Visit These Manatee County Museums For Free On Museum Day 2021

MANATEE COUNTY, FL — After a long year of coronavirus closures and other restrictions, gather your family or your best group of friends to enjoy a day of free admission at the Manatee County Agricultural Museum and Palmetto Historical Park in Manatee County.

Smithsonian Magazine’s 17th annual Museum Day will take place Saturday at select museums in the Bradenton area and in other cities across the country.

This year’s theme, “Experience America,” celebrates “the return to, and resurgence of, our country's diverse cultural experiences,” following closures due to the coronavirus pandemic, according to a news release.

The following museums in Manatee County are participating in this year’s Museum Day:

Manatee County Agricultural Museum

Address: 515 10th Ave. West, Palmetto

Hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

A red barn craft is available to create on site or bring home and a Curiosity Scavenger Hunt is an in-house activity which will enter participants into a prize drawing Saturday, the museum said.

The current special exhibit is “Underwater Farms: Aquaculture in Manatee County.”

Entry is free every day. Learn more here.

Palmetto Historical Park

Address: 515 10th Ave. West, Palmetto

Hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

A tour of the historic buildings will take place at 2 p.m. Guests are invited to take a Museum Day Activity Pack, which includes a bingo game, puzzle and other pastimes. Each person who completes the bingo game and turns it back in will be entered into a prize drawing. While on the grounds, visitors may also enjoy the Sensory Garden and the Little Free Library.

Entry is free every day. Learn more here.

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The purpose of Museum Day, according to a release, is to promote equal access to the wide array of museums in the United States, especially among children and underrepresented communities.

Museum-goers can head to the Museum Day website to download their ticket. Each ticket grants the ticket holder and one guest free, timed access to any participating museum. One ticket is permitted per email address.

See the full list of participating museums at SmithsonianMag.com.