By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org
Holiday break for many schools starts at about 3:30 p.m. Friday with most students being out for around two weeks.
Holiday activities take up some of the time during the two-week break but whether it is waiting for or after all the presents are unwrapped, there is time when everybody is looking for something to do.
The Grand Rapids Public Museum announced that it will bring back its Snowflake Break, which will run from Dec. 18 to Jan. 2. Snowflake Break features special exhibits and activities and includes the traveling exhibits “POPnology,” and “Bats: Masters of the Night,” along with educational Snowflake Break Camp opportunities for area children.
“Snowflake Break at the Museum is the perfect experience for families seeking fun activities to do during the holiday break,” said Kate Kocienski, the Museum’s VP of Marketing & Public Relations. “We’re pleased to offer reduced admission for Kent County residents everyday, including free admission for kids 17 and under. Snowflake Break is an ideal time for local families to take advantage of these benefits to explore, learn and create lifelong holiday memories.”
The three floors at the Museum have holiday-themed decorations and activities. Festival favorites returning include the historic Grand Rapids LEGO® Bricks display, oversized games in the Galleria, and the popular Santa and Elf Hunt that encourages visitors to explore the Museum to find 12 elves hidden in peculiar sports, while also learning about 15 Santas from around the world.
Through Jan. 2, the Chaffee Planetarium will feature “Let It Snow!” with classic holiday music paired a visual show.
Snowflake Break Camps are also available for kids in first through sixth grade, with pre-registration required. For two weeks campers will use the Museum as a learning lab – experimenting, learning and growing – all while exploring the permanent and traveling exhibits at the Museum. Camps will be limited to 16 registrants per session, and are $40 per child, with a reduced rate of $30 per child for GRPM members. Campers will be provided with supplies for each activity. Various safety measures will be in place to ensure a low-risk environment for learners and educators. To learn more or to register for Snowflake Break Camps, visit grpm.org/educlasses.
Organist Dave Wickerham will present a night of holiday music on the GRPM’s Mighty Wurlitzer Theater organ on Dec. 17 and 18 with tickets available at grpm.org.
Holiday displays are included with general admission to the Museum. Kent County residents receive reduced admission every day with free admission for Kent County children 17 and under! Kent County adults are only $5 for general admission and Kent County seniors are $3. Advance ticket reservation is recommended, for a seamless, contactless entry. Visit grpm.org to reserve today. Kent County residents also receive free parking in the Museum’s ramp for their visit. The Museum encourages all visitors to wear a face mask, regardless of their vaccination status, to help curb the spread of Covid 19 in our community.
Other activities:
The Grand Rapids Art Museum will be featuring the exhibits “An Art of Changes: Jasper Johns Prints, 1960-2018,” which surveys six decades of output from one of America’s greatest living artists, and “The Black Ash Basketry of Kelly Church and Cherish Parrish,” showcases a centuries-old Anishinaabe tradition.
The Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum is featuring the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Express, formerly the Breton Village Miniature Train Display, which includes replicas of South High School, Bill’s Place diner and other significant structures in the president’s Grand Rapids life.
Also the Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park will have the University of Michigan Health – West Christmas and Traditions Around the World through Jan. 2.
