We’re big fans of Austin Museum Day! Every September, local museums open their doors to visitors completely free. This annual occasion gives us the chance to explore exhibits with plenty of special family-friendly activities throughout the day. Read on for our picks of museum programming that is especially family-focused on Sunday, September 20, 2026!
Where to take the kids on Austin Museum Day
Head to Laguna Gloria for free admission and a full afternoon of art, nature, and hands-on activities. Explore the grounds with a new self-guided audio tour, then stop by from noon–3 p.m. for activities with the Elisabet Ney Museum, including moths from the UT Insect Collection, plein air watercolor postcard painting, and a screening of artist Virginia L. Montgomery’s surreal short films.Get more info here.
Pioneer Farms
Special activities from 10 am – 2 pm
Explore Texas history at Pioneer Farms with free admission for Austin Museum Day. Families can wander the historic grounds, learn what life was like in Central Texas more than 100 years ago, and check out hands-on crafts, history activities, and more throughout the day. Read what we love about Pioneer Farms
Neill-Cochran House Museum
Special activities from 11 am – 4 pm
Neill-Cochran House Museum is celebrating Austin Museum Day with free admission plus plenty of extras, including lemonade and ice cream, live Appalachian music, lawn games, seek-and-finds, and hands-on crafts with Math Happens. Families can tour the historic house and slave quarters, meet living historians, browse local vendors, and explore the museum throughout the afternoon. Check here for more info and the full schedule.
LBJ Presidential Library & Museum
Special activities from 9:30 am – 4 pm
Celebrate Austin Museum Day at the LBJ Library with free admission and a day highlighting Hispanic cultures. Families can make arts and crafts, enjoy treats and refreshing drinks, catch live music from Sofrito y Su Melao, and even join in salsa lessons for all ages. Get all the info here.
Bullock Museum
Special activities from 10 am – 2 pm
Spend Austin Museum Day exploring the Bullock Texas State History Museum with free admission all day. Check out the Texas Festivals exhibition during its final week, listen to Native American flute music in the galleries, and stop by for hands-on activities with MathHappens. There are also breakfast tacos and coffee available for purchase from 9 – 11 am, and Italian Ice available for purchase from 11 am – 5 pm. More info here.
Williamson Museum (in Georgetown, TX)
Open from 1 – 4 pm
Celebrate Austin Museum Day at The Williamson Museum in Georgetown on Sunday, September 20, from 1–4 pm. Families can enjoy free admission, creative crafts, hands-on activities, and an interactive exhibit all about the winged creatures of Williamson County. Get more info about the day’s events here.
More Fun Picks for Kids:
These museums are always great choices for taking the whole family.
- Texas Science and Natural History Museum
- UMLAUF Museum & Sculpture Garden
- Texas Military Forces Museum
For more details and many more museum events, please visit www.austinmuseumday.org.
To play:
1. Follow @TxHistComm and @austinmuseums on Instagram (link below)
2. Take a photograph at one of the participating Austin Museum Day institutions
3. Post it to your Instagram (make sure your profile is public!)
4. Tag the participating institution and #museumday2014
Multiple submissions are allowed. The contest closes at 9 p.m. on Sunday, September 21; submissions posted after 9 p.m. will not be included. A total of 3 winners – 1st through 3rd places—will be selected by a panel of judges that include staff from the Texas Historical Commission and Austin Museum Partnership. Prizes are to be announced. – See more at: http://www.rwethereyetmom.com/2014/09/8-family-museums-to-see-on-austin.html#sthash.AUM84Gpb.dpuf–> To see even more of what’s happening on Austin Museum Day, you can visit the Austin Museum Partnership website and download their app from Google Play and the App Store for listings of special activities offered at all Austin Museum Day events have a great time
