Wearing of the Green

St.Patrick's Day in Holyoke extends through the weekend! Run in the Road Race on Saturday, March 19 & then watch the famous St. Patrick's Day parade on Sunday. The whole city turns out for this parade, as well as friends & families from Pioneer Valley & beyond. The Museum will be closed Sunday, March 20.  Enjoy the parade!

Mardi Gras!

 
Laissez les bon temps rouler!
You know that the good times are always rolling
in the Children's Museum,
but add to the fun this weekend,
March 5th and 6th, by making a Mardi Gras mask!

"à bientôt"... see you soon!

Museum Open During School Break Feb 21-25

Are your kids tired of making snowmen? Do you dread a week of indoor activities, in your house? The Children’s Museum at Holyoke is the perfect place for discovery, exploration, and imaginative play and will be open during school break, Feb.21-25.

Let your imagination guide you in a role as a doctor, veterinarian, dentist, or patient in the health area. “Drive” our ambulance or experience what is like to use a wheelchair or walker; don some scrubs and check out an x-ray of human bones or reptiles on our x-ray viewing machines. Blow an enormous bubble in the bubble area, dress up in the theater and put on a show in the Sit-Around-Theater, and create a masterpiece in Creation Station. Our water table is more than a splash, it offers the chance to manipulate the waterways, or float a boat. See what you look like on television in our TV studio, create pathways with the marble works components, then capture your shadow or “draw” with light. The Tot Lot is for our youngest visitors under age 2 and offers a safe place for exploration and discovery.

Visit one of the Cityscape establishments and take on the role of mail carrier, short order cook or diner, grocery clerk or shopper, librarian or patron, then climb into Observation Station and look for the hidden objects. Don’t forget to crawl through the Curvy Crawler’s dark and twisty tunnel, then enter Thomas Luckey’s sculptural creation, the Curvy Climber, to climb three levels of curved platforms that reach up two stories, giving you a bird’s eye view of all the activity below.

An upstairs eating area has vending machines with snacks and drinks, and picnic table seating. Bring your lunch so that you can spend the whole day!

For Love of Stories: A Family Story Valentine

Join us Saturday February 12 from 5-8 p.m. for a fundraiser benefitting the the Friends of the Holyoke Public Library and Children’s Museum at Holyoke at the Children’s Museum at Holyoke.

Check out the exciting lineup and list of activities!

5-6 pm: Shuffles the Clown will greet you and make you a balloon sculpture

5-8: Visit with master storyteller Tom McCabe and share your stories!

5-5:30: Pet an instrument and hear its story told by our friends from Holyoke Civic Symphony

5:30-6: Musical performance by Holyoke Civic Symphony

6-6:30: Hear some tales from storyteller Tom McCabe

6:30-7:30: Songs and singing games with Roger Tincknell

7:30-8: Music and fun with The Expandable Brass Band

Ongoing activities:

• Listen to story time with Mr. Tim and friends
• Write your family’s story and illustrate it
• Make a puppet and put on a show
• Fashion a mask
• Paint your face
• Act out a story
• Add to our story wall
• Enjoy kid friendly food (hot dogs!)

$10 per person (free for children under 12 months)

$1 off for Museum members or Holyoke Public Library card holders

$9 per person advance purchase at Children’s Museum

If you cannot attend, please consider making a donation!
Call us for more information: 413-536-KIDS (5437)

Recyclo-rama!

Saturday, January 22 is all about recycling at the Children's Museum at Holyoke, thanks to the efforts of Girl Scout Allison Lapointe who is working on her Gold Award. Children will learn the importance of recycling through games (who can sort the trash the fastest?), and fun projects. Water bottles will be turned into flowers to create a garden for the dinosaur sculptures, bottle tops will create designs, cereal boxes become collages. Answer the questions and earn a sticker! Help our planet and community, and support this Girl Scout's efforts during the event from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday

The Museum will be open on Monday, January 17 on the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Join us as we celebrate this extraordinary individual with special activities and stories.

14th Annual First Night Jr.!

On Dec. 31st join the Children's Museum and Merry-Go-Round for First Night Jr. 2010 in Holyoke Heritage State Park, the 14th annual family fun celebration of the New Year, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Learn how other countries celebrate saying goodbye to the old year, and the welcoming of the new. Join in the dragon dance, write your resolutions, watch Ed Popielarzcyk perform magic, listen to Roger Tincknell’s music and stories, check out Mike Rondeau’s ice sculpture creation, visit with the Cat in the Hat, get your face painted or a balloon sculpture, get unlimited rides on the Merry-Go-Round, and admission to the Children’s Museum, and all for just $6 per person! ($5 in advance at the Merry-Go-Round or Children’s Museum). Culinary students from Dean Tech will sell kid friendly food at wallet friendly prices! Holyoke Mayor Elaine Pluta will lead the countdown for the ball drop at 3:45 in front of Holyoke Heritage State Park Visitor Center for a noisy end to a fun celebration! Call 413-536-7048 for ticket information. (Sorry, no coupons, library passes accepted; museum members pay ticket price as this event is a collaborative fundraiser).

Schedule:
Visitor Center:
10:30-11:15 Ed Popielarczyk's Magic Show
11:30-12:15 Ed Popielarczyk's Magic Show
1:30-2:30 Roger Tincknell's Stories and Music
10:30-2:30 Face painting
10:30-3:00 Shred Your Regret and Write a Resolution: Peace Makers' Initiative of the Mayor's Office
3:35: Drawing for Disney On Ice tickets: "Princess Classics"
3:30-3:45 Grand Finale officiated by Mayor Elaine Pluta; Holyoke High School Marching Band parade

Children's Museum at Holyoke:
10-4 Museum open for play! (visitors will be directed to visitor center at 3:30)
10-3:30 Explore multicultural new year customs through crafts
12:30, 2:30, 3:30: Join the Dragon Dance
11:30-1:30 Watch Mike Rondeau carve an ice sculpture (outdoor balcony)
11-1 Make a new year crown with Macaroni Kids
Visit by Sparky the Fire Engine

Holyoke Merry-Go-Round
10-3:50 Carousel Rides
10-2:30 Balloon sculpting by Mr. K and Jim
10:30-3:00 Visit the information booth hosted by the Brain InjuryAssoc.
10-3:30 Visit by Cat in the Hat