Every day for the entire month of August, a different Massachusetts museum or cultural institution will offer free admission as part of Highland Street Foundation’s August Adventures program.

The Museum of African American History, the Buttonwood Park Zoo, the Institute of Contemporary Art and The Sports Museum and Boston Bruins Heritage Hall are just a few of the 31 organizations participating. There’s something for every interest, from art and literature to sports, animals and history.

In addition to providing access to these institutions, the program aims to illustrate the wide variety of cultural opportunities in Massachusetts. The hope is for families to discover something new.

“These special days bring many new families to The Carle to experience joy through the universally beloved medium of picture book art,” says Jennifer Schantz, executive director of The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art in Amherst. “And we know that visits to any of the participating organizations will be educational, entertaining and certain to make meaningful memories for those across the Commonwealth.”

August Adventures is an adaptation of the former Highland Street Foundation program Free Fun Fridays, during which 10 different cultural institutions would offer free admission every Friday throughout the summer. The foundation consolidated the program to the month of August after receiving feedback that folks were most available during that month. August Adventures has been running since 2021.

Highland Street Foundation is a fund dedicated to addressing pressing needs of children in Massachusetts and California. Two of the three current trustees are family members of the original founders, David J. McGrath, Jr. and his wife JoAnn McGrath. Grants and programs target housing, health care, mentorship and food access. But it was also important to the founding family that arts and culture be part of the mission.

“Our trustees grew up attending a lot of art museums and institutions like that,” says Noreen McMahon, senior director of programs at the Highland Street Foundation. “Their whole philosophy of giving has always been, they want every child to have the opportunity that they had growing up. And so because of their deep interest in this type of enrichment, they wanted to bring that out in their philanthropy.”

The full calendar of free cultural institutions is available on the Highland Street Foundation website. Some organizations require advance registration, but entry to every location is free to all on their day. No affiliation with Highland Street Foundation is required for entry.

“The purpose is to open up opportunities and access to some of these wonderful cultural gems we have in our community, open them up to the public to new audiences, more diverse audiences,” says McMahon. “And really break down any barriers that might exist between people going to visit these wonderful places.”

ON THE WEB

Learn more about August Adventures at highlandstreet.org