YES it’s that time of year again!! The Great Lakes Children’s Museum, the Northern Michigan Railroad Club and the City of Traverse City are pleased to announce the return of the Festival of Trains for 2018! The Festival starts Saturday, December 15 and runs through December 31 at the Crooked Tree Arts Center at 322 Sixth Street in Traverse City.

-Admission is $5 per person (children 4 and under are free) and are sold on arrival.
-Festival Household Passes allow unlimited entry for two adults and all children living in the same household and can be purchased at the door for $30.00.

-Groups of 10 students or more (and their chaperones) are welcome – reservations are required in advance. Information on scheduling reservations can be found by calling 231.932.4526.

**PLEASE NOTE*** THE FESTIVAL IS NOT AT THE CHILDREN’S MUSEUM- It is at the Crooked Tree Arts Center at 322 Sixth St.***

Hours:
Monday – Saturday 10 am to 6 pm
Sunday – 12 to 4 pm

Special days/hours:
December 24th 10 am to 4 pm
December 31st 10 am to 4 pm
Closed on December 25th

Special Events:
Swap Meet December 15th and 16th from 10:00 am – 6:00 pm

Volunteers are needed for all days! Information on volunteering and an online sign up can be found HERE!

And if you’re coming into town to see the trains- why not head over to the Great Lakes Children’s Museum to make a whole family day out of it!?

Trains and Bridges exhibit in the Great Lakes Children’s Museum!

Great Lakes Children’s Museum’s Executive Director Mike Long says, “If it’s been more than a year since you have visited the Children’s Museum, there are LOTS of new things to check out.”

Please direct questions about the festival hours, field trips, or volunteering to 231.932.4526 or impact@glcm.org.

Our partner, the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs (MCACA), is working through the Michigan Youth Arts program to reimburse teachers and schools for the cost of busing students to qualified Arts and Culture field trip experiences.  The Great Lakes Children’s Museum is a qualified experience, so please direct this information on to any teachers and/or Parent-Teacher Organizations.

For help or questions writing the grants, please contact Lisa at 231.932.4526 x 19 or frmgr@glcm.org. Grant applications are accepted between August 15th, 2018 and October 20th. Field trips must take place between late November of 2018 and early June 2019. Please review www.michiganyoutharts.org/grants for exact details.

GLCM is once again selling Rubber Duckies to race in the 30th Annual TC Optimist Boardman River Duck Race- held on Thursday, July 6, 2017, at 4 p.m. (Kids Day of National Cherry Festival) @ UNION ST. BRIDGE.

What is the TC Optimist Boardman Duck Race? Every year on the first Thursday of the National Cherry Festival in downtown Traverse City, the Traverse City Optimist Club holds its annual Boardman River Duck Race. The starting point for this race is by the U.S. Post Office off of the Union Street Bridge. Here participants may enter their ducks into the race.

Ducks are available here at the Great Lakes Children’s Museum!

Each year a sea of adopted rubber ducks will race down the mighty Boardman River in Traverse City raising funds for your favorite youth charities.

Top finishing ducks will win great prizes and the first place duck will win the Grand Prize.

1st Prize: $200 Meijer Gift Card

2nd Prize: $150 Meijer Gift Card

3rd Prize: $100 Meijer Gift Card

Plus 20 more gift certificates to McLain Cycle & Fitness!

Your adoption donation ($5 for one duck or $25 for a 6 quack of 6 ducks), will be used by the TC Optimist Club in the support of local youth groups in our area. You do not need to be present to participate or win! Your generous duck adoption funds go to support local youth organizations!

How does duck adoption work?

Through the online form or at the front desk of the Great Lakes Children’s Museum. The adoption paper, along with the donation ($5 for one duck or $25 for a 6 quack of 6 ducks), is turned into the Optimist Club for monitoring. Each duck will have a number, which corresponds with its owner’s adoption paper. A receipt with your duck or duck’s numbers will be given to you or emailed back to you.

All ducks must be delivered and registered at the bridge by 3:30 pm. Ducks will be dropped from the bridge at 4 pm, and finish at the Traverse City Chamber of Commerce.

The event will be broadcast live on the radio. You can “Tune – In” and Listen to the play by play on Race Day by turning to, – Fox 94.3 – Radio – The Duck Station!

Great thanks, recognition, and pride come to those that make this event possible.

You Are Cordially invited to the 2017 Great Lakes Children’s Museum’s

Annual Hands-On Learning Auction!

The A-Ha! Event will be held Saturday, February 25th for an evening of dining, auctions, dancing and hands-on FUN at the spectacular Visions at CenterPointe venue in Traverse City!

-Tickets: $65 per person or $125 per couple
– Ticket price includes dinner, dessert, beer and wine!

Evening Timeline:

6:30 pm Guest arrival and Registration; time to look over and make bids on silent auction items, cocktail social

7:30 pm Dinner and Dessert

8:00 pm Keynote Speaker Presentation (Joseph R. Sanok, MA, LLP, LPC, NCC)

8:20 pm Live Auction and wrap up of Silent Auction

9:15 pm Mingling, Auction Checkout and Dancing

Great Lakes Children’s Museum’s Annual Hands-On Learning Auction – our 2017 A-HA! Fundraising Event!

Wondering what to wear? Women, get your cocktail dresses; men, please come in a suit, or yacht attire if you are feeling frisky!

Ticket price includes dinner, dessert, as well as complimentary beer and wine!

What a great way to demonstrate your support for Northwestern Michigan’s only interactive Children’s Museum. By supporting the Great Lakes Children’s Museum, you are committing to keep our doors open for ALL children and families- regardless of socio-economic status. On average, nearly 40% of the Museum’s admissions are free or subsidized. Your generosity is invaluable to those who need it most. Remember, our membership holders, who come into GLCM an average of five times a year or more, are families and community members who live, work and play in Grand Traverse Area. All money raised from this event goes to the Great Lakes Children’s Museum, a 501c3 not-for-profit corporation.