Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University Free Days

Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University is pay-what-you-wish 4th Friday monthly 5pm–8pm (PWYW). Dinos After Dark offers pay-what-you-wish admission (suggested $10) on a Friday evening most months, 5-8pm — usually the fourth Friday, but the date shifts (September 2026's is Friday the 18th). Presale tickets can sell out; walk-up tickets are first-come from 5pm. Every day, PA ACCESS/EBT/SNAP and Art-Reach ACCESS cardholders pay $2 (cardholder + up to 3 guests). Presale tickets online (can sell out); walk-up pay-what-you-wish tickets first-come from 5pm Verified on Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University's own page, last checked 2026-09-14.

At a glance

The math

Regular adult admission at Academy of Natural Sciences is $22, so timing the visit to the pay-what-you-wish window keeps up to $44 in a couple's pocket and up to $88 for a family of four — each month it comes around. And since this free day is open to everyone, it's the cheapest possible way through the door.

Upcoming free days

• Friday, Sep 18, 2026 — published by the institution

Dates as published by the institution. Confirm on the official page before you go.

Know before you go

• Who qualifies: everyone — no residency requirement on this one.
• Reservations: Presale tickets online (can sell out); walk-up pay-what-you-wish tickets first-come from 5pm.
• What's covered: Museum exhibits incl. Dinosaur Hall, festive family programming.
• Schedule detail: pay-what-you-wish — Dinos After Dark, suggested $10; usually 4th Friday but check the calendar.
• Worth knowing: Dinos After Dark puts the Dino Drafts Beer Garden inside Dinosaur Hall — a family-friendly pay-what-you-wish evening that doubles as a cheap date night.

Other ways in, no calendar required

• Households with a SNAP EBT card can use Museums for All: free-to-$5 admission for up to four, valid during regular hours at 1,700+ institutions across the country — look up Academy of Natural Sciences on the official participant list.
• An art- or history-museum membership from another city may already cover Academy of Natural Sciences: check the NARM roster with our reciprocity lookup — a qualifying membership travels to 1,400+ museums.

Dates don't line up?

Regular tickets ($22 adult at the door ($20 online)) are on ansp.org — skip third-party sellers, the official price is the floor. Planning a bigger Philadelphia itinerary? A CityPASS Philadelphia bundle can undercut separate tickets — just check the current lineup for Academy of Natural Sciences before paying.

Also free in Philadelphia

Philadelphia Museum of Art (fridays (pwyw)) · Barnes Foundation (1st sunday monthly 10am–5pm) · Please Touch Museum (published dates) · Penn Museum (no regular free day) · The Franklin Institute (no regular free day) — or see the full free museum days in Philadelphia guide.

↥ Check another museum →   Browse all free museum & zoo days →

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