Thursday, October 18, 2018

Free and Discounted Admission to Nearby Museums

*Always check the appropriate website before you go to find more information about the museum, hours, discounts, location, etc.


Always Free:


Bainbridge Island Museum of Art - Bainbridge Island
Bug Museum - Bremerton
Center for Wooden Boats - South Lake Union
Center on Contemporary Art - Pioneer Square
Frye Art Museum - First Hill
NW Railway Museum - Snoqualmie
Pacific Bonsai Museum - Federal Way


Applicable Discounts:


Seattle Children’s Museum - Seattle Center
  • Donation Only Hour: The last hour of every weekday (4-5pm)
  • WA EBT or Food Stamps Card - Show your card at the box office and receive $1 per person daily admission for the card holder, your partner, and your dependent children
  • WA DSHS Services Cards: Show your Services Card to receive free daily admission for the individual who is named on the card


Pay What You Wish


Free Library Museum Passes
  • King County Library allows patrons to print free passes from its website. Passes are available for Bellevue Arts Museum, KidsQuest Children’s Museum, and Washington State History Museum. Search Classes & Programs using the keyword “museum” to find available museum passes and dates. Or visit the Free Seattle Museum Pass page on the Seattle Public Library website.
    • Bellevue Arts Museum
    • KidsQuest Children’s Museum
    • Log House Museum
    • MoPOP
    • SAM
    • Seattle Aquarium
    • WA State History Museum
    • Wing Luke Museum
    • More!
  • Pierce County Library offers free passes that patrons can check out - 1 pass per museum for 3 weeks. You can check out passes to 3 different museums.
    • Museum of Glass
    • Tacoma Art Museum
    • WA State History Museum


Free First Thursdays of Every Month


Third Thursdays of Every Month


Free first Fridays at Bellevue Arts Museum and Kitsap History Museum (Bremerton)


Free first Thursdays & Saturdays at Volunteer Park Conservatory - Capitol Hill


Free third Fridays from 5:30-9pm at Imagine Children’s Museum - Everett


Free first Wednesdays and Third Saturdays at Renton Historical Museum


Free first Thursdays and Sundays at White River Valley Museum - Auburn


Blue Star Museums (Free Admission for active duty, National Guard and Reserve Military personnel and their families from Memorial Day through Labor Day)

  • Bainbridge Island Historical Museum (Bainbridge Island)
  • Kids Discovery Museum (Bainbridge Island)
  • KidsQuest Children’s Museum (Bellevue)
  • Kitsap History Museum (Bremerton)
  • Harbor History Museum (Gig Harbor)
  • Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture (Seattle)
  • Henry Art Gallery (Seattle)
  • Museum of Flight (Seattle)
  • Northwest African American Museum (Seattle)
  • Wing Luke Museum (Seattle)
  • Buffalo Soldiers Museum (Tacoma)
  • Foss Waterway Seaport (Tacoma)
  • Museum of Glass (Tacoma)
  • Tacoma Art Museum (Tacoma)
  • Washington State History Museum (Tacoma)

Tuesday, October 9, 2018

Cinema on a Budget

Sometimes it’s fun to see a movie at the cinema and not have to pay a buttload of money for your ticket. Check out this list of local theaters that offer cheap or discounted tickets! In order based on location.

Central Cinema (Capitol Hill/Central District) -- $7 tickets if bought more than 24 hours in advance, $9 at the door. They also feature 99-cent showings during the week. Happy hour prices from 5:30-6:30.
Three Dollar Bill Cinema (Capitol Hill/Various) -- Offer viewings at various venues. Signature event is the Seattle Queer Film Festival held every October. Every first Monday at Re-Bar they host “Cineoke” where you can sing along. $8 - Doors open at 6:30, show 7pm.
Big Picture (Belltown) -- 21+ - $10.50 matinee (before 4:45) & happy hour tickets (Mon-Thurs shows before 6:30 - Drink specials too!). $18 “Bagels & Bloodys Sunday” screening (includes 1 movie ticket, bagels & cream cheese, plus a choice of a Bloody Mary, Mimosa or beer.  
SIFF Cinemas (Lower Queen Anne) -- offer $8 matinee tickets (before 4pm). If you plan on seeing lots of movies there they also have an annual membership ($55) that includes movie discounts, free popcorn, special events, and more.
Majestic Bay Theaters (Ballard) - Matinee prices for $10.50 before 4pm
Sundance Cinemas (U-district) -- All shows 21+ - Cheapest tickets are always the first matinee of the day, plus free or discounted parking. You can also join their (free) Sundance Partners Loyalty Program to earn points toward tickets.
Grand Illusion (U-District) -- $9 tickets (cash or check only) . You can also buy a $30 membership and get $4 off your ticket price for a year.
Varsity Theatre (U-District) -- Matinee (before 5pm) tickets for $8.50, students with valid UW ID (maybe Cornish too??) tickets for $8, Senior tickets $8.50 & Senior Tuesday $6.75.
The Crest (Shoreline) -- $4 weekday tickets
Ark Lodge Cinemas (Columbia City) - $8.75 for all movies before 4pm. Some nearby restaurants/lounges offer a discount when you show your same-day ticket.
Federal Way Gateway Movies 8 (Federal Way) -- $2 tickets, $1 on Tuesdays. Extra $2 for 3D films.
Blue Mouse Theatre (Tacoma) -- Tickets range $3-5
The Edmonds Theater (Edmonds) -- $8 tickets or $6 for shows before 5pm

During the summer, Tuesday and Wednesday mornings Regal Theaters feature $1 G and PG movies.

Lots of theaters offer cheaper tickets during the daytime (matinee) showings. Each theater is different, but it’s worth looking into if you’re looking for a cheaper ticket.


Good luck & enjoy!