The expERIEnce Children’s Museum announces the availability of tickets for its highly anticipated Grand Opening on Wednesday, June 21, 2023 from 11 am – 7 pm. Visitors must register for their entrance window, beginning at 11 am. Tickets for the Grand Opening can be found on the museum’s website, www.eriechildrensmuseum.org. The museum encourages families to secure their tickets early to ensure availability.
During the Grand Opening, scheduled from 11 am to 7 pm, visitors will have the opportunity to explore the museum’s Phase I exhibits. General admission for ages 1 – 61 is $10. Museum discounts are available for seniors, retired and active military families, and those with a PA Access Card. All admission prices and more details are available on the website. Tickets must be purchased exclusively through the museum’s newly redesigned website at www.eriechildrensmuseum.org.
The Grand Opening offers additional excitement with music from the Star 104 van, visits by Jessica Curry, and an iHeart prize wheel. Attendees can also enjoy free face painting by Face Painting by Connie, LLC., and take advantage of specials from Chick-fil-A.
Phase I of the museum opening encompasses three floors of exhibits, providing a wide range of engaging experiences. For more information on what’s in the new space, visit the museum’s website at www.eriechildrensmuseum.org.
The newly located entrance, situated at the corner of 5th and French Streets, leads visitors to the first level, where they will discover a fully renovated lobby and a gift shop. The lobby features an interactive musical wall dedicated to the project’s major sponsors, allowing guests to play music while checking in. Additionally, visitors can immerse themselves in a captivating Green Screen Interactive experience upon entering the museum.
On the second level, visitors will delight in exploring the kid-sized town, My Erie! This upgraded version of the town in the current museum brings together different aspects of a community, showcasing its harmonious functioning. My Erie includes a restaurant called Erie Eats, a Grocery Store, Farm, Theater, Auto Shop, Nursery, Pet Vet, and Tot Spot. Erie Eats provides children with a hands-on experience of running a restaurant, from seating parties to taking and preparing orders, as well as managing payments. The Grocery Store, now with a larger space, builds upon the beloved Wegmans Kid Market concept from the previous museum. Adjacent to the Grocery Store, the Farm allows children to milk a cow and sort harvested plants to supply the “Farm Fresh” section of the Grocery Store. The Theater allows children to take center stage, reenacting scenes from the Philharmonic, Erie Playhouse, Erie Dance Conservatory, and the Warner Theatre. The Auto Center features the Super Service Center and a race track. The Nursery showcases an updated Operation Game and baby songs from New American families in Erie, complete with English translations. The Pet Vet station offers a chance to don a white coat and explore stations on Communication and Grooming, Diet, X-ray, and more. Lastly, the Tot Spot provides a stimulating environment for young learners, featuring the iconic alphabet tree from “Chicka Chicka Boom Boom.”
The bottom level is dedicated to “Lake Life,” celebrating the joy of being on Lake Erie. Visitors will encounter a Ship Climber, an Ice Table, a Bubble Exhibit, an Interactive Lake Projection, and an expansive Water Table. The Ship Climber, modeled after the Brig Niagara, allows children to climb aboard and become the captain. The Ice Table, reminiscent of “Erie’s Sandbox,” offers icy activities akin to a sandbox experience. Returning with a new and improved design, “The Bubble” exhibit allows visitors to create a bubble surrounding their body, evoking nostalgia from the early ’90s. Adding a touch of technology, an interactive lake projection responds to footsteps, creating a captivating visual experience. Finally, visitors can immerse themselves in a brand new water table, three times the size of the previous one, depicting activities seen in Erie’s Bayfront. This water table proudly stands as the second-largest of its kind in the country.
Don’t miss out on the exciting updates happening downtown! Join the Grand Opening of the expERIEnce Children’s Museum on June 21, 2023, from 11 am to 7 pm. Tickets are available now on the museum’s website: www.eriechildrensmuseum.org. Embark on an unforgettable journey of exploration and imagination.
