The Morris Museum has new programming this fall for children of all ages to enjoy. Programs range from two new exhibitions involving music and STEM to a Chemistry Family Fun Day, Halloween fun, November Vacation Days programming and children’s theatre.

Many programs are free with museum admission.  Check for registration information for each event. For Children’s Theatre tickets visit https://morrismuseum.org/childrens-theatre/ or call the Box Office at 973-971-3706.

To become a member of the Morris Museum and attend Family Fun Days for free, visit morrismuseum.org/museum-membership,email membership@morrismuseum.org, or call 973-971-3721.  

On Nov. 10, the museum will present Soundscapes, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Visitors  will design and assemble wooden blocks, noise-making elements and marbles to create sound pathways and music. They will explore different configurations and try marbles of different sizes and materials to produce the sounds they’re looking for.

Register for these 45-minute programs for children ages 6 to 12 at https://morrismuseum.org/future-exhibitions/. They are free with museum admission and space is limited.

Trumpets, Weird and Wonderful: Treasures from the National Music Museum, Sunday, Oct. 7 – Sunday, March 17, 2019

Experience more than 40 trumpet-like instruments across time and cultures with surprising shapes, sizes, and names, like didgeridoo, serpent, firebird, flintstone, and Uncle Sam during Trumpets, Weird and Wonderful on Sundays, Oct. 7 through March 17, 2019. There will be special content available for children to explore through iPads.  

This exhibition is by special arrangement with the National Music Museum, America’s preeminent collection of historic musical instruments in Vermillion, S.D.

Get a jump start on National Chemistry Week with this year’s theme: Chemistry is Out of this World.  Start off with a show in the Bickford Theatre with Mad Science and then explore science throughout the museum.  Members of the Morris Museum’s Astronomical Society will be on hand to answer questions about all things celestial while sharing the link between chemistry and astronomy.
The Mad Science program – Up, Up, and Away, introduces children to the principles of air and pressure.  Hot air balloons, vortex generators, and even a hovercraft will help children understand the power of air!

This Family day is free for members and free with museum admission for non-members. The Mad Science show is free with general admission seating.

A Halloween Spooktacular will be held on Saturday, Oct. 27, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Children can celebrate in costume and enjoy spooky science, crafting fun and a Trick-or-Treat Scavenger Hunt for hidden treasures and goodies. A parade will allow children to show off their ensembles. Bring a bag to collect sweets.
This event is free for members and free with museum admission for non-members.

During the November Teacher Convention breaks from school, Nov. 8 and Nov. 9, children can come to the Morris Museum for some fun and learning from noon to 2 p.m. They can visit exhibitions, make a fun craft each day, enjoy science demonstrations in BASF’s Kids’ Lab, attend Children’s Theatre and participate in Touch the Music hands-on-workshops (registration required).

In her workshops, Claudia Lemmerz, of Touch the Music, talks about brass instruments, samples some brass music and enables participants to try out trumpets, trombones, French horns and a big tuba. This workshop is for children age 5 to 10, accompanied by an adult. (Mouthpieces will be cleaned). Register at https://morrismuseum.org/special-programs-families/

Tickets for Children’s Theater shows can be purchased by calling the Box Office at 973-973-3706. Combination tickets with museum admission are also available. More details are available at www.morrismuseum.org/childrens-theatre.

Shows include: The Legend of the Banana Kid, Thursday, Nov. 8, from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. In this cowboy adventure, featuring Frogtown Mountain puppets, Little Chucky heads to the Wild West to outwit outlaws.

Also, The Year of Frog and Toad, Centenary Stage Touring Theatre,

Friday, Nov. 9, 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. In this show, Frog is the effervescent and happy foil to Toad, a nervous and awkward character. Together they embark on many adventures and participate in many seasonal activities but always remain true to themselves and their friendship.  Inspired by stories by Arnold Lobel.

The 11 a.m. show is a sensory-friendly theater experience in which the environment and typical “rules of attendance” have been relaxed to accommodate individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities and the families and professionals who support them. These performances are made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services through the Morris Museum Access-ABILITY project.