2016 Veterans Day Free Activities, Events, & Attractions

Veterans Day is a great day to remember and celebrate those who have served our nation in our armed forces. There are many ways to show our appreciation to those who have served. Many cities, towns, and municipalities have a Veterans Day ceremony or parade to honor those who have served. I highly recommend attending one of these events if you have the opportunity. They can be a fun way to meet other veterans, and the experience of being thanked by people you have never met can be humbling.

Other organizations and companies may honor veterans by offering free meals, Veterans Day discounts, or free or discounted admission to parks, museums, and other events.

This page lists a variety of Veterans Day events and attractions for our nation’s servicemembers – past and present. We can’t list every local event. The best place for that information is your local city website or your local newspaper or their website. Instead, we have focused on those locations that offer free admission to a larger population.

Looking for other Veterans Day Offers? The following pages list free meals, and retail offers, including free haircuts, oil changes, car washes, retail discounts, and much more:

• 2016 Veterans Day Free Meals & Restaurant Discounts.
• 2016 Veterans Day Freebies, Retail Discounts, and Specials.

About these offers: We have done our best to verify each offer and we have provided a link to the company website when possible. Please note that some locations may have restrictions on offers. It is always recommended to call ahead to verify participation and to verify details.

Proof of service is recommended! This may include a current military or retired military ID card, a Veterans ID card (new national veterans ID card coming soon!), a DD Form 214, or a Drivers License with a veterans designation. Some locations may also accept a membership card for a Veterans Organization (e.g. DAV, VFW, AMVETS, American Legion, etc.), a picture of you in uniform, or some other proof of service.

Want to add an event? Please use our Contact Page. We will do our best to add events when possible. But please note we cannot list every event. Priority will be given to those events that have the largest reach.

Download a PDF List of Veterans Day Meals & Deals!

2016 Veterans Day Free Activities & Events

National Veterans Day Ceremony. The Veterans Day National Ceremony is held each year on November 11th at Arlington National Cemetery . The ceremony commences precisely at 11:00 a.m. with a wreath laying at the Tomb of the Unknowns and continues inside the Memorial Amphitheater with a parade of colors by veterans’ organizations and remarks from dignitaries. The ceremony is intended to honor and thank all who served in the United States Armed Forces. More info.

America’s Parade. Veterans Day parade in in New York City, NY. See website for more info.

Army Corp of Engineers Recreation Areas. will waive day use fees for veterans, active and reserve component service members, and their families at the more than 2,800 USACE-operated recreation areas nationwide on Veterans Day, November 11, 2016. The waiver covers fees for boat launch ramps and swimming beaches. The waiver does not apply to camping and camping-related services, or fees for specialized facilities such as group picnic shelters. More info.

Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Day Celebrations. Many local VA centers, hospitals, and cemeteries feature a Veterans Day ceremony. Contact your local VA center for more information.

Iraq And Afghanistan Veterans Of America (IAVA). IAVA has two pages that help veterans connet. Visit their VetTogether Page, and their Veterans Day Page. Both pages list meetups at various places throughout the US.

Veterans Day Parades. VetFriends has a national list of Veterans Day parades.

VetTix – Free Event Tickets for Military and Veterans. VetTix is an excellent organization that offers free tickets to current and former military members to concerts, shows, sporting events and more. You can learn more here.

National Parks, Museums, Zoos, and Similar Attractions

Aquarium of the Pacific, Long Beach, CA. Military and veterans receive free admission on November 11. More info.

Birmingham Zoo, Birmingham, AL. All veterans, active and retired military and their dependents will receive FREE admission on November 11 – 13, 2016. More info.

Cincinnati Zoo. Free admission to the Zoo on Memorial Day, July 4 and Veteran’s Day. The offer also allows current and former military personnel to purchase up to six (6) half-price admission tickets for members of their immediate family. Military & First Responders – $3 off adults / $2 off child admission. Valid military, fire or police ID is required to obtain discount. Tickets must be purchased in person. More info.

Colonial Williamsburg Free Admission. Active duty receive one complimentary admission ticket per year (and as many as three direct dependents). Retired military and Veterans qualify for 50% discount on Single-day tickets or on Annual Passes for up to five direct dependents. Special Veterans Day ceremony. November 11, 2016.

Fee Free Day at National Parks. To honor America’s service men and women, the Secretary of the Interior has announced that areas managed by the National Park Service would not charge entrance fees for Veterans Day, November 11, 2016. Everyone is eligible, not just veterans. Over 100 national Parks will be participating in this event.

Harley-Davidson Museum® (November 11-13, 2016). The Harley-Davidson Museum® is offering free Museum entry for all active Military, Veterans and their families*. *Free entry with valid Military or Veterans ID for 1 additional adult and up to 4 children 18 years old or younger. Visit the Harley-Davidson Museum® website for more information.

Historic Jamestowne – Free Admission. The National Park Service commemorates Veterans Day with Fee Free days at Historic Jamestowne November 11, 2016. Free admission for everyone. See events calendar.

Newport Aquarium. Free admission from November 5th to 13th, with ID or proof of service. Family members can receive their military discount of $3 off adult tickets and $2 off child tickets. More info.

National September 11 Memorial & Museum. The National September 11 Memorial & Museum will pay tribute to our country’s veterans during a special five-day Salute to Service from November 9 through November 13. A series of events and special programs will be available on the memorial for veterans and their families, as well as the visiting public. Throughout our tribute, veterans will receive free museum admission. Veterans will also receive half price museum tickets for up to two family members during the tribute. Ticketing for Salute to Service will be available at a dedicated ticket window at the museum entrance. More information can be found on the National September 11, Memorial & Museum website.

Pro Football Hall of Fame – Free Admission, Nov. 5. 2016. Annual Veterans Day Salute, Saturday, November 05, 2016. The NFL honors veterans during the Honor The Heroes program on Saturday, November 5. The program begins promptly at 11:00am. Admission to the museum will be free the entire day (and month of November) for veterans and one guest. Admission for Blue Star Mothers and Gold Star Families will be free all day on Nov. 5th. A free commemorative pin will be available for all Veterans in attendance for the Honor The Heroes program. More information.

Orlando Science Center, Orlando, FL. Nov 11 – 13. Free admission for military members and veterans with a valid military ID. 50% off admission for their families. Please visit their site for additional information.

Patriots Point Museum, Nov. 11, 2016. Free admission to all veterans on Friday, November 11, 2016. More Information.

Phoenix Zoom Nov 11, 2016. Free admission for active duty military personnel and veterans. $5 off for everyone in your party. See FaceBook page.

University of Utah – Natural History Museum of Utah, Nov. 11, 2016. Free Museum Admission for Veterans. See website for more information.

Zoo Atlanta, Atlanta, GA. Active duty, retired, and Guard and Reserve members receive free admission. Opportunity to save $4 off general admission for up to six accompanying guests. Valid November 11, 2016. More info.

Veterans Day – Free Admission to Amusement Parks

Anheuser-Busch Parks. Anheuser-Busch Parks offers Active Duty Service Members free admission for them and up to 3 dependents to any of their parks once a year. Throughout 2016, members of the military and as many as three direct dependents may enter SeaWorld, Busch Gardens or Sesame Place parks with a single-day complimentary admission. The Waves of Honor program is only available to Any active duty, activated or drilling reservist, or National Guardsman. Eligible parks include: Adventure Island, Busch Gardens (Tampa Bay or Williamsburg), SeaWorld (Orlando, San Diego, or San Antonio), Sesame Place, Water Country USA, or Aquatica SeaWorld’s Waterpark™ in San Diego. Not valid at Discovery Cove. Christmas Town at Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, Va. is not included as part of this program. There are additional discounts for veterans. Must register in advance. You can obtain your ticket voucher online at the Waves of Honor website.

Knotts Berry Farm Military Tribute Days – Free Admission – 2016. Knott’s Berry Farm has an annual Military Tribute event in which they offer military members past and present by offering free park admission. This year the Military Tribute Days runs from November 1 – 18 and November 28 – December 16, 2015. Active, Retired or Veteran U.S. Military Personnel may receive free admission for themselves and 1 guest (maximum of 2 complimentary admissions will be issued). Up to 6 discounted admission tickets may be purchased for $27 each, when visiting from November 1 – 18, or for $32 each when visiting from November 28 – December 16. Discounted admission tickets are also available for purchase at local military bases. Must present proper ID at Knott’s turnstile (DD214, Veterans Administration Hospital ID or Active Military Service ID). More info.

LEGOLAND Florida, Winterhaven, FL. Active duty members receive free admission year round. Veterans get free admission November 1-20, 2016, as well as 50% off tickets for up to six accompanying guests. To receive free admission, U.S. veterans must present valid military ID or proof of veteran status at the theme park ticket windows on the day of their visit. This offer is not available online or by phone. More info.

World of Coca-Cola, Nov. 3 – 13. Active duty, reserves, and retirees are eligible for free admission year-round. From Nov. 3 – 13, they may also purchase up to four half-price general admission tickets for their guests. More info.

More Veterans Day Discounts! Please click through to 2016 Veterans Day Free Meals & Restaurant Discounts, and 2016 Veterans Day Freebies, Retail Discounts, and Special Offers, or download a list by clicking the box below.

Download a PDF List of Veterans Day Meals & Deals!

To all who served – a simple thank you is never enough. But I’ll say it anyway. Thank you for your service.

Note: We continually update this article each year and republish it with current information. Please contact us if you have any additions or corrections.

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