Family outings are more affordable than you think. These Central New York spots offer free or discounted meals, activities, and more.
Local Offers
Apex Entertainment
Offer: Score discounted games during ‘Half Priced Arcade Wednesdays,’ or choose three attractions and enjoy a complimentary kids’ meal for $25, available Wednesday through Friday for children 12 and under.
Location: 9583 Destiny USA Drive, Syracuse.
More information: apexentertainment.com.
Kids Bowl Free at Apex Entertainment
Offer: Register online for free bowling all summer long. Shoe rentals are available on-site. Note that all bowling is time-based (30 minutes per person), and the offer is walk-in only — not valid for reservations, birthday parties, or group outings.
Location: 9583 Destiny USA Drive, Syracuse.
More information: kidsbowlfree.com
Children’s Museum of Oswego
Offer: On select days each month, adults get in for free with a child’s paid admission.
Location: 7 W. Bridge St., Oswego.
More information: cmoo.org.
Get Air Trampoline Park
Offer: Every Saturday from 4:30 – 5:00 p.m., you can buy one hour of jump time and get the second hour free with the Hoppy Hour BOGO Deal.
Location: 7687 Frontage Road #4, Cicero.
More information: getairsports.com.
iSmash Syracuse
Offer: Starter and Standard Splatter Packages are half off for children under the age of 12 on Thursdays.
Location: 2104 Genesee St., Syracuse.
More information: ismashusa.com.
Movie Tavern
Student Offer: Every Thursday, students of all ages can enjoy movies for only $7.50 when a school ID is presented.
Kids Movie Magic Offer: With the purchase of a Kids Movie Magic Passport, receive a ticket to all titles in the movie series running between June 7 and August 13, 2026 for $15. Individual tickets are available for $3.
Location: 180 Township Blvd., Camillus.
More information: marcustheatres.com.
Regal Destiny USA
Weekly Offer: On Tuesdays, standard movie tickets are $8.99 or under for loyalty members.
Regal Summer Movie Express Offer: Enjoy $1 Summer Movie Express tickets every Monday through Thursday at 11 a.m. from June 1 to August 13, 2026. All attendees will receive $3 off a snack pack, which includes a junior-sized drink, popcorn, and fruit gummies, and/or a cup of Dippin’ Dots ice cream.
Location: 9586 Destiny USA Drive, Syracuse.
More information: regmovies.com.
Strong Museum of Play
Offer: From 4 to 8 p.m. each Friday, the museum offers 50% off general admission.
Location: 1 Manhattan Square Drive, Rochester.
More information: museumofplay.org.
Syracuse Orchestra
Offer: Children under 18 attend all series concerts for free (with an adult).
Location: Varies.
More information: syracuseorchestra.org.
Borrow More than Books
Your library card isn’t just for books. You can use it to check out everything from museum passes and musical instruments to robots and baking pans:
Elbridge Free Library
Available items: Cake pans; Empire Pass; Onondaga County Parks Explore Outdoors Pass.
More information: elbridgelibrary.org.
Fairmount Community Library
Available items: Baking kits; game night kit; Empire Pass; museum passes (Children’s Museum of Oswego, Corning Museum of Glass, Everson Museum of Art, MOST, Rochester Museum & Science Center); Onondaga County Parks Explore Outdoors Pass; STEM kits; story time kits.
More information: fairmountlibrary.org.
Fayetteville Free Library
Available items: Empire Pass; Everson Museum of Art pass; Leap Frog Globe; musical instruments; MOST family pass; Onondaga County Parks Explore Outdoors Pass; robots; Tonies Music Box Storytime.
More information: fflib.org.
Liverpool Public Library
Available items: Board games; Empire Pass; museum passes (Children’s Museum of Oswego, Corning Museum of Glass, Everson Museum of Art, MOST, Seward House Museum, Oneida Community Mansion House); musical instruments; Onondaga County Parks Explore Outdoors Pass.
More information: lpl.org.
Manlius Library
Available items: Binge boxes; Empire Pass; museum passes (Everson Museum of Art, MOST); Onondaga County Parks Explore Outdoors Pass; specialty bakeware; Stone Quarry Art Park pass.
More information: manliuslibrary.org.
Marcellus Free Library
Available items: Empire Pass; museum passes (Children’s Museum of Oswego, Corning Museum of Glass, MOST, Rochester Museum & Science Center, Sciencenter); Nintendo Switch games; Onondaga County Parks Explore Outdoors Pass.
More information: marcelluslibrary.org.
Northern Onondaga Public Library
Available items: Binge boxes; Dash and Dot kits; Empire Pass; fishing poles; Onondaga County Parks Explore Outdoors Pass; STEAM to go kits; video games.
More information: nopl.org.
Onondaga Free Library
Available items: Empire Pass; MOST pass; Onondaga County Parks Explore Outdoors Pass; storytime to go kits.
More information: oflibrary.org.
Skaneateles Library
Available items: Discovery backpacks; Empire Pass; explore the world backpacks; museum passes (Cayuga Museum of History and Art, Children’s Museum of Oswego, Everson Museum of Art, MOST, National Women’s Hall of Fame, PlaySpace, Sciencenter, Seward House Museum); Onondaga County Parks Explore Outdoors Pass; Tonieboxes.
More information: skanlibrary.org.
Free Museum and Historic Site Admission for Kids
- Cayuga Museum of History & Art (Auburn) – Ages 12 and under.
- Chittenango Landing Canal Boat Museum (Chittenango) – Ages 3 and under.
- CNY Living History Center (Cortland) – Ages 5 and under.
- Corning Museum of Glass (Corning) – Ages 17 and under.
- Everson Museum of Art (Syracuse) – Ages 5 and under.
- Fenimore Farm and Country Village (Cooperstown) – Ages 6 and under.
- Fort Ontario State Historic Site (Oswego) – Ages 12 and under.
- Fort Stanwix National Monument (Rome) – All ages.
- H. Lee White Maritime Museum (Oswego) – Ages 12 and under.
- Lorenzo State Historic Site (Cazenovia) – Ages 12 and under.
- Milton J. Rubenstein Museum of Science & Technology (Syracuse) – Under age 2.
- Museum of the Earth (Ithaca) – Ages 3 and under.
- National Baseball Hall of Fame (Cooperstown) – Ages 6 and under.
- Salt Museum (Liverpool) – All ages.
- Schweinfurth Art Center (Auburn) – Ages 12 and under.
- Sciencenter (Ithaca) – Under age 2.
- Ward W. O’Hara Agricultural and Country Living Museum (Auburn) – All ages.
Family Meal Deals
Bull & Bear Roadhouse
Deal: Kids can eat free with a $20 purchase.
When: Sundays.
Where: 6402 Collamer Road, East Syracuse (East Syracuse location); 411 E. Genesee St., Fayetteville (Fayetteville location).
More information: bullandbearroadhouse.com.
Syracuse Mets
Deal: Free voucher for a Hofmann hot dog, fountain drink, bag of chips, and Perry’s ice cream cup for children ages 12 and younger.
When: Sundays.
Where: NBT Bank Stadium, 1 Tex Simone Drive, Syracuse.
More information: milb.com/syracuse.
Tully’s Good Times
Deal: $4.99 Little Slugger entrée (includes a drink) for children age 10 and younger.
When: Wednesdays.
Where: 7838 Brewerton Road, Cicero (Cicero location); 3355 W. Genesee St., Syracuse (Fairmount location); 520 Towne Drive, Fayetteville (Fayetteville location); 311 7th North St., Liverpool (Liverpool location); 2943 Erie Blvd. E., Dewitt (Syracuse location).
More information: tullysgoodtimes.com.
Click here to read our picks of the best family-friendly restaurants in Central New York.
Looking for more budget-friendly options? Click here for family fun that won’t break the bank!
