The Grand Rapids Public Museum is ushering in the 2024 holiday season with an array of experiences for families and visitors of all ages.
The museum’s historic Streets of Old Grand Rapids are adorned with life-size Santas, garlands, and ribbons, setting the stage for a festive season ahead. Several special programs are also planned to coincide with students’ winter break.
Historic Holiday LEGO Display – Open through February 2
Visitors can see historic Grand Rapids like never before, built entirely from LEGO bricks. This 1925-era display, featuring operating trams and scaled replicas of iconic buildings, offers a unique glimpse into the city’s past. The exhibit, created by the West Michigan LEGO Train Club, is included with general admission.
On Saturday, December 7 Santa will be at the GRPM for a special meet-and-greet on Saturday, December 7, from 8 a.m. to noon in the Meijer Theater. Families can enjoy a morning of holiday fun, including digital photos with Santa, free admission to the Let It Snow planetarium show, and holiday activities throughout the museum. One family ticket ($30) covers the Santa meet-and-greet, a family pass to the planetarium show, coffee, hot cocoa, and more. Tickets for Let It Snow must be reserved separately at no additional charge.
On Friday, December 13, and Saturday, December 14 the GRPM will host two performances of holiday classics played by internationally acclaimed theater organist Lance Luce. Concerts are scheduled for 7 p.m. on Friday, December 13, and 2 p.m. on Saturday, December 14. Enjoy timeless tunes like Silent Night, Jingle Bells, and The First Noel, performed on the Mighty Wurlitzer.
Tickets are $20 each, or $16 for GRPM members. Tickets can be purchased at grpm.org/organ.
On Friday, December 20 through Saturday, January 4 the GRPM’s Snowflake Break Camps offer students an opportunity to explore science, history, and culture over winter break. These engaging camps cover topics like engineering and river ecology, along with special camps inspired by the museum’s current traveling exhibit, The Nature of Color. Children will explore the science of color, its cultural meanings, and its impact in nature.
Along with the camps, free self-guided and volunteer-led craft activities themed around the Nature of Color exhibit will be available throughout the museum. For more information and to register, visit grpm.org/educlasses.
On Sunday, December 22, at 3 p.m., the GRPM will host “Tuba Christmas,” a musical celebration of the legendary teacher William J. Bell. This festive event will feature brass musicians playing tubas, euphoniums, baritone horns, and sousaphones. The performance, part of the 18th annual Grand Rapids Tuba Christmas event and the 51st national anniversary celebration, takes place under the museum’s iconic fin whale. Admission is included with general museum entry.
Now through Sunday, April 13 “The Nature of Color,” a special exhibit organized by the American Museum of Natural History, explores the vibrant world of color in nature and across cultures. The exhibit showcases how organisms use color to communicate, protect themselves, and find food, as well as how color influences human emotions and cultural meanings. This exhibit is free with general museum admission. For more information, visit grpm.org/the-nature-of-color.
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