Emily Wesenick, youth and family program manager
In conversations with volunteers and community members alike, I often hear comments about how much the Museum has changed. From exhibitions to programming and staff, to the Museum’s campus, folks often wax nostalgically for the “good old days.”
While change is important for organizations to grow, we do sometimes bring back things that have worked in the past. When planning programming for this fall, we called upon one such fan favorite: OctoBIRDfest. For those of you who missed this event in its heyday, this full-day festival featured hands-on making, balloon artists, face painting, games and prizes, children’s musicians, and even a pumpkin patch! It was truly a sight to behold, and an all-hands-on deck experience here for Museum staff.
On Saturday, October 17 from 11 am – 4 pm, community members will once again flock to the Museum for a festival to celebrate our feathered friends, now called “Owl-Ween!” This modern take on a fan-favorite program will feature pumpkin carving, bird feeder crafting, delicious fall snacks, and a special appearance from Hattie Grimm, a Milwaukee-based artist and educator, leading a bird puppet parade at 3 pm!
Join Hattie in creating your own puppet through assemblage practices, using found materials. Some yarn for feathers, special fabric for feet, and maybe even thingamabobs for beaks and eyes. Whatever you choose to create your bird with is welcome before it soars off to join the flock and dance to music from local musicians around the Museum campus and neighborhood.
While Museum programming, exhibitions, and yes even the campus itself continues growing and changing throughout the years, we hope that events like Owl-Ween will bring back the perfect mix of nostalgia and new excitement.
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