Elaina Johann, administrative manager
There is a special connection that children have with their grandparents. Around the Museum, I hear many touching stories from grandparents about their grandchildren from my co-workers, Museum members, and volunteers. They bring joy, especially during these cold winter days when a video or a picture shared in a family group chat brightens any day.
My nearly two-year old daughter, Orla has a wonderful connection with all her grandparents. It has been fun watching their relationships blossom and seeing her light bulb turn on when she knows the long trips on the weekends are to her grandparents and totally worth it.
Excited that Disney on Ice: Frozen & Encanto was happening on her birthday, my mom invited us down for a weekend visit, highlighted by the ice show. Orla has enjoyed both movies but has been enamored by their music. Most car trips and evenings are filled with the request to listen to “Elsa” or “Anna” (characters from Frozen) and followed by further requests for Mom and Dad to “dance.” My husband and I can attest to this, as our top five played Spotify songs in 2025 included: “Into the Unknown” from Frozen II, “Let it Go” from Frozen, “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” and “Surface Pressure” from Encanto, in addition to “You’re Welcome” from Moana (another requested Disney character). To say the least, we were all looking forward to experiencing the show with Orla.
The experience did not disappoint. Dressed as Elsa, she was entrenched in the ice-skating skills paired with her favorite music, stories, and characters. Her eyes did not move off the ice for a single moment and swelled with tears during both shows’ endings.
Following, all the little Elsa’s, Anna’s, and Mirabel’s (the main character in Encanto) seemed to have the same idea as us and flooded a local restaurant for lunch. Outside of how cute all the little children were, I am reminded in these moments how much the enjoyment of arts, culture, or entertainment can impact the economy of a town. We often think about it here at the Museum by tracking out of town visitors and applying for tourism-related grants. Visiting a museum, watching a performance, or attending a sporting event has a trickle-down effect which is highlighted in reports like this from Travel Wisconsin. Visitors and attendees go out to dinner, shop at local stores, and stay at hotels. Representing just how important arts and cultural venues are to the ecosystem of a city.
So, next time you take your grandchildren out for an activity accompanied by lunch or travel to a new city paired with visits to museum or a performance, remember that those visits make a meaningful contribution to local economies. At the Woodson, we remain grateful anytime grandparents or parents make the effort to bring their loved ones to the Museum, inspiring a new generation of art lovers.
