Grinchmas is HERE! Celebrate the Season in Seussian Style!
SPRINGFIELD, MA—The Springfield Museums presents Grinchmas, a wonderful way to get into the holiday spirit at the home of the Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum. Season-long events kick off November 26 with Holiday Happenings and the Lighting of the Quadrangle. December is filled with a range of family-friendly activities—Santa’s Workshop, the Holiday Stroll, and fantastic exhibitions like Gingerbread: Under the Sea. Programs are free with museum admission unless noted.
“While visitors of all ages will have a chance to get into the holiday spirit, we also include playful learning at every family program,” said Jenny Powers, Family Engagement Coordinator for the Springfield Museums. Powers is particularly excited to offer many activities for people across generations. “Children are so much more likely to learn when we offer a chance for them to be with their first and most important teachers, their caregivers. When children are engaged and actively learning along with people they love and trust, the information or skills they learned is more likely to stick, along with an emotional memory of the time they enjoyed together.”
“Everything we’ve planned this holiday season has been designed to help create wonderful memories,” Powers said.
GRINCHMAS PROGRAMING AND EXHIBITS
November 26 @ 10:00 am–5:00 pm
All Things Grinch-y
Color a Grinch Suncatcher, 12-4 pm
Use sharpies to color the face of this loveable curmudgeon and then hang in your window for holiday cheer.
Meet the Grinch, 1-4 pm
Dr. Seuss’s iconic Christmas creation will be here from Whoville to celebrate the holidays.
Music of How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, 1-4 pm
With a few hits from the Cat in the Hat Songbook too! Local musician Chris Eriquezzo will bring to life songs like, “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch,” and, “Welcome Christmas.”
How the Grinch Stole Christmas! Cartoon
Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! is a 1966 Christmas animated musical comedy television special directed by Chuck Jones. Based on the eponymous children’s book by Dr. Seuss, it’s the story of the Grinch trying to take away Christmas from the townsfolk of Whoville below his mountain hideaway.
Ongoing Activities
Make a Miniature Snowball Launcher, 12-4 pm
Create your own catapult and load it with a white pom-pom, take aim, and try to hit our target.
Music of “The Three Wise Men”, 1-4 pm
The Three Wise Men are a funky, jazzy, Christmas-y brass trio from Western Massachusetts. Enjoy their own brand of musical gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
November 26 @ 5:00 pm–7:00 pm
The spectacular architecture and beautifully landscaped grounds of the Quadrangle will sparkle and shimmer against a dazzling outdoor lighting display. This festive holiday celebration features entertainment by Vinny the Bubble Guy and visits to the Under the Sea gingerbread exhibition.
Free and open to the public–museum admission not required!
December 4 @ 11:00 am–3:00 pm; December 11 @ 11:00 am–3:00 pm
You’re the elf in Santa’s Workshop! Make your own gift to give a special loved one, complete with trimmings including card and gift tag. Options will include magnet sets, photos in mosaic frames, and cup lanterns. Free with museum admission!
More Activities
Meet Santa, 11 am-2 pm
Bring your Christmas list and your camera to meet Kris Kringle! Meet everyone’s favorite jolly old elf in the special exhibit Gingerbread: Under the Sea. Every child 12 and under gets to choose a gift (while supplies last).
Make a Miniature Snowball Launcher, 11 am-3 pm
Create your own catapult and load it with a white pom-pom, take aim, and try to hit our target.
Meet the Grinch, 12-3 pm
Meet the lovable curmudgeon whose heart grew three sizes, and get a high five or a hug.
December 11 @ 5:00 pm–7:00 pm
Enjoy the stunning architecture and glittering lights on the Museums grounds while hobnobbing with your favorite holiday characters. Benches in front of each character allow for safe, socially distanced photography.
- The Grinch under the arch of the Amazing World of Dr. Seuss
- Rudolph on the Quadrangle Green
- Frosty the Snowman at the Smith Museum of Art
- Santa on the Science Museum loggia
Plus–color a lumuniaria to add to our lighting display and enjoy holiday music.
Free and open to the public−museum admission not required!
A Christmas Journey: A Museums a la Carte Lecture
December 16 @ 12:15 pm–1:30 pm
|Cost: $4|Cost for Members: $2
For the past 40 years, Kevin O’Hara of Pittsfield, MA, has been writing annual Christmas stories for The Berkshire Eagle, located in Pittsfield, MA. Please join us as Kevin reads selected shorts from his new book, “A Christmas Journey,” an illustrated compilation of his favorite Yuletide tales.
Presented by Kevin O’Hara, author and 2012 John F. Kennedy National Award recipient
EXHIBITS
November 26, 2021–January 2, 2022
Springfield Science Museum
Experience the annual gingerbread competition and exhibit that meshes two of our favorite things—baking and creativity! In this 12th annual holiday exhibit, visitors will dive into the enchanted waters and journey to the bottom of the sea where fantastical creatures and colorful plants are interpreted as culinary creations!
Splash and Bubbles: Dive In, Lend a Fin!
November 6, 2021–January 16, 2022
Wood Museum of Springfield History » First Floor
Dive into the incredible world of ocean exploration in this early childhood STEM-based exhibit, Splash and Bubbles: Dive In, Lend a Fin!, based on the Jim Henson Company and Herschend Entertainment Studios PBS Kids TV series Splash and Bubbles.
Join Splash, Bubbles and the Reeftown Rangers to explore marine biology, ocean science, and different ocean ecosystems. Learn how even small actions can create a big ripple to help protect our One Big Ocean.
Springfieldmuseums.org, One Admission/Five Museums,
including the one and only Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum
Parking is always FREE
About The Springfield Museums
THE SPRINGFIELD MUSEUMS are located on the Quadrangle at 21 Edwards Street in the heart of downtown Springfield, Massachusetts. The nationally accredited and Smithsonian-affiliated consortium of museums includes the Springfield Science Museum, the Michele and Donald D’Amour Museum of Fine Arts, the Lyman and Merrie Wood Museum of Springfield History, the George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum, the Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden, and the Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum, the first and only museum dedicated to the beloved children’s book author and Springfield native.