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FREE Culture & Heritage in Austin

Austin's stories live in its museums, cultural centers, historic homes and neighborhood celebrations, and a lot of them are FREE. Start here for places you can visit again and again without paying, and for yearly celebrations that are FREE for everyone.

Cultural centers

These City cultural centers share Austin's Black, Mexican American and Asian American history and culture with FREE exhibits, talks and community events.

Know before you go

  • Mexic-Arte Museum, listed under Arts & Performance, is FREE on Sundays.
  • Hours and programs change, so check the center's page before you go.

  • George Washington Carver Museum

    The City's African American cultural center in East Austin, with rotating galleries and permanent exhibits. The museum and its culture and arts programs are FREE and open to the public, and the Genealogy Center inside offers FREE databases, workshops and seminars. Open Mon to Fri 10am to 9pm and Sat 10am to 4pm, 1165 Angelina St.

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  • African American Cultural and Heritage Facility

    A City of Austin facility at 912 East 11th St with the Dedrick-Hamilton House visitors center, an art studio and the Reflections Mosaic mural. FREE to visit. Open Mon to Fri 10am to 5pm.

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  • Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center

    City-run center for Mexican American and Latino culture. Exhibits are always FREE, and the center co-produces events that are FREE and open to the public. Open Mon to Fri 10am to 9pm and Sat 10am to 4pm at 600 River St. Metered parking, with a FREE parking pass at the front desk for MACC visitors.

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  • MACC Casa de la Cultura family programs

    Yoga en Familia, a bilingual family yoga series on Mondays, 6:30pm to 7:30pm through Nov 23, with mats to borrow, and Colorin Colorado, a toddler storytime through Jan 12, 2027, 10:30am to noon. Both are FREE. RSVP on Eventbrite is requested, and the MACC building is in renovation, so check the RSVP link for the location.

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  • Asian American Resource Center

    The City's center for Asian American culture, with talks, community events and a year-round Community Art Exhibit Program. The exhibits, the Hyphenated Book Club, the Being and Belonging series and the CelebrASIA festival are all FREE. Open Mon to Fri 10am to 9pm and Sat 10am to 4pm at 8401 Cameron Rd.

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Historic homes and sites

Austin's history is on display at historic homes and landmarks you can visit for FREE.

Know before you go

  • Some are open only on certain days or by reservation, so read the note under each listing first.

  • Hezikiah Haskell House

    A restored home in the historic Clarksville neighborhood where a docent shares the house and neighborhood story. Admission is FREE on open days, usually 1pm to 4pm on select Sundays, and the house is closed in December. Check the Clarksville Community Development Corporation events page for dates. 1705 Waterston Ave.

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  • Texas Governor's Mansion tours

    FREE guided tours of the Governor's Mansion, about 30 minutes each. You must reserve at least one week ahead, there are no walk-up tours and a short screening form is required. Public tours pause in July, August and September. Contact Mansion.Tours@tspb.texas.gov or 512-305-8524.

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  • Old Bakery & Emporium

    A City-run historic site at 1006 Congress Ave with a shop and an upstairs history gallery. Visiting is FREE. Open Wed to Fri noon to 6pm and Sat and Sun noon to 5pm.

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  • Texas State Cemetery

    FREE historic cemetery and visitor center honoring notable Texans. Grounds open daily 8am to 5pm; FREE self-guided, audio, and group tours.

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  • Texas State Capitol Building

    FREE self-guided and docent-led tours of the 1888 capitol dome, legislative chambers, and surrounding grounds, open daily.

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FREE days and Museums for All

Some of Austin's history museums charge admission most days but open FREE on set days or with an EBT card.

Know before you go

  • Museums for All gives families with an EBT card FREE or very low-cost admission, so bring your card and a photo ID.
  • Days and hours can change, so check the museum's site before you go.

  • Bullock Texas State History Museum

    FREE exhibit admission the first Sunday of every month and the second Sunday in July. Families with SNAP or WIC get FREE exhibit admission by showing an EBT card at the ticket counter. Open daily 10am to 5pm.

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  • LBJ Presidential Library

    FREE for kids under 12, UT students, faculty and staff, active duty military and up to 5 family members, and Museums for All participants (SNAP, WIC, MAP) with ID. The library also has 12 FREE days a year. Open daily 9am to 5pm.

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  • Austin Museum Day

    FREE admission at 30+ museums and historic sites across Austin on one Sunday each September. The 2027 date is not announced yet, so check the site.

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  • Museums for All, participating museums

    National directory of museums that offer FREE or reduced-price admission with an EBT card. Search it to see which Austin museums take part.

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  • Blue Star Museums

    FREE admission for active-duty military and their families at participating museums, from Armed Forces Day in May to Labor Day in September. The Bullock and the Blanton both take part. The 2026 program has ended, so check back in 2027.

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Always FREE history museums

These museums never charge for general admission.

Know before you go

  • Hours change around holidays and new exhibitions, so check the site before you go.

Annual celebrations

Austin's yearly cultural celebrations have FREE parades, festivals and community days that anyone can join.

Know before you go

  • Dates change every year, so check the organizer's page before you go.

  • Juneteenth in Austin

    The City's annual Juneteenth celebration in the African American Cultural Heritage District, with a parade, park festival and the Carver Kickback. The City's 2026 release called the celebrations FREE of charge. It is held around June 19, and some separate events, like the fun run, are ticketed.

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  • Viva Mexico at the MACC

    The MACC's yearly celebration of Mexican Independence Day during Hispanic Heritage Month, at 600 River St. The City page calls it a family-friendly, FREE event open to all, and all activities are FREE and first come, first served, with a FREE shuttle. The 2026 celebration was Saturday, September 12, 4pm to 9pm, so check the City page for the next date.

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  • Viva La Vida Festival and Parade

    Mexic-Arte's yearly downtown Day of the Dead procession and festival, described by the museum as a FREE family-friendly cultural celebration. The 2026 festival was Saturday, October 24, so check the museum's site for the next date.

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  • Day of the Dead Festival at the MACC

    The Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center's yearly Day of the Dead celebration. The City page says admission is FREE, and a FREE shuttle runs from the Sanchez Elementary parking lot. The 2026 festival was Sunday, November 1, 1pm to 6pm, so check the City page for the next date.

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  • CelebrASIA Austin

    The City's yearly celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, held in May at the Asian American Resource Center. The 2026 page says it is FREE and open to the public, and RSVP is encouraged.

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  • Austin Pride Parade

    A yearly parade down Congress Avenue in late summer (2026 was August 22). The City's page says the event does not charge a fee for public participation. Parking is not FREE.

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Language and heritage

FREE classes and archives help you learn English, trace your family's story and hear Austin's history in people's own voices.

Know before you go

  • Some have a waitlist or set hours, so check the details first.

Cultural markets

A community marketplace where entry costs nothing.

Know before you go

  • Check the City page for market dates before you go.

  • Artisan Mercado

    A market of handmade art by Latino artists at 506 Congress Ave, held the first and third Saturdays through December 2026 (next: Nov 21, Dec 5 and Dec 19), usually 10am to 5pm. Entry is FREE, with cultural workshops around midday that use an Eventbrite sign-up.

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    Hours and programs change often. Call ahead before you go. Know something that belongs here? Email freeinaustin@gmail.com.