Christmas might have been expensive, but there are some free family events happening this weekend.

The Western Science Center in Hemet will be hosting its Science Saturday this weekend. This month’s session will look into the science of drinking straws. Saturday is National Drinking Straw Day, so the museum is celebrating by exploring various areas of science and how you can use straws within them, from aviation to geology.

Activities for Science Saturday are free, but there is an additional fee to enter the museum. Children age 3 and younger do need an adult to accompany them.

Science Saturday will be from 10:30 a.m. to p.m. at the Western Science Center, 2345 Searl Parkway in Hemet. For more information, visit westerncentermuseum.org or call 951-791-0033.

Another free family event is First Sunday, which takes place at several downtown Riverside locations.

Some of the fun to be had this Sunday include creating pastel drawings inspired by California Impressionists at the Riverside Art Museum, or making a cute sheep to celebrate the “Year of the Sheep” at the Center for Social Justice and Civil Liberties.

Other locations offering activities for families are the Riverside Metropolitan Museum, Mission Inn Museum, UCR ARTSblock, Main Library, and the Riverside Fox Theater Foundation, whose fun will be had at the corner of Main and Mission.

First Sunday will be Jan. 4 from 1 to 4 p.m. For more information, visit riversideca.gov/museum or call 951-826-5273.

Contact the writer: features@pe.com