Events

Readings of classic children’s tales at 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., and 12:30 p.m. This month: Color Me Happy. Included with general museum admission fees.

View a four-case display that pays homage to the 2012 National Toy Hall of Fame inductee Star Wars action figures and includes Star Wars toy vehicles, play sets, and examples from a collection assembled by Fon Davis, a Star Wars enthusiast and former model maker for Industrial Light and Magic who worked on the earliest Star Wars movies in the 1970s and 1980s. (Note: Not to be confused with In Another Galaxy Weekend, which will be November 16 & 17.) Included with general museum admission fees.

Readings of classic children’s tales at 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., and 12:30 p.m.  This month: Garden Stories. Included with general museum admission fees.

Playful learning activities designed for 2- to 6-year-olds, one Monday a month from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This month: Gardens Galore. Included with general museum admission fees.

Meet Fairy Houses author Tracy Kane, learn how to build a fairy house, dress up like a pixie, and more. Included with general museum admission fees. Presented in conjunction with the Fairy Houses Tour at the 45th Annual Corn Hill Arts Festival.

Beloved literary characters jump off the pages of favorite books and into the National Museum of Play. Meet the Very Hungry Caterpillar. Included with general museum admission fees.

Readings of classic children’s tales at 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., and 12:30 p.m. This month: Garden Stories. Included with general museum admission fees.

Explore the creative thinking behind the finished designs of some of the most popular video arcade games of all time—including Gauntlet, Street Fighter, Gran Trak 10, Red Baron, and Gotcha. Check out classic arcade machine cabinets and the preliminary designs, drawings, and sketches that went into their creation, as well as some of the fliers and advertising materials used to promote their sale. Included with general museum admission fees.

Join in a festive, musical march throughout the galleries at the end of each museum day—a rousing way to conclude your visit! Included with general museum admission fees

Step right up! Celebrate seaside amusements in all their beeping, blipping, vibrant glory. Stroll down a boardwalk that evokes the heyday of 19th- and early 20th-century resorts such as Coney Island and Atlantic City, where Americans of all ethnicities flocked for good old summertime fun. During opening weekend, marvel at street entertainers such as jugglers, stilt walkers, and living statues. Included with general museum admission fees.

Beloved literary characters jump off the pages of favorite books and into the National Museum of Play. Meet the Berenstein Bears’ beloved Mama Bear. Included with general museum admission fees.

Enjoy kid-inspired cuisine, adult-approved cocktails, exciting entertainment, and live and silent auctions at The Strong’s annual fundraising gala. Tickets are $125 per person, and all proceeds benefit The Strong’s education and outreach programs.

Don a hardhat and construction vest and explore the concepts of construction, motion, and simple machines at more than 20 interactive stations. Hand operate a pulley or conveyer belt to explore cause and effect, turn the wheels of a gantry crane to transport cargo and discover mechanical physics at work, and much more. Included with general museum admission fees

Be amazed as local balloon artists, including Larry Moss and Kelly Cheatle of Airigami, create a large balloon sculpture to help celebrate the 14th annual Balloons Around the World event. Included with general museum admission fees.

Celebrate some of the best “baddies” of all-time. Meet the cartoon artists behind some magical and monstrous creations and construct your own monster from pipe cleaners. Enjoy performances by Allendale Columbia students of The Littlest Witch. Included with general museum admission fees.

Playful learning activities designed for 2- to 6-year-olds, one Monday a month from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This month: Build It! Included with general museum admission fees.

Beloved literary characters jump off the pages of favorite books and into the National Museum of Play. Just in time for Halloween, meet Bunnicula the vampire bunny. Included with general museum admission fees.

Halloween activities and goodies for the littlest trick-or-treaters. Meet favorite storybook characters, dance to Halloween tunes, and play games. Included with general museum admission fees.

Playful learning activities designed for 2- to 6-year-olds, one Monday a month from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This month: Artful Activities. Included with general museum admission fees.

The 2013 toy honorees are revealed at a public ceremony that takes place in the National Toy Hall of Fame. Included with regular museum admission fees.

A weekend of toy-filled revelry in conjunction with the induction 2013 toy induction. Included with general museum admission fees.

Storytelling, dance, and live music presented in conjunction with upcoming performances of The Nutcracker, featuring members of the Rochester City Ballet. Also, enjoy scenes from A Christmas Carol by actors from Geva Theatre Center. Included with general museum admission fees.

Come dressed as your favorite science fiction movie character and meet members of the 501st Legion (Vader’s Fist) and the Rebel Legion. Play vintage Star Wars video games and see Star Wars artifacts from the museum’s collections. Try out cool science gadgets, get a temporary tattoo, and pose for pictures in the dress-up area. This program is not sponsored or endorsed by Lucasfilm Ltd. Included with general museum admission fees.

Beloved literary characters jump off the pages of favorite books and into the National Museum of Play. Meet the Berenstein Bears’ lovable Brother Bear. Included with general museum admission fees.

Beloved literary characters jump off the pages of favorite books and into the National Museum of Play. Meet the Berenstein Bears’ lovable Brother Bear. Included with general museum admission fees.

Beloved literary characters jump off the pages of favorite books and into the National Museum of Play. Meet Dr. Seuss’s The Grinch. (Tentative.) Included with general museum admission fees.

Beloved literary characters jump off the pages of favorite books and into the National Museum of Play. Meet the Berenstein Bears’ lovable Sister Bear. Included with general museum admission fees.

Sprint over to The Strong and get into the action at the second annual Reindeer Run, a unique, family-friendly foot race. Produced by YellowJacket Racing and sponsored by Fleet Feet Sports, the all-ages run is downtown Rochester’s only winter 5K event and includes a quarter-mile kids race. The Reindeer Run begins at 8:30 a.m. (check in at 7:30 a.m.) and concludes at The Strong with an awards ceremony in the museum theater. Fees apply.