This Friday is the start of the Highland Street Foundation’s 2012 Free Fun Fridays program. The philanthropic organization has partnered with more than 50 venues around the state, including some of Massachusetts’ best cultural institutions ---many with outdoor attractions---to offer free admission for 10 Fridays over the summer.

Each week, from June 29 through August 3, five designated venues will throw open their doors to residents and visitors alike. See the list below or you can download and print the schedule here. (I suggest posting it on your fridge, so you won’t forget!)

I am really happy to see some of my family’s favorites on the list. The Arnold Arboretum, which we use as our extended backyard, Garden in the Woods, de Cordova Sculpture Park and Museum, Franklin Park, the Ecotarium, and the Boston Harbor Islands.

While almost all of the museums and attractions do not require reservations or tickets, there are some exceptions, which I have noted with an asterisk. Make sure you visit the website for details. For example, some of the theatrical shows are first-come, first-serve until capacity is reached, and some museums have timed entry to control crowding.

If you’ve passed on visiting a venue before because of hefty fees, which can certainly add up for families, this is your chance to check out some wonderful places. Or perhaps you want to revisit an old favorite, but personally, I hope you’ll go through this list and pick somewhere you’ve never been before. With so many fantastic offerings, you can easily make Fridays this summer your favorite day of the week and hopefully discover something new.

June 29th
Tanglewood *
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum *
Peabody Essex Museum
Heritage Museums & Gardens
Museum of African American History

July 6th
Boston Children’s Museum
Stone Zoo
Cape Cod Museum of Art
Wenham Museum
Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute

July 13
Franklin Park Zoo
Children’s Museum at Holyoke
Danforth Museum of Art
Decordova Sculpture Park And Museum
Reagle Music Theatre *

July 20th
Buttonwood Park Zoo
Mass Audubon Visual Arts Center
Hancock Shaker Village
Pilgrim Monument and Provincetown Museum
Higgins Armory Museum

July 27th
Commonwealth Shakespeare Company
Children’s Museum in Easton
Springfield Museums
N.E. Historic Genealogical Society
New Repertory Theatre *

August 3
Museum of Fine Arts Boston
Norman Rockwell Museum
Amelia Park Children’s Museum
Fuller Craft Museum
Arnold Arboretum

August 10th
Battleship Cove
Berkshire Museum
Cape Cod Children’s Museum
Fruitlands Museum
The Sports Museum

August 17th
Institute of Contemporary Art
Edward Gorey House
New Bedford Whaling Museum
Garden in the Woods
Concord Museum

August 24th
Boston Harbor Island Alliance *
USS Constitution Museum
American Textile History Museum
Old Sturbridge Village
Basketball Hall of Fame

August 31st
JFK Library & Museum
Plimoth Plantation
The Discovery Museums
MASS MoCA