Jack Welch, 8, of Kilgore plays chess with his father, Blake, at Longview WOW Aug. 26, 2023, in downtown Longview. (Les Hassell/Longview News-Journal File Photo)

For the second year in a row, downtown Longview museums will join forces Saturday to offer free and reduced-price activities for families.

Longview Family Day takes place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Longview Museum of Fine Arts, Longview World of Wonders and the Gregg County Historical Museum. Each location will sport its own selection of arts, crafts, food, games and exhibits for children to enjoy.

The Gregg County Historical Museum, 214 N. Fredonia St., is playing off the theme of its current “Conquering the Skies: Evolution of Flight” exhibit and invited hot air balloon pilot William Bussey, founder of the Great Texas Balloon Race, to set up a balloon basket and burner for attendees.

“Dr. Bussey is fabulous,” said Jennifer White, the museum’s education coordinator. “We had an aviation camp this summer, and he came out with his balloon burner. The kids got to get in the basket and pull the burner handle. They thought that was the coolest thing ever.”

The historical museum also will show off a wind tunnel to teach children about the principles of aerodynamics. Kids can build film canister rockets as well, White said.

Meanwhile, the Longview Museum of Fine Arts, 215 E. Tyler St., is preparing a plethora of interactive activities for the Saturday event, including two food trucks supplying Hawaiian shaved ice and donuts.

“There will be four or five different craft stations in our classrooms, a scavenger hunt, face-painting and a little movie in the lecture hall with popcorn,” said Tiffany Jehorek, the museum’s executive director.

“It’s a great time for families to hang out, enjoy the art, make some art and get out of the heat,” Jehorek said.

Admission to both the fine arts and history museum will be free.

Longview World of Wonders, 112 E. Tyler St., plans to fill its “Invention Garage” area with additional guided craft activities this weekend while dropping entrance fees to $5 per person.

“I love to see people come downtown and enjoy everything we have,” said Sara McKinley, Longview World of Wonder’s executive director. “It’s always surprising to me how many people don’t know that we’re down here. Events like this … pull people into downtown and let them see what all we have going on.”

White, Jehorek and McKinley said the inaugural Family Day was unexpectedly popular and hope this year’s event can introduce even more families to downtown’s creative and cultural attractions.

“Last year was crazy,” said Jehorek, “so hopefully we’ll have that kind of turnout again.”