Bettendorf ? With a week off from school, area parents and kids are looking for fun and exciting activities during spring break. From March 15 - March 21, the Family Museum offers seven days of just that: programs ranging from live music, special events, science, and performance art. Events and performances are included with paid admission or Family Museum membership.

The Junkman

Sunday, March 15

1:00 pm performance followed by "Junk Jams"

Inspired by the sounds his mechanic father made while working in the garage, Donald Knaack, The Junkman®, uses the sounds of found objects and recycled materials to make music.  Don't miss this unique performance! www.junkmusic.org

Comedy Sportz "Rated E for Everyone!"

Monday March 16

10:30 am

Get ready for some laughs! The Comedy Sportz team from right here in the Quad Cities will take the stage at the Family Museum! The "act-letes" hilarious improvisation skits will have kids giggling!  The audience-involved show is appropriate for the entire family. www.comedysportzqc.com

West Music's Instrument Petting Zoo

Monday March 16

2:00- 4:00 PM

Get ready to roll up your sleeves and pet some...instruments! Our friends from West Music are bringing along a sampling of instruments kids can try for themselves.  It's a great way to pique a musical interest in young children. Prizes too! www.westmusic.com

"Frozen" Day

Tuesday, March 17

Ice Sculpting Demonstration

10:30 am - 12:30 pm

Come see an ice sculptor in action! See what creations can be made from a huge block of ice!

Meet Elsa, Anna, and Olaf

10:00 - 11:00 am and 2:00 - 3:00 pm

Meet, greet, and take pictures with your favorite friends from Frozen!

*Please note, meet and greet will end at the times stated. Lines may need to be cut short.

Dry Ice! With Mr. Glenn

1:00 - 1:30 pm

What is dry ice? How cold is it?  Don't miss this "cool" science show with Mr. Glenn.

Play Fake Snow

1:30 - 2:30 pm

It may look like the real thing, but it's not!  Come check out our fake snow!

Frozen Sing Along and Dance Party

3:00 - 3:30 pm

Sing and dance to your favorite songs from the movie!

Snowball Fight!

3:30 - 4:30 pm

How about a snowball fight without the cold, wet snow? Make your own "snowballs" and have a good old fashioned snowball fight right here in our Great Hall! Fun for grown-ups too!

Balloon Magic

Wednesday, March 18

10:30 am

Billed as the "Funniest Magic Show Ever!" Bring the kids for a comedy, magical, balloon adventure!

Balloon Twisting

Wednesday, March 18

12:30 - 2:30 pm

Get in line and get a cool balloon creation! Animals, hats, flowers, and more!

Magic Classes

Wednesday, March 18

3:30 - 4:30 and 4:30 - 5:30 pm

How would you like to learn some magic? TJ Regul will hold classes for kids and parents to learn some "tricks" of the trade! Children age 6 and up (with an adult) only, please. Classes limited to 20 participants. Sign-ups will begin at 11:30 am. First come, first served.

Planetarium Fun!

Thursday, March 19

9:30 am - 4:00 pm

Join us in the inflatable planetarium for a 20 minute tour of the night sky! Find the bright stars and constellations of spring. Shows begin every half hour and are limited to 20 people. Sign in at the front desk for an available time.

Members of the Quad Cities Astronomical Society will also be here to display their telescopes. There will be an opportunity to gaze at the night sky through a telescope, if the night is clear, between 7 and 8 pm (or as soon as it gets dark).

Pajamas with Pete the Cat

Thursday, March 19

6:30 - 7:30 pm

If you love Pete the Cat stories, put on your pajamas and come to the Museum for a fun night! We'll have a PJ story time.... And Pete the Cat himself will be there too!

Dan Wardell from IPTV

Friday, March 20

10:30 am

Story time and adventure with IPTV Kids Clubhouse host, Dan Wardell! There's sure to be lots of fun when Dan's in the house!

Over the Ledge with Pete the Cat

Friday, March 20

1:00 pm

Join Pete the Cat for a special Over The Ledge! See what comes tumbling down when Pete goes on one of his silly adventures! "It's all good!"

Justin Roberts and the Not Ready for Naptime Players

Saturday, March 21

11:00 am

Grammy nominated Justin Roberts is truly one of the "all-stars" of the indie family music scene. With numerous national awards and recognition and a devoted fan base, Justin and The Not Ready for Naptime Players dish out unexpectedly intelligent and whimsically rocking music for kids and their parents. You won't want to miss this family friendly concert! www.justinroberts.org

Kooky, Spooky, and All-Together Ooky Activities Fill the Family Museum for Scarecrow Shenanigans

Bettendorf – Come in costume and celebrate the fall season! On Sunday, October 26, from noon - 5:00 PM the Family Museum's annual event, Scarecrow Shenanigans, returns this year with even more kooky, spooky, and ooky activities. Almost every gallery and room in the Museum will be filled with art activities, games, and science projects.

The day will start off with the Pleasant Valley Ensemble "The Trom-Bones" performing seasonal music as the first guests arrive at noon. In the Museum's Great Hall, visitors will discover the mysteries of dry ice through ghost bubbles and screaming spoons, win piles of candy by playing Halloween games, and then grab a quick snack. The Family Museum Gallery will get a spooky make-over that is not for the faint of heart. In the dance studios, guests can watch the Family Museum Dance Company perform songs inspired by Despicable Me at 1:30 and 2:30, and they can decorate a mini pumpkin. Visitors are also invited upstairs to make slime out of common household items, make glow-in-the-dark vampire veins, and dissect real eyeballs. And new this year: there will be trolley rides for children and adults outside.

Tickets are $3.00 for Family Museum members and $8.00 each for the general public.  Tickets are available now.  Everyone must have a ticket to enter - even Family Museum members. For more information please call (563) 344-4106, or visit www.familymuseum.org.  Scarecrow Shenanigans is sponsored by The Family Credit Union.

Bettendorf - In partnership with the Iowa Museum Association, Governor Terry Branstad has declared June 9-15, 2014 Iowa Museum Week. The Family Museum staff would like to encourage the citizens of the Quad Cities to explore area museums. "Iowa Museum Week happens during a great time of year for families to get out of the house and into any one of the fantastic museums in the area - on both the Iowa and the Illinois sides of the river. The Quad Cities is rich with culture from our art museums to our botanical center to our history museums, and the Family Museum is honored to be included as one of the many educational assets of the community," said Family Museum Assistant Director Kim Kidwell.

Family Museum Director Jeff Reiter said, "Not only is Iowa Museum Week a time to celebrate Iowa museums, it's a time for us at the Family Museum to thank our community for its continuing support. It is because of the people of the City of Bettendorf and the Quad Cities that we are able to offer such exciting exhibits and dynamic programing. It's a time to thank our guests, our city leaders, our volunteers, our donors, and our sponsors. It's very humbling to work in such a supportive community."

According to the proclamation [view here], "Iowa's museums play a crucial role in preserving the historical fabric and memory of our state through the preservation of artifacts and archives." "Iowa's museums provide educational resources and programs which expand learning opportunities for all ages." "Iowa's museums contribute to a vibrant community and state economy through job creation, the purchase of goods and services, and by attracting tourism revenue to the community and the state." "Iowa's museums play a significant role in enhancing community quality of life." Branstad encourages the citizens of the state Iowa to celebrate by visiting and supporting the Iowa museum of their choice.

If you would like to contact the Iowa Museum Association, please contact Cynthia Sweet, Executive Director at (319) 239-2236 or imasweet@cfu.net.

Bettendorf – The Family Museum will hold a press conference on Saturday, February 22 at 10:00 am

Ethan Geifman (pronounced GEEF-man), is a ten year old youth volunteer at the Family Museum. He has volunteered 50 hours since his start in March of 2013. He works with visitors in the Museum's Special Needs Creative Movement class, interacts with children in the Museum's exhibits, and cleans gallery props to keep the exhibits looking great.

Making Ethan the Honorary Mayor of Fox Hollow was a unanimous decision of the Family Museum staff. "At such a young age, I am so impressed with his volunteerism, his maturity, sense of responsibility, and his respect for the Museum and for people in our community.  Ethan has a great sense of enthusiasm and truly wants to make the world a better place.  He is one-of-a kind, and I'm so glad that he is part of our volunteer team," said Volunteer Coordinator Kristina Bouxsein-Hearn.

On Saturday, Ethan will be presented with a proclamation, and his name will be added to the Wall of Honorary Mayors located in the Fox Hollow Post Office. The proclamation will read: "On this day, the 22^nd of February, 2014, we hereby recognize Ethan Geifman, a true steward of the Family Museum, as honorary mayor of Fox Hollow. Because of his ongoing dedication to Volunteerism; his efforts keeping Fox Hollow safe and clean for all; his work, undertaken with maturity and positivity and his genuine interest in the inclusion and happiness of all peoples, we thank you, Mr. Mayor."

Fox Hollow is an exhibit in the Family Museum consisting of a town square with a Shoe Store, Post Office, Vet Clinic, Grocery Store, Fire Department, and Pizza Parlor. This hands-on gallery space opened February 15, 2013. For more information on Fox Hollow, please visit our website.

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