesday–Sunday 10am–5pm; closed Mondays and major holidays.
Verified Oct 27 · penn.museum
Catch: Only for: active U.S. military and veterans (walk-up only)
Show a current ACCESS/EBT card at the Penn Museum ticket desk for free admission (adult tickets are $23). Walk-up only. Open Tuesday–Sunday 10am–5pm; closed Mondays and major holidays.
Verified Oct 27 · penn.museum
Catch: Only for: current ACCESS/EBT card holders (walk-up only)
Watch coins being made on a free, self-guided tour of the Philadelphia Mint. No reservations needed. Weekdays 9am–4:30pm (last entry 4:15pm); closed federal holidays. Visitors go through a metal detector, and cameras, food and drink aren't allowed.
Children and teens 18 and under get in free every day the Philadelphia Museum of Art is open. Adults with them pay regular admission. The Main Building is open Monday and Thursday–Sunday (Fridays until 8:45pm) and closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
Verified Oct 27 · press.philamuseum.org
Catch: Only for: ages 18 and under (adults pay admission)
The Liberty Bell Center on Independence Mall is free with no tickets: entry is first come, first served. Everyone goes through airport-style security screening, so allow time and leave bags light. Open daily 9am–5pm.
Each morning from 9 to 10:30am, Independence Hall holds an open house that needs no ticket. The guided tours later in the day need a timed ticket with a $1 reservation fee, so the open house is the free way in. Arrive early and allow time for security screening.
Valley Forge National Historical Park · Philadelphia
Walk or bike the grounds where Washington's army camped in 1777–78. There's no entrance fee or pass needed. Ranger programs run for families; trolley tours cost extra.
SCORE pairs small business owners and people starting a business with volunteer mentors, free for as many sessions as you need, in person through a local chapter or by video. SCORE Greater Philadelphia is SCORE's local chapter. Eligibility: Anyone starting or running a small business.
Verified Oct 27 · score.org
Catch: For small business owners and would-be owners · Mentoring is free; some SCORE workshops and courses charge a fee
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