Martin Luther King Jr. Day is one of the best days of the year to explore Indianapolis with kids. If you’re searching for free MLK Day activities or wondering what museums are free on Martin Luther King Day, this list has you covered. Many local museums, including favorites like the Children’s Museum on MLK Day, offer free or reduced admission. Below, you’ll find a full guide to free museums on MLK Day, making it easier to enjoy family fun in Indy without stretching your budget. Also, here are all of the free museum days in Indianapolis.
Be sure to check out the Kennedy-King Landmark for Peace at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park in Indy.
Free Museum Admission in Indianapolis
Newfields
Monday, January 19, 2026
10 am – 4 pm
Celebrate MLK Day with free admission to Newfields on Monday, January 19.
- Monday, Jan. 19, 10 am to 4 pm
- Celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with a meaningful day of creativity, culture, and community. Families are invited to come together to reflect on Dr. King’s message of justice, peace, and equality through hands-on art, storytelling, music, and shared experiences. Create a symbolic memory pin that becomes part of a larger community art piece, then make one to take home. Enjoy family-friendly storytimes featuring Black authors, explore a digital walk through The King Center archives, take part in a guided wellness activity, and enjoy special musical performances throughout the day. You can also hear from guest scholar Corey N. Reed, PhD, during a featured presentation. Be sure to check the full schedule below so you can plan your day and make the most of this meaningful celebration.
The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis
Monday, January 19, 2026
10 am-5 pm
Free advance ticket required. Celebrate the life, achievements, and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with special performances at the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis.
- Free museum admission.
- Celebrate the life, achievements, and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with special musical performances and activities.
- The museum is open during regular hours. Special Martin Luther King Jr. Day activities conclude at 3 p.m.
- Free tickets will be available beginning Jan. 9, 2026.
Indiana Historical Society
Monday, January 19, 2026
11 am-3 pm
- Monday, January 19th, 11 am – 3 pm
- Create artwork inspired by peace and unity, paint MLK silhouette art, and explore reflection stations featuring Dr. King’s words and impact.
- Kids will also enjoy sensory activities and hands-on learning in the W. Brooks and Wanda Y. Fortune History Lab.
- Advanced tickets recommended
Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum
Monday, January 19, 2026
10 am – 4 pm
- All galleries and activities within the Museum are included in admission
- Track tours are an additional fee.
- Free tickets can be reserved at imsmuseum.org/tickets or as a walk-up ticket
35th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Indiana Holiday Celebration
Thursday, January 15, 2026
12 pm – 1 pm
- Thursday, January 15th, 12 pm – 1 pm
- Indiana State House
- Community members, state leaders, and partners will gather at the Indiana Statehouse to reflect on Dr. King’s vision of unity, justice, and service, and to recognize the continued work toward equity across Indiana.
Free Ice Skating at Bicentennial Unity Plaza Elevance Health Rink
Monday, January 19, 2026
11 am – 9 pm
- Elevance Health Rink ice skating
- FREE admission and skate rental
- FREE parking in the Virginia Avenue Garage
Dr. King Holiday Special at the Crispus Attucks Museum
Monday, January 19, 2026
10 am – 6 pm
- Engage with civil rights history through meaningful programs, interactive activities, and special exhibits
- Attend special Dr. King presentations, listen to a Dr. King speech, and take part in a Civil Rights History Program
- Explore the museum through guided and self-guided tours
- Dr. King Coloring Contest
- View the rare Dr. King Global Stamp Collection
White River State Park
Monday, January 19, 2026
Enjoy free parking and admission to White River State Park and other nearby attractions. For the past 20 years, White River State Park has partnered with Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana to host an annual event on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. In lieu of canned goods, visitors are asked to make monetary donations to Gleaners Food Bank via “dip jars” around the park and the museums.
Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art
Monday, January 19, 2026
10 am-5 pm
Enjoy free admission and get one last chance to visit Jingle Rails until next November. Visitors can immerse themselves in Native American and Western cultures and explore activities at the Nina Mason Pulliam Education Center. Experience the unifying power of rhythm and music during a community drum circle performance. There will also be hands-on art-making activities for all ages.
- Monday, January 19th, 10 am – 5 pm
- Art-making projects
- Community drum circle
- Jingle Rails last day
Indiana State Museum
Monday, January 19, 2026
10 am-5 pm
Celebrate Dr. King’s dream and explore the ongoing struggle for civil rights and equity in America at the Indiana State Museum. Watch some of Dr. King’s most iconic speeches and participate in activities that reflect on what you can do to ensure the dream lives on for future generations.
- Monday, January 19, 10 am – 5 pm
- Participate in making a community mural
- Enjoy live performances
IMAX® Theater
Monday, January 19, 2026
10 am-5 pm
Visit the IMAX Theater at the Indiana State Museum for free movie showings on the giant screen. Tickets will be available at the State Museum ticket booth on a first-come, first-served basis until capacity is met.
- Monday, January 20, multiple show times throughout the day
- Free admission to see Soar with The Blue Angels, in a new documentary featuring never-before-seen footage that chronicles a year with the Navy’s elite Flight Demonstration Squadron.
NCAA Hall of Champions
Monday, January 19, 2026
10 am – 5 pm
Though normally closed on Mondays, the NCAA Hall of Champions will be open and offering free admission in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
The Indianapolis Zoo
9 am-4 pm
Admission to the Indianapolis Zoo is free, but a monetary or food pantry donation is encouraged. Weather permitting, the hardier animals will be out to enjoy the day. Alternatively, duck into the indoor exhibits, including Oceans, the Dolphin Dome, Deserts Dome, Simon Skjodt International Orangutan Center, and the Hilbert Conservatory.
- Monday, January 19, 9 am – 4 pm
- Free admission, donations accepted for Gleaner’s Food Bank
Free Admission Martin Luther King Day Events Outside of Indy
Indiana State Historic Sites
Monday, January 19, 2026
Times vary
Most of Indiana’s State Historic Sites will host free admission days for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Take a day trip away from Indy and learn something new about our state’s rich history. Tour space is limited. Registration for guided tours at any of the sites on Martin Luther King Jr. Day is required by Jan. 17 and can be made by calling the sites directly.
- Monday, January 19
- Must register by January 17th
See the full list of all of the Indianapolis free museum admission days.
Free indoor playgrounds are perfect for cold winter days.
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