12 days of Snowflake Break: Curiosity is on the calendar at the GR Public Museum

Winter often narrows our experiences, as the chill and waning daylight hours force many of us to choose nonmovement and tighten our routines. 

But as the holiday season arrives and the winter solstice signals longer days, many families joyfully welcome the return of familiar challenges. Kids are on break, visitors come, and everyone seeks movement, meaning, and, of course, the warmth that the holidays seek to create. At the Grand Rapids Public Museum, that search is met with a warm invitation.

“A person of any age, any level, ability, or interest can leave this institution with a new spark of curiosity,” says Dale Robertson, president and CEO of the Grand Rapids Public Museum.

Snowflake Break, the museum’s 12-day winter program that runs from Dec. 19 to Jan. 3, is based on that belief. It extends beyond holiday activities, aiming to foster connections across generations, interests, and experiences.

Designed for the season is the reason

“During the holidays, with the kids out of school and many families gathered together, they are looking for something to do, and we created our Snowflake Break experiences with them in mind,” Robertson says.

Each day features themed programming that blends history, science, culture, and play. Visitors can move through the festively decorated Streets of Old Grand Rapids, follow analog scavenger hunts that encourage slow looking, or linger at the ever-expanding Lego display that reimagines historic Grand Rapids in a colorful and imaginative presentation where the old and emerging pass each other with ease.

There’s live music, too – holiday classics performed on the museum’s Mighty Wurlitzer organ, filling the space with sound that is both festive and grounding. This year, Snowflake Break also features a special ice skating performance, with the thrill of an indoor rink adding a touch of winter magic inside the museum’s walls.

“You can share these experiences with whoever you choose – family, friends, and other visitors,” Robertson says. “Each activity, exhibit, artifact, and specimen has the potential to inspire conversation with the people around you.”

A slower season is an opportunity to keep mingling

Janet Korn, senior vice president of strategic initiatives at Experience Grand Rapids, explains that the final weeks of December tend to be quieter for overnight tourism. Business travel decreases, conventions are fewer, and most guests come to visit friends and family.

“Special programming at local attractions invites guests to experience the museums in new ways and build stronger lasting relationships that can lead to a greater sense of belonging and future support,” Korn says. “Winter programming is critical. When there are multiple places to experience, it encourages more engagement and overnight stays.”

Feed your curiosity

A defining and inspiring feature of Snowflake Break is the active participation of community partners and volunteers throughout the museum. Visitors might meet members of the Audubon Club, watch dancers from Avant Theater Ballet, or experience the collective thrill of Tuba Christmas beneath the museum’s iconic fin whale.

“These are invitations to connect,” Robertson says. “When a visitor feels that spark of curiosity, we want them to follow it far beyond their visit to the museum.”

Volunteers at Snowflake Break often create hands-on learning opportunities by placing specimens directly in front of visitors, showcasing historical printing techniques, old toys from centuries ago, or fossils millions of years old.

“However you learn, we welcome you,” Robertson says.

Connecting the public at the public museum

“We want to be as generous with the community as they have been with us,” Robertson says.

Thanks to funding from the zoo and museum millage, children 17 and under in Kent County can enter free every day, and parking is complimentary for Kent County residents with validation. (This is a reminder to bring your parking slip with you.)

The holidays should spark joy…the GRPM helps

“It’s a privilege to be a lifelong learner,” Robertson reflects, “and we strive every day to enrich the lives of our community through experiences that educate and inspire.”

And this season, it is our duty to welcome both locals and outsiders, or anyone passing through West Michigan, as the GRPM’s Snowflake Break reminds us that Grand Rapids offers many wonders even during the quietest season.

Eager to pursue that spark of curiosity? The complete Snowflake Break schedule is available on the museum’s website.

This story is part of the Bridge to Community Curiosity, underwritten by the Grand Rapids Public Museum. Through this partnership, we highlight GRPM’s mission to inspire curiosity, deepen understanding, and foster belonging by showcasing the transformative power of arts and education in West Michigan.

Photos by Tommy Allen