Lodgeur Guide: Visit Houston Museums and Zoo for Free
Visitors enjoying free Thursday at MFAH, Houston. The Museum District is a walkable hub of Houston’s best free cultural experiences.
Explore Houston’s Museum District without spending a dime. Many of the city’s top cultural attractions—including the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston Zoo, The Health Museum, and the Menil Collection—offer free museum days throughout the week. While Thursdays have traditionally been the go-to for free admission, several museums now offer free entry on different days or during special hours.
The Houston Museum District stretches from Downtown Houston through Montrose and into Museum Park, making it easy to discover some of the best free things to do in Houston. Some museums are always free, while others waive admission on specific days or times. And if you’d rather learn outdoors, Houston’s free nature centers bring hands-on education into the fresh air.
Free Museum Days: Tuesdays
Houston Museum of Natural Science: Free Tuesdays, 5–8 p.m. Always free for children under 3. Tip: Don’t miss the interactive Matter & Motion exhibit and its hidden Alchemy Hall—free with admission. Special exhibits, the Cockrell Butterfly Center, and Planetarium require extra tickets.
Houston Zoo: Free on the first Tuesday of each month. Reservations required. Tip: Free tickets are released online the week before—book early!
Free Museum Days: Thursdays
Museum of Fine Arts, Houston: Free Thursdays, 11 a.m.–9 p.m. Tip: Special exhibits and screenings may have fees. Library card holders under 18 and students with art assignments get free weekend entry.
Children’s Museum Houston: Free Thursdays, 5–8 p.m. Tip: Parking is tight for this popular night. Arrive early and stop first at the kids-oriented Health Museum next door (free from 2 p.m.). Don’t miss the SECRET Spy Mission Game for kids ages 8–12.
The Health Museum: Free Thursdays, 2–7 p.m. Best for children under 12. Reservations required.
Bayou Bend Collection & Gardens: Free on Family Days, usually the third Sunday of each month. Tip: Check their calendar for exact dates. Parking is limited. Kids can enjoy self-guided detective hunts for ages 6–9 and 10–12.
Free First Weekend of the Month – Museums on Us
Bank of America, Merrill, or Bank of America Private Bank cardholders enjoy free entry to select museums during the first full weekend of every month.
Houston’s free cultural scene isn’t limited to museums. You can also enjoy outdoor learning at these nature centers, or check out our Houston Parks Guide for even more green escapes across the city.
Houston Arboretum & Nature Center. Just minutes from downtown, the Arboretum offers 155 acres of forest, wetlands, and meadows with free walking trails. It’s a peaceful escape from the city where you can learn about native plants and wildlife. Admission is always free, though parking fees apply unless you’re a member.
Nature Discovery Center. This four-acre park and science center in Bellaire is a favorite for families. Admission is free every day, with hands-on exhibits inside and gardens, trails, and outdoor play areas to explore. Seasonal events and guided programs sometimes require tickets, but you can enjoy the grounds and exhibits at no cost.
Museum Events Happening in February 2026
Houston’s world-class museums always have something new on the calendar.
The Houston Museum of Natural Science
Looking for museum events that go beyond “quietly reading placards”? February at the Houston Museum of Natural Science delivers workouts, cocktails, and after-hours access. Tickets required.
Cockrell Butterfly Center
Up-close access to butterflies
The new Alchemy Hall at HMNS
Thu, Feb 5— Mind Over Matter: Reverse Happy Hour— An after-hours fitness experience as participants move through multiple museum halls, followed by a champagne cooldown. 21+ only.
Wed, Feb 11 — Terracotta Warriors Behind-the-Scenes Tour — An after-hours docent-led tour of the blockbuster Terracotta Warriors exhibition, with deeper storytelling, expert context, and far fewer crowds than daytime hours.
Fri, Feb 13 — Mixers & Elixirs: Atoms & Attractions— HMNS’s signature adults-only night at the museum—science meets social hour with themed cocktails, music, and interactive experiences throughout the halls. 21+.
Tue, Feb 24 – Tuesday Rooftop Astronomy — Guided stargazing from the museum’s rooftop featuring the Moon, Jupiter, Saturn and Andromeda.
Texas Children’s Museum
• Fri, Feb 6–Sun, Feb 22 — Faux-lympics — A multi-day playful competition series with games, challenges, and skill-building activities throughout the museum.
All-day activities (Feb 6–13) — Olympic Flame Activity in Kaleidoscope; Tabletop Curling Challenge in Science Station; Build-a-Bobsled at Invention Convention; Snowboard Balance Boards on the Playscape.
Sun, Feb 8 — Spinning Ice Skater Electromagnets — Build a simple homopolar motor so your “ice skater” spins using electromagnetism (Chevron Maker Annex).
Thu, Feb 12 — STEM Bites for Little Learners: Cold-Weather Gear Test Lab — Explore materials like gloves and fleece to see what keeps “athletes” warm longest (Tree Top, 11 am–12 pm).
Thu, Feb 12 — Cross Country “Ski” Challenge — Follow movement prompts in this patio challenge (5–7:30 pm).
Fri, Feb 13 — “Ice” Hockey Make Arcade — Build your own hockey players and test them on an air hockey rink (One World)
Sat, Feb 7 — Black History Month Celebration — A full-day festival honoring African American history and culture with performances, storytelling, and hands-on activities:
11 am — Express Children’s Theatre brings history to life through music, dance, and poetry.
1 pm — Black History Month Story Time with ABC13’s Briana Conner in the Parent Resource Library.
2 pm — The Griot Speaks with Manning Mpinduzi-Mott sharing interactive African tales and drumming.
All day — Fearless Trailblazers: Ruby Bridges craft and Star Promise kindness pledge activities.
Sat, Feb 7 — MindFest Challenge 1: Protect the Player — STEM-inspired Super Bowl challenge on the patio (1 pm–4 pm) — design gear to protect a “player” water balloon in a playful engineering test.
Thu, Feb 12 — Mardi Gras Celebration — Carnival-style festivities with a roaming jazz band at 5:30 pm, mask-making and pancake shuffle games in Maker Lab & Kaleidoscope.
Fri–Sun, Feb 13–15 — Valentine’s Day Weekend — Love-themed creativity, crafts, and performance activities:
Fri, Feb 13 — 10 am Zumbini family music/movement session; all-day pop-up heart cards, diversity hearts, and Valentine headbands.
Sat, Feb 14 — 10 am & 12 pmMini-Drama: Penguin Pals; 11 am & 3 pmValentine’s Day Story & Craft; plus all-day heart-making stations.
Sun, Feb 15 — 10 am & 2 pmStory & Craft and 11 am & 1 pm Penguin Pals storytelling in EcoStation; heart crafts continue.
Sat–Sun, Feb 14–15 — Lunar New Year — Celebrate the Year of the Fire Horse with cultural performances and maker activities (9 am–5 pm both days):
Sat, Feb 14 — 11 am Soaring Phoenix Lion Dance (Playscape) & 2 pm Brown Auditorium; 1:30 pm Diabolo Chinese yo-yo performance; all-day crafts and horse puppets stations.
Sun, Feb 15 — 12 pm Dance of Asian America performance; crafts and puppet making continue.
Sat, Feb 28 — National Engineers Day — All-day celebration spotlighting engineering creativity and problem-solving challenges for kids of all ages.
Museum of Fine Arts Houston (MFAH)
Fridays – Happy Hour Friday — Evenings with drinks, music and art; the vibe is “culture + cocktails = yes”. General admission gets you in; cash bar for drinks.
Sat, Feb 14 — Night at the MFAH: Love, Louvre — Special evening with cocktails, live music, and open galleries featuring the Louvre Couture presentation.
Thursdays — Guided Mindfulness in Nature — A nature-based mindfulness session for adults focusing on meditation and sensory awareness in the Arboretum grounds.
Sat, Feb 14 — Tapas on the Trails — A Valentine’s-themed evening of tapas and paired drinks as you stroll Arboretum trails under the moonlight. 21+ (ticketed).
Sun, Feb 22 — Discover Nature Together Scavenger Hunts — Family-friendly themed scavenger hunts along the Arboretum trails that sharpen observation skills and teach about local nature.
Sat, Feb 21 — DIY Nature Journals — Guided nature journaling and observation exercises to deepen your connection to the outdoors.
Nature Discovery Center
Feb 3 — Mess Makers — Hands-on sensory play exploring natural materials outdoors (age-focused).
Feb 6 — Family Campfire Night — An evening of family fun around the campfire with hotdogs, s’mores, and a guided night hike through the park at Russ Pitman Park. All children must be accompanied by an adult; registration required.
Wednesdays — Nature Story Time— Free, drop-in nature stories + live animals for preschoolers and caregivers, Wednesdays weekly at 4 p.m.
Thursdays — Park Work Day — Volunteer opportunity to help care for the large nature park trails and habitat. 10–11:30 a.m.
Houston makes it easy to explore and learn for free. These cultural gems and outdoor centers are perfect for locals looking for a budget-friendly day out or visitors wanting to stretch their trip a little further. Pair your outing with our Houston Event Parking Guide to make the day even smoother.
Where to Stay and How to Get to Houston’s Museums
La Colombe D’Or is a 5-star boutique hotel in nearby Montrose, with a beautiful upscale restaurant and cocktail bar. Their 32 rooms start at $500 per night.
Lodgeur is the largest “hotelier” in Midtown, with nearly 70 furnished apartments in Mid Main Lofts starting at $79 per night. Lodgeur sits next to the METRORail Red Line, so you can visit the Museum District without a car.
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