Local Events
Christia Woodford — Publishing Assistant and Local Events
BY CHRISTIA WOODFORD
Visit a Museum through Museums for All Due to COVID-19, many museums participating in Museums for All have adjusted their hours and ticket purchasing policies. Before visiting a museum, please call or check their website to see if they are open or require advance registrations. Many museums are offering virtual resources—check your local museum’s website for more information. Through Museums for All, those receiving food assistance (SNAP benefits) can gain free or reduced admission to more than 1,000 museums throughout the United States simply by presenting their EBT card and a photo ID. Check here for participating museums. https/museums4all.org/ MUSEUMS Abrams Planetarium Season Of Light Dec. 1- 17, Fridays & Saturdays 8:00 pm. Sundays 4:00 pm. Many of the familiar customs that we observe this time of year have an astronomical connection. Our holiday offering explores the traditions that we associate with this special season. https/www. abramsplanetarium.org/ Programs/Public.html Christmas Constellations Dec. 1- 17, Sundays 2:30 pm. When we look at the stars, we can play a giant game of 24
December 2023
dot-to-dot. We can use our imaginations to come up with amazing things from basic shapes to mythical creatures to our favorite animals. In this show, we will use our imaginations to search through the stars for holiday-themed shapes in the sky. This show is suitable for preschoolers, young elementary-aged children, and their families. Sensory Friendly Show Third Sunday of every month at 11:30 a.m. and 1:00 pm 755 Science Road, East Lansing, MI, United States These shows will run with the lights up, the sound down, and the theater doors open so people can move about as needed. We also provide a place to “chill out” in our lobby. All shows include a live star talk about what is up in the sky that night. We will include a short break between the main show and star talk. Information about what to expect during the show will be provided when you purchase tickets. Cost: Adults, $5.50, Students and senior citizens, $5.00, Children (age 12 and under), $4.50 Friends of Abrams Planetarium Members, Free Free with Museums For All (with valid EBT, Medicaid, or WIC card and photo ID) https/www. abramsplanetarium.org/ Programs/Sensory.html Ella Sharp Museum Cookies With Santa
Dec. 2, 12:00 pm- 3:00 pm $5 per person Drop into the Ella Sharp Museum as we celebrate the holidays and welcome Santa and Mrs. Claus to the Hillside Farm for some cookies in the Granary! Photos will be taken by the Ella Sharp Museum and sent to families via email for you to enjoy! Be sure to stop in and visit Ella’s Holiday Market while you’re here. Register: https/ellasharpmuseum. org/classes-and-events/ cookies-with-santa/ Sensory Time Every Saturday at 9:00 am 3225 4th Street, Jackson, Michigan 49203 During Sensory Friendly Hours, the Ella Sharp Museum will open its galleries at 9 a.m., an hour before the museum opens to the public. Families with members who are neurodiverse, autistic, or have other sensory processing disorders or cognitive disabilities are welcome to visit the museum for a quieter experience in a more controlled environment. Designated quiet zones will allow visitors to decompress and experience the museum at their own pace. Before each program, families are invited to browse our “pre-visit” materials to help them prepare for their visit including social narratives and maps of our facility. These pre-visit materials are also available
to help families plan for visits that take place outside of program hours and a sensory backpack is available at the front desk for use. To provide the most sensory-friendly environment possible, we will limit the capacity for these special times to 50 people. https/ ellasharpmuseum.org/ classes-and-events/ sensory-time/ Outdoor Adventure Center Sensory-Friendly Days Dec. 3, 10:00 am- 12:00 pm Outdoor Adventure Center, 1801 Atwater Street, Detroit, Michigan, 48207 The DNR Outdoor Adventure Center welcomes friends and families with sensory processing differences to our sensory-friendly building hours! Enjoy the opportunity to explore and experience the OAC with building sounds and ambient noises at a lower volume. During your visit, there will be a quiet room with sensory materials available to use. At noon, the building will open to the public, with volumes returning to standard operating levels. All staff are KultureCitycertified to ensure the best possible experience. Complimentary admission. Dec. 3, join us for a “winter wonderland!” https/www.michigan.gov/ oac/experience/eventcalendar/2023/12/03/ outdoor-adventure-center--dec-3-sensory-friendly-days
