Summer is flying by! Make the most out of the time you have left before the back-to-school busy season begins.
Check out this list of activities and experiences with free or discounted admission perfect for the whole family to enjoy. Create a few more fun summer memories before it’s too late and don’t forget about our local guide to FREE splashpads and spraygrounds in and around San Antonio designed to keep you cool while having fun.
FREE (and almost free) FLICKS
Summer Movies at Santikos
Cost: FREE
Santikos offers FREE family movies every Tuesday and Wednesday at 10 a.m. through the first week of August. Arrive early; tickets are only available at the box office on the morning of the show. Santikos also offers discounted summer snack packs, including a small drink and popcorn.
H-E-B Cinema at Will’s Plaza
Cost: FREE
Enjoy free movie nights every second Friday of the month through the end of the year at the Tobin Center’s outdoor Will Naylor Smith River Walk Plaza. Showings begin at 8 p.m. Bring lawn chairs and blankets for the ultimate family movie-going experience!
Outdoor Family Film Series at Mission Marquee Plaza
Cost: FREE
The City of San Antonio World Heritage Office sponsors free outdoor movies at Mission Marquee Plaza through November. Bring blankets, lawn chairs, and snacks, or purchase food on-site from local food trucks. The venue opens at 7 p.m., and movies begin 15 minutes after dusk. Pet-friendly!
Arcadia Theatre Summer Movies
Cost: FREE
Arcadia Theatre in Floresville presents free summer movies through the end of July on Tuesdays and Thursdays at noon. Located in the heart of downtown Floresville. Arrive early for the best seats!
Boerne Parks and Recreation Movies in the Park
Cost: FREE
Boerne Parks and Recreation hosts Movies in the Park through August. Enjoy free, family-friendly screenings starting at sundown, but come out early for some pre-movie fun starting at 7 p.m. on movie days. Bring blankets, chairs, and snacks!
Schertz Music and Movies in the Park Series
COST: FREE
The Music and Movies in the Park Series established by Schertz Parks and Recreation includes featured movies and live music events at different area parks through October. Neighbors and friends are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and refreshments for free fun and entertainment.
Kids Camp at the Alamo Drafthouse
COST: $5 per ticket; ages 3 and up
Alamo Drafthouse offers Kids Camp screenings at their San Antonio theatres featuring family-friendly movies at an affordable price through September 1. Most screenings are for ages 3 and up.
Summer Movie Camp at AMC Theaters
COST: $3 per ticket on Wednesdays; $5 per ticket on Saturdays
Now through August, AMC offers its Summer Movie Camp event at select locations. Moviegoers can experience popular family titles throughout the summer, with dedicated showtimes on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
KidFlix Summer Movie Series at EVO Entertainment
COST: $1 per ticket
Enjoy dollar movies every day at 10 a.m. through August 17 as part of EVO Entertainment’s KidFlix Summer Movie Series at all EVO locations.
Regal Summer Movie Express
COST: $2 per ticket
Regal presents back popular family films every Tuesday and Wednesday this summer, at just $2 a ticket, through the first week of September.
PARKS & MUSEUMS
*Museums with the symbol * participate in Museums for All, an access program offering a reduced admission fee of $3 or less with the presentation of your photo ID and WIC or SNAP EBT card for up to four people per card.
Wonder awaits at the Witte Musuem, a great place for the whole family to learn about Texas nature, science, and culture. Admission is FREE every Tuesday from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. (Access to some exhibitions may require a special ticket for purchase, like Antarctic Dinosaurs and Tyrannosaurs: Meet the Family, during Free Tuesday.) Reserve your free Tuesday ticket online.
Come curious and leave inspired at the San Antonio Museum of Art (SAMA). Bexar county residents can enjoy free admission on Tuesdays from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., and on Sundays, between 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. Ask about family scavenger hunts at the museum during your next visit. (Special exhibitions during SAMA’s free general admission hours require purchase at a discounted rate.)
Experience transformation through art at theMcNay, offering a variety of exhibits, ranging from paintings to sculptures and more. Enjoy free admission on Thursdays from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. and the first Sunday of every month from noon to 5 p.m. Children under 12, active duty military, veterans, and their families are always free.
The Japanese Tea Garden is a staple of the San Antonio community, featuring a beautiful, year-round garden, floral displays, and an incredible 60-ft waterfall and koi pond. Free and open to the public daily from dawn to dusk and wheelchair accessible.
Take a trip to the wild, wild west at the Briscoe Western Art Museum and enjoy free admission on Locals Day, the first Sunday of the month. Browse artwork and artifacts that tell the story of cowboys, vaqueros, Native Americans, and the beautiful landscape that served as the canvas for these Westerners. Children under 12 and active duty military are always free.
The San Antonio Botanical Garden serves as a 38-acre living museum for people of all ages and abilities to explore, observe, and experience the tranquility of nature. The Museums for All admission includes access to the Garden’s 38 acres of garden space, including the Family Adventure Garden with 15 fun spaces that encourage unstructured play and exploration.
Live Music
Shops at River Center Free Concert Series
COST: FREE
Located on the world–famous River Walk in downtown San Antonio, the Shops at River Center free concert series features a local Texas artist through August every Saturday performing in the lagoon area. Tunes begin at 5:30 p.m.
Party On The Plaza At Tower Of The Americas
COST: FREE
Every first Friday of the month starting through October, visit the Base of the Tower and listen to the best local sounds of San Antonio with a monthly free concert series. Additional activities on-site will be lawn games, a moon bounce, caricature drawings, bull riding, and more.