The James Museum is turning Sunday into a full community day centered on living Indigenous art, music, dance and storytelling.

The Native American Heritage Month Celebration takes place Sunday, November 8, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at The James Museum in downtown St. Petersburg.

Admission to the event and the museum galleries is free for the day, although advance registration is encouraged because space is limited.

The programming is built around Native artists and performers rather than treating the day as a general museum promotion.

World champion hoop dancer and musician Tony Duncan is scheduled to perform with award-winning hoop dancer Lowery Begay at 11 a.m. and again at 2 p.m.

Those performances require separate registration in addition to the free timed museum admission reservation.

That distinction matters because a performance reservation by itself does not replace the museum admission reservation.

Elsewhere in the galleries, Seminole artist Jessica Osceola will demonstrate sweetgrass basket weaving and speak informally with visitors throughout the day.

California basket weaver Kimberly Stevenot is scheduled to demonstrate in the galleries from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., then lead a children’s art activity from 2 to 5 p.m.

Hopi Katsina carvers Cory Ahownewa and Makwesaw Chimerica will also be working on the museum’s second floor from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The advantage of the format is that visitors are not only seeing finished artwork behind glass; they can watch artists work and ask questions about process and tradition.

The museum is also planning art activities and storytelling for younger visitors throughout the day.

This year’s celebration coincides with the display of James Lavadour’s painting Like Rain, which is on loan to the museum through August 2027.

The event also falls on the opening weekend of Kay WalkingStick / Hudson River School, giving visitors another reason to explore the galleries while admission is free.

The James Museum is at 150 Central Avenue in downtown St. Petersburg.

Museum parking is available on levels 3 and 4 of the automated South Core Parking Garage, entered behind the museum at 101 1st Avenue South.

The regular garage rate is $2 per hour, although the museum notes that special-event rates can vary.

Because the community day is free and the featured performances have limited capacity, reserving a timed entry before Sunday is the safest way to avoid arriving after a preferred time slot fills.

Families do not need to attend every scheduled program to make the day worthwhile.

The all-day demonstrations and gallery access mean visitors can build a shorter visit around one performance or spend several hours moving between art, music and hands-on activities.

The celebration is part of Art Everywhere and is supported through Pinellas County arts tourism funding.

For people looking for a Sunday event that is both free and substantial, this is more than a discounted museum day.

It is a chance to see living Indigenous traditions presented by Native artists and performers while exploring the museum at no admission cost.

Official information: Native American Heritage Month Celebration, Tony Duncan 11 a.m. performance, and hours and parking.