Events
Kenosha Public Museum offers many cultural and educational activities throughout the year. Here is the upcoming schedule.
Museum Munchkins
Wednesdays; 9:30-10am
Join Museum staff and volunteers for a fun program designed to get you and your preschooler excited about science and the world around them. Each week you’ll explore a new theme with stories, songs, and activities using pieces from our collection. Free admission.
Here's the Museum Munchkins Schedule
January 16 – Muskies; January 23 – Red Tailed Hawk; January 30 – CANCELED February 6 – Snakes; February 13 – Pangolins; February 20 – Ravens; February 27 – Polar Bears; March 6 – Water Deer; March 13 – Blue Jays; March 20 – Elephants; March 27 – Ocelots; April 3 – Shrikes; April 10 – Black Bears; April 17 – Otters; April 24 – Pikes; May 1 – American Lions; May 8 – Grasshoppers; May 15 – Raccoons; May 22 – Sea Stars; May 29 – Giant Ground Sloth; June 5 – White Tailed Deer; June 12 – Carnotaurus @DDM; June 19 – Ladybugs; June 26 – Dogs
Basil’s Favorite Things
Saturdays, January 12, February 9, March 9, 2019; 11am-1pm
Basil the Badger loves two things – the Kenosha Public Museum and a good mystery. He’s combining them so you can learn while having fun at the Museum. On the second Saturday of each month, special hands-on activities will help you discover one of Basil’s favorite things about the Museum. Will it be an artifact? A new exhibit? A painting? Can you figure out Basil’s mystery? Look for clues to figure out Basil’s Favorite Things.
Plus, work with other visitors to create a community display related to Basil’s Favorite Thing. Discover a new favorite every month!
Sunday Curiosity Carts
Every Sunday, 1:30pm-3:30pm
Drop by the Field Station for interactive experiences with Museum education staff! A new activity is chosen each week and can include playing African instruments, making batteries out of lemons and potatoes, learning about animal adaptations through pelts and games, and much more.
From Curiosity to Science Members Sneak Preview Weekend
Saturday, February 23 and Sunday, February 24, 2019
Friends of the Museums Members and KUSD Teachers get a sneak peek at the brand new permanent exhibit, From Curiosity to Science. The exhibit takes visitors on a journey of natural science exploration from cabinets of curiosity to modern day natural science research. Explore the natural world around you through Museum educator-led curiosity stations to get skulls, pelts and cultural objects in your hands.
(The exhibit opens to the public Monday, February 25, 2019.)
African American Read In: Celebrating African American Literature
Saturday February 9, 2019; 1pm
Adult and youth readers from our community lend their voices to poetry, essays, short stories, and children’s books by African American authors. This year’s program also features a performance by Chicago storyteller Alice Collins.
Ms. Collins was a principal, administrator and teacher in Chicago Public Schools for over 30 years. She is a storyteller and author. “Through storytelling I spark laughter, enjoyment, cultural awareness, understanding and self discovery.”
This is the 30th year of the “National African American Read In” an event sponsored by the National Council of Teachers of English and its Black Caucus. Each year communities across the country are urged to make literacy a significant part of Black History Month.
Traditional Native American Woodland Storytelling
Sunday, February 17, 2019; 2pm-3pm
Join Skip Twardosz in a traditional winter storytelling session. During this family-friendly program, Mr. Twardosz will share Anishinaabe stories of the past and present.
Mr. Twardosz is of Potawatomi descent, is a singer and traditional dancer and has presented for schools, historical groups, museums, libraries, scout troops and community organizations. A drum and other artifacts of his are on display at the National Museum of the American Indian at the Smithsonian, Washington D.C. He is a former member of the Chicago American Indian Center and was Spiritual Elder for Sacred Circle Native Student Organization at UW-Parkside. He is an amateur historian of native woodland culture. He has functioned as Storyteller, Fire Keeper and Elder for many Native gatherings in Wisconsin, Illinois, and Indiana.
2nd Annual Wino Dino
Friday, March 8, 2019; 7pm-9pm | $40 ($30 FOM) | Register Here
During this Museum fundraiser, travel with the Wino Dino to try up to 8 of the 12 different wines from the 6 ecosystems featured in the new From Curiosity to Science exhibit. Make a wine-related craft project and enjoy light refreshments.
Must be 21 or older. Tickets sell fast – register early!
2019 Southport Quilters Guild Annual Members Show- Stitches and Stories
March 2-24, 2019
More than 70 quilts tell intriguing stories with traditional and contemporary patterns in vibrant colors. This year’s show also features a quilt challenge, “Wrapped in Stitches.” Each quilter is challenged to create a 20″ x 20″ quilt based on a piece of wrapping paper. See how the quilters interpret the wrapping paper in their original quilt design. Members of the Guild will be demonstrating quilting throughout the run of the show. Stop by and see them at work and learn how they turn fabric and thread into colorful works of art.
National Quilt Day
Saturday, March 16, 2019
Quilt Day Schedule:
9:30am-12:30pm: Quilting Workshop with Catherine Redford | Register Here
10am-1:30pm: Quilting demos and family activities
2pm: “The Language of Flowers” Presentation by Catherine Redford
Catherine Redford’s presentation and trunk show features a wide variety of quilts featuring flowers, many of which are beaded and embellished. Learn the meanings our ancestors ascribed to different blooms and consider why the giving and receiving of quilts is so special to many of us. Seating is limited and first-come, first-served. Free tickets available the day of the presentation beginning at 10am.
Sponsored by the Southport Quilters Guild
Women in Science
March 23, 2019; Noon-4pm
A celebration of women through the ages and their contribution to the sciences! Meet and talk to real scientists who study all sorts of topics, from biology to earth sciences to engineering. Explore and learn about some of the most famous female scientists throughout the ages. Then get your hands dirty and run your own experiments in our DIY science lab.
Plus, get up close and personal with real butterfly specimens from the Milwaukee Public Museum.
WizardPalooza for Families
Friday, March 29, 2019; 5:30pm-8:30pm | $5 per person | Register Here
Calling all wizards, witches, and yes, Muggles too! The Friends of the Museum have sent out their owls, so get your trunks ready because it’s time to board the Wizard Express and spend an enchanted evening at the museum. Try your hand at spellbinding classes, games and trivia, make a take-home project in DIY-agon Alley, and much more!
Try your luck and win some great prizes in the raffle. And be sure to dress in your wizardly best – you could be the winner of the night’s costume contest!
Food, drinks, snacks, Butterbeer (alcohol free) and other goodies will be available for purchase.
One adult required to register with every 1-3 children.
FOM Members – be the first to sign up! Registration open to members only from January 16-20! Registration open to the public starting Tuesday, January 22. Not a member yet? Call 262-653-4140 to join the Friends of the Museums today and register early!
WizardPalooza for Adults
Saturday, March 30, 2019; 6pm-9pm | $45 per person, must be 21 or older | Register Here
Brush up on your spells to keep your little wizards and witches occupied, for it’s time the experienced sorcerers are entertained! Take part in all the fun of the wizarding world – apparate into classes, make take-home items in DIY-agon Alley, partake in games, trivia, and much more!
Get a loan from Gringotts to enter and win some unbelievable prizes in the many raffles, or spend at the Hogsmeade Marketplace. Be sure to dress in your wizardly best, you could be the winner of the night’s costume contest!
Ticket price includes admission, food, and two drinks (wine, beer, soda)
FOM Members – be the first to sign up! Registration open to members only from January 16-20! Registration open to the public starting Tuesday, January 22. Not a member yet? Call 262-653-4140 to join today and register early!
Spark! at the Civil War Museum
Spark! is a monthly program for individuals in early to mid-stages of memory loss and their caregivers. Participants are engaged in lively conversations, storytelling, interactive exhibit experiences, object handling, and other multi-sensory activities. Space is limited, so reservations are required. 262-653-4423 or spark@kenosha.org.
January 18: Victorian Spa Day
Beat the winter blues by making Victorian bath products. Learn the process of making soap and create your own signature tea blend.
February 15: Family History
The Civil War Museum has a lot of family stories within the gallery. Learn about important Upper Midwest family stories, then create your own family stories.
March 15: Civil War Soldier
Life as a Civil War soldier was incredibly hard. Handle artifacts and explore the exhibit to learn about what they carried, ate, and how they lived.
Travel Adventure Series
Thursdays at 7 pm
March 14, April 4, May 9
Held at Kenosha Public Museum.
This 6-film series features 90-minute travel films accompanied by live interactive presentations by professional filmmakers.
Doors open at 6:15 p.m. and the films start at 7 pm. The cost for each film is $5 for adults over the age of 15. A season pass may be purchased for $25 ($20 for seniors and Friends of the Museums members). Individual tickets may be purchased at the Museum in advance or at the door. Season passes may be purchased here.
Films included in the 2018-2019 season.
