Holiday STEAM fun December 26 to January 4. Included with admission.

Museum Holiday Hours

  • Open Fri, Dec 26 | 10am-5pm (Hands-On Holidays Begins)

  • Open Sat, Dec 27 | 10am-5pm

  • Open Sun, Dec 28 | 10am-5pm

  • **Open Mon, Dec 29 | 10am-5pm

  • Open Tue, Dec 30 | 10am-5pm

  • Open Wed, Dec 31 | 10am-5pm (New Year’s Eve)

  • Open Thurs, Jan 1 | 12pm-5pm (New Year’s Day)

  • Open Fri, Jan 2 | 10am-5pm

Hands-On Holidays 2025 Schedule

Click each day to view activities!

  • Performance in Legacy Gallery
    11am, 12pm, 1pm, 2pm


    Winter Woods Puppet Show
    Discover the secrets of winter survival in an engaging puppet show as animals of the Winter Woods reveal how they adapt to cold, snow, and ice.

    Gallery Activities
    11am to 4pm
    • Snowflake Science
    • Paper Snowflakes
    • Snowflake Close-Up

    Critters up Close in ScienceWorks 1
    11am to 4pm
    • Snakes

    Trains in Theater of Design
    11am to 4pm

  • Performance in Legacy Gallery
    11am and 1pm


    Kara Kaufmann Music Performance
    Sing, dance, and roar along with Kara Kaufmann in this lively, dinosaur-themed music performance for kids.

    Gallery Activities
    11am to 4pm
    • Snowflake Science
    • Paper Snowflakes
    • Snowflake Close-Up

    Critters up Close in ScienceWorks 1
    11am to 4pm
    • Amphibians

    Trains in Theater of Design
    11am to 4pm

  • Performance in Legacy Gallery
    11am, 12pm, 1pm, 2pm, 3pm


    Storytime: The Mitten with Wildlife Visitors from LSNC
    Snuggle in for a reading of The Mitten by Jan Brett, then meet a real animal inspired by the story.

    Gallery Activities
    11am to 4pm
    • Have a Ball
    • Marble Coasters
    • Catapults

    Critters up Close in ScienceWorks 1
    11am to 4pm
    • Insects

    Trains in Theater of Design
    11am to 4pm

  • Performance in Legacy Gallery
    11am, 12pm, 1pm, 2pm, 3pm
    Storytime: The Mitten with Wildlife Visitors from LSNC

    Gallery Activities
    11am to 4pm
    • Have a Ball
    • Marble Coasters
    • Catapults

    Critters up Close in ScienceWorks 1
    11am to 4pm
    • Turtles

    Trains in Theater of Design
    11am to 4pm

  • Performance in Legacy Gallery
    11am, 12pm, 1pm, 2pm, 3pm
    Storytime: Over & Under the Snow with Wildlife Visitors from LSNC

    Gallery Activities
    11am to 4pm
    • Critters in the Cold
    • Penguin Egg Pass
    • Polar Play

    Critters up Close in ScienceWorks 1
    11am to 4pm
    • Lizards

    Trains in Theater of Design
    11am to 4pm

  • Performance in Legacy Gallery
    1pm, 2pm, 3pm, 4pm


    Noon Year’s Eve Countdown
    Celebrate without staying up late. A big, exciting countdown on the hour perfect for families.

    Gallery Activities
    11am to 4pm
    • Noon Year’s Eve
    • NYE Hats and Glasses
    • Noisemakers

    Critters up Close in ScienceWorks 1
    11am to 4pm
    • Birds

    Trains in Theater of Design
    11am to 4pm

  • Gallery Activities
    12pm to 4pm
    • Critters in the Cold
    • Penguin Egg Pass
    • Polar Play

    Critters up Close in ScienceWorks 1
    12pm to 4pm
    • Mammals

    Trains in Theater of Design
    12pm to 4pm

  • Performance in Legacy Gallery
    11am, 12pm, 1pm


    A2 Magic Show
    Watch the impossible happen with A2 Magic, a lively magic show full of surprises.

    Gallery Activities
    11am to 4pm
    • Big Freeze
    • Dry Ice Bubbles
    • Glacier Goo

    Critters up Close in ScienceWorks 1
    11am to 4pm
    • Arachnids

    Trains in Theater of Design
    11am to 4pm

  • Performance in Legacy Gallery
    11am and 1pm


    Dig! with Spinning Dot Theater
    An interactive production where a young explorer shares treasures from her dig site, each with a story to discover.

    Gallery Activities
    11am to 4pm
    • Big Freeze
    • Dry Ice Bubbles
    • Glacier Goo

    Critters up Close in ScienceWorks 1
    11am to 4pm
    • Snakes

    Trains in Theater of Design
    11am to 4pm

  • Activity in Legacy Gallery
    11am to 4pm


    Art with SCRAP Creative Reuse
    Create a collage and craft your own wand using reclaimed materials.

    Gallery Activities
    11am to 4pm
    • Cardboard Creation Station

    Critters up Close in ScienceWorks 1
    11am to 4pm
    • Michigan Natives

    Trains in Theater of Design
    11am to 4pm

Hands-On Holidays

Hands-On Holidays is a winter event series at the Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum packed with science exploration, creative discovery, and engaging performances that inspire kids to learn through play.