Twenty-one of the state’s top attractions will offer free admission to all visitors on Sept. 27 as part of Family Fun Day, an end-of-summer celebration sponsored by Spotlight Delaware and the state’s tourism offices.
Families that want to join the fun can sign up to receive a free pass that grants admission to any or all of the 20 participating attractions spread across Delaware’s three counties. Special events are being planned at many of the participating museums, nature centers, and historic destinations. To get your pass, visit spotlightdelaware.org/familyfunday.
“Family Fun Day was conceived as a great way to celebrate the family-friendly lifestyle that makes this state a wonderful place to live,” said Allison Taylor Levine, CEO and publisher of Spotlight Delaware. “By encouraging families to explore the state and discover its rich offerings, we hope to strengthen everyone’s sense of community and pride.”
At least five premier attractions are participating in each of Delaware’s three counties, giving families plenty of options for a fulfilling Saturday excursion. Participating attractions include:
- Delaware Art Museum
- Delaware History Museum & Mitchell Center for African American Heritage
- DuPont Environmental Education Center
- Kalmar Nyckel
- New Castle Court House Museum
- Read House & Gardens
- Delaware Agricultural Museum and Village
- Air Mobility Command Museum
- Biggs Museum of American Art
- Bowers Beach Maritime Museum
- Dover Art League
- First State Heritage Park
- John Dickinson Plantation
- Johnson Victrola Museum
- Old State House
- Abbott’s Mill Nature Center
- Delaware Botanic Gardens
- DuPont Nature Center
- Nanticoke Indian Museum
- Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge
- Zwaanendael Museum
As they enjoy the day, participants are encouraged to join the Family Fun Day Photo Contest, open to anyone who follows Spotlight Delaware on Facebook or Instagram. Simply take a photo or video at one of the attractions, then post with the hashtag #DEFamilyFunDay. All who post will be entered to win a Nintendo Switch 2, awarded to the best photo taken that day.
As a nonprofit, community-powered news organization, Spotlight Delaware is committed to building connections with its readers, and to the places they live, through events, listening sessions and other outreach efforts. Family Fun Day is another way to sustain and strengthen those ties, said David Stradley, Spotlight Delaware’s director of community engagement.
The event is also seen as a way to boost post-summer attendance and increase awareness of the state’s attractions, which are important drivers of the local economy. Once they have downloaded the digital pass to their phones, participants can simply show the pass to gain entrance to an attraction. There are no limits on how many sites they can visit.
“For the past year, our reporters have been hearing the same concern from Delaware families — they need more things to do with their kids. So this fall, we’re shining our spotlight on the many attractions that Delaware has to offer,” said Matt Sullivan, Spotlight Delaware’s chief operating officer.
Organizations that are interested in becoming an event sponsor of Family Fun Day still have time to reach out to Sullivan at msullivan@spotlightdelaware.org. For other questions about Family Fun Day, contact Elsa Kegelman at ekegelman@spotlightdelaware.org.
Family Fun Day is sponsored in part by the Delaware Electric Cooperative and Out & About Magazine, in partnership with the Delaware Tourism Office, Greater Wilmington Convention & Visitors Bureau, Visit Central Delaware and Southern Delaware Tourism. The event is just one of Spotlight Delaware’s signature annual events, including the Delaware Legislative Summit (Jan. 2026), the Our Delaware Festival (debuts this December), and many others.
About Spotlight Delaware
Spotlight Delaware is on a mission to engage, empower and connect Delawareans with local news and information. We envision a Delaware where all neighbors have access to the local news and information they need to thrive on a daily basis, participate in local democracy and engage with their communities. Sign up for our free newsletter at spotlightdelaware.org/newsletters, and donate at spotlightdelaware.org/support.