Dixon Gallery and Gardens Free ARTrageous Family Day

It is Summer and everyone is looking for fun things to do together as a family. The economy has strapped so many families financially so many people are staying close to home and trying to enjoy 'stay-cations'. The 'stay-cation' is something that me and my family have been doing for years. We try and find free or inexpensive thing to do year round. This Summer we are trying to find even more things to add to our list of fun activities and events.

As much as I enjoy going to art museums, I never really thought of taking my young children to one. However, my kids are getting older now and I was beginning to think it may be good to try out an art museum with the kids. I started researching whether or not any of the Memphis art galleries offered any discount days or free entry times. That is when I saw the advertisement for the Dixon Gallery and Gardens ARTrageous Family Day. This event peaked my entrance quite a bit, so I started researching even more.

This event is at one of the most well known art museums in Memphis, and it is free! The gallery is holding this event on Saturday, June 5, 2010 from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. I was thrilled to have found a way to give my children an art museum experience without having to spend an arm and a leg. The cost was a big deal to me since we have a very limited budget to go and do fun stuff. Plus, I didn't know if my kids would even enjoy an art museum. Since the event is on a Saturday, my husband can come along with us which makes this even better for us! We love it when Daddy gets to come along on our fun adventures! However, the Dixon Gallery and Gardens has made this event even better than just free entry into an art museum.

They have added lots of special fun activities just for this day! You and your kids can already enjoy the beautiful gardens, the amazing art work, and the fantastic sculptures, but now you can have a blast doing other things too. When you hear what all the museum has planned it will be hard for any of you with kids to not want to go! There will be art activities, which is right up my kids alley! They love drawing, coloring and doing crafty things with their hands! In addition to that, they will also have face painting, games, refreshments, a live animal show, demonstrations, a music show, a moon bounce, and a scavenger hunt! There will also be a special reading and book signing of "Myles' Pesky Friends" from Memphis children's author, Brad Martin.

Many of the fun activities will be going on throughout the day, however some of the activities are scheduled to happen at specific times.

10:30 a.m. - Germantown Community Theater will be presenting a performance from "The Jungle Book."

11:00 a.m. - Author Brad Martin and Illustrator Micki Martin will give a special reading and do a book signing of Myles' pesky Friends.

12:00 p.m. - Enjoy a live animal show with Wildlife Biologist Bab Tarter from the Natural History Education Company.

This is sure to be an awesome day! I will be there with my family taking tons of pictures and ready to report back about this awesome opportunity from an amazing art gallery. Hope to see lots of you out there!