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

Let it snow!

The Museum will be closed all day, Monday December 27, 2010. Gov. Deval Patrick declared a state of emergency because of the weather conditions. Stay warm!

Holiday Hours and Holiday Fun

The Children’s Museum at Holyoke will be the fun – and warm! – place to be over the holidays. The museum will be closed Dec. 24 and 25th for the Christmas holiday, but will reopen Sunday Dec. 26th at noon and be open until 4 p.m. The museum will be open for school break, Monday through Friday, Dec. 27-31, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., but will be closed New Year’s Day. The Museum will resume regular operating hours on Sunday Jan. 2.

There will be special arts and crafts all week, so our kids on school break will never have a chance to get bored! Treat your kids- and yourself – to the week of fun activities in the museum, then on Dec. 31st join us for First Night Jr. 2010, 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 he Merry-Go-Round or Children’s Museum) 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. This event is supported in part by a grant from the Holyoke Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency; and by our friends at PeoplesBank.

Just to recap:
Closed Dec. 24, 25 Merry Christmas!
Open Dec. 26 through Dec. 31 Join us for First Night Jr., Dec. 31
Closed January 1, 2011 Happy New Year!

Thanksgiving Greetings!

We want to express our thanks to each of you - our visitors, our sponsors, our Board of Directors - for your wonderful support of our Museum and our work.

The Museum will be closed on Thanksgiving Day, but will reopen Friday at 10 a.m. and resume normal hours. Please note that there is no preschool program on Friday the 26th.

May you enjoy your Thanksgiving holiday!

The temperatures are dropping, the wind is showing who's boss, and the kids are filled with candy and ready for the next holiday...

which is Veterans' Day on Thursday, November 11, when we will be open our regular hours, 10-4, and ready to welcome you!

We are serving as a collection spot for Valley Opportunity Council's "Operation Gratitude" campaign. They are putting together "care packages" for our troops overseas so please consider helping with donations, such as blank holiday cards, disposable cameras, travel sized personal care items, prepaid phone cards, stamps, white socks, knitted hats and scarves, or food items (beef jerky, energy bars, powdered packets of hot/cold drinks, nuts, sunflower seed, trail mix).

Children can make cards that we will include with the donations. Help us show our troops that they are in our thoughts...

Halloween fun!

Halloween fun is in appearance this week at the Children's Museum... follow the recipes in the Witch's house (make sure you put on the hat or cape!), and cook up a delightful concoction in our cauldron. On Saturday, October 30, join the other ghosts and goblins in the Park from 1-4 pm for the annual Spooktacular hosted by Holyoke Parks and Rec Dept. $1 entry fee for the Spooky Scavenger Hunt and goody bag! If your child is in costume, rides are half price at the Merry-Go-Round as is admission to our museum!

And don't forget the littlest ghouls: Miss Beth's "Ready to Grow" preschool program on Friday morning (Oct.29) at 9:30 is definitely a must! Silly skeletons abound! And just $6 for a family of goblins who flutter in by 9:30 (regular admission fees apply for late arrivals).

Tag Sale!

Is your idea of a good time looking through stacks of miscellaneous items in search of a bargain?

If so, join us on Saturday, October 16, between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. and peruse the piles of perfectly priced paraphenalia... and support your children's museum!

The sale will be held in the upper level of the museum's building at 444 Dwight Street in Heritage State Park in the room opposite the public picnic area. Cash only, please.

You don't need to sail across the ocean to find new worlds...

Sail into our Museum on Columbus Day.. we will be open from 10-4 and ready to help you

EXPLORE ... DISCOVER .... IMAGINE .... CREATE

museum play

museum play

How about an indoor space, with colorful large blocks and shapes and tubes and whatevers that kids can manipulate and build and create their own indoor playscape...
Help us make this dream come true at the Children's Museum at Holyoke!

Click on the link above and join the fun!

Fall into Fun!

The last of the dustbunnies has been sheparded out the door, and we are open for play...!

We are open Wed-Sat 10-4 and Sun noon-4. Our preschool program, Ready to Grow, will resume October 1st, 9:30-10:30. Our Littlest Explorers will discover fun in Fall activities. Remember to arrive by 9:30 a.m. to participate in the program at the discounted price of $6/family. Late arrivals will have to pay full price of $6 per person. Members are free.

September 25 we will have a table at the Education Fair at the Nuestras Raices Harvest Festival from noon to 4:30. There will be food, music, games and more at this exciting annual festival at Nuestra Raices' farm on Jones Ferry Road off lower Main Street. It is a great start to the new school year, and a wonderful family outing opportunity!

(photo courtesy of wikivisual)

It is time for our annual Fall cleaning!

We will be closed from Monday, September 6 through Tuesday, September 21 to enable us to clean, paint, tweak, and scrub our exhibits and walls and floors... and as much of the ceiling that we can reach!

But before we close for housekeeping, we will be participating in Holyoke's Block Party on Sunday, September 5. This second annual Block Party is sponsored by C.R.U.S.H., and in addition to children's activities, there will be live music, food, and all sorts of entertainment. Join us for the fun of it all! The Block Party will be in Veteran's Park in downtown Holyoke. Free to the public.

Other September events: our good neighbor in Heritage State Park is having a fundraiser: on Friday, September 17 the Holyoke Merry-Go-Round will host "Mountain Park Memories" at the Log Cabin Banquet and Meeting House starting at 6:30 p.m. Live music, games, memorabilia, and great auction items! For more information, visit their website holyokemerrygoround.org. Support our friends!

Coming up in October: we will have a tag sale on October 16! Come search our tables for bargains and "must-haves" from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. in the upstairs space near the picnic area. Make us an offer we cannot refuse!

On October 23 we once again will participate in Discover Holyoke!, a city-wide event showcasing the city's arts organizations sponsored by Passport Holyoke.

And stay tuned for information on a Halloween event in the Park, our own second annual fundraiser "Fancy Steps 2010" on Saturday, November 13, which promises to be bigger and better, and much more...!

Summer is in full swing, and the museum is THE place to be! Get your face painted, try your hand at making paper, create a puppet or an airplane, paint a picture, but save time to explore the museum's exhibits!

We are fortunate to work once again with the Youth Workers from the New England Farm Workers Council, as well as the teens from the City of Holyoke's Summer Youth Program; these wonderful teenagers are with us through August, and they are the ones who are making all these extra creative activities possible, and at no extra cost to our visitors!



Our preschool program, "Ready to Grow" is continuing, and August is all about "Celebrating Being Me!" Our Littlest Explorers ages 0-5 will enjoy the storytime with Ms. Beth and all the activities and games that go with the story. Admission to the Friday program at 9:30 a.m. is $6/family (members free) for preschool aged children only and their caregivers; once the program has started regular admission prices apply.

REMINDER: We will be doing our Fall cleaning in September, so we will be closed to the public September 6-21.

Father's Day Rocks!
June 20
And who better to show this than musician Craig Harris who will show Dads (and others) how to Drum Away the Blues from 2 to 3 p.m. at Holyoke's Heritage State Park Visitor Center, right across from our museum.

Sunday, June 20 will be the final installment of Holidays in the Park with a Father's Day celebration from 1-3 p.m. Dads ride free on the Holyoke Merry-Go-Round and get in free to the Children's Museum; there will be a free snack at the merry-go-round, and a craft activity upstairs in our building.

Noche de San Juan
Sunday June 27

a free festival in the park from 3-7 p.m.

We are proud to be a part of the first annual festival celebrating Noche de San Juan and the Puerto Rican culture in Holyoke. Traditional music will be played by local bands Orquest la Perfecta and Criollo Clasico, vendors will be selling traditional food, and artisans will be displaying and selling their masks, carvings, and other wares. The Merry-Go-Round, Volleyball Hall of Fame, and Children's Museum will be open until 5 p.m. There will be volleyball games, a bike show, and lots of fun activities for kids and their families!

BatterUp with Wally
June 27


Visitors wearing Red Sox gear will get half price rides on the Merry-Go-Round, and half price admision to the Children's Museum, and famous mascot Wally will be available for photos from 11:30-2 at the Merry-Go-Round, where there will be balloon sculptures and other fun activities from 10-5. Help our Park neighbor raise money to preserve those gorgeous horses!

KIDS IN ACTION!
begins June 30:

Our summer weekly workshops begin on Wednesday June 30 from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. Drop off your child for a fun-filled 3 hours of activities, museum playtime, and a special craft, all for just $18 (members $15). Signup for 3 days and get a discounted rate of $50 (members $40)! Every day will be different, and the theme changes weekly. The first week will be Things that Fly and kids will start by building their own hovercraft (not full sized, thank you very much). Make sure you pack your child a lunch so the energy level stays high! Call 413-536-7048 ext 101 to enroll your child TODAY!

Time is flying by and soon our nature exhibit will be dismantled, packed, and loaded onto a truck... SO VISIT US SOON!

There will be an opportunity to bid adieu to the crickets, loons, coyotes, and frogs, rake up a last bunch of leaves, and build a home for a gnome before it scurries away...

AND

try to eat like a bird, track animal footprints, and meet some real live critters from the Zoo at Forest Park on Friday, June 11 from 5-8 p.m. when we host a "Families in Nature Night" as the send off celebration of Out on a Limb, adventures with nature and art exhibition.

There will be stories, and crafts, free hot dogs, and lots of fun!

Members: $5; non-members $10.

Please rsvp so we don't run out of dogs...