Saturday, July 30
9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 – 4:30 p.m.
It’s going to be a furry fun day at the 5th annual animal welfare event with our partner, the Palo Alto Humane Society. Be amazed by illusions and dazzling magic tricks with Patrick Livingstone, make creature ears or a wearable animal, design your arms, hands and forehead like your favorite critter, go on a scavenger hunt, and learn more about local animal-related resources. It’s going to be a dog-gone, purrfect day!
At the Museum:
Make creature ears or a wearable animal from pipe cleaners
Enjoy a magic show by Patrick Livingstone at 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.
Paint your arms, hands, and forehead to create your favorite animal
Go on a Discovery Duck scavenger hunt throughout the museum
Watch “It’s a Dog’s Day”, an original PAHS film highlighting the care of dogs
Create animal-inspired artwork in the Neiman Art Studio
Unveiling of the Adoptable Art exhibition in the Tracey Heyman Wing of our art gallery
ENTER THE DRAWING TO WIN DISNEY’S THE LION KING TICKETS AT OUR ON-SITE GIVEAWAY! A QR code with a link to enter will be on display throughout the Museum and available from staff.
The Palo Alto Humane Society is a 501(c) 3 nonprofit, charitable, volunteer-supported organization. PAHS is one of the few humane societies nationwide with no animal shelter. Instead of managing animals inside a shelter, PAHS works to keep animals out of the shelter through humane programs in intervention, advocacy, and education. For a century, its mission has been to alleviate the suffering of animals, increase public sensitivity to animal issues, and elevate the status of animals in our society.
Make Music Day – Free music and art event at the Museum
Tuesday, June 21st
11:00 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.
We will not be charging for this event and it will take place in the Museum’s Amphitheatre. Please enter through our side Amphitheatre entrance, just below our colorful portico area on the Woz Way side of the Museum. The Museum is closed except for the special, free performance.
Join us for a performance by Andre Thierry, an accordion virtuoso who the Washington Post has described as “a master of pumping out fast, funky rhythms.” Thierry’s “Are you Ready to Learn” music program shares a mix of African, Native American, Blues, French Kreole dance melodies, and elements of Afro-Caribbean music. The instruments introduced are the vest rub boards, drums, and accordion, all popular Zydeco instruments. Combining traditional and newly composed music exploring Kreole culture and Zydeco Music of Southwest Louisiana, Thierry is dedicated to music education and the future generations of young musicians. This is an opportunity for us to come together in spirit and celebrate the music that brings us joy. Make Music Day San Jose is a free community-curated celebration which coincides with festivities in more than one thousand cities worldwide.
Children will be invited to create their own DIY rain sticks so that they can continue the fun and creativity at home!
Juneteenth Community Celebration Sunday, June 19 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Join us and let’s celebrate African-American culture together with our partner, Silicon Valley African Film Festival (SVAFF). Watch a variety of animated short films, find your rhythm during a drumming workshop, and catch the beat by making your very own drum to practice at home. Discover the vast richness of the African Diaspora through a mix of shorts created for children by seasoned and emerging filmmakers that will run throughout the day.
Master Drummer Pope Flyne, a Ghanaian-born performer, composer, and educator will lead a drumming workshop and invite you to try your hand at some traditional African drums. Then top off the day by making your own percussion instrument!
Silicon Valley African Film Festival Selections
Recoiled
8 minutes Director: Claire Grim Country: USA Recoiled is a 3D animated short that tells the story of two young African American sisters. Kailli’s hair is so curly that it has a life of its own. With the help of her young sister, Kalli quickly discovers that being true to one another and to themselves is far more important that conforming to social norms of beauty and peer pressure to fit in.
Souleyman
5 minutes Director: Aloïs Agboglo Country: Benin Souleyman is a little boy, a fan of a superhero who saves people in danger in the city.
The Boy and The Jazz
Animation 3 minutes Director: Flavio dos Santos Country: Brazil The Boy and The Jazz tells the story of a boy who is in love with music and dreams of owning a trumpet so he can become a jazz musician. When he realizes that the price of the instrument is higher than he can afford, he feels frustrated, but then he starts looking for ways to achieve his goals.
About SVAFF
Silicon Valley African Film Festival
Africa through the African lens!
13th annual SVAFF, October 13-16, 2022 http://www.svaff.org
Monday, January 17, 2022
10:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. PST
via Zoom, Free
Registration required, limited capacityReserve your spot!
Join us on Monday, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, for “The Dream of a King” with storyteller Diane Ferlatte!
Diane Ferlatte brings her considerable acting and musical skills to a program of stories and songs that honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on this day of celebration. Ms. Ferlatte is well respected for preserving folk history, culture, and values through the oral tradition. Her performance will be enriched by the accompaniment of musician Erik Pearson.
Join us! The event is free on Zoom. Space is limited and registration is required. Reserve your spot!
Program recording will be able for on-demand replay until Friday, 1/21/21 on Facebook and YouTube.
Join us on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day for “The Dream of a King.” Storyteller Diane Ferlatte brings to life Dr. King’s compelling story with tales of history, culture and music in this enthralling stage performance that pays homage to one of America’s most celebrated activists.
Join us on Martin Luther King Jr. Day for The Dream of a King. Storyteller Diane Ferlatte and her musical accompaniment Erik Pearson bring to life Dr. King’s compelling story with tales of history, culture and music in this enthralling stage performance that pays homage to one of America’s most celebrated activists.
In AlegreMENTE | Happy Brain: Celebrating Early Connections visitors celebrate loving, playful connections together in a whimsical forest full of families of all kinds, both human and animal! Each interactive in AlegreMENTE | Happy Brain: Celebrating Early Connections is designed to engage young children and their caregivers. Kids play and adults learn about how simple, everyday interactions build social-emotional, language, cognitive, and motor skills. Caregivers explore alongside their children through dance, storytelling, and more, discovering they’re equipped with everything they need to support early brain development and build healthy connections with 0-6 year-olds.
En AlegreMENTE | Happy Brain: Celebrando las Conexiones Tempranas ¡Los visitantes celebran las conexiones cariñosas y divertidas juntos en un bosque mágico lleno de familias de todo tipo, tanto humanas como animales! Cada exhibición interactiva en AlegreMENTE | Happy Brain: Celebrando las Conexiones Tempranas está diseñada para involucrar a los niños pequeños y sus cuidadores. Los niños juegan y los adultos aprenden cómo sus interacciones simples y diarias apoyan sus habilidades socioemocionales, lingüísticas, cognitivas y motoras. Los cuidadores exploran junto a sus hijos a través del baile, cuentos y más, y descubren que están preparados con todo lo que necesitan para apoyar el desarrollo temprano del cerebro y establecer conexiones saludables con niñas y niños de 0 a 6 años.
Halloween at the Museum is SOLD-OUT. Please visit us another day!
It’s fall, and you know what that means: Halloween! We are hosting a day that will give everyone pumpkin to talk about! This year’s fang-tastic Halloween is “all treats, no tricks.” Join us for a frighteningly good time making Bernoulli Ghosts, exploring spooky science, making your bones glow, adventuring in a Hay Maze, and marching in a Monster Mash parade along the Healthy Treat Trail!
This is going to be a gourd time you won’t want to miss!
It’s the same spooktacular fun for both play sessions.
NOVEMBER 4
Virtual celebration on Facebook and YouTube
We’re celebrating Diwali all week! Don’t miss our broadcast on Thursday, Nov. 4 at 10:30 a.m. on Facebook and YouTube. Join Kavita and Kishan from Radio DeHotties, as we learn about the rich traditions of this joyous holiday, enjoy the story of Diwali, and watch a lively dance performance.
NOVEMBER 6
Program at the Museum
Join us as we honor one of the most celebrated holidays in Indian culture on Saturday, November 6.
While at the museum, discover the meaning and rich traditions of Diwali. Make your very own Diya lamp and have fun finding your rhythm while watching and learning Bollywood dance moves with Sun Bollywood.
Enjoy the beautiful artistry of a brilliantly colored Rangoli installation by artist Purvi Shah.
Sun Bollywood performances:
11:00 a.m.
3:00 p.m.
Making Diwali Sweets by Jayashree Panda (Pragnya)
Make Coconut Ladoos and Rose Rolls
2020 Celebration highlights:
Enjoy last year’s celebration of lively dance performances, art, stories, and crafts. Be inspired by dhol drums, learn to make a diya lamp and create a mehendi design.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM PAST EVENTS
Meet the Artist
This celebration is created in partnership with the Museum’s South Asian Cultural Advisors
Special thanks to our presenting sponsor:
This program was made possible, in part, by a Cultural Affairs grant from the City of San Jose.
This year we’re excited to bring back our 2021-22 Cultural Program Series in person. In order to do this, we’re making some changes from previous years to keep everyone safe and healthy. We will celebrate the Mid-Autumn Moon Program during regular museum hours, replacing the after-hours Lantern Festival. Join us and let’s honor the harvest season together.
Play sessions
9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Learn about Chinese and Vietnamese cultures, make and decorate playdough mooncakes, and revel in the always exciting Lion Dance performance.
Lion Dances
11:00 a.m.
3:00 p.m.
Want to learn more about the traditions of the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival? Watch this video from our program at the Museum.
Special Thanks to Our Presenting Sponsor
HIGHLIGHTS FROM PAST EVENTS
Lion Dance
This program is created in partnership with the Museum’s Cultural Advisors.
Mid-Autumn Moon Festival Saturday, September 10 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Explore the Chinese and Vietnamese customs of celebrating and giving thanks to the moon and the bountiful harvest season. Join us and make playdough moon cakes, thrill in the always popular and spirited Lion Dance performance by Yun Yee Tong USA, and stop by the theatre to learn more about this amazing holiday and listen and dance to some traditional music.
In many parts of Asia, it’s common during a Mid-Autumn Moon Celebration to honor and worship the moon, the people who work the land, and the food that is cultivated. The festivals coincide with the full moon on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month.
Activities include:
Lion Dance Performance by Yun Yee Tong, USA (11:00 a.m. & 3:00 p.m.)
Make a Playdough Mooncake!
Want to learn more about the traditions of the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival? Watch this video from our program at the Museum.
Special thanks to our presenting sponsor:
This program was made possible, in part, by a Cultural Affairs grant from the City of San Jose.
Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose is supported in part by an American Rescue Plan Act grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to support general operating expenses in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM PAST EVENTS
Lion Dance
This program is created in partnership with the Museum’s Cultural Advisors.
The museum is committed to promoting the region’s diversity through the Cultural CelebrationSeries so that families of all backgrounds can explore the many cultures and traditions in Silicon Valley. Cultural celebrations offer opportunities for building global awareness for people to explore and understand their cultural differences and similarities.
Children of the Dragon Saturday, April 9 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Join us as we honor some of the rich Vietnamese traditions at this joyful program. Revel in the spectacular Lion Dance – this dazzling tradition is a favorite among museum visitors and staff. We’re energized just thinking about this powerful dance! Enjoy performances by Lion Dance Troupe Yun Yee Tong and traditional dancers Tuổi Thần Tiên, make a dragon puppet, snap a commemorative family photo in a xich-lo, and stop by the theatre to watch a short video and learn more about Vietnamese customs while getting to know those of family, friends, and neighbors.
Performances at 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.
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Special thanks to our presenting sponsor:
This program was made possible, in part, by a Cultural Affairs grant from the City of San Jose.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM PAST PROGRAMS
This celebration is created in partnership with the Museum’s Vietnamese Cultural Advisors.
Proud of My Family
Saturday, June 4
9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Adding a positive voice to the national narrative around inclusion and diversity, Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose hosts its eighth annual Proud of My Family event. Visitors will enjoy activities designed to celebrate all types of families, especially LGBTQ+ parents, relatives, and friends. The museum’s Proud of My Family event is one of the few Pride events that is held every year for young children and their families.
The event fosters understanding and builds awareness of family diversity while recognizing that families come in all configurations and what binds people together are the shared hopes and dreams for their children and their futures.
Day of Activities:
Make rainbow streamers to spin, twirl, and whirl.
March in the visitor parade.
Rainbow Reflections: Learn the meaning behind the Pride Flag colors with a scavenger hunt.
Strike a pose to make lasting family memories with a commemorative photo.
Craft a rainbow and magical designs on faces, hands, and arms with paint in the museum’s Face Painting Room.
Move and groove in the Rainbow Dance Zone.
Enjoy a live performance by singer/guitarist Danielle Hanji Kim at 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.
Take home a swag bag of Pride goodies.
The program was created in partnership with the museum’s LGBTQ advisory committee and is part of the museum’s Cultural Competence strategic commitment. The museum was the recipient of the prestigious Diversity, Equity, Access and Inclusion Award in 2020 by the professional association American Alliance of Museums, which represents over 5,000 museums of all disciplines.
2021 Celebration highlights:
Additional Resources from the Museum’s Minds in Bloom blog
Lunar New Year
Saturday, February 5
9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Create your own branch of beautiful flowers to symbolize health, prosperity, and good fortune in the coming year. We’ll come together for a Storytime in the amphitheater, “Bringing in the New Year” by Grace Lin, and then learn some basic lion dance steps in a facilitated activity. We’re looking forward to learning more about the meaning behind the steps and trying our hand at this super fun dance with you! Stop by the theatre and watch a short video to learn more about the meaning behind Lunar New Year and enjoy learning the rich customs of family, friends, and neighbors as we welcome in the new year together.
Enjoy these excerpts from past Lunar New Year programs.
2021 Celebration highlights:
Storytime with “Bringing in the New Year” written by Grace Lin
Make blossoms inspired by springtime and a new year, revisit past museum programs and learn the basic moves of a Lion Dance.
Join us to share in the joy of The Three Kings story. Celebrated widely by many cultures around the world, and observed in many Spanish-speaking countries, the Feast of the Three Kings honors the Epiphany. At the museum, you can make and decorate a festive crown to proudly wear, enjoy lively and traditional Mariachi youth performers, delight in gifts (chocolate coins) handed out by the kings, and learn more about the holiday by watching a short video in the theatre. The day is traditionally celebrated with family, food, gift-giving, and a Rosca de Reyes (sweet bread or King’s Cake).
Special thanks to our sponsors!
Presenting sponsor
Supporting sponsors
Museum Program:
Watch our online program:
Join us and TV producer, host, and bilingual influencer Barbara Cortez-Chacon and learn about the rich traditions and colorful customs of El Dia de los Tres Reyes Magos (The Three Kings), a holiday that is celebrated in many countries around the world. Discover more about Rosca de Reyes, the special bread that is baked for this day, make a star – an important symbol – and listen to Mariachi Mexico. Celebrate online and then make plans to join us at the Museum this Saturday for our Three Kings program!
Celebrate with us and learn more about these rich traditions brought to you from our home to yours.
Make a tortilla
Create a cornhusk doll
Fashion a crown
Enjoy lively dance and music performances including the critically acclaimed, Los Lupeños dance troupe, and much more!
Learn about the tradition and meaning behind the Rosca de Reyes bread
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