3 Mesa museums offer free Sundays

Imagine getting your entire family into three big-name attractions absolutely free.

The dream of budget-strapped parents, arts-and-culture buffs, and anyone with a lot of company in town is now a reality. Starting today, three Mesa museums will offer free admission the first Sunday of every month.

“The different museums had offered free admission days before, but it was never on a regular basis,” says Mesa Arts Center spokeswoman Sarah Moran. “Now, you’ll know that on the first Sunday of every month, they offer free admission, and you can plan on it.”

Two of the museums are longtime Mesa institutions — Arizona Museum of Natural History and Arizona Museum for Youth. The third is the award-winning, five-gallery Mesa Contemporary Arts, housed in the modern and striking Mesa Arts Center.

“They’re amazing,” says Moran. “The natural history museum is three stories, with dinosaurs and waterfalls. The youth museum has a lot of hands-on elements, so kids can see the art and then emulate it or interact with it in their own way. The contemporary arts museum is more of an adult venue, but kids of the right age will enjoy it, too.”

Adding to the appeal of a free outing is the parking situation: You can park once and walk from one facility to the next because they’re within blocks of each other.

Downtown also offers restaurants and shops along its wide, paloverde-and-colonnade-shaded Main Street sidewalks.

The museum initiative, called 3 for Free, is sponsored by Target. The retail corporation has provided the funds for the museums to offer free Sundays for 12 months.

See the museums for free

Three Mesa museums offer free admission noon to 5 p.m. the first Sunday of each month, giving East Valley residents a chance to take in arts and culture on the cheap. Take a look at some of the exhibits — inspired by everything from low-rider cars and tattoos to recycled junk and animal scat — now on display.

Arizona Museum of Natural History

53 N. Macdonald, (480) 644-2230 or www.arizonamuseumofnaturalhistory.org

“PSI: Poop Scene Investigation” (through Dec. 7)

“Hohokam! Ancient Monuments of the Salt River Valley” (through March 29)

“Mars!” (through June 28)

“Dinosaur Mountain” (ongoing)

Free concerts are 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. today, Dec. 7 and Feb. 1.

Arizona Museum for Youth

35 N. Robson, (480) 644-2467 or www.arizonamuseumforyouth.com

“Dia de los Muertos” (through Nov. 30)

“Full Circle: Recycled into Art and Way to Glow!” (through Feb. 8)

A free Dia de los Muertos Festival is Nov. 2

Mesa Contemporary Arts

1 E. Main St., (480) 644-6500 or www.mesaartscenter.com

“Beneath the Skin: Artwork Inspired by Tattoos” (through Dec. 7)

“Arizona Wheels and Ink” (through Jan. 4)

“Low and Slow: The Art of the Lowrider and the Parlour,” an exhibit modeled after a tattoo shop (through Jan. 11)