Tickets available now for Free Museum Day Sept. 20

The hottest tickets in town this week are totally free. Saturday, Sept. 20 is Free Museum Day, presented by the St. Petersburg Arts Alliance. Eight St. Petersburg institutions – many dedicated to art, a few to history – will waive admission fees for residents of Pinellas County.

Because things tend to get crowded on Free Museum Day, a number of museums require advance registration for timed entry – you reserve tickets online and turn up at the appointed time. Yes, children are welcome, but they’ll need tickets, too.

Tickets to the most popular museums tend to disappear quickly.

Here’s who’s doing what, and when:

The Dali Museum. Advance reservations are required for free admission to Pinellas County residents during regular operating hours (9 a.m.-6 p.m.). To “control capacities,” advance online reservations are required (sign up here). Upon arrival, guests will need to show both their pre-reserved ticket and resident ID (driver’s license, voter registration card or utility bill with name/address will be accepted). Free admission does not include the Dali Dome 360 experience. 1 Dali Blvd.

The James Museum of Western & Wildlife Art. Timed-entry tickets are necessary for free admission through 12:30 p.m.; sign up for them here. Museum hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. 150 Central Avenue.

Museum of Fine Arts St. Petersburg. Register online at this link for free entry; there are morning and afternoon slots available (precise timing is not necessary). Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visitors must present a valid ID indicating Pinellas County residency. 255 Beach Dr NE.

St. Petersburg Museum of History. No pre-registration is required (hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m.), although they’ll want to see proof of county residency. Here’s the website. 335 2nd Ave NE.

Woodson African American Museum of Florida. Face painting, storytelling and drum circles are on the menu from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Visitors are invited to arrive at 9 a.m., wearing brightly colored top, to help “ReIMagine” the Black History Matters mural that was recently removed by the State. Here’s the website. 2240 9th Avenue S.

Imagine Museum. The center for glass art ups the ante by offering free days both Saturday and Sunday. Timed entry will be every 30 minutes starting at 10 a.m., with the last slot at 2:30 p.m., each day. Click on this link to register. The museum is also soliciting donations for the National Pediatric Cancer Foundation. 1901 Central Ave.

Florida Holocaust Museum. Freshly re-imagined (it re-opened just this week), the FHM waives admission from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 55 5th St S. Here’s a rundown of the new exhibits. 

Museum of Motherhood. Located in The Factory St. Pete’s Gallery Row, this museum is always free. 2606 Fairfield Ave S.