March of the Museums offers fun learning activities for kids and parents at Kingston and area museums, galleries, and historic sites during March Break. From March 10 to 14, these sites offer free admission and special activities.
“March of the Museums celebrates the incredible range of cultural heritage narratives and experiences available within Kingston and area,” says Jamie McKenzie-Naish of Kingston and Area Association of Museums, Art Galleries and Historic Sites. “This weeklong festival is free and offers a variety of play-based and hands-on activities that families can enjoy and explore together. This is the eighth year of March of Museums; new offerings this year include ‘Grow your own Indigenous Garden’ with Lodge Pole Arts Alliance and puppet-making workshops with the Paddling Puppeteers.”
Here are just some of the activities taking place around Kingston.
The Military Communications and Electronics Museum
This museum offers plenty of hands-on activities and special demonstrations over March Break. Kids can try out different types of communications tools, get creative with signal-themed crafts and colouring stations, and explore the on-site dress-up station. Also on site will be the RMC Museum, with more crafts and activities, and the Kingston Scout Museum, with knot-tying, cub car racing, and displays. The museum will also have different special guest activities every day of March Break, from an Indigenous Languages Workshop with Kahwá:tsire Programs to a puppet-making workshop with Paddling Puppeteers.
Miller Museum of Geology
For fun rock and fossil-related crafts and displays, make sure to check out the Miller Museum of Geology. As part of its regular programming, the museum also has displays of rocks, minerals, ores, and fossils (including dinosaurs) and activations such as an augmented reality sandbox and a dinosaur fossil dig box. On Thursday, March 13, special guests from LodgePole Arts Alliance will teach you how to grow an Indigenous garden and make your own seed ball.
Both the Paddling Puppeteers and LodgePole Arts Alliance will be at different sites throughout the week.
Museum of Health Care at Kingston
This museum offers a fun learning activity for kids, who are invited to create their own top secret “X-ray” message or a DIY robot hand, all while learning about the role of X-rays in health care.
Murney Tower Museum will also have activities at the Museum of Health Care over the week. Visitors can create their own military medal or make a royal crown while learning about the history of the Murney Tower Museum, which celebrates its 100th anniversary this year.
In total, 14 sites offer March of the Museums activities this year. Hours vary among museums. Please check hours of operation before you go. A full list of March of the Museums activities and special guests is available online.
If you are planning a March Break trip to Kingston, check out our family packages for overnight stays.
