The Springfield Museums have announced the schedule for the final weeks of their annual Summer Spectacular Family Series, which runs through August 12, 2016. Every Monday through Friday, families visiting the Quadrangle will find a schedule packed with hands-on art and science activities, live animal demonstrations, and family entertainment for all ages. All programs and performances are free with admission unless otherwise noted; MassMutual is the 2016 Season Supporter of the Springfield Museums.
On Friday, August 5th, the Museums will offer free general admission to all visitors as part of the Highland Street Foundation’s “Free Fun Friday” program. This year, over 80 museums and cultural institutions across Massachusetts will participate in the program. Since its inception in 2009, “Free Fun Fridays” has drawn more than 800,000 visitors to venues throughout the Commonwealth, with over 165,000 people taking part last year alone. Special entertainment is scheduled, including pirate-themed comedy and salty sea songs from Below the Gaff and “Music in the Museums” with Mr. Zach (both at 11 a.m.). The free admission on August 5th includes the performances and all four museums, but does not include planetarium tickets or special exhibit fees – the Museums are not able to accommodate groups on Free Fun Fridays.
Featured performances during the fifth and sixth weeks of the Spectacular include:
- August 4 (11 a.m. – 2 p.m.) – Mr. Vinny, The Bubble Guy – whimsical spherical creations.
- August 9 (10 a.m. – 3 p.m.) – Hevesh5, domino artist and YouTube sensation (over 2 million views!) will create a domino creation with a Seussian flair.
- August 11 (11 a.m. – 12 p.m.) – The Good Won: Songs, Stories, and Games Around the Campfire
- Performances by Tanglewood Marionettesevery Friday at 11 a.m. including favorites like The Fairy Circus (8/5), and An Arabian Adventure (8/12).
Every week of the Summer Spectacular adds a new theme to the variety of educational and fun hands-on activities. The theme for August 1 – 5 is “One Fish, Two Fish,” a week dedicated to learning about aquatic life on Earth; the theme for August 8 – 12 is “Frogs & Friends,” a week full of amphibian fun.
Each week’s theme will come to life on Monday mornings with chalk drawings by artist in residence, David Krawcyzk (10 AM – noon, weather permitting), plus “Music in the Museums” with guitarist Mr. Zach (11-11:45 a.m.). “Professor Knows A. Lot” visits every Tuesday (10:30-noon), and visitors can also explore chain reactions by creating Rube Goldberg machines on “Rube Tuesdays” (10:15 a.m. – 3 p.m.). Wednesdays feature animal friends from Forest Park’s “Zoo on the Go” (11 a.m. – noon), plus award-winning Disneynature Films (8/3 – Oceans and 8/10 – Bears, 2 p.m. each day). On Thursdays, a History Cart that allows guests to get hands-on with artifacts from Springfield’s past is offered (noon to 2 p.m.).
Other ongoing activities tied to each week’s theme are available daily from noon to 4 p.m.in the Art and Discovery Center at the G.W.V. Smith Art Museum, and themed science demonstrations by the Roving Scientist. Shows at the Seymour Planetarium are presented at 11:15 a.m., noon, 1 and 2 p.m. (additional fee applies). This year’s spotlight exhibit for families is The Scoop on Poop: The Science of What Animals Leave Behind at the Science Museum (additional fee applies). Adult Art Tours are guided by a museum docent every Monday at 1 p.m., and Family Art Tours take place on Friday at 12:30 p.m.
For more information, please call 413-263-6800 ext. 489.