By Christie Bender
The Grand Rapids Public Museum is once again hosting family-friendly fun over this year’s holiday break. From Dec. 22 through Jan. 3, the GRPM will celebrate Snowflake Break with additional hands on activities, all included with admission.
Offerings will include a variety of family friendly programs and activities themed around history, science and culture – and the exhibits “Whales: Giants of the Deep” and “Merry Christmas, Charlie Brown.” Visitors can make their own take home crafts including: unique paper snowflakes, punched tin crafts and whale ornaments. Visitors can also enjoy hands on KEVA plank activities. KEVA planks are building blocks that challenge all ages in designing sculptures, and the activities will be winter themed especially for Snowflake Break. Snowflake Break crafts will take place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.
On Thursday, Dec. 29, visitors can take part in special holiday caroling accompanied by the Museum’s Mighty Wurlitzer Organ in the Meijer Theater from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., free with general admission.
In addition to the free with admission activities, the GRPM will also host a holiday-themed planetarium show “Let it Snow,” and performances of “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” in partnership with StageGR. Visitors will also enjoy the Museum’s two special exhibits “Merry Christmas,” “Charlie Brown! and Whales: Giants of the Deep.”
“As families begin to plan their holiday break activities, we invite them to take advantage of this special experience the GRPM has to offer,” said Kate Moore, Vice President of Marketing and Public Relations for the GRPM. “We offer hours of endless fun that is hands-on for all age groups!”
Join the Museum for late nights to see “Whales: Giants of the Deep” and “Merry Christmas, Charlie Brown” until 8 p.m. on Dec. 22, 23, 26, 27, 29 and Jan. 3. The GRPM will be closed on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
ADDITIONAL HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES
Let it Snow Planetarium Show – Now through Jan. 8
“Let it Snow” features a new variety of festive classics from Frank Sinatra and Chuck Berry to Burl Ives and Brenda Lee, and includes a stunning multi-media finale by the Trans Siberian Orchestra. The soundtrack is visually enhanced with thematic animation, laser imagery and special effects. Now playing at the Chaffee Planetarium at the GRPM through Jan. 3, and tickets are $4 each with general admission to the Museum, free to Museum members and $5 each for planetarium only tickets. For more information and show times, visit grpm.org/planetarium.
StageGR “You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown” – Now through Dec. 31
The Museum in partnership with StageGR is presenting Clark Gesner’s classic musical, “You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown.” Visitors will enjoy six of their favorite Peanuts characters; piano prodigy Schroeder, Bossy Lucy, Sally the perfectionist, Blanket toting Linus, beloved Snoopy and of course the old “blockhead,” Charlie Brown. Brief vignettes through the show span the months from Valentine’s Day to Beethoven Day, from wild optimism to utter despair.
The show will run on various dates and times now through December 31. All shows take place in the Meijer Theater at the Grand Rapids Public Museum. Show-only tickets are $10 for non-members, and $5 for Museum members. Show tickets with general admission to the GRPM included are $18 for adults and $13 for children. Tickets may be purchased at grpm.org, by calling 616-929-1700 or at the Museum’s front desk.
Stage GR exists to grow lives on stage through the valuable musical theater experience for all students. Within one year StageGR has cast 150 plus performers from 40 different schools throughout the Southwest Michigan area. “You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown” will be Stage GR’s seventh production. Find Stage GR online at https://www.stagegr.org/.
“Merry Christmas, Charlie Brown” exhibit
Visitors can also plan to see the special holiday exhibit “Merry Christmas, Charlie Brown” now open at the Grand Rapids Public Museum. Admission to the exhibit is included with general admission to the Museum.
“Merry Christmas, Charlie Brown” is made up of high-quality digital reproductions of Charles M. Schulz’s original Peanuts strips with thematic graphics and features 3D Peanuts novelties. Kids can write to Santa at the interactive letter writing station, and the whole family can take a photo with the iconic Snoopy’s doghouse outside the exhibit! Visitors see a behind the scenes look at the making of the animated classic, “A Charlie Brown Christmas.”
Whales: Giants of the Deep
“Whales: Giants of the Deep” features the latest in international cetacean research, bringing adults and children eye to eye with some of the world’s most elusive creatures.
Featuring two fully-articulated sperm whale skeletons, including an impressive 58-foot male, “Whales: Giants of the Deep” showcases amazing and rare specimens from New Zealand’s Te Papa’s whale collection, one of the largest in the world. The Whale Lab portion of the exhibition is full of interactive science. Children can crawl through a life-size replica of the largest living creature’s heart – the blue whale. The extraordinary evolutionary journey of whales from land to the sea is shown by casts of fossil whale ancestors. Visitors can tune in to a range of whale sounds and discover how scientists and amateur trackers identify individual whales on their migration through the Pacific Ocean.
