I Love Mesa Day returns on Saturday, March 9, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. with a day of free, family friendly and outdoor events at The Yard Off Main, the community gathering space located at Main and Macdonald that is open through mid-April. The City of Mesa is partnering with the Downtown Mesa Association for the event.
"Downtown Mesa is a rapidly changing part of our city, full of new and legacy businesses, great community events and several award-winning destinations for arts and culture," said Mayor John Giles. "I Love Mesa Day will be another great opportunity for people to visit, return to or discover downtown Mesa for the first time."
I Love Mesa Day activities take place all day:
Free admission at the i.d.e.a. Museum from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and at the Arizona Museum of Natural History from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The i.d.e.a. Museum will be holding storytimes throughout the day along with programming by the Great Arizona Puppet Theater, Violent Duncan and Childsplay
Carnival rides
Face painting and balloon twisters inside The Post, located at 26 N. Macdonald
Petting Zoo
Five stations of bubble fun
Entertainment including stilt walkers; a ball walker; Tinker Bell, Jasmine and more princesses roaming the event
Food trucks
Live music by Rock Lobster and Jaelyn Kay
I Love Mesa Day will also host Read On Mesa's Literacy Lane - a celebration of literacy and community. Attendees can participate in readings from special guests, explore and connect with an array of free literacy programs and resources and sign up for a Mesa Library card.
More than 20 downtown restaurants, bars and unique stories will be offering promotions and specials during I Love Mesa Day.
"We are excited that so many of our local owned businesses in downtown Mesa are offering special offerings and discounts during I Love Mesa Day," said Terry Madeksza, Downtown Mesa Association President and Executive Director. "The Downtown Mesa Association and City of Mesa have partnered to make this an annual event to showcase our vibrant downtown community."
The much-anticipated I Love Mesa Day celebration started in September 2021 to support local businesses and introduce valley residents to the uniquely local offerings in downtown Mesa.
For a complete list of I Love Mesa Day activities, visit www.downtownmesa.com and www.mesaaz.gov.
I Love Mesa Day is sponsored by the City of Mesa; Mesa Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities; Downtown Mesa Association; AT&T; Renewal by Andersen and Prensa Arizona,