Rain, shine or snow!
Celebrate beloved children’s author and Springfield native Theodor “Ted” Geisel–aka Dr. Seuss–on his 116th birthday. Free with museum admission!
Please note that while the birthday activities will be open to all visitors, timed tickets for the Dr. Seuss Museum will sell-out fast–order advance tickets today! Additionally, the Bank of America Museums on Us discount, library and nonprofit passes will not be accepted for admission on this date.
This program is funded in part by Mass Humanities and Raymond Geddes,
Note: For nonmember tickets, click “Other dates” and advance calendar to March 7. If you would like to purchase a ticket using one of our many discounts, a reciprocal membership or gift certificate, you will need to do this transaction in person on the day of your visit at the Welcome Center. Advance ticket sales are at full-price only.
Today’s Highlights
Celebrate with Cake! 11 am-3 pm
Get four tickets to sample cakes throughout our science, history, and two art museums! Taste these sweet treats created by local bakeries to celebrate Dr. Seuss’s birthday. Peanut-free and gluten-free options available.
Music of The Cat in the Hat Songbook, 11 am-12 pm and 1-2 pm
Local musician Chris Eriquezzo will bring to life lively songs like “Plinker Plunker” and “The No Laugh Race,” and just plain silly songs like “Cry a Pint,” from The Cat Hat Songbook with lyrics composed by Dr. Seuss.
Mr. Vinny’s Shadow Puppet Show, 12 pm and 3 pm
Mr. Vinny from the Toe Jam Puppet Band presents a dynamic and hilarious family show! He specializes in storytelling with unique puppets! Get ready for lots of jokes and audience participation, and a few fun surprises!
Expandable Brass Band, 1:30 and 2:15 pm
Loud, raucous, and full of fun, the Expandable Brass Band is dedicated to spreading joyful music to the people of Western Massachusetts and beyond.
Ongoing Activities
The Cat’s Corner, 10 am-5 pm
Dr. Seuss-inspired art and literacy activities.
Meet Your Favorite Dr. Seuss Characters, 11 am-1 pm and 2-4 pm
Get a high five and take your photo with the Cat in the Hat, Thing 1 and Thing 2, the Grinch, and more!
Decorating Demo with Master Baker Eric Hirsch, 11 am-2 pm
Watch our award-winning professional baker demonstrate his decorating skills! Learn how and what he uses to create his masterpieces.
A Present Just for You, 11 am-3 pm
Every child ages 0-12 will receive one free board book by Dr. Seuss to celebrate our favorite author’s birthday! Read your new book together at home to remember the fun you had at the museum! (While supplies last.)
There’s No Place Like Space: Orbiting Objects, 11 am-3 pm
Join one of our friendly museum educators for this hands-on activity that invites visitors to experiment with different sized and weighted balls on a stretchy fabric gravity well. The activity models gravitational attraction in space. Participants investigate how changing conditions can cause phenomena like stellar wobble and planet formation.
Share Your Thoughts, 11 am-3 pm
Museum visitors of all ages are invited to participate in a conversation to explore the nature of thinking, memory, and imagination, based on Dr. Seuss’s works. Graphic notetaker Sita Magnuson and her team from Dpict will translate topics and themes that emerge from discussions into images in real time, creating a massive poster of visitors’ memories and experiences. We want you to be a part of the story! Spanish translation will be available.
Strolling Magic with Malik the Magic Guy, 11 am-3 pm
Malik is a full time comedy magician with over 25 years of experience performing for family, corporate and college audiences. His close-up magic and card tricks will amaze you!
If I Ran the Garden, 11 am-3 pm
Since the Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden opened in 2002 more than 3 million people have visited! If you could add one wacky creature to the sculpture garden, what would it be? Use model magic to create your own inspired piece.
Super Scrambled Bird Name Generator, 11 am-3 pm
Use our silly Bird Name Generator inspired by Scrambled Eggs Super! to name new type of bird and decorate a coordinating egg.
Grinch Plinko, 11 am-3 pm
More fun than stealing Christmas! Play this disc drop game with featuring the slyly smiling Grinch – every player wins a Grinchy medal! While supplies last.
Color a Whoville Keychain, 11 am-3 pm
Featuring the Grinch’s dog Max or Cindy Lou Who – color a wooden keychain to add to your goodie bag.
Digital Dr. Seuss, 11 am-3 pm
Read and explore short stories from our favorite author digitally on the museum’s tablets. While batteries last.
Dr. Seuss Photo Booth, 11 am-3 pm
Grab a Seussian prop to take some fun and memorable family photos. Local titleholders from the Miss America organization will be on hand to recommend poses and help take your photo.
Seuss Trivia, 11 am-3 pm
Spin the big wheel, answer a trivia question, and win a bookmark! Questions are appropriate for all ages.
We All Need Trees, 11 am-3 pm
You might be surprised to learn how many different products we get from trees! You’ll get to examine various products and determine which ones are made from trees, and then brainstorm ideas on how these can be conserved.
Some Days Are Yellow, Some Are Blue, 11 am-3 pm
Artists, authors, and illustrators use color to convey emotion, and Dr. Seuss wrote My Many Colored Days all about colors and moods. What colors make you happy, excited, calm, sad, or energize you? Learn an easy way to change the color and mood of your own photographs and how you see the world around you.
Enter to Win a Seussian Prize Pack, 11 am-4 pm
We’ve got six bags filled with books from the Cat in the Hat Learning Library, Cat in the Hat Finger puppets, and more! Fill out our survey for a chance to be a big winner.
Art Discovery Center, 12-4 pm
Trace Chinese characters, try on costumes, play gallery games, peek under lift-up panels on the Wall of Symbols to discover the meaning behind Asian motifs, put on a puppet show, and make an art project. Today’s Project: Make a Cupcake Liner Lorax.
