By Mimi Sells
January 15, 2022
Hungry for some live cultural nourishment that won’t break the bank? Check out the panoply of museums offering half price experiences to excite your senses during San Diego Museum Council’s (SDMC) annual February Museum Month.
After 2021’s mostly virtual event, SDMC is excited to welcome guests back for its 33rd annual Museum Month. For 28 days, participating museums will welcome guests with Museum Month Passes to enjoy at as many venues as they can squeeze into February– all for 50 percent off regular admission prices.
“Museum Month is the perfect time to get out and discover something new in San Diego,” said SDMC Executive Director Bob Lehman. “Whether it’s exploring a new exhibition at a favorite museum or discovering a hidden cultural gem, Museum Month is a great time for locals and visitors to explore the wide array of cultural treasures throughout our community.”
According to Lehman, San Diego Museum Month is one of the oldest and largest such programs in the United States. It is certainly one of the most popular. Over 40,000 people have flocked to museums in Balboa Park and throughout San Diego County in pre-Covid Museum Month celebrations.
Participating museums include popular institutions like The New Children’s Museum downtown and The San Diego Museum of Art in Balboa Park as well as less well-known jewels like the Museum of Making Music in Carlsbad or the San Diego Archeological Center in Escondido.
How to get and use your pass
Museum Month Passes will become available starting the last weekend of January at public libraries or Macy’s stores throughout San Diego County. One pass is good for up to four people so it’s easy to bring family or friends. On entering each participating venue, simply show your Museum Month Pass to receive your half price admission. You must have a Pass to receive these reduced prices.
While many museum admission fees in San Diego are low or no cost, the savings at others can be substantial. For example, admission to the Birch Aquarium is normally $24.95 for adults and $19.95 for children. With the Museum Month Pass, adults, seniors, and kids would pay only half that. The USS Midway Naval Museum is another site where Pass savings are significant.
This year, there are more participating locations than ever before, including museums, historic sites, gardens, aquariums, and other cultural destinations throughout San Diego County. There is something for every age and interest, including visual art and design, children and families, science and nature, history, wildlife, military, transportation, music, and cultural heritage.
Major ongoing sponsors for SD Museum Month are Macy’s as well as the California Arts Council, the San Diego Commission for Arts and Culture, and the County of San Diego. Macy’s is also funding hundreds of free vouchers for students at Title I schools. Longtime partner, the Serra Cooperative Library System, is distributing these passes for residents across San Diego County libraries.
More information about San Diego Museum Month, including a full list of participating museums, upcoming exhibitions, and special events, can be found at www.sandiegomuseumcouncil.org. Additionally, refer to the individual museums for any special Covid requirements such as advance reservations.
