Why Families Should Visit the Palm Springs Art Museum With Kids
When you think about things to do with kids in Palm Springs, an art museum might not be the first place that comes to mind. But the Palm Springs Art Museum is much more family-friendly than many parents may realize.
Located right in downtown Palm Springs, Palm Springs Art Museum offers families a cool, quiet escape from the desert heat while giving children an opportunity to experience art, sculpture, architecture, and hands-on creative programming.
And there's one detail parents should definitely know: admission is always free for children under 18. Adults can also visit for free on Thursday evenings from 5:00–8:00 p.m.
Here's what makes the museum worth adding to your family's Palm Springs itinerary.
Don't Approach It Like an Adult Museum Visit
Taking children to an art museum becomes much more fun when you stop worrying about whether they understand the artwork.
Instead, turn the galleries into a game.
Ask younger children questions like:
What colors do you see?
Which piece would you put in your bedroom?
What do you think is happening here?
Can you find something shaped like a circle?
Which artwork is the weirdest?
Which one would you want to make yourself?
Older children and teens can choose their favorite piece and explain why they picked it.
There doesn't have to be a correct answer. That's part of what makes introducing children to art so valuable—they're encouraged to observe, interpret, imagine, and form their own opinions.
Family+ Is the Event Parents Should Know About
If you're choosing one day to introduce your children to the museum, look for Family+.
Rather than simply opening the galleries to families, the museum transforms into a creative space with artists, makers, musicians, activities, and workshops designed for kids, teens, and families.
Family+ takes place on the third Sunday of each month and is free.
Recent Family+ programs give you a much better idea of what to expect.
Children have participated in acrylic painting workshops where they learned color blending and brush techniques while creating desert sunsets. Other 2026 programs have included making cardboard hummingbird mobiles, creating personalized tote bags, block printing, live figure drawing with a clothed model, and creating artwork with paper, patterns, and textures.
This isn't just a museum handing children a coloring sheet. They're getting opportunities to actually make art alongside working artists.
Upcoming Family+ Date
The museum currently lists the next Family+ program for:
Sunday, September 20, 2026
12:00–4:00 p.m.
Palm Springs Art Museum – Main Museum
Free
The museum's current calendar confirms the date and time, although the specific September workshop details have not yet been published.
There's Also a Summer Moon Party Coming Up
Families visiting Palm Springs at the end of August should also know about the museum's Summer Moon Party.
It's currently scheduled for:
Friday, August 28, 2026
7:00–10:00 p.m.
This is a particularly nice time to experience downtown Palm Springs because you're avoiding the hottest part of the day.
Thursday Night Is One of the Best Times for Families to Visit
Here's another StarKids favorite for families traveling on a budget:
Every Thursday from 5:00–8:00 p.m., admission to the main museum is free.
The museum also places Ask Me Docents throughout the galleries during Free Thursday Nights. Instead of committing children to a long formal tour, families can approach a docent when something catches their attention and ask questions about it.
That format can work especially well with kids because you can explore at their pace.
And because Thursday museum hours extend until 8:00 p.m., it's easy to combine the museum with dinner or a walk through downtown Palm Springs afterward.
What Can Families Actually See Right Now?
This is where a museum visit becomes different each time you go.
As of August 2026, several exhibitions and collection presentations are currently on view.
📷 Lake Verea: DarkRooms and Other Games
On view through September 13, 2026, this exhibition features the collaborative work of Mexican artist duo Lake Verea.
Families who want more context can also join a docent-led tour of this exhibition on Fridays and Saturdays at 1:00 p.m. through September 13.
🔮 A Queer Arcana: Art, Magic, and Spirit
This exhibition remains on view through October 18, 2026. The museum is also offering guided tours on Thursdays at 5:15 p.m., subject to docent availability.
🏜️ Art of the West
This ongoing collection presentation gives families another opportunity to explore artwork connected to the American West.
🖌️ Ynez Johnston: Ancient and Modern Tales and Myths
This collection presentation is scheduled to remain on view through November 16, 2026.
And if you're visiting later this fall, there will be something completely new to see.
✨ Coming October 16: Lita Albuquerque: Cosmic Land
The museum's next major exhibition, Lita Albuquerque: Cosmic Land, opens October 16, 2026 and is scheduled to continue through May 3, 2027.
That's another reason local families shouldn't think of the museum as a one-and-done attraction. The experience changes throughout the year.
🔍 Give Your Kids an Art Museum Scavenger Hunt
Here's an easy way to make your visit much more entertaining.
Challenge your kids to find:
🎨 Something with five different colors
🔺 A triangle
🌵 Something that reminds them of the desert
😊 A face
🐾 An animal
🌀 Something with an unusual shape
🗿 A sculpture
🌈 Their favorite color
🤔 Something they don't understand
❤️ The artwork they would take home if they could choose anything
Let older kids take photos of their favorites where museum rules allow it.
At the end, have everyone choose their "Best Artwork of the Day."
You may be surprised by what they pick.
Don't Forget the Building Itself
Part of the experience is simply walking through the museum.
Palm Springs is internationally known for architecture and design, so older children and teens who are interested in buildings, photography, interiors, or design may enjoy looking beyond the artwork itself.
Families particularly interested in architecture can also visit the museum's separate Palm Springs Art Museum Architecture and Design Center at 300 S. Palm Canyon Drive.
One general-admission ticket can be used as a same-day pass for both the Main Museum and Architecture and Design Center.
There's Even a Famous House Outside
Before leaving the main museum, look for Aluminaire House.
Aluminaire House is an important example of early modern architecture that has been reconstructed on the museum grounds.
For older kids interested in architecture or design, it's a fun bonus because you're suddenly looking at an actual piece of architectural history rather than a photograph of one.
Make It a Museum + Lunch Day
Families don't necessarily have to leave the museum when everyone gets hungry.
Livs Palm Springs is located at the museum and serves coffee, brunch and lunch, making it possible to turn your visit into a longer outing without immediately loading everyone back into the car.
The setting near the sculpture garden also makes it feel like part of the museum experience rather than simply stopping at another restaurant.
What Does It Cost?
Here's the current admission breakdown for the Main Museum:
Children under 18: FREE
Adults: $25
Seniors 62+: $23
Students and teachers: $17
Thursday from 5:00–8:00 p.m.: FREE admission
The museum is currently open Thursday through Sunday, with extended hours Thursday evening.
For a family with several children, the free admission for everyone under 18 makes this a surprisingly affordable Palm Springs attraction.
Why We Especially Love It During Palm Springs Summers
When it's 110°F outside, parents eventually run out of places where children can comfortably spend a few hours.
That's one reason the Palm Springs Art Museum deserves a spot on your summer list.
You can get everyone out of the hotel or house, introduce your kids to something completely different, spend time together, and—perhaps most importantly in August—do it indoors in air conditioning.
It's also an activity that doesn't revolve around screens, arcades, shopping, or spending money every few minutes.
Children get to slow down, look closely at things, ask questions, and use their imaginations.
Turn It Into a Special Day With Your StarKids Sitter
A museum trip can also be a wonderful activity for children spending the day with their StarKids sitter.
Instead of staying inside the hotel room while parents attend a wedding, conference, spa appointment, golf outing, or other plans, your sitter can create an engaging day around age-appropriate local activities.
A visit to the Palm Springs Art Museum could become an entire creative adventure:
🎨 Explore the galleries together
🔎 Complete an art scavenger hunt
🖼️ Choose a favorite piece
✏️ Sketch something that inspired them
🍦 Head downtown for a treat afterward
🎨 Return to the hotel or vacation rental and create their own artwork
That's the kind of childcare experience we love at StarKids Babysitting.
Our goal isn't simply to supervise children while parents are away. We want kids to feel like they got to have a special day, too.
With a team of 40+ local babysitters serving Palm Springs, Palm Desert, Rancho Mirage, La Quinta, Indian Wells, Indio, Cathedral City, Desert Hot Springs, and the surrounding Coachella Valley, we can help families create safe, fun, and memorable experiences during their time in the desert.
Book a StarKids sitter and let your little artist discover something new in Palm Springs. 🎨💗