Play It Forward Annual Fundraiser
August 7, 2025 | 21+ Event

Join us under the Big Top for Play It Forwardβ€”SPARK’s carnival-themed fundraiser where grown-ups get to play for a cause! Enjoy complimentary food trucks, nostalgic carnival games, a lively cash bar, photo booth, and a chance to win prizes from amazing local businesses.

🀘 Sign Language Story Time

🀘 Sign Language Story Time

SPARK, the Children's Museum of Rochester

Join us for Sign Language Story Time with Traci from Circle of Friends Signing School! πŸ“–βœ¨ Enjoy interactive stories, songs, and fun while learning basic ASL signs. πŸ“… Every 1st Wednesday & 3rd Sunday ⏰ 11:00 – 11:30 AM Come play, learn, and discover the magic of storytelling through sign language! πŸ‘πŸ’›

πŸ“š SPARK Story Time

πŸ“š SPARK Story Time

SPARK, the Children's Museum of Rochester

Gather β€˜round for SPARK Story Time! A SPARK staff member will lead young readers through a delightful book filled with imagination, fun, and learning. This cozy read-aloud is perfect for families to enjoy togetherβ€”and it counts as a check-off on your Summer Bookworm Challenge sheet! Included with daily admission or membership.

πŸ§’ Toddler Thursdays

SPARK, the Children's Museum of Rochester

Bring your littlest learners to SPARK every Thursday for a day full of playing, learning, and discovering together! The Tot Spot will be available all day in the Imagination Station. A special 30-minute morning program will rotate, ensuring various enriching experiences for young learners. FREE admission for kids 3 & under. Adults and children 4 […]

πŸ“– Tot Storytime

SPARK, the Children's Museum of Rochester

Join us for a special Tot Storytimeβ€”just for our littlest learners! Held on Toddler Thursday, this cozy, interactive story session is designed for children ages 3 and under. We’ll read playful picture books and explore simple themes perfect for toddlers’ growing minds. A gentle, joyful introduction to the world of stories and imagination! Included with […]

🦈 Shark Art

SPARK, the Children's Museum of Rochester

Get ready to make a splash with Shark Art! Kids will create their own fin-tastic shark masterpieces using scrap paper, scissors, and glue. They'll cut and layer shapes to design their very own open-mouthed sharks peeking out of the waterβ€”complete with silly teeth and googly eyes! A jawsome way to dive into creativity during Shark […]

πŸ§‘β€πŸ”¬ STEM Friday

SPARK, the Children's Museum of Rochester

STEM Friday at SPARK is a hands-on, interactive program every Friday from 11:00–11:30 AM, featuring a new STEM-based activity each week. Join us for exciting experiments, creative challenges, and discoveries that make science, technology, engineering, and math come to life!

β˜€οΈ Sharky Suncatchers

SPARK, the Children's Museum of Rochester

Dive under the sea and make your own Sharky Suncatcher! Kids will use contact paper, tissue paper, and a shark silhouette to create a colorful porthole-style window sceneβ€”just like peeking out from a submarine into the deep blue sea. Hang it in a sunny spot to watch your shark swim through the light! Included with […]

🧘 Family Yoga

SPARK, the Children's Museum of Rochester

Family Yoga – Every Saturday from 11:30 AM–12:00 PM, join us for a fun and relaxing yoga session led by a local instructor. This family-friendly class encourages movement, mindfulness, and bonding through playful poses and gentle stretches!

✏️Malala Day: β€œMalala’s Magic Pencil” & Activity

SPARK, the Children's Museum of Rochester

Celebrate Malala Day with a special storytime and reflection activity! We’ll read Malala’s Magic Pencil, the inspiring story of a young girl who dreamed of making the world a better place. After the story, kids will imagine what they would do if they had a magic pencilβ€”drawing or writing their own hopes, dreams, and ideas […]

πŸ¦– Dinosaur Puppet Play

SPARK, the Children's Museum of Rochester

Stomp, roar, and take the stage! Kids will bring prehistoric tales to life using dinosaur puppets and our puppet theater. Whether they're narrating, acting, or making up silly dino voices, everyone gets a chance to be part of the show in this imaginative, hands-on puppet play experience. Included with daily admission or membership.

🦈 Baby Shark Dance Party

SPARK, the Children's Museum of Rochester

Get ready to dance, wiggle, and sing along at our Baby Shark Dance Party! Featuring the wildly popular β€œBaby Shark” song, this high-energy program invites kids to move and groove with silly shark-inspired dance moves, bubbles, and lots of under-the-sea fun. Perfect for little ones who love to boogie! Included with daily admission or membership.

❀️ Grandparents Play FREE

SPARK, the Children's Museum of Rochester

Grandparents Play Free Day – Every Tuesday, grandparents enjoy free admission to SPARK, thanks to the generous support of the Astrup Family Foundation, Sterling Pharmacy, and Carl & Verna Schmidt. Bring the grandkids for a day of play, learning, and lasting memories!

πŸ• Bernie the Therapy Dog

πŸ• Bernie the Therapy Dog

SPARK, the Children's Museum of Rochester

Come cuddle up with Bernie, a friendly and lovable Golden Doodle and registered therapy dog with the Alliance of Therapy Dogs! πŸΆπŸ’› Alongside his trainer, Tim, Bernie brings comfort, joy, and calm to little learners through gentle interactions and furry friendship. πŸ“… Every 1st & 3rd Tuesday ⏰ 10:00 – 11:00 AM Stop by for […]

πŸ¦– Make-a-Fossil

SPARK, the Children's Museum of Rochester

Dig into discovery with our Make-a-Fossil activity! Kids will explore how fossils are formed by using dried clay "fossils" to make their own imprints in playdough. From dino tracks to ancient shell shapes, it’s a hands-on way to learn about prehistoric lifeβ€”one squish at a time! πŸ¦– Included with daily admission or membership.

Discovery Play

SPARK, the Children's Museum of Rochester

Creating a safe space for all families in the community. ✨ Discovery Play nights are a time for our families to have a less crowded environment, with light and sound reduction, extra visual safety signage, designated quiet rooms, and other accommodations they may need. Every third Thursday of the month. 5:00 - 7:00PM

Member Morning

Member Morning

SPARK, the Children's Museum of Rochester

Member Morning – Every Wednesday from 9:00–10:00 AM, SPARK members enjoy an exclusive, quieter play hour before the museum opens to the public. It's a special perk designed for a more relaxed and engaging experience! Don't miss the Special Member Morning, one Wednesday a month, where we have a special Member only activity!

CLOSING EARLY

SPARK, the Children's Museum of Rochester

We are closing at noon today in order to prepare for our event Jurassic SPARK!

🦴 Dino Bone Builders

SPARK, the Children's Museum of Rochester

Get ready to build like a paleontologist! In Dino Bone Builders, kids will use dried pasta noodles to create their own dinosaur skeletons on paper. With creativity and a touch of prehistoric imagination, they'll piece together β€œbones” to design dino masterpieces. πŸ¦• Included with daily admission or membership.

Jurassic SPARK πŸ¦•

SPARK, the Children's Museum of Rochester

Something BIG is coming to SPARK! Join us on Wednesday, July 16 from 4:00–6:00PM for Jurassic SPARK, a prehistoric party packed with hands-on dino fun. Dig into dinosaur-themed sensory stations, excavate fossils, hatch dinosaur eggs, adopt your very own dino to take home, and even dress up like a paleontologist or a dinosaur! We'll explore […]

πŸ§’ Toddler Thursdays

SPARK, the Children's Museum of Rochester

Bring your littlest learners to SPARK every Thursday for a day full of playing, learning, and discovering together! The Tot Spot will be available all day in the Imagination Station. A special 30-minute morning program will rotate, ensuring various enriching experiences for young learners. FREE admission for kids 3 & under. Adults and children 4 […]