A few beloved characters sweep into the area to liven up January. Get excited for Disney royalty, a child wearing red, an orphan and someone on a journey—all strong, female characters in the lead with stories to tell. Fall in love with these favorite figures and feel like a kid again.
Frozen Super Saturday
Muskegon Museum of Art
296 W. Webster Ave, Muskegon
Jan. 10, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Free
muskegonartmuseum.org, (231) 720-2570
Two words: Frozen and free. Warm up and celebrate all things frozen at the Frozen Super Saturday where admission and activities are free at the Muskegon Museum of Art. Watch sisters Anna and Elsa struggle and triumph through an eternal winter and a cold curse with two screenings of the Disney movie at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Guided tours of winter scenes in the museum’s collection follows providing an easy, casual way to viewing art. “The movie was very applicable because our winters in Michigan and Muskegon seem never ending,” said Cathy Mott, curator of education. “Kids are oftentimes more open to art and it’s nice to give them a chance to voice their opinion on it.” Wrap things up with a craft session where children work on snowflake art based on maps. Cool, right?
Little Red Riding Hood with the Grand Rapids Ballet
Sunshine Community Church
3300 E. Beltline Ave. NE, Grand Rapids
Jan. 31, 10:15 & 11:30 a.m.
$5
grsymphony.org, (616) 454-9451
Find out what makes live performance so amazing with the Grand Rapids Symphony and the Grand Rapids Ballet. The timeless tale of Little Red Riding Hood comes to life at Sunshine Community Church through music and movement. Revisit or introduce youngsters to the classic story with a modern-day twist featuring a spunky young girl and a crafty wolf whose plans are foiled. “It’s a smaller venue, so kids have a better view of the orchestra and dancers,” said Claire VanBrandeghen, director of education. “It’s family friendly and modified just a smidge, so nothing horrible happens and little red is an even stronger female character than what is typically portrayed.” There’s something super special about being in the same room as fairytale royalty.
Farewell to Oz
Holland Armory
16 W. 9th St., Holland
Jan. 3
$7-$4
hollandmuseum.org, (616) 796-3329
Hurry up and get on the yellow brick road leading to the Holland Armory for a larger-than-life pop-up book exhibition featuring Dorothy and the gang. Visitors step into the pages of the timeless story including Dorothy’s farm in Kansas and the land of the munchkins and explore science, art and history. Hands-on activities and interactive exhibits include the Tin Woodsman sharing the physiology of the heart and the Scarecrow allowing guests to pick his brain. You can even check out tornado alley, learn about tornadoes and have a tea party with the munchkins. “It’s really fun and bright and colorful,” said Taylor Wise-Harthorn, museum and gallery manager. “Kids know about the movie, but in the book, Dorothy has silver slippers and at the end you get to click your silver heels to go home.” How often can you give the kids a chance to physically enter a storybook land?
Annie
DeVos Performance Hall
303 Monroe Ave. NW, Grand Rapids
Jan. 13-16, 7:30 p.m.; Jan. 17, 2 & 7:30 p.m.; Jan. 18, 1 & 6:30 p.m.
Starts at $32
broadwaygrandrapids.com, (616) 235-6285
DeVos Performance Hall is filled with massive amounts of pluck and positivity from a little girl with signature red hair. Everyone’s favorite orphan, Annie, is determined to find the parents who abandoned her years ago at an orphanage run by the embittered Miss Hannigan. “It’s everything you know and love for the next generation with that age-old optimism the show is loved for,” said Meghan Distel, director of marketing and public relations. With some staging and set design updates, the audience watches as Annie enters the world of New York, foils Miss Hannigan’s evil plans, befriends President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and finds a home with billionaire Oliver Warbucks. You’ll be compelled to sing along to classics like “It’s the Hard Knock Life,” “Easy Street” and “Tomorrow.” A family night event is held Jan. 15 at 7:30 p.m. and features activities for children in the lobby prior to the show with family four packs available for purchase.
