Tag: MLK Jr. Day

More MLK Jr. Day Free Admission – ISGM & The ICA

The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum is just around the corner from the MFA. Both museums are offering free admission and activities to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The Gardner limits the number of people in the museum at any given time, so it may be a better option for people who don’t want to deal with the crowds at the MFA on free days. Though you may have to wait in line before getting inside.

The museum opens at 11 AM, and MLK Jr. Day activities run 1-4 PM.

Join social justice project Wee The People for an interactive, family-friendly workshop that guides young and old in unlearning and reclaiming the legacy of MLK. Together we will explore MLK’s practice as a radical disruptor and honor his most important act of love: resistance. Activities include sign-making tributes to protest movements, a #ReclaimMLK photo booth, and timed acts of resistance inside the Museum.”

https://www.gardnermuseum.org/calendar/event/mlk-day-20200120

Free general admission to the Gardner is a rare occurrence. If your name is Isabella or your family is Active Duty in the military, you can get in free anytime. Children 17 and under are always free as well. EBT cardholders can get $2 admission for up to 4 adults. The BPL has a $5/person museum pass available that admits 4 people on weekdays, 2 people on weekends.

Update, January 16, 2020: I’m no longer recommending the ICA as a family destination.

The Institute of Contemporary Art in the Seaport is also offering free admission on Monday 10am to 5pm. One great feature of this free admission day is that there will be FREE, first-come first-served tickets for Yayoi Kusama: LOVE IS CALLING. Right now tickets are sold out through the end of the month, and ticket sales for February go on sale today (1/15/2020) at 10am. So if you want to see Yayoi Kusama’s exhibit and can’t get tickets, head over first thing to the ICA on Monday!

It doesn’t appear that they have any special MLK Jr. Day events, but the ICA is opening two new exhibits that day: Tschabalala Self: Out of Body + Carolina Caycedo. 

The ICA is accessible by Silver Line Waterfront out of South Station. You can walk from either the World Trade Center stop or Courthouse. I do not recommend parking for BBHSers because of the expense. The ICA does not have its own parking lot, but you can find their recommendations for parking here.

MLK Jr. Day & Lunar New Year – Tips on visiting the MFA on free days

The Museum of Fine Arts' Fenway entrance with people walking out the door and down the stairs.
MFA’s Fenway Entrance, Source: BBHS

I know the Museum of Fine Arts is crazy-busy on their free days, but they do offer lots of really wonderful family programming on those days. It can also be a great, low-cost way to spend time with friends. Even this introvert has gone to 4 or 5 MFA free days over the years!

The next free admission day at the MFA is on January 20, 2020 in celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. And if you can’t make it, there’s another on February 1, 2020 to celebrate the Lunar New Year.

Here are my tips to maximize your visit:

  • Arrive EARLY is #1, the lines in won’t be as long, and the lines for the coat room won’t be long either.
  • Arrive LATE, another good move if you don’t mind a short visit. Note that most of the family programs will be winding down by mid-afternoon.
  • Do not drive there! The garage, lots and street parking will be full and traffic will be sluggish around the museum with people trying to park, save yourself the headache and either take the T or plan to park far away and walk over. Also, museum parking is NOT free on free days.
  • If the line to get in winds out to the sidewalk on Huntington Ave, go around to the Fenway entrance. The line is usually SO MUCH SHORTER! Keep in mind, the Huntington entrance also has a long line inside, whereas the Fenway inside line is about 1/4 the length. The Fenway coat room usually has a shorter line too.
  • The downstairs cafe is going to be mobbed, consider eating outside before going into the museum, or visit the cafe at non-peak times.
  • You can bring your own food into the museum to eat at the cafe, make sure you’re carrying it in a museum approved bag.

Do you have any tips to share? Please leave them in the comments below! ❤️