Hands-On Holidays
Join us for a festive two weeks at the Museum! From December 26 to January 7, we’ll have an exciting lineup of science-themed activities, crafts, and performances each day, all included with the cost of general admission.
Hands-On Holidays Schedule
Click on each date below to view its schedule of activities.
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Explore your senses at Hands-On Holidays! Grab a cup of cocoa and a bag of popcorn and get cozy while you learn all about how animals use their senses in the wild at our Sensing Nature Puppet Show. Then, search the Museum floor for all five of our hands-on sense experiments!
Sensing Nature Puppet Show
• 11–11:20 a.m.
• 11:30–11:50 a.m.
• 12–12:20 p.m.
• 1:10–1:30 p.m.
• 1:40–2 p.m.
• 2:10–2:30 p.m.
• 2:40–3 p.m.
Table Activities: Explore Your Five Senses
• 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
• 1–3 p.m. -
Find out what happens after the sun goes down in Nature's Nightlife! Meet different live animals and learn why they choose to work in the dark. Plus, explore the museum to find three bonus activities, all about Michigan nature!
Activity: Nature’s Nightlife
• 11–11:50 a.m.
• 1:10–2 p.m.
Activity: Skeletal Selection
• 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
• 1–3 p.m.
Activity: Tricky Track Stamps
• 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
• 1–3 p.m.
Activity: Leaf Rubbing
• 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
• 1–3 p.m.
Wildlife Visits
• 12–12:30 p.m.
• 2:10–3 p.m. -
Join us for an extra special reading of The Mitten, featuring live wildlife! Don't forget to grab your free cocoa and popcorn before listening to this winter classic.
Winter Story Time: The Mitten
• 10:30–11 a.m.
• 11:10–11:40 a.m.
• 11:50 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
• 1:10–1:40 p.m.
• 1:50–2:20 p.m.
• 2:30–3 p.m.
Wildlife Specimen Tables
• 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
• 1–3 p.m. -
Learn about the physics of energy, force, and motion by designing, building, and testing your own roller coaster!
Live Music: Ki5
• 11 a.m.–3 p.m.Activity: Alka-Seltzer Rockets
• 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
• 1–3 p.m.Activity: Design, Build, Test
• 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
• 1–3 p.m.Activity: Rollercoasters and Marble Maze
• 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
• 1–3 p.m. -
Ron the Bubble Man dazzles with a captivating performance featuring the science of bubbles! Great for all ages!
Critters Up Close is back, with a special Hands-On Holidays twist! After meeting live animals up close, explore for some hands-on nature experiences.
Ron Lloyd, the Bubble Man
• 11:00
• 12:00
• 1:00
• 2:00
Critters Up Close
• 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
• 1–3 p.m.
Activity: Animal Anatomy
• 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
• 1–3 p.m.
Activity: The Fish Prince
• 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
• 1–3 p.m. -
Join us for Hands-On Holidays: Noon Year’s Eve! Stop by for face painting and airbrush tattoo art, and don’t miss our special balloon drop at noon. Grown-ups can join in the festivities at our Ugly Sweater Contest too!
Face Painting
• 11 a.m.–3 p.m.
Airbrush Tattoos
• 11 a.m.–3 p.m.
Live Music by Kat Steih
• 11 a.m.–3 p.m.
Noon Year’s Eve
• 12–12:30 p.m.
• 1–1:30 p.m.
Ugly Sweater Contest (Adults Only)
• 1–1:30 p.m. -
Explore your senses at Hands-On Holidays! Grab a cup of cocoa and a bag of popcorn and get cozy while you learn all about how animal use their senses in the wild at our Sensing Nature Puppet Show.
Sensing Nature Puppet Show
• 11 a.m.–11:20 a.m.
• 11:30–11:50 a.m.
• 12–12:20 p.m.
• 1:10–1:30 p.m.
• 1:40–2 p.m.
• 2:10–2:30 p.m.
• 2:40–3 p.m. -
Stop by ScienceWorks to build your very own STEM creation! Each kid gets their own kit, plus a bag to carry their creation home.
Activity: STEM Building Kits
• 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
• 1–3 p.m.
Activity: Paper Making
• 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
• 1–3 p.m. -
Want to build your own space array? A burglar alarm? Learn the difference all about series and circuits with snap together kits. Plus, craft your own 3D creation with our 3D printing pens!
Activity: 3D Pens
• 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
• 1–3 p.m.
Activity: Circuit Masters
• 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
• 1–3 p.m. -
The Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum and Troy High School Robotics Team join forces to bring you hands-on automation! Experiment with static electricity with a Van de Graaff generator, and meet the team's robot.
Troy Robotics Team
• 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
• 1–3 p.m. -
Join us for an activity exploring genetics!
Chain It All Together
• 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
• 1–3 p.m. -
Emulsion Lava Lamps
Note: Tickets for this special activity are SOLD OUT. (Regular Museum admission is still available.)
• 11 a.m.–1 p.m.
Museum Holiday Hours
Please refer to our modified hours below when planning your visit this holiday season.
Year-End & New Year:
Closed Sunday, December 24 (Christmas Eve)
Closed Monday, December 25 (Christmas Day)
Open Tuesday, December 26, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Open Sunday, December 31, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. (New Year’s Eve)
Closed Monday, January 1 (New Year’s Day)
Open Tuesday, January 2, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day:
Open Monday, January 15, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.