Three family-friendly museums in Downtown Mesa will offer free admission from 6 p.m. - 10 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 14, for Merry Museums, a Museum Discovery Day event. Participating museums are Arizona Museum of Natural History, the i.d.e.a. Museum and Mesa Contemporary Art Museum.
Complimentary access is part of a move toward offering Museum Discovery Days on select days or evenings by the three City of Mesa cultural institutions. These free days and evening events are aimed at making science, art and hands-on activities accessible to families of all economic backgrounds.
Free days are very popular and attract crowds. To better serve visitors, avoid long lines and allow as many people as possible to enjoy the museum, the museums may implement timed tickets at the door on a first-come, first-served basis. No advanced tickets will be distributed.
Should there be wait time for entry, visitors can check out holiday-themed activities taking place at Merry Main Street - another City of Mesa family-friendly event - and 2nd Friday Night Out in Downtown Mesa. Both events are within walking distance from all three museums, along Main Street. Enjoy food trucks,Mesa Christmas Market,Winter Wonderland Ice Rinkand more.
The Arizona Museum of Natural History (AzMNH), located at 53 N. Macdonald, has dinosaurs that roar and so much more. Visitors can try their luck at gold panning, wonder through an ancient Hohokam village or take a selfie with a T. rex. There is something exciting for everyone.
At the i.d.e.a. Museum, guests can experience imaginative and creative experiences in ArtVille and the HUB Gallery. Also, visitors may experience our current art exhibition, Far Out: Our Solar System. Activities include a virtual reality station that offers an interactive experience of space exploration, materials to create prototypes of space crafts and a chance to explore Area 51.
Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum - featuringfour special exhibitions - is always free. It will be open late during Merry Museums. Visitors are encouraged to check out the jazz-themed exhibitions.
Please note: AZMNH and the i.d.e.a. Museum also offer discounted admission for economically challenged families, so they may experience the museum without the crowds typical on free days. Families who present their Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card qualify for a $2 admission per person (up to 6 people) and may visit both museums during business hours that are convenient for their families.
More about museum activities found online at www.arizonamuseumofnaturalhistory.org,www.ideaMuseum.org and www.mesaartscenter.com.
Contact: Yvette Armendariz
Tel: 480-644-4129
yvette.armendariz@mesaaz.gov.
ABOUT CITY OF MESA ARTS & CULTURE
Mesa's Department of Arts and Culture includes the Arizona Museum of Natural History, i.d.e.a. Museum and Mesa Arts Center, all located in downtown Mesa, Arizona. The mission of the department is to strengthen, for all, the creative, social and economic fabric of our community and region through inspiring, relevant, engaging and transformational cultural experiences and cross-sector collaborations.